Aug 21 (TM) Compensation payments of Rs. 2 million each were handed over today to the families of prison officers who lost their lives during the recent deadly outbreak of violence at the Negombo Prison. Under this initiative, the compensation amount of Rs. 2 million per deceased officer was handed over to their families at the Prison HQ. A total of 10 officers attached to the Prison Emergency Response Unit lost their lives during the deadly clashes at the Negombo Prison. more..

Aug 21 (FT) Cabinet has approved the swift implementation of National Medicinal Drug Policy 2026-2030, aimed at improving access to affordable, quality medicines, while strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains and local production. The policy prioritises ensuring sustainable, equitable and affordable access to safe and quality medicines that meet international standards and address the health needs of the public. It also seeks to promote the use of scientifically sound and more..

Aug 21 (EN) SL’s national-wide inflation price inflation jumped to more than three year high of 7.2% in 12-months to July 2026, rising from 6.5% in June, with non food prices rising 9.2% over the year, data showed. July national inflation is the highest in percentage terms since June 2023, the data showed. National Consumer Price Index, an alternative to the widely watched Colombo Consumer Price Index, gained 0.5% over July more..

Aug 21 (DM) The Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Ministry has issued Circular No. 31/2026 outlining the school term schedule, public holiday calendar and major examination dates for 2027. According to the circular, govt and govt-approved private schools are expected to conduct 197 school days in 2027, taking into consideration public holidays and examination schedules. For Sinhala and Tamil schools, the first term will run from Jan 4 to April 9, 2027. more..

Aug 21 (DM) Police are seeking public assistance to identify and apprehend a suspect allegedly involved in a series of fraudulent activities and thefts targeting hotels and commercial establishments. According to police, the suspect visited a hotel within the Slave Island Police area on Aug 3, 2026, and allegedly introduced himself as an officer of a private bank. He reportedly placed a large food order, claiming that a group of people would arrive later for a dinner party. Police said that during a busy period more..

Aug 21 (NW) A meeting of the Special Cabinet Sub-Committee and Officials’ Committee appointed to address the impacts of the El Nino climate phenomenon was held this morning at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Prez reviewed the challenges arising from the current El Nino conditions, the progress of measures taken to address them and arrangements to ensure more..

Aug 21 (NW) A total of 1,654 fatal road accidents have been reported from the beginning of the year to Aug. 20, claiming 1,749 lives, DIG W.P.J. Senadheera, who oversees the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, said. He said another 4,556 people had been hospitalised or referred for treatment following serious accidents, while 7,295 people had been affected by minor accidents. A further 3,232 incidents involving property damage were also reported during the period, he said. more..

Aug 21 (NW) SLC wishes to announce the appointment of Hashan Tillakaratne as the Batting Coach of the Senior Men’s Program. He will be based at the National High Performance Center of the SLC and will work with the national players as part of the Senior Men’s Program. The former World Cup winner previously served as the batting coach of the SL men’s national team and the head coach of the SL women’s national team. He also has served as the head coach of the Bangladesh more..

Aug 21 (FT) The Cabinet has approved the award of contracts for printing, supplying and delivering seven computer-generated lottery products of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), with the combined value of the selected bids exceeding Rs. 480 million excluding VAT. The contracts, covering a one-year period, will be awarded to the substantially responsive lowest bidders based on recommendations of the High-Level Procurement Committee & Procurement Appeal Board. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday said that the Supreme Court bench to hear the petitions against the 22nd Amendment (22A) should consist of all 13 sitting justices. Addressing the media, Prof. Peiris said that the decision on petitions seeking a referendum should be decided by all judges. He said two previous SC judgements had underscored that any alteration of the retirement ages of superior court judges should be subjected to referendum. more..

Aug 21 (CI) The first thing that strikes you about Sonal Dinusha's batting is the quality of his sweeping. At five-foot-not-very-many, and as a spin-bowling-allrounder who tends to bat lower in the order, he fits the general profile for a good sweeper. But at Galle, against an excellent India spin attack, variations of this shot were the foundation of a match aggregate of 184. Ravindra Jadeja is often one of the toughest spinners more..

Aug 21 (ST) Foreign tourists’ interest in Sri Lankan jewellery reached a new level when a leading southern jeweller began not only selling gems and jewellery but also offering training in jewellery craftsmanship. Devasurendra Gem and Jewellers owner Sanath Jayampathi Devasurendra said, “Foreigners mostly buy jewellery made of 14- and 18-carat white gold. They also like items made with Sri Lankan blue and red rose gemstones. They prefer handmade jewellery.” more..

Aug 21 (NW) Deputy Minister of Finance Anil Jayantha Fernando told Parliament that the govt is confident of achieving its target of USD 9 billion in foreign reserves by the end of 2026, driven by the positive trend in foreign remittances. He noted that in the first seven months of this year, Sri Lankan migrant workers had remitted more than USD 5 billion, underscoring the crucial role of overseas employment in strengthening the country’s external finances. more..

Aug 21 (DM) Multiple restructuring attempts by successive govts on our national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, have only exhausted the patience of not only frequent travellers but also the public. Past interventions had attempted debt write-offs, recapitalisations, operational reforms, partial spin-offs of profitable (SBUs) and reform of the core commercial /operational areas of the airline, none fully resolved airline’s structural challenges. more..

Aug 21 (DM) Ven. Rambukkana Siddhartha, an acclaimed lyricist who rendered an invaluable service to Sri Lankan music literature, Buddhist culture and society, passed away on August 18. He was 76 years old at the time of his death and had been receiving medical treatment for illness. The immense literary contribution he made through language and the writing lyrics is truly outstanding. It is worth reflecting on whether we, as Sri Lankans, have accorded due respect to him. more..

Aug 21 (AD) Police have received reports of vehicles and motorcycles being stolen after motorists and motorcyclists negligently leave their vehicles unattended, ASP F.U. Wootler said. He said there have also been reports of valuable documents and other items being stolen from vehicles and motorcycles that were left unattended. He noted that police had observed instances where three-wheeler drivers and motorcyclists leave their vehicles with the engines running while attending to other more..

Aug 21 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today expressed sorrow in Parliament over the demise of veteran singer Nanda Malini, describing her as a democratic artist who stood with the people throughout her career. Premadasa said Malini embodied human kindness, compassion, and sympathy, and was a rare artist who consistently acted according to her conscience and humanitarian values. He recalled her courage and skill in music, noting that during 1977 election campaign, more..

Aug 21 (TM) MP Namal Rajapaksa left the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), a short while ago, after providing a statement to investigators, said Ada Derana reporter. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian arrived at the FCID this morning (21) in response to a summons issued in connection with an ongoing investigation. He appeared before the FCID to record a statement as part of the investigation being conducted by the division. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Cigarette production in SL has dropped by 32% over the past three years following successive increases in taxes on tobacco products, Deputy Minister of Nishantha Jayaweera told Parliament. He said cigarette production had declined from 2.8 billion sticks in 2022 to 1.9 billion in 2025. He said the Govt’s tobacco taxation policy was aimed not only at increasing State revenue but also at reducing healthcare costs associated with more..

Aug 21 (CI) Australia's shocking defeat against Bangladesh in Darwin has opened up the WTC points table, with Australia's qualification to the final now not such a certainty. They still top the table, but their lead has slipped to a couple of percentage points, with South Africa and New Zealand close behind. India, meanwhile, stayed in the hunt with the win in Galle. Here is a look at where the teams stand, with 36 Tests still remaining in the current cycle. more..

Aug 21 (NW) Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) across the island today (21) reported sick leave in a symbolic strike, protesting the unilateral transfer of the senior‑most PHI attached to the Katunayake Airport Health Office. Sri Lanka Public Health Inspectors’ Association said the decision was taken by its executive committee, which met on the night of August 19. General Secretary Chamila Muthukuda confirmed that the move was intended to highlight opposition to the transfer. more..

Aug 21 (CI) Sri Lanka have responded to their heavy defeat to India in the first Test by bringing in the uncapped pair of Kamil Mishara and Sahan Arachchige for Sunday's second Test in Colombo. Dinesh Chandimal had already been ruled out of the game because of the neck injury he sustained in Galle, but also omitted from the trimmed 14-man squad is opener Nishan Madushka, spin-bowling allrounder Ramesh Mendis, and more..

Aug 21 (DM) Hundreds of people have reportedly experienced vision problems following the use of excessively bright electric lights as decorations at a temple in Jaffna. The incident occurred during a festival held at a Murugan temple in the Piranpatru area of Jaffna, where the temple premises were decorated with extremely bright electric lights that were reportedly harmful to the eyes. As a result, approximately 157 people have so far been admitted to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital more..

Aug 21 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya today delivered a moving condolence message in Parliament on behalf of the govt, mourning the sudden demise of veteran singer Dr. Nanda Malini, who was revered as the golden voice of SL music. PM said she was deeply saddened by the loss of Malini, who enriched the nation’s music and cultural landscape for nearly eight decades with her unparalleled vocal artistry. She described the passing as not only the loss of an incomparable artistic personality but more..

Aug 21 (FT) Despite its strategic location and strong legal foundations, Sri Lanka continues to face challenges in attracting foreign direct investment. The experience of the DIFC offers important insights. The DIFC is frequently described as a successful financial free zone, but its achievements extend far beyond tax incentives and commercial real estate. Its success is rooted in the creation of an integrated business ecosystem supported by modern legislation, specialised courts, more..

Aug 21 (FT) At first glance, it seems improbable that a company developing advanced military simulation technologies for organisations such as the US Marine Corps, the US Military Academy, the UK Ministry of Defence and armed forces across NATO and Commonwealth countries would have its engineering nerve centre in Colombo. Yet, that is precisely the story of SimCentric! Over the past seventeen years, our venture has evolved into a globally recognised defence tech. company, more..

Aug 21 (NW) SL Charter Private Ltd (SLC) has denied any involvement in the alleged sale or distribution of alcohol without a valid Excise licence at a yacht party held at Colombo Port City on Aug 15. The company issued the clarification following reports of raids conducted by the Excise Department at three locations within the Port City over the alleged illegal sale and transportation of liquor. According to the Excise Department, more..

Aug 21 (AD) Govt has declared three days of national morning from tomorrow in view of the passing of legendary singer Nanda Malini. Aug 21, 22 & 23 have been declared as days of national morning in SL. The remains of the late veteran singer Visharad Dr. Nanda Malini will lie in state at the Nanda Malani Sangeetha Ashramaya (Music Academy) located at No. 30, Vijayaba Mawatha, Nawala Road, Nugegoda, from 10 a.m. tomorrow until 3.30 p.m. on Saturday for the public more..

Aug 21 (AD) A total of five individuals have died and three others injured in a serious road accident involving a tipper truck and a tractor in Kumbukkana, Monaragala this morning, police said. Accident occurred on the Kumbukkana Kalu Bridge along the Wellawaya–Monaragala Road when a tipper truck travelling towards Wellawaya collided with a tractor approaching from the opposite direction. 10 people were travelling on the tractor’s trailer at the time of the accident. more..

Aug 21 (NW) Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has acknowledged a shortage of Filgrastim injections at govt hospitals and assured Parliament that steps are being taken to address the immediate shortage within a week. The issue was raised in Parliament by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, who said the medicine, used in chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation and other cancer treatments, was in short supply more..

Aug 21 (Island) Indumini Thilakarathna has been appointed the 59th Surveyor General of SL. She is the first woman to hold the top post in the Survey Department’s history. Thilakarathna joined the Survey Department as a govt surveyor in 1989 and has served in a range of positions during her 37-year career, gaining extensive experience in surveying and administration before being appointed Surveyor General. She received her education at Nivithigala Sumana Maha Vidyalaya, more..

Aug 21 (TM) SL’s economy is facing a paradox that could constrain the country’s economic recovery, where the industries are still facing a critical skills shortage with around 400,000 job vacancies going unfilled, while unemployment persists, where industrial leaders struggle to find qualified workers, Minister Sunil Hadunnetti said. Hadunnetti said: “There is a shortage of essential technical experts in the industrial sector in Sri Lanka, and finding service providers is a challenge. more..