Jun 29 (TM) The re-emergence of Dengue Virus Serotype 2 (DENV-2), which now accounts for around 75% of confirmed dengue infections, together with the lingering effects of last year's cyclone and continued rainfall, has played a major role in the sharp increase in dengue cases this year, according to National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU). NDCU Director Dr Kapila Kannangara explained that DENV-2 should not be viewed as more..

Jun 29 (DN) Battle against dengue in SL has hit a critical juncture in 2026 and according to the latest surveillance data captured up to the midnight of June 27, the country has crossed a sobering milestone, recording a total of 52,068 dengue cases since the start of the year. The year started with a noticeable caseload in January, tracking at 7,866 cases. As the first quarter progressed, the numbers saw a steady but manageable decline, hovering between 5,700 and 6,000 cases monthly more..

Jun 29 (Island) SL’s women flew home from Manchester yesterday reflecting on what might have been after a semi-final place slipped through their fingers by the narrowest of margins. SL and West Indies both finished on six points with 3 wins apiece, but the Caribbean side progressed thanks to a superior net run rate. Much of the soul searching centred on those fateful 90 minutes in Bristol. Having lost a crucial toss on a green top and been asked to bat first, SL got their approach horribly wrong. more..

Jun 29 (TM) Around 35 to 40 parties have indicated interest in the Govt's plan to secure a joint venture partner for Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA), with the exact number to be known once formal proposals are submitted. Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said the level of interest shown by prospective parties was significantly higher than during the previous Expressions of Interest (EOI) process more..

Jun 29 (Island) The country’s dengue control efforts have faced a serious setback amidst a surge in infections, with Grama Niladhari trade unions warning that the govt’s failure to address their longstanding grievances could force its members to withdraw from dengue prevention activities from tomorrow. Warning came as National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) reported that 31 denguerelated deaths so far this year, with the number of infections exceeding 51,000 cases. more..

Jun 29 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that Poson marks the historic arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka through Arahat Mahinda Thera, an event that transformed the nation spiritually, culturally, socially, and politically. He highlighted that Buddhism laid the foundation for Sri Lanka's development by promoting education through temples, encouraging moral values, and inspiring achievements in architecture, art, irrigation, and other fields. more..

Jun 29 (DN) SL Scout Association National Scout Poson Zone on Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha (from the Lake House Roundabout to the Police Headquarters Roundabout) in Colombo was opened yesterday by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The event runs from 6:30 pm to 1:00 am, featuring bhakthi gee, light patterns, dansal, lanterns, and a replica of Mihintale. Organised for the first time under the theme Poson to Colombo too, the event will be carried out with more..

Jun 29 (NW) The first phase of the Anuradhapura Multi-Modal Transport Hub was opened to the public on Saturday after construction, which had stalled due to funding shortages, was accelerated by the govt. The facility will initially operate a Touch & Go passenger service aimed at easing transport for thousands of devotees visiting A'pura for the Poson festival while helping reduce traffic congestion in the city. Authorities said the full project is expected to be completed by September. more..

Jun 29 (DM) Health experts have rejected recent statements by PM Harini Amarasuriya and Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni attributing the current surge in dengue cases to a new or modified strain of the dengue virus, insisting there is no scientific evidence to support such claims. Consultant Paediatrician Dr. LakKumar Fernando said that no laboratory in SL has identified a new dengue virus strain and stressed that more..

Jun 29 (Island) A total of 7,300 young people, below the age of 21, had been arrested on suspicion since the launch of the nationwide ‘Ratama Ekata’ anti-drug operation, DIG in charge of the Police Narcotics Bureau, Ashoka Dharmasena, told The Island yesterday. DIG Dharmasena said the suspects included about 150 females under the age of 21. He added that more than 214,000 suspects had been taken into custody since the commencement of the national anti-narcotics operation. more..

Jun 29 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya in her Poson Day message emphasized that the Poson Full Moon Poya Day commemorates the Dhamma mission of Arahant Mahinda Thero, which established the Buddha Sasana in SL and serves as a reminder of spiritual awakening, wisdom, and social harmony. She noted that Poson is not only a religious observance but also a symbol of the transformation of the nation's culture, moral values, and way of thinking, with Buddhist philosophy shaping more..

Jun 29 (Island) More than 500 lifeguards have been deployed on special duty to ensure the safety of devotees during the upcoming Poson Poya celebrations, SL Life Saving Association says.The Association’s CEO Asanka Nanayakkara said lifeguards had been assigned to more than 50 locations this year, in addition to the areas that are usually covered during the Poson season. The special deployment covers several districts, including Puttalam, Kurunegala, A'pura more..

Jun 29 (CI) Devdutt Padikkal's half-century and left-arm spinner Dilum Sudeera's five-wicket haul were the highlights on day four as the first unofficial Test between India A and Sri Lanka A petered to a draw. India A declared for the second time in the game after setting SL A a target north of 300, but were only able to take two wickets in the 15 overs they managed to get in. India began the day on 48 for no loss and a lead of 170, although B Sai Sudharsan had retired hurt on the third day. more..

Jun 29 (TM) A discussion was held Friday at the Prez Secretariat between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and industrialists in the coconut and food and beverage manufacturing sectors on developing the coconut and food and beverage export industries into a USD 3 billion economy within the next two years. Accordingly, the objective is to expand the coconut-based export industry into a $ 2 billion sector more..

Jun 29 (DM) Asiri Central Hospital has successfully performed its first liver transplant, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of specialised healthcare in Sri Lanka and bringing new hope to patients suffering from end-stage liver disease. A highly experienced multidisciplinary transplant team, including transplant surgeons, hepatologists, anesthetists, intensivists, specialised nursing teams, and allied healthcare professionals, performed the complex procedure. more..

Jun 29 (TM) Election Commission (EC) Chairperson R M A L Rathnayake said that the Commission had informed the relevant authorities to submit reports on the progress of court cases filed in each District against candidates and political parties accused of failing to submit campaign finance reports within the stipulated deadline. He said that the EC had requested the IGP to provide a report on the current status of the cases pending across the country. The Commission has specifically sought updates more..

Jun 29 (CI) Kemar Roach rampaged his way to his 300th Test wicket, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, and Alzarri Joseph all bowled menacing spells, and West Indies blasted SL out for 101, completing a behemoth innings-and-217-run victory. Gaining significantly more movement in the air and off the surface than SL's quicks had, WI fast bowlers threatened to take wickets right through day four's 27.2 overs. more..

Jun 29 (ST) Sri Lanka is compelled to maintain its schedule on finalised debt restructuring payments and avoid slipping into new external payment defaults although the economic reform outlook has been complicated by the West Asian conflict and Cyclone Ditwah. These shocks are expected to increase inflation, weaken the current account through higher oil. In response to these shocks, the IMF approved a temporary fiscal easing in 2026 which includes Rs. 500 billion budget support more..

Jun 29 (Island) The Lanka Hospitals Corporation successfully hosted its exclusive Pulse of Excellence awards ceremony recently. The event was organized to recognize and celebrate the institution’s remarkable milestone achievements and outstanding overall performance in 2025. The ceremony was graced by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa who attended as the Chief Guest and delivered a special address. During his address, the Minister highlighted the institution’s profound contribution to more..

Jun 29 (DN) Football Sri Lanka (FSL) will launch its flagship Super League 2026 on July 3, marking a major step in reviving domestic football as the country’s top 10 clubs battle for the national title in a competition expected to feature nearly 90 matches at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. FSL President Jaswar Umar said the Super League is another milestone after the successful completion of League 1 and the FSL Champions League, both of which attracted around 90 matches each. more..

Jun 29 (DM) As healthcare systems across the world grapple with ageing populations, rising non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance and increasing healthcare costs, the role of pharmacists is undergoing a remarkable transformation. No longer confined to dispensing medicines, pharmacists are increasingly recognised as frontline healthcare professionals who contribute to disease prevention, medication safety, patient counselling, public health and clinical more..

Jun 29 (TM) With signs of SL anticipating an El Niño phase in late 2026, severe downside risks for the economy include food inflation projected to reach double digits for a period of 24 months, based on the previous phase's impact documented in 2015-2016, First Capital Research said in its latest economic update report. Based on World Bank's NOAA Climate Prediction Centre (CPC) forecast for the year, research unit more..

Jun 29 (Island) Today all the major religions of the world must respond to a double challenge. On one side is the challenge of secularism, a trend which has swept across the globe, battering against the most ancient strongholds of the sacred and turning all man’s movements towards the Beyond into a forlorn gesture, poignant but devoid of sense. On the other side is the meeting of the great religions with each other. As the most far-flung nations and cultures merge into a single global more..

Jun 29 (GV) Fatima is a 17 year-old refugee child who has been living in SL nearly 14 years. She and her family had arrived in SL in 2012 and have been recognised as refugees by the UNHCR in 2015. But they have no prospects of permanent settlement in any country, including SL, in the foreseeable future. Despite this hopeless, uncertain situation and challenges in covering costs of housing, food, healthcare and education, Fatima is going to school, excelling in studies & other school activities. more..

Jun 29 (Island) Rice growers are up in arms, unable to sell their produce at fair prices. They are also demanding that fertiliser be made available at affordable prices. Instead of listening to them and making a serious effort to redress their grievances, govt has claimed that their protests are politically motivated; a deputy minister has gone to the extent of provoking protesting farmers by calling them rotgut addicts. JVP/NPP has totally mismanaged farmers’ protests, which are likely to snowball. more..

Jun 29 (TM) There is a growing public perception that whenever the President makes an appearance in Parliament, it is rarely just another parliamentary day. Whether by coincidence or design, such appearances often seem to coincide with developments that either divert public attention from realities confronting the Govt or amplify political difficulties faced by the Opposition. Fair or unfair, that perception has become increasingly entrenched in the public mind. more..

Jun 29 (TM) Prez AKD and his JVP-led NPP Govt have entered the phase that is a familiar challenge confronting every administration that assumes office on a platform of sweeping change: converting political promises into visible results. While the Govt remains politically secure with its parliamentary majority, public attention is increasingly shifting from policy announcements to implementation. Concerns over delays in rolling out development more..

Jun 29 (ST) Combating the drug menace has been a priority for the NPP govt. Back in October last year, it formally launched A Nation United anti-drug programme. The programme is being implemented island-wide. The programme is a priority to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake himself, and he was on hand in Parliament this week as the House held a two-day adjournment debate on Combatting the drug menace. In a lengthy speech before the House, President spoke about more..

Jun 29 (DM) Connections between powerful politicians and underworld figures involved in drug dealing abound in our country. We well remember how a one-time president helicoptered to the home of a regional politician in a show of support when that worthy’s home was being raided by law enforcement officials on drugs-related charges. Last week, the country was rocked when news that a one-time Justice Minister’s son, and another politician from an Opposition party was also more..

Jun 29 (SO) On the day of his consecration in the ancient capital of Anuradhapura, King Tissa assumed the honorific title Devanampiya—meaning Beloved of the Gods. The title was not unique to Sri Lanka; it had already been adopted by the mighty Emperor Asoka of the Mauryan Empire, whose inscriptions across the Indian subcontinent frequently styled him Devanampriya Priyadarsin more..

Jun 29 (SO) For decades, many Sri Lankans believed that power and proximity to it meant immunity. Well-connected persons have literally walked away from murder with little consequences. Ministers, who had been accused of corruption by foreign Govts, have continued as if nothing has happened. At the grassroots level, political henchmen misused State resources, harassed citizens, grabbed lands, and behaved as if the law existed only for the hoi polloi. more..

Jun 29 (DM) A renewed debate over custodial treatment and due process has emerged in Sri Lanka following the detention of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General Suresh Sallay (Retd.) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Allegations raised by his family regarding his physical condition and treatment in custody, alongside the govt’s position that the detention is lawful, have prompted an inquiry by the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) more..