Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
Prison system under severe strain
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has convened an urgent meeting with key stakeholders to accelerate measures to restore stability and strengthen security across correctional facilities 57 dead in prison unrest since July 5 Govt. suspects organised...
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Bravo Mr. President but please address the reality of your people too
In a span of over one and a half years in office, you have lived up to your word and kept a key election pledge that those who were embroiled in corruption in the previous governments would be taken to task and justice would be served to the people of...
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GOVT COMMITTED TO ARREST WRONGDOERS
Hot on the heels of the arrest of politicians implicated in past wrongdoings, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said yesterday that the government is committed to bring all kinds of wrongdoers to book in conformity with the mandate it received...
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Joint Opposition raises alarm over proposed Anti-corruption (Amendment) Bill
T he Joint Opposition raised alarms over the proposed Anti-corruption (Amendment) Bill where it stated bail provisions threaten the Fundamental Rights and will worsen the deadly prison overcrowding. The statement signed by one time minister Prof. G....
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Unconvicted inmates make up over 72% of prison population
Amid growing concerns over overcrowding in prisons across the country, it is identified that nearly three-fourths of inmates are remand prisoners with cases pending against them. The authorities are now implementing a series of initiatives to increase...
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EXPIRED DENGUE KITS IN USE?
Right now we cannot carry out monitoring regarding expired test kits as we don’t have a proper work force In Sri Lanka, obtaining accreditation for private medical institutions is a voluntary practice. However, Dr. Tennakoon pointed out that no...
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HOW SRI LANKA MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A 200 BILLION DOLLAR ECONOMY
Economic policy disruption in 2015 had a long-term dampening effect of economic expansion – similar to the start of ethnic conflict in 1980s For the first time in history, Sri Lankan economy surpassed the hundred billion dollar mark in 2025. Gross...
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Withdraw the proposal to extend retirement age of judges: Anglican Church of Sri Lanka
The Church of Ceylon (Anglican Church of Sri Lanka) which condemned the move to extend the retirement age of judges urged the government to withdraw the cabinet paper which has been introduced to that effect. Following is the statement signed by...
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GOVT SHOULD BE JUDGED BY ITS ACTIONS
Justice Minister pressed on seriousness of judges’ retirement age proposal The government has already obtained Cabinet approval to amend the Constitution to extend the retirement age of superior court judges The BASL has argued that the proposal...
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Govt. rules out the need
Amidst various claims that the proposed Constitutional amendment seeking to extend the retirement age of superior court judges is required to be approved by a referendum, the government yesterday dismissed the call, claiming that the Constitution...
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LEADING PRESIDENTS’ COUNSEL VOICE SERIOUS CONCERNS
Five leading Presidents’ Counsel, including a member of the National People’s Power (NPP) Leadership Council and the Executive Council Lal Wijenayake, yesterday protested the government’s move to extend the retirement age of judges by two years. Mr...
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SRI LANKA’S UNDERWORLD VIOLENCE ESCALATES
Sri Lanka has recorded 22 shooting incidents so far this year, leaving 15 people dead and 12 others injured. Nearly half of these incidents, 10 in total, were reported within the two-week period between July 11 and July 25. The 10 shootings during...
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GOVT. ON ALERT OVER RISING CRIMES INVOLVING FOREIGN NATIONALS
The government is on high alert over an increasing number of crimes involving foreign nationals across Sri Lanka, following a recent abduction and murder of a Chinese national linked to a suspected rivalry between Chinese groups in Colombo. Deputy...
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21 COMPANIES UNDER CID PROBE OVER ALLEGED $700 MN IMPORT SCAM
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday informed Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama that investigations are underway to establish the involvement of 21 leading companies in a largescale racket involving the illegal transfer of...
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JAPAN SEEKS INTEREST ON DELAYED LRT COMPENSATION PAYMENTS
Japan has requested the Sri Lankan government to pay interest on the delayed settlement of compensation arising from the cancellation of the Japan-funded Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, in addition to the compensation already paid in three...
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US $ 715 MILLION SIPHONED OFF
In what appeared to be a massive financial irregularity, the police informed the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) yesterday that approximately US$ 715 million (Rs. 240 billion) , is likely to have been earned through criminal activities such as drug...
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29 UNUSED OIL TANKS IN TRINCOMALEE OPEN FOR LOCAL, FOREIGN INVESTORS
In a bid for the commercialisation of the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm, Trinco Petroleum Terminal Ltd (TPTL) is planning to go for international bidding for the development of 29 tanks out of 61 tanks in its possession, an official said yesterday. A...
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MATCH FIXING GAMBLING REGULATIONS RELATED TO CRICKET IN LIMBO
The COPF met with GRA officials, including its Chairman N.M.W.N. Bandara, last week at a meeting Mr. Bandara said the Authority required policy guidance from the government before it could develop a regulatory framework to oversee gambling activities...
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PTA ACCUSED GRANTED BAIL AFTER 15 YEARS
The Court of Appeal has granted bail to a man who had remained in remand custody for nearly 15 years under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), ruling that such prolonged pre-trial detention amounted to an exceptional circumstance warranting his...
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ILLEGAL BETTING ACTIVITIES THRIVE,
The country continues to lose tax revenue because of unlawful and unregulated gaming activities carried out both online and physically No regulations have been enforced as yet Officials, however, said they had finalized regulations for the operation...
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Sri Lanka’s dengue battle at crossroads
Sri Lanka is once again fighting a familiar enemy. But this time, the warning signs are becoming harder to ignore. With reported dengue cases surpassing 70,000 and the death toll nearing 50, the country is edging closer to another major public health...
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SRI LANKAN POLITICIANS HAVE LONGER LIFESPANS, STUDY FINDS
More than 10% lived beyond the age of 75, while around five politicians had reached or surpassed the age of 80 Longer life expectancy of politicians has been attributed to several factors, including access to high-quality healthcare A recent study...
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MAGISTRATES, DISTRICT COURT JUDGES UP IN ARMS AGAINST MOVE
With pressure mounting on the Government from the country’s legal fraternity over the move for retirement age extension for Superior Court judges, the Judicial Service Association of Sri Lanka (JSASL), the sole organisation representing all District...
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GOVT. WILL USE STATE FUNDS FOR REPAYMENT UNLESS STOLEN MONEY RECOVERED
The Finance Ministry Secretary had been in the dark about the existence of such an outdated system for crucial payments The government will use its funds to repay US $ 2.5 million to Australia unless the monies lost in the cyber theft are recovered,...
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US $ 2.5MN CYBERCRIME: WAS THERE ANY AGENCY INVOLVED; CID URGED TO FIND
While concluding that US $ 2.5 million loan repayment drama has been a fraud which is more or less a cybercrime, the report of the probe carried out by the parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has called for a further probe by the law...
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Spa raided; Couple arrested for filming clients, selling sex videos online
Acouple and five others were arrested after police raided a spa in Bandarawela that was secretly running a brothel — and found hidden cameras filming clients. The raid took place last morning in Ellethota. Police say the couple had placed cameras in...
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AI ‘WOMEN’ ON FACEBOOK LURE SRI LANKANS INTO SCAMS, ADULT CHATS
Anetwork of Ai-generated female profiles on Facebook is being used to create fake identities, manipulate users through emotional and sexualised content, and redirect them to adult-chat services, gambling sites, cryptocurrency promotions and other...
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TEARFUL RONALDO BOWS OUT
St Benedict’s College along with Devapathiraja MMV Ratgama, DS Senanayake College, Sri Dharmaloka MV Kelaniya and St Aloysius College Galle won their matches against Lyceum IS Wattala, Dharmasoka MV Ambalangoda, Wesley College, President’s College...
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CARNAGE!
How did prisoners access guns? Drug trade rivalry suspected behind Negombo Prison riot: Two T-56 reportedly stolen 26 including 7 prison officers killed in Negombo jail riot Justice Minister accepts responsibility Opposition Leader blames govt.,...
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SRI LANKA’S NEXT IMF
Sri Lanka is once again approaching a consequential economic debate. As the present programme with the International Monetary Fund moves towards its concluding stages, the country will inevitably have to confront a difficult question: should Sri Lanka...
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INTERNATIONAL CALL TO PAUSE PTA USE
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has told the Government that the draft Anti-terrorism Bill retains and expands the shortcomings identified in the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), while introducing new risks and...
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GOVT. YET TO REACH FINAL DECISION ON SINOPEC REFINERY
According to the source, the government has certain limitations in granting special concessions to a specific project because of the programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which seeks a level playing field The government is yet to reach...
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Easter Attack investigation
olombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today ordered former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay, who is being detained and questioned under a Detention Order in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, to provide the...
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INFLATION CLIMBS
IMF not ready to sound alarm Taking a wait-and-see approach until a clearer picture emerges on whether inflationary pressures are becoming entrenched Households and businesses are already grappling with higher lending rates following the Central...
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SRI LANKA WOOS U.S. INVESTMENTS FOR COLOMBO PORT DEVELOPMENT
Sri Lanka has wooed U.S. investment in the development of the Colombo port and integrated infrastructure at a recent summit in Washington, a Deputy Minister said yesterday. The Colombo port is one of the biggest strategic assets of Sri Lanka, with the...
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HOSPITALS REACH FULL CAPACITY AS CASES SURGE .
With Sri Lanka’s dengue outbreak reaching epidemic levels, patients are facing severe difficulties as hospitals in several parts of the country have reached full capacity to accommodate the growing number of dengue cases. Hospital sources told the...
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Sri Lankas's dengue outbreak reaches epidemic level
Sri Lanka’s dengue outbreak has reached epidemic levels, with cases crossing the 50,000 mark, health authorities confirmed to Daily Mirror. Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit, Dr Kapila Kannangara, told the Daily Mirror that the rapid...
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COUNTRY LOSES US $ 1 BILLION IN FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS, CERTAIN BANKS INVOLVED
In a shocking disclosure, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in Parliament yesterday that the country had lost as much as US $ 1 billion because of the transfer of a whopping Rs.300 billion ill-gotten cash in terms of Telegraphic Transfers and...
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154 DEATH ROW INMATES CLEARED FOR PRESIDENTIAL PARDON REMAIN IN PRISON AFTER MORE THAN FOUR YEARS
Atotal of 154 death row inmates who were recommended for release under a presidential pardon by several expert committees appointed by the Ministry of Justice in previous governments have remained behind bars for more than four years, according to...
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US $ 2.5 million cyber theft SRI LANKA PROMISES TO MAKE PAYMENT CLEARANCE AS SOON AS FEASIBLE
The recent US $2.5 million cyber theft from the newly established Public Debt Management Office (Pdmo)—where a sovereign debt repayment to Australia was intercepted via systemic digital breaches, had a direct bearing on Sri Lanka’s programme with the...
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DENGUE PASSES 1,000 CASES DAILY
Anyone experiencing warning signs such as persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, bleeding gums or extreme fatigue to seek immediate medical attention Sri Lanka is experiencing an unprecedented surge in dengue infections, with more than 1,000...
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HOLD SLC ELECTIONS OR GET BLACKLISTED, ICC INFORMS PRESIDENT AKD
The International Cricket Council has put forward a request to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to hold the elections of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on or before July 31, and has emphasised that if local authorities fail to do so Sri Lanka once again...
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Govt. to repeal PTA, introduce new law
By The Government intends to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and introduce a new peoplecentric piece of legislation within the next two months, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara said. Speaking during a...
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SRI LANKA, INDIA RECOGNIZE URGENCY,
In the wake of the West Asian or Middle East crisis, Sri Lanka and India have recognized the need for the expeditious implementation of the Trincomalee petroleum hub project for energy security, but no specific timeline is carved out yet, Daily Mirror...
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MEDICINE PRICES SET TO SURGE
Pharmaceutical prices are expected to rise after the government indicated its willingness to address concerns raised by Indian suppliers regarding the non-renewal of import licenses and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA)’S insistence on...
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HOSPITALS UNDER PRESSURE AS DENGUE CASES SPIKE
Health authorities have raised concerns that Sri Lanka’s healthcare system could come under severe pressure if the current rise in dengue admissions continues. Commenting on the situation, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said several hospitals,...
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GOVT. TO BRING FRESH LAWS TO CURB MONEY LAUNDERING
In the wake of tens of millions of US dollars being transferred out of the country through fraudulent transactions, the government is planning to strengthen laws governing money laundering by introducing fresh legal amendments, Public Security Minister...
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TREASURY AND CPC WEIGH OPTIONS ON FUEL PRICES AS RS. 57 BN FUEL ALLOCATION NEARS EXHAUSTION
The government is considering maintaining current domestic fuel prices without implementing an increase, even after the existing state subsidy concludes, provided that the current downward trend in the global oil market remains steady. The government...
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STATE BUNGALOWS, PREVIOUSLY USED BY CABINET MINISTERS, STILL LIE IDLE
The government is yet to convert the state bungalows, previously occupied by various ministers in the past, to valuable commercial entities despite promises made ahead of the Presidential Election in 2024, Daily Mirror learns. The National People’s...
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EL NINO TO HIT SRI LANKA’S POWER GENERATION
Amidst various forecasts regarding the impact of the El Nino phenomenon expected to hit Sri Lanka in the coming months, Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy Anura Karunathilaka said yesterday that the Ministry of Energy has forecast that the...
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Sri Lanka’s university system handicapped with dearth of teachers
Sri Lanka’s state university system is facing a critical shortage of academic staff that could compromise the quality of higher education and professional training, Prof. Prageeth Weerathunga, President of the Federation of University Teachers’...
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PEOPLE LEAN
Sri Lankans have increasingly turned to personal and consumption-related borrowing over the past two years, with personal loans recording a sharp 35 per cent increase between December 2024 and March 2026, the latest data show. According to a research...
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AKD concentrates on quantity while Yahapalanaya on quality
The United National Party ( UNP) yesterday questioned the accuracy of a recent report produced by a local think-tank comparing the number of pieces legislations approved during the time of Maithripala Sirisena government with the time of Anura Kumara...
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GOVT. PRESSES AHEAD TO JOIN WORLD’S LARGEST TRADING BLOC
Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand throw open arms to embrace Sri Lanka SL strategic location, maritime connectivity potential matter to RCEP –Indonesian Ambassador New Zealand wants RCEP to be more dynamic, open – Envoy RCEP offers enormous...
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The Super El Niño is Not a Prophecy of Doom. It is a Deadline
It is easy to read headlines about the coming Super El Niño in 2026 and feel a familiar dread. After the economic implosion of 2022, the agricultural wipeout of 2021, and the floods of recent years, we suffer from climate fatigue. We treat these...
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REBUILDING SRI LANKA FUND LIES IDLE
While many people affected by the Ditawah cyclone are still languishing in safe centres or in temporary locations waiting to be relocated, it was revealed yesterday that the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund established aiming to rebuild the country...
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SEVERE HEAT IN JULY-AUGUST
S ri Lanka is expected to experience significantly hotter-than-normal weather conditions during July and August this year as the developing El Niño phenomenon begins to influence the global climate, the Department of Meteorology warned. Speaking to...
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Sri Lanka must stop fearing investment
A friend of mine in Bengaluru recently made a remark that stayed with me. Sri Lankan governments constantly speak about attracting foreign investment. But if someone arrived with a billion dollars to invest, where exactly in Sri Lanka could they...
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ABOLISHING EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY NOT A PRIORITY FOR GOVT. RIGHT NOW
The introduction of a new Constitution including the abolishing of the Executive Presidency is not a priority for the government at the moment though it was an election promise, a senior government source said yesterday. The National People’s Power...
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ECONOMIC GROWTH TO SLOW DOWN TO 3 PERCENT - IMF
The IMF has forcasted Sri Lanka’s economic growth to moderate at three percent this year , slightly slower than predictions by the Central Bank, according to its Mission Chief Evan Papageogiou The growth was at five percent last year. Addressing a...
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PRESIDENT TO GET TOUGH ON INDISCIPLINED MONKS
We all have a responsibility to protect Buddhism. I invite everyone to get together and work towards that end The Government will amend Sections 41 and 42 of the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance soon to establish Sangha Council to discipline...
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Fuel Steady supply till November
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has confirmed that Sri Lanka will not experience a fuel shortage until November, while also dismissing social media reports of an imminent fuel price revision and claims of panic buying. CPC Managing Director Dr....
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SRI LANKANS TURN TO RENOVATING OLD HOMES AS BUILDING COSTS SOAR
Severe mismatch in apartment pricing and lack of affordable financing stall entry for first-time buyers despite emerging suburban hotspots. Rising material costs force buyers to target lands with existing older structures for renovation rather than...
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Work from home soon
In a bid for economic risk mitigation over the falling dollar rate and surging import bills, the government mulls the reintroduction of work from home for the public and private sector employees as done during the pandemic, an official said...
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FBI ARRIVES IN SRI LANKA
Despite the intense collaborative effort, investigators admit they are yet to conclusively verify the exact transaction paths or identify the final destination accounts where the millions ultimately landed Ateam from the U.S. Federal Bureau of...
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Can Sri Lanka navigate its way out of crisis?
As the nation grapples with a volatile cocktail of fiscal mismanagement, soaring inflation, an escalating energy crisis, high taxation, and the looming threat of El Nino, economic forecasters are revising their growth projections for 2026. In this...
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Is Sri Lanka performing genderchange procedures on children?
A controversy has arisen in Sri Lanka following claims questioning whether gender-change procedures are being carried out on children in the country’s hospitals. The issue was originally raised by Elle Gunawansa Thero during a television programme,...
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RUPEE DEPRECIATION’S DOUBLE EDGE
Sri Lanka has done impressive work on its domestic finances. We achieved a primary surplus and collected nearly 5 trillion rupees in taxes. But this success is in rupees only. Our external balance sheet – the one measured in dollars – remains...
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Sri Lankans crash under Kiwis
The visiting New Zealand A women’s team clinched the three match oneday series against host Sri Lanka A women when they coasted to a convincing 84 runs win on the D/L method in the third encounter played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday. The...
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INVITING OPPOSITION MPS?
ollowing months of speculation of arguments and rifts within the NPP camp, the Daily Mirror reliably learns that some senior government members have told President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to consider inviting capable parliamentarians from the...
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ANOTHER ERRONEOUS TRANSACTION RATTLES GOVT
Hot on the heels of two cyber thefts that rattled the Government, another erroneous transaction involving more than Rs. 80 million had taken place in the payment of dues to Srilankan Airlines’ service provider in Dubai. The payment, made in the UAE’S...
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WHO IS DELAYING JUSTICE?
C oncerns have been raised within the legal fraternity over the continuous delay in appointing judges to the Superior Courts, with eight vacancies currently remaining unfilled in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal for several months. The Daily...
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