June 1 (ST) Almost 4 months into its appointment, the committee appointed by the Finance Ministry to investigate the release of 323 red-flagged containers from the Colombo Port without Customs inspection is yet to conclude its inquiry. Deputy Ports Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku said the probe was still continuing, but he was confident the committee would finalise its report and submit it soon. A senior customs source, meanwhile, more..

June 1 (DM) SL’s Anudi Gunasekara has not been included among the quarterfinalists of the 72nd Miss World Festival 2025. According to the official list released by the Miss World organisation, contestants from 40 countries have advanced to the quarterfinals across four regions: Americas & Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Asia & Oceania. However, SL was not among the selected nations. The quarterfinalists include representatives from countries such as India, Australia, Nigeria, Poland, US, among others. more..

June 1 (NW) National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has assured that no substandard immunoglobulin is currently in use at govt hospitals, contrary to recent media reports. NMRA Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrema said the immunoglobulin in question was manufactured by ICHOR Biologics Ltd. in India and received regulatory approval in 2023. He noted that the medicine was initially flagged following a complaint after use, and concerns were raised during testing. more..

June 1 (AD) While acknowledging the emergence of these new subvariants, Dr. Jayamaha emphasized that there is no need for undue alarm. He noted that periodic mutations of the Covid-19 virus are expected, and the health sector remains vigilant through continuous monitoring and research. Health authorities have reiterated the importance of maintaining preventive measures, particularly among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses. more..

June 1 (Island) Mid-level police officers have expressed concern over alleged attempts by the JVP to politicise the network of Public Safety Committees (PSCs) being established in every Grama Niladhari (GN) division across the country. According to police headquarters sources, concerns have intensified following reports that individuals affiliated to JVP—distinct even from the broader NPP alliance—are being positioned on these grassroots committees under political pressure, in certain districts. more..

June 1 (TM) While the long-delayed tariff revision for power purchases remains stuck awaiting Cabinet approval, a wind power project involving six 10 MW plants in Puttalam is allegedly being pushed ahead for approval – a move that could cost the public over Rs. 20 billion. It is learnt that several private companies are reportedly planning to build six 10 MW wind farms in the Puttalam area, in a deal that could result more..

June 1 (CB) The National Sports Council (NSC) on Thursday announced the termination of Faruque Ahmed's position as their representative on the BCB's board of directors. As a result, he no longer holds the position of BCB president, as he had been nominated as a councilor by the NSC when he took charge following Nazmul Hasan's ouster last year after the student movement. The announcement came shortly after eight BCB directors voted in favour of Faruque Ahmed's removal from more..

June 1 (SO) A vibrant relationship between Sri Lanka and Russia will be a vital cog in Sri Lanka’s economy and in its journey to reach the global market for its niche products, said a former senior SL diplomat to Russia. “Our trade relationship with Russia has been historically strong, especially with Ceylon tea, which is still one of our flagship exports. But what’s exciting is how the relationship is evolving. Over the past year, we’ve seen a significant increase in Russian tourists; more..

June 1 (NW) A cashier attached to a state bank branch in Kaduwela has been arrested for allegedly transferring Rs. 135 million from the bank’s funds to various external accounts, Kaduwela Police said. According to police, the suspect was lured through WhatsApp by a young woman who promised a daily interest rate of 10% on any deposit made. As a trial, the cashier initially transferred Rs. 30,000 to an account provided by the woman and received Rs. 33,000 within a few hours. more..

June 1 (DM) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) announced today that there will be no revisions in fuel prices for the month of June. In an official statement issued today, the CPC confirmed that fuel prices will remain unchanged for the next month. The CPC did not specify reasons for the decision to forgo this month’s revision, which typically reflects changes in global oil prices and other economic factors. Accordingly, the retail prices of fuel will remain as follows: more..

June 1 (TM) Following the closure of Next Manufacturing Ltd.’s garment factory in the Katunayake FTZ, industry stakeholders have assured that there is no imminent threat of other companies following suit. On 19 May, Next Manufacturing, a fully owned subsidiary of the UK-based retailer Next, announced that it would be shutting down its garment factory in the Katunayake FTZ, resulting in the termination of approx. 1,416 employees. more..

June 1 (TM) A 2022 study has found that 90 electric charging stations, spaced at 50 km intervals, would be sufficient to meet the charging needs of the growing demand for Electric Vehicles (EVs), according to the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA). SLSEA Director General H.K. Wickramasinghe stated that in 2022, during the fuel crisis that affected Sri Lanka, a study had been carried out to gauge the EV infrastructure necessary to cater to local demand. more..

June 1 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake paid a visit to 20th Build SL Housing and Construction Int'l Exhibition organized by the Chamber of Construction Industry of SL (CCI), on Saturday morning. The Build SL Housing and Construction Exhibition, the premier exhibition of the construction industry in SL, commenced yesterday (30) at the BMICH in Colombo and will conclude today. This exhibition features almost 280 product display stalls and it will provide a platform to more..

June 1 (TM) Six months on from the 2024 General Elections, the new regime is yet to make a policy decision regarding the suspended negotiations with SL’s bilateral trade partners on proposed trade agreements. Deputy Minister R.M. Jayawardana revealed that no discussions had yet taken place at the ministerial level with regard to recommencing the suspended trade talks with SL’s bilateral trade partners. more..

June 1 (ST) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), in which the government has a majority stake, now comes under the purview of the National Audit Office (NAO) of the Auditor General’s Department, after a recent transformation in its shareholdings. While the oversight of the NAO should be seen as a positive move, company sources said it however reduces the company’s flexibility in competing in the market and taking quick decisions when compared to its giant competitor – Dialog. more..

June 1 (CB) International Cricket Council (ICC) will start implementing the new playing conditions from next month, including the return to a single ball in the ODIs. In a communique to the members, the ICC said the revised Playing Conditions (PCs) will take effect immediately, from June, in Test matches, and from July in international white ball games. There will be changes to the concussion replacement rules as well apart from minor adjustments to the boundary line catches and DRS clauses. more..

June 1 (Island) It’s been a week since Angelo Mathews called time on his Test career, and with the dust now almost settled, we can fully appreciate the mark he left on Sri Lankan cricket. Mathews wasn’t just part of a side that etched its name into the record books – he was the ink in the pen that scripted history. A career spanning 17 years, Mathews walks away as Sri Lanka’s third-highest run-getter in Tests. But numbers alone don’t capture the essence of his contribution. more..

June 1 (SO) In a moment that made ripples across the SL swimming community, a 16-year-old schoolboy from Colombo dived into history at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex last week. For the first time on home soil, a swimmer shattered the 30-second barrier in the 50m breaststroke long course – a feat long dreamed of but never achieved until now. The young hero behind this historic splash is M. F. Muhammad, a student of Zahira College, who clocked an astonishing 29.89 sec. more..

June 1 (ST) As Sri Lanka prepares to host Bangladesh for a 2-match Test series later this month—followed by a white-ball leg—memories switch back to 2017 when Bangladesh recorded surprising win against SL to level the two-match series. At the P. Sara Oval in Colombo, Bangladesh, in their 100th Test match, stunned the hosts with a 4-wicket victory. It hinted that Bangladesh was set to become a competitive Test team. more..

June 1 (Island) Tobacco kills. It often maims before it kills – as it is capable of harming all organs in the body. It robs the potential of its countless victims and their families. Children are particularly vulnerable to the influences of the tobacco industry, which targets them as future smokers. The addictive nature of tobacco undermines true freedom of choice of its users. Every year thousands of young people in Sri Lanka become victims of its addictive grip. Can we imagine a future where our children more..

June 1 (Island) What’s the world coming to when the chief political face of the capitalist world order—US Prez Donald Trump—unapologetically adopts protectionist measures to save American industries and create jobs, and the Marxist govt of SL draws heavy flak for baulking at resorting to tariff hikes to save a vital industry and prevent job losses? The emerging world order is topsy-turvy and full of contradictions! SL sugar manufacturers are up in arms, unable to dispose of their stocks as more..

June 1 (ST) My dear Malini, I am writing to you so soon after you left us for the Land of Never Return, plunging a nation into grief and reflection. Just as much as your performances on the silver screen entertained us for 6 decades, your departure has also made us realise a little bit more about ourselves. We knew you were not in the best of health for a while. Even so, your departure was a shock. That was because we saw you only a few weeks ago on your birthday singing age old more..

June 1 (ST) On the heels of a string of top secret MoUs with India comes information that Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Industries is negotiating yet another MoU with the neighbouring nation for cooperation in the field of geology and mineral resources. But the matter is so tightly guarded that both Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) and Environment Ministry senior officials categorically said they know nothing of this MoU in the making. Who, then, is carrying out the negotiations on more..

June 1 (ST) The recent reports of a bikini ban in the Arugam Bay area caused such a commotion, particularly on social media, that it prompted the Tourism Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasingha to hurriedly call a news conference to deny there was any such ban. Instead, he accused certain groups of attempting to undermine the tourism industry with such rumours. The long and the short of the matter, however, more..

June 1 (CT) In April 2016, the Open Journal of Political Science published a thought-provoking research paper exploring the complex theme of professionalisation in politics. One particularly striking example in the study asked, “What’s common to a banker, a dancer, and a former UN Under-Secretary General? Answer: they are all contesting the General Election in India.” This single line neatly captures the evolving landscape of the political environment in India, where more..

June 1 (TM) While Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his NPP seem preoccupied with the task of scrambling together party administrations for as many local councils as possible following its obscure victory at the Local Govt Elections on 6 May, the job remains a work in progress even three full weeks after the conclusion of the elections. Even though the deadline for the first sitting of the 340 newly-elected local councils is technically due tomorrow, the Constitution does provide for more..

June 1 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) seems to be more confident of the JVP-led NPP ability to form the administrations of a majority of the Local Govt (LG) bodies tomorrow than he was a few weeks back. However, the constitution of administrations for around 177 LG bodies is expected to take more time given the failure of any party or group to secure a majority of the seats in the respective councils. more..

June 1 (SO) The establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in 1958 was strengthened in two stages. First, the NZ High Commission was opened in Colombo in 2021. This year, SL opened its High Commission in Wellington. Given this, NZ Deputy PM Peters (who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs) made an official visit to SL on May 24, 2025. This visit holds significant implications for both nations, particularly regarding SL’s ongoing economic recovery. more..

June 1 (SO) Corruption is a cancer that can sap the life out of any country. It was one of the main topics at the past three elections held in this country – Prez, General and most recently, LG. The subject was one of the main campaign planks of the NPP, which swept all three polls. Corruption was one of the main factors that prevented SL from realising her true potential for nearly 75 years after Independence. On the other hand, the near total elimination of corruption helped more..

May 31 (FT) Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando yesterday called on high-level Chinese companies to consider joint ventures in high-potential sectors such as agro-processing and fisheries, ICT and BPO, textiles and apparel, tourism as well as renewable energy. He made these remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the SL and China Trade and Investment Forum 2025 co-hosted by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, more..

May 31 (Island) Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday slammed the govt’s decision to suspend the admission of local students to the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Medical Faculty, calling it an act of small-minded thinking that undermines the principles of equitable education. In a statement, Premadasa expressed deep concern over the restriction, labelling it a step backwards in a country where only a fraction of students gain entry into state universities. more..

May 31 (DM) Unexpected rainy weather conditions, a phenomenon of global warming, have triggered concerns for salt production in SL because at least 40–45 days with uninterrupted sunlight are required for manufacturing and processing. SL currently gets intermittent rain throughout the year in all parts of the country. Chairman of National Salt Ltd Gayan Wellala said that “salt is harvested through a solar evaporation method where seawater is gathered in salt pans & evaporated to form salt deposits. more..