Jun 30 (AD) Several young individuals have lost their lives in a series of road accidents reported across SL yesterday. The fatal accidents had occurred in Anuradhapura, Galkiriyagama, Samanalawewa, and Giranegama Police Divisions. A motorcycle travelling towards Rambewa had collided with a bus while attempting to make a right turn near the Galwala Junction on the A'pura–Rambewa Road early yesterday. The rider and pillion passenger had sustained injuries and more..

Jun 30 (FT) UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake has called on CoPF to launch an urgent institutional inquiry into the alleged $ 1 billion foreign exchange fraud highlighted by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging the committee to summon senior Central Bank officials, Customs authorities and the chief compliance officers of 13 commercial banks. In a letter dated 29 June to CoPF Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva, Karunanayake argued that the alleged large-scale foreign exchange losses more..

Jun 30 (ST) As the fluctuation of gold price continues, the industry is facing a period of stagnation. Last Friday (27th), a 24-carat gold sovereign price was reported as Rs 381,000. Gold prices fluctuated sharply during the first six months of the year. A 24-carat gold sovereign sold at Rs. 397,000 in January, rose to Rs. 420,000 in February, and peaked at Rs. 425,000 in March before falling to Rs. 420,000 in April. more..

Jun 30 (AD) Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has decided to conduct a public consultation on the government’s proposal to extend the retirement age of judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. According to the BASL, the programme is scheduled to take place on July 4, 2026. The decision was reached during a recent meeting of the BASL Executive Committee, convened to discuss the govt’s proposal to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges. more..

Jun 30 (EN) Arkurugraphy, a new exhibition at the Geoffrey Bawa Space, explores the history, culture, and future of letterforms across SL’s three official languages. Akurugraphy is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10.30 am – 5.30 pm, and will be on view until Nov 8. Presenting the decade-long practice of Colombo-based type foundry Mooniak, it examines how decisions about the digitisation of Sinhala, Tamil, and Latin scripts impact legibility and carry deep consequences for who is seen, more..

Jun 30 (DM) A young woman on a visit to meet her lover in Wilgamuwa town in Matale District had been gang raped by the lover and three of this friends at a house belonging to one of them. She was a resident of Kandy. The woman who was taken ill after the incident had been admitted to the Kandy General Hospital where she had revealed the incident to the JMO to whom she was referred to by the doctor who examined her. more..

Jun 30 (AD) The Municipal Council has commenced taking steps to remove garbage accumulated along roadsides across the Kaduwela Municipal Council area following complaints from residents over prolonged delays in waste collection, according to Mayor Ranjan Jayalal. The Mayor was responding to allegations that garbage collection vehicles had failed to service some areas for nearly three weeks, leaving large quantities of waste piled up in public spaces. more..

Jun 30 (FT) The Port of Colombo has continued its strong growth trajectory in 2026, reinforcing its position as South Asia’s premier maritime hub and one of the most important transshipment centres in the Indian Ocean region. According to the latest operational statistics, the Port of Colombo handled 3,702,265 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) during the first five months of 2026, representing a 13.5% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2025. more..

Jun 30 (FT) Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, Uni of Sri J'pura, in collaboration with Port City Colombo, has co-authored and internationally published an academic case study and accompanying teaching notes for students, examining the project’s potential role in shaping SL’s long-term economic future. Published by Nova Publishers, New York, USA, the study titled Port City Colombo: Catalysing SL’s Emergence as a Global Investment Hub provides a multidisciplinary more..

Jun 30 (DN) Former National champions dominated the Ceylon Masters Badminton international championship winning many titles at Air Sports Cub Indoor Stadium Rajagiriya over the weekend. Niroshan Wijekoon the former National champion and first SL Olympian badminton player came to the fore winning men’s over 60 title. He producd two straight sets win 21-4, 21-5 over Indian shutter Narendra Raju in the final. Niroshan partnered by Krishna Veni Matter of Switzerland won more..

Jun 30 (FT) Sri Lanka has implemented 95.8% of its commitments under World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), placing it ahead of the global implementation average of 87.6%, with the Govt now pursuing a broader package of trade reforms aimed at reducing costs, improving predictability, and strengthening integration into regional and global value chains. more..

Jun 30 (DM) On June 15, British PM Keir Starmer stood before cameras and announced something that would have seemed extreme even five years ago. UK, one of the most digitally connected societies on earth, was banning children under 16 from social media. TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, and X would all be off-limits to anyone born after a certain date. “Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe,” Starmer said. “As a parent, as much as a PM, more..

Jun 30 (Island) Cyclone Ditwah was the most destructive natural disaster to strike Sri Lanka since the 2004 tsunami. More than 640 people lost their lives, over 170 remain missing and more than 2.2 million people throughout the country were affected. Estimates placed the economic cost at over US$4 billion, equivalent to about four percent of SL’s Gross Domestic Product. Sri Lanka could not cope with a disaster of this scale alone. International assistance was essential and it came quickly. more..

Jun 30 (FT) Land has long been central to SL’s socio-economic development and political debate. It represents not only an economic resource but, over successive phases with evolving national priorities, it has also been a touchstone of identity, sovereignty, and social equity. The post-independence governments treated land policy as a sensitive matter of sovereignty. Early measures such as the Finance Act, No. 11 of 1963 imposed a 100% tax on transfers of land to foreigners, more..

Jun 30 (GV) Every year, Sri Lanka returns to a moment in its recent history that remains deeply unresolved in its collective consciousness. Around the commemoration of the end of the armed conflict, the country finds itself divided between competing forms of remembrance: one that celebrates military victory and the end of a protracted insurgency and another that mourns immense civilian suffering, particularly during the final stages of the war. Between these two positions, more..

Jun 30 (SO) For decades, SL was romantically branded as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, celebrated for its pristine coastal lines, deeply rooted spiritual architecture, and resilient cultural tapestry. Today, however, that idyllic imagery is being aggressively dismantled by a silent, crystalline predator. The island is no longer just a passive observer of regional crime; it has metastasised into a major, highly sophisticated maritime transit more..

Jun 30 (ST) Sometimes one can’t help but admire the way British prime ministers make their exits from office with impeccable grace and infinite finesse. The final rite that, as tradition dictates, every prematurely departing head of His or Her Majesty’s govt has to perform before shuffling off the mortal coil of power and bowing out from the political stage was done this week for a record sixth time in the last ten years. The ritual, carefully choreographed by a mature democracy down the ages, more..

Jun 30 (TM) As of this weekend, the national dengue caseload for 2026 has officially breached the milestone of 50,000 infections, with the death toll climbing steadily. Hospitals across the Western Province, from the National Hospital in Colombo to the specialised wards at the Infectious Disease Hospital, are operating under a state of immense strain. With roughly 600 to 700 new patients presenting daily, the current southwest monsoon has transformed into a public health emergency. more..

Jun 30 (TM) In an era where economic recovery is on everyone’s mind, Sri Lankans are increasingly turning to digital solutions for banking, shopping, and alternative means of income. While ease of access and several other benefits are reaped from such services, this digital leap has come with a predatory shadow: online scams run rampant across the country, preying on citizens of all ages by adopting the likeness of reputable more..

Jun 30 (CT) SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis is normally used in business management, marketing, economic projects etc. However, it could also be used in political science or political analysis. Already, it is being used by some political parties and movements in developed countries to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their political campaigns. The following is what the AI Overview says about my request on swot analysis in politics. more..

Jun 30 (Island) Dengue cases continue to climb despite a countywide campaign to bring them down. The number of dengue patients has exceeded 53,000 so far this year, and 31 of them have already died. The Western Province has recorded the highest dengue case burden (27,833), accounting for about 52.36% of the national tally, with more than 124 MOH (Medical Officer of Health) areas designated as high-risk zones. Health authorities have expressed fear that unless more..

Jun 29 (TM) The re-emergence of Dengue Virus Serotype 2 (DENV-2), which now accounts for around 75% of confirmed dengue infections, together with the lingering effects of last year's cyclone and continued rainfall, has played a major role in the sharp increase in dengue cases this year, according to National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU). NDCU Director Dr Kapila Kannangara explained that DENV-2 should not be viewed as more..

Jun 29 (DN) Battle against dengue in SL has hit a critical juncture in 2026 and according to the latest surveillance data captured up to the midnight of June 27, the country has crossed a sobering milestone, recording a total of 52,068 dengue cases since the start of the year. The year started with a noticeable caseload in January, tracking at 7,866 cases. As the first quarter progressed, the numbers saw a steady but manageable decline, hovering between 5,700 and 6,000 cases monthly more..

Jun 29 (Island) SL’s women flew home from Manchester yesterday reflecting on what might have been after a semi-final place slipped through their fingers by the narrowest of margins. SL and West Indies both finished on six points with 3 wins apiece, but the Caribbean side progressed thanks to a superior net run rate. Much of the soul searching centred on those fateful 90 minutes in Bristol. Having lost a crucial toss on a green top and been asked to bat first, SL got their approach horribly wrong. more..

Jun 29 (TM) Around 35 to 40 parties have indicated interest in the Govt's plan to secure a joint venture partner for Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA), with the exact number to be known once formal proposals are submitted. Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said the level of interest shown by prospective parties was significantly higher than during the previous Expressions of Interest (EOI) process more..

Jun 29 (Island) The country’s dengue control efforts have faced a serious setback amidst a surge in infections, with Grama Niladhari trade unions warning that the govt’s failure to address their longstanding grievances could force its members to withdraw from dengue prevention activities from tomorrow. Warning came as National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) reported that 31 denguerelated deaths so far this year, with the number of infections exceeding 51,000 cases. more..

Jun 29 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that Poson marks the historic arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka through Arahat Mahinda Thera, an event that transformed the nation spiritually, culturally, socially, and politically. He highlighted that Buddhism laid the foundation for Sri Lanka's development by promoting education through temples, encouraging moral values, and inspiring achievements in architecture, art, irrigation, and other fields. more..

Jun 29 (DN) SL Scout Association National Scout Poson Zone on Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha (from the Lake House Roundabout to the Police Headquarters Roundabout) in Colombo was opened yesterday by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The event runs from 6:30 pm to 1:00 am, featuring bhakthi gee, light patterns, dansal, lanterns, and a replica of Mihintale. Organised for the first time under the theme Poson to Colombo too, the event will be carried out with more..

Jun 29 (NW) The first phase of the Anuradhapura Multi-Modal Transport Hub was opened to the public on Saturday after construction, which had stalled due to funding shortages, was accelerated by the govt. The facility will initially operate a Touch & Go passenger service aimed at easing transport for thousands of devotees visiting A'pura for the Poson festival while helping reduce traffic congestion in the city. Authorities said the full project is expected to be completed by September. more..

Jun 29 (DM) Health experts have rejected recent statements by PM Harini Amarasuriya and Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni attributing the current surge in dengue cases to a new or modified strain of the dengue virus, insisting there is no scientific evidence to support such claims. Consultant Paediatrician Dr. LakKumar Fernando said that no laboratory in SL has identified a new dengue virus strain and stressed that more..

Jun 29 (Island) A total of 7,300 young people, below the age of 21, had been arrested on suspicion since the launch of the nationwide ‘Ratama Ekata’ anti-drug operation, DIG in charge of the Police Narcotics Bureau, Ashoka Dharmasena, told The Island yesterday. DIG Dharmasena said the suspects included about 150 females under the age of 21. He added that more than 214,000 suspects had been taken into custody since the commencement of the national anti-narcotics operation. more..

Jun 29 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya in her Poson Day message emphasized that the Poson Full Moon Poya Day commemorates the Dhamma mission of Arahant Mahinda Thero, which established the Buddha Sasana in SL and serves as a reminder of spiritual awakening, wisdom, and social harmony. She noted that Poson is not only a religious observance but also a symbol of the transformation of the nation's culture, moral values, and way of thinking, with Buddhist philosophy shaping more..