Jun 17 (ST) The 2026 Yala paddy cultivation season has been severely affected by a fertiliser crisis caused by the govt’s irregular approach to fertiliser imports, release, and distribution, farmer organisations claim. Paddy farmer organisations said the govt failed to order and import quality fertiliser on time and was also unable to distribute fertiliser properly in a practical and efficient way. more..

Jun 17 (ST) No govt in the world – not even in the best of Western democracies – has ever sincerely championed the rights of a free press or recognised its existence as being an indispensable component of democracy. On the contrary, every govt has, at best, held the free press as a positive nuisance to its wellbeing, a hazard to its health or, at worst, regarded it as a mortal enemy, a dangerous loose cannon that may well home in and topple it from its pedestals of power by exposing corruption more..

Jun 17 (CT) Certain things, we the people of SL, cannot comprehend. Either complete information is not revealed or is willfully hidden. This is especially true in the case of the business of the SriLankan Airlines. It has been reported that there is a Rs. 340 billion hole in Sri Lankan Airlines’ Balance Sheet (Daily FT, 13 June). According to the same report of Daily FT, during the 2025/26 financial year, passenger revenue increased to Rs. 265.9 billion from Rs. 234.5 billion, more..

Jun 17 (Island) Some occupants of key positions in the public service unashamedly display their chameleonlike ability to adapt to changing political circumstances and please new leaders. They do not scruple to trade their professional dignity for expediency. So, it is not surprising that some police officers have chosen to be at the beck and call of powerful politicians, and the police go out of their way to further the interests of the powers that be. Their servility has stood in the way of more..

Jun 17 (Island) The passing of Dr. Devanesan Nesiah a few days ago brought back memories that spanned more than four decades. Devanesan signed the witness register at my marriage in 2002. It was a year of hope. Ceasefire Agreement between the govt and the LTTE had brought a respite from a war that had devastated the country for nearly two decades. The possibility of peace seemed real. It was fitting that Devanesan should be present on that occasion because his entire life was more..

Jun 17 (SO) A scientific investigation warns that films, television dramas and social media are increasingly portraying substance use as normal, attractive and aspirational despite strict national laws aimed at curbing promotion. A cigarette between the fingers of a fearless hero, a glass of alcohol shared among friends during moments of celebration, a woman smoking to show independence and strength. more..

Jun 17 (CT) Sri Lanka stands at a critical economic crossroads. Four years after the country’s worst economic crisis since independence, the focus has shifted from stabilisation to sustainable growth. While fiscal reforms and debt restructuring have created a foundation for recovery, a fundamental question remains unanswered: how can SL attract investment, expand exports, and become a competitive player in the global economy? This question was at the heart of a recent more..

Jun 17 (DN) In a welcome development, criminals of SL who have sought refuge abroad, particularly in the Middle Eastern countries, to escape detention for crimes committed here are increasingly being arrested at the other end by the law enforcement authorities there and are deported to SL to face charges. This indeed is as it should be. Criminals, or any wrongdoer for that matter, should not be made to think that they can get away with their acts of crime merely by fleeing the country. more..

Jun 17 (SO) Imagine a single drop of blood. Tiny and seemingly insignificant, it carries within it something far greater than red cells and plasma. It carries hope. It carries compassion. It carries the power to connect complete strangers through a silent act of generosity. World Blood Donor Day will be marked globally today (June 14) under the theme One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives. The message serves as a reminder that more..

Jun 17 (FT) The recent announcement that SL’s National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) has submitted a concept paper proposing to ban tobacco sales to everyone born after 2010 will, understandably, be welcomed by many. Tobacco kills. Around 22,000 Sri Lankans die every year from tobacco-related causes. The health case is undeniable. Nobody disputes that. But good intentions, combined with incomplete thinking, have a habit of producing bad outcomes. more..

Jun 17 (TM) In early Dec 2025, Govt announced the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund as part of its response to the immense damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Ditwah wreaked havoc, claiming hundreds of lives, displacing over 233,000 people, and causing severe damage to buildings, agriculture, and critical infrastructure, with the World Bank estimating $ 4.1 billion in direct physical damage as of 22 Dec 2025. The Govt had and must continue to shoulder the responsibility of rebuilding the country. more..

Jun 16 (NW) Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to draft a new National Action Plan for Human–Elephant Conflict Management, as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with escalating clashes between people and wild elephants. According to the government, rapid population growth, deforestation, and expanding development projects have destroyed traditional migratory routes and habitats, intensifying the conflict across 19 districts and 134 Divisional Secretariat Divisions. more..

Jun 16 (TM) A Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate possible irregularities in coal imports from 2009 onwards conducted an on-site inspection at the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai on the 14th. The delegation, which included Commission Secretary D. V. Bandulasena and other investigating officers, examined the full coal-to-electricity process at the plant. This included coal unloading operations, storage facilities, sample collection methods, more..

Jun 16 (TM) The failure of Local Govt (LG) authorities to properly manage waste in the Western Province (WP) and many other parts of the country has significantly contributed to the spread of dengue, according to the Medical and Civil Rights Association of Doctors (MCPA) organisation. President of the MCPA, Dr Chamal Sanjeewa said that uncollected garbage and stagnant water accumulating in many areas had created ideal breeding grounds more..

Jun 16 (Island) Valikamam North Pradeshiya Sabha has asked Jaffna Security Forces headquarters to halt the construction of a military hospital at Vasavilan. The ITAK-run PS, in a letter to the military, has alleged that an illegal construction was taking place on a block of land belonging to civilians. Chairman of the PS has warned Jaffna Security Forces headquarters that the issue would be taken up with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and NPP govt, unless construction was halted more..

Jun 16 (Island) SL has secured three bronze medals at the 60th International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad (IMChO), held at Moscow State Uni from April 15 to 22, marking the country’s strongest performance to date at the prestigious global chemistry competition. SL team comprised Himaru Abeygunarathne of Trinity College, Kandy, Ravindu Ranathunga of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, Geethilihansa Ganaewaththage of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo, & Niththilan Pirabakaran more..

Jun 16 (Island) Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha on Sunday highlighted several projects being implemented under the Govt of India’s INR 75 crore Indian Origin Tamil Package, upgradation of school infrastructure, and training in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for over 2,000 plantation school teachers. Jha said that the ongoing implementation of India’s housing programme for Indian Origin Tamil families more..

Jun 16 (DM) Cabinet has approved funding to reconstruct an additional 90 places of worship damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, expanding ongoing efforts to restore religious sites affected by the disaster. Official estimates show that 1,328 religious institutions sustained varying degrees of damage, including 758 Buddhist temples, 272 Hindu kovils, 199 mosques, and 99 churches. Reconstruction work has already commenced at 178 religious sites through a Rs. 800 million fund mobilised by more..

Jun 16 (NW) The govt has launched a Rs. 15 billion project to fully renovate Terminal 1 at the BIA, as a long‑term measure to ease passenger congestion. Initiative is being funded entirely through domestic state allocations, without reliance on foreign loans. Deputy Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku said the move was necessary to address the surge in tourism demand, noting that construction of the second terminal under Japanese assistance may take several more years to complete. more..

Jun 16 (DM) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that the most appropriate step that former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay can take in relation to the Easter Sunday terror attacks is to disclose all information in his possession and assist the ongoing investigations. Minister said that there was no value in withholding information known to him as a former intelligence and military officer. “Whatever it is, the best thing that Suresh Sallay can do as an intelligence and military officer more..

Jun 16 (NW) SLC has called for applications for the positions of Manager – Men’s National Teams and Manager – Women’s National Teams, seeking experienced professionals to oversee the operations and administration of SL’s national cricket teams. According to vacancy notices issued by SLC, the successful candidates will be responsible for managing team operations, logistics, compliance, financial processes, player welfare, and communication between players, more..

Jun 16 (Island) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that a long-term programme should be formulated to minimize the spread of dengue epidemic and emphasized that, just as the country has successfully overcome previous challenges, the dengue challenge must also be addressed and overcome through a collective effort. PM made these remarks today while addressing a special dengue prevention programme organized in kottawa more..

Jun 16 (AD) The mandatory seat belt regulation will be strictly enforced from June 20, National Council for Road Safety announced. Chairman of the council, Manjula Kularatne, stated that all occupants of vehicles travelling on expressways will be required to wear seat belts. The govt has made it compulsory for both front-seat and rear-seat passengers to wear seat belts while travelling in vehicles on expressways. A grace period had previously been granted to allow the public to more..

Jun 16 (NW) Cabinet has approved the appointment of a Senior Officials Committee to study the feasibility of integrating the operations of the EPF and ETF under a unified governance framework. EPF, established in 1958, covers more than 2.5 million members and holds assets exceeding Rs. 4.9 trillion. Its custodianship, investment management, financial administration, and benefit payments are overseen by the CB, while the Dept of Labour handles registration, compliance, arrears more..

Jun 16 (MK) Lanka Premier League (LPL) is set to enter its sixth season with a major commercial push after its promoter, Innovative Production Group FZ, secured multimillion-dollar backing through a strategic all-stock merger with Flash Sports & Media, Inc. The development comes weeks before LPL Season 6, which is scheduled to begin on 10 July 2026. IPG said the transaction brings its portfolio of T20 league commercial rights, more..

Jun 16 (EN) Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved getting a 200 million dollar funding from the Asian Development Bank for a post-cyclone infrastructure reconstruction and livelihood assistance project, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said, 7 months after the disaster. “Extreme damages occurred to national infrastructure such as highways, railway tracks and irrigation systems as well as livelihoods, economic activities due to cyclone Ditwah that struck Sri Lanka in November 2025,” Jayatissa told reporters. more..

Jun 16 (NW) Sri Lanka A cricketer Vishen Halambage’s Instagram account has reportedly been blocked after the young player became the target of online trolls following an on-field altercation involving India A batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Halambage drew widespread attention after Sri Lanka A’s dramatic Super Over victory over India A in the Tri-Nation Series in Dambulla on Monday, with videos of a heated exchange between the two players circulating widely on social media. more..

Jun 16 (AD) Dinana Dakuna collective has strongly condemned what it describes as politically motivated interference by police and the CID in matters related to contempt of court allegations, claiming that such actions are being used to restrict freedom of expression. In a statement issued by the collective’s leadership board and executive committee, spokesperson Shiral Lakthilaka said the organization expresses strong opposition to what it terms the targeting of citizens’ speech more..

Jun 16 (NW) SL’s javelin throw champion Rumesh Tharanga is set to compete at the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meet in the Czech Republic today, with the event scheduled to take place at 22:37 SL time. Tharanga’s participation comes on the heels of his remarkable performance at the Rome Diamond League, where he delivered a record‑breaking throw that boosted his global standing. Currently ranked third in the world, his showing in Ostrava is expected to play a more..

Jun 16 (DM) In the wake of tens of millions of US dollars being transferred out of the country through fraudulent transactions, the govt is planning to strengthen laws governing money laundering by introducing fresh legal amendments, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said. Earlier, Minister told Parliament that as much as US$85 million had been transferred out of the country under the guise of import payments. more..

Jun 16 (NF) Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has filed a petition before the Court of Appeal seeking an order preventing his arrest under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The petition is linked to investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. The petition was filed through Attorney-At-Law Sanath Wijewardena. Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya, Director of the CID Shani Abeysekara, and several others have been named as respondents in the petition. more..

Jun 16 (NF) The newly appointed Defence Attaché of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in SL, Senior Colonel Fu Xiao, paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Defence, Aruna Jayasekara, at his office in Colombo yesterday. During the meeting, the Deputy Minister and the Chinese Defence Attaché engaged in cordial discussions on matters of bilateral defence cooperation and mutual interest. The Deputy Minister acknowledged China's longstanding defence cooperation, more..