Total of 2,343 dengue cases reported in Colombo City: Mayor

A total of 2,343 dengue cases has been reported in the City of Colombo as of yesterday. Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar said yesterday.

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.

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

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

Actual dengue infections may have exceeded 100,000 despite 53,000 reported cases

Sri Lanka’s actual dengue infections this year may have already exceeded 100,000, despite the official case count standing at just over 53,000, the Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union said.

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

Asset declaration deadline ends today; CIABOC warns of legal action

The deadline for public officials and other individuals required by law to submit their annual declarations of assets and liabilities without incurring penalties expires today (30), the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) said.

Illegal transfer of U.S. dollars amounting to a billion CoPF member wants Central Bank, 13 commercial banks to be held to account

New Democratic Front (NDF) MP who is a member of Committee on Finance (COPF) Ravi Karunanayake in a letter addressed to the Chairman of COPF Harsha de Silva urged him to hold the Central Bank Supervision Unit and its Financial Investigation Unit answerable for what he called lethargic and oversight blindness of the institution with regard to the billion dollar illegal transfer of funds which was revealed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayakelast

Enhanced rains no cause for alarm: Met. Dept.

Though it was reported yesterday that rains have enhanced in some parts of the country, including the catchment areas, the Department of Meteorology yesterday ruled out disaster in the coming days.

BASL denies making representation for arrested attorney Rakitha Rajapakshe

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has clarified that it neither authorised any Attorney-at-Law to make representations on its behalf nor decided to intervene on behalf of Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Rajapakshe during

President’s US $1Bn loss claim CoPF to inquire from Central Bank officials

In the wake of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s revelation that Sri Lanka lost nearly US$ 1 billion in foreign exchange due to fraud involving the banking system, Parliament’s Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) is set to

Retired engineer loses over Rs. 9 mn in WhatsApp investment scam

A retired professional engineer in her late 60s has lost more than Rs. 9 million after falling victim to an online investment scam promoted through WhatsApp, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) said.

Rs. 120 million bribery allegation: lawyer, politician & former director remanded

In connection with an incident involving the alleged demand and receipt of a bribe of Rs. 120 million from the wife of a notorious organised criminal to facilitate arrangements for him, Attorney-at-Law Rakitha Nirmala Rajapaksha, Samagi Jana Balawegaya Horana organizer Charitha Wasantha Kumara Abeysinghe and a former Director of the Civil Aviation Authority and SriLankan Airlines, Warusahennadige Aruna Sri Chathuranga, who were arrested by the Br

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.

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.

Teldeniya car death suspect arrested; Trail of multi-million rupee scams exposed

A series of financial frauds has been uncovered following the arrest of a suspect wanted in connection with the death of a woman found inside a car in Teldeniya.

US $ 2.5 million cyber theft SL 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

Spa therapists’ identities revealed after arrests Lanka Spa Association seeks Human Rights Commission intervention

The Lanka Spa Association and International Human Rights Law Association have lodged separate complaints with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, alleging that the rights and privacy of a group of spa therapists arrested

Colombo High Court rejects Gnanasara Thera’s appeal - Confirms nine month prison sentence

The Colombo High Court today upheld the sentence imposed by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, who was convicted of making statements insulting Islam

Reported earlier by Daily Mirror

As Daily Mirror reported on May 5, 2026 (under the ‘title Sri Lanka’s new VAT rules could have negative outcome on tourism, telecom, IT sectors’ written by Panduka Keerthinanda), government Gazette amendments expanding VAT

Govt. retains Rs. 60 Mn VAT threshold, drops planned reduction

The government has decided to retain the current Rs. 60 million annual turnover threshold for Value Added Tax (VAT) and the Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL), postponing a previously proposed reduction to Rs. 36 million that

Sallay walking around, dressing himself Minister says Sallay receiving medical care

The Government has denied allegations regarding the ill-treatment and torture of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay while under the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Pope’s intervention sought by relatives of Sallay

An appeal has been made to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV seeking humanitarian intervention regarding the detention of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay, who is currently being held

Parliament flares up over Judges’ retirement debate

Pandemonium broke out in Parliament yesterday forcing Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne to suspend the sessions for around 15 minutes after some opposition MPs staged a protest inside the chambers and made an effort to grab the

Infant allegedly tied to chair and beaten for crying- suspect remanded

A man accused of tying a nine-month-old infant to a chair and assaulting her with an umbrella handle and his hands for allegedly crying frequently was ordered to be remanded till July 3 by Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva yesterday.

PMD, SLC denies ICC Chief discussed SLC elections or blacklisting

The President’s Media Division (PMD) yesterday denied the Daily Mirror article titled “Hold SLC Elections or Get Blacklisted, ICC Informs President AKD,” saying that ICC Chairman Jay Shah neither discussed the holding of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) elections nor raised the possibility of blacklisting the national cricket body over political interference.

Sri Lanka risks losing GSP+ over PTA reforms: Joint opposition

Sri Lanka risks losing the GSP+ trade benefit, a special benefit enjoyed by Sri Lankan exporters for accessing markets in the European Union, because of the slow progress of reforms related to the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Joint Opposition Convener Prof. G. L. Peiris said yesterday.

Lunuwila Police accused of false implication in heroin trafficking case

Two youths from Lunuwila have filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court alleging that they were unlawfully arrested, falsely implicated in a heroin trafficking case, and wrongfully remanded for more than two months by officers attached to the Lunuwila Police Station.

CID probe sought over substandard medical equipment supplied to hospitals

A complaint has been lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) calling for a comprehensive investigation into the supply and use of substandard medical equipment in government hospitals, amid the withdrawal of cardiac stents, angiogram catheters and colostomy bags.

Russian State-Owned Companies Cleared to Bid for Sri Lanka Fuel Tenders

In a bid to improve competitiveness in fuel purchasing from the global market, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has registered two Russian state owned companies allowing them to participate in the tender process, an official said yesterday.

MSD recalls hospitals to withdraw colostomy bags, catheters from hospitals immediately

The Medical Supplies Division (MSD) has ordered the immediate withdrawal of several batches of two medical devices supplied to government hospitals — a colostomy appliance and an angiographic catheter — following reports of defects and performance issues that could affect patient safety and treatment outcomes.