Jun 26 (ST) Many state institutions have emphasised that the El Niño situation forecast by the Department of Meteorology (Met) has been destructively exaggerated by social media as to its impact on SL. They said that according to forecasts by the Dept of Meteorology to date, extreme weather conditions cannot occur in the country due to the El Niño that is now in effect. So they ask people to pay attention only to official statements by more..

Jun 26 (Island) Sri Lanka is currently well and truly trapped in the strangling grip of a devastating and severely enhanced dengue outbreak. The numbers alone are staggering; over 44,000 cases have been recorded across the island so far this year, with the highest concentration systematically suffocating the Western, Southern, and Central provinces. Hospitals and healthcare providers are under extreme pressure, but the cold metrics of morbidity do not capture the true implications and more..

Jun 26 (FT) Lenin once wrote: We not only do not know which spark will ignite the fire, but neither can we know it in advance. Over the past several weeks, what we have seen and heard are continuous protests taking place across virtually every farming region in SL. A peasant uprising has begun. This is a welcome development. The arrogance of the NPP Govt, especially that of its Minister of Agriculture, must be challenged by mobilising this force. Farmers possess sufficient strength to do so. more..

Jun 26 (DN) This month marked two important milestones in British politics. First, Britons marked the 10th anniversary of that great self-inflicted wound called Brexit. Even though the UK did not actually leave the EU until 2020, the infamous Brexit referendum was held on June 23, 2016, with British voters either voting to Leave or Remain. It was a rather close call but the take back control faction led by the likes of Reform UK’s Nigel Farage won in the end. more..

Jun 26 (Island) The whole world is enjoying the benefits of the US-Iran peace deal. Vessel traffic has more than doubled via the Hormuz Strait over the past 36 hours or so, bringing oil prices down steeply, according to media reports. Predictions that oil prices would not return to the preconflict levels in the foreseeable future have gone wrong. World oil prices have come down almost to the pre-Iran war levels, with the global benchmark Brent crude dropping below USD 72.48 a barrel, more..

Jun 26 (SO) The country has been experiencing a significant Dengue outbreak this year but it is not yet at the scale of an epidemic, unlike in 2017 where the country recorded 186,101 Dengue cases. However, the sharp rise in infections this year has pushed hospital capacities to their limits. The pressure on hospital capacity is being felt nationwide as admissions continue to rise. Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijayamuni said current congestion more..

Jun 26 (DM) Excavations of over a year at the Chemmani mass grave at the entrance of Jaffna city have unearthed over 400 skeletal remains, many belonging to children. Some reports put the number at 412 by Monday, with the exhumation of 13 more skeletal remains on that day. Even before the completion of this gruesome task, the grim discovery has officially made Chemmani the largest mass grave site in SL, surpassing the 376 remains recovered in 2018 at a former wholesale more..

Jun 26 (GV) On June 21, as the rest of the world marked the final day of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, a group of Sri Lankans gathered for the annual Pride Walk, a quiet but powerful act of visibility in a country where simply being yourself can still come with a cost. Pride events in Sri Lanka, held by organisations like Equal Ground, have grown year after year. But beyond the rainbow flags and the collective courage it takes to march, there are real lives, real fears and real stories that more..

Jun 26 (TM) On 23 June 1924, a child was born in Dias Place, Keselwatte, in a modest dwelling located in the heart of Colombo Central. Later, this child would go on to re-invent the very idea of a SL leader. Ranasinghe Premadasa was not from the elite class or traditional aristocracy. He originated from among the masses. He devoted every chapter of his remarkable life to the people, right up until his sudden and violent death on more..

Jun 26 (GV) As the island braces for the latter half of the year, a familiar, unwelcome visitor is stirring in the Pacific Ocean. Meteorologists have all but confirmed the onset of a powerful El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event, a climatic shift that historically leaves a trail of parched fields, empty reservoirs and economic turmoil across Sri Lanka. Yet, unlike previous encounters, the nation faces this threat at a time of profound economic fragility. This is not just a weather story; more..

Jun 26 (DM) Three years after SL plunged into its worst economic crisis since independence, the country’s economy has regained a measure of stability. Foreign reserves have improved, inflation has eased, tourism is recovering, and the immediate threat of sovereign default has receded. Yet stability is not growth. It is merely the foundation upon which growth must be built. The govt today appears increasingly preoccupied with managing perceptions rather than accelerating economic expansion. more..

Jun 25 (DM) Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to providing every possible support to strengthen the work of the National Commission on Women and safeguard its independence. The assurance was given during a meeting with Chairperson Ambassador Grace Asirwatham and members of the Commission at the Parliamentary Complex. Welcoming the newly appointed members, the Speaker described the establishment of the National Commission more..

Jun 25 (DM) The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, and the World Food Programme (WFP) Representative and Country Director, Philip Ward, met with Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) at the Ministry of Defence. The discussion focused on the World Food Programme's ongoing initiatives in Sri Lanka and the Government's priorities relating to disaster risk management and resilience-building programmes. more..

Jun 25 (AD) A discussion has been held in a bid to strengthen child protection systems and prevent violence against children in SL. The matter was deliberated when a delegation from UNICEF, accompanied by the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (VAC), Dr. Najat Maalla M'jid met with PM Harini Amarasuriya at the Parliament premises. The discussion was focused on more..

Jun 25 (DM) A retired professional engineer in her late 60s has lost more than Rs. 9 million after falling victim to an online investment scam promoted through WhatsApp, SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) said. The woman, who had more than 40 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, was financially secure and lived in a private retirement facility. She also maintained bank deposits exceeding Rs. 10 million and owned a house in a well-known more..

Jun 25 (TM) Though SL’s overall retail and consumer sector saw a 405% year-on-year growth in earnings in March 2026, the food, beverage and tobacco sector’s earnings experienced both a year-on-year and quarterly decline, with the food and staples retail sector seeing a moderate recovery, First Capital Research’s sector report for March said. The research unit found that though the overall retail and consumer sector saw a 405% year-on-year growth in March and 62% quarterly growth, more..

Jun 25 (DM) Central Bank of SL has submitted its report to the COPF regarding the disappearance of USD 2.5 million that had been held by the Treasury for the repayment of state debt. The report was discussed at a COPF meeting held in Parliament on June 23 under the chairmanship of MP Dr. Harsha de Silva. The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne and Nishantha more..

Jun 25 (DM) The Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Ministry has issued Circular No. 25/2026 outlining the procedure for the admission of children to Grade One in government schools for the 2027 academic year. According to the Ministry, the relevant press release on Grade One admissions was published in govt newspapers on June 29, 2026. Parents and guardians can obtain the circular and related information by visiting the Ministry’s official website, moe.gov.lk⁠ more..

Jun 25 (DM) The media will not survive in this society if they fail to come out of the garbage pile they have put themselves into, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament today. “The media is divided. We have nothing to do with it. They can criticise the govt. There is no issue in it. However, they will not survive in society if they do not come out of the old pile of garbage which they have put themselves into,” he said. “The media was attacked in Parliament in the past. more..

Jun 25 (DM) SL’s judicial system marked a historic milestone today as the Court of Appeal successfully accepted and heard its first-ever electronic filing (E-Filing) case, ushering in a new era of digital justice and paperless court administration. This case, a writ application was filed electronically by Ramzi Bacha Associates, Attorneys-at-Law, representing Super Willshine (Pvt) Limited. The matter was taken up before the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya more..

Jun 25 (DM) Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI), Renuka Weerakone, will retire from her position on June 30, bringing to a close a distinguished 32-year career at the country’s premier investment promotion agency, the BOI said. Weerakone joined the BOI on June 1, 1994, as an Assistant Manager (Legal) and steadily rose through the ranks to become Director General. During her tenure, she served in several key departments, including Investment Promotion, more..

Jun 25 (TO) Wellness travel is no longer just about booking a massage and calling it self-care. According to the State of Retreats 2026 Report, more travellers are now booking holidays that promise something beyond a tan and an overworked camera roll. The report, which surveyed 1,040 US travellers, found that nearly half of respondents – 49% – plan to spend on a wellness retreat this year. That puts retreats ahead of spa treatments, more..

Jun 25 (EN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said investigations are underway for money worth around US$ 1 billion that was sent out of the country illicitly since 2023 as advance for imports. The money was paid via Telegraphic Transfers (TT), but no corresponding goods arrived to the country in return, the president told Parliament. “Who can take around Rs. 300 billion out of the country? No ordinary person or businessman can move such vast sums of money. However, they have taken it out,” more..

Jun 25 (AD) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stated that SJB will carry out a disciplinary inquiry into SJB organiser for Horana, Charith Abeysinghe, who was arrested by the CIABOC this morning. Premadasa made these remarks while responding to a question raised in Parliament by Minister Harshana Nanayakkara regarding the matter. “We will definitely conduct a disciplinary inquiry and take the strongest possible action. There is absolutely no place in our party for criminals,” more..

Jun 25 (DM) A controversial audio recording allegedly linked to a bribery investigation has surfaced online, just hours after the arrest of Rakitha Rajapaksa and SJB Horana organiser Charith Abeysinghe by the CIABOC. Recording, which has rapidly spread across social media platforms and mainstream media networks, is purported to contain conversations involving Rajapaksa, Abeysinghe and the wife of alleged underworld figure more..

Jun 25 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to undertake an official visit to France on July 16, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and attracting increased French investment to SL. A key highlight of the visit will be a meeting between Prez Dissanayake and Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM, one of the world's largest maritime transport and logistics companies. The planned engagement more..

Jun 25 (FT) SL is soon to be shocked by another wave of rupee depreciation after mid-August this year unless the Govt and monetary authorities do something proactively to avoid it. Necessary conditions have already been set for the crisis. The previous time (in May, 2026) the domestic conditions for rupee depreciation were set, perhaps unknowingly, by the Govt & Central Bank. This time, the necessary conditions have already been set by Govt & CB under the pressure of IMF. more..

Jun 25 (NW) The Welfare Benefits Board has announced that from now on, payments under the Aswesuma benefits programme will be made only to poor and extremely poor families. Launched in 2023, the programme is entering its second phase this year, with work underway to update beneficiary information. At its inception, nearly 1.6 million people received allowances under four categories. However, in April 2025, payments to 315,000 beneficiaries in the transitional category more..

Jun 25 (Island) ​Representatives from Ceylon Chamber of Commerce met with PM Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday at the Parliament premises. During the meeting, discussions focused on the SL Economic and Investment Summit 2026 (SLEIS 2026), which is scheduled to be held on 12 and 13 Oct. Attention was also given to digitalization initiatives, the introduction of digital technologies in schools under new education reforms, and the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence more..

Jun 25 (LeN) ​Three suspects have been arrested by the CIABOC today for soliciting and accepting a massive bribe in 2023. Bribe was allegedly taken from Madhushika Madhuwanthi, wife of notorious organized criminal Nadun Chinthaka, alias Harak Kata, who was held under detention orders by the CID. ​The bribe was allegedly solicited in Dubai in exchange for ensuring the protection of the suspect's life more..

Jun 25 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the Govt to adopt Singapore‑style punishments against drug traffickers, stressing that those engaged in narcotics and crime must be punished without discrimination. Speaking in Parliament today in response to the Prez’s remarks, Premadasa said SJB stands firmly on the policy of eradicating narcotics, drugs, and poisonous substances from the country, and that no individual connected to such crimes has any place more..

Jun 25 (AD) Colombo High Court today directed that summons be issued to two Indian witnesses in the case filed against MP Namal Rajapaksa over the Krrish project deal, following the procedure set out under the Judicial Service Commission circular for issuing summons to foreign witnesses. The order was issued after the CID informed the court that the two witnesses in question could not be contacted. Colombo High Court Judge Nadee Suwandurugoda instructed that steps be taken to serve more..