Jul 20 (TM) The final rites of former IGP Chandana D Wickramaratne will be conducted with full police honours today. The decision had been taken as Wickramaratne was a retired IGP. The body of the country's 35th IGP is currently lying at a private funeral parlour in Colombo and was available for public respects from yesterday. Wickramaratne died at his residence on 18 July. Police suspect that incident was a suicide. more..

Jul 20 (Island) National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection has called on the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to make it mandatory for manufacturers to disclose all ingredients used in soap production on product packaging. Organisation’s President, Ranjith Vithanage, has urged the CAA to issue a Gazette notification requiring soap manufacturers to clearly list all ingredients on soap wrappers and packaging, arguing that consumers have a right to know more..

Jul 20 (BBC) Describing a result as a victory for football might seem like a trite cliche - but you won't find many neutrals disagreeing with that description of Spain's win in the 2026 World Cup final. When Ferran Torres slammed in the extra-time winner, and Rodri lifted the trophy high in New Jersey, it is hard to imagine many will have had sympathy for Argentina. Spain triumphed in a battle of endurance, for players and spectators, to beat the Argentines and win their second men's World Cup. more..

Jul 20 (Island) The country was losing so much revenue due to the controversial liquor bottle security sticker scam that if tangible measures were taken to stop the fraud, they could fund about eight projects on the scale of the Suwaseriya ambulance service, Chairman of the COPF, MP Harsha de Silva said. He described the security sticker, introduced for alcoholic beverages, as a major scam and called on the govt to more..

Jul 20 (CT) The CID informed Negombo Chief Magistrate Shilani Perera on 16 July that the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) units connected to the CCTV cameras at the Negombo Prison, which had been damaged and taken into custody following the unrest caused by inmates, had been forwarded to the Computer Forensics Laboratory of the Un of Moratuwa for a special forensic examination. The CID further informed the Court that the area where the clash occurred had been mapped more..

Jul 20 (EN) Foreign holdings in Sri Lanka rupee bonds hit a fresh near 3-year high in the week ended on July 16 as offshore investors bought a net US$ 23.2 million worth of govt securities, Central Bank data showed, amid a stable rupee currency. Foreigners bought a net 7,666 million rupees (US$23.2 million at 1$=330 rupees) in the week, which boosted foreign holdings in rupee bonds to 176,561 million rupees, the highest since July 27, 2023, the Central Bank data showed. more..

Jul 20 (NW) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has introduced new safety standards for processed liquid milk to strengthen consumer protection, with stricter limits imposed on aflatoxin levels. According to Direction No. 98 issued by the CAA, all processed liquid milk sold or distributed in SL must comply with the SLS 1815 standard and contain no more than 0.5 micrograms of aflatoxin per kilogram (0.5 µg/kg or ppb). The manufacture, import, packing, storage, and sale of processed liquid milk exceeding more..

Jul 20 (TM) The All Ceylon Egg Producers' Association has announced an increase in egg prices with effect from today (20), citing rising production costs and shortages of animal feed. Association Chairperson Sarath Ratnayake said that the price of a white egg would increase to Rs 41, while a red egg would be sold at Rs 42. He blamed the Government and relevant authorities for the price increase, alleging that the suspension of corn imports had severely affected the industry. more..

Jul 20 (TM) The NDCU has urged the public to seek medical advice and treatment as soon as dengue symptoms appear, after revealing that women account for the majority of dengue-related deaths reported this year. Dr Kapila Kannangara said that 37 of the 53 dengue deaths recorded so far this year involved women. He attributed the higher number of female fatalities to the tendency of many women to continue more..

Jul 20 (DM) Inland Revenue Dept said it will initiate criminal prosecution against individuals and entities who deliberately fail to meet their specified income tax obligations. IRD said the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2026, which amends the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, came into force on 3rd June 2026 and that it introduces prosecution actions for certain compliance failures. The Department said a taxpayer who fails to comply with statutory requirements more..

Jul 20 (ST) The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) is undergoing rapid operational restructuring to fix the systemic vulnerabilities that allowed the recent US$2.5 million cyber fraud. The Committee on Public Finanace (COPF) investigation and the Central Bank of SL (CB) revealed that the cyber heist occurred during a chaotic 18-month transition where responsibilities between institutions were poorly defined. The new framework introduces strict structural and digital boundaries. more..

Jul 20 (Island) SL exporters targeting the European Union are being urged to prepare immediately for sweeping new sustainability regulations that will fundamentally change how businesses market products, manage supply chains and demonstrate environmental and social responsibility. Beginning Sept 27, 2026, companies selling goods and services into the EU will face tougher scrutiny under the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo), which is designed to more..

Jul 20 (TM) Ministry of Public Admin, PCs and LG has stated it has not received any formal complaints regarding allegations that certain public officials are preventing Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) from taking legal action against Govt institutions where dengue mosquito breeding sites have been detected. Ministry Secretary S. Alokabandara said that while there may be incidents occurring in certain places, no specific complaint had been officially submitted to the Ministry for investigation. more..

Jul 20 (TM) Operational inefficiencies, prolonged project delays, and weak financial management at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) have indirectly contributed to the steep water tariff increases imposed on the public, a special audit report by the National Audit Office (NAO) has found, indicating that consumers have effectively been made to absorb the cost of the board’s own shortcomings. more..

Jul 20 (DM) SL’s banking and finance sector has been issued a blunt warning to abandon its heavy reliance on collateral-backed loans and transition to risk-based credit evaluations. The stark directive was delivered by top financial regulators during the launch of the Credit Information Bureau of SL’s (CRIB) new customer-facing mobile application, myCRIB, held in Colombo last Friday. Speaking at the launch, CRIB Chairman and CB Deputy Governor K.G.P. Sirikumara directly more..

Jul 20 (DN) Sri Lanka’s Jayden De Silva and Hashel Senarath continued their impressive run at the 12th Asian Age Group Aquatic Championships by reaching international finals in the boys’ 200m butterfly, while Rushalee Dissanayake capped another memorable day by breaking the Sri Lanka Under-17 National Age Group record in the girls’ 800m freestyle in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday. Hashel produced a personal best of 2:16.15 to finish sixth in the boys’ 13-14 200m butterfly final. more..

Jul 20 (CT) This is the first of two articles on the coconut sector based on a draft report released by the Plantation Ministry. This gives a brief overview of the sector and future plans, while the next includes plans by the Govt to develop a Northern Coconut Triangle. The coconut sector, a vital pillar of SL’s plantation economy, contributes approximately 6-7% of total exports and 1% to national GDP, sustaining the livelihoods of more..

Jul 20 (DN) Jaffna Kings the defending champions fought back to gain 5 wickets win with six balls to spare against Dambulla Sixes in their LPL cricket fixture played at the SSC grounds yesterday. It was a low scoring game which Dambulla Sixes was restricted to 130 all out in 19.3 overs while Jaffna Kings chasing their target lost their openers Avishka Fernando (15) and Kamil Mishara (9) during first power play with spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Vishwa Lahiru made early breakthroughs. more..

Jul 20 (TM) Though 22% of all containers processed through Sri Lanka's ports in the first quarter of 2026 were referred to Other Government Agencies (OGA) for mandatory inspections, only 13% were selected for intrusive examination by SL Customs, according to the Progress Report for end-March. “It is important to note that a significant portion of these referrals, specifically 22% of the total containers, is due to regulatory requirements enforced by Other Govt Agencies (OGAs),” more..

Jul 20 (NW) Lanka Premier League’s newly introduced Impact Player rule has come under scrutiny after teams used it to field five overseas players during the opening matches of the 2026 season, despite the tournament’s long-standing limit of four foreign players. The rule was introduced this season to add a tactical element to matches while also creating greater opportunities for local players. Under the new regulation, teams are permitted to make one tactical substitution during a match, more..

Jul 20 (DM) Govt is rapidly advancing a comprehensive digital economy blueprint designed to dismantle long-standing barriers to finance, with plans to introduce an artificial intelligence-powered horizontal lending rail that will connect micro-enterprises directly to mainstream credit markets, revealed Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the Prez on Digital Economy. Delivering the keynote speech at the launch of the Credit Information Bureau (CRIB) customer-focused mobile more..

Jul 20 (SO) The country has strengthened its capacity to respond to transboundary marine pollution caused by ships carrying hazardous cargo, fuel oil, marine diesel and plastic waste, and enhanced its capacity to pursue compensation for environmental damage, Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi said. He was responding to a question on whether the Govt had made any progress in strengthening its legal more..

Jul 20 (SO) For decades, minority politics in Sri Lanka has been shaped by a fundamental question: who speaks for communities that often feel unheard within the State? The political changes of 2024 appeared to offer a different answer, that a national political movement could move beyond traditional identity-based politics. Yet, the emergence of a new platform among Tamil, Muslim and Malaiyaha Tamil political parties suggests that the question of representation has not disappeared. more..

Jul 20 (Island) I am honoured to be invited to speak at the launch of Dr. Wickramaratne’s Constitutional Conversations. Dr. Wickramaratne, who has had a ringside view of the trajectory of SL’s Constitution for over three decades, writes not as someone who has merely studied constitutional events from a distance, but as one who has lived through them — experiencing at first hand the successes, hopes, fears, disappointments and the unfulfilled promises of the constitution-making process more..

Jul 20 (GV) The Tamil enemy and the Muslim enemy are passé, for now. It’s the turn of the Christian enemy, again. Parliamentarian Chamara Sampath Dassanayake heralded the change at the July 12 convention of the Joint Opposition in Kurunegala. “Venerable monks, (we) should stop being patient. I’m telling prelates and chief prelates, listen to this. The army commander’s tenure was over on 2 July… (It) was extended before. Now (it is) extended again. Who appoints the army commander? more..

Jul 20 (ISland) The Court of Appeal (CA) has granted bail to a man held on remand for about 15 years under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The CA overturned a Colombo High Court order refusing bail to the accused. Stressing that protracted pre-trial detention should not amount to punishment before conviction, and the presumption of innocence remains a cornerstone of criminal justice, the court ruled that there was an exceptional circumstance warranting more..

Jul 20 (TM) Crime scenes surrounded by black-and-yellow tapes are a common sight that most of us have experienced in real life or, at least seen on television. But have we ever stopped to think about what lies beyond these tapes and why they are there? These black-and-yellow tapes, commonly known as scene tapes or cordons, are placed around a crime scene to protect valuable silent evidences. more..

Jul 20 (ST) Before the deadly riots at the Negombo Prison on July 5th and 6th 2026 fade into statistics, a more serious consequence must emerge rather than the parliamentary Opposition filing yet another interminable no-confidence motion, this time against the Minister of Justice. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, those inhabiting opposition seats in the House fall well within that apt definition, notably but more..

Jul 20 (TM) The recent delay in launching SL’s first unified Gambling Regulatory Authority highlights a profound dilemma. Authorities missed their internal June target to roll out a comprehensive regulatory framework, citing the immense complexity of structuring a modern watchdog from scratch. While proponents of economic reform view this institutional pause with impatience, the delay is actually a structural necessity. For a nation historically balanced on the values of more..

Jul 20 (SO) For decades, Tamil-speaking communities in SL have pursued political representation through separate parties shaped by distinct histories, grievances and regional interests. The formation of a six-party platform bringing together the ITAK, SLMC, TPA, ACMC, DTNA & CWC marks an attempt to rebuild a common political space among these communities to advocate for their rights. While the parties hold differing views more..

Jul 20 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake continues to enjoy strong public support. In a country where trust in leaders has often been short lived, this is significant. According to the latest survey by the Centre for Policy Alternatives, his approval rating stands at 75.5%. That number reflects hope. It reflects a public that still believes change is possible. But in SL, popularity can fade quickly. People have seen leaders rise with promise before, only to fall when results did not follow. more..

Jul 20 (DM) George Orwell once wrote that in our age, there is no such thing as keeping out of politics, that politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia. Looking at SL’s present crop of leaders, it is hard to argue with him. None of today’s politicians comes close to the stature of a Senanayake, a Bandaranaike, or an N.M. Perera, a Kadirgamar or a T.B. Jayah. That such quality should have all but vanished from our political top tier seems almost to defy natural law. more..