June 30 (EN) SL’s consumer prices in the capital Colombo rose 3.6% over 33 months since monetary stability was restored around Sept 2022, though the index deflated 0.6% over 12 months. Colombo Consumer Price Index rose 0.9% in the month of June, after rising 0.8% in May driven by surging food prices, according to data from the DCS. The food sub-index grew 1.8% to 249.3 points in June, after rising 2.7% in May. more..

June 30 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the govt to implement sustainable solutions for micro, small, and medium-scale industrialists and entrepreneurs, who he says are currently confused and distressed. Warning that from midnight today, the Parate Law will once again be enforced in Sri Lanka, allowing the rapid auctioning of properties belonging to industrialists and entrepreneurs, MP Premadasa said that, as a result, many micro, small, & medium-scale business more..

June 30 (DM) Minister Sunil Handunneththi told Parliament today that his recent speech at the World Economic Forum in China had been misrepresented by some individuals to suit their personal agendas. Clarifying his remarks, Minister said he had highlighted SL’s untapped potential and available resources as avenues to strengthen the economy. “I merely pointed out that SL has what it takes to move forward economically. For example, Batticaloa has an airport that remains unused more..

June 30 (AD) Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder of a businessman whose burned body was found in a forested area in Diyabatte, Maho. Investigations began following the discovery of a charred body inside a jeep in the Diyabatte forest area on Thursday. Multiple police teams launched inquiries under the guidance of the Senior DIG of North Western Province. Investigations revealed that the victim had been abducted and murdered by the suspects more..

June 30 (FT) In a recent forum in Colombo on SL’s road to recovery with special reference to debt and governance participated by the country’s top policy leaders, IMF’s leading managers and select private sector top brass, Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake is reported to have stressed his Govt’s commitment to continue with the ongoing reforms to improve economic conditions and assure lasting stability, while expressing his desire to make the current IMF program the last one in SL’s history. more..

June 30 (DM) Litigation process related to the X- Press Pearl disaster is tainted with allegations about corruption and frauds prompting the Environment Ministry to look at the appointment of a committee to probe what went wrong in the past, according to a minister. The X-Press Pearl incident in May, 2021 was the worst maritime disaster to strike SL, making a significant impact on SL’s sensitive coastal environment, local more..

June 30 (TM) At least five more sets of skeletal remains have been identified as of Friday during the second stage of the Chemmani mass grave investigations. Sunday Morning learns from Office on Missing Persons (OMP) sources that the financial tranche for this stage covers 45 days. However, the investigative process is being phased out instead of being undertaken for 45 days at a stretch. Well-placed sources at the Ministry of Justice said that process was being carried out in 2 stages. more..

June 30 (ST) CIABOC has begun a probe into an allegation that former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella had obtained a monthly payment of Rs. 240,000 for more than two years, claiming it was the rent for a Mercedes Benz car he was using. It is alleged that he had obtained this payment while he was health minister. Investigations have revealed that the registration number he had given in a document he submitted to the Health Ministry to obtain the rent belonged to a vehicle more..

June 30 (ST) Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has refuted UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk’s statement that a bill to decriminalise same-sex marriages is before Parliament. Minister was reacting to Mr. Türk’s comment at a media briefing on Thursday at the end of his four-day visit to Sri Lanka. “I welcome the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships bill, which I understand is before Parliament,” more..

June 30 (DM) Two individuals who illegally entered the Kodigala Kanda area of the Ritigala Forest Reserve claiming to be a Rishi and his helper were rescued and arrested by officers of the Ritigala Wildlife Sanctuary Protection Office after becoming stranded in the forest. According to wildlife officials, both suspects are 35 years old. The man claiming to be a Rishi is a resident of Rajanganaya in A'pura and currently resides in Gampaha, while his alleged helper is a resident of Laggala in Matale. more..

June 30 (NW) Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan is likely to attend the highly anticipated grand opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka on August 2, 2025, Newswire learns. While no official confirmation has been issued, sources close to the organisers say the actor is expected to be the star attraction at the launch of South Asia’s first fully integrated luxury resort, developed by John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) in partnership with Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MRE). more..

June 30 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has accused the govt of fabricating claims involving former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa in a bid to distract from what he described as a failure to deliver on promises made during its first year in office. Rajapaksa strongly denied recent reports alleging that former Prez Rajapaksa was seeking the intervention of senior Buddhist clergy (Ven. Mahanayaka Theros) to prevent the arrest of his family members. more..

June 30 (TM) SL Navy is currently engaged in extensive Search & Rescue operations following two incidents involving capsized fishing vessels off the coasts of Galle and Kalutara. Out of 7 fishermen involved across both incidents, one has been rescued alive, two bodies have been recovered, and four fishermen remain missing as search efforts intensify. In the incident off Galle, a multi-day fishing trawler is suspected to have collided with a merchant vessel, causing it to overturn. more..

June 30 (FT) The CoPF last week raised serious concerns over how used-vehicle imports are being valued, warning that the Govt could be losing billions of rupees each year due to outdated Customs practices. During the meeting, CoPF Chair MP Dr. Harsha de Silva raised questions about the rationale behind depreciating vehicle values by 15% even for imports with mileage as low as under 50 km or with an age of only five days. more..

June 30 (TM) SL is placed third on the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points table after the series victory over Bangladesh. SL has a win percentage of 66.67 after managing one win and a draw in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh. SL drew the first Test in Galle, before bouncing back to beat the visitors by an innings and 78 runs in the 2nd Test in Colombo on Saturday. Meanwhile, Australia jumped to the top spot on the WTC points table after beating WI by 159 more..

June 30 (TM) Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) urged the Govt to provide standard seat belts to private buses at concessional prices before enforcing the regulation that makes seat belts mandatory for bus drivers. Last week, National Transport Commission (NTC) announced that it will be mandatory for bus drivers to wear seat belts starting from 1 July. NTC Chairperson, P.A. Chandrapala, stated that strict action would be taken against drivers who fail to comply with the more..

June 30 (AD) Deputy Minister of Fisheries Rathna Gamage, announced that a special committee has been appointed to investigate the recent incidents of fishing vessels capsizing at sea. He points out that the committee has been formed with the aim of identifying the causes of these accidents and providing appropriate solutions. Over the past two days, three separate fishing vessel accidents have been reported, resulting in five confirmed deaths, with two fishermen still missing. more..

June 30 (FT) German companies operating in SL have expressed a notably optimistic outlook for the year ahead, signalling confidence in the country’s economic prospects despite ongoing global economic headwinds according to the Spring 2025 AHK Business Barometer unveiled last week by Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in SL (AHK SL). Survey, based on responses from 54 German-affiliated businesses in SL, revealed that 54% rated their current situation as good, more..

June 30 (FT) Federation of Renewable Energy Developers (FRED) last Friday voiced deep concern over the Govt’s recent move to slash feed-in tariffs for renewable energy projects, warning that repeated policy reversals risk derailing the country’s clean energy ambitions. In a direct appeal, FRED called on Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake to intervene and guide reforms based on transparent, science-backed principles. more..

June 30 (ST) Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a vendor for implementing the SL Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) system will be completed within this month. The Joint Project Management Committee (JPMC) for the project convened for the first time on June 17 to review and monitor the project’s progress. Following the meeting, Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne said that the committee decided to issue the Request for Proposal (RFP) within this month to select the vendor more..

June 30 (ST) SL’s exports are resuming their shipments to the West Asian region as the ceasefire between Iran and Israel was holding after the 12-day war but only time will tell. With warnings by the US of the possibility of attacks resuming between the two countries, exporters in SL say it could take a couple of weeks for things to normalise although shipments are moving ahead. However, the main concern by tea exporters in SL is that local authorities are not releasing the monies due to more..

June 30 (DM) BOI Chairman has characterised the highly anticipated US$ 3.7 b Sinopec oil refinery in H'tota & Adani Group’s renewable energy project as fragile investments, acknowledging the significant uncertainty surrounding their realisation. Herath underscored the agency’s commitment to attracting quality FDI rather than merely chasing investment figures, even as it works diligently to bring large-scale projects to fruition. more..

June 30 (ST) After three action-packed days of high-stakes rallies, roaring crowds, and unforgettable match moments, the curtain closed on the first-ever SL Padel League (SLPL) with Colombo Aces emerging as the inaugural champions. In a dramatic finale held at the Padel House, CR&FC, Colombo Aces defeated Galle Fort Mariners in a high-intensity tie that went the full distance. With one win apiece going into the Mixed Doubles, the Aces held their nerves to take the decider 6-2, 7-6 [7-4], more..

June 30 (FT) Advocata Institute is urging the Govt to withdraw and redraft the proposed Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, citing its most pressing flaw – the excessive and unchecked powers vested in the Finance Minister, which compromise the independence of the regulator and jeopardise the integrity of the industry. Advocata Research Consultant Sudaraka Ariyaratne said: “The independence of a regulatory body is non-negotiable. Without it, we risk creating more..

June 30 (Island) SL Customs claims to have eliminated days-long delays in container clearance and the resultant congestion in the Port of Colombo, which is always in the news for the wrong reasons. It has attributed such delays to sudden increases in container volumes; the number of containers handled by the port averages 1,200 a day, but it goes up to about 2,900 at times. Successive govts have not cared to address the problem of customs clearance delays all these years and ensure more..

June 30 (Island) The arrest of a female neurosurgeon working in Sri J'pura Hospital with two accomplices, for fraud, has created a media frenzy about dishonest doctors—not surprisingly! In social media, she is being castigated with the strongest of words, sometimes in raw filth, and curses that may befit even worse crimes. No one will disagree that she deserves to be castigated, in addition to being committed to a long prison sentence, if even some of the charges are proven. more..

June 30 (CI) SL's Test programme is about to dry up for 11 months, but their captain Dhananjaya de Silva is still grateful for the World Test Championship. Upon recording their first win of this cycle - the innings-and-78-run victory over Bangladesh at the SSC - he also made the point that for teams such as SL, who play fewer matches in a WTC cycle, there is more on the line in every game. SL play only two-match series through more..

June 30 (FT) A high-level business delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), comprising around 15 members and led by ITC Chairman and Managing Director and CII Immediate Past President Sanjiv Puri, is in Sri Lanka this week. The visit until 2 July is taking place in continuation to the high-level business forum organised during the State visit of Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake. The visit includes engagements with senior leadership and Ministers of the Govt of Sri Lanka, more..

June 30 (DN) “I want to be among the first ten batters in ranking in all three formats and always work hard for that,” said Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka who was adjudged the Player of the second test as well as Player of the Series in recently concluded Bangladesh two test match series. “I have to go forward with successive innings and give my support to the team,” added Nissanka. The 27-year-old opener has played 18 tests accumulating 1305 runs at an average of 45. more..

June 30 (GV) On April 2 this year, 26 year-old Muthuwadige Sathsara Nimesh died while in police custody. He was tortured to death at the Welikada Police Station​. Nimesh had been arrested on April 1 on suspicion of a break in and was taken to Welikada station for questioning​. According to the official police account, Nimesh appeared to be mentally unstable, banging his body against the walls of his cell and had to be transferred to the national mental hospital for his own safety​. more..

June 30 (ST) I n view of the severe dearth of medical drugs prevailing in govt hospitals, the Association of Medical Specialists wrote to Minister Nalinda Jayatissa on Friday, placing in his court three questions. As believers of the maxim prevention is better than cure, they sought clarification from the minister in advance to prevent themselves from being remanded at a later date and meeting the same fate as a specialist neurosurgeon of Sri J'pura Hospital, Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne more..