Small plane crashes after takeoff at London Southend Airport

A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday at London Southend Airport, which was closed until further notice, officials and witnesses said. No information on any casualties was immediately available. The plane operated by Zeusch Aviation in the Netherlands had flown from Athens, Greece, to Pula, Croatia, on Sunday before heading to Southend. It was due to return to Lelystad, Netherlands, on Sunday evening.

Fatal road accidents rise sharply in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has recorded a sharp rise in fatal road accidents in the first half of 2025, with police statistics showing 1,274 fatal crashes resulting in 1,351 deaths between January 1 and July.

Plan goes awry with Nigeria, South Sudan throws open gate

Sri Lanka’s plan to purchase fuel from Nigeria has gone awry because of restrictions in crude oil imports in that country and prior registration requirement for refined products deals, Daily Mirror learns.

Adani, Sri Lankan authorities to be entangled in legal wrangle ?

India’s Adani Green Energy and the government authorities are poised to be involved in a legal wrangle over the reimbursement of initial expenses made by the company before it withdrew from the renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka.

SL woman trying to smuggle in Rs.4.9 Mn worth cigarettes nabbed at BIA

A Sri Lankan woman trying to smuggle in foreign cigarettes worth Rs.4.9 million concealed in her baggage was arrested by the Police at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning.

Ex-Malaysian Premier Mahathir hospitalized due to fatigue days after 100th birthday

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was hospitalized due to fatigue, his office announced on Sunday, just days after his 100th birthday on Thursday.

Wimal Weerawansa alleges e-NIC tender handed over to Indian firm, Raising data security concerns

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa has alleged that the ‘Punarudaya’ government has handed over the tender to develop Sri Lanka’s electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) system to an Indian non-profit company, raising serious concerns over national data security.

CBSL to launch ‘Anti-Pyramid National Awareness Week’ tomorrow

The Financial Consumer Relations Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) will launch the ‘Anti-Pyramid National Awareness Week’ from July 14 to July 18, 2025 under the

‘I am free from today’: Assam man celebrates divorce by bathing in 40 litres of milk

“I am free from today,” said Manik Ali as he bizarrely celebrated his divorce, now a viral moment on the Internet. Ali bathed in 40 litres of milk and announced that he was free from his wife, who allegedly eloped with her lover twice.

Two killed in motorcycle-bus collision

Two men were killed when a motorcycle collided head-on against a private bus at Mallehewa on the Meerigama-Pasyala main road this morning.

UNDP to support in building effective public service

The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Azusa Kubota affirmed that the UNDP will support the Sri Lankan government’s ongoing initiatives

Piyumi Hansamali’s son arrested over assault in Rajagiriya

The Welikada Police have arrested the son of popular model Piyumi Hansamali over an assault incident reported in the Kalapaluwawa area of Rajagiriya.

US drops charges against doctor accused of destroying Covid vaccines

The US attorney general has ordered charges to be dropped against a doctor accused of destroying Covid-19 vaccines worth $28,000 (£20,742), distributing fake vaccination record cards, and giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine at their parents’ request.

Mother of Ishara Sewwandi dies in custody

The mother of Ishara Sewwandi, the main suspect in the murder of Ganemulla Sanjeewa, has died while in remand custody at Welikada Prison.

Fire destroys tourist resort under construction in Ella

A tourist resort under construction in the Kandekumbura area in Ella was destroyed by a fire, police said.

Worker remittances rise 22% in June

Sri Lankans working overseas sent home USD 635.7 million in remittances during June 2025, according to data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

EU and Mexico criticise Trump’s proposed 30% tariff

The European Union (EU) and Mexico have expressed disappointment at US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 30% tariffs on their imports from 1 August.

Private airline takes Karachi-bound passenger to Jeddah

A private airline has come under scrutiny after a passenger bound for Karachi from Lahore was mistakenly flown to Jeddah without passport and visa, ARY News reported.

Sri Lanka, China reaffirm strategic partnership at ASEAN meeting

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, met with Chinese Foreign Minister H.E. Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings in Kuala Lumpur yesterday (12).

Boat sinks off Delft coast , 14 tourists narrowly escape death

A boat carrying tourists from Delft Island, Jaffna, sank in the deep sea, making all 14 people on board narrowly escape with their lives.

Discussion with US will continue to secure additional concessions: President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that the on-going dialogue with the United States will continue in order to secure additional concessions.

Trump intensifies trade war with 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico

Donald Trump announced on Saturday that goods imported from both the European Union and Mexico will face a 30% US tariff rate starting 1 August, in letters posted to his social media platform, Truth Social.

21 illegal high-end bikes seized from Hambantota warehouse

Twenty-one illegally imported motorcycles, including eight luxury Harley-Davidson bikes and four tricycles, were seized during a raid conducted by police at the Hambantota Bird Park warehouse today.

Trump nominates Eric Meyer as U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka

The White House has nominated Eric Meyer, a seasoned American diplomat from California, to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Reciprocal tariff SL firm against U.S. proposed restrictive trading with China

In the conduct of negotiations for the reduction of reciprocal tariffs, the U.S. authorities have proposed some restrictive measures on trading with China, but Sri Lanka has declined to do so in principle in conformity with its neutral foreign policy, the Daily Mirror learns.

Unidentified female body found in sea near Pigeon Island bridge

An unidentified female body was discovered in the sea beneath the bridge leading to Pigeon Island in the Matara Police Division, the Police Media Division said.

US Tariffs on Sri Lanka and Philippines may shift trade advantage to India

India could pose sti competition to Sri Lanka and the Philippines for nearly a fth of their exports to the United States as both countries are facing high import duties under new US trade arrangement, according to an analysis.

Italy qualify for T20 World Cup for first time

They have won the FIFA World Cup four times but in a historic first, Italy’s men’s cricket team, led by a former Australian Test opener Joe Burns, has qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

CEJ urges President to appoint commission to probe MV X-Press Pearl environmental disaster

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to appoint a Presidential Commission to investigate into the 2021 environmental disaster caused by the fire aboard the vessel MV X-Press Pearl.

Met Dept warns naval, fishing communities to avoid rough seas

The Department of Meteorology has issued a warning advising naval and fishing communities to avoid venturing into sea areas off the coast from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota over the next 24 hours due to rough and potentially dangerous conditions.