Jun 19 (EN) A European Union-supported capacity-building initiative is helping SL’s rubber sector to meet emerging international requirements as global markets place increasing emphasis on sustainable and deforestation-free supply chains. A workshop was organised by the Rubber Development Department in collaboration with the European Union-funded Green Recovery Facility, implemented by Expertise France under the EU Global Gateway strategy to educate stakeholders from more..

Jun 19 (PMD) A programme to provide educational equipment to selected university students was held yesterday at the Head Office of the President’s Fund. During the event, laptop computers were distributed to 14 students selected from applications received through Divisional Secretariat offices across the island. President’s Fund has allocated Rs. 5.8 million for this initiative. Accordingly, President’s Fund has provided educational equipment to approximately 30 uni students more..

Jun 19 (FT) Sri Lanka is seeking to transform its centuries-old gem and jewellery industry into a billion-dollar export sector and position the country as a global trading hub, with the Govt pledging reforms to tackle smuggling, improve value addition and attract international buyers through a more structured industry framework. The ambitious agenda was outlined yesterday as authorities announced Gem City Ratnapura Exhibition more..

Jun 19 (NW) The Bribery Commission today filed indictments before the Colombo High Court against former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two others on corruption charges. The indictment names Sepalika Saman Kumari and Keerthi Bandara Kotagama as co‑accused. Ten charges have been presented, supported by 30 witnesses and 38 documents as case productions. According to the charges, the accused allegedly used official authority to pressure govt officials more..

Jun 19 (FT) National System Operator (NSO) Chairman Dr. Pradeep Perera has told the CoPF that payments due to independent power producers (IPPs) would be settled once expected funding is received. Responding to questions from CoPF Chairman Dr. Harsha de Silva on outstanding dues, Dr. Perera said arrears to renewable energy producers had already been reduced. He said that approximately Rs. 3 billion had been paid to renewable energy suppliers during May, more..

Jun 19 (FT) At the request of the SL Export Development Board (EDB), Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry organised a Diplomatic Briefing on SL Expo 2027 on 12 June at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, with the participation of approximately 100 representatives from foreign diplomatic missions based in Colombo and Ambassadors/representatives of foreign missions accredited to SL, both physically and virtually. Briefing was organised to update more..

Jun 19 (DM) Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan was seen removing a life-size cut-out of himself that had been decorated with a garland made of slippers and placed by the roadside in the Gurunagar area of Jaffna. Video footage circulating on social media shows the MP removing the cut-out before placing it in his vehicle. The cut-out, which appeared to have been erected as a form of protest or insult, had been displayed along a roadside in Gurunagar. No information has been more..

Jun 19 (NW) A 47‑year‑old female lawyer attached to the legal division of a Colombo commercial bank was arrested last night at a Ratmalana supermarket while attempting to steal several items. Suspect was caught yesterday with 520 grams of chicken, 250 grams of beef, roasted cashew, a toothbrush, and a lunch sheet packet, all valued at Rs. 5,290, hidden inside her handbag. CCTV footage had earlier recorded her secretly placing the goods under the guise of shopping, prompting more..

Jun 19 (FT) National System Operator (NSO) expects to end the forced curtailment of renewable energy generation next year as battery energy storage system (BESS) projects are integrated into SL’s electricity network, NSO Chairman Dr. Pradeep Perera told CoPF this week. The NSO is the newly created entity that manages and operates the electricity grid after the CEB split into four. Commitment comes amid more..

Jun 19 (NW) Minister of Science and Technology and Wattala District MP Chrishantha Abeysena yesterday joined a protest demanding the appointment of a religious sister as the principal of the Nayakakanda Good Shepherd Convent in Wattala. The demonstration, organised by the National Collective to Protect Catholic Schools, was held to oppose the appointment of a lay principal and to call for the continuation of the school’s long-standing tradition of religious leadership. more..

Jun 19 (DM) The private sectors of SL and Benelux countries Belgium and Luxembourg this week forged new alliances aimed at boosting trade and investments. Spearheading the initiative was a MoU signed yesterday between Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), its affiliate SL–Benelux Business Council (SLBBC), and BELGOLUX–SL Business Council (BLSBC), along with a business forum, series of business-to-business (B2B) meetings, and related engagements coinciding with more..

Jun 19 (PTI) ICC chairman Jay Shah will arrive here on Friday on a whistle-stop tour and meet Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with the SLC interim committee issue expected to be high on the agenda. Shah will be travelling on the inaugural direct flight between Ahmedabad and Colombo. Shah is expected to discuss the appointment of the SLC interim committee, which the ICC views as contrary to its rules regarding more..

Jun 19 (EN) Sri Lanka has decided to streamline and systematically monitor imports, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said, after investigations into some scam showed some importers have sent U.S. dollars in the guise of importing from foreign countries. Fernando in a statement stated that the objective of the new Gazette notification issued by the Dept of Import and Export Control is to prevent the unnecessary outflow of foreign exchange from the country by systematically more..

Jun 19 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered that the plaint filed by the CIABOC against MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake over corruption allegations, be recalled on Nov 3, 2026. Case was taken up today before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama. During the proceedings, CIABOC informed the court that investigations into the matter are still ongoing. Accordingly, Chief Magistrate directed the Bribery Commission to report the progress of the investigations to the court more..

Jun 19 (FT) SL is suffering from macro-economic myopia. Our national discourse has become so obsessed with the next IMF review, the next tax bracket, and the next debt-restructuring milestone that we seem to have mistaken survival for success. Securing macroeconomic stability is a historic necessity, but a nation cannot live indefinitely in crisis-management mood. After years of painful adjustment and recovery, SL stands at a critical juncture. While the immediate threat of more..

Jun 19 (FT) SL has made commendable progress since the economic crisis that brought the nation to its knees in 2022. Inflation has stabilised, foreign reserves have improved, tourism is recovering, and confidence is gradually returning to the economy. The IMF program has undoubtedly played a crucial role in restoring macroeconomic stability and rebuilding international confidence. However, an important question now confronts policymakers and citizens alike: what comes next? more..

Jun 19 (DM) In the wake of the West Asian or Middle East crisis, Sri Lanka and India have recognized the need for the expeditious implementation of the Trinco petroleum hub project for energy security, but no specific timeline is carved out yet. Trinco has been identified as a nodal point of cooperation between India and SL in the field of energy security. 1987 Indo–SL Accord marked the first formal reference to Indian involvement in more..

Jun 19 (Island) Court of Appeal yesterday postponed until June 25 the hearing of a petition filed by former Minister Nalin Fernando seeking the dismissal of an indictment brought against him by the Attorney General in connection with the controversial Carrom Boards case. The petition was taken up before a bench comprising Justices P. Kumararatnam and Pradeep Hettiarachchi. Appearing for the petitioner, President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, instructed by Attorney-at-Law Ramzi Bacha, more..

Jun 19 (NW) Sri Lanka has received a fleet of 104 FOTON Metro Buses in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s public transport sector. Representatives of Lanka Metro Transit participated in a special ceremony held at the FOTON manufacturing facility in Beijing, China, to mark the handover of the buses. According to Lanka Metro Transit, the buses are expected to contribute towards improving modern, safe and comfortable public transportation services across SL. more..

Jun 19 (DM) Medical Supplies Division (MSD) have ordered the immediate withdrawal of three types of inferior cardiac stents and instructed hospitals across SL to isolate all remaining stocks without using them, in a major nationwide safety alert affecting heart treatment services. The directive comes as health authorities move swiftly to prevent potential risks to patients undergoing angioplasty procedures, more..

Jun 19 (NW) Former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka has accused the govt of misleading the public over fuel pricing, rejecting claims that fuel prices cannot be reduced because existing stocks were purchased at higher prices. Patali questioned the govet’s explanation, noting that fuel prices were increased shortly after tensions in the Middle East escalated despite fuel stocks having been purchased earlier at lower prices. “Fuel stocks purchased in February were bought at the old prices. more..

Jun 19 (DM) Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has described Sri Lanka as one of the world's finest holiday destinations, praising the island's natural beauty and his long-standing connection with the country. Speaking in Colombo, Akram said SL remains one of his favourite places despite travelling extensively throughout his illustrious cricket career. The 59-year-old, who first visited the island in 1985, said he has returned many times over the past four decades as a player, commentator & tourist. more..

Jun 19 (Island) With SL javelin sensation Rumesh Tharanga continuing to make headlines through his record-breaking performances on the international stage, his success is already inspiring the next generation of throwers at home. At the Junior National Athletics Championship, Lyceum Int'l School, Wattala athlete Themiya Thabrew took a significant step towards emulating his illustrious compatriot by achieving the qualifying standard for the World Junior Athletics C'ships. more..

Jun 19 (EN) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will focus on UK ties and sharpening private sector competitiveness at its 187th AGM, the trade body said. UK High Commissioner Andrew Patrick will deliver the keynote address reflecting the close and longstanding ties between the two countries. “His presence … is especially fitting at a juncture when strengthening trade ties, investor confidence, and sustained economic reform remain front of mind for the nation’s business community,” more..

Jun 19 (DM) SL’s fragile economic recovery faces renewed external headwinds after Fitch Ratings downgraded its outlook on a growing number of emerging market sectors, warning that the ongoing Iran conflict is weakening growth prospects, fuelling inflation and increasing financial risks across developing economies. SL has already been forced to absorb the fallout from the Middle East crisis through higher fuel costs, rising inflation, more..

Jun 19 (DM) The centuries-old standard that defines premium Ceylon Tea is at risk of becoming a fiction as climate extremes disrupt growing conditions across SL’s tea lands, Dilmah Tea CEO Dilhan Fernando warned. Cautioning that declining quality could eventually translate into lower national output, Fernando pointed out the industry is already facing the consequences of increasingly erratic weather patterns, with prolonged droughts and intense rainfall threatening the delicate environmental more..

Jun 19 (NW) A total of 1,297 people have lost their lives in road accidents across Sri Lanka between Jan 1 and June 16, 2026. Pedestrians accounted for the highest number of deaths in the affected group, with 448 deaths recorded during the period. Motorcyclists were the second most fatal, with 444 deaths. Statistics also show that 124 passengers, 109 drivers, 85 cyclists, 84 pillion riders and three others were killed in road accidents during the first half of the year. more..

Jun 19 (DN) PM, Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that it is the Govt’s priority to create an environment that enables all children, without discrimination, to access the opportunities in the modern world and to confidently pursue their dreams. The PM made these remarks while attending the Annual Prize-Giving Ceremony for the year 2025 at St. Bernadette’s Model School, Kurunegala, during an education inspection tour in the Kurunegala district yesterday. more..

Jun 19 (DN) SL A, led by Sahan Arachchige, will aim to enter the final of the Tri-Nation One-Day Series when they clash with Afghanistan A in their deciding game today at Dambulla Stadium. India A have reached the tri-series one-day final after defeating Afghanistan A by 101 runs on Wednesday. The final will take place on Sunday (21), and their opponents will be decided after today’s game between SL A and Afghanistan A. In the first round, SL A and Afghanistan A met each other at the same more..

Jun 19 (DN) Winning against defending champions New Zealand at Southampton gave good confidence to the SL women’s team, said bowling coach Chamila Gamage after their fighting victory in this T20 World Cup. “We had a discussion before the New Zealand game and made three changes to the team composition after our defeat against England, which paved the way for victory. Experienced Nilakshika Silva showed more..

Jun 19 (NW) A new direct air service between Ahmedabad and Colombo will be launched on Friday, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities from around eight hours to just 3 hours. Operated by FitsAir, the new route will connect Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat with Colombo 3 times a week, marking the first direct air link between the two destinations after several unsuccessful attempts in the past. The initiative has been facilitated by Cinnamon Hotels and more..

Jun 19 (NF) What was meant to be a joyful union of two families in Kotagala, Hatton, turned into an unforgettable afternoon of chaos, punches, and police drama, one that ended not with wedding vows, but with handcuffs. A lively wedding reception held at a function hall in Kotagala yesterday (17) evening spiralled spectacularly out of control when a disagreement between the bride’s side and the groom’s side erupted into a full-blown brawl. The clash was fuelled by alcohol, more..