Jun 11 (DN) Senior DIG Waruna Jayasundara, one time STF Commandant has filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal seeking judicial intervention to prevent his arrest or detention without probable cause in connection with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. In his petition, Senior DIG Jayasundara has sought appropriate relief from the Court to ensure that no action is taken to arrest or detain him in relation to the Easter Sunday investigations more..

Jun 11 (FT) SL Working Journalists Association (SLWJA) has called for the immediate withdrawal of the draft Bill seeking to establish a regulatory authority for media professionals, arguing that the proposed framework is aimed at controlling rather than protecting the media. In a statement, association said journalists and media stakeholders had long discussed the need for an independent institution to safeguard media freedom, professional standards, welfare, ethics and education. more..

Jun 11 (FT) SJB MP Harsha de Silva questioned the rationale behind CB's latest regulations requiring exporters to convert residual foreign currency earnings into SL rupees, warning that the measure risks undermining investor confidence and business freedom. Speaking in Parliament, he likened the regulation to the forced foreign exchange conversion measures imposed during SL’s economic crisis between 2022 and 2024. more..

Jun 11 (FT) Cementing its status as a global New Energy Vehicle (NEV) trailblazer, BYD has topped the global rankings for Most Innovative Automotive Group in the Automotive INNOVATIONS Report 2026 published by Germany’s Centre of Automotive Management (CAM) – the first time in the study’s 21-year history that a Chinese automaker has claimed the top position. BYD secured the ranking with an innovation index score of 157 points, ahead of Volkswagen Group at 143 points and more..

Jun 11 (Island) Sri Lanka will open their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign against hosts England when the 12-nation tournament gets underway in Birmingham on Friday. The event carries a prize purse of USD 8.7 million, underlining the remarkable growth of the women’s game in recent years. Every participating team is guaranteed a minimum of USD 250,000, even if they fail to win a game during the group stage. Sri Lanka have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts England, more..

Jun 11 (FT) Colombo Port City reached a significant milestone in its development as a leading regional business and investment destination following Cabinet approval granted in April 2026 to 77 Businesses of Strategic Importance (BSIs) under the Regulations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act. The approvals represent a major step forward in the growth of the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone more..

Jun 11 (DN) John Keells Properties (JKP) has announced that Vauxhall DSTRCT, its latest residential development in the heart of Colombo, has surpassed 300 apartment sales within the first three months of launch, reflecting strong market demand and continued confidence in the company’s developments. The milestone highlights the positive response from both local and overseas buyers and reinforces the growing appeal of well-positioned urban residential developments that offer more..

Jun 11 (FT) Mastercard has announced significant leadership appointments aimed at strengthening South Asia operations by creating a more integrated model for SL, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. The growing synergies within these countries, especially with regard to the focus on tourism and cross-border trade and payments innovation, make this integration crucial in scaling operations and underscores the company’s commitment to unlocking shared growth more..

Jun 11 (FT) Toyota Lanka has strengthened its presence in the Central Province with the enhancement of its after-sales service capabilities in Kandy, as part of a wider nationwide expansion strategy aimed at bringing world-class automotive services closer to customers. The company says the initiative reflects its commitment to customer convenience, technical excellence, and long-term investment in SL’s automotive sector: “Toyota Lanka continues to shape the future of more..

Jun 11 (FT) Home Lands is set to make history with SL’s largest-ever real estate launch, unveiling Central Park Boulevard Port City Colombo, The Indian Ocean’s Next Wonder. The launch, titled The Grand Launch Weekend, will comprise a series of events taking place from tomorrow to 14 June 2026 at the Lumina Ballroom, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams. Grand Launch Weekend will commence with The Night of Emeralds tomorrow, marking the official launch of Central Park Boulevard more..

Jun 11 (FT) Sri Lanka’s vehicle market recorded its strongest monthly performance since the reopening of imports, with total registrations surging 19.7% month-on-month (M-o-M) to 60,444 units in May as consumers accelerated purchases ahead of tighter financing rules and higher import taxes. The sharp increase reversed the softer trend seen in April and extended the recovery that has been underway since the beginning of the year. more..

Jun 11 (FT) Govt Budget recorded an overall surplus in the first quarter of 2026. This is significant because it occurred after about seven decades. SL has not recorded an overall Budget surplus since 1955. Govt’s overall Budget surplus was Rs. 116.35 billion. However, in the second quarter of 2026, the currency came under pressure to depreciate, experiencing significant exchange-rate volatility. If the currency depreciates, Budget surpluses may not be sustainable. more..

Jun 11 (DM) Ask SL football fans who they think will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup and you are unlikely to get a unanimous answer. A recent Daily Mirror poll conducted across its website and social media platforms reflected exactly that. The results showed a mixed reaction among supporters, with votes spread across several leading contenders and no clear favourite emerging. The passion for the game in SL is undeniable. Football Federation of SL (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar believes more..

Jun 11 (Island) The first rays of dawn creep over the ancient rocks of Yala. Indian Ocean glimmers in the distance, and the wilderness slowly awakens. Somewhere amid the scrub jungle, a pair of amber eyes scans the landscape. For wildlife conservationist and leopard researcher Milinda Wattegedara, moments such as these have defined more than a decade of dedication to one of SL’s most iconic creatures—the SL leopard. What began as fascination evolved into a remarkable more..

Jun 11 (Island) The law finally caught up with former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, who caused losses to the state through some questionable deals, two decades ago. He was found guilty on four counts of corruption charges and sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court, on Tuesday. CIABOC had filed four cases against him for causing losses to the state coffers during his tenure as Chairman of the Development Lotteries Board during Rajapaksa govt, more..

Jun 11 (TM) The global trading landscape has today fractured into distinct realities. Modern economic theory points to a world dividing into self-contained fortress states, leaving vulnerable, trade-dependent Nations standing on the periphery. For decades, SL belonged firmly to the latter category, lingering as a bystander while regional neighbours forged deep economic alliances. Trade Ministry Secretary K A Vimalenthirajah more..

Jun 11 (TM) Although it is inappropriate to comment on the case regarding the allegation that Pallegama Hemarathana Thera sexually abused a young girl while the matter is under judicial investigation, the circumstances surrounding his recent arrest and subsequent release on bail have raised significant questions about religious authority, legal accountability, and the challenges facing the Judiciary. This necessitates a public exchange of views on aspects unrelated to ongoing more..

Jun 11 (GV) We are living through an unprecedented technological leap in human history. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data are constantly portrayed as magic wands capable of solving all the world’s problems. Tech conglomerates boast that modern humanity has captured the globe at its fingertips, accessible at the push of a button. Yet, behind these glowing screens lies a deliberate obscuring of the lived reality of millions thrust into darkness. Technology is no longer merely a more..

Jun 11 (SO) The ocean begins its work long before dawn. As fishing boats glide into the dark, the sea is already in motion—an unseen architecture of currents and chemistry shaping the island before sunrise. Waves continue their slow negotiation with the shores while beneath them coral reefs hold dense ecosystems of life. Sea turtles follow ancient migratory routes. Shoals shift like living constellations through blue water. For SL, the ocean is not a boundary. more..

Jun 11 (DN) Several back-to-back fires just a few days apart have once again shown us the destructive nature of fire. A blaze at an unauthorised elders care home in Anguruwathota, close to Horana, claimed at least 12 lives while three workers of an eatery in Thalawathugoda lost their lives when they could not escape the flames raging around them. A fire also destroyed an electronics store in Kadawatha. According to preliminary investigations, all these premises had not taken adequate steps more..

Jun 11 (ST) A can of worms or Pandora’s box, call it what you like, but a Supreme Court decision this week has brought forth – out of the woodwork – a nagging issue that Sri Lankans appear to have forgotten, not through their fault. This is the infamous Central Bank bond scam in 2015-2016 for which the main figures in the disputed deals are the elusive former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran, who is ensconced in Singapore as a citizen of that country, and far from the reach of desperate more..

Jun 11 (CT) The horrifying tragedy at the Mawpiya Sevana care facility in Anguruwatota, Horana, is a dark and indelible stain on our national conscience. At least 13 vulnerable elders and psychiatric patients were burned to death or fatally injured when an uncontrollable blaze swept through the building. The image of citizens trapped in an inferno, unable to escape the very walls meant to protect them, should haunt our lawmakers. However, we must be brutally honest: this was not a mere accident. more..

Jun 10 (FT) District Court of Kaduwela yesterday issued an enjoining order against former MP Wimal Weerawansa on an application preferred by Hayleys PLC. Hayleys PLC set out in the Plaint that, being one of the largest conglomerates in SL, Hayleys PLC has a reputation within Sri Lanka and internationally and, further, the company’s Board of Directors consists of esteemed individuals in the country. It was further set out that Hayleys PLC had garnered immense goodwill within SL more..

Jun 10 (NW) Consumer Affairs Authority has issued a revised gazette notification increasing the maximum retail prices of locally packaged and bottled drinking water, effective from today. Under the new prices, 500ml to 999ml bottles can be sold at a maximum of Rs. 80, up from Rs. 70. The price of 1L to 1.49L bottles has been increased from Rs. 100 to Rs. 120, while 1.5L to 1.99L bottles have increased from Rs. 130 to Rs. 150. The maximum price of 2L to 2.49L bottles has been raised more..

Jun 10 (NF) Q: What is the latest development in the Easter Sunday attacks investigation? A: Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala has revealed that investigations into the April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings have uncovered sufficient and credible evidence to reasonably believe that retired Major General Tuan Suresh Salley conspired in facilitating the attacks by strategically directing Islamic extremists. more..

Jun 10 (NW) Kuwait has restricted the recruitment of domestic workers to 10 approved countries, with Sri Lanka among the nations permitted to continue sending workers to the Gulf state, according to international media reports. The new regulations, introduced by Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower, are aimed at strengthening oversight of the domestic labour sector and improving recruitment procedures. Under the revised policy, domestic workers can now be recruited only more..

Jun 10 (DN) Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has appointed a five-member medical board, including specialist Judicial Medical Officers (JMOs) and specialist psychiatrists, to investigate whether former Director of the SIS, Suresh Sallay, was subjected to torture while in the custody of the CID. Magistrate ordered that the suspect, Suresh Sallay, must undergo this examination prior to the next court date, further directing that the medical evaluation be conducted at Colombo South Teaching more..

Jun 10 (DM) Sri Lanka aims to significantly expand its entrepreneurship base, with the govt setting an ambitious target to raise the country’s entrepreneurship rate from the current 3.2% to 10% by 2030, Minister Sunil Handunnetthi said. He noted that the govt is implementing initiatives across 27 industrial sectors to achieve this goal, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen enterprise development and more..

Jun 10 (NF) A long-standing issue of access to clean drinking water faced by students of Medirigiriya Diggalpura Primary School in Polonnaruwa has been resolved with the inauguration of a newly constructed water filtration system. The school, which has around 200 students, along with the surrounding Diggalpura village, had struggled for years without a reliable source of safe drinking water. As part of the Gammadda initiative, the water purification system was officially opened more..

Jun 10 (NW) A 55‑year‑old luxury bus driver from Okawela has died after a packet of ‘ICE’ narcotics hidden inside his stomach ruptured, causing fatal poisoning. According to reports, the Police said the driver, who was employed on a bus operating along the Tangalle–Makumbura route of the Southern Expressway, suddenly fell seriously ill shortly after the bus reached its destination on Monday (8). He was rushed to the Tangalle Base Hospital but succumbed while receiving treatment. more..

Jun 10 (Island) Amnesty International (AI) has called for the release of detained Tamil rapper Sangeethan Ganeshkumar and renewed demands for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), warning that the legislation continues to facilitate arbitrary detention and human rights abuses. In a statement issued this week, the international rights organisation expressed concern over the continued use of the PTA, despite repeated commitments by successive SL govts to replace the law. more..