Sri Lanka gets First-Ever Live Ship-to-Shore Deep-Sea Experience

Oceanswell welcomed a full audience to the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka auditorium for an exclusive Ship-to-Shore event, connecting the audience live with Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) during Trinidad and Tobago’s first-ever locally-led deep sea expedition.

Sing-Along at OTSC with Jayantha de Silva

Old Thomians’ Swimming Club celebrating 70 years of Brotherhood has arranged a grand musical event after a lapse of several years. ‘Down Memory Lane a Sing – Along with Old Thomian Jayantha de Silva’ (of ‘Pearl’) who will be celebrating five decades in the musical field this year along with his son Sandun de Silva (of ‘Black’) will perform on Sunday 26 July from 11am onwards at the OTSC Club House premises. Everlasting songs of the yesteryear, En

Remembering our beloved friend Chris

It is with a heavy heart fond memories and love that we put pen in paper in tribute to our dear friend Chris Suwaris who bade farewell to us on June 23 at Royal Nursing Home, Mt. Lavinia. I first met him in May 2025 at Royal Nursing Home along with his wife and son. They were living in London before Chris came to his birth place, Sri Lanka. Chris was a product of Royal College before he went to London. He had been a Mathematics teacher for a lon

Memories of humility and a great friendship

Remembering K. Samaranayake, my best and beloved friend for 66 years, is indeed very sad. It is with a heavy heart but also with fond memories and love that I put pen on paper in tribute to my dear friend Sam who bade farewell to us on June 28. I first met him on September 2, 1960. The day I joined the Ceylon Transport Board head office. Since then, we have been inseparable friends. We were from the same locality and become thick friends,

New Leadership Takes Charge at

A new Lionistic year has begun for Lions International Multiple District 306, Sri Lanka, bringing with it renewed vision, stronger commitment and a dynamic leadership team ready to guide the movement through 2026/ 27. As one of the most respected service organisations in the country, Lions Multiple District 306 continues its proud mission of empowering communities, supporting humanitarian causes and creating meaningful change through dedicated vo

Sajith’s story: A doctor’s love for farming, poetry, music and teaching

In Alabodagama village situated in Horawadunna, Pannala, lives a remarkable man named Sajith. He possesses many skills and at his present age of 39, he has already accomplished many goals among which being a traditional medical practitioner, farmer, teacher, musician and poet standout. Sinhala traditionalist might say that he would have been a person to be revered if Sajith had donned the saffron robes and worked as a labourer later in life and c

What Ailsour Prisons?

A prison system designed to accommodate approximately 11,000 persons cannot safely, humanely or sustainably hold around 40,000.

Aftermath of Negombo Prison riots: Loved ones of inmates dismayed by tales of shock, grief and uncertainty!

It felt like stepping into a war zone. A No Entry sign greeted us at the entrance to the road leading up to the Negombo Prison. Usual routes were closed to manage crowds, that kept running towards the prison premises.

Pastoral journey of a Shepherd in print

The launch of Bishop Valence Mendis’ latest book ‘Out of Depths’ will take place at 4.30 pm on Saturday, July 11 at the Grand Maitland, Maitland Place, Colombo 7.

Mending the minds after mudslides

When disaster strikes, physical relief arrives quickly, but the internal trauma of displacement, grief, and fear lingers long after the floodwaters recede.

Sri Lanka’s readiness to brave an impending El Niño

Global climate scientists indicate that a rapidly intensifying El Niño phenomenon is currently underway. Many countries around the world are already ‘feeling the heat’ with temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius. According to predictions, countries in South Asia for instance may experience impacts of this phenomenon that originates from the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean at varying degrees. Local media reports had been abuzz about

Dengue in Sri Lanka: Symptoms, Warning Signs and Prevention

Sri Lanka’s 2026 dengue outbreak has passed the epidemic level with 63,000+ cases. Here’s how to spot dengue vs flu symptoms, warning signs doctors say not to miss, and when to get tested.

The bilingual bluff

Many Sri Lankan graduates exit universities with acceptable English grades yet remain entirely unequipped to navigate real-world professional communication. Studying in an English-medium environment does not automatically produce effective workplace communicators. To bridge this critical employability gap, higher education must move away from fragmented, remedial language courses. Instead, professional communication must be established as a non-n

Experience a journey into Sri Lanka’s own deep ocean

Ever wondered what it’s like inside one of the world’s most sophisticated deep-sea research vessels?

Bowatenna Reservoir fights pollution as it celebrates 50 years

Bowatenna reservoir, one of the main reservoir projects under the Mahaweli Development Programme, bordered on Pilihudugolla Village in the Naula Division in the Matale district is the main source of water supply to the Rajarata region.

James Selvanathan Mather – Great Achiever in Many Spheres

James Selvanathan Mather, Senior Chartered Accountant, Former Senior Partner of Ernst and Young, Corporate leader and Director of many companies passed away recently at the age of 95.

Dismay for Ditwah victims: Government’s relief policies, compensation mechanisms become a matter of significant concern

The data released by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka indicate that the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has so far disbursed more than Rs. 24.4 billion in relief and compensation for those affected by Cyclone Ditwah. According to the data, the principal compensation payment has been the Rs. 25,000 house-cleaning allowance, which has been paid to 423,914 households. This represents more than 97% of the affected

The CPC at 105: Policy Consistency, Pragmatism, and Multi-Party Engagement in Sri Lanka

By the time the Communist Party of China (CPC) marked its 105th anniversary, it had significantly expanded its engagement with political parties of all hues across the globe—and Sri Lanka is no exception. Since taking charge of China, the CPC has elevated the country from a poverty-stricken, semi-colonial, and feudal state into a modestly prosperous nation.

The lawyer they need, Not the lawyer they want

In an era increasingly focused on material gain and courtroom victories, the legal profession faces a deep crisis of empathy and integrity. Vulnerable citizens enter law offices carrying fractured lives, only to be met with cold delays, soaring fees, and alienating bureaucracy. Legal practice must shift away from destructive litigation toward compassionate, honest service, proving that a lawyer’s true legacy is measured by the human lives they pr

The Vape Vacuum

The rapid influx of illicit vapes and oral nicotine pouches has transformed Sri Lanka’s smokeless market into a dangerous economic Wild West. Operating completely outside the law, a booming underground network thrives on zero quality controls and predatory underage sales. To protect consumers and economy alike, Sri Lanka must establish strict statutory regulations.

Hind Rajab’s ordeal and death reveals plight of Palestinian child victims

A damning aspect of modern war is the deliberate targetting of children by those who are belligerent. Since the Israeli invasion of Gaza began in October 2023, at least 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli military actions, according to reports from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry and Save the Children, while other sources put the figure as high as 30,000.

MCAS and EightD Sign Landmark MoU to Transform Aviation and Logistics Education in Sri Lanka

Millennium College of Aviation Studies (Pvt) Ltd. (MCAS), an aviation-focused higher education and training institution, and EightD (Pvt) Ltd by Fits Cargo, a recognised operator in Sri Lanka’s aviation and air cargo industry, have formalised a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in April, 2026.

Why Countries Are Banning Children from Social Media and What It Means for Sri Lanka

From Australia to the UK, and now a joint G7 statement on child safety online, governments are rethinking what childhood online should look like, even as new evidence shows just how hard these bans are to enforce. As this wave of digital restrictions reshapes childhoods across the world, Sri Lanka is quietly drawing up its own plans. Here is the full picture.

Stars, stalls, and the courage to begin: Finding the Art within KART

Poorna Senadipathi is a young artist from Colombo, and by her own description, still figuring it all out. Drawing on a background in psychology, she paints under the name KART, and has been seriously pursuing art for just over a year.

Dengue surge in Sri Lanka : Refrain from doing self - diagnosis, consult a doctor - medical experts warn

With over 54,000 dengue cases and 31 deaths being reported in the country, medical experts warn that the country’s healthcare system would be crippled if more cases surge.

Travel and leisure: Phu Quoc ranked Asia-Pacific’s second-best island

Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island has secured the No. 2 spot among the finest islands in the Asia-Pacific region at the 2026 Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards.

Rising above the storm: Sajith unites nation on climate security

Addressing the National Council for Disaster Management (NCDM), chaired by His Excellency the President, on 30 June 2026, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa,

Sri Lanka Chapter of SACCJF conducted world environment day seminar for media personnel

The South Asian Climate Change Journalists’ Forum – Sri Lanka Chapter organised a special thematic seminar in line with the World Environment Day 2026 for the local media personnel to enhance their knowledge on current issues and much talked about El Niño condition.

Going beyond prescription

6000 days after disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda : Fees of private lawyers of accused who attacked journalists allegedly paid from a ’secret fund’ under military ? - Lanka e-News Editor

Sunday (June 28) marked 6000 days since the disappearance of veteran journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. To mark this day, his spouse Sandya Ekneligoda spoke to the media about the journey she has come thus far amidst various obstacles. Several of his belongings and letters Sandya has written to various organisations in her fight for justice were displayed for people to understand the challenges she has faced over the years single-handedly. A candlel