June 30 (DM) BOI Chairman has characterised the highly anticipated US$ 3.7 b Sinopec oil refinery in H'tota & Adani Group’s renewable energy project as fragile investments, acknowledging the significant uncertainty surrounding their realisation. Herath underscored the agency’s commitment to attracting quality FDI rather than merely chasing investment figures, even as it works diligently to bring large-scale projects to fruition. more..

June 30 (ST) After three action-packed days of high-stakes rallies, roaring crowds, and unforgettable match moments, the curtain closed on the first-ever SL Padel League (SLPL) with Colombo Aces emerging as the inaugural champions. In a dramatic finale held at the Padel House, CR&FC, Colombo Aces defeated Galle Fort Mariners in a high-intensity tie that went the full distance. With one win apiece going into the Mixed Doubles, the Aces held their nerves to take the decider 6-2, 7-6 [7-4], more..

June 30 (FT) Advocata Institute is urging the Govt to withdraw and redraft the proposed Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, citing its most pressing flaw – the excessive and unchecked powers vested in the Finance Minister, which compromise the independence of the regulator and jeopardise the integrity of the industry. Advocata Research Consultant Sudaraka Ariyaratne said: “The independence of a regulatory body is non-negotiable. Without it, we risk creating more..

June 30 (Island) SL Customs claims to have eliminated days-long delays in container clearance and the resultant congestion in the Port of Colombo, which is always in the news for the wrong reasons. It has attributed such delays to sudden increases in container volumes; the number of containers handled by the port averages 1,200 a day, but it goes up to about 2,900 at times. Successive govts have not cared to address the problem of customs clearance delays all these years and ensure more..

June 30 (Island) The arrest of a female neurosurgeon working in Sri J'pura Hospital with two accomplices, for fraud, has created a media frenzy about dishonest doctors—not surprisingly! In social media, she is being castigated with the strongest of words, sometimes in raw filth, and curses that may befit even worse crimes. No one will disagree that she deserves to be castigated, in addition to being committed to a long prison sentence, if even some of the charges are proven. more..

June 30 (CI) SL's Test programme is about to dry up for 11 months, but their captain Dhananjaya de Silva is still grateful for the World Test Championship. Upon recording their first win of this cycle - the innings-and-78-run victory over Bangladesh at the SSC - he also made the point that for teams such as SL, who play fewer matches in a WTC cycle, there is more on the line in every game. SL play only two-match series through more..

June 30 (FT) A high-level business delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), comprising around 15 members and led by ITC Chairman and Managing Director and CII Immediate Past President Sanjiv Puri, is in Sri Lanka this week. The visit until 2 July is taking place in continuation to the high-level business forum organised during the State visit of Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake. The visit includes engagements with senior leadership and Ministers of the Govt of Sri Lanka, more..

June 30 (DN) “I want to be among the first ten batters in ranking in all three formats and always work hard for that,” said Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka who was adjudged the Player of the second test as well as Player of the Series in recently concluded Bangladesh two test match series. “I have to go forward with successive innings and give my support to the team,” added Nissanka. The 27-year-old opener has played 18 tests accumulating 1305 runs at an average of 45. more..

June 30 (GV) On April 2 this year, 26 year-old Muthuwadige Sathsara Nimesh died while in police custody. He was tortured to death at the Welikada Police Station​. Nimesh had been arrested on April 1 on suspicion of a break in and was taken to Welikada station for questioning​. According to the official police account, Nimesh appeared to be mentally unstable, banging his body against the walls of his cell and had to be transferred to the national mental hospital for his own safety​. more..

June 30 (ST) I n view of the severe dearth of medical drugs prevailing in govt hospitals, the Association of Medical Specialists wrote to Minister Nalinda Jayatissa on Friday, placing in his court three questions. As believers of the maxim prevention is better than cure, they sought clarification from the minister in advance to prevent themselves from being remanded at a later date and meeting the same fate as a specialist neurosurgeon of Sri J'pura Hospital, Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne more..

June 30 (TM) In a visit marked by both hope and stark reminders of unresolved injustices, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk concluded his four-day mission to SL on Thursday (26). During his visit, his discussions with a broad spectrum of stakeholders – from the highest echelons of Govt to civil society and victims of human rights abuses – painted a picture of a nation at a crossroads, grappling with the profound more..

June 30 (CT) The rhythm of the monsoon season in Sri Lanka, usually a harbinger of life and rejuvenation, has, for far too long, been accompanied by a sinister hum: the relentless buzz of mosquitoes. With each annual downpour, thousands fall victim to the debilitating effects of dengue, and tragically, hundreds succumb to its severe complications. Now, chikungunya, with its prolonged and painful joint afflictions, adds another layer to this pervasive public health crisis. more..

June 30 (DM) Discrimination against SL visitors was reported recently from Ella area, a former backwater whose tourism potential was suddenly discovered 15-20 years ago. Believe me, doors are shut in our faces not just in Ella, but all over SL where tourism exists. We are treated as third class citizens by our own people catering to foreign visitors. I experienced this first hand during my brief stint in tourism in the early 1990s. When hotels were overcrowded and no room was available for the guide, more..

June 30 (DM) As the global order undergoes sweeping shifts, with geopolitics, trade tensions, and macroeconomic uncertainty converging, small economies such as SL find themselves at a critical crossroads. The rules are changing, and passive observation is no longer an option. To unpack these complex global developments, Shabiya Ali Ahlam sat down with internationally renowned economist Prof. more..

June 30 (DM) On the 25th of this month Daily Mirror YouTube channel highlighted the clearing of a number of unauthorised structures in the Weligama area by the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department (CCCRMD) who were accompanied by the police. In the video, officers of the authority claimed that for the first time they had been permitted to carry out their duties without politicians interfering and obstructing their efforts. The personnel of the CCCRMD more..

June 30 (DM) Dear Mayor Vraie, First of all congratulations on your appointment, which was won despite the many challenges. In a nutshell Colombo City is still one of the greenest anywhere, and it has its own beauty and ambience. Successive Mayors and their councils have contributed to this situation. Over the years the city has been made much cleaner, even though certain areas need to be much cleaner. The city we like to live in - is one that is less polluted, maintaining at best and more..

June 29 (ST) Sri Lanka has had a troubled history when dealing with the UNHRC for decades, but this week’s four-day visit by Volker Türk, UN Human Rights High Commissioner, passed without any serious run-ins with the Govt, unlike visits by some of his predecessors that ended with more antagonism than appeasement between the two sides. Compared to his predecessors, Mr. Türk, who arrived in the country on Monday, more..

June 29 (ST) Growing up with a dog is one of life’s greatest blessings, dog lovers would say. These four-legged creatures bring unwavering love, happiness, and priceless memories to countless lives. Illustrating the profound bond between a dog and humans, a heartwarming story emerges from the University of the Visual and Performing Arts. Kalu was a gentle and affectionate dog, and his story demonstrates love, loyalty, and the incredible impact a dog can have on an entire community. more..

June 29 (ST) A stock of luxury and reconditioned vehicles imported after undervaluing them are to be re-exported to the country of origin after the SL Customs detected the fraud, a senior Customs official said. Customs had halted clearing these vehicles after a thorough inspection revealed that the vehicles had been imported by using third-country documents. While a majority of these vehicles had been imported from Japan, the relevant LCs had been opened in a third country, more..

June 29 (TM) UDA is yet to receive any recommendations from the Presidential Secretariat or the Cabinet to move forward with development plans for the historic Visumpaya residence in Colombo. UDA Deputy Director General E.A.C Piyashantha said that the authority was awaiting approval from the appointed high-level committee with regard to further initiatives in developing Visumpaya. more..

June 29 (CT) A foreign insurance broker with a well-documented history of high-profile bribery and corruption in developing countries has been approved by the National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF), which operates under SL’s Ministry of Finance. The move has drawn sharp criticism from industry stakeholders and raised serious concerns about regulatory integrity and potential double standards. The broker in question, Tysers Insurance Brokers Ltd — a UK-based firm — more..

June 29 (DM) Govt is placing particular emphasis on strengthening the public transport system as part of its broader agenda to elevate the country to a new level, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. Prez made these remarks while attending the ceremonial launch of the Dream Destination project to modernise 100 railway stations. Speaking at the event, Prez Dissanayake further highlighted that statistics confirm that approximately eight fatalities occur daily due to road accidents. more..

June 29 (Island) Commissioner of Local Govt in the Southern Province Erandi Mendis yesterday postponed elections to the posts of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson in Weligama PS when the members and supporters of the NPP disrupted the council proceedings, alleging that two NPP members had been prevented from attending the council. They said the PS members had been abducted. The police said they had launched an investigation into the alleged abduction of two NPP councillors. more..

June 29 (TM) The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday postponed hearing the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by former Vice President of SLC K. Mathivanan against SLC President Shammi Silva and the body’s Executive Committee to 30 October. The court postponed the case following time being sought by lawyers for the SLC President and Executive Committee to file submissions in this connection. Afterwards, the court instructed the petitioner to file counter-submissions, more..

June 29 (SO) SSP Shani Abeysekara has been reappointed as the Director of CID. Appointment has been approved by the National Police Commission (NPC). Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya had earlier sought the NPC’s approval for Abeysekera’s appointment. SSP Abeysekara’s return to the helm of the CID comes after nearly five years, marking a pivotal moment for the country’s criminal justice system. more..

June 29 (TM) Govt is currently deliberating potential solutions to address the issue of hundreds of vehicles imported under cross-border LCs that remain stranded at ports, according to the Dept of Trade and Investment Policies. Dept of Trade and Investment Policies Director General M.K. Pradeep Kumara revealed that the vehicles reported as being stranded at the ports remained so because the relevant LCs had been opened through banks located in third countries, rather than more..

June 29 (EN) SL’s apparel exports to the US dropped 7.59% in May 2025, amid Trump tariff uncertainty, but shipments to other markets, allowed the almost the same revenues to be maintained, Joint Apparel Association Forum said. Exports to UK also fell 6.18%, but EU had grown 5.15%, while other markets grew 11.1% almost maintaining last years revenues of 365.08 million which was only 0.63% down. “We are encouraged by the momentum, particularly in emerging & EU more..

June 29 (TM) The Presidential Palace in Jaffna, constructed during the administration of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, was built before the Govt had fully secured ownership of the land, a recent investigation by the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing has revealed. UDA Chairman L.B. Kumudu Lal confirmed that the property comprising five residences had been developed while the legal acquisition process for the land was still underway. more..

June 29 (Island) Kumar Sangakkara’s glittering Test résumé reads like a cricketing epic — 12,400 runs, 38 hundreds, and a career that spanned over a decade of dominance. Statistically, he towers over all who wore the lion on their chest. But ask any Sri Lankan cricketer who the finest willow-wielder was and chances are they’ll whisper a different name: Aravinda de Silva. It might seem odd. Aravinda’s 6,361 runs and 20 hundreds pale in comparison to Sangakkara’s mountainous feats. more..

June 29 (TM) National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency (NARA) has spent over Rs. 3.23 billion developing lands it does not legally own, the latest audit report by the National Audit Office (NAO) reveals. NARA has developed four lands without securing proper ownership or completing formal land transfer procedures. These lands – located in Rekawa, Kadolkele, Kalpitiya, and Kudawa – more..

June 29 (NW) A man and a woman, suspected to have been involved in drug trafficking, have been arrested and several of their high-value assets seized under Sri Lanka’s anti-money laundering laws. The suspects, aged 43 and 45, are residents of Borella, Colombo 08. They were arrested yesterday, and police believe the assets were purchased using proceeds from illicit drug trade. The seized properties include: A four-storey house in Kandana; Two two-storey houses in Borella, more..

June 29 (AD) Dept of Immigration and Emigration has requested individuals arriving at its head office in Battaramulla not to fall prey to brokers in order to expedite the submission of passport applications. Issuing a statement, Immigration Dept noted that the issuance of tokens for passport submission under the one-day and normal service is carried out at the head office in Battaramulla from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., following the decision to end the 24-hour service initiated previously. more..