Aug 13 (DM) The sugar industry in Sri Lanka has been facing an unprecedented crisis. The Pelwatta and Sevenagala sugar factories managed by Lanka Sugar Company PVT Ltd and the Ethimale Sugar factory in Siyambalanduwa, which is fully operated by a private company, are facing a threat of closure due to the poor sale of sugar and ethanol. Hingurana sugar factory which is run as a semi-govt enterprise is facing a similar more..

Aug 13 (AD) A special discussion is scheduled to be held tomorrow with the participation of several opposition political parties. The discussion is expected to be held under the leadership of former Minister G.L. Peiris. Opposition political representatives have stated that the objective of the meeting is to explore the formation of a united front among opposition parties. A discussion had already taken place last week at the residence of former Minister G.L. Peiris, and more..

Aug 13 (CT) In line with the Govt’s vision of A rich country – A beautiful life, Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board (AAIB) is set to introduce a dedicated insurance policy named Sayura for the fishermen of this country. This initiative aims to provide vital protection for those who are engaged in the high-risk profession, said AAIB Chairman Pemasiri Jasingarachchi. This new policy is set to be introduced by the AAIB, taking into account the risks faced by the fishermen more..

Aug 13 (CT) The newly constructed building for Deiyandara Ayurveda Hospital is still closed, depriving patients of treatment for nearly one year, area residents lament. The newly constructed, fully equipped three-storey building was built at a cost of Rs 200 million with funds donated by private donor P. Piyasiri and was donated to the Govt’s Ayurveda Hospital in Matara, Deiyandara, Belpamulla in 2024. However, it has not yet been handed over to the people, and the patients who come seeking more..

Aug 13 (Island) The cultural heritage of Sri Lanka’s indigenous Vedda people has been given a new lease of life with the reconstruction of the Vedda Heritage Museum in Dambana. The ambitious project, spearheaded by Solidaridad through the European Union (EU) funded Developing Resources and Empowering Communities (DeREC) initiative, represents a groundbreaking approach to cultural preservation and community development, EU Colombo said yesterday (12). more..

Aug 13 (Island) Leader of TPA Mano Ganeshan, MP, called for a reappraisal of military deployment in the N&E Provinces. He emphasised that successive govts continued to maintain, what he called, excessive military presence in the former war zones. National List MP Ganeshan said the TPA backed the ITAK call for a hartal in the N&E regions on Friday to protest the recent killing of 32-year-old Ethirmanasingham Kapilraj, allegedly by more..

Aug 13 (DM) Minister Bimal Rathnayake assured that NPP govt will not collapse and will remain in power till the end of its five-year term. He added that after the term, govt will go before the people to request for a mandate. He said Prez and PM are assets to the govt and said that there are no divisions within the ruling party. He criticised Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and MP Namal Rajapaksa, saying they lack unity & urged them not to waste time attempting to destabilise govt. more..

Aug 13 (AD) A number of complaints have been lodged against a woman from Mount Lavinia, who had defrauded people of money by claiming she could find employment in Japan. She allegedly collected large sums of money from victims, promising them two-year work visas. A person residing in Gampola reportedly made an initial payment of Rs. 500,000 to the woman in question on Nov 14, 2023. As the woman has neither returned the money nor taken steps to arrange more..

Aug 13 (NW) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called on the SL Govt to seize what it described as a historic opportunity to implement transformative reforms, ensure accountability, and address the root causes of past conflict, laying the foundation for sustainable peace and national unity. In its latest report to the UNHRC, OHCHR acknowledged pledges by the Govt to address emblematic human rights cases, more..

Aug 13 (PMD) The Clean Sri Lanka initiative, a flagship govt programme aimed at building a thriving nation and a beautiful life, was launched in the Northern Province today (13), with a district-level event in Jaffna. The launch coincided with the grand festival at the historic Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil. Held under the theme To Jaffna with Love – Clean Voyage of Unity, the programme will run until August 20. As part of its awareness drive, a special promotional event took place more..

Aug 13 (DM) All the museums under the purview of the Department of National Museums including the National Museum, Colombo will be closed on Mondays from Sept 1, 2025, the Department of National Museums announced. Department announced that the museums will be closed on Mondays for maintenance work. It said museums will be closed on Independence Day, two days of the Sinhala and Hindu New year, May Day and Vesak Poya Day. Department said that more..

Aug 13 (DM) Five Chinese nationals involved in cyber fraud activities were deported by Immigration and Emigration officers at BIA while attempting to enter SL. The individuals arrived at the airport at 10.30 a.m. from Bangkok, Thailand, on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-405. Suspicion arose during the immigration clearance process, prompting officers to refer them to the Chief Immigration and Emigration Officer for further investigation. The individuals had claimed they were arriving to work more..

Aug 13 (PMD) A special series of workshops on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for ministerial staff officers will be held on Aug 15, 16 and 23 at the Temple Trees, with the aim of transforming the public service into a more productive and efficient sector. Titled AI for Transforming Public Service, this series is an introductory initiative under the govt’s flagship public sector digitization programme. It is designed to raise awareness, prepare officers for AI adoption and foster a positive mind-set toward more..

Aug 13 (TM) Ministry of Women and Child Affairs stated that the Govt is making all possible efforts to ensure proper school education for children of the relevant age groups, with many individuals and organisations extending their support to the same. Subject minister Saroja Paulraj said that there are several programmes aimed at re-enrolling children who have dropped out of school. “Children over 16 yrs who have been out of the school more..

Aug 13 (CT) Renuka Ekanayake, a member of the National Police Commission (NPC), has formally submitted her resignation, Commission announced yesterday. Her resignation letter has been forwarded to the Constitutional Council for official acceptance. The NPC, chaired by retired HC Judge Lalith Ekanayake, currently comprises six members. Following Renuka Ekanayake’s departure, two positions on the Commission remain vacant. Her resignation comes shortly after she was more..

Aug 13 (EN) Ceylon Tobacco Company said sales volumes recovered to 490 million sticks in the June 2025 quarter from 476 million last year, and profits rose 2% to 7.3 billion rupees. CTC reported earnings of 39.32 rupees per share for the quarter. For the six months to June, CTC reported earnings of 74.97 rupees on total profits from 14.04 billion rupees, which were marginally up from 14.00 billion rupees. Revenues grew 9.5% to 50.3 billion rupees to 55.1 billion rupees, including a govt tax hike more..

Aug 13 (AD) Priyantha Weerasooriya has been appointed as the 37th Inspector General of Police of SL. The appointment has been made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The letter of appointment has been handed over to IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya by Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Kumanayake. Accordingly, Priyantha Weerasooriya will assume duties in the office of IGP on the 14th of Aug, 2025, at Police HQ, Col 2. more..

Aug 13 (AD) Police have obtained detention orders to question the suspect arrested in connection with the murder of a former member of the Homagama PS, which occurred in Meegoda yesterday. Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court has issued a five-day detention order to interrogate the suspect, after the suspect was produced before the court this morning. The victim of the Meegoda shooting incident, 46-year-old Shantha Mudunkotuwa alias Bana Manthri was shot dead at around 1.10 p.m. yesterday. more..

Aug 13 (AM) Former Deputy Director of Prison Health Services, Hemantha Ranasinghe, has been arrested on bribery charges. The arrest relates to an incident in 2024 when an inmate, admitted to the Welikada Prison Hospital due to illness, was later treated as a resident patient. It is alleged that Ranasinghe demanded a bribe of Rs. 1.5 million to continue keeping the inmate as a residential patient for further treatment, and had already accepted Rs. 300,000 of that amount. more..

Aug 13 (FT) In his compelling speech to Parliament last Thursday, Prez emphasised repeatedly that there is a deliberate and coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at undermining every major initiative his Govt undertakes and belittling the progress made so far. The writer believes that most of this criticism originates from the Opposition and a core group fundamentally opposed to any efforts by the NPP Govt to improve SL. Given this reality, it is often futile to engage directly with their more..

Aug 13 (FT) The Defence Ministry’s statement on the arrest of former Navy Commander Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne reduces a serious constitutional and security matter to a public relations slogan The law applies equally to all. That is not a legal conclusion, in the military context equality before the law does not erase jurisdictional boundaries. Military law exists not to place service members above accountability but to ensure that offences committed in service or more..

Aug 13 (FT) Minister Prof. Anil J. Fernando yesterday told investors in Singapore that the Govt was seeking to position the country as a more predictable and competitive investment destination, with fiscal discipline, regulatory reforms, and sector-specific opportunities forming the core of its strategy, He said this at the Invest Sri Lanka forum in Singapore yesterday, organised by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) more..

Aug 13 (DN) The late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was a visionary leader who believed in unity, dignity, and the strength of a common national identity, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said yesterday during an event to mark the 20th death anniversary of the late Minister yesterday. While noting that Kadirgamar was an outstanding lawyer and diplomat, Minister Herath said he championed the values of inclusion and reconciliation long before they became global aspirations and more..

Aug 13 (ST) Senior journalist Daya Lankapura has been named as Chairman of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake made the appointment this week following approval by the Constitutional Council (CC). Mr. Lankapura is a veteran journalist with over 60 years in the field. He started his journalism career in 1965 at the Attha newspaper, the official organ of the Communist Party. A graduate of the Uni of Colombo, Mr. Lankapura also worked at the Divaina, more..

Aug 13 (TM) Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga said that she would not resort to any legal action against the Govt’s decision to abolish the privileges granted to former Presidents. Kumaratunga’s office stated: “There have been reports claiming that Kumaratunga, together with four other former Presidents (Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe), more..

Aug 13 (DM) CID informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga that a further investigation has been initiated into two bank accounts belonging to an individual named Nimal Perera, in which a sum of Rs. 70 mil at the centre of a case filed against MP Namal Rajapaksa for alleged dishonest misappropriation, had been deposited. It was revealed that the funds, reportedly provided by the Indian company Krish purportedly for the promotion of rugby, had been deposited into more..

Aug 13 (DN) Rumesh Tharanga the SL javelin thrower set up a new National Record of 86.50m at the World Athletic Continental Tour Bronze event and qualified to World Athletic C'ships which will be held in September in Tokyo and his aim is to win a world c'ship medal. Tharanga and Sumedha Ranasinghe two javelin throwers won gold and bronze medals in this event and both have qualified for World C'ship. “I am very happy with my performance; my coach gave me good support to reach this level” more..

Aug 13 (Island) Army Headquarters yesterday (12) denied accusations regarding a person, Ethirmanasingham Kapilraj, found dead in the Muththaiyankaddu tank. Army spokesman Brigadier Varuna Gamage said that there was absolutely no basis for these accusations against the Army. Brig. Gamage said that troops, based at a camp, along the Oddusuddan-Muththaiyankaddu road, on the night of 07 August, had thwarted an attempt by a group of persons to enter an Army camp. more..

Aug 13 (DM) Transport Ministry is set to install forty AI camera systems in SLTB and private long-distance buses as part of a new initiative aimed at reducing road accidents. This pilot project, launched with private sector involvement, focuses on enhancing safety by closely monitoring driver behavior. The advanced AI cameras are designed to detect signs of driver fatigue, sleepiness, eye closure, and ensure compliance with traffic regulations, including the use of seat belts. more..

Aug 13 (ST) SL’s newest integrated resort with its int'l-grade casino was ceremonially launched on Aug 2, 2025, amidst red carpet glamour and overt political patronage at the highest levels. The two nights of festivities and glitzy exuberance helped mask a serious shortcoming: the absence of a supervisory authority for casinos. The country’s regulatory environment for gaming is so rudimentary that even Melco Resorts & Entertainment more..

Aug 13 (DM) A special program to brief District Secretaries and District and Divisional Productivity Development Officers on the National Program to Develop 1,000 Young Entrepreneurs was held recently at the SL Foundation Institute (SLPI) under the patronage of Minister Sunil Handunnetti. The initiative, jointly implemented by the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry and the National Productivity Secretariat, aims to strengthen Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) sector more..

Aug 13 (EN) Representatives of Vietnam’s ROX Group have met Sri Lanka President Anura Dissanayake to express their readiness to make investments in the island nation, the president’s media division said. “They sought govt assistance to establish an industrial zone and indicated interest in the renewable energy and real estate sectors,” the PMD said. The visit, the PMD said, aimed to identify suitable land and secure the necessary institutional support for these ventures. more..