Aug 26 (Island) South Korea has recently funded the setting up of a Biomolecular Science and Industrial Biotechnology (BSIB) programme at the Uni of Colombo. SK Embassy in Colombo said that the programme that had been initiated by Sungkyunkwan Uni, under the Leading University Project for International Cooperation (LUPIC), is funded by the Korean government. The Embassy said that the programme was meant to bring together world-class expertise from Korea more..

Aug 26 (FT) Underscoring SL’s growing role as a strategic hub in the global supply chain, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is set to host its Int'l Convention 2025 in Colombo from 14-17 Sept. Organised by CILT SL, the country’s leading professional body for logistics, supply chain, transport, this marks the second time SL will host this prestigious convention, 12 years after the first, repositioning itself as a key logistics hub in the South Asian region. more..

Aug 26 (Reuters) Tourists have long flocked to Sri Lanka for its pristine beaches, wildlife safaris and ancient Buddhist sites. Now, its first Marxist president is betting on casinos to attract high-rollers from India and China and usher in the next wave of foreign inflows. The success of the casino strategy is crucial for Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who completes one year in office next month and has vowed to improve the lives of ordinary more..

Aug 26 (FT) Positioning Colombo as a regional hub for transhipment and e-commerce, SriLankan Airlines is set to double its handling capacity with a new cargo terminal at the Bandaranaike Int'l Airport (BIA) by the end of 2025. When it begins operations, the new facility will increase annual handling capacity from 250,000 metric tons to over 500,000 metric tons. “It currently handles 250,000, and another 250,000 we can add,” said SriLankan Airlines Cargo Operations Manager more..

Aug 26 (DM) Measures are being taken to reduce irregularities reported in the issuing of printed medical certificates by the National Transport Medical Institute (NTMI), Nugegoda, for obtaining driving licenses, Deputy Minister Janitha Kodituwakku said. He said that until now, NTMI had been issuing medical certificates on printed paper, which had given rise to various irregularities. To address this, govt has decided to introduce an online system aimed at ensuring transparency more..

Aug 26 (TM) Govt stated that although it needs int'l technical assistance to examine the skeletal remains uncovered at the Chemmani mass grave, it has not yet sought help from any country. Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffar said: “There is a need to seek int'l technical assistance to examine the skeletal remains. Ministry of Justice and National Integration is currently discussing this with the relevant parties. more..

Aug 26 (NF) Palani Digambaram, MP from the SJB, was put in a difficult position when asked why the political unity currently shown in support of remanded former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was not seen during the long-standing wage struggles of estate workers. Responding to the question, Digambaram said, “We have been continuously speaking about the wage issues of the plantation community. But the problem lies with the companies that are supposed to pay.” more..

Aug 26 (EN) A bipartisan congressional staff delegation from the United States is visiting SL looking at ways to grow ties in governance, trade, and security, the US ambassador said. “As part of ongoing cooperation, they’ll meet with MPs, civil society, & senior government officials to share ideas on strengthening how our democracies work together,” US ambassador Julie Chung said. The bipartisan House Democracy Partnership works to strengthen accountable & transparent more..

Aug 26 (SM) A gazette extraordinary has been issued temporarily suspending the registration of 03 national sports associations in SL. According to the gazette, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has suspended the registration of the Athletics, Table Tennis, and Gymnastics associations with effect from yesterday. The move was taken under Sections 32 and 33 of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, as amended. According to the gazette, the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports more..

Aug 26 (FT) Colombo Athletic and Football Academy players recently returned after completing a week-long Elite experience camp at AC Milan’s home. Puma House of Football, Vismara, one of AC Milan’s training facilities, played host to this Elite camp. This is the facility where the AC Milan U20 team and the first women’s team trained parallelly, exposing the young footballers to an environment of excellence and professionalism. 14 young players from Colombo Athletic and more..

Aug 26 (TM) The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs stated that the final version of the Bill to amend the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance will be forwarded to the Legal Draftsman’s Department as soon as the suggestions from the Chief Prelates of the three Sects (Mahanayakas) are received. Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said that the process of revising the law had already moved through more..

Aug 26 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake today reiterated that the law will be enforced equally on all citizens, stressing that those found guilty of corruption will face strict punishment. “Why do they react so strongly when we say the law will be equal to all? It is because their conscience tells them they are criminals,” Prez said that no individual will be above the law under his govt. He announced that beginning in September, once new legislation is passed, all state-provided houses allocated to more..

Aug 26 (FT) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament last week that the Govt remains committed to upholding human rights and deliberately avoids narratives that foster division, hatred, or violence. “As the new Govt in Sri Lanka, we are committed to ensuring the protection of all people,” the PM said on Friday, responding to a question raised by MP S. Shritharan. “We are always willing to listen, correct ourselves, and be responsive for public sentiment.” more..

Aug 26 (DM) A way from the squabbles for position, political bickering, jockeying for prominence and egoism and the unprecedented forms of corruption, cricketers from a village school have exposed the self-styled pundits and created a record that perhaps no privileged school has ever been able to do. Being in school cricket for just around 20 years, Devapathiraja College’s cricketers entered three top shelf finals, U-13, 15 & 17, more..

Aug 26 (DM) National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, will host the annual Made in Sri Lanka trade fair at Arugam Bay in the Ampara District from Aug 29 to 31. The exhibition will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event, organized annually across the island, aims to promote local micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) by providing them access to both local and international markets. more..

Aug 26 (CT) Ministry of Health and Mass Media yesterday announced that 60 unserviceable vehicles belonging to the ministry were sold at a public auction, generating Rs 120,877,000 in revenue for the government. According to a senior ministry spokesman, 53 vehicles were auctioned as ordinary vehicles and seven as unserviceable vehicles, with the registrations of the latter cancelled beforehand. The fleet included motor cars, three-wheelers, and motorcycles deemed unfit for service. more..

Aug 27 (TM) While the focus on the nation and the world was fixated on former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe being remanded, many had missed the unfolding crisis within the correctional system of SL. Our prisons system – which only comes into the spotlight when there is a jailbreak, custodial death, or an organised crime boss is being interned, or on the odd occasion a politician is remanded or incarcerated – has been struggling to support the overcrowded population it is responsible for. more..

Aug 27 (CT) Today’s decision to grant bail to former president Ranil Wickremesinghe has defused some of the political tension building around his arrest. Yet the episode has drawn renewed attention to a long-standing question: why does the very thought of Sri Lankan remand custody inspire such fear, across all layers of society? In principle, remand detention is not intended as punishment. Those held in custody are legally presumed innocent, awaiting trial or bail. Yet in Sri Lanka, more..

Aug 27 (TM) The State is currently in talks with top professionals in the field to design vibrant macro-economic policies to bring back lost talent. “We are in discussions with esteemed SL professionals globally, including Professor Gomika Udugamasooriya, to encourage them to use their expertise for the betterment of Sri Lanka,” Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna said. more..

Aug 27 (DM) In latter half of the 1970’s, at a time when Lanka was opening up its economy to foreign capital, late prez J.R. Jayewardene reportedly welcomed even unscrupulous investors with his famous phrase let the robber barons come…. Well, the robber barons came, spreading their tentacles through the length and breadth of the country, leaving none -from the highest in the land, to a petty peon untouched. In simple language, corruption has taken hold of nearly every aspect of life in more..

Aug 27 (Island) Democracy is often hailed as a system of govt where the rule of law prevails over the rule of individuals. One of its most defining features is the principle that no one is above the law – not even the highest executive authority.In recent decades, several democratic countries have demonstrated this commitment by arresting or prosecuting former heads of state for crimes ranging from corruption to abuse of power. These cases, while politically charged, underscore more..

Aug 27 (SO) Colombo was gripped by unprecedented political drama on Friday when former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe who once led Sri Lanka through some of its most turbulent years was arrested by the CID, unwittingly becoming the first Head of State in the country’s post-independence history to be taken into custody. The development sent shockwaves through Sri Lanka’s political landscape, especially among its elite. more..

Aug 27 (ST) In the good old days when my Peradeniya University colleague Thalif Deen and I sought refuge at Lake House—I, a couple of months ahead of Dino, as we called him then—it was in hope that the roots of journalism would penetrate us as quickly and deeply as those who sat there around us on the Observer. It was an active engagement, with even our editors chasing us out of the office in search of the great stories and what they called a scoop. Some years later we parted to more..

Aug 27 (Island) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, arrested and remanded on Friday for alleged misuse of state funds during a visit to London, while in office, was granted bail yesterday. Large crowds flocked to Colombo, when the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court took up the case against Wickremesinghe. In a rare show of unity, Opposition parties have circled the wagons around Wickremesinghe, vowing to defeat what they describe as a witch-hunt against the political rivals of govt. more..

Aug 27 (CT) A review of projects under the 2025 Budget for the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing was held at the Presidential Secretariat this week, with Prez presiding over the customary ritual of updates, explanations, and promises of completion. On the surface, it seems comprehensive as housing schemes, road networks, environmental programmes, water and sanitation projects, city branding, and even disaster preparedness more..

Aug 27 (DM) Whoever masterminded the arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe thinking it would amount to a publicity coup, has scored an own goal for the govt. Probably, the govt is too slow or has an overestimate of itself to realise the immense local and international fallout of the folly (Mr Wickremesinghe was granted bail yesterday). Yet, the arrest of Ranil Wickremesinghe over seemingly innocuous and contentious charges could mark a turning point in politics in this country. more..

Aug 27 (ST) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who became the first Executive Prez in the country’s history to be arrested and remanded, is to be produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura at 1.30pm on Tuesday. Mr. Wickremesinghe was arrested on charges of misusing public funds when undertaking a private visit to the UK. On a request by the CID which is probing the case, Magistrate Lankapura more..

Aug 27 (FT) In an era of shifting global trade dynamics, the CEMBA/CEMPA Alumni Association of the Open University of SL (OUSL) is set to host its highly anticipated CEO Forum 2025. The timely event will focus on a critical issue for the nation’s economy: The Economic Impact of New US Tariffs. The forum is scheduled to take place on 2 Sept at 4 pm in the CETMe Auditorium, OUSL, Nawala. This pivotal discussion aims to dissect the potential ripple effects of new US trade policies more..

Aug 27 (FT) Energy Ministry said that it has expanded bunkering capacity at the Colombo Port South Jetty with the launch of new pipelines and fuelling facilities. The initiative, a joint project of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd, (PSTL), marks the first phase of a plan to upgrade petroleum storage, distribution, and bunkering operations. The lack of adequate pipelines and berths had restricted the ship fuel supply at the Port. more..

Aug 27 (FT) In the bustling streets of Colombo, a small garment manufacturer still conducts most transactions in cash, despite owning a smartphone more powerful than the computers that once ran entire banks. Across the city, a FinTech start-up has developed innovative credit scoring algorithms but struggles to access the customer data that could make their solution transformative. Meanwhile, a major bank has invested millions in establishing secure digital infrastructure that while more..

Aug 27 (FT) Aitken Spence Elevators Ltd, has signed a MoU with Rush Housing Ltd, to provide nine OTIS Gen2 Hz machine room-less elevators for five upcoming residential projects in Colombo District. The projects include Maimoon Residencies (Dehiwala), Rush Court 5 (Mahawatte), Rush Tower 2 (Dehiwala), Street Rush Residencies, and Rush Metropolis (Dehiwala). Established in 1989, Aitken Spence Elevators, a joint venture between Aitken Spence and OTIS Elevator Company more..

Aug 27 (FT) Securities and Exchange Commission’s Director General Chinthaka Mendis has been removed by Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake in his capacity as the Finance Minister on the recommendation of the Commissioners. Removal was yesterday and Deputy Director General Tushara Jayaratne has been made the Officer in Charge (OIC) as an interim measure. SEC Chairman Prof. Hareendra Dissabandara was not available more..

Aug 27 (ST) At least 10 companies, including a giant in the biscuit manufacturing sector, have requested the govt to allocate them land in either Hambantota or Ingiriya to start pharmaceutical manufacturing. After their attempts at starting in the manufacturing zone at the Oyamaduwa Deyata Kirula site in A'pura District did not materialise. Maliban Biosimilars Pvt Ltd, George Steuart Health Pvt Ltd, Premium International Biologics Pvt Ltd, Luxus Medeline Ltd, Suraki SV Pvt Ltd, Blue Ceylon Investments more..

Aug 27 (DN) SL weightlifter Dilanka Isuru Kumara claimed the bronze medal in the men’s 60kg weight category in the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship continued in India yesterday. Dilanka competed in the men’s 60kg senior event lifted 111kg in the snatch and 138kg in the clean and jerk. With a total combined lift of 249kg, Dilanka secured the bronze medal. Dilanka the experienced weightlifter of the SL team having won bronze in 55kg at the last Commonwealth Games more..

Aug 27 (FT) BOI is positioning SL as an investment hub in South Asia, with rising interest from Indian-based US companies, and those from Japan, and Vietnam in addition to investors from India and China. BOI Chairman Arjuna Herath said that investors have immense potential to use the island as a gateway to South Asia & European markets. Herath told Daily FT that apparel buyers from India and Indian apparel manufacturers, more..