Aug 22 (ST) At the far end of the northern archipelago, Neduntheevu—also known as Delft Island—is beginning to show signs of a bustling tourism industry, offering a much-needed economic lifeline to its flat, coral-stone landscape and its people. Known as SL’s most isolated island, it draws visitors seeking a slow-paced escape amidst its warm blue waters, wild horses, and colonial remnants. An ecosystem of commerce more..

Aug 22 (EN) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has signed an agreement with the Qatar SL Business Council (QSLBC), and CCC, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (CCIA-BML). Two MoUs provide a framework for the Chambers to exchange business and economic information, facilitate contacts between their respective business communities and identify opportunities for trade, investment and commercial cooperation. The signing with the QSLBC more..

Aug 22 (FT) GAEA International Ltd, the company behind the Kaern dairy brand in SL, has achieved ISO 22000, HACCP and GMP certification by SGS for its SL facility, marking an important milestone in strengthening the company’s local operations and food safety management systems. The milestone comes as Kaern participates in the Pro Food Pro Pack Exhibition at BMICH for the second consecutive year, connecting with food manufacturers, industry professionals and more..

Aug 22 (FT) The Colombo stock market yesterday closed on the up ending a week-long bearish run. During the week, ASPI declined by 206.6 points or 1% & S&P SL20 was down 37.6 points or 0.6%. Yesterday ASPI ended up 0.05% or 10.99 points at 21,416.61 and the S&P SL20 was up 0.15% or 8.84 points at 6,028.09. Market turnover was over Rs. 1.2 billion on over 50 million shares traded. First Capital Research said the CSE sustained a week of intraday losses for the most part, more..

Aug 22 (GV) One of the best known and most honoured singers of Sri Lanka, Sangeetha Visharada Dr Nanda Malini, the artist who marked an entire epoch in the art of song and who was honoured as the golden voice of the nation, bade farewell to her life journey just three days before her 83rd birthday. For close to seven decades, she nourished the hearts of people with her voice and her passing leaves a void that cannot be filled, not only in the world of Sri Lankan music, but more..

Aug 22 (FT) NDF MP Ravi Karunanayake said that the NPP Govt is set to face next month’s IMF evaluation trapped in a risky paradox as the country’s macroeconomic survival has been bought at the price of its people’s standard of living. He said to secure the next tranche of financing, the state must strictly enforce fiscal discipline and meet its 15% GDP revenue mandate. However, he claimed that pushing further austerity risks more..

Aug 22 (Island) The prospect of unlocking petroleum and natural-gas resources beneath the Mannar Basin has opened a new chapter in the country’s search for energy and investment opportunities. But beneath and around the proposed exploration blocks lies a marine ecosystem whose ecological importance could far exceed the value of any resources ultimately extracted from the seabed. With investment proposals being invited for petroleum and natural-gas exploration and production in more..

Aug 22 (TM) An economic impact assessment conducted by Deloitte FAS (Pvt) Ltd has highlighted the contribution of NSBM Green University to SL’s economy over the past decade, while operating as a self-financed entity. According to the assessment, NSBM has served more than 41,000 students, produced 22,855 graduates, and generated an estimated LKR 115.5 billion in cumulative Gross Value Added to the SL economy during its first decade. The assessment found that 86% more..

Aug 22 (ST) In recent times, there have been numerous warnings by the Central Bank and other authorities on dubious investment schemes. Most of these schemes have escaped the reach of the CB, although no company or organisation can invite deposits without permission from the banking regulator, as there appears to be a grey area in taking action against them. In another move, the popular online gambling industry has also attracted attention with authorities considering action. more..

Aug 22 (TM) Nidahase Kanthavo organisation recently exposed a glaring institutional scandal hiding in plain sight. They revealed that women occupy just one of the 29 seats across our top two courts. With a combined female representation of just 3.4% in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, country’s apex judiciary presents a patriarchal monolith. In the SC, a single female judge sits amongst 13 serving members. In the Court of Appeal, the tally is even more shocking: more..

Aug 22 (DN) The future of SL’s EPF and ETF has become the subject of intense public discussion in recent weeks, amid claims that the two funds are to be merged. The speculation has raised questions among workers about the security of their savings, the management of the funds and what, if anything, the Govt is actually proposing. Dr Anil Jayantha, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance, addresses more..

Aug 22 (FT) Sri Lanka has been reclassified as an upper-middle-income economy by the World Bank Group, according to its latest country income classifications released on 1 July 2026. This marks a significant turning point in the country’s economic recovery. This article is all about the arduous journey the country went through to achieve this status since independence and future challenges. PM D.S. Senanayake, who was regarded as the father of the nation, having led the country to more..

Aug 22 (DM) Divorce is a taboo word in Sri Lanka and the world over, although it is taking place at almost lightning speed among couples. Almost every second person is filing for divorce, sometimes over trivial matters and others due to irreconcilable issues. In all these situations, those facing such trauma find it difficult to find recourse to a professional helpline, let alone professional help. Now in Sri Lanka, there are many victims who face similar situations, and more..

Aug 22 (SO) For much of the 20th century, communication theory was written largely in North American and Western European universities. Major theories travelled across the world and became the standard language through which communication was taught. Across Asia, Africa and the wider Global South, students learned to explain communication through concepts developed in very different historical & cultural circumstances. more..

Aug 22 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reportedly instructed the security forces to expedite the release and return of land taken over in the North and the East for military purposes during the Eelam war. Stressing that national security is paramount, and it is up to the security forces to decide where camps, etc, should be located, he has urged the military to release the maximum possible extent of land to the public. More than 17 years have elapsed since the conclusion of the war, more..

Aug 22 (DM) As global weather patterns grow increasingly chaotic under the influence of shifting oceanic temperatures and intensifying El Niño phenomena, SL, like many other countries, is at a perilous agricultural crossroad. Recent reportage in the Daily Mirror paints a troubling picture of the impending weather duality expected to impact the island’s upcoming farming cycles: a Maha cultivation season fraught with intense, highly localised heavy rainfall, followed immediately by a severely more..

Aug 21 (TM) Compensation payments of Rs. 2 million each were handed over today to the families of prison officers who lost their lives during the recent deadly outbreak of violence at the Negombo Prison. Under this initiative, the compensation amount of Rs. 2 million per deceased officer was handed over to their families at the Prison HQ. A total of 10 officers attached to the Prison Emergency Response Unit lost their lives during the deadly clashes at the Negombo Prison. more..

Aug 21 (FT) Cabinet has approved the swift implementation of National Medicinal Drug Policy 2026-2030, aimed at improving access to affordable, quality medicines, while strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains and local production. The policy prioritises ensuring sustainable, equitable and affordable access to safe and quality medicines that meet international standards and address the health needs of the public. It also seeks to promote the use of scientifically sound and more..

Aug 21 (EN) SL’s national-wide inflation price inflation jumped to more than three year high of 7.2% in 12-months to July 2026, rising from 6.5% in June, with non food prices rising 9.2% over the year, data showed. July national inflation is the highest in percentage terms since June 2023, the data showed. National Consumer Price Index, an alternative to the widely watched Colombo Consumer Price Index, gained 0.5% over July more..

Aug 21 (DM) The Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Ministry has issued Circular No. 31/2026 outlining the school term schedule, public holiday calendar and major examination dates for 2027. According to the circular, govt and govt-approved private schools are expected to conduct 197 school days in 2027, taking into consideration public holidays and examination schedules. For Sinhala and Tamil schools, the first term will run from Jan 4 to April 9, 2027. more..

Aug 21 (DM) Police are seeking public assistance to identify and apprehend a suspect allegedly involved in a series of fraudulent activities and thefts targeting hotels and commercial establishments. According to police, the suspect visited a hotel within the Slave Island Police area on Aug 3, 2026, and allegedly introduced himself as an officer of a private bank. He reportedly placed a large food order, claiming that a group of people would arrive later for a dinner party. Police said that during a busy period more..

Aug 21 (NW) A meeting of the Special Cabinet Sub-Committee and Officials’ Committee appointed to address the impacts of the El Nino climate phenomenon was held this morning at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Prez reviewed the challenges arising from the current El Nino conditions, the progress of measures taken to address them and arrangements to ensure more..

Aug 21 (NW) A total of 1,654 fatal road accidents have been reported from the beginning of the year to Aug. 20, claiming 1,749 lives, DIG W.P.J. Senadheera, who oversees the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, said. He said another 4,556 people had been hospitalised or referred for treatment following serious accidents, while 7,295 people had been affected by minor accidents. A further 3,232 incidents involving property damage were also reported during the period, he said. more..

Aug 21 (NW) SLC wishes to announce the appointment of Hashan Tillakaratne as the Batting Coach of the Senior Men’s Program. He will be based at the National High Performance Center of the SLC and will work with the national players as part of the Senior Men’s Program. The former World Cup winner previously served as the batting coach of the SL men’s national team and the head coach of the SL women’s national team. He also has served as the head coach of the Bangladesh more..

Aug 21 (FT) The Cabinet has approved the award of contracts for printing, supplying and delivering seven computer-generated lottery products of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), with the combined value of the selected bids exceeding Rs. 480 million excluding VAT. The contracts, covering a one-year period, will be awarded to the substantially responsive lowest bidders based on recommendations of the High-Level Procurement Committee & Procurement Appeal Board. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday said that the Supreme Court bench to hear the petitions against the 22nd Amendment (22A) should consist of all 13 sitting justices. Addressing the media, Prof. Peiris said that the decision on petitions seeking a referendum should be decided by all judges. He said two previous SC judgements had underscored that any alteration of the retirement ages of superior court judges should be subjected to referendum. more..

Aug 21 (CI) The first thing that strikes you about Sonal Dinusha's batting is the quality of his sweeping. At five-foot-not-very-many, and as a spin-bowling-allrounder who tends to bat lower in the order, he fits the general profile for a good sweeper. But at Galle, against an excellent India spin attack, variations of this shot were the foundation of a match aggregate of 184. Ravindra Jadeja is often one of the toughest spinners more..

Aug 21 (ST) Foreign tourists’ interest in Sri Lankan jewellery reached a new level when a leading southern jeweller began not only selling gems and jewellery but also offering training in jewellery craftsmanship. Devasurendra Gem and Jewellers owner Sanath Jayampathi Devasurendra said, “Foreigners mostly buy jewellery made of 14- and 18-carat white gold. They also like items made with Sri Lankan blue and red rose gemstones. They prefer handmade jewellery.” more..

Aug 21 (NW) Deputy Minister of Finance Anil Jayantha Fernando told Parliament that the govt is confident of achieving its target of USD 9 billion in foreign reserves by the end of 2026, driven by the positive trend in foreign remittances. He noted that in the first seven months of this year, Sri Lankan migrant workers had remitted more than USD 5 billion, underscoring the crucial role of overseas employment in strengthening the country’s external finances. more..

Aug 21 (DM) Multiple restructuring attempts by successive govts on our national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, have only exhausted the patience of not only frequent travellers but also the public. Past interventions had attempted debt write-offs, recapitalisations, operational reforms, partial spin-offs of profitable (SBUs) and reform of the core commercial /operational areas of the airline, none fully resolved airline’s structural challenges. more..

Aug 21 (DM) Ven. Rambukkana Siddhartha, an acclaimed lyricist who rendered an invaluable service to Sri Lankan music literature, Buddhist culture and society, passed away on August 18. He was 76 years old at the time of his death and had been receiving medical treatment for illness. The immense literary contribution he made through language and the writing lyrics is truly outstanding. It is worth reflecting on whether we, as Sri Lankans, have accorded due respect to him. more..

Aug 21 (AD) Police have received reports of vehicles and motorcycles being stolen after motorists and motorcyclists negligently leave their vehicles unattended, ASP F.U. Wootler said. He said there have also been reports of valuable documents and other items being stolen from vehicles and motorcycles that were left unattended. He noted that police had observed instances where three-wheeler drivers and motorcyclists leave their vehicles with the engines running while attending to other more..