Jul 4 (DM) Minister Samantha Vidyaratna shares views on challenging confronting the NPP govt and development plans in the pipeline. Q: How is your experience now governing the country for nearly one year? A: If we opted for a traditional style of governance, it would be an easy task. That is because the path had been laid over the decades for it only. It was not otherwise conducive for a novel social, political and economic journey. more..

Jul 4 (TM) Migrant workers’ contribution to SL’s economy is significant and their role as skilled workers has been crucial on many occasions. However, despite their role and contribution, they lack recognition and representation in the country. This was noted by the Voice of Migrants’ Network’s Executive Director Michael Joachim, who stressed that migrant workers’ representation in decision-making bodies is insufficient. He notes the importance of their representation in P'ment more..

Jul 4 (GV) The escalating crisis of plastic pollution poses a significant threat to both the health of the planet and human well-being. Among the plastic pollutants Single Use Plastics (SUPs) have become a major driver of pollution on land and in oceans. SUPs are disposable plastic items made for one time use – bags, packaging, straws, and bottles – that are quickly discarded after use. In 2021, they accounted for an estimated 139 million metric tonnes of global plastic waste. more..

Jul 4 (TM) In the past few years, private tuition fees have risen, increasing the burden placed on parents and children by this shadow system. A father of three said that the monthly expense for the tuition fees of their eldest child who is sitting for A/L exams in the Biology stream was Rs. 15,000. “Almost all of my eldest child’s classes in Negombo and Gampaha cost Rs. 5,000. Two of these are mass classes while more..

Jul 4 (TM) The gambling industry in SL has always been under a cloud of suspicion with little or no effective and transparent regulatory process to hold them accountable. Many Sri Lankans view the gambling industry with distrust and contempt; however consecutive govts and economic experts have been of the view that the industry, if properly regulated, can help SL attract a high spending category of tourist. Today, with a new Govt in office with a mandate for accountability and more..

Jul 4 (TM) In a country blessed with biodiversity and ecological abundance, it is alarming that Sri Lanka’s wildlife is now increasingly painted as a problem. In recent years, a shift has occurred in how animals are discussed in the media and by policymakers. Elephants, toque macaques, peafowl, and other species, once celebrated in folklore and religion are now regularly labeled as pests, nuisances, and threats to national stability. The mainstream media, echoing State-backed narratives, more..

Jul 4 (FT) Court of Appeal Judge R. Gurusinghe yesterday issued three separate judgments affirming decisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission with regard to a few personnel of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT). The decisions were: a) Directing SLT to release foreign expenses, travel details etc. of SLT COO Priyantha Fernando authorised through public funds. b) Directing SLT to disclose legal fees paid by SLT through public funds to retain lawyers to defend itself before more..

Jul 4 (NW) SL was penalized five runs during the first one-day international against Bangladesh on Wednesday for failing to start the 36th over on time, marking the first in-game enforcement of the ICC’s stop-clock regulation since it became a permanent rule in international cricket. The penalty was applied at R. Premadasa Stadium after SL exceeded the 60-second allowance to begin a new over for the third time in the innings. Under ICC playing conditions, two warnings are permitted for such delays. more..

Jul 4 (ST) A 1960s locomotive built in Germany and a couple of carriages converted into a mini-hotel will shortly be open for local and foreign tourists in Nanu Oya under an initiative of the Railway Department to raise revenue and attract more passengers. Called Odyssey Camper, the mini-hotel is built overlooking the Nanu Oya waterfalls to provide a new experience for domestic and foreign tourists, more..

Jul 4 (Island) The unpredictable Leader of the free world, through his actions dictated by the obsession to Make America Great Again, keeps us constantly reminded that we live in uncertain times; teetering on a global economic collapse, even the prospect of a third world war being not that a distant possibility. Meanwhile, across the Pond, His Majesty’s govt of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, once a great power beyond compare, is struggling and characterising itself more..

Jul 4 (Island) NPP govt is on cloud nine, having secured the fourth IMF extended fund facility tranche, amounting to USD 334 million. There was a delay in the release of the latest installment of the IMF loan, and the Opposition apparently derived some perverse pleasure from it. The govt has claimed that the IMF has loosened the purse strings much to the disappointment of the NPP’s political rivals. Unhappy is the land that flaunts loans as achievements, one might say with apologies more..

Jul 4 (CI) At least two captains of SL's men's white-ball team have said in recent years that they would really prefer it if this piece-of-work Khettarama pitch learned how to behave. The theory goes something like this. Where other top white-ball countries have rolled out flatter and flatter white-ball surfaces, sending totals into the stratosphere and bowling economy rates into neighbouring galaxies, the pitch SL play most of their home matches on is stuck naughtily in the nineties. It is devious. more..

Jul 4 (FT) Capital Maharaja Group (CMG), now 95 years old, stands as a grand master of SL business. With branches spread across key industries, finance, and development, organisation is deeply entrenched in the country’s economic landscape. What is remarkable about CMG is it has never gone public, remaining fiercely private and family-owned for three generations. Today, the Group continues to thrive under the stewardship of Sashi Rajamahendran, who has built on vision of his late father, more..

Jul 4 (NF) The Executive Board of the IMF has reviewed a series of noncomplying purchases made by SL under its 2023 Extended Arrangement under the EFF, following the discovery of inaccurate reporting related to expenditure arrears. Despite the breach, the IMF has decided to grant waivers and not pursue further action, citing corrective measures and a commitment to reform by SL authorities. In a statement issued after more..

Jul 4 (Island) If there was one glaring chink in SL’s armour during their disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign, it was their fielding. Sloppy, uninspired and error-strewn, the islanders dropped more catches than any other team, earning the unenviable tag of the worst fielding side in the tournament. The nadir came in Hyderabad when, despite posting a daunting 344 against Pakistan, SL fluffed their lines in the field. Dropped catches and misfields allowed Pakistan to gallop home, completing more..

Jul 4 (CT) All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga credited his team’s fielding brilliance and tactical awareness for their win in the first ODI against Bangladesh, singling out Milan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage for game-changing moments. “Milan was brilliant today, especially with that run-out — it was the turning point,” Hasaranga said at the post-match conference. “At one point, they were in full control, but that piece of fielding shifted the momentum. Then Janith pulled off an unbelievable catch, more..

Jul 4 (FT) The undisputed King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, is set to make a spectacular visit to SL, gracing the highly anticipated grand opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka on 2 August as Special Guest. Popularly regarded as King Khan, the presence of the multi-award-winning superstar at the by-invitation grand opening party underscores the establishment of the first luxury integrated resort in South Asia, developed through more..

Jul 4 (DN) Sri Lanka will take on Hong Kong in the third-place playoff of the 13th Asian Youth Netball Championship in South Korea today. Sri Lanka's hopes of reaching the final ended yesterday when they lost to defending champions Malaysia in the semifinals. Malaysia dominated the match for the second time in this tournament, winning comfortably 60-31, a 29-point margin. Earlier in the league round, Malaysia had also beaten SL 62-40. SL fought hard in first quarter but trailed 8-16. more..

Jul 4 (CT) The Cabinet has approved the reorganisation of Sri Lanka Expo, the country’s flagship international trade exhibition, which is set to return after a 14-year pause. The event will be held from 18 to 21 June 2026 at the BMICH in Colombo. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa made the announcement at the weekly Cabinet media briefing, noting that the event will be organised as a national-level exhibition to revitalise SL’s export sector and promote international trade engagement. more..

Jul 4 (DM) Central Bank yesterday unveiled a sweeping set of initiatives aimed at bolstering the financial well-being of its citizens, launching the nation’s first comprehensive Financial Literacy Curriculum, a series of educational videos, and a professional certification for financial trainers. The move is a cornerstone of Central Bank’s vision Towards a Financially Literate SL, designed to equip individuals with the skills needed to navigate a complex economic landscape. more..

Jul 4 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to implement the Community Effective Model Village program as part of the broader Clean SL national project. The initiative will select one village from each Divisional Secretariat between 2025 and 2027, targeting around 50 households in each village to transform them into model communities through a participatory rural development approach. “The program aims to create sustainable, well-rounded model village by applying criteria in key areas more..

Jul 4 (FT) SL’s digital economy is on course for a significant leap, with a five-year blueprint aiming for a fivefold increase in digital GDP, a tripling in digital exports, and expanding the digital workforce said Chief Presidential Adviser Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya yesterday. Speaking at the first-ever Data Privacy and Protection Summit, Dr. Wijayasuriya outlined a trust-driven progressive strategy designed to position SL as a global more..

Jul 4 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has given Cargills Bank extended time till end-2029 to achieve the minimum capital requirement of Rs. 20 billion from the current Rs. 11.89 billion. This was pursuant to the request made by the bank to the CBSL Director of Bank Supervision, after which the CBSL’s Governing Board has given an extension. CBSL has directed the bank to raise approximately Rs. 2.5 billion in equity capital through market mechanisms by end-2025, and through this action, more..

Jul 4 (AD) Police have uncovered further details in relation to the shooting which took place at around 10 am opposite the Kandana Police Station. Two unidentified assailants opened fire at a car using a T-56 assault rifle and injured two persons. The primary target of the shooting was a person named Sameera Manahara, who previously served as Public Relations Secretary to former Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Two individuals who were in the car at the time sustained injuries more..

Jul 4 (AD) AliExpress has officially suspended several of its budget shipping options to SL and Pakistan following the implementation of revised customs tax regulations by the respective authorities. In a notice issued to sellers, AliExpress announced that, starting July 7, logistics routes to both Pakistan and SL will be processed offline, and sellers will no longer be able to select the previously available low-cost shipping methods when processing orders or declaring shipments to more..

Jul 4 (TM) The Govt has planned to cultivate 40,000 acres of new coconut plantations as part of a long-term solution to the ongoing difficulties in meeting the country’s coconut demand. Deputy Minister of Trade, R.M. Jayawardhana said that the shortage of coconuts is being addressed through both short-term and long-term measures. “One of the short-term solutions is the recent decision to import coconuts. But, our long-term plan is to solve this issue over the next four to five years." more..

Jul 4 (DM) A total of Rs. 112,480 in fines was recovered after 37 habitual fare evaders were arrested during a special raid targeting passengers travelling without tickets. The arrests were made based on alerts shared through WhatsApp groups. Railway Security officers said the raids were carried out by officers in mufti after it was discovered that messages were being circulated via WhatsApp to warn passengers when officers in uniform more..

Jul 4 (Island) A circular has been issued to all police stations outlining procedures to be followed when summoning individuals to record statements, following a fundamental rights violation petition filed by Vidura Ralapanawa. Ralapanawa filed the petition after being summoned by police over a social media post he had published; he was not informed of any charges or reasons for the summons, which he alleged violated his fundamental rights. Saliya Pieris PC, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, more..

Jul 4 (DN) Govt will officially launch the Praja Shakthi National Programme, a national-level initiative aimed at eradicating rural poverty through community empowerment and targeted interventions at the Temple Trees under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake today. Praja Shakthi programme will be implemented under an integrated and inclusive organizational structure to eradicate rural poverty. This programme, aims to address poverty through a multi-pronged approach more..

Jul 4 (FT) IMF Mission Chief for SL Evan Papageorgiou yesterday insisted SL sustain the remarkable momentum of reform progress amidst looming external shocks, particularly global trade policy volatility, which could threaten recovery. He described SL’s program performance under its 4th Review as generally strong, acknowledging that all quantitative targets for the review had been met, except for an issue around underreported more..

Jul 4 (EN) The average price for a nut slid 4.7% to a seven-month low of 114.77 rupees at a weekly auction, data showed. This was the lowest since November 28 when a nut cost 109.61 rupees. At the weekly auction in Colombo, the highest price for a nut fell to 130 rupees from 139 rupees last week, while lowest fell to 102 rupees from 109 rupees. The number of nuts offered rose to 676,657 from 453,733 a week earlier, while nuts sold rose to 613,495 from 410,323. more..

Jul 4 (FT) It is late September. World Governance Forum has just announced the 2025 Good Governance Awards. There was no tension before the name of the winner was announced. It had been obvious for months that it would be SL. The award is given for improvements in governance over the previous 12 months. The judges were effusive: “The world has rarely seen such a positive, peaceful transformation in such a short period of time. Previous SL gots have been formed more..

Jul 4 (FT) JVP led NPP Govt of Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake created history at the Parliamentary elections of 2024 by winning 159 seats in a Parliament of 225 MPs. Prized jewel in that crown of victory was the performance of the compass party in SL’s pre-dominantly Tamil Northern Province. JVP-NPP won three out of six seats in the Jaffna electoral district and two out of six seats in Wanni. NPP with five MPs became the single largest party in the Northern Province more..

Jul 4 (NW) A new VAT refund counter for tourists was declared open today at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Minister of Industries & Enterprise Development Sunil Handunnetti and Deputy Minister Anil Jayanta. This initiative has been implemented under a policy approval submitted to the Prez on March 14, 2025, by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and the Ministry of Industries. The service aims to encourage tourists to purchase locally made products and more..

Jul 4 (EN) Sri Lanka has halted giving tax breaks under the Port City Act and the Strategic Development Project Act and pledged to amend the laws to define rule-based criteria and reduce the length of tax holidays, under an IMF program. SDP Act in particular had come under fire for alleged corruption in negotiating a long tax holiday. Unusually it also gave tax free salaries to key executives, while persons earning over 100,000 rupees were more..