Aug 13 (AM) A controversy raised regarding the Sinopec investment, touted as the largest foreign direct investment in Sri Lankan history, with MP Lakmali Hemachandra from the NPP claiming it materialised under the current administration. Speaking during the Derana 360 programme yesterday, hosted by Kalindu Karunarathne, Minister of Power and Energy Kumara Jayakody rejected this assertion, stating that the process began well before the current govt took office. more..

Aug 13 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on Monday has given the green light to resume construction on 11 urban development projects that were halted or delayed since 2021 due to the economic crisis. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said 18 projects initiated from 2021 onwards had faced suspension, slowdown, or termination by mutual agreement as the country grappled with financial constraints. “However, of these, six projects have since been completed,” he added. more..

Aug 13 (AM) The controversial Rs. 50 tax on every litre of petrol and diesel will remain in place until a massive debt owed by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) is fully repaid, Minister of Power and Energy Kumara Jayakody said yesterday. Jayakody explained that the levy—imposed during the previous administration—was introduced to settle an Rs. 884 billion debt the CPC owed to local banks, later taken over by the Treasury. more..

Aug 13 (TM) Sri Lanka is to launch a Rs. 100 million artificial intelligence (AI) fund, in a bid to invest in domestic AI-driven startups and research, SLT Chairperson Mothilal De Silva said. “We will also launch the national AI fund, in parallel to the AI expo. It will forward homegrown AI startups and research. Proceeds of this AI expo will go to do this fund,” De Silva said, speaking of the finances relevant to building the national fund. De Silva said that the govt seeks to aim for roughly Rs. 100 million. more..

Aug 13 (Island) Minagi Rupesinghe of Killer Whale Aquatics set two new national records while also partnering on another relay record, and was crowned the overall Women’s National Champion at the 49th National Long-Course Swimming C'ships, which took place at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool from Aug 6-10. Her first national record was set on day one of the championships in the women’s 400m freestyle event with a time of 4 min 34.34 sec, breaking the previous record of 4.37.30 more..

Aug 13 (AD) Sri Lanka will host its first-ever National AI Expo & Conference on Sept 29–30, 2025, at which the nation’s comprehensive AI roadmap will be unveiled, according to the Ministry of Digital Economy. The trailblazing initiative is the country’s most ambitious undertaking to position Sri Lanka as a leading AI hub in the Asia-Pacific region, accelerating artificial intelligence adoption throughout all economic sectors. more..

Aug 13 (CT) State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are set to play a pivotal role in SL’s economic revival through capital market listings, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Prof. D.B.P.H. Dissabandara told global investors at the Invest SL forum in Singapore yesterday. “Our catalyst board dedicated to SOEs is ready, and almost all regulatory requirements have been fulfilled. What remains now is for the govt to be ready politically to bring SOEs to CSE more..

Aug 13 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers approved inviting expressions of interest (EoI) from potential investors to develop underutilised lands and properties owned by key state agencies. The initiative, proposed in the 2025 Budget, aims to unlock the economic potential of properties under the Land Reform Commission (LRC), Divisional Plantation Companies, National Livestock Development Board (NLDB), SL State Plantations Corporation (SLSP) and Janatha Estates Development Board (JEDB). more..

Aug 13 (FT) Recognising the potential of floating solar power as an emerging technology in SL’s renewable energy sector, the Cabinet approved beginning the procurement process to invite proposals from qualified companies for consultancy services. “The Govt has identified renewable energy development as a national priority, with a target of generating 70% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and achieving zero carbon emissions in power generation by 2050,” more..

Aug 13 (Island) SL’s Lumbini Tea Valley with over 152 international accolades since 2012, has cemented its sustainability leadership by signing a groundbreaking partnership with Solidaridad Network Asia and Nucleus Foundation. This collaboration accelerates Lumbini’s mission to redefine tea production through regenerative agriculture, carbon innovation, and future-proof supply chains – preparing SL for looming, unavoidable global sustainability standards more..

Aug 13 (DM) A plan to bring in unskilled workers from SL is not the right solution to the exodus of Cambodian labourers and it will backfire on Thailand in the long run, a prominent labour expert warned. Lae Dilokvidhyarat urged Ministry of Labour to seriously rethink its plan for Sri Lankans to fill in the void left by Cambodians who have fled home en masse amid rumours that their homes, lives and families would be in danger more..

Aug 13 (TM) Lung cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, not necessarily because it is untreatable, but because it often goes undetected until it is too late. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of clear early warning signs and the public’s lack of attention to the same. In many cases, people are only diagnosed after a routine scan or check-up reveals something suspicious, and by then, opportunities for cure may be limited. These concerns were expressed more..

Aug 13 (Island) In terms of Section 17 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, a Resolution presented for the removal of Deshabandu Tennakoon from the post of The IGP was passed by a majority vote in Parliament on Aug 5, understandably with the governing party NPP having a steamroller majority in it. Altogether 177 lawmakers voted for the resolution, whereas one MP (Ramanathan Archchuna) abstained from voting. 47 MPs refrained from taking a stand. more..

Aug 13 (Island) The Opposition has handed over its no-faith motion against Deputy Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. (retd.) Aruna Jayasekera to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. It insists that Jayasekera, as the Security Forces Commander of the Eastern Province in 2019, failed to prevent the Easter Sunday terrorist bombings carried out by the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ), which was based in the East, and therefore it is not possible to conduct an impartial probe into the terror more..

Aug 13 (CT) SL’s tourism conversation has become something of a numbers game. Talk to officials and you will quickly find the discussion circling back to one figure after another: arrival counts, growth percentages, revenue targets. The story is the same in press releases and speeches, with much fanfare over milestones like hitting the millionth visitor for the year or the launch of new visa-free entry schemes to pull in more travellers. It is easy to see why the Govt gets caught up in the statistics, more..

Aug 13 (CT) The Power and Energy Sector — one of the most powerful and politically sensitive industries in SL — has long been on a roller coaster, caught between geopolitical pressures and internal political agendas. As a lucrative, money-generating sector, it has been zealously guarded by individuals and groups pursuing vested interests, contributing to poor governance and playing a part in SL’s economic collapse and financial crisis. more..

Aug 13 (ST) It’s official. Chichi’s rocket, long believed to have gone out of control and lost in space, costing the state billions of dollars, has returned home, bringing with it a bounty of millions of dollars it has annually earned for providing telecommunication services while orbiting earth. PM Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday in Parliament flayed the allegation, endlessly made by JVP members on various political platforms, that the satellite launched by Supreme SAT Limited more..

Aug 13 (DM) As the world races to decarbonise its energy systems, renewable energy projects have emerged as both a solution to climate change and a source of new environmental controversy. In Sri Lanka, this tension is starkly visible in the coastal region of Mannar Peninsula, a critical node in the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), a migratory route used by over a million birds from roughly 30 countries. Here, large-scale wind power ambitions, notably the controversial Adani Group project, more..

Aug 13 (DM) Karunilam (Black soil) is the title of the ongoing protest staged by residents of Mannar which commenced on Aug 3. The protest has been staged against illegal ilmenite mining, wind power farms and prawn farms which are destroying the natural balance on Mannar Island. Mannar is considered to be the largest island made of sand which is in close proximity to India. Due to shortsighted decisions made during more..

Aug 13 (CT) Addressing Parliament, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake affirmed the govt’s commitment to confronting human rights violations from the past, stating: “We will face these grievous legacies openly, firmly, and with sensitivity to all communities.” He specifically highlighted the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), describing it as the “most potent and most misused national-security law in our history.” Introduced 37 years ago during the early stages of Tamil militant movement more..

Aug 13 (DM) This year is a particularly melancholy one as it marks the twentieth death anniversary of my father, Lakshman Kadirgamar and the first death anniversary of my mother, Angela. As stated in my book The Cake that was Baked at Home, my father was lost to us, his family, many years before his actual demise on Aug 12, 2005. Twenty years should have been long enough to come to terms with the lingering questions about his life and death, but the passage of time has brought no solace. more..

Aug 12 (TM) SL’s rupee deposit liabilities surpassed the Rs. 13 trillion mark in the first six months of the year, growing by almost 16% year-on-year (y-o-y), with increased private credit flows, CBSL said. During the first quarter of 2025, the growth rate of rupee deposit liabilities of licensed commercial banks accelerated compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, particularly among state banks and domestic private banks, which accelerated further in the second quarter. more..

Aug 12 (TM) Govt is currently discussing possible amendments to the Fauna and Flora Protection (Amendment) Act, No. 7 of 2022, according to Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody. SL has recorded a worrying increase in wild animal deaths linked to human activities and deliberate killings in recent years, particularly involving elephants and leopards. Jayakody said that for now, the authorities have to act within the existing legal framework when dealing with incidents of wild animal deaths and killings. more..

Aug 12 (AM) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa today confirmed that seven foreign investors have been granted approval to cultivate cannabis exclusively for export, under strict govt regulation. The announcement was made at the weekly Cabinet media briefing, marking the first time such a project will be implemented in the country. Jayatissa said the approval was first granted in April 2024 by former State Minister Sisira Jayakody. While investor interest was strong, the project more..

Aug 12 (AM) Lawyer Achala Seneviratne announced today that a formal complaint has been lodged with the CID against former MP Udaya Gammanpila. Complaint was filed by parents and victims involved in ongoing court cases related to alleged abductions and centres on statements Gammanpila has made to the media. The core issue concerns remarks Gammanpila made following the arrest of former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne. According to Seneviratne, Udaya Gammanpila has persistently more..

Aug 12 (CPJ) SL authorities must immediately stop harassing photojournalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan, who has been summoned by the counter-terrorism police for questioning, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. A police notice, reviewed by CPJ, ordered Kumanan to appear in the northern town of Alampil’s Counter Terrorism and Investigation Division (CTID) office on Sunday to provide a statement in connection with an unspecified inquiry. more..

Aug 12 (EN) SL’s monetary policy is balanced but there was space to cut rates if there was an external shock, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said referring to a possible impact from Trump tariffs. SL had a policy rate of 7.75% which indicated a real interest rate of 2.75% considering the 5% inflation target. CB is expecting inflation to reach a 5% target next year, and growth was above the 3% projected by the IMF and close to 5%, which more..

Aug 12 (CT) Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) has urged the Ministry of Health to urgently address the shortage of two intravenous drugs critical for preventing complications and possible fatalities during Caesarean surgeries. IV Maxolon (metoclopramide) and IV Ondansetron, which are administered to pregnant mothers undergoing Caesarean sections to reduce complications following anaesthesia, are reportedly in short supply at several State-run hospitals. more..

Aug 12 (CT) Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) has urged the Ministry of Health to urgently address the shortage of two intravenous drugs critical for preventing complications and possible fatalities during Caesarean surgeries. IV Maxolon (metoclopramide) and IV Ondansetron, which are administered to pregnant mothers undergoing Caesarean sections to reduce complicaf Census and Statistics, more..

Aug 12 (CT) Leptospirosis, commonly known as rat fever, is currently on the rise among children, warned Dr. Deepal Perera, a paediatric specialist at Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital in Colombo. Dr. Perera explained, “This disease is most often contracted through contact with contaminated and muddy water.” He pointed out that the ongoing school holidays have contributed to the increase, as children frequently visit paddy fields or open areas to fly kites and engage in other outdoor activities. more..

Aug 12 (NW) Cabinet approval has been granted for the removal of Dhammika Jayasundara from his position as the General Manager of Railways. The approval has been granted after Minister Bimal Ratnayake recently submitted a special proposal to the Cabinet requesting Jayasundara’s removal from the post. Railway General Manager has repeatedly come under criticism from Minister Ratnayake due to shortcomings in railway operations and inefficiencies within the department. more..