Jun 4 (NW) Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association has raised concern over the govt’s reported proposal to extend the retirement age of judges of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, warning that such a move would undermine constitutional guarantees, stall judicial careers, and erode public trust in the independence of the judiciary. In a letter addressed to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the lawyers stressed that the Constitution clearly fixes retirement ages at more..

Jun 4 (DM) Around one in every five SL children under the age of five is affected by malnutrition, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said. He cited data released for National Nutrition Month 2025, which showed that 10.1% of children under five are stunted, 8.6% are wasted, 16.1% are underweight and 0.57% are overweight. He said Sri Lanka has not made sufficient progress in improving nutrition levels since independence and more..

Jun 4 (SLN) In an effort to safeguard the nation’s marine resources, the SL Navy conducted a series of coordinated operations across island waters from 16 to 31 May 26. These operations resulted in the apprehension of 44 individuals and seizure of 8 dinghies, 2 canoes and 4 tractors utilized for illegal fishing activities. The operations spanned the beach stretches and sea areas of Pachchankerni, Sober Island, Polmalkuda, Kinniya, Sudaikuda, Ottamawadi, Alampil, Puduwakattu more..

Jun 4 (NW) Four warehouses belonging to a leading food importer in Nugegoda were sealed by the CAA on Wednesday, following a sudden raid that uncovered serious violations of consumer protection laws. The warehouses, located on Pagoda Road, were supplying bulk food products to hotels and markets across the island. Investigations revealed that the stock included dairy items such as cheese and butter, chocolate and cocoa powder, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, meat products, more..

Jun 4 (AD) Authorities have initiated key steps under a national programme aimed at transforming the country into a digital economy by fully digitising the state service and enhancing the technological skills of govt officials. A special discussion on the initiative was held under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne and Deputy Minister of PCs and LG Ruwan Senarath. The programme identifies several core objectives, including improving efficiency more..

Jun 4 (AD) Following the 3-day visit to SL, the Executive Board delegation of the UNICEF has met with the PM Harini Amarasuriya today at the Temple Trees premises. Welcoming the delegation, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya expressed her appreciation for UNICEF's continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in advancing the rights and well-being of children. She has also commended UNICEF's timely assistance and recovery efforts extended in response to Cyclone Ditwah, more..

Jun 4 (AD) The death toll from the massive fire that broke out yesterday at the Senehase Kedella Elders’ Home in Anguruwatota has now risen to 12 people, police stated. Another six individuals sustained serious injuries in the incident have been admitted to hospital A magistrate's inquiry into the incident was conducted this morning when Horana Magistrate Lakmini Vidanagamage visited the site. The burned bodies were removed more..

Jun 4 (DM) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has raised concerns over what he described as the selective use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), following reports that a young artist from Kilinochchi had been arrested and remanded over the alleged use of LTTE-related material in a rap song. In a statement, Namal questioned whether the government was applying the law equally, noting that music and artistic expression were now allegedly being treated as terrorism-related offences. more..

Jun 4 (NW) Colombo High Court has ordered the postponement of the case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, until July 9. The case was taken up before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga today. Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara informed the court that a revision petition filed by the respondent was called before the Court of Appeal yesterday, which fixed the matter for hearing on June 16. more..

Jun 4 (DM) While many people affected by the Ditawah cyclone are still languishing in safe centres or in temporary locations waiting to be relocated, it was revealed yesterday that the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund established aiming to rebuild the country following the severe devastation has not been utilised. AG’s Dept informed the CoPF that no funds received by the Rebuilding SL Fund have been utilised and that monies more..

Jun 4 (DM) SJB MP and chairman of the COPF Harsha de Silva predicted more trouble when it comes to the SL economy. “Demand for US dollars will increase soon when the Letters of credit issued for vehicles reach the market. I rushed to Parliament just after my recent foreign visit and stressed the need for building market confidence. There is no confidence in the market currently. This is why importers want dollars for their rupees soon while exporters prefer to keep their dollar earnings more..

Jun 4 (NW) SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has warned the public of fake AI‑generated videos circulating online featuring Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, PM Harini Amarasuriya, and several other prominent figures. In a statement, the agency said these deepfake videos are being used as part of financial scams, falsely depicting leaders and celebrities encouraging people to invest money for promised returns. According to complaints received, the deceptive content more..

Jun 4 (DM) SL’s children are increasingly becoming vulnerable to various forms of violence, abuse and harassment. From infants being abandoned by the roadside to parents attempting to sell off their children due to abject poverty, children and youth continue to be at the receiving end of various societal pressures. Today, it has come to a point where children have in fact become a burden to families in underserved settlements. Children are being forced to work at a young age more..

Jun 4 (FT) SL’s post-default recovery is entering a more complex and uncertain phase. Just as macroeconomic stability appeared to be taking hold after the 2022 sovereign debt crisis, a new wave of external pressures is exposing the fragility beneath the surface. Despite continued support from the IMF, rising import costs and renewed pressure on the rupee are raising serious questions about the durability of recovery. At the centre of the challenge is a renewed strain on external sector. more..

Jun 4 (TM) Govt is unable to allocate additional funds for welfare and social security programmes due to restrictions linked to the IMF reform programme, even as the World Bank warns that one in four Sri Lankans remains trapped below the poverty line. Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Ministry acknowledged that growing economic pressures have increased the need for support among vulnerable groups more..

Jun 4 (TM) Water tariffs will be increased by a marginal amount in response to the recent rise in electricity charges, Housing, Construction and Water Supply Minister Susil Ranasinghe said. Ranasinghe said the adjustment would be made in proportion to the impact of higher electricity costs on water supply operations. He explained that electricity expenses account for approximately 12% of the water tariff structure and that the increase in electricity tariffs has affected that component. more..

Jun 4 (DM) Claiming that the CPC had to spend USD 520 million for fuel imports in May as more shipments were procured in April, CPC Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna said today the fuel bill will be reduced to USD 198 million in July. He said eleven fuel shipments were procured in April, whereas only five shipments including two crude oil shipments are normally procured in a month. Chairman said more shipments had to be procured in April due to non-availability of crude oil required for refinery more..

Jun 4 (AD) The 4-member committee of Judicial Medical Consultants unanimously ruled that the death of Ranga Rajapaksa, who served as an Assistant Director of the Finance Ministry’s External Resources Department, was caused due to self-inflicted cuts, said the chair of the panel JMO Dr. Ilangaratne Banda. He said this while giving evidence before Kuliyapitiya Magistrate Mihil Chiranthana Satharasinghe today (3). more..

Jun 4 (DM) National Taxi App Three-Wheelers’ Professional Collective President Jasmine Lanka says many in the industry had expected the current govt and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to follow the example of the legendary folk hero Utuwankande Sura Saradiel after coming to power. “We thought the President would take from those who have and give to those who do not. What has happened now is that those who have little have been reduced to nothing,” he said. more..

Jun 4 (Island) Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa said that the powers that be should promptly initiate action to introduce necessary amendments to the Penal Code to deal with Meegoda-type incidents. Law academic Mahanamahewa said that the Penal Code, in its existing form, was not sufficient to deal with the increasingly reckless driving. He urged the Parliament to consider necessary amendments to the relevant law to impose strict liability in respect of horrendous hit-and-run acts and accidents more..

Jun 4 (FT) Sri Lanka’s gross public debt increased marginally during the first quarter of 2026 in rupee terms, despite a decline in the dollar value of Govt debt, according to the latest Quarterly Statistical Debt Bulletin issued by the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO). Total public debt stood at Rs. 32.23 trillion at end-March 2026, up from Rs. 32.2 trillion three months earlier. In dollar terms, the stock declined by 2% to $ 102.27 billion from $ 103.86 billion. more..

Jun 4 (DN) Four SL weightlifters have qualified to compete at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2. Based on the qualification system of the Int'l Weightlifting Federation, Indika Dissanayake (men’s 71kg), Sandu Jayawardena (men’s 65kg), Indika Dissanayake (71kg), Supun Somathileka (men’s 60kg) and Upamalika Ravihari (women’s 48kg) have secured their places at the Games. IWF has already confirmed their participation more..

Jun 4 (Island) More than 55,000 metric tonnes of what has been described as substandard coal that should have been outright rejected had already been unloaded from the vessel MV JOSCO YONGZHOU by yesterday (2), intensifying allegations of a major procurement scandal involving the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant. Free Lawyers Organisation (FLO) warned that the controversial shipment, carrying a total of more..

Jun 4 (NW) Four members of the same family, including two women, have been arrested over the alleged assault of a 16-year-old boy accused of theft in Galle, Police said. Arrests were made after a video showing the teenager being assaulted circulated on social media, including Facebook. The 16-year-old from Dandeniyakanda, Beralapanathara, had been arrested in connection with a property theft complaint reported to the Galle Police. He was produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court more..

Jun 4 (Island) Indian HC Santosh Jha on Tuesday distributed enhanced financial assistance under Indian grant among needy students of Uni of Jaffna hailing from economically weaker sections of society. Scheme was rolled out starting from the academic year 2025-26. IHC said that earlier, a financial assistance scheme under Indian grant had been implemented at the university in the academic year 2023-24, where a scholarship of SLR 5000 per month was granted to 100 students more..

Jun 4 (Island) At a time when Sri Lanka was grappling with economic uncertainty, dwindling foreign reserves and an urgent need for foreign investment, a little-publicised environmental initiative quietly attracted nearly USD 4 million into the country through an innovative carbon-financing mechanism centred on mangrove restoration. The project, implemented by TCP Lanka (PVT) Ltd. under the leadership of conservationist Thushan Kapurusinghe, has already restored more..

Jun 4 (FT) JAT Holdings yesterday said that it posted its highest-ever annual revenue in FY25/26, with performance reflecting the continued strength of its core coatings business, disciplined manufacturing strategy, and investments in emerging growth platforms despite a challenging external environment. For the year ended 31 March 2026, group revenue increased by 9% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs. 12.6 billion, compared to Rs. 11.6 billion in the previous year. more..

Jun 4 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration has enacted more laws during its first 18 months in office than the administration of former Prez Maithripala Sirisena, despite lagging behind during its first six months, according to an analysis by Verité Research. Study found that while the Sirisena administration moved more quickly to gazette and pass legislation in its early months, Dissanayake administration more..

Jun 4 (CT) SL have announced their 'A' squads for the upcoming tri-series and four-day series starting from Tuesday, June 9. SL A will play a tri-nation series involving India A and Afghanistan A before facing the Men in Blue in four-day matches. Lanka's A squad have a plethora of players with international experience under their belt. Some of the notable players to feature in the 16-member squad include the likes of Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama and more..

Jun 4 (DN) The Cross Country Championship, which is part of the National Sports Festival, will be held on June 6 in Nuwara Eliya. The Ministry of Sports has planned to conduct this year’s National Sports Festival on a grand scale, as it marks the 50th edition of the event. Steps have also been taken to significantly increase the cash prizes awarded to winning athletes. The main festival will be held from December 4 to 6 at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium. more..

Jun 4 (CI) Kusal Mendis hit 72 off 62 to energise SL after a slow start, while Pathum Nissanka, Janith Liyanage, and Charith Asalanka produced important innings in SL's advance to 303 for 7. On a Sabina Park surface that took some turn, their total turned out to be 41 too many for West Indies, who began solidly enough, but were ultimately reined in by SL's spinners. Maheesh Theekshana returned outstanding figures of more..

Jun 4 (TM) Annually, around 300 to 400 children are born with club feet in Sri Lanka, Consultant Community Physician and National Programme Manager for Maternal and Child Morbidity and Mortality Surveillance at the Family Health Bureau, Prof Kapila Jayaratne said. Addressing a seminar, Prof Jayaratne said yesterday (03) that all children born with the condition can be successfully treated and cured. He noted that the programme to manage and treat clubfoot is being carried out jointly more..