June 23 (TM) The House Committee of Parliament has revised the monthly meal charges for parliamentary staff, following multiple requests. Executive-grade officers will now pay Rs. 3,000 and non-executive staff Rs. 2,000 starting 1 July, down from the previously set Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 2,500 respectively. Decision was made during a committee meeting chaired by Jagath Wickramaratne on 21 June. Charges for MPs’ drivers, security officers & journalists remain unchanged. more..

June 23 (DM) The disruption in license plate printing has resulted in a backlog of approximately 15,000 vehicles awaiting number plates since May 1 this year, according to Dept of Motor Traffic (DMT). Commissioner Kamal Amarasinghe said that the department has initiated a fresh procurement process to select a new service provider for vehicle license plate printing. The move comes in response to the ongoing delay that has impacted thousands of vehicle owners since May 1. more..

June 23 (AFP) Sri Lanka's anti-narcotics drive has resulted in the seizure of more than three tonnnes (6,600 pounds) of illegal drugs with a street value of $76 million this year. Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said most of the illegal drugs originated in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and were being smuggled into the island by sea. He said there were an estimated 400,000 addicts in the nation of 22 million people. more..

June 23 (AD) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says it is planning to take necessary measures if any possible fuel crisis arises in the future due to the ongoing conflict and escalating tensions in the Middle East. Meanwhile, global oil prices jumped on Monday to their highest levels since January, as the US' weekend move to join Israel in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities stoked supply concerns, Reuters reported. Brent crude futures were up 72 cents, or 0.93%, to $77.73 a barrel as of 08:06 GMT. more..

June 23 (AM) Attorney General (AG) Sanjay Rajaratnam has requested the CID to launch an inquiry into a series of baseless allegations circulating on social media, targeting certain officials within the Attorney General’s Department. Among the claims being shared online is an accusation that the AG acted to facilitate bail for Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, who is currently in remand custody. AG’s Dept has categorically denied this, stating that the matter of granting bail more..

June 23 (FT) Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) last week uncovered what it described as one of the most shocking episodes of corruption in the country’s recent road development history, following revelations of financial irregularities and political interference in flood rehabilitation projects undertaken by the North Central Provincial Council. Committee convened in Parliament, chaired by MP Aravinda Senarath, and disclosed more..

June 23 (DM) Transparency International SL (TISL) has filed legal action in the Supreme Court challenging the proposed Bill to amend the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007, citing serious concerns over the transparency and effectiveness of its provisions on beneficial ownership disclosure. The petition, filed in the public interest on June 19, focuses on Clause 7 of the draft Bill, which seeks to introduce a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) register — a critical anti-corruption more..

June 23 (Island) The representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have expressed their full support for the new education reforms undertaken by the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. These remarks were made during a discussion held on Friday (20) at the Parliament premises between the Prime Minister and Mr. Takafumi Kadono, ADB Country Director for Sri Lanka, along with other ADB representatives more..

June 23 (DM) The Doctors' Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights is calling for a full investigation into all officials involved in the substandard drug scandal that happened during the time of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. Its Chairman, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, said the investigation should not only focus on the former minister but also on other important officials. These include blood bank officers who more..

June 23 (Island) Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, announced that Parliament will hold a special sitting on Monday (30), to allow the govt to present its revenue strategy statement, in line with obligations under the State Finance Management Act, No. 44 of 2024. The decision was made at the Committee on Parliamentary Business, chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, on Friday (20). As per Section 11 of the Act, the Minister of Finance is required to present more..

June 23 (DM) He briefed former Prez Ranil Wickremeisnghe of the programme he had in his mind to fight organised crime and drug related offences, IGP Deshabandu Tennekoon told the commission probing allegations against him. “Ranil Wickremesinghe inquired from me about the plans I have in mind to fight organised crime and drug related offences. Therefore, I briefed him about my plans. The then Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles was present at that time,” more..

June 23 (EN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has given special approval for a UN-flagged research vessel into the island nation’s water to conduct research, a Foreign Ministry official said, after repeated requests from the UN. However, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which is responsible for the research has raised doubts if the ship could be scheduled as originally decided due to delay in SL govt’s decision. more..

June 23 (ST) Mount Lavinia Magistrate Chathurika De Silva has ordered the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau (FIB) to record statements from Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe and newly elected Kaduwela Mayor Ranjan Jayalal over a fraud case. The case referred to allegations where a building belonging to the trade union National Workers’ Institute had been leased out using fraudulent documents for Rs. 3.6 million by suspects claiming to be union officials. more..

June 23 (CI) Milan Rathnayake has been ruled out of the second Test against Bangladesh in Colombo, which will start on June 25, with a side strain. Left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando has been named as his replacement. Spin-bowling allrounder Dunith Wellalage was also drafted into Sri Lanka's squad. The 22-year-old is set to take the spot of Angelo Mathews, who had retired from Test cricket after the first Test. Milan had briefly exited the field on the second morning in Galle, but more..

June 23 (CT) In an alarming development, Sri Lanka’s Gender Inequality Index (GII) has worsened significantly, rising to 93 from 122 in 2024. The troubling trend was revealed during the local launch of the UNDP's 2025 Human Development Report (HDR), titled A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI, held in Colombo. The report, which outlines widening global inequality for the 4th consecutive year, more..

June 23 (DN) Women and Child Affairs Ministry has launched a campaign to protect children on the streets, often involved in child labour, begging or other street-based activities. Ministry states that children on the streets face numerous risks including violence, exploitation, and limited access to basic services like healthcare and education. They are often involved in child labour, begging, or other street-based activities, which can further expose them to harm and hinder their development. more..

June 23 (EN) State-run SriLankan Airlines lost 8.4 billion rupees in the 2024/25 financial year, against a profit of 3.7 billion rupees a year ago, with lower revenues and some costs coming down, official data show. The 8.4 billion loss came despite a 4.09 billion rupee exchange gain. However, in 2023/24 year the 3.8 billion rupee profit came with a 26.6 billion rupee exchange gain, indicating that the loss before the exchange gain was greater in the previous year. SriLankan has large dollar debts, more..

June 23 (AD) A special meeting has been held in Colombo today, after summoning all heads of prisons from across the country. Discussion took place at the Ministry of Justice, chaired by the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Harshana Nanayakkara, at 8.30 a.m. this morning. The discussion reportedly lasted for more than two hours. All Prison Superintendents, Commissioners, and Assistant Commissioners of Prisons from across the island participated in the meeting. more..

June 23 (EN) Sri Lanka’s govt has issued a statement on the Israel-Iran war calling on all parties to take concrete steps to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East region. “L is gravely concerned about the latest developments in the Middle East,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “We continue to call upon all parties to take concrete steps to de-escalate the situation. “All concerned parties should return to dialogue and engage in intense diplomatic efforts to establish and maintain peace more..

June 23 (DM) In the wake of Daily Mirror’s reports on the prevailing shortage of critical drugs, medical specialists have raised serious concerns over the lack of clear directives from the Ministry of Health regarding how doctors should act when essential medical items are not available within the public health system. In a letter addressed to the Health Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) more..

June 23 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court today issued a warrant for the arrest of former MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena, who failed to appear before the court in connection with a case filed by the Inland Revenue Commissioner regarding alleged income tax evasion amounting to nearly Rs. 36.9 million. The case, filed in 2023 by the Inland Revenue Commissioner, pertains to the non-payment of income tax for the assessment years 2010 and 2012. When the case was taken up before more..

June 23 (CT) The newly-installed Nuclear Imaging Unit (Gamma Camera) at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children was officially integrated into treatment services under the patronage of the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Anil Jasinghe. This state-of-the-art Nuclear Imaging Unit (Gamma Camera), valued at Rs 154 million, has been funded by the Ministry of Health. The equipment will primarily be used for diagnosing kidney-related diseases. more..

June 23 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake has appointed Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. The letter of appointment was handed over to Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma by the Secretary to the Prez Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake this morning. Dr. Suriyapperuma has been involved in capital market regulation for several years as a Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission, more..

June 23 (TM) Opposition leader of the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council (MC), Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, has called on CIABOC to investigate alleged irregularities within the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia MC – including an alleged payment of Rs. 92 million to remove 35,000 tonnes of garbage. He said that an audit report pertaining to MC reveals that garbage was dumped at the Karadiyana landfill for an enormous sum, but no effort has been made to explore the sale of waste or launch more..

June 23 (FT) In Part I of this series,1 we looked at how the public and politicians viewed the central bank as an institution that is responsible for steering the real economic growth of the country and a cash cow for funding the profligate expenditure of the govt. This misconception has led both parties to believe that the low or negative economic growth has been the fault of the central bank. However, the central banks are expected to help a country to have high economic growth by more..

June 23 (FT) Bruce Schneier, a leading thinker about technology, coined the term security theatre to describe the practice of implementing security measures that provide a feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to achieve it. Anyone who has been through a mall entrance where security devices exist, people go through dutifully, and beeps are ignored routinely has participated in security theatre. What is meant by governance theatre is the common Sri Lankan practice more..

June 23 (AD) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk has arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago. Human Rights Commissioner Türk will remain in the country until June 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism said. This marks the first visit by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sri Lanka since February 2016. During the visit, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is scheduled to call on the President and the PM. more..

June 23 (TM) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday called for the immediate de-escalation of the Israeli-Iranian conflict and for an ensuing ceasefire, following an unprecedented strike at Iranian critical infrastructure by the armed forces of the US. “I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the US against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace & security. more..

June 23 (NW) NPP has now gained control of 192 local govt bodies across SL. Out of these, NPP secured a direct majority in 151 authorities, while they formed administrations in 41 other councils by achieving a post-election majority. NPP now governs several key municipal councils including Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Kurunegala, Puttalam, and Nuwara Eliya. In the Pradeshiya Sabhas of Agarapatana, Kotagala, and Nuwara Eliya, the Lanka Workers Congress (LWC) holds the chairmanship more..

June 23 (AM) 31 people injured in a bus crash along the Badulla–Mahiyanganaya main road in Dunhinda are currently receiving treatment at the Badulla Teaching Hospital. The accident occurred around 6 p.m. yesterday (21) when a bus transporting a group of pilgrims overturned near Dunhinda. The group had been returning home to Thambuttegama, Anuradhapura after visiting the Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya in Badulla. Three individuals—two women and a man—died in the incident. more..

June 23 (ST) The largest initial public offering in the history of SL’s stock exchange—the LTL Holdings IPO—is likely to be scuppered after private investors were spooked by govt plans to retain control of the company by getting the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to dump Rs. 8bn on 597,267,000 shares. “Private investors, institutional as well as high-net-worth individuals, are not willing to invest in a company in which the State is more..

June 23 (AM) The CIABOC has urged members of the public who have been affected by alleged malpractices involving Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr Maheshi Wijeratne of the Sri J'pura General Hospital to come forward with any information they may have regarding the case. Dr Wijeratne was arrested by CIABOC officers on 18 June and was subsequently remanded by the Colombo High Court until 24 June. The allegations centre around a large-scale financial exploitation scheme, in which more..

June 23 (AM) The Police have announced that the nationwide operation to remove unauthorised and modified vehicle accessories will resume on 1 July. DIG Indika Hapugoda, stated that the crackdown will target illegally installed equipment such as high-intensity LED lights, loud sound systems, and metal rods. DIG Hapugoda explained that many road accident victims suffer severe injuries due to the presence of such unauthorised equipment, as observed in several recent incidents. more..