Jun 23 (NW) Deputy Minister Nishantha Jayaweera, has announced that the budget proposal to reduce the annual turnover threshold for VAT and SSCL from Rs.60 million to Rs.36 million will not be implemented. The proposal to reduce the annual turnover threshold from Rs.60 million to Rs.36 million was to come into effect from July 1. “We are removing this proposal after receiving the relevant clearance from the Cabinet and AG, as well as the recommendations of Parliamentary Consultative Committee,” more..

Jun 23 (Island) A special police investigation has been launched to identify prison officers allegedly providing assistance to notorious organised crime figure Salintha Perera, alias Commando Salintha, who is currently being held at the Boossa High Security Prison. Investigators are probing allegations that several prison officers have helped the inmate carry out activities from within the prison, including the use of mobile phones to coordinate illegal operations. more..

Jun 23 (DM) Ministry of Health has announced a list of food items that will be prohibited in school canteens under its newly introduced Guidelines on Healthy School Canteens, aimed at ensuring students have access to affordable, safe and nutritious meals. According to the guidelines, school canteens must maintain a clean, safe and easily accessible environment free from disease-carrying vectors, while ensuring continuous supervision of canteen operations. more..

Jun 23 (AD) The Cabinet has granted approval to a proposal to launch a special program aimed at preventing illegal land grabbing, unauthorized land filling and unlawful coastal constructions in the Eastern Province. The proposal in this regard was submitted by the President. As part of the initiative, a special committee will be appointed to address land-related issues in the province and to strengthen coordination among relevant state institutions for faster resolution, more..

Jun 23 (Island) A mahout and his assistant were killed by an elephant brought for the 78th Poson Perahera at Rakwana Sri Ubhaya Thilakarama Viharaya. Two elephants, brought for the perahera, had been tethered within the temple premises. On Sunday morning, the assistant mahout took one of the elephants to the Rakwana River, where the incident occurred. Witnesses told police that the elephant, Sanka, suddenly became agitated and attacked the assistant mahout, trampling him to death. more..

Jun 23 (AD) Colombo High Court today upheld the nine-month prison sentence and the fine of Rs. 1,500 imposed on the General Secretary of the BBS, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, by the Colombo Magistrate's Court after he was found guilty of acting in a manner that disrupted communal harmony by making a statement insulting Islam. Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Tilakaratne delivered the verdict, dismissing an appeal filed by Gnanasara Thero seeking more..

Jun 23 (Island) Parliamentary Climate Forum has drawn attention to the growing challenges faced in protecting Sri Lanka’s marine biodiversity and amphibian ecosystems from the impacts of El Niño and La Niña climate phenomena. The issue was discussed at a recent meeting of the forum held at Parliament, under the chairmanship of its co-chairpersons, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and MP Prof. L.M. Abeywickrama. Officials and experts attending the meeting highlighted the adverse effects of climate change, more..

Jun 23 (NW) Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva today ordered the remand of a Police Inspector until July 3, following his arrest by the Bribery Commission over a Rs.1 million bribe allegedly accepted at a hotel in Kalutara North. The suspect, attached to the Kalutara South Police Station and serving in the Special Crimes Investigation Division, was taken into custody during a sting operation conducted last night after a businessman lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission. more..

Jun 23 (FT) Express tax legislation offers SL the most practical and immediate tool to curb crypto-related crime while simultaneously generating much-needed revenue. Recent fraud cases show how regulatory gaps allow illicit funds to move offshore, but clear tax rules can transform this weakness into an enforcement advantage. By mandating reporting, valuation, and source-of-funds disclosures, tax law creates a transparent audit trail that supports both compliance and financial intelligence. more..

Jun 23 (FT) Sri Lanka achieved a year-on-year GDP growth of 5.1% in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 4.7% growth rate in 1Q 2025. It was the highest first-quarter growth recorded since 2021, reflecting economic recovery. Following the economic crisis, the GDP contracted by 10.6% in 1Q 2023, and there has been a gradual recovery since then. Government authorities view the pickup of growth in 1Q 2026 as an indication of sustained progress towards a medium-term growth target of 7%, more..

Jun 23 (TM) Sri Lanka’s ICT sector is gaining momentum as a major contributor to service exports, with the sector recording around $ 536 million in earnings during the first four months of 2026 and annual growth of about 20%, according to EDB officials. EDB Director Indumini Kodikara said ICT has become one of the key sectors supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to improve export growth and strengthen its position in global value chains. more..

Jun 23 (TM) The Nuwara Eliya Police has uncovered what they describe as a large-scale network of financial frauds and other criminal activities allegedly linked to the main suspect in the Teldeniya murder case, where a woman’s body was found inside a parked vehicle in Teldeniya last week. The findings were revealed in a special investigation report submitted by the OIC of the Nuwara Eliya Hq Police to senior Police officials, including Senior SSP for the Nuwara Eliya Division, more..

Jun 23 (NW) US has announced the provision of advanced Fleet Broadband satellite communications technology to the Sri Lanka Navy, in a move aimed at strengthening maritime security and connectivity across the Indian Ocean. The announcement was made today aboard the SL Navy vessel SLNS Gajabahu at the Port of Colombo by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Paul Kapur. The comprehensive Fleet Broadband system, manufactured by more..

Jun 23 (TM) Several political party secretaries and election candidates who are facing legal action for failing to submit campaign finance reports on time have requested that their cases be withdrawn, or a general amnesty be granted, Election Commission (EC) Chairperson R M A L Rathnayake said. He said that court cases have already been filed in almost every District against Prez, Parliamentary, and LG election candidates more..

Jun 23 (NW) Ministry of Sports has extended an open invitation to athletes of SL origin living overseas to represent Sri Lanka in international competitions. The announcement was made by Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage, who said the Ministry is ready to provide the necessary support and coordination for athletes willing to compete for their ancestral homeland. Minister made the announcement while confirming that SL-American gymnast Tiana Sumanasekera more..

Jun 23 (NW) A group consisting of lawyers and representatives from the Lanka Spa Association has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL), alleging that the identities of women arrested during recent police raids on spas in the Thalawathugoda area were unlawfully exposed, violating their fundamental rights. The complaint was filed by the Association for the Protection of Public Rights, which said it had also decided to lodge a complaint with more..

Jun 23 (FT) Opposition MP Harsha de Silva has defended his scrutiny of the Govt’s proposed tax reforms, arguing that Parliament’s public finance oversight role is essential to ensuring tax policy is implemented fairly and effectively. Responding to criticism from Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Dr. de Silva said his role as CoPF Chairman, a position reserved for the Opposition under Parliamentary Standing Orders, was to question and examine Govt policy rather than more..

Jun 23 (Island) Pakistani cricketing legend Wasim Akram said Sri Lanka is the best tourist destination and is worthy of being ranked the world’s top holiday spot. The island’s natural beauty and my decades-long connection with the country, are factors that enhance SL’s value, he explained. Speaking at a Softlogic Life investor forum in Colombo last Tuesday Akram said SL remained one of his favourite destinations despite having traveled extensively around the world. more..

Jun 23 (PMD) Dr. Paul Kapur, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, who is currently visiting SL, met with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (22) at the Presidential Secretariat. During the meeting, the two sides recalled the 77 years of bilateral relations between SL and US and noted that the relationship has evolved into a strong and multifaceted partnership spanning trade, defence, more..

Jun 23 (DN) A high-level delegation from China’s Peking University has underscored the depth and diversity of SL-China relations following a series of discussions with govt officials, business leaders, legal experts, members of the armed forces and think tanks in Colombo, highlighting economic cooperation, cultural affinity and knowledge exchange as key pillars of the bilateral partnership. The delegation, led by Prof. Wang Weijia, Director of Research Centre for Global Governance more..

Jun 23 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday assured the apparel industry of the Govt’s full support to overcome sectoral challenges and drive an export-led growth strategy, while inviting investors to expand manufacturing operations into rural areas to boost dollar earnings and economic activity. The commitment was made during a high-level discussion at the Presidential Secretariat attended by leading apparel industry executives and investors, where participants reviewed more..

Jun 23 (DN) SL men’s 400m relay team won the bronze medal at the Asian Relay Championship in Shaoxing China on Sunday. SL team comprised Omel Shashintha, Kalhara Indupa Silva, Sadew Rajakaruna and Kalinga Kumarage and has finished the race in 3 minutes 03.33 seconds to win the bronze while Viatnam team (3.02.60.sec) and China (3.03.23 secs) were placed first and second. Meanwhile SL men’s 100m relay team comprising Chamod Yodasinghe, Merone Wijesinghe, more..

Jun 23 (FT) Xiaomi Sri Lanka, in partnership with Abans, has opened the country's first official Xiaomi Exclusive Store at One Galle Face Mall, Lower Ground, giving Sri Lankan consumers a dedicated destination to experience the full Xiaomi ecosystem in one place. The opening was also marked by the launch of the Xiaomi 17T, the first smartphone to be officially launched at this new store. For Xiaomi fans in Sri Lanka, this is a long-awaited moment. Over the years, Xiaomi has built a strong more..

Jun 23 (FT) Three years after pulling back from economic collapse, SL is being forced to confront a more difficult question than stabilisation: why has growth underperformed for much of the past two decades despite the country’s strategic location, educated workforce, and longstanding advantages in trade and services? That was the central theme that emerged yesterday at the public launch of the World Bank Group’s more..

Jun 23 (DM) Hela Apparel Holdings faces a trading suspension of its shares after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rejected its request to defer the regulatory action. The apparel exporter informed the Colombo Stock Exchange that its March application for a deferment of the trading suspension was denied by the capital market regulator. Trading of the company’s securities has already been suspended, effective June 18, 2026, due to a disclaimer of audit opinion in more..

Jun 23 (FT) Home Lands Group has marked another significant milestone with the acquisition of its second land parcel within Port City Colombo’s prestigious Central Park District. Newly acquired land parcel, spanning over three acres in extent, is similar in size and located adjacent to the land previously purchased for the landmark Central Park Boulevard Port City Colombo development, further strengthening Home Lands’ growing footprint within SL’s most ambitious urban dev. project. more..

Jun 23 (FT) Govt-led reforms have helped attract more than $ 600 million in new investment into Colombo Port City during the first half of 2026 through the approval of 71 Businesses of Strategic Importance (BSIs). The approvals represent one of the most significant investment milestones since the establishment of the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), reflecting growing investor confidence in more..

Jun 23 (ST) Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to understand complex public health and social challenges, including the persistent crisis of intentional injury mortality linked to homicide and suicide. A recently published international study has now applied explainable AI to examine this issue across the Americas, while highlighting the growing contribution of SL academics to globally relevant research, according to an official media release. The study, titled more..

Jun 23 (DM) Sri Lanka and Thailand are pushing for deeper economic integration, with officials from both nations urging their respective private sectors to bridge the gap of unfamiliarity to build trust and unlock the full potential of bilateral trade and investments. Speaking at the 25th-anniversary celebrations of the SL-Thailand Business Council held in Colombo last week, both Thai Ambassador to SL Paitoon Mahapannaporn and SL Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath highlighted that more..

Jun 23 (FT) Ministry of Finance has suspended the transition to the percentage-based ad-valorem tax structure (20% Customs Import Duty + 18% VAT + 2.5% SSCL) covering palm oil imports and, instead issued an extraordinary gazette renewing the Special Commodity Levy (SCL) framework. Under this importers must continue to pay the fixed rate of Rs. 275 per kg for RBD palm oil and Rs. 250 per kg for crude palm oil, a senior official of the Finance Ministry said. more..

Jun 23 (FT) Against the backdrop of colourful South Asian handicrafts, the aroma of Ceylon tea and spices, and growing business negotiations, the 10th China-South Asia Exposition in Kunming, in the Yunnan Province, China, once again demonstrated why it has become one of the most important trade platforms connecting China with South Asia. For SL, the six-day exposition held from 11 to 16 June at the Kunming Dianchi Int'l Convention and Exhibition Centre was more than just another trade fair. more..