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Home » NewsHarley Davidsons found in Bird Park hideout
Some twenty illegally imported high-end, high-capacity motorcycles—including eight Harley-Davidsons—were recovered during a raid conducted by the Central Anti-Corruption Task Force at a warehouse inside Bird Park, Hambantota. Police said investigations are continuing to determine who owned the bikes and why they were hidden in the warehouse. Pic by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.
Budget 2026 aims to revive mega projects
Settling domestic arrears and retaining the freeze on state-sector vehicle purchases among other priorities By S. Rubatheesan The 2026 national budget will give priority to stalled mega-infrastructure projects and settling domestic arrears, while the current freeze on new vehicles for state institutions, except for public transport and healthcare, will continue, according to the budget call issued [...]
Cabinet backs push to meet major project deadlines; Rs. 1.4 trillion required
By Namini Wijedasa The Cabinet this week approved President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s proposal to complete delayed mega projects within their respective timeframes—a target that the Finance Ministry’s Project Management and Monitoring Department (PMMD) has said will need another Rs. 1.4 trillion before end-2027. Under the Public Finance Management Act of 2024, the PMMD must prepare [...]
Talks with IMF on revenue loss from US tariffs
Sri Lanka will discuss with the IMF measures to be taken to offset the revenue losses from the 30% tariff imposed on the country by the United States, effective from August 1, Treasury officials said. The country may not be able to meet the tax revenue targets set under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF), [...]
Issue receipts for documents received
The Public Administration Ministry has instructed ministries and government institutions to ensure that receipt acknowledgements are issued to the public for all hand-delivered documents as well as those received by post. In a circular issued on dealing with documents delivered by hand to public institutions, the ministry said that documents are sent to public institutions [...]
Govt. in major renewable energy drive to deliver region’s lowest-cost power
By Namini Wijedasa The government has vowed to direct current oil-based electricity generation towards low-cost renewable solar and wind sources while implementing competitive procurement and price-calling “to make Sri Lanka a country with the lowest electricity bill in the region.” The Energy Ministry’s official list of commitments also includes an undertaking to gradually add 2,000 [...]
Detention of youth under PTA: Police say no evidence against him
The Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (9) questioned police over the arrest and detention of a youth under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), after police admitted they had no evidence against him and requested bail. Mohamed Rifai Mohamed Suhail, a 21-year-old aviation student, was arrested nine months ago for allegedly pasting an anti-Israeli [...]
CID agrees to pay for Keheliya case indictment documents; cost reduced from 1.5m to Rs. 866, 565
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has agreed to bear the cost of printing more than 2000 pages of documents that will serve as extracts in the trial against 12 accused over the importation of counterfeit immunoglobulin vials. The Department of Government Printing had earlier estimated that the total cost of printing this [...]
Probe on death of motorcyclist launched; STF brought in to settle clash between police and residents
Investigations are underway into an incident in Kumankulam, Vavuniya where five police officers were injured following a clash between police and some area residents following the death of a motorcyclist. According to police, two traffic policemen from the Nelukkulam police station had responded to a report stating that a motorcyclist was lying near a kovil [...]
In landmark copyright case, SC rules in favour of wife of Clarence Wijewardene
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Sheela Wijewardene – wife of the late veteran musician Clarence Wijewardene, against Sarath Kothalawala of Torana Music, in a landmark copyright case. The appeal stems from an action filed in the Commercial High Court by Ms. Wijewardene in 2005 alleging that copyright in the [...]
Boat sinks soon after passengers and crew are rescued
Fourteen people including 12 local tourists touring the Delft island, off Jaffna, were rescued after their boat started leaking and nearly capsized, Police said. The passengers and two crew members had managed to attract the attention of another passenger vessel which rescued all 14 persons. Soon after they were rescued the boat had sunk. The [...]
Blaze in Ella continues, destroys cottage of tourist hotel
By Prasad Rukmal A fire that broke out yesterday (July 12) afternoon in the Ella Kandakubura Reserve destroyed a cottage belonging to a tourist hotel, police said. The blaze, intensified by prevailing dry weather and strong winds, continued to spread through the forested area, which is home to several tourist properties. Police suspect that the [...]
Foreign digital services will have to pay 18% VAT from October: IRD
By Tharushi Weerasinghe The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) will begin implementing the April VAT amendment on foreign digital services in October, following a six-month delay prompted by legal and industry concerns, officials confirmed. Starting October 1, 2025, the Sri Lankan government will enforce an 18% Value Added Tax (VAT) on digital services provided by non-resident [...]
6 years on yet another debate on Easter Sunday attacks a reminder of the long wait for justice
By Sandun Jayawardana More than six years after the Easter Sunday terror attack, yet another adjournment debate on the subject was held in the House on Wednesday. While the debate did not throw up much new information, it served as yet another reminder of the continuing, painful wait for justice. The current government received the [...]
Kalutara cop who broke teeth bashing rider with helmet, ordered to pay up
By Mimi Alphonsus A Kalutara traffic policeman who struck a motorbike rider in the face dealing “two hard blows” with a helmet after a stop at night in 2012, was ordered by the Supreme Court this week to personally pay Rs 100,000 as compensation to the victim. The ruling came on July 7. The rider, [...]
Exporters association concerned over US 30% tariff, urges govt. to look for alternative markets
The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka has expressed deep concern over the recent letter issued by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, outlining the intention to impose a 30% tariff on Sri Lankan exports to the United States starting August 1, 2025. “We recognize and appreciate the efforts made by the Sri Lankan negotiating team in [...]
People at risk of gender based violence face increasing hurdles, says UN report
By Dilushi Wijesinghe The United Nations says it is increasingly difficult for Sri Lankans at risk of sexual and gender-based violence to reach essential services, access help to reduce exploitation, violence and abuse, or obtain adequate housing and urban services. The UN 2024 ‘Annual Results Report’ was released to the media this week. There has [...]
Thewawa annual ritual
The Thewawa ( service ) of the Inner Shrine of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, an annual ritual that has come down the ages since the establishment of the Maha vihares in Kandy, was handed over by the Asgiri Maha Viahare Mahanayake Ven Panditha Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera to the Mahanayake of the Malwatta Maha vihare Ven [...]
Villagers protest alleged Navy assault, claim smuggling cover-up
Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Villagers in Daluwa, Norochcholai, staged a protest on Thursday, demanding a fair inquiry into the alleged assault of a resident by navy personnel. The resident, 63-year-old Neville Mervyn Fernando had been staying overnight in his coconut land to protect the coconuts that had been plucked the previous day [...]
Beyond fertility: Unpacking why young adults are delaying or declining parenthood
This article argues that the perceived ‘fertility crisis’ is not a matter of young adults’ disinterest in having children, but rather a pragmatic response to significant societal barriers, including financial insecurity, housing costs, childcare challenges, gender inequality, and anxieties about the future, all of which require systemic policy solutions rather than stand alone interventions. By [...]
Kandy Hospital reclaiming its land from illegal occupiers
The National Hospital Kandy, the second largest hospital in the country has revived its battle to repossess some 25 acres of its land occupied by squatters over the years. Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa gave an update in Parliament this week on measures taken by authorities including the Kandy hospital. In 2018, the number of [...]
Gambling law: Spinning the wheel to introduce a regulator only in name
By Namini Wijedasa Sri Lanka is poised—finally—to introduce a Gambling Regulatory Authority law likely to be passed before international casino giant, Melco, ceremonially opens its glittering doors in Colombo next month. And if the objective is to install a non-independent regulator who is a proxy for the Minister of Finance, the government’s proposed Gambling Regulatory [...]
Powerful call by local pharma industry for high-level Task Force
SLPMA on crucial need to make pharma manufacturing a ‘thrust’ industry in Sri Lanka By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Sending out a powerful call for a “consistent policy direction” and “a long-term strategic roadmap”, in the absence of which investor confidence is limited, local pharmaceutical manufacturers have urged the formation of a multi-stakeholder Task Force to make [...]
Apex court directs universities on accountability for persistent ragging
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Supreme Court has issued a string of guidelines aimed at combatting ragging in higher educational institutions and ordered the Education Ministry, University Grants Commission, vice chancellors and police to report back to court within six months, the steps taken to comply with the directions. The guidelines have been issued as part [...]
8-year morgue breakdown at Lunawa Hospital burdens residents
For eight years, the Lunawa District Hospital morgue has been non-operational, forcing Moratuwa residents to spend a significant amount of money transporting bodies to the Kalubowila Hospital or Panadura Base Hospital. The residents explained they have to bear the cost of funeral parlour vehicles to transport bodies to other hospital morgues and despite repeated pleas [...]
Govt. ignoring underlying causes worsens human-elephant conflict
By Kasun Warakapitiya The government’s failure to scientifically approach the human elephant conflict had complicated existing issues of elephant conservation, environmentalists and state officials said. They explained that neglect and disregard of already known information as well as overlooking scientific studies, and behaviour of elephants had made things worse, as provincial politicians call the shots. [...]
Saving Bathiya an uphill task
Veterinary surgeons and wildlife officers, as well as police and army officers, are fighting an uphill task to save the life of the ailing tusker Bathiya, who lies on his side in a muddy pit in the Polpithigama area. Of the three elephants currently being treated for gunshot injuries, Bathiya’s condition is the worst. The [...]
Elpitiya hospital morgue freezer not repaired for more than 6 months
A broken freezer in the Elpitiya Base Hospital morgue, which has reportedly been out of order for six months without any repair action, is causing much inconvenience. As a result the base hospital is forced to send the bodies to Balapitiya or Karapitiya hospitals. Though Elpitiya hospital was made a base hospital in 2005 a [...]
The many faces and expressions of Kataragama festival
The 15-day Kataragama Esala festival is a deeply sacred time in Kataragama, a place sanctified by centuries of belief in Skanda also known as Kataragama Deviyo – the island’s warrior deity and divine guardian. Thousands of devotees and pilgrims of many faiths, particularly Hindus and Buddhists, gather here to seek the divine intervention of God [...]