Jul 12 (FT) UK Govt on Thursday unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries like SL. Upgrades to Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) make it easier for businesses to trade with the UK and help lower prices on the UK high street. The changes, announced as part of UK’s wider Trade for Development offer, aim to support economic growth in partner countries including SL while more..

Jul 12 (DN) British High Commissioner to SL Andrew Patrick said that the UK’s new trade measures will create win-win situation for both countries. The High Commissioner said that they are encouraging more exporters to explore how they can benefit from the preferences offered by the Developing Countries Trading Schemes (DCTS). “This is a win for the SL garment sector and for UK consumers. With the UK being the second largest export market and garments making up over 60% of that trade, more..

Jul 12 (DM) With Sri Lanka’s new 18% VAT on foreign digital services now a settled policy taking effect this October, focus has sharply shifted to its potential economic fallout. A stark warning from Lanka Rating Head and former LankaPay Chairman Dr. Kenneth de Zilwa is now resonating through the tech community, highlighting the severe downside risks that he argues could stifle innovation, burden businesses and potentially lead to digital isolation for the island nation. more..

Jul 12 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that this year’s budget has allocated the highest capital expenditure by a government in recent history for development activities, amounting to nearly Rs. 1,400 billion. Prez stated that it is the responsibility of both the political leadership and state officials to ensure that these funds are utilized effectively to meet the economic growth targets before the end of this year. more..

Jul 12 (CT) CIABOC informed Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela on Friday that former Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who is named as a suspect in a corruption case, has disconnected his phone and left his residence. Senaratne is accused of illegally leasing a sand mining project at the Kirinda Fisheries Harbour to a Korean company, causing a loss of Rs 26.3 million to the State. Multiple notices were issued requesting the former Minister to appear and provide a statement, more..

Jul 12 (ST) Motorists continue to face difficulties due to delays in the issuance of vehicle licence plates, with the procurement process still underway. Commissioner General of the Department of the Motor Traffic Kamal Amarasinghe, told the Sunday Times: “Around 15 suppliers have submitted their bids. The Cabinet-appointed negotiation committee held discussions with the companies last week, and samples from the shortlisted suppliers have now been sent for technical evaluation.” more..

Jul 12 (NW) A young man who climbed to the top of a street lamp post in the Fort area on Friday was safely brought down following a rescue operation by the Fire Brigade and Police. The dramatic incident drew the attention of onlookers and prompted a swift response from emergency services. Firefighters worked for nearly an hour to ensure the man’s safe descent. While the exact reason for his actions remains unclear, police believe it may have been a form of protest. more..

Jul 12 (AM) A significant number of domestic disputes reported in Mahiyanganaya are linked to women spending excessively on whitening beauty treatments using money earned by their husbands, according to investigations, said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) G.W.B.S. Palipana of Badulla District Division 03 (Mahiyanganaya). He made these remarks while addressing a programme held on 8 July at the Badulla Teaching Hospital to mark World Skin Health Day. more..

Jul 12 (DM) In view of the withdrawal of the Special Leave to Appeal application filed by Mohammed Kamil Kuthubdeen, 8th accused in South Asia’s largest VAT fraud case, Supreme Court today affirmed the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the convictions and sentence imposed against him over the VAT fraud case. Meanwhile, the SC further ordered not to proceed with the per incuriam application more..

Jul 12 (DM) Committee on High Posts, chaired by PM Harini Amarasuriya, has approved the appointments of four new ministry secretaries. The approved appointments include Prof. Udayanga Hemapala as Secretary to the Ministry of Energy and K.M.G.S.N. Kaluwewa as Secretary to Ministry of Education, Higher Education & Vocational Education. S.M. Piyatissa was appointed Secretary to Ministry of Labour, while K.D.R. Olga was approved as Secretary to Ministry of Women more..

Jul 12 (CT) An audit report revealed that reagents worth over Rs 13 million, purchased locally by National Hospital of SL (NHSL), Colombo, had expired as of 25 April 2025. Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of the MCPA, said that in addition, the report showed certain types of reagents valued at nearly Rs 15 million, which were delivered to the hospital towards the end of last year and earlier this year, had either already expired or were received with only a short shelf life remaining. more..

Jul 12 (DN) A discussion was held between Minister Sunil Handunnetti and the Ambassador of Nepal to SL, Dr. Purna Bahadur on wednesday (9). The Minister and the Ambassador, who exchanged views on the current political, economic and social issues in SL and Nepal, emphasized the importance of establishing a Sri Lanka-Nepal Business Forum between the two countries, especially with the aim of further expanding the existing trade relations between Sri Lanka and Nepal. more..

Jul 12 (FT) Colombo stock market reopened after a day off and sustained its all-time high level yesterday amidst healthy turnover fuelled by bullish investor sentiment ending the week on the up. ASPI surged past the 18,500 mark for the first time, setting a fresh record and reinforcing confidence in the market in the wake of increased certainty regarding US reciprocal tariffs and the UK’s upgraded trade reforms. ASPI gained 380 points or 2.09%, pushing it above the 18,500 milestone more..

Jul 12 (CT) An explosive internal memo—issued without consultation by Acting Director General (DG) of Geological Survey & Mines Bureau (GSMB), appointed by the current Govt—has thrown SL’s mineral export sector into turmoil, prompting outrage over what officials describe as a blatant plundering of GSMB’s regulatory authority. Serious concerns have also emerged over a potential conflict of interest surrounding the memo, more..

Jul 12 (CT) Urban Inventors, a SL startup, has been named one of the ten global winners of the 2025 WIPO Global Awards for its pioneering stormwater management solution, Smart Drain. The awards, presented by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) — UN agency responsible for intellectual property, innovation, and creativity — recognise startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have successfully used intellectual property to create significant more..

Jul 12 (FT) Markspen Group celebrated its 14th anniversary, reflecting on a journey of innovation and growth that began in 2011. A key highlight of its recent success is the remarkable performance of the DOMA Single Elevator Automatic Rice Mill Machines, introduced by Markspen Holdings in late 2023. Within a short period, over 1,800 units have been sold and installed across the country. Speaking at the anniversary event, Markspen Group Head of Sales and Operations Amalka more..

Jul 12 (ST) At the northern tip of the Jaffna Peninsula, just west of Point Pedro, lies Myliddy, a once-thriving fishing village long cut off by war. Since its release from a high-security zone in 2017, locals have been working to rebuild their lives. The reopening of the harbour a year later was meant to mark a new beginning. But today, Myliddy’s fishermen say their livelihoods are under threat from two fronts: on land, more..

Jul 12 (DN) Seventeen-year-old Reshan Algama, SL’s number one junior golfer in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), showed his class once again by winning the July edition of the National Ranking Golf Tournament in style yesterday. The event was held at the beautiful but challenging Victoria Golf Resort in Digana, Kandy. The talented teenager from Colombo International School played with remarkable calmness and control throughout the four-day competition. more..

Jul 12 (FT) Newly appointed Excise Department Commissioner General M.B.N.A. Premarathne officially assumed duties yesterday, pledging to align the Department’s work with the Govt’s broader national priorities of poverty alleviation, digitalisation and Clean Sri Lanka initiative. Speaking at the assumption of duties, he stressed that the Excise Dept plays a critical role as a key revenue generating agency for the State. “Our main responsibility is to ensure that the Dept more..

Jul 12 (DN) “We dominated all departments to defeat Bangladesh and take the first T20 and we want carry that momentum forward,” said SL skipper Charith Asalanka after the win at Pallekele. However, Asalanka pointed out an area for improvement: “I still want us to sharpen our fielding.” Explaining his decision to bowl first, he said, “In the recent LPL, teams chasing had more success because of the quick outfield and usually one shorter boundary. That’s why we opted to bowl first in this game more..

Jul 12 (ST) since Donald Trump’s election as the 47th President of the US, he has consistently made headlines with his bold and unpredictable actions. His most recent initiative is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, commonly referred to as the BBB. On Monday evening, we participated in a panel discussion on the topic: “Impact of US Tariffs and the Middle East Conflict on Sri Lanka’s Exports” organised by the Chartered Institute of Personal Management (CIPM). As we were discussing about more..

Jul 12 (FT) The Seafood Exporters’ Association of SL expressed serious concern that the recent reduction of US tariffs from 44% to 30% on Sri Lankan exports has been mischaracterised as a significant breakthrough. While the reduction has prevented the complete loss of US market access, the Association emphasised that SL seafood exporters remain at a severe disadvantage compared to regional competitors. more..

Jul 12 (FT) I was arrested by a social media post recently, which had the author of it claiming to have supported the Aragalaya up to a point but not more. The author in question is a former journalist, social media hacktivist and would-be (or is it wannabe?) influencer. But the nous of her claim does not rest at that finite ‘thus far, no farther’ point. She warbles on to aver that the juncture at which she withdrew her valuable support was when the objective of the unprecedented people’s protest was more..

Jul 12 (FT) In Sri Lanka, demise of a person has lost news value, as every hour a Sri Lankan is facing death caused by this or another reason. But, the departure of Bradman Weerakoon marks a loss of many lives, many characters, and many facets. Bradman leaves a vacuum that cannot be filled. His legacy, lasting impact, and the void have no substitutes. His loss is not mourned only by his family, relatives, or friends. The entire country does it. The entire population was his family. more..

Jul 12 (Island) Minister Bimal Rathnayake, speaking in Parliament yesterday, asked the Opposition to stop making unsubstantiated allegations, and lodge a formal complaint with the police against him for the alleged release of 323 red-flagged containers without Customs inspection from the Colombo Port in Jan 2025. “Imprison me if I have done anything wrong,” he told the Opposition, claiming that he had no authority to decide on matters such as releasing containers. more..

Jul 12 (DM) So long as the National People’s Power (NPP) was not in power, its leaders claimed moral high ground over other major political parties, especially those that have ruled the country before or those that had clung to them during their administrations. However, now that the NPP is in the saddle, its moral superiority is apparently dwindling gradually despite still holding a commanding position over others. This is nothing but the contradiction between theory and practice. more..

Jul 12 (SO) Following a contentious election season, GMOA re-elected Dr. Sanjeewa Thennakoon as the Association’s President amid renewed public scrutiny and institutional pressure. With the healthcare sector still reeling from the effects of an economic downturn and widespread workforce migration, this transition comes at a critical juncture. In this exclusive interview Dr. Thennakoon discussed the internal dynamics more..

Jul 12 (CT) This 12 July marks 35 years since one of the most harrowing and overlooked atrocities in SL’s history: abduction and killing of 72 innocent people – including Hajj pilgrimage returnees – as they travelled to Kattankudy from Colombo and various other places via Kalmunai. Their bodies were buried in a mass grave in Kurukkalmadam. Despite the continued unearthing of mass graves in the north – and the return of some remains to grieving families – victims of Kurukkalmadam remain forgotten. more..

Jul 12 (CT) Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, long regarded as the backbone of its export economy, now finds itself facing one of its most formidable external shocks in recent years. The US Govt’s decision to impose a 30% reciprocal tariff on Sri Lanka exports from 1 August 2025, has understandably triggered alarm across industry and govt circles. While the reduction from the previous 44% is a welcome outcome of sustained diplomacy, the revised rate is still a heavy blow, more..

Jul 12 (CT) In a move drawing increasing scrutiny, the Presidential Secretariat has declined to disclose the names of officials attached to the President’s Media Division, citing privacy concerns under Sri Lanka’s Right to Information (RTI) Act. This refusal comes against a backdrop of allegations that the government is attempting to install an individual with a dubious track record of corruption as Chairperson of the currently leaderless RTI Commission. more..

Jul 12 (DM) Today the most dominant topic of conversation media-wise, whether it be the BBC, CNN, rt.com, Daily Mirror or Ceylon Daily News, is US Prez Trump’s imposition of tariffs on goods entering the US. Trump believes the best way to protect American jobs and products over imported goods is to impose tariffs. He refers to this as leveling the playing field. In fact Trump’s threat to impose huge taxes on international competitors, be they allies, ideological foes or developing more..

Jul 12 (DM) The Mahavamsa indicates that a fairly small community of persons, predominantly Roman Catholics of Indian Origin have migrated to SL from various parts of India in the course of its recorded history. As per this chronicle the first ruler of Lanka was King Vijaya who founded the Sinhala Race. With the passage of time Lanka was ruled by a succession of Kings. There were monarchies in several parts of India who attempted to invade Lanka. Lankan King waged battles and more..