Rohitha Rajapaksa leaves CCIB after five-hour statement

Rohitha Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, left the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) after nearly five hours, having recorded a statement in connection with an investigation into an investment he had made in an institution located in Mirihana.

In Colombo, Bangkok this week, India and Pakistan met again for track 2 talks

Indian and Pakistani delegates have held a fresh round of Track Two diplomacy talks in Colombo and Bangkok earlier this week. The primary objective was to strengthen mechanisms for dialogue during crises, alongside measures to prevent and manage potential escalations. During the meetings both sides exchanged notes, and had frank exchanges on issues related to terrorism and water.

IOC Launches Historic $140M Athlete Grant Programme

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a landmark $140 million funding programme that will provide a $10,000 grant to every eligible Olympian competing at the Games.

Court of Appeal enters digital era with historic first E-Filing case

Sri Lanka’s judicial system marked a historic milestone today as the Court of Appeal successfully accepted and heard its first-ever electronic filing (E-Filing) case, ushering in a new era of digital justice and paperless court administration.

FIFA suspends Nepal over third-party interference

World football’s governing body FIFA has suspended Nepal’s football association, officials said Thursday, barring the country from all international competitions.

Media will not survive if they don’t come out of garbage pile: President

The media will not survive in this society if they fail to come out of the garbage pile they have put themselves into, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament today.

Oil price falls to levels not seen since before Iran war

The price of oil has fallen to levels not seen since before the Iran war as traffic through the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route gradually resumes.

UN, WFP officials meet Defence Secretary to discuss disaster resilience

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche, and the World Food Programme (WFP) Representative and Country Director, Philip Ward, met with Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) at the Ministry of Defence.

Sri Lanka to receive four new cath labs worth Rs. 1.2Bn

Sri Lanka’s state hospital system is set to receive four modern catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) units within the next week, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media said.

PTA will be abolished in a few months: President

The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) will be abolished in a few months, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament today.

Iran warns ships it’s ‘unacceptable and dangerous’ to transit the Strait of Hormuz without their approval

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned shipowners on Wednesday that any new transit route through the Strait of Hormuz established without coordination with Tehran is “unacceptable and dangerous,” threatening actions against vessels that ignore its instructions.

Cleaning Beira...

More disclosures on today’s arrests to follow: President

More disclosures regarding those arrested today will be made during the course of the day, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament.

Government does not accept that an individual can survive with Rs. 17,700 per month: Minister

The government won’t accept that an individual can survive with Rs. 17,700 per month as claimed by the Department of Census and Statistics, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha told Parliament today.

Global Ebola risk ’remains low’: WHO Chief

The global risk ’’remains low’’ from a deadly Ebola outbreak centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization chief said Wednesday, after a case was confirmed in France. France on Wednesday announced its first confirmed case of Ebola identified on its territory: a doctor who had flown back from the DR Congo, which is fighting a major outbreak.

Private bus operators seek fare hike from July 1

Private bus operators have formally requested the National Transport Commission (NTC) to implement the annual bus fare revision from July 1, ahead of the previously proposed date of July 5.

‘Art of Weaving’ show held

No decision on change of fuel prices: Minister

No decision has been taken on the change of fuel prices yet, Minister of Power and Energy Anura Karunatilaka told Parliament today.

At least 32 dead, 700 injured after massive earthquakes slam Venezuela

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, collapsing buildings in the capital of Caracas and killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds of others, officials said.

Colombia’s leftwing candidate concedes election to Trump-endorsed millionaire

The defeated leftwing candidate in Colombia’s presidential runoff has conceded to the far-right, Trump-admiring millionaire lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella.

Scandal behind claiming Ditwah disaster relief: Deputy Minister

There is a scandal behind claiming Ditwah relief where some house owners in places such as Opanayake who have been relocated due to landslide threats had come and settled in vulnerable areas before cyclone Ditwah hit the area, Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekera told Parliament today.

Rohitha Rajapaksa appears before Central Crime Investigation Bureau

Rohitha Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, appeared before the Colombo Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) today to record a statement in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Bus driver dies after sudden medical emergency causes bus crash in Wellampitiya

An SLTB bus driver died after suffering a sudden medical emergency while transporting nearly 50 passengers from Colombo to Ampara, causing the bus to veer out of control and crash into several roadside structures in Wellampitiya early yesterday morning.

NPPers receives ‘Santhosham’ from leading businessman following allowing solar project: MP

A group of NPP politicians have received a santhosham from a leading businessman for allowing a solar power project on a land in the reserved forest area in Polonnaruwa, opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake alleged in Parliament yesterday.

Tragic end for wild jumbo after rescue attempt fails in Thanamalwila

A 25-year-old wild elephant died during a rescue operation after falling into a narrow well in the Kudaoya area of Samagipura, Thanamalwila, despite desperate efforts by wildlife officials and local residents to save the animal.

Inland Revenue Amendment Act: Key changes explained

The Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No. 11 of 2026, which was certified on June 3, 2026, has introduced several significant changes to Sri Lanka’s tax framework. Here are some of the key amendments.

Sri Lanka plans settlement of outstanding amount to Australia

After Sri Lanka lost US$ 2.5 million to cyber hackers, the Finance Ministry is now working with the relevant Australian authorities to settle the outstanding amount according to an agreed repayment schedule, a top source said.

Don’t guess at home whether it’s dengue or flu-get checked early: Doctors

Sri Lanka is currently seeing both dengue fever and seasonal influenza circulating at the same time, and doctors are urging the public not to try and self-diagnose at home.

Unqualified instructors blamed for rising road fatalities

In the wake of a worrying increase in fatal road accidents across the country, the Police Traffic Division has raised serious concerns over the quality of driver training and the regulation of driving schools.

Bribery Commission arrests Rakitha Rajapaksa, SJB organizer over Rs 120Mn bribe

Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Nirmala Rajapaksa, son of former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Horana organizer Charith Abeysinghe, and former Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Corporation Director Warusha Hennadige Aruna Sri Chaturanga were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).