Jul 6 (DM) Sri Lanka’s return to upper-middle-income status has revived memories of an earlier promotion that proved short-lived, with the World Bank cautioning that the latest achievement remains vulnerable unless the country sustains reforms, strengthens growth and avoids the vulnerabilities that culminated in the 2022 economic crisis. World Bank reclassified SL from lower-middle-income to upper-middle-income status with more..

Jul 6 (TM) A discussion between climate and economic experts and Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa on the potential impact of El Niño and La Niña conditions on SL was held yesterday at the Opposition Leader's Office in Colombo. During the discussion, Premadasa invited the experts to share their assessments and recommendations on how SL should prepare for potential climate disruptions linked to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) patterns. He said that the insights more..

Jul 6 (DM) An appeal filed by former MP Hirunika Premachandra challenging her conviction and 3-year prison sentence over a 2015 abduction case, has been fixed for argument before the Court of Appeal. On July 22, 2024, Hirunika Premachandra was granted bail by the Colombo High Court pending the determination of her appeal against the conviction and sentence. When the matter was taken up before a two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justices P. Kumaratnam and Pradeep more..

Jul 6 (AD) The restriction imposed on the use of rice and paddy for the production of animal feed has been lifted. Accordingly, a gazette notification issued previously restricting the use of rice and paddy for animal feed production has been revoked, the Consumer Affairs Authority. According to the new gazette, all restrictions on the use of rice or paddy for the production of animal feed have been removed. This includes the use of rice and paddy in processing, sale, purchase, transport, storage more..

Jul 6 (DN) The modernised Narahenpita Railway Station was officially opened for public use today, under the island-wide programme to upgrade and modernise 100 railway stations. The project was implemented under the Dream Destination programme, which is carried out as part of the Clean Sri Lanka initiative under the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, in coordination with the SL Railways Dept. The Ministry of Transport said the development work was funded and more..

Jul 6 (TM) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) is set to reduce the capital requirement for local money transfer service providers - colloquially known as hawala and Undiyal operators – from Rs 20 million to Rs 15 million, in an effort to encourage formal registration, CBSL Payments and Settlements Dept Director Vasantha Alwis said during a COPF meeting last week. Referring to the Money or Value Transfer Service Providers Regulations more..

Jul 6 (DM) Authorities have begun arrangements to transfer a group of inmates from Negombo Prison to other prisons across the country following the deadly unrest at the facility. Prison Media Spokesperson and Commissioner of Prisons, A.C. Gajanayake, said the transfers are part of urgent measures aimed at easing tensions inside the prison and restoring order. At least 25 fatalities, including five prison officers and 20 inmates, were reported following the clash at Negombo Prison. more..

Jul 6 (DM) Police said that legal action will be taken in the future against pedestrians who walk on roads while listening to music through headphones or earphones, citing the growing risk of road accidents. Director of Traffic Control and Road Safety, Senior Superintendent of Police Manoj Ranagala, said pedestrians found engaging in the practice are currently being warned, but court action will be introduced as part of stricter road safety enforcement. Speaking at a media briefing more..

Jul 6 (TM) Customs officials this past week informed the COPF that a proposed settlement to release more than 1,000 imported vehicles stranded at the Colombo and Hambantota Ports had been rejected by the Treasury, prolonging a long-running impasse. Following the revelation, COPF had decided to give the Treasury three weeks to resolve the issue. Committee was informed that the Hambantota Int'l Port Group (HIPG) more..

Jul 6 (DM) Deputy Controller of the Department of Immigration and Emigration has been arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the issuance of a fraudulent passport. The suspect was taken into custody by the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau today. The official is accused of accepting a passport application without carrying out the required verification procedures. The application reportedly contained the personal details of another individual, while the photograph used was more..

Jul 6 (AD) Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has revealed that Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd invested Rs. 630 million in six subsidiary and associated companies but received only around Rs. 400,000 in annual dividends. The findings were disclosed during a recent COPE meeting held in Parliament under the chairmanship of MP Nishantha Samaraweera, where the Auditor General’s reports for 2021 to 2023 and the corporation’s current performance were reviewed. more..

Jul 6 (DM) Inland Revenue Dept (IRD) has announced that its e-service platform is now open for the filing of Income Tax Returns for the Year of Assessment 2025/2026. Taxpayers can now submit their returns electronically under several categories, including Corporate Income Tax (CIT), Partnership Income Tax (PIT), and Individual Income Tax (IIT), as well as the IIT Simplified Return. The IRD said that all income tax returns for the relevant assessment year must be submitted electronically more..

Jul 6 (NW) The UNP has accused the NPP govt of failing to pursue the economic recovery and growth framework introduced by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2022. UNP Working Committee member Dinouk Colombage said while the NPP initially continued Wickremesinghe’s stabilization plan, it had neglected the growth component that was central to the strategy. “The rupee was meant to appreciate and inflation kept below 3%. Instead, the currency continues to depreciate more..

Jul 6 (DM) The govt is considering introducing a dengue vaccine and adopting the Wolbachia mosquito control method as part of efforts to address the growing dengue threat in Sri Lanka, Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today. Speaking at a dengue awareness programme organised by the Health and Mass Media Ministry the Minister said the government was exploring internationally recognised and scientifically more..

Jul 6 (CI) Gurnoor Brar did his burgeoning reputation a lot of good as he ran through Sri Lanka A to set up a simple 33-run chase for India A, who completed the formalities without fuss to win the two-match series of unofficial Test matches 1-0 in Galle. Brar picked up six wickets - to go with four in the first innings - as Sri Lanka A, starting their second innings on Sunday morning 177 in arrears, folded for 209. The 10 for 145 was by far Brar's best in his short first-class career. more..

Jul 6 (EN) Members of the Parliament have been briefed on emerging trends in human trafficking, and its associated legal, policy and development dimensions, with the aim of strengthening the legislative process in addressing the issue. Trafficking in persons has evolved over time and is increasingly linked to organized transnational criminal networks, Ministry of Defence Secretary and Chairman of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, Sampath Thuyacontha more..

Jul 6 (AD) Minister of Justice, Harshana Nanayakkara has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the violent clash at the Negombo Prison, stating he accepts responsibility for the incident as it occurred within an institution under his purview. Minister said the unrest has now been brought under control, but stressed that the loss of any life could not be justified and steps must be taken to prevent a recurrence. more..

Jul 6 (NW) A SL caregiver has been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison in New Zealand after being found guilty of raping an elderly woman and sexually assaulting another resident at a residential care facility. The man, identified as Nilushan Jayanga Silva Ginthota Vidhanage, was sentenced by the Christchurch District Court in May. His identity was made public on Monday after a suppression order was lifted by the court. Vidhanage was convicted of one count of rape and more..

Jul 6 (Island) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday alleged that the current govt had launched a political witch-hunt, taking cover behind the law. The former President said so while speaking to the media after attending the ceremony to award Akta Pathra to the Most Venerable Yatawatte Dhammananda Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Kandy Bahirawakanda Sri Maha Bodhi Maha Viharaya, upon his appointment as the Deputy Chief Sangha Nayake of the Up Country Amarapura Nikaya more..

Jul6 (FT) As a distant observer, it appears and sense the deterioration of the state in both politically and financially, affecting the day to day life of public. Public anger is growing daily, increased cost of living and the frauds reported in the media and social networks. However, the Govt appears to be not overly concerned of what is being faced, but believing they are in control of State machinery,the fulfilling the election promises and on track to achieving IMF objectives and targets more..

Jul6 (FT) In its latest classification of countries, the World Bank has elevated Sri Lanka from a lower middle-income country to an upper middle-income country. What does this mean? Let us find out. But first, the basic facts.The World Bank classifies countries every year based on their level of development. This year, Sri Lanka moved up one step, from lower middle-income to upper middle-income. Why did the World Bank do this? It pointed to Sri Lanka’s recovery story. more..

Jul 6 (TM) Two inmates were killed and 29 others injured in a clash between rival groups at the Negombo Prison yesterday (5), prompting authorities to tighten security. Preliminary information indicates the violence was sparked by the exposure of a drug trafficking operation inside the prison. When contacted yesterday evening, the Police Media Division stated that the clash had left two inmates dead and 29 injured. more..

Jul 6 (AD) Commissioner General of Prisons has appointed a special investigation team to inquire into the clash that broke out within the Negombo Prison yesterday. Two individuals died and around 35 injured inmates were admitted to the Negombo Hospital, following the clash between two groups of inmates within the Negombo Prison yesterday. Police said the violence was triggered by an alleged dispute over the exposure of a drug trafficking operation within the prison. more..

Jul 6 (AD) Several hospitals across the Western Province have reached maximum capacity due to the sharp rise in dengue patients, according to NDCU. Acting Director Dr. Kapila Kannangara said the rapid increase in cases has placed severe pressure on hospitals, making it increasingly difficult to provide adequate care for patients. He warned that if the number of infections continues to rise, the dengue-related death toll is also likely to increase proportionately. more..

Jul 6 (ST) Bar Association of SL (BASL), international law organisations, and legal experts yesterday voiced concern over a govt proposal to amend the Constitution to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges. Speaking at a public forum organised by the BASL, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya said the BASL had raised objections to the proposal and requested both the Prez and the govt more..

Jul 6 (FT) Petitioners appeared before the Commercial High Court last week seeking leave to bring a derivative action against the Board of Directors and external auditors of National Development Bank (NDB), arguing that it was lack of due oversight, and not just the fraud itself, which caused the bank’s losses. President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha, appearing with Shaheeda Barrie, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Mehran Careem, N. Arulpragasam & Dithya Senaratne, told Court more..

Jul 6 (NW) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the residence of former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, following the arrest of Rajapakshe’s son by the CIABOC. Report said Wickremesinghe, accompanied by several opposition figures, met Rajapakshe to inquire about his wellbeing. Wickremesinghe told those present that due process had been followed in relation to the arrest and detention of underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka, alias Harak Kata, during his presidency. more..

Jul 6 (NW) Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara says he does not use Facebook because he believes it is full of fools and is not a place where intelligent people engage in debate, despite maintaining an official Facebook page that is regularly updated with his political activities. Speaking at a public event, Jayasekara said he avoids the social media platform as he does not consider it a space for meaningful discussion. “I don’t go on Facebook because it’s full of fools. more..

Jul 6 (CI) After consecutive ICC tournaments in which they went home empty-handed, Australia wound back the clock and waltzed off with a seventh T20 title to the disappointment of a packed house at Lord's. Beth Mooney was the clutch performer once again, her third consecutive half-century in T20 World Cup finals steering a comfortable chase of 151. Cricket sets a lot of store in its history, but this World Cup final saw the statistical equivalent of the immovable object going up against more..

Jul 6 (DN) Seven large-scale water infrastructure initiatives will be vested in the public in 2026, with an investment exceeding Rs.175 billion, strategically engineered to deliver clean, reliable water access to over 300,000 families across multiple districts. Marking a significant milestone in the country’s public utility infrastructure, these initiatives will be launched through the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. more..

Jul 6 (NW) Construction has begun on 57 new houses in Kanaweralla, Passara, under Phase IV of the Indian Housing Project, which aims to build 10,000 houses for SL’s plantation community. The foundation stone for the project was laid today (5) in the presence of Minister Samantha Vidyaratne and Consul General of the High Commission of India, Harvinder Singh. The project, implemented by the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure with assistance from the Govt of India and more..

Jul 6 (NW) The final shipment of turbines for the 50 MW HayWind Wind Power Plant under construction in Mannar has arrived at the Port of Trincomalee. The first batch of turbines reached Sri Lanka a few weeks ago, with installation already underway at the project site. The ministry said the project has secured a power purchase agreement at US$0.0465 (around Rs. 14.37) per unit, the lowest tariff recorded in Sri Lanka for electricity generated from wind power. more..