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View all(51)🎭 Soul Sounds Hosts "The Pop Era" Concert at Lionel Wendt
• Event Overview: Renowned Sri Lankan vocal ensemble Soul Sounds, led by Music Director Soundarie David Rodrigo, staged "The Pop Era" on 12 July at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. • Performance Highlights: The production featured a journey through decades of global pop anthems, including medleys from ABBA, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, as well as high-octane rock and classic love songs. • Key Contributors: Directed by Soundarie David Rodrigo with 2026 ensemble leaders Anagi Perera and Nadine Ollegasegrem; backed by a live band and stage production team including Kevin Cruze and Kishan Perera (Unique Sounds).
Aussie Comedian Sashi Perera Shows in Colombo Today and Tomorrow 🎭
• Event Overview: Australian-born Sri Lankan comedian Sashi Perera brings her stand-up show _"Pear Tree"_ to Colombo on 24 and 25 July. The tour marks a homecoming following sold-out international shows across Australia, Europe, the UK, and New Zealand. • Key Highlights: - July 24: Matinee show at 4.00 p.m. and Main show at 7.00 p.m. at Elphinstone Theatre, featuring opening acts by Lushani Wijayasekara and Dylan J. Prins. - July 25: _"Pear Tree Salon"_ at 7.30 p.m. at COCO Bar, an "In Conversation" session featuring signed copies of her memoir Standstill, followed by an after-party at 9.30 p.m. • Profile & Context: Formerly a refugee lawyer, Sashi has gained over 60 million online views and a nomination for Best Newcomer at the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Organized by strategic PR consultancy Scarlet Cat, the event reflects growing engagement with diaspora talent in Sri Lanka's entertainment & creative industries.
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🚨 Violent Incident at Colombo Port City: Chinese National Killed
• Incident Overview: A clash between two groups of Chinese nationals occurred at Colombo Port City during the early hours of July 23. One victim was abducted, assaulted, and later found murdered in Eheliyagoda. • Law Enforcement Action: Sri Lanka Police recovered the victim's body along with a vehicle used in the abduction and an air pistol at the scene. Two suspects were arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while allegedly attempting to flee the country. • Diplomatic Response: The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka is closely monitoring the case, urging local authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens in Sri Lanka. • Impact on Port City: The investigation is being handled by Foreshore Police and forensics, marking a notable security incident within the high-profile Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone.
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• Extraction Status: Article retrieval failed due to a server connection timeout (30s) from the source host. • Data Availability: Detailed economic figures, sector updates, and YoY growth metrics are currently unavailable for this specific news item. _Note: Summary generated based on provisional transmission metadata._
🚨 Former Sri Lankan IGP C.D. Wickramaratne Passes Away After Gunshot Incident
• Incident Details: Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne died yesterday after sustaining gunshot injuries at his residence on Parakrama Road, Thalahena, located within the Malabe Police Division. • Official Actions: Following the incident, Wickramaratne was admitted to the Eastern Colombo Teaching Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The body remains at the hospital pending a post-mortem examination. • Investigation Status: The Malabe Police have commenced official investigations. Further inquiries are being actively conducted by the Western Province South Division Criminal Branch in coordination with the Malabe Police. Two specialized police teams have been deployed to investigate the case. • National Context & Service: Wickramaratne served as Sri Lanka's 35th Inspector General of Police, holding the top post in the nation's law enforcement and internal security apparatus from 27 November 2020 until his retirement on 23 November 2023. He was 63 years old at the time of his passing.
Warrants Issued for Deputy Minister & NPP MP Over Court No-Show 📈
The Fort Magistrate’s Court has ordered the arrest of Urban Development Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara, NPP MP Jagath Manuwarna, and four others after they failed to appear for a scheduled hearing. Key details based on the court proceedings: • Accused Individuals: Warrants were issued by Additional Magistrate Kingsley Hettiarachchi against Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara, MP Jagath Manuwarna, Roshan Ali Dhaniz Ali, Amal Salinda (alias "Army Amila"), Udayanga Kumara, and Ven. Koswatte Mahanama Thero. • Legal Charges: The six individuals, who are currently out on bail, face charges related to participating in protests and being members of an unlawful assembly in violation of a court order. • Next Steps: The court has issued formal notices to the sureties who stood bail for the accused. The case has been fixed for its next hearing on 4 December 2026.
🏛️ Sri Lanka’s Civilisational Heritage Named a Key Strategic Asset
• The Core Asset: A former Sri Lankan Ambassador highlights the nation’s Theravāda Buddhist heritage not merely as a religious legacy, but as a primary strategic asset to strengthen national identity, ethical leadership, and social harmony. • Economic & Diplomatic Value: Confidently positioning Sri Lanka as a global hub for Theravāda scholarship, archaeology, and peace studies can directly boost tourism (specifically cultural tourism), education, and research. It can also elevate the island's international standing and cultural diplomacy. • Governance & Moral Recovery: Economic recovery alone is insufficient for sustainable progress. The article urges modern leaders to seek moral counsel from Buddhist clergy and other religious and civil leaders to restore public trust, integrity, and civic responsibility. • Pluralistic Unity: Prioritizing this heritage does not diminish the contributions of Hindu, Muslim, or Christian communities. True Buddhist values emphasize compassion and justice, which support a diverse, united, and prosperous nation. _Note: Summary based on an editorial by a former Sri Lankan Ambassador._
🚨 HRCSL Investigates Negombo & Welikada Prison Misconduct
The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has launched a formal investigation into allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and deaths in custody following recent violence at Negombo Prison, while severely criticizing prison authorities for obstructing statutory oversight. Key Findings & Violations: • Denial of Legal Access: Welikada Prison officials unlawfully denied HRCSL inspectors entry on the night of July 7, violating the HRCSL Act No. 21 of 1996, which guarantees unrestricted, unannounced inspection rights. Prison claims of a "volatile security situation" were rejected by the Commission. • Inmate Abuse & Reprisals: Transferred inmates from Negombo alleged targeted torture and denial of critical medical treatment. Inspectors observed visible, untreated injuries on several prisoners. • Unlawful Detention: The HRCSL discovered that multiple transferred inmates remained in custody despite having already completed their prison sentences. • Risk of Enforced Disappearance: Authorities delayed disclosing the locations of transferred prisoners to their families. The HRCSL warned this prolonged nondisclosure could breach the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Act No. 5 of 2018. HRCSL Directives: • Issue an immediate circular reaffirming the Commission’s absolute inspection powers. • Enforce strict orders prohibiting any reprisals or assaults against transferred inmates. • Execute the immediate disclosure of all prisoner locations to next of kin. • Ensure the prompt release of all inmates who have fully served their sentences.
🚨 Road Drains Driving 70% of Dengue Risk, Study Reveals
A new research study by Priyantha Wickramarathna and Prof. S.P. Samarakoon reveals a major gap in Sri Lanka's dengue prevention, showing that national infrastructure, rather than household negligence, is the primary driver of the current crisis. • The Core Finding: Open and exposed roadside drainage systems account for 70% of the overall dengue transmission risk. In contrast, households, schools, and workplaces account for only about 30%. • The Policy Mismatch: While national authorities heavily focus inspection and enforcement efforts on domestic and institutional environments, the study urges an immediate shift toward maintaining, covering, and managing public roadside drains. • 2026 Outbreak Data: Sri Lanka is facing a severe outbreak with 63,835 reported cases and 42 deaths (provisional data as of early July 2026). This includes a sharp spike of 21,543 cases in June alone. • Regional Epicentre: The Western Province remains the hardest hit, with Colombo (12,968 cases) and Gampaha (12,929 cases) together accounting for over 40% of the national total. • Critical Health Warning: Medical experts highlight that the most dangerous phase of dengue is the "Danger Window" (Days 4–6) when the fever begins to drop. This is when severe complications like bleeding and shock are most likely to occur, requiring vigilant clinical monitoring.
🇱🇰 PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya Departs for Qatar Following Death of Former Qatari Leader
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has departed for the State of Qatar to attend the funeral ceremony of the country's former leader (Father Amir), Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away on July 12, 2026, at the age of 74. Key Objectives of the Visit • Official Condolences: PM Amarasuriya will formally convey the deepest condolences on behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka to the leadership of Qatar. • High-Level Engagements: The Prime Minister will participate in high-level official meetings with Qatari leadership to reaffirm Sri Lanka’s longstanding diplomatic friendship, bilateral cooperation, and mutual ties. National Context • Diplomatic & Economic Ties: High-level diplomatic visits to key Middle Eastern nations like Qatar are critical for bolstering Sri Lanka's foreign relations, securing developmental cooperation, and supporting the interests of the significant Sri Lankan migrant workforce employed in the region.