Jun 3 (FT) Celebrating two decades of pioneering success, the food industry specialist Pyramid Wilmar has set sights on doubling its top line in the next five years with further innovation and value offering both in B2B and consumer segments. Pyramid Oil Mills, the local oil miller in the year 2004 forged a strategic 50:50 joint venture with Wilmar International Ltd, Asia’s leading agribusiness group, headquartered in Singapore; with over a 1000 manufacturing plants in over 50 countries. more..

Jun 3 (FT) European Union (EU) last week urged SL to develop a robust pipeline of investment-ready infrastructure projects and leverage innovative financing mechanisms to attract global capital, positioning its Global Gateway initiative as a high-quality and transparent model for funding strategic developments. Addressing the SL-German Business Forum 2026, Delegation of the EU to SL and the Maldives Head of Cooperation more..

Jun 3 (Island) In the summer of 1789, as the French Revolution gathered momentum, delegates of the National Assembly assembled in Versailles to debate the future of France. Seating arrangement inside the chamber was not planned to shape political vocabulary for centuries to come. Yet it did. Those who favoured sweeping political change, greater equality, and the dismantling of inherited privilege gravitated to the left side of the hall. Those who defended monarchy, established institutions, more..

Jun 3 (CT) Sri Lanka’s racism problem is not a relic of the past; it is a live political and social issue that keeps resurfacing in public debate, online spaces, and institutional practice. The NPP govt has publicly pledged to defeat political racism, but the persistence of Islamophobia, communal deflection, and social-media hate show of political power, shows how deeply entrenched the problem remains. Sri Lanka’s racism problem is not fading with the change of govt. more..

Jun 3 (DM) In Sri Lanka, there is one promise that keeps coming back during every election. It is the promise to abolish the executive presidency. It is repeated with confidence, with conviction, and with great appeal to the public. Yet, once the election is over and power is secured, that promise quietly fades away. This pattern is not new. It has happened again and again, across different leaders and different govts. And today, people are beginning to ask a simple question. more..

Jun 3 (TM) When Sri Lankans speak of unforgettable songs in stage drama, one melody almost always returns. Made Lagina Tharawun, sung by late Mercy Edirisinghe in Lucian Bulathsinhala’s celebrated play Tharawun Igillethi. Whenever the subject of Parliamentary crossovers emerge, my mind quietly travels back to that song. You may wonder why. Read the following lines: Should I bathe a duck that forever delights in mud? What pearl can one expect from a boar’s tusk? more..

Jun 3 (CT) SL’s transition toward renewable energy has increasingly been presented as a pathway to a cleaner and more sustainable future. Across the country, solar power projects are promoted as symbols of progress, promising reduced dependence on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions and greater energy security. Yet in Hambantota, an unfolding controversy raises questions about what happens when more..

Jun 3 (ST) Reading the media comments of the aftermath of Prez Donald Trump’s state visit to China, however belated it might be, nothing I read was particularly surprising. Perhaps Prez Trump’s customary departure from diplomatic protocol might have been less noticeable. But then Trump is capable of surprises, though not necessarily welcomed in serious society. Perhaps it was Chinese President Xi Jinping’s early warning to his visiting counterpart that cut the turf under his feet. more..

Jun 3 (DM) Govt’s critics warn, some with smug satisfaction, that SL is yet again heading towards an economic crisis reminiscent of the one during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. Some insist the country is already there or faring worse– their barometer being the oil prices now which are as high as then. Cost-reflective energy pricing in the backdrop of the Middle East crisis may not be the most appropriate measure for economic health. In any measure, govt’s decision to stick to more..

Jun 3 (TM) The Govt plans for sources of non-renewable energy to be gradually removed from the national grid by 2050 as SL accelerates its transition towards a fully sustainable power sector. Deputy Minister of Energy Arkam Ilyas said that this target was part of a sweeping strategy to overhaul the national grid, eliminate structural reliance on imported fossil fuels, and establish total carbon neutrality. more..

Jun 3 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa is reported to have lamented that in SL, politicians who are adept at lying succeed at the expense of those who work really hard. He never misses an opportunity to project himself as a hardworking politician, and therefore his political rivals may claim that his lament smacks of self-promotion. Nevertheless, his argument is not untenable. During the last several decades, we have heard zillions of lies uttered by numerous political leaders, more..

Jun 3 (TM) We have heard warnings about dengue for decades. Every year, with the arrival of the monsoon rains, public appeals are made, clean-up campaigns are launched, and health officials urge citizens to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. Yet the country continues to find itself confronting the same threat, often with tragic consequences. Latest warning from NMRA Chairperson Dr Ananda Wijewickrama should therefore not be dismissed as another routine alert. more..

Jun 2 (DM) Cabinet of Ministers has approved the awarding of procurement contracts for the supply and delivery of lubricating oil to the Sapugaskanda Power Station for the upcoming 2026/27 operational year. The decision follows a competitive bidding process initiated after a Cabinet briefing on Feb 9, 2026, aimed at securing crucial engineering consumables before current supply terms expire. Following the Standby Procurement Committee recommendations, the Ministry of Energy more..

Jun 2 (DM) The Cabinet has approved a new National Plan and digital platform to respond to oil spills and hazardous chemical spills in SL waters. The Government said the move was necessary due to the increasing number of ships operating near SL, the expansion of ports, growing oil-related activities and the impact of climate change. More than 400 ships pass through the East-West shipping route near Sri Lanka each day, while over 5,000 vessels call at local ports every year. more..

Jun 2 (DM) Three senior legal professionals have filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal seeking urgent intervention to prevent a sitting High Court Judge from being summoned and questioned regarding judicial decisions made in the course of his official duties, arguing that such action poses a serious threat to judicial independence and the rule of law. The petition has been filed by President’s Counsel more..

Jun 2 (Island) Former Commander of SL Army with possibly the best battlefield record, having recovered the most amount of enemy occupied territory by troops he led from the front in the Vanni theatre of operations (2007-2009), General Shavendra Silva recently discussed growing challenges faced by smaller countries, like SL, in what he called the evolving global environment. Stressing that responsibilities must be shared across all states, the former Commander of the SL Army told more..

Jun 2 (AD) Water tariffs will be increased by a marginal amount in response to the recent rise in electricity charges, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe has stated. Minister said the adjustment would be made in proportion to the impact of higher electricity costs on water supply operations. He explained that electricity expenses account for approximately 12% of the water tariff structure and that the increase in electricity tariffs has affected that component. more..

Jun 2 (Island) People’s United Opposition alleged that the IMF had turned a blind eye to serious corruption allegations against the NPP govt and was going ahead with the USD 2.9 bn loan in terms of the EFF programme, finalised in 2023. Former Ministers Prof. G. L. Peiris and Champika Ranawaka questioned the failure on the part of the IMF to act in spite of the NPP govt engaging in open corrupt practices, contrary more..

Jun 2 (DM) A brilliant object flying across the sky over the Puttalam town in the early hours of yesterday morning caused much panic, and the people dashed out of their homes to catch a glimpse. Several of them have been able to take photos of it. They said the mysterious object was several feet long and that it had a tail of fire similar to that of a rocket or a missile. They said flying faster than an aircraft at an elevation of about 300ft, it disappeared into the distant skies over more..

Jun 2 (NF) Former Minister Johnston Fernando appeared before the Illegal Assets Investigation Division today and subsequently left the premises at around 12:30 p.m. after providing a statement to investigators. Fernando had been summoned in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged provision of a vehicle on a rental basis to an individual identified as Sampath Manamperi. Authorities are probing the transaction as part of a broader inquiry into possible irregularities more..

Jun 2 (NF) Supreme Court has concluded hearings today in the fundamental rights petition filed by former Eastern Province Chief Minister S. Chandrakanthan, widely known as Pillayan. Petition was filed challenging his arrest and detention under the PTA, with the former provincial leader alleging that his fundamental rights had been violated through the legal process. After hearing submissions in the case, SC bench announced that proceedings in the matter have now been completed. more..

Jun 2 (AD) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa today disclosed details pertaining to the fuel consumption and fuel import costs in the country so far this year. He stated that fuel import costs have continued to increase in line with prices in the global market. He stated that the govt spent USD 186 million on fuel imports in January, while the fuel import bill had surged to USD 521 million by May. Minister further commented, “If we look at fuel consumption figures, Auto Diesel consumption stood at 4,538 more..

Jun 2 (DM) SLC has announced the national player contracts for the 2026–2027 season, naming a pool of 46 players for the upcoming one-year cycle. The contracts will be effective from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The contracted players have been categorized into six groups — A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and a Central Contract category — based on performance, consistency, fitness levels, long-term potential, and strategic requirements more..

Jun 2 (SLN) In a display of naval tradition, SL Navy formally welcomed Pakistan Navy Ships PNS Taimur and PNS Aslat, alongside the submarine PNS/M Hangor, arrived at the Port of Colombo. Pakistan naval units made port in SL for a goodwill visit as well as to fulfill replenishment. The visiting naval assets are commanded by a lineup of naval officers, with Captain Niamat Saeed Khan (PNS Taimur), Captain Nadir Mateen Afridi (PNS Aslat), and Captain Uzair Farooq (PNS/M Hangor). more..

Jun 2 (NW) There will be no increase in bus fares despite the recent fuel price hike, Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena said. He stated that bus fares are revised only in accordance with the existing bus fare revision formula and that the latest fuel price increase does not meet the threshold required for a fare adjustment. According to the Deputy Minister, a fare adjustment can be considered only if fuel prices change by more than 4%. more..

Jun 2 (NF) Sri Lanka has renewed its push to attract global investment, with Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof engaging in high-level discussions in Washington D.C. aimed at strengthening economic ties with the United States and positioning the country as a competitive investment destination. Governor Yusoof said he met with US Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg at the US Department of State, more..

Jun 2 (NW) The Cabinet has approved awarding the construction contract for Lot A of the Mullikulam Wind Power Transmission Project, a key initiative to strengthen Sri Lanka’s renewable energy infrastructure. The project, which was cleared earlier this year, consists of two components, Lot A and Lot B. While the contract for Lot B has now been finalized, bidding for Lot A was conducted under international competitive procurement procedures, attracting four bids. more..

Jun 2 (EN) An EU-funded project is strengthening industrial practices in SL to make industrial parks more efficient, environmentally responsible, and economically competitive zones, contributing to the country’s broader green development agenda. The large-scale capacity-building programme aimed at promoting the Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) concept in SL targets more than 1,000 stakeholders across the country’s industrial sector. It is conducted by the EU-funded Green Recovery Facility project, more..

Jun 2 (JT) Japanese experts have been helping Sri Lanka restore a huge volume of flood-soaked court documents. Late last November, the island nation in the Indian Ocean was hit by Cyclone Ditwah, affecting more than 2.2 million people and leaving some 820 of them dead or missing. More than 170,000 documents at a court in the city of Kandy, including papers on pending cases, were soaked in floodwater. Responding to the SL govt’s request for assistance with restoring the documents, more..

Jun 2 (AD) The Jaffna Magistrate’s Court has granted permission to former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to give evidence online in the ongoing case concerning the disappearance of activists Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan. Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Muruganandan of the Movement for People’s Struggle had disappeared in the Avarangal area on December 9, 2011, a day before a protest organized by them was to be held by relatives of more..

Jun 2 (EN) Cabinet has approved a proposal to fast-track urban modernization and branding projects across select towns, at a cost of 1,475 million rupees. The plan, called the 10 Cities Development Program, aims to use a prioritized, data-based approach for urban development across the country, with 217 prioritized projects. These projects will take place in Jaffna, Matale, Hatton, Batticaloa, Chilaw, more..

Jun 2 (FT) LG Electronics marked a historic milestone in the Sri Lankan commercial technology landscape with the grand opening of its first-ever LG Business Innovation Centre at Abans on 14th May. The centre is the country’s first experience hub dedicated exclusively to advanced Information Displays and Audio-Visual (AV) solutions. The inauguration ceremony was graced by a host of distinguished dignitaries, including LG SL Managing Director Keith Chung; more..