Jul 15 (ST) The govt is yet to take a stance in respect of 50,000 metric tonnes of salt imported last year that cannot be released due to regulation limitations and standards issues costing huge sums as the goods will be subject to demurrage costs. Customs Dept Spokesman Chandana Punchihewa said that they are currently awaiting a government decision to dispose of these products. He noted that already there had been a number of discussions with the authorities and Customs had been part of more..

Jul 15 (FT) Outgoing Swedish Ambassador to SL Jan Thesleff said SL is steadily rebuilding the confidence of international investors, citing improved policy stability, a highly skilled workforce and the country’s resilience as key drivers of stronger trade and investment ties with Sweden. Thesleff said Swedish businesses continue to view SL as an attractive investment destination despite recent global and domestic challenges, noting that growing policy predictability has strengthened more..

Jul 15 (NW) The CID revealed before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court that 40 CID officers have been deployed in three teams to investigate the deadly unrest at the Negombo Prison, which left three inmates dead and dozens injured. Presenting progress of the investigation before Magistrate Shalani Perera, CID said statements have so far been recorded from 136 prison officers, 141 inmates and nine STF personnel. more..

Jul 15 (NW) PM’s Office has issued a corrected media release regarding PM Harini Amarasuriya’s visit to Qatar. According to the revised statement, PM left for Qatar on Monday (14) to convey the condolences of the Govt and people of SL on the passing of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Amir of the State of Qatar. PM is scheduled to meet members of the late Father Amir’s family and senior representatives of the State of Qatar to personally convey more..

Jul 15 (CT) Registered Customs House Agents (CHAs) who failed to submit their asset and liability declarations within the extended grace period will now be required to pay financial penalties, while those who remain non-compliant beyond the final deadline of 31 Aug 2026 will face legal action, authorities said. CIABOC and SL Customs confirmed that the penalty-free extension, which ended on 7 July, has expired. However, the electronic filing system remains open for late submissions more..

Jul 15 (Island) A massive underwater cleanup operation to mark World Ocean Day has removed nearly 2.4 tonnes of marine debris from the seabed of Trincomalee’s Dutch Bay, highlighting both the growing threat of marine pollution and the power of collective action in safeguarding Sri Lanka’s rich coastal ecosystems. National Underwater Cleanup Initiative, organised by Clean Ocean Force in partnership with the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), NDB Bank, and more..

Jul 15 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce hosted a Business-to-Business (B2B) and networking session for a 31-member business delegation from the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), India’s apex export promotion organisation, during its visit to Sri Lanka from 8 to 10 July 2026. The delegation comprised small and medium enterprises from sectors including pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, apparel and textiles, food and agricultural products, and infrastructure. more..

Jul 15 (EN) Sri Lanka is rolling out an infrastructure expansion, institutional recruitment drive, and rehabilitation strategy to combat severe prison overcrowding fueled by ongoing nationwide anti-drug operations, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “While anti-drug raids are actively being carried out outside, which naturally leads to arrests and subsequent detentions, parallel efforts are underway to reduce prison congestion,” Jayatissa said. more..

Jul 15 (DN) SL will make history by competing in a FIFA World Cup for the first time after securing a place in the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup 2026 in Azerbaijan, while the country has also launched a new digital Football Passport system to register every player nationwide. The inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup will be held from Oct 22 to 31 in Azerbaijan. SL Football Federation President Jaswar Umar said the tournament marks a major milestone for the country’s football development more..

Jul 15 (DN) India Under 19s made a bold reply to SL under 19s first innings total of 424 for 9 wickets declared as openers Lakshya Raichandani and Sagar Virk paved a solid platform with a 186 runs unbroken stand at close of the rain hit second day’s play in the first four-day game played at Galle yesterday. Lakshya the deputy skipper hit 93 in 136 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes well supported by left hander Sagar Virk who remained on 87 in 215 balls with 12 fours came up with more..

Jul 15 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has signalled that industrial transformation, export competitiveness, public sector efficiency, and a more targeted role for the Govt in economic development will be key themes as the Govt prepares the 2027 Budget, which is scheduled to be unveiled on 12 November. Prez’s Office said discussions on proposals for the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry’s more..

Jul 15 (FT) Two listed banks are set to tap the domestic debt capital market this week with Basel III-compliant capital instruments worth up to Rs. 30 billion in aggregate, following the Colombo Stock Exchange’s (CSE) approval in principle for the listings. Commercial Bank of Ceylon will open subscriptions on 16 July for a Basel III-compliant, listed, rated, unsecured, subordinated redeemable debenture issue with a non-viability conversion feature. Sampath Bank will follow on 17 July more..

Jul 15 (FT) Toyota Lanka’s growing footprint across Sri Lanka reached another milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for Toyota’s flagship showroom in Bambalapitiya, last week. Toyota SL Chairman Masaaki Kawabata, CEO Manohara Athukorala, and Chairman of Design Consortium Ltd., Migara Alwis attend the event as special invitees. Chairman and Managing Director Manohara Athukorala said that the new showroom represents more than just a facility; more..

Jul 15 (CI) Shaheen Shah Afridi is set to make his maiden appearance in the Lanka Premier League, which begins this week. The PCB confirmed that the fast bowler has been granted an NOC to participate in the tournament. He will play for Kandy Royals. Afridi - earlier this month - was omitted from Pakistan's squads for the Tests against West Indies and England after an indifferent run in the format. The 26-year-old has of late been perceived as more inclined towards white-ball cricket, more..

Jul 15 (Island) Further strengthening its position as SL’s leading alternate financial services provider, LOLC Al-Falaah has introduced Al-Falaah Tawarruq for Personal Finance, the country’s first structured Tawarruq-based Islamic liquidity solution. The launch marks a significant milestone in the evolution of SL’s Islamic finance landscape, offering customers a practical and ethically grounded avenue to access liquidity. Developed in response to the growing demand for alternate financial solutions, more..

Jul 15 (NF) SL’s parliamentary opposition is facing renewed questions over its unity after 21 Opposition MPs, representing nearly a third of the Opposition benches in Parliament, came together to operate under a separate political platform, in a development that has sparked debate over the strength and cohesion of the SJB-led Opposition. The move is particularly significant as a majority of the 21 MPs entered Parliament more..

Jul 15 (ST) If I return to last Sunday’s clash of wills between the political leader and an established newspaper, it is not because I have taken a cue from President Trump’s wavering decision-making as he decides to fire broadsides at enemies and allies alike at will. It is simply because of the story of SL’s clash of verbal arms between Prez Dissanayake’s outright condemnation of the country’s media, calling it a garbage pile on the verge of rigour mortis unless it collectively acts more..

Jul 15 (CT) First and foremost, let me be absolutely clear that this write-up is in no way an attempt to belittle or downplay the U.S.’s 250th Anniversary of Independence, nor does it aim to make a comparative assessment of the historical legacies of the U.S. and SL. Keeping in mind the distinct historical, geopolitical, and socio-cultural contexts of both nations, my aim is purely to share insights on Sri Lanka’s 2,500-year history in contrast to America’s 250 years of independence. more..

Jul 15 (TM) The ink was barely dry on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding before the illusion of peace shattered in the Persian Gulf. With the sudden collapse of the June truce and the resumption of hostilities between the United States and Iran, the global energy architecture has been thrown back into chaos. For the international community, it signifies a return to geopolitical brinkmanship and volatile oil markets. For Sri Lanka, a nation painstakingly navigating more..

Jul 15 (Island) Ranjan owns a small export company in Colombo. On paper, business has never been better. His shipments of cinnamon and coconut-based products to a trading partner in Dubai have tripled in declared value over eighteen months. His bank statements show steady, healthy growth. His tax filings are immaculate. His accountant calls him a model client. There is only one problem. Ranjan’s actual cinnamon exports have not tripled. They have barely changed at all. more..

Jul 15 (TM) As cocaine seizures rise and trafficking routes shift through the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka faces a growing public health concern: not only the drug itself, but the toxic substances mixed into it before it reaches users. For many Sri Lankans, cocaine has long been seen as a distant problem: a drug associated with foreign cartels, wealthy users, luxury nightlife and occasional headline-making seizures. Unlike heroin, cannabis or more..

Jul 15 (GV) For much of the post-war period, external engagement in SL’s Northern and Eastern provinces followed a predictable geography of influence. India was visibly embedded in the region’s political and social fabric while China operated primarily through Colombo, focused on state to state diplomacy and large scale infrastructure development. That balance is now shifting in tone rather than structure as new layers of engagement begin to emerge alongside older patterns. more..

Jul 15 (Island) The JVP-NPP govt’s efforts to increase the retirement ages of the judges of the Supreme Court (SC) and the Court of Appeal (CA) has triggered an avalanche of criticism. The Judicial Service Association of SL (JSASL), which represents all District Court judges and Magistrates in the country, has also opposed the govt move. It has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, informing him of its decision. However, the govt remains unresponsive. more..

Jul 15 (SO) When Jailer S.H.G. Chandrawansa left for Negombo Prison on the morning of July 6, he had no idea it would be his final journey. Colleagues remember him as a quiet, committed prison officer who had already endured more hardship than most others. He was battling cancer while continuing to serve in one of the country’s most demanding professions. His family home had been destroyed by recent disaster more..

Jul 15 (DM) Food supply chains were strained or broken, domestically as well as internationally back in 2020 (not yet in 2026, but there are five months left). It is natural and necessary in such circumstances (and now, as we look realistically at food supply chains as different countries respond to the Trump-Netanyahu mess in West Asia) to think about food security. But it is important to think intelligently and in ways informed by evidence. All rankings and indexes have flaws, more..

Jul 15 (DM) The deadly violence that erupted at Negombo Prison on July 5-6, 2026 stands as one of the darkest episodes in Sri Lanka’s recent correctional history. Approximately 28 people lost their lives, including seven to eight prison officers, with more than 100 others injured. This was the highest death toll in a single prisoner-related incident in decades. What began as clashes linked to internal drug smuggling factions quickly escalated into uncontrolled rioting, more..

Jul 14 (DM) Karandeniya Police have launched an investigation into the death of a 35-year-old man from the Thalgawatta area of Karandeniya, who died during a Facebook livestream. The deceased, identified as Dinesh Wijewardena, had reportedly recently returned to SL after working in South Korea, where he had been employed for several years. According to police, the incident occurred on the night of July 12. During the livestream, he was initially seen interacting with friends before more..

Jul 14 (DN) The initial phase of a major development project to transform the Hikkaduwa Railway Station into an international-standard Transport hub under the Clean Sri Lanka Dream Destination programme has commenced. The initiative aims to modernise the railway station with world-class facilities, making it more attractive and convenient for both local commuters and foreign tourists visiting the popular coastal destination. As part of the project, John Keells Holdings has pledged its full support more..

Jul 14 (DM) Sri Lanka has lost more than Rs. 25 billion in potential tax revenue since 2025 due to cigarette taxes remaining below the benchmark recommended by the WHO, according to Verité Research. The policy think tank revealed that the Govt lost over Rs. 8 billion in potential revenue during the first six months of 2026 alone. The findings were released alongside the launch of the Cigarette Tax Leakage Tracker, a real-time online dashboard more..

Jul 14 (EN) SL has launched an international tender for a large‑scale battery energy storage project, its Board of Investment has said, aimed at strengthening the country’s power grid. National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd, under the Ministry of Energy, has launched an international competitive bidding process for the establishment of a 250 MW/1000 MWh Standalone Battery Energy Storage system structured as 10 MW/40 MWh AC capacity projects across 25 grid substations more..

Jul 14 (Island) Sri Lanka has recorded 68,672 dengue cases and 47 deaths so far this year, according to NDCU. Data released by NDCU as of 6 a.m. yesterday shows that the Western Province is the worst affected, accounting for 36,118 cases, or 52.6 per cent of the national total. Gampaha District has reported the highest number of infections with 14,112 cases, followed by Colombo with 13,471. Southern Province has recorded 10,765 cases, while Sabaragamuwa and more..