Aug 10 (ST) Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is considering initiating disciplinary action against about 30 magistrates and district judges following complaints and allegations against them. During the past week, the JSC interdicted five judges. They include District Judge for Moratuwa, Thilina Gamage, and Monaragala Additional District Judge Ranjani Gamage. The other three interdicted judges were recent recruits to the judicial service. One of them had reportedly contested elections and more..

Aug 10 (DM) Elephant deaths in SL are climbing at an alarming rate, with new figures showing dozens killed in just the first seven months of this year. Dept of Wildlife Conservation says 44 elephants have already been shot dead in 2025, showing that the deadly trend of gunfire killings is far from over. Last year, 84 elephants were killed by gunfire, underscoring the ongoing human-elephant conflict and the impact of illegal hunting. A total of 248 elephants died in 2024 from various causes. more..

Aug 10 (ST) SL’s tourism sector, which has been recovering in 2025, is struck by another crisis as tensions between the govt and foreign online travel agents like Booking.com escalate. Market players warn that the country is facing a potential blackout of SL listings on major booking sites due to regulatory hurdles and the govt’s aspiration for a state-sponsored rival. Minister of Tourism Vijitha Herath has blamed online sites such as more..

Aug 10 (AD) The 2025 Grade 5 Scholarship Exam is scheduled to be held today (10). Commissioner General of Examinations A.K.S. Indika Kumari, stated that the exam will commence at 9:30 am, and candidates must arrive at their respective centres by 8:30 am All candidates should be seated in the exam hall by 9 am. She explained that the second question paper will be administered first, starting at 9:30 a.m. and concluding at 10:45 am, followed by a 30-minute break. more..

Aug 10 (ST) Widespread investor participation and strong retail activity are pushing the Colombo stock market Indices up, analysts say. This year, with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) launching its central counterparty system, as well as the strong governance aspects in the market, foreign investors are very positive about the SL share market, analysts noted. While there is currently a foreign outflow and low foreign investor participation in the market, they said that setting the stage more..

Aug 10 (TM) Samples of US-origin West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil are currently being tested in SL’s laboratories as part of plans to include it in future petroleum import tenders. Once approved, WTI will join Murban crude oil as a key option for the country’s fuel supply. In the meantime, it is also learnt that discussions between SL and the US have commenced and are ongoing as both countries work to address trade issues more..

Aug 10 (AD) Sri Lanka expressed deep concern over the decision by Israel to seize control of Gaza, which it said will lead to further escalation of violence and suffering for the people of Gaza. Sri Lanka calls for an immediate ceasefire and urges all parties to resolve their differences through diplomatic dialogue in order to establish sustainable peace, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a brief statement. Yesterday (8), the Israeli security cabinet approved PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan more..

Aug 10 (TM) A Govt plan to import 2,000 double cabs for State institutions is currently only a proposal that will be included in the 2026 Budget, according to Treasury Deputy Secretary Ananda Seneviratne. Speaking on the matter, Seneviratne confirmed that while a proposal existed, it was not an immediate plan. “This is only a proposal at this time, and it will be included in the Budget for 2026, so it will not be implemented immediately,” he stated. The plan was yet to receive Cabinet or Treasury approval, more..

Aug 10 (TM) The GMOA warns that it will launch islandwide trade union action tomorrow (11) if the Health Ministry continues to fall short in resolving issues surrounding unlawful doctor transfers and appointment lists. GMOA Media Spokesman emphasised the clear violation of rules and regulations by the Ministry of Health with regard to the process of doctor transfers as a whole, highlighting the importance of adhering to the Establishments Code’s set guideline in more..

Aug 10 (AD) Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the true facts regarding the SupremeSAT satellite project will be disclosed upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation. He noted that if the project had generated significant income for the country, it would be difficult to believe that the relevant parties would have remained silent until now. The Minister made these remarks while responding to questions from journalists following a ceremony held in Colombo today (9). more..

Aug 10 (ST) A committee appointed to analyse financial claims from the Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd (MCC), contractor of the long-delayed Central Expressway Part 1 (CEP1) from Kadawatha to Mirigama, has recommended settling its multibillion-rupee payments and negotiating with the same party to complete the remainder of the road. The report was finalised and handed over this week. The Highways Ministry appointed more..

Aug 10 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake two overseas tours in September, one to attend the UN General Assembly (UNGA) sessions in New York, followed by a state visit to Japan. Prez will leave for the US on Sept 23 and is due to address the UNGA on the 24th, Minister Vijitha Herath said. In his address to the UNGA, the Prez will outline his govt policies, including its foreign policy. The Prez will also meet with several other world leaders on the sidelines of the UNGA, more..

Aug 10 (TM) Following the revelation that incorrect statistics had been provided to PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya regarding the controversial SupremeSAT satellite project launched by former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Rohitha Rajapaksa, top Govt officials are currently discussing possible actions against the official responsible for supplying the allegedly misleading information. Under the Establishments Code, the official who had allegedly misled PM could face disciplinary measures, more..

Aug 10 (ST) It may have started off with some gentle humour at the Opposition’s expense, but there was no mistaking the message Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake had for opposition parties when he addressed Parliament on Thursday—Do not destabilise the govt’s efforts. Parliament on Thursday debated an adjournment motion on the Current Economy of the Country. Prez, as he has done on several previous occasions during more..

Aug 11 (DM) Among the various responses to the govt’s move to scrap pension and other perks provided to the former Presidents and MPs, the reaction of Nandana Gunathilaka, former provincial council member and MP of the JVP has gone viral. Gunathilaka, a former companion of many leaders of the current JVP led NPP govt and the JVP’s candidate for the 1999 Prez election, had threatened in a Facebook post to launch a suicide attack in case the govt goes ahead with its plan to abolish MP pensions. more..

Aug 11 (Island) An Executive Order signed by US Prez Donald Trump on Wednesday, imposing an additional 25% tariff on India for importing oil from Russia, has sent the Indian exporters reeling. Trump, in his wisdom, thinks that oil imports from Russia, whether direct or through intermediaries, present an unusual and extraordinary threat to the US and therefore justify emergency economic measures. He may have expected India to plead for relief, just like other countries, but more..

Aug 11 (DM) URF leader Champika Ranawaka, speaks on the way forward for SL in the midst of U.S. reciprocal tariffs, the perceived moves by the govt and its silence on major corruption issues. Q: The reduction of U.S. tariffs on SL goods is seen as an achievement by the govt. Do you recognize it? A: It is a kind of an achievement because SL is on a competitive footing with the countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia and India as well. But there is a hitch. more..

Aug 11 (CT) The Retired Parliamentarians’ Association (RPA) has sounded the alarm: if the Govt abolishes the pension payments of former MPs, some 500 retired MPs will be left without their livelihoods. Former MP and RPA Secretary Pemasiri Manage has claimed that the majority of these ex-legislators rely on their pensions to meet daily expenses and medical costs. He painted a picture of former MPs in dire poverty, some struggling with illness, others caring for disabled dependents. more..

Aug 11 (CT) Reading Dr. Punsara Amarasinghe’s article Creeping Rise of Anti-Semitism is Dangerous for SL prompted this response. Dr. Amarasinghe’s central claim is that SL is witnessing a dangerous rise in anti-Semitism, driven by pro-Palestinian activism that calls for boycotts of Israeli goods and the shunning of Israeli tourists. He argues that activists refuse to acknowledge the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas attack as the trigger for the latest Gaza crisis, downplay Israel’s right to more..

Aug 11 (TM) Despite the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amd) Bill being passed in Parliament, uncertainty and unrest continue to grip the sector’s workforce as no concrete transfer plan has yet been finalised for the 23,000 employees of the CEB. Promised communication about the transfer process, originally scheduled for 26 August, has failed to materialise, leaving workers anxious and unsure about their future roles, placements, and job security. more..

Aug 11 (TM) SL is a peculiar island. It’s a small patch of land surrounded by the sea where there are many paradoxes when it comes to governance. For example, the island has some of the toughest laws to obtain a licence for a firearm. SL has no constitutional rights to bear arms, and as such, to legally obtain one, a citizen must jump through many hoops and navigate the island’s legendary bureaucracy, known for its indifference and lethargy, to get a permit to own a firearm. more..

Aug 11 (ST) There is a question that hangs heavy in the air when Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake sees fit to passionately pronounce in Parliament (as he did in a deftly timed surprise visit a few days ago) that the Govt has taken most forward looking steps to address the SL State’s accountability and human rights deficit since coming to power more than ten months ago. Could the Prez be so kind as to enlighten puzzled segments of the SL citizenry less inclined to greet empty political rhetoric more..

Aug 11 (Island) SL, with numerous problems cropping up on the political and economic fronts, resembles a mosaic of issues. The controversial Trump tariffs, the proposed educational reforms and criticism thereof were losing steam, and last week was beginning to look dull. Then, a satellite fell on the JVP HQ, as it were! JVP-NPP govt has been in damage control mode since it admitted, albeit unwittingly, that an allegation it made before last year’s prez and general elections was baseless. more..

Aug 11 (Island) Educational reform stands as one of the cornerstone commitments in the NPP’s election manifesto. Entrusted with this critical responsibility, PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who also serves as the Minister of Education, is at the forefront of implementing reforms that will shape the future of Sri Lanka’s younger generations. However, it appears that the discourse surrounding the proposed education bill has so far been poorly articulated in Parliament. more..

Aug 11 (FT) After 25 years of failed lobbying, SL Customs is using the Govt’s two-thirds power and the IMF program to discreetly creep into an area that was considered much-needed trade facilitation and speed for Board of Investment (BOI) investors on special economic zones. Govt has dropped a bomb on BOI investors as published in the July 2025 report of the IMF, where SL authorities have agreed to transfer functions of import/export clearance from the BOI to SLC by October, more..

Aug 11 (FT) Dipped Products (DPL), a member of the Hayleys Group and a global leader in hand protection solutions spanning the medical, household, industrial, and sports sectors, was honoured with the Overall Gold Award at the National Business Excellence Awards (NBEA) 2025. The recognition comes as DPL enters its 50th year of global operations. The event was held under the patronage of New Zealand High Commissioner David Pine as Chief Guest, with South African High Commissioner to SL more..

Aug 11 (FT) CEAT has once again reaffirmed its leadership in the country’s automotive sector by being ranked the Most Valuable Tyre Brand in Sri Lanka for 2025 in the latest edition of the Brand Finance Lanka rankings. According to the report by Brand Finance – the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy – CEAT has grown its brand value by 15% to Rs. 2.325 billion, securing 44th place overall among SL’s 100 most valuable brands. Notably, CEAT has also been recognised as more..

Aug 11 (FT) The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Commission of SL (SEC) and the stock broking industry, is set to conduct an Invest Sri Lanka investor forum in Singapore tomorrow. Building on the momentum of the successful foreign investor forum held in Colombo in March this year, the initiative aims to further engage with global investors and promote Sri Lanka’s capital market as an attractive frontier investment destination. more..

Aug 11 (FT) Workers’ remittances hit a record high for the month of July, surging to $ 697.3 million, registering the highest monthly inflow so far in 2025, latest CB data revealed. The July inflow reflects a robust 23.02% year-on-year (YoY) growth and marks a 9.1% increase compared to June 2025. It is also the fourth consecutive month of record inflows for the year. The July 2025 figure is also the second highest monthly remittance inflow in history, behind $ 708.089 million recorded in 2020. more..

Aug 11 (TM) After a seven-year delay, RDA is still awaiting Cabinet approval to begin the first phase of asphalt overlay work on the 14-year-old Southern Expressway (E01). The expressway was completed in 2011, with the asphalt overlay due in 2018, seven years later. According to the latest audit report on the RDA by the National Audit Office (NAO), it has been identified that this maintenance is especially urgent for the stretch from Pinnaduwa to Kottawa, more..

Aug 11 (FT) DFCC Bank has sustained its growth momentum in the first half of 2025, reflecting financial resilience and effective strategic executions. The bank recorded notable expansion in key areas, including loans and deposits, underscored by an 11% rise in net interest income, supported by a deliberate strategy to drive credit growth and optimise funding costs. DFCC said credit expansion remained a central focus, with the bank’s loan portfolio increasing by 19% during the six-month period. more..

Aug 11 (FT) Cargills (Ceylon) PLC has posted a robust start to the 2025/26 financial year, recording a 46.3% year-on-year (YoY) increase in Group Profit After Tax (PAT) to Rs. 2.2 billion for the quarter ended 30 June 2025. Group revenue rose 11.2% to Rs. 66.7 billion, driven by strong topline growth across the core segments—Retail, FMCG, and Restaurants. Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, And Amortisation (EBITDA) for the quarter increased by 11.9% to Rs. 6.5 billion. more..

Aug 11 (FT) SL’s tourism earnings crossed the $ 2 billion revenue mark in the first seven months of 2025, though July saw a slight decline despite strong visitor arrivals. During the first seven months, tourism sector has earned over $ 2.03 billion, up 7.8% year-on-year (YoY) compared to the same period last year. However, the figure is still short of the 2018 Jan-July record of over $ 2.59 billion—the year SL posted its highest-ever tourism revenue of $ 4.38 billion. more..

Aug 11 (DN) Opener Vishmi Gunaratne produced a superb knock of 166 off 152 deliveries to lead CCC women to a 44-run victory over Colts CC women in their Major Club Women’s Limited Over encounter at the Colts grounds on Saturday. In fact Vishmi’s knock was significant as it is the tournament’s highest individual score so far. Earlier two other centuries were hit by Navy SC’s Harshitha Samarawickrama (140) and SSC’s Lihini Apsara (127). 19-year-old national opener Vishmi struck 23 boundaries and two sixes, more..

Aug 11 (CT) Kamil Mishara’s scintillating half-century powered SLC Greens to a commanding five-wicket win over SLC Greys in another entertaining clash of the SLC T20 League worked off at SSC yesterday. Chasing 164, Greens got off to a shaky start with Lasith Croospulle falling early for 5. But, it was Kamil Mishara who steadied the ship and turned the tide with a sublime 52 off just 34 balls. His innings, laced with six boundaries and two sixes, came at a crucial time and more..

Aug 11 (TM) The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) claimed that several leading hospitals are running short of certain pharmaceutical drugs given to pregnant mothers undergoing caesarean section to prevent complications after anesthesia. MCPA President Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa said that IV Maxolon and IV Ondansetron – used intravenously to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting during and after surgery, among other purposes – are now in short supply amidst more..