Aug 10 (FT) Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Infrastructure and Strategic Development has raised concerns over delays, rising costs, and gaps in economic assessment of infrastructure serving Port City Colombo, after officials were unable to provide timelines or expected returns for key components of the Port Access Elevated Highway project. Committee, chaired by MP S.M. Marikkar, more..

Aug 10 (NW) Ministry of Health today handed over another fully equipped mobile drug test bus to the National Transport Medical Institute, strengthening the nationwide program aimed at ensuring safety in public transport. The bus, bearing number PZA – 0040, was officially presented by Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa, who also serves as Chief Organizer of the Government Party in Parliament, to Professor Clifford Perera, Chairman of the National Transport Medical Institute, more..

Aug 10 (Island) The govt had allocated funds to import body scanners for 33 prisons, involving visual inspection of prisoners’ anal areas, to end the practice of strip searches, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said. Minister said the decision followed concerns raised by politicians, human rights groups and prison rights activists over the use of such searches, which require inmates to remove their clothing and undergo visual inspection for concealed contraband. more..

Aug 10 (TG) A headless human skeleton with both hands bound and held against its chest has been uncovered at the Chemmani-Siththupathi mass grave in Jaffna, as excavations at the site passed their 101st day and the number of sets of human remains identified rose beyond 500. The remains were found during Saturday's excavation. The skeleton appeared to have been laid in a relatively normal resting position, but the neck had been severed and the skull was absent, while more..

Aug 10 (AD) Archdiocese of Colombo has reaffirmed its commitment to seeking justice for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, while stating that it does not support the imposition of the death penalty. Issuing a statement, the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said the Archdiocese remains in total solidarity with the victims and continues to seek the identification of the mastermind or masterminds and all parties associated with the attacks. more..

Aug 10 (Island) Convenor of the Joint Opposition Prof. G.L. Peiris has challenged the NPP govt to prove its much-touted claim that increasing the mandatory retirement ages of SC judges and CA judges was intended to clear the massive backlog of court cases, numbering over 1.1 mn. The former Minister said so addressing the media in Kandy over the weekend and also responding to queries after having met the Mahanayake Theras of more..

Aug 10 (DM) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) will open its online registration portal today for Sri Lankans seeking employment in the restaurant and renovation sectors in Israel. The portal will open at 12 noon for registration of 4,000 applicants for restaurant jobs. Male applicants aged 25 to 40 with at least one year of restaurant kitchen experience can apply. Applicants must have completed at least eight years of schooling, possess good English communication skills, and more..

Aug 10 (NF) A man was shot dead in broad daylight today on Sangharaja Mawatha in Maligawatte in what police suspect to be the result of an ongoing conflict between organized crime groups and narcotics traffickers. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the victim was a relative of underworld figure Kanchipani Imran. Victim was reportedly standing near a building materials store when he came under gunfire. Deceased has been identified as a 54-year-old businessman from more..

Aug 10 (DM) Court of Appeal has issued an interim order preventing a SL company operating under a licence issued by the BOI from removing, exporting, shipping, transporting, selling, transferring, alienating, encumbering or otherwise parting with possession, custody or control of two 2024 Lincoln Navigator L Black Label vehicles. Accordingly, Court of Appeal has permitted an application to be heard on an urgent basis more..

Aug 10 (NW) Award-winning Hollywood actress and international landmine clearance ambassador Rosamund Pike has praised the progress of SL’s demining programme, describing it as highly successful. Pike made the remarks during a meeting with Minister Dr. Susil Ranasinghe on Aug 10, where she discussed the progress of mine clearance operations in the country. Officials said around 90% of areas previously identified as contaminated with landmines have now been cleared. more..

Aug 10 (Island) Mahanayake Theras of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters have commended former SL Ambassador to the US Mahinda Samarasinghe for his outstanding service as a diplomat. Mahanayake Theras expressed their appreciation when Samarasinghe called on the Asgiriya Mahanayake Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera and Malwathu Mahanayake Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera yesterday to receive their blessings more..

Aug 10 (AD) The possibility of imposing the death penalty for drug-related offences was discussed at a meeting of the A Nation United (Ratama Ekata) National Steering Council held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. The meeting was chaired by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The discussion focused on the growing drug menace and its impact on the country’s economy, tourism industry and social values. The need for stronger laws to combat drug trafficking and more..

Aug 10 (Island) Parliament is moving ahead with plans to establish a Parliamentary Research and Studies Centre, with the Speaker’s official residence being considered for conversion into the proposed institution. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne discussed the next steps for establishing the centre with representatives of the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law at Parliament on Thursday (6). During the meeting, the Max Planck Foundation, more..

Aug 10 (FT) Sri Lanka ended the first half of 2026 with an overall Budget surplus of Rs. 9.51 billion, reversing a Rs. 405.6 billion deficit a year earlier, although the surplus narrowed sharply from Rs. 197.34 billion at end-May as expenditure accelerated in June. Total revenue and grants increased by 27.1% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs. 2.96 trillion during the January-June period from Rs. 2.33 trillion a year earlier. more..

Aug 10 (FT) A SL diplomat has reached a settlement with European Radio for Belarus, a Warsaw-based publication, following two court-ordered injunctions in defamation proceedings in Poland, resulting in the outlet removing the disputed articles, issuing an expression of regret, and agreeing to bear legal costs, according to case records and a published statement by the outlet. Sanaka Samarasinha, a senior career UN official, brought the action over articles published in 2023 concerning his more..

Aug 10 (NF) The woman alleged to be the principal suspect in the assassination of organized crime figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa has been remanded until August 21 after being produced before the Colombo Aluthkade Magistrate's Court today. The suspect, Ishara Sewwandi, had been under detention orders and questioned by the Colombo Crimes Division for nearly ten months as part of the ongoing investigation into the high-profile killing. Ganemulla Sanjeewa was shot dead on more..

Aug 10 (CI) The newly formed SL Professional Cricketers' Association (SLPCA) was officially launched on Saturday, with men's white-ball captain Kusal Mendis appointed as its inaugural president. Backed heavily by prominent stars like women's captain Chamari Athapaththu and allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga, the association has been established to serve as an independent and collective voice for professional cricketers more..

Aug 10 (NW) Three Sri Lankan suspects arrested in Malaysia, including alleged organized crime figure Dhanushka Kaushalya alias Ratmalana Saima, have been brought back to Sri Lanka under a special security operation. Ratmalana Saima has been identified by police as a key associate of alleged organized crime figure Kanjipani Imran. The three suspects were arrested in Malaysia following a joint operation involving Sri Lankan and Malaysian law enforcement authorities. more..

Aug 10 (NW) SL is expected to begin connecting commercial-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to the national electricity grid in early September, with projects planned near 16 electricity transmission substations nearing completion. Battery systems were brought into the country through the Port of Colombo in three shipments during May and June. Construction of a battery energy storage project being developed by a private company near the A'pura transmission substation is around more..

Aug 10 (FT) SL stands at an important constitutional juncture. The Cabinet’s decision to approve a Constitutional Amendment Bill extending the retirement age of judges—spanning the SC, CA, and the lower courts—has sparked an intense discussion. While framed by the administration as an intervention to address severe case backlogs, the proposed amendment has drawn widespread attention and criticism from the legal fraternity, civil society and religious leaders. more..

Aug 10 (FT) Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been hailed as the next big promise for the prosperity and modernity of the global economy. Today, this groundbreaking technology is rapidly reshaping almost every sphere of human activity. In education, AI acts as an interactive assistant, adapting lessons to individual student needs and making learning more interactive. In healthcare, it analyses complex medical data to help doctors diagnose diseases faster and more accurately than ever before. more..

Aug 10 (AD) 2026 GCE A/L Exam is scheduled to commence today, and will continue until Sept 5. Accordingly, a total of 372,310 candidates are scheduled to sit for this year’s A/L exam, which will be conducted at 2,532 examination centers across the island. All arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the A/L exam, with examination centers, supervisory staff and other logistical requirements prepared ahead of more..

Aug 10 (TM) The main parliamentary opposition SJB is holding discussions on possible legal action against the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which seeks, among other changes, to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court (SC) and Court of Appeal (CA) judges. The move follows the publication of the Constitutional Amendment Draft Bill in the Government Gazette, amid continued opposition to the proposal from various parties, including the BASL. more..

Aug 10 (Island) SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has uncovered a large-scale organised extortion racket targeting social media users through Facebook, Messenger, Instagram & WhatsApp, with scammers allegedly operating from India. SLCERT said the scammers initially infiltrate victims’ social media networks by adding their relatives and friends, including siblings, as contacts, to create the impression that the fraudulent account belongs to a mutual acquaintance. more..

Aug 10 (TM) Govt is firmly committed to protecting the rights and culture of the Indigenous Vedda community, PM Harini Amarasuriya said. She said the long-awaited Indigenous Rights Bill, which had been requested by the Vedda community for many years, had now been submitted to the Cabinet, adding that the Govt would expedite the next steps after consulting Indigenous representatives & other relevant institutions. more..

Aug 10 (FT) The Govt has called for expressions of interest (EOIs) to unlock the value of several State-owned heritage bungalows in Colombo 5. The Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry is inviting visionary investors to participate in an exciting Government initiative to unlock the economic value of a portfolio of prestigious State-owned bungalows situated in the highly sought-after Colombo 5 neighbourhood. Through a transparent National Competitive Selection Process, more..

Aug 10 (TM) National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) clarified the decline in fish resources currently being experienced by fishermen in SL is part of a global trend, saying it is too early to conclude that El Niño is the cause. Following the Fisheries Ministry’s request for NARA to prepare a report on the reasons behind the decline, the agency is conducting research using three approaches to determine the causes. NARA Chairperson Prof Sanath Hettiarachchi said more..

Aug 10 (ST) Director General of the CIABOC will be vested with the power not to charge or prosecute an accomplice facing bribery allegations on condition of making a full or true disclosure of the circumstances within his knowledge relating to the offence, according to the proposed amendment to the Anti-Corruption Act. Amendment to Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, was published pursuant to an order issued by Prez, along with changes regarding the legal effect of certain clauses. more..

Aug 10 (NW) Jason Sanjay, the son of actor and politician Vijay, has spoken about his SL family roots and his connection to Jaffna. Jason said his mother is from Jaffna in northern SL and grew up there before the family later settled overseas. “My mom is from Jaffna, so she’s from northern SL. She was born there and grew up there, and then they settled abroad,” he said. Jason said that when he visits SL, one of his grandfather’s properties remains an important connection to his family’s past. more..

Aug 10 (FT) Workers’ remittances climbed to a record high in July, marking one of the strongest seven-month performances in the country’s history, despite economic uncertainty stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, a region that hosts a large share of SL migrant workers. Inflows rose 11.51% YoY to $ 777.6 million. July marked the seventh consecutive month of exceptionally strong remittance inflows, highlighting more..

Aug 10 (FT) Central Bank of SL’s (CBSL) net US dollar purchases from the domestic market to build reserves topped $ 905 million during the first seven months of 2026 According to data released by the CBSL on Friday, it was a net purchaser of foreign exchange in July 2026 amounting to $ 348.6 million, a sharp increase from $ 70.5 million in June and reversing May’s net sale of more than $ 211 million, when it became a net seller of foreign exchange for the first time in 22 months. more..

Aug 10 (FT) Verité Research has launched the second edition of its pioneering Budget Proposal Hub (BPH), inviting citizens, residents, and organisations to submit proposals for the Govt’s consideration ahead of the 2027 National Budget. The initiative follows the successful debut of the BPH last year ahead of Budget 2026, where the proposals ranged from establishing a national-level program to manufacture pharmaceutical ingredients from Ceylon Cinnamon to constructing toilets more..