News

A tree planting and conservation initiative was launched Wednesday along Marine Drive, from Kollupitiya Railway Station to Wellawatte, in observance of World Environment Day.

The project, part of the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, is being led by the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat Office. On its first day, 1,600 Takkada (Scaevola taccada) saplings were planted, with a target of reaching 6,000.

Scaevola taccada, listed as a threatened species on the Red Data List, is known for its resistance to saline environments. The plant grows up to six feet and is considered suitable for urban settings due to its dense foliage and compact size.

The project involves state institutions, private sector organizations and members of the public. Participating agencies include the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Railways, Road Development Authority, Urban Development Authority and Colombo Municipal Council. It is sponsored by LB Finance PLC and Hemsandu Marketing Company.

Colombo Municipal Councillor Vraie Cally Balthazaar and Senior Additional Secretary to the President G.M.R.D. Appuhamy were among those in attendance.

Professor K.T.M. Udayanga Hemapala has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) following the resignation of Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya.

Prof. Hemapala served as the Secretary to the Ministry of Energy in Sri Lanka.

Prior to that appointment, he served as Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Moratuwa University.

This appointment has been officially communicated in a filing with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) on June 03, 2025.

It notifies that the resignation of Chairman / Member (Non-Executive/Independent) Eng. (Dr.) D.J.T. Siyambalapitiya was ratified at the Board meeting held on May 27, with immediate effect.

It also notifies that the same board meeting ratified the appointment of new Chairman / Member (Non-Executive / Independent) Eng. (Prof.) K.T.M.U. Hemapala with immediate effect.

Dr. Siyambalapitiya had tendered his resignation as Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) on May 11. He had been appointed to the post on September 26, 2024.

Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has acknowledged the deep-rooted environmental and administrative crises facing Sri Lanka, placing significant blame on political authority and calling for urgent reform.

The speech, delivered before a gathering of officials and stakeholders to mark World Environment Day, began by highlighting the contrast between Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and the hidden tragedies beneath. The President reflected on the country’s transformation from a land once free of natural disasters to one plagued by landslides, floods, and droughts.

A key focus was the escalating human-elephant conflict, with statistics revealing that approximately 172 people and 450 elephants die annually due to these encounters. The President emphasized the breakdown of harmony between humans and nature, calling it a national tragedy.

The address took a bold turn as President AKD directly accused political figures of contributing to environmental degradation. From illegal sand mining and rock quarrying to deforestation and unauthorized mining, the President pointed to political protection and ownership as root causes.

President Dissanayake also criticized segments of the administrative system, citing corruption in departments such as the RMV, Immigration, Customs, and the Ministry of Environment. While acknowledging that not all officials are complicit, the President urged the bureaucracy to shed outdated practices and embrace reform.

The President pledged full political support for systemic change and warned that those unwilling to change would be changed.

The Ambassador of Palestine to Sri Lanka, Ihab Khalil, met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath on June 2 to discuss the situation in Gaza and bilateral matters, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting at the ministry, Khalil thanked Sri Lanka for its continued support of Palestine at regional and international forums. He also expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka’s donation of US$1 million to the Gaza Children’s Fund through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Herath reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s support for Palestinian statehood under the United Nations Charter and relevant resolutions. He said Sri Lanka remained committed to a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders as the path toward lasting peace and security in the region.

Mount Lavinia Magistrate Chathurika de Silva today (5)ordered that former Minister and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake, along with three other suspects, be remanded until June 19. The order follows the discovery of a gold-colored T-56 assault rifle at the Havelock City apartment complex in Wellawatte.

The suspects were arrested in connection with the incident, which is under investigation by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID). During today’s court proceedings, President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Dissanayake, drew the magistrate’s attention to an affidavit submitted by a TID sub-inspector to obtain a search warrant.

According to the affidavit, a suspect in custody claimed during interrogation that a yellow and black travel bag—previously located at No. 56, Skelton Road, Colombo 05—was later found in a room belonging to Vishaka Iraingani Kumari at the Elibank Tower in Havelock City, Colombo 06.

However, the suspect, also a cook, reportedly stated that he was unaware of the bag’s contents.

President’s Counsel Mendis pointed out inconsistencies between the affidavit and a subsequent TID report, which claimed that the bag containing the firearm was handed over by the third suspect to the first suspect. The affidavit did not mention the presence of a firearm in the bag, raising questions about the reliability of the statements.

Mendis emphasized that the statements made by the first, second, and third suspects were contradictory and questionable.

A previous court order had authorized a search of Duminda Dissanayake’s residence in Anuradhapura. TID officers reported that nothing suspicious was found, although they were unable to open a safe due to the absence of a key.

Investigators also discovered several airline tickets—purchased online by Dissanayake’s brother—inside the same bag that allegedly contained the firearm. These tickets are now part of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities have requested that the T-56 rifle and a CD containing CCTV footage from the first suspect’s residence be sent to the Government Analyst’s Department to confirm the weapon’s classification under the Firearms Ordinance and verify its presence at the location.

The magistrate granted this request and ordered the evidence to be submitted for forensic analysis.

TID officers informed the court that they intend to seek advice from the Attorney General as soon as the investigation concludes.

Due to the potential for interference with the investigation, the magistrate denied bail for all suspects and ordered that they be produced in court again on June 19.

Duminda Dissanayake was arrested on May 23.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali today (3) ordered to release on bail, former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, his son Ramith Rambukwella, in connection with a high-profile corruption investigation.

The suspects were granted bail under strict conditions, including three personal sureties of Rs. 1 million each and three cash bails of Rs. 50,000 each.

The court also imposed a travel ban on the accused and ordered the surrender of their passports to the court.

A third suspect, Nishantha Bandara Basnayake, who served as the coordinating secretary to the former minister, was released on two personal sureties of Rs. 1 million each and a cash bail of Rs. 100,000.

The arrests were made by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) in connection with three complaints alleging misuse of public funds during Keheliya Rambukwella’s tenure as Minister of Mass Media, Health, and Environment between 2021 and 2023.

According to the charges, 15 individuals were allegedly appointed to the minister’s personal staff in name only, with their salaries and overtime allowances—amounting to over Rs. 8 million—reportedly diverted for personal and political use.

The case has been scheduled for further hearing on October 10, 2025.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekara appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this afternoon (4) to provide a statement. While his visit to the CID has been officially confirmed, the specific details of the questioning have not been disclosed.

Reports suggest that the statement may be related to the alleged release of 323 containers and the disbursement of funds from the Presidential Fund—both subjects of recent public scrutiny. However, authorities have not confirmed the exact nature of the inquiry.

Novel variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus that cause COVID-19 disease have not been detected in Sri Lanka, Secretary to the Ministry of Health Dr. Anil Jasinghe has confirmed.

Issuing a special statement on the COVID-19 situation in Sri Lanka, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said in May 2025, specimens tested by the Medical Research Institute (MRI) confirmed the presence of previously identified sub-lineages of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Health stated despite the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus, novel variants were not detected during recent tests, and no evidence of increased severity or complications has been reported.

According to Sri Lanka’s Respiratory Surveillance System, during 2024, 3% of respiratory specimens tested for SARS-CoV-2 yielded positive results. This figure peaked at 9.6% in May 2024. The average positivity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far this year is approximately 2%, with a slight increase observed at present.

Thus, an increase in reported COVID-19 cases was observed in May 2024 and again in May 2025.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), a global increase in the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been reported since February 2025.

Based on the International Respiratory Surveillance System, several countries, including several countries in Asia have reported a notable rise in COVID-19 cases in recent months.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe said ongoing observation and research-based monitoring are still in progress in Sri Lanka.

He said, compared to recent years, seasonal increases in respiratory illnesses like influenza are commonly observed during this period, especially under prevailing climatic conditions.

Accordingly, Dr. Jasinghe said health authorities are vigilant in monitoring disease trends, and the public need not panic unnecessarily.

He said, if individuals experience fever or respiratory symptoms, there is no need for hospital admission out of fear. However, if someone experiences difficulty breathing, medical attention should be sought, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health said.

The statement by Dr. Anil Jasinghe further said:

“It is important to maintain good respiratory etiquette and general health practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections, such as influenza. Recommended measures include covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or the elbow when coughing or sneezing, avoiding unnecessary contact with the face, and ensuring frequent hand hygiene through proper hand washing or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. It is also advisable to avoid touching the face with unclean hands. Individuals exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness should wear a face mask to minimize the risk of transmitting the infection to others and avoid crowded public settings unless essential.

“Special attention must be directed towards high-risk populations, as they are more susceptible to developing complications from respiratory infections. These groups include older adults, pregnant women, and infants and young children, whose immune systems are either compromised or still developing. Furthermore, individuals with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, diabetes, renal disease, cancer, or other chronic diseases, as well as those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, are at increased risk and require additional protection.”

Education Minister and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says there are no immediate plans to cancel the Grade 05 Scholarship Examination.

Addressing the Parliament today, the PM pointed out that the examination cannot be abolished immediately, as it could only be carried out in line with certain other reforms.

She further said that steps will be taken to minimise the pressure on students sitting for the examination, and that this will be done by 2028 and 2029.

PM Harini Amarasuriya made the remarks in response to a question raised by opposition MP Rohini Kumari Wijeratne in Parliament today.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued a stern warning against what he described as a deeply entrenched black-market network that is depriving the state of its rightful tax revenue.

Speaking during National Tax Week, the President pledged to dismantle the shadow economy and hold all those involved accountable — regardless of their status or affiliations.

“There’s a peaceful system we see on the surface — but beneath it lies a black system,” the President said. “This network includes smugglers, corrupt officials, political actors, and even elements of the media.”

He revealed that recent customs inspections uncovered illegally imported goods from well-known brands, exposing the scale of tax evasion and regulatory violations.

The President emphasized that:

• No one is above the law, including public officials and business elites.

• Every rupee of tax paid by citizens will be protected.

• Severe legal action will be taken against those who attempt to misuse public funds or evade taxes.

He called on all honest taxpayers to continue fulfilling their obligations, assuring them that the government is committed to protecting their contributions and restoring public trust in the state’s financial systems.

After nearly a decade, SriLankan Airlines has added a new aircraft to its fleet.

The Airbus A330-200, registered as 4R-ALT, arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport this morning (4).

The aircraft, previously operated by Garuda Indonesia, was acquired on a lease basis and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. It features 18 Business Class seats and 242 Economy Class seats, all equipped with wireless in-flight entertainment and USB charging ports, offering passengers a modern and comfortable travel experience.

Before landing, the aircraft performed a low-altitude fly-past along the western coastline—from Colombo Port City to Moratuwa—drawing crowds along the shoreline who gathered to witness the grand arrival.

The fly-past was a suggestion by Captain Patrick, and executed under the command of Captain Rajinda Ranatunga, who piloted the aircraft from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

The aircraft touched down at 9:30 AM, where it was greeted with a traditional water salute at the airport.

Speaking to the media, Chairman Sarath Clement Ganegoda emphasized that this addition is part of a broader strategy to scale operations. “Rather than downsizing, we are expanding to reach a scale that ensures profitability,” he stated.

He also reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to financial independence, noting that SriLankan Airlines has not sought Treasury support in recent months and aims to continue operating without burdening the state.

With this addition, the airline’s fleet now stands at 23 aircraft, and the new A330-200 will be deployed across both short- and long-haul routes, depending on operational requirements.

The Ministry of Environment has announced the designation of the natural habitat of the endangered freshwater fish species 'Bandula Pethiya' as a conservation zone.

This decision aligns with a series of special initiatives launched to mark International Day for Biological Diversity.

The 'Bandula Pethiya' or the Bandula barb, a freshwater fish species endemic to Sri Lanka, is found exclusively in the Galapitamada area within the Warakapola Divisional Secretariat.

The species is currently under threat of extinction due to habitat degradation and environmental pressures.

The official conservation program is scheduled to take place in Galapitamada under the leadership of Deputy Minister of Environment, Anton Jayakody.

The initiative aims to ensure the long-term survival of this rare species by preserving its natural ecosystem.

In a parallel development, the Ministry also announced that the Nilgala Forest will be formally declared a protected reserve today.

The declaration ceremony will be held at the Rathugala Indigenous Heritage Center in Bibile at 8:00 a.m., under the patronage of Minister of Environment, Dr. Dammika Patabendi.

The Nilgala Forest, which spans 40,683 hectares, includes four key conservation blocks: Madagama, Bibile, Nilgala, and Inginiyagala. The Bibile region is considered the core conservation area within the forest.

Today marks the fourth day of Sri Lanka’s Environment Week, which is being observed in conjunction with World Environment Day.