Aug 28 (AD) A total of six SL underworld figures, including Kehelbaddara Padme and Commando Salinda, have been arrested in Jakarta, Indonesia, ASP F.U. Wootler said. He noted that these underworld figures were arrested in a joint operation conducted by a special SL CID team and the Indonesian Police in Indonesia. Those arrested include Kehelbaddara Padme, Commando Salinda, Panadura Nilanga, Thembili Lahiru, Backhoe Saman & his wife. more..

Aug 28 (FT) In the bustling corridors of SL business, I have witnessed countless Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) rise and fall like waves against the shore. As a Chartered Human Resource professional, my journey through govt, private sector, and multinational corporations has provided me with a unique vantage point to observe what separates thriving businesses from those that merely survive. Over several years serving as a member of the panel of judges for the Federation of more..

Aug 28 (FT) SL has entered uncharted political and legal territory. For the first time in its post-independence history, a former Prez has been arrested, remanded, and brought before a court of law. The charges concern the alleged misuse of public funds for private foreign travel, following investigations by the CID. This event is more than a legal case. It is a litmus test for Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions, the independence of its judiciary, and the rule of law in a system more..

Aug 28 (DM) A complaint has been lodged with the Nanuoya Police against a youth accused of beating a dog with a club, smashing it on the ground, and throwing it into a canal. The incident occurred at the Edinburgh Estate in Nanuoya, where a woman alleged that her pet dog was assaulted after it bit a cat belonging to the young man. In retaliation, the suspect had allegedly attacked the dog before throwing it into the canal. However, the dog managed to swim to safety and escape, more..

Aug 28 (NW) Dept of Irrigation has announced that boundaries of 23 major tanks will be marked and cleared this year under the Clean Sri Lanka program, aimed at protecting reservoirs and promoting sustainable development. The initiative began recently in the North Central Province with boundary marking at the Nuwara Wewa in A'pura. Officials confirmed that the Southern Province program will commence this week, with the Tissamaharama tank scheduled for Aug 29 more..

Aug 28 (DN) Arrangements are being made for local gem miners and traders to reach international gem markets and to get a decent income for their gems by the Global Promotion International (GPI). Under this move, the GPI has launched a new programme to further expand the local gem market system that started by providing high and fair prices for Sri Lankan gems through the Colombo Gem Market and to direct local gem miners and more..

Aug 28 (DM) The Maligakanda magistrate informed the CID that permission can be granted to examine CCTV footages of the National Hospital, Colombo if needed in the investigation into the social media posts which claimed that Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya visited former President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the hospital. Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama ordered the CID to record statements from Prime Minister Amarasuriya and her security personnel. more..

Aug 28 (EN) Changes to SL’s Companies Act passed recently will help align the country’s legislation with international standards, enhance transparency and improve regulatory framework for businesses, Deloitte SL and Maldives, a multi-disciplinary professional services firm, has said. “The legislation improves regulatory framework for business operations, enhances transparency, and aligns SL with international standards such as those set by Financial Action Task Force (FATF) more..

Aug 28 (AD) The arrest of five of SL’s most infamous underworld figures in Indonesia at once marks the first time in history that such an operation has been carried out, says IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya. Speaking at a press conference today regarding the arrest of major SL underworld figures, including Kehelbaddara Padme and Commando Salinda, the IGP stated that five of those arrested individuals are currently subject to Red Notices more..

Aug 28 (NW) Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasekara says except for the Northern region, all other regional depots of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) are operating buses at 100% normal capacity today. Employees of SLTB depots launched a strike from midnight yesterday, opposing the newly introduced unified timetable, and withdrew from operating buses. However, it was observed that buses in most parts of the country continued to operate as usual. more..

Aug 28 (PMD) For the first time in SL’s history, the Research Priorities for SL – 2026 report, aligned with the Govt’s socio-economic development programme, was officially presented this morning to the Secretary to the Prez Nandika Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat. This report, which marks the beginning of a new era of national development driven by research and innovation, was handed over by Professor Rohan Fernando, Chairman of National Science & Technology Commission. more..

Aug 28 (AD) President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne, Chairman of the expert committee appointed under Cabinet approval to draft the new Anti-Terrorism Bill stated that the committee’s work will be completed next month. This was confirmed by Chairman Arsekularatne when the committee appointed for this task convened at the Ministry of Justice and National Integration. He also confirmed that the proposed amendments to the draft legislation are currently undergoing more..

Aug 28 (NW) A group of state officials, including Deputy Minister Namal Sudarshana, today visited the school children who had been injured in the tragic accident that was reported in Kuliyapaitiya yesterday. The state officials visited the Kurunegala Hospital to inquire into the condition of the school children injured in the school van accident. Two children and the van driver lost their lives in the incident, while several other children who sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment more..

Aug 28 (AD) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was arrested on charges of misappropriation of state funds and later released on bail, is still receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Colombo National Hospital. It has been reported that doctors have not yet made a final decision regarding the date of his discharge from the hospital. A legal team representing former Prez presented several special facts to court more..

Aug 28 (Island) Customs yesterday (27) thwarted an attempt to smuggle in smartphones, worth approximately Rs 100 mn, through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). A senior Customs official said that two persons who arrived from Dubai were arrested over the smuggling attempt. According to the official, the arrested persons hadn’t been able to prove they obtained approval from the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL) to bring in the phones. more..

Aug 28 (AD) Former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), Thusitha Halloluwa, has been further remanded until Sept 4 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. The order was issued by Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva after considering the submissions made by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and the suspect’s legal representatives during the hearing of the case. Halloluwa has been named as a suspect in connection with a shooting incident more..

Aug 28 (CI) Vishen Halambage, the 20-year-old batter, has earned a maiden national call-up as SL named their T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe. Halambage is among 5 changes to the squad that faced Bangladesh last month and one of three new batters, with Nuwanidu Fernando and Kamil Mishara also drafted in, alongside legspin-bowling allrounder Dushan Hemantha, seamer Dushmantha Chameera. more..

Aug 28 (DM) Deputy Registrar of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Venerable Narampanawe Ananda Thera, was today elected as the Anunayake of the Asgiri Chapter of the Siyam Maha Nikaya. The election was held at 2 p.m. at the Mangala Uposathagara of the Asgiri Maha Viharaya under the patronage of the Mahanayake of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Venerable Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera. Out of the 20 monks representing the Asgiri Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha, 19 were eligible to cast their votes. more..

Aug 28 (DN) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met with a delegation from the US House Democracy Partnership (HDP) at Parliament today (27), with US Ambassador Julie Chung also in attendance. Premadasa emphasized the crucial role of the US in SL’s economy, noting that nearly 24% of the country’s exports are destined for the American market. He highlighted that 63% of SL’s apparel exports go to the US, supporting 400,000 direct jobs and sustaining the livelihoods of over more..

Aug 28 (NW) Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development has pointed out the necessity of revising the prices contained in the Cabinet Paper approved concerning the Kerawalapitiya Sahasdhanavi Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Power Plant. Committee informed the Ministry of Power and Energy to revise the prices related to the power plant, which is scheduled to be completed in the future, in order to make them compatible more..

Aug 28 (DM) The IGP said today that investigations are underway to identify individuals who organised the protest outside the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court when former President Ranil Wickremesinghe's case was taken up. The IGP said the protest, which took place while Wickremesinghe's case was being heard, is being treated as a potential contempt of court incident. He said that they are currently analysing photographic evidence to identify the organisers. more..

Aug 28 (NW) US Embassy in SL and the Central Cultural Fund’s Maritime Archaeology Unit will host an exhibition and symposium in September, highlighting the documentation and preservation of artifacts from the Godawaya Shipwreck, one of SL’s most significant maritime heritage sites. The exhibition and symposium will be held from 3-5 Sept at the BMICH. The exhibition at BMICH will open to public at 11am on Sept 3 more..

Aug 28 (NW) A baby elephant has been found with injuries to its leg due to getting caught in a snare in Zone 01, near the Butawa reservoir of the Yala National Park, according to the park warden. Dept of Wildlife Conservation says wildlife veterinarians provided emergency medical treatment for the elephant yesterday. The elephant calf, which was severely injured in its leg, was sedated, after which the necessary treatments were administered. Wildlife veterinarian K. Dhammi, more..

Aug 28 (DM) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said that the govt is planning to establish special courts to expedite trials against organised criminals, in response to long delays and rising costs in the judicial process. Minister said the move comes amid growing concerns over the large amount of public funds required to detain and provide security for organised crime suspects during lengthy legal proceedings. He said that any legal action would be taken strictly within existing legal framework, more..

Aug 28 (DN) Ministry of Health’s National STD/AIDS Control Program has recommended integrating HIV and STI prevention education, including condom use, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), into SL’s school curriculum. In response, the National Institute of Education (NIE) is preparing to include HIV/STI prevention content in the Grade 10 science textbook. more..

Aug 28 (TM) The Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has projected that total vehicle imports will rise to $ 1.5 billion by the end of the year, exceeding the earlier projected $ 1 billion outflows, due to more than expected demand and dollar inflows, CBSL Assistant Governor Dr. Chandranath Amarasekara said. He stated that the earlier projected $ 1 billion is not a strict limit on vehicle imports, but rather a dynamic one. He added that the country’s worker remittances are doing much better than expected more..

Aug 28 (NW) Govt has released photos of the underworld figures that were arrested in Indonesia. The wanted suspects were arrested during a joint operation conducted by a team of CID officials and the Jakarta Police. The arrested underworld figures are Kehelbaddara Padme, Commando Salinda, Backhoe Saman, Panadura Nilanga, and Thembili Lahiru. Minister Ananda Wijepala said that discussions are underway with the Indonesian authorities to repatriate the suspects to SL. more..

Aug 29 (DM) The recent postal service strike taught us many lessons. We know that postal workers are not the best paid employees. But the service they provide cannot be measured only with money. Hence do such workers always have to demand or call for a strike to earn a pay raise or enjoy more facilities at work? There are so many jobs in Sri Lanka which pay well. But when it comes to some of the essential services, the job revolves around dedication and not sophistication. more..

Aug 29 (DM) As SL prepares to appear before the UNHRC in Geneva this September under Resolution 51/2, govt will need to show more than promises. UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s 2025 report recognises that the new govt has both a historic opportunity and a clear mandate to deliver results. Continuation of arbitrary arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, custodial deaths, intimidation of civil society and the discovery of mass graves such as at Chemmani the UN report more..

Aug 29 (SO) On Wednesday (20), Lanka Salt Limited – Sri Lanka’s largest salt producer announced a price reduction of its iodised salt products as they claim that salt production in the Hambantota and Bundala salterns have increased. Despite the island-wide salt shortages, a table salt blackmarket has come about, and the climate crisis that has directly impacted the country’s salt production, SL’s salt industry has become more..

Aug 29 (ST) It was around 8 a.m. on Thursday and I was woken up by a call on the landline, a rare call indeed as most of our calls are now received on our mobiles. It was Pedris Appo, short for Appuhamy, a retired agriculture expert who does farming, and still prefers landlines to mobile phones. He has retained the old instrument with the dialling format. “I say…..I read somewhere about crowdfunding of elections. Do you think this would happen in the Sri Lankan context,” he asked. more..

Aug 29 (CT) The tragic accident that took place near the Wilapola Bridge in Kuliyapitiya last week was indeed shocking news to be awakened to, especially considering how it involved three deaths; two of which were schoolchildren. The accident occurred when a school van carrying children to school collided with a lorry/tipper carrying sand in the early hours of 27 August. The innocence of the students and the responsibility and the carefulness of the seasoned driver – more..

Aug 29 (TM) SL stands at a critical crossroads. With bold ambitions for 2030, the nation has the resources, talent, and potential to reshape its future. But turning vision into reality requires timely decisions, innovative strategies, and the courage to act. This article explores the economic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing the island nation and the roadmap that could transform it from the Pearl of the Indian Ocean more..

Aug 29 (TM) This week’s tragic accident in Pallewela, Kuliyapitiya when a van transporting schoolchildren collided head-on with a tipper truck travelling in the opposite direction, calming the lives of two schoolgirls and their 64-year-old driver has once again pushed another long-standing crisis back into the public spotlight. Accident saw nearly a dozen other students who were in the vehicle being admitted for treatment to hospitals close by, some remain in serious conditions as of yesterday. more..

Aug 29 (Island) Govt politicians are taking great pains to have the public believe that they have not misused state funds for private purposes. The Opposition says it is convinced otherwise. It argues that since the govt claims that expenses the state had to bear during an unofficial leg of an overseas tour of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, in 2023, amounted to a misuse of state funds, a ride his successor, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, took in a state-owned helicopter, more..