Meta expands teen account protections and child safety features

Meta has announced a range of updates to bolster efforts to protect teens from potentially unsafe or unwanted contact and shared new data on the impact of its latest safety tools.

CSE Advances Following CBSL’s Decision to Maintain Policy Rate

The Colombo Stock Exchange opened positively today following the Central Bank’s decision to keep the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) unchanged at 7.75%. Investor sentiment remained upbeat throughout the session, driving the All Share Price Index (ASPI) up by 151.15 points (+0.79%) to close at 19,243.08, while the S&P SL20 also gained 32.00 points (+0.57%) to settle at 5,689.62.

CC approves Preethi Padman as new Chief Justice

The Constitutional Council today approved the name of Supreme Court judge Preethi Padman Surasena as the new Chief Justice.

No plans to restrict vehicle imports: Central Bank Governor

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said that there are no plans to reimpose restrictions on vehicle imports, assuring that the market will remain open.

Trump says US has struck trade deal with Japan

President Donald Trump says the US has agreed to a ’’massive’’ trade deal with Japan, one of the country’s largest trading partners.

Modular system to replace exam-focused learning from 2026: Minister

The government is moving away from an exam-centric education system towards a modular system focused on active learning, with the aim of providing quality education for all children, Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said.

Liberal Youth Movement hails Supreme Court case on Emergency Regulations in 2022

The Liberal Youth Movement welcomed the Supreme Court judgment upholding the petition it filed challenging the islandwide State of Emergency declared on July 17, 2022 by the then Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Environment Ministry calls for CID probe into elephant shootings

The Ministry of Environment has requested the Sri Lanka Police to launch a special investigation into the recent spate of wild elephant deaths caused by gunshot wounds, urging strong legal action against those responsible.

Mid-air fight erupts on KL-Chengdu AirAsia flight over noise dispute

A mid-air brawl erupted on an AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Chengdu after a group of women allegedly refused to stop making noise while cabin lights were dimmed.

Russell’s sparkling farewell in vain as Australia sprint to T20 win

Andre Russell struck a sparkling 36 off 15 balls in his final innings before retirement on Tuesday but could not save the West Indies from losing the second Twenty20 international against Australia in Kingston.

Japan’s PM Ishiba to quit after election drubbing and Trump trade deal, source

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to step down following a bruising upper house election defeat, a source told Reuters, as the embattled premier announced a long-sought trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Rising mouth cancer cases among Sri Lanka youth

A total of 3,300 mouth cancer cases have been reported across Sri Lanka, with increasing numbers linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking, betel chewing and alcohol consumption, Dental Surgeon Dr. Prasanna Jayasekara said.

Sri Lanka has attracted foreign investments worth USD 507 million this year: Vijitha

Sri Lanka has managed to attract USD 507 million in foreign investments so far this year, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Hearth told Parliament.

Ven. Rahula Thera urges death penalty for elephant killers

Amid the alarming rise in elephant deaths due to the escalating human-elephant conflict, the founder of the National Namal Uyana, Ven. Wanawasi Rahula Thera, has called for urgent amendments to the country’s Wildlife Ordinance, including the introduction of harsher penalties, even the death penalty, for those found guilty of killing elephants.

Corruption at SriLankan Airlines and AASL from 2010 to 2025: Special committee appointed

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a Special Presidential Investigation Committee to probe serious allegations of fraud, corruption, and administrative irregularities at SriLankan Airlines Limited and Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited.

Supreme Court rules 2022 emergency declaration by Ranil unconstitutional

The Supreme Court, in a majority decision, has ruled that the proclamation issued by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring a State of Emergency in 2022—while he was serving as Acting President—violated fundamental rights.

School bus accident in Beligalla injures 16 students

A bus carrying schoolchildren veered off the Beliatta–Weeraketiya road near Beligalla this morning, injuring at least 16 students.

Party leaders will decide when to debate resolution to remove Deshabandu: Speaker

The party leaders will decide when Parliament should take up the debate on the resolution to remove IGP Deshabandu Tennekoon from his post, the Speaker told Parliament.

Commotion in Parliament after question over attack on Dalada Maligawa in 1989

Heated arguments rocked Parliament when Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rohini Kaviratne raised a question on the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s (JVP) attack on the Dalada Maligawa in 1989 and Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake called the MP a daughter of a murderer.

Don’t give children under age 13 smartphones, new research says

Parents should avoid preteens’ use of smartphones and social media, according to new research. A study released Monday found that using smartphones before age 13 could damage kids’ mental health.

President pays final respects to late Anunayake Thero

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake paid his final respects last night to the late Most Venerable Anamaduwa Sri Dhammadassi Anunayake Thero of the Asgiri Chapter.

SLTDA pledges action against illegal tourist guiding before Supreme Court

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) yesterday gave an undertaking before the Supreme Court that it would take necessary steps to prevent illegal tourist guiding and implement the relevant legal provisions under the Tourism Act.

Woman killed, child injured in Marawila shooting

A woman was shot dead and a 10-year-old child sustained injuries in a shooting incident reported from the Maranda area in Marawila, police said.

CBSL keeps overnight policy rate unchanged

The Monetary Policy Board decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at the current level of 7.75% at its meeting held yesterday.

Race for new IGP begins

With Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon facing removal from office after being found guilty of gross abuse of power by a three-member Committee of Inquiry chaired by Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to nominate one or more candidates to the Constitutional Council (CC) for the appointment of the 37th IGP of the Sri Lanka Police, the Daily Mirror learns.

Big cat owners hide their animals amid Pakistani crackdown

The smell hanging in the air is the first sign there’s something unusual about the farmhouse on the outskirts of one of Pakistan’s largest cities, Lahore.

Trump announces ’massive’ trade deal with Japan

US President Donald Trump says the US has agreed to a ’’massive’’ trade deal with Japan, one of the country’s largest trading partners.

Sri Lanka’s unit trust industry sees widening investor base

Sri Lanka’s unit trust industry has demonstrated a significant expansion in its investor base over the past year, a positive indicator for financial inclusion and capital market depth.

Sri Lanka to spotlight export potential at Expo 2025 Japan

The Export Development Board (EDB), as part of its strategic approach to fostering further economic relationships with Japan on one hand and exploring new markets in Japan on the other, together with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo is to organise a Sri Lanka Business forum and Networking session at the World Expo 2025 at Osaka, Japan, on 26 September 2025.

Tea output in 1H up 6.1% YoY

Sri Lanka’s tea production expanded in the first half of 2025, supported by improved output across all elevations, although gains were tempered by a year-on-year drop in June, data from Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers showed.