News

The price of a 750 ml bottle of special arrack has been increased by Rs. 20, the Sri Lanka Distilleries Company announced.

The company said the price revision was implemented due to increased production costs.

No further details regarding the new retail price or the effective date of the increase were provided.

More than 300 illegally imported high-end smartphones, including the latest Apple iPhone models, with an estimated value of around Rs. 50 million have been seized during a raid at a shop in Colombo's Liberty Plaza.

Police said the operation was carried out by the Walana Anti-Vice Squad.

The raid led to the seizure of the devices, which were allegedly being sold illegally.

A suspect was arrested in connection with the alleged illegal sale of the smartphones.

Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

A private hospital in Jaffna has been fined Rs. 3 million by the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court for charging patients above the approved maximum fee for a medical test.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) had determined that the maximum charge for a Full Blood Count (FBC) test at private hospitals and medical laboratories should be Rs. 400.

However, during a special inspection conducted by CAA officers, it was found that a private medical institution located in the Kandar Madam area along Palali Road, Jaffna, had charged Rs. 550 for the same test.

Following the discovery, the CAA filed legal action against the institution before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court. After the institution pleaded guilty to the offence, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 3 million.

The court also ordered the institution to publish an announcement in leading newspapers at its own expense regarding the violation.

The CAA has urged the public to remain aware of approved charges for medical services when obtaining treatment or tests from private hospitals and laboratories.

Consumers have also been advised to obtain valid bills or receipts for all payments, as these documents can be used as evidence when submitting complaints.

Complaints regarding charges exceeding approved limits can be made to the CAA through its hotline 1977 during office hours.

The Opposition has convened an emergency meeting after the government refused to allow a parliamentary debate on the independence of the judiciary.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa chaired the meeting today (22) at his office in Parliament, with many Opposition Members of Parliament in attendance, to discuss the way forward following the government's rejection of the request.

The dispute traces back to the recent Party Leaders' meeting, at which the Opposition had called for a parliamentary debate grounded in core democratic principles, namely the tripartite system of governance comprising the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary, alongside the doctrines of separation of powers and checks and balances.

The government declined to agree to the request, prompting Opposition MPs to convene separately to determine their response.

During the emergency meeting, Opposition MPs stressed that matters affecting the independence of the Judiciary must be allowed to be debated openly in Parliament, underlining that the separation of powers and mutual checks and balances between the three branches of government form the very foundation of a democratic system of governance.

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that denying an opportunity to hold a parliamentary debate on judicial matters undermined democratic principles of governance.

The meeting was attended by MPs Rohini Wijerathna, Chitral Fernando, V. Radhakrishnan, Chaminda Wijesiri, Gayantha Karunathilaka, J. C. Alawathuwala, Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Kavinda Jayawardana, Chathura Galappaththi, Kabir Hashim, Ravi Karunanayake, M. S. A. Waseed, Rohana Bandara, W. H. M. Dharmasena, B. Ariyawansha, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Anuradha Jayaratne, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Rishad Bathiudeen, Rauff Hakeem, Ramanathan Archchuna, Nizam Kariapper, M. S. Uthumalebbe, Chanaka Madugoda, Suranga Rathnayaka, and Selvam Adaikkalanathan.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (21) reissued a warrant for the arrest of former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya.

Wickramasuriya has been named as a suspect in a case involving the alleged misappropriation of government funds and had failed to appear before court.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena also instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to obtain the Attorney General’s advice regarding the case.

The CID was further directed to report the progress of the matter to court on December 9.

The Court of Appeal today (23) dismissed, without taking it up for hearing, a writ petition seeking to postpone the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination by two months.

The examination is currently scheduled to be held next month.

The decision was announced after the Court gave lengthy consideration to the submissions made in relation to the petition, according to Ada Derana's court reporter.

The petition had been filed by a group of students who are due to sit the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination for the first and second time.

With the dismissal of the petition, the examination is expected to proceed as scheduled next month.

The preliminary feasibility study for Sri Lanka’s first Canal-Top Solar power project has commenced along the Viyana Canal in Mahiyanganaya.

The project aims to install solar panels over the canal, with authorities identifying the Viyana Canal as a suitable location due to its length of more than 20 kilometres and its potential to generate significant renewable energy for the national power grid.

Officials stated that the initiative is expected to provide multiple benefits, including clean electricity generation, reduced water evaporation, and improved regulation of water temperatures during periods of extreme heat.

The project could also support future renewable energy developments, including green hydrogen production, authorities said.

As part of the initiative, a secure electric fence system will be introduced to reduce the risk of wild elephants falling into the canal.

A special field inspection and progress review discussion on the project was held in Mahiyanganaya on July 20, with the participation of Parliamentarians Ravindra Bandara and Sudath Balagalla, officials from the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, the Ceylon Electricity Distribution Company, and senior engineering officers of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority.

Authorities said the project is expected to serve as a model green energy initiative by combining renewable power generation, water conservation, and wildlife protection.

A Sri Lankan-origin doctor at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children has been arrested and charged with possessing and accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material, Toronto Police said in a press release.

Dissanayake, 44, was held by officers from the force's Internet Child Exploitation Unit after an investigation into the alleged use of an electronic device to access and download child sexual abuse and exploitation material.

Police said the investigation began in January 2026. In February, investigators executed search warrants at the Hospital for Sick Children and a private residence, where they seized multiple electronic devices, including a work computer.

Dissanayake has been charged with possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material and accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material. He was scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on Tuesday. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.

Toronto Police said investigators have found no evidence that the alleged child sexual abuse and exploitation material is connected to Dissanayake's work as a physician.

The investigation remains ongoing.

In a statement published on its website, the Hospital for Sick Children said it was "deeply upset and dismayed" by the allegations and condemned the behaviour described by police.

The hospital said Dissanayake was placed on immediate leave after it became aware of the investigation. It added that Toronto Police had advised there was no evidence linking the charges to his medical practice and that it had not been informed of any risk to patients or their families.

The hospital also said that families of patients who received care from Dissanayake can contact its patient relations team with any concerns.

Source: TOI

The Southern Provincial Education Department has postponed the Grade 9 Geography and Civic Education question papers scheduled to be held today (22) under the second term examinations.

According to the Southern Provincial Director of Education, the examinations will now be conducted on July 24.

The decision was made after the question papers could not be distributed to the relevant divisional education offices due to delays in the printing process.

Officials have informed all school principals in the respective education zones about the revised examination schedule.