Category: Daily Financial Times

Celebrated speaker, author, writer and Member of Parliament Dr. Shashi Tharoor met with former President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday to exchange views on India-Sri Lanka relations and broader regional cooperation. Dr. Tharoor was in Colombo as the Chief Guest at the Colombo Literary Festival.

Prof. G.L. Peiris has announced plans to establish a Trust Fund to support legal research and academic initiatives at the University of Colombo Faculty of Law and Sri Lanka Law College with royalties from his legal publications, while also calling for stronger legal scholarship at the launch of the revived Sinhala journal ‘Nitiya.’

He revealed this at the launch of the Sinhala-language journal, ‘Nitiya,’ at the Sri Lanka Law College recently in the presence of Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, PC, Bar Association of Sri Lanka President Rajeev Amarasuriya, and Sri Lanka Law College Principal Prasantha Lal de Alwis, PC.

Prof. Peiris, speaking on the occasion, complimented de Alwis on the expansion of the activities of the institution under his leadership. No longer confined to classroom instruction, his dynamic approach has made it possible for a vast array of literary, cultural, and other activities to be organised at the Law College every week. This has infused new life and energy into a hallowed institution with a proud history.

The Sinhala journal, first published in 1958, had a chequered history, and uninterrupted publication was unfortunately not possible. However, it was revived in 2024 and is today serving a crucial purpose.

He said that the journal offers an incentive for analytical writing on a variety of legal subjects, with emphasis on new and rapidly developing areas such as artificial intelligence (AI). He added that informed criticism of judicial decisions and contribution to the legislative process should be vital functions of an institution like the Law College.

Prof. Peiris announced that he would shortly arrange for the royalties to which he is entitled as the author of more than 10 books on the laws and legal systems of Sri Lanka to be paid into a Trust Fund to be used for research and other academic initiatives at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, and the Law College. He said that the proposed Trustees would be the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, the Principal of the Law College, and the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo.

Pakistan came up with a strong batting performance to defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first Women’s ODI and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Cricket Stadium, Hambantota yesterday.

Winning the toss and batting first Sri Lanka finished with an under par score of 210-9 losing their last four wickets for 17 runs. At 193-5 in the 47th over Sri Lanka looked well in control to post a total around 240, but poor cricket by the late order left Nilakshika Silva who could have got them close to that target was left stranded on 46* scored off 50 balls (2 fours).

Sri Lanka began well with openers Vishmi Gunaratne (28 off 38 balls) and skipper Chamari Athapaththu (46 off 67 balls, 6 fours) posting 56. Hasini Perera and Kavisha Dilhari contributed 35 apiece, but it was the latter half of the batting that was disappointing.

Pakistan’s run chase also featured a half-century stand by openers Sadaf Shamas (20) and Player of the Match Gull Feroza who batted with authority to score a run-a-ball 78 off 77 balls (11 fours).

Sidra Amin (57 off 94 balls, 5 fours) and Ayesha Zafar (27 off 31) kept Pakistan well within the required run rate and despite Sri Lanka picking up five wickets, victory was never in doubt as they won with seven overs to spare. The second WODI commences at the same venue on 25 July. – [ST]

Scores:

Sri Lanka Women 210-9 (50) (Vishmi Gunaratne 28, Chamari Athapaththu 46, Hasini Perera 35, Kavisha Dilhari 35, Nilakshika Silva 46*, Tasmia Rubab 2/34, Nashra Sandhu 3/42) vs. Pakistan Women 211-5 (43) (Sadaf Shamas 20, Gull Feroza 78, Sidra Amin 57, Ayesha Zafar 27*, Kavisha Dilhari 2/37)

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has established a Malware Analysis and Threat Hunting (MATH) Lab to strengthen proactive cybersecurity across Government institutions and critical information infrastructure as cyber threats become more sophisticated.

SLCERT said the facility marks a shift from reactive incident response towards intelligence-led threat detection and prevention, complementing the National Cyber Security Operations Centre’s monitoring and incident response functions.

The MATH Lab will conduct proactive threat hunting to identify hidden cyber threats within networks and undertake External Attack Surface Monitoring (EASM) to detect vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in publicly accessible Government digital assets.

The facility will also collect, analyse and disseminate cyber threat intelligence to relevant Government agencies to enable the early detection of emerging threats and reduce the risk of large-scale cyber incidents.

According to SLCERT, the MATH Lab will support more than 250 Government entities, including institutions in the health, education and energy sectors, while strengthening Sri Lanka’s domestic capability in malware analysis and cyber threat hunting.

SLCERT said the initiative reflects the country’s commitment to protecting digital infrastructure, strengthening institutional resilience and enhancing trust in public digital services.

The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) and a coalition of media organisations have objected to the proposed Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka (CIMP) Bill, urging the Government to withdraw the legislation and engage in consultations with the media industry.

In a joint statement, the SLPI, together with the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka, The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka, the Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association and its affiliated organisations, said their principal concern was that the proposed institute was a Government-led initiative rather than one developed by the media profession.

The organisations argued that established professional bodies such as the Institute of Engineers and the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects were created by professionals before being incorporated by Parliament, whereas the proposed CIMP had been initiated by the Government despite objections raised by media organisations.

They said the proposed framework amounted to a State-managed regulatory mechanism for a profession that must remain independent of Government influence.

The organisations reiterated that professional media standards should be based on self-regulation and led by the media community rather than being established through legislation under ministerial oversight.

They also pointed to the proposed Sri Lanka Media Commission (SLMC), based on co-regulatory and self-regulatory principles, as an alternative framework to strengthen professional standards.

In addition, they said the Sri Lanka College of Journalism, which has trained journalists for more than two decades, could be supported by the Government to enhance journalism standards instead of establishing a new statutory body.

The organisations called on the Government to withdraw the Bill and hold meaningful consultations with stakeholders while safeguarding media autonomy and press freedom.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce yesterday said it welcomed the positive development in the reduction of the labour-related tariff imposed on Sri Lankan exports to the United States, from 12.5% to 10%.

The Chamber said this was possible following sustained engagement between Sri Lankan authorities and their counterparts in the US.

It said: This outcome is an encouraging step forward for Sri Lanka’s export sector and reflects the value of constructive dialogue, evidence-based advocacy, and proactive engagement with international trading partners. The reduction will provide some relief to exporters, navigating a highly competitive and uncertain global marketplace, while supporting Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to maintain and expand market access.

In our previous statement on the matter in early June, the Chamber had expressed concern regarding the potential impact of the proposed labour-related tariff measures on Sri Lanka’s trade competitiveness and urged urgent engagement with relevant stakeholders. The Chamber therefore commends the progress achieved by the negotiation team and appreciates the engagement with the private sector, which enabled industry perspectives and concerns to be effectively conveyed during discussions.

While welcoming this encouraging outcome, the Chamber emphasises the importance of continuing constructive dialogue with the United States to secure a longer-term framework that minimizes uncertainty for exporters and promotes stable trade relations. The Chamber looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Government and other stakeholders to support these efforts and further enhance Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness.

Effective public-private collaboration

Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) yesterday credited the Government’s swift intervention with securing a lower United States tariff for Sri Lankan exports, saying the outcome demonstrated what close collaboration between the public and private sectors can achieve in protecting the country’s export competitiveness.

JAAF said: The announcement by USTR of the finality of the Section 301 investigations into countries’ ability to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour sees 18 countries placed on a 10% tariff, with the balance of 42 countries facing a 12.5% tariff.

Initial indications were that Sri Lanka would fall into the 12.5% category, a position that would have placed the country at a real disadvantage against a number of key competitor nations.

Following Sri Lanka’s submissions to the USTR earlier this month, JAAF is pleased to see that Sri Lanka is now among the countries placed on the 10% tariff rate, on par with competitors including Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia.

Parity of tariffs is something JAAF has consistently and actively lobbied for, and we are extremely appreciative of the efforts of His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government of Sri Lanka in ensuring that strong representations were made to the US authorities to secure this outcome. Special mention must be made of Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States Mahinda Samarasinghe, and K. A. Vimalenthirajah, who, together with the teams at the Department of Commerce and our Embassy in Washington, worked tirelessly on this initiative over recent months.

Sri Lanka’s apparel industry competes in a crowded field, and even a 2.5 percentage point difference in tariff treatment can be the difference between winning and losing an order to a rival sourcing destination. Securing parity with Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Cambodia protects the competitiveness of an industry that remains the country’s largest export earner and a major source of employment, particularly for women, across the country.

JAAF recognises that this result did not happen by chance. It reflects sustained, coordinated engagement between industry and Government at every level, from the submissions made to USTR to the direct representations carried out in Washington. We view this as a strong example of what can be achieved when the private sector and government work in close partnership on issues that directly affect Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness.

We remain committed to continuing this collaboration, both to safeguard the gains secured on Thursday and to ensure Sri Lanka’s apparel and textile industry is well positioned to compete on a level playing field internationally.

EASL urges Govt. to pursue US trade pact after tariff reprieve

The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) yesterday urged the Government to pursue a comprehensive bilateral trade arrangement with the United States, saying the country’s lower 10% tariff under Washington’s latest trade measures should be used to strengthen long-term market access and provide greater certainty for exporters.

Welcoming the decision by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to apply a 10% tariff on Sri Lankan imports under the new Section 301 measures, the Association said the outcome preserved the competitiveness of Sri Lankan exports in their largest overseas market while highlighting the need for a more stable bilateral trading framework.

EASL said Sri Lanka should proactively negotiate a comprehensive trade arrangement with the United States to improve market access, strengthen economic cooperation and reduce uncertainty arising from evolving US trade policy.

The Association noted that the United States remains Sri Lanka’s single largest export destination and that the latest decision places the country on par with key competitors, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia.

It said maintaining tariff parity is critical in export sectors such as apparel, where even a 2.5 percentage point tariff differential can influence sourcing decisions by international buyers.

EASL also expressed appreciation to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Government and officials involved in securing the lower tariff rate through sustained engagement with US authorities.

It said the outcome had helped safeguard the interests of Sri Lankan exporters and the thousands of livelihoods supported by the country’s export sector.

The Association pledged to continue working with the Government, US authorities and industry stakeholders to strengthen Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness, expand market opportunities and promote a stable and predictable trading environment for exporters.

Rotary International Vice President Muruganandam M. widely known as ‘MMM’ serving under President-elect Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, visited Sri Lanka this week.

He was welcomed by Past Rotary International President K. R Ravindran, Past Rotary Governor Delvin Pereira, Aviation Authority Head Aruna Rajapakse, Rotary Governor Nominee Ajith Jayawardena and Rotary Institute Sri Lanka PR Head Dr. Rohantha Athukorala to discuss the landmark Rotary Institute to be staged in Sri Lanka under the chairmanship of Gowri Rajan, the first woman Rotary Governor of Sri Lanka.

A distinguished Indian entrepreneur and humanitarian, MMM brings decades of corporate leadership and grassroots service. He is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Excel Group of Companies, a leading enterprise specialising in logistics, supply chain management, and engineering.

The Rotary Institute is the annual gathering of the College of Governors from Zones 4, 5, 6, and 7 – comprising Rotary leaders from India, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Returning to Sri Lanka after 21 years, the Institute is expected to host more than 1,000 delegates from across South Asia and will serve as a key platform for strategic planning, leadership development, and strengthening Rotary’s humanitarian initiatives in the region.

Speaking to the media, MMM said: ‘It is a great honour to serve Rotary International and to bring the Rotary Institute back to Sri Lanka after two decades. This platform will allow us to collaborate on impactful projects that address the most pressing needs of our communities across South Asia.

JAT Holdings PLC has launched ‘Sixes for Hope’, a new initiative that will see the company contribute Rs. 10,000 to the Indira Cancer Trust for every six struck by the Dambulla Sixers during the remainder of the 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Through JAT Paints, the Group is extending its partnership with the Dambulla Sixers beyond its role as the team’s Official Paint Partner, reinforcing a shared commitment to using cricket as a platform for positive social impact and building on the success of the LPL Pink Match.

The Pink Match combined breast cancer awareness with support for children and families affected by cancer through the team’s engagement with Suwa Arana, the residential care facility operated by the Indira Cancer Trust.

From the launch of the initiative until the conclusion of the tournament, every six struck by the Dambulla Sixers will increase JAT Holdings’ contribution, giving each boundary a purpose beyond the game. In doing so, the initiative will translate the team’s on-field success into support for the important work carried out by the Indira Cancer Trust.

Director – Sales and Marketing Dilshan Rodrigo said: ‘When we partnered with the Dambulla Sixers, we wanted the relationship to be about more than brand visibility. The Pink Match demonstrated what can be achieved when a sporting platform is used to champion an important cause. It prompted us to consider how we could help extend that impact beyond a single match, and ‘Sixes for Hope’ is the result of that thinking. Every six will now contribute towards something bigger than the game itself. We hope this initiative gives fans another reason to celebrate while supporting the important work of the Indira Cancer Trust.’

The initiative will run throughout the remainder of the tournament, with the cumulative contribution increasing after every six struck by the Dambulla Sixers. Regular updates on the number of sixes hit and the total funds raised will be shared across the digital platforms of JAT Holdings and the Dambulla Sixers, allowing supporters to follow the campaign’s progress.

Dambulla Sixers CEO Olga Ashley Herath said: ‘The Pink Match demonstrated the power of cricket to unite people behind an important cause. We are grateful to JAT Holdings for extending that impact through the ‘Sixes for Hope’ initiative. Every six our players hit during the remainder of the tournament will now contribute towards supporting the invaluable work of the Indira Cancer Trust. We hope this inspires our players and fans to celebrate every six knowing that it will help make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families affected by cancer.’

The final contribution will be presented to the Indira Cancer Trust following the conclusion of the 2026 Lanka Premier League.

‘Sixes for Hope’ reflects JAT Holdings’ broader approach to sport as a platform for development. Beyond supporting teams and competitions, the Group seeks to partner in initiatives that create lasting value for communities. By extending the purpose of its partnership with the Dambulla Sixers beyond the boundary, JAT reinforces its belief that successful sponsorships should leave a positive legacy long after the final result.

People’s Bank conducted its 25th annual dansel program on 17 July at the entrance to Kumana National Park, distributing 1,000 dry food packs to devotees undertaking the Kataragama Pada Yatra.

The initiative was organised by the People’s Bank Okanda Dansel Committee – Ampara as part of the Bank’s annual community outreach program in support of pilgrims participating in the religious event.

People’s Bank Chairman Prof. Narada Fernando attended the program together with Regional Manager – Ampara K.M.P.P. Kulathunga, Regional Manager – Monaragala M.M.A. Amarasiri, Regional Manager – Batticaloa K. Kodeeswaran, senior legal officers, assistant regional managers, branch managers, and staff of the Ampara Regional Office.

The Bank said the initiative reflects its continued commitment to community service, corporate social responsibility, and the preservation of Sri Lanka’s cultural and religious traditions.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa (left) greets former President Ranil Wickremesinghe at a meeting convened by Premadasa on Thursday with former Prime Ministers, political party representatives and civil society members to discuss concerns over judicial independence