June 3 (EN) Cabinet has approved calling expressions of interest to develop the Bogambara Prison site in Kandy for tourism, spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said. The UDA has identified the site as having potential for tourism, entertainment and cultural activities, he said. “The Bogambara Prison premises and prison buildings have been identified under the World Heritage Conservation Act, and there is potential for cultural and tourism promotion activities in those premises. more..

June 3 (Island) Former Secretary to the Prez Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC), Lacille De Silva, said that Yahapalana President Maithripala Sirisena owed an explanation as to why the case involving ex-Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was not heard during his time. more..

June 3 (Island) The BASL has urged the Constitutional Council to recommend a suitable person to the post of Chairperson, Right to Information Commission. The text of the BASL’s letter dated May 28: “We write to bring to your attention a matter of national importance in relation to the Right to Information Commission. As you are aware, the former Chairperson, retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne, resigned from his post on or about 9th March 2025, and more..

June 3 (AD) Professor Udayanga Hemapala has been appointed as the new Chairman of the CEB following the resignation of Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya. Prof. Hemapala served as the Secretary to the Ministry of Energy in SL. Prior to that appointment, he served as Professor of the Dept of Electrical Engineering and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Moratuwa Uni. This appointment has been officially communicated in a filing with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) on June 3. more..

June 3 (AD) A settlement was reached today before the Court of Appeal regarding the petition filed by national cricketers against a decision made by the Inland Revenue Department to impose withholding tax on them by treating them as employees of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The writ petition was filed by Charith Asalanka and Dhanajaya De Silva as respective captains of the ODI and Twenty20 cricket teams more..

June 3 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the appointment of a task force to revive the swine industry in the country which has collapsed due to African swine fever (ASF). The African swine fever, a highly pathogenic epidemic disease reported in October 2024, first started in the Western Province in Sri Lanka and has now spread to all the provinces. There is a possibility of the mortality rate increasing up to 100% in a farm infected with this disease. more..

June 3 (NW) The Cabinet has granted approval in principle to establish a new public-private partnership (PPP) unit, following a proposal by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The move aligns with a commitment made during the 2025 Budget speech to introduce new legislation supporting investment promotion through PPPs. The planned unit will operate under a formal legal framework and be headed by the Senior Additional Secretary to the President more..

June 4 (CT) The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) survived the demise of Rohana Wijeweera, its charismatic leader. Despite the failure of two explosive uprisings engineered by Wijeweera himself and his murderous politburos, aimed mainly, one against a center-left and the next at a right-wing govt respectively, the JVP managed to come to the top of the people’s choice after renaming the political forces that the JVP originally created. The new identity is National people’s Power (NPP). more..

June 4 (GV) Contemporary artist and picture book illustrator Pathum Sameera will hold an exhibition titled Mother, Junglefowl and Scarecrow at the Barefoot Gallery from June 6 to June 28. Through his captivating cartoon-like illustrations, Sameera considers the lives of women in the South’s rural agricultural landscape, playfully drawing attention to their dual roles as caretakers and providers. Born in 1984, from the southern village Elpitiya, Pathum Sameera has built a career around more..

June 4 (TM) To support its digital transformation strategies this year, the Govt has allocated Rs. 3 billion, central to its aim of reaching $ 15 billion in digital economy revenue by 2030. Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption is a critical component in this. However, with rapid AI evolution, SL’s readiness and a comprehensive regulatory landscape emerge as key requirements. In light of this, SL has established an AI Advisory Committee, more..

June 4 (TM) Next week, the world will gather in Nice, France for a global dialogue on the future of our oceans. Co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) will be held under the theme Accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. The conference aims to discuss good ocean governance, strengthening the protection and sustainable use of the ocean, seas and their resources, particularly by advancing more..

June 4 (CT) In a significant leap forward, Sri Lanka is poised to roll out Starlink satellite Internet services across the island, following the conclusion of regulatory formalities. Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne, speaking from the Asia Tech x Summit 2025 in Singapore, announced that only the final dashboard data from Starlink remains before the service becomes operational. The news has been met with applause, and understandably so. It signals not just technological progress, but more..

June 4 (SO) Once a quiet staple in the SL dairy scene, Milco has now become the centre of a compelling turnaround story. Founded as a State-owned enterprise with the mission of supporting local dairy farmers and providing affordable dairy products to the nation, Milco had, for years, struggled under the weight of operational losses. Faced with mounting debts and inefficiencies, previous administrations considered selling more..

June 4 (DM) Govt has abruptly terminated the admission of local students to undergraduate medical degree programmes at the KDU. The decision came out of the blue, just in an announcement by Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekara to Parliament. So much for a degree of certainty in the state policies this country badly needs in its economic recovery phase. This is not the first time that the JVP-affiliated student activists and the GMOA, have successfully shut down more..

June 4 (Island) The govt yesterday launched the National Credit Guarantee Institution (NCGI) to enable small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to obtain collateral-free loans. The new outfit will offer a 67% guarantee to banks that issue loans without collaterals, ranging from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 25 million. It is likely to be a viable venture, given the state underwriting and the involvement of some banks therein, with the ADB providing technical support and an initial capital of US$ 50 mil. more..

June 4 (DM) On Thursday (29 May) the plight of thousands of SL Tamil refugees languishing in India was forcefully brought to our minds. A 75-year-old former SL Tamil refugee returning from India was detained by immigration authorities. He was later remanded, despite the victim’s refugee status being certified by the UNHCR. The incoming former refugee was detained by immigration officials and subsequently remanded for a week –- the gentleman had left the country without a valid passport! more..

June 4 (ST) While justice strikes back at politicians and bureaucrats for corruption and misdemeanours over the years, there is more to be done in other places where the rotten apple continues to rot away. This happens mainly in big state institutions such as the Department of Immigration and Emigration, where thousands of citizens still queue, I am told, awaiting service, and still others sleep overnight—not one night but more—because the wings of service that should function with rectitude more..

June 4 (FT) Ending speculation and uncertainty Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya has formally resigned as the Chairman of the CEB and Prof. Udayanga Hemapala has been appointed as his successor. Hemapala is also the Secretary of the Power and Energy Ministry. The formal notice of Dr. Siyambalapitiya’s resignation was notified to the CSE yesterday by the CEB. In its filing, the CEB said at the Board meeting held on 27 May 2025 more..

June 4 (ST) Bharat Arun, who served as India’s fast bowling coach from 2014 to 2021, will conduct a comprehensive two-week coaching programme at the High Performance Centre located at the R. Premadasa Stadium premises. This initiative represents the latest collaboration between high-profile Indian coaching personnel and SL cricket development. The programme, which begins tomorrow, focuses on advancing fast bowling techniques for both players and coaches more..

June 4 (DN) ESOFT, a higher education institution in Sri Lanka, announces the official opening of ESU Kandy, its independent arm dedicated to delivering world-class undergraduate and postgraduate education in the hill capital. This expansion marks a strategic evolution of ESOFT, further diversifying its university-level academic programmes and reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence and global relevance. Applications for the June 2025 intake are now open, more..

June 4 (TM) National Sports Council (NSC) Chairperson Priyantha Ekanayake says he is hopeful that World Rugby (WR) will grant its approval to SL to compete in the Asia Rugby (AR) Top 4 Series commencing next week. He said that this should enable the Tuskers to play against Korea (14 June), Hong Kong (22 June) and the UAE (4 July), without the trepidation of any sanction hanging over the country’s membership with the global body. “We have already written to WR on this,” more..

June 4 (FT) Agriculture-rich diversified conglomerate CIC Holdings PLC has recorded steady revenue growth during the year ended 31 March 2025 (FY25), navigating macroeconomic headwinds and intense competition. The Group posted consolidated revenue of Rs. 83.3 billion, reflecting a 9.0% year-on-year (YoY) growth, driven by broad-based momentum across its core businesses. In a statement CIC said Group gross profit rose to Rs. 22.2 billion, a 7.3% increase YoY, more..

June 4 (ST) The Highways Ministry will appoint a committee to analyse a claim of US$ 190 million (Rs 56 billion) from the Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC), Central Expressway Part I (CEP1) contractor, even as the project’s physical progress remains stalled at a mere 36.38% since construction started in September 2020. The project has been held up since China EXIM Bank suspended all loan disbursements in Apr'22 more..

June 4 (ST) The long-delayed project of installing e-gates at the BIA as one of the solutions to passenger congestion is to be expedited under the present govt, the Transport, Highways, Ports & Civil Aviation Ministry confirmed. This decision has been taken at a high-level committee meeting held at the ministry recently to go-ahead with the electronic gate (e-gate) system project with Japanese grant assistance. The committee has comprehensively reviewed the project’s current status, more..

June 4 (CT) CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe on Monday called for urgent reforms to strengthen credit access for underserved sectors, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), at the launch of the National Credit Guarantee Institution Ltd (NCGIL) in Colombo. Describing the occasion as the realisation of a long-awaited goal, Weerasinghe noted that the idea of a national credit guarantee institution had first been floated as far back as 2006, with concept papers more..

June 4 (TM) SL’s tax revenue collection has surpassed Rs 1.7 trillion by end of May as the revenue collection agencies have managed to over achieve their end of May target, Deputy Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando said. He said that the three main tax collection agencies in SL have managed to over-achieve their tax targets by the end of May, collecting a total tax of Rs 1,789 billion. IRD has collected Rs. 907 bil by end of May, more..

June 4 (SM) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) closed on a positive note yesterday, with the ASPI reaching an all-time high of 17,214.39, marking an increase of 234.50 points (1.38%). Similarly, the S&P SL20 Index also recorded an all-time high, rising by 96.36 points (1.91%) to close at 5,131.28. Total market turnover amounted to LKR 7.37 billion, with 271.94 million shares traded. Market breadth reflected a positive sentiment, with 139 gainers and 77 losers contributing to overall movement of ASPI. more..

June 4 (FT) Export Development Board (EDB) successfully conducted a networking and knowledge-sharing session with established exporters in five different product sectors (tea, spices and coconut-based products, processed foods and cashew products, ornamental fish, and herbal and ayurvedic products) for new exporters and entrepreneurs on 22 May 2025 at the Training Arena, 3rd Floor, EDB-NDB Tower, Colombo 02. This event provided an excellent opportunity more..

June 4 (CI) Eighteen years spent in the belief that ee sala cup namde (this year the cup is ours), 17 of them ending in wretched disappointment for one of the IPL's biggest and most passionate fan bases, three of them ending with defeat at the final hurdle. Eighteen seasons in, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are finally IPL champions. Their victory in their fourth final came at the expense of another trophy-less team that had put together a heartwarming IPL 2025 campaign; more..

June 4 (CT) Former Minister of Media, Health, and Environment Keheliya Rambukwella and his son Ramith Rambukwella, who had been remanded over allegations of corruption, were granted bail yesterday by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali. The case pertains to accusations that, during his ministerial tenure, Keheliya had included individuals in his personal staff list by name only and arranged for them to receive State salaries, thereby causing financial loss to the Govt. more..

June 4 (AD) Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court today (3) that former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and the other accused in the case filed over the alleged importation of substandard human immunoglobulin vaccines, will be indicted before a 3-member bench of High Court judges next week. Deputy Solicitor General Nirmalan Wigneswaran, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, more..

June 4 (Island) SL’s outdated customs clearance system is costing the nation’s businesses billions in lost revenue and escalating costs, according to Mohamed Niyas, former chairman of the Association of Clearing & Forwarding Agents of SL. Niyas warned that SL’s customs risk management model, the ASYCUDA automated platform, is not only outdated but actively sabotaging trade efficiency. “Customs is not just broken—it’s actively working against trade efficiency & national interest" more..

June 4 (Island) Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that teaching English as a language should serve as a means to broaden opportunities, not as a tool to create social disparities, and the govt is ready to implement practical English teaching approaches through the upcoming education reforms. PM made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the SL Education Conference 2025, organized by the British Council in Colombo on Tuesday (3). more..

June 4 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers approved issuing an annual import licence for maize with an objective of sustaining the uninterrupted production of Thriposha. The decision follows ongoing challenges in sourcing locally grown maize that meets the required quality standards. Thriposha, the Govt’s key nutritional supplement program is provided free-of-charge to pregnant women, lactating mothers (up to six months postpartum) and malnourished infants between the ages of 6 months and 5 years. more..

June 4 (DN) David Peiris Aviation (DP Aviation) has initiated its first trial flight service from Colombo international airport in Ratmalana to the Jaffna International Airport in Palaly. This move is part of a broader Govt vision to expand local aviation infrastructure and improve regional connectivity. The trial flight, which took place on Monday (2) under the supervision of officials from Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL), successfully landed at the Jaffna International Airport at 1.05 p.m.. more..