Aug 7 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today criticised Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s parliamentary speech, calling it a reaction to a nightmare that failed to address the country’s key economic challenges. Speaking in Parliament, Premadasa said the Prez’s remarks focused on political conspiracies in December rather than presenting a structured economic roadmap. “It was a speech made under pressure, not one expected from a Head of State during a crisis,” he said. more..

Aug 7 (DM) With pumpkin farmers grappling with an oversupply this season, Cargills said it had launched a timely initiative to purchase the excess harvest at fair prices, providing much-needed relief to smallholder farmers. The purchase of pumpkins began on Tuesday (5) in Mahawilachchiya, A'pura, one of the areas hardest hit by the surplus. The situation had also become a growing concern for the govt, one that found a hopeful turning point through the timely intervention of the private sector. more..

Aug 7 (AD) The Director General of SL Customs agreed before the Court of Appeal today to release 991 vehicles of the BYD brand that are currently detained by customs, subject to certain conditions. This agreement was expressed after considering a petition filed by John Keells CG Auto, the authorised distributor for BYD vehicles in SL, against the detention of the relevant vehicles and seeking their release. more..

Aug 7 (NW) Colombo Magistrate’s Court has granted permission for Hemali Wijeratne, daughter of specialist doctor Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne of the Sri J'pura Hospital, to travel overseas for educational purposes. Hemali Wijeratne is currently out on bail in connection with a case involving alleged threats made to officials of the CIABOC. During the hearing today, her legal counsel requested that the court allow her to travel overseas, stating that she is scheduled to leave on 13th of this month more..

Aug 7 (DM) The Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council has decided to auction stray ponies roaming the city if their owners fail to pay fines and reclaim them, Mayor Upali Wanigasekera said. Mayor said many of the ponies, especially those around the Nuwara Eliya Racecourse, are used by owners to offer rides to local and foreign tourists. However, he noted that while the animals generate income, they are poorly cared for and often left to wander unattended. “These ponies roam the city freely, more..

Aug 7 (Island) The parties in the Opposition have unanimously decided to submit a no-confidence motion against Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekera and hand it over to Speaker Jagath Wickremaratne next Monday. The decision was taken at a meeting held yesterday at the Opposition Leader’s office, where party leaders agreed to proceed with the motion, claiming that Jayasekera, during his tenure as more..

Aug 7 (DM) The Supreme Court has delivered a judgment in favour of a South Korean investor, affirming the decision of the Colombo Commercial High Court that he is entitled to recover a sum equivalent to USD 96,000 from a Sri Lankan individual who allegedly defrauded him after promising to export 15 tonnes of copper. Supreme Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Sri Lankan, stating that there was no reason to interfere with the judgment of the Commercial High Court, more..

Aug 7 (Island) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday claimed that a British national had been engaged in inquiring into land issues in the Trincomalee District recently. Former Minister said that the Britisher, identified as Thomas David, had visited a land in the Thiriyaya area, under the Department of Archaeology, and the other land in the same area, in addition to Sapththanaga Arannyaya Senasanaya, where Ven. Panamure Thilakawansha Thera served as the Chief Incumbent. more..

Aug 7 (EN) SL officials and export sector representatives have met to discuss the 20% US tariff impact on goods exported to America and the actions to be taken. SL Export Development Board (EDB), which organized the meet, raised the importance of a unified program in the export industry to face the tariff challenge. The potential for SL exporters to diversify their exports to find new market segments, develop alternative trade strategies, and reduce dependence on more..

Aug 7 (NW) The Ministry of Education has announced the schedule for the conclusion and commencement of academic terms for govt schools. Accordingly, the 2nd school term for the year 2025 for Sinhala and Tamil govt schools ended today. The 3rd school term will commence on 18th August for Sinhala and Tamil govt schools. Meanwhile, the 2nd school term for Muslim schools ends on 19th August. The Education Ministry said the 3rd school term for Muslim schools will begin on 25th August. more..

Aug 7 (DM) In a shocking revelation and also biting on their own words, the NPP govt yesterday admitted that Supreme SAT Ltd, which launched a communications satellite into space in Nov 2012 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, had brought in a revenue to the country since it began commercial operations with the Board of Investments in 2015. While the matter did not catch immediate attention, it came to the limelight more..

Aug 7 (AD) Parliamentary business for the second Parliamentary week of August 2025 was decided yesterday at the Committee on Parliamentary Business. Accordingly, Parliament is scheduled to meet from August 19th to 22nd. Time from 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on each sitting day has been allotted for Business of Parliament as per Standing Order 22(1) to (6) of the Parliament. Time from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers, while time from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. more..

Aug 7 (CT) Softlogic Holdings, one of Sri Lanka’s leading diversified conglomerates, has entered into a strategic partnership with ATUL Auto Limited, India’s fastest-growing three-wheeler manufacturer, to introduce a new range of commercial vehicles to the SL market. ATUL Auto, a brand with over 60 years of experience and presence in more than 24 countries, is renowned for manufacturing durable, fuel-efficient, and easy-to-maintain three-wheelers designed to meet diverse transport needs. more..

Aug 7 (AM) Govt today issued clarification concerning the recent reports based on controversial SupremeSAT satellite project—widely associated with Rohitha Rajapaksa, also known as Chichi, the youngest son of former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe made a clarification regarding PM Harini Amarasuriya’s recent response to SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka on the SupremeSAT. Samarasinghe said more..

Aug 7 (FT) The Bank of Ceylon (BOC) announced the appointment of Y.A. Jayathilaka as the Acting General Manager(GM)/CEO with the conclusion of the service period of W.P.R.P.H. Fonseka, who held the post until 5 August 2025, as per the terms and conditions of his service contract. Prior to the Acting appointment, Jayathilaka was Deputy General Manager – Product and Banking Development. He was appointed to the Corporate Management of the bank in February 2020 and has since held more..

Aug 7 (TM) The People’s Struggle Alliance (PSA) party has written to PM and Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya seeking the presentation of a proper, clear official document to the public on the proposed new educational reforms to be implemented in the school education system. “The current NPP administration is going to carry out these reforms based on a PowerPoint presentation prepared only in English. Such a document has not been presented to the Parliament. more..

Aug 7 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered that the case filed against SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa and several other suspects in connection with allegations that Rajapaksa committed an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by investing in NR Consultancy (Pvt) Ltd an amount of Rs. 15 million, allegedly earned through illegal means while serving as a MP, be recalled on Jan 29. The complaint was taken up today before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali. more..

Aug 7 (AM) The case against a chief monk and his brother, accused of drugging an 11-year-old novice monk and committing aggravated sexual abuse, was ordered to be recalled on 29 October. Hingurakgoda Magistrate Duminda Prashasthi Karunaratna also ordered the Polonnaruwa Divisional Crimes Investigation Unit to submit to the court the Govt Analyst’s report on several call recordings. These recordings allegedly capture the suspect monk exploiting the novice monk. more..

Aug 7 (Island) A coalition of Tamil political parties, including over 100 civil society groups, religious leaders, and academic institutions from across the North-East, have called on member states of the UNHRC to take decisive action against Sri Lanka by initiating a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the crime of genocide, Tamil Guardian reported. In a letter addressed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights more..

Aug 7 (TM) Govt is frequently reviewing the progress of the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and is working to increase its efficiency, said the Deputy Minister of National Integration Muneer Mulaffar. He said: “We are constantly discussing the OMP’s progress. We are looking into ways to strengthen it by identifying its shortcomings and providing them with the necessary facilities to efficiently fulfill their responsibilities.” NPP Govt has stated that it aims to restore and strengthen public trust more..

Aug 7 (NF) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reaffirmed the govt’s commitment to maintaining an open vehicle market, assuring that no new taxes will be imposed on vehicle imports. Speaking on the reopening of SL’s vehicle import market after a %-year hiatus, Prez revealed that LCs worth USD 1,267 million have already been opened for vehicle imports. He projected that this figure could rise to USD 1,500–1,800 million by the end of the year, reflecting pent-up demand and renewed more..

Aug 7 (DM) Veteran casino operator Ravi Wijeratne and Rank Entertainment Holdings, have filed action before the Colombo Commercial High Court against four defendants, including Waterfront Properties and John Keells Holdings, seeking Rs. 15 billion in damages for the alleged breach of contractual obligations and failure to disclose material information concerning the plaintiffs. more..

Aug 7 (DM) In the govt’s push against tax evasion, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed in Parliament that he is in possession of a list of 200 major tax evaders, who collectively owe between Rs. 100 to 150 billion in unpaid taxes. He said the upcoming budget projects a revenue of Rs. 4.5 trillion—an estimate that was initially dismissed by many as unrealistic. However, the Prez noted that reforms to the Inland Revenue Dept, Customs, and Excise, along with efforts to bring more more..

Aug 7 (TM) Medical specialists warned that many of the adverse impacts of skin-whitening products, especially those containing bleach, heavy metals or steroids, can cause long-term or even permanent effects. They stressed that this is an issue that should be brought to the public’s attention. These concerns were raised by dermatologist Dr. Indira Kahavita during a press briefing in connection with the National Poison Prevention Week which will be observed from 11 to 17 Aug. more..

Aug 8 (CT) A youth club movement recently held a peaceful protest to oppose the govt’s alleged politicisation of youth clubs with its recent, biased circulars. Although the protest was not backed by any political force and wouldn’t necessarily be quite a leap to assume such, some of the politicians of the Opposition used the incident to paint a picture of a social reality in which the country’s youth is alarmingly dissatisfied with the current regime. However, the turnout for the protest was more..

Aug 8 (DM) We have always seen bad accidents in SL. That didn’t start yesterday, or last year. Some of them – bus, train, even air crashes – were terrible. But most major accidents occur on the roads, involving motor vehicles, rather than trains and aircraft. In 2024, 2,521 people died in road accidents. We shall therefore confine ourselves to that sphere for the sake of this discussion. Like crime, accidents have their own pathology. Causes of road accidents are many – more..

Aug 8 (CT) Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, Prof. K.T.M. Udayanga Hemapala, an electrical engineer by profession, has introduced a fresh approach to SL’s energy sector. He asserts that under the NPP govt, there will be no more govt-to-govt project proposals. Instead, all projects will be pursued through transparent tender procedures, ensuring that Sri Lanka remains open to partnerships with any country, more..

Aug 8 (DM) July-August could be the best months to visit SL. Kandy Esala Pageant is in progress and attracting both local and foreign tourists in their numbers. This is the time of the year when the govt must provide all facilities for tourists. When you have state patronage, it is so much easier to promote tourism. One can see how the authorities are trying to make travel in SL reasonable in terms of spending. Now, nationals from as many as over 40 countries arriving in SL see the need to obtain more..

Aug 8 (CT) Everybody is talking about it: The proposed new education reforms. It’s a social media discourse and widely debated, at least among opposition politicians, correct? No, I stand corrected because the details of the reforms are ‘behind closed doors’, according to Dr. Anushka Kahandagamage, a civil society activist. In an article which appeared in a well-known news platform, Dr. Kahandagamage said transparency is a fundamental principle of any governing body and more..

Aug 8 (TM) Amidst a recent landmark push to combat all forms of violence against children in SL, stakeholders are calling for greater efforts to address longstanding challenges and protect the country’s children. Last month’s Int'l Conference on Child Protection 2025 (ICCP’25), hosted by the Centre for Gender Studies at the Uni of Kelaniya in collaboration with the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) and supported by more..

Aug 8 (TM) Electric vehicles are the talk of the town in Colombo today. The Customs dept backtracked from the official stance held before and agreed to a conditional release of over 900 EVs which were held in Colombo port due to the regulatory issue. Wherever you look, the talk is about EVs. From public appetite for new vehicles following years of import restrictions, and growing global trends showing an uptick in sale of electric vehicles, SL roads seem to be flooded with the space-age more..

Aug 8 (Island) The ruling NPP continues to make various allegations against its political opponents, the way it did while it was in the Opposition. It is now ensconced in power, and what is expected of it is action and not verbal attacks. After months of vacillation, it has decided to carry out one of its key election pledges. The govt yesterday presented a bill to Parliament seeking to curtail the retirement benefits of the former Presidents. The bill can now be challenged before the Supreme Court, more..

Aug 8 (DN) The establishment of the rainy retreat (Vas) stems from two historical viewpoints. The first suggests that Buddha instituted this practice after witnessing the suffering of monks who traveled great distances during monsoon season to reach Rajagaha-Nuwara, enduring severe hardships from severe weather conditions. Alternative explanation points to criticism from Jain ascetics, who condemned Buddhist monks for continuing outdoor religious activities during rainy season. more..

Aug 8 (Island) When Prez Donald Trump announced his new reciprocal tariffs in April, he identified a group of countries as “worst offenders” with unfair trade policies. And SL was almost on the top of that list with 44% additional ad valorem duty, which would have had a devastating impact on SL’s exports and the economy. Fortunately, the govt has very discreetly managed to negotiate a reduction of this additional ad valorem duty to 20%, which compares well with those imposed on other more..

Aug 8 (TM) Election Committee (EC) formed to oversee the forthcoming AGM of Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA), has reportedly dismissed an objection raised over the nomination of veteran coach Sunil Gunawardana’s suitability to contest the post of President. The SLA’s election of office bearers for 2025-27 is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. on 18 August at the Public Library Auditorium in Colombo 7. Gunawardana, along with Prasanna Indika more..

Aug 8 (CT) Our current school education system, a legacy of a different era, is increasingly out of step with the demands of the 21st century. While there is broad agreement that reform is necessary, the path forward is complex and contested. We believe that rushing into top-down reforms, dictated solely by a narrow group of experts, would be a profound mistake. The reform of our children’s education is not merely a technical policy puzzle to be solved. It is a fundamental question about more..