June 18 (DM) Oscar and Emmy Award-winning British actor Jeremy Irons arrived in Sri Lanka last night (17) to star in Cage Bird, an internationally-backed film directed by veteran Sri Lankan filmmaker Chandran Rutnam. A spokesperson for the SL Tourism Promotion Bureau confirmed that this marks the first visit by a Hollywood A-list actor of Irons’ calibre for a film production in over 12 years. Irons, globally known for his performances in The Lion King, Reversal of Fortune, and more..

June 18 (CI) It was just as the freshest cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 was approaching its fourth hour that the freshest Test cricketer on the planet pivoted at the top of his mark, and did something a little bit special. In his first 95 deliveries in Test cricket, Tharindu Rathnayake had been a right-arm offspinner. But like a magician who plunges himself into the hat and pulls out a different version of his own self, more..

June 18 (EN) Sri Lanka is going ahead with a tender to build a liquefied natural gas terminal which was scuttled by a previous administration, Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody said. “The current govt has decided to go ahead with a tender called by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and CEB,” Minister told parliament. “Accordingly, to sign the project with the successful bidder, the cabinet appointed negotiation committee and project committee has been re-established. more..

June 18 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali, yesterday (17), ordered the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) to submit a report, including instructions from the Attorney General, on whether legal action should be taken in connection with a container of tramadol pills that has been held by Customs for nearly five years. Investigating officers informed the Court that the container was detained by Customs in 2018 following information that it contained unlawful drugs. more..

June 19 (SO) If there is an informal economy in this country, who runs it? Every country has an informal economy, and SL’s is particularly large. Around 5.5 million of the 8.2 million employees in the country function in the informal economy. This statistic should boggle the mind. That’s a whopping 67% of the workforce, according to recent statistics. This is around two-thirds of all the people who work, who are not protected by labour laws, and do not function within the legal framework that more..

June 19 (TM) Sri Lanka’s political landscape has changed colour to being one of red, and although there were some setbacks during the Local Govt Elections, the tally board today shows that the NPP now has control of the Executive, Legislature and most of the local govt institutions. The change in colour at Colombo Municipality Council (CMC), a hotly contested seat of power, is telling of the overwhelming swing in favour of the political landscape. more..

June 19 (DM) Days after the crash of an Air India flight, former SriLankan Airlines pilot captain Sri Segaram speaks to Daily Mirror on the possible causes that might lead to an air crash. Captain Sri Segaram has 45 years of experience with over 30,000 flying hours. Q: As an experienced pilot, what do you think could have caused the Air India flight crash? A: Whatever I’m saying is based on my experience in aviation—that’s number one. more..

June 19 (CT) On 17 June, Ceylon Today featured two distinct but deeply connected stories, each exposing the profound suffering of Sri Lankans who rely on our public hospitals. One detailed the arrest of a prominent consultant neurosurgeon for corruption; the other, a dire warning about life-threatening medicine shortages. Together, these stories unveil a deepening crisis, hollowing out our public health system and leaving our most vulnerable citizens in peril. more..

June 19 (FT) Sri Lanka is ageing—rapidly and irreversibly. According to demographic projections, by 2045, nearly one in four Sri Lankans will be aged 60 or above. At the same time, our younger population is steadily shrinking due to declining fertility and increasing out-migration. This demographic shift is placing growing pressure on families, communities, and the State. Compounding this challenge is the reality that informal caregiving—whether for young children, elderly parents, more..

June 19 (TM) Govt is considering introducing a regulatory framework for the private education sector in a move that signals a major shift in national education policy. This development comes amid increasing pressure to stem the outflow of students and finances to foreign institutions, improve the quality of local private education offerings, and address deep-rooted structural flaws in the country’s public education system. more..

June 19 (ST) I was woken up on Thursday morning by a call from Human Resource pundit HR Perera, popularly known as HR, who interestingly wanted to discuss conflict of interest. It seems we were on the same page, as I too had decided the previous day to discuss this issue in this Sunday’s column. Why? Our attention was drawn to a report in India’s Hindu newspaper last week and reproduced here by local newspapers, where it was stated that India’s Chief Justice and his colleagues more..

June 19 (Island) The govt and the Opposition behaved yesterday––for once. They agreed to have a parliamentary debate on the Middle East conflict and its impact on Sri Lanka yesterday evening itself. If only they had reached consensus on that matter the previous day itself instead of clashing. All Opposition MPs, save a few, staged a walkout, on Tuesday, berating the Speaker. Opposition and NPP should learn to act with restraint and address crucial issues in a conciliatory manner. more..

June 19 (Island) United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk is scheduled to visit Colombo later this month. The House on June 5 announced the visit, two days after the UN Resident Coordinator in SL, Marc-André Franche, informed Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, of the impending visit. A press release issued by the Parliament, dated June 5, mistakenly identified Volker Türk as the High Commissioner of the International Commission on Human Rights. more..

June 19 (FT) SL’s tea production in May totalled 25.37 million kilos, showing an increase of 3% or 0.72 million kilos from a year ago. All elevations showed an increase in comparison with the corresponding month of 2024. Low Grown crop rose by 0.18% to 14.32 million kilos, High Grown by 3.4% to 5.8 million kilos, and Medium Grown by 10.5% to 4.98 million kilos. Jan-May 2025 cumulative production totalled 113.96 million kilos, recording an increase of 9.16 million kilos more..

June 19 (DN) Young Maheli Navithma of St. John’s Girls’ School, Panadura, continued her sensational form by setting her second meet record in the Girls’ Under-12 50m Breaststroke heats on Day 2 of the 50th MILO SL Schools Swimming Championship at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool yesterday. SL and Bangladesh slow burn it in Gallemore..

June 19 (GV) The rising trend of sensationalized media coverage involving children is becoming increasingly alarming. Each day, new incidents highlight how deeply unethical media practices, particularly those that disclose the identities of child victims, are harming the very individuals they claim to represent. These practices not only infringe upon the dignity and privacy of affected children and their families but they also inflict lasting psychological damage. more..

June 19 (FT) Science and Technology Minister Chrishantha Abeysena recently emphasised the need for SL to shift its focus from short-term financial gains through imports to supporting and protecting local manufacturers. He made these remarks during a recent meeting held at the Science and Technology Ministry, convened to facilitate an open exchange of views between traditional brass manufacturers and Govt officials. Event marked the 2nd phase of a collective initiative aimed at more..

June 19 (Island) DFCC Bank has entered a partnership with The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, to formally integrate Ceylon Chamber-led macroeconomic and sectoral intelligence into its service model. This strategic collaboration is set to enhance both internal expertise and client-facing value, reinforcing DFCC Bank’s position as the most insight-driven and customer-aligned bank in the country. By harnessing the Ceylon Chamber’s deep research capabilities, DFCC Bank will gain more..

June 19 (FT) The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, together with the Chamber’s Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Business Council (SLBBC), at the invitation of the SL High Commission in Bangladesh, hosted a high-level Business Dialogue with a visiting delegation from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), Bangladesh, on 17 June 2025 at the Hilton Colombo Residences. The forum was attended by Minister Sunil Handunneththi, as the Chief Guest, and over 100 SL business representatives. more..

June 19 (ST) Sri Lanka, with 167 ship wrecks submerged across its seas, is an ideal location for a niche tourism segment – marine tourism. This view emerged at a weekend conference in Colombo organised by the newly-formed Indian Ocean Divers Association (IODA) where SL’s potential as a sustainable tourism product was highlighted. So far dive tourism, focusing on visiting ship wrecks, and underwater tourism hasn’t more..

June 19 (DN) Young Maheli Navithma of St. John’s Girls’ School, Panadura, continued her sensational form by setting her second meet record in the Girls’ Under-12 50m Breaststroke heats on Day 2 of the 50th MILO SL Schools Swimming Championship at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool yesterday. Navithma clocked an impressive 40.97 seconds, breaking the long-standing record of 41.34 seconds set by Lashini Apsara Rajasinghe of SOU back in 2010. In a thrilling final later in the day, more..

June 19 (Island) Hosts India will get their 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup campaign underway in Bengaluru against SL on Sept 30. Per the unveiled full schedule, Colombo – a neutral venue picked to host Pakistan’s league games – has been allotted 11 round-robin games, including four of SL’s. All matches are slated to be day-night affairs with a 3 PM IST start. SL will have the opportunity to host Australia (Oct 4), NZ (Oct 14), South Africa (Oct 17) & B'desh (Oct 20) besides Pakistan (Oct 24) more..

June 19 (FT) Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, his wife Kusum Epa, and their daughter Chandula Rambukwella, were remanded yesterday after failing to meet bail conditions set by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. Trio was arrested by the CIABOC on charges of money laundering in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal asset accumulation amounting to Rs. 97.35 million. more..

June 19 (DN) SL’s hopes of an unbeaten run at the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Asia/Oceania Group III Tennis Tournament were dashed yesterday when they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Myanmar at the SL Tennis Association’s clay courts in Colombo. After a clean 3-0 sweep against Qatar on the opening day, the home team faced a strong Myanmar challenge in their second group clash. In the first singles match, Myanmar’s top player Nilar Win dominated from start to finish, more..

June 19 (Island) SJB has expelled two of its local govt members and suspended six others for defying party directives and backing the NPP in the contests to elect heads of hung local Councils. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara confirmed that Kolonnawa Municipal Councillor Susil Kumara Costa & Kandeketiya PS Councillor Navarathna Wijepala had been expelled with immediate effect. The SJB has suspended the membership of six councillors from Dambulla PS. more..

June 19 (TS) Sri Lanka has urged Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to invest in its growing pharmaceutical sector and explore new opportunities in export-oriented industries, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral trade ties. The call was made during a business plenary session titled SL & Bangladesh Economic Ties: Building Bridges for Growth, held at National Chamber of Commerce in Colombo on June 18. Around 150 meetings were held during the visit, involving over 70 SL firms. more..

June 19 (TM) Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) noted that it is in accordance with the past practice of supporting the party with the majority LG councillors or members that CWC backed ruling NPP in votes taken to elect top LG bodies’ officials in areas where the NPP had no majority power in the LG authorities. In this regard, CWC President Senthil Thondaman said: "If a Municipal Council or Urban Council or Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) does not have the majority, you have to definitely join more..

June 19 (FT) Outgoing Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana yesterday described his three-year tenure at the Finance Ministry as the most significant period of his professional life. He made these remarks during the farewell ceremony held at the Presidential Secretariat. Reflecting on his term, Siriwardana acknowledged the immense challenges and critical decisions that shaped his time as Treasury Secretary. more..

June 19 (FT) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday stressed the need to address food loss and food insecurity on an urgent basis. She made this observation when she participated in the High-Level Policy Dialogue titled Beyond Waste: Optimising Food, Water, and Energy for Better Nutrition in South Asia which kicked off yesterday at the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel, Colombo. The policy dialogue was co-hosted by World Bank and Govt of SL through the PM’s Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, more..

June 19 (EN) A 100 MW wind farm project in Mullikulam in SL’s Mannar district has got initial interest from around nine investors, Power and Minister Kumara Jayakody said. CEB opened the Mullikulam site for private investors as 50 x 2 wind farms to be built as build operate own (BOO) project with an initial closing date of June 12. The deadline was then extended to July 09. Most of the prospective bidders asked for more time at pre-bid meetings and the request was granted, more..

June 19 (TM) CPC has decided to suspend issuance of fuel into cans and barrels with immediate effect. The decision was taken due to reports of members of the public flocking to fuel stations to obtain fuel in cans and barrels, causing unnecessary congestion and queues. Accordingly, the decision has been communicated to fuel station owners, and the CPC has warned that strict disciplinary action will be taken regarding distribution permits if anyone acts in violation of the directive. more..

June 19 (EN) SL’s agricultural production in paddy, fish, coconut, and rubber declined in April, the central bank said, while tea production increased due to favourable weather. “Paddy production for the 2024/2025 Maha season, based on the sown extent as of end March 2025, is forecasted at 2.62 million metric tons, a 3.8% decline from the previous Maha season,” the central bank’s Agriculture Sector Data Bulletin for May 2025 said. Fish production decreased by 0.1% y-o-y in April 2025, more..

June 19 (Island) A parliamentary debate on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict was postponed yesterday as SJB MP Ajith P. Perera, who called for the adjournment debate, was not present in the House. Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih adjourned the session until 9:30 a.m. today, despite strong objections from Opposition MPs, sparking a heated exchange of words in the chamber. The situation escalated when SLMC MP Nizam Kariyappar more..

June 19 (NW) In a landmark transaction strengthening its presence in Eastern India and South Asia, global investment firm Blackstone has acquired Kolkata’s iconic South City Mall and the unsold inventory of SL’s luxury Altair residential project from South City Projects for Rs 3250 crore. According to Millennium Post, the deal marks the largest real estate acquisition in Kolkata and one of the most significant in Eastern India to date. An issued statement read that this acquisition more..

June 19 (TM) Several SL nationals in Israel for business purposes have been stranded due to the lack of outbound flights, SL Embassy in Israel has said. At present, the main international Airport of Israel, the Ben Gurion International Airport, and the Israeli airspace, remain closed to all international flights due to the conflict with Iran. The Ambassador of SL in Israel Nimal Bandara noted that Embassy officials are taking every effort to ensure the safety of the Lankans in the country and more..