Jul 22 (Island) CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) has issued a stern call to the govt, demanding the immediate signing of a collective agreement to safeguard employee rights, ahead of a crucial parliamentary debate on the proposed amendments to the SL Electricity Act No. 36 of 2024. Union has emphasised that while it is not opposed to the restructuring of the CEB, it firmly objects to what it describes as certain policy aspects and more..

Jul 22 (AD) Electricity workers have decided to stage a protest today against the new SL Electricity (Amendment) Bill proposed by the govt as part of the restructuring process of the electricity sector, including the CEB. The protest will be held this afternoon opposite the CEB Head Office, with workers reporting sick leave to participate, according to the Ceylon Electricity Workers Union. SL Electricity (Amd) Bill is scheduled to be presented to Parliament for its 2nd reading on Thurs (24). more..

Jul 22 (DN) More than 1,200 suspects have been arrested for drug-related offences, including illegal alcohol, during special operations carried out countrywide by the Police on Sunday (20). Special operations covering the entire country have been launched from April 13, 2025 by the Police to arrest small-scale, medium-scale and large-scale drug traffickers in order to apprehend those involved in crimes and to seize illegal firearms. These ongoing operations have been launched based on more..

Jul 22 (CT) A major rift has emerged within the country’s main university student movement, as a newly-formed faction claiming to represent the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) declared itself an independent and representative body, distancing itself from what it described as years of political manipulation. The group’s convenor Sasindu Perera asserted that the newly-formed IUSF has the backing of student councils from multiple more..

Jul 22 (DM) Central Bank is expected to cut its key interest rates at its monetary policy meeting today, with a 60% probability for a reduction, according to a pre-policy analysis by First Capital Research (FCR). FCR forecasts a 50% chance that CB will lower the rates by 25 basis points, while assigning a 10% probability to a deeper cut of 50 basis points. However, the firm also sees a 40% chance for the CB to hold the rates steady, to monitor the global and domestic developments more closely. more..

Jul 22 (CT) Colombo High Court Judge R.S.S. Sapuwida yesterday (21) set 21 November 2025 as the trial date in the case filed against former Minister Udaya Gammanpila over the alleged misuse of company shares worth Rs 20 million belonging to Australian businessman Brian Shaddick. According to the indictment, Gammanpila is accused of preparing a forged power of attorney and using it to transfer and deal with the shares, thereby causing financial loss to Shadick. more..

Jul 22 (ST) Mawathagama police have been inundated by more than 1000 telephone calls from locals and from overseas offering to adopt a newborn baby girl found dumped in a paddy field, a senior police officer said. The infant, crying and shivering, was found by a passerby in a paddy field in the Sinhapura area in Mawathagama, Kurunegala, on Thursday. The police who were informed handed the infant over to the Kurunegala hospital. The baby, who was still in hospital, was doing well. more..

Jul 22 (FT) The UN Development Programme (UNDP) yesterday called on Sri Lanka to treat nature as vital economic capital and prioritise integrated, sustainable approaches to tourism and climate finance in the lead-up to the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement. Speaking at the National Sustainable Tourism Certification (NSTC) awards, UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota outlined the need for SL to accelerate nature-based investment—not just as an environmental more..

Jul 22 (DM) Sri Lanka’s economy is poised for a significant rebound, with projections indicating that the nation’s output will exceed its 2018 pre-pandemic levels by next year. A recent Bloomberg Economics report forecasts a continued economic recovery through this year and the next, buoyed by strong domestic tailwinds, even as the potential trade headwinds loom. The report projects a robust GDP growth of 5% in 2024, more..

Jul 22 (AM) A 26-year-old university student has gone missing after reportedly falling into the Mahaweli Vyāna Canal near the 17th Mile Post in Mapakadawewa along the Mahiyangana–Badulla Road, according to Mahiyanganaya Police. The missing woman has been identified as Rashmi Lakshika Mendis, a student of Rajarata University. At the time of the incident, she had been travelling with her boyfriend from the university towards her home in Hambantota, passing through more..

Jul 22 (FT) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations has sought clarity on the policy adopted by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry with regard to the establishment and functioning of Chabad Houses in SL, given the current dialogue surrounding national security concerns. This matter was raised at the meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development & Int'l Relations held recently, more..

Jul 22 (NW) The Court of Appeal has nullified a previous Colombo High Court ruling that acquitted former MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena from corruption charges related to a Rs. 883 million financial loss allegedly caused to the state during his tenure as CEO of Mihin Lanka. Appeals Court bench, comprising Justices Shiran Gunaratne and Amal Ranaraja, issued the directive after considering a revision application filed by the CIABOC. Gunawardena was accused of causing more..

Jul 22 (DN) A 37-member Lankan weight lifting team has selected to take part in the Commonwealth Senior, Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championship to be held in Ahmedabad, India from Aug 24 to 30. Sri Lanka team comprised 10 weight lifters for youth category, 9 weight lifters for Junior category and 18 weight lifters for senior category. Chintana Geethal Vidanage – the Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Indika Dissanayake – the Commonwealth Games silver medalist, Dilanka Isuru Kumara more..

Jul 22 (TM) Election Commission (EC) stated that it is currently preparing a report outlining the necessary amendments to the Election Expenditure Act, No. 03 of 2023. This, as the commission claimed that they are required under the current form of the Regulation of the Act to accept even an empty piece of paper submitted by election candidates as their campaign expenditure report on the due date. more..

Jul 22 (CI) Australia A's batters faced a searching test to save their two-game series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin after the visitors built a formidable first innings total, thanks mostly to a century from Pavan Rathnayake. Resuming on day two of the second four-day match at 263 for 4, Sri Lanka A fully punished rival captain Jason Sangha's decision to send them in, powering on to make 486 for 6 declared. In reply, the hosts were 76 for 1 at stumps at the Marrara Cricket Ground on Monday, more..

Jul 22 (CT) A fresh complaint has been lodged against former Anuradhapura Railway Transport Officer Nirantha Vissundara, accusing him of unlawfully taking possession of two State-owned computers. The complaint was filed by Acting Anuradhapura Railway Transport Officer Charith Jayanetti with the local Police. Following the incident, two railway assistant staff members reportedly connected to the matter were transferred pending an internal inquiry. more..

Jul 22 (FT) SL Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) Chairperson Rajitha Jayasuriya recently called for urgent coordinated national action in response to the European Union’s (EU) new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), warning that the legislation marks a fundamental shift in how international trade will be governed going forward. Addressing a multi-stakeholder awareness session convened to more..

Jul 22 (Island) Dialog Axiata has become the first company in SL to achieve the ISO 37001:2016 certification for Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS). This internationally recognised standard reflects Dialog’s steadfast commitment to promoting ethical business practices and effectively managing bribery risks, while ensuring full compliance with global anti-bribery regulations. Company’s achievement of ISO 37001 certification reflects its steadfast commitment to Anti-Bribery and more..

Jul 22 (FT) National Chamber of Commerce of SL will hold the National Business Excellence Awards (NBEA) on Thursday (24), at the Shangri-La Colombo, commencing at 6 p.m. Celebrating its 20th consecutive year, the NBEA stands as one of SL’s most prestigious platforms recognising and rewarding outstanding business achievements. Over the past two decades, the Awards have honoured companies that demonstrate excellence in business and organisational performance across more..

Jul 22 (FT) In a milestone celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship and regional empowerment, David Pieris Group awarded over Rs. 20 million in seed funding to selected young entrepreneurs at the Thalir Seed Funding Award Ceremony 2025, held at the North Gate Hotel in Jaffna. This event marked the next phase of the Group’s visionary Thalir initiative, launched just a few months ago to uplift aspiring entrepreneurs in SL’s Northern Region under the Northern Development Program more..

Jul 22 (FT) Dr. Nadisha Chandrasena, the recipient of the prestigious 2025 WIPO ‘Global Award for Intellectual Property’ met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday to discuss the future of innovation, intellectual property, and Sri Lanka’s creative economy. The award, presented by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) a United Nations agency dedicated to recognise outstanding individuals and enterprises that use IP to make a positive impact. more..

Jul 22 (Island) Sri Lanka’s Chairman of Selectors Upul Tharanga has vowed to fix the team’s chronic batting failures in T20 cricket, after their humiliating series defeat to Bangladesh – their first ever against that opposition in the shortest format. Tharanga, a former skipper himself, has overseen steady progress in Tests and ODIs since taking the reins as chief selector. But in T20 Internationals, Sri Lanka remain a work in progress – and more..

Jul 22 (DM) Several mass graves have been discovered in our land. All of them allegedly linked to rogue elements within the police and armed forces of the state. The victims -- as always civilians- come from both majority and minority communities and range from women and children to the old and the infirm. The victims of these mass killings, be they in mass graves at Sooriyakanda or Chemmani, were tortured sometimes for days to months on end, subsequently killed and unceremoniously more..

Jul 22 (DM) The uncomfortable truth for many Sri Lankans is that this historical predilection for the pliable over the proficient appears alive and well. The present administration, much like its predecessors, faces widespread criticism for what is perceived as a systematic sidelining of qualified professionals and intellectuals in favour of friends, family, and political allies. While it is natural for leaders to appoint individuals they trust, the sheer scale and consistency of these appointments, more..

Jul 22 (Island) There seems to be no end in sight to the ongoing probe into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged to make a revelation about the carnage before its sixth anniversary, which fell last April, but that promise went unfulfilled. Subsequently, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala made a statement in Parliament and that left the public none the wiser. It was a classic case of the proverbial mountains in labour delivering a mouse. more..

Jul 22 (CT) PM Harini Amarasuriya is leading the charge towards improving the stagnant state of Sri Lanka’s education system – a welcome move by the current administration. For years, educators and academicians have pointed out the lack of progress seen in improving the quality and access to education. In a nation still climbing out of its developing status, and where poverty and economic hardship plagues the masses, education is essential to elevate economic progress. more..

Jul 22 (TM) Scrutiny over financial and administrative irregularities in Sri Lanka’s State universities has intensified in recent times, thrusting institutions like the Sabaragamuwa University into the spotlight. The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) convened on 4 June to examine the Auditor General’s report for the 2023 financial year, placing the Sabaragamuwa University’s management under intense scrutiny. more..

Jul 22 (ST) As neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne walked out of court, released on bail on Tuesday, leaving behind the horrors of a remand cell that she had endured for nearly a month, she wore round her neck not the tag of presumed innocence but bore on her shoulders the cross on which she had been crucified by social media and condemned as guilty as hell. The brain specialist surgeon’s alleged offence: For requesting patients awaiting delicate brain operations to be done by her at more..

Jul 22 (DM) Before 2023, genocide was thought to be a feature of the 20th Century which saw mass killings in Nazi-dominated Europe, Cambodia, Yugoslavia and Rwanda. But Israel proved that it could be a 21st Century phenomenon too, by its relentless attempt the wipe out Palestinians in Gaza. More than 58,000 people have been killed since Israel launched the assault in Gaza in October 2023. Israeli forces have also imposed blockades, pushing its 2.3 mil residents to the brink of starvation. more..

Jul 22 (CT) “Mr. President, Mr. Minister of Fisheries, the people with us are going to die inside this prison… Save us. We are not being given anything to eat or drink for almost 50 days now. Save us, help us.” The voice crackles through a faint phone connection, broken by sobs and fear. It is the skipper of a SL fishing vessel, speaking from behind the rusting bars of a filthy cell in Mahajanga, Madagascar. His tone is desperate. more..

Jul 22 (TM) SL is an island which has been blessed with natural beauty and an abundance of resources, which we have failed to manage sustainability over the last century. Water, fundamental for all life, has been a resource which has largely been available to most SL citizens and fauna around the year. Some parts of the country, which were inherently arid and had less rainfall were sparsely populated in history, and became farmlands with the rich irrigation system, built by kings of bygone eras. more..

Jul 22 (Island) Tomorrow, July 23, will mark the 42nd anniversary of the anti-Tamil rioting in Colombo and throughout the country that led to the deaths of hundreds and the displacement of tens of thousands of Tamil citizens. The trigger for the anti-Tamil rioting that commenced in Colombo on July 23, 1983, was an LTTE ambush of an army patrol in Jaffna, in which 13 soldiers were killed. The truth about the week that followed in July is still difficult to uncover. Among the unresolved issues more..