Jun 12 (AD) A special operation to detect drivers and conductors of passenger transport buses operating under the influence of narcotics was carried out by the Police yesterday at the Horana main bus stand. The operation was conducted jointly by traffic officers attached to the Horana, Ingiriya, Moragahahena and Aguruwathota Police Stations, together with officials of the National Transport Medical Institute. Drivers and conductors of passenger buses commencing their journeys more..

Jun 12 (DN) The Department of Meteorology has issued a Red warning for strong winds and rough seas affecting sea areas extending from Kankesanthurai to Kalpitiya via Mannar. The warning was issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 10.30 a.m. today (12) and will remain in effect until 10.30 a.m. tomorrow (13). Accordingly, sea areas off the coasts from Kankesanthurai to Kalpitiya via Mannar will be very rough at times, with strong gusty winds reaching 60–70 kmph. more..

Jun 12 (DM) SL is set to receive FIFA support for the construction of a new international football stadium in Negombo, a move expected to strengthen the country's sports tourism sector and football infrastructure, Minister Vijitha Herath said. The announcement was made at the launch of the official FIFA World Cup Fan Zone 2026 on York Street in front of the Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) in Colombo Fort. Minister said FIFA has agreed to provide financial and technical assistance for more..

Jun 12 (NW) The Cabinet has approved the appointment of a special committee headed by Presidential Senior Adviser on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya to oversee the strategic review and restructuring of SriLankan Airlines. The committee has been tasked with conducting an independent assessment of the national carrier and recommending the most suitable course of action to ensure its long-term more..

Jun 12 (NW) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has moved swiftly with $4 billion in financing to help countries withstand the economic shocks of the Middle East conflict, with SL among 15 govts that have formally requested assistance. The financing includes about $3 billion requested by govts and $1 billion provided as trade finance for energy and food imports. SL’s request, alongside those from Bangladesh, Fiji, and Philippines, forms part of a broader package announced by ADB more..

Jun 12 (Island) MPs and officials participated in a technical assistance session led by the U.S. House Democracy Partnership (HDP) and Congressional Budget Office (CBO) at the Parliamentary Complex. The U.S. Embassy in SL, in collaboration with the House Democracy Partnership and the U.S. Congressional Budget Office is supporting Sri Lanka Parliament in strengthening its capacity to independently analyze govt spending, economic policies, and proposed legislation. more..

Jun 12 (SO) The structural stability achieved under the early years of the IMF EFF is being aggressively undermined by two separate, compounding factors: a widening military conflict in the Middle East and a shift in United States (US) trade policy. Together, these forces have unleashed a localised cost-of-living crisis that is not merely driving low-income families into poverty, but is systematically erasing the savings and lifestyle of the hard-working middle-income population. more..

Jun 12 (NF) No decision has been taken at this stage to arrest or detain former Senior DIG oWaruna Jayasundara under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), the Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal today. The update was conveyed when a writ petition filed by Jayasundara was taken up before court. The former DIG had sought judicial intervention to prevent his possible arrest and detention in connection with ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. more..

Jun 12 (CI) West Indies survived a spirited Sri Lanka defence in chase of a middling target of 148, before they eventually secured a final-over, but ultimately comfortable, seven-wicket victory in the first T20I at Sabina Park. The rain which had been forecast stayed away, as a raucous home crowd finally got something to celebrate following the ODI washouts. A flicked six over deep midwicket by Rovman Powell off the expensive more..

Jun 12 (AD) A three-judge bench of the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar is scheduled to deliver its verdict on July 31 in the case against former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, who is accused of failing to act on intelligence warnings ahead of the Easter Sunday attacks. The case has been filed on charges including criminal negligence and failure to perform official duties, on the grounds that action was not taken to prevent the attack despite receiving intelligence information that more..

Jun 12 (DM) Sri Lanka stepped up efforts to attract Gulf investment this week as nearly 200 senior business and diplomatic leaders gathered in Dubai for a high-level forum positioning Port City Colombo as a gateway to South Asia. The invitation-only event, titled Globalisation and the SL Opportunity – From Recovery to Relevance: Sri Lanka’s Moment in the Evolving Global and Regional Economy, was held at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre and jointly organised by more..

Jun 12 (AD) Sri Lanka's updated National Mineral Policy has officially come into effect after 27 years, introducing a ban on the export of the country's mineral resources in raw form without value addition. Under the new policy, mineral resources can no longer be exported as unprocessed raw materials. Framework will regulate the entire mineral value chain, including exploration, mining, processing & value addition. more..

Jun 12 (NW) The first batch of successfully repaired, modernized, and redesigned medical equipment was officially handed over to the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Hospital in Ragama during a ceremony presided over by Minister Chrishantha Abeysena. According to the Ministry of of Science and Technology, this milestone comes under a wider initiative launched to upgrade the hospital’s medical equipment and technological infrastructure, carried out under the direct guidance and more..

Jun 12 (EN) Sri Lanka is set to launch its strategic export roadmap for the next five years with the primary objective to achieve an export revenue target of 36 billion dollars by 2030, the country’s export development board said. National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 was developed by the SL Export Development Board (EDB) with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). “The national plan is structured around two main pillars, more..

Jun 12 (TM) While scrolling through my Meta account recently, I came across a post by a Senior Lecturer at the Open Uni, Dr Edirimuni de Silva. His message was not a grand manifesto; it was a beautifully simple, low-bar request. Addressing the high-profile Clean Sri Lanka programme, he basically said: “Look, no need to do anything heroic. Just arrange to clear the rotting garbage in the Maharagama Urban Council (UC) area”. Almost in the same breath, two Instagram posts by more..

Jun 12 (DM) The SL rupee weakened further against the US dollar today, with several commercial banks recording higher exchange rates compared to Thursday. The dollar’s selling rate exceeded Rs. 340 at some banks, reaching Rs. 340.33 at People’s Bank and Rs. 340.00 at NDB Bank. At NDB Bank, the buying rate of the US dollar increased from Rs. 328.00 to Rs. 331.00, while the selling rate rose from Rs. 337.00 to Rs. 340.00. People’s Bank also reported an increase, with the buying rate more..

Jun 12 (FT) A dispute between the Treasury and the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) over accountability for the $ 2.5 million cyber theft involving public funds has come under scrutiny at the CoPF, with Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva warning that weak systems, outdated technology, and unclear lines of responsibility had created a situation where institutions are now shifting blame onto one another. Committee recently examined a report more..

Jun 12 (DN) Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, told Parliament that no official Cabinet approval has been taken to extend the retirement age of judges in the judicial system, including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Minister said this in response to several questions raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Eventhough, various professional groups have requested higher retirement ages due to increased life expectancy and brain drain, more..

Jun 12 (DN) The UDA has planned to transform Kandy into a branded city to elevate its global standing, attract foreign investment, boost tourism, and showcase its unique heritage and culture. The authorities aim to leverage Kandy’s history, heritage, culture, natural beauty and the historic Esala Perahera festival. UDA Project Management Director Uthpala Uyanwatta stated that this programme is being implemented by collaborating with various Govt and religious institutions, as well as more..

Jun 12 (TM) A sustained Police crackdown has left organised criminal networks facing a growing shortage of illegal firearms, forcing some gangs to turn to locally manufactured weapons, according to DIG Chandana Kodituwakku. Head of Police Crime Division said authorities seized 10,804 machine guns and assault-type weapons between 2021 and 2024, while organised crime-related killings have dropped sharply, more..

Jun 12 (DN) A discussion on expediting the implementation of the Galle City Development Project, being carried out under the Major Urban Development Programme, was held at the Presidential Secretariat with the participation of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday. The President reviewed the progress of initiatives being implemented to develop Galle, a World Heritage city, as a leading cultural and tourist destination. Discussions also focused on challenges more..

Jun 12 (Island) Losses incurred by several SLTB depots are largely attributable to their location in rural areas and the limited number of bus services operated daily, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena told Parliament. Responding to a question, Deputy Minister said the Govt had already initiated measures to address the issue through a more systematic operational framework. He noted that the deteriorating condition of the SLTB fleet had resulted in frequent repairs and maintenance, more..

Jun 12 (DM) As Sri Lanka pursues an ambitious target of 2.5-3 million arrivals this year, Jetwing Hotels Chairman Hiran Cooray expressed cautious optimism for the upcoming winter season while warning of a highly challenging summer. Navigating global macroeconomic headwinds, Cooray in latest annual report of Jetwing Symphony noted that while the winter season holds promise provided geopolitical and aviation conditions stabilize, the immediate summer months look bleak. more..

Jun 12 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya as Chairman of the Strategy and Restructuring Committee of SriLankan Airlines. Dr. Wijayasuriya, a prominent corporate leader with extensive experience in telecommunications and digital transformation, will head the Committee tasked with guiding the national carrier’s strategic direction and restructuring efforts. The appointment comes as the Govt continues initiatives aimed at improving more..

Jun 12 (ST) Under the Environment Ministry’s ambitious Vanaspathi programme aimed at preserving the country’s forest cover, more than 81 forests were to be declared as reserves, but since the project’s launch in June last year, only 29 have been gazetted. The shortfall has created challenges in enforcing legal provisions for forest conservation and tackling forest crimes. About 63,000 hectares have been gazetted as more..

Jun 12 (DN) Wicketkeeper-batter Anjala Bandara delivered a remarkable batting performance with centuries in both innings as SL Emerging claimed the honours in the drawn first 4-day match against West Indies Emerging at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. It was a memorable match for the talented batter, who scored 163 in the first innings before following it up with an unbeaten 189 in the second. When play ended early due to rain yesterday, SL Emerging were 401 for 8. more..

Jun 12 (DN) SL’s Jaeden Sathasivam produced the best performance among the island’s young golfers as he finished sixth after two rounds of the Mandiri Ciputra Golfpreneur Junior World Championship 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday. Competing in the Boys Development-C Division, Jaeden returned rounds of 83 and 83 for a two-round total of 166, finishing 22-over-par and holding sixth place in a strong international field featuring players from Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, more..

Jun 12 (Island) Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who served as a Lieutenant in the SL Navy, has now been summoned to the CIABOC next Tuesday (16) for questioning over his participation in a Royal Navy training programme in the UK outside established procedures. Commission is expected to record statements in relation to several complaints received regarding his recruitment and subsequent service in the Navy after he enlisted on Dec 14, 2006. Investigation focuses on allegations more..

Jun 12 (FT) Marking a new milestone in Sri Lanka’s economic journey, the official launch ceremony of the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 the country’s strategic export roadmap for the next five years is scheduled to be held in Colombo on 16 June. Developed in alignment with the Govt’s national vision of A Prosperous Nation – A Beautiful Life, the Plan’s primary objective is to achieve an export revenue target of $ 36 billion by the year 2030. more..

Jun 12 (FT) UN yesterday formally concluded its emergency humanitarian response to Cyclone Ditwah, saying int'l partners had delivered critical assistance to 575,000 of SL’s most vulnerable people while warning that the country’s recovery and reconstruction challenge is only beginning, with estimated needs reaching $ 3.4 billion. Conclusion of the Humanitarian Priorities Plan marks the end of the emergency phase more..

Jun 12 (ST) The capital market regulator is examining brokerage percentages of stockbrokers, after discussions with the industry. Stockbrokers recently raised several concerns with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding both the rationale and implementation of the new brokerage fee structure applicable to transactions exceeding Rs. 1 billion. The original intent behind this initiative was to facilitate large govt and State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) transactions more..

Jun 12 (TM) Road accidents have increased by around 115 during the first six months of the year compared to the corresponding period last year (2025), whereas the number of fatalities has risen by about 119, DIG in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W P G Senadheera said. He said that SL continues to record an average of eight fatal road accidents a day, although it had reached between 10 and 15 on several recent days. He said that of the eight fatal accidents reported on Wednesday more..