Aug 27 (TM) The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) organisation has requested the CID of the Police to carry out a comprehensive investigation into immunoglobulin drugs imported under the present Govt. Immunoglobulin drugs are used to treat a variety of immune system disorders by replacing missing antibodies in those with immunodeficiency syndromes, or by modulating the immune more..

Aug 27 (NW) The Central Bank of SL (CBSL) says Colombo District land values rose sharply in the first half of 2025, with the Land Valuation Indicator (LVI) increasing by 11.4% compared to the same period last year. All three sub-indicators of the LVI, Residential, Commercial, and Industrial, contributed to the growth. The CBSL further said that residential land values posted the highest annual increase of 14.4%, followed by Commercial (11.5%) and Industrial (8.4%). more..

Aug 27 (EN) Agriculture Ministry has signed a MoU with Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences with the objective of value addition of banana, mango, and pineapple in the island nation, the govt said. The project aimed at introducing novel technologies and practices that could increase the harvest in fruit cultivation fields, enhance the capability of obtaining planting materials, strengthen post harvest practices, and promote value addition of these fruits. more..

Aug 27 (DM) Deputy Director of the Colombo National hospital, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, said that the brain is the only thing needed to rule a country and claimed that former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is suffering from non-communicable diseases. Speaking to the media, Dr. Bellana said Mr. Wickremesinghe should be grateful to those involved in the incident that led to his hospitalisation, as it allowed him to properly identify his health condition. “As a result of being hospitalised, more..

Aug 27 (AD) Former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was arrested by the CID, and subsequently remanded, has been granted bail. The order was issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura. The Magistrate ordered Deshabandu Tennakoon be released on two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each while a travel ban was also imposed on the suspect. Meanwhile, former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon has been instructed to refrain from influencing the witnesses. more..

Aug 27 (TM) In the wake of allegations that no calculation has been made on the expenditure for the proposed education reforms, the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education stated that it is not possible to present a distinct figure for the overall cost. Secretary to the Ministry Nalaka Kaluwewa explained that education reforms involve multiple processes and that the money required more..

Aug 27 (NW) Minister Bimal Rathnayake says allocations have been made in the 2026 Budget for the construction of the Ruwanpura expressway until Ingiriya. He said the govt has allocated more funds to the 2026 Budget than what was allocated this year. He further said that the govt has proposed to commence the construction of the Ruwanpura expressway, which will take at least 2-3 years to be completed. Stating that it has been proposed to change High-Level Road into 4 lanes more..

Aug 27 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday handed over a letter to British High Commissioner in Colombo Andrew Patrick addressed to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Prince William, requesting his invaluable support to safeguard Sri Lanka’s free-ranging wild elephants — home to one of the largest Asian elephant populations. They met at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Colombo. In the letter, Premadasa emphasised the escalating more..

Aug 27 (AD) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath today issued a stern response to the controversial comments recently made by Indian actor-turned-politician Vijay regarding the Katchatheevu Island. “Katchatheevu Island belongs to SL. It is an island belonging to SL. Therefore, that will never change,” minister said. He stated that elections are slated to be held in South India and candidates will make various statements more..

Aug 27 (TM) A 10-year-old elephant calf died this morning after being struck by a container truck in the Hirivadunna area of Habarana. According to police, the accident occurred on the Habarana–Dambulla road as the calf, which was part of a herd from Hiriwadunna Lake, was crossing. Despite receiving emergency treatment from wildlife officials who rushed to the scene, the calf succumbed to its injuries. The truck, which was transporting cement from Trincomalee, and its driver, more..

Aug 27 (FT) Five of SL’s most respected plantation companies, Elpitiya Plantations (Aitken Spence Group), Kelani Valley Plantations, Talawakelle Tea Estates, Horana Plantations (Hayleys Plantations), and Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon, a leading premium tea producer, have signed landmark MoUs with Solidaridad Network Asia and its SL partner Nucleus Foundation to adopt the regenagri standard and implement a comprehensive carbon insetting program across their estates. more..

Aug 27 (DM) SJB has strongly criticised the govt’s decision to appoint Seevali Arukgoda as the new Director General of SL Customs, alleging his involvement in a recent container scam. SJB MP Mujibur Rahman raised serious concerns over the appointment, claiming that Arukgoda was found culpable by a committee that investigated i to the controversial red label container release case. "How can someone who has been found guilty in an official investigation be appointed to such a more..

Aug 27 (AD) No diplomat or diplomatic organization raised any objection regarding the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath stated. Minister Herath noted that although various individuals have made statements on the matter, such comments are not of significant relevance. The Minister also emphasized that the international community is currently observing that the law in Sri Lanka is being enforced equally and fairly. more..

Aug 27 (NW) Chemmani mass grave — designated a crime scene by the court — has been identified as the second largest mass grave in SL based on the number of human skeletons discovered so far. Excavations at the mass grave site resumed on Tuesday (26), after an 18-day break. Attorney Ranitha Gnanarajah who represents the victims’ families said that by the evening of 26 August, the bones of 16 more persons more..

Aug 27 (AD) SL Police has announced that traffic will be restricted on a stretch of entry road to Colombo from the Devi Balika Roundabout to the D.S. Senanayake Junction in the Borella Police Division. Accordingly, the first and second lanes of this stretch of road have been closed for repair work due to the risk of cracks, subsidence, and the inflow of sewage onto the roadway since this morning (27). Police Media Division advises motorists using the road to seek alternative routes more..

Aug 27 (NW) Police tracked down two robbery suspects by reviewing footage from nearly 500 CCTV cameras across Colombo and surrounding areas, following a daring early-morning theft in Wellawatte. The incident took place on August 15, around 4.25 a.m., when a female doctor waiting near a bus halt was threatened with a sharp weapon and robbed of her handbag containing a laptop, a gold chain, and other valuables and cash worth nearly Rs. 453,000. more..

Aug 27 (AD) Acting Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni says that a disciplinary inquiry is to be initiated against the Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital, Dr. Rukshan Bellana, for divulging information regarding the health condition of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to the media while he was receiving treatment at the hospital in remand custody. Dr. Wijemuni stressed that Dr. Bellana had no authority to comment on or more..

Aug 27 (DM) CID today informed Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura that an investigation has been started against former Minister Udaya Gammanpila. CID officers told court that the inquiry was launched following a complaint received on Aug 12, 2025, regarding a statement made by the former Minister during a media conference. The officers further submitted that the complaint alleged the former Minister had made remarks at the said media conference which could incite disharmony more..

Aug 27 (DM) An Independence-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy- USS Tulsa arrived in Colombo Port today, the U.S. Embassy in SL announced. Built for speed and versatility, the USS Tulsa can operate in both shallow waters and the open ocean — reflecting America’s cutting-edge maritime capability. The ship last visited Sri Lanka in 2021 for the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise with the SL Navy. This time, Colombo will serve as a brief stop for more..

Aug 27 (FT) Arrest and detention of former president Ranil Wickremesinghe last Friday (22), under the Offences Against Public Property Act No. 12 of 1982 reported as the first such arrest of a former Head of State in Sri Lanka, brings about an issue that had not been paid attention to, though frequent allegations are made on abuse of public property. As raised by Moratuwa Municipal Council member, Attorney at Law Lihini Fernando, how public life in high office and more..

Aug 27 (FT) Sri Lanka’s economy crashed to $ 74 billion in 2022 with the financial crisis hitting the country. However, with the structural changes that took place and the resiliency of the private sector, the country is poised to cross the magical $ 100 billion mark in 2025. Research reveals that similar countries that were termed small economies and grew to cross $ 100 billion have been valued as a nation brand to be worth a $ 100 billion and they turned to be strong economies globally. more..

Aug 27 (DN) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday re-affirmed that everyone must be equal before the law and pledged that his govt is firmly committed to establishing such a culture. The Prez further stressed that if anyone has, at any time, engaged in crime, corruption, abuse of power, or the misuse of public funds, every such individual will be held accountable before the law with the utmost determination. more..

Aug 27 (DN) UGC announced that 42,172 students have secured admission to State universities for the 2024/2025 academic year, based on the results of the 2024 A/L Examination. UGC released the uni cut-off marks for the next intake on the night of August 25. According to official figures, 285,289 students sat for the 2024 A/L examination. Of them, 177,920 students qualified for uni admission. Out of these, 90,670 students submitted applications seeking entry into the university system. more..

Aug 27 (TM) UNP Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam expressed his gratitude on behalf of the UNP to everyone who worked tirelessly during the period following the arrest of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. He also extended his appreciation to the more than 500 attorneys and the large crowds that came out in support of Wickremesinghe. Speaking further on this, he added: “On behalf of the UNP and other parties, I would like to thank all those who worked with dedication. more..

Aug 27 (DN) Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and private bus operators in SL began running on a single, combined timetable for long-distance routes. National Transport Commission (NTC) initiated this unified system from the Bastian Mawatha Private Bus Stand in Colombo to streamline services, reduce passenger waiting times and eliminate route duplication. The new schedule will operate out on key routes, including more..

Aug 27 (CT) Kaluwanchikudy Magistrate, on Monday, ordered the excavation of the Kurukkalmadam Mass Grave, located within the Kaluwanchikudy Police Division in the Batticaloa District, where people were allegedly massacred and buried by the LTTE. On Monday, Judge A.J.P. Ranjithkumar went directly to the suspected area and questioned the officials of the Office on Missing Persons and the complainant, Abdul Majeed Abdur Rauff, about the suspected area and more..

Aug 27 (NW) President’s Counsel Tilak Marapana told court that the sudden death of The Rt Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone, PC, may have been linked to the shock caused by Wickremesinghe’s arrest. Marapana said Wickremesinghe had travelled to the UK on the invitation of Lord Paul, who served as Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton since 1999. “This is a ridiculous case. A President is entitled to travel, and all expenses are properly accounted for by the Auditor General. more..

Aug 27 (Island) Veteran politician D.E.W. Gunasekera yesterday (26) said that the CID could have filed a case against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe over alleged misuse of public funds without creating a drawn out drama by producing him in court on a Friday night. The CID obviously had all documentary evidence in respect of the investigation into Wickremesinghe’s visit to the UK in late September 2023, the ex-General Secretary of the Communist Party said. more..

Aug 27 (DM) Sri Lanka’s listed commercial banks posted strong earnings for the June quarter, boosted by loan growth, lower provisions for bad loans and higher fee income, though margins narrowed, Capital Trust Securities said. Cumulative profits at 10 listed commercial banks rose 33.2 percent year-on-year to Rs. 49.10 billion (US$163.6 million). Commercial Bank of Ceylon, the country’s largest private lender by assets, reported the highest profit at Rs.15.97 billion, more..

Aug 27 (TM) Sri Lanka’s listed corporate earnings increased by 56% year-on-year (y-o-y) in Q2 to Rs. 152 billion, supported by a significant reduction in finance cost and impairments from the banks, Capital Alliance Limited (CAL) said. A report by CAL said that the banking sector remained the largest contributor to earnings with Rs. 49.1 billion, and the food, beverages and tobacco sector took 2nd place with Rs. 35.1 billion. more..

Aug 27 (TM) During a review of the projects implemented under the 2025 budget allocations for the Urban Development, Construction & Housing Ministry, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised the importance of ensuring that projects initiated this year are steered towards achieving their specific targets within the same year. He further pointed out that while the govt allocates sufficient provisions to the relevant Ministries, failure to utilise those funds effectively within the stipulated more..

Aug 27 (DM) Seevali Arukgoda has been appointed Director General of the SL Customs Department, effective from August 26, Finance Ministry said. Arukgoda becomes the 45th Director General of Customs in SL. He has previously held several senior positions within the department, including serving as its official media spokesperson. Sri Lanka Customs said Arukgoda is the first officer in the department’s history to rise through every rank to reach the position of Director General. more..