Jul 15 (DN) The probability of a super El Niño event, which could have a significant impact on SL’s weather, has increased to 81% for the October to December period this year. Director General of the Dept of Meteorology Ajith Wijemanna said the latest reports issued by international weather forecasting agencies show clear indications of the developing climate pattern. He said the initial effects of El Niño are already evident in SL’s weather, with the southwest monsoon recording more..

Jul 15 (DM) The third segment of the third phase of excavation at the Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna resumed on Wednesday morning. The court had granted permission for the third phase of excavations to be carried out over a period of 56 days. However, after 32 days of excavation, the work was temporarily suspended on June 23 and The third segment of the third phase of excavations has now recommenced today. The first phase of excavations at the Chemmani mass grave more..

Jul 15 (AD) National Audit Office has revealed that the National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) has failed to establish a policy for the timely revision of water tariffs despite operating for more than 49 years. According to a recent audit report, water tariffs have been revised on 17 occasions since 1990 without a formal tariff policy being introduced. Report stated that tariff revisions carried out in 2022 and 2023 had placed more..

Jul 15 (DM) A Fundamental Rights petition filed by a lawyer practicing and residing in Kandy, alleging failures by the Prez, Cabinet of Ministers and several state authorities to take timely and coordinated action to mitigate the impact of cyclonic storm Ditwah, despite having prior notice of the impending disaster, was today fixed for support on Oct 30 by the Supreme Court. When the petition was taken up before a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, more..

Jul 15 (DM) A SL-operated used car dealership in New Zealand has been convicted in what NZ's first successful prosecution for odometer tampering under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act. According to The Press, Carporium, operated by Sachis Holdings Ltd, sold a Toyota RAV4 for NZ$24,000 in Feb 2024. The discrepancy came to light more than a year later during a routine service, when technicians discovered that the vehicle's odometer reading did not match its recorded service history. more..

Jul 15 (DN) The excavation of South Asia’s longest irrigation tunnel, a key component of SL’s ambitious North Central Canal Project, which successfully completed will be commissioned today (15), marking a major milestone in the country’s largest water security initiative. The 27.7-kilometre-long irrigation tunnel, constructed under the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program (MWSIP) with financial assistance from more..

Jul 15 (NW) Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne on Tuesday inspected the construction of a large-scale poultry processing factory in Rideegama, Kurunegala, which is expected to create nearly 1,000 direct and indirect jobs once completed. The 6.45 billion project, being developed in the Ambakote area of Rideegama, is scheduled for completion within one year. The facility is being developed primarily to serve export markets and is expected to generate foreign exchange earnings more..

Jul 15 (NW) International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has reiterated that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will continue to be barred from representation at ICC Board meetings until further notice, despite acknowledging progress towards a revised constitution. The decision was announced following the conclusion of the ICC Board’s Annual Meetings in Edinburgh. ICC said the Board had received an update on the situation at SLC and noted progress in drafting a revised constitution. more..

Jul 15 (NW) SL’s textile industry is set to receive a major boost with India pledging full support for its development, according to Minister Sunil Handunneththi. Speaking after his participation at the Barath Tex international exhibition in New Delhi, held on the invitation of Indian Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, Handunneththi said discussions had focused on securing technical and investment support to modernize SL’s textile sector and enhance its competitiveness in global more..

Jul 15 (DM) Two SriLankan Airlines aircraft were forced to circle over the Middle East for more than an hour after Kuwait and Saudi Arabia temporarily closed their airspaces following a sudden military escalation in the region, SriLankan Airlines Head of Corporate Communications Deepal Perera said. He said the two aircraft, which had departed from BIA, for Kuwait City and Dammam International Airport, were unable to proceed as planned due to the airspace restrictions. more..

Jul 15 (DN) The CID yesterday informed the Negombo Magistrate’s Court that statements have been recorded from 287 individuals, including prison officials, regarding the recent unrest at the Negombo Prison which resulted in the murder of 10 Police Emergency Tactical Force (Prison Police) officers and 21 inmates. Presenting a further report on the violent clashes that occurred on the 5th and 6th of this month, more..

Jul 15 (FT) The SL Shippers’ Council (SLSC) has renewed its call for sweeping trade facilitation reforms, warning that hidden logistics costs, border delays, and outdated regulations continue to erode the competitiveness of SL exporters and importers. Addressing the Council’s 60th anniversary celebrations and 56th AGM last Friday, Chairman Trisherman Frink said eliminating unnecessary logistics costs remains the organisation’s core mission as it seeks to position SL as more..

Jul 15 (Island) Residents of Valikamam North protested for a fourth consecutive week on Sunday, demanding the release of their land, which remains under the control of the military. The demonstration, held at Palaly Junction, saw protesters renew their call for the return of property they say they have been shut out of for the past 36 years, land the military continues to occupy and to work for its own agricultural and commercial ends while its owners live on, decade after decade, without more..

Jul 15 (DM) This weekend, journalist Namini Wijedasa writing in the Sunday Times reported that Sri Lanka CERT had invited bids for a comprehensive cybersecurity solution - a malware analysis, and threat-hunting lab serving at least 250 govt organisations, with, amongst other things, the detection of credential leaks within 24 hours, takedowns of impersonation accounts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok & X, more..

Jul 15 (NW) Singapore’s longest standing community chorus – The International Festival Chorus (IFC) Singapore and SL’s acclaimed vocal duo, De Lanerolle Brothers (DLB), have announced a long-term musical collaboration that will enhance artistic and cultural exchange between Singapore and SL. Under the theme Music Beyond Borders, this partnership brings together two highly respected musical institutions with a shared commitment to artistic excellence, innovation, and more..

Jul 15 (AD) Sarath Weerawansa, the brother of former minister Wimal Weerawansa, has been arrested by officers of the FCID. He has been arrested in connection with an incident of allegedly misusing state-owned vehicles belonging to the State Engineering Corporation. Meanwhile, he has been remanded until July 22 after being produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. It is reported that police officers had recently visited a house belonging to him in the Panadura area, more..

Jul 15 (AD) A police officer has sustained gunshot injuries after a suspect allegedly seized the officer's service pistol and opened fire at Dewamottawa Road in Katunayake. It is reported that an individual had opened fire at a police officer at the location before fleeing on a motorcycle. The incident had occurred at around 3.50 p.m. today. According to reports, two police officers had apprehended a suspected drug dealer traveling on a motorcycle after giving chase on their motorcycle. more..

Jul 15 (DN) Central Province Governor Prof. Sarath Abeykoon has submitted his resignation from the post to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Prof. Abeykoon stated he has not yet received a response regarding the resignation letter submitted several days ago, and that no official decision has been communicated by the Prez on whether it has been accepted or rejected. He stated that the decision to resign was made due to personal reasons. Prof. Abeykoon, who previously served as more..

Jul 15 (DM) Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) is preparing to launch a pilot project to introduce passenger-carrying drones, marking what is expected to be the first initiative of its kind in South Asia as the country moves towards adopting advanced air mobility (AAM) solutions. CAASL Director General Daminda Rambukwella said that the authority has completed the first and second phases of the project and is now making more..

Jul 15 (AD) Colombo High Court today ordered that the further hearing of the corruption case filed against former Minister Kumara Jayakody be resumed on September 7. The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela. During today’s proceedings, evidence from two prosecution witnesses was recorded. Court subsequently postponed the continuation of the hearing until Sept 7. The CIABOC filed the case against Jayakody, alleging that he committed more..

Jul 15 (AM) Former Provincial Councillor Jayalath Bandara Dissanayake, the brother of former Minister S.B. Dissanayake, has been arrested over an alleged financial fraud involving Rs. 27.5 million, police said. The arrest followed a complaint lodged with the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), alleging that the suspect had obtained Rs. 27.5 million from a resident of Weeraketiya after claiming he could secure a liquor licence. Following the complaint, CCIB launched an investigation, more..

Jul 15 (DM) A recent study conducted in India has found that doctors in Asian countries such as SL have a shorter life expectancy than other professionals, while people involved in mainstream politics in Sri Lanka often live well beyond the age of 65, Specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa claimed. He said that although studies conducted in Asian countries, including India, generally suggest that politicians have a lower life expectancy than other more..

Jul 15 (DM) Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is to file legal action against MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake for making false statements, Cardinal’s spokesman Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando said today. A statement issued by Fr. Fernando said the MP’s remarks about Cardinal Ranjith could create unrest among religious groups. “MP Dassanayake alleged that the current Army Commander had visited Cardinal Ranjith with a basket of fruits on July 2 this year to seek more..

Jul 15 (AD) Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) says that a Y-12 aircraft conducting training flights from the Colombo International Airport in Ratmalana today, was forced to divert after becoming entangled with kite strings. SLAF said a subsequent technical inspection revealed that the aircraft’s left wheel, left engine area and several other components had become heavily entangled with the kite strings. The SLAF warned that kite strings or kite parts entering an aircraft’s engine or more..

Jul 15 (FT) A research study reveals that 70% of dengue prevention responsibility lies with national authorities, largely due to roadside drainage systems remaining open and exposed to the environment, while only about 30% is related to risks originating from households, schools, and workplaces. However, current practices indicate that national authorities mainly focus on inspecting households and identifying potential breeding sites within domestic and institutional environments. more..

Jul 15 (FT) There are two kinds of service. One relieves suffering. The other prevents it. One feeds a family for a day; the other creates the means for that family to feed itself for generations. Both are indispensable. Yet in a country attempting to rebuild its economy after its worst financial crisis in decades, it is perhaps the second that deserves far greater attention than it usually receives. For generations, service organisations have responded admirably to immediate human needs. more..

Jul 15 (Island) The Department of Prisons yesterday (14) revealed that all inmates killed during the Negombo Prison riot were suspects. A senior official said so in response to The Island query. Among the wounded, too, the majority were suspects. Identities of the dead and the wounded inmates haven’t been officially released so far. The official acknowledged that he, too, was surprised that convicts weren’t among the dead. more..

Jul 15 (DM) The prison officer who opened fire while attempting to control the violent clash at the Negombo Prison has been temporarily transferred to the Pallekele Prison. Prison Spokesman A.C. Gajanayake confirmed the transfer. The officer had opened fire on July 6 after a group of inmates allegedly broke through the prison’s final wooden gate and attempted to escape during a violent incident at the facility. Preliminary investigations into the incident have revealed that more..

Jul 15 (NW) Director of Irrigation (Water Management) Engineer H.M.P.S.D. Herath has called on the public to use water sparingly, noting that the 80 reservoirs under the Irrigation Department currently hold 48 percent of total capacity. Herath assured that existing resources are sufficient, with cultivation for the Yala season already completed. He emphasized that water supplies for communities dependent on reservoirs for drinking water remain secure. more..

Jul 15 (FT) Govt has set a primary expenditure ceiling of Rs. 5.064 trillion, or 12.9% of GDP, for the 2027 Budget while projecting the overall Budget deficit to narrow to 4.5% of GDP next year from an estimated 5.6% in 2026, according to Fiscal Strategy Statement 2027. Statement positions the statutory primary expenditure ceiling as the Govt’s principal fiscal anchor, limiting primary spending to below 13% of GDP during more..

Jul 15 (DM) Director General of the Dept of Animal Production and Health (DAPH), Dr. Sanjika Perera, has urged the public to continue feeding stray dogs while also taking responsibility for their health and welfare. Clarifying recent comments that had been misunderstood, Dr. Perera said he had never asked people to stop feeding stray dogs. "Feeding stray dogs is a kind and compassionate act. However, giving them food alone is not enough," he said. He said people who regularly care for more..

Jul 15 (DM) SL’s construction sector is emerging as one of the clearest beneficiaries of the country’s economic recovery, with rising bank lending, stronger foreign investment and growing demand for building materials signalling a broader revival in investment activity after years of contraction. Credit to the construction sector expanded 18.8% in 2025 to a record Rs. 1.81 trillion, while foreign direct investment into housing, hotels and commercial buildings rose 55% to US$ 173 million. more..