June 11 (TM) Committed to uplifting SL’s agricultural sector by enabling safer, higher-quality packaging, storage, and transport of agricultural produce, Ratna Polysack was founded decades ago as a visionary initiative by Mithrapala Lankeshwara, Chairman of the Ratna Group of Companies. Over the years, the company has grown into a creative and technologically capable local enterprise, rivalling global packaging technology. With innovation at its core, Ratna Polysack has continually more..

June 11 (DM) Court of Appeal today issued an interim order staying the Commissioner General of Election from naming the women members for the seats obtained by the SJB on the basis of proportional representation at the Galnewa Pradeshiya Sabha elections. Court of Appeal Justice Gihan Kulatunga made this order pursuant to a writ petition filed by two SJB candidates for the Local Govt elections. This interim order will be effective until June 16 and notices were issued on more..

June 11 (Island) UK govt has confirmed that an investigation remains ongoing into allegations that British mercenaries, including former SAS soldiers, may have been involved in the commission of war crimes against Tamils alongside the SL military. Responding to a parliamentary question from Labour MP Uma Kumaran, Foreign Office Minister Catherine West stated that while the Foreign, Commonwealth & Dev. Office more..

June 11 (EN) SL’s Securities and Exchange Commission said it was suspending for three years, three stock brokers over alleged violations of securities law, including front running the Employees Provided Fund. Roshantha Fernando, was suspended for three years after finding relating to trading in Browns Investments, Royal Ceramics and Richard Pieris through his the account of his wife whilst being privy to the impending transactions of the SL Insurance Corporation Ltd (SLIC). more..

June 11 (EN) SL’s conflict-affected communities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have reported increased disposable income, but land disputes remain a major challenge, according to a UN report. “A household monitoring survey conducted in Feb 2025 revealed that 80% of targeted individuals reported increased disposable income, resulting in moderate improvements in living standards,” UN SL SDG Fund Results Report 2024 stated. “Furthermore, 75% of resettled families more..

June 11 (NW) Cabinet has approved proposals for amendments to Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code to ban physical and psychological injuries caused by physical punishments in any sector. Approval of the Cabinet was granted at their meeting held in April 2024 to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979 to impose provisions to ban physical punishments in any sector causing physical more..

June 11 (DM) SL Customs today seized 1,612 cartons of cigarettes and 10 one litfe bottles of whisky concealed inside 26 packages declared as household furniture and personal goods at the Ceylon Shipping Lines UPB warehouse in Dematagoda. Customs spokesman Seevali Arukgoda said the consignment containing 26 packages had arrived from Dubai addressed to a consignee named M.R.M. Razan, a resident of Panadura. Upon examination the Customs more..

June 11 (AD) SLPP says the opposition should be given the opportunity to nominate a Mayor for the CMC. General Secretary of the SLPP Sagara Kariyawasam stated that the SJB has the most number of councilors in the CMC, and therefore it has a right to nominate a name for the post of Mayor. However, former MP Kariyawasam said the person nominated for the post should not be accused of being involved in fraud and corruption. He said a non-controversial person should more..

June 11 (NW) The construction of necessary structures, including lecture halls and pre-clinical buildings, at the Faculty of Medicine at Uva Wellassa University has received Cabinet approval, with the necessary funds to be allocated during the budget 2026-2028 timeframe. The govt says the Faculty of Medicine at Uva Wellassa Uni was established according to the budget proposal for 2023. A total of 80 students who had been enrolled are using and modernising the buildings within the uni more..

June 11 (EN) Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Australia to facilitate cooperation between the two countries’ police forces, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. The MoU on Transnational Crime and Police Cooperation between the Australian Federal Police and the Sri Lanka Police will facilitate “cooperation in the prevention, investigation, and enforcement of transnational organized crime” Jayatissa told reporters. more..

June 11 (FT) SL has welcomed 21,293 tourists in the first five days of June 2025, pushing the cumulative number of visitors to over the 1.05 million mark. Although the early June figures reflect a steady influx of inbound visitors, the country still needs to attract an additional 155,964 tourists to meet the monthly target of 177,257 arrivals for June. This means that over 88% of the June target remains to be achieved over next 25 days, more..

June 11 (AD) Addressing the 113th Session of Int'l Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Minister of Labour, Anil Jayantha, reaffirmed the country’s strong commitment to promoting decent work, strengthening labour rights, and advancing social justice. Representing the govt and the people of SL, Minister emphasized the govt’s priorities, including occupational safety and health, closing the gender pay gap, supporting the care economy, and protecting workers in informal & gig more..

June 11 (AD) Special buses have been deployed to transport passengers between the Peradeniya and Kandy railway stations. A sinkhole that appeared under the railway line near the Kandy Court Complex caused disruption to train services between Kandy and Peradeniya stations earlier today. When inquired by Ada Derana, the Railway Control Room said trains heading to Kandy have been affected while trains commencing journey from the Kandy station have also been impacted. more..

June 11 (AD) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has granted approval to increase electricity tariffs by 15% with effect from tomorrow. Chairman of the PUCSL Prof. K.P.L. Chandralal said the revision for the second half of 2025 will be in effect from midnight today. According to previous reports, CEB had proposed to increase electricity tariffs by 18.3% for the second half of 2025. The Chairman of the PUCSL noted more..

June 11 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has questioned why the govt is allowing electricity tariff hikes, despite previously promising to reduce electricity costs by one-third. MP pointed out that before the election, the Prez vowed to slash every household’s electricity cost by one-third and to rewrite the IMF clause that keeps pushing prices up. “Today, the PUCSL confirms a 15 % hike to satisfy that very same clause. This leadership claimed to be above politics; therefore asked to be trusted. more..

June 11 (AD) Suspended Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya, who was arrested by the CID and subsequently remanded, has been further remanded until June 25. The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali, after the accused was presented before the court today. Considering submissions presented by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris and the defense counsel, Colombo Chief Magistrate rejected the bail application filed on behalf of more..

June 11 (FT) Long-delayed convictions of past politicians and public servants for misappropriating tax Rupees have begun. Some have already received lengthy jail sentences. Others are in custody awaiting indictments and trials. The media say that the Govt will soon release a list of conmen to be indicted. When the total national tax revenue was only Rs. 2 billion in 2024, misappropriating even 1% of it is not only criminal but defies a core principle of every religion in the nation. more..

June 11 (FT) Govt has published Amendments to the Electricity Act No. 30 of 2024, which they plan to approve in the month of June. These amendments reverse some of the main provisions of the original Act to the detriment of the country. The electricity sector in SL has been run as a State-owned, vertically integrated monopoly with poor efficiency, management practices and technology – that belie investment in it by both Govt and funding agencies. The cost of electricity has been significantly more..

June 11 (DM) Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Dileepa Peeris today told the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that further investigations have revealed additional instances of inmates being illegally released under the guise of Presidential pardons. According to ASG Peeris, 57 prisoners were wrongfully released during the 2024 Christmas and 11 more during the 2025 Independence Day, despite not meeting the required conditions. more..

June 11 (CT) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) confirmed that the long-anticipated electricity tariff revision for the second half of 2025 will be announced before the end of this week. PUCSL Director of Communications, Jayanath Herath, stated that the process is now in its final phase following the conclusion of the public consultation period on the tariff revision proposal submitted by the CEB. “A public consultation process is underway regarding more..

June 11 (DM) Following malpractices involved in the release of prisoners, the Justice Ministry will introduce fool-proof, tight conditions for remission of jail terms of those behind bars in view of national events such as Independence Day, Vesak and Christmas, a Minister said. Article 34 (1) of the Constitution provides for the Prez to grant a pardon to a prisoner - either free or subject to lawful conditions or a respite of execution of sentence. Prez can also substitute a less severe form more..

June 11 (FT) President Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday emphasised that the transformation which took place in Sri Lankan society with the introduction of Buddhism laid the foundation for a disciplined and culturally sophisticated nation. The President expressed these views while participating in the National Poson Festival held at the sacred Mihintale temple grounds, organised under the theme more..

June 11 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake left the country earlier tonight (10) from BIA on an official visit to Germany. The visit, scheduled from June 11 to 13, is being carried out at the invitation of German Prez Mr, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. During the visit, Prez Disanayake is expected to hold bilateral discussions with the Prez of Germany, the Chancellor, key Federal Ministers and other senior govt leaders. These discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation between more..

June 11 (AD) Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to appear before the CID today (11). Former President Wickremesinghe will appear before the CID to provide a statement in relation to a complaint made by former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella over the alleged importation of substandard human immunoglobulin vaccines. Keheliya Rambukwella had previously lodged a complaint with the CID regarding the importation of medicines into the country. more..

June 11 (AM) Supreme Court yesterday (9) issued a stay order preventing any further submissions before the Court of Appeal on behalf of Kamil Katubdeen, eighth accused and alleged mastermind in the country’s largest VAT fraud case, which involved Rs. 3.9 billion in tax evasion at the Inland Revenue Dept in 2004. The order was issued by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Janak de Silva, Mahinda Samayawardhena, and Arjuna Obeysekera after considering submissions made by ASG more..

June 11 (NW) JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva has met with Liu Jie, Governor of China’s Zhejiang Province, during an official visit to China on the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The meeting was held yesterday (9) at the main public reception hall of Zhejiang Province. Silva is currently in China leading a delegation representing the JVP, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between the JVP and the CPC. Discussions focused on the longstanding friendship between SL more..

June 11 (FT) A significant number of Sri Lankan nationals residing illegally in the US are currently on the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency’s non-detained docket with impending orders of removal. As of 7 June, an estimated 3,065 Sri Lankan nationals have fallen into this category, indicating a potential deportation. This comes in the wake of 286 Sri Lankans repatriated to Sri Lanka by US authorities between 2021 and 2024. more..

June 11 (DM) Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) moved to reassure the shipping industry an end to operational shutdowns at the East Container Terminal (ECT) previously required for construction. The assurance follows the successful completion of the critical installation and commissioning phase for 12 new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and 40 Automated Rail-Mounted Gantry (ARMG) cranes. While the terminal continues its overall development, this milestone means there will be no further more..

June 11 (TM) The administration of the National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala has decided to request additional security personnel following the recent theft of a rare Blue-and-Yellow Macaw. The theft took place on the night of 4 June, when one of the Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, valued at over Rs. 500,000, was stolen from its cage. Closed circuit television camera footage from a nearby shop captured a person suspected of carrying out the theft. National Zoological Gardens Director more..

June 11 (EN) Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, will visit Sri Lanka from June 15 to 16, the central bank said as the country recovers from its first external default. Gopinath will be the guest of honour at a conference on SL’s Road to Recovery: Debt and Governance, to be co-hosted by the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank of SL and IMF to be held on June 16. “At the mid-point of the IMF-supported reform programme, the conference aims to reflect more..

June 11 (SM) The West Indies Academy suffered a 75-run loss to Sri Lanka Emerging Players on day three of their first Four Day encounter at Coolidge on Monday. Sri Lankans entered Monday’s play 141-5 in 37 overs in their second innings, leading the hosts by 219 runs and ended up being bowled out for 219 in 58.2 overs, meaning the Academy had a target of 297 to win. Left-arm pacer Nathan Edward was the star of the show with the ball for the West Indians with 6-23 from his 14.2 overs more..