June 23 (EN) SL’s Aitken Spence said it is selling a 100 MW thermal power plant instead of re-locating it overseas, after the island’s power utility said it would no longer need the plant. The last PPA expired on March 4, 2024. CEB had indicated that ” that they have not identified the requirement of purchasing electricity through the Company.” “Going forward, the Group has decided to divest the residual assets instead of relocating the plant overseas, in keeping with the Group policy of reaching more..

June 23 (DN) SL captain Dhananjaya de Silva said conceding too many runs in the first innings went against them in the first test played at Galle Int'l Cricket Stadium, which ended in a draw. I always talk about the first innings. The game slipped out of our hand, due to the way we bowled in the first innings. It was a flat wicket, but we conceded too many runs in the first innings,” de Silva said after the match. De Silva believes they need to rectify those mistakes in the second and final test, more..

June 23 (Island) While Sri Lanka grapples with the lingering impacts of its recent economic crisis, a stark contrast emerges: the banking sector is reporting robust earnings and profits, while many citizens continue to face hardships. The banking industry, often viewed as a bellwether of economic health, has seen a remarkable turnaround, with earnings soaring by 52.9% in the first quarter of 2025 alone. more..

June 23 (Island) The declaration — or rather the lack of it — in Galle on Saturday has sparked a buzz in cricketing circles, raising more than just eyebrows. Talk declarations and your mind goes back to Trinidad, 1968. Sir Garry Sobers, the West Indies skipper, made a bold, sporting declaration against England. It backfired. England chased down the target, and the hosts lost. When the team landed in Guyana for the next Test, a cheeky immigration officer asked Sir Garry, “Mr. Sobers, more..

June 23 (SO) The 36th edition of the Calin Sarasaviya Film Awards will be held at the BMICH at 7 p.m. on Tuesday (24), under the theme Cinematic Pinnacle in a Resurgent Land. The Awards, organised by the Sarasaviya Cinema Weekly published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) also known as Lake House will shine a spotlight on local films released between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2024, including entries in Sinhala and Tamil. Of the 38 films screened across SL, more..

June 23 (DM) Sri Lanka is once again facing a significant marine environmental crisis, as tiny plastic pellets, commonly known as nurdles, have begun washing ashore along the island’s northern coastline. This time, the pollution is linked to the sinking of the Liberia-flagged container ship MSC ELSA 3 off of Kerala, India. The unfolding incident has triggered fears of a repeat of the X-Press Pearl disaster in 2021, more..

June 23 (NW) Senani Jayarathna, wife of former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and daughter of late PM D.M. Jayaratne, has publicly defended her husband following his recent conviction in a high-profile corruption case. In a lengthy post shared via Aluthgamage’s official Facebook page, Jayarathna claimed her husband was innocent and alleged that the legal process under the current NPP-led govt was politically influenced. She also questioned a recent remark by Justice more..

June 23 (FT) Hong Kong-based Asia Frontier Capital (AFC) has almost tripled its weightage within two years on Sri Lanka’s listed equities, a move which it said was encouraged by improving macroeconomic fundamentals, political stability, and a pick-up in corporate earnings. AFC’s Fund Manager Ruchir Desai who was in Sri Lanka recently told the Daily FT in an exclusive interview that the weightage two years ago was around 5% whereas at present, it has increased to 14% and growing. more..

June 23 (FT) SL Association for Software Services Companies (SLASSCOM) has launched its Industry Ambassador Program, a pioneering initiative designed to build strategic bridges with global markets and open new avenues for SL’s thriving knowledge and innovation sector. This program appointed, as the first cohort, six distinguished professionals as official Industry Ambassadors to represent SL’s IT-BPM excellence across key global markets that include US, UK, Australia, UAE. more..

June 23 (FT) Minister Sunil Handunneththi recently inaugurated Tokyo Cement Group’s cutting-edge cement manufacturing plant in Trincomalee. The fully-automated, high-tech cement grinding facility adds 1 million metric tons to Tokyo Cement’s total production capacity, increasing it to 4 million metric tons per annum, the largest in the country. The event was also graced by the presence of Japanese Embassy Chargé d’affaires ad Interim Naoaki Kamoshida, Finance Attache and more..

June 23 (FT) The SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) last Friday announced a major initiative to unlock State-owned land for tourism, offering over 3,000 acres to domestic and international investors to woo $ 50-60 million investments. The move seeks to revitalise the tourism industry through structured, sustainable, transparent processes. “The initiative includes a land bank which is clear & ready for investment” more..

June 23 (DM) Is there a connection between popular English novelist Frederick Forsyth who breathed his last on 9th June 2025 and the LTTE that was militarily defeated by the Sri Lankan armed forces in May 2009? The answer to this question would be a simple “no”. However It must be said that for a while there was intense speculation that a device featured in a novel written by Frederick Forsyth had been copied by the LTTE known as the Tigers to assassinate people! more..

June 23 (CT) In 2010, the WHO warned that physical inactivity was the fourth leading risk factor for deaths worldwide. That warning has grown more urgent today, as children everywhere, including in SL, move less and sit more, facing health risks once seen only in adults. Physical inactivity does not just harm growing bodies; it shapes the future of an entire generation. Children who do not play, run, or move enough face higher risks of obesity, diabetes, poor sleep, weak bones, delayed speech more..

June 23 (Island) US Prez Donald Trump stopped vacillating and ordered attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, which he subsequently boasted of having obliterated. He has repeated his call for Iran’s unconditional surrender. His action has made it abundantly clear that Israel would not have launched unprovoked attacks on Iran without an assurance from Washington that the US would join its bombing campaign. Iran struck back with might and main, taking as it did targets in Tel Aviv itself and more..

June 23 (Island) Directed an accusation at me, asking, “Why do you criticize the way Buddhism is practised by many in Sri Lanka?” I was chastised; he spoke the truth. Even in my last article on Mihintale in this column, I said most Buddhists did not follow the Buddha Word – his Dhamma – but created their own version of the philosophy of the Buddha’s advice to work towards the ending of samsaric existence. They create a religion of rites, rituals and behaviour, concentrating on worship and more..

June 23 (TM) Sri Lanka has recently been urged to maintain its reform momentum, a key message emphasised during the recent visit by the IMF. While this emphasis highlights the need for commitment, it also suggests that there is limited scope for tax revisions, particularly reductions, in the current year. Discussing the implications of this on the economy, experts agree that, despite the challenges, it is essential for SL to adhere more..

June 23 (ST) Bitterly fought battles to form the administration of local councils where no political party or independent group had obtained an outright majority reverberated in the House throughout this week. The first day’s debate of this Parliamentary week on Tuesday (17) followed the controversial election that saw the ruling NPP win control of the CMC the day before. Tuesday’s debate however, saw the SJB led opposition walk out in protest at the conduct of Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne. more..

June 23 (DM) Not so long ago, when comrade Anura Kumara Dissanayake was an ordinary MP in the last parliament before presidential elections were held. At that time he breathed fire and brimstone regarding clauses in the IMF agreement signed by then Prez Wickremesinghe. MP Anura then claimed that the IMF agreement unfairly targeted the poor. Prior to his change from comrade to His Excellency, his party -the JVP- was also in the forefront of condemning Israel’s continuing genocidal more..

June 23 (SO) Breaking the long-standing grip of Colombo’s traditional green parties, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, a long-time activist has taken office as the city’s second female Mayor, and its first female leftist Mayor. Backed by the NPP, her election marks a dramatic shift in the city’s political landscape. But as Balthazaar is quick to point out, the real work is just beginning. In her first wide-ranging interview, she speaks about her vision more..

June 23 (DM) Sri Lanka Railways is in the news for neglect and shame, and an underlying reason for this state could be political in a way. The Daily Mirror carried in its June 18th issue a comprehensive feature article about the state of present railways in the island. The writer reveals, among other pathetic reasons, the absence of a proper Human Resource Dept as a major contributing factor towards the downfall of SL Railways. There is a school of thought that politicians love to see places and events more..

June 23 (TM) The controversial decision by the US President Donald Trump to enter the ongoing Israel-Iran war has once again thrown the world into a state of chaos. Speaking after US forces attacked three key Iranian sites linked to their atomic energy programme in Isfahan, Fordo and Natanz, Trump said Iran’s key nuclear sites were “completely and fully obliterated” by US strikes. Speaking at the White House hours after the attacks, he threatened more strikes and said more..

June 22 (ST) If the chaos that unfolded over the past week during the formation of local councils has shown anything, it is that the ruling NPP, for all its moral grandstanding, is no different from other political parties when it comes to the art of political deal-making. In its fight to win control of local councils where no political party or independent group had obtained an outright majority, the NPP has formed alliances with members from more..

June 22 (AD) The death toll from the bus accident at Dunhinda in Badulla has climbed to three after another passenger succumbed to injuries, according to hospital sources. A total of 34 individuals were injured when the bus toppled down a precipice this afternoon (21) at the 4th Mile Post area, near the Dunhinda bends on the Badulla–Mahiyanganaya road. The bus was reportedly transporting a group of pilgrims from Badulla to A'pura. The passengers are said to be residents of Thambuttegama area. more..

June 22 (SO) From the Village to the global market is the sole aim of daring women entrepreneurs of Hambantota who had endured many struggles to be where they are today. 15 passionate rural women entrepreneurs from Hambantota took the stage to present their community- focused, sustainable brands at the Growth Gear: The Rural Livelihood Acceleration as Enterprises program by Good Market in collaboration with the CCC and funded by GIZ in Colombo last week. more..

June 22 (TM) The long-awaited revised tariffs for Renewable Energy (RE) projects, including rooftop solar systems, have been officially approved by the Cabinet and came into effect on Monday (16). The decision, aimed at restructuring the financial framework for electricity supplied to the national grid from renewable sources, was formally communicated through a circular issued by the CEB on Friday. more..

June 22 (DM) 11th International Day of Yoga is being commemorated at the iconic Independence Square in SL. The event witnesses participation by over 1000 enthusiasts with over 100 instructors leading the Yoga practice. Several Senior Ministers of SL Govt including, Chrishantha Abeysena, Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, former cricketers, and industry members joined the event organised by the HC of India. Events were also held at Galle, Kandy & Jaffna organised by diplomatic offices in SL. more..

June 22 (TM) While the Govt has no plans to regulate the import of Electric Vehicles (EVs) into the country in terms of brands, it is expected to impose restrictions in terms of capacity, Govt sources reveal. Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena stated that despite the influx of a large number of new EV brands to the country, they did not intend to regulate this influx. The Deputy Minister added that the only restriction they would impose was in terms of engine capacity of the EVs. more..

June 22 (NW) The govt officially launched the National Rural Road Development Program on Saturday, aiming to improve 1,800 rural roads by the end of the year, Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake said. The project, which commenced with the development of the Kosgama South Kadugoda Pussella Road in the Seethawaka area, will see simultaneous work at 57 locations nationwide. The total estimated cost is Rs. 14 billion, with Rs. 65 million allocated for the initial site. more..

June 22 (PMD) A programme to recognise high-achieving students who excelled in the recent 2023/2024 GCE A/L exam at district level has been launched by the President’s Fund. The inaugural ceremony will take place today in Kilinochchi, under the patronage of Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne. As part of this initiative, 60 outstanding students from each district, demonstrating exceptional merit across all subject streams in the 2023/2024 A/L exam, will be selected to receive financial scholarships more..

June 22 (TM) SL’s latest Govt audit has called for immediate legal and disciplinary action against public officials and decision-makers responsible for the disastrous dairy cattle import project that has resulted in losses exceeding Rs. 1.75 billion in public funds. The audit report, tabled recently, has criticised the decision to release an advance payment of Rs. 1,749,672,697 for the importation of 15,000 dairy cattle under more..

June 22 (AD) Sri Lanka has extended its gratitude to the government of India for the timely assistance to evacuate Sri Lankans from Iran. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath said he is thankful to the government of India for the timely support in evacuating Sri Lankans from Iran alongside Indian citizens. This thoughtful act reflects the deep bonds and enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and India, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath added. more..

June 22 (DM) CEB has announced new flat tariffs for rooftop solar power systems under a 20-year agreement. According to the latest chart, smaller solar systems will receive higher payments per unit of electricity. Systems between 0–5 kW will get the highest rate of 20.90 LKR per unit. This is followed by 5–20 kW systems, which will earn 19.61 LKR. As the system size increases, tariff decreases. For example, 20–100 kW systems will receive 17.46 LKR, 100–500 kW systems 15.49 LKR. more..