Jul 28 (DM) In its bid to start fuel sale to Sri Lanka as part of efforts to reduce the trade gap, the U.S. has dispatched samples of its crude oil to be tested for viability here,an official said. The U.S. has slapped 30% tariffs on SL products entering its market. Yet, time has been given till Aug 1 for talks to explore the possibility of reducing it further in case SL takes measures to narrow the trade gap which is in its favour at the moment. more..

Jul 28 (AD) Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union has announced that locomotive engine drivers will launch an island-wide 48-hour token strike starting from midnight tomorrow, citing unresolved issues. Union representatives stated that if their concerns are not addressed within the 48-hour period, they will proceed with the planned strike action, which is expected to disrupt all train operations across the country. However, they noted that if a satisfactory solution is provided before the deadline, more..

Jul 28 (Island) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has revealed that about 20,000 students have dropped out of the education system, while another 80,000 do not attend school regularly, according to a 2024 survey conducted by the Ministry of Education. Dr. Amarasuriya, who also serves as Minister of Higher Education and Vocational Training, made the disclosure on Saturday (26) during a meeting with Sabaragamuwa provincial education officials at the Ratnapura District Secretariat. more..

Jul 28 (NW) Former Commander of the SL Navy Admiral (Retired) Nishantha Ulugetenne, who was arrested earlier today, has been remanded until 30 July. Nishantha Ulugetenne was arrested by the CID and remanded by the Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court. He was arrested over the disappearance of a youth from Pothuhera during his tenure as the Director of Naval Intelligence. Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne served as the 24th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy from July 2020 to Dec 2022. more..

Jul 28 (NW) MP Namal Rajapaksa, against whom an arrest warrant was issued by the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court earlier today, is reportedly in the Maldives. Hambantota Magistrate’s Court had issued the arrest warrant after Namal Rajapaksa had failed to appear for a scheduled hearing. It has now emerged that MP Rajapaksa is currently in the Maldives attending a private event. He is expected to return to SL tomorrow and is likely to present a motion and appear in court. more..

Jul 28 (IE) A Kilkenny woman who moved to SL last summer to work as a veterinary nurse described how it felt like she was “regressing back into her teens” after living at home with her parents in Ireland. Sarah Rochford, aged 37, said she had always been travelling and had only moved back home to live with her family in Kilkenny after the covid pandemic. “I was renting and then living at home, and I felt like I was regressing back more..

Jul 28 (EN) Lanka Ashok Leyland, a unit of India’s Ashok Leyland, a commercial vehicle distributor which also assembles in Sri Lanka said it wants to grow exports and is looking at markets in Africa. Company had export revenues of 140 million in 2025 and 255 million a year earlier, mainly from shipment to the Maldives. “To further support national economic recovery and industry competitiveness, the company has also started laying groundwork to develop export capabilities,” more..

Jul 28 (FT) An amendment to the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act was brought in last week repealing certain provisions in the 2016 Act, including those pertaining to the minimum monthly wage of all workers. With effect from 1 Jan 2026, national minimum monthly wage of all workers in any industry or service shall be Rs. 30,000 and the national minimum daily wage of a worker shall be Rs. 1,200 as per the Amendment. Amendment also makes provisions for all workers to be paid more..

Jul 28 (FT) First Capital Research (FCR) is forecasting a loss of $ 110 million to $ 290 million in the short-to-medium term for the export apparel sector on account of the high US tariff. FCR said according to industry experts, 60% to 70% of apparel exports are value-added products that require advanced skills and training. However, due to the simplicity of the sewing process, orders can be transferred within six months. more..

Jul 28 (PMD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived at Velana International Airport this morning (28), marking the start of his state visit to the Maldives. Upon arrival, he was warmly received by Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, with a Guard of Honour from the Maldives National Defence Force. As part of the airport welcome ceremony, a group of young girls performed a vibrant cultural dance, following which Prez Dissanayake interacted briefly with the performers. more..

Jul 28 (DM) An adult male leopard was found dead in Katukitula area in the Kothmale in what is suspected to be yet another tragic incident involving the illegal use of Hakka Patas—a deadly trap commonly used to kill wild animals. A post related to the incident is currently being shared on X. According to the post, officials from the Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) recovered the leopard’s carcass, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of death. more..

Jul 28 (CI) Former SL Test cricketer, Kaushal Silva has been appointed the new Hong Kong men's head coach. His appointment comes ahead of Hong Kong's Asia Cup campaign, where they will play the tournament opener on September 9 against Afghanistan. Silva played 39 Tests between 2011 and 2018, and has had coaching stints in SL, England and Australia since 2019, when he finished up as a player. But this will be the 39-year-old's first time at the helm of an international side. more..

Jul 28 (AD) The case filed against former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara before the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar on charges of criminal negligence of duty by failing to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks despite receiving intelligence information in advance will be taken up once again on Sept 18. The case was taken up before the High Court bench, consisting of Judges Namal Balalle & Mohamed Irshadeen today. more..

Jul 28 (DM) “We know it is a sin to put any living creature into boiling water, but we can’t help it. We are compelled to do so to make a living,” said a woman boiling live cockle (Matti) in a huge pot containing steaming water. It is the harrowing experience of more than 50 woman who depend on harvesting cockle (Matti); a kind of shellfish in the Ichchankaduwa lagoon in Kalpitiya as their livelihood. more..

Jul 28 (CT) SL’s fuel consumption has decreased by approximately 30%, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody revealed recently. Speaking at an event held in Batticaoa, Minister highlighted that the Government has currently suspended issuing licences for new fuel stations. He also emphasised the increased focus on utilising renewable energy sources for electricity generation. “The surplus oil we have is significant, and we are also investing in battery technology to make better use of it. more..

Jul 28 (EN) SL’s services exports rose 16.38% from a year ago to US$ 309.61 million in June 2025, helped by transport and logistics, EDB said. Over the first six months of the year, services exports are estimated to have increased 9.78%, totaling US$ 1,833.14 million. ICT/BPM exports rose 34.12% to US$ 147.18 million, but construction fell 40.06% to US$ 10.35 million. Financial services also fell 45.78% to US$ 3.90 million. Transport and logistics grew 12.39 % to US$ 148.18 million. more..

Jul 28 (TM) The long-anticipated SL Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) project is gaining traction, with the Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the appointment of a Master Systems Integrator (MSI) scheduled to close in the first week of August. This development marks a key milestone in the Govt’s broader digital transformation agenda. Ministry of Digital Economy Acting Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala confirmed that the project more..

Jul 28 (FT) Sri Lanka had been a beneficiary of the waves of globalisation that had struck it for thousands of years. It had been open to trade, investment, transfer of knowledge, and factor mobility without hindrance. The country’s chronicle, Mahavamsa, talks about an incident that had happened in the 6th century BCE showing that the country had been visited by foreign ships laden with rice and other goods. According to the story, when Prince Vijaya landed in Thambapanni, more..

Jul 28 (NW) The owner of the crane involved in the multi-vehicle collision in Borella today has been arrested, the Police said. According to the Police, the owner and driver of the crane are to be produced before the Fort Magistrate’s Court tomorrow. Police investigations reveal that the accident occurred due to the driver speeding and losing control of the vehicle, and he has been charged with negligence and reckless driving. The Police further stated that post-accident medical examination more..

Jul 28 (FT) At a recent book launch organised by Advocata Institute, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe made a startling statement. A substantial section of the cognoscente on economics in our land perceives him as our preeminent strategic thinker. Commenting on US tariffs he said, “US is a member of the OCC. And the US has signed on to the EFF and their time limits which means they must help us now… Otherwise they are in breach of the agreement.” more..

Jul 28 (AD) Businesswoman Thilini Priyamali has been granted bail after being produced before the Homagama Magistrate’s Court today (28). Homagama Magistrate Rajindra Wijesuriya ordered her release on surety bail amounting to Rs. 200,000. Priyamali was arrested earlier today by the Homagama Police on multiple charges, including obstructing the duties of a fiscal officer at the Homagama Magistrate’s Court. She was taken into custody after arriving at the police station, more..

Jul 28 (BBC) Four years after a stricken cargo ship caused the largest plastic spill ever recorded, volunteers on SL's beaches are still sifting kilograms of tiny, toxic plastic pellets from the sand. Billions of plastic nurdles, as they are called, are thought to have washed up after the X-Press Pearl disaster in 2021, along with tonnes of engine fuel, acid, caustic soda, lead, copper slag, lithium batteries, epoxy resin; all toxic to aquatic life. more..

Jul 28 (DM) Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of SL this morning (27) at the Presidential Secretariat, before Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Justice Preethi Padman Surasena is the 49th Chief Justice of SL. Justice Surasena's name was recently approved by the Constitutional Council for the vacancy created by the retirement of former CJ Murdu Fernando. Having been called to the Bar in 1989, Justice Surasena subsequently joined AG's Dept, more..

Jul 28 (EN) The European Union and the United States have reached a 15% tariff deal President Donald Trump said would be all inclusive according to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Trump said the US was talking to a number of other countries and he was doing them at the low end, not the high end because we don’t want to hurt anybody. More discussions are also on with China he indicated describing the existing agreement as a sort of deal. more..

Jul 28 (FT) Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) has expressed grave concern over the US’ decision to impose a 30% tariff on SL tea and rubber exports, set to take effect from 1 Aug. The Association warns that this move could devastate two of SL’s most historic and employment-intensive sectors, tea and rubber undermining decades of market-building and trade diplomacy. PA is calling for urgent interventions, particularly as key competitor more..

Jul 28 (Island) The CID had been instructed to revisit the status of investigations into the mysterious disappearance of Rs. 5 million from a vault at the Central Bank of SL, a senior police officer said. The cash shortage, first detected during routine currency operations on 11 April, 2023, prompted an immediate internal investigation by the CB and a formal complaint to the Fort Police. However, police sources confirmed that despite several years of inquiry, outcome remains undisclosed, more..

Jul 28 (CT) A total of 360 high-achieving students from the Eastern Province who excelled in the GCE A/L Exam were awarded grants of Rs 100,000 each by the President’s Fund, in recognition of their outstanding academic performance. The ceremony, held on 27 July at the Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies in Batticaloa, was presided over by Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne. It marked the third phase of a nationwide programme implemented by the President’s Fund more..

Jul 28 (NW) Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said same-sex marriage is not a human right and should not be permitted, speaking at a religious ceremony held at St. Anne’s Church in Beruwala. Cardinal warned against the increasing promotion of what he described as “corrupt ideologies” in modern society, including the push for same-sex marriage, which he claimed undermines traditional family values. “How can two men build a family? How can they have children?” Cardinal questioned, more..

Jul 28 (DN) BCC Lanka Ltd is undergoing major transformation and by the end of the year it will be one of the top hotspots in Colombo with a supermarket, food court and IT City, BCC Lanka Ltd Chairman Prasanga Perera said. The once loss-making entity and short listed to be sold is now mustering an average Rs110 million monthly turnover recording a 60% growth within the last 6 months, he said. He said all buildings of a 192 yeast heritage in the 6 acre BCC land will be more..

Jul 28 (TM) SL is setting its sights on a February 2026 commencement for the issuance of e-passports, as the critical tender process for the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and personalisation components moves towards an anticipated conclusion by November of this year, Minister Ananda Wijepala said. Wijepala confirmed that the e-passport initiative was being pursued through a single, comprehensive procurement for the PKI. more..

Jul 28 (GN) A Sri Lankan woman has made headlines in Kuwait after authorities uncovered a 33-year-long fraud in which she deceived a Kuwaiti man, faked a pregnancy, and illegally obtained Kuwaiti citizenship. The extraordinary case has exposed major vulnerabilities in Kuwait’s identity and nationality systems. It has also led to the revocation of citizenship from the woman’s purported daughter, after DNA testing confirmed that the child was not biologically related to either more..

Jul 28 (ST) The value of research in resource poor settings in low- and middle-income countries and how mutually beneficial and respectful partnerships can add to international collaborative research, will be the highlights of a landmark joint congress to be hosted in SL next month. This event – 20th Congress of the International Society of Twin Studies (ISTS) and the 8th World Congress on Twin Pregnancy– expected to draw over 200 delegates from over 65 twin registries around the world, more..