Aug 30 (TM) The mandatory introduction of SL Customs’ paperless Customs Declaration (CusDec) process, currently scheduled for 1 October this year, may be extended amidst lobbying by the trader community for more time to adapt to the requirement. SL Customs Spokesman Chandana Punchihewa said that traders were currently lobbying for an extension, citing difficulties faced in adopting digital signatures. more..

Aug 30 (Island) Mass graves across SL are tragic and enduring evidence of the failures of successive states, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said, describing the Chemmani site as a historic symbol of a failed state. He said the Govt had ensured that excavations at the Chemmani mass grave were conducted through a transparent, scientific and lawful process, backed by the necessary funding and judicial and medical resources. “When we came to power, only skeletal remains recovered more..

Aug 30 (NW) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has rejected as false a social media post claiming that the prices of milk powder, cultured milk drinks and yoghurt have been increased. CAA said a post designed as a Breaking News alert was circulating on social media claiming that the price of a kilogram of milk powder had been increased by Rs. 260, a bottle of cultured milk drink by Rs. 40 and a yoghurt by Rs. 20. Authority said the information regarding these purported price increases more..

Aug 30 (Island) In the history of Test cricket, we have witnessed some epic rearguard actions that have saved the day. Our coach Gary Kirsten himself once batted for 14 and half hours after England enforced the follow on in Durban. Sir Garfield Sobers did something similar when he occupied the crease for many hours to save the Lord’s Test of 1963. Then, again at Lord’s, Mahela Jayawardene led from the front in 2006. SL were forced to follow on after conceding a first innings deficit of 359 runs, more..

Aug 30 (ST) My dear Mangala, I thought of writing to you because it is 5 years since you left us suddenly, becoming an unexpected victim of the Covid pandemic. You are hardly remembered today, despite the lasting impact of what you did while at the height of your powers. Surely, there is a lesson in that for present day politicians. You are often hailed as a political genius, especially while you were in the opposition. You are credited with being the mastermind behind the moves that more..

Aug 30 (SO) The mountains of Klaabaraga, in Poonagala, Badulla District, carry a history heavier than their soil. For two hundred years, these tea-blanketed highlands drew extraordinary wealth from the hands of the Malaiyaha community—Tamil-speaking plantation workers brought to these slopes under colonial coercion and denied, ever since, the most elementary right of all: to belong, permanently and securely, more..

Aug 30 (NW) The management of the Sevanagala Sugar Factory has temporarily shut down the facility until further notice, citing disruptions to production linked to ongoing worker unrest and trade union action. In a statement issued on August 29, the Chairman of the Sevanagala Sugar Company said production had been disrupted on several occasions in recent weeks due to unrest among employees. According to the Chairman, although employees reported for duty from August 25, more..

Aug 30 (AD) Underworld figure Saranga Pradeep, alias Welle Saranga, has been arrested in Dubai based on information provided by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and the State Intelligence Service (SIS). Suspect was recently apprehended by Dubai Police, acting on information provided by the Director of the CCIB and intelligence officers who had travelled to Dubai in connection with the arrest of Lalith Kannangara, alias Bus Lalith. Reports further indicate that more..

Aug 30 (ST) In the days of not so long ago, PM Dudley Senanayake responded sharply to an opposition MP: “I am the Govt,” he said, and his Minister of State, J.R. Jayewardene, interjected to say, good-humouredly, no doubt, And I am the State. Mr Jayewardene went on to become an Executive President, not far from repeating the famous quote of King Louis of France, who said, L’Etat, c’est moi (I am the State). Trying to blur the distinction between the State and the Govt more..

Aug 30 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake did not mince his words when he spoke about his and his NPP Govt’s intentions with regard to the proposed 22nd Amendment. Speaking at the national ceremony to mark the Holy Prophet’s birthday commemoration in Colombo last week, he said: “If the verdict of a 2006 case is delivered only in 2026, and nine years on, not a single piece of evidence has been recorded for a case filed in 2017, when will the public ever have faith in justice? more..

Aug 30 (TM) For Prez AKD and JVP-led NPP Govt, the country’s economic recovery is rapidly becoming more than a story of stabilisation. It is turning into a political test of whether the JVP/NPP can convince voters that the gains made since the 2022 crisis are sustainable, and that the country can eventually stand on its own without depending on another IMF programme or emergency foreign exchange support. Govt is increasingly more..

Aug 30 (TM) Even after more than 17 years since the end of the brutal three-decade war in N&E Provinces, the plight of the Tamil people who lost their ancestral lands – living as refugees, with relatives, or in rented houses – has not ceased. Recently, members of the Voice of the Landless People of North-East submitted a memorandum to PM Harini Amarasuriya during her visit to attend an educational financial assistance event for uni students at the Jaffna District Secretariat. more..

Aug 30 (CI) Medium pacers Chethana Vimukthi and Mithali Ayodhya starred with the ball as Sri Lanka began their 2026 Asia Cup title defence with a commanding win against UAE in Dubai. The duo, well supported by the rest of Sri Lanka's attack, combined to bowl UAE out for 79 with one ball remaining in the innings. In reply, Chamari Athapaththu wasted no time, blasting an unbeaten 48 off 25 balls to help Sri Lanka cruise to a nine-wicket victory with 73 balls to go. more..

Aug 30 (ST) With the ongoing Nallur Kandaswamy temple festival in Jaffna, thousands of devotees, both from the diaspora and across the island, are visiting the northern cultural city despite the scorching sun these days. Unlike in the past, huge crowds of devotees from all walks of life are participating in this year’s vibrant Hindu festival. One major difficulty they face is a lack of adequate transport facilities, particularly more..

Aug 30 (SO) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during Wednesday’s National Milad-un-Nabi celebration in Negombo said his Govt would not allow another ethnic or religious conflict to emerge in SL. Political stability and ethnic/religious unity are central pillars for the NPP Govt and his assurance addressed a real danger that has become harder to ignore. In recent weeks, the Kalmunai hospital uniform dispute drew attention towards Tamil-Muslim rivalry; a fabricated claim about a LTTE more..

Aug 30 (SO) Wednesday’s unprecedented flash flood in Nepal and Tibet is perhaps a harbinger of things to come as Climate Change takes a turn for the worse. Glacial collapse as a result of rising temperatures has been cited as the main reason for the flood, which has claimed at least 650 lives, while nearly 2,500 people are missing on both sides of the border. Experts have blamed both Nepalese and Chinese authorities for allowing constructions in the danger zone, which probably increased more..

Aug 30 (Island) Lionel Bopage, the first General Secretary of the JVP, was here recently from Australia where he is domiciled. Now 82, Bopage was among the key figures involved in the formation of the JVP and was a member of its early Committee of 21 leadership. He joined the movement at the age of 24, influenced by his father’s involvement in the Communist Party and his own commitment to left-wing politics. He later became increasingly critical of the JVP’s position on more..

Aug 30 (Island) The global tariff blackmail of the Trump Administration in Washington ran into the Canadian Sheild last week at the 45th Parallel. After year-long efforts to salvage the legally binding free trade agreement between Canada, Mexico and the US, from Trump’s illegally executed tariffs, Canada’s PM Mark Carney said enough is enough and pulled out of all trade talks with the US. The cessation of talks is a shocking development in the geopolitics of world trade and more..

Aug 30 (Island) Politics is more about pure theatre than actual delivery anywhere in the world. This is arguably more so about SL politicians, their parties, and successive govts. It is therefore only natural that the incumbent govt ensures that maximum possible pollical mileage accrues to it from the repatriation of SL criminals arrested overseas. Among the underworld characters brought back here during the past two years or so are several drug kingpins, Shiran Basik being the latest. more..

Aug 29 (NW) SL govt has rejected concerns raised by a UN Special Rapporteur over the proposed extension of judges’ retirement ages, insisting that the 22nd Amendment is part of broader judicial reforms and is not intended to prolong the tenure of particular judges. In a six-page response sent to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Aug 21, the govt said the proposed changes were aimed at more..

Aug 29 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today handed over the Navodayapuram Housing Project to 50 families from Poonagala, Kabaragala who lost their homes in the 2023 landslide and had been living in unsafe conditions for nearly three and a half years. The project, constructed with the active contribution of the Sri Lanka Army Corps of Engineers, was hailed as a significant initiative to improve the living standards of the Malayagam community. more..

Aug 29 (AD) According to data compiled by Visual Capitalist from ILO statistics, SL ranks 120th out of 130 countries in purchasing power parity (PPP)-adjusted monthly minimum wages in US dollars. The report highlights that SL’s monthly minimum wage stands at USD 200, placing it among the lowest globally and at the bottom among surveyed South Asian nations, behind Pakistan (68th; USD 570), Nepal (78th; USD 490), Bangladesh (89th; USD 379) & India (111th; USD 233). more..

Aug 29 (AD) Between 80 and 100 people die every day in Sri Lanka due to alcohol and substance abuse, according to Dr. Manoj Fernando. He made the remarks today (28) at an awareness press conference on illicit drug prevention and education held under the A Nation United – National Drive campaign launched by SL Police to curb the spread of narcotics across the country. more..

Aug 29 (DN) SL’s southern coastline is attracting growing interest from foreign visitors seeking to experience the country’s rich marine biodiversity and learn about efforts to protect endangered sea turtles. Turtle Conservation Centers established in the coastal belt around Ambalangoda, Kosgoda, Ahungalla and Akurala play an important role in raising awareness about turtle conservation while providing visitors with an opportunity to gain practical knowledge about marine wildlife protection. more..

Aug 29 (DN) ADB funded USD 55 million Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Desalination Plant the first ever in the entre ADB operation, commissioned at Thalaiyady is set to benefits 300,000 people within Jaffna District addressing the serious clean water scarcity issue prevalent in the Jaffna peninsula with 60,000 to 80,000 connections. In addition to the capital cost the contract amount is USD 49 million. Thereby ADB has provided USD 210 million in total for the water project in the peninsula. more..

Aug 29 (AD) The Society of Govt Pharmacists has decided to launch a one-day trade union action from 8 am on Monday (31). The decision comes in response to several unresolved issues concerning their additional service allowances, the association said. According to the President of the Association, Ajith P. Thilakarathna, a circular was issued by the Health Secretary on Aug 29, 2026, renaming the overtime allowances of pharmacists as additional service allowances. more..

Aug 29 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that steps are being taken to pass the Central Highlands Protection Authority Bill in Parliament by the end of this year or early next year, thereby granting the Authority all necessary powers to protect that ecosystem. The Prez made these remarks while attending the ceremonial handover of the Navodayapuram housing project to the public. The project was constructed for families who lost their homes in Poonagala Mountain landslide more..

Aug 29 (NF) SL's battle with prolonged dry weather intensified as authorities warned of rising heat levels, shrinking water resources and the growing impact of El Nińo conditions that have already affected more than 84,000 people across the country. Met Dept announced that from today until Sept 7, the sun will be positioned directly overhead across various parts of SL, a phenomenon that occurs twice annually as the apparent more..

Aug 29 (TM) According to the National Dengue Control Unit, the total number of dengue cases reported in the country so far this year has risen to 94,805. Furthermore, data indicate that 72 dengue-related deaths have been recorded to date. In August alone, 9,469 dengue cases have been reported so far, following 29,962 cases recorded in July and 21,533 cases in June. The Western Province accounts for 52.92 per cent of the total cases, with 50,167 patients reported. more..

Aug 29 (DN) SL’s Rumesh Tharanga once again came to the fore when he won the men’s javelin throw at the Zurich Diamond League with a 92.07-metre effort on his final attempt early yesterday. Tharanga’s victory in Zurich adds to what has already been an outstanding season. Zurich victory also secured Tharanga’s place in the Diamond League Final in Brussels, which will be held on Sept 4-5. He heads into the final after a season that has included multiple Diamond League victories more..

Aug 29 (AD) The Secretary General of the Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera announced that the Parliament is scheduled to convene from Sept 8 to 11, 2026. The parliamentary business for the week was decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business meeting held recently (20), chaired by the Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. Accordingly, on Tuesday, September 8, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for parliamentary business specified under more..

Aug 29 (MB) SL-born conservation biologist and National Geographic explorer Ruchira Somaweera is internationally recognized for his award-winning wildlife research, photography and storytelling. Despite his global achievements, Somaweera treasures an old journal copy containing a prophecy. When he was 13 years old, Somaweera received a copy of the research journal Lyriocephalus with a handwritten note which read: “One day you will be a great herpetologist,” signed by Anslem de more..