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View all(42)🌾 Polonnaruwa Hosts 'Poson Bliss 2026' Festival
• Event Overview: The "Poson Bliss 2026" festival is currently underway in Polonnaruwa to mark this year's Poson celebrations. • Duration: The festival commenced on June 27 and is scheduled to run through July 2. • Key Attractions: The event offers a diverse range of recreational activities alongside family-friendly entertainment, driving local festive tourism and regional commerce during the holiday period.
⚖️ BASL Denies Court Representation for Arrested Lawyer Rakhitha Rajapakshe
• Overview: The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has formally denied media reports claiming it made court representations on behalf of Attorney-at-Law Rakhitha Rajapakshe, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. • Official Stance: The BASL clarified that its legal sector role in cases involving its members is strictly limited to observing proceedings and reporting back to the association for potential internal steps. • Key Details: The BASL Executive Committee confirmed it did not authorize any lawyer to make submissions or representations on its behalf during the proceedings at the Chief Magistrate’s Court of Colombo. The statement was issued in response to conflicting media reports regarding the high-profile arrest.
📰 Manori Sallay Responds to Bishop's Open Letter on Former SIS Director
• Legal & Investigatory Stance: Manori Sallay, wife of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General (Retd.) Suresh Sallay, strongly reaffirmed her husband's innocence against Easter Sunday attack allegations. She emphasized that under Article 13(5) of the Constitution, every citizen is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court. • Concerns Over Impartiality: Sallay clarified that she does not oppose the lawful administration of justice. However, she raised concerns regarding conflicts of interest and the impartiality of certain investigators, citing documented adverse findings and prior conduct related to the Easter Sunday investigations. • Rejection of Political Motives & Speculation: She firmly rejected claims that her public statements serve political interests, noting that her husband served multiple administrations with professional neutrality. Furthermore, Sallay dismissed speculative comments regarding her choice to wear a face mask during media briefings and criticized unfounded assertions about her husband’s mental state while in custody. • Commitment to Due Process: Reaffirming her position, Sallay called for investigative arrangements that inspire public confidence, free from political influence, and rooted strictly in evidence rather than public perception or conjecture.
🚨 Opposition Backs Zero-Tolerance Anti-Drug Drive, Calls for Singapore-Style Penalties
• Political Context: Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa voiced total support in Parliament for the eradication of narcotics, stating that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) rejects individuals involved in the illegal drug trade and supports dismantling the network under the rule of law. • Key Issues: Premadasa highlighted that trafficking networks have deeply infiltrated society, specifically targeting schools and youth. He called for structural changes to stop offenders from continuing criminal operations from within prisons. • Proposed Strategy: The Opposition urged the Government to adopt a Singapore-style enforcement model, emphasizing strict, non-discriminatory punitive measures and strong deterrent frameworks to effectively combat Sri Lanka's narcotics challenges.
🇮🇳🇵🇰 India-Pakistan Hold Backchannel 'Track 2' Talks in Colombo
• Backchannel Diplomacy: India and Pakistan held a fresh round of unofficial ‘Track 2’ talks earlier this week in Colombo and Bangkok. The discussions involved retired officials, former diplomats, academics, military personnel, and policy experts. • Core Agenda: The secret meetings focused heavily on crisis management, measures to prevent future military escalation, water issues, and counter-terrorism. Delegates explored pathways to eventually translate these unofficial talks into formal, government-level dialogue. • Geopolitical Context: Official bilateral dialogue between the two nations remains completely suspended. Tensions have been high following a major military conflict in May 2025, which was triggered by a terror attack in Pahalgam. • Neutral Host Venues: Sri Lanka (Colombo) and Thailand (Bangkok) have emerged as key neutral hosts for these recent backchannel rounds. Neither the Indian nor Pakistani governments have publicly or officially acknowledged the discussions.
Chemmani Mass Grave: Recovered Remains Exceed 400 as Govt, Oppn Agree on Faster Forensic Probe 📰
• Current Count & Scale: As of June 23, 2026, 412 skeletal remains have been identified and 409 recovered from the Chemmani site in Jaffna, officially marking it as the largest mass grave excavation discovered in Sri Lanka to date. • Investigation Progress: Current efforts are strictly focused on excavation and exhumation. Detailed breakdown of remains (adults, juveniles, children) and the cause or period of death will only be established once the forensic anthropological analysis begins. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is conducting parallel investigations. • International Expertise: Acknowledging local limitations in mass grave investigations, the Government is in discussions with several foreign embassies and international bodies like the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Internationally recognized institutions will be brought in for specialized DNA analysis and forensic examinations. • Timeline Acceleration: Rather than waiting for the entire excavation to conclude, the Justice Ministry has proposed running forensic analysis simultaneously on the remains already recovered. This aims to fast-track the identification process for over 400 family members who have already participated in artifact identification.
📈 Sri Lanka Exports Hit Record US$ 7.39 Bn in First 5 Months
Sri Lanka’s export sector has achieved its highest-ever performance for the first five months of the year, signaling resilient economic recovery despite global headwinds. • Overall Performance: Total export earnings surpassed US$ 7.39 Bn, reflecting a strong year-on-year (YoY) growth of 7.56% compared to the same period last year. • Sector Dynamics: While traditional sectors like apparel & textiles face minor headwinds due to soft global demand (e.g., major manufacturers like Teejay Group reported a 10% YoY revenue dip), diversification efforts are picking up. • New Growth Engines: The Export Development Board (EDB) is heavily focusing on expanding petroleum-related and logistics exports, aiming to leverage national infrastructure to double future growth. • Bilateral Milestones: Currency developments show the Sri Lankan Rupee appreciating further against the US Dollar. Additionally, the EDB expects proposed Rupee-denominated trade mechanisms with India to lift bilateral commerce by 40% over the next two years. _Note: Figures are based on the latest provisional export data released on June 25, 2026._
🏛️ Parliamentary Committee Room Dispute Halts CoPF Proceedings
Based on statements made in Parliament yesterday by Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) Chairman MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, the vital oversight work of the committee has effectively ground to a halt due to a logistical dispute over meeting spaces. • The Conflict: The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has sought exclusive use of the designated Parliament committee room from Tuesday to Friday, from morning until evening. • The Impact: This scheduling arrangement leaves almost no room for the CoPF to conduct its regular proceedings and fulfill its public finance oversight responsibilities. • The Appeal: Dr. de Silva emphasized that committees do not own rooms in Parliament, urging an immediate resolution to the resource clash so that critical reviews of public finance and governance issues can resume. _Note: There was no immediate response from COPE regarding the matter in Parliament._
🇨🇦 High Commission of Canada Relocates to Colombo 7
• Strategic Move: The High Commission of Canada to Sri Lanka and the Maldives has officially relocated its Chancery from 5th Lane to newly renovated premises in Colombo 7. • Purpose: According to official statements, the relocation reflects Canada's continued commitment to strengthening diplomatic, social, and economic engagement with both the government and the public of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. • Key Dates & Location: All appointments, services, and official correspondence have shifted to the new address effective from 24 June, 2026. • New Address: No. 6, Srimath R. G. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. • Visitor Advisory: The High Commission urges the public to schedule appointments in advance and consult their official website for updated program details and consular services.
⚖️ Former Intelligence Chief's Detention: Bishop Urges Due Process Over Premature Claims
• Context: Rev. Asiri P. Perera, Retired President Bishop of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka, issued an open letter to Manohary Sallay, wife of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay. • Key Issues Raised: • Legal Integrity: The Bishop emphasized that innocence or guilt must be determined by the legal system, not public declarations. He noted that asserting innocence prematurely risks undermining judicial integrity and dismissing the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. • Political Manipulation: The letter questioned whether disgruntled politicians are using the family's situation as a pawn to advance their own agendas under the guise of "persecution." • Transparency: The Bishop critiqued Mrs. Sallay's choice to remain masked during daily media statements, suggesting it impacts her credibility and raises questions about transparency. • Spiritual Concerns: Addressing Suresh Sallay's refusal of food and water, the Bishop suggested it may stem from unresolved internal conflict rather than a "fast unto death." He urged the family to seek pastoral or clergy visits to encourage reflection and repentance. • Conclusion: The open letter closed with an appeal to prioritize national truth and justice over marital loyalty, urging the family to let the ongoing investigation and courts proceed without interference.
⚖️ Suresh Sallay Detention: Culpability vs Political Scapegoating
A political and legal debate has intensified in Sri Lanka following the 100+ day detention of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Sallay under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) over his alleged links to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. Following a hunger strike, Sallay's health deteriorated, leading to his transfer to the Colombo National Hospital ICU. • The Core Allegations: Sallay's detention stems from testimony by Azad Maulana (former aide to Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan), who alleged he arranged a 2018 meeting between Sallay and extremist groups linked to Zahran Hashim. Maulana claimed Sallay suggested the Rajapaksas needed a security disaster to secure the presidency. • Political & Public Fallout: Nationalistic political forces accuse the current NPP Government of unfairly targeting Sallay to appease Catholic Church leaders for political mileage. Conversely, the government maintains the move is strictly to deliver justice to the families of the 270 victims. • Narrative Contradictions: The report notes inconsistencies in the political manipulation narrative. The SLPP had already won the 2018 local elections convincingly (40% SLPP, 12% UPFA) 14 months before the attacks, driven by the unpopularity of the Yahapalana government. Furthermore, the claim that radical Islamic extremists would orchestrate an attack to benefit Gotabaya Rajapaksa—who was viewed unfavorably by the Muslim community due to his links with the Sinhalese Buddhist nationalist Bodu Bala Sena—remains highly debated. • Credibility Concerns: The credibility of the key witness, Azad Maulana, has also faced scrutiny following a police complaint by his second wife regarding a false identity, post the release of the Channel 4 documentary. The final outcome relies heavily on judicial evidence free from political pressure.
📝 Sri Lanka G.C.E. O/L Results Highlight Urgent Need for Education Reform
A total of 450,000+ students recently sat for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examinations, sparking fresh discussion on national education restructuring to support the modern marketplace. • Key Statistics & Funnel Effect: • 73% of candidates (~328,500 students) qualified to pursue Advanced Level (A/L) studies. • Only around 40,000 students eventually secure placement in State universities annually, leaving a vast majority to navigate alternative pathways. • Market Gaps & Economic Context: • Traditional pathways over-index on academic competencies while under-delivering on practical skills, communication, and adaptability required by modern industries. • Employers report significant readiness gaps even among university graduates, limiting immediate employment efficiency in a rapidly changing economy. • Reform Priorities & Strategic Diversification: • A shift away from high-stakes exam ranking toward holistic development including technology, sports, and leadership. • Call to elevate the dignity, visibility, and structured support for non-traditional corridors including technical & vocational training, ICT/digital skills, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship support. • The Prime Minister personally holding the education portfolio signals high-level state prioritization for these structural reforms.