Jul 6 (TM) The CID has intensified its investigation into the controversial organic fertiliser transaction between Sri Lanka and the Chinese company Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd, which led to a financial loss of $ 6.9 million for the country. A senior CID official, on condition of anonymity, confirmed that investigations into the alleged irregularities in the fertiliser procurement were actively underway. more..

Jul 6 (CT) SL Railways has decided to introduce a pedal-powered trolley service between Anuradhapura and Mihintale to offer tourists a unique recreational experience. General Manager of Railways Dhammika Jayasundara said that the project is scheduled to commence next month. He explained that the decision to utilise the A'pura – Mihintale railway line was made as trains operate on that track only during the Poson season. A fee will be charged for trolley rides, more..

Jul 6 (Island) The Wennappuwa Police arrested three suspects on Friday, in connection with the murder of a millionaire businessman, whose body was found in a waste pit at a vehicle service station. The arrests followed a raid in Udasirigama, Wennappuwa, where the victim’s vehicle was found concealed inside a house. The operation was led by Wennappuwa HQI, Chief Inspector Thilina Hettiarachchi. The victim, Jayanath Fernando, 32, was killed on the night of June 30. more..

Jul 6 (AD) Three individuals, including a young girl, have been injured in a shooting that took place early this morning in Suduwella, Kosgama, police stated. The victims were traveling in a three-wheeler when they were shot at. It is reported that two individuals who arrived on a motorcycle carried out the shooting using a pistol-type firearm. The injured include a 30-year-old woman and her 12-year-old daughter, both residents of Avissawella, and a 44-year-old man, all from the same family. more..

Jul 6 (TM) Despite the unavailability of brown sugar in the local market, Lanka Sugar Company is denying the existence of a shortage. Lanka Sugar Company Chairperson Sandamali Chandrasekara said that reports of shortages were inaccurate and claimed that the company in fact had a surplus of brown sugar. “There is a surplus of brown sugar and we release quite a bit to the market. We sell sugar directly and we have a sale every two weeks. It is not accurate to say that there is a shortage, more..

Jul 6 (TM) The much-anticipated electricity grid connectivity project between Sri Lanka and India is progressing steadily, with CEB set to make key policy decisions following the submission of the joint technical committee’s feasibility report. According to CEB Chairman and Energy Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala, technical experts from both countries have completed site visits and thorough evaluations, more..

Jul 6 (AM) Attorney Udul Prearatne, who represents underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka alias Harak Kata, has raised serious concerns over his client’s safety, claiming that his life is in danger. Nadun Chinthaka has been admitted to the Emergency Treatment Unit of the Colombo National Hospital after contracting a fever and is currently being treated in Ward 37. The attorney further alleged that there have been previous attempts to end Harak Kata’s life while he was in custody. more..

Jul 6 (NW) SL Thriposha Company is now operating around the clock to ensure continuous production and nationwide distribution of nutritional supplements, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed following an inspection visit to the factory in Kandana. Minister observed factory operations and reviewed the 24-hour production cycle now in place to supply Thriposha products across the country. As part of a broader revitalization strategy, the govt also plans to open 100 Thriposha retail outlets more..

Jul 6 (DM) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has extended the suspension of Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) from operating as a Primary Dealer for an additional six months, effective from 4.30 p.m. on July 5, 2025. CBSL said the decision was taken in terms of the regulations under the Registered Stock and Securities Ordinance and the Local Treasury Bills Ordinance. The extension is intended to allow for the continuation of investigations being conducted by the CB into the activities of PTL. more..

Jul 6 (Island) Sri Lanka would not cede the Katchatheevu islet, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has said. “We have our diplomatic channels open to resolve the issue, but what is certain is SL will never agree to let go of a part of Sri Lanka which is Katchatheevu and established so by international law,” Herath said on Thursday in response to a question on frequent arrests of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters, according to a PTI dispatch. India’s External Affairs Minister more..

Jul 6 (EN) President Donald Trump has said he signed 12 tariff letters which will be sent out on Monday, after earlier saying they will be sent on Friday amid expectations in Sri Lanka of getting a communication early. “I signed some letters and they’ll go out on Monday, probably twelve,” Trump told reporters Saturday. “Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs.” Sri Lanka was slapped with a 44%. more..

Jul 6 (NW) Sri Lanka Police have denied recent media reports suggesting that a new law has been introduced mandating seatbelt use for bus drivers. Issuing a statement, police clarified that no such new regulation has been implemented, and that the seatbelt requirement has been in effect since 2011. According to the statement, seatbelt use by drivers of public transport and other vehicles is mandated under Gazette Extraordinary No. 1718/12, issued on Aug 9, 2011. more..

Jul 6 (AD) Ministry of Defence says that the special search operations initiated in Ragama, Kandana and Wattala areas will be carried out further. The security forces and police personnel had been conducting the relevant operations in these areas since last night (4). The relevant operations will continue in the coming days. Several shooting incidents were reported from Ragama and Kandana areas in the past couple of days, in which two persons were killed and several more were left injured. more..

Jul 6 (TM) SL is uncertain about the receipt of Rs. 6.4 billion as compensation for the environmental damage caused by the X-Press Peal ship disaster as legal complications deepen. The country’s main lawsuit filed in Singapore is currently on hold after ship insurers initiated a counter-case in the UK, seeking to limit their financial liability. Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe cautioned that a swift payout should not be anticipated, more..

Jul 7 (TM) Last month’s multiple tragedies in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka highlight the need for awareness-building amongst the island's fisheries community and review the current fisheries regulatory framework, particularly with regard to safety at sea. In June, three fishing accidents were reported within two days, leaving six fishermen dead. The incidents began on 28 and 29 June, three fishing vessels faced accidents on the southern coast. In Matara, on 28 June, more..

Jul 7 (ST) Dayaabara Handun, I am writing to you after you went viral with your interview at the World Economic Forum recently, describing our country and its virtues to an int'l audience as no one had ever done before. You have received so much feedback since then, so I thought I will clarify the issues that are being raised. Handun, your predicament last week reminds me of what some of our cricketers used to say. They said it was easy to perform well and win matches more..

Jul 7 (ST) Strict regulations were introduced by the successive govts to discourage Indian bottom trawlers from illegally entering SL waters for poaching. Despite these regulations, hundreds of bottom trawlers enter Lankan territorial waters three days a week, as the Navy adopted a soft humanitarian approach of chasing them away with mere warnings. Last Monday, Navy tracked one such Indian bottom trawler in Mannar and more..

Jul 7 (DM) The Port of Colombo boasts a remarkable two-millennia legacy, evolving from the ancient Kolomthota trading harbour to a premier international hub. It serves as SL’s principal maritime gateway, strategically positioned on the southwestern coastline where the Kelani River converges with the Indian Ocean. This pivotal port has transformed through successive Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial administrations to achieve recognition among the world’s top 25 ports, more..

Jul 7 (DM) Retiring SC Judge Gamini Amarasekara made several important observations while addressing court recently. Justice Amarasekara emphasised that while external threats to judicial independence could be collectively resisted, internal challenges posed a far more insidious danger. The eminent judge reportedly stated: “A judge with the right convictions can resist external pressure, but when the threats come from within the system, they are harder to confront.” more..

Jul 7 (TM) For decades, SL farmers and small- to medium-scale rice mill owners have accused successive govts of ignoring what they describe as a long-standing monopoly within the country’s rice industry. Despite repeated promises during election campaigns and official statements pledging reforms, those involved in paddy cultivation and rice milling say a small, powerful group of large-scale millers continues to dominate both farmgate more..

Jul 7 (CT) The rising number of heart attacks among young people in Sri Lanka is a matter of grave concern. What was once rare in those under forty has now become an all-too-common reality, cutting short lives that should have been full of promise and productivity. Behind each incident is a family left in shock, a community left in grief, and a country that cannot afford to lose its young citizens to preventable diseases. Heart disease is now one of the leading causes of death in SL, more..

Jul 7 (Island) The former US Indo-Pacific Commander, Admiral Harry Harris, delivering his keynote speech at the Galle Dialogue 2016, attributed SL’s strategic importance to the US to three factors: Location, location, and location. These words, by Admiral Harris, amply highlight the geopolitical importance of SL in the Indo-Pacific region and in the global context. Former Indian National Security Adviser & Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon, in his book, more..

Jul 7 (DM) Chemmani is Speaking Again. At the foot of the Kaneru flower tree; You fell down and bled from your chest; You were lost to me; Not to this country; But to the earth..Don’t get up, even though if you get up; Where should we go? Where indeed can people go when justice itself has been buried? Who will speak for them? These lines, written by Rathna Sri Wijesinghe in a sinhala poem during a time of unspeakable war, return today with even more disturbing resonance. more..

Jul 7 (ST) In celebration of their 10th anniversary, Colombo Kickerz Football Academy will collaborate with Juventus FC to host a five-day training camp in Colombo. Aptly named the Juventus Training Camp in Colombo, the programme will commence today (7), from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Racecourse Ground and will run daily until Friday, 11 July. Head Coach Fabio Cucciniello, along with Coaches Miguelangel Della Vecchia and Giovanni Giacomini, will lead the Juventus Training Camp. more..

Jul 7 (TM) A new initiative has been planned to provide high-quality, nutritious, and appetising meals to inpatients at govt hospitals, Ministry of Health said. Ministry noted that the project, which will begin as a pilot project at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital was the focus of a recent meeting chaired by Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. Senior ministry officials, hospital administrators, doctors from the SL College of Nutrition Physicians, more..

Jul 7 (Island) Close on the heels of a warning that the UNESCO World Heritage status of Sigiriya is in jeopardy due to unauthorised structures and settlements in the archaeological reserve around the world-famous rock fortress, govt has unveiled a grand plan to use the bund of an ancient irrigation tank, of all places, to promote tourism in Anuradhapura. An attempt to reopen the road on the A'pura Nuwara Wewa bund, which was closed to vehicular traffic years ago reportedly over more..

Jul 7 (CI) Matt Renshaw continued his return to runs by producing a swashbuckling century for Australia A but couldn't prevent them falling to a 51-run defeat. Renshaw hit 106 from 75 balls for the hosts in Darwin on Sunday as Australia A lost 8 for 65 to be all out for 243 in reply to the visitors' 294 for 7. His century included nine boundaries and two sixes, coming after he also hit 80 in an emphatic win on Friday. Renshaw drove powerfully against the spinners, hitting Dushan Hemantha inside-out more..

Jul 7 (FT) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of SL (SEC), SL Institute of Directors (SLID), and KPMG, recently hosted a successful Family Business Forum themed Building a Lasting Family Legacy: A Strategic Approach to Growth and Continuity. The event brought together family business owners, industry leaders, and experts to explore critical topics including planning for the inevitable change within family businesses, more..

Jul 7 (SO) Excise Department has recorded a sharp increase in revenue for the first half of 2025, collecting Rs. 120.5 billion — a 102.6% rise compared to the corresponding period last year and exceeding its mid-year target. Dept’s senior officials said it is on track to surpass its annual target of Rs. 242 billion, up from last year’s target of Rs. 230 billion. In 2024, the total collection stood at Rs. 226.7 billion. The surge has been attributed primarily to a rise in legal alcohol sales more..

Jul 7 (CT) The cost of food for an average Colombo household rose by Rs 2,461.81 in June 2025 compared to the same month last year. A major part of this increase was due to a sharp rise in the cost of coconuts, which went up by Rs 2,001.35, fresh sea fish by Rs 940.01, and salt by a record Rs 403.56. Fish remains the most widely consumed source of animal protein among Sri Lankans, making the increase particularly significant. more..

Jul 7 (FT) The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) MP and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva on Saturday firmly rejected accusations that he is seeking to curtail e-commerce in the country, calling recent claims baseless and misleading, whilst insisting on the need for fair and transparent reforms in online trade taxation. “On 3 June 2025, CoPF inquiry exposed Customs’ informal weight-based tax system for e-commerce, which lacked legal backing for years,” he clarified. more..

Jul 7 (DM) Credit to the private sector by the licensed commercial banks picked up pace in May. This is after a brief slowdown in April caused by the festive season holidays. The movement indicates that appetite for credit remains high under considerably low borrowing costs while the banks kept their lending spigots wide open, seeking to extend their roughly two year long growth in private credit. Licensed commercial banks have expanded their total outstanding private sector credit more..

Jul 7 (FT) Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma yesterday clarified that the Govt has not imposed any new tax on e-commerce transactions, whilst expressing willingness to explore a de minimus system, similar to that used in many countries. He addressed public concerns stemming from confusion over recent Customs procedures for importing small parcels through e-commerce platforms and clarified more..

Jul 7 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has posted a moderate rebound in the first half of 2025, with earnings rising 10% year-on-year (YoY) to over $ 1.71 billion, according to the latest data released by the Central Bank. Given the ambitious targets by year-end, the sector faces an uphill battle to meet $ 5 billion in earnings and 3 million arrivals after a mixed performance in the first half of 2025. In June, tourism earnings stood at $ 169.5 million, reflecting a 12% YoY increase. more..

Jul 7 (FT) The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) last Friday officially revived its Tourist VAT Refund Scheme (TVRS) to incentivise visitor spending on local goods and encourage greater formal-sector activity in the retail trade. The revamped service was inaugurated at the Departure Terminal of BIA with Industries and Enterprise Development Minister Sunil Handunneththi and Labour Minister and Finance Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha presiding over the opening of the new VAT counter. more..