Jun 11 (Island) A total of 267,138 children dropped out of the school system between 2018 and 2024, PM and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya informed Parliament yesterday. Responding to a question raised by SJB MP Hesha Withanage, the PM said that the govt did not possess definitive data on school dropouts from 2010 to the early part of 2017. She explained that the figures for the period from 2018 to 2024 more..

Jun 11 (NW) A new SL-based cargo airline, WEAIR, has officially commenced operations with financial and strategic backing from Luxembourg-based investment firm IOTC, marking a significant addition to the country’s air freight and logistics sector. The airline was formally launched at an event held at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo on June 6, under the patronage of Minister Vijitha Herath. Speaking at the event, Herath said the launch of WEAIR reflects growing int'l confidence in SL’s economic more..

Jun 11 (AD) Sri Lanka has been ranked 67th in this year’s Global Peace Index conducted by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Sri Lanka with an overall score of 1.91 is only behind Bhutan in the South Asian region. Bhutan is ranked 16th most peaceful nation in the world. According to the report, South Asia recorded the worst deterioration in peacefulness on the 2026 GPI, with the average overall score deteriorating by 2.3%. The region is ranked seventh of the eight GPI regions. more..

Jun 11 (FT) Investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks will not be halted due to protests, demonstrations or Satyagraha campaigns, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday, while alleging that investigators had gathered sufficient evidence to establish the involvement of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director, retired Major General Suresh Sallay, in a conspiracy linked to the attacks. more..

Jun 11 (FT) Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA), affiliated with The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, yesterday issued an urgent appeal to the Govt to abolish the 15% depreciation currently granted on used vehicle imports, warning that the concession is causing massive revenue leakages at a time when the country can least afford them. The Association estimates that the existing depreciation mechanism resulted in approximately Rs. 40 billion in lost Govt revenue in 2025 alone. more..

Jun 11 (TM) Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Dr Lakshman Edirisinghe said that Sri Lanka continues to meet its total national blood requirement through voluntary blood donations, with nearly 467,000 units collected last year (2025), helping to save the lives of more than one million patients. The country requires around 1,400 to 1,500 units of blood and 700 to 750 units of platelets every day, which are carefully managed by forecasting on a weekly basis more..

Jun 11 (NW) Department for Registration of Persons has warned the public against fraudulent individuals misusing the department’s name to obtain personal information and carry out financial scams under the guise of registering citizens for digital identity cards. In a public notice, the dept said it had received reports of individuals contacting members of the public through telephone numbers resembling its official hotline and claiming to conduct registrations for digital identity cards more..

Jun 11 (FT) SL rupee strengthened sharply against the US dollar yesterday after the CB tightened regulations governing the conversion of export proceeds, reducing the mandatory conversion period from 90 days to 30 days. USD/LKR spot rate closed at Rs. 332.25/333.00 yesterday, appreciating significantly from Tuesday’s close of Rs. 337.00/337.75. The currency had come under pressure in recent sessions, with the spot rate closing at Rs. 335.75/336.25 on Monday more..

Jun 11 (TM) Dengue mosquito larvae were found in 50 premises out of 189 Govt institutions inspected during the first day of the three-day national dengue prevention and control programme, NDCU said. Out of a total of 31,196 premises inspected on the first day of the programme on Monday (8), a total of 2,097 premises with dengue mosquito larvae were identified. Of these, a total of 8,121 premises were identified as potential dengue mosquito more..

Jun 11 (FT) Sri Lanka is better positioned to absorb the economic impact of a potential El Niño climate event than in previous years, owing to stronger fiscal and external sector buffers built up since the economic crisis, according to Frontier Research. The research firm said the global economy is facing growing uncertainty amid the lingering effects of trade disruptions and the recent oil price shock linked to tensions in the Middle East, while the prospect of a strong El Niño event presents more..

Jun 11 (ST) Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe has agreed to file charges against Buddhist monks arrested over various crimes under the names listed on their birth certificates, provided the respective sect (nikaya) of such monks take steps to disrobe them. Agreement between the AG and senior members of the Buddhist clergy had been struck when the clergy met with the AG recently to discuss the situation that has arisen owing to monks arrested as suspects in various crimes being put more..

Jun 11 (DN) Senior DIG Waruna Jayasundara, one time STF Commandant has filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal seeking judicial intervention to prevent his arrest or detention without probable cause in connection with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. In his petition, Senior DIG Jayasundara has sought appropriate relief from the Court to ensure that no action is taken to arrest or detain him in relation to the Easter Sunday investigations more..

Jun 11 (FT) SL Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) has called for the immediate withdrawal of the draft Bill seeking to establish a regulatory authority for media professionals, arguing that the proposed framework is aimed at controlling rather than protecting the media. In a statement, association said journalists and media stakeholders had long discussed the need for an independent institution to safeguard media freedom, professional standards, welfare, ethics and education. more..

Jun 11 (FT) SJB MP Harsha de Silva questioned the rationale behind CB's latest regulations requiring exporters to convert residual foreign currency earnings into SL rupees, warning that the measure risks undermining investor confidence and business freedom. Speaking in Parliament, he likened the regulation to the forced foreign exchange conversion measures imposed during SL’s economic crisis between 2022 and 2024. more..

Jun 11 (FT) Cementing its status as a global New Energy Vehicle (NEV) trailblazer, BYD has topped the global rankings for Most Innovative Automotive Group in the Automotive INNOVATIONS Report 2026 published by Germany’s Centre of Automotive Management (CAM) – the first time in the study’s 21-year history that a Chinese automaker has claimed the top position. BYD secured the ranking with an innovation index score of 157 points, ahead of Volkswagen Group at 143 points and more..

Jun 11 (Island) Sri Lanka will open their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign against hosts England when the 12-nation tournament gets underway in Birmingham on Friday. The event carries a prize purse of USD 8.7 million, underlining the remarkable growth of the women’s game in recent years. Every participating team is guaranteed a minimum of USD 250,000, even if they fail to win a game during the group stage. Sri Lanka have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts England, more..

Jun 11 (FT) Colombo Port City reached a significant milestone in its development as a leading regional business and investment destination following Cabinet approval granted in April 2026 to 77 Businesses of Strategic Importance (BSIs) under the Regulations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act. The approvals represent a major step forward in the growth of the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone more..

Jun 11 (DN) John Keells Properties (JKP) has announced that Vauxhall DSTRCT, its latest residential development in the heart of Colombo, has surpassed 300 apartment sales within the first three months of launch, reflecting strong market demand and continued confidence in the company’s developments. The milestone highlights the positive response from both local and overseas buyers and reinforces the growing appeal of well-positioned urban residential developments that offer more..

Jun 11 (FT) Mastercard has announced significant leadership appointments aimed at strengthening South Asia operations by creating a more integrated model for SL, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. The growing synergies within these countries, especially with regard to the focus on tourism and cross-border trade and payments innovation, make this integration crucial in scaling operations and underscores the company’s commitment to unlocking shared growth more..

Jun 11 (FT) Toyota Lanka has strengthened its presence in the Central Province with the enhancement of its after-sales service capabilities in Kandy, as part of a wider nationwide expansion strategy aimed at bringing world-class automotive services closer to customers. The company says the initiative reflects its commitment to customer convenience, technical excellence, and long-term investment in SL’s automotive sector: “Toyota Lanka continues to shape the future of more..

Jun 11 (FT) Home Lands is set to make history with SL’s largest-ever real estate launch, unveiling Central Park Boulevard Port City Colombo, The Indian Ocean’s Next Wonder. The launch, titled The Grand Launch Weekend, will comprise a series of events taking place from tomorrow to 14 June 2026 at the Lumina Ballroom, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams. Grand Launch Weekend will commence with The Night of Emeralds tomorrow, marking the official launch of Central Park Boulevard more..

Jun 11 (FT) Sri Lanka’s vehicle market recorded its strongest monthly performance since the reopening of imports, with total registrations surging 19.7% month-on-month (M-o-M) to 60,444 units in May as consumers accelerated purchases ahead of tighter financing rules and higher import taxes. The sharp increase reversed the softer trend seen in April and extended the recovery that has been underway since the beginning of the year. more..

Jun 11 (FT) Govt Budget recorded an overall surplus in the first quarter of 2026. This is significant because it occurred after about seven decades. SL has not recorded an overall Budget surplus since 1955. Govt’s overall Budget surplus was Rs. 116.35 billion. However, in the second quarter of 2026, the currency came under pressure to depreciate, experiencing significant exchange-rate volatility. If the currency depreciates, Budget surpluses may not be sustainable. more..

Jun 11 (DM) Ask SL football fans who they think will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and you are unlikely to get a unanimous answer. A recent Daily Mirror poll conducted across its website and social media platforms reflected exactly that. The results showed a mixed reaction among supporters, with votes spread across several leading contenders and no clear favourite emerging. The passion for the game in SL is undeniable. Football Federation of SL (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar believes more..

Jun 11 (Island) The first rays of dawn creep over the ancient rocks of Yala. Indian Ocean glimmers in the distance, and the wilderness slowly awakens. Somewhere amid the scrub jungle, a pair of amber eyes scans the landscape. For wildlife conservationist and leopard researcher Milinda Wattegedara, moments such as these have defined more than a decade of dedication to one of SL’s most iconic creatures—the SL leopard. What began as fascination evolved into a remarkable more..

Jun 11 (Island) The law finally caught up with former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, who caused losses to the state through some questionable deals, two decades ago. He was found guilty on four counts of corruption charges and sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court, on Tuesday. CIABOC had filed four cases against him for causing losses to the state coffers during his tenure as Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board during Rajapaksa govt, more..

Jun 11 (TM) The global trading landscape has today fractured into distinct realities. Modern economic theory points to a world dividing into self-contained fortress states, leaving vulnerable, trade-dependent Nations standing on the periphery. For decades, SL belonged firmly to the latter category, lingering as a bystander while regional neighbours forged deep economic alliances. Trade Ministry Secretary K A Vimalenthirajah more..

Jun 11 (TM) Although it is inappropriate to comment on the case regarding the allegation that Pallegama Hemarathana Thera sexually abused a young girl while the matter is under judicial investigation, the circumstances surrounding his recent arrest and subsequent release on bail have raised significant questions about religious authority, legal accountability, and the challenges facing the Judiciary. This necessitates a public exchange of views on aspects unrelated to ongoing more..

Jun 11 (GV) We are living through an unprecedented technological leap in human history. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data are constantly portrayed as magic wands capable of solving all the world’s problems. Tech conglomerates boast that modern humanity has captured the globe at its fingertips, accessible at the push of a button. Yet, behind these glowing screens lies a deliberate obscuring of the lived reality of millions thrust into darkness. Technology is no longer merely a more..

Jun 11 (SO) The ocean begins its work long before dawn. As fishing boats glide into the dark, the sea is already in motion—an unseen architecture of currents and chemistry shaping the island before sunrise. Waves continue their slow negotiation with the shores while beneath them coral reefs hold dense ecosystems of life. Sea turtles follow ancient migratory routes. Shoals shift like living constellations through blue water. For SL, the ocean is not a boundary. more..

Jun 11 (DN) Several back-to-back fires just a few days apart have once again shown us the destructive nature of fire. A blaze at an unauthorised elders care home in Anguruwathota, close to Horana, claimed at least 12 lives while three workers of an eatery in Thalawathugoda lost their lives when they could not escape the flames raging around them. A fire also destroyed an electronics store in Kadawatha. According to preliminary investigations, all these premises had not taken adequate steps more..

Jun 11 (ST) A can of worms or Pandora’s box, call it what you like, but a Supreme Court decision this week has brought forth – out of the woodwork – a nagging issue that Sri Lankans appear to have forgotten, not through their fault. This is the infamous Central Bank bond scam in 2015-2016 for which the main figures in the disputed deals are the elusive former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran, who is ensconced in Singapore as a citizen of that country, and far from the reach of desperate more..