Sri Lanka leads world in humane dog management

Sri Lanka has become the first country in the world to complete LEAP Dog (Logical Evaluation and Action Plan for Dogs), a new international programme that helps countries develop humane and science-based plans to manage dog populations.

CSE ends lower as turnover falls to year’s lowest, ASPI holds key support

The Colombo Stock Exchange ended Friday’s session in negative territory, reversing the previous day’s gains as subdued trading activity and cautious investor sentiment weighed on market performance. The ASPI declined for the third consecutive test of the key 21,400 support level, which continued to hold despite persistent selling pressure.

US, Sri Lanka discuss stronger trade and maritime security ties

The United States and Sri Lanka have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral commercial relations and maritime security cooperation during a meeting between senior officials in Washington.

Ring attached to finger bone discovered at Chemmani Mass Grave

During today’s excavation at the Chemmani mass grave, 11 new skeletal remains were identified. Among them, a copper ring still attached to a finger bone was also discovered.

Court orders arrest of Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara, MP Jagath Manuwarna

The Fort Magistrate’s Court today (17) ordered the arrest of Deputy Minister of Urban Development Eranga Gunasekara, MP Jagath Manuwarna and four others after they failed to appear for a scheduled hearing.

US widens Iran strikes as Tehran hits Gulf states over Hormuz

The United States expanded its airstrike campaign against Iran early Friday, hitting bridges, electrical equipment and a tower at a key port, as President Donald Trump stepped up pressure on Tehran over its hold on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with fresh missile attacks on US-allied countries in the Middle East, including Qatar, while also targeting sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.

Court to hear intervention petitions in Suresh Sallay’s writ petition on August 4

The Court of Appeal today fixed August 4 to hear several intervention petitions filed both in support of and in opposition to the writ application filed by former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay.

Jacqueline Fernandez launches AI digital avatar

Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez doesn’t just want to be appreciated for her looks. Instead, she wants to project the image of a reader and a reflective person. That’s why she is now launching an AI-based digital avatar.

Trump alleges China meddled in 2020 election and questions voting security ahead of midterms

US President Donald Trump has delivered a primetime address in which he accused China of interfering in the 2020 election and alleged ’’shocking vulnerabilities’’ in American voting systems.

Pakistan spinner sanctioned for breaching ICC Anti-Doping Code

Pakistan spin-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has accepted a three-month period of ineligibility (which will be reduced to one month on completion of a substance of abuse treatment programme) for breaching the ICC Anti-Doping Code.

LPL 2026 to proceed as scheduled despite Jaffna Kings owner’s arrest

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed that the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 will commence as scheduled this evening at the SSC Grounds in Colombo, despite the reported arrest of a co-owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports.

SDIG Waruna Jayasundara transferred

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) in charge of the Eastern Province, Waruna Jayasundara has been transferred as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the Police Children & Women Bureau, with effect from yesterday.

Andadola, Akurala railway sub-stations reopen after months of closure

The Railways Department has reopened the Andadola and Akurala railway sub-stations, restoring ticketing and other passenger services after both stations remained closed for several months.

Saving street animals is everyone’s responsibility: PM

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya today said that protecting and saving the lives of street animals is a shared responsibility, urging the public to stop abandoning pets in public places and to show greater compassion towards stray animals.

School bus crash kills at least 20 pupils in Uganda

At least 20 schoolchildren and one adult have been killed after a bus carrying pupils on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda, local officials say, in one of the country’s deadliest road accidents involving children in recent years.

More than 500 Rohingya vanished at sea - what happened?

Two boats carrying an estimated 530 Rohingya asylum seekers left Myanmar’s Rakhine state on 29 June, and have not been heard from since. The equivalent of a jumbo jet full of people has vanished.

Rakitha, Charitha and Aruna further remanded

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today ordered the further remand of Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Nirmala Rajapaksha, Samagi Jana Balawegaya Horana organiser Charitha Wasantha Kumara Abeysinghe, and former Civil Aviation Authority Airport Director Varushahennadige Aruna Sri Chathuranga until July 28.

Jaffna Kings team owner arrested over alleged match-fixing

A team owner of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Jaffna Kings has been arrested by the Sri Lanka Police Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports over alleged match-fixing offences.

Former IGP C.D. Wickremaratne dies in suspected suicide

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne has died at the age of 63, in what is being reported as a suspected suicide.

CAA sets mandatory aflatoxin limit for processed liquid milk from January 2027

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has introduced a new regulation requiring all processed liquid milk sold in Sri Lanka to comply with the maximum permissible aflatoxin limit from January 8, 2027.

I never prepared alone to take over the nation in 2022: Ranil

He never prepared to take over the nation by himself during the crisis in 2022 but took over as it was his responsibility, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

Iran targets military bases as US launches wave of strikes

Tehran has launched fresh attacks on US military bases in neighbouring Gulf states, while Washington continued to strike sites across Iran overnight.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith seeks dismissal of Suresh Sallay’s writ petition over Easter Sunday attacks probe

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has filed an intervention petition before the Court of Appeal seeking the dismissal of the writ application filed by former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, arguing that the petition could impede the ongoing Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks.

National school teacher transfer applications open online

The Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Ministry has invited online applications for the 2026 Annual and Compulsory Teacher Transfer Programme for teachers serving in national schools.

Subject-based teacher recruitment to begin

The government will introduce a subject-based teacher recruitment system to address the country’s teacher shortage, Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Prof. Chandana Abayaratne said.

CAA conducts 52 raids on private hospitals and medical laboratories

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has conducted 52 special raids targeting private hospitals and medical laboratories across the country to ensure consumer health and safety.

Clash erupts between MP Archchuna and Fisheries Minister

A heated confrontation broke out between Jaffna District Independent MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held today (16).

Sri Lankan Rupee depreciates further against US Dollar

The Sri Lankan Rupee has further weakened against the US Dollar, the latest exchange rate data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka revealed.

SLAB goes fully digital to boost global recognition

The Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB) has commenced a fully digital transformation of its accreditation procedures, administrative operations and accounting systems to enhance the global recognition and credibility of Sri Lankan products and services.

500 ‘Ceylon Tea Villages’ programme launched to boost tea industry

The Plantations and Community Infrastructure Ministry yesterday (15) launched the national programme to establish 500 “Ceylon Tea Villages” as part of efforts to achieve Sri Lanka’s target of increasing finished tea production to 400 million kilograms and tea export earnings to US$ 2.5 billion by 2030.