Jun 6 (FT) The IMF has granted SL a waiver of non-observance of a key program performance criterion after a cybercrime incident resulted in a missed external debt payment of approximately $ 2.5 million owed to the Australian Govt. This is in relation to $ 2.5 million phishing scandal that has rocked the Treasury where debt repayments due to Export Finance Australia had been diverted by cybercriminals via ten separate transactions more..

Jun 6 (DM) In the wake of US proposed additional duties on SL, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha said yesterday that SL has been in discussion with the US on matters involving forced labour and that SL will be able to remove the proposed duty as necessary measures are being taken to prevent any use of forced labour in the supply chain. Deputy Minister said that a committee headed by the Trade Ministry secretary was appointed to look into the matter several months ago more..

Jun 6 (Island) An assistant manager and a security officer, attached to a state bank branch in Horana, have been arrested in connection with the robbery of more than Rs. 30 million that was being transported to replenish automated teller machines (ATMs), Police said. The two suspects were taken into custody on Friday after statements were recorded from them regarding the incident, which occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the Horana branch of the People’s Bank. more..

Jun 6 (FT) SL has been placed in the higher 12.5% tier of a proposed new US duty regime targeting economies that the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) says have failed to impose or effectively enforce prohibitions on imports produced using forced labour. The proposal was announced by the USTR following investigations conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. USTR determined that SL’s acts, more..

Jun 6 (Island) Police have dismissed as false and misleading social media reports claiming that musical performances at entertainment events have been prohibited following the arrest of a suspect accused of performing songs promoting the banned LTTE organisation. In a statement, Police stressed that no blanket ban has been imposed on the performance of songs at public entertainment events. Statement follows the arrest of a 24-year-old resident of Udayanagar, Kilinochchi, more..

Jun 6 (FT) The report into the $ 2.5 million cyber theft involving SL’s sovereign debt repayment process has been submitted to the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), with lawmakers set to scrutinise the findings next week amid continuing questions over internal controls and reporting failures within the Treasury. CoPF Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva informed the Committee on Thursday that copies of the report had been distributed among members for review more..

Jun 6 (TM) The govt has increased the fertiliser subsidy for farmers by Rs. 5,000, raising the allocation to Rs. 30,000 per hectare. Commissioner General of Agrarian Development Dhammika Ranatunga said today (05) that 502,836 farmers across Sri Lanka will benefit from the programme. The govt has allocated Rs. 10.947bn for the subsidy. The full amount will be credited to farmers’ accounts in a single payment, according to the Department of Agrarian Development. more..

Jun 6 (NW) Schools should be places where children feel safe, valued and cared for, in addition to receiving a quality education, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said on Friday (5). Addressing a ceremony to hand over the newly constructed three-storey classroom building and auditorium at Samodaya Vidyalaya in Kurunegala, PM said the role of schools extends beyond academic instruction and includes creating an environment that nurtures children’s well-being. more..

Jun 6 (DN) Chinese Govt yesterday assured that China will continue to strengthen practical and efficient law enforcement and security cooperation with SL to crack down on telecom and online fraud crimes, and jointly foster a new framework for combatting transnational crime. Chinese Embassy said that China and SL can build a stronger shield against gambling & fraud crimes by working together to crack down on gambling more..

Jun 6 (AD) SL Police have sought public assistance to locate three suspects who allegedly fled the scene following the fatal road accident that claimed six lives near a Vesak Dansala at Meegoda Junction on May 31. The incident had occurred along the Avissawella–Colombo High Level Road within the Meegoda Police Division when a cab reportedly drove into a group of people waiting in line at a Dansala. Six persons were killed and seven others sustained serious injuries in the crash. more..

Jun 6 (Island) SL’s history-making javelin star Rumesh Tharanga compared his remarkable victory at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Rome to the celebrations of a SL festival after producing the performance of his life on Thursday. 23-year-old national record holder stunned a world-class field at the prestigious Golden Gala Pietro Mennea meeting by unleashing a massive throw of 92.62 metres, setting a new meeting record and registering the world-leading mark for the season. more..

Jun 6 (EN) SL has extended the submission deadline for Requests for Information (RFI) for the development of Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia projects in the country, it’s Board of Investment said. The new closing date is now June 19, 1500 hrs. It was previously June 5. “We have extended the submission deadline for the Request for Information (RFI) on the development of Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia projects in SL,” the BoI said. Eligible projects may benefit from more..

Jun 6 (FT) Colombo stock market failed to sustain early trading gains yesterday to end marginally down. During the week, ASPI declined 2.54% and the S&P SL20 fell 2.2% with market capitalisation falling by Rs. 206 billion. Yesterday, ASPI was down 0.07% or 16.18 points at 21,744.13 and the S&P SL20 was down 0.13% or 7.73 points at 6,024.00. Market turnover was nearly Rs. 2.98 billion on over 112.6 million shares traded. Foreign investors emerged as net buyers on a net inflow of more..

Jun 6 (ST) A rapid increase in the spread of dengue has been observed across the country. NDC Unit Director, Dr. Kapila Kannangara, said that 15 dengue-related deaths have been reported in SL so far this year, including three children. “We urge the public not to rely on home remedies and delay treatment. If you have a fever lasting more than three days, please go to the nearest hospital immediately,” he said. more..

Jun 6 (FT) SLT-MOBITEL has once again demonstrated how it brings the belief that technology must serve a clear national purpose into reality. As the National ICT Solutions Provider, SLT-MOBITEL contributed to the recent renovation of the Central Bus Stand, Colombo. The initiative went further than digitising tickets and aimed at transforming the daily travel experience, offering greater convenience, transparency, and predictability to long-distance bus travel. more..

Jun 6 (ST) Not just interesting but also intriguing was the title, like the simple inauguration ceremony, catching the attention and keeping it riveted on the topic at hand. It is a topic that is vitally important and timely and the title said it all: Whose Law? Research Conference. Organised by the Faculty of Law of the Uni of Colombo, the inauguration of the conference was on May 13 in Colombo and it was all about Addressing injustice in the entangled histories of SL-the Netherlands and advancing more..

Jun 6 (ST) The steady rise of the cost of living is affecting all walks of life, with the monthly expenses of an average family now much higher than officially reported. DCS reports that Sri Lanka’s official poverty line is at Rs.16,730 per person a month. A cross section of those who spoke to the Sunday Times said official figures were not realistic. Prices of goods and services have increased compared to the first few months of the year more..

Jun 6 (FT) High Commissioner of India to SL Santosh Jha and Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Dr. Susil Ranasingha on Thursday jointly inaugurated and handed over Pathinigama Model Village in Rathnapura to the 24 beneficiary families. The event was attended by a dignitaries including Tissa Warnasooriya, Governor of the North Western Province; Dr. Namal Sudarshana, Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs and Hon. Sujeewa Indika Dissanayaka, District MP. more..

Jun 6 (FT) Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe has been recognised with the 2026 SITF Eminent Tourism Pioneer Award at the 41st Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF) in South Korea, becoming the first Sri Lankan to receive the international honour. The award was presented on 4 June at the SamcheongGak cultural complex in Seoul following an evaluation process conducted by the SITF Tourism Award Committee, which assesses contributions to tourism research and more..

Jun 6 (FT) Prime and Melwa have unveiled the Prime Marina Sales Suite at Port City Colombo, a first of its kind in the region and a new benchmark for how a landmark real estate address is presented to the world. It is designed for globally minded, internationally travelled, and long past the language of conventional real estate. Every space within it is intentional, every detail deliberately crafted to ensure that the moment a customer steps in, they understand, without a word of explanation, more..

Jun 6 (FT) As part of its ongoing partnership with SL on climate action and sustainable development, the European Union supported the Ministry of Environment in revising the National Green Reporting System (NGRS) Guidelines through the EU-funded Accelerating Industries Climate Response in SL (AICRSL) project, implemented by US Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). The revised guidelines align with internationally recognised sustainability reporting more..

Jun 6 (ST) Every Vesak, millions of devotees across Sri Lanka visit temples carrying flowers as offerings. The fragrant blooms placed before Buddha statues symbolise impermanence — a reminder that beauty, like life itself, is fleeting. Flowers have therefore become one of the most meaningful and visible elements of Vesak celebrations. Yet beyond their spiritual symbolism lies another story that often goes unnoticed. more..

Jun 6 (FT) The increasing arrests of foreign nationals linked to cybercrime operations in Sri Lanka should no longer be treated as isolated criminal incidents. It has become a dangerous and deeply organised pattern. Almost weekly, reports emerge of Chinese, Korean and other foreign nationals being taken into custody for cyber fraud, online scams, financial crimes, cryptocurrency-related rackets and sophisticated digital deception schemes operating from luxury apartments more..

Jun 6 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) suddenly increased interest rates a few days ago. This was to stop further depreciation of the rupee or to stabilise the exchange value of the rupee by containing private credit growth. Many writers, including the writer of this essay, have pointed out that excessive private credit growth could destabilise the managed exchange rate mechanism. It has happened now. However, now it seems the obvious solution was to increase the interest rates, thinking that more..

Jun 6 (Island) Dialog Axiata collaborated with the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to bring one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most technologically advanced Vesak experiences to the Dakshina Prabha National Vesak Zone. The 3-day celebration, in Matara attracted more than hundred thousand visitors, who engaged with a series of innovative digital activities powered by Dialog 5G Ultra, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, more..

Jun 6 (Island) Tuesday’s tragedy at Anguruwatota, where a fire engulfed an elders’ home, claiming 13 lives and seriously injuring several others, has shaken the conscience of the nation. Equally shocking are the allegations that the residents of the care centre had been mistreated; among them were persons with disabilities, and some of them had been restrained with chains, according to eyewitnesses. The police have said they found the charred body of a resident in chains. more..

Jun 6 (CT) Following the Israel-US war against Iran and the resulting tensions across the Middle East, concerns over energy security have revived discussions around fuel-saving measures and reduced energy consumption. Earlier this month, Indian PM Narendra Modi urged Indians to revive Work From Home (WFH) practices, buy less gold, and limit foreign travel as part of austerity measures aimed at easing pressure from more..

Jun 6 (CT) Dr Bhagya Senaratne is an independent Scholar whose research interests intersect foreign policy studies, Chinese foreign and security policies towards South Asia, Indo-Pacific Studies, the politics and security of small and medium states, and maritime security. Her work has appeared in peer-reviewed publications, including The Routledge Handbook of US Policy in the Indo-Pacific, National Security Journal, and Journal of World Affairs, amongst others. more..

Jun 6 (FT) Can our blessed island nation monetise meditation and mindfulness? SL has spent decades selling itself as sun, sea, sand and safari. This is a splendid way to promote a tropical paradise such as ours... until one notices that other Indian Ocean nations have swathes of beach. Also observe that elephants and leopards are no longer unique selling propositions, and every second touristy country now promises authentic wellness experiences with suspiciously expensive herbal tea to boot! more..

Jun 6 (Island) Saudi Arabia has once again demonstrated its unparalleled capacity to manage one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings, with this year’s Hajj pilgrimage concluding successfully despite extreme temperatures and the immense logistical challenge of accommodating more than 1.7 million pilgrims from around the world. In an exclusive interview with The Island, Khalid Hamoud Al-Kahtani, more..

Jun 6 (GV) The history of humanity is filled with stories of destruction and renewal. Empires have risen and fallen, cities have been built and destroyed and cultures have faced repeated attempts at erasure. Yet one lesson remains constant throughout history: knowledge is remarkably resilient. While physical structures can be destroyed, ideas, learning and cultural memory often find new ways to survive. The burning of the Jaffna Public Library on May 31, 1981 remains one of the most devastating more..

Jun 6 (CT) There is a popular African (Swahili) proverb: Mountains don’t meet, but people do (Milima haikutani, lakini wanadamu hukutana). After several reminders and many WhatsApp messages, I finally found time to sit with Dhamma Dissanayake for a long conversation. Nearly two hours. He was one of the lecturers who taught us at university. Later, he became a Governor and eventually returned to university teaching again. The purpose of the meeting was simple. more..