Jul 28 (FT) Total vehicle registrations moderated in June as lower registrations of two- and three-wheelers outweighed continued strength in the sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment, while several commercial vehicle categories recorded modest improvements, JB Securities said. The brokerage said total vehicle registrations declined to 58,151 units in June from 62,776 in May. Despite the overall slowdown, it said passenger vehicle registrations remained resilient. more..

Jul 28 (EN) SL has approved the disposal of accumulated scrap metal belonging to the state-run SLTB for a total value of 195.89 million rupees, issuing procurement awards to six industrial bidders. Cabinet of Ministers greenlit the proposal to finalize the sales based on recommendations by the High-Level Procurement Committee. “The proposal to award the procurements for the disposal of the said scrap metal to the substantially responsive highest price bidders was approved by the Cabinet” more..

Jul 28 (DM) It is regrettable that some patients who require medical treatment and special attention as inpatients are returning home without being admitted to hospitals due to the current overcrowding, which has become a contributing factor in the increase in dengue-related deaths, Specialist Dr Chamal Sanjeewa said. He said hospitals are under severe pressure due to the rising number of dengue patients, with both govt and private hospitals exceeding their capacity to admit patients. more..

Jul 28 (DM) Five leading Presidents’ Counsel, including a member of the NPP Leadership Council and the Executive Council Lal Wijenayake, yesterday protested the govt’s move to extend the retirement age of judges by two years. Mr Wijenayake, flanked by four others, told a media briefing that the NPP leadership asked him to be silent about the move. “NPP as a party has not made any decision to extend the retirement age of judges. I was asked to keep silent when more..

Jul 28 (NW) Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath undertook an inspection tour of the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in the Philippines to assess the progress of Sri Lankan investments established there. Two leading Sri Lankan companies, Haycarb PLC and Jaindi Exports, have invested in projects within the PHIVIDEC zone, reflecting the growing confidence of Sri Lanka’s business sector in the Philippines’ investment‑friendly environment. more..

Jul 28 (AD) Court today (28) directed the CIABOC to complete its investigation into former SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe, who is facing multiple corruption-related allegations, and report its findings to the court. The case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today. Officials representing the Bribery Commission requested additional time to conclude the investigation and submit a progress report. more..

Jul 28 (FT) SL Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products (SLAMERP) has welcomed the decision by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) to place SL among the countries subject to a 10% tariff under the recently concluded Section 301 investigations, describing the outcome as a significant boost to the country’s rubber products export sector. The decision ensures SL remains on par with several key competitor nations, helping preserve the competitiveness of more..

Jul 28 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya has highlighted the power of art to unite people beyond ethnic, religious and linguistic differences, saying that the true language of great art is humanity and unity. The Prime Minister made the remarks while attending the Dr. Sujatha Attanayake Pranama felicitation ceremony held at Kumaratunga Munidasa Studio in honour of the veteran songstress. The event recognised Dr. Sujatha Attanayake’s more than 7-decade contribution to SL music and broadcasting. more..

Jul 28 (AD) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has stated that there is no requirement to hold a referendum to implement the govt's decision to extend the retirement age of judges. He said the Constitution does not stipulate any requirement for such a referendum. He made the remarks in response to questions regarding the govt's proposal to extend the retirement age of judges. Meanwhile, Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to draft amendments to the Constitution more..

Jul 28 (AD) The Cabinet has approved an additional foreign exchange adjustment allowance of up to Rs. 2.5 million per year for students selected under the govt’s overseas scholarship programme, following the recent depreciation of the SL Rupee against major global currencies. The allowance will be provided to ensure that students pursuing undergraduate studies at internationally ranked foreign universities are able to meet increased costs arising from exchange rate fluctuations. more..

Jul 28 (CI) Fifties from Harshitha Samarawickrama, Chamari Athapaththu and Hasini Perera steered SL's comfortable chase, as they cantered to an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the series decider in Hambantota. The win saw them take the ODI series 2-1, with the T20I leg of the tour set to start on Friday. Having bowled the visitors out for 187, SL's top order made sure there would be no hiccups in running down the target. Vishmi Gunaratne, fresh off a century in the second ODI, more..

Jul 28 (NW) The proposed new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will establish a 14-member governing board comprising seven elected members and seven independently appointed members, the Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee said. Transformation Committee Chairman Eran Wickramaratne and Cricket Committee Chairman Sidath Wettimuny said the reforms are aimed at creating a more independent, professional and stable governance structure for Sri Lanka Cricket. more..

Jul 28 (DM) National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has said there are no plans as yet to impose water supply restrictions in any part of the country despite the prevailing El Nińo-related climate conditions. According to NWSDB Chairman Chandana Bandara, the board is continuing operations at maximum water production capacity as no restrictions have been imposed on water extraction from major reservoirs by Department of Irrigation or the Mahaweli Authority of SL. more..

Jul 28 (NW) U.S. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan is leading a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Sri Lanka from July 27-30, aimed at strengthening the bilateral partnership and advancing shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific region. Houlahan and the delegation will hold high-level meetings with government, military and political leaders, including Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. more..

Jul 28 (FT) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is one of the strongest indicators of investor confidence in an economy. While many Asian economies continue to attract billions of dollars annually, SL's FDI inflows remain modest despite its enviable location at the centre of the Indian Ocean. Geography has undoubtedly blessed Sri Lanka with strategic importance, but geography alone is no longer sufficient to attract global capital. Investors today choose efficiency over promises, more..

Jul 28 (FT) The draft law to register and supervise NGOs, circulated in July 2026, evokes a sense of déjŕ vu. Why? Because the NPP Govt is recycling the law drafted by the Ministry of Public Security headed by Tiran Alles during the Ranil Wickremesinghe Govt. Why should you care about it? Because it applies to a wide range of organisations- microfinance NGOs, trusts, companies limited by guarantee, associations, councils, community hostels, foundations, movements, international organisations more..

Jul 28 (TM) Judicial Service Association (JSA) called on the Govt to abandon its proposed constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of judges serving on the country's Superior Courts, warning that the move could undermine the independence and stability of the Judiciary. In a letter addressed to Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, Association said that extending the retirement age of Judges of more..

Jul 28 (NW) Police have revealed further details surrounding the murder of a Chinese national following a clash between two groups of Chinese nationals at the Colombo Port City on July 23. The incident occurred at around 3 a.m. when a confrontation broke out between the two groups. One individual was allegedly abducted following the clash, and his body was later recovered from the Eheliyagoda area. Investigations subsequently established that the deceased had been more..

Jul 28 (Island) An awareness workshop to launch the national initiative A Culture of Integrity – A Clean SL aimed at fostering a more ethical and accountable public service was held on Monday at Temple Trees, with the participation of the Secretary to the PM, Pradeep Saputhanthri. The programme aims to strengthen ethics and values within the public service in alignment with the national Clean SL programme, contributing to the Govt’s key objective of enhancing the quality, efficiency, and more..

Jul 28 (TG) Commemorations were held across Jaffna over the weekend to mark 43 years since the Black July pogrom, honouring thousands of Tamils killed in the anti-Tamil violence of July 1983 and the Tamil political prisoners massacred while in state custody. At the Thanthai Selva Auditorium in Jaffna, a common flame of remembrance was lit on Saturday, and candles were lit in memory of Tamil prisoners killed in detention. more..

Jul 28 (AD) High Commission of India in Colombo has issued a clarification regarding visa processes and fees for SL pilgrims travelling to India. The diplomatic mission reaffirmed its standing policy of facilitating the smooth and timely issuance of visas for all Sri Lankans, noting that while e-visas remain available, those applying through the High Commission must submit their applications online and present them at ICACs in Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna, Hambantota or Batticaloa. more..

Jul 28 (NW) Police have warned motorists of possible traffic congestion in several parts of Colombo due to the 152nd annual Vel Festival procession of the New Kathiresan Kovils in Pettah and Bambalapitiya. The silver chariot procession will begin from the Kathiresan Kovil on Sea Street, Pettah, at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, and is expected to reach the New Kathiresan Kovil in Bambalapitiya by 8.30 p.m. The procession will travel through Sea Street, Gas Works more..

Jul 28 (Island) The cricketing fraternity is mourning the death of former SLC President Upali Dharmadasa, one of the game’s longest-serving administrators, who passed away at the age of 74. Dharmadasa’s association with cricket administration stretched back to 1989. A towering figure in local cricket, he headed Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club for several years and played a pivotal role in transforming the club into one of the country’s leading domestic forces. more..

Jul 28 (SO) The 37th Prime – Sarasaviya Film Awards organised by the Sarasaviya cinema weekly of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. (Lake House) will be held at the Nelum Pokuna premises in Colombo in the evening of Sept 9. It was revealed at a media launch to announce this year’s event, at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, that this year’s edition titled Film Awards Ceremony of the Youth – 2026 will crown cinema stars of the country for the year 2025, with over 50 awards. more..

Jul 28 (TM) India has donated a consignment of the insecticide malathion to SL to bolster dengue control efforts after health authorities found that the chemical currently used for mosquito fogging is proving ineffective in some areas, National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) said. The request for malathion had been made by the Health Ministry after PHIs reported that the chemical currently being used for fogging is not proving sufficiently more..

Jul 28 (NW) Ven. Agalakada Sirisumana Thera, a member of the governing council of the Shasanarakshaka Sangha Sabha, on Monday alleged that attempts were being made to discredit Buddhist monks and prevent them from playing an active role in society. Thera made the remarks while addressing the Sukha Sanghassa Samaggi Sangha Convention organised by the Shasanarakshaka Sangha Sabha in Colombo. The convention was convened to call on the authorities to uphold more..

Jul 28 (DN) The third leg of the LPL will commence today at Pallekele when the two teams Colombo Kaps and Jaffna Kings will meet each other in a night game commencing at 7.30pm. Colombo Kaps led by Kamindu Mendis is in second place at the points table while Jaffna Kings led by Bhanuka Rajapaksa is in third place. Both teams already played five matches and each having recorded three wins to obtain 6 points each but Colombo Kaps are ahead with better net run rate of 0.371 more..

Jul 28 (FT) Forward Faster Now|APAC 2026 in August will bring together leaders from business, policy makers, sustainability practitioners, and UN across Asia-Pacific to strengthen partnerships, advance dialogue and accelerate sustainable business leadership for a more resilient, inclusive and prosperous future. Titled Forward Faster Now|APAC 2026: Driving Business Leadership for Sustainable & Inclusive Growth, UN Global Compact’s flagship regional event for Asia-Pacific. more..

Jul 28 (DN) SL women are expected to continue their superb batting form to win the deciding ODI against Pakistan women today at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l Stadium, Hambantota. Lankan lasses won the second ODI by 8 wickets to equal the series and this third and final game will decide the series victory. SL made their third highest run chase in women’s ODI in emphatic fashion in the last game. Opener Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama both hit centuries more..

Jul 28 (SO) Excavation work at Sri Lanka’s largest mass grave site has been temporarily halted once again to allow the forensic and excavation teams a necessary respite, following more than a year of intensive field operations. Lawyer V.S. Niranjan who represents the victims said that 479 out of the 480 human skeletons identified at the site including those of young children have been exhumed so far. more..

Jul 28 (TG) Six Tamil-speaking political parties have requested a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and plan to meet the Leader of the Opposition to discuss matters affecting Tamil-speaking peoples. The announcement follows a meeting of the parties' leaders and representatives at the Parliament Complex, where they reaffirmed an earlier decision to work together on issues of common concern while continuing to maintain their individual political identities and policies. more..

Jul 28 (SO) A key witness testifying before the PCoI investigating controversial coal transactions admitted he was unable to explain how Critical Quality Indicators for imported coal shipments were altered following public controversy over the deal. Rohan Jeewantha, SL Local Manager for Cotecna (India) the testing agency tasked with assessing the coal shipments, made the admission whilst responding to panel members regarding the Gross Calorific Value (GCV), a crucial benchmark used to measure more..