June 10 (TM) After years of stalled progress and financial penalties amounting to over Rs. 55 billion, the Govt has pledged to expedite the long-delayed Central Expressway Project (CEP). Road Development Authority (RDA) has confirmed that construction on the expressway’s third section is now advancing steadily, with assurances that it will be completed by next year. RDA Chairman T. Paskaran confirmed that work on Section 3 – spanning from Pothuhera to Galagedara more..

June 10 (DN) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, conducted an inspection yesterday (7) of Synergy Pharmaceuticals Corporation, largest Western pharmaceutical manufacturing facility currently being built in the Bingiriya Investment Zone. The state-of-the-art plant is set to produce a broad range of high-quality pharmaceuticals, including Oral Solid Dosage (OSD) forms, vaccines, cancer treatments & hormonal drugs. more..

June 10 (DM) SL’s e-commerce sector is on a significant upward trajectory, with online user penetration forecast to expand from 13.3% this year to 14.1% by 2029, according to an emerging e-commerce player. The projection was highlighted by e-commerce platform Bamagate.com CEO Douglas Nijanthan, during the launch of the company’s Deals Offer campaign in Colombo recently. He noted that the growing adoption of the internet and smart devices continues to fuel the expansion of more..

June 10 (DM) The recent inspection tour conducted by Vraie Balthazaar - who has been nominated by the NPP as the Mayor of Colombo Municipal Council, is mired in controversy, with the opposition questioning how she could act out as mayor even before the municipal administration is formed. SJB MP Mujibur Rahman asked how Ms. Balthazaar could carry out mayoral duties, such as inspecting a canal-cleaning project in Colombo over the weekend before a formal administration had been more..

June 10 (DN) Minister Bimal Rathnayake yesterday presented a cash reward to Anura Fernando from Egoda Uyana, Moratuwa, who recently helped to avoid a possible railway accident involving an office train on the southern coastal line. A certificate of appreciation was also given to a train driver whose actions averted a major train accident related to the same incident. On June 5, Fernando, walking near the rail track, was informed by a nearby resident about damage in one rail track. more..

June 10 (TM) Following the recent hike in wholesale cement prices, National Construction Employees' Society (NCES) blamed the Govt for its lack of intervention to control the prices and its failure to provide the support promised during the election period to the construction industry. NCES Secretary Supun Abeysekara said that recent price increase will significantly affect the construction industry, claiming that such a hike would discourage people from engaging in construction activities. more..

June 10 (TM) SL Customs remains vigilant regarding malpractices that would hinder the country’s tax revenue while warning vehicle importers to be cautious and to always follow legal procedures. Highlighting concerns raised by a group of vehicle importers recently, a senior official attached to SL Customs said that a number of concerns were being raised by importers in relation to gazettes that had been issued, more..

June 10 (TM) Presidential Secretariat stated that while there is no need to make any changes to the legal process for granting a Presidential pardon, anyone who breaks the law will face consequences. The incident of releasing a prisoner from the Anuradhapura Prison — despite him not being included in the list of inmates approved for a Presidential pardon — has sparked controversy. In light of this, The Daily Morning queried the Presidential Secretariat's Legal Director, more..

June 10 (Island) Sri Lanka and China have signed two Memoranda of Understanding to set up a working group on trade facilitation, and on industrial and supply chain cooperation. “China and Sri Lanka have taken steps to deepen economic and trade cooperation, signing key agreements and exploring additional investment opportunities during the eighth meeting of the China-SL Joint Trade and Economic Commission held on May 29th in Colombo,” Embassy said on social media platform ‘X’ more..

June 10 (CT) Several senior officials from the Department of Prisons are expected to come under investigation in the coming days, following the alleged unlawful release of an inmate under the Presidential Pardon granted during Vesak, Ceylon Today has learned. The dept’s highest-ranking official, Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya, was suspended yesterday following a Cabinet meeting chaired by more..

June 11 (DM) Often, and even to this day, leaders of Asia, Africa, Latin America and countries of the Middle East are accused of corruption by the leadership and at times even the ordinary people of the so-called developed countries of the West. The poverty and squalour many of our people are forced to live in are held up as examples of the extent to which corruption pervades in our lands. Equally often, our people are referred to as savages and unverified instances of brutality are thrown more..

June 11 (CT) The people’s mandate at the general election seven months ago was for system change. The main hope of those who voted overwhelmingly for the NPP was to improve the economic situation. Those who live in the north and east of the country, where the long civil war took place, voted along with their fellow citizens in other parts of the country for an improvement in their economic circumstances and a break from the decades of exclusion they have experienced. more..

June 11 (SO) In a significant step towards strengthening bilateral trade ties, the newly appointed UK Trade Envoy to SL, Lord John Hannett of Everton, made his inaugural official visit to Colombo this month. A respected Labour life peer and veteran trade unionist, Lord Hannett brings with him a wealth of experience spanning over four decades in championing workers’ rights, fair economic policies and inclusive growth. more..

June 11 (CT) While official rhetoric this year rings with renewed pledges to eliminate Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in all public spaces in SL, in honour of the international commemorations, the numbers tell a far grimmer story and one that points fingers not just at society, but at the very system that claims to safeguard women’s rights. Recently, alarming new data from the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has exposed a sharp and consistent rise in criminal offences against women working within govt more..

June 11 (CT) SL marked its National Environment Day recently with a customary ceremony, this time held in Kegalle — outside the capital, Colombo. Prez attended as Chief Guest, echoing global calls for environmental action under the theme Let it Sprout. Yet, what truly stood out was not the country’s approach to World Environment Day, but rather the Prez’s pointed remarks about the public service. One statement in particular seemed to capture the essence of his entire address. more..

June 11 (TM) Questions have been raised over the Govt’s sluggish progress in advancing SL’s Renewable Energy sector, as investors voice deep concerns that the country’s once ambitious target of generating 70% of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2030 is increasingly out of reach. Since assuming power, the Govt has reportedly failed to initiate any new RE projects or approve any pending ones over the past 6 months. more..

June 11 (ST) It was May First, 1962. To many who were employed in the mercantile sector and those who led the trade unions at the time, it was a crucial day in the year when all the demands of the working class—to put it broadly—were articulated from every public platform from Galle Face Green to Price Park and Hyde Park. It was the day when Colvin R. de Silvas, Bala Tampoes, D.G. Williams and others who did not need loudspeakers to carry their battle cries called it their day and, like Frank Sinatra, more..

June 11 (TM) This week, in SL, five Jewish rabbis including three Israeli nationals were arrested by the Dept of Immigration and Emigration for violating the terms of their visit visas. The rabbis were reportedly engaged in the Kosher certification of poultry products at a chicken processing plant. While there is nothing illegal about performing religious rites in accordance with Jewish traditions, conducting such activities within a commercial setting under the guise of a tourist visa is a breach of immigration laws. more..

June 11 (Island) In Dec 2024, Sunday Observer reported that the VC of the Uni of Colombo had announced plans to reduce the University’s reliance on State funding by increasing foreign student intake and strengthening private sector ties. With 225 int'l students, and plans to double that number, the VC claimed the University was on track to meet its goal. His remarks echo national strategies and global trends aimed at decoupling public universities from state-funded education. more..

June 11 (Island) The Trump-Musk bromance is over for sure, and the US is now caught up in a titanic clash between the most powerful leader and the richest man in the world; the media is in a feeding frenzy. Not long ago, billionaire Elon Musk’s money talked, and Donald Trump listened. Today, Prez Trump’s power is doing all the talking, but Musk won’t listen. Trump is reported to have ended Musk’s service on a high note. Musk received a special White House send-off before returning to more..

June 11 (FT) Momentum of earnings of listed corporates has dropped in the March 2025 quarter though 1Q2025/4QFY25 marked a 66% YoY growth, according to Softlogic Stockbrokers. Dec 2024 quarter earnings amounted to Rs. 227.6 billion whilst in March 2025 the figure dropped to Rs. 191.4 billion. However the latter figure is higher in comparison to Rs. 115 billion achieved a year ago. It said that 1Q2025/4QFY25 Corporate more..

June 11 (FT) National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) of SL has announced its upcoming events in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, viz, the third International Conference on Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy and the NCPC Awards 2025. Both significant events are set to take place on 6 Nov, at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo, with the conference scheduled for the day and the awards ceremony to follow in the evening. more..

June 11 (FT) ASUS, a global leader in technology and innovation, has been recognised as the no.1 consumer notebook company in Sri Lanka by the International Data Corporation (IDC) Quarterly Tracker. Following IDC’s comprehensive assessment of Sri Lanka’s quarterly laptop imports and unit shipments, ASUS received this recognition following its achievement of a 29.6% market share and consistent quarter-on-quarter growth, placing the company firmly at No.1 in more..

June 11 (FT) In a historic tie-up bridging hemispheric innovation, New Zealand Product Accelerator (NZPA), a respected Senior Materials Expert Dr. Karnika De Silva will partner with Sri Lanka-based consultancy firm EML Consultants Ltd. This strategic partnership is striving to deliver cutting-edge, sustainable, and inclusive technologies in solving regional infrastructure and environmental challenges, with specific focus on SL manufacturing and rubber products sectors. more..

June 11 (DN) SL shuttlers took major honours winning 26 gold medals and 18 silver medals pulling India to the second place in the medals tally at the Ceylon Masters International Badminton Championship 2025, which was concluded at the St. Joseph’s College Indoor Courts in Colombo on Monday. Among the standout shuttlers for Sri Lanka were former National champuin and Olympion Niluka Karunaratne and Manjula Sampath Fernando, who won three gold medals each. more..

June 11 (ST) A lack of regular cybersecurity audits has emerged as a recurring weakness among govt institutions hit by the recent wave of cyberattacks targeting state-run information systems. In 2025 alone, the Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) has recorded 3 govt websites which were compromised, one ransomware incident, and a data breach incident. The latest involved National Water Supply more..

June 11 (DN) Sri Lanka’s national football team pulled off a decisive 3-1 win over Chinese Taipei in their must-win AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier Final Round Group D match at the Racecourse Stadium in Colombo yesterday. After a goalless first half, the 200th FIFA-ranked Sri Lanka produced a stunning second-half performance to outplay Chinese Taipei, ranked 166th, scoring three goals in the space of just 10 minutes to seal one of their most memorable international victories. more..

June 11 (DN) Two of Colombo’s top girls’ schools, Visakha Vidyalaya and Musaeus College, will battle for glory in the Under-15 Girls’ Division 1 Cup Final of the Ritzbury SL All-Island Inter-School Tennis Tournament. The much-anticipated final will be played at the historic Queen’s Club Tennis Courts in Colombo. Both teams advanced in style, securing commanding victories in their semi-final encounters. Musaeus College outplayed Bishop’s College 3-0, while Visakha Vidyalaya produced more..

June 11 (DN) Kamindu Mendis and Chamari Athapaththu were crowned as Best men’s and women’s Cricketer of the Year at the Home Lands – SLC awards ceremony at Cinnamon Life Hotel on Monday. The 26-year-old Kamindu Mendis who excelled in Test cricket last year also earned the Best Test Batsman award while SL women’s skipper Chamari Athapaththu received six awards including women’s Cricketer of the Year. more..

June 11 (SM) The West Indies Academy suffered a 75-run loss to Sri Lanka Emerging Players on day three of their first Four Day encounter at Coolidge on Monday. Sri Lankans entered Monday’s play 141-5 in 37 overs in their second innings, leading the hosts by 219 runs and ended up being bowled out for 219 in 58.2 overs, meaning the Academy had a target of 297 to win. Left-arm pacer Nathan Edward was the star of the show with the ball for the West Indians with 6-23 from his 14.2 overs more..

June 11 (EN) Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, will visit Sri Lanka from June 15 to 16, the central bank said as the country recovers from its first external default. Gopinath will be the guest of honour at a conference on SL’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance, to be co-hosted by the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of SL and IMF to be held on June 16. “At the mid-point of the IMF-supported reform programme, the conference aims to reflect more..

June 11 (TM) The administration of the National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala has decided to request additional security personnel following the recent theft of a rare Blue-and-Yellow Macaw. The theft took place on the night of 4 June, when one of the Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, valued at over Rs. 500,000, was stolen from its cage. Closed circuit television camera footage from a nearby shop captured a person suspected of carrying out the theft. National Zoological Gardens Director more..

June 11 (DM) Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) moved to reassure the shipping industry an end to operational shutdowns at the East Container Terminal (ECT) previously required for construction. The assurance follows the successful completion of the critical installation and commissioning phase for 12 new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and 40 Automated Rail-Mounted Gantry (ARMG) cranes. While the terminal continues its overall development, this milestone means there will be no further more..

June 11 (FT) A significant number of Sri Lankan nationals residing illegally in the US are currently on the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency’s non-detained docket with impending orders of removal. As of 7 June, an estimated 3,065 Sri Lankan nationals have fallen into this category, indicating a potential deportation. This comes in the wake of 286 Sri Lankans repatriated to Sri Lanka by US authorities between 2021 and 2024. more..

June 11 (NW) JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva has met with Liu Jie, Governor of China’s Zhejiang Province, during an official visit to China on the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The meeting was held yesterday (9) at the main public reception hall of Zhejiang Province. Silva is currently in China leading a delegation representing the JVP, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between the JVP and the CPC. Discussions focused on the longstanding friendship between SL more..

June 11 (AM) Supreme Court yesterday (9) issued a stay order preventing any further submissions before the Court of Appeal on behalf of Kamil Katubdeen, eighth accused and alleged mastermind in the country’s largest VAT fraud case, which involved Rs. 3.9 billion in tax evasion at the Inland Revenue Dept in 2004. The order was issued by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Janak de Silva, Mahinda Samayawardhena, and Arjuna Obeysekera after considering submissions made by ASG more..