June 20 (Island) The military funeral of General Hamilton Wanasinghe was held at Borella last Saturday. A legendary military leader of our time, he served Sri Lanka for more than 41 years (1954-1995) in various capacities such as the Commander of the Army, Commander Joint Operations Command (presently known as Chief of Defence Staff) and Secretary of Defence. More than 1,700 troops lined up at Bauddhaloka Mawatha by 1630 hrs, representing the Army, Navy & Air Force, more..

June 20 (DN) Sri Lanka’s women’s tennis team powered their way into the final of the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup by Gainbridge Asia-Oceania Group III ‘A’, brushing aside Nepal 3-0 in their Group match played on the clay courts of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association in Colombo yesterday. The home team was in fine form, with Akeesha Silva leading the charge in the opening singles. The 19-year-old fought off a spirited challenge from Nepal’s Shivali Gurung, winning a tight contest 7-6, 7-6. more..

June 20 (ST) Nihal’s jeep was stopped by the traffic police for crossing the single line in the middle of the main road, while driving to Badulla from Colombo. He was transporting a group of foreign guests for an event in Badulla. As they navigated the winding mountain roads, he attempted to overtake a public bus that was struggling to climb the steep incline. The bus was moving slowly, releasing thick black smoke that engulfed Nihal’s jeep, making the journey uncomfortable for his passengers. more..

June 20 (CT) The LG Election might be done, but it certainly isn’t dusted, as the war of securing the majority in the Local Govt office is evidently ongoing, although the ruling NPP has managed to secure the most number of seats. If there is a positive to it, it is how the power struggle continues to create political drama for those who crave it and for those who thrive in it. The controversial secret ballot in Colombo Municipal Council, Kolonnawa Urban Council going the NPP’s way, more..

June 20 (SO) As Sri Lanka deals with a dengue epidemic, expert public health officials must approach the battle against infectious diseases. Prof. Neelika Malavige said that the rapid rise of obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders is intimately connected to the growing toll of dengue and other viral diseases such as Chikungunya. The fight against NCDs is no longer just about preventing heart attacks or strokes. more..

June 20 (TM) In a country starved for education the innocent dreams of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands have been shattered by the brutal, inhuman, and degrading practice of ragging that continues to plague Sri Lankan universities. The act of torture and indoctrination, championed in the higher education system by mainly leftist political student movements long affiliated with the incumbent Govt, once again come under the spotlight and a possible watershed moment, more..

June 20 (CT) In a country where the Constitution is supreme, all conduct that is inconsistent with it is invalid. This includes parliamentary legislation, which may be reviewed by the judiciary, potentially resulting in inconsistent provisions being declared invalid. Ideally, other actions of Parliament, such as the conduct of its proceedings and the adoption of resolutions, should also be subject to constitutionality review. Conversely, in countries where parliamentary sovereignty prevails, more..

June 20 (TM) On a warm afternoon in Dambana, a member of the Sri Lankan Indigenous Veddah community, Dorana Aththo sits on a wooden bench outside his home, watching a group of children chase each other through the dust. Nearby, an elder from the village leans on a walking stick, looking toward the thinning forest line. “This land raised us. But now, we’re just living in it. We aren't part of the decisions that shape it,” more..

June 20 (DM) Will the United States join Israel’s war on Iran? This is the biggest question today, as Iran and Israel continue their war of attrition. On the eighth consecutive day of escalating hostilities—with missiles and drones striking each other’s cities—the US president’s decision could alter the course of the conflict. It could either de-escalate tensions or add fuel to the confrontation that risks engulfing the entire region for months to come. Which way, Donald Trump? more..

June 20 (DM) Many moons ago, this writer was part of a conversation in which the discussion was on how to mint money. The person who was in control of the conversation was a self-made man who was running a chain of hotels. In all his hotels, wellness centres and yoga retreats were a big part of the culture. He went on to mention that wellness, weapons and drugs (as in narcotics) were the three businesses people can engage in and make money fast. Fortunately or unfortunately, more..

June 19 (EN) The World Bank Group will be partnering with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Women and Child Affairs to provide technical assistance on designing a strategic action plan for the national policy on child day care centers to support the national efforts on child care, the multilateral lender said. The move will be supported by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Facility for Investment Climate Advisory Services (FIAS) program. more..

June 19 (AD) The Sri Dalada Esala Perahera of the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy is scheduled to commence on July 25, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela has confirmed. The annual Kandy Perahera will commence with the ‘Kap planting’ ritual at the four main devalayas which will be followed by the five-day process of Ethul Perahera. Following five days of internal processions within the devalayas, this year’s first Kumbal Perahera will take to the streets on July 30. more..

June 19 (DM) Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Lakmini Girihagamage appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, informed the Maligakanda Magistrate today that laboratory tests conducted in a German chemical laboratory had revealed that the immunoglobulin drug contained only saline and lethal, harmful bacteria and not any medicinal substances. This statement was made during the hearing of the case filed against more..

June 19 (NW) Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne endorsed the certificate on the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill in Parliament on Wednesday. According to a Parliament statement, this Bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979 was presented to Parliament for its first reading on 08 April 2025. The second reading debate was held on 23 May 2025, after which the Bill was passed in Parliament following its third reading on 04 June 2025. more..

June 19 (CT) SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara raised concerns in Parliament over the Govt’s management of prison administration, criticising what he described as a chaotic approach to circulars and the misuse of Presidential Pardons. Jayasekara asserted that his Party has “never lost respect for the SL Judiciary,” noting that even International Court rulings are respected and acknowledged. He emphasised that the SJB has consistently spoken out against injustices faced by members of the Judiciary. more..

June 19 (AM) Parliamentary Committee on Public Security and Order (SCOPC) continued its investigation yesterday (18) into the W15 Hotel shooting incident, which has been linked to the suspended IGP, Deshabandu Tennakoon. Meeting for the seventh time, the committee summoned nine witnesses, during which significant new details were revealed. Among those who testified was Police Sergeant Alwis Wijewickrama more..

June 19 (DM) A hotel with luxury facilities built inside two railway compartments has been completed at the Ratmalana Main Railway Yard by its own workers, General Manager of Railways Dhammika Jayasundara announced. The unique hotel, named Odyssey Camper, is set to open in a few days. The luxury hotel on wheels has now been relocated to Nanuoya, offering guests stunning views of waterfalls and the scenic hill country landscape. According to the General Manager, more..

June 19 (DM) Following the recent relaxation of vehicle imports, the DMT announced today that a total of 73,489 new vehicle and electric car registrations have been recorded so far this year, increasing the country’s total vehicle population to 8,528,002. A7,542 cars have been registered up to May, along with 58,943 motorcycles and 1,666 three-wheelers. Additionally, 293 buses, 156 special purpose vehicles, 1,817 land vehicles, and 1,123 dual-purpose vehicles more..

June 19 (CT) High Commissioner of India to SL, Santosh Jha, hosted a special reception for members of the Women’s Caucus of the Parliament of SL at India House earlier today. The event was graced by the Honourable PM of SL, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Saroja Savithri Paulraj, and several other Honourable Members of Parliament representing the Women’s Caucus. In his address, High Commissioner Jha highlighted the pioneering more..

June 19 (NW) A Singaporean company that had invested in a foam mattress manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka is considering shutting down operations, accusing the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) of obstructing its operations. Addressing the media, representatives of Honour Global Industries said that the company had requested permission from the BOI in 2023 to set up the foam mattress manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka with an investment of US$ 08 million. more..

June 19 (CI) Partnerships were the name of the game for SL as every top-order batter chipped in to whittle away at Bangladesh's healthy first-innings total of 495. By stumps, SL's deficit had been trimmed to just 127. A majority of it was cut down courtesy Pathum Nissanka, who struck a career-best 187 off 256 balls. It was his first ton on home soil, and a knock that had seen him dominate from the first new ball to the second. more..

June 19 (DM) The 48-hour token strike, which was scheduled to be launched tonight by the Railway Controllers' Union, has been postponed by two weeks, Union Secretary Duminda Prasad said. He said the decision was made despite ongoing issues that had prompted the planned strike. The union had intended to launch the token strike in protest against the authorities’ failure to resolve several longstanding problems within the department. Prasad noted that although the union more..

June 19 (CT) In line with the vision to build a transparent and corruption-free public service, Secretary-General of Parliament has taken steps to establish an Internal Affairs Unit in Parliament in accordance with the circular PS/SB/Circular/2/2025 issued by the Presidential Secretariat on 18 Feb. The newly established unit aims to achieve several key objectives, including the prevention of corruption, the promotion of a culture of integrity, ensuring accountability more..

June 19 (CT) Senior Lecturer at Dept of Paediatrics, Colombo Medical Faculty, Dr. Prasad Chathurangana, revealed that a 2019 study conducted on 10 Montessori schools to assess children’s activity levels found that only one in five children met the activity guidelines recommended by the WHO. He explained that the study evaluated how much time preschool children spent sleeping, playing, and watching electronic screens. more..

June 19 (TM) Health Ministry cautioned that the consumption of sugary food among preschool children is extremely high, and that data suggests that it could be as high as four times the recommended quantity. These foods include cake and biscuits. These concerns were raised by the Ministry’s Community Medical Specialist Dr. Inoka Wickramasinghe, during a press briefing regarding public awareness for child health promotion through social and behavioural changes. more..

June 19 (EN) The Indonesian Ambassador in Sri Lanka has offered to provide support to combat the white fly infestation affecting coconut plantations in the island. Dewi Gustina Tobing said that the techniques and remedies used by Indonesia to combat the whitefly disease and other coconut pests spreading through coconut cultivations can be provided to fight the disease that in Sri Lanka. Tobing met Minister of Plantations Samantha Widyaratne this week, who requested help. more..

June 19 (AD) Despite a prolonged fallout with Europe, US and Western nations due to the Ukraine conflict, former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe asserts that Russia is not isolated on the international stage and is continuing to work with nations in the Asian region. Former Prez Wickremesinghe made this remark while speaking to media on the sidelines of the Valdai Discussion Club in St. Petersburg. Former Prez Wickremesinghe also highlighted the importance of BRICS, more..

June 19 (Island) A group of students from Nittambuwa Sanghabodhi National School visited the Presidential Secretariat and the President’s House on Wednesday. The visit was facilitated under the Vision programme series, a collaborative initiative for schoolchildren organised by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Communication of the Parliament of SL. As part of the visit, the students toured the Old Parliament building located more..

June 19 (AD) Two daughters and the son-in-law of former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella have been arrested by the CIABOC. Accordingly, Chamithri Rambukwella, Amali Rambukwella and her husband Isuru Bandara have been arrested in relation to an investigation conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by CIABOC. They are implicated in the investigation into undeclared more..

June 19 (DM) Former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, P. Harrison, Wijith Wijithamuni de Soysa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and Lakshman Wasantha Perera have been found to be involved in a USD 110 million cattle import scam, NPP MP Nihal Galappathi told Parliament today. He said none of these former Presidents and Ministers will be spared. "None of them will be shown any mercy," he said. more..

June 19 (NW) Dimuthu Abeyesekera has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). Abeyesekera is reported to have served on the CSE Board over the last 06 years. Bringing over 35 years of experience in the capital markets, he is a veteran capital market professional and serves as an important resource person at Colombo Stockbrokers Association (CSBA). He currently serves as the CEO of Asha Securities Ltd, which is affiliated with more..

June 19 (AD) Preliminary investigations have revealed that a second-year student at Sabaragamuwa Uni committed suicide recently due to ragging, CID has stated. Charith Dilshan, a student studying at the Sabaragamuwa Uni, died by suicide on April 29. Subsequently, the CID launched an investigation into the incident. As a result of the investigation, a group of senior students suspected to be involved in the incident have been more..