Aug 4 (NF) Colombo Central Crimes Investigation Bureau has launched a special investigation into controversial remarks made by SLPP General Secretary Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam regarding IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya, triggering a major political confrontation between the govt and the opposition. The controversy began following comments made by Kariyawasam during a media briefing more..

Aug 4 (DM) Court of Appeal has overturned a Colombo High Court order that discharged former Minister Johnston Fernando and two former senior officials of the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) from a corruption case, directing that the trial be resumed without further delay. Delivering its judgment, a 5-judge bench of the Court of Appeal held that the High Court had erred in upholding a preliminary objection raised by the defence and dismissing the indictment filed by CIABOC. more..

Aug 4 (DM) The Association of Accounting Technicians of SL (AAT SL), the pioneer in accounting education and professional skills development in the country, recently held its Passed Finalists’ Diploma Awarding Ceremony, at the BMICH, honouring the students who successfully completed the final level of the Jan 2026 AAT examinations. A total of 2,179 passed finalists, representing every district of the island, were invited to receive their Diploma in Accounting & more..

Aug 4 (TM) Forensic officials conducted inspections yesterday in connection with the recent unrest at the Mahara Prison, while a Magisterial inquiry into the incident was held on 2 August. Prisons Dept said 104 inmates were transferred to other prisons following the unrest that erupted at the facility on 1 Aug. Inmates were transferred to the Dumbara, Welikada, Boossa, Kalutara, Badulla, Batticaloa & Polonnaruwa Prisons. more..

Aug 4 (NW) India has donated 500 litres of Technical Malathion to Sri Lanka to bolster the country’s ongoing efforts to combat the dengue outbreak. The consignment was formally handed over today by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha to Minister Nalinda Jayatissa. According to the Indian High Commission, the gift, supplied by Indian company UPL Limited, reached Colombo within two weeks of SL’s request, underscoring India’s role as a first responder in times of crisis. more..

Aug 4 (NW) Cabinet approval has been granted for the construction of a new renewable energy training centre under Ceylon German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI) at an estimated cost of Rs. 398 million. The proposed centre will be established on a 3.11-hectare land parcel in the Mayurapura Division of the Walawa Zone, owned by Mahaweli Authority. The project follows a MoU signed on Feb 10, 2025, between CGTTI and SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) to address growing more..

Aug 4 (AD) The ongoing investigation into the former Commissioner General of Prisons has delayed the appointment of a permanent official to the vacant post, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Minister said a permanent Commissioner General of Prisons cannot be appointed until the investigation concerning the former official is concluded. He said an officer has been appointed in an acting capacity to oversee the responsibilities of position during this period. more..

Aug 4 (DN) The necessity to draft a comprehensive act incorporating all rights stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in addition to existing legal provisions has been identified to ensure the safety, care, and protection of children in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2024-02-19 to draft a bill titled the Composite Act on Child Rights. The Legal Draftsman subsequently commenced work on drafting the bill. more..

Aug 4 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Minister of Transport, to procure 50 more low‑floor comfortable buses for urban passenger transport services, as part of Govt’s programme to modernize the public transport system. The decision follows the recent import of 100 low‑floor buses by the contracted supplier under the agreement signed on 6 March 2026. The additional procurement, made as a 50% more..

Aug 4 (DM) Maldivian design and construction company One Realty expanded its regional footprint with the opening of One Realty Lanka (Pvt) Limited, officially inaugurating its first SL office in Kadawatha on 30 July, as part of its long-term growth strategy in South Asia. The office was officially inaugurated by CEO Yaaseen, together with Chief Operating Officer Nipuna Neranja and Chief Financial Officer Dipun Krishad, in the presence of clients, business partners, invited guests, and more..

Aug 4 (EN) Cabine has approved getting a US$ 200 million policy-based loan from the ADB to support the country’s trade, investment, and industrial development framework, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. The loan, sourced from the ADB’s Ordinary Capital Resources (OCR), falls under Subprogram 1 of the Trade, Investment & Industry Development Program. “Loan negotiations regarding Subprogram 1 of ADB’s Trade, Investment, and Industry Development Program have been more..

Aug 4 (DM) CoPF has approved the Rs. 71.7 billion relief package allocated through Supplementary Estimate No. 3 of 2026 to provide relief to those affected by the economic repercussions arising from the conflict in the Middle East. Committee also reviewed the allocations made under the relief package introduced by the Govt to ease the burden on people affected by the prevailing economic difficulties, as well as the manner more..

Aug 4 (NW) Govt has extended by 3 months the concessionary period granted to vehicle manufacturers to install seat belts in vehicles operating on expressways, following requests from industry stakeholders. Under the Motor Vehicles (Expressways) Order No. 2 of 2011, issued in line with the Motor Vehicles Act, seat belts are mandatory for all passengers in vehicles traveling on expressways. Initial grace period for manufacturers to retrofit seat belts in vehicles without them more..

Aug 4 (CI) Ayesha Zafar's 39 off 31 was enough to see Pakistan through to a consolation victory to end their tour, as the visitors chased down a target of 114 with four wickets in hand and 10 balls to spare. Sri Lanka take the series 2-1 after two strong batting displays in the first two games, but on a slower track this time round they faltered against a Pakistan spin barrage; it was also Pakistan's first win on tour since the first ODI. While Zafar was unable to last till the end, by the time she fell more..

Aug 4 (FT) India’s recent youth-led protest movement should not be viewed merely as a political episode confined to one country. It is a powerful reminder that when education systems fail to meet the aspirations of young people, the consequences extend far beyond classrooms and universities. Examination integrity, graduate employability, equal opportunity, institutional credibility and public accountability eventually become matters of national importance. more..

Aug 4 (FT) CIOB Construction Cost Report 2025 identified a period of relative stability within SL’s construction sector. Supported by lower prices for several key construction materials, exchange rate stability and moderate labour cost growth; Colombo maintained one of the most competitive construction cost positions in Asia at that time. Since the publication of the report, however, market conditions have changed drastically. Contractors, consultants and developers are now experiencing more..

Aug 4 (DN) Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter stated that extending the retirement age of judges is not an issue, provided it is done in a general manner without targetting any specific individual or sector. Mahanayake Thera added that it is important to extend this to other essential sectors as well, rather than limiting it solely to the judiciary. more..

Aug 4 (Island) Chief Prelate of the Malwathu Chapter yesterday told President of the Bar Association of SL (BASL) Rajeev Amarasuriya that the Chief Prelates of the four Nikayas had recently written to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake that the proposed constitutional amendment meant to extend the retirement age of judges should be abandoned. Amarasuriya told the media of the Mahanayakes’ position after meeting the Chief Prelate of Malwathu Chapter. more..

Aug 4 (NW) Govt plans to introduce SL’s first dedicated lane for motorcycles in Kaluwanchikudy as part of efforts to reduce road accidents involving two-wheelers, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said. Speaking at the launch of the 100 for 100 National Corporate Motorcycle Safety Programme, Minister said motorcycle-related accidents remain a major road safety concern and require targeted interventions. The proposed motorcycle lane, which will be physically separated from more..

Aug 4 (TM) Although the current spell of heavy rain is expected to ease by this afternoon, another period of rainfall is likely from around 6 August due to changes in wind patterns associated with a developing typhoon over the Pacific Ocean, Met Dept Director General Ajith Wijemannage said. “We expect this atmospheric disturbance to weaken by tomorrow afternoon. After that, rainfall is likely to decrease,” he said. more..

Aug 4 (FT) SL’s labour shortage is emerging as a constraint on export growth, with National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) warning that difficulties in recruiting, training, and retaining workers are affecting businesses across the sector and require urgent policy intervention. Chamber said recent debate over recruiting foreign workers for the construction industry had highlighted a wider structural issue, noting that labour shortages now extend across multiple sectors of economy, more..

Aug 4 (EN) Tourist arrivals into Sri Lanka fell 1.7% in July 2026. Total arrivals in July were 196,845 compared to 200,244 in the same time last year. India continued to be the top source with 44,547 visitors, making up 23% of total arrivals. UK (21,834) and the Netherlands (12,493) followed. There have been 1,146,573 visitors to the island in the first 6 months. Tourist arrivals fell 9.9%, year-on-year, in June 2026, with total arrivals during the first half of 2026 dropping to 1,146,573 more..

Aug 4 (NW) International Association of Judges (IAJ), the world’s largest global organization representing national judges’ associations, has expressed serious concerns over SL’s proposed constitutional amendment to extend the retirement age of SC and CA judges by two years. IAJ said its concerns were not about the concept of changing the retirement age itself, but rather the timing, manner of introduction, and the widely perceived purpose of proposed legislation. more..

Aug 4 (FT) Cabinet has approved the establishment of a 100% State-owned public limited company to oversee the management, operations, and development of the country’s multimodal transport hubs. Move is part of its efforts to create a more efficient, integrated, and user-friendly public transport system. New entity will be created in accordance with the provisions of the Public Financial Management Act, No. 44 of 2024 and will be a Treasury Ltd, (Public) Company more..

Aug 4 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to review underutilised State assets, prioritise essential public investment projects, and improve implementation of infrastructure programs as part of pre-Budget discussions on the Public Admin, PCs and LG Ministry. The discussion reviewed the progress of projects implemented under the Ministry’s 2026 Budget allocations and considered proposals more..

Aug 4 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to examine delays in court proceedings and other challenges facing the judicial system. Premadasa said the Govt’s proposed amendments relating to the retirement age of judges have created uncertainty and opposition, alleging that key stakeholders had not been adequately consulted. He said BASL should brief all MPs on the proposed changes more..

Aug 4 (DM) Fisheries Dept has warned all fishermen including multi-day fishing trawlers navigating the southern seas to remain extremely vigilant of the containers that fell into the sea two days ago. Director General of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Dept said only two containers out of the 17 empty containers that fell into the sea off the Coast of Colombo two days ago have been recovered so far. He said it has been observed that remaining 15 containers are highly likely to more..

Aug 4 (NW) Actress Rithu Akarsha has denied allegations linking her to a bank account referenced in the unexplained assets case against former Minister Mervyn Silva, describing reports circulating in mainstream and social media as false and misleading. The statement comes after media reports on an ongoing case filed by the CIABOC against Silva, alleging that he amassed more than Rs. 600 million in unexplained assets between March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2012. more..

Aug 4 (TM) Proposed new beneficiary selection methodology for the Aswesuma Welfare Programme will assess a range of socio-economic vulnerability indicators, including household employment and livelihood security, family composition, ageing, disability, chronic illnesses, access to housing and essential services, and household indebtedness. Parliamentary Committee on Ways and Means reviewed the progress of the ongoing process to revise existing beneficiary selection criteria more..

Aug 4 (ST) Irrigation Dept has urged the public to use water sparingly, warning that the prevailing high temperatures have caused significant water losses through evaporation from reservoirs and that water must be conserved until rainfall returns. Its director, L.S. Suriyabandara, who is in charge of hydrology and disaster management, said the water level in the department’s 73 major reservoirs has dropped to about 40%. more..

Aug 4 (FT) DFCC Bank said that it has completed its acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank SL’s wealth and retail banking business. Approximately 50,000 customers, together with colleagues from the business, have now joined DFCC Bank, it said. The transaction includes customer relationships across Priority Banking, credit cards, retail lending, deposits, wealth management, and small and medium enterprise (SME) portfolios, together with selected operating assets. more..

Aug 4 (Island) The Institute of Policy Studies of SL (IPS) celebrates the outstanding achievement of its latest batch of researchers in winning prestigious scholarships for postgraduate studies at toprated universities. Suresh Ranasinghe joined the IPS on graduating with a BA in Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Colombo and an LLB from the Open Uni of SL and secured a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in 2022/23 to follow an MSc in Development Economics more..