June 30 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has accused the govt of fabricating claims involving former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa in a bid to distract from what he described as a failure to deliver on promises made during its first year in office. Rajapaksa strongly denied recent reports alleging that former Prez Rajapaksa was seeking the intervention of senior Buddhist clergy (Ven. Mahanayaka Theros) to prevent the arrest of his family members. more..

June 30 (TM) SL Navy is currently engaged in extensive Search & Rescue operations following two incidents involving capsized fishing vessels off the coasts of Galle and Kalutara. Out of 7 fishermen involved across both incidents, one has been rescued alive, two bodies have been recovered, and four fishermen remain missing as search efforts intensify. In the incident off Galle, a multi-day fishing trawler is suspected to have collided with a merchant vessel, causing it to overturn. more..

June 30 (FT) The CoPF last week raised serious concerns over how used-vehicle imports are being valued, warning that the Govt could be losing billions of rupees each year due to outdated Customs practices. During the meeting, CoPF Chair MP Dr. Harsha de Silva raised questions about the rationale behind depreciating vehicle values by 15% even for imports with mileage as low as under 50 km or with an age of only five days. more..

June 30 (TM) SL is placed third on the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 points table after the series victory over Bangladesh. SL has a win percentage of 66.67 after managing one win and a draw in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh. SL drew the first Test in Galle, before bouncing back to beat the visitors by an innings and 78 runs in the 2nd Test in Colombo on Saturday. Meanwhile, Australia jumped to the top spot on the WTC points table after beating WI by 159 more..

June 30 (TM) Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) urged the Govt to provide standard seat belts to private buses at concessional prices before enforcing the regulation that makes seat belts mandatory for bus drivers. Last week, National Transport Commission (NTC) announced that it will be mandatory for bus drivers to wear seat belts starting from 1 July. NTC Chairperson, P.A. Chandrapala, stated that strict action would be taken against drivers who fail to comply with the more..

June 30 (AD) Deputy Minister of Fisheries Rathna Gamage, announced that a special committee has been appointed to investigate the recent incidents of fishing vessels capsizing at sea. He points out that the committee has been formed with the aim of identifying the causes of these accidents and providing appropriate solutions. Over the past two days, three separate fishing vessel accidents have been reported, resulting in five confirmed deaths, with two fishermen still missing. more..

June 30 (FT) German companies operating in SL have expressed a notably optimistic outlook for the year ahead, signalling confidence in the country’s economic prospects despite ongoing global economic headwinds according to the Spring 2025 AHK Business Barometer unveiled last week by Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in SL (AHK SL). Survey, based on responses from 54 German-affiliated businesses in SL, revealed that 54% rated their current situation as good, more..

June 30 (FT) Federation of Renewable Energy Developers (FRED) last Friday voiced deep concern over the Govt’s recent move to slash feed-in tariffs for renewable energy projects, warning that repeated policy reversals risk derailing the country’s clean energy ambitions. In a direct appeal, FRED called on Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake to intervene and guide reforms based on transparent, science-backed principles. more..

June 30 (ST) Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a vendor for implementing the SL Unique Digital Identity (SLUDI) system will be completed within this month. The Joint Project Management Committee (JPMC) for the project convened for the first time on June 17 to review and monitor the project’s progress. Following the meeting, Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne said that the committee decided to issue the Request for Proposal (RFP) within this month to select the vendor more..

June 30 (ST) SL’s exports are resuming their shipments to the West Asian region as the ceasefire between Iran and Israel was holding after the 12-day war but only time will tell. With warnings by the US of the possibility of attacks resuming between the two countries, exporters in SL say it could take a couple of weeks for things to normalise although shipments are moving ahead. However, the main concern by tea exporters in SL is that local authorities are not releasing the monies due to more..

June 30 (DM) BOI Chairman has characterised the highly anticipated US$ 3.7 b Sinopec oil refinery in H'tota & Adani Group’s renewable energy project as fragile investments, acknowledging the significant uncertainty surrounding their realisation. Herath underscored the agency’s commitment to attracting quality FDI rather than merely chasing investment figures, even as it works diligently to bring large-scale projects to fruition. more..

June 30 (ST) After three action-packed days of high-stakes rallies, roaring crowds, and unforgettable match moments, the curtain closed on the first-ever SL Padel League (SLPL) with Colombo Aces emerging as the inaugural champions. In a dramatic finale held at the Padel House, CR&FC, Colombo Aces defeated Galle Fort Mariners in a high-intensity tie that went the full distance. With one win apiece going into the Mixed Doubles, the Aces held their nerves to take the decider 6-2, 7-6 [7-4], more..

June 30 (FT) Advocata Institute is urging the Govt to withdraw and redraft the proposed Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, citing its most pressing flaw – the excessive and unchecked powers vested in the Finance Minister, which compromise the independence of the regulator and jeopardise the integrity of the industry. Advocata Research Consultant Sudaraka Ariyaratne said: “The independence of a regulatory body is non-negotiable. Without it, we risk creating more..

June 30 (Island) SL Customs claims to have eliminated days-long delays in container clearance and the resultant congestion in the Port of Colombo, which is always in the news for the wrong reasons. It has attributed such delays to sudden increases in container volumes; the number of containers handled by the port averages 1,200 a day, but it goes up to about 2,900 at times. Successive govts have not cared to address the problem of customs clearance delays all these years and ensure more..

June 30 (Island) The arrest of a female neurosurgeon working in Sri J'pura Hospital with two accomplices, for fraud, has created a media frenzy about dishonest doctors—not surprisingly! In social media, she is being castigated with the strongest of words, sometimes in raw filth, and curses that may befit even worse crimes. No one will disagree that she deserves to be castigated, in addition to being committed to a long prison sentence, if even some of the charges are proven. more..

June 30 (CI) SL's Test programme is about to dry up for 11 months, but their captain Dhananjaya de Silva is still grateful for the World Test Championship. Upon recording their first win of this cycle - the innings-and-78-run victory over Bangladesh at the SSC - he also made the point that for teams such as SL, who play fewer matches in a WTC cycle, there is more on the line in every game. SL play only two-match series through more..

June 30 (FT) A high-level business delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), comprising around 15 members and led by ITC Chairman and Managing Director and CII Immediate Past President Sanjiv Puri, is in Sri Lanka this week. The visit until 2 July is taking place in continuation to the high-level business forum organised during the State visit of Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake. The visit includes engagements with senior leadership and Ministers of the Govt of Sri Lanka, more..

June 30 (DN) “I want to be among the first ten batters in ranking in all three formats and always work hard for that,” said Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka who was adjudged the Player of the second test as well as Player of the Series in recently concluded Bangladesh two test match series. “I have to go forward with successive innings and give my support to the team,” added Nissanka. The 27-year-old opener has played 18 tests accumulating 1305 runs at an average of 45. more..

June 30 (GV) On April 2 this year, 26 year-old Muthuwadige Sathsara Nimesh died while in police custody. He was tortured to death at the Welikada Police Station​. Nimesh had been arrested on April 1 on suspicion of a break in and was taken to Welikada station for questioning​. According to the official police account, Nimesh appeared to be mentally unstable, banging his body against the walls of his cell and had to be transferred to the national mental hospital for his own safety​. more..

June 30 (ST) I n view of the severe dearth of medical drugs prevailing in govt hospitals, the Association of Medical Specialists wrote to Minister Nalinda Jayatissa on Friday, placing in his court three questions. As believers of the maxim prevention is better than cure, they sought clarification from the minister in advance to prevent themselves from being remanded at a later date and meeting the same fate as a specialist neurosurgeon of Sri J'pura Hospital, Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne more..

June 30 (TM) In a visit marked by both hope and stark reminders of unresolved injustices, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk concluded his four-day mission to SL on Thursday (26). During his visit, his discussions with a broad spectrum of stakeholders – from the highest echelons of Govt to civil society and victims of human rights abuses – painted a picture of a nation at a crossroads, grappling with the profound more..

June 30 (CT) The rhythm of the monsoon season in Sri Lanka, usually a harbinger of life and rejuvenation, has, for far too long, been accompanied by a sinister hum: the relentless buzz of mosquitoes. With each annual downpour, thousands fall victim to the debilitating effects of dengue, and tragically, hundreds succumb to its severe complications. Now, chikungunya, with its prolonged and painful joint afflictions, adds another layer to this pervasive public health crisis. more..

June 30 (DM) Discrimination against SL visitors was reported recently from Ella area, a former backwater whose tourism potential was suddenly discovered 15-20 years ago. Believe me, doors are shut in our faces not just in Ella, but all over SL where tourism exists. We are treated as third class citizens by our own people catering to foreign visitors. I experienced this first hand during my brief stint in tourism in the early 1990s. When hotels were overcrowded and no room was available for the guide, more..

June 30 (DM) As the global order undergoes sweeping shifts, with geopolitics, trade tensions, and macroeconomic uncertainty converging, small economies such as SL find themselves at a critical crossroads. The rules are changing, and passive observation is no longer an option. To unpack these complex global developments, Shabiya Ali Ahlam sat down with internationally renowned economist Prof. more..

June 30 (DM) On the 25th of this month Daily Mirror YouTube channel highlighted the clearing of a number of unauthorised structures in the Weligama area by the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department (CCCRMD) who were accompanied by the police. In the video, officers of the authority claimed that for the first time they had been permitted to carry out their duties without politicians interfering and obstructing their efforts. The personnel of the CCCRMD more..

June 30 (DM) Dear Mayor Vraie, First of all congratulations on your appointment, which was won despite the many challenges. In a nutshell Colombo City is still one of the greenest anywhere, and it has its own beauty and ambience. Successive Mayors and their councils have contributed to this situation. Over the years the city has been made much cleaner, even though certain areas need to be much cleaner. The city we like to live in - is one that is less polluted, maintaining at best and more..

June 29 (ST) Sri Lanka has had a troubled history when dealing with the UNHRC for decades, but this week’s four-day visit by Volker Türk, UN Human Rights High Commissioner, passed without any serious run-ins with the Govt, unlike visits by some of his predecessors that ended with more antagonism than appeasement between the two sides. Compared to his predecessors, Mr. Türk, who arrived in the country on Monday, more..

June 29 (ST) Growing up with a dog is one of life’s greatest blessings, dog lovers would say. These four-legged creatures bring unwavering love, happiness, and priceless memories to countless lives. Illustrating the profound bond between a dog and humans, a heartwarming story emerges from the University of the Visual and Performing Arts. Kalu was a gentle and affectionate dog, and his story demonstrates love, loyalty, and the incredible impact a dog can have on an entire community. more..

June 29 (ST) A stock of luxury and reconditioned vehicles imported after undervaluing them are to be re-exported to the country of origin after the SL Customs detected the fraud, a senior Customs official said. Customs had halted clearing these vehicles after a thorough inspection revealed that the vehicles had been imported by using third-country documents. While a majority of these vehicles had been imported from Japan, the relevant LCs had been opened in a third country, more..

June 29 (TM) UDA is yet to receive any recommendations from the Presidential Secretariat or the Cabinet to move forward with development plans for the historic Visumpaya residence in Colombo. UDA Deputy Director General E.A.C Piyashantha said that the authority was awaiting approval from the appointed high-level committee with regard to further initiatives in developing Visumpaya. more..

June 29 (CT) A foreign insurance broker with a well-documented history of high-profile bribery and corruption in developing countries has been approved by the National Insurance Trust Fund (NITF), which operates under SL’s Ministry of Finance. The move has drawn sharp criticism from industry stakeholders and raised serious concerns about regulatory integrity and potential double standards. The broker in question, Tysers Insurance Brokers Ltd — a UK-based firm — more..

June 29 (DM) Govt is placing particular emphasis on strengthening the public transport system as part of its broader agenda to elevate the country to a new level, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. Prez made these remarks while attending the ceremonial launch of the Dream Destination project to modernise 100 railway stations. Speaking at the event, Prez Dissanayake further highlighted that statistics confirm that approximately eight fatalities occur daily due to road accidents. more..