Jun 9 (DN) SL turned in one of their finest recent performances to record a convincing 4-1 victory over Bhutan in their FIFA international football match at the National Telecom Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday after leading 1-0 at half time. Win was a significant achievement for SL, who are ranked 191st in the FIFA rankings, against Bhutan who are placed slightly higher at 188th. SL dominated most parts of the game and displayed excellent attacking football to secure a comfortable victory. more..

Jun 9 (DN) Anjala Bandara the wicket keeper batsman made a fighting unbeaten knock of 126 in 165 balls as SL Emerging team scored 302 for 8 wickets in their first innings at close of the first day’s play in their four- day game against West Indies Emerging team played at Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. It was a superb knock by Anjala Bandara who came to bat at number six at a crucial stage where Sri Lanka Emerging team was struggling at 95 for 4 wickets. more..

Jun 9 (FT) SL Customs said vehicle imports have remained resilient despite the temporary surcharge imposed on imports earlier this year, with revenue from the sector continuing to account for around one-third of total Customs collections. The anticipated slowdown in vehicle imports had not materialised, despite reports of unsold inventories in the market. Vehicle-related taxes contributed Rs. 91 billion out of a total more..

Jun 9 (ST) The CID has arrested the local agent of the under-fire Blue Ocean Securities Ltd after Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) handed the investigation over to them, informed sources said. Investors were earlier warned not to trade in securities ostensibly offered by this company as it is not a SEC-registered trader. This in the wake of the investor warning by the capital market regulator, saying that Samagi Capital Pvt Ltd is not licenced by SEC to operate as a stockbroker more..

Jun 9 (FT) Proposed amendments to the National Environment Act could strengthen the credibility of SL’s project approval framework by introducing penalties for misleading Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports and addressing conflicts of interest among approving agencies, according to the Centre for a Smart Future (CSF). The public policy think tank said the reforms come at a time when EIAs have evolved beyond a regulatory requirement to become a key signal of more..

Jun 9 (SO) The Govt has launched a review of Sri Lanka’s community-based water supply schemes amid concerns over project failures, technical shortcomings and allegations of financial mismanagement, Minister Dr. Sunil Ranasinghe said. Minister said that while many schemes are functioning successfully, a significant number face operational and structural challenges requiring urgent intervention. more..

Jun 9 (FT) The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has commenced the second phase of Sri Lanka’s Digital Invoicing System, expanding the platform to Value Added Tax (VAT)-registered businesses following the successful onboarding of exporters under the initial rollout, according to the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry. The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen tax administration through digitalisation. By creating an electronic audit trail for transactions, more..

Jun 9 (DN) Tri Nation one day cricket series between Sri Lanka, India and Afghanistan ‘A’ teams will commence today, when SL A and India A will meet in the first game at Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium. All eyes will be on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi when India A, led by Tilak Varma, takes on SL A led by all rounder Sahan Arachchige in their first match of the series. The competition follows a double round-robin structure, with each team playing other two twice in league stage. more..

Jun 9 (FT) Global growth prospects have deteriorated as the oil shock triggered by the US-Iran conflict and the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz weighs on economic activity, prompting Fitch Ratings to lower its forecast for world growth in 2026. In its latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO), Fitch reduced its forecast for global growth next year by 0.2 percentage points to 2.4%, citing the impact of higher energy prices on inflation, household spending and business costs. more..

Jun 9 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has announced that the 26th SL Economic and Investment Summit (SLEIS) will be held on 12 and 13 Oct, with this year’s edition set to focus on economic growth, competitiveness, investment and structural reforms as the country navigates the next phase of its recovery. The Summit, regarded as one of SL’s leading economic policy forums, will bring together policymakers, business leaders, development partners, academics & int'l more..

Jun 9 (FT) The CoPF has approved a series of tax and fiscal policy reforms, including a five-year tax exemption for newly constructed telecommunications towers, while rejecting a proposal that would have allowed telecom operators to claim tax relief on unpaid customer bills. Finance (Amd) Bill, which seeks to amend the Finance Act, No. 35 of 2018, was approved when the Committee met in Parliament under the chairmanship of more..

Jun 9 (ST) Politics is a funny thing. So is war in a way. If it is funny, it is because war is the act of politicians, whether sane, insane or somewhat deranged. History will tell the story if one has the time to listen to Prez Donald Trump’s verbal adventures—if you don’t mind the expletives thrown in, that is. Only the other day he promised to pack the whole Iranian civilisation and catapult it back to the Stone Age. Maybe he is using a boomerang, as the Iranians are where they are and firing more..

Jun 9 (Island) The legal processes are steadily closing in on some of the most controversial cases that have remained as open questions without closure for many years. These include the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019, the Treasury bond scam that erupted in 2015, and a range of corruption allegations that became synonymous with successive govts over the past two or more decades. What once appeared to be stalled investigations are now showing signs of more..

Jun 9 (FT) SL stands at a pivotal moment in its history. After enduring sovereign default, economic collapse, shortages of essential goods, and widespread social hardship, the country has achieved a degree of stability that seemed improbable during the darkest days of the crisis. According to the IMF’s recent review of SL’s EFF, most quantitative targets under the reform program have been met, debt restructuring is nearing completion, and governance & anti-corruption more..

Jun 9 (Island) UNP has taken exception to a comparison made by a website (Manthri.lk) between the initial stages of the UNP-led Yahapalana govt under the presidency of Maithripala Sirisena (MS) and the incumbent JVP-NPP administration led by AKD in terms of legislative activity. Both govts came to power by effectively harnessing anti-incumbency sentiments and promising good governance. At the six-month mark, the MS administration led in legislative activity, Manthri.lk has pointed out. more..

Jun 9 (TM) Sri Lanka’s headline inflation increased further in May, with Year-on-Year (YoY) non-food inflation climbing to 7.8%, driven largely by price escalations in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels. This has been heavily influenced by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted global oil supplies and triggered a depreciation of the SL Rupee. Against this backdrop, more..

Jun 9 (GV) The refusal to release of four books authored by Tamil writer Theepachelvan Pradeepan by SL Customs in recent weeks has generated significant public debate. What initially appeared to be a routine administrative dispute over imported publications has evolved into something far more troubling: a revealing glimpse into how censorship continues to operate despite repeated promises of democratic renewal, reconciliation and free expressions. The controversy has unfolded at more..

Jun 9 (CT) Indian Ocean has once again become one of the world’s most strategically contested maritime spaces. From energy shipments moving westward from the Gulf to commercial cargo transiting between Asia, Africa, and Europe, the uninterrupted flow of maritime trade remains vital to the global economy. For smaller littoral nations situated along these critical sea lanes, this evolving environment presents both opportunity and risk. For a strategically located State such as SL, more..

Jun 9 (SO) In yet another Court hearing this week related to the Easter Sunday terror attacks, CID made submissions that led to fresh Court orders being issued. On a request by the CID, Fort Magistrate, Pasan Amarasena imposed travel bans on former Defence Secretary and former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in connection with ongoing investigations on the April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Travel restrictions were also more..

Jun 9 (TM) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe's candid admission that SL is 10 to 15 years late when it comes to trade reforms deserves serious attention. It is not often that policymakers openly acknowledge how far behind the country has fallen in a crucial area of economic policy. Yet that honesty is important because recognising a problem is the first step towards solving it. For decades, Sri Lanka has spoken about becoming a regional hub for trade, investment and services. more..

Jun 9 (CT) The story of Ceylon House is one of the most remarkable yet least known chapters in the history of SL Muslim philanthropy. What began as a modest pilgrims’ rest in Makkah in 1964 has evolved into a charitable endowment with significant assets, carrying forward the vision of its founders more than six decades later. Today, many Sri Lankans are unaware of its existence. Fewer still know the story behind its creation, the legal battles fought to preserve it, and the transformation more..

Jun 8 (EN) The Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit will provide a platform for dialogue on the country’s economic future with a focus on a range of pressing national priorities, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said. “The 2026 Summit will focus on a range of pressing national priorities, including economic growth, competitiveness, investment, trade, productivity, fiscal and structural reforms, sustainability, and the changing global economic environment.” more..

Jun 8 (DM) The mother of former SIS Director, Major General (Retd) Suresh Sallay broke down in tears today as she addressed the ongoing Satyagraha opposite the Fort Railway Station, condemning what she described as the treatment meted out to her son and urging authorities to act with compassion. Speaking to supporters, she said the public's affection towards her son reflected the service he had rendered to the country and questioned the suffering being inflicted on him and his family. more..

Jun 8 (DM) More than 70,000 premises were inspected on the first day of the three-day special national dengue mosquito control programme launched by the Health Ministry. The programme began today in 72 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) divisions across 14 districts and will continue until June 10. Speaking during a progress review, Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit, Dr. Kapila Kannangara, said the first day of more..

Jun 8 (NW) Sri Lanka’s tourism has marked a historic achievement, with the SLTDA reporting 145,745 international visitors in May 2026, the highest number ever recorded for the month. According to the latest data from the SLTDA, this reflects a 9.6% increase compared to May 2025, which saw 132,919 arrivals. India remained the top source market, contributing 60,342 arrivals, followed by UK (9,248), China (9,156), Germany (6,734), and Australia (6,414). more..

Jun 8 (DM) Laboratory tests carried out by the health authorities have revealed that the spread of Meningitis in the Deniyaya area recently was due to the use of polluted water. It has been revealed that the people in the affected area depend on natural water resources including fountains and the community water supplies to meet their requirements of drinking water. Laboratory tests have established that these water resources are polluted with human waste and more..

Jun 8 (DM) The govt has cleared three major elephant corridors that had been blocked for years as part of a national programme aimed at finding practical and sustainable solutions to the long-standing human-elephant conflict. The announcement was made at a press conference held today. The event was attended by Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi, Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody, Additional Secretary of more..

Jun 8 (DM) Jean Aunty, an Aragalaya activist, was chased away from the satyagraha held near the Fort Railway Station in Colombo against the detention of former SIS Director, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay. During the demonstration, a brief commotion erupted when Jean Aunty arrived at the location. She was subsequently asked to leave by a group of protesters, who reportedly made remarks referring to her previous presence at demonstrations held at Galle Face. more..

Jun 8 (FT) Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha visited the ongoing hybrid renewable energy project in Delft Island on 3 June. This project is currently implemented in the three islands of Delft, Analaitivu, and Nainativu off Jaffna. The project is being implemented under grant assistance of $ 11 million from the Govt of India and reaffirms India’s commitment to bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, as well as the human-centric nature of India’s development partnership initiatives in SL. more..

Jun 8 (TM) Association of Divisional Secretaries' (DSs) and Assistant DSs has rejected allegations that the relevant Divisional Secretariat failed to act over issues at the Anguruwatota care home where 13 people died in a fire. Association President R. Senthil said the Millaniya DS had informed the relevant authorities on several occasions about the long-standing problems at the facility. A letter sent on 6 Feb had alerted the Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities, Dept of Social Services, more..

Jun 8 (SO) As grieving families sought answers over the deaths of 13 residents in the Mawpiya Sevana Senehase Kedella fire in Batagoda, Anguruwathota, Minister Upali Pannilage yesterday appealed to Sri Lankans to care for their elderly parents and vulnerable relatives within the family home rather than elsewhere. He said, “Such care has been a cherished role of the country’s cultural heritage for generations.” more..