Cabinet approves bus fare revision following fuel price hike

The Cabinet has approved a proposal submitted by the Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister to revise bus fares in line with recent fuel price changes that came into effect on June 30, 2026.

Language barriers still affect citizen access to services: Minister

Public Administration, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Chandana Abayaratne said that when citizens are unable to access government services in a language they understand, they may feel marginalised within their own country.

Dehiwala Zoo to announce names of popular lion cubs on July 3

The National Zoological Gardens Department will announce the selected names for the two lion cubs born recently at the Dehiwala National Zoological Park, which have attracted widespread public attention and affection. The names were selected from suggestions submitted by animal lovers, and prizes will be awarded to those whose entries were chosen.

Dehiwala Zoo invites schoolchildren to name newborn hippo calf

The National Zoolical Gardens Department has announced a special opportunity for schoolchildren to name the Nile hippopotamus calf recently born at the Dehiwala National Zoological Park as part of the zoo’s 90th anniversary celebrations.

Over 60% chance of strong El Niño; Govt. launches national preparedness drive

Sri Lanka faces a 63% probability of a strong El Niño and a 33% probability of a weak El Niño, according to the latest assessment.

Spain records more than 1,000 heat-related deaths in June

More than 1,000 deaths in Spain were attributed to the recent heatwave that roasted Europe, as the country posted the hottest first six months ever recorded, officials said on July 1.

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith attends Pope Leo XIV’s extraordinary consistory at Vatican

Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, participated in the Second Extraordinary Consistory convened by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on June 26 and 27.

Suresh Sallay ends hunger strike

Former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay, who launched a hunger strike while in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over the Easter Sunday terror attack investigations, has decided to end his fast on the advice of his legal counsel.

Delay in resuming Talaimannar train services

Despite the completion of repair and maintenance work on the Talaimannar railway line, which was damaged by severe weather last year, train services have yet to resume, drawing criticism from railway trade unions.

Sugeeshwara Bandara further remanded

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today further remanded Sugeeshwara Bandara, leader of the Nava Janatha Peramuna and former private secretary to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, till July 8 over allegations that he received salaries for two positions under the Presidential expenditure vote.

Sarana Gunawardena files appeal against 16 years jail sentence

Former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, who was found guilty and sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment in connection with four corruption cases, has filed four separate appeals before the Court of Appeal challenging the Colombo High Court judgment.

MLT annual transfers effective from August 1

Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT) officers in the Western Province whose transfer orders do not specify an effective date will be transferred from August 1, 2026, without having to wait for their successors to assume duties, according to a notification issued by the Western Provincial Health Department.

Dengue cases surpass 55,000 mark as June records highest monthly tally

Sri Lanka’s dengue caseload has exceeded 55,000, with June alone accounting for more than 21,500 infections, according to the latest figures released by the National Dengue Surveillance System.

Venezuela earthquake aftermath

ADB approves US$200Mn for Sri Lanka’s Cyclone Ditwah recovery

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$200 million emergency assistance package to help Sri Lanka rebuild infrastructure, restore livelihoods and support communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah.

Politicians and the media - A love- hate relationship

It is with humour that I listened to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake deliver his almost monthly speech in Parliament last week stating that if the media does not come out of the garbage pile they are in, they would not survive.

UN subcommittee on prevention of torture concludes second visit to Sri Lanka

The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) concluded its second official visit to Sri Lanka on June 24, 2026, following a 10-day mission aimed at assessing the country’s efforts to prevent torture and ill-treatment, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry Colombo said.

Qatar airways restores 35 weekly flights to Colombo

Qatar Airways has resumed full operations on the Doha–Colombo route from July 1, reinstating its schedule of five daily flights and strengthening air connectivity to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka reaffirms commitment to sustainable environment at UNESCAP ministerial session

Sri Lanka has reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to ensuring a sustainable environment and advancing climate resilience through regional cooperation, Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody said while addressing the 9th Session of the Committee on Environment and Development at the Ministerial Level organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

Fmr. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody grilled by Presidential Commission on coal deals

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing alleged irregularities in coal procurement questioned former Energy Minister Engineer Kumara Jayakody for nearly two hours and recorded his statement yesterday (30).

Iran says it won’t meet with U.S. envoys

Iran said Tuesday it would not meet with top ‌US envoys who flew to the region following an outbreak of hostilities, clouding the prospects for a lasting peace between the two countries.

PHIs raid tobacco betel dansala; suspect taken to Court

An individual who held a dansala in Saliyawewa area to serve quids of betel containing tobacco on Poson Full Moon Poya day ended up in courts.

Labour shortage compels Sri Lankan firms to recruit foreign workers - Minister

Sri Lanka’s private sector currently has more than 400,000 job vacancies, compelling local industries to recruit foreign workers from countries such as India and China due to a shortage of both skilled and unskilled labour, Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti said.

Agrarians reject Yala paddy prices, demand Rs. 140 per kg

The National Agrarians’ Unity has rejected the government’s guaranteed paddy prices for the 2026 Yala cultivation season, describing them as unrealistic in the face of rising production costs, and has warned of trade union action if the pricing policy is not revised.

Argument in Dansala queue ends in assault: Five arrested

Five suspects have been arrested after a young man was allegedly assaulted outside a Poson Dansala in Malabe, following an incident that was widely circulated on social media.

Dead dolphin found washed ashore in Wilpattu national park

A dead dolphin was found washed ashore in the Kollankanatta area of Wilpattu National Park on Monday evening (30), wildlife officials said.

Roof collapse kills 14 children at Pakistan tuition centre

Fourteen children died after the roof of a building near Lahore collapsed on top of them, officials say.

Bird nests of fibre-optic cables show war’s impact on Ukraine

Woven from fibre-optic cable and grass, a small ​bird’s nest found near the front line of the war in Ukraine shows how the more ‌than four-year-old conflict is reshaping the natural environment, researchers say.

US deports first migrant to Pacific nation Palau

The United States has started deporting migrants to a sparsely populated archipelago in the tropical Pacific, the island nation of Palau told AFP on Wednesday.

Dangerous heatwave to hit US ahead of holiday weekend

A prolonged and dangerous heatwave will intensify across a swathe of the US this week, ushering in scorching daytime heat, high humidity and stifling overnight temperatures, forecasters predict.