Category: Daily Financial Times

Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development on Wednesday ordered a comprehensive assessment of losses caused by 19 shipments of substandard coal supplied to Sri Lanka between January and July, widening the scope of an earlier estimate that put losses from nine shipments at Rs.8.5 billion.

Committee Chairman SJB MP S.M. Marrikkar this week said all 19 shipments received from the same South African supplier during the seven-month period had been found to be substandard. In March, Marrikkar disclosed that losses from nine shipments of substandard coal supplied by the company had amounted to Rs.8.5 billion.

The Committee has now instructed officials from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, Lanka Coal Company, National System Operator and Lakvijaya Power Plant to form a committee headed by the Energy Ministry Secretary and prepare a comprehensive report quantifying the total losses.

The assessment is also expected to account for wear and tear caused to the Lakvijaya Power Plant from the use of substandard coal.

The Committee was informed that the South African supplier had been fined $ 36.5 million in penalties for the substandard coal, while an additional $ 611,000 had been invoiced as penalties for delayed deliveries.

Marrikkar also raised concerns over delays in obtaining Cabinet approval to call fresh tenders for coal required from October, with existing stocks expected to be exhausted by mid-September.

He urged the Energy Ministry Secretary to press the Minister to expedite the approval process to avoid delays in securing the next coal requirement.

The Government has moved to block access to 122 unauthorised online gambling and betting websites with immediate effect, widening regulatory action against unlicensed operators targeting users in Sri Lanka. This is a sharp increase from 24 blocked earlier this week.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority, which operates under the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry, has taken action under the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025 against the 122 websites for providing online gambling and betting services without the required licences.

Accordingly, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), under the Digital Economy Ministry, has instructed all telecommunications service providers to prevent access to the identified websites from within Sri Lanka.

The Finance Ministry said operating or promoting online gambling services without valid licences required under Sections 15, 16 and 18 of the Act constitutes an offence and illegal activity under Section 44.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority also urged the public to refrain from engaging in or investing money through unauthorised online gambling platforms operating outside Sri Lanka’s legal framework.

The 122 websites identified for immediate restriction include multiple domains associated with 1xBet, Melbet, Betway, Unibet, Bet365, 1Win, Stake, Mostbet, Parimatch, Betwinner and other online betting platforms. The full list is contained in the Finance Ministry notice.

The Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities has called for disability inclusion to be embedded across all sectors of the 2027 National Budget, following the official submission of a comprehensive set of recommendations developed through Sri Lanka’s first-ever national participatory Budget consultations with persons with disabilities.

Led by the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities Chair Sugath Wasantha de Silva, MP, alongside participating Members of Parliament from the Caucus, the consultations were held on 25 and 27 May 2026, bringing together persons with disabilities and representatives from across the country to identify national Budget priorities. The process resulted in 234 Budget proposals covering government ministries and independent commissions, together with six overarching policy recommendations aligned with the Government’s ‘Leaving No One Behind’ National Policy Framework.

The recommendations were officially handed over to Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, on 16 July 2026, and subsequently submitted to Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministry Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma on 23 July 2026, for consideration during the formulation of the 2027 National Budget.

The six priority recommendations call for:

Speaking on the initiative, MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva emphasised that equal opportunities for persons with disabilities are fundamental to inclusive national development.

‘Empowering persons with disabilities through equal opportunities is essential to ensuring their full participation in society. These recommendations seek to translate the Government’s policy commitments into practical action through the national Budget.’

Receiving the proposals, Secretary to the President and Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministry, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing disability inclusion and noted that several policy decisions had already been taken to strengthen the equal participation of persons with disabilities in national development.

The Parliamentary Caucus highlighted that the recommendations represent one of the most comprehensive disability-focused Budget submissions made in Sri Lanka and demonstrate the importance of directly engaging persons with disabilities in national decision-making processes. By incorporating these proposals into the 2027 National Budget, the Government would take a significant step toward ensuring that public investments are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all citizens.

The initiative was supported by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Sri Lanka with funding from the Australian Government as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen disability inclusion in public policy and governance.

United Nations of Sri Lanka (UNA-Sri Lanka) Secretary – General and Sri Lankan Candidate for contesting Post of Vice President to the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) Dr. M.M.M. Rushanudeen will represent Sri Lanka and Head of Delegates to World Congress and 44th Plenary Assembly at World Health Organisation Headquarters, Geneva from 23 to 30 August 2026.

Over 100 countries participate in WFUNA participating in the assembly and 7 countries contesting for the post of Vice President among them are Sri Lanka, Somalia, Iceland, Colombia, USA, Tanzania and Pakistan.

For the last 76 years of history of the United Nations Association of Sri Lanka, first Sri Lankan Candidate contesting the post of Vice President and proposed by UNA Sri Lanka and seconded by People’s Republic of China.

UNA- Sri Lanka founded on 19 August 1950 under Patronage by Ceylon (Sri Lanka) First Prime Minister and first Foreign Affairs Minister of Ceylon D. S. Senanayake MP and UNA – Sri Lanka affiliated with WFUNA in 1951.

In 1946 after the founding of the United Nations, WFUNA, the People’s Movement for the United Nations, was created, inspired by the UN Charter’s opening words: ‘We the peoples.’ For 80 years, WFUNA, together with over 100 United Nations Associations have worked to strengthen public understanding of the UN, defend its values, and connect global institutions with the people they serve.

Since 1946, this movement has helped ensure that peace, human rights, solidarity, and multilateral action are carried forward by citizens, educators, youth, civil society, and communities across the world.

Sri Lanka needs to win 2/3 Majority Votes from among Members Countries around the world by Election day at WFUNA 44th Plenary Assembly in Geneva.

UNA – Sri Lanka other members in delegation are National Executive Committee Chairman Dharmadasa Vitharanage, Vice Chairman M. D. Lalith Peris and National Executive Committee Member M. J. M. Irshad.

Dr. Rushanudeen is live wire of UNA – Sri Lanka a very senior member of the UNA-Sri Lanka, having joined as a Volunteer since in 1985 and a Student Member and later obtained a Life Membership in 1990. He has been one of the most active members of the National Executive Committee of the UNA Sri Lanka and in recognition of services, from time to time he has been conferred the honour of Honorary Member, Life Patron and also the Most Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. He has also served as Chairperson on many important and vibrant Sub-Committees of the UNA Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka women’s cricket captain Chamari Athapaththu swept the board at the Dialog Sri Lanka Cricket annual awards 2025 held at Cinnamon Life on Thursday evening to recognise and honour the outstanding performers on the cricket field.

Athapaththu won the prestigious Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in addition to bagging five other awards – Best Batter and Best All-rounder (in Women’s T20Is), Best Bowler and Best All-rounder (in Women’s ODIs), and Most Valuable Player (in Major Club Women’s 50-over).

Pathum Nissanka who won the celebrated Men’s Cricketer of the Year award collected two other awards as Best Batter in the Men’s T20I and Test Cricket categories.

Awards were presented to leading performers in the men’s and women’s cricket, while several distinguished individuals were also recognized for their longstanding contributions to Sri Lankan cricket and sports journalism.

At the prestigious awards night, Pathum Nissanka was crowned ‘Men’s Cricketer of the Year’,

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Sunil Kumara Gamage attended the event as the Chief Guest while Aruna Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Eran Wickramaratne, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee, along with Cricket Transformation Committee members Sidath Wettimuny and Roshan Mahanama, Ashley de Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, Supun Weerasinghe, Director and Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC and Gihan de Silva, Chairman of Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation were also present.

Domestic Cricket Awards

Major Club Women’s 50 Over Tournament

Best Bowler – Inoka Ranaweera, Best Batter – Harshitha Samarawickrama, Most Valuable Player – Chamari Athapaththu

Runner-Up – Chilaw Marians Cricket Club, Champions – Navy Sports Club

Major Club Men’s T20 Tournament

Best Bowler – Sampath Nishshanka, Best Batter – Vishen Halambage, Best All-Rounder – Dushan Hemantha, Most Valuable Player – Vishen Halambage

Runner-Up – Panadura Sports Club, Champions – Colombo Cricket Club

Major Club Men’s 50 Over Tournament

Best Bowler – Movin Subasinghe, Best Batter – Sangeeth Cooray, Best All-Rounder – Thanuka Dabare, Most Valuable Player – Nishan Madushka

Runner-Up – Police Sports Club, Champions – Colombo Cricket Club

Major Club 3-Day Tournament

Best Bowler – Dilum Sudeera, Best Batter – Lahiru Udara, Most Valuable Player – Wanuja Sahan

Runner-Up – Ace Capital Cricket Club, Champions – Colts Cricket Club

Match Officials Award

Umpire of the Year – Ravindra Kottahachchi

+Lifetime Achievement Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism – Reemus Fernando, Kelum Srimal

Special Lifetime Achievement Award – Michael Tissera, Anura Tennekoon

International Cricket Awards

Women’s T20 International

Best Bowler – Kaveesha Dilhari, Best Batter – Chamari Athapaththu, Best All-Rounder – Chamari Athapaththu

Women’s One Day International

Best Bowler – Chamari Athapaththu, Best Batter – Harshitha Samarawickrama, Best All-Rounder – Chamari Athapaththu

Men’s T20 International

Best Bowler – Dushmantha Chameera, Best Batter – Pathum Nissanka, Best All-Rounder – Dasun Shanaka

Men’s One Day International

Best Bowler – Asitha Fernando, Best Batter – Charith Asalanka, Best All-Rounder – Wanindu Hasaranga

Test Cricket

Best Bowler – Prabath Jayasuriya, Best Batter – Pathum Nissanka, Best All-Rounder – Dhananjaya de Silva

Emerging Players of the Year

Women’s Emerging Player of the Year – Imesha Dulani, Men’s Emerging Player of the Year – Kamil Mishara

Cricketers of the Year

Women’s Cricketer of the Year – Chamari Athapaththu, Men’s Cricketer of the Year – Pathum Nissanka

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved a Rs. 8.32 billion recovery program to restore infrastructure and essential services in fisheries and aquatic resources sector following the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

As per the Government, the cyclone inflicted severe damage on fisheries infrastructure, aquaculture facilities, fishery harbours, and other assets managed by key institutions in the sector.

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the total estimated losses across the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA), the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation, and the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation amount to Rs. 9.50 billion.

‘In response, the affected institutions have identified 18 priority reconstruction projects with a combined estimated value of Rs. 8.32 billion to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure and restore services critical to the fisheries industry,’ he said at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday.

He said under the approved program NAQDA will implement 10 projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 7.01 billion, focusing on restoring aquaculture infrastructure and related facilities.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will undertake seven projects valued at around Rs. 1.29 billion to rehabilitate damaged fisheries infrastructure and improve service delivery.

The Government has Gazetted a Bill proposing changes to the judiciary, including higher retirement ages for judges and an increase in the number of judges in the Court of Appeal and High Courts.

The proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution seeks to amend Article 107(5) to raise the retirement age of Supreme Court judges to 67 and Court of Appeal judges to 65.

Under the proposed amendment, the Chief Justice will retire upon reaching 67 or completing six years in office, whichever occurs earlier.

The Bill also proposes to amend Article 137 of the Constitution to increase the maximum number of Court of Appeal judges from 19 to 24.

Separately, the Government yesterday gazetted the Judicature (Amendment) Bill to amend the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978, proposing changes to the number and retirement ages of judges in the lower judiciary.

The Bill proposes to increase the maximum number of High Court Judges from 110 to 120 and raise their retirement age from 61 to 63.

It also seeks to fix the retirement age of all other judges and magistrates at 62, notwithstanding provisions of the Public and Judicial Officers (Retirement) Ordinance.

The statement of legal effect accompanying the Bill said the amendments are intended to increase the number of High Court Judges and enhance the retirement age of High Court Judges and all other judges, including magistrates. The two Bills are expected to be presented to Parliament for debate and approval.

A prisoners’ rights group has appealed to the United Nations to intervene over a wave of unrest in the country’s prisons, alleging human rights violations and calling for independent investigations, while the Government said it was taking action against those behind what it suspects is a coordinated conspiracy.

The Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) wrote to UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche yesterday, expressing concern over escalating violence following riots at several prisons, including Negombo, Mahara, Colombo Remand Prison, Kuruwita and the Pallansena Open-Air Correctional Centre.

The wave of unrest that has spread across several prisons in Sri Lanka has claimed the lives of two inmates, while several others have been injured, with security at other prisons tightened to face any emergency situation.

The tension at Kuruwita Prison turned deadly after violence that began on Thursday night re-emerged yesterday morning.

Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara confirmed that the situation at Kuruwita Prison was brought under control after prison authorities used minimal force, including firing tear gas to disperse the inmates.

Prison sources said inmates had badly damaged the prison hospital at Kuruwita Prison, while other damage is yet to be assessed.

A tense situation was also reported at the Pallansena Open-Air Correctional Centre in Dalupotha, Negombo, where a group of inmates climbed onto the prison roof in protest. Meanwhile, hundreds of inmates gathered at the prison gate, demanding that prison authorities release their reports from the Government Analyst’s Department immediately.

Another group of inmates was caught on CCTV cameras pelting stones at prison officers, prompting Police to fire tear gas to bring the situation under control.

Commissioner and Prisons Department Media Spokesman A.C. Gajanayake told the Daily FT that the situation there had been brought under control and that a full report on the two incidents was yet to be obtained.

He said inmates at Kuruwita Prison and the Pallansena Open-Air Correctional Centre had been sent back to their cells, as prison officers, together with the Police Special Task Force (STF) and the Tri-Forces, had brought the tense situation under control by yesterday afternoon.

Security around the correctional centre has been strengthened with the deployment of Police, the STF, the Police Riot Control Unit and the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala said that, based on intelligence information and preliminary investigations, the Government suspects that this chain of unrest incidents reported in several prisons might be the result of a planned conspiracy or acts of sabotage.

However, he said investigations have so far identified drug-related activities and underworld involvement as the immediate causes behind the incidents, while further inquiries are continuing to determine whether there was any organised coordination.

Meanwhile, the CPRP appealed to UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche for immediate intervention over escalating prison unrest and alleged human rights violations.

In a letter dated 7 August, the Committee alleged a pattern of custodial deaths, assaults, denial of legal access, lack of information provided to families of inmates, and unlawful detention following recent incidents at Negombo, Mahara, New Magazine, Kuruwita and Pallansena prisons.

In the letter, signed by the Committee’s Executive Director and Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera, the Committee requested the UN to urge the Sri Lankan authorities to protect the lives of inmates, ensure prompt medical treatment, facilitate independent investigations into the deaths and injuries, restore access to information for families and lawyers, and take all appropriate measures within its human rights mandate.

The next set of Bailey bridges from India, weighing approximately 251 metric tonnes, was handed over to the Government of Sri Lanka on 06 August 2026.

The consignment was handed over by Deputy High Commissioner of India, Maitri Kulkarni, to Co-operative Development Deputy Minister Upali Samarasinghe.

The Bailey bridges form part of India’s $ 450 million reconstruction and rehabilitation package for Sri Lanka, announced in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The bridges will be installed by an Indian Army Engineering Task Force at locations identified by the Road Development Authority and the respective Provincial Road Development Authorities (PRDAs) of Sri Lanka.

India has already installed 8 Bailey bridges at 7 locations across Sri Lanka, helping restore critical connectivity in areas affected by the cyclone. The latest consignment will further support efforts to restore connectivity and strengthen infrastructure in affected communities.

As the next phase of its reconstruction assistance, India will also initiate the construction of permanent bridges at identified locations across Sri Lanka. These projects will contribute to strengthening critical road connectivity and building more resilient infrastructure across the country.

Golden Globe, Emmy, and Olivier Award-winning actor Rosamund Pike, Ambassador to the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), is visiting Sri Lanka this week as the country marks the clearance of one million landmines over the past 17 years.

Her visit highlights the remarkable progress made by Sri Lanka’s mine-action sector and the importance of maintaining momentum towards the country’s goal of becoming landmine-free.

During the visit, Pike is spending time with Sri Lankan deminers and visiting two minefields in the Mannar and Mullaitivu districts in the north of the country. She will meet families from both Tamil and Sinhala communities whose lives have been affected by landmine contamination, including a survivor of a landmine accident. She will attend a risk-education session at a local school, where children are learning how to avoid the dangers posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Pike is also expected to meet Prime Minister, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Housing Construction and Water Supply, and officials of the Mine Action Centre to discuss the country’s progress in humanitarian mine action and the work still needed to achieve a landmine-free future.

The UK Government, along with our international partners, has supported humanitarian mine action in Sri Lanka since the end of the conflict. Mine clearance helps communities recovering from conflict to safely regain access to their homes and land and creates opportunities for farming, housing, infrastructure and new livelihoods.

Rosamund Pike said: ‘Having seen MAG’s work all over the world, I am always struck when the necessity for mine clearance and risk education follows civil war. There is a sense of reconciliation in restoring the land to safety. MAG’s program in Sri Lanka inspires me for its courageous teamwork and moral integrity, providing superb training for deminers to do this dangerous work, with strict safety protocols and building a sense of family within the organisation.’

‘When MAG releases decontaminated land to people, communities can trust that their land is now safe to farm, to walk through and to harvest necessities from. The work to get to this stage is painstaking and essential. The danger, even seventeen years after conflict, is real. Unexploded ordnance is violent and deadly. No one is safe to tread while these items are in the ground. As a mother, I fear that children who have never experienced war might experience it second-hand through a step in the wrong direction. Seeing MAG’s work in Sri Lanka gives me confidence that the end to such tragedies is in sight,’ Pike added.

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick said: ‘Sri Lanka’s progress towards becoming landmine-free is a remarkable achievement, made possible by the courage and dedication of Sri Lankan deminers, the leadership of the Government of Sri Lanka, and the support of international partners. The United Kingdom is proud to have supported this important work. Rosamund Pike’s visit highlights both how far Sri Lanka has come and the need to maintain momentum until all affected communities are safe.

Over the past 17 years, one million landmines have been cleared in Sri Lanka, while annual casualties have fallen from approximately 250 to three in 2024. Mine clearance has also enabled around one million displaced people to return to their homes.

MAG began working in Sri Lanka in 2002 and currently operates in Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts. Since it began operating in the country, MAG’s teams have made approximately 103 km² of land safe for families and communities.