June 15 (ST) A CID report has revealed that 69 prisoners who were not officially approved for release have been freed under the presidential pardon since December last year. The report was presented to court this week as part of an investigation into an unapproved presidential pardon granted to an inmate at the A'pura Prison to mark Vesak. According to the report, 57 inmates were released from 29 prisons on Dec 25 last year more..

June 15 (ST) The govt has deleted from the action plan of the Ministry of Justice and National Integration its commitment to abolish the pensions and special privileges of retired presidents and their families, a document obtained through the RTI Act shows. In March, the secretary to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake issued a circular to the secretaries of all ministries pointing to a Cabinet decision taken that month to accept the NPP election manifesto— more..

June 15 (ST) The govt committee appointed to inquire into the controversial release of 323 containers over two days from the Colombo Port has called for a further audit and made several urgent recommendations following containers marked as red label, thereby requiring Customs scrutiny, being released without inspection. Committee’s report was submitted to Finance Ministry to be handed over to Prez Dissanayake after the completion of an inquiry lasting four months. more..

June 15 (ST) When a group of opposition parties first started talks last month on reaching an agreement to form administrations in local councils where the combined number of seats won by political parties and independent groups outnumbered those won by the ruling NPP, the development was met with both anger and mockery by the govt. NPP had won 151 local councils outright, but the party insisted it had both more..

June 16 (DM) The recent, dramatic escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel - with reports of 200 Israeli fighter jets striking Iranian military and nuclear facilities on June 13 and Iran responding with 100 drone attacks and vows of harsher retaliation - signals a perilous new phase in Middle Eastern geopolitics. On June 14 Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles towards Israel in a retaliatory strike. While Israel’s Iron Dome and US assistance intercepted majority of projectiles, more..

June 16 (DM) In the early hours of 13 June 2025, Israel without any warning launched a large-scale strike targetting Iranian nuclear facilities. The aim of the sneak attack according to the Israeli premier was to protect Israel by preventing Iran from manufacturing nuclear weapons. Israel itself is nuclear armed. Prior to the attack, the Israeli premier informed its ally the US of the pending attack. Hours later, on the evening of 13 June, Iran retaliated launching a large-scale attack more..

June 16 (SO) Following months of growing friction surrounding the Tissa Raja Maha Vihara in Jaffna, a new wave of unrest is taking shape, fuelled by religious symbolism, land disputes, and politically charged narratives. In continuation of the Sunday Observer’s earlier coverage on how religious and national symbols are increasingly being misused in election campaigns, recent events around the temple on Poya days have more..

June 16 (ST) In SL’s far from glorious post-independence electoral history, have we ever seen such a verita-ble song and dance over a local govt election or various groups of council aspirants quarrelling over their seats so nonsensically? Breathless excitement grips the nation’s newsreaders as the time that should be spent on construc-tive reporting regarding matters of national importance impacting on the lives of ordinary Sri Lankans is frittered away on power-politics. more..

June 16 (TM) The topic of private universities, especially private medical education, has long been a topic of discussion often leading to controversy. Critics frequently raise concerns about the quality and integrity of such institutions while questioning whether they merely sell degrees. These concerns have resurfaced in recent months as the Govt’s efforts to recruit graduates for supplementary medical roles were met with opposition from several parties including trade unions representing more..

June 16 (TM) As Covid-19 cases slowly begin to rise across SL, a familiar debate is re-emerging: should the public be wearing masks again? Ministry of Health says no – unless you are sick. But others, including the GMOA and leading medical specialists, say yes – as a precaution. This division is fuelling confusion on the ground, especially as public PCR testing has become limited and case tracking less visible, and more..

June 16 (CT) The recent incident of plastic nurdles washing ashore along SL’s Northern coastline has once again brought the pressing issue of marine pollution to the forefront. According to media reports, large quantities of these nurdles have been found scattered along the southern coastal belt of Pungudutivu, Kurikattuwan, Nainativu, and Neduntivu in the Jaffna District. These small, lentil-sized pellets are the raw materials used in the production of plastic and polythene, more..

June 16 (CT) The dairy industry in SL has long been a nationally significant sector, serving as both a nutritional cornerstone and a vital source of livelihood for rural communities. From early colonial efforts to enhance livestock to state-led reforms in the post-independence era, the sector has experienced a complex journey shaped by public policy, international trade, and domestic challenges. A pivotal moment came with the establishment of the Ceylon Milk Board in 1954 under more..

June 16 (Island) In February and March 2025, visitors to Yala National Park stood in disbelief as torrents of brown water surged across once-dry tracks, submerging grasslands and turning familiar terrains into murky lakes. Roads disappeared, jeeps stalled, and for days, one of the most celebrated wildlife reserves in the world remained flooded. But while the tourists could leave, much of Yala’s wildlife—especially its ancient predator, the mugger crocodile—had no escape. more..

June 16 (FT) Lanka Hospitals Corporation has announced the appointment of Chaaminda Kumarasiri as its Group Managing Director, effective from 5 June 2025. His appointment signals a strategic move towards further strengthening the institution’s leadership and operational excellence. Kumarasiri is a widely respected figure in the fields of finance, management consulting, and corporate governance. Recognised as an award-winning professional & senior Chartered Accountant, more..

June 16 (DN) Ayomal Akalanka the 19-year-old athlete from Ambagamuwa Central College was adjudged the Best Performer of the Meet as the Junior National Athletic Championship concluded at Diyagama yesterday. Ayomal finished the meet with two new meet records in under 20 men’s category and was awarded the Major Gen Palitha Fernando Challenge Trophy. He created a mew meet record of 50.20 seconds in more..

June 16 (FT) Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sri Lanka held its AGM on 5 June at the Sapphire Ballroom, Courtyard by Marriott, Colombo. The evening brought together ACCA members to celebrate the many milestones achieved over the year. A key highlight of the AGM was the reaffirmation of The Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC Group Managing Director Chaaminda Kumarasiri as Chairman for another term, with INQUBE GLOBAL Vice President more..

June 16 (FT) Industrial and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe announced the launch of a new digital transformation program designed to modernise the industrial sector. The initiative is being rolled out in collaboration with the Digital Economy Ministry to boost productivity and competitiveness through technology-driven solutions. “We have officially kicked off our digital journey with the Ministry of Digital Economy,” Abeysinghe noted. more..

June 16 (FT) Global e-commerce giant Alibaba recently called on SL small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to embrace digital transformation to expand their global footprint, noting the immense potential of e-commerce platforms over traditional retail. Alibaba Executive Ma Haobo outlined a roadmap for SMEs to establish a sustainable and profitable presence online, noting that businesses must shift towards becoming eExporters by leveraging Alibaba’s B2B ecosystem. more..

June 16 (ST) An independent investigative committee has ordered the SL Shooting Federation to scrap its upcoming elections and conduct fresh polls under new regulations, following serious concerns about conflicts of interest and compromised impartiality in the election process. The three-member probe, led by M.T.I.S. Karunasena and including K.M.M.I. Thilakaratne and Sisira Wallegedara, was established by the Director General of Sports after retired DIG Gamini more..

June 16 (ST) Researchers, environmentalists and agriculture experts refuse to accept the national animal census, which they say is flawed and has many grey areas that need to be rectified. The reactions came after the Agriculture Ministry released the results of the census, with ministry officials claiming that, according to the census, there are 5.17 mil toque macaques (Rilawas), 1.4 m grey langurs (Alu Wandura) more..

June 16 (Island) In a historic move that redefines rural financial security, Pelwatte Dairy Industries has announced the launch of SL’s first pension scheme for dairy farmers, reinforcing its commitment to both national self-sufficiency and the welfare of the farming community. Pelwatte Dairy, one of Sri Lanka’s foremost homegrown dairy brands, has long been a pillar in the push to replace imported dairy with locally produced milk, saving the nation billions in foreign exchange. more..

June 16 (ST) The govt is gearing up to launch a Nation Branding tourism campaign, to be unveiled at the end of the month. SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has been preparing to launch a global promotion, over several months, targeting a number of key markets that will be able to cater to visitors targeting the winter season. The announcement from SLTPB states that a number of key govt and private sector stakeholders, tourism officials will showcase the current developments in the industry. more..

June 16 (FT) Outstanding credit to the private sector as at the end of April crossed the Rs. 8.5 trillion mark, with lower demand in the festive month but clocking over 15% YoY. At the end of April, credit to the private sector stood at Rs. 8,501.6 billion as against Rs. 8,414.6 billion in March, reflecting an increase of Rs. 87 billion. Banking sector saw a spike in private sector credit demand in March at Rs. 158 billion, more..

June 16 (Island) Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith can be proud of many achievements; yet one key mission remains unfulfilled—his endeavour to secure justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday carnage. During a service at St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade, on Thursday, he expressed disappointment with the incumbent govt’s failure to fulfil its pledge to have justice served to the victims of the 2019 terror attacks. He lamented that a slew of more..

June 16 (DM) The ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 will see 27 series and 71 matches in the league stage, with the top two teams in the points table qualifying for the final. Each team plays six series – three at home and three away – with each series consisting of two to five Test matches. Sri Lanka's 12-match schedule includes home series against Bangladesh (two matches), India (two), and South Africa (two). They will travel to the West Indies (two), Pakistan (two), and NZ (two). more..

June 16 (DM) SL’s tourism sector registered robust growth in the first ten days of June, welcoming 43,962 visitors. However, the industry is now anxiously awaiting the impact of a gathering storm as the escalating conflict in the Middle East begins to disrupt global aviation. The series of blistering attacks by Israel deep into Iran on the 13th of June, targeting core nuclear and military infrastructure, and Iran’s continued missile and drone assaults on Israel have made the skies over the region more..

June 16 (NW) A total of 378 acting sub-postmasters were granted permanent appointments with pension benefits during a ceremony held on Saturday, under the patronage of Minister Nalinda Jayathissa. Appointments were made following Cabinet approval to confirm the selected candidates through a formal interview process. An additional 196 individuals who had been assigned duties before the new selection process are also under consideration for permanent appointments, pending further Cabinet more..

June 16 (TM) The 2024 report of the National Audit Office (NAO) reveals that billions of rupees designated for the State have instead been disbursed as rewards and overtime payments without proper ministerial oversight, alongside significant losses in Govt revenue. One of the most alarming findings in the report highlights the payment of a staggering Rs. 24,225,600,376 in reward money to Customs officials and more..

June 16 (EN) SL has recruited 3,451 people into the state sector to maintain electric fences erected to keep elephants away from settlements. Electric fence maintenance assistants currently serving in Dept of Wildlife were given permanent posts as Electric Fence Maintenance Assistant Grade III by Minister Dammika Patabedi. “This is the first time this govt has given a large number of people appointments at once, and the support of the appointees are required to minimize more..

June 16 (Island) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has withdrawn the nomination of Court of Appeal Judge M.T. Mohamed Lafar to the Supreme Court, amidst an intense controversy in legal circles over the nomination at issue even before the occurrence of a vacancy in the apex court. The matter would be raised in Parliament, SJB MP Dayasiri Jayaskera said. Prez Dissanayake owed the country an explanation as to why that nomination was made in such a hurry, more..

June 16 (FT) A secret ballot and election of ruling NPP Vraie Balthazaar as Colombo Mayor is likely today when the city’s Municipal Council meets today. Analysts opined that given the secret ballot option exercised in some of the other Local Govt (LG) councils, a similar strategy was likely today. The likelihood of NPP candidate Balthazaar securing a Mayoral seat is despite the broader Opposition coming to an agreement last week to work together in upstaging NPP candidates. more..

June 16 (FT) The Colombo Commercial High Court has ordered the public auction of three companies allegedly linked to former MP Daya Gamage, to recover outstanding financial dues. The companies slated for auction include Daya Group Ltd., Daya Apparel Exporters Ltd., and Olympus Construction Ltd. The auction is being conducted in line with a Court judgement issued on 10 November 2022, which granted legal authority to recover the remaining amount through asset liquidation. more..

June 16 (DM) The dispatch of Sri Lankans for work in Israel had come to a temporary halt because of tension flaring up in the Middle-East with Iran launching a barrage of ballistic missile attacks on the Israeli territory in retaliation, an official said. Currently, there are around 20,000 Sri Lankans working in Israel in construction, caregiving, hospitality and agriculture sectors. SL Embassy in Tel Aviv has already informed the SLBFE more..

June 16 (FT) The official foreign reserves figure reported by Sri Lanka is overstated by approximately $ 1.4 billion, a new explainer titled FactCheck.lk reservations on Sri Lanka’s reporting of foreign reserves has revealed. The problem derives from including as reserves an RMB 10 billion (approximately $ 1.4 billion) currency swap from the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), which currently does not meet the international standard for what qualifies as a reserve asset. more..

June 16 (CT) A review has been launched by the Ministry of Education into the quality of education degrees awarded by private universities and affiliated higher education institutions, following growing concerns regarding the suitability of such qualifications for entry into the SL Teachers’ Service. According to Higher Education Ministry sources, a problematic situation has emerged as some education graduates from private institutions have been recruited as teachers, raising questions more..

June 16 (CT) The inaugural meeting of the Colombo Municipal Council is scheduled to be held today at 9:30 a.m. at the Town Hall in Colombo, following the results of the recent LG Elections, which left no political party or independent group with a clear majority. During the meeting, a vote will be held to elect both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor of Colombo from among the 117 councillors. more..