Aug 2 (ST) A recent audit examination into financial statement and other legal and regulatory requirements of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for the year 2025 has raised serious concerns over transparency, competitiveness and possible conflicts of interest in several major projects, including the installation of a new floodlight system at the R. Premadasa Stadium, construction work at the A'pura District Cricket Association more..

Aug 2 (SO) President, Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) Bimal Wijayasinghe said that they would launch an effective program with the consent of all stakeholders in preparation for the upcoming Asian Games and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. Q: What actually led to the resignation of the national athletics selection committee? A: I think there were two or three points that they had stated in their resignation but most likely the inclusion of an athlete to more..

Aug 2 (Island) JVP-NPP govt is painting itself into a corner by trying to increase the retirement ages of the superior court judges through a constitutional amendment amidst protests from various reputable organisations, representing lawyers, judges, civil society outfits and religious leaders. Bar Association of SL (BASL) is leading the battle against the govt’s politically motivated efforts to extend the retirement ages of the judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. more..

Aug 2 (ST) My dear Uncle Ranil, Sajith and Namal baby, I wanted to write to you after seeing you at the same gathering, called by Sajith at Namal Baby’s insistence, to oppose the proposal to increase the retirement age of those who sit in judgment. It was amusing to see almost the entire opposition in one room fighting what they claimed was a just cause. You three were the main players present but anyone who was someone in the opposition was there. Chamara put it best, saying said Anura more..

Aug 2 (ST) The govt launched a fresh campaign to instil integrity into public servants this week with an oath-taking ceremony on top of an earlier one taken on New Year’s Day and now part of a national drive for A Culture of Integrity – Clean SL. Unfortunately, the timing was such that the govt’s own integrity came into question when it rammed through the Cabinet a controversial proposal to extend the age limit of superior court justices in the face of protests and accusations from the Bar & Bench alike, more..

Aug 2 (ST) Cabinet decision to lease residences designated for the use of Presidential houses in Bentota, Kataragama, Mahiyanganaya, Embilipitiya & A'pura to private investors on a long-term basis for tourism development projects has raised concerns in some quarters. Former MP Charitha Herath, referring to the decision, says repurposing historically significant state buildings for commercial use should not be treated merely more..

Aug 2 (CT) The death sentence issued by a 3-judge Trial at Bar on the former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundara on Friday for criminal dereliction of duty in their failure to act on prior intelligence warnings relating to the Easter Sunday attacks has shaken the country to its core. Judgment delivered on two of the country’s topmost law enforcement officers had the prosecution argue on the grounds that their negligence in acting upon more..

Aug 2 (FT) An ancient Sinhalese poem reads “මරණ තුනක් ඇති මිනිසෙක් පැණි කෑය : A man facing 3 risks of death ate honey.” Will the regime in governance have to face the attendant socio-economic challenges and Mud on its Face due to the Inaction of Law Enforcement and Prosecutors? Sri Lanka faces the under noted risks because of Irregular Transfers/Loss of Forex Resources of Sri Lanka, all witnessed over the one or more recent years: 1. Risks of SL being downgraded more..

Aug 2 (TM) As Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and JVP-led NPP Govt enter a more politically demanding phase, it is becoming increasingly clear that the country’s post-crisis recovery will be judged not only by economic indicators but also by the administration’s ability to navigate complex political and institutional challenges. Having largely steered the country through the immediate aftermath of more..

Aug 2 (TM) There is a question about the proposed extension of the retirement age of SL’s superior court judges that the Govt has not adequately answered and perhaps should answer before it proceeds any further. What happens if a future govt decides to do exactly the opposite? Suppose a future govt inherits the precedent now being created and decides that, instead of extending the retirement age of judges, it would reduce it. Suppose the retirement age is lowered from 67 to 60, or more..

Aug 2 (SO) The present phase of the Gaza conflict started on Oct 7, 2023 when Hamas, which de-facto controls the Strip, launched a pre-dawn attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 civilians and abducting another 250, including a few military personnel. Israel retaliated almost immediately afterwards, launching wave after wave of air and drone attacks that have so far killed 75,000 Gaza residents, most of whom were civilians. The highly disproportionate Israeli response has been described as more..

Jul 31 (DM) Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, will host the Sri Lankan Leopard Day 2026 tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Opposition Leader's office in Colombo 7, bringing together leading experts, policymakers, conservationists, researchers, govt institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector and young people to strengthen national efforts to conserve the SL leopard. The SL leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is one of the country's most treasured more..

Jul 31 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a nation and society can only progress with a generation of young people equipped with skills and vision, and that it is essential to build the confidence of young people that opportunities exist for them while ensuring those opportunities become a reality. PM made these remarks on 30 July while attending the official launch of the Sri Lanka Skills Expo 2026 educational exhibition, held at the Colombo Mayor's Official Residence, more..

Jul 31 (AD) The Supreme Court has ordered an employee to pay Rs. 50 million in compensation to a company operating in the Katunayake Export Processing Zone for allegedly disclosing its “manufacturing secrets” and “trade secrets” to another company for financial gain. The verdict was delivered by Supreme Court Judge Mahinda Samayawardhena, with the concurrence of Justices Janak de Silva & Sampath more..

Jul 31 (NW) Police Spokesman ASP F.U. Wootler says steps are being taken to vest with the govt illegal assets worth Rs. 3,811 million that were seized between 2024 and 2026. Wootler said authorities had moved to deactivate or seize Rs. 1490 million worth of illegal assets in 2024. He said legal proceedings were initiated to vest Rs. 1549 million worth of illegal property with the State in 2025, while action has already begun this year to confiscate assets valued at Rs. 772 million. more..

Jul 31 (DM) Journalists in Jaffna staged a protest today demanding justice for murdered journalists and calling for impartial and credible investigations into the killings of media personnel, attacks on journalists, and violence against media institutions. The protest was held on Friday in front of the Jaffna District Secretariat. The demonstration coincided with the two-day visit of Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Deputy Minister of Mass Media, who is participating in several official events in Jaffna. more..

Jul 31 (AD) The Colombo Permanent Trial-at-Bar today (31) also sentenced former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando to death after finding him guilty of criminal negligence and other charges over his failure to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks despite receiving prior intelligence information. He was sentenced by the court after finding him guilty of criminal dereliction of duty, attempted murder and murder, for failing to more..

Jul 31 (DM) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) concluded the week with another subdued trading session, as both benchmark indices edged marginally lower amid cautious investor sentiment. Price movements remained largely range-bound throughout the day, while trading activity was dominated by high-value crossing transactions rather than broad-based market participation. Although turnover and share volume increased sharply compared to the previous session, more..

Jul 31 (NW) Former IGP Pujith Senadhi Bandara Jayasundara, once the country’s highest-ranking police officer, was on Friday sentenced to death by a majority decision of a three-judge bench of the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar after being found guilty over his failure to act on intelligence warnings ahead of the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. Born on March 15, 1960, in Kurunegala, Jayasundara studied at Ibbagamuwa Central School & Dharmaraja College, more..

Jul 31 (DN) The newly constructed Jana Arunagama model village was officially vested in the public yesterday (29). Initiated in 2018 as part of the Indian Govt Grant Aid Model Village Housing Scheme, the construction of this housing project had been stalled from time to time due to economic, social, and diverse challenges faced by the country. Its construction was expedited after the current Govt took over. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, who was at the hand-over with more..

Jul 31 (DN) Minister Susil Ranasinghe stated that action will be taken, based on the recommendations of a committee appointed to examine housing projects that were commenced during previous administrations but left incomplete due to various reasons. He said that there are nearly 5,000 such incomplete housing units around the country. The matter was discussed at the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Housing, Construction and Water Supply, more..

Jul 31 (TM) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage in a damning indictment of the current Council of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), stated that in his view any future upward curve of the sport here, will hinge on the shoulders of three past greats of the game the country has produced. He made this candid assessment addressing a media conference held at on Tuesday, to officially launch the inaugural Asia Pacific Lions vs Northampton Saints tour more..

Jul 31 (NW) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) announced today that fuel prices will remain unchanged in August under the monthly price revision scheme. Accordingly, prevailing prices will continue without adjustment. CPC Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna made the announcement during a special press briefing held this afternoon, confirming that no revisions will be applied for the month. Last month, the CPC reduced the prices of Petrol Octane 92 and Auto Diesel with effect from midnight more..

Jul 31 (Island) Uma Kumaran, Labour MP for Stratford and Bow has been appointed Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, becoming the first British Tamil to hold ministerial office. The appointment was confirmed on Wednesday as the new PM, Andy Burnham, set out his ministerial team. Kumaran will also serve as an Assistant Whip. Foreign Office is the department responsible for British foreign policy, more..

Jul 31 (NW) SL’s 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service marked its 10th anniversary on Friday, with Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announcing plans to expand the national emergency response fleet to 470 ambulances. The commemorative event was held at the SL Foundation Institute in Colombo with the participation of Suwa Seriya founder and MP Harsha de Silva and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha. Launched on July 28, 2016, more..

Jul 31 (NW) Lt Gen K.V.N.P. Premaratne received his letter of appointment as the 26th Commander of the SL Army from Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today. The appointment, on the instructions of Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, takes effect from August 1, following the retirement of General Lasantha Rodrigo today. Major General K.V.N.P. Premaratne who has been serving as more..

Jul 31 (FT) SL’s next phase of economic development will depend less on whether it can produce ideas than whether it can convert those ideas into globally competitive businesses. This is according to economists, scientists, technology specialists and legal scholars who addressed the inaugural Alumni Association of the University of Colombo Global Hybrid Alumni Knowledge-Sharing Seminar Series on Technology and Innovation, Trade & Economics, and Law & Governance. more..

Jul 31 (NW) The 11th National Scout Jamboree, organised by the SL Scout Association to mark its 115th anniversary, is scheduled to be held from 17 to 23 Jan 2027 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l Sports Complex in Diyagama. A discussion on organisational arrangements and progress was held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat, reviewing preparations for the Jamboree. Meeting focused on mobilising support from state and semi‑govt institutions and assigning responsibilities more..

Jul 31 (DM) Anuradhapura Magistrate's Court has imposed a fine of Rs. 500,000 on railway catering service provider for selling bottled drinking water above the government-approved Maximum Retail Price (MRP) on a train operating between Kankesanthurai and Colombo. The case was filed by investigation officers of the A'pura District Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) under Direction No. 96 of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, which prohibits the sale of goods above the stipulated MRP. more..

Jul 31 (DM) Sri Lanka was recently officially reclassified by the World Bank as an Upper Middle-Income Country. This new classification is based on the country’s 5% economic growth recorded in 2025 and the macroeconomic recovery achieved following the economic crisis of 2022. Accordingly, SL has been upgraded from the Lower Middle-Income category to the Upper Middle-Income category under WB's income classification. more..

Jul 31 (DM) Dept of Meteorology has issued a warm weather advisory for residents in the Eastern Province and the districts of Kilinochchi, Mullaittivu, Vavuniya, Polonnaruwa and Monaragala. The heat index, which indicates the temperature felt by the human body, is expected to rise to the Caution level at some locations in these areas during the daytime tomorrow. The Heat Index Forecast is calculated using relative humidity and maximum temperature to determine the level of heat experienced more..

Jul 31 (NW) Govt plans to establish a new National Handicrafts Authority by 2027 through the merger of the Dept of Textile Industries, the National Crafts Council, National Design Centre, and Laksala, according to discussions at Committee on Public Accounts (COPA). The proposed authority is expected to transform SL’s traditional textile and handicrafts sector into a competitive industry by integrating modern fashion, design, and technology while targeting int'l markets. more..