Jun 18 (FT) The Govt remains confident of achieving its 5% economic growth target this year and is working towards a medium-term objective of 7% inclusive and sustainable growth, despite concerns over rising interest rates and the pace of capital expenditure, Deputy Finance and Planning Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando said. He said the first-quarter economic growth of 5.1% was a positive indicator that the country more..

Jun 18 (DM) A petition seeking urgent action to prevent the electrocution and illegal killing of elephants was taken up before the Court of Appeal today, with the court fixing a date for the hearing and directing the respondent state institutions to file their objections. The petition was filed by the Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ) and its directors, Hemantha Withanage and Dilena Pathragoda, seeking a writ of mandamus compelling the relevant authorities to strictly enforce more..

Jun 18 (DM) Wickramarachchi Opticians and Hearing Care celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, marking five decades of trusted service, innovation and unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for generations of Sri Lankans. Founded in 1976 by Dr. Mihira Wickramarachchi with a vision to make quality optical care more accessible, Wickramarachchi Opticians and Hearing Care has grown into a nationally recognised healthcare institution, more..

Jun 18 (FT) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) intensified efforts in 2025 to bring State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to the capital market, arguing that listings could help address longstanding governance, financing, and accountability challenges while reducing reliance on Treasury support. In his review accompanying the SEC’s 2025 Annual Report, SEC Chairman Prof. Hareendra Dissabandara said the capital market has a central role to play in mobilising long-term financing more..

Jul 18 (CT) SL is at a defining crossroads in its energy transition. After decades of over-reliance on expensive oil-based thermal generation, highly-polluting low-cost coal and hydropower, as the country pursues ambitious Renewable Energy (Solar and wind) targets and seeks to achieve long-term energy security, affordability, and sustainability, the debate surrounding the future energy mix has intensified. While solar and wind power are increasingly viewed as more..

Jun 18 (TM) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has squarely placed the blame on officials of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) over its failure to finalise visa applications and requisite travel cum ticket arrangements for the national fifteens rugby team last week. The unprecedented faux pas prevented the Tuskers, from fulfilling their Asian Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship clash against hosts South Korea in Incheon on 13 June, more..

Jun 18 (FT) Business tycoon turned philanthropist and old boy Nahil Wijesuriya has donated Rs. 3 billion to Trinity College, Kandy. Trinity College Principal Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundara described the donation as an extraordinary gift and a powerful affirmation of confidence in the College and the mission to shape the future generation of Trinitians. Trinity College will establish a dedicated fund to ensure prudent stewardship and sustainable deployment of the Rs. 3 billion by Wijesuriya. more..

Jun 18 (Island) Social media debates on issues connected to the Easter Sunday terror attacks have got down and dirty, with religious and political leaders becoming targets of scurrilous attacks. The situation is likely to take a turn for the worse. The victims of vilification are without any defence as social media activists are guided by Rafferty’s rules. Spokesman for the Archdiocese of Colombo Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando yesterday countered some allegations against more..

Jul 18 (DN) The detention of the former head of the SIS, Major General (Rtd) Suresh Sallay continues to attract controversy, being a focal issue for the opposition. This is while the govt grapples with tasks such as reforming Education and restructuring SriLankan Airlines. Sallay is being detained in connection with the Easter Sunday terror attacks on April 21, 2019, where simultaneous bomb attacks were staged in several churches and hotels in Colombo and elsewhere, claiming the lives of more..

Jul 18 (TM) Sexual abuse remains a deeply entrenched issue in SL, fuelled by a culture of keeping silent and victim blaming, systemic gaps in the justice system, and a lack of proper education and awareness. It is a critical concern in society, with the country seeing thousands of cases reported annually. The issue is often the elephant in the room in many households and institutions, with parents, families, educators, and administrators more..

Jul 18 (SO) The rise of the Prajashakthi program could be viewed as the emergence of the implementation phase of the Govt’s election pledge that carried the slogan, . Among the global society, SL occupies a leading position in endeavours towards introducing strategies for poverty alleviation. However, the question have they produced the expected outcomes? poses a problematic proposition. All Govts since Independence that introduced strategies more..

Jul 18 (DM) Ignorance is strength. However, when the theatre of the absurd becomes a legal argument and is pursued ever more judiciously, solely based on a statement by a dubious asylum seeker, it leaves more questions than answers about the integrity and competence of everyone involved. The detention of former head of military intelligence Major General Suresh Sallay, now past 100 days under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), stems from this perverted logic. more..

Jul 18 (SO) As SL grapples with a rapidly escalating Dengue crisis, one institution stands at the centre of both the country’s greatest public health achievements and its most pressing challenges. National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), long known to generations of Sri Lankans as the IDH, is marking its centenary year with a historic international honour even as it confronts one of the most serious Dengue surges in recent times. more..

Jul 18 (TM) Flagship Govt programmes have historically suffered from a recurring, tragic affliction: they are launched with immense rhetorical fanfare, only to slowly asphyxiate in the corridors of bureaucratic inertia. The latest victim of this familiar malaise appears to be the Clean Sri Lanka initiative. Launched on New Year’s Day in 2025 by Prez AKD, this ambitious nationwide campaign was marketed as a foundational pillar for environmental sustainability and social transformation. more..

Jul 18 (DM) It appears the US-Israeli war against Iran is finally coming to a close. But we need be aware there’s many a slip tween cup and the lip. Since US Prez Trump went to war with Iran on Feb 28 this year, he has told the world at least 39 times the US was on the brink of declaring peace –only to change his mind within a day or two. However, this time around, it appears an agreement has finally been reached and details of a draft MoU were released by Iranian state media. more..

Jun 17 (CB) Matheesha Pathirana underwent surgery for his injured left hamstring in France, the cricketer's manager revealed in an Instagram post on Tuesday (16). "This journey was made possible with the outstanding support of SLC and Kolkata Knight Riders and we are truly grateful for their commitment to his wellbeing," the post read. Pathirana arrived late to IPL 2026 following an earlier calf strain sustained during the preceding T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. more..

Jun 17 (Island) Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe on Monday (15) outlined the recent policy measures undertaken to strengthen the financial framework supporting INR-LKR transactions and emphasized the need to strengthen trade and investment linkages between both countries. Dr. Weerasinghe said so in his keynote opening remarks at a roundtable on Rupee to Rupee Strengthening the India-Sri Lanka Commercial Corridor held in Colombo. more..

Jun 17 (DM) Health authorities have raised concerns that SL’s healthcare system could come under severe pressure if the current rise in dengue admissions continues. Commenting on the situation, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said several hospitals, particularly in Colombo, are overcrowded due to the increasing number of dengue patients. “If patient numbers increase further, hospital system may not be able to cope. more..

Jun 17 (NW) SL Police is set to introduce a new mobile application designed to enhance public access to police services, under the directives of IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya. Project, currently underway, will deliver a mobile app compatible with both iOS and Android platforms, alongside a newly developed official police website. The initiative aims to make police services more accessible through modern digital technology. Through the app, users will be able to receive updates, news, more..

Jun 17 (DM) Vehicle Importers Association of SL (VIASL) has warned that the prices of imported used vehicles could increase significantly following the removal of the 15% valuation reduction previously applied when determining the Customs value of used vehicles. According to the VIASL spokesman, Arosha Rodrigo, impact will be felt across the market, with popular vehicle models expected to record notable price increases. A fast-moving vehicle such as the Honda Vezel Z Play SUV more..

Jun 17 (TM) The Govt is preparing to introduce new laws that would allow the State to take over properties transferred by elderly parents to their children in cases where the parents are later neglected, with the assets to be subsequently used for the elders’ welfare. Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa said that many parents transfer their property to their children with the expectation that they would be looked after in their old age. more..

Jun 17 (DM) Former MP Rosy Senanayake has issued an open letter calling for urgent action to address what she describes as a deepening child protection crisis in SL, urging both domestic and international authorities to intervene. The letter in its entirety is as follows; To: Domestic and International Child Protection Authorities, the Govt of SL and the Public. “A nation incapable of ensuring even a modicum of safety for its children and vulnerable populations—irrespective of its more..

Jun 17 (NW) The Colombo High Court today commenced the trial against former Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, who faces corruption charges filed by the Bribery Commission. The case was taken up before High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela. During proceedings, the charges against Jayakody were read out in open court, to which the accused pleaded not guilty. Trial then formally began. The allegations stem from Jayakody’s tenure in 2016 as Procurement Manager of more..

Jun 17 (AD) A survey conducted by the Ministry of Health has found that 12% of schoolchildren are overweight, while 3% are obese, primarily due to unhealthy dietary habits. Director of Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, Specialist Dr. Monika Wijeratne said the findings are concerning, particularly given the country’s declining population growth rate. She made the remarks while presenting data from the 2024 Global School-Based Health Survey, which focused on children aged between 13-17 yrs. more..

Jun 17 (AD) Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, has endorsed the certificate on the Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Bill today. Bill was first read in Parliament on 17 March 2026 and was subsequently passed by Parliament following a debate held on 6 May 2026. Act provides for the amendment of the Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency (Corporate and Personal) Act, the Companies Act, No. 7 of 2007, Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, more..

Jun 17 (DM) Sri Lanka has recorded an estimated loss of Rs. 9.4 billion in tobacco tax revenue in 2024 due to changes in cigarette brand market shares following a 20% tax increase introduced in 2023, recent data cited by researchers at Verité Research said. ADIC said the country’s current tobacco taxation structure has led to significant revenue losses for the State while enabling tobacco companies to maintain or increase profits. more..

Jun 17 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal to allocate Rs. 1008 million for the renovation and upgrading of 126 school hostels across the country. The decision follows the identification of deteriorating hostel buildings and inadequate maintenance in schools, which authorities say have negatively affected students’ education and living conditions. The project aims to provide students with a better educational and health environment by improving essential facilities in the hostels. more..

Jun 17 (Island) Rainforest Trust of SL (RToSL), is a Public Trust registered with the Public Trustee, established in 2004, to conserve and restore SL’s fragile rainforest ecosystems, successfully hosted a landmark educational and environmental awareness programme, titled Ceremonial Dedication to the Public of Name Boards of Trees, on 13 June, placed in the Independence Walking Park. During the Dedication Ceremony, the name boards were formally presented to the public, symbolising more..

Jun 17 (Island) Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) has complained to the UN regarding custodial deaths. Executive Director of the Committee, Senaka Perera said that they had submitted written submissions to the visiting UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) on Monday (15). “We are confident that they’ll take up the issues at hand with the govt and take tangible measures to improve more..

Jun 17 (NW) The Court of Appeal today suspended further proceedings in the writ petition filed by Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Waruna Jayasundara, who sought an order preventing his arrest in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attack investigations. The Deputy Solicitor General, appearing for the Attorney General, informed the bench that at this stage no decision has been taken to arrest Jayasundara. The assurance was noted by the bench comprising Justices more..

Jun 17 (FT) Free Lawyers Association has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the $ 2.5 million Treasury cyber fraud, alleging that the stolen funds remain in a US bank account and criticising Parliament’s oversight committees for failing to produce reports on the incident. In separate letters to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, the Association requested the establishment of a Select Committee to probe more..