June 17 (DM) Former India captain Rohit Sharma, who recently stepped away from Test cricket himself, shared a heartfelt message for SL’s Angelo Mathews ahead of the veteran all-rounder’s farewell to the longest format. Mathews, is playing his 119th and final Test match against Bangladesh in Galle. While he bids adieu to the red-ball game, Mathews has confirmed plans to continue in white-ball cricket, aiming to retire after the 2026 T20 World Cup. "Hey Angie, congratulations on your fantastic more..

June 17 (AD) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has urged the public not to be misled by social media posts claiming an impending fuel shortage in the country due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. Responding to concerns circulating online, the minister assured that SL currently has adequate fuel reserves to meet national demand for at least two and a half months and therefore urged the public not to be misled by such claims. Earlier today, Ministry of Energy also issued a statement urging the general public more..

June 17 (FT) Sri Lanka is embarking on a transformative initiative to enhance its law enforcement capabilities through a visionary policy that recruits retired tri-forces personnel into the SL Police Service. This groundbreaking initiative, recently endorsed by the Cabinet, aims to recruit 10,000 retired military personnel under the age of 45, marking a significant paradigm shift in how the nation approaches public security and human resource management within public sector. more..

June 17 (FT) For the better part of a generation, the global economy operated on a foundational belief: that a world with fewer trade barriers was a more prosperous one. That straightforward era has given way to a far more complex reality. As we stand in mid-2025, the international commercial system is defined by an intricate web of tariffs, sophisticated countermeasures, and strategic industrial policies that are reshaping the global flow of goods and capital. more..

June 17 (DM) Fuel prices are poised to increase during revisions expected by August because of spikes in the global market as a direct result of the conflict between Israel and Iran, a top official said. Iran is a big oil producer, and accounts for about 3% of global supplies. SL purchases fuel from companies based in Singapore. Besides, talks are underway with the UAE for a fuel purchasing agreement, but it has not materialised yet. more..

June 17 (CT) The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has announced a likely two-month delay in issuing official number plates for newly registered vehicles due to ongoing procurement issues following the termination of its agreement with the previous supplier. DMT Commissioner General Kamal Amarasinghe said the department had already submitted a procurement request to identify a new supplier and was hopeful the process would be completed within two months. more..

June 17 (FT) SL’s economy in the first quarter of 2025 has shown signs of losing momentum, clocking the second lowest growth in the past year. The DCS yesterday confirmed that the country’s GDP grew by 4.8% in the first quarter of 2025, lower in comparison to 5.3% achieved a year ago as part of the recovery following the economic crisis. The 2025 first quarter also puts a halt to over 5% growth achieved in the previous two quarters and is only better than the 2024 2Q performance of 4.7% growth. more..

June 17 (EN) SL govt has not decided on allowing a UN-flagged research vessel into the island nation’s water, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said, amid repeated requests from the UN and top officials meeting the Minister. UN has already said SL will be deprived of key benefits in marine ecosystem research by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) due to the govt’s delay in formulating standard operating more..

June 17 (DM) Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have requested Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga to take charge of the SLFP and rebuild it. Mr. Sirisena requested Ms. Kumaratunga, who also served as the Prez of the country between 1994 and 2005, to withdraw the legal cases challenging his position as the head of the SLFP, founded by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. SLFP is currently embroiled in legal disputes, with Mr. Sirisena’s party chairmanship being challenged. more..

June 17 (NW) The largest-ever lottery prize in Sri Lankan history has been won, according to state television channel ITN. The winning ticket for the Mega Power draw No. 2210, with a grand prize of Rs. 474,599,422 was sold by Janaki Hemamala, a lottery agent in the Gokarella area. Previously, the highest lottery win recorded was Rs. 230 million—also under the Mega Power lottery, setting a benchmark that has now been surpassed. The winner of the lottery has not been announced. more..

June 17 (FT) David Peiris Aviation, a newly established domestic airline and a subsidiary of the David Peiris Group, has officially received its Aircraft Operator Certificate (AOC) and operations specifications (Ops-Specs) from the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) to operate scheduled domestic passenger flights after obtaining the Airline Licence. As part of the certification process, the airline recently conducted a proving flight to demonstrate its operational readiness and more..

June 17 (DN) Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma said that the government’s top priority is to eradicate fraud and corruption, ensure transparency, and restore the economy by providing immediate relief to those at economic risk. He made this statement during a cordial discussion with Korean Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Miyon Lee, on June 9, on the ongoing economic and financial cooperation between the two countries. more..

June 17 (TM) Catholic Church stated that although the Govt has taken satisfactory steps to deliver justice for the terror attacks on the Easter Sunday of 21 April 2019, overall process has been slow and needs closer attention. Rev. Father Cyril Gamini Fernando said that the current Govt's programme including fresh investigations is satisfactory. “During the past six years, nothing has been done. The entire investigation process more..

June 17 (ST) Detectives from the CID probing the release of prison inmates under the guise of presidential pardons will conduct a thorough review into the release of prison inmates under presidential pardons and other amnesties going back four to five years, Minister Ananda Wijepala said. The CID this week inspected the record rooms of all 28 prisons and obtained details of prison inmates. Minister Wijepala disclosed that based on their inquiries, investigators have found that 37 inmates who more..

June 17 (FT) Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in SL (AHK SL) successfully led a high-ranking business delegation to the world-renowned Transport Logistic 2025 exhibition, held from 2-5 June in Munich, Germany. As the world’s largest trade fair for logistics, mobility, IT, and supply chain management, the event served as a vital platform for the Sri Lankan delegation to explore the cutting-edge industry advancements and to forge strategic international connections. more..

June 17 (CI) SL have rung in the changes, naming six uncapped players in their squad for the first Test against Bangladesh starting June 17 in Galle. There's a distinct feeling of a changing of the guard about the 18-man squad announced on Sunday, with this being Angelo Mathews' final Test series and Dimuth Karunaratne too no longer around following his retirement earlier this year. Of the six uncapped players, opening batter Lahiru Udara, 31, and spin-bowling allrounder Sonal Dinusha, 24, more..

June 17 (DN) Opener Lasith Croospulle stroked a superb knock of 78 in 38 balls while young Dulnith Sigera hit 38 in 34 balls adding 106 runs second wicket stand as CCC registered 6 wickets win over Panadura SC to take Major Club T-20 title in their final played at CCC grounds under light for the first time on Sunday. It was a battle between experienced CCC and young outfit Panadura SC. CCC had it easy to chase their target with 14 balls to spare and clinched the title in style. more..

June 17 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday pledged to build a stable economy by 2028, with sufficient growth to service debt independently. Delivering the keynote address at a high-level conference titled SL’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance attended by IMF First Deputy Managing Director Dr. Gita Gopinath, Disanayake affirmed commitment to completing the IMF’s EFF program as planned, asserting it would be more..

June 17 (Island) As the curtains rise on a fresh cycle of the World Test Championship at the iconic Galle Int'l Stadium today, hosts Sri Lanka are likely to roll the dice on two debutants — both heavy hitters in the domestic scene who’ve been knocking on the selection door with bat and ball for quite some time. Opening batsman Lahiru Udara, a run-machine for NCC and Sri Lanka ‘A’, looks set to finally don the coveted Test cap. At 31, Udara isn’t exactly wet behind the ears, but having piled up more..

June 17 (FT) Chulantha Wickramaratne has been appointed to the Board of CT Holdings PLC as an Independent Non-Executive Director. CT Holdings is an investment holding company and one of the largest conglomerates in Sri Lanka. Wickramaratne is an accomplished senior professional with over 30 years of leadership in public sector finance, audit, governance, and institutional reform, most recently serving as the Auditor General of Sri Lanka from 2019 to 2025. more..

June 17 (CI) There was no indication early on that 2014 would turn out to be such a roaring tornado of a year for SL's men, though it did start strangely. SL & Pak began a Test on the last day of 2013, and played it into the fourth day of 2014, a game that turned out to be a staid draw in the end. But upon this first match of the calendar year (there is some debate on which year this game belongs to) Angelo made sure to write his name. more..

June 17 (EN) Central Bank has allowed the rupee to generally appreciate amid broadly deflationary policy since 2022, allowing the economic activity to recover quickly, but the rupee has tended to be unstable, amid wide fluctuations in overnight liquidity. Due to lack of credibility and deliberately fired uncertainty and fear mongering (the exchange rate is flexible, it is market determined), the rupee wobbles at the slightest confidence shock, even if money is not printed to actually push the rupee down. more..

June 17 (CI) Even before South Africa could fire up the final celebratory braai after their triumph at Lord's, the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for 2025-27 is set to begin some 9,000 km away in Galle. SL and Bangladesh, both looking to snap out of extended Test slumps, will kick off the new cycle, however, the looming threat of rain could dictate terms over the next five days. SL return to red-ball cricket four months after a 2-0 home defeat to Australia, also in Galle. more..

June 17 (FT) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the inauguration of the China-SL-Maldives Tourism Forum yesterday said that for countries like Sri Lanka, tourism is an economic lifeline and a window to the world, highlighting the urgent need to reshape the industry to be more inclusive and empower all the country’s people. The Forum, themed Integration on Silk Road and Win-win Cooperation, was jointly hosted by the Embassy of China in SL and the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment more..

June 17 (Island) The battle for control of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is over. It was a foregone conclusion that the SJB and its allies would not be able to slam the brakes on the NPP juggernaut in Colombo. NPP councillor, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, was elected Colombo Mayor yesterday. She received 61 votes while Riza Zarook of the SJB polled 54 votes. Her election was preceded by a row over how the election should be conducted—by a show of hands or a secret ballot. more..

June 17 (CI) Ahead of his final Test, Angelo Mathews looks back at a long, eventful career, in which he lost some of his hair, had a coach make public comments about his weight, and he led SL to some of their most famous victories. Q: In the first few years of your int'l career, it felt like you were a little bulletproof. You'd captained age-group teams, and suddenly you were the dynamic young allrounder in one of the greatest SL teams more..

June 17 (CI) Angelo Mathews' career for many will be one of unfulfilled potential, such was the high ceiling he had given himself upon his entry into the sport. A pace-bowling allrounder has always been a unicorn of sorts in Sri Lanka. Mathews was forced to evolve upon his entry into Tests. While that aggressive side to his batting was still on show on occasion, it gradually gave way to a more considered approach. It has meant that Mathews' Test career - all 8167 runs across 118 games more..

June 17 (Island) Despite the prevalence of double standards in international practice, it remains in SL’s national interest to support the principles and implementation of international law. The existence of international law, however weak, offers some level of protection that smaller countries have when faced with the predatory behaviour of more powerful states. For this reason, SL govt must do all it can to uphold its prior commitments to the UNHRC and implement the promises it has made to more..

June 17 (ST) The existence of God can never be proved either true or false. It is only faith that makes us believe that God exists, that there’s life after death, and that there’s a heaven and a hell beyond this earthly realm. As Shakespeare said, The undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller returns. Or to put it plainly, What the eye does not see, the mind doesn’t know. And cannot and never will know. So what divine eyes do mortal men have to penetrate steel containers more..

June 17 (CT) Through information released under the Right to Information Act, it was revealed that Rs 5.7 billion was spent by the Presidential Secretariat on vehicle-related expenses between 2012 and 2022. Out of which, over Rs 1.8 billion was spent on vehicle maintenance, and over Rs 1.5 billion on vehicle upgrades and other improvements. It goes without saying that vehicles are a necessity for any administration to operate, whether it be part of the State, or within a private organisation. more..

June 17 (CT) Born on 18 August 1933 in Kalukondayawa, Malwana, Hamilton Wanasinghe was the second child of Henry and Charlotte Wanasinghe. His father, a proprietor planter in Dompe of Siyane Koralaya, was widely known as Rubberwatte Mahattaya. Young Hamilton began his education at the primary school in Gampaha. After excelling in Year 5 Exam as one of the top students in the island, he gained admission to Ananda more..