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Australia’s Governor-General, Samantha Joy Mostyn, on an official tour to Sri Lanka, visited the Galle International Cricket grounds, where she met with young cricketers from clubs in the area and showed off her own skills.
UK, Canada to table new UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka
Govt. expects softer motion compared to previous resolutions By Chandani Kirinde The United Kingdom and Canada have informed the government that a new resolution on Sri Lanka will be presented at the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council next month, but the Government expects softened wording on it as compared to previous resolutions. [...]
30 judges in the dock, as JSC initiates disciplinary action
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) is considering initiating disciplinary action against about 30 magistrates and district judges following complaints and allegations against them. During the past week, the JSC interdicted five judges. They include District Judge for Moratuwa, Thilina Gamage, and Monaragala Additional District Judge Ranjani Gamage. The other three interdicted judges [...]
Forex from Lankans abroad surpasses US$4.4 billion
By Kapila Bandara Multibillion-dollar remittances sent in by Sri Lankans working overseas, mostly domestic helpers and a small percentage of professionals, are reaching unprecedented levels. In the seven months to July, forex remittances of Sri Lankans have exceeded US$4.43 billion (Rs 1.32 trillion). The amounts from the same period in 2024 were US$3.71b. The value [...]
President to visit UN and Japan next month on key diplomatic missions
By Damith Wickremasekera President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake two overseas tours in September, one to attend the UN General Assembly sessions in New York, followed by a state visit to Japan. The President will leave for the US on September 23 and is due to address the UN General Assembly on the 24th, Foreign [...]
Central Expressway Part 1 contract: Committee favours settling MCC’s claims and awarding it the job
By Namini Wijedasa A committee appointed to analyse financial claims from the Metallurgical Corporation of China Ltd. (MCC), contractor of the long-delayed Central Expressway Part 1 (CEP1) from Kadawatha to Mirigama, has recommended settling its multibillion-rupee payments and negotiating with the same party to complete the remainder of the road. The report was finalised and [...]
Daya named new RTI Commission Chief
Senior journalist Daya Lankapura has been named as Chairman of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission of Sri Lanka. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made the appointment this week following approval by the Constitutional Council (CC). Mr. Lankapura is a veteran journalist with over 60 years in the field. He started his journalism career in 1965 [...]
Anticipatory bail plea fails; search on for Rathana Thera
By Ranjith Padmasiri An anticipatory bail application filed by Ven Athuraliye Rathana Thera, a one-time parliamentarian, has been turned down, and a police search has been launched to arrest him in connection with an abduction. The anticipatory bail application was turned down by Nugegoda Additional Magistrate Sanjaya Lakmal Wijesinghe. The Police had launched an investigation [...]
X-Press Pearl disaster: AG to hand over forensic audit to reputed foreign agency
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Attorney General’s Department will seek a reputed international organisation’s help to carry out a forensic audit report on the deleted email communications between the X-Press Pearl ship captain and the local agents Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt Ltd). The decision came after the Moratuwa University and the Government Analyst Department said they [...]
Mega-scale development projects lagging behind, only 5 out of 79 completed: Report
Just five out of 79 mega-scale development projects that were due to have been completed by end-March have finished on schedule, the Project Management and Monitoring Department’s (PMMD) latest report states. The “Mega-Scale Development Projects First Quarter 2025” has been released on the website of the PMMD, which falls under the Finance, Planning and Economic [...]
Veteran photojournalist Alfred Silva passes away
Alfred Silva, a veteran newspaper photographer who extensively covered the early stages of the separatist movement in the North and East of the country, passed away yesterday. He was 82. Born on October 4, 1942, Alfred began his career at the now defunct Independent Newspaper Group (Dawasa/Sun), first as a darkroom hand and later moving [...]
Behind the glitz and glamour, lack of gaming laws with teeth looms large
In its current form, the GRA Bill—if passed—will establish a non-independent regulator who serves as a proxy for the Minister of Finance By Namini Wijedasa Sri Lanka’s newest integrated resort with its international-grade casino was ceremonially launched on August 2, 2025, amidst red carpet glamour and overt political patronage at the highest levels. The two [...]
Australia’s Governor General Mostyn remembers fallen countrymen and tsunami victims
Australia’s Governor General and Commander-in-Chief Samantha Joy Mostyn, currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka, paid respects to Australian nationals laid to rest at the Commonwealth War Graves site at the Borella General Cemetery. She attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the site, commemorating the Australian servicemen and women who lost their lives in Sri [...]
Trade-weighted average tariff for Sri Lanka at 28.8%
By Kapila Bandara Average tariffs imposed on Sri Lanka’s goods by the United States after the 90-day pause by the Trump Administration is 28.8%, calculated on a trade-weighted basis, compared with 19.4% during the 90-day window, new global data show. This calculation by UN Trade & Development and published Friday takes into account measures announced [...]
Medicines deficit being bridged, but physicians find institutional lapses
By Kasun Warakapitiya Medicine shortages continue to badly affect health care at state run hospitals with the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) at loggerheads with the government. The government insists that the best possible solutions are being provided to address the long-standing issue, but the GMOA disagrees. The GMOA told the Sunday Times that the [...]
Leopard conservation plan weighs captive breeding
By Kasun Warakapitiya The National Zoological Gardens has decided to create a national programme to conserve the endemic Sri Lankan leopard. The Sri Lankan leopard, Panthera pardus kotiya is the largest big cat on the island and is endangered with only around 800 to 1,000 found in the wild. National Zoological Gardens Director General Chandana [...]
Arms and men: Weapon seizures and arrests made by police
Since the present government took office last year, the Sri Lanka Police has seized a range of weapons and made several arrests for murder, attempted murder, and other related offences, parliament was told. In operations targeting murder cases, authorities recovered 10 T56 rifles, five pistols, five trap guns, three 12 bore shotguns, and three other [...]
Govt. to build 730 houses in Colombo
Some 730 housing units are to be built in Colombo at a cost of Rs. 7.48 billion under the re-implemented Urban Regeneration Project, according to a Cabinet paper presented by Housing Minister Anura Karunathilaka. The two housing schemes will be located at Colombage Mawatha and Torrington Mawatha, with completion expected within two and a half [...]
Cabinet green light for Rs. 425m facelift for Central Bus Stand
The Central Bus Stand in Pettah is to be renovated and developed at an estimated cost of Rs 425 million, the Cabinet has decided. The funds are to be allocated under the Clean Sri Lanka programme and will be utilised to repair and maintain access roads, bus yards, passenger stands, restrooms for drivers and conductors, [...]
Esala Perahera draws to a close
By Shane Seneviratne The historic Esala Perahera concluded yesterday, with the Day Perahera. The final Randoli Perahera was held on Friday with the attendance of a large public gathering. Police were forced to turn away some of the crowds while organisers withdrew some of the elephants midway as the Perahera route was too long. Heavy [...]
Pilliyar kovil custodians visit the Maligawa on final perahera night
By L. B. Senaratne The traditional visit of the trustee and the representatives of the Gangadevi Kovil or Pilliyar Kovil to representatives of the Sri Dalada Maligawa on the final night of the Kandy Esala Perhera took place on Friday. They were received by the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela at the Hewisi Mandapaya and [...]
Aragalaya emergency: I did my constitutional duty to protect people’s sovereignty
By Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s 8th Executive President In Sathkunanathan v. Attorney General and related cases, the Supreme Court (Fernando CJ and Kodagoda J) held that the Proclamation of Emergency issued on July 17, 2022, by me as Acting President infringed the petitioners’ Fundamental Rights. Concurrently, Obeyesekere J held that the fundamental rights of the [...]
7,100 orders in hand and 2,300 autos sold: JKH promises more models
By Kapila Bandara John Keells Holdings says its new energy vehicle business has “exceeded expectations’’, drawing more than 7,100 orders and that 2,307 vehicles have been sold. “A few new models will be launched over the next few months, and that could help to maintain momentum (of sales) or improve it,” John Keells Holdings Chairman [...]
Customs begin release of BYD vehicles
By Ranjith Padmasiri Sri Lanka Customs is releasing 991 BYD vehicles it held back due to a dispute over the motor capacity. A senior official said the release of the vehicles began yesterday, following an agreement reached after considering the Court of Appeal application filed by the company John Keells CG Auto (Pvt) Ltd this [...]
Complex 10-hr surgery to remove massive chest growth
A multidisciplinary team guided by Dr. D.M.S. Handagala removes part of the chest wall, the diaphragm, lung and liver to free patient of an invasive tumour After shedding the massive growth. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The wife and two children of 39-year-old Sunil* are overjoyed, for now he has shed the [...]
Sri Lanka hit by Psychiatrist migration – North-East Provinces severely impacted
College of Psychiatrists President Dr. Sajeewana Amarasinghe urges vital steps to ensure mental health and prompt introduction of new Act By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The war-affected North-East Provinces, with the highest suicide rates in the country, are severely affected by the dearth of psychiatrists caused by brain drain, with the specialists serving in those areas stretched [...]
Construction of stadium cum theatre-auditorium in Anamaduwa at standstill
The construction of an auditorium, arts theatre and an indoor stadium launched in Anamaduwa, coinciding with the ‘Deyata Kirula’ prorgamme held in Anuradhapura in 2014, has come to a complete standstill leaving behind the half-constructed structures. The estimated cost of the project was said to be Rs. 51 million and total of Rs. 30 million [...]
New Judges pledge to uphold solemn duty of serving in Appeal Court to the best of their conscience
By Ranjith Pathmasiri The independence of the judiciary rests in the personal courage of judges who are willing to be independent; in the discipline to remain unmoved by political winds or popular tides and in the unwavering resolve to decide without fear or favour, affection or ill will, President of the Court of Appeal Rohantha [...]
Pumpkin bounty becomes a burden
Pumpkin growers in Nawagattegama in the Puttalam district are struggling with massive piles of unsold produce after a substantial harvest. Farmers in Nawagattegama, Konkadawala, Gaminipura, Rathkiragama, Serugodayaya, Inginimitiya, Kelewewa, Welewewa and several other villages had cultivated more than 200 acres. The farmers said they had sold pumpkins for about Rs 100 a kilogram, but after [...]
Plastic pellets from capsized MV Elsa 3 sent to UK for chemical analysis
By Dilushi Wijesinghe Samples of plastic pellets collected from affected coastal areas of Sri Lanka and India, after the cargo vessel MV Elsa 3 capsized, have been sent to the Greenpeace Science Unit in the UK for chemical analysis, with results expected in a month, Greenpeace South Asia’s Ocean and Climate Campaigner Anita Perera said. [...]