Jul 18 (TM) The Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake expressed Sri Lanka’s interest in entering into a MoU with Singapore on green, digital shipping corridor collaboration, focusing on decarbonisation and digitalisation in the maritime sector. Rathnayake undertook an official visit to Singapore from 13 July to Tuesday (15) to attend the Global Aviation and Maritime Symposium and a series of high-level engagements. more..

Jul 18 (CT) Four suspects linked to a large-scale pyramid financial fraud operating under the names Era Miracle (Pvt) Ltd and Genesis Business School in Kurunegala have been further remanded until 31 July by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga. The suspects — Dhammika Ranasinghe, a company director residing in Kurunegala; his wife, Samudra Surangani Hemachandra from Galle; and two promoters of the scheme, Nishantha Nimal and K.H. Priyantha more..

Jul 18 (TM) Committee on Public Finance (COPF) approved the Regulations under the Tea (Tax & control of export) Act, No. 16 of 1959. This approval was given at the COPF meeting held recently (15) in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Harsha de Silva. Accordingly, officials stated that a license fee of Rs. 3 per kg of tea is expected to be charged, and that this license fee is intended to be utilised for the development and promotion more..

Jul 18 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that he will never hesitate to take necessary action for the advancement of national, religious and social development and that he expects the guidance of the Maha Sangha in the governance process. Prez made these remarks during a discussion held this afternoon (17) at the President’s House in Kandy with the Anunayake Theros of the Malwatu and Asgiri Chapters and other senior members of Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha. more..

Jul 18 (NF) The Ministry of Transport and Highways has decided to issue temporary driver’s licenses to foreign visitors directly at the airport upon arrival. Accordingly, a dedicated counter is set to be established at the BIA in Katunayake to facilitate this process. Currently, tourists arriving in Sri Lanka must travel to the Motor Traffic Department office in Werahera to obtain a temporary driver’s license. Highlighting the time and financial burden this causes, the Ministry stated that more..

Jul 18 (TM) Ministry of Public Security stated that the relevant authorities, including the Police, are working to apprehend and take action against all individuals engaged in illegal activities such as drug trafficking, regardless of whether they are Sri Lankans or foreign nationals. Minister Ananda Wijepala said that there will be no special treatment for anyone involved in such activities. “If someone is caught engaging in more..

Jul 18 (CT) The Nalanda Walk, organised in line with the centenary celebrations of Nalanda College, Colombo, will be on Sunday, 20 July. A large number of distinguished Nalanda alumni are expected to participate in the walk, and the school has extended invitations to PM and Minister of Education Harini Amarasuriya, as well as the Mayor of Colombo, Vraîe Cally Balthazaar. The event is jointly organised by the Nalanda Old Boys’ Association, the Junior Old Boys’ Association, more..

Jul 18 (DM) The Companies (Amd) Bill, scheduled to be taken up for second reading debate in Parliament on July 23, received the approval of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability following its consideration. This was taken up for consideration when the said Committee, chaired by MP Hector Appuhamy, met on July 11 at the Parliament premises. A group of officials representing the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security more..

Jul 18 (DM) LTL Holdings Ltd has withdrawn its Rs.20 billion initial public offering (IPO), the largest ever attempted on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), due to delays in the subscription process, the company disclosed this week. In a filing to the CSE, LTL said its board resolved at a meeting held on 26 June, to withdraw the IPO application and return all subscription monies to investors by 30 July. “The said decision has been taken after considering the prolonged time taken in opening more..

Jul 18 (ST) South Asia’s biggest K-1 fight league, Karma Fight League, will host its fifth event on July 25 at Cinnamon Life, South Asia’s largest entertainment hub. The event will take place at the Lumina Ballroom, featuring fighters from Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and Australia, with both male and female bouts on the card. KFL will also introduce the KFL Extreme Championship, featuring the best young fighters in Sri Lanka. Cinnamon Life will serve as both the venue and more..

Jul 18 (FT) Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Director General Vajira Ellepola recently called for bold and comprehensive labour reforms, warning that without decisive changes, SL risks remaining stuck in economic stagnation and missing out on critical foreign direct investment (FDI) needed for long-term growth. Sharing insights against the backdrop of fluctuating investment flows and the regional labour market, Ellepola warned that more..

Jul 18 (FT) The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE), in collaboration with the Embassy of SL in Japan, has announced the SL Export Brands Forum, taking place on 25 Sept, at the prestigious World Expo in Osaka, Japan. This event is part of NCE’s broader effort to open new trade gateways and is a significant market access initiative aimed at helping SL exporters enter or expand in the Japanese market — one of the most sophisticated and high-value economies in Asia. more..

Jul 18 (ST) 15-day Kataragama Esala festival is a deeply sacred time in Kataragama, a place sanctified by centuries of belief in Skanda also known as Kataragama Deviyo – the island’s warrior deity and divine guardian. Thousands of devotees and pilgrims of many faiths, particularly Hindus and Buddhists, gather here to seek the divine intervention of God Murugan, God Skanda or Kataragama Deviyo. There is an air of exultation, with streets beautifully lit-up and decorated more..

Jul 18 (Island) Never a dull day in Sri Lanka! Hardly a day passes without some controversy or another making headlines and even leading to protests. Issues crop up at such a rapid pace that it is not possible to keep track of them, much less understand them. The latest controversy is about the education sector, which is no stranger to protests and strikes. A government decision to introduce education reforms has caused quite a stir, with school teachers, their trade unions and university dons letting out howls of protests. more..

Jul 18 (FT) I was born in 1961, which happened to be in SL. Suppose my birth happened in China in that year. In that case, it is quite unlikely that my trajectory would have been to be a vegetarian. In 1961, China was suffering from one of the worst famines a country has ever suffered – three years of great famine. In such an environment, you do not have the luxury of exercising choices. As I leave after a three-month stay, I have experienced a China that to me is seen as plentiful, productive, more..

Jul 18 (TM) The controversy surrounding the release of over 300 containers without subjecting them to any checks continues with Opposition legislators calling on Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also the Finance Minister, to assume responsibility for the mishaps surrounding SL Customs. The department is under intense scrutiny following revelations that more than 300 shipping containers flagged for inspection more..

Jul 18 (TM) Many Sri Lankans often lament that even though the nation is an island with vast oceans surrounding it, the availability of sea food and its cost makes adding it to their diet difficult. Despite being an island, many in SL, especially in the policymaking community fail to grasp the complexities and dynamics of the oceans around us. The lack of affinity and understanding of the oceans has placed Sri Lankans, and their food security at risk. The long-felt gaps in SL’s Ocean more..

Jul 18 (CT) Govt is considering increasing male recruitment into the nursing service to address the ongoing nurse shortage in the health sector, particularly in the North. Discussions are planned with Public Service Commission (PSC) to explore this possibility. Around 190 eligible male candidates are currently awaiting entry into the profession, but their recruitment is blocked by outdated restrictions —specifically, the nursing constitution’s provision that limits male recruits to just 5%. more..

Jul 18 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate has further remanded—until 15 July 2025—a specialist neurosurgeon from the Sri J'pura General Hospital over allegations of pharmaceutical fraud. While the neurosurgeon’s bail application was rejected, the court granted bail to the other two suspects implicated in the case. The neurosurgeon stands accused of selling surgical consumables worth Rs. 50,000 to patients for Rs. 175,000 through more..

Jul 18 (DM) For middle-class parents, small businesses, teachers, and other professionals, education is not just a right, but a lifeline to a better future for their children. They work tirelessly to save for college degrees that promise good jobs and social mobility. However, access is severely limited; only 17% of students who pass A/Ls gain admission to state universities, leaving many reliant on private institutions like KDU, ACBT, or SLIIT. Recent govt policies pose unprecedented threats to this more..

Jul 18 (DM) SL Police are so close to the public in terms of dispensing their duties. For some unexplainable reason, people fear the men in khaki. This could be one reason why the SL Police have decided to use some humour in sending a message to errant drivers. The police website has a recent post to attract the attention of drivers who wouldn’t care much about being obedient drivers. The post shows the drawing of a horse. First half of the animal from the tail to the body is drawn to precision. more..

Jul 17 (DM) The Court of Appeal today reserved its order until September 1 on a writ petition seeking the removal of STF personnel from Boossa Prison. The petition was filed by J.A. Ruwan Kumara, alias Midigama Ruwan, an alleged underworld figure. The case was heard before a two-judge bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando. Counsel for the petitioner argued that Boossa Prison is a designated high-security more..

Jul 17 (AD) A newborn has been found abandoned in a paddy field in Paragahadeniya, Mawathagama earlier today, police stated. A local resident passing through the paddy field had noticed the newborn lying under a tree in the field. He subsequently informed the Mawathagama Police about the incident and police personnel arrived at the scene. Police personnel and area residents then took the baby from the location and admitted to the Mawathagama Divisional Hospital. more..

Jul 17 (DM) Alarming reports have surfaced that tickets for viewing the Kandy Esala Perahera are being sold at exorbitant prices ranging between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 65,000, prompting concerns from local authorities. Kandy Mayor Chandrasiri Wijenayake warned that unless a proper regulatory mechanism is introduced, the price for a single seat at the final Randoli Perahera could skyrocket to Rs. 100,000. more..

Jul 17 (TM) The Department of Wildlife Conservation is planning to launch a special mission targeting snares and trap guns. This was revealed during a press briefing yesterday where the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Director – Operations Ranjan Marasinghe said that when it comes to annual elephant deaths, about 20% of them are caused by gunshots, 14% due to electrocution, and about 10% due to ‘hakka patas’ (locally made explosive device that explodes when bit). more..

Jul 17 (SM) Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday heard charges against 2 outlets of 2 popular eateries – Mr. Koththu Grand and Big Bite Biryani for violating sanitary regulations in food preparation. Mr. Koththu Grand outlet located at 1128, Kotte Road, Rajagiriya, is run by Mr. Dinesh Priyakantha, while the Big Bite Biryani outlet at 111, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, is operated by Mr. Yoganathan Prasan. The cases were filed separately by the PHI of the Public Health Department more..

Jul 17 (DM) PM and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has firmly rejected claims that History and Aesthetics have been removed from the school curriculum, stating that these subjects, along with Vocational Studies, have been made mandatory under the new education reforms. Dr. Amarasuriya said that misinformation was being spread by certain groups without a proper understanding of the national education plan. more..

Jul 17 (NW) Supreme Court has summoned a hearing on Nov 13 to verify facts in a fundamental rights petition requesting recovery of compensation paid unlawfully to former ministers whose homes and property were damaged after the attack on the Gota Go Gama protest site at Galle Face on May 9, 2022. Petition was filed by Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, a social activist and lawyer, seeking an order to reclaim compensation funds that were allegedly obtained illegally by former govt ministers. more..

Jul 17 (NF) The owner of the Hambantota Bird Park was arrested in connection with the illegal importation of luxury motorcycles into SL. Police stated that the suspect had been evading authorities for several days. He was arrested today in Colombo and is currently being held at the Maradana Police Station. The suspect is scheduled to be presented before court today. Earlier, police seized 21 illegally imported motorcycles — including 8 luxury bikes and 4 tricycle-type motorcycles more..

Jul 17 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake officially opened the Wax Museum this morning at the historic Ehelepola Walawwa in Kandy. The Ehelepola Walawwa, which was renovated by the UDA, has been handed over to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The museum was then established, ensuring the preservation of its archaeological and cultural significance. The museum features wax recreations depicting the architecture, customs and arts and crafts more..

Jul 17 (EN) The sectoral oversight committee on infrastructure and strategic development of the Parliament has suggested changes to an amendment to SL’s Electricity Act, a statement said. The changes will be incorporated to the bill and presented to the committee on July 17. “Several proposals and recommendations submitted by the Public Utilities Commission regarding the amendment of this Bill were discussed and agreement was reached on several matters" more..