Jul 10 (FT) US President Donald Trump has settled for a 30% tariff on imports from SL, down from 44% proposed in April. He announced the move in a letter to President Anura Kumara Disanayake dated 9 July 2025. Analysts welcomed the move, which is lower than the tariff slapped on Laos and Myanmar (40%), Cambodia, Thailand (36%), Bangladesh (35%) and Indonesia (32%). However, others described it as higher than more..

Jul 10 (DM) Doctors in leading state hospitals are showing reluctance to prescribe medicines, surgical items to be purchased from private or third parties in light of the recent allegations made against Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne, a leading neurosurgeon. The specialist who is attached to the Sri J'pura General Hospital is embroiled in a legal battle over allegations of selling medical equipment valued at Rs. 50,000 to patients for Rs. 175,000 through a private company. more..

Jul 10 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has crossed the 1.2 million mark in arrivals for 2025, with 48,300 tourists visiting the country in the first eight days of July. This brings the year-to-date (YTD) figure to 1,216,344 arrivals, a 15% year-on-year (YoY) increase. However, with an ambitious target of 3 million arrivals and $ 5 billion in revenue set for the year, the country must attract over 1.78 million tourists or nearly 60% of the full-year goal over the second half of 2025. more..

Jul 10 (TM) Mohamed Rifai Suhail, a 21-year-old student, has been held for nearly nine months under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, reportedly over a video posted by him on a social media platform in which the Israeli flag was shown being trampled. An aviation student from Mawanella, Suhail was initially detained by the Dehiwala Police in Oct 2024 near the Israeli Consular premises for not carrying his ID. more..

Jul 10 (DN) The Govt plans to provide internet access to all secondary schools in Sri Lanka by the end of 2026. PM and Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya informed Parliament yesterday that it is expected to provide internet access to all secondary schools throughout the country by the end of 2026. She said that as a start up towards fulfilling this goal, Govt has introduced Rs.5,000 unlimited data packages to schools in the country. more..

Jul 10 (DM) Sri Lanka risks reversing the crucial energy reforms, unless it holds the line on the 2024 Electricity Act, the Advocata Institute cautioned yesterday, calling on the govt to reaffirm its commitment to overhauling the power sector. The Colombo-based think tank stressed the need to legally unbundle the CEB's core functions and push for a more competitive, transparent electricity market. “SL cannot afford to fall back into a monopoly-driven model at a time when more..

Jul 10 (FT) Multiple stakeholders yesterday advocated necessary legislative amendments to the Regulation of Election Expenditure, Act No.03 of 2023, mooting that the CIABOC be designated as the oversight body for campaign finance irregularities. This development transpired during a discussion involving all stakeholders, including representatives of Govt entities including the CIABOC, SL Police, Auditor General’s Dept, election monitoring bodies, NGOs, journalists, and more..

Jul 10 (TM) The Animal Welfare Coalition-SL (AWC), yesterday, filed a complaint with the CIABOC against senior Health Ministry officials with regard to the alleged misuse of funds allocated for the National Rabies Eradication Programme. The organisation’s complaint pointed to the alleged misuse, mismanagement, partial utilisation and non-utilisation of Rs. 200 million. Speaking to the media after lodging the complaint, AWC Executive Committee Member Dr. Chamith more..

Jul 10 (AD) Notorious SL underworld figures known as Kehelbaddara Padme and Commando Salinda, who are suspected to be the masterminds behind the assassination of rival gang leader Sanjeewa Samararatne, alias Ganemulla Sanjeewa, have reportedly been arrested in Malaysia today (9). SL Police has officially requested information regarding these arrests from Interpol. Two underworld figures, Kehelbaddara more..

Jul 10 (Island) The Joint Chambers of Commerce urged the Govt of Sri Lanka to engage in meaningful consultation with all recognized industry chambers before making decisions that directly impact trade, exports, and the wider economy. The call comes in response to renewed lobbying efforts by certain shipping agents and intermediaries seeking to reintroduce anti-competitive terminal handling charges (THC) through misleading claims to policymakers. more..

Jul 10 (DM) Sri Lanka’s domestic clothing brands are calling for a drastic 300 to 400 percent increase in the Commodity Export Subsidy Scheme (CESS) levy on the imported apparel, arguing it is a critical step to ensure the survival and competitiveness of the local industry in its own market. The proposal was put forward by former Sri Lanka Brands Association President P. Yasotharan, during a press conference held at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo, this week. more..

Jul 10 (PMD) Marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s research and development sector, an ad-hoc committee was established on the 7th of this month (July) for the first time in the country, to identify and prioritise national research needs. The primary objective of this committee is to classify various research initiatives being conducted nationwide according to their priority, based on national development goals and national requirements. The committee is co-chaired by more..

Jul 10 (FT) A Colombo Magistrate yesterday postponed for 15 July to deliver the order of the case where retired Major General Asoka Thoradeniya was allegedly involved in the killing of former JVP Leader Rohana Wijeweera. Earlier, the Court issued an injunction restraining former Provincial Councillor and Frontline Socialist Party Central Committee Member Indrananda de Silva, preventing him from making statements against Thoradeniya over the killing of Wijeweera to more..

Jul 10 (TM) The GMOA called on the Ministry of Health to urgently issue clear guidelines and put in place a formal mechanism for doctors and hospital staff on how to advise patients in the event they have run out of medicine in state institutions to provide for treatment. GMOA stated that medical professionals are in limbo over whether they should ask patients to bring pharmaceutical drugs and medical supplies from outside when more..

Jul 10 (AD) Ceylon Petroleum Private Bowser Owners’ Association says fuel distribution activities have been arbitrarily handed over to another party. Treasurer of the Association Jagath Parakrama stated that fuel distribution activities could be jeopardized, if the decision is not reversed. Further commenting on the issue, he claimed that there is an attempt to bring fuel transportation under a monopoly. Parakrama said this has become a very serious issue for the owners of the bowsers. more..

Jul 10 (DN) Reshan Algama showed great maturity under pressure to keep his lead at the halfway stage of the Sri Lanka Golf July Ranking Tournament at the scenic but testing Victoria Golf Resort in Digana, Kandy yesterday. The 17-year-old, ranked Sri Lanka’s number one junior golfer, carded a steady one-over-par 73 on Day 2, taking his total to 144 after two rounds. In tough conditions, Algama’s patient approach and clever course management helped him avoid big mistakes. more..

Jul 10 (Island) Sri Lanka’s estimated poverty (share of the population living on less than $3.65 a day) remains stubbornly high, affecting as much as a quarter of the population in 2024, and twice as high as in 2021. The reversal in poverty reduction gains during the crisis has taken SL back to its high poverty levels of the early 2000s, finds a new study by the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA). The report, launched on Tuesday in Colombo more..

Jul 10 (DN) “I did my best to help the team succeed in the deciding ODI, and I’m always glad to be part of a winning team,” said Kusal Mendis, who was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series in Pallekele. “I stick to my usual batting style; scoring runs is my responsibility,” he added. “SL’s batting coach, Thilina Kandamby, told me that my runs are important for our chances of winning. I knew my wicket was vital in the second ODI, especially after reaching a fifty off just 20 balls. more..

Jul 10 (CI) So far on tour [two Tests and three ODIs], Bangladesh have one win from five matches. This, they will feel, is not an apt reflection of how competitive they have been in Sri Lanka. They were running the back end of the first Test in Galle, were more competitive than SL's margins of victory suggested in the ODIs, and have had some promising players make significant contributions. The problem for Bangladesh is that T20I is the format they have been in the worst form. more..

Jul 10 (CI) Matt Renshaw has well and truly put his hat in the ring for an ODI call-up after producing yet another big knock for Australia A in their series-deciding one-day win over SL A. SL A recovered from 8 for 2 to reach 213 for 9 in Darwin, with Sahan Arachchige (47 off 65), Nuwanidu Fernando (40 off 69) and Sonal Dinusha (36 off 40) leading the way. Jack Nisbet, Bryce Jackson and Henry Thornton all chimed in with two wickets apiece in an even bowling display for the home side. more..

Jul 10 (DN) On the night of the Esala full moon, the divine realms unveil a silver veil over SL. The moon glows not merely with light, but with the sacred memory of history, sacrifice, and the stirring of hearts that have danced to the rhythm of Dhamma for 2569 years of the Buddha Era. Esala Poya, one of the most significant full moon days in the Buddhist calendar, is a spiritual symphony that echoes throughout the country. It is not a single story, but a constellation of divine moments woven more..

Jul 10 (Island) Having turned the corner in ODIs with seven series wins out of nine since the Champions Trophy heartbreak, Sri Lanka now shift focus to the shortest format where their progress has been more of a stop-start affair. Ranked seventh in T20 Internationals, SL begin their three-match series against Bangladesh at Pallekele today aiming to tighten screws ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, more..

Jul 10 (Island) Parliamentary proceedings in this country are characterised by references to political rejects or riff-raff or dregs. On Tuesday, the attention of the legislature was drawn to a different kind of waste—refuse tea, which has led to serious problems that successive governments have failed to solve, and evolved into a kind of shadow industry, thriving outside regulatory oversight, feeding illegal supply chains and ruining Sri Lanka’s reputation as a quality tea producer. more..

Jul 10 (DM) In a year marked by both progress and disparity, the global renewable energy sector witnessed a record-breaking addition of 585 gigawatts (GW) to its capacity in 2024, according to the Int'l Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) latest statistics report released in March 2025. This milestone brought total installed renewable energy capacity of the world to 4,448 GW, a 15.1% increase from the previous year. Solar power led the charge, contributing over 452 GW more..

Jul 10 (DM) The incumbent government has been scrutinised for its short-sighted efforts to revive an injured tusker who had been ailing inside a mud pit for several days. The tusker identified as Bhatiya had suffered a gunshot injury in its front leg and collapsed near the Polpithigama lake bund in early February. The injured tusker is around 30-35 years old and the Nikaweratiya Wildlife Officials were the first to inform authorities about this tusker. Treatment had ultimately begun in May, more..

Jul 10 (CT) The Court of Appeal has dismissed three appeals filed by Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) challenging three orders of the Right to Information Commission, further ordering legal costs to be paid by SLT and stating that no state institution has the right to conceal the manner in which public funds are spent on public officials in describing that as private information. The Court declared that SLT had unwisely disregarded the directives of the Right to Information Commission, more..

Jul 10 (TM) The last weekend of June brought a string of unfortunate news for the fishing community, with three fishing accidents being reported within two days. The incidents that saw six dead have highlighted the need for fishermen to follow safety and compliance standards when they go out to sea. On 28 and 29 June, three fishing vessels faced accidents on the southern coast. In Matara, on 28 June, a multi-day fishing boat more..

Jul 10 (ST) The NPP govt’s Fiscal Strategy Statement for 2026, together with the accompanying adjournment debate, was the order of business when Parliament convened for a special sitting on Monday. According to Section 11 of the Public Financial Management Act, No. 44 of 2024, the govt is required to announce a Fiscal Strategy Statement on or before June 30 of each year. It was Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha who announced the Fiscal Strategy Statement to Parliament on behalf of more..

Jul 10 (CT) The recent SC judgment mandating the implementation of anti-ragging guidelines in SL’s State universities should not merely be seen as a legal directive—it must serve as a clarion call to end one of the most destructive, dehumanising, and deeply entrenched practices in the country’s higher education system. Ragging, long romanticised as a rite of passage, has instead become a stain on SL’s academic institutions, routinely leaving in its wake physical injuries, emotional trauma, more..

Jul 10 (CT) Education is wings that can rise you up from where you are. That was the promise made by the NPP during the last general election — a promise filled with hope. But for 15-year-old Dilshi Amshika, a Grade 10 student at Ramanathan Hindu Ladies’ College, education became something else entirely: A descent into trauma, fear, humiliation — and ultimately, despair. On 29 April 2025, Dilshi died by suicide at her home in Kotahena. more..

Jul 10 (TM) A silent issue which is escalating to crisis levels is the plastic pollution situation and the risks it poses are a significant threat to both the health of Sri Lankans and to that of the planet. Among the plastic pollutants, single-use plastics (SUPs) have become a major driver of pollution on land and in oceans. SUPs are disposable plastic items made for one-time use – bags, packaging, straws, and bottles – that are quickly discarded after use. In 2021, they accounted for an estimated 139 m metric more..

Jul 10 (DM) SL’s fragile fiscal recovery could stall if pending U.S. tariffs erode tax revenue and unsettle investors. Trade uncertainty may delay tax hikes, stall subsidy reforms, and disrupt bond offerings—widening deficits and prompting higher risk premiums from lenders. SL, still rebuilding its credit after default, now faces this predicament as even relatively favourable tariff terms could trim up to 162 million dollars from annual revenue, or around 25 % of the near term ISB payments. more..