Community physicians now up in arms against Cannabis cultivation, writes to Prez

The College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL), the national professional body of specialists in Community Medicine have requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reconsider the approval of cannabis cultivation citing that long term health consequences far outweigh the economic gain in a recent media release.

Arrests of former VIPs will be a norm soon - Lal Kantha

Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, K. D. Lal Kantha said incidents such as arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be a norm soon where the Sri Lankan people are concerned.

Postal strike ends

Postal trade unions yesterday decided to call off their strike which was on during the past two days following discussions held with the Minister of Health and Media.

Political alliance to fight constitutional dictatorship?

Former President Maithripala Sirisena and other opposition party leaders at the media briefing they held yesterday where they said they have come together to defeat what they call constitutional dictatorship which has got underway with the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Pic by Kithsiri de Mel

Schoolboy stabs another over love affair

A 14-year-old schoolboy who stabbed another schoolboy of his age during an altercation over his love for a schoolgirl was taken into custody by Diulwewa Police and later released on police bail and handed over to his father pending legal action.

“If you wound a snake and don’t kill it, it will strike back” - FLSP comments on Ranil’s arrest

Referring to the arrest and remanding of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Frontline Socialist Party (FLSP) said, “If you wound a snake and don’t kill it, it will strike back.”

Ranil cannot be granted bail – NPP Lawyers

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot be granted bail as the offence, as per the Public Property Act, is more than Rs. 25,000, the National People’s Power (NPP) Legal wing said yesterday.

Forged land deed Why did you refer investigation to AG without recording statements from Wasantha Samarasinghe, and others? asks Magistrate

When the case in connection with the alleged lease on a forged deed of a land building for Rs.3.6 million was taken up before Mount Lavinia Magistrate Chaturika De Silva yesterday, the magistrate questioned the Colombo Fraud

Parliament’s High Post halts Govt’s nominee to a diplomatic post for second time

Another petition filed challenging Indo-Lanka Digital Identity Deal

National Freedom Front leader and former Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Cabinet decision to implement the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identity

Leaders from Nationalist Movement team up against UNHRC resolution

A coalition of nationalist leaders and legal experts launched a campaign to expose and neutralise the external mechanism created under UNHRC Resolution 46/1, a statement from them said.

Tour operators demand end to temporary license issuance to tourists

The All Island Tourism Service Providers Association, together with other tourism service providers, staged a protest in Colombo on August 22, 2025 demanding an end to the issuance of temporary driving licenses to tourists at the airport.

Daily Mirror report makes its mark in House for second day

The Daily Mirror story headlined ‘Over 50 % of Uni graduates migrate and never come back’ came to the limelight in Parliament yesterday when an opposition MP raised a question with regard to the issue highlighted in it.

Big onion cultivators fear market collapse amid unrestricted Imports

Big onion cultivators have misgivings that they would be left without a remunerative market for their produce in the Yala season harvest, which is going on now, unless the government restricts imports.

Sri Lanka’s expressways struggle with non-functional toll booths, delayed automation

Entry and exit congestion at Sri Lanka’s expressways continues to worsen due to the non-operation of several toll booths, with officials citing staff shortages and long delays in the introduction of automated tolling systems as key

Unions’ stand firm as postal strike cripple services

The postal strike has entered its fifth day, with unions standing firm that they will not return to talks unless authorities agree to address their demands.

Announcement made using loudspeaker to find Rajitha

The officials also made an announcement using loudspeaker at his residence in Thalahena, Malabe.

Former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon appears to be camera shy

Former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon attempts to shield himself from cameras while being escorted to remand in a prison bus. He was ordered to be remanded until August 27 by Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura.

Three months past; prominent parties yet to send list of nominees to EC

Candidate lists for the Local Government election held on May 6 still remain incomplete as some prominent political parties and some independent groups fail to submit the lists.

Coal procurement manipulated, opposition MP alleges

Raising serious concerns over a looming irregularity in coal procurement, Opposition MP D.V. Chanaka yesterday alleged that preparations are underway to facilitate unfair gains for a specific supplier.

Vital tests delayed due to lack of anaesthetic spray

Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (UGIE) tests, a procedure used to visually examine the upper digestive system, has been delayed in many hospitals due to the lack of anaesthetic spray needed for the procedure. According to informed sources, the spray is not available in Sri Lanka, and the product currently in the market has no approval from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

Man remanded over sexual abuse of 12-year-old niece

A man was ordered to be remanded till September 3 in connection with sexually abusing his brother’s 12-year-old daughter, by Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake.

JEDB Chairman resigns due to undue influencing by Minister: MP

Janatha Estate Development Board (JEDB) Chairman has tendered his resignation after being influenced by the secretary Ministry of Plantation industries to hand over a 70 acre land in Pannala to a relative of the subject minister, Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake alleged in Parliament yesterday.

UNDP steps in to protect Sri Lankan leopards

In a bid to save leopards from being killed by farmers due to attacks on their livestock , the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, together with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) launched a Livestock Insurance Scheme .

Revatha (Ray) Wijewardene remembered

Conservationist Scientist Ray Wijewardene memorial lecture was delivered by Engineer Lalith Seneviratne who was onetime CEO of Sri Lanka Telecom. Lalith Seneviratne yesterday amidst a distinguished gathering.

Garden lizard leads to cyanide discovery at Prison

A garden lizard reportedly exposed to cyanide by a suspect has triggered an investigation at the Angunakolapelessa Prison, authorities said.

Doctors claim unfair treatment following life-saving effort

Three specialist doctors at Ratnapura Teaching Hospital are facing a disciplinary inquiry, despite their collective efforts to save the life of a mother and her newborn at a private hospital during an emergency, as claimed by sources familiar with the matter.

“Sri Lanka Anti-doping organisation declared non-compliant” – WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has put the National Anti-Doping Organisation of Sri Lanka on its non-compliance list, after the country’s national anti-doping body failed to address issues in its legal system, according to a statement from it.

Ten-year-old girl pregnant, stepfather arrested

An individual who raped and impregnated his ten-year-old stepdaughter was taken into custody by Galnewa Police yesterday.

Two more petitions filed in SC against Presidents’ Entitlements Repeal Bill

Two additional Special Determination petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the proposed Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill, which was presented in Parliament with the aim of repealing the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986.