House Arrest Act soon to mitigate prison overcrowding: Minister

Highlighting that the root cause of the Negombo Prison clash was tension resulting from severe overcrowding, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament that key legal reforms would be introduced, including a House Arrest Bill that would enable remand prisoners to be kept under house arrest subject to electronic monitoring.

INFOGRAPHIC: Argentina Stage Stunning Comeback; Switzerland Book Last-Eight Showdown

Argentina rallied from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2, while Switzerland edged Colombia on penalties to set up a quarter-final meeting with the reigning world champions.

Iran target US military sites in Kuwait, Bahrain after earlier American strikes

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday (Jul 8) that they targeted 85 United States military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, in response to the US’ ’’ceasefire violation’’.

Egypt were ‘cheated’ in World Cup loss to Argentina, coach Hassan says

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan claims his side was “cheated” out of a place in the World Cup quarterfinals after Argentina staged a stunning late comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in a gripping last-16 match in Atlanta.

Colombo canals turn into garbage dumps despite SLLDC dengue prevention claims

Despite claims by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC) that a special programme is underway to maintain cleanliness in Colombo’s canal system and reduce dengue risks, recent footage has revealed that several canals have become potential breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.

Government gazettes new Mahamodara Prison

The Minister of Justice and National Integration, Harshana Nanayakkara, has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification ordering the establishment of a new prison in the Mahamodara area of Galle.

Met Dept forecasts showers and strong winds today

Several spells of showers are expected in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts today, according to the Department of Meteorology.

Acting Prisons Chief describes Negombo Prison clash as ’brutal’ and ’barbaric’

The Acting Commissioner General of Prisons Prasad Hemantha Kumara, has provided harrowing details regarding the violence that unfolded at the Negombo Prison, describing the behaviour of the inmates involved as ’’brutal’’ and ’’barbaric.’’

Search under way for cargo plane that vanished off Pakistan coast

Aviation officials in Pakistan say a search operation is ongoing after a cargo plane carrying five crew members went missing off the coast of Karachi, a city at the country’s southern tip.

Trump reiterates at NATO summit that Greenland should be controlled by US, not Denmark

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Greenland should be controlled by ​the United States, not Denmark, reaffirming a stance that has caused tensions among ‌NATO allies just as leaders of the alliance gathered for a summit in Turkey.

Rear Admiral Ravindra Tissera appointed as Navy Chief of Staff

Rear Admiral Ravindra Tissera has been appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Damian Fernando, formally handed over the letter of appointment to Rear Admiral Tissera at the Navy Headquarters on Monday (7) and extended his best wishes.

US launches strikes on Iran after tankers hit in Strait of Hormuz

The US has launched ’’powerful’’ strikes on Iran in response to attacks on three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

Habitat enrichment programme launched to curb human-elephant conflict

The Environment Ministry, together with the Wildlife Conservation Department and the Forest Conservation Department, has launched the National Programme for Wild Elephant Habitat Enrichment and Rehabilitation, introducing a science-based approach to mitigate Sri Lanka’s long-standing human-elephant conflict.

GMOA provides medical support for Kataragama Pada Yatra devotees

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has once again stepped in to provide medical assistance to devotees participating in the annual “Pada Yatra” pilgrimage to the Kataragama sacred site.

Digital VAT ambiguity could undermine Sri Lanka’s investment appeal: EY warns

Sri Lanka’s proposed framework to tax digital services could inadvertently raise compliance costs for multinational companies and make the country a more complex market to serve unless authorities provide greater clarity on the new rules, tax experts at EY Sri Lanka have cautioned.

Toastmasters District 82 begins new leadership year for 2026–2027

Toastmasters International District 82 has commenced its 2026–2027 leadership year with a newly elected District Executive Committee, pledging to strengthen member engagement and promote leadership and communication excellence across the district.

Series Won! West Indies hold Sri Lanka to draw to end long drought

West Indies secured their first Test series victory in three years after a high-scoring draw against Sri Lanka in the second and final Test at North Sound on Tuesday, clinching the two-match series thanks to their victory in the opener.

Djokovic wins five-set epic to set up Sinner semi-final

Novak Djokovic produced an astonishing performance to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set thriller lasting over five hours to set up a blockbuster Wimbledon semi-final against defending champion Jannik Sinner.

England hammer India in Record-Breaking T20 thrashing

England delivered a ruthless all-round performance to inflict India’s heaviest-ever T20 International defeat, cruising to a commanding 125-run victory in the third T20 at Trent Bridge to move 2-0 up in the five-match series.

Former SEC chief slams banking sector and professionals over SME neglect

Former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Ranel T. Wijesinha sharply criticised the banking sector, the accounting profession, and corporate entities for their collective failure to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in accessing the capital market.

Online marketplaces require clarity on VAT calculations

A separate issue emerging from Sri Lanka’s proposed digital VAT regime is how tax authorities will determine the value on which VAT should be charged when transactions are facilitated through online platforms.

Woman suspected of Monaco bombing found shot dead near Kyiv

A woman suspected of carrying out last week’s bomb attack in Monaco that seriously injured a Ukraine-born business tycoon has been found shot dead near Kyiv, in the latest twist in a case that has shaken the wealthy Mediterranean principality.

Central Bank warns public against urgency-based online scams

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has urged the public to remain vigilant against online scams that create a false sense of urgency to trick victims into sharing personal and financial information.

UN calls for prison reforms after Negombo Prison violence

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka has called for renewed investment in the country’s prison system following the deadly violence at the Negombo Prison, while welcoming the appointment of an independent committee to investigate the incident.

Zimbabwean football star survives gun attack in South Africa

Zimbabwean footballer Divine Lunga has survived a gun attack in Johannesburg, South African police have said.

Navy joins dengue prevention drive for third consecutive day

The Sri Lanka Navy has continued its support for the national dengue prevention campaign for the third consecutive day, joining efforts to strengthen the ’’Towards a Dengue-Free Colombo’’ initiative.

Three platforms reopened at Colombo Fort after train derailment

Three of the four platforms blocked following a train derailment at the Colombo Fort Railway Station have now been reopened after the affected train was rerouted and moved to Maradana Railway Station, railway authorities said.

Committee appointed to probe Negombo prison unrest

The government has appointed a three-member Committee of Inquiry to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the unrest that erupted at Negombo Prison on July 5 and 6.

CSE extends decline as cautious investors await earnings season

The Colombo Stock Exchange continued its downward movement on Tuesday, with both benchmark indices closing lower as investors remained cautious ahead of the upcoming quarterly earnings season. The market opened on a negative note and gradually moved lower throughout the session, with subdued turnover and share volumes reflecting limited investor participation and a lack of strong market conviction.

Minister visits injured prison officers and inmates at National Hospital

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa today visited the National Hospital of Sri Lanka to review the condition of those injured in the recent unrest at the Negombo Prison.