June 26 (BBC) I had pictured what my journey from the highlands of Ella to the Unesco city of Kandy would look like, but this was even better. The looping mountain roads stretched out before me as I drove through palm tree-lined valleys and past reservoirs so blue they looked as if they'd been photoshopped. Purple-faced langurs with their bushy white beards sat on the roadside and looked inquisitively at me, while elephants more..

June 26 (NF) Legendary Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, a prominent statesman and the second democratically elected leader of South Africa, arrived in Sri Lanka this morning (26). Mbeki was hand-picked by the late-Nelson Mandela after the April 1994 general election to be the first Deputy President of South Africa's new Government of National Unity. Former South African president Thabo Mbeki is often identified as an independent and original thinker. more..

June 26 (PMD) Several discussions were held in recent days between the National Initiative for the Commercialisation of Research and Development (NIRDC), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with the aim of strengthening SL’s research, development and innovation sectors. These discussions highlighted the importance of empowering the youth as the next generation of leaders in entrepreneurship, particularly by promoting more..

June 26 (AD) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and several former Cabinet Ministers have been named as witnesses in the case against former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella over the alleged import of substandard Human Immunoglobulin vials. Around 350 individuals have been listed as witnesses in this case. Among them are former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Ministers more..

June 26 (NF) Railway technical staff across SL have decided to commence a token strike from 8 AM today (26), protesting against the reduction of overtime allowances. The strike is expected to continue until tomorrow morning. According to Sampath Amarawansa, joint convener of the Railway Trade Union Alliance in Ratmalana, the decision was made after repeated appeals to the Railway Dept failed to yield a satisfactory response. The strike involves railway technical managers and more..

June 26 (TM) SL’s internationally acclaimed Pekoe Trail will soon become the stage for a major fundraising campaign titled 500K Steps. Beginning on 2 July, a team of SL endurance walkers will cover the full 323 kilometre trail in five consecutive days. The goal is to raise Rs. 20 million to support trail upgrades, sustainable tourism, and community-led development across the Central Highlands. Funds raised through the 500K Steps campaign will go toward: Enhancing trail infrastructure, more..

June 26 (DM) 32 senior police officers, including 9 Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) and 16 Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), have been transferred with immediate effect. Transfers were made with the approval of the National Police Commission. DIG Nihal Thalduwa, previously in charge of Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), has been appointed as DIG for Monaragala Division. DIG J.R. Dias, currently serving as Staff DIG, will now oversee CCIB Division more..

June 26 (DM) Two SL youths attempting to travel to Italy using forged Indian passports were arrested by the Immigration and Emigration Border Surveillance Unit officials at the BIA last night. The suspects, aged 21 and 28 years, are Tamil youths from Jaffna. They had arrived at the Katunayake Airport to board Etihad Airways flight EY-397, scheduled to depart for Abu Dhabi at 9.45 p.m. on June 25. According to airport sources, while the suspects were waiting in the passenger terminal, more..

June 26 (NW) SL’s export sector demonstrated remarkable resilience and steady progress during the first five months of 2025, with total exports reaching US$ 6,933.35 million, marking a robust 7.14% growth compared to the same period in 2024. Total exports, including both merchandise and services, reached US$1,386.66 million in May 2025. This shows an impressive year-on-year growth of 6.35% over May 2024, more..

June 26 (NW) Court of Appeal today commenced hearings into a Writ of Quo Warranto application filed against MP Archchuna Ramanathan, challenging his eligibility to continue holding office as a MP. The petition was filed by Oshala Herath, leader of the Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna, who claims that MP Ramanathan submitted his nomination for the recent general election while still serving as a govt medical officer. Herath argues that submitting nominations without first resigning from govt service more..

June 26 (FT) The Cabinet has approved awarding a Rs. 650.9 million contract to Maga Engineering Ltd., for paving works of State-run Jaya Container Terminal (JCT)-V Yard in the Port of Colombo. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority has planned to extend the existing JCT-IV Quay Wall to accommodate two medium-size container vessels and to develop the yard area behind to increase the yard capacity. The balance development work of the JCT-V Yard needs to be completed for full functioning of IV. more..

June 26 (DM) Hundreds of vehicles are stranded at the port, with hundreds more on the way, after SL Customs abruptly halted the clearance of vehicles imported under cross-border LCs starting May 26, this year. The move has disrupted a standard industry practice of over a decade, leaving importers facing mounting demurrage charges and significant financial uncertainty. 200-300 vehicles are currently more..

June 26 (NW) Two educational programmes focused on educating schoolchildren about road safety and responsible behaviour on the roads were launched today under the Clean Sri Lanka national programme. The programmes were launched as part of the Clean Sri Lanka initiative aimed at reducing daily road accidents by raising public awareness and reshaping attitudes toward road safety. The two new educational programs, titled Clean Steps – Safety Roads – Be United for Road Safety, more..

June 26 (AD) Former Secretary of the Ministry of Health Janaka Chandragupta, who was arrested earlier today, has been remanded until July 8, Ada Derana reporter said. He was remanded after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. Janaka Chandragupta was arrested this morning by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), after recording a statement regarding the alleged procurement of substandard drugs. more..

June 26 (FT) The supply chain is one of the most important and dynamic topics in business today. While it has been an essential part of commerce for decades, its strategic importance has increased even more since the COVID-19 pandemic, as organisations around the world have recognised that supply chains are not just back-end functions; they are the lifeblood that keeps businesses running. The term supply chain has many definitions, such as supply chain management or SCM, more..

June 26 (FT) In the ongoing debate on SL’s currency direction, much of the noise focuses on the strength of the rupee. A stronger rupee, many argue, will ease import costs, tame inflation, and bring short-term consumer relief. While this narrative may be politically expedient, it risks overlooking the deeper structural consequences for SL’s export economy—the engine that earns our foreign exchange and sustains millions of livelihoods. The hard truth is this: an artificially strong rupee is not a sign of more..

June 26 (CT) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka, arrived in Jaffna yesterday at approximately 3:30 p.m. by helicopter. He visited the Chemmani grounds in Sindhupiddy — the site of alleged mass graves — and paid tribute to the victims by laying flowers before the symbolic Anaiya Theepam (Eternal Flame), a vigil lamp lit in memory of the disappeared. more..

June 26 (DM) The 2025 G.C.E. A/L Examination will be held from November 10 to December 5, the Department of Examinations announced. In a notice issued today the Department said that applications for the examination will be accepted online from June 26 to July 21. Students of govt and govt-approved private schools are required to submit their applications through their respective school principals, while private applicants must submit their applications independently. more..

June 26 (CT) Govt will begin strict enforcement of laws prohibiting child labour from 1 July 2025, aiming to crack down on the growing exploitation of children in informal and hazardous forms of work, Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Citing current statistics, Minister said that children make up around 30% of SL’s population. However, an increasing number are being found engaging in unsafe and exploitative labour, including street begging, selling goods in public spaces, more..

June 26 (FT) Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa disclosed that an intelligence report has flagged attempts by certain politically affiliated groups to undermine the Govt’s initiatives to improve and streamline the sector. He cautioned that the Govt will not tolerate any such interference. “Some of these people are directly connected to some political parties, some are members of parties, and some are behind certain companies, more..

June 26 (NF) A protest demanding an int'l investigation into the alleged mass graves in Chemmani entered its third and final day today, drawing participation from civil society activists and families of the disappeared. The demonstration, which began on June 23, coincides with the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who is currently touring N&E provinces. A petition calling for int'l intervention was circulated during the protest, with signatures collected more..

June 26 (DM) Sri Lanka could miss a once-in-a-generation opportunity to plug into the fast-growing supply chains of southern India – that is unless the island nation pushes through market-opening reforms that go well beyond its current IMF programme, leading international economist Prof. Razeen Sally warned this week. Prof. Sally, former Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore and a former chair of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), SL, more..

June 26 (NW) Attorney General’s Dept on Wednesday cited the release of Mary Juliet Monica Fernando — wife of former Minister Milroy Fernando — as a key example of a controversial presidential pardon, as the Colombo Magistrate’s Court continues to hear cases into the unlawful release of prisoners. Mary Juliet was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to death for abducting and murdering two women. She was released in March 2009 after receiving a presidential pardon from more..

June 26 (FT) Amid the rising instability in the Middle East, the Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on Tuesday approved the formulating of high-level dual sub-committees tasked with evaluating potential risks and devising early action strategies to avoid any adverse impacts on the economy. The move comes as concerns mount over the broader geopolitical fallout from the situation in the Middle East, particularly with regard to energy security, foreign employment, trade, logistics & tourism more..

June 26 (DM) The Starlink satellite internet service will be made available to local customers following a one-week inspection of the service, TRCSL Director General Bandula Herath said. He said TRCSL had issued the relevant licences in July 2024 to authorize the provision of Starlink satellite broadband services in Sri Lanka. By Dec 2024, Commission had granted approval for 5 main tariff packages. more..

June 26 (FT) In response to severe flood damage that disrupted water releases to cultivated lands across the dry zone, the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday approved a Rs. 2 billion allocation under the 2025 Budget for the urgent renovation of major irrigation systems. The move focuses on restoring key infrastructure in five critical schemes spread across the Ampara, Polonnaruwa, and A'pura districts. These areas, which are heavily reliant on irrigated agriculture, have experienced more..

June 26 (EN) Sri Lanka extended sovereign bond maturities through restructure, sharply reducing the near-term roll-over or repayments as part of efforts to emerge from the country’s first external sovereign default triggered by aggressive macro-economic policy. SL has reduced sovereign bond maturities in 2025 from 2,150 million dollars to 330 million dollars according to data released by the Finance Ministry. In 2026, maturities have been reduced from 1,000 million to 330 million. more..

June 26 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on Tuesday approved supporting and expanding the export-oriented agricultural sector to meet its crop targets via a new initiative. The program is scheduled to be implemented from this year by the Dept of Export Agriculture. “The initiative aims to enhance productivity, sustainability, and market access, particularly in organic segments, with the Govt committing to cover up to 50% of the investment costs borne by more..

June 26 (DN) SL’s batting coach Thilina Kandamby praised the performances of fast bowlers Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando on the unusual SSC pitch after the first day of the Test match yesterday. “Sonal Dinusha is a good player. We have been monitoring his progress for the past couple of years. He is a mature player with all-round abilities—he is a good bowler, batsman, and fielder. That’s why we selected him early for this game, and he has made an impact,” Kandamby said. more..

June 26 (EN) New active credit cards in SL increased by 16,812 in April this year, amid SL’s economic recovery and falling interest rates. The number of active credit cards recorded 2,055,494 by end April, compared to 2,038,682 by end March, showing an increase of 0.8% in April. The active credit cards have risen by 2.3% in the first four months of this year. Active credit cards in SL rose by 4.8% or 91,371 in 2024, more..

June 26 (DM) Colombo High Court sentenced a retired land officer to 22 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs.30,000, after finding him guilty of soliciting a bribe of Rs.100,000 to issue a permit for cutting trees on a land within the Mahaweli Zone in Thambuttegama. Court also ordered that the Rs.100,000 bribe be recovered under Section 26 of the Bribery Act. Furthermore, the court ordered that a compensation of Rs.100,000 be paid to the aggrieved party, more..

June 26 (CI) Pitches at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) tend to come in two varieties. There were the mega run-fest flatbeds of the late aughts. Since then, they have tended to be be big-turning dustbowls. But the track for the second Test between SL and Bangladesh is unusual, as Bangladesh batter Shadman Islam and SL batting coach Thilina Kandamby agree. Shadman is playing his first Test at this venue. Kandamby played domestic cricket here for more than a decade. more..