Jul 26 (DN) Ashen Bandara produced a gritty unbeaten half-century to guide Police SC past Colts CC and into the final of the Major Club Limited Over Tournament, in their semi-final clash at CCC Grounds yesterday. Chasing a target of 144, Police SC recovered from early pressure thanks to a vital 49-run stand between Bandara and Vishad Randika, who made a steady 36 off 46 balls. Skipper Bandara remained composed throughout the innings, finishing on 55 not out off 84 deliveries, more..

Jul 26 (FT) Marking a powerful leap forward in SL’s renewable energy journey, WindForce and Vidullanka have announced the successful commissioning of the 10 MW Sooryashakthi Solar Power Project with Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, as Chief Guest. This visionary project follows the commissioning of the 10 MW Solar Universe plant also located in Vavunativu, which WindForce and Vidullanka previously collaborated on at the height of economic crisis in 2022. more..

Jul 26 (CT) A flagship education programme launched by the previous govt has come under scrutiny, with the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) expressing disappointment over its poor implementation and demanding a full report within three months. The committee revealed that the programme 1,000 National Schools had failed to meet its objectives, with only 23 schools actually upgraded to national school status. more..

Jul 26 (CT) Marking a historic milestone in SL’s sports development journey, McLarens-3M proudly announces its partnership with Colombo Athletic and Football Club (CA&FC). This collaboration marks a new era in SL football, supported by top-tier knowledge of the globally renowned AC Milan Academy and internationally renowned brands, in addition to McLarens’ unwavering dedication to developing local talent. The first academy in SL to partner with a globally recognised institution more..

Jul 26 (DN) The SL Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) is set to launch an online doping awareness course in Sinhala for the first time. This course has been recommended as a qualification to be obtained when participating in international competitions from Sri Lanka in the future. Therefore, this course is mandatory for every athlete currently in the sports field, said Dr. Shiromi Pilapitiya, Director General of the SL Anti-Doping Agency(SLADA) The course will be launched on July 28th (Monday) 11 am more..

Jul 26 (FT) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath called on the global SL diaspora and business community to step up investments in the country, assuring that the Govt is laying the groundwork for a more transparent, inclusive and investor-friendly environment. Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural AGM of the Global Federation of SL Business Councils in Colombo, Herath said the Govt’s long-term vision is to create more..

Jul 26 (ST) Having battled wild elephants and many other odds for over three months to protect their paddy produce, the farmers are now faced with a new problem of not being able to sell their paddy harvest at a reasonable rate. The farmers allege that brokers for private buyers are approaching them in a bid to buy their produce at a low rate while there is no relief from the govt either. Farmers allege that they have been in an extremely helpless situation this year with the Yala season harvest as more..

Jul 26 (DN) SL’s Junior National Champion, Matheesha Wijesekara, has made a strong impression at the 2025 World Junior Squash Championships by reaching the semi-finals of the Consolation Plate event held in Black Ball Sports Club in Cairo, Egypt yesterday. Matheesha, a student of Royal College Colombo, competing in one of the world’s toughest squash stages among 221 of the best junior players from across the world, continued his journey in the Consolation Plate more..

Jul 26 (FT) The 33rd AGM of the Sri Lanka – Pakistan Business Council (SLPBC) was held recently, attended by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to SL Faheem Ul Aziz, HI (M) at Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo. DMW Ventures Ltd. Managing Director Wasantha de Silva was elected as SLPBC President for 2025/26, while Feroze Haji Anver from Cliftex Industries Ltd. and Perakum Mahasen Abeysekera from Vinu International Trading Company were elected Vice Presidents, more..

Jul 26 (FT) The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has partnered with the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Jaffna to deliver hands-on training in smart farming technologies to 100 farmers in Kilinochchi in a significant move to modernise Sri Lanka’s agriculture and strengthen food security in the face of climate change. A full-day workshop was held at the University’s greenhouses and demonstration fields under the banner of the Bank’s Agri Modernisation Village program. more..

Jul 26 (ST) Almost all local councils, barring five, have been formed, with a significant number of them shrouded in controversies after main parties solicited support of rival parties, irrespective of policy differences. Many of the councils now face the challenge of carrying on with council work together with rival members in their camp. Commenting on this situation, Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Rathnayake said, more..

Jul 26 (Island) With its natural beauty, wildlife and culture, Sri Lanka is known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean, and attracts millions of tourists every year. But my research suggests that the country might not be so reliant on tourism in the future, as it looks to become a major player in global maritime trade. The island’s numerous harbours and enviable location along int'l sea routes have led to major investment from China and the US, as they seek to extend their strategic influence in the region. more..

Jul 26 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s participation in Thursday’s parliamentary debate on educational reforms can be considered an indication that the govt is very serious about implementing them. The Opposition has claimed that the Prez’s presence in the House was intended to eclipse PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is spearheading the educational reform initiative, as the Minister of Education. It has said the JVP is trying to take over the educational reform programme more..

Jul 26 (FT) The SL mercenary scandal exposes how economic hardship forces former soldiers into the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Brainwashed by spurious promises of high pay and Russian citizenship, hundreds paid towering fees to flesh-peddlers, some linked to retired generals. Instead of safe roles, they face frontline combat, with passports confiscated. As of early 2025, over 550 Sri Lankans were recruited, and at least 59 confirmed dead, though true figures are likely much higher. more..

Jul 26 (DM) Prior to 2023, it was a very rare instance for MPs, ministers or presidents of this country to be held responsible for crimes they committed wittingly or unwittingly. It had become a culture where politicians could even commit murder with impunity. Police inquiries and judicial sentences were halted or overturned on political affiliation. A case in point being that of MP Duminda Silva. On Oct 8, 2011, Silva, in broad daylight and in front of hundreds of witnesses, gunned down and killed more..

Jul 26 (CT) The national and political memory that has left a dark mark on SL’s recent history is Black July. This devastating event, which saw the country set on fire in a communal frenzy on 23 July 1983, cannot be erased from history. Even though it has been 42 years since that incident, it is still mental trauma to recall that unpleasant event again and again. That is why we, Sri Lankans, hope that such a terrible time more..

Jul 26 (DM) The reports about finding skeletal remains of children from what now seems to be a mass grave at Chemmani, the entrance to Jaffna city, inevitably remind the writer of a similar scenario that occurred some forty years ago, in 1984. It was a time when the LTTE did not monopolise the armed struggle against the SL security forces. The TELO, one of the several Tamil groups that were then attempting to outshine each other, had launched a massive attack on the Chavakachcheri police more..

Jul 26 (DM) History was made 65 years ago in July 1960 when 44 year old Sirimavo Bandaranaike assumed office as the PM of SL known then as Ceylon. Sirimavo shattered a glass ceiling by becoming the world’s first elected woman PM. It is said that the British press coined a new word stateswoman after Sirimavo became PM. When Sirimavo assumed office on July 22nd 1960, large crowds lined up along the streets of Colombo to cheer the smiling lady as she was driven from more..

Jul 26 (CT) In a long-awaited development, the National Police Commission (NPC) has decided to dismiss the services of former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, with immediate effect. The decision comes after disciplinary proceedings found him guilty of failing to act on vital intelligence that could have prevented the devastating Easter Sunday bombings in 2019. more..

Jul 26 (CT) In a ruling that will reverberate well beyond SL’s shores, the Supreme Court has handed down a landmark judgment that pierces the fog of delay, denial and diplomatic deflection surrounding the MV X-Press Pearl disaster. After more than four years of murky manoeuvring and institutional inertia, the highest court in the land has delivered what successive govts and bureaucracies failed to: a firm and uncompromising stand for accountability, justice and environmental protection. more..

Jul 26 (CT) While coming to power less than a year ago, the JVP-NPP Govt of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was destined to grabble with both legacy issues in policy-making and programme implementation, as well as more recent ones that were a product of the twin troubles of Covid lockdown and the economic crisis that followed. Yes, the economic crisis was looming, only that the Covid lockdown advanced the nation’s tryst with destiny – or was it a tryst with fate? more..

Jul 25 (AM) The Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has decided to conduct an independent investigation into the nationwide power outage that occurred on 9 February, which was reportedly caused by a monkey colliding with the national electricity system. PUCSL Director of Corporate Communications Janaka Herath said the internal report submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was unsatisfactory, prompting the commission to seek an external expert analysis. more..

Jul 25 (BBC) Already living from hand to mouth, millions of garment workers across Asia fear for their jobs as a deadline to strike a trade deal with the US - or face punishing tariffs - looms closer. On 9 July, following a 90-day pause on tariffs for countries to negotiate deals, the US president notified several countries in the region of new levies set to begin on 1 August. The new rates, while lower than those proposed in April, have done little to allay anxieties. Among nations that received letters from more..

Jul 25 (AD) The IMF has acknowledged SL’s continued economic progress as the country prepares for its fifth review under the IMF-supported EFF arrangement. IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack provided an update on the status of SL’s economic program and upcoming evaluations. On July 1st, IMF Executive Board completed the fourth review of SL’s program, releasing a tranche of $350 million more..

Jul 25 (EN) SL’s central govt debt edged up to 96.7% of GDP by March 2025 from 96.1% in December amid some currency depreciation, official data showed. Central govt debt went up to 29,258 billion rupees in the first quarter of 2025 from 28,739 billion rupees. Domestic debt went up from 18,310 billion rupees to 18,532 billion rupees, while foreign debt went up to 10,722 billion rupees, from 10,429 billion rupees, faster than the budget deficit of the period amid some rupee depreciation. more..

Jul 25 (PMD) Hotel Show Colombo – 2025 was officially inaugurated this morning by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the BMICH, Colombo. This exhibition, which is jointly organized annually by the SL Hospitality Graduates Association (SLHGA) in collaboration with the public and private sectors, is being held for the 17th time this year. Colombo Hotel Show, which began in 1998, is the largest hospitality trade exhibition in SL and serves as a valuable opportunity to promote more..

Jul 25 (DM) In a significant step toward strengthening child protection systems in SL, the International Conference on Child Protection (ICCP’25) was inaugurated today in Colombo. The 3-day event, which runs until July 27, brings together more than 250 participants, including govt officials, child protection experts, academics, and international stakeholders, to address the urgent need to end violence against children. more..

Jul 25 (NW) Deputy Minister of Transport Dr. Prasanna Gunasena claimed that the system of the Dept of Motor Traffic (RMV) was deliberately taken offline, linking the incident to the govt’s broader efforts to combat corruption. “RMV’s system was deliberately brought down,” he said, alleging that the disruption was orchestrated by individuals with vested interests resisting reform. Gunasena said Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports & Civil Aviation oversees several institutions more..

Jul 25 (PMD) A discussion took place yesterday afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat between the Secretary to the Prez, Dr. Nandika Kumanayake and a delegation from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, along with representatives from Japanese trade, commerce and industry sectors. This delegation from Japan has arrived in SL to explore opportunities for increasing Japanese investment in the country. Japanese delegation, focusing on new investment more..

Jul 25 (DM) Marking a key milestone in Sri Lanka’s external debt restructuring process, the Govts of Sri Lanka and France have officially signed the Implementation Letters related to their bilateral debt agreement. The agreement follows the MoU signed on June 26, 2024, between Sri Lanka and the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) for the country’s external debt restructuring. As part of this framework, a bilateral agreement between the two nations was signed on June 16, 2025. more..

Jul 25 (CT) The number of dengue cases in the country from January till the third week of July 2025 has topped 30,000, with the highest (6,035) number of cases being recorded in the month of May 2025. Total number of cases in SL from January to 23 July 2025 midnight had mounted to 32,837 cases. A total of 16 dengue deaths have also been recorded within this period. From the first 7 months of the year, the highest numbers were recorded in April (5,171), May (6,036) and June (5,467). more..