Colombo Port container volumes surge in July

The Port of Colombo reported a significant surge in container handling in July 2025, marking a strong rebound with a double-digit growth, driven by a robust recovery in transshipment volumes.

Tea prices rise in August but trail 2024 levels

Sri Lanka’s national tea sales average rose in August from the previous month, helped by stronger prices across all elevations, though the values remained slightly lower compared with a year earlier, the state-run Tea Board said yesterday.

Gold necklace snatched, swallowed to avoid arrest

An individual who robbed a woman of her necklace and swallowed it to avoid arrest was produced before Nawalapitiya Magistrate Lasanji Ratnayaka and remanded. The magistrate ordered the Prison officials to administer him purgatives and recover the necklace.

Sri Lanka notes positively at Xi Jinping’s proposals at (SCO) Plus meeting: Vijitha

Sri Lanka notes positively at the Global Development, Security and Civilisation Initiatives, as well as the Global Governance Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Plus meeting in Tianjin, Foriegn Minister Vijitha Herath said.

Public sector employees to get balance salary increment in January: President

The government expects to provide the balance salary increment for the public sector employees in January 2026, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

ASPI ends above 21,000 with turnover of Rs. 13.2Bn

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) ended on a mixed note today, while marking a historic milestone as the All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed above the 21,000-point level for the first time. The ASPI gained 65.09 points (+0.31%) to close at 21,062.45, supported by firm investor sentiment, whereas the S&P SL20 slipped 5.43 points (-0.09%) to 6,071.36.

Sri Lanka fined for slow over-rate in second ODI against Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka have been fined five per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday.

Three injured in lorry-train collision

Three persons were injured after a lorry collided with the express train bound to Kankesanthurai from Colombo at the Kurumankadu railway crossing on the Vavuniya-Mannar railway line this afternoon.

Road Development Authority clerk remanded for bribery

A clerk attached to the North Western Provincial Road Development Authority was ordered to be remanded till September 12 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

Rs. 293 mn X-Press Pearl compensation yet to be disbursed

A Parliamentary committee has revealed that some Rs. 293 million X-Press Pearl compensation which was received for the fisheries sector has not been distributed yet.

Man injured in shooting at Hikkaduwa

A man was injured in a shooting carried out by two gunmen on a motorcycle in Malawenna, Thelwatte this afternoon, Police said.

Borella Road closed for repairs tonight

The road from Devi Balika Vidyalaya roundabout to D.S. Senanayake junction in Borella will be closed from 7 p.m. today due to repairs to a sinking section, police said.

No Laugfs gas price revision in September

The LAUGFS Gas PLC announced that there will be no revision in the price of domestic gas cylinder refills for September 2025.

“I am free now,” says Harak Kata

Notorious underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickremeratne, alias Harak Kata, told reporters outside court that he is “a free boy now.”

President assures to release every plot of land in North acquired by security forces

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that every plot of land in the North, which was acquired for the security forces during the war, will be released back to the people.

Supreme Court allows FR petition against Ranil, others

The Supreme Court today granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and several others.

Committee to ensure safety of food and beverages in Parliament

A Committee has been appointed by the House Committee, presided over by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne for the purpose of presenting proposals with regard to enhancing the safety of food and beverages in Parliament.

Gammanpila petitions court from Thailand over possible CID arrest

Former Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila, who is currently in Thailand, has filed a writ petition through his lawyer seeking an order preventing his arrest by the CID in connection with a statement he made to a Sinhala newspaper regarding the arrest of former Navy Commander Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne.

IGP orders CID to take action over fake image

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to launch an investigation and initiate legal action against those responsible for circulating a doctored image of Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala.

Boy dies after falling into unprotected well

A six-year-old boy died after falling into an unprotected well in the Pathiranegama area of Polpithigama.

Record prize money revealed for Women’s Cricket World Cup

With less than a month until the start of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, the International Cricket Council have announced a staggering increase in the prize money for the tournament set to be staged in India and Sri Lanka.

PM Modi hitches ride with Putin after SCO

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday travelled in the same car to the destination of their bilateral meeting after the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue in Tianjin, China-- a visual statement amid US President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught against New Delhi’s oil trade with Moscow.

Grama Niladhari remanded for soliciting bribe

A Grama Niladhari officer attached to the Siyambalanduwa area was ordered to be remanded till September 12 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama.

Earthquake in eastern Afghanistan kills more than 600, injures 1,500

A strong earthquake in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border has destroyed numerous villages and and caused extensive damage, killing at least 622 people and injuring at least 1,500 others, authorities said on Monday.

Ranil thanks everyone who backed him during his arrest

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a short special statement, thanked everyone including online media channels who backed him during his recent arrest.

President to open new projects in Jaffna, including International Cricket Stadium

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to open several major development projects in Jaffna today, including the commencement of construction on the long-awaited Jaffna International Cricket Stadium.

No revision in bus fares despite fuel price drop

The National Transport Commission (NTC) today announced that bus fares will remain unchanged despite the latest reduction in fuel prices.

Govt. explores action to recover encroached Kandy hospital lands

The Ministry of Health has raised concern over the large-scale encroachment of land belonging to the Kandy National Hospital, with nearly half of its property occupied by unauthorized settlers.

SL will go bankrupt again in 2028: Sajith

Sri Lanka will go bankrupt again in 2028 as it has failed to maintain adequate economic growth to earn the USD 5.5 billion needed to repay loans annually from 2028, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said today.

Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida killed in Gaza, Israel says

Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, has been killed in an aerial attack in Gaza City, Israel has said.