Jul 24 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) yesterday announced an unchanged stance on policy rates at 7.75% following the Monetary Board Review on Tuesday, after assessing both domestic and global developments. The Board is of the view that the current monetary policy stance will help steer inflation towards the target of 5% in the period ahead, while supporting growth. “The decision to maintain the current rates is based on more..

Jul 24 (ST) This is what US Prez Donald Trump has done; sent world trade into an uneasy spin with his across-the-board tariffs and sucking countries, desperate to ship their goods to the US, into a vortex of uncertainty. How these new taxes will play out in a post-Trump era also remains to be seen. But enough of that at the moment and more on it later, I told myself as I watched Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, reach our gate to be greeted by the trio. What pleasantly surprised me was that more..

Jul 24 (FT) The National Organic Control Unit (NOCU) of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) continued its mission to elevate Sri Lanka’s organic agriculture sector by successfully conducting the third phase of its 2025 national awareness program at Riveria Resort – Batticaloa on 8 July. The awareness seminar follows the earlier programs held in Jaffna and Matale that were highly beneficial to the participants. The one-day awareness program contained expert presentations and more..

Jul 24 (TM) The Most Venerable Anamaduwe Sri Rathanapala Buddharakkhita Dhammadassi Anunayake Thera of the Asgiri Maha Vihara Chapter of the Siam Sect has passed away at the age of 67 in Kandy on 21 July. His untimely demise marks the loss of a prominent figure in the SL Buddhist Sangha community. This is undoubtedly a significant loss for Buddhists both in SL as well as those around the world. His life exemplified unwavering dedication, remarkable scholarship in Buddhism, more..

Jul 24 (CT) Forty-two years have passed since the haunting days of Black July, yet the scars remain vivid in the collective memory of Sri Lanka. What unfolded in July 1983 was not merely a riot or a spontaneous reaction to grief. It was a calculated, targeted wave of violence against the Tamil community that changed the course of our nation’s history. The killing of 13 soldiers by the LTTE on 23 July 1983 sparked what became one of the darkest chapters in SL’s post-independence era. more..

Jul 24 (SO) “I just want my son to be able to continue his studies and get back to his normal life,” said Riffai (52), father of Suhail, the 21-year-old aviation student who was arrested and detained under the PTA for allegedly sharing anti-Israeli sentiments on social media. On Tuesday (15), Suhail was released on bail after spending nine months in detention. His story sparked widespread debate among politicians and the public after Riffai took to social media more..

Jul 24 (Island) Bathiya was a revered wild tusker who roamed the forests of Kalawewa and Polpithigama in SL’s North Western Province. His tragic death on July 15, 2025, following severe injuries, sparked national reflection on wildlife conservation and the urgent need for systemic reform. So, let’s crack down on the code on Bathiya’s plight. His tragic journey began when he suffered the devastating blow of a trap gun injury. Following the first phase of treatment, more..

Jul 24 (GV) In Chemmani, on the outskirts of Jaffna, human remains continue to surface, unsettling a nation still grappling with its violent past. The Chemmani mass graves, first brought to public attention in the late 1990s, are believed to contain the bodies of hundreds of forcibly disappeared Tamil civilians – victims of extrajudicial killings during the military’s 1995-1996 occupation of the peninsula. The revelation came from Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse who testified more..

Jul 24 (TM) The much-touted implementation of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in Sri Lanka, once optimistically slated to go live by June 2025, has unequivocally missed its deadline. This latest setback in a decade-long saga of delays has been met with a wall of silence and deflection from key Govt officials, raising serious questions about transparency and the true impediments to its rollout. The elusive nature of the MNP, more..

Jul 24 (TM) Democratic parliamentary systems are built for inquiring about public interest issues, policy and laws to be well debated. SL’s parliamentary behaviour has long been criticised for being an vulgar, unprofessional and downright criminal at times. Decorum and statesmanship have been rare occurrences. The public called for that political culture to change during the aragalaya protest movement. NPP which rode that wave of rejecting the ways of the past & of mainstream politics, more..

Jul 24 (DM) SL is in the process of witnessing the removal of an IGP. The decision to remove IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon came about when he was found guilty of serious allegations by a constitutionally appointed Committee of Inquiry, setting the stage for an unprecedented parliamentary vote on his removal. According to Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, “this is the first time in the history of the Republic of SL that such a committee has submitted its findings recommending more..

Jul 23 (DM) Liberal Youth Movement welcomed the Supreme Court judgment upholding the petition it filed challenging the islandwide State of Emergency declared on July 17, 2022 by the then Acting Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. Movement said, “We believe in standing firm for individual liberty, fundamental rights, and the rule of law—not in support of or opposition to any govt, but in unwavering defense of the freedoms of the people. When those freedoms are under threat, we act. more..

Jul 23 (DM) Heated arguments rocked Parliament when SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne raised a question on the JVP's attack on the Dalada Maligawa in 1989 and Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake called the MP a daughter of a murderer. The initial argument popped up between Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne and MP Kaviratne. The Speaker requested the MP to be brief on the question and the former asked him to shut up. "You better shut up as I am coming to my question," MP Kaviratne said. more..

Jul 23 (AD) Chief Justice Murdu Fernando has underscored the need for legal renewal amidst rising public concerns about the legal system in an evolving society. Addressing the inaugural session of the Bar Association of SL (BASL) Legal Symposium 2025, CJ Murdu Fernando, emphasized the importance of ethical integrity, constitutional values, and collaborative legal development in steering SL towards a Just Republic. more..

Jul 23 (DM) A total of 3,300 mouth cancer cases have been reported across Sri Lanka, with increasing numbers linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking, betel chewing and alcohol consumption, Dental Surgeon Dr. Prasanna Jayasekara said. He noted that mouth cancer is increasingly affecting youth between the ages of 20 and 30. He said that around 10 new mouth cancer cases are reported daily, with 15% of the cases found among males and 3% among females. more..

Jul 23 (CT) High Commissioner of India to SL Santosh Jha inaugurated a replica of King Ashoka’s Pillar of Dhamma in Vaishali at the Rajaguru Sri Subuthi Maha Viharaya in Waskaduwa at a ceremony held on 21 July. The HC joined the Chief Incumbent of the Temple, Most Ven. Dr. Waskaduwe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thera in inaugurating a special exposition of the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics in the Temple on the occasion. He also conveyed best wishes to Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera more..

Jul 23 (AD) The Sri Lankan passport has made a major leap and climbed five places from 96th to 91st, in the Henley Passport Index. The SL passport jumped four spots last year as well. The Henley Passport Index 2025 ranks countries on the basis of the number of destinations their holders can enter without having a prior visa. Currently, SL has visa-free access to 42 destinations in the world. Singapore passport holders are given more..

Jul 23 (CI) Jason Sangha has given his future Test prospects a massive boost after posting an unbeaten double century for Australia A in their drawn first-class clash with Sri Lanka A in Darwin. In reply to SL's dominant 485 for 6 declared, Sangha posted 202 not out off 379 balls as Australia A reached a monster 558 for 4 before the game was declared a draw on the cusp of tea on day four. Only ten wickets fell across the four days, with the two-match series finishing in a dull 0-0 draw. more..

Jul 23 (Island) The GMOA has said it will soon seek a meeting with Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa and the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) to discuss the rapid deterioration of health services at govt hospitals. GMOA Secretary Dr. Prabath Sugathadasa yesterday (22) said that instead of taking tangible measures to address the worsening shortage of medicine and equipment at govt hospitals, the NPP govt tried to hoodwink the public by creating an environment for patients more..

Jul 23 (DM) The Ministry of Environment has requested the SL Police to launch a special investigation into the recent spate of wild elephant deaths caused by gunshot wounds, urging strong legal action against those responsible. In a letter to Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya, Environment Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala has called for the CID to take over the case, following a report from the Director General of Wildlife regarding four elephant carcasses found more..

Jul 23 (AD) The UAE has once again been named the safest country in the world, according to the Safety Index by Country 2025 Mid-Year, published by global data aggregator Numbeo. Scoring an impressive 85.2 on the index, the UAE outperformed 147 other nations, reaffirming its status as a global leader in public safety and quality of life. Following the UAE in the safety rankings are Andorra (84.8), Qatar (84.6), Taiwan (83.0), and Macao (China) (81.8). The Gulf region continues to shine, more..

Jul 23 (DM) The govt is moving away from an exam-centric education system towards a modular system focused on active learning, with the aim of providing quality education for all children, Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said. Speaking during a media briefing, Minister noted that SL's traditional approach to education where students, teachers, and parents primarily prepare for exams is set to change. more..

Jul 23 (Island) Presidential Secretariat said that the government hadn’t reached any consensus with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change on a programme to be conducted here. Presidential Secretariat said so in response to The Island seeking clarification in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the NPP govt reaching an agreement on a programme. Managing Director of the Asia Pacific Advisory Division of the Tony Blair Institute, Jaleel Rashid, and more..

Jul 23 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a Special Presidential Investigation Committee to probe alleged incidents of fraud, corruption and irregularities at SriLankan Airlines and Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (Pvt) Ltd. Prez met with the members of the Committee yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat and engaged in a discussion with them. During the meeting, Prez emphasized that the absence of a proper investigation into the irregularities at more..

Jul 23 (DM) The proposed 50 megawatt floating solar power project in Kaluganga reservoir has been met with criticism by environmental organisations. They have pointed out that the proposed project would cause extensive environmental damage to the reservoir and pose a threat to several species of fish endemic to SL. An Environmentalist and Director of Nature Foundation said that Kaluganga river and Kaluganga more..

Jul 23 (FT) It is nearing 11 months since Anura Kumara Disanayake became President and nine months since the JVP-NPP coalition was put in power with an unassailable two-third majority in Parliament. Both were made possible by a new generation of Sri Lankans awakened by an accelerating desolation of the country’s democratic governance, economic development and its socio-cultural heterogeneity. The 2023 Aragalaya was the expression of their discontent, which more..

Jul 23 (NW) Sri Lanka’s economic growth forecast for 2025 has been modestly reduced, according to the Asian Development Bank’s latest Asian Development Outlook (July 2025). The revision reflects broader regional adjustments influenced by new US tariff policies. The report notes that Sri Lanka experienced broad-based growth in the first quarter of 2025. However, uncertainties over US tariffs have weighed on trade prospects, prompting a downward adjustment. more..

Jul 23 (AM) Serious concerns were raised over the Land Reform Commission’s inaction over previous COPE recommendations relating to allegations against N. Vimalaraj, an LRC District Director who is still serving in the position. He was previously accused of illegally alienating over 1,000 plots of state-owned land. COPE expressed regret that investigations linked to this serious charge — highlighted in the Committee’s April 23, 2023 report — had not been adequately pursued. more..

Jul 23 (CT) An investigation has been launched following a complaint lodged by President of the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA), Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, regarding the importation of nearly 40 additional types of medicines under the Indian credit line during the tenure of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. Dr. Sanjeewa, who visited the CID yesterday to provide clarification on the complaint he had submitted earlier this year, more..

Jul 23 (AD) Neither the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) nor the govt has taken any decision to impose restrictions on vehicle imports at present, Governor of the CBSL Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has clarified while responding to recent media reports. Governor made this statement during a press briefing held today, following the announcement of the CB’s monetary policy statement. When inquired regarding recent reports suggesting that the govt and more..

Jul 23 (AD) Constitutional Council has ratified Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s nomination of SC Justice Preethi Padman Surasena as the next Chief Justice of SL. Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, one of the most senior justices in the SC was nominated by the President recently. Accordingly, the Constitutional Council, which convened today, ratified the nomination. Chief Justice Murdu Fernando is scheduled to retire on July 27, and a new Chief Justice is to be appointed to more..

Jul 23 (NW) World Health Organization (WHO) issued an urgent call for action to prevent a repeat of an epidemic of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus that swept the globe two decades ago, as new outbreaks linked to the Indian Ocean region spread to Europe and other continents. An estimated 5.6 billion people live in areas across 119 countries at risk from the virus, which can cause high fever, joint pain and long-term disability, Diana Rojas Alvarez, a medical officer at the WHO, more..