June 3 (EN) SL has reaffirmed the country’s support for Palestinian statehood and expressed its concern about the situation in Gaza at a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador. Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijita Herath reaffirmed SL’s unwavering support for the right of the Palestinian people to statehood in accordance with the provisions of the UN Charter and the relevant UN resolutions, a ministry statement said. Ambassador of Palestine to SL Ihab Khalil called on Herath at the ministry more..

June 3 (FT) In the past two months alone, nearly Rs. 600 million worth of illicit cigarettes were detected at entry points, highlighting a surge in cigarettes smuggled into the country. According to media and research reports, over one billion foreign cigarettes are believed to reach Sri Lankan shores annually, and this year that number is touted to grow. The resultant loss to the Govt is estimated to be over Rs. 100 billion. SL is a hotspot for cigarette smuggling due to its high price point, more..

June 3 (CT) Deputy Minister of Health Dr Hansaka Wijemuni dismissed recent public concerns surrounding the current stock of human immunoglobulin, stating that the controversy is misleading and that the batch in question has no connection to the substandard immunoglobulin scandal that led to the indictment of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. Dr Wijemuni emphasised that the public had been misled into believing more..

June 3 (DM) SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera alleged that the govt suffered a loss exceeding Rs. 200 million from the recent sale of vehicles belonging to the North Central Provincial Council (NCP). He said that the govt earned only Rs. 28 million from the sale of 12 vehicles, which included a BMW and several Toyota Prado SUVs. “A BMW alone is valued at Rs. 35 million, while a Prado is worth Rs. 20.5 million on the market. The total value of the fleet could have been around Rs. 310 million more..

June 3 (NW) North Central Provincial Council has firmly denied allegations made by Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara regarding the sale of state vehicles, stating that his claims are false and defamatory. Council officials said the vehicles were disposed of through a proper tender process, not a secretive auction as alleged. They asserted that the BMW in question was sold for Rs. 21.8 million more than its government-assessed value, and that the full tender process brought in Rs. 123 million more..

June 3 (FT) The Govt yesterday kicked off the National Tax Week, aimed at strengthening compliance and broadening the base, with Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake assuring that a new political culture has been created to ensure taxpayers’ money is not wasted or misused. The launch of Badu Shakthi – National Tax Week is under the theme Your Tax – Your Future. In his address at the launch, Prez assured that more..

June 3 (CT) PHU has lodged a formal complaint with the CIABOC against Minister Bimal Rathnayake, alleging that he acted unlawfully by allegedly instructing the release of 323 containers reportedly with red labels from the port without undergoing mandatory customs inspection. Complaint, dated 2 June, was handed over by PHU Cultural Secretary Shirantha Jayalath, accompanied by several Colombo District organisers of the party. Letter was addressed to Director General of CIABOC. more..

June 3 (TM) Both the Government led by the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) and the Opposition led by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) continue to stake their claim to the post of the Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). The NPP, which has the highest number of councillors in the CMC and the SJB which has the second most number of councillors in the CMC continue to claim that they have the required numbers to establish power and appoint the new Mayor. more..

June 3 (FT) Australian Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles will travel to South and Southeast Asia from 2 to 5 June for high-level meetings. Deputy PM will meet leaders and counterparts in Maldives, SL, India & Indonesia as part of the Govt’s commitment to deepening diplomatic and defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. During his visit to Maldives & SL, Deputy PM will discuss ongoing Australian support for both nations’ sovereign capability development. more..

June 3 (DN) Two schoolgirls drowned after falling into a temple pond in Kumulamunai, located in the Mullaitivu District. The incident took place on June 1 near the Kottukkinattu Pillaiyar Temple, within the jurisdiction of the Mullaitivu Police Division. The victims were among three students who visited the pond. All three were Grade 10 students of Mulliavalai Vidyananda College. The three students had visited the temple pond, and while spending time near the water, two of the girls entered the pond more..

June 3 (TM) A group of students has filed a fundamental rights (FR) petition before the Supreme Court (SC), challenging the recent decision to exclude local students who sat for their GCE A/L or equivalent exams in Sri Lanka from applying to the MBBS degree programme at the Kotelawala Defence Uni (KDU). In the petition, the petitioners — all SL citizens who either applied or were planning to apply for the 2025/2026 MBBS intake — more..

June 3 (DM) Homicide and Organised Crime Investigation Division of the CID has released facial images of suspects linked to a serious crime in the Southern Province and is seeking public assistance to arrest them. The images were generated using AI technology, based on visual data of the perpetrators captured during the incident, with support from the Crimes Record Division. CID urges anyone with information about the suspects to contact ASP of Homicide & Organised Crime Investigation Div more..

June 3 (PMD) A seabed clean-up operation was officially launched this morning (2) in the Pigeon Island area off the coast of Trincomalee. Initiative aims to enhance marine safety and promote a healthier ocean environment by removing debris and pollutants from the seabed. The programme focused on removing the invasive Crown-of-Thorns starfish, which poses a significant threat to coral ecosystems, as well as harmful marine debris such as abandoned fishing nets that endanger marine life and more..

June 3 (FT) SL-China Business Co-operation Council (SLCBCC), the pioneering bilateral business council, has announced the official re-launch of the SLCBCC Business Star Awards 2025. The launch event was held on 30 May at the Galadari Hotel, marking the revival of this prestigious awards ceremony after a lapse since 2018. Themed Forging New Frontiers: Celebrating Excellence in SL-China Partnership, the Business Star Awards 2025 is set to recognise and honour outstanding more..

June 3 (ST) The 32nd Gratiaen Prize for the best work of creative writing in English by a Sri Lankan was awarded to Savin Edirisinghe for his collection of short stories—Kata Katha: Gossip, Rumours, and Idle Talk. One of the youngest winners ever, Savin, 25, is from Imaduwa, Galle, and in a peppy acceptance speech thanked his parents for encouraging him to learn English. Educated at Sussex College and Mahinda College, Galle, Savin’s collection was commended for being witty, more..

June 3 (DM) Health authorities in Sri Lanka have ramped up monitoring efforts following the detection of two new Omicron subvariants — LF.7 and XFG — within the country. A reliable source told Daily Mirror that though there is currently no surge in COVID-19 cases, the government is considering stepped-up surveillance at international airports and harbours. This follows the recent detection of the two new Omicron subvariants in the country. more..

June 3 (ST) Motor Traffic Dept (MTD) is facing operational disruptions due to the breakdown of its outdated motor vehicle registration and transfer system. The decades-old software, implemented in 1996 by local IT Company Informatics, has increasingly failed under mounting data loads and frequent data entry errors, causing delays and inefficiencies that are frustrating vehicle buyers and dealers alike. System reportedly crashed again last week, halting MTD operations for over 24 hrs. more..

June 3 (FT) St. Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, a revered national heritage site, is often called a shrine of peace for uniting Sri Lanka’s beloved multiethnic and multireligious communities. Known as a sacred place of prayer and miracles, it draws pilgrims from around the world who come to ‘pray for the lost and the found’ and personal intentions, making it a lasting symbol of healing and devotion. Catholicism in Sri Lanka began with the Portuguese arrival in 1505. more..

June 3 (FT) Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma pledged the Govt’s continued support to empower micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs) through accessible, collateral-free credit. Delivering the keynote address at the official launch of the National Credit Guarantee Institution Ltd, (NCGIL) yesterday, he acknowledged the initiative as a mammoth step in the country’s financial sector development, more..

June 3 (SO) The newly elected Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) President Roshan Gunawardena has promised a new chapter for the sport in the country, declaring that his mission is not only to produce national players but to raise champions who can compete and win at international level. In an exclusive interview, the experienced administrator and successful entrepreneur said the time has come to take bold, serious decisions to lift Sri Lanka’s global standing in badminton. more..

June 3 (FT) Asian Development Bank (ADB) hailed the official launch of the National Credit Guarantee Institution Ltd., (NCGIL), a transformative step in SL’s efforts to enhance finance access for the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Speaking at the launch, ADB Director-General Sector Department-3 Leah Gutierrez highlighted the critical importance of the new institution, calling it a milestone in Sri Lanka’s financial sector development and more..

June 3 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, speaking at the commencement of the National Tax Week yesterday, stressed the need to boost the tax revenue substantially, and spelt out the measures his govt had adopted to achieve that goal. The govt must pull out all the stops to increase state revenue and shore up the country’s foreign currency reserves. Politically motivated tax cuts the SLPP resorted to as part of its strategy to endear itself to the public and win elections more..

June 3 (DN) Sriyani Kulawansa the former Olympian and the Commonwealth Games silver medalist hurdler has been appointed chairman of the National Selection Committee (NSC). Kulawansa who also the President of the SL Olympians Association represented SL team in Olympics in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Kulawansa is also a former member of the National Sports Council. Ravi Pathiravithana was appointed Secretary of the National selection committee while Major Rajitha Samaraseka more..

June 3 (TM) Govt is planning to introduce the necessary legal amendments to protect tank-based reserves and prevent further encroachment by individuals, including politically connected persons, according to the Ministry of Land and Irrigation. Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation Dr. Susil Ranasinghe said that a considerable extent of land within tank reserves has been occupied. more..

June 3 (Island) The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, is expected to visit Sri Lanka later this month. This will be an important visit as he will be seeking to assess the progress that the new govt has made in implementing resolutions passed by the UN Human Rights Commission which his office facilitates. The last such visit was by former High Commissioner Al Hussein in February 2016, during the period of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe govt. more..

June 3 (FT) At the heart of the National HR Conference 2025, organised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) SL, international keynote speaker Andrew Bryant delivered a captivating and thought-provoking address on the power of self-leadership in transforming individuals, institutions, and nations. Held under the theme “Empowering People for a Thriving Nation,” the two-day conference at the Monarch Imperial brought together more..

June 3 (TM) With World Environment Day (WED) around the bend (5) the Govt is scrambling to organize the state apparatus to make it appear that tangible action is being taken to address the serious issue of this year’s global theme of Ending Plastic Pollution. As such, this week has been labelled National Environment Week with the Ministry of Environment taking the lead in organising several plastic-linked pollution reductions programmes. SL’s plastic pollution problem is massive, more..

June 3 (CT) The Govt launched its National Tax Week programme with an aim to raise public awareness on taxation and to strengthen public participation and compliance in tax paying. This initiative will extend throughout the first week of June, and will include several programmes to help educate the public on tax-paying. The push to increase public engagement with the Inland Revenue Department aligns with broader efforts to make tax compliance more comprehensible. more..

June 3 (TM) Concerns are growing within the healthcare system nationwide as medical officers warn of a potential shortage of critical medicines. This looming crisis threatens to disrupt patient care, especially in rural hospitals that are already struggling to meet treatment demands. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior medical officer from a major hospital in the Southern Province shared the emotional toll of more..

June 3 (ST) It was the family funeral of the nation that people, engulfed in tears of sorrow, mourned in black and white upon hearing the breaking news last Saturday, that the queen of Sinhala cinema, Malani Fonseka, had passed away that early morn. Some broke down in a flood of tears, while some were too distraught to cry and stayed benumbed in disbelief that the Goddess of the Sinhala screen, who had lived enshrined in their hearts, had bid her last farewell and taken the last curtain call. more..

June 3 (CT) China is a sleeping giant (dragon), when she wakes (up) she will shake the world. The above quote is popularly attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte although there is no hard evidence to show that he said so. Yet, since the 19th century there was a fear about China especially among spokespersons for the British Empire, and the two Opium Wars, one fought between China and Britain (1839-42) and the other between China and France (1856-60), over opium trade were more..