Aug 19 (NW) Thirteen individuals have been taken into custody by wildlife officers for unauthorized gem mining within the Wasgamuwa National Park, according to Dept of Wildlife Conservation. Acting on intelligence received by the Assistant Director’s Office of Wildlife in Polonnaruwa, officers conducted raids along the park’s western boundary on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of this month. The suspects had entered the protected area without permission and engaged in gem excavation. more..

Aug 19 (AD) Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha has reiterated in Parliament that the govt has not printed money as claimed by various factions. He was responding to claims made by certain organizations alleging that Rs. 1.2 trillion had been printed under the incumbent administration. Deputy Minister said such statements were either made “intentionally or out of ignorance.” He explained that, under present circumstances, the government neither has the ability nor the legal authority to print money. more..

Aug 19 (EN) Cabinet has approved the first stage of the delayed Central Express Highway’s third phase after competitive bidding, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. The delayed third phase is now being built from state funds after Japan withdrew from the funding. The stage 1 of the third part of the Central Expressway Project from Pothuhara to Galagedara has been divided into 19 packages. The first 13.8 km of expressway more..

Aug 19 (AM) Silver screen star Yashoda Wimaladharma, brand ambassador for Soorya matchboxes and incense sticks, recently made surprise visits to some of the brand’s key retail outlets in Kurunegala, Polgahawela, and Alawwa, where she engaged directly with store owners, listening to their experiences and understanding the challenges they face. This special outreach was part of Soorya’s ongoing commitment to nurturing strong relationships with its retail partners more..

Aug 19 (NW) Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) has suspended the issuance of visa recommendations to two Authorised Persons (APs) following the detention and deportation of foreign nationals employed by them. CPCEC said that the suspension will remain in effect until an ongoing investigation into the incident at the BIA is completed. CPCEC has formally requested both APs to provide detailed written explanations and supporting documents to ensure a more..

Aug 19 (HRW) At the 60th session of the UNHRC, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will present its report on the human rights situation in SL, and the Council will be asked to consider the renewal of the OHCHR mandates in the country. In 2021, HRC resolution 46/1 established two vital mandates: To the OHCHR SL Accountability Project (OSLAP) to collect, analyze and preserve evidence of more..

Aug 19 (SO) A few weeks ago, Australian DJ Tom Monagle filmed a walk-through of Arugam Bay, a popular surfing destination in the Eastern Province. Walking through the tourist town, Monagle pointed at the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) stickers on walls, and Hebrew signboards outnumbering those in Sinhala, Tamil & English, and wondered aloud whether he was in Tel Aviv. Mongle’s clip went viral in SL because it mirrored a growing unease among many Sri Lankans about what was happening more..

Aug 19 (AD) Former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, who was arrested by the CIABOC has been further remanded until Aug 26. The order was issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. Rajapaksa was arrested on Aug 6 by Bribery Commission officers at his residence in Nugegoda. He was taken into custody in connection with an incident where compensation was allegedly obtained through another individual for a damaged building on a plot of govt land in Sevanagala-Kiriibban more..

Aug 19 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa called on the govt to allow the judiciary to operate as an independent institution. MP Rajapaksa revealed that the judges hearing cases linked to front-row govt MPs in Parliament have been transferred. Stating that the whole nation knows about the case and the individual involved, MP urged the govt to refrain from politicizing the appointments and transfers of judges. “Don’t bring politics into the transfer of judges. Police Dept was politicized. more..

Aug 19 (TM) While civil society leaders such as National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Chairman Karu Jayasuriya and National Peace Council (NPC) Executive Director Dr. Jehan Perera have been at the forefront of urging the Govt to hold PC Elections as soon as possible, most politicians in southern SL do not care about these elections or the future of the PCs. Voices of politicians who constantly demand the abolition of PCs are also heard loudly from time to time. more..

Aug 19 (TM) The strike action initiated by the Postal and Telecommunications Officers’ Union, together with the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front (UPTUF), continued for the second consecutive day yesterday. The strike is based on 19 key demands. These include the payment of overtime (OT) allowances for postal officers and opposition to the directive requiring officers in administrative and accounts offices to record more..

Aug 19 (DN) Three fake firearms similar to the T-56, five fake Browning pistols, a real magazine used for T-56 firearms and seven live bullets have been discovered by the Police yesterday in a parcel left under a tree on the Thunandahena area in Korathota, Kaduwela. The raid was carried out by the Navagamuwa Police based on a tip-off received and were initially believed to be real firearms. Meanwhile, Police sources said that a luxury jeep with fake licence plates has been discovered more..

Aug 19 (TM) Visitor entry tickets to the Departure Lobby of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, will not be issued during peak hours of Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, the AASL has announced. Accordingly, entry to the lobby will not be permitted for visitors from 10 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The company noted that the decision was taken in order to manage the congestion at the airport and to enhance the experience of travelers. more..

Aug 19 (TM) The upcoming Budget for next year (2026) will focus on empowering families with both financial support and the knowledge that they need to ensure a healthy diet, said Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa. He said that although several Govt-funded aid programmes such as Aswesuma provide financial assistance, not all families use the money for its intended purpose. “Some families divert these funds to more..

Aug 19 (DM) Nine out of 35 buses imported for the Commonwealth Heads of Govt Meeting (CHOGM) years ago were restored and put back into operation today at the Katubedda Super Luxury Tourist Depot, following repairs costing Rs. 375 lakh. Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said the remaining buses are undergoing renovation, with spare parts already being procured. He expressed confidence that they would be back in service within the next three months. more..

Aug 19 (DN) Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa recently reviewed the current services, development plans, and human resource and infrastructure needs of the Badulla Teaching Hospital, which provides specialised tertiary care to more than 1.5 million people in the Uva Province and surrounding Districts. The review meeting, held at the auditorium of the Bandarawela Base Hospital Training Centre, was attended by the hospital administration led by Director Dr. Himali Wijegunawardena, more..

Aug 19 (DN) Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody said that the government is so interested in even small or medium-sized solar power projects because every unit of electricity produced from renewable energy, including solar power, contributes to protecting the environment and saving foreign exchange. He said this while participating in the inauguration of the latest solar power plant built by Vidullanka Company in the Padukka area this morning (16). “We are a fortunate country that has been blessed with more..

Aug 19 (CT) Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) has warned that it will launch trade union action today at 8 a.m. in 31 hospitals under the Western Provincial Council (WPC), in protest against the 2024 Transfer Orders, which it alleges were prepared amid “serious irregularities and strong objections.” JCPSM General Secretary Chanaka Dharmawickrema said, yesterday (18), that the decision was taken by its members in the WPC following a directive by more..

Aug 19 (NF) ITAK-led hartal campaign, declared today across the N&E provinces, was met with public resistance in several locations. During a visit to Vavuniya town, ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran was confronted by local residents and representatives of business associations, who expressed their displeasure, stating that intimidation cannot be used to stage public protests. more..

Aug 19 (Island) Illegal Assets Investigation Unit has summoned former Ministers Manusha Nanayakkara, Vadivel Suresh and Sagala Ratnayaka for questioning over allegations of amassing wealth through unlawful means. Officials said the trio would appear before the unit in the coming days as part of a sweeping probe into 26 politicians, including a former top defence official, accused of enriching themselves during past administrations. The unit has been conducting inquiries for nearly a month more..

Aug 19 (EN) Sri Lanka’s average coconut prices fell 5.4% at a weekly auction. The average price for 1,000 nuts was 133,623.91 rupees on August 16. “The highest and the lowest price for a nut was not declared,” CDA officials said. Coconut production has increased by 18.3% on a year on year basis in June following a recovery since February, the latest central bank’s Agriculture Sector Data Bulletin said. Nut production was up from about 170 million nuts in January to 289.5 in June. more..

Aug 19 (DM) Work on the Kadawatha–Mirigama Expressway will commence shortly, while the Rambukkana–Galagedara Expressway is also expected to begin, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena announced. Speaking at an event held at the maintenance section of the Katubedda Super Luxury Tourist Depot, he said that rural road development activities have already been launched. “We took over a country where not even an inch of concrete could be laid, not a single tarmac more..

Aug 19 (GT) Qatar Charity (QC) has laid the foundation stone for a new school building in the Kalutara district of Sri Lanka, aiming to serve approximately 2,000 male and female students at Muslim Central College in the district. QC said that the project includes the construction of a three-storey building over an area of 9,000 square feet. It will be equipped and furnished with four modern science laboratories, four classrooms, and administrative and service facilities. more..

Aug 19 (EN) New active credit cards in SL increased by 10,934 in June this year, amid SL’s economic recovery and falling interest rates. The number of active credit cards recorded 2,075,744 by end June, compared to 2,064,810 by end May, showing an increase of 0.52% in the month. Active credit cards have risen by 3.36% in the first six months of this year. Active credit cards in SL rose by 4.8% or 91,371 in 2024, more..

Aug 19 (TM) Samagi United Trade Union Force, affiliated to SJB, alleged that the Govt was planning to remove employees from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) under the pretext of reducing fuel prices. The group further warned that such action could disrupt fuel supply and distribution. These allegations were made by the group’s Spokesperson Ananda Palitha. “Plans are being made to recruit employees on a contract basis to fill the vacancies created by removing CPC employees. more..

Aug 19 (TM) Minister Bimal Rathnayake revealed that constitutional reforms will be introduced following the conducting of the Provincial Council (PC) Elections. He said that the PC Polls are expected to be held within the first six months of next year, once the existing legal issues are resolved. “We held elections this year, and another in November of last year. Our aim is to conduct the PC Elections within the first half of next year. At present, there are legal obstacles, but more..

Aug 19 (TM) Sri Lanka is unlikely to ratify the Rome Statute of the Int'l Criminal Court (ICC) at this time, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo, despite renewed int'l pressure for the Govt to do so. Rodrigo stated that the Govt’s primary focus was on domestic reconciliation and democratic reform. “The High Commissioner had a very amicable visit to SL, and his activities were very transparent and more..

Aug 19 (Island) Devapathiraja College Ratgama registered a historic victory over Mahanama College to clinch their maiden Under 17 Division I cricket tournament title as skipper Arosha Sithumina led the way with a valuable half century in the final played at the Thurstan ground on Monday. ‎The first time finalists beat the school from Colombo by 12 runs to conclude a remarkable journey where they dwarfed traditional powerhouses of schools cricket with all round team performances. more..

Aug 19 (DN) SL’s young swimmers will dive into the international pool today (Tuesday) when they begin their campaign at the Junior World Swimming Championship 2025 in Romania, an event that will run until August 24. The 14-member squad arrived in Romania last week and had three solid days of training before the championship. Team leader, coaches and swimmers alike believe that these sessions were vital for the team to adjust to the competition pool, recover from travel fatigue more..

Aug 19 (Island) Dialog Axiata introduces truly unlimited, speed-based broadband packages with no Fair Usage Policy (FUP) restrictions, underscoring its commitment to delivering seamless digital experiences and empowering customers with unrestricted internet access through its advanced Dialog Fibre network. In a groundbreaking move that redefines home connectivity, Dialog has launched a suite of new postpaid speed-based fibre packages offering unrestricted, truly unlimited data more..

Aug 19 (DN) SL shuttlers produced superb performance at the South Asia Regional Badminton Championship 2025 in Bhutan, winning all three age categories, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 23 to emerge as the undisputed champions of the tournament. SL shuttlers domineted the tournament defeating Pakitan, Bhuthan and Nepal comprehensively to take the champuinship in grand style. The campaign began with the U-17 team defeating Pakistan 4-1, highlighted by more..