Jul 19 (DM) The govt’s plan to vest certain dysfunctional local bodies under special commissioners has sparked controversy, with opposition parties threatening legal action if such measures are implemented unfairly. Minister Chandana Abayarathna, announced that local bodies which are unable to form proper administrations—particularly those deadlocked in electing chairpersons and deputy chairpersons—will be brought under the control of more..

Jul 19 (Island) Defence Ministry is studying a request to release part of the land coming under the SLAF, Vavuniya. Military sources said that the issue had been referred to the Defence Ministry after Transport, Highways, Ports & Aviation Ministry received a missive from the PM’s Office. Sources said so in response to The Island queries. Sources disclosed that one Gnana Sampanthan based in Vavuniya had requested that his land along the A9 road acquired way back in 1985 be released. more..

Jul 19 (FT) Central Bank has issued a new directive, revising Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios for vehicle financing, effective 18 July. Notably, the preferential 90% LTV cap previously applicable to electric vehicles (EVs) has been removed, bringing EVs under the same financing thresholds as conventional vehicles. Move is expected to tighten credit access for EV purchases, especially impacting lending by Licenced Commercial Banks more..

Jul 19 (Island) Sectoral Oversight Committee on Economic Development and International Relations has made inquiries about the policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism regarding the establishment and operation of Jewish community Chabad Houses in the country. At a recent committee meeting, chaired by MP Lakmali Hemachandra, members questioned the Ministry over its regulatory approach in light of ongoing public discourse concerning domestic security more..

Jul 19 (DM) Minister Saroja Paulraj has raised alarm over a recent surge in pregnancies among school-aged girls, calling for immediate and comprehensive education on sexual health and responsibility. Minister Paulraj revealed that there has been a noticeable increase in the number of adolescent schoolgirls becoming pregnant, some under the age of 18, leading to serious health and social complications. "Recently, the number of pregnancies among our school-age children has increased more..

Jul 19 (DM) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that economics and entrepreneurship should be built on a foundation of human values, rather than driven purely by monetary gain. She highlighted the importance of the care economy as a powerful example of this human-centered approach. Speaking at a program held at the Education Ministry, Dr. Amarasuriya said that while current societal norms prioritize financial value, true development must include ethical and more..

Jul 19 (DN) SL’s Minagi Rupesinghe asserted her supremacy in South Asian open water swimming, finishing as the fastest South Asian swimmer in the 5km race at the Open Water Swimming of the World Aquatics Championships currently underway in Singapore. Rupesinghe of Killer Whale Aquatics clocked 1 hour, 14 minutes and 03 seconds, securing 61st place in a highly competitive international field. Crucially, she finished ahead of both Indian competitors, underlining her more..

Jul 19 (CT) Dept of Motor Traffic is currently taking steps to introduce a new digital driving licence that will be recognised in nearly 100 foreign countries, according to Motor Traffic Commissioner General Kamal Amarasiri. Amarasiri revealed that discussions are underway to sign the Vienna Convention, which would grant international validity to the upcoming digital driving licence. The goal is to issue a licence that meets global standards more..

Jul 19 (DM) Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Isomata recently visited the highly anticipated Colombo International Airport Hotel Project, reinforcing the strong bilateral relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. During the visit, Isomata met with Dr. Ruwan Perera and a delegation of Little Japan Investors, who are spearheading the development of this significant hospitality venture. Dr. Perera, a distinguished SL academic and innovator, combines international experience more..

Jul 19 (AD) Bangladesh’s central bank (Bangladesh Bank) hosted a special award ceremony to formally recognise officials from SL’s Pan Asia Banking Corporation PLC (PABC) for their role in preventing a US$20 million fraudulent transaction during the infamous 2016 Bangladesh Bank reserve heist incident. This ceremony held at its headquarters in Motijheel on Thursday (17), described by the Bangladesh central bank’s Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur as more than a formal recognition- more..

Jul 19 (CT) Four years after the MV X-Press Pearl cargo vessel caught fire off SL’s western coast, the wreckage of accountability still smoulders in the corridors of justice. Environmental lawyer and civil society activist Dr. Ravindranath Dabare revealed shocking details, alleging a systematic failure to prosecute those responsible, intentional sabotage of legal procedures, and a conspiracy to cheat SL of rightful more..

Jul 19 (Island) Sri Lanka are holding out hope of hosting India for a white-ball series in early August, with cricketing powerbrokers expected to thrash out the final details on the sidelines of the ICC meetings in Singapore this week. The window opened up unexpectedly after SLC postponed the Lanka Premier League (LPL), originally pencilled in for August, while India and Bangladesh mutually agreed to shelve a six-match limited-overs series that was due to take place around the same time. more..

Jul 19 (DN) Nipun Dhananjaya played a pivotal innings, steering SSC to victory with a brilliant unbeaten 73, as they secured the Tier B limited overs title by defeating Moratuwa SC by 4 wickets at the SSC grounds yesterday. Coached by Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, SSC had a strong lineup, including national players like Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, and Prabath Jayasuriya. Despite being a young side, Moratuwa SC displayed great resilience throughout the match. more..

Jul 19 (FT) “The optimism seen in business circles in May appears to have faded quicker than expected, as sentiment shifted once again in June,” business magazine LMD reports, in its July edition. LMD notes: “The latest LMD Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey, conducted in the first week of June, sees a notable decline in optimism about the economy ‘improving’ over the next 12 months dropping to 56% – that’s a whopping 20 percentage point fall from May’s 76% outcome.” more..

Jul 19 (FT) Colombo stock market yesterday finished a healthy week with indices and turnover up whilst enjoying high net foreign inflow. During the week, ASPI and S&P SL 20 gained 2.3% and 3.1% respectively, whilst recording an average daily turnover of Rs. 9.88 billion. ASPI yesterday gained by 0.51% and the active S&P SL20 by 0.47%. Turnover was over Rs. 7.6 billion involving 350.07 million shares. Foreign investors turned net buyers, recording a net inflow of Rs. 373.9 million. more..

Jul 19 (ST) Supreme Court has issued a string of guidelines aimed at combatting ragging in higher educational institutions and ordered the Education Ministry, UGC, VCs and police to report back to court within six months, the steps taken to comply with the directions. Guidelines have been issued as part of the judgment of a fundamental Rrghts petition filed by Pasindu Silva, an undergraduate of the Uni of Sri J'pura more..

Jul 19 (Island) The NPP govt is under intense public scrutiny. The recent appointment of retired Commodore M.B.N.A. Premarathne as new Commissioner General of Exercise drew heavy public condemnation as the media revealed his wife, senior Professor Wasantha Subasinghe, who had been on the NPP National List at the last parliamentary election held in November 2024, recently received appointment as Vice Chancellor of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Uni more..

Jul 19 (Island) US Prez Donald Trump is known for his about-turns, which are legion. When he declared what he described as reciprocal tariffs, he said his decision was final, and it was his way or highway. But he changed his mind subsequently, and his suo motu downward tariff revision has encouraged many countries like SL to seek further tariff reductions. A few more rounds of talks between SL and the US on tariffs are on the cards. While a SL delegation is preparing for a hard bargain, more..

Jul 19 (ST) When COVID-19 sparked a global health crisis, the US quickly ran short of face masks. It wasn’t just the high-grade N95s—basic cloth and surgical masks which were also hard to find. What little supply existed was mostly reserved for healthcare workers, many of whom had to reuse their masks. At the same time, the public was urged to wear masks to help stop the spread of the virus. Demand surged, but supply couldn’t keep up. Critiques questioned how the wealthiest more..

Jul 19 (TM) The Govt recently announced the imposition of a flat 18% Value-Added Tax (VAT) on digital services provided by non-resident companies to local consumers, effective 1 Oct. This measure, introduced through the VAT (Amendment) Act No.4 of 2025, has sparked some controversy, with many expressing apprehension regarding its potential implications and cost escalations. As a VAT base broadening measure, stakeholders have highlighted both positive and concerning aspects, more..

Jul 19 (CT) The intense power struggle at the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha remained unresolved by the end of the week, as the inaugural meeting once again failed to reach a conclusion. The impasse was caused by members of the Opposition, mainly from the SJB, walking out of the session in protest against the decision to conduct a secret ballot. This development followed the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of a Writ Petition more..

Jul 19 (SO) June 25, 2025, will be remembered as a historic milestone for the Malaiyaha Tamil community in Sri Lanka, a people long denied dignified housing and rightful land ownership. While successive Govts have only offered token renovations to their crumbling estate line rooms, the Malaiyaha Tamils of Bathalgoda in Kurunegala have taken a bold stand. Refusing to endure life in these inadequate dwellings any longer, they have stepped out, claimed their land rights, and built permanent homes more..

Jul 19 (DM) A few days ago, many were heart-broken when we read of the death of yet another majestic elephant called Bhathiya. Approval was granted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regulatory bodies, for the foreign veterinarians to arrive in SL to treat the animal, but Bhathiya died before they could arrive. The next day, media highlighted yet another sad story –the Dept of Wildlife was treating 13 injured jumbos. All thirteen were being treated for gunshot injuries. more..

Jul 19 (TM) Sri Lanka has officially embarked on a transformative journey to combat rural poverty with the launch of the Praja Shakthi National Programme. Spearheaded by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and commencing on 4 July at Temple Trees, this ambitious initiative aims to fundamentally reshape the welfare landscape, moving beyond mere subsistence to foster genuine economic, social, cultural, and educational more..

Jul 19 (DM) However, some Opposition politicians seem to have found a new issue out of the debate to annoy the NPP govt leaders. They have been holding media conferences to question a statement made during the debate by Minister and the Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake that former DIG Ravi Seneviratne and former Director CID Shani Abeysekara have been entrusted to lead investigations into the terrorist attacks on the request of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. more..

Jul 19 (DM) Unlike many global powers that take pride in their modern accomplishments, SL stands unique in its possession of a written history that stretches back more than two and a half millennia. Few nations can claim such continuity of record and cultural memory. Yet, for much of this long past, the general populace remained distant from the richness of their own historical heritage. The absence of printed materials meant that historical knowledge was confined to the privileged few more..

Jul 18 (TM) SL Pharma Manufacturers Association (SLPMA) warns that pharmaceutical production in the country could meet only 5% of domestic demand. Although SL boosted pharmaceutical production since the 1960s, along with its South Asian neighbours – India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, it remains heavily dependent on imports, which meet more than 80% of local needs. This is a far cry from self-sufficient India, dubbed the pharmacy of the world, Bangladesh more..

Jul 18 (TM) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe says the Government is fast-tracking the Raigampura Green Industrial Zone in Millaniya, Kalutara, to resolve the severe lack of industrial space in Sri Lanka. The project, stalled in the past, is now being reactivated to support national industrial and value-added production goals. The Millaniya Industrial City is planned as an eco-friendly development, with only 87 of the approved 200 acres to be used for industrial purposes. more..

Jul 18 (FT) SL welcomed over 100,000 visitors yesterday, pushing the year-to-date (YTD) figure to over 1.26 million arrivals. During the first 16 days of July, SL saw 98,765 tourists, 1,724 higher than the same period last year. From 1 to 16 July, average daily arrivals stood at 6,173, up from 6,065 visitors in the same period last year. In absolute terms, arrivals during the first 16 days of July this year increased by 1,724 from 97,032 in '24 more..

Jul 18 (AD) Railway Dept, in collaboration with the Central Cultural Fund (CCF), has launched a new initiative aimed at increasing the appeal of the Nine Arch Bridge in Ella and its surrounding areas to both local and international tourists. The program will include decorative lighting installations around the iconic bridge, enabling visitors to explore and enjoy the site during night-time hours. Railways General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara stated that the program is scheduled to commence in Aug. more..

Jul 18 (AD) Ministry of Finance has initiated ongoing discussions aimed at reducing the trade tariffs proposed to be imposed by the United States on exports from Sri Lanka. Accordingly, a virtual meeting is scheduled to be held today between SL representatives and officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The discussion will be led by the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, along with other relevant govt officials. more..