Aug 29 (SO) Just over a year ago, I was arrested—not for crime, but for defiance. The hand that struck then belongs to the man arrested yesterday: former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. At that time, my mother was in her final days. I could not be with her. My passport was seized, travel banned, my work disrupted. Legal experts—SL’s senior counsel and international human rights lawyer Jared Genser—confirmed plainly: my detention was political. Jared even warned me before I boarded that flight. more..

Aug 29 (Island) In a landmark achievement for SL science, a team of local researchers has identified Culex (Lophoceraomyia) cinctellus, a rare mosquito species, in the country for the very first time. The finding was confirmed through meticulous morphological analysis and molecular DNA testing, cementing its place as a new addition to SL’s mosquito fauna. The research, spearheaded by Dr. Tharaka Ranathunge of the Dept of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Eastern University, more..

Aug 29 (DN) Sri Lanka will start as clear favourites in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, which begins today at the Harare Sports Club at 1.00 pm SL time. Led by Charith Asalanka, the visitors bring a strong and experienced squad and are expected to dominate Zimbabwe in most aspects of the game. Of the 64 ODIs played between the two countries, Sri Lanka have won 49, Zimbabwe 12, with three matches ending without a result. more..

Aug 29 (FT) Salesforce has announced the launch of Agentforce for Revenue, an AI-powered solution embedded within its all-new Revenue Cloud, which is set to redefine the sales quoting process for businesses worldwide. By dramatically cutting quoting time by 75% and reducing manual clicks by 87%, Agentforce brings unprecedented efficiency to revenue operations, enabling sales teams to focus on what matters most — building stronger customer relationships and closing deals faster. more..

Aug 29 (TM) National Savings Bank (NSB) reported its financial results for the first half of 2025, marking a new high in financial performance and operational resilience. The bank posted a profit-before-tax (PBT) of Rs. 25.5 billion for the six months ended 30 June, reflecting robust bottom-line efficiency and strategic cost containment. Profit-after-tax (PAT) stood at Rs. 15.7 billion, representing a substantial 65% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase compared to the corresponding period of 2024. more..

Aug 29 (FT) The Council for Business with Britain (CBB) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in SL. The 25th AGM was held at Westminster House, followed by an exclusive networking session for members at Cinnamon Life, bringing together leading business professionals and stakeholders from the UK-SL bilateral business community. HSBC SL Chief Executive Officer Mark Surgenor was re-elected President of the Council, while more..

Aug 29 (CT) Commercial Bank of Ceylon’s milestone of becoming the first bank in SL with a market capitalisation of more than USD one billion was celebrated at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), where the Bank was invited to ring the ceremonial bell. Commercial Bank Chairman Sharhan Muhseen, CEO Sanath Manatunge, members of the board, and corporate and senior management participated in this symbolic recognition of another landmark in the Bank’s history, more..

Aug 29 (ST) Colombo is preparing for a comprehensive transformation under a new special Master Plan. However, this ambitious Master Plan is currently under discussion and has not yet been finalised, revealed Municipal Commissioner Palitha Nanayakkara. The plan is scheduled for its second presentation to the President next month and, while expected to be initiated next year, securing the necessary funding will require time. more..

Aug 29 (ST) New political parties aiming to register this year will undergo a second round of interviews expected to end this month, the Election Commission said. A 5-member panel is doing the evaluations. Registration of new political parties for 2025 began Feb 28, with applications accepted until March 28. This annual process was delayed after the declaration of local govt elections earlier in the year. EC received 83 applications. Of these, 36 were rejected for not meeting basic requirements, more..

Aug 29 (DN) Uchitha Ranasinghe showed great control and consistency to win the Sri Lanka Golf August Ranking Tournament, which was concluded at the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club yesterday. Ranasinghe never lost his grip on the top of the leaderboard. He carded steady rounds of 74 and 75 before closing with a fighting 77, finishing with a winning total of 226. 16-year-old top junior golfer Reshan Algama battled hard in the cold winds of Nuwara Eliya but had to settle for 2nd place more..

Aug 29 (TM) In the wake of opposition to the new circular on the water usage in schools, the Ministry of Education stated that there would be no change in the decision that the Govt will bear only a portion of school water tariffs. Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa noted that the Govt continues to pay for the amount of water required for student consumption, which is shown separately on the water bill. more..

Aug 29 (FT) Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday said the Cabinet of Ministers has given the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) the green light to implement a project to establish an optimal integrated electricity supply chain to support the resilient coolant system and boiler catchment hydro supply system at the Norocholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant. The move comes in response to a longstanding technical challenge at the country’s largest coal-fired power plant. more..

Aug 29 (TM) the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs stated that it would prepare a programme to release elephants and tuskers for perahera (procession) purposes in a more accountable manner, instead of allocating them based on political affiliations as had been done in the past. Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said that a problematic situation has arisen due to the shortage of tame elephants and tuskers required for cultural processions. more..

Aug 29 (TM) The Ministry of Fisheries & Ocean Resources has directed its Legal Division to prepare proposals for amendments to maritime and coastal laws, following the recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling on the MV X-Press Pearl disaster. A meeting on the matter was held recently at the ministry. Speaking to The Daily Morning about its outcome, Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage said: “During the meeting, we instructed our Legal Division to first consult with a group of experts. more..

Aug 29 (TM) SL’s non-banking financial institutions’ (NBFIs) loans are expected to grow at 18% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the next 12 months to June 2026, with rising household liquidity and recalibration of LTV (Loan-to-Value) caps for vehicle imports, NDB Research said. It said that the decisive reopening of motor-vehicle imports from February and removal of the two largest structural constraints on loan origination, LTV by the central bank, widening the eligible borrower base, more..

Aug 29 (AD) CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) has raised concerned about the purported assignation letters issued to employees of the CEB claiming to be under and in terms of the SL Electricity Act. In a letter addressed to the Secretary, Ministry of Energy, the CEBEU states that the Act clearly states that Voluntary Retirement Scheme should be made available at the time of providing the Assignation Letters so that the employees more..

Aug 29 (DN) The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) marks its 75th anniversary today, a milestone in the nation’s economic journey. Established on 28 August 1950 under the Monetary Law Act, the Bank replaced the colonial currency board. Its first Governor, John Exter, gave it a clear mission: keep prices stable, protect the financial system, issue currency, and advise the Govt. Since then, the CBSL has grown into the backbone of the country’s financial system. more..

Aug 29 (DN) SL Air Force (SLAF) warned that flying kites in the vicinity of airport runways poses a serious safety hazard and has been identified globally as a contributory factor to air accidents. “Such activity directly obstructs aircraft operations and endangers both passengers and crew. In SL, kite flying in areas surrounding Katunayake, Ratmalana, Hingurakgoda, China Bay, Palaly, Katukurunda, Koggala, Vavuniya, Weerawila and Mattala is considered especially hazardous,” more..

Aug 29 (DN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake might visit the Chemmani mass grave site in Jaffna during his scheduled visit on 1 Sept, Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar said. The Minister made this remark while addressing the media at an event in Jaffna. Meanwhile, at the Chemmani site, three additional skeletons—believed to include those of children — were identified on 27 August, bringing the total number of skeletons identified to 169. Of these, 158 have been fully excavated. more..

Aug 29 (TM) The suspect who was arrested for allegedly injuring a Police officer during a protest held near the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, has been remanded yesterday. The arrest was made in Kalutara by a team of officers from the CCD in connection with the incident, in which a Police officer on duty was reportedly injured by a thrown bottle. Suspect is accused of causing injuries and obstructing Police duties. Police stated that the suspect was arrested on Wednesday more..

Aug 29 (FT) The Govt and BOI have signalled a strong intent to strengthen laws, improve inter-agency coordination, and digitalise approval processes to make the country more competitive as a destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The reforms are aimed at building investor confidence by improving predictability, transparency, and the speed of approvals. BOI Chairman Arjuna Herath said realised FDI more..

Aug 29 (DN) The Sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from August 28 to September 7 due to its apparent southward relative motion. The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the Sun is overhead today (29) are Kumulamunai, Padinaddampore, Alankulam, Thanniyuttu, Vattappalai, and Mullaitivu about 12.11 pm. Meanwhile, several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central Provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts. more..

Aug 29 (AD) Governor of the Central Bank of SL, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, has been awarded a prestigious “A” grade in Global Finance’s 2025 Central Banker Report Card. This top-tier recognition places Dr. Weerasinghe among the elite central bank governors worldwide, acknowledging his exceptional leadership and strategic acumen in steering Sri Lanka’s economy through turbulent times. The Central Banker Report Card, published annually by Global Finance since 1994, more..

Aug 29 (AD) New details have emerged regarding the arrest of five high-profile underworld figures, including Kehelbaddara Padme, who are linked to multiple murders—including the killing of Ganemulla Sanjeewa—and major drug trafficking operations. The suspects were apprehended during a joint special operation conducted by a special team of SL Police in collaboration with the Jakarta Police. more..

Aug 29 (FT) While the public debate still rages hotly, private reflections which don’t get liked or attacked on social media may be the order of the day a week and more after the arrest and remanding of a former executive president of Sri Lanka. Not because the points of view expressed don’t have their relative merits or otherwise. But because a sense of proportion must eventually grasp the discourse by its horns and make the issue sit down and have a quiet think. more..

Aug 29 (AD) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was receiving treatment at the ICU of the Colombo National Hospital, has been discharged from the hospital on Friday. The 76-year-old was rushed to the intensive care unit of the National Hospital in Colombo last Saturday (23), just hours after being remanded in custody. Wickremesinghe, who was granted bail on Tuesday, was ordered to be released on three surety bails of Rs. 5 million each by Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli more..

Aug 29 (FT) The arrest of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has provoked much debate between his supporters who see it as a case of political victimisation and others who see it as a case of the law now being applied to people who were previously above the law. M.A. Sumanthiran, a lawyer, has said that while heads of state must indeed be held accountable and prosecuted, the arrest of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe on a Friday, coupled with the decision to more..

Aug 29 (NF) Former State Minister Nimal Lanza has been remanded until the 12th of September This followed his appearance before Negombo Magistrate Rakitha Abeysinghe this afternoon. He is accused of damaging a municipal councillor's house during the 2006 local govt elections. ASP Frederick Wootler stated that he faces charges of unlawful entry, unlawful assembly, and theft. Lanza was arrested this morning after surrendering at the Kochchikade police station. more..

Aug 29 (EN) SL’s stabilization measures were take under an older monetary law, before a new legilstion with greater Central Bank independence was enacted Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe who hiked rates, operated deflationary policy and also appreciated a collapsed currency. SL enacted a new Central Bank Act (CBA) in Sept 2023, which aimed at providing more independence to the agency, in the hope it will help maintain more..

Aug 29 (AD) Marking the 75th Anniversary of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL), a new commemorative Rs. 2,000 currency note was presented this morning (29) to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat by the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. This commemorative note, issued to mark the anniversary, is the fifth commemorative currency note released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, according to the PMD. more..

Aug 29 (AD) Former MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero has been remanded until September 12 after appearing before the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court this afternoon (29), said Ada Derana reporter. A warrant for his arrest had been issued on 18 August by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, according to Police Media Spokesman, ASP F.U. Wootler. Police Media Spokesman stated that the warrant was issued following a submission made by the police to the court requesting his arrest. more..

Aug 29 (NW) A gazette notification containing regulations that make it mandatory for passengers traveling in passenger buses on expressways to wear seat belts is scheduled to be issued on Aug 31, said Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House, Bimal Rathnayake. Minister state this during a recent meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, more..

Aug 29 (AD) Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who appeared before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today, has been remanded until Sept 9. Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka Bodaragama issued the order after considering the facts presented from the CIABOC and the defense lawyers. Senaratne, for whom a warrant had previously been issued, was arrested after appearing before the court this morning. Earlier, Colombo HC Judge Lanka Jayaratne, more..

Aug 29 (EN) Farmers shouldn’t grow produce if they don’t know the market, Minister of Agriculture and Lands has said. “If you don’t know the market, don’t grow (Api kiyanne velandapola danne neththam vaga karanna epa),” K.D. Lalkantha said. He said he had asked pumpkin farmers recently who they grew it for. “They don’t know who their buyers are.” “We say, grow produce knowing who you will sell it to, and at what price. “That’s a challenge. People grow produce out of habit.” more..

Aug 29 (NW) Western Province has commenced initial trials of fully electric, solar-powered waste-collecting boats on the Beira Lake, Governor Hanif Yusoof said. The boats are capable of collecting up to 3,000 kilograms of floating solid waste per day. Up to four such boats are expected to be deployed soon as part of broader efforts to restore and revive the lake. The initiative is a result of Clean Ocean Force’s participation in the Western Province’s Task Force on Restoring the Beira Lake, Yusoof said. more..