News

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) has raised serious concerns regarding a recent Cabinet decision to raise the statutory retirement age for judges, stating that any such move must strictly protect judicial independence and the separation of powers.

Issuing a statement, the CBCSL referred to the Cabinet decision published on July 27, 2026, which cited the need to retain experienced judges amid an increase in the number of courts and the planned regional operation of Courts of Appeal.

While acknowledging that experienced judges can help reduce severe case backlogs and address staff shortages, the Bishops’ Conference maintained that constitutional changes must serve the public interest rather than political expediency.

The CBCSL emphasised that an impartial judiciary remains fundamental to safeguarding basic human rights, preserving citizen dignity, and upholding the rule of law across the nation.

To ensure transparency, the CBCSL urged the government to conduct broad public and stakeholder consultations before pushing the proposed constitutional amendment through Parliament.

The Right to Information Commission says that it has not been consulted on any proposed amendment to the RTI Act, despite mounting concern among media bodies and civil society groups over reports of an impending change to the law.

RTI Commission Director General K.D.S. Ruwanchandra told The Daily Morning that the Commission had neither participated in discussions nor been informed of any such move by the authorities.

Ruwanchandra stated that the Commission had not been involved in anything connected to amending the Act and had received no information about such a process being underway.

He explained that responsibility for initiating any amendment to the RTI Act, No. 12 of 2016, would rest with the Mass Media Ministry, but noted that the Commission had not yet been asked for its views on the matter.

He added that the Commission would provide its feedback if requested to do so, though no such request had been made so far.

Concerns among media organisations and civil society groups have been building following a recent meeting between media bodies and Deputy Mass Media Minister Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne.

The meeting reportedly touched on wider media policy issues as well as the possibility of amendments to the RTI Act, prompting unease among those present over the potential direction of the proposed changes.

In the aftermath of that meeting, the Working Journalists Association cautioned that any move to curtail public access to information would trigger strong resistance, warning of a large scale protest campaign involving both media organisations and civil society groups.

Authorities have recovered a parcel containing several prohibited items after it was allegedly thrown over the boundary wall of the Magazine Prison.

The recovered package reportedly contained 30 mobile phone batteries, 250 grams of slaked lime, 50 grams of tobacco and a quantity of ‘Mawa’.

Police from the Sahaspura Police Division have launched further investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara has urged the government to take immediate action to recover the remaining Rs. 330 billion in compensation owed to Sri Lanka following the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster.

Speaking during a parliamentary debate on regulations under the Import and Export Control Act, the opposition lawmaker highlighted that the country had received only a fraction of the total sum awarded following the final verdict.

Jayasekara explained that a motion taken up in January 2026 has led to the termination of proceedings.

He noted that this premature closure resulted in Sri Lanka effectively losing access to the outstanding Rs. 330 billion.

Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Nagananda Kodituwakku has also submitted a complaint to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption regarding the handling of the matter.

Sri Lanka has emerged as the only country in a new Pew Research Center survey to receive more favourable than unfavourable views from respondents in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The survey, conducted between February 8 and May 7, 2026, questioned 3,566 people in India, 1,039 in Pakistan, 1,044 in Bangladesh and 2,513 in Sri Lanka.

Pakistanis gave Sri Lanka the strongest rating, with 57% viewing the country favourably, followed by Bangladesh at 54%. India's favourable view also increased by six percentage points from 2024.

The findings show sharp differences in attitudes towards India. While 79% of Sri Lankans viewed India positively and 70% expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only 42% of Bangladeshis and 7% of Pakistanis held favourable views of India.

Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh also appear to be improving. Favourable views of Pakistan among Bangladeshis rose from 40% in 2024 to 54%, while 66% of Pakistanis viewed Bangladesh positively.

Sri Lankans' views of both countries have also improved, with favourable opinions of Pakistan rising to 57% and Bangladesh to 56%.

Age and religion influenced some responses. Younger adults generally expressed warmer views of neighbouring countries, while Indian Muslims were more likely than Hindus to view Pakistan and Bangladesh favourably.

Sri Lanka's broadly positive image across the region stands out amid South Asia's political rivalries, giving the country a rare level of goodwill among neighbouring populations.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called on the government to fulfill its election promises and ensure fair prices for paddy farmers suffering under rising production costs.

Speaking in Parliament, Premadasa warned that the crisis facing the agricultural sector has worsened significantly as farmers struggle to sell their harvest at profitable rates.

He noted that wet paddy is currently purchased at Rs. 80 to Rs. 85 per kilogram and dried paddy at Rs. 90 to Rs. 100, while government figures estimate the production cost per kilogram at Rs. 137.

Insufficient support

The Opposition Leader urged the government to secure equitable pricing to prevent farming families from falling deeper into poverty.

He pointed out that pledges made during the election campaign regarding farmer welfare remain unfulfilled.

While the government recommends applying 225 kilograms of urea per hectare, the provided subsidy of 30,000 rupees per hectare fails to cover the expense.

He also highlighted that expenses for essential inputs including seed paddy, fertilizer, fuel, and agrochemicals continue to escalate alongside non-financial threats such as the human-elephant conflict.

With agriculture employing roughly 26 to 27 percent of the national workforce, the Opposition Leader urged officials to rectify calculation errors in how the sector's contribution to gross domestic product is assessed by the Department of Census and Statistics.

Warning that delaying intervention will leave farmers helpless and shrink the economy, he called on the government to deliver justice to the rural voters who supported it.

The Government has taken a new step towards reshaping early childhood education with the introduction of a national set of resources designed to help preschool teachers move away from traditional teaching methods and adopt more child-focused approaches.

The new resource package, titled the Early Childhood Support Resource Guide, was launched at the Ministry of Education in Isurupaya under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Developed in accordance with the Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework, the initiative places greater emphasis on learning through play, activities and inquiry. It is intended to help young children develop their abilities by engaging directly with learning experiences rather than relying mainly on the delivery of information.

The package has been developed under the theme “Starting Right” and contains four resources: a Teacher Guide, Suggested Activity Guide, Teaching and Learning Material Manual and Master Material Training Manual.

These materials are expected to support preschool educators and trainers in planning age-appropriate activities and using practical learning tools to encourage children's participation and curiosity.

The Government plans to introduce the programme across preschools throughout the country. Training will also be provided to trainers and preschool teachers to support the implementation of the new approach.

The initiative is being carried out jointly by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, with the involvement of the National Institute of Education and UNICEF.

Speaking at the launch, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said the Government intended to begin implementing its wider education reforms by focusing first on early childhood education.

She said the new guidelines marked an important shift in how children learn, with greater attention being given to child-centred, inquiry-based and activity-based education.

According to the Prime Minister, the objective is to develop an education system that focuses not only on what children know, but also on how effectively they can apply that knowledge.

She also highlighted the need to increase parents' awareness of early childhood development and build a wider social environment that prioritises children's wellbeing and safety.

Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savitri Paulraj said the new guidelines would provide an important foundation for the development of future generations.

She also announced the Government's expectation of creating a nationwide preschool system operating under one national policy by 2027. The aim is to give parents greater confidence in the quality and standards of preschool education available to their children.

Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Dr. Namal Sudarshana, Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa, National Institute of Education Director General Senior Professor O. G. Dayaratne Banda, senior ministry officials, provincial education authorities and UNICEF representatives attended the launch.

The imposition of Value Added Tax and additional levies on printed reading materials has triggered a crisis in Sri Lanka's literary sector, forcing up to 60 per cent of authors and 40 per cent of publishing houses out of the industry over the last three years.

The Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association, during a media briefing today, revealed that the tax regime introduced in January 2023 has caused book prices to soar, resulting in a dramatic slump in retail sales.

Board Member Gamini Moragoda highlighted that approximately 95 per cent of nations globally, including all Asian countries, refrain from taxing printed books.

He said that taxation on reading materials was unprecedented in Sri Lanka prior to recent policy changes, placing an unfair financial strain on families already grappling with elevated living costs.

He noted that the industry has repeatedly engaged government ministers and presented petitions signed by thousands of exhibition visitors, offering to prove through official figures that removing the levy would not cause a substantial deficit in state revenue.

The association warned that retaining the fiscal measures for another decade would permanently dismantle the domestic publishing framework and discourage future generations of writers.

Industry leaders reiterated that eliminating VAT on printed literature is essential to lower market prices, protect domestic heritage, and preserve reading culture across Sri Lanka.

Parliament was informed yesterday (19) of a new fraudulent scheme within Sri Lanka Customs involving undeclared vehicle spare parts separate from the controversy over 323 containers.

Speaking in the parliament, opposition Member of Parliament D.V. Chanaka alleged that an investigation report detailing the incident was deliberately suppressed to protect an official allied with the President.

He stated that a 40 foot container containing engine parts and vehicle seats was initially cleared by two Customs inspection teams, including one led by Deputy Director of Customs N.S. Kumanayake, which claimed only seven undeclared seats were present.

Following a subsequent complaint, the matter was referred to the Central Investigation Bureau of Customs.

Chanak noted that this inquiry uncovered widespread discrepancies, including 355 units of 45 items not listed in the Customs entry, 254 additional units within declared items, 122 vehicle seats imported without licences, and 18 tyres with rims.

Furthermore, 474 units across 23 items that attract lower taxes were missing from the shipment entirely.

Chanaka pointed out that the final investigation report was submitted to the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance on 19 January 2026.

He questioned why the President had failed to act on the findings and called for an immediate public statement explaining why the official report was concealed.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP S. M. Marikkar said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is deliberately expressing intentions to step down from his position merely to gain public sympathy.

He made these remarks in response to President's statement recently where he said that he was prepared to leave office if necessary.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured that he will not exercise his executive powers beyond the limits set by the Constitution.
The President made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday (12).

Responding to questions raised by journalists, the opposition lawmaker alleged that the President and the ruling National People's Power (NPP) government have failed to retain public goodwill due to economic mismanagement.

Marikkar alleged that the government caused a loss of approximately Rs. 14,000 million through the procurement of substandard coal shipments.

He also claimed that around 300 containers were brought into the country improperly and that a sum of USD 2.5 million went missing from the General Treasury.

Marikkar pointed out that the government has severely degraded the living standards of ordinary citizens.

He added that the government has misled the public with false promises and left them stranded amidst mounting economic pressures.

Owing to these critical failures, the opposition MP concluded that the President would fail to secure any form of sympathy from the public.

Four additional petitions challenging the constitutionality of the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution have been filed before the Supreme Court, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne announced in Parliament today.

The announcement brings the total number of challenges lodged against the legislation to at least seven.

Speaker Wickramaratne had previously informed the House yesterday that three petitions against the 22nd Amendment and a separate challenge regarding the Judicature Amendment Bill had been received.

Presented to Parliament on 18 August by Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, the 22nd Amendment proposes structural alterations to the judiciary.

Key provisions seek to change the retirement ages of Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges, alongside restructuring the composition of the Court of Appeal.

The petitions have been submitted under Article 121(1) of the Constitution, which grants citizens and organisations the legal right to challenge a bill's constitutionality prior to its passage.

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is bound to communicate its determination to the Speaker within the constitutionally mandated timeframe.

Growing legal opposition

The draft legislation has generated intense legal and political friction.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has officially challenged the draft law before the apex court, urging that its constitutionality be evaluated by a full bench.

The government maintains that it will abide by the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling, expressing readiness to secure a special parliamentary majority or hold a national referendum if deemed necessary by the judiciary.

Biodiversity Action Forum 2026 explores how healthy oceans can create new opportunities for investment, innovation and sustainable growthMaldives News

The Biodiversity Action Forum 2026, organised by Biodiversity Sri Lanka under the theme ‘Biodiversity Means Business: Pathways to a Nature-Positive Economy’, will be held on August 25, at Shangri-La Colombo.

Pollution, overfishing, coastal erosion, coral bleaching and climate change are creating growing risks for ocean-dependent industries.

At the same time, new approaches from blue finance and sustainable aquaculture to Marine Protected Areas, blue carbon, reef-positive tourism and nature-based solutions are creating opportunities for investment and innovation.

The Forum’s breakout session, “The Next Wave of Blue Growth: Private Sector Entry Points for Productive Investment, Conservation, CSR and Blue Finance,” will explore how Sri Lankan businesses can seize these opportunities.

UNDP Economist Dr Vagisha Gunasekara, will deliver the keynote, examining how Marine Spatial Planning and Marine Protected Areas can protect critical ecosystems while reducing investment uncertainty and enabling sustainable ocean-based industries.

A panel discussion, on ‘Blue Economy in Action: Unlocking Investment and Sustainable Growth’, will turn from policy to practice.

Moderated by Dr Sandun Perera, Programme Coordinator at IUCN Sri Lanka, the panel will feature Prof. Terney Pradeep Kumara, Director General of the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management; Sivalingam Sivakanthan of DFCC Bank; Shan Meemanage, Director and Co-founder of Divron Bioventures and Harshini de Silva Pandithasekera, Head of Sustainability at Aitken Spence Hotel Managements.

Together, they will explore a critical question: How can businesses actually participate in Sri Lanka’s blue economy?

The discussion will look at practical opportunities for investment, financing, conservation, CSR and ESG partnerships, while identifying potential initiatives that could continue beyond the Forum.

No single business, bank, government agency or conservation organisation can safeguard Sri Lanka’s marine wealth alone. The opportunity lies in bringing business, finance, science, government and communities together around shared priorities.

That is the larger purpose of the Biodiversity Action Forum 2026: moving from individual projects towards collective action for nature.

The event is supported by Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company and Hatton National Bank PLC as Platinum Sponsors; Cleantech (Pvt) Ltd. as Gold Sponsor; and Citizens Development Business Finance PLC, DIMO and Hayleys Plantations as Presenting Partners.