Aug 20 (SO) For nearly eight decades, Sri Lanka’s economic journey has resembled a Sisyphean tragedy. Time and again, the island nation has pushed the heavy boulder of structural reform towards the peak of modern prosperity, only to watch political cowardice, partisan violence, and reckless policy reversals roll it back down to the baseline. Today, as Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake navigates the post-bankruptcy landscape under an IMF EFF, the shadow of this history looms large. more..

Aug 20 (DN) The Asian elephant is considered an auspicious animal and signifies good fortune. They were used as one of the four-fold armies (chariots, elephants, cavalry and infantry) throughout history. The association of elephants with Buddhism dates back to the beginning of Buddhism. Elephants are associated with the stories of the life of Noble Buddha such as the conception of Prince Siddhartha and featured in a number of Jataka tales. The taming of elephants in South Asia dates back to centuries. more..

Aug 20 (ST) Things do happen unexpectedly in this day and age. I mean, shouldn’t we have one eye open for flying drones and other weapons of mass dispute (WMD) since we have helped that Trump-crazy administration come closer to our increasingly sensitive territorial waters? Perhaps somebody should take note of the rising number of high-ranking US military personnel who congregated on our small island, particularly in the early days of the Trump-Netanyahu military foray in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, more..

Aug 20 (GV) Last month, a video showing Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe removing the microphone of a private television channel while saying, Remove this, brother was widely circulated. A single incident cannot by itself establish that media freedom in SL is under threat. However, it raised a fundamental question: who determines the terms of engagement between those in power and the media? Who is recognised as a journalist? Who should have the authority to define the professional standards of the media? more..

Aug 20 (CT) I was introduced to the bits and bobs of SL’s legal system at a very tender age when other children were just learning to hold a cricket bat or throw a ball at the batsman. My father was a constant litigant (cf. constant gardener) who had unstinted faith in, and undwindling respect for, the legal system. He had earned a good living in the Mediterranean Las Palmas island in the 1920s and 30s, and as a result owned quite a few extents of land and houses, once I counted up to sixteen. more..

Aug 20 (SO) Aswesuma programme was introduced by the Govt as a lifeline for SL’s most vulnerable families, providing much-needed financial support to those struggling to meet their basic needs. But an investigation into the Norwood Divisional Secretariat has now uncovered startling allegations that more than Rs. 16 million of these welfare payments may have been siphoned away from the very people the scheme was designed to help. Preliminary findings by the Audit Division of more..

Aug 20 (DM) For decades, SL sat at an agonisingly strategic crossroads in the Indian Ocean, acting as a vital maritime trade route and a fertile transit hub for international drug cartels. The roots of this national crisis run remarkably deep into our history. During the long years of the LTTE conflict, northern coastal stretches like Velvettithurai, Point Pedro and Mannar were routinely exploited by contraband smuggling networks moving across the narrow waters of the Palk Strait. more..

Aug 20 (DM) European Union has outlined a set of recommendations for SL to comply with in order to continue its preferential access to the EU market under the GSP+ trade programme post-2028. Among the main recommendations are repealing the PTA in place of a law in line with international standards, amending or repealing the Online Safety Act, a formal moratorium on the death penalty, and enacting anti-discrimination laws and decriminalisation of consensual same sex relations. more..

Aug 19 (NW) Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was arrested yesterday by investigating officers of the CIABOC over allegations of corruption, aiding and abetting corruption, and conspiracy, according to a CIABOC notice. CIABOC said Rambukwella was arrested at around 11.30 a.m. and 1.15 p.m. in connection with two separate allegations. One allegation relates to the recruitment of six employees to SL Rupavahini Corporation beyond its approved cadre more..

Aug 19 (NW) India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal appeared to win a brief battle of words with SK’s Niroshan Dickwella during the first Test in Galle, with the light-hearted exchange ending in a wicket on the very next delivery. With Dickwella at the crease, Jaiswal was heard encouraging the Sri Lankan batter to go for the big shots. “Come on, we need to see some sixes from you!” Jaiswal said. Dickwella responded: “If you take me to the IPL…” Jaiswal quickly replied: “Hit some sixes, then I will.” more..

Aug 19 (NW) Farmers affected by the prevailing dry weather conditions are to receive agricultural insurance compensation promptly, according to Agricultural & Agrarian Insurance Board. Crop damage, including to paddy and maize, has been reported in several districts, including Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Ampara and A'pura, due to water shortages caused by the drought conditions. Paddy cultivation damage more..

Aug 19 (DM) UN Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) and under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, recently conducted a national simulation-based programme to strengthen youth participation in disaster preparedness and response. Held at the NYSC Auditorium in Maharagama to mark Int'l Youth Day 2026, the programme, titled The Resilience Lab: Local Youth Action in Crisis Response, brought together more than 100 youth leaders from more..

Aug 19 (AD) The Pakistan Cricket Board will host Sri Lanka and England men’s cricket teams for bilateral and tri-series from 9 October to 21 November, it was announced today. Sri Lanka will arrive on 4 October to feature in a three-match T20I series, which will be played in Rawalpindi from 9 to 13 October. Following the T20I series, England will arrive in Pakistan to take part in an ODI tri-series, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from 18 to 31 Oct. At the conclusion of the tri-series, more..

Aug 19 (Island) Former Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) Dr. Deepika Udagama says that she is against the extension of the age of retirement of senior judges in an ad hoc manner. The legal scholar said that she had already expressed her views during discussions with the Bar Association of SL (BASL). She said so responding to The Island query regarding the developing situation. more..

Aug 19 (DN) Sri Lanka Embassy in Doha recovered Rs. 80,886,895.32 from January to July 2026 as death compensation on behalf of the Next of Kin (NoK) of Sri Lankan nationals who had passed away in Qatar, despite the challenges arising from the tense situation in the region. The recovered funds were remitted to the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Colombo and to the respective deceased persons’ NoKs. The amount also included cases pending since 2023. more..

Aug 19 (AM) The wife of former Cabinet Minister and Monaragala District MP Jagath Pushpakumara has died following an accidental fall from a building under construction. The deceased has been identified as 55-year-old Deshani Gunaratne, a mother of two. She had reportedly fallen from the second floor of a newly constructed building belonging to the family. Gunaratne, who was receiving treatment at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital following the incident, died this more..

Aug 19 (AD) SL Book Publishers’ Association has warned that taxes imposed on printed books are placing growing pressure on the publishing industry, with an estimated 50% to 60% of authors turning to other occupations over the past three years. The association also claims that around 40% of publishing companies have exited the industry during the same period. Introduction of VAT and other taxes on printed books in Jan 2023 has contributed to a sharp increase in book more..

Aug 19 (NW) Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has urged the government to remove legal and practical barriers faced by SL Tamil refugees in India seeking to return to SL. Raising the issue in Parliament today, Rasamanickam said returnees continued to face uncertainty over citizenship verification, security clearance, travel documents, housing, land, employment and resettlement. Responding to the MP, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala more..

Aug 19 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to focus on establishing the Information Technology Service as an All-Island Service capable of making a significant contribution to the Govt’s digital transformation process. Prez issued these instructions while participating in a progress review meeting on projects and programmes implemented in 2026 under the Ministry of Digital Economy, more..

Aug 19 (NW) The Bar Association of SL (BASL) is expected to brief MPs on Thursday on the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and concerns relating to vacancies in the superior courts, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said. Speaking in Parliament today, Premadasa said he had initially written to the president of the BASL on June 8, requesting a briefing for opposition MPs on the 22nd Amendment and the implications of not filling vacancies for judges in the superior courts. more..

Aug 19 (DN) A stock of 1,090 kg of substandard veterinary medicines, valued over Rs. 3 million and manufactured without registration with the Animal Production and Health Dept, was destroyed in Kerawalapitiya, Wattala on Monday. The medicines were seized during a raid jointly conducted by the Consumer Affairs Authority and the Animal Production and Health Dept. The relevant manufacturer had violated Section 17 of the Animal Diseases Act, admitted the offence and more..

Aug 19 (DN) Minister Vijitha Herath informed Parliament that the Govt has been able to remove all taxes imposed by the US on SL’s exports. Noting that only a 10% Customs duty is currently in effect, Minister said that this is a victory for the good diplomatic relations maintained by the current govt with the US. He said that similarly, govt is maintaining good relations with the European Union and is conducting serious negotiations to more..

Aug 19 (FT) SL’s manufacturing and services sectors in July have expanded, as per the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), its compiler the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) said. The Manufacturing PMI registered an index value of 55 in July, indicating an increase in manufacturing activities at a faster rate compared to 53 in June 2026. CBSL said all sub-indices contributed positively to this improvement. The overall expansion in the New Orders in July expanded to 55.9 from 50 more..

Aug 19 (AD) An elderly female giraffe at the Dehiwala National Zoological Gardens has died, according to the Director General of the National Zoological Gardens, Dr. R.C. Rajapaksa. The giraffe, which died last night, was approximately 30 years old. The Director General stated that the average lifespan of a giraffe in the wild is around 20–25 years, while giraffes can live longer under professional care in a zoo environment. He said that no specific illness had been reported in more..

Aug 19 (CI) Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal are out of the second Test against India, in Colombo. Pathum Nissanka is also unlikely to be fit in time for the match, which starts on Sunday. All this means Sri Lanka will be without three first-choice batters, as they attempt to recover from a 1-0 deficit in the two-match series. Mendis has not played any competitive cricket since busting a hamstring in the early rounds of the LPL. He was replaced by Niroshan Dickwella in the Test squad, more..

Aug 19 (NW) The govt plans to establish a coordinated mechanism across all prisons in SL to identify potential problems early and improve responses to emergencies, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said. The mechanism will bring together state agencies to coordinate emergency responses and improve the welfare of inmates, the minister said during a meeting at the Kalutara Prison on Wednesday. Nanayakkara said committees comprising local govt officials more..

Aug 19 (AM) The 24 accused facing 23,270 charges, including conspiracy and aiding and abetting in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks, began presenting their defence statements from the dock before the Colombo 3-judge High Court Trial-at-Bar on Monday. The first accused in the case, Mohamed Ibrahim Naufer, alias Naufer Maulavi, delivered his statement from the dock for nearly two hours, denying the allegations more..

Aug 19 (AD) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has seized a stock of substandard vehicle spare parts and lubricating oil worth nearly Rs. 5 million during a raid on a shop in the Pasal Mawatha area along the Kadawatha-Ganemulla Road. Raid was conducted by officers attached to the Competition Promotion Division of CAA following information received regarding alleged violations, including the sale and storage of lubricating oil and vehicle spare parts in violation of CAA Orders No. 85 & 88, more..

Aug 19 (DM) SL’s High Commissioner to India Mahishini Colonne has stressed the need to protect SL’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and strategic autonomy while further strengthening its strategic partnership with India. Addressing the 66th Course of India’s National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi on Tuesday, Colonne described the relationship as a partnership between unequal states, but not between unequal interests, while emphasising that both countries share more..

Aug 19 (CI) India displayed the required patience and persistence to seal a 165-run win against a resolute SL middle order on a slow, new-ball pitch. Sonal Dinusha came to within 16 runs of a second hundred in the Test, Dhananjaya de Silva scored a half-century as well, and for long periods India looked content to keep a lid on the scoring so that they could do the job with the second new ball. Once he got Dinusha out in the 76th over, more..

Aug 19 (DM) SL’s Honorary Consul in Guinea, Dr. Anuruddha Shanaka, has hit back at the Foreign Ministry’s response to his proposal to promote tourism and broader economic cooperation with the West African country, arguing that the Ministry’s reliance on the lack of direct air connectivity and tourist arrivals was fundamentally misplaced and irrelevant to the strategic merits of the initiative. In a strongly worded letter, he argued that connectivity is a challenge to be solved more..

Aug 19 (DM) The Head of the Revenue Administration Reform and Modernization Bureau and Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda, commended the contribution of the Information Technology Division of SL Customs towards the successful implementation of the Digital Signature and Paperless Customs Declaration System, which is scheduled to come into operation from October 1. He made these remarks while delivering a special lecture on more..