Jun 24 (FT) SL’s apparel and textile exports grew 7.96% in May 2026 to $ 394.14 million, marking the industry’s strongest monthly performance so far this year and signalling improving demand from key export markets after a challenging start to 2026. According to data analysed by the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), US led the gain, with shipments rising 15.36% to $ 149.96 million. Exports to markets outside the industry’s traditional three core destinations also grew strongly, more..

Jun 24 (FT) SL yesterday signalled a major reset in its economic engagement with India saying a review of the existing Free Trade Agreements (FTA) by the Govt is nearing completion, while policymakers and business leaders called for a shift from traditional trade towards deeper integration in investment, technology, logistics and digital commerce. The announcement was made at a forum marking 25 years of the India SL FTA (ISLFTA), where the launch of a dedicated India Trade Desk more..

Jun 24 (FT) Aggregate earnings of 271 listed companies declined 11.4% year-on-year (YoY) in the March 2026 quarter, marking a third consecutive quarter of earnings contraction. The investment research firm said reported earnings were heavily influenced by large one-off gains and losses, particularly within the Food, Beverage and Tobacco sector, masking stronger underlying profitability trends across several sectors. more..

Jun 24 (ST) A selection controversy has rocked Sri Lanka netball ahead of the 14th Asian Netball Championship, which will be held in Hong Kong from Aug 7 to Aug 16, at the newly developed Kai Tak Sports Park. The storm brewed after a sharp disagreement between national coach Somitha de Alwis and selection committee Chairperson Padma Beddawela over the inclusion of teenage star Thumalka Ekanayake in the national squad. Despite strong objections from the coach, selectors more..

Jun 24 (AD) The Chairman of the CoPF, MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has welcomed the decision by the govt to withdraw its proposal to lower the VAT registration threshold, allowing businesses with annual turnover below Rs. 60 million to remain outside the VAT net. The decision follows weeks of criticism from business groups, tax professionals and opposition lawmakers, who argued that the move would have placed an additional burden on small and medium-sized enterprises at a time more..

Jun 24 (DN) Damel Evelyn (77n.o) and Kevlon Anderson (58) made superb knocks to add 110 runs fourth wicket stand as West Indies Emerging team record 2 wickets win with 5 overs to spare in their first ODI against SL Emerging team at SSC grounds yesterday. This game was initially scheduled for Monday but it was called off due to rain. However yesterday’s game was reduced to 36 overs per side and started at 12.30 pm. SL Emerging team invited to bat first scored 184 all out in 33.4 overs. more..

Jun 24 (ST) The rapid, unchecked proliferation of online betting advertisements has triggered a severe socio-economic crisis among Sri Lanka’s youth, high school students, and children, even in the wake of transforming gambling landscape into a highly regulated investment sector. As highlighted in recent Committee on Public Finance (COPF) sessions by Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva, the aggressive, predatory nature of these marketing campaigns has effectively normalised digital gambling. more..

Jun 24 (ST) The Customs Department has only one X-ray baggage scanner for its green (nothing to declare) channel at the BIA—the lane through which most arrivals pass—and this causes long delays for passengers leaving the building whenever officers pursue smuggling tips, which have recently increased in number. The most common tips are for gold, mobile phones, drugs, and cigarettes, Customs source said, more..

Jun 24 (FT) Veenath Indrajith, a fourth-year undergraduate from the Department of Business Economics at the Uni of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ), has been selected as the winner of the Dr. Saman Kelegama Memorial Research Grant for 2026. Indrajith’s academic and professional interests lie in economics, finance, investment, and policy-oriented research. In addition to his undergraduate studies, he is currently pursuing the Chartered Accountancy qualification in Sri Lanka, more..

Jun 24 (FT) Sri Lanka and Thailand are looking to leverage the recently concluded SL–Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA), stronger business-to-business engagement, and their strategic positions as gateways to South and Southeast Asia to significantly deepen bilateral trade and investment ties, speakers said at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the SL–Thailand Business Council. Marking its 25th anniversary, Council brought together govt officials, diplomats & business leaders more..

Jun 24 (CI) A merciless 106 off 61 balls from captain Chamari Athapaththu sent Sri Lanka scorching to the target of 131 with 27 balls and nine wickets to spare against Ireland. Athapaththu's fourth T20I hundred was her first in World Cups, and was brutal from start to finish. She had begun the innings with a scintillating boundary through cover, and finished it with an equally domineering stroke through the same region. more..

Jun 24 (Island) When discussions turn to SL’s freshwater fish diversity and the urgent need to conserve it, attention is often focused on rivers, streams, reservoirs and water quality. Yet scientists are increasingly finding that what happens on the land surrounding these waterways can be just as important as what happens in the water itself. A recent study led by researcher Janamina Bandara of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Galle, together with researchers Sudath Nanayakkara and more..

Jun 24 (Island) JVP-NPP govt yesterday did not scruple to deprive the Opposition of an opportunity to debate some vital issues affecting the judiciary, in Parliament. The Opposition made a request to the Speaker, under Standing Orders, for a debate on the vacancies numbering four each in the Supreme Court (SC) and the Court of Appeal (CA) and an alleged move to raise the retirement ages of the SC and CA judges. But the govt raised objections and put paid to the Opposition’s efforts, more..

Jun 24 (DM) The spike of dengue cases in the country has risen to an alarming level with the number of cases exceeding 46,000 and deaths nearing 30 for the past six months. Authorities cite that the number of cases rose by 500 to 600 daily until last Saturday. However, a record 1069 cases were reported on Sunday, saending a bleak signal on the danger that lurks ahead. And the number of cases that fluctuated between 7800 and 8500 in the first five months of the year more..

Jun 24 (DM) Yesterday’s edition of the Daily Mirror highlighted a case of stark cruelty to a nine-month-old infant. The child and his/her mother was apparently left in the care of a carer, while the father went in search of employment. The child was tied to a chair, as the court heard, and was mercilessly thrashed by the carer for crying! This is not the first time we Lankans have heard of children being abused by adults. According to the SL Journal of Child Health 2021, more..

Jun 24 (SO) SL’s Southern coastline is one of the premier nesting and hatching grounds for sea turtles. Beaches such as Rekawa, Godavaya and Bundala play a key role in protecting these marine animals. If you are interested in nature and conservation, visiting these turtle nesting beaches can be a memorable experience. With respectful observation and guidance from guides and conservation teams, you can witness more..

Jun 24 (ST) Well, well, well. There I was, up nice and early this Friday, waiting for the two sides to take the field, as it were, when the bad news hit the wires like an avalanche from the Swiss mountains. The talks due to start on Friday had been called off. This is not strange in our part of the world, where cricket matches are often called off for days. What happened here seems much more than a contretemps, as we encountered here at Hyde Park Gardens, where we had played our own war more..

Jun 24 (TM) When the monolithic CEB was legally dismantled in March this year, Govt heralded the move as a historic dawn for SL’s energy sector. The repeal of the 1969 CEB Act and the sudden birth of six separate successor companies were sold to a weary public as a definitive cure for decades of systemic corruption, financial bleeding, and crippling blackouts. Yet, three months into this ambitious experiment, the view from the average Sri Lankan household remains entirely unchanged. more..

Jun 24 (CT) The Chemmani mass grave in Jaffna has once again become the focal point of national and international attention, as Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara made his first visit to the excavation site on Friday (19), while a four-member delegation from the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) conducts its official mission in the country. During the Minister’s visit, a protest was organised more..

Jun 24 (TM) The petition filed in the Court of Appeal by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, requesting an order to prevent the Police from arresting him under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), is a significant milestone in SL’s legal history. This is because it represents a complete reversal of roles. During his tenures first as Secretary of Defence and later as Executive Prez, Rajapaksa was severely criticised by international human rights organisations for using the PTA more..

Jun 24 (CT) It has been noted by many that every problem in Sri Lanka turns into a national crisis in no time. This accumulation of crises has now brought the country to a position where a major breakdown of society is being predicted by many. So, it is time to stop this. The strength of any society is its capacity to act and resist at the early stages when a problem arises. If that value is internalized, and the society has that strength, action will happen automatically. Unfortunately, more..

Jun 23 (TM) A 3-day nationwide dengue control programme will be carried out from tomorrow (24) to 26 June as the authorities step up efforts to curb the spread of dengue amid the ongoing South-West monsoon season. The decision was taken during a discussion held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat on short-term and long-term strategies to combat the rapidly spreading dengue threat caused by the southwest monsoon season. The meeting was chaired by Health Minister, more..

Jun 23 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal to electrify key railway corridors in Sri Lanka as part of a long‑term transport modernization strategy. Corridors with high commuter density have been prioritized for electrification, with support expected from int'l development institutions. Currently, most railway operations rely on diesel power, and officials have highlighted the need to upgrade tracks, signaling systems, and related infrastructure to improve efficiency and reliability. more..

Jun 23 (NW) Cabinet has approved the establishment of a special ministerial sub‑committee and an official committee to coordinate SL’s national response to the anticipated El Niño climatic phenomenon. Sri Lanka, highly vulnerable to climate variability, faces heightened risks of altered rainfall patterns, extreme heat, droughts, and floods due to El Niño, with potential adverse effects across economic and social sectors. more..

Jun 23 (NW) Parliament was adjourned mid-session today after a tense situation arose following the govt announcing it will not permit a debate on judicial vacancies, requested by the Opposition to be held during the day’s proceedings. Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne announced that the Parliament will be adjourned for 10 minutes due to the current situation. Addressing the Parliament earlier today, Opposition MP Ajith P. Perera informed the house that 20 Opposition MPs have handed over more..

Jun 23 (DM) Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to introduce a new circular containing provisions and guidelines for the admission of children to Grade One in govt schools, effective from the year 2027 onward. The proposal was presented to the Cabinet by the Prime Minister. While circular instructions are issued annually for Grade One admissions, the new framework aims to establish necessary provisions to ensure equitable educational access for all children. more..

Jun 23 (DM) Sri Lanka risks losing the GSP+ trade benefit, a special benefit enjoyed by SL exporters for accessing markets in the European Union, because of the slow progress of reforms related to the PTA, Joint Opposition Convener Prof. G.L. Peiris said yesterday. Making remarks at the regular press conference, he said the current IMF EFF would end in March next year, and the country was currently facing issues related to more..

Jun 23 (EN) State-owned SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has revised the methodology of compiling monthly tourism earnings estimates in May 2026 citing the need to enhance the accuracy and representativeness, CB said in its latest weekly economic indicators. The latest revision comes after the official CB data, quoting the SLTDA showed the monthly revenue plummeting 38.8% in April and 37% in March, following the US/Israel bombing on Iran started on Feb 28. more..

Jun 23 (FT) SL’s tea exports rebounded in May, with shipments rising 7.5% year-on-year (YoY), but cumulative exports for the first five months of 2026 remained below last year’s levels, highlighting ongoing challenges facing the country’s largest agricultural export sector. Tea exports in May increased to 23.51 million kilos (Mn/Kgs) from 21.87 Mn/Kgs a year earlier, recording a gain of 1.64 Mn/Kgs. All export categories, except Green Tea, posted YoY growth during the month. more..

Jun 23 (DM) A man accused of tying a nine-month-old infant to a chair and assaulting her with an umbrella handle and his hands for allegedly crying frequently was ordered to be remanded till July 3 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva. Suspect, a resident of Bastian Mawatha, Pettah, was arrested by the Pettah Police and produced before court. Presenting the suspect before court, police informed the Magistrate that he allegedly tied the infant’s hands, legs & abdomen to a chair more..

Jun 23 (DM) Supreme Court today reserved judgment in a Fundamental Rights petition filed by former Chairman of the CCC, Chandra Jayaratne, alleging that the misuse of a govt vehicle by former State Minister A.H.M. Fowzie violated the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. A 3-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Justice Janak De Silva and Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere concluded hearing submissions made on behalf of more..