Aug 17 (FT) Sri Lanka is better positioned than during its 2022 economic crisis to absorb a fresh energy price shock from the Middle East conflict, although high oil prices continue to pose risks to inflation, reserves, and growth, Moody’s Ratings said. Moody’s said Sri Lanka, along with Bangladesh and Pakistan, remained among Asia’s most vulnerable economies to higher oil prices due to heavy reliance on imported energy. However, more..

Aug 17 (NW) A Colombo court has ordered a 17-year-old school cricketer arrested over an alleged assault involving a Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club employee to remain in probation custody until Aug 24. Order was issued after the case was taken up before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Aug 17. The teenager was arrested by Cinnamon Gardens Police following an incident at the Bloomfield grounds in Colombo on August 8. Club employee, identified as 62-year-old Sumith Fernando of Moratuwa, more..

Aug 17 (DM) Colombo has the port. India has the cargo. With nearly, Sri Lanka’s record-breaking port performance hides a strategic vulnerability it can no longer ignore. 45% of Colombo’s transshipment business linked to Indian cargo and half of Colombo’s transshipment business is linked to India. This is both Colombo’s greatest opportunity—and its greatest strategic vulnerability. In 2025, the Port of Colombo handled a record 8.29 million TEUs, its highest-ever annual throughput. more..

Aug 17 (Island) Five women were arrested for allegedly stealing gold chains from devotees attending the annual feast of the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, in Mannar, on Saturday. The suspects, all from Bulathsinhala, had allegedly mingled with devotees while posing as affluent women, dressed in expensive-looking attire and wearing large quantities of imitation jewellery. They are alleged to have used the crowds and confusion during the religious celebrations to snatch gold chains from devotees. more..

Aug 17 (AD) The first Kumbal Perahera of the historic Kandy Esala Perahera will take to the streets tomorrow night, with SL Police implementing a special security and traffic management plan for the event. 2026 Kandy Esala Perahera is scheduled to take place from Aug 18 to Aug 28. Special arrangements have been made to deploy roadblocks and security personnel, conduct vehicle and personal checks, provide guidance to tourists and manage vehicle parking throughout the Perahera period. more..

Aug 17 (DM) Four managers of four leading private banks have been arrested in connection with a racket where an estimated US$1 billion has been illegally transferred out of Sri Lanka to foreign countries. The arrests were made by the FCID. The four bank managers were reportedly arrested at their respective private banks. Police said this is the first time that bank managers have been arrested in Sri Lanka in connection with such a case. more..

Aug 17 (Island) National Shoora Council (NSC) has called for an immediate inquiry into an alleged incident at the Kalmunai North Base Hospital in which several newly appointed female public officers were reportedly prevented from entering the hospital to assume duties. In a letter to Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya dated August 15, the NSC said the incident had occurred on August 10 and urged the PM to direct the Health Ministry to investigate the matter. more..

Aug 17 (NF) Minister Vijitha Herath has assured that the temporary tax restrictions imposed on vehicle imports will be removed once the ongoing conflict situation in the Middle East comes to an end. He made these remarks while attending the Motor Rally 2026 vehicle exhibition organized by Vehicle Importers' Association of SL in Colombo yesterday. The event was organized with the primary objective of promoting a responsible motoring culture and disciplined driving practices within SL society. more..

Aug 17 (NW) A new Pew Research Centre survey across 36 countries shows that India continues to receive a more positive than negative global perception, with Sri Lanka emerging as the country with the most positive perception of India. The survey, conducted between February and May this year, covered more than 42,000 people. Across the countries surveyed, a median of 45% expressed a favourable view of India, while 41% held an unfavourable opinion. more..

Aug 17 (NF) A new tourism attraction aimed at showcasing SL's natural beauty to both local and foreign visitors has been launched in Polonnaruwa, offering a unique kayaking experience along the scenic Elahera Yoda Ela. Renowned for its picturesque surroundings and tranquil waters, the historic canal is now open to adventure seekers and nature lovers who wish to explore one of the region's most beautiful waterways from a completely new perspective. The initiative was launched as a pilot project, more..

Aug 17 (NW) Sri Lanka has moved to strengthen its commercial ties with Switzerland, as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Sumith Dassanayake, met with Vincent Subilia, Director General of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services (CCIG), recently (12). According to the Permanent Mission of SL in Geneva , during the meeting, Ambassador Dassanayake briefed the Chamber on SL’s recent economic developments and emphasized the considerable untapped more..

Aug 17 (FT) Four short years ago, Sri Lanka suspended debt repayments. The people experienced a dramatic fall in their living standards. Small businesses died. Fuel supplies could not be unloaded from ships in harbor without full payment because we were not seen as credit worthy. Worth a reminder. Things may look normal on the surface now, but the businesses that went bust have not come back. The effects of malnourishment driven by the crisis will take years to remedy. more..

Aug 17 (FT) Of late, the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has been at the receiving end from both MPs and the public. This has not been due to its failure towards the nation. Rather, it reveals the failure of its communication policy in explaining what it does in a language people can understand. When people in the social media age learn from posts circulating there, central bankers trying to educate the public through lengthy technical papers will not serve any purpose. more..

Aug 17 (Island) Police have launched multiple investigations into the local assets and criminal connections of drug kingpin Shiran Basik following his deportation from Dubai to SL. SSP F.U. Wootler, said several police stations, and specialised units, were investigating different allegations against the 48-year-old Dehiwela resident while investigators were also examining his alleged drug-trafficking network and more..

Aug 17 (AD) SL Navy today (16) successfully recovered a Fast Attack Craft that was involved in an accident at sea near Angulana, Moratuwa, while returning from a patrol. Vessel was recovered following a several-hour operation carried out with the assistance of specialist diving teams attached to SL Navy. Meanwhile, search operations for the naval personnel who remains missing continued throughout the day. Recovery operation proved challenging due to rough seas, strong winds. more..

Aug 17 (HN) Marking a fresh medical record, doctors at Trincomalee General Hospital successfully removed a giant kidney stone weighing 3 kilograms and 100 grams from a patient. This surgery was conducted at the Trincomalee Hospital on August 14, led by Kidney Surgeon Prahalahan Balakrishnan. The surgery was performed by members of a medical team including Doctor Prahalahan Balakrishnan, Doctor Rishli Maheel, Doctor J.M. Ihsan, Doctor C. Prahalahan, and more..

Aug 17 (FT) In the latest July 2026 round of the Gallup-style Mood of the Nation poll conducted by Verité Research, Govt’s approval rating moderated to 50%, following a post-election high of 65% in the previous Feb 2026 round. The polling partner was Vanguard Survey Ltd Perceptions of the economic outlook reduced sharply. Those who think the economy is getting better declined to 42% from 64% in the previous round. more..

Aug 17 (EN) SL’s foreign currency reserves gained 2.1% to US$ 6.59 billion by end July from US$ 6.45 billion as month ago, amid dollar buying by the Central Bank. The Central Bank has resumed its aggressive dollar buying to boost the reserves and net bought US$348.6 million in July. It has bought US$ 905 million in the first seven months of 2026 following a net purchase of US$2 billion last year. The rupee was under high downward pressure in May as the imports bill for fuel went up more..

Aug 17 (NW) ​ PM Harini Amarasuriya said that religious and cultural festivals such as the Bellanwila Esala Perahera play a significant role in preserving SL’s religious and cultural heritage from generation to generation and keeping it alive for future generations. The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the 76th annual Bellanwila Esala Perahera, held yesterday (15) at the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya. PM noted that the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya holds more..

Aug 17 (FT) Amid debate over whether SL should lower its 5% inflation target, economists highlighted the competing considerations surrounding monetary policy, with Verité Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan de Mel arguing that the immediate credibility test was whether the Central Bank delivered whatever target it formally committed to, while Advocata Institute Chairman Murtaza Jafferjee stressed the heavy influence of food, energy, and supply-side factors on domestic inflation. more..

Aug 17 (TM) ​ Commissioner General of Inland Revenue has officially announced a postponement of the mandatory implementation of the revised VAT invoice format, pushing the effective date from 1 July 2026 to 1 Oct 2026, according to a newly issued govt gazette. The delay was formalised through Gazette Extraordinary No. 2500/106 issued on 6 Aug 2026 by Commissioner General Himali Fernando, exercising powers vested under Section 20 of the Value Added Tax Act, No. 14 of 2002. more..

Aug 17 (ST) ​Independent tests carried out by the accredited international laboratory Bureau Veritas (BV) on Trident Chemphar’s coal sold to SL between Jan and June 2026 showed that none of the supplier’s 19 consignments was above the tender’s minimum reject gross calorific value (GCV) of 5,900 kilocalories per kilogramme of coal. How then did two other laboratories—one chosen by the Indian supplier and the other via tender by more..

Aug 17 (DM) ​The govt is set to appoint an internal candidate as the interim CEO of loss-making SriLankan Airlines this week on a contract basis, ensuring management continuity as the national carrier navigates a crucial restructuring phase. ​While the specific identity of the new interim chief has not been officially disclosed, Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation Janitha Kodithuwakku confirmed that the stopgap appointment will be drawn from within the organisation. more..

Aug 17 (NW) Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association chairman Gamunu Wijeratne has lodged a complaint with the CID over what he described as sustained insults directed at him on social media. Speaking after lodging the complaint, Wijeratne said he had tolerated the criticism for some time but decided to seek police intervention following requests from members of his association and relatives. He said his comments on the ongoing Metro Bus project were not aimed at opposing the project, more..

Aug 17 (NW) 10 passengers have been rescued after a boat travelling from Kurikattuwan Jetty in Jaffna to Delft Island met with an accident near Nainativu (Nagadeepa) on Sunday, the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources said. The boat was carrying eight men and two women when the accident occurred. Following information about the incident, Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar contacted the Sri Lanka Navy and instructed that an immediate rescue operation be launched. more..

Aug 17 (ST) Uncertainty is looming over SL’s hosting of the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy, with SLC continuing to be administered by a govt-appointed interim committee. The six-team tournament is scheduled to be held in SL from Feb 14 to 28, 2027. However, ICC reluctance to recognise a politically appointed administration has raised concerns that the tournament could be moved to another country if elections are not held to restore an elected administration at Maitland Place. more..

Aug 17 (FT) Govt has approved a proposal to convert 30,000 tons of paddy held by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) into rice, in a move aimed at supporting the Govt’s paddy procurement program and ensuring adequate rice supplies to the market. The decision follows a recommendation made at the 34th meeting of the Food Policy and Security Committee held on 22 July 2022, which proposed converting PMB-owned paddy more..

Aug 17 (Island) SL’s central and upper watershed areas – frequently described as the nation’s water tower – face escalating pressures from decades of deforestation, soil erosion, and unsustainable land use. Serving as the source for over 100 main rivers and more than 1,000 feeder streams, these critical landscapes sustain water security, agricultural productivity, hydropower generation, and biodiversity. However, extreme weather events have exposed deep vulnerabilities, more..

Aug 17 (CI) Revolutions per second through the air is the big thing Keshara Nuwantha has going for him at first blush. Sri Lanka's debutant offspinner is not the finished product just yet. But there is potential here, and his promise revolves around the revolution. Like the moon orbits Earth, which in turn orbits the Sun. If you didn't quite follow all that, relax. This is a story about spin bowling. Some confusion is apt. Necessary even. To take the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja, more..

Aug 17 (FT) Unlike most economic forums where the spotlight falls on Govt policy and reform, a discussion on SL’s economic future turned the focus on the private sector. Verité Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan de Mel described the economy as a racket marked by tax non-compliance and high real returns to those with financial assets, while Advocata Institute Chairman Murtaza Jafferjee said economic policy more..

Aug 17 (TM) Though SL’s tourism sector has recovered its Covid-19 losses, with hotel operators seeing gross profit margins significantly improving, certain operators’ net profitability margins are yet to recover, SenFin Securities’ findings on the financial performance of the sample six operators, between the financial year of 2022 and 2026 shows. The advisory, commenting on the performance of Hayleys Leisure said: "From FY22-FY26, the improvement in GP margin from 38% to 65% more..

Aug 17 (AD) Vietnam Airlines has officially commenced direct air services between Vietnam and Sri Lanka, with its inaugural flight arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). The Airbus A320, operating as flight VN-671 from Ho Chi Minh City, arrived at the airport at 11.02 p.m. yesterday (16) and was given a traditional water salute upon arrival. A total of 164 passengers had arrived on the inaugural flight, while 172 passengers departed for Vietnam on the return flight. more..