Jul 4 (AD) Police have uncovered further details in relation to the shooting which took place at around 10 am opposite the Kandana Police Station. Two unidentified assailants opened fire at a car using a T-56 assault rifle and injured two persons. The primary target of the shooting was a person named Sameera Manahara, who previously served as Public Relations Secretary to former Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Two individuals who were in the car at the time sustained injuries more..

Jul 4 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has given Cargills Bank extended time till end-2029 to achieve the minimum capital requirement of Rs. 20 billion from the current Rs. 11.89 billion. This was pursuant to the request made by the bank to the CBSL Director of Bank Supervision, after which the CBSL’s Governing Board has given an extension. CBSL has directed the bank to raise approximately Rs. 2.5 billion in equity capital through market mechanisms by end-2025, and through this action, more..

Jul 4 (FT) SL’s digital economy is on course for a significant leap, with a five-year blueprint aiming for a fivefold increase in digital GDP, a tripling in digital exports, and expanding the digital workforce said Chief Presidential Adviser Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya yesterday. Speaking at the first-ever Data Privacy and Protection Summit, Dr. Wijayasuriya outlined a trust-driven progressive strategy designed to position SL as a global more..

Jul 4 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to implement the Community Effective Model Village program as part of the broader Clean SL national project. The initiative will select one village from each Divisional Secretariat between 2025 and 2027, targeting around 50 households in each village to transform them into model communities through a participatory rural development approach. “The program aims to create sustainable, well-rounded model village by applying criteria in key areas more..

Jul 4 (DM) Central Bank yesterday unveiled a sweeping set of initiatives aimed at bolstering the financial well-being of its citizens, launching the nation’s first comprehensive Financial Literacy Curriculum, a series of educational videos, and a professional certification for financial trainers. The move is a cornerstone of Central Bank’s vision Towards a Financially Literate SL, designed to equip individuals with the skills needed to navigate a complex economic landscape. more..

Jul 4 (CT) The Cabinet has approved the reorganisation of Sri Lanka Expo, the country’s flagship international trade exhibition, which is set to return after a 14-year pause. The event will be held from 18 to 21 June 2026 at the BMICH in Colombo. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa made the announcement at the weekly Cabinet media briefing, noting that the event will be organised as a national-level exhibition to revitalise SL’s export sector and promote international trade engagement. more..

Jul 4 (DN) Sri Lanka will take on Hong Kong in the third-place playoff of the 13th Asian Youth Netball Championship in South Korea today. Sri Lanka's hopes of reaching the final ended yesterday when they lost to defending champions Malaysia in the semifinals. Malaysia dominated the match for the second time in this tournament, winning comfortably 60-31, a 29-point margin. Earlier in the league round, Malaysia had also beaten SL 62-40. SL fought hard in first quarter but trailed 8-16. more..

Jul 4 (FT) The undisputed King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, is set to make a spectacular visit to SL, gracing the highly anticipated grand opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka on 2 August as Special Guest. Popularly regarded as King Khan, the presence of the multi-award-winning superstar at the by-invitation grand opening party underscores the establishment of the first luxury integrated resort in South Asia, developed through more..

Jul 4 (CT) All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga credited his team’s fielding brilliance and tactical awareness for their win in the first ODI against Bangladesh, singling out Milan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage for game-changing moments. “Milan was brilliant today, especially with that run-out — it was the turning point,” Hasaranga said at the post-match conference. “At one point, they were in full control, but that piece of fielding shifted the momentum. Then Janith pulled off an unbelievable catch, more..

Jul 4 (Island) If there was one glaring chink in SL’s armour during their disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign, it was their fielding. Sloppy, uninspired and error-strewn, the islanders dropped more catches than any other team, earning the unenviable tag of the worst fielding side in the tournament. The nadir came in Hyderabad when, despite posting a daunting 344 against Pakistan, SL fluffed their lines in the field. Dropped catches and misfields allowed Pakistan to gallop home, completing more..

Jul 4 (NF) The Executive Board of the IMF has reviewed a series of noncomplying purchases made by SL under its 2023 Extended Arrangement under the EFF, following the discovery of inaccurate reporting related to expenditure arrears. Despite the breach, the IMF has decided to grant waivers and not pursue further action, citing corrective measures and a commitment to reform by SL authorities. In a statement issued after more..

Jul 4 (FT) Capital Maharaja Group (CMG), now 95 years old, stands as a grand master of SL business. With branches spread across key industries, finance, and development, organisation is deeply entrenched in the country’s economic landscape. What is remarkable about CMG is it has never gone public, remaining fiercely private and family-owned for three generations. Today, the Group continues to thrive under the stewardship of Sashi Rajamahendran, who has built on vision of his late father, more..

Jul 4 (CI) At least two captains of SL's men's white-ball team have said in recent years that they would really prefer it if this piece-of-work Khettarama pitch learned how to behave. The theory goes something like this. Where other top white-ball countries have rolled out flatter and flatter white-ball surfaces, sending totals into the stratosphere and bowling economy rates into neighbouring galaxies, the pitch SL play most of their home matches on is stuck naughtily in the nineties. It is devious. more..

Jul 4 (Island) NPP govt is on cloud nine, having secured the fourth IMF extended fund facility tranche, amounting to USD 334 million. There was a delay in the release of the latest installment of the IMF loan, and the Opposition apparently derived some perverse pleasure from it. The govt has claimed that the IMF has loosened the purse strings much to the disappointment of the NPP’s political rivals. Unhappy is the land that flaunts loans as achievements, one might say with apologies more..

Jul 4 (Island) The unpredictable Leader of the free world, through his actions dictated by the obsession to Make America Great Again, keeps us constantly reminded that we live in uncertain times; teetering on a global economic collapse, even the prospect of a third world war being not that a distant possibility. Meanwhile, across the Pond, His Majesty’s govt of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, once a great power beyond compare, is struggling and characterising itself more..

Jul 4 (ST) A 1960s locomotive built in Germany and a couple of carriages converted into a mini-hotel will shortly be open for local and foreign tourists in Nanu Oya under an initiative of the Railway Department to raise revenue and attract more passengers. Called Odyssey Camper, the mini-hotel is built overlooking the Nanu Oya waterfalls to provide a new experience for domestic and foreign tourists, more..

Jul 4 (NW) SL was penalized five runs during the first one-day international against Bangladesh on Wednesday for failing to start the 36th over on time, marking the first in-game enforcement of the ICC’s stop-clock regulation since it became a permanent rule in international cricket. The penalty was applied at R. Premadasa Stadium after SL exceeded the 60-second allowance to begin a new over for the third time in the innings. Under ICC playing conditions, two warnings are permitted for such delays. more..

Jul 4 (FT) Court of Appeal Judge R. Gurusinghe yesterday issued three separate judgments affirming decisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission with regard to a few personnel of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT). The decisions were: a) Directing SLT to release foreign expenses, travel details etc. of SLT COO Priyantha Fernando authorised through public funds. b) Directing SLT to disclose legal fees paid by SLT through public funds to retain lawyers to defend itself before more..

Jul 4 (TM) In a country blessed with biodiversity and ecological abundance, it is alarming that Sri Lanka’s wildlife is now increasingly painted as a problem. In recent years, a shift has occurred in how animals are discussed in the media and by policymakers. Elephants, toque macaques, peafowl, and other species, once celebrated in folklore and religion are now regularly labeled as pests, nuisances, and threats to national stability. The mainstream media, echoing State-backed narratives, more..

Jul 4 (TM) The gambling industry in SL has always been under a cloud of suspicion with little or no effective and transparent regulatory process to hold them accountable. Many Sri Lankans view the gambling industry with distrust and contempt; however consecutive govts and economic experts have been of the view that the industry, if properly regulated, can help SL attract a high spending category of tourist. Today, with a new Govt in office with a mandate for accountability and more..

Jul 4 (TM) In the past few years, private tuition fees have risen, increasing the burden placed on parents and children by this shadow system. A father of three said that the monthly expense for the tuition fees of their eldest child who is sitting for A/L exams in the Biology stream was Rs. 15,000. “Almost all of my eldest child’s classes in Negombo and Gampaha cost Rs. 5,000. Two of these are mass classes while more..

Jul 4 (GV) The escalating crisis of plastic pollution poses a significant threat to both the health of the planet and human well-being. Among the plastic pollutants Single Use Plastics (SUPs) have become a major driver of pollution on land and in oceans. SUPs are disposable plastic items made for one time use – bags, packaging, straws, and bottles – that are quickly discarded after use. In 2021, they accounted for an estimated 139 million metric tonnes of global plastic waste. more..

Jul 4 (TM) Migrant workers’ contribution to SL’s economy is significant and their role as skilled workers has been crucial on many occasions. However, despite their role and contribution, they lack recognition and representation in the country. This was noted by the Voice of Migrants’ Network’s Executive Director Michael Joachim, who stressed that migrant workers’ representation in decision-making bodies is insufficient. He notes the importance of their representation in P'ment more..

Jul 4 (DM) Minister Samantha Vidyaratna shares views on challenging confronting the NPP govt and development plans in the pipeline. Q: How is your experience now governing the country for nearly one year? A: If we opted for a traditional style of governance, it would be an easy task. That is because the path had been laid over the decades for it only. It was not otherwise conducive for a novel social, political and economic journey. more..

Jul 4 (CT) Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is fuelled by perhaps the longest land dispute in SL – territorial war between man and the wild elephant. The conflict has existed for decades and, despite the mitigation methods suggested and implemented, the issue seems to worsen with each passing year. At the halfway point of this year, the numbers indicate that HEC is only going to deteriorate further in the future. In the past six months, it has been reported that the HEC has caused 168 elephant deaths and more..

Jul 4 (DM) Beautiful small children running on the roads and attempting to sell food is now a thing of the past. No longer would you also see small children appearing on television advertisements promoting food items. The reason is because the Government of SL has got cracking on banning the exploitation of children for financial gains. Children are vulnerable. That’s why they are kept under the custody of parents or guardians. Parents as well as those close to children have a duty to shield more..

Jul 3 (NW) The foundation stone for a new five-storey building at the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama was laid this morning, marking the beginning of a major expansion project. The construction will be carried out under the full supervision and labour support of the SL Air Force. Financial support is also provided by Indra Kumar Silva, founder and chairman of the Indra Traders Group. The new facility, spanning 50,000 square feet, will include two inpatient wards more..

Jul 3 (NW) The India- Sri Lanka Foundation has invited project proposals in the fields of Art & Culture, Education, Agriculture, Science & Technology, Health, Social Works, Developmental Studies, Tourism and other educational activities at recognized institutions of learning. According to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, proposals are also invited for visits and exchanges involving students, scholars, academics, artists, professionals and performing artistes. more..

Jul 3 (TOI) Indian Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition challenging the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, 1949, and seeking exclusive control and management of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya by the Buddhist community. A vacation bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Vinod Chandran heard the plea, which was filed under Article 32 of the Constitution. The bench said the matter was not maintainable before more..

Jul 3 (AD) More details have been revealed regarding the shooting incident that occurred near the Kandana Public Market at around 10 am this morning. Two unidentified assailants arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle, targeting two people traveling in a car near the Kandana Public Market. The suspects reportedly fled the scene afterward. One person succumbed to his injuries, while the other injured individual is currently receiving further treatment more..

Jul 3 (CT) The Cabinet has approved the implementation of a comprehensive Five-Year National Action Plan to support the National Policy on Child Protection, aiming to strengthen child safety and welfare across SL. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the National Policy on Child Protection, formulated under the provisions of the National Child Protection Authority Act, No. 50 of 1998, had originally received Cabinet approval at the meeting held on 29 Oct 2019. more..