June 8 (ST) My dear Mahindananda, I thought of writing to you because you hit the headlines last week, being sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, no less. Although there was all this talk about horu allanawa or catching thieves, I must admit the news about you – and your partner in crime Nalin – came as a bit of a shock. Of course, you were never a quiet chap. You liked being the centre of attention, be it in public rallies, Parliament or while wielding your ministerial powers. more..

June 8 (TM) S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia clinched a thrilling 29-28 win against Kingswood College, Kandy in their Schools Rugby League season opener at the Big Club Grounds yesterday. Both teams earned bonus points, scoring four tries each. Kingswood No. 8 Maduranga Pushpakumara started off the season with a bang as he scored the first try of the game within the first two minutes to put the Randles Hill team on top. The under-the-post conversion was slotted cleanly by seasoned campaigner Rivin Baudween. more..

June 8 (TM) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Assistant Secretary Chryshantha Kapuwatte says that as cricket has been recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and as it is now starting to spread its wings to over 200 countries, more and more private firms are clamouring to join forces with SLC. He made this comment in response to a question from a journalist as to why SLC had become “like bees to a honeypot,” as it was only weeks before that it had officially linked up with another firm to be more..

June 8 (ST) In a landmark move, the country’s Attorney General’s (AG’s) Department this week indicted former international cricketer Sachithra Senanayake for his role in a match-fixing scandal during the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) in 2020, while investigations continue on a second complaint against the same accused. Senanayake, who was part of the 2014 T20 World Cup winning team, faces formal charges (Case No. CR801/2021 A) in the Hambantota High Court more..

June 8 (Island) From his Under-19 days, Angelo Mathews was a player marked out for greatness. There was never a flicker of doubt. In those early years, many likened him to a young Jacques Kallis, or perhaps more fittingly, an Ian Botham — brisk with the ball and capable of landing hefty blows in the lower middle order. Kumar Sangakkara, ever the astute judge of talent, saw what Mathews could bring to the table. So much so that in his very first Test as captain, he ensured Mathews was handed his debut. more..

June 8 (SO) Govt has drawn up a comprehensive plan to boost national tea production to 400 mn kg by 2028 and expects tea smallholders to contribute significantly towards this goal, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Estate Infrastructure, Sundaralingam Pradeep told a PPP event at the BMICH to recognise tea smallholders last week. The Deputy Minister who the chief guest said, “The Govt has developed a comprehensive plan to enhance tea production to around 400 m kilograms by 2028. more..

June 8 (SO) Export Development Council of Ministers (EDCM) has been revived and meetings of the Council commenced after a lapse of almost 28 years to address the issues of exporters that stand in the way to achieve the export sector goals, said Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe. The EDCM is a high-powered body set up under the Export Development Act No. of 1979 to support the export sector. Headed by the President and comprising key ministers overseeing more..

June 8 (ST) Auditor General has found fault with the National Savings Bank (NSB) for extending a US$ 9 million loan to a private tourism company in the Maldives, a move that violates the bank’s legal mandate. The loan currently classified as non-performing, was issued without a proper risk assessment and remains unpaid, raising serious concerns about regulatory oversight and governance at the state-owned savings bank. The loan was given to RPI Pvt Ltd in the Maldives in 2018, more..

June 8 (TM) A staggering loss of public funds has been exposed by the National Audit Office (NAO), which has revealed that 11 road construction machines worth Rs. 347.37 million, imported in 2010, have remained idle for 14 years and are now to be disposed of for just Rs. 4.4 million. According to the latest audit report on the Road Development Authority (RDA), the 11 aggregate chip spreaders had been imported and handed over to RDA by Presidential Task Force more..

June 8 (NW) Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa is likely to be arrested in the coming days in connection with a controversial compensation payment he received for a property allegedly damaged during the May 9, 2022 unrest, state-run newspaper Silumina has reported. According to the report, Rajapaksa claimed Rs. 15.2 million from the govt, citing damages to his residence and property in Magama, Tissamaharama. However, investigations have since revealed that the said property does not belong to him, more..

June 8 (EN) The UN Resident Coordinator in SL has briefed Speaker on the upcoming visit of the High Commissioner of the International Commission on Human Rights, Volker Türk, scheduled for later this month. Marc-André Franche and UN Peace and Development Resident Advisor Patrick McCarthy met with Jagath Wickramaratne this week at the Parliament premises. Franche “briefed the Hon. Speaker on the upcoming visit to SL by the High Commissioner of the Int'l Commission on Human Rights,” Parliament said. more..

June 8 (DM) Claiming that the individual named Athula Tilakaratne who was released under a Presidential pardon was not among those approved by the Prez to receive a pardon. The Presidential Secretariat said a complaint was lodged with the CID requesting a special investigation into the matter.PMD said a formal inquiry will be conducted and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against any responsible officials found to have been involved in this unauthorised release. more..

June 8 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has sounded a dire warning to public officials. Speaking at the national ceremony to mark World Environment Day, in Kegalle on Thursday (5), he said that unless state workers mended their ways on their own and carried out their duties and functions properly, he would be compelled to crack the whip. “Change or I will make you change!” he told them. He has been flaying the state service for the past several weeks. He is apparently disappointed with more..

June 8 (NW) Minister Sunil Handunnetti, visited the Kantale Sugar Factory this week as part of efforts to evaluate the feasibility of restarting operations at the site, which has been inactive since 1993. The factory, which spans roughly 22,000 acres, has seen part of its land temporarily used by farmers for paddy cultivation. Handunnetti said discussions are in progress to determine the viability of reintroducing sugarcane cultivation. more..

June 8 (TM) The Govt has ruled out holding Provincial Council (PC) Elections in 2025, citing unresolved legal and technical issues – chief among them the contentious matter of delimitation. Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Prabha Ruwan Senarath confirmed that elections would not be scheduled until these challenges were adequately addressed and the legal framework governing provincial governance was stabilised. more..

June 8 (TM) The education reforms that are to begin implementation by January 2026 for students of Grades 1 and 6 have begun their drafting stage, The Sunday Morning learns. Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna said that the education reform process was continuing in a project-based manner under five pillars. “The curriculum aspect of the reforms are in the drafting stage. The entire reform will take place as projects under the pillars.” more..

June 8 (TM) The Govt-appointed committee probing the controversial release of 323 imported containers without full Customs inspection is expected to publish its findings within the next two weeks, Deputy Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku said. The committee, appointed by the Ministry of Finance, is chaired by Treasury Deputy Secretary A.K. Seneviratne. Its membership includes Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Additional Secretary S.B. Jayasundara, more..

June 8 (DM) Blaming the ruling NPP govt for a sharp rise in criminal activity and institutional chaos, SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has raised alarm over what he described as a complete breakdown in the country’s law and order. In a post on social media platform X, Rajapaksa drew attention to a series of troubling incidents that have unfolded across the island in recent months. “There have been 50 daylight shootings since January,” the MP stated. He questioned the got’s ability to more..

June 8 (AD) The strike initiated by the Joint Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) concluded at 8:00 a.m. today (June 7), with four out of its five affiliated unions deciding to call off the industrial action. JCPSM General Secretary, Chanaka Dharmawickrama, stated that the decision to end the strike was made in consideration of the inconvenience it had caused to patients. However, he noted that medical laboratory professionals will continue their strike action. more..

June 8 (ST) US President Donald Trump has fully commuted the 12-year prison term of venture capitalist and political fundraiser Imaad Zuberi, who was sentenced in 2021 for, among other things, stealing money from the SL govt. Mr. Zuberi was also convicted of falsifying records to conceal his work as a foreign agent while lobbying high-level US govt officials; evading the payment of millions of dollars in taxes; making illegal campaign contributions; and obstructing a federal investigation into more..

June 8 (AM) Over fifty individuals—including former ministers, senior govt officials, and politicians—have recently visited various temples, shrines, and kovils across the country to conduct religious offerings and invoke blessings, according to reliable sources. Many of those who performed these rituals are reportedly facing serious allegations related to corruption and illicit accumulation of wealth. More than twenty former politicians had visited the temple in recent days more..

June 8 (ST) Starlink, a satellite internet service provider developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, will become available in Sri Lanka following confirmation of further legal and user policy clarifications. Starlink offers faster internet speeds and lower latency than traditional satellite services, along with the ability to connect users in remote areas where ground-based infrastructure is limited. For SL, this could mean more internet penetration into rural areas that more..

June 8 (SO) National Poson Festival is now being held with full State patronage in Anuradhapura, Mihintale and Thanthirimale. The Govt earlier declared June 7 to 13 as Poson Week. Poson Poya, which marks the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, falls on Tuesday, June 10. The Festival will be centred on Mihintale, the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, on the theme, “Let the world gain peace through Ven. Arahat Mahinda Thera’s timeless message”. All National Poson Festival religious ceremonies more..

June 8 (NF) Muslims around the world, including in Sri Lanka, are celebrating Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the Hajj Festival, today. The festival, rooted in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, is observed with a spirit of unity, sacrifice, and devotion. According to the Islamic calendar, the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah marks the beginning of Eid al-Adha. It commemorates the unwavering faith and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who was willing to sacrifice his son in submission to Allah’s command. more..

June 8 (ST) Eradicating corruption is one of the primary goals set out in the NPP govt’s campaign manifesto, ‘A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life’. The party had a proven track record of exposing corruption by previous govts and had its party leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, stand out and make a name for himself over many years in fighting against corruption. Given that a majority of the populace saw rampant corruption as one of the reasons for the country’s fall into bankruptcy, more..

June 9 (TM) Last month, Sri Lanka marked the occasion of Vesak Poya, an important religious and cultural event. In keeping with a longstanding tradition, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake granted Presidential pardon to over 380 prisoners. This act of clemency is generally intended to offer relief to those who have shown good behaviour, or those who have spent a substantial portion of their sentence behind bars with good behaviour. It is also meant to address miscarriages of justice and more..

June 9 (CT) Rabies is not a new problem in Sri Lanka. But, the fact that we are still talking about it in 2025 shows a deeper issue—a lack of sustained action, urgency, and will. The disease is preventable. The vaccines exist. Yet, we continue to lose lives, both human and animal, because of negligence and poor planning. Sri Lanka recorded 19 human deaths due to rabies in 2023. That number may not sound huge to some. But behind each number is a story of fear, suffering, and loss. more..

June 9 (CT) SL’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) towards fulfilling Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy – dictates that by 2030, the country will see a substantial increase in the share of renewable energy (RE) in the global energy mix, promotion of investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology, and enhancement of international cooperation to facilitate access to more..

June 9 (DM) Just over eight months or 228 days ago, after failing to be elected after the first round of counting, Prez Dissanayake was declared the winner of the presidential poll by the Commissioner of Elections. Since then, he has successfully campaigned for and won for the NPP, the parliamentary elections by a two-thirds majority and the local govt elections. At the time of his assuming power Dissanayake faced a plethora of problems. The country’s economy is still not stable. more..

June 9 (DM) In the 21st century, the progress of a nation is inextricably tied to its strength in science and technology. Sri Lanka, with its rich natural resources and educated population, has tremendous potential to harness scientific research for national development. Yet, despite decades of progress, we remain behind in converting research into practical, scalable solutions that can uplift the lives of our citizens. Having served in both SL and foreign research institutions, more..

June 9 (TM) As the southwest monsoon drenches SL’s western belt, another less visible storm brews in its wake: the rise of mosquito-borne illnesses. With over 24,000 confirmed dengue cases and an unquantified but growing wave of chikungunya, public health officials are racing against time to prevent a full-blown crisis. While the situation hasn’t reached epidemic proportions, both diseases are spreading rapidly, fuelled by more..

June 9 (CT) Resilience of a people can never be foreclosed. However long a time they had been in a state of apathy and oblivion, there comes a moment, as Jawaharlal Nehru said, rarely in history, when they give expression to their collective grief and agony in order to rise against the wrongs done unto them by their own elected leaders. Aragalaya-22 was an unparalleled tribute to a people who chose to express to the world that enough is enough. They had no leader; at the time, more..

June 9 (ST) Are pardons issued to prisoners convicted of grave monetary crimes or corrupt acts by the President of SL acceptable simply because they are issued as part of group presidential pardons granted on numerous religious holidays that scatter our national calendar? This question is asked whimsically following a peculiar response by the Department of Prisons this Friday over a public furore concerning a Vesak Day pardon issued by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to more..

Jun 9 (Island) Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna has made an absurd claim presumably to create suspicion in the minds of the public that 323 shipping containers, released by the Customs without inspection in January 2025, may have carried the LTTE’s weapons, etc. There is nothing stupider than buying into a claim by a Tiger worshipper about the LTTE’s hidden arms, but genuine concerns expressed in some quarters that the freight containers in question may have more..

Jun 9 (Island) There is evidence from many parts of the world that COVID is probably rising its ugly head again. If we ever thought it had gone away forever, it is, of course, only wishful thinking. Different strains with somewhat different presentations have been reported from several countries. WHO, in February this year, warned the world that the disease is resurgent in many areas of the world. Perhaps it has undergone some genetic change and come out in a different format, shrouded in a different skin, more..