Sep 1 (SO) Among the majestic tuskers and elegantly adorned elephants that brought splendour to the historic streets of Kandy during the 2026 Esala Perahera, it was not the famed tuskers Wasana, Miyan Raja or Sinha Raja who stole the spotlight on social media this year. Instead, one tiny, gentle elephant with a little tuft of hair captured the hearts of devotees and visitors alike. Walking through the sacred surroundings of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Dewmini, SL’s only known domesticated dwarf (kuru) elephant, more..

Sep 1 (ST) Six years after Harry and Meghan made their much-publicised dash to freedom to escape the tyranny of a racist Britain, the disgruntled duo crawled back to the sceptred isle on Thursday after their American dream turned out to be pie in the sky. The news that Harry and Meghan were returning back and trying to creep into the royal fold left Britain alarmed and the royal family terrified and distraught beyond measure. If members of the royal household had got the jitters about more..

Sep 1 (TM) As global tech giants race to secure the massive computational backbones required to fuel generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), SL is poised to step onto the digital real estate stage. However, following a flurry of preliminary discussions with international hyperscalers and key infrastructure players, the island now faces a sobering reality check: ambition is plentiful, but foundational readiness remains tethered to a tight network of policy, more..

Sep 1 (TM) As international climate agencies issue fresh warnings regarding a powerful El Niño event strengthening across the Asia-Pacific region, Sri Lanka finds itself caught in a compound environmental crisis. While several Southeast Asian nations prepare exclusively for scorching droughts, our island faces another volatile scenario: an agonising dry spell currently scorching heavy agricultural zones, closely followed by forecasts of an unseasonal deluge. more..

Sep 1 (TM) When a massive section of hanging glacier sheared away high in the Himalayas at over 5,000 metres, the catastrophic consequences were felt far down the river valleys of Nepal. Millions of tonnes of ice and rock plunged into the gorge below, sending a seismic shockwave across the region before damming the Lhende Khola. What followed was a devastating outburst flood, a torrent of mud, ice, and debris moving with the lethal density of liquid concrete. more..

Sep 1 (SO) SL is facing a growing economic risk due to the prevailing dry weather conditions and the possible development of strong El Niño effects, with agriculture, hydropower generation, food security, water supplies and the exchange rate among the areas identified as vulnerable. The potential economic consequences have emerged as the authorities attempt to manage an immediate shortage of water while simultaneously preparing for forecasts of heavier rainfall later in the year. more..

Sep 1 (DM) Sri Lanka has learnt many painful lessons from depending too heavily on the outside world. Fuel shortages taught us about energy security. Food shortages reminded us about agricultural security. The economic crisis showed us the dangers of depending on foreign exchange to pay for almost everything we need. But there is another area where Sri Lanka remains heavily dependent on imports - medicines. Around 85% of SL’s pharmaceutical requirements are still met through imports. more..

Sep 1 (DM) One cannot look at SL’s constitutional history without a profound sense of regret. Opportunities for meaningful constitutional reform have repeatedly appeared and been squandered. Gots have promised new constitutions; political leaders have spoken of reform; commissions have been appointed, and proposals have been produced. Yet the 1978 Constitution remains. The reasons are depressingly familiar: political opportunism, indecisiveness, lack of political will and, above all, the failure to build consensus. more..

Aug 31 (NW) Since the present govt assumed office on Sept 21, 2024, SL authorities have brought back 66 suspects linked to organized crime and drug trafficking who had fled abroad. Police HQ reports that investigations into 113 cases involving these suspects have resulted in the freezing of assets worth Rs. 6,000 million (Rs. 6,000,154,630.75). Of this, Rs. 5,423 million in assets belong to 102 drug trafficking suspects, while Rs. 209 million belong to three organized crime figures. more..

Aug 31 (TM) The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) is seeking the assistance of Meta to address tobacco promotions originating from outside Sri Lanka, it is learnt. NATA Chairman Dr Ananda Rathnayake said the authority was able to monitor tobacco promotions originating within Sri Lanka through social media platforms, but faced difficulties when such promotions came from overseas. “We can monitor the promotions that happen from here via social media. more..

Aug 31 (TM) A large number of vehicles kept in Customs custody for as long as 8 years have deteriorated to the point where most are no longer fit for use, according to the 2025 Annual Performance Report of SL Customs. 329 vehicles held on land obtained from a private company in Mattakkuliya and another 108 vehicles kept at the Ruhunupura Port premises had been left parked in yards for prolonged periods, causing most of them to deteriorate more..

Aug 31 (NW) Govt Dental Surgeons’ Association today issued a statement clarifying its stance on the proposed 22nd Constitutional Amendment and the Cabinet decision to separate specialist medical and dental services. Association stated that recent media reports attributing views on the 22nd Amendment to its members were inaccurate. It noted that neither the Executive Committee nor the Central Working Committee had discussed the amendment, nor had any official statement been released. more..

Aug 31 (NW) Vavuniya recorded SL’s highest maximum temperature on Monday (31), reaching 38.8 degrees Celsius. Several other areas, particularly in the North, North Central and Eastern regions, also recorded high temperatures. Polonnaruwa recorded a maximum temperature of 38.4°C, followed by Trincomalee at 38.1°C, Monaragala at 37.1°C and Anuradhapura at 37.0°C. Mullaitivu recorded 36.7°C, while Maha Illuppallama recorded 36.1°C and Mattala 35.6°C. more..

Aug 31 (NW) SL’s national cricketers have won their legal battle against the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), with the Court of Appeal quashing a decision that classified contracted national players as employees of SLC for tax purposes with retrospective effect. A Court of Appeal bench comprising President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando delivered the judgment in open court more..

Aug 31 (NW) Court of Appeal today heard a petition seeking to nullify the parliamentary seat of MP Archchuna Ramanathan, with his counsel requesting that the matter be referred to the Supreme Court. When the petition was taken up, Attorney Senani Dayaratne, appearing on behalf of Ramanathan, made the request for referral. Court of Appeal noted that an order regarding the request would be issued at an appropriate time. The petition challenges Ramanathan’s eligibility to continue more..

Aug 31 (DM) Health and Mass Media Minister has instructed Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe to appoint a six-member expert committee to study the establishment of an intermediate cadre for medical officers and submit recommendations within one month. The committee will be headed by Deputy Minister Dr. Hasanka Wijemuni. The committee has been tasked with examining the definition of the proposed intermediate cadre, the medical specialisations to be included, more..

Aug 31 (EN) SL and US are conducting Atlas Angel II, the second edition of a joint bilateral military training exercise, from August 31 to Sept 4. “Through the Montana National Guard and our broader defense partnership, we are building on years of cooperation and strengthening the readiness that helps protect American citizens and our partners, safeguard lives and livelihoods, and contribute to a more secure and resilient Indo-Pacific,” US Ambassador Eric Meyer said. more..

Aug 31 (Island) The govt was monitoring vessels reportedly anchored near SL’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Media Director General Thushara Rodrigo told the media on Saturday. However, Rodrigo stressed that the vessels were outside SL’s sovereign territory and that the Govt was neither responsible for them nor providing them with any facilities. According to maritime tracking website TankerTrackers, nearly 20 Iranian oil tankers are currently anchored more..

Aug 31 (EN) Sri Lanka’s overall rate of inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI), rose to more than three-year high of 8% in August 2026 from 7.3% in the previous month, breaching the Central Bank’s upper inflation target rate of 7% for the second month, data from the state statistics office showed. The CCPI for all items in August 2026 stood at 208.8, recording an increase of 0.6 index points or 0.28% more..

Aug 31 (NF) SL authorities have uncovered more than 440 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, from a container seized at the Port of Colombo. Police said weighing operations are still continuing, indicating that the final quantity recovered could change as the investigation progresses. A 44-year-old suspect from Dematagoda has been arrested in connection with the operation as investigators work to trace the wider network believed to be behind the shipment. more..

Aug 31 (Island) Ministry of Environment has called on the public to reduce reliance on single-use plastic water bottles and switch to reusable alternatives as part of efforts to curb plastic pollution. In a public appeal, Ministry warned that plastic bottles bought for temporary convenience could remain in the environment for hundreds of years, contributing to long-term environmental damage. It urged people to carry reusable water bottles, including glass bottles and other more..

Aug 31 (NW) Former SL captain Kumar Sangakkara has called for a fairer int'l cricket calendar that gives SL and other nations more opportunities to play Test cricket, while acknowledging that the financial realities of the format remain a major challenge. Sangakkara said concerns over the future of Test cricket extend well beyond SLC and have been repeatedly discussed at ICC forums and within the wider global more..

Aug 31 (DM) The Ministry of Defence said that the renewal of firearm licences for 2027 will begin tomorrow (1). According to the Ministry, all individuals and institutions holding firearm licences must renew their licences before Dec 31, 2026. The Ministry warned that possessing a firearm without a valid licence is a punishable offence under Section 22 of the Firearms Ordinance. Legal action may be taken against firearm owners who fail to renew their licences by the stipulated deadline. more..

Aug 31 (DN) SL fast bowler Chethana Vimukthi came to the fore in her debut T-20 match when she took 3 for 16 in her 4 over spell against UAE in the Asia Cup T-20 cricket fixture at Dubai Stadium. The 24-year-old right arm medium fast bowler Chethana said; “I am really happy about my performance at my debut T-20 game. I made my ODI debut against Pakistan a few months ago and now this debut T-20 game in Dubai will leave good memories for me winning Player of the Match award. more..

Aug 31 (FT) SL last week joined a historic global milestone in space education with SL Ambassador for Mission ShakthiSAT Dr. Sulochana Segera, and young student Seneesa Goonewardena representing the country in a program that brought together young women from 108 nations. Achievement was confirmed on 28 August 2026, at Gautam Buddha Uni in India, where Mission ShakthiSAT, organised by Space Kidz India, achieved a world-record milestone for the most nationalities represented in a women’s more..

Aug 31 (FT) Home Lands Group continues to strengthen its commitment to positioning SL excellence on the global stage, with the company partnering as Principal Sponsor of Rhythms of Lanka at the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia on 23 August with an audience of around 2,500 in attendance. For Home Lands, supporting Rhythms of Lanka comes naturally as the company continues to lend its support to platforms that celebrate SL talent and bring it to an int'l audience. more..

Aug 31 (Island) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has alleged that due to the failure on the part of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to fill the existing vacancies in the Supreme Court, a Senior Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Dhammika Ganepola, retired at the age of 63 without being considered for, or granted, a promotion to the SC, to which he was well entitled. The BASL pointed out at the time of Ganepola’s retirement there were more..

Aug 31 (NW) Veteran SL model and actress Chulpadmendra Kumarapathirana has passed away at the age of 46. Kumarapathirana suddenly fell ill while at home and was subsequently admitted to the National Hospital in Colombo, where she passed away. Kumarapathirana entered the entertainment industry as an actress and gained popularity among television audiences through her role in the teledrama Wahinna Muthu Wessak. She later became actively involved in the fashion more..

Aug 31 (NW) A 5-member Supreme Court bench has been appointed to consider petitions challenging the constitutionality of the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. The bench will be headed by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and will also comprise Justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Sampath Abeykoon and Gihan Kulatunga. The petitions are scheduled to be taken up before the Supreme Court on Tuesday (1). Several petitions have been filed challenging more..

Aug 31 (NF) Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake was granted bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court on Monday evening after being arrested by officials of the CIABOC in connection with an ongoing investigation. Karunanayake had earlier appeared before the Bribery Commission at 8.15 a.m. in response to a summons issued by investigators. Following several hours of questioning and the recording of more..

Aug 31 (EN) SL Customs exceeded its monthly target for an eighth consecutive month in August, achieving the target before the end of the month. Customs’ August revenue target was set at 190.3 billion rupees. However, revenue-collecting body had already collected 199.6 billion rupees in the first 27 days of the month, exceeding the target. Customs has set a revenue target of 2,207 billion rupees for this year, 13.5% less than last year as it originally expected a significant decline in car imports. more..

Aug 31 (AD) Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero says it is completely incorrect to claim that lands donated by ancient kings to temples are enjoyed only by Buddhist monks and should be redistributed among the public. Chief Prelate made the remarks today while attending a ceremony held at the Rangiri Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya to distribute Urumaya land permits to people residing on and utilizing lands historically granted to more..