Aug 24 (ST) Galvanised by the arrest and subsequent remanding of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, leaders of leading opposition political parties are vowing collective action against what they call the JVP-NPP govt’s attempts to suppress political opponents. Opposition heavyweights including former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena were joined by former ministers and MPs and a group of lawyers who met at Flower Road office more..

Aug 24 (TM) Police has decided to initiate an investigation into a popular YouTuber, identified as Sudantha Thilakasiri or Sudaa, following a complaint filed by UNP lawyers. The complaint stems from a post uploaded by the YouTuber claiming that if former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared before the CID on Friday, he would definitely be arrested and remanded for 14 days. UNP lawyer Nalin Pathirana expressed suspicion that the arrest had been pre-planned, questioning how YouTuber more..

Aug 24 (SO) Investigations are currently under way regarding former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake, in connection with the alleged involvement in facilitating a private visit to the UK using State funds by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe who is now in remand custody. DIG Kalinga Jayasinghe who is in charge of the Police Legal Division made this statement regarding Friday’s arrest of former Prez more..

Aug 24 (ST) The indictment papers to file action against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody on the allegation of corruption over misappropriation of funds are being prepared by the CIABOC. Last week, the Sunday Times exclusively reported that the Commission had decided to file action against the minister regarding alleged misappropriation of funds over a tender while he was serving at the Fertiliser Corporation in 2015. Action is to be filed in the Colombo High Court against the minister more..

Aug 24 (SM) It has been reported that former Prez – Ranil Wickremesinghe met senior Indian National Congress (INC) leader Shashi Tharoor at a hotel in Colombo, just a day before he received the summons by the CID. Meeting had also been attended by former Justice Minister – Ali Sabry. Tharoor – a former Indian Minister, is regarded as a key figure in the INC. It is also said that proposals are underway to field him as the INC’s next PM candidate at the upcoming general election, more..

Aug 24 (ST) The first salvo was fired in March this year by Minister Bimal Rathnayake against former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe when he told Parliament that the former president had used state funds exceeding GBP 40,000 (over Rs. 16 million) for a private visit with his wife, Maithree, to the UK in 2023. It was an early indication that the Govt was gunning for the former president, as, along with this, Minister Rathnayake and more..

Aug 25 (ST) NPP Govt may well have achieved the impossible by a clumsily handled arrest and remanding of former Exec Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe this Friday (22) over alleged misuse of public property in expending LKR 16.6 million on a diversionary transit in the UK while returning from state visits to the US and Cuba as a sitting Prez at the time. That diversion was to attend the conferral of an honorary professorship on the former Prez’s spouse by a British Uni more..

Aug 25 (DM) Apart from braving the waves and surfing on the pristine beaches of Arugambay, crowds are now attracted to observing wildlife on the East Coast. But from the point of view of conservationists, respective authorities need to pay more attention to safeguarding several forest patches in the area, which are home to many herds of elephants. During a recent visit to Arugambay, DM witnessed how illegal encroachment, rave parties in areas frequented by elephants, more..

Aug 25 (DM) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the CID of the Police on Friday (22). Subsequently he was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate and remanded until Aug 26. 76-old Wickremesinghe, who has also been sworn in as PM six times in the past, became the first SL ex-president to be arrested and remanded in the island’s history. Wickremesinghe had been earlier summoned on Sept 19 more..

Aug 25 (CT) The recent recommendation by the Bar Association of SL (BASL) to introduce Law as a compulsory subject from the primary level in schools is not only timely but also urgently needed. In a country where the rule of law is often overlooked and misunderstood, instilling legal awareness in our children from an early age could be a pivotal step toward a more responsible and law-abiding society. SL today faces a glaring deficit in legal literacy. It is evident across various facets of daily life, more..

Aug 25 (DM) On the 22nd of this month in a surprise move, officers of the CID arrested former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, produced him before a Magistrate and later had the former strongman leader remanded at the infamous Welikade jail. The Welikade jail, is best known for the organised massacre of Tamil political prisoners during Black July in 1983. The massacre took place within the prison on two different days. It was reported that the doors to the cells of Sinhalese prisoners more..

Aug 25 (CT) For over two centuries, Sri Lanka’s postal service has stood as one of the country’s oldest public institutions, trusted by rural villagers and city businesses alike. But in 2025, it had become the epicentre of a bitter industrial dispute. Twenty-two trade unions representing postal workers have launched a continuous, island-wide strike over 19 demands—including overtime pay, recruitment freezes, and administrative reforms. more..

Aug 25 (TM) The unprecedented action of arresting and remanding former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has hit a raw nerve in SL. It is the first time in SL that a former executive Prez has been subjected to such legal action. Perhaps as Sri Lankans, we had grown to imagine that such an action would not be possible, that when it happened, we were stunned. The manner in which RW’s arrest and remand came about, course of action which was taken to achieve it, the response from society to it, more..

Aug 25 (FT) Some days are better by far than others. There you go again then, blithe spirit, blissfully humming that the lark’s on the wing, the snail’s on the thorn, God is in heaven, all’s right with the world. And to the other place beginning with the same letter as heaven with the likes of Sunil H to whom life is nothing but one big question mark. There are signs of a boom cycle in Sri Lanka. Life – including at the City of Dreams, courtesy Cinnamon – has a lot to offer us islanders and more..

Aug 25 (Island) The arrest and remand of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has triggered a social media feeding frenzy. Propaganda brigades of the govt and the Opposition are red in tooth and claw; their campaigns have got down and dirty. The public has been distracted from serious allegations against Minister Kumar Jayakody, the no-faith motion against Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekera, the proposed educational reforms, the high cost of living, govt’s unfulfilled promises, more..

Aug 25 (Island) The last episode continued with more experiences from my stint at the ETF Board, from which I learned many lessons. Today, I continue with stories highlighting how I managed political interference and tackled other vital issues. The most challenging issue was when a vacancy occurred for the post of General Manager at ETF. Although, according to the ETF Act, I, as the Chairman, was the CEO, I needed a second in command. Even before we advertised the post, more..

Aug 25 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake has appointed a high-level Presidential Task Force to spearhead the implementation of the 5-year SL Tourism Development Program. The move is formalised through Extraordinary Gazette No. 2450/27 issued on 20 Aug, by virtue of the powers vested in the Prez by Article 33 of the Constitution. Task Force is mandated to function as the central coordinating and decision-making body more..

Aug 25 (FT) Ceylon National Chamber of Industries Chairman Kevin Edwards said manufacturers were broadly satisfied with the Government’s progress in cutting reciprocal US tariffs to 20% from 44%, but warned that businesses remain uncertain about which sectors will be opened to US competition. “We are happy with the progress made by the Govt to reduce US tariffs further, but we also do understand that there is some give-and-take, and at the moment, we are in the dark about what is more..

Aug 25 (FT) Senior Economic Adviser to the Prez Duminda Hulangamuwa is set to deliver the keynote address at the AGM of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA). To be held on Friday (29), 171st AGM will bring together the membership of regional plantation companies, industry leaders, and key stakeholders to review the past year’s performance and deliberate on policies and strategies for growth. Hulangamuwa’s address is expected to highlight Govt priorities in policy direction more..

Aug 25 (DM) Sri Lanka’s insurance industry demonstrated robust top-line growth in the second quarter of 2025, with a significant 16% year-on-year increase in overall premiums, underscoring the sector’s resilience and strong growth trajectory. The expansion was driven by a notable 22% surge in life insurance premiums, while the general insurance segment also recorded a healthy 8.6% rise. However, the industry’s bottom line presented a more complex picture, with profitability more..

Aug 25 (FT) President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday met newly appointed Heads of Missions and said Ambassadors have a key role in strengthening Sri Lanka’s image abroad and supporting the country’s economy by promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and other trade agreements. He urged the Envoys to serve Sri Lankans overseas fairly and address the issues of expatriates without delay, according to a statement from the PMD. more..

Aug 25 (TM) Amid speculation over a possible arrest of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) following former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s detention, Govt has denied any such plans, insisting investigations into alleged past crimes are impartial and handled by independent bodies. Responding to questions about whether the Govt intended to arrest former Prez Rajapaksa and other senior figures, Minister Ananda Wijepala more..

Aug 25 (DN) The Zimbabwe cricket tour will be a good preparation for the Asia Cup, said SL skipper Charith Asalanka. SL team left for Zimbabwe last Saturday and before the departure skipper Asalanka pointed out the importance of recently concluded SLC T-20 League which gave good opportunity for newcomers to come into the team and other players to find their form. Our aim is to win Asia Cup followed by next year WC and before we go for Asia Cup we wanted to rectify our mistakes more..

Aug 25 (DN) Teen star Dinara de Silva and rising men’s ace Apna Perera stamped their class once again to clinch the Women’s and Men’s Open Singles titles at the 111th National Tennis Championship, organized by the SL Tennis Association (SLTA) and sponsored by YETI, played at the SLTA courts yesterday. Dinara, a 17-year-old from St. Bridget’s Convent, produced another excellent display to defeat Nesangi Hemakumara 6-1, 6-3 in the women’s final. more..

Aug 25 (ST) Mount Lavinia Magistrate Chathurika De Silva reprimanded officials of the Colombo Fraud Bureau (CFB) for sending extracts of the case involving Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe to the Attorney General even before completing the investigation. Case involves a building belonging to a trust known as National Workers’ Institute being fraudulently leased for Rs. 3.6 million by persons, including more..

Aug 25 (Island) SL’s financial markets are flush with cash, with the Central Bank reporting a significant increase in market liquidity. The total outstanding market liquidity hit a surplus of Rs. 116.40 billion by Aug 22, up from a surplus of Rs. 88.33 billion the previous week. This signals a healthy amount of cash in the system, which can help support lending and investment activities. However, while liquidity increased, inflation showed an uptick. NCPI-based inflation rose to 0.7% in July, more..

Aug 25 (FT) Colombo Fashion Week, Responsible Fashion, and Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival Founder Ajai Vir Singh will represent Sri Lanka at the upcoming BRICS+ Fashion Summit, a major international platform shaping the future of the global fashion industry. Leaders from fashion associations, textile and manufacturing companies, industry experts, designers, and buyers from more than 60 countries will gather for the event, which will take place in Moscow from 28 to 30 Aug. more..

Aug 25 (FT) A tea export quantity of 24 million kilos (Mnkg) in July this year was up 13% from last year’s figure of 21.3 Mnkg. The July figure is also the highest monthly quantity shipped in the past 42 months, dating back to Dec 2021, said Siyaka Research analysing Customs data. Tea exports for the period Jan-July have reached 150 Mnkg, 7% more than last year’s figure of 140.4 Mnkg, and is the best 7-month performance since 2021. SL also earned highest-ever value of Rs. 263 billion, more..

Aug 25 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday held a review of projects implemented under the 2025 Budget allocations for the Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry, along with preliminary discussions on the 2026 Budget. The meeting extensively reviewed the progress of projects implemented by 29 institutions under the Ministry in 2025. Prez instructed officials to identify lands suitable for commercial-scale coconut plantations and promote their development. more..

Aug 25 (AD) Postal trade unions have decided to call off their strike action following discussions held with Minister Nalinda Jayatissa. Speaking at a press briefing following talks with the Minister, trade union representatives announced that they have decided to end the strike with immediate effect. Co-convener of United Postal Trade Union Front, Chinthaka Bandara, stated that Minister has instructed Postmaster General to devise more..

Aug 25 (DN) The IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, has issued orders promoting 51 senior Police officers to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), following the limited competitive examination for promotions. These promotions fill 51 vacancies within the SL Police. Among the promoted are three female officers and two officers from the Special Task Force (STF). The competitive examination, held on November 18 and 19, 2023, was faced by around 2,000 Inspectors of Police. more..

Aug 25 (NW) Minister Bimal Ratnayake says former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe should have been arrested 40 years ago for far more serious allegations against him. “There are arguments that the accusations behind his recent arrest are trivial; that’s true. However, his govt in 1977 unleashed massive post-election violence. Ranil and JR were responsible for that and should have been arrested at that time,” he said. The minister further stated that Ranil Wickremesinghe should have been more..

Aug 25 (NW) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is suffering from dehydration and could face risks of heart, kidney, or other complications if not properly treated, Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital Dr. Rukshan Bellana said. He made these remarks while briefing the media in Colombo on the health condition of the former president, who was transferred from the Prison Hospital to the National Hospital and is currently receiving treatment under intensive care. more..

Aug 25 (DN) Minister K.D. Lal Kantha said the arrest of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe should not be seen as an extraordinary event, but rather as part of a long-overdue normalisation of the law applying equally to all. Minister stressed that Sri Lanka had never before witnessed a former President or a member of the country’s political elite being produced before a Court of law. “People feel this is something extraordinary only because it has never happened before. more..

Aug 25 (FT) Lawyers representing the ruling NPP said that Opposition parties were attempting to discredit the judicial process over the arrest of ex-Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. Upul Kumarapperuma, PC told reporters that repeated public statements by the Opposition bordered on contempt of Court and risked eroding public trust in the judiciary. He said Wickremesinghe is facing charges under the Penal Code and more..