June 24 (SO) The educational landscape is rapidly evolving, with increasing emphasis on skills-based learning and career readiness. In response to these demands, many countries, including Sri Lank , have introduced or expanded vocational education pathways within their school systems. One such initiative is the newly introduced A/L Vocational Stream, which serves as a crucial alternative to traditional academic streams. more..

June 24 (ST) In a land (professedly) governed by the teachings of the Gautama Buddha premised on the equality of all human beings, Sinhalese Buddhist children are taught from a very young age that they are the proud inheritors of a rich Theravada religious heritage. It seems a tad ironic therefore that this very Theravada tradition has been justified to deny Sri Lanka’s Bhikkhunis identity documentation which is essential for every aspect of collective life, from voting to sitting for an examination. more..

June 24 (GV) An American President becomes embroiled in a sex scandal. To divert public attention, his advisors recruit a Hollywood producer to invent a war against Albania. That was the plot of the US feature film Wag the Dog, released in December 1997. Reality caught up a month later. In January 1998, Bill Clinton-Monika Lewinski scandal exploded. On the day Ms Lewinski was to testify before the grand jury investigating the affair, Prez Clinton ordered a missile attack on more..

June 24 (Island) The govt is being judicious in reading the signs of the time. The country continues to be in the throes of the economic crisis that it inherited. It faces formidable challenges in confronting a combined opposition that governed SL for the past 76 years. In addition, the world is in crisis with international law being openly disregarded in the joint US‑Israel bombardment of Iran’s nuclear sites. Faced with such turbulence, there is a need to tread carefully in this context and more..

June 24 (FT) A special discussion regarding the coordination of the Ministry of Industries’ operations and district-level activities was held last week at the Parliament under the leadership of Minister Sunil Handunneththi and Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe. This meeting was attended by MPs representing every district of SL, along with the private staff of both the Minister and Deputy Minister. The main objective of this meeting was to establish mechanisms to address district-specific more..

June 24 (DN) Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela raised serious concerns about the alarming decline in the number of domesticated elephants in SL, stating that around 110 tamed elephants have died over the past two decades. He warned that securing enough elephants for perahera (procession) festivals has now become a major challenge, due to the lack of replacement elephants. He noted that the number of tamed elephants more..

June 24 (FT) Marking its 150th year of operations, Brown & Company Group has closed the financial year ended 31 March 2025 with a strong performance marked by significant revenue expansion and ambitious acquisitions across core sectors. Group recorded a 34% year-on-year (YoY) increase in consolidated revenue, reaching Rs. 107.82 billion, supported by Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortisation (EBITDA) of Rs. 15.34 billion and more..

June 24 (Island) Former Test captain Marvan Atapattu has heaped praise on Angelo Mathews, who drew the curtain on his illustrious Test career last week, calling him the best finisher SL had since the great Arjuna Ranatunga. Atapattu and Mathews go a long way back in SL cricketing colours. Atapattu was at the helm as Batting Coach when a young Mathews was finding his feet in the national side. By 2014, Mathews had taken over the captaincy and Atapattu had succeeded Paul Farbrace as more..

June 24 (ST) The Attorney General’s Department has filed an appeal against what it considers an inadequately lenient sentence imposed on an Indian businessman convicted of sports corruption during a Sri Lankan cricket tournament. Prem Mannesh Thakkar, a Gujarat-based investor involved in SL Super T10 League, was sentenced to a Rs. 6 million fine by the High Court of Kandy in May 2025 for attempting to corrupt players during the Sri Lanka Super League T10 tournament. more..

June 24 (Island) UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk is here on an official visit, with a packed agenda. He is however needed most in Gaza, which has become a human rights blackhole, with civilians perishing in Israeli attacks almost daily. Opinion is divided on the purpose of his SL visit. It is hoped that Türk, unlike his predecessors, will remain open-minded, listen to views from all sides, consider all perspectives and rationally assess facts, without leaping to more..

June 24 (TM) Both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) have officially conveyed their willingness to unfreeze suspended funds to the National Olympic Committee (NOC), newly appointed Secretary General of the NOC Rifdy Fahmy reveals. The two global institutions for Olympic sports had frozen funds to the NOC since late last year, until the local body had expelled all its officials tainted by corruption more..

June 24 (DN) Sri Lanka Junior netball team led by Chalani Neesha will take part in the 13th Asian Youth Netball Championship 2025 which is to played from June 27 to July 4 in Jeonju, South Korea. The team left South Korea yesterday night. Lankan contingent meet Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, Deputy Minister Sugath Thillekaratne and Sports Director General Shemal Fernando at the Sports Ministry before their departure. Sri Lanka will play against India in the opening game on June 27 more..

June 24 (FT) The Colombo stock market yesterday suffered a Rs. 117 billion loss of value and the biggest intra-day dip as investors reacted negatively to the worsening situation in the Middle East. ASPI declined by 1.9% and the active S&P SL20 by 2.1%. Market capitalisation dropped by Rs. 117 billion to close at Rs. 6 trillion from Rs. 6.117 trillion on Friday (20). Turnover yesterday was Rs. 2.5 billion involving 193.8 million shares. Turnover was led by HNBN (Rs. 217 million), more..

June 24 (ST) The Govt will facilitate a visit to the Chemmani mass gravesite in Jaffna for UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk, who will arrive in the country tomorrow on a four-day tour. The gravesite, which is under excavation, has drawn int'l attention, as it is believed to contain the remains of the victims of the past hostilities. Mr. Turk will be given the opportunity to visit the site and talk to people in the area, more..

June 24 (FT) The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development recently discussed deep structural reforms to the country’s electricity sector, as rising generation costs and integration challenges for renewable energy sources continue to pressure the national grid. These were taken up at a committee meeting Chaired by MP Ajith P. Perera on 13 June, along with Power and Energy Ministry Secretary and CEB Acting Chairman Prof. K.T.M. Udayanga Hemapala, and more..

June 24 (FT) CoPF chaired by MP Dr. Harsha de Silva recently approved a series of significant fiscal measures, including an increase in stamp duty and the phased relaxation of longstanding import restrictions, to boost State revenue and ease pressure on key industries. Stamp duty revision, brought under the Stamp Duty Act, No. 12 of 2006 and in line with the 2025 Budget proposal, will see rates on property lease agreements doubled from Rs. 10 to Rs. 20 per every Rs. 1,000. more..

June 24 (DN) Madushani Herath once again came to the highlight when she won the women’s triple jump gold medal at the Thailand Open Athletic Championship yesterday. This was her second gold of the meet as she has won the women’s long jump gold medal on the first day with her personal best performance of 6.37metres. Madushani bagged the triple jump gold yesterday with a leap of 13.58m while Singapore’s Tia Louise and Chinese Taipe’s Yu Ting Lin were finished 2nd & 3rd more..

June 24 (CT) The SL Police have issued an appeal to the public to refrain from misusing the 119 emergency hotline. Police Media Division noted that there have been increasing instances where the 119 Emergency Call Centre is being misused by individuals making unnecessary or false calls. Police stated that while the service is intended for reporting emergencies that require immediate Police response, they have observed a significant number of false complaints and non-urgent matters more..

June 24 (FT) Board of Investment (BOI) of SL announced an increased inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the country in comparison to the previous year, consolidating the stable and investor-friendly economic environment. BOI highlighted that the renewed confidence of international investors has resulted in the receipt of new investment proposals given the Govt’s steadfast commitment to macroeconomic stability and more..

June 24 (TM) Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) urged Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) to immediately suspend the recent increase in solar electricity tariffs, calling the move unlawful and detrimental to the country’s renewable energy ambitions. In a letter addressed to the PUCSL Chairperson, ECA Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika raised concerns over the PUCSL’s silence on the tariff hike, questioning its compliance with provisions in the Electricity Act and more..

June 24 (FT) The joint technical team of India and Sri Lanka last week successfully concluded a high-level meeting, confirming the technical parameters for the much-anticipated India-SL power grid interconnection. The development was described as a critical step forward in actualising cross-border electricity trade between the two South Asian neighbours, with wide-reaching implications for Sri Lanka’s energy security and economic stability. The meeting, held on 16 June in New Delhi, more..

June 24 (AD) Five SriLankan Airlines flights have been diverted to Muscat Int'l Airport in Oman, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Dubai Int'l Airport in the UAE due to the current situation in the Middle East. Civil Aviation Authority of SL said all precautionary measures will be taken to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans and other passengers using SriLankan Airlines. This comes amidst the announcement of the closure of several airspaces in the Middle East more..

June 24 (Island) Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara yesterday asked senior officers of the Prisons Dept to rid their institution of malpractices or be prepared to face the consequences. Nanayakkara said that the govt wanted them to change. If they weren’t prepared to change, as desired by the govt, necessary action would be taken to ensure compliance, the Minister said. The warning was issued at a meeting called by lawmaker Nanayakkara at the Justice Ministry. more..

June 24 (DM) In response to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, a minister said that Sri Lanka has enhanced security at key locations and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding all tourists and citizens. Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said that precautionary measures are already in place to ensure the safety of all tourists. “We have provided security to the Israeli nationals in SL,” Minister said. more..

June 24 (CT) A peaceful protest in Valikamam North, Jaffna, entered its third consecutive day yesterday, with over 500 residents continuing to demand the release of 2,400 acres of land still held within a designated High-Security Zone (HSZ). The demonstrators, many of whom are original landowners displaced during the conflict in the 1990s, have vowed to remain at the protest site near the Mayiliddy junction until the Govt takes meaningful action. more..

June 24 (CT) Thirteen Chinese nationals being held at the Welisara Immigration Detention Centre for involvement in cybercrime activities have escaped custody. The individuals, who were awaiting deportation, had previously been arrested for operating illegal cybercrime networks while on tourist visas in Sri Lanka. Of the 13 escapees, nine have been re-arrested by Welikada Police, while a search operation is currently underway to locate the remaining 4 fugitives. more..

June 24 (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation in the war-torn region. Israel, joined by the United States on the weekend, has carried out attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, after alleging Tehran was getting close to obtaining a nuclear weapon. more..

June 24 (FT) On a misty morning in Nuwara Eliya, where the hills once shimmered like emeralds under a sheath of dew, the silence is broken only by the brittle crunch of dry tea leaves underfoot. But this cradle of Ceylon tea, famed from London to Beijing, is faltering. Soil, once fertile, now lies tired from years of chemical overload. Pest outbreaks are more frequent. Fertiliser prices have soared beyond reach. And the cup, once golden, is losing its richness. more..

June 24 (FT) International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), (ICC is represented in Sri Lanka by ICCSL) the world’s largest business organisation representing 45 million companies across 170+ countries, has warned of the serious risks posed by tariff retaliation and advocates for a stable, open global trading system. Against this backdrop, SL’s journey from 2025 to 2030 stands as a critical inflection point as it charts its course from economic recovery to sustainable growth. more..

June 24 (NW) A segment of the Festival of Australia, a first-of-its-kind multi-city showcase celebrating Australia’s world-class education and premium food and beverage products, will be held in Colombo this week. The third phase of the festival is being organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. Colombo showcase will provide an opportunity for students and parents to engage directly with the representatives of Australian universities to explore educational programs more..

June 24 (Island) National Joint Committee (NJC) has expressed serious concerns over recently concluded agreements between SL and India. The NJC has emphasised the pivotal importance of transparency in the process while accusing the govt of undermining SL’s sovereignty. The following is the text of the open letter Lt. Gen. Jagath Dias (retd), President of the NJC, has sent to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake: We, representing a coalition of national organisations committed to safeguarding SL’s sovereignty, more..

June 24 (TM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said that it is planning to take necessary measures if any possible fuel crisis arises in the future due to the ongoing conflict and escalating tensions in the Middle East. The decision comes days after the US directly entered the Israel-Iran war, by bombing three key Iranian atomic-energy installations, and issued an ultimatum to Iran to return to negotiations. Following the unprecedented attack, global oil prices jumped yesterday more..

June 24 (EN) US Embassy Colombo, SL, has asked people applying for non-immigrant visas to make all their social media accounts public to allow vetting. “Individuals applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to public to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the US,” the embassy said on X. US has required visa applicants to provide social media identifiers on immigrant more..

June 24 (DM) The COPF has directed the creation of a special mechanism to monitor the importation of casino machines, while approval was granted for the importation, its Chairman Harsha de Silva said. “The govt came to the Committee to remove import restrictions imposed during the crisis. I realised that Casino equipment was also in that list. So with the concurrence of the committee, I directed them to create a special mechanism to monitor every casino machine to be imported,” more..

June 24 (CT) Colombo High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne yesterday ordered the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to submit a report on any disciplinary action taken against Dr. R.P.K. Chandana, who allegedly submitted a false medical report regarding former minister Johnston Fernando at a private hospital in Narahenpita. The disputed report claimed that Fernando was too ill to appear in court due to severe back pain during a previous hearing in Sept 2024. more..