- New Navy Commander calls on Speaker
Newly appointed Navy Commander Vice Admiral Damian Fernando paid a courtesy call on Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne at Parliament on July 7. The discussion covered the Navy’s role in national and maritime security, coordination among state institutions, neutral diplomacy in the Indian Ocean, local boat manufacturing and efforts to support tourism and livelihoods in the Northern Province islands.
- Colombo High Court fixes November 16 hearing in Krrish case against Namal Rajapaksa
The Colombo High Court has fixed November 16 for the hearing of the case filed against MP Namal Rajapaksa over the alleged Krrish transaction. The court ordered summons to be issued to two Indian nationals named as prosecution witnesses under the procedure for serving foreign witnesses. The case concerns an alleged Rs. 70 million misappropriation linked to Krrish Company.
- 2026 GCE O/L exam applications open for school and private candidates
The Department of Examinations has called for applications from school and private candidates for the 2026 GCE Ordinary Level Examination. The application process began on July 4, with school candidates required to apply through principals and private candidates online before the July 23 deadline.
- Colombo-KKS intercity express train to operate only four days weekly
The Railway Department has decided to reduce the daily Colombo-Kankesanthurai Intercity Express service to four days a week from July 10 because of a shortage of operational power sets. The service will run only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, while the Station Masters' Association warned that passengers on the Northern Railway Line are already facing inconvenience.
- Sri Lanka to begin electric railway project next year on 3 routes
Sri Lanka will take initial steps next year to introduce an electric railway service, Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said at the reopening of the renovated Narahenpita Railway Station. The first phase will focus on the Colombo-Panadura, Colombo-Makumbura and Colombo-Ragama corridors as part of wider plans to modernise the railway network and improve public transport.
- CSE extends decline as cautious investors await earnings season
The Colombo Stock Exchange closed lower on Tuesday as investors remained cautious ahead of the quarterly earnings season. The ASPI fell 118.35 points to 21,962.30, while the S&P SL20 dropped 31.55 points to 6,135.50, with market turnover at Rs. 1.53 billion.
- Sampath Bank launches Google Pay for Visa and Mastercard cardholders
Sampath Bank PLC has introduced Google Pay for Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cardholders, enabling contactless payments through Android devices. The bank said tokenization will protect card information while allowing in-store, in-app and online transactions locally and abroad.
- CBL Group appoints Sheamalee Wickramasingha as Chairman
CBL Investments Limited and its group companies have appointed Group Managing Director Sheamalee (Shea) Wickramasingha as Chairman from July 6, 2026, while she continues as Group Managing Director. She succeeds the late Ramya Sanath Amaraweera Wickramasingha and will lead one of Sri Lanka's diversified food manufacturing groups, whose brands reach more than 70 countries.
- IMF holds talks with RARMB on revenue reforms
The Revenue Administration Reform and Modernisation Bureau held discussions with an IMF delegation at the Presidential Secretariat on Sri Lanka’s medium-term revenue reform programme. The talks reviewed changes to tax administration, customs, excise and public revenue systems, with the IMF agreeing to continue technical and advisory support.
- Train derails at Colombo Fort, disrupting rail services
A train scheduled to leave Colombo Fort for Rambukkana derailed at around 4:50 p.m. while approaching its platform, blocking four platforms at the station. The Railways Department warned of delays to several departures while crews worked to clear the tracks, and no injuries were reported.
- Kandy Wastewater Project to include Peradeniya University
The Cabinet has approved expanding the Kandy City Wastewater Management Project to include the University of Peradeniya and extend the project timeline to December 31, 2027. Officials say the university inclusion will cost about Rs. 2,000 million, with Rs. 800 million from JICA loan funds and the balance from local resources.
- Namal-led group launches A Team Next Wave
Opposition MPs Namal Rajapaksa, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Anuradha Jayaratne, D. V. Chanaka and Chanaka Madugoda have launched a new political platform called A Team Next Wave. They said it aims to unite opposition voices inside and outside Parliament and build a broader alliance to raise public concerns on national issues.
- Cabinet approves compensation for four more patients who lost vision after eye surgery
The Cabinet has approved Rs. 1 million each in compensation for four more patients who became blind after complications linked to Prednisolone Acetate eye drops used after surgeries. The cases were reviewed by a special expert ophthalmic committee after earlier compensation had been paid to 17 affected patients.
- Govt to expand vessel monitoring system for fishing fleet
The Cabinet has approved expanding Sri Lanka's Vessel Monitoring System to cover 1,500 multi-day and one-day fishing vessels registered before January 1, 2021. The Fisheries Ministry says the government will bear installation costs as part of efforts to curb illegal fishing and maritime crimes while meeting international monitoring requirements.
- Sri Lanka Expo set for January 2027
The Cabinet has approved holding the Sri Lanka Expo 2027 International Exhibition from January 14 to 17, 2027. The Cabinet Procurement Committee has recommended awarding the exhibition management contract to Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services and Aitken Spence Travels for Rs. 178.71 million, inclusive of taxes.
- Sri Lanka to pilot bus sector clustering on key routes
The Cabinet has approved a pilot programme to introduce bus sector clustering on routes 170, 177 and 190. The government says the model is intended to reduce overcrowding, unsafe competition and timetable problems by managing interconnected routes as coordinated clusters.
- Moratuwa University closes temporarily over dengue risk
The University of Moratuwa has been temporarily closed until July 14 because of the spread of dengue on campus, Vice Chancellor Prof. N.D. Gunawardena said. He said the decision was taken for student safety and to disinfect the university premises and hostels, while arrangements have been made to continue lectures online.
- Commonwealth lawyers warn over judicial retirement age amendment
Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association President Steven Thiru warned that proposed changes to the retirement age of Sri Lanka’s superior court judges could damage public confidence if introduced without transparent consultation. Speaking at a BASL forum, he said reforms affecting judicial tenure should avoid benefiting sitting judges and should protect the appearance and reality of judicial independence.
- Shasheendra Rajapaksa among three indicted in corruption case
The Colombo High Court formally served indictments on former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two others over alleged corruption linked to compensation payments after the May 2022 unrest. The court granted each accused bail on two personal sureties of Rs. 1 million, imposed overseas travel restrictions and fixed a pre-trial conference for August 5.
- National drive begins to protect 1,000 archaeological sites
A nationwide initiative to preserve 1,000 archaeological sites across Sri Lanka began on July 7 alongside Archaeology Week, Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said. The first phase will focus on 100 selected sites, while community conservation committees are expected to support excavation, research and preservation work under the Department of Archaeology.