Jul 25 (DM) The Govt of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is planning many reforms to make education in the country a pleasant and rewarding experience. This is what we gather when we read about what President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Premier Harini Amarasuriya have to say about education reforms through our browsing of newspapers. We are made to understand that the govt is planning to change the education system from being an exam related one to a module based system. more..

Jul 25 (TM) A longstanding financial crisis in Sri Lanka’s rural areas, particularly in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, is continuing to worsen as microfinance borrowers face mounting pressure from debt recovery actions. The use of the parate execution law by banks and financial institutions has led to an increase in land seizures and legal notices being issued to low-income borrowers, many of whom are women. more..

Jul 25 (DM) Sri Lanka is at the forefront of the human-elephant conflict (HEC), with 130 people and 380 elephants dying as a result last year. This is the highest HEC death toll reported from anywhere. But we are not the only country affected by this issue, and this is an attempt to take a comparative look at other affected countries. We can start with neighbouring India, with an estimated 27,000 wild elephants. The northeastern state of Assam is the worst-affected. more..

Jul 25 (TM) The fallout from SL’s largest recorded marine ecological disaster, which came from the Singaporean flagged MV X-Press Pearl wrecking, passed a milestone yesterday (24) with the the Supreme Court (SC) ordering non-state parties comprised of the X-Press Pearl group made up of the Singapore ship owner, operators and local agent of the vessel to pay $ 1 billion in compensation for the environmental and economic damage caused due to the fire onboard the vessel. more..

Jul 25 (CT) Sri Lanka’s prison system, long plagued by overcrowding, understaffing, and poor conditions, now finds itself at the centre of an unprecedented corruption scandal. What began as a routine release of inmates under Prez Amnesty on national holidays has, according to investigations by the CID, become a cover for illegal mass releases orchestrated by a high-ranking official. Suspect at the heart of the controversy is more..

Jul 25 (ST) Last week was a busy and inspiring time for us at CEPA, as we launched a new book titled Sustaining Transformative Growth in Sri Lanka 2025–2030 and hosted a series of seminars across various venues to discuss its key themes. The book is the product of an Independent Growth Study Group, developed under the auspices of ODI Global (UK) and the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) in SL. One of the most notable gatherings took place at the residence of Dutch Ambassador to SL, more..

Jul 25 (Island) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is also the Minister of Education and Higher Education, has said the aim of reforms that the govt is planning to introduce is aimed at reducing the burden of education. This is a welcome attitude, but it has to be done with utmost care, for enough damage has already been done by ill-conceived changes brought about by people with vested interests. Education, like health, is crucial for the future development of the country and more importantly to produce more..

Jul 25 (CT) Marking a significant step in its continuous efforts to rid corruption and ensure accountability and transparency in State operations, Govt recently appointed a Special Presidential Investigation Committee to probe alleged offences committed between 2010 and 2025 at SriLankan Airlines and Airport & Aviation Services (SL) (Pvt) Ltd. Appointing the committee, the Prez emphasised that the lack of a proper investigation into past irregularities had significantly undermined more..

Jul 25 (FT) The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has announced that registrations are now open for the SL Economic and Investment Summit 2025 (SLEIS), taking place on 2 and 3 December at the Shangri-La Colombo. This year’s event introduces an enhanced format that builds on the Ceylon Chamber’s flagship Sri Lanka Economic Summit, introducing a stronger investment focus to reflect current national priorities. Under the theme Gateway to Growth: Asia’s Emerging Opportunity, SLEIS 2025 more..

Jul 25 (SO) The world recently turned its attention to a ground-breaking innovation hailing from our very own shores. Dr. Nadeesha Chandrasena, a brilliant Sri Lankan, and her team, Urban Inventors, clinched a prestigious global award for their ingenious Smart Drain concept. This isn’t just a win for Dr. Chandrasena; it’s a testament to Sri Lanka’s burgeoning potential in addressing global challenges through innovative solutions. more..

Jul 25 (Island) SL politicians are notorious for feigned amnesia. Their memory is as sharp as a hawk’s vision at noon when they delve into past incidents that they can use to their advantage. The UNP has forgotten its barbaric counterterror operations, torture chambers, abductions, and ubiquitous tyre-pyres in the late 1980s. But its current members and their erstwhile chums in the SJB, etc., often hark back to the JVP’s second uprising characterised by mindless violence. more..

Jul 25 (FT) IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack confirmed that the Fifth Review of Sri Lanka’s EFF program is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2025. She made these remarks responding to a question posed during a media briefing yesterday. 2025 IMF/WB Annual Meetings is scheduled to be held in Washington, D.C. from 13-18 Oct. This follows the successful completion of the fourth review on 1 July 1, which secured SDR 254 million (about $ 350 million), more..

Jul 25 (ST) In a judgment carrying wide-ranging implications for governance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a fundamental rights petition filed by K. Goonewardena, who challenged the Central Bank’s decision that effectively ended his tenure as Chairman and Director of Lankaputhra Development Bank Ltd (LDBL). The judgment highlighted not only a procedural flaw in the appointment but also drew attention to lapses in regulatory conduct, more..

Jul 25 (ST) Sri Lanka’s motor industry was, once again, urged to set up a Single Window Platform that would address all issues also connecting to banks and related parties. Bingumal Thewarathanthri, Vice Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, speaking at the Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA) 105th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Colombo recently, that the automobile industry has been advocating for the creation of a Single Window platform for years. more..

Jul 25 (FT) Delegation of the European Union in SL Deputy Ambassador Lars Bredal recently said that aligning with EU standards on sustainability and due diligence is essential for boosting exports and attracting more European investments into the country. “European investors are looking for stable, transparent, and ethical environments. By meeting these standards and credibility, SL can strengthen its export more..

Jul 25 (DN) The two semi-finals of the Major Club Limited Over Cricket Tournament will take place at the CCC Grounds, with both matches set to begin at 2:30 pm as day-night fixtures. In the first semi-final scheduled for today (25), Police SC will face off against Colts CC. The second semi-final between CCC and Tamil Union is set for Saturday (27) at the same venue. Police SC, the Group ‘A’ table-toppers, stormed into the semis with five consecutive wins before falling to Tamil Union more..

Jul 25 (Island) Just two days after renewing her national record in the 10,000 metres, Kelaniya University undergraduate Rasara Wijesuriya reached her personal best time to secure a place in the women’s 5,000 metres final at the World University Games in Berlin on Thursday. Rasara clocked 16:00.30 seconds to finish the heat won by Kenya’s J.J. Kosgei. Her performace was rated by Sri Lanka Athletics statistician as the second fastest feat by a Sri Lankan woman in history. more..

Jul 25 (FT) Sri Lanka’s real estate sector is demonstrating robust signs of recovery and renewed investor confidence in 2025, buoyed by a stabilising economy and favourable market conditions. The latest Real Estate Market Outlook Report 2025 (REMOR25) by LankaPropertyWeb (LPW) highlights a significant resurgence across the property landscape, with key indicators pointing towards sustained growth. more..

Jul 25 (AD) The bodies of a mother and her two daughters have been recovered from a well located in the garden of a residence in the Panikkankulam area of Mankulam in Mullaitivu today (24), according to Mankulam Police. Police said that the bodies were found based on information received from the residents of the area. Accordingly, the bodies of a 38-year-old mother and two children, aged 11-year-old and 4-year-old have been found, the police said. The bodies were found inside the well more..

Jul 25 (DN) One of the world’s oldest and most respected inter-club golf tournaments, the 122nd Burdett Trophy, will be played this Saturday, July 26, at the Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC). The annual event, which began in 1902, brings together two of SL’s most iconic clubs – RCGC (founded in 1879) and Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (NEGC, founded in 1889) – in an intense yet friendly competition. Remarkably, this tournament is 25 years older than the Ryder Cup, making it a rare piece of more..

Jul 25 (FT) Transparency International SL (TISL) welcomed the Supreme Court’s landmark decision to hold both State officials and corporate actors accountable for their roles in one of the worst environmental disasters in the country’s history. TISL noted that the judgment underscores the critical need for transparency, institutional and corporate accountability, as well as stronger enforcement of legal obligations, to prevent future environmental harm, governance failures, and corruption. more..

Jul 25 (DN) Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe said that the govt has identified SL’s MICE sector as a key economic driver within the tourism industry. In SL, the MICE sector, which stands for Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conferences and Exhibitions, is a significant part of the tourism industry and a major contributor to the country’s foreign exchange earnings. It encompasses various corporate events, congresses, conferences, and exhibitions that attract business travellers, more..

Jul 25 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says education reforms must ensure inclusivity and recognize education as a fundamental human right, not merely a service or privilege. Speaking in Parliament during the debate on proposed education reforms, Premadasa stressed that a strong conceptual framework is essential to carry out reforms effectively. He said that unlike the British parliamentary tradition, more..

Jul 25 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a discussion this afternoon (24) at the Presidential Secretariat with relevant Ministers and Officials regarding the protection of wild elephants and the safeguarding daily lives of rural community. During the meeting, the President inquired into the current situation regarding the increasing harassment incidents involving wild elephants and their disruptive impact on the daily lives of rural populations. more..

Jul 25 (Island) The government plans to expand Sri Lanka’s IT workforce from 800,000 to two million within the next four years as part of a broader strategy to drive the country’s digital economy, a top official from the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) revealed. ICTA CEO Sanjay Karunasena stated that the digital economy is a key growth agenda, with targets to increase the sector’s revenue from $5 billion to $30 billion in the next three to five years. more..

Jul 25 (DN) The annual Kandy Esala Perahera Festival will commence today with the traditional Kap Situweema at the four main devalayas, Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Pattini at 6.05 am. Following five days of Devale Peraheras (inhouse processions), the first Kumbal Perahera will parade the streets on July 30. The Kumbal Perahera will continue from July 30 to August 3, followed by the first Randoli Perahera on August 4. The final grand Randoli Perahera will take place on August 8. more..

Jul 25 (NF) Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, emphasized the urgent need for SL’s healthcare system to adapt to the country’s shifting demographic and health landscape. “Sri Lanka has long been recognized for its strong foundation in universal health coverage and commitment to accessible care,” Dr. Jasinghe stated at the International Medical Congress commemorating the 138th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA). more..

Jul 25 (TM) Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) is to open the 4,000-seater hall in the PM’s residence, Temple Trees, for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), SLCB Chairperson Dheera Hettiarachchi told The Daily Morning Business on Wednesday (23). “We recently visited the Temple Trees, which has a seating capacity of 4,000 seats, and has not been promoted as a venue for MICE events. more..

Jul 25 (TM) SJB MP, Rohini Kumari Kaviratne yesterday said that while she would withdraw her statement targeting the Speaker of the Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, made on Wednesday – where she told the latter to shut up and listen – she was compelled to make such a remark as the Speaker, who should remain neutral, was acting in an extreme manner. Making a statement in the Parliament, she said: “If there was any insult to the office of the Speaker and that role in my more..

Jul 25 (FT) Indian film star Hrithik Roshan is set to visit SL next month to attend the grand inauguration of City of Dreams Sri Lanka, which will officially open its doors on 2 August. An announcement on the official Facebook page of City of Dreams SL confirmed the actor’s presence at the event, stating: “We’re thrilled to welcome Hrithik Roshan to City of Dreams on Aug 2nd for an incredibly special occasion! We can’t wait for him to experience South Asia’s first integrated resort. more..

Jul 25 (TM) The relevant State institutions should properly utilise the compensation that would be awarded for the environmental and economic damage caused by the Singaporean flagged MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster in 2021, for ocean-cleaning efforts and the welfare of affected fishermen, stated several petitioners who sought compensation through the Supreme Court (SC). Concluding hearing of several FR petitions more..

Jul 25 (FT) Tamil cinema fans like this writer who grew up on a diet of Tamil movies were deeply saddened when veteran South Indian actress B. Saroja Devi passed away some days ago on 14 July 2025. The octogenarian Saroja Devi after performing her daily 30-minute pooja in the mornings was seated on a sofa watching TV when she collapsed suddenly with a groan. The unconscious Saroja Devi was taken by ambulance to hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival. more..

Jul 25 (FT) The Trump tariff is a stark reminder to SL of the dangers which lurk when it is overdependent, and over reliant, on the political and economic strategies, and at times the perceived benevolence, of its key trading partners such as India and China and export markets such as the US and the EU. The days when powerful countries and trade associations showed global social responsibility by assisting developing countries such as SL, to uplift themselves through preferential tariffs more..

Jul 25 (AD) The Mount Lavinia Magistrate has directed the Fraud Investigation Bureau (FIB) to record statements from Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe, and the Mayor of the Kaduwela Municipal Council, Ranjan Jayalal. This order was issued in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged leasing of a property belonging to the National Workers’ Institute using a fraudulent deed. Mount Lavinia Magistrate Chathurika more..

Jul 25 (NF) Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports & Civil Aviation has announced a significant cost reduction in the software maintenance contract for printing driver’s licenses, saving Rs. 156 million through a competitive tender process. The previous contract, which had been in place for 13 years, cost the govt Rs. 184 million annually. However, following a transparent procurement process, the new contract was awarded for just Rs. 28 million per year. more..