Jul 24 (FT) Govt is preparing to restore criminal sanctions for serious foreign exchange offences after investigations into approximately $ 715 million remitted overseas through fraudulent import transactions exposed a gap in SL’s legal framework. Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said that the Govt intends to present a Cabinet paper to amend the Foreign Exchange Act, No. 12 of 2017. The move seeks to reclassify non-compliance in remitting foreign exchange more..

Jul 24 (Island) Sri Lanka’s higher education system has long sought to balance two equally important national objectives: maintaining academic quality while expanding access to university education. Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has been one of the country’s most successful mechanisms for achieving this balance, particularly for working adults, teachers, govt officers, rural communities, and thousands of students who were unable to enter conventional degree programmes. more..

Jul 24 (Island) SL has succeeded in defeating terrorism but failed to neutralise the netherworld of drugs and crime. Successive govts have launched ambitious operations against the underworld but crime syndicates are still going strong as evident from frequent incidents violence and drug detections. Now, a notorious drug dealer, Mohamed Imran aka Kanjipani Imran, has reportedly threatened to attack the Devinuwara Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya perahera over a dispute between two kavadi dance groups. more..

Jul 24 (DN) According to PM and Minister of Education Harini Amarasuriya, UGC’s 24/7 Anti-Ragging Hotline has been formulated for students in universities and other higher education institutes to report any incidents related to physical, verbal or emotional abuse without fear of retaliation. Victim Support Committees (VSCs) in universities are institutional bodies established to protect and assist students who experience ragging, bullying or sexual and gender-based violence. more..

Jul 24 (DM) The revelation before the CoPF that nearly US$715 million may have been remitted overseas using allegedly false import documents is not merely another financial irregularity. It is a matter that strikes at the heart of Sri Lanka’s economic governance. If substantiated, it represents one of the largest illicit outflows of foreign exchange in recent history at a time when every dollar has become precious to a nation emerging from bankruptcy. more..

Jul 24 (DM) Animal welfare organisations and activists across SL strongly reject the recent statement made by the Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health suggesting that feeding street dogs contributes to increasing dog populations and the spread of rabies. Following widespread public concern, the Director General subsequently referred to the concept of responsible feeding. However, this does not address the fundamental issue. more..

Jul 24 (CT) As SL continues its journey towards economic recovery, policymakers and business leaders are increasingly looking towards successful international experiences for lessons that could guide the country’s future development. Among the countries most frequently cited is Singapore, a nation that transformed itself within a generation from a resource-limited island into one of the world’s most prosperous economies. The obvious question is whether SL can replicate Singapore’s remarkable success. more..

Jul 24 (ST) SL is now an upper-middle-income country, according to per capita income in US dollar terms. While some would say wow… what an achievement!, others would ask is it a big deal? Let us dig into this country classification practice and SL’s long journey towards where it is today. SL in fact crossed the upper-middle income status in 2018, after spending 20 long years in lower-middle income status. Then, just the next year – 2019, the country fell back to lower-middle income status. more..

Jul 24 (TM) For the first time in years, the State has moved to legally clear elephant corridors rather than simply declare them on a map. Three routes in the south and east – Handapanagala, Wetahirakanda, and Koholankala – have been gazetted; families occupying blocked land have been promised alternative plots; and a new national action plan is being drafted to replace a framework that has remained largely unimplemented since 2020. more..

Jul 24 (GV) Our society is still not free from ambiguity. The political landscape remains extremely ambiguous. Fraud, corruption and intimidation persist; only the context has changed. Blaming others and taking advantage for personal gain have become the new cultural norms. Rather than following the Buddhist teaching that hatred cannot be quenched by hatred, hatred continues to spread, shaping a political mindset that is difficult to escape. Instead of valuing dissent, more..

Jul 24 (CT) Every year in July, Sri Lankan Tamils across the world pause to remember one of the darkest chapters in the country’s modern history. The events of July 1983—widely known as Black July—left deep scars on the nation. Thousands of Tamil families were displaced, homes and businesses were destroyed, innocent civilians lost their lives, and the violence marked a turning point that ultimately led to nearly three decades of civil war. Forty-three years have now passed. more..

Jul 23 (DM) Negombo Magistrate’s Court has been informed that 17 of the 28 deaths linked to the incident inside Negombo Prison were caused by gunshot injuries, while the remaining 11 deaths resulted from assaults involving blunt weapons. Negombo Chief Magistrate Shilani Perera disclosed the findings in open court while announcing the results of 28 post-mortem examinations submitted by the Negombo Judicial Medical Officer. After the findings of all 28 post-mortem examinations more..

Jul 23 (NW) The Chinese Embassy in SL says it is closely following the incident involving the death of a Chinese national following a clash between two groups at the Colombo Port City last night. The Chinese Embassy has urged the SL police to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the facts as soon as possible and safeguard the personal safety and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens. Embassy further reminded Chinese citizens in SL to enhance their more..

Jul 23 (BBC) Battling its worst dengue outbreak in nearly a decade, Sri Lanka has deployed military drones to scan for stagnant pools of water on rooftops and other mosquito-breeding sites. The virus has killed 56 people and infected more than 77,000 others in the South Asian nation this year, with more than a quarter of them reported in July alone. Dengue fever, which is spread to humans through mosquitoes, more..

Jul 23 (DM) Two schoolboys lost their lives after attempting to take selfies from the top of the Jodu Ella waterfall in the Knuckles forest range yesterday. The victims, identified as B. Saljith and K. Delon, were Grade Nine students of the Knuckles Tamil Maha Vidyalaya and residents of Knuckles Estate in Thawalantenna. The two boys were among a group of five schoolboys who had visited the scenic Jodu Ella waterfall. While standing on a boulder at the top of the falls to take selfies, more..

Jul 23 (NW) Tamil Members of Parliament today commemorated the 43rd anniversary of Black July in Parliament, remembering the victims of the anti-Tamil violence of July 1983 and renewing calls for justice and accountability. Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, in a post on ‘X’, noted that forty‑three years have passed since the atrocities that forever changed the lives of the Tamil people. He said that despite political and social changes over the past four decades, more..

Jul 23 (Island) President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena told the Court of Appeal that the CID had sent a team to Paris to obtain a statement from Azad Moulana, a fugitive from SL law and seeking political asylum in Europe, regarding the 2019 Easter Sunday case, though he was a person critical of the SL judiciary. Jayawardena, questioned how a statement given by such a person can be relied upon. Pointing out that the recording of more..

Jul 23 (PMD) A preliminary planning meeting for the Sri Dalada Maha Perahera 2026 of the Sri J'pura Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya was held this morning at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. The meeting focused on preparations for this year’s Esala Festival, during which the 126th Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya Sri Dalada Maha Perahera will take place. The annual procession is scheduled to commence at 8 pm on 12 Sept more..

Jul 23 (AD) Sri Lanka Marine Corps personnel have taken part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise currently being held in Hawaii, alongside military forces from 28 other countries. The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka said the participation reflects growing cooperation between Sri Lanka and Indo-Pacific partner nations. The multinational maritime exercise, described as the world’s largest of its kind, brings together naval and marine forces to enhance coordination and readiness. more..

Jul 23 (NW) Anuda Bandara, son of former State Minister Shantha Bandara, was today ordered to be remanded until July 27 in connection with the robbery of Rs. 20 million belonging to a Chinese national. The order was issued by Fort Magistrate after the suspect had been detained and questioned for 24 hours by the CID. Investigating officers told court they are examining the suspect’s telephone & bank records, as well as possible cryptocurrency transactions linked to the case. more..

Jul 23 (NW) Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (22) issued a warrant to arrest and produce former SL Ambassador to the US Jaliya Wickramasuriya, who failed to appear in connection with an investigation into alleged misuse of govt funds. The case relates to the purchase of an embassy office building during Wickramasuriya’s tenure, where he is accused of misappropriating approximately USD 332,000. CID informed the court that the suspect is currently residing in the US more..

Jul 23 (DM) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has reminded private hospitals and laboratories that maximum charges remain in force for certain medical laboratory tests, following reports that a private hospital in Jaffna had allegedly charged above the approved fee for a Full Blood Count (FBC) test. CAA said that under Order No. 67 issued in terms of Section 20(5) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 09 of 2003, more..

Jul 23 (AD) Central Environmental Authority (CEA) says that steps had been taken to permanently close down 41 factories which were found to be operating without renewing their Environmental Protection Licenses within the year 2025. Director General of the CEA, Kapila Rajapaksha, disclosed this while explaining the recent deadly fire at a factory located in the Katuwana Industrial Zone in Homagama, which claimed the lives of five workers. He revealed that the factory involved in the incident more..

Jul 23 (NW) The Court of Appeal today ordered that further consideration of the writ petition filed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, seeking to prevent his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in connection with investigations into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, be postponed until August 3. The petition was taken up this morning, with President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva appearing on behalf of Rajapaksa and presenting reply submissions. more..

Jul 23 (TM) National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is evaluating a proposal to introduce a dengue vaccine in Sri Lanka, but the vaccine will not provide a solution to the country's current dengue outbreak, NMRA Chairperson Dr Ananda Wijewickrama said. He confirmed that a proposal to use a dengue vaccine in Sri Lanka had been submitted and that an expert committee had been appointed to assess it. more..

Jul 23 (Island) Colombo District Waste Management Subcommittee, operating under the Colombo District Coordinating Committee, convened at Parliament on 22 July with the participation of PM Harini Amarasuriya.The meeting reviewed the current measures being implemented to address issues relating to the disposal of municipal solid waste in the Western Province, following up on matters discussed at previous meetings. Particular attention was also given to future plans for improving more..

Jul 23 (DM) Under the latest IMF extended fund facility programme, SL has achieved substantial increase in tax revenue – to a level never seen in the history. Data show that for the first quarter of 2026, tax collections increased by an impressive 49% compared to same period last year. With GDP growing at 5.1%, and inflation below 2.5%, first quarter economic performance looks good on IMF report card! But underneath this achievement, a major economic risk is building up steadily. more..

Jul 23 (DM) With the development of El Niño conditions altering weather patterns in Sri Lanka, the govt is planning for advancing the Maha cultivation season in a bid to avert any impact on food security, a Minister said yesterday. Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi said the Cabinet appointed committee met recently and discussed ways and means to brace for the situation. According to the latest forecasts, he said that July, August and September would be dry months for SL, but more..

Jul 23 (AD) A comprehensive security and traffic management plan has been implemented for the annual Esala Perahera of the historic Sri Uthpalawanna Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya in Devinuwara, with 650 police officers and 100 STF personnel deployed for the event. Police said intelligence officers have also been assigned to security duties. The first procession of the annual Esala Perahera at the Devinuwara Uthpalawanna Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya, located within more..

Jul 23 (DM) Japan has requested the SL govt to pay interest on the delayed settlement of compensation arising from the cancellation of the Japan-funded Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, in addition to the compensation already paid in three installments during 2024, Minister Bimal Ratnayake said. SL had paid 189.7 million Japanese yen on Aug 23, 2024, US$1.031 million on Aug 27, 2024, and Rs. 108.7 million on Sept 24, 2024, more..

Jul 23 (NW) Presidential Secretariat has announced that National Integrity Week 2026 will be held from 27 to 31 July, under the theme A Culture of Integrity – A Clean Sri Lanka. The initiative, aimed at building an integrity‑driven public service, will focus on eradicating corruption, strengthening ethical values, and promoting transparency across all state institutions. The programme is designed not merely as a symbolic week but as the launch of short‑, medium‑, and long‑term reforms to more..

Jul 23 (EN) Amid the challenges of geopolitical uncertainty Sri Lanka’s company boards must act as navigators of the future who must anticipate change instead of monitoring past results and sharpen crisis management, Semih Lutfu, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye, has said. He was addressing the SL Corporate Director Summit 2026, by the The SL Institute of Directors (SLID) centered on the theme Future-Ready Sri Lankan Boards – From Compliance to Sustainable Growth. more..