June 3 (CT) It was a long day for 35-year-old Kumudu Nisansala. The mother of three from Karangoda, Ratnapura, had just returned from the garment factory where she works and was resting in her living room before it was time to make dinner for her family. When she first started working at a garment factory, Nisansala was 23 years old. It is the only work she believes she is skilled at, and now uncertainty looms over her future as more..

June 3 (DM) The 1955 Bandung Conference was a key moment when newly free countries met to decide their path in a divided world. The then Ceylon’s PM Sir John Kotelawala deserves credit for defending small nation rights against big power attitudes. The Bandung idea actually came from Sir John’s 1954 Colombo Conference. Yet, when the bigger meeting happened in Indonesia, he was expected to follow India’s lead instead of speaking for his own country. more..

June 3 (DM) The term of the 339 local govt bodies for which elections were held on May 6 was scheduled to commence on June 2, according to a gazette extraordinary issued by Minister of Provincial Councils & Local Govt on Feb 17. Out of the 341 local councils established in the country, the election for the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha was held earlier on Oct 26, last year, while the election for the Kalmunai Municipal Council has been indefinitely deferred due to a legal issue. more..

June 2 (BP) A Sri Lankan tourist was assaulted by a transgender woman armed with high heel shoes on the city’s beach road Saturday night after he daringly touched her genitals twice to verify her gender--then refused to pay or proceed with any services. Police and rescuers from Sawangboribul Foundation were called to Soi 13/3 on Pattaya Beach Road at about 10.30pm where they found a 54-year-old Sri Lankan man, identified only as Sepala, bleeding from the head. more..

June 2 (UN) Hundreds of people from SL's historically oppressed Malaiyaha (hill country) community held demonstrations to emphasize their basic rights as citizens of the country. “We demand that Malaiyaha Tamil people be accepted as free and equal SL citizens,” said Shalini Manori, a 54-year-old tea estate worker, who participated in the June 1 demonstration in Hatton town in Nuwara Eliya District of Central Province. The majority of the community’s 1.5 million people work in tea more..

June 2 (AD) Anudi Gunasekara, who represented SL at the 72nd Miss World pageant held in India, returned to the island today. Upon her arrival, Gunasekara expressed her gratitude to those who supported her throughout her journey. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a truly beautiful memory. All I wanted was to bring pride to my country — and I believe I achieved that,” she said. “I think Miss World 2025 was crowned to more..

June 2 (DM) Five diesel locos from the city to roar on SL tracks as India sends 22 power-packed engines across the sea; these WDM3A Alco-class locomotives have been workhorses, powering top-tier trains across Indian Railways, especially on the Konkan Railway before electrification. Five of the 32 locomotives selected for export to SL, following a formal request by the neighbouring country, are from Mumbai. Of the 32 locomotives listed, 22 will be sent for regular use as a friendly gesture. more..

June 2 (CT) The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has voiced serious concerns over the slow pace of investigations into the suicide of a schoolgirl in Kotahena, alleging institutional failure and a lack of urgency by the relevant authorities. Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, criticised the Ministry of Education, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), and the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) for the sluggish progress in their investigations. more..

June 2 (AD) Number of individuals seeking employment overseas has reduced by about 20% in comparison to recent years, according to Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA). The reduction has been attributed to the eroding public trust in both recruitment agencies and SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), which according to the Secretary of the union Mohamed Farooq more..

June 2 (NW) The COPE has flagged financial and administrative irregularities at the SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), including the unplanned expenditure of over Rs. 1.3 billion on two programs not included in the agency’s 2024 action plan. Rs. 63 million was spent on the Vigamanika Harasara initiative and over Rs. 1.25 billion on the Glocal Fair program, the latter launched before securing Cabinet approval. Questions were raised about the scale of spending, more..

June 2 (Xinhua) In a gesture of sports diplomacy and cultural exchange, the Chinese Embassy in SL has donated five 12-person international-standard dragon boats to SL's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The donation was formally made on Saturday at the 2025 Dragon Boat Festival China-SL Friendship Cup Dragon Boat Championship. The championship, held at the Diyawanna Oya Amateur Rowing Association of SL (ARASL) Rowing Center in Kotte, a suburb of Colombo, more..

June 2 (EN) Several Sri Lankan parliamentarians have participated in a capacity building programme in India organized by the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training (BPST). The programme included discussions on anti-defection law, role of Whips, legislative and budgetary process, parliamentary privileges and ethics, interactions with print and electronic media, and visits to Delhi Metro Corporation, IIT Delhi, and IT Parks. more..

June 2 (Island) PM Dr Harini Amarasuriya has hailed Anudi Gunasekara’s participation in the Miss World 2025 pageant as a proud moment for Sri Lanka, commending the young beauty queen for putting Sri Lanka in the global spotlight. In a message shared on her official Facebook page, the Premier praised Gunasekara’s poise and presence, noting that her representation had captivated audiences both at home and abroad. “Anudi Gunasekara proudly represented SL at Miss World 2025,” more..

June 2 (AD) Novel variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus that cause COVID-19 disease have not been detected in SL, Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. Anil Jasinghe has confirmed. He said in May 2025, specimens tested by the MRI confirmed the presence of previously identified sub-lineages of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Despite the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus, novel variants were not detected during recent tests, and no evidence of increased more..

June 2 (AD) The Supreme Court today ordered that a fundamental rights petition filed naming former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie as a respondent be taken up for consideration on Nov 4. The petition seeks a ruling that former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie violated the fundamental human rights of the public by using a luxury jeep, donated by the govt of the Netherlands, for his personal use during his tenure as the Minister of Disaster Management. The fundamental rights petition has been filed by more..

June 2 (FT) With a view to diversifying its investment portfolio, Ambeon Capital has decided to invest in and become a stakeholder of a project for the mining, processing, and sale of mineral sand (which contain industrial minerals including ilmenite, rutile, zircon, and garnet), in the Eastern Province. As per a CSE filing by Ambeon, the venture Taprobane Minerals Project is one of the highest-grade mineral sand projects globally, with potential for further upgrade and resource expansion. more..

June 2 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that he has taken measures to reduce expenditure under the Prez’s budget wherever possible, with the aim of safeguarding every rupee of public funds. Speaking at the inauguration of the National Tax Week, Prez reiterated his commitment to ensuring that every taxpayer’s contribution is protected. He emphasized that this marks the first significant step more..

June 2 (NW) Uva Provincial Indoor Sports Complex in Bandarawela, constructed at a cost of Rs. 300 million, was officially declared open on Saturday. The inauguration ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage and Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe. Developed by the Dept of Sports Development with full state support, the complex spans approximately 1,188 square meters and is aimed at enhancing the skills of athletes in the Uva Province. more..

June 2 (DM) Ashoka Sepala, former Chairman of the Lindula-Talawakelle Urban Council, was ordered to be remanded till June 11 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali today, over a financial loss of Rs. 2.38 million allegedly caused to the govt during his tenure as Chairman. According to investigations, the former Chairman is accused of disregarding official procedures during the leasing of Meat Stall No. 12, which belongs to the Urban Council. Despite the highest bid being more..

June 2 (NW) The ICC have confirmed the dates and the venues for this year’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The 13th edition of the Women’s 50-over World Cup will run from September 30 until Nov 2, with five venues across India and SL to be used for the eight-team tournament. These will be M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bengaluru), ACA Stadium (Guwahati), Holkar Stadium (Indore), ACA-VDCA Stadium (Visakhapatnam), and R. Premdasa Stadium (Colombo) more..

June 2 (Island) Over 35,000 residents across Ruwanwella, Bulathkohupitiya, and Yatiyantota in the Kegalle District now have access to safe, treated drinking water following the successful completion and official handover of Phase I of the Ruwanwella Water Supply Project, said a release from the Korean Embassy in Colombo. The project, funded by Korea Exim Bank’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and implemented with the technical expertise of Kolon Global Corp, more..

June 2 (EN) Treasury Secretary, Mahinda Siriwardana will retire at the end of the month to become an alternative executive director of the Asian Development Bank, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. Siriwardana will represent seven nations at the ADB including Sri Lanka, he said. Siriwardene was leaving after leading reform drive in the tax system and other legislation which had helped strengthen state revenues under more..

June 2 (Island) The Environment Ministry, under the leadership of Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi, announced a series of special events to mark World Biodiversity Conservation Day today, June 2. This annual commemoration is a global reminder of the urgent need to protect the planet’s biodiversity. Speaking ahead of the events, Dr. Patabendi emphasised the significance of biodiversity in sustaining life and the need for community involvement in conservation efforts. more..

June 2 (EN) Sri Lanka is planning to initiate the first public private partnership for water supply with a target of reducing water losses of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, for which technical assistance will be provided by the ADB. “High levels of non-revenue water remain a serious challenge to water utilities across Asia and the Pacific,” ADB Country Director for SL Takafumi Kadono said. “This project represents a pioneering step for SL in using PPPs to strengthen the efficiency, resilience, more..

June 2 (CT) The monthly food bill of an average Colombo household has increased dramatically by Rs 2,208.59 in May 2025, marking a 308.98% year-on-year rise. This brings the total food cost to Rs 2,923.39, highlighting the growing burden on families due to rising prices of essential goods. The sharp increase is mainly driven by the soaring costs of common food items such as coconuts, vegetables, sea fish, coconut oil, salt, rice, more..

June 2 (NW) SriLankan Airlines’ new Airbus A330-200 is set to touch down in Sri Lanka on Wednesday, 4 June 2025, but not before treating plane spotters to a low fly-past over Colombo and Katunayake. The aircraft, arriving on its delivery flight from Paris, will fly at an altitude of 1,500 feet along the Colombo shoreline, visible from the southern end of Port City to Moratuwa, before returning to land at BIA. An additional fly-past over BIA will take place just before landing. more..

June 2 (AD) The govt has completed all necessary procedures to launch Starlink services in SL, says Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne. According to Deputy Minister, once the expected information dashboard is received from Starlink, the service could be launched without any operational delays. He made this statement while attending a bilateral meeting organized by the SL High Commission in Singapore, held alongside the 2025 Tech Summit Asia in Singapore. more..

June 2 (FT) SL imports nearly 500,000 containers annually, with volumes rising at an average of 10% year-on-year. Despite this heavy traffic and critical dependence on maritime trade, the country’s customs risk management system remains cripplingly outdated, driving unnecessary port delays, skyrocketing costs, and paralysing economic activity. Customs is not just broken — it’s actively working against trade efficiency and national interest. more..

June 2 (FT) SL film maker and visual artist, Malaka Dewapriya’s movie, reported to have been completed some seven plus years ago, The Undecided, was screened for a selected audience in Colombo last week. It had been sponsored by the Colombo University’s Alumni Association of which university, Dewapriya has been an alumnus himself. According to the story that unfolds before the viewers, all the characters have been those failing to decide for themselves. more..

June 2 (DN) Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake announced that 161 Local Govt Councils, including Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas where a single political party or Independent group secured more than 50% of the vote, can officially commence operations today. Ratnayake stated that the Gazette notification containing the names of members elected to all 339 Local Govt institutions has more..

June 2 (TM) Issuing an Extraordinary Gazette notification, SL has extended the ban imposed on the LTTE, Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), and several other groups and individuals listed under Regulation 4(7) of the UN Regulations No. 1 of 2012. The particular Gazette notification, dated 28 May, has been issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Sampath Thuyacontha, as the Competent Authority appointed for the purpose of the UN Regulations No. 1 of 2012. more..

June 2 (CT) Russian Ambassador to SL, Levan S. Jagaryan, has called on Sri Lanka to demonstrate genuine interest and take tangible steps if it wishes to join the BRICS alliance, noting that mere expressions of intent are not sufficient. Ambassador reflected on the ongoing conversations around Sri Lanka’s potential engagement with BRICS—a bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and other new members. Responding to a journalist’s question on the subject, more..