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The bodies of a married couple have been discovered inside a clothing store in Bulathsinhala, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Police said officers from the Bulathsinhala Police Station reached the location after receiving information and recovered the bodies during initial inspections.

The deceased have been identified as a 55-year-old woman and her 61-year-old husband.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of death.

Police have launched a comprehensive investigation to establish whether the incident was the result of a homicide or due to other possible circumstances.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, appeared before the Court of Appeal today to take part in proceedings related to an ongoing legal challenge connected to a money laundering case.

The matter before the court concerns a petition filed seeking a determination that the charge of “conspiracy,” included in the case instituted by the Attorney General under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, cannot be sustained.

The hearing was scheduled to take place before a Court of Appeal bench comprising Justices Amal Ranaraja and Dr. Sumudu Premachandra.

Today’s proceedings focused on the legal arguments surrounding the validity of maintaining the conspiracy-related charge within the broader case framework.

Further developments are expected following the court’s consideration of submissions presented during the hearing.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has warned that Sri Lanka is heading toward mounting economic and political pressure, claiming the country could face a severe economic setback in the period ahead.

Addressing the UNP working committee, Wickremesinghe said the government is facing challenges on multiple fronts, citing what he described as an economic downturn alongside concerns over human rights issues.

He alleged that ex-servicemen are facing suppression and claimed that Buddhist monks are experiencing similar difficulties. He further stated that Buddhist associations could eventually come under government control.

Wickremesinghe also raised concerns regarding matters surrounding the arrest of former State Intelligence Services (SIS) Chief Suresh Sallay and questioned the manner in which the situation has been handled.

Speaking on the political landscape, the former President stressed the importance of building stronger cooperation among opposition groups.

He noted that several opposition parties have already come together under a joint opposition arrangement but said broader collaboration is needed. According to Wickremesinghe, discussions are currently underway with additional political parties to further expand the alliance.

His remarks come as political attention continues to focus on economic conditions and evolving opposition dynamics.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Slovakia for the second leg of his three-nation European tour, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the country since it gained independence in 1993.

During his two-day stay in Bratislava, Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico. He will also engage with leading Slovak business executives to explore opportunities for expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.

Soon after his arrival, Modi said the visit would help deepen India-Slovakia ties and open new avenues of cooperation. “This visit provides an opportunity to deepen India-Slovakia relations and explore new avenues of cooperation. Looking forward to productive meetings with President Pellegrini and Prime Minister Fico,” he posted on X.

The prime minister arrived in Slovakia after concluding engagements in France, where he held bilateral discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and attended the inauguration of the Bharat Innovates event in Nice.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi was welcomed by Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanr and received a traditional bread-and-salt welcome, a symbol of hospitality, respect and goodwill in Slovakia.

Ahead of the visit, Modi described the trip as historic and said it builds on the growing momentum in bilateral relations. He expressed confidence that discussions with Slovak leaders and business representatives would further strengthen cooperation in key sectors.

The MEA said the visit follows a series of high-level exchanges between the two countries, including President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Slovakia in April 2025 and President Pellegrini’s visit to India for the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.

India and Slovakia are expected to discuss expanding cooperation in trade, investment, automobile manufacturing, railway production and emerging technologies. New Delhi also views the visit as an opportunity to further strengthen its engagement with the European Union, of which Slovakia is a member.

After concluding his Slovakia visit, Modi will travel to France to participate in the G7 Summit in Evian on June 16-17. He is expected to hold discussions with G7 leaders and partner countries on global issues such as international cooperation, economic growth and artificial intelligence, besides holding a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.

The final leg of his tour will take him to Paris on June 18, where he will attend VivaTech 2026, Europe’s largest technology and startup event, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

Source: India Today

The prices of pharmaceuticals supplied to the Health Ministry by local manufacturers under buy back agreements are expected to rise by 12.5 percent from next month following discussions between authorities and producers.

Local pharmaceutical manufacturers, including the State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation, currently fulfill nearly 30 percent of the ministry’s overall medicine requirement.

According to an official, manufacturers had initially requested a 15 percent price increase, pointing to higher production costs linked to imported ingredients. The increase in costs was attributed to market pressures associated with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

However, authorities indicated that the requested adjustment would not be fully accepted.

“We cannot agree for a 15 percent increase. We can settle for 12.5 percent,” the official said.

The revised pricing arrangement is expected to take effect from next month under the existing supply agreements.

Oil prices slipped to their lowest since March on Monday after U.S. President Donald ‌Trump and Iran's deputy foreign minister said they had reached an initial deal to end the war and to resume traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures fell $3.58, or 4.10%, to $83.75 a barrel by 0004 GMT and U.S. West Texas ​Intermediate was at $80.87, down $4.01, or 4.72%. Both contracts tumbled more than 3% on Friday.

The U.S. and Iran ​will sign a memorandum of understanding in Switzerland on Friday, said the prime ⁠minister of Pakistan, whose country has served as a mediator. Trump said on Sunday that the Strait ​of Hormuz would be open "toll free" and that a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports would also end.

Iran's ​semi-official Mehr news agency said the draft deal called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days under Iranian arrangements.

"The geopolitical risk premium that had been built into crude is now being unwound quite aggressively as traders price in the ​prospect of restored oil flows," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

The world has lost ​millions of barrels of oil and gas supply since the war closed the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a ‌fifth of ⁠the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, for more than three months.

Investors are also watching cautiously how quickly Middle Eastern producers can resume oil production and exports following damage from the war and whether more ships will enter the region.

"While these uncertainties suggest upside risks to our forecast for Brent oil futures ​to reach $80/bbl by the end ​of the year, it's ⁠worth noting that oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz just needs to reach 60-70% of pre-war levels to return oil markets to pre-war oversupply expectations," ​Vivek Dhar, a commodities strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said in a ​note.

Iran's deputy ⁠foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said a more expansive agreement would be negotiated during a 60-day ceasefire period.

E4 nations, which include the UK, France, Germany and Italy, said on Sunday the countries were prepared to lift sanctions on Iran in ⁠response ​to steps on its nuclear programme.

"Given the uncertainties around the next ​round of negotiations over the next 60 days, particularly around the nuclear aspect, it’s hard to see crude oil prices falling too ​much further from here immediately," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.

Source: Reuters 

The government is considering maintaining current domestic fuel prices even after the conclusion of the existing subsidy programme, provided international oil prices continue their downward trend.

Officials said authorities are closely observing developments in global energy markets before making a final decision on the future of fuel subsidies and local pricing.

The fuel relief programme, introduced earlier this year, currently provides a subsidy of Rs. 100 per litre on Auto Diesel and Rs. 20 per litre on Petrol. Funded through a Rs. 57 billion allocation for an initial three-month period, the programme was widely expected to end in June. However, officials clarified that the duration of the subsidy will depend on how long the allocated funds remain available.

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Managing Director Mayura Neththikumara stated that the relief measures would continue until the full allocation is utilized and would not automatically end with the calendar deadline.

He added that any decision on extending the subsidy would ultimately require direction from the government.

According to Neththikumara, falling international oil prices have opened the possibility of sustaining existing local fuel rates without placing additional pressure on state finances. He noted that the price of a barrel of diesel had dropped to USD 125 by last Friday.

He cautioned, however, that policy decisions cannot be based on short-term market movements and that lower prices would need to remain stable over time before any lasting pricing strategy could be adopted.

At present, Lanka Petrol 92 Octane remains priced at Rs. 434 per litre, while Lanka Auto Diesel stands at Rs. 407 per litre. Premium fuel prices continue at Rs. 495 per litre for Lanka Petrol 95 Octane and Rs. 478 per litre for Lanka Super Diesel.

Authorities indicated that any future decision regarding the continuation, adjustment, or withdrawal of subsidies will depend on sustained market conditions and government direction.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has declined a request seeking daily access for legal counsel to former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Chief Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, who is currently receiving treatment at the National Hospital in Colombo.

Sallay was admitted to hospital after commencing a hunger strike while being held in CID custody under a detention order.

The decision was formally conveyed by CID Director Shani Abeysekara in a written response addressed to Sallay’s wife, Manori Sallay.

According to reports, Manori Sallay had requested permission for her husband’s lawyer, Asitha Siriwardena, to meet him five days each week. In response, the CID stated that Sallay is presently undergoing treatment and is not actively participating in investigative proceedings, making daily legal consultations unnecessary at this stage.

The communication further explained that repeated meetings with legal counsel could reduce the mental rest considered necessary for recovery and may negatively affect his current health condition.

The CID also noted that an existing court order already permits legal access once each week, specifically on Wednesdays.

As a result, authorities confirmed that lawyer visits will continue under the existing arrangement, while daily visitation remains available to close family members, including his wife, daughter and son.

The request for additional legal meetings has therefore been rejected.

US President Donald Trump has said a "swift and lethal kinetic" US military strike has killed "the infamous leader" of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang.

Tren de Aragua has been labelled by the US as a terrorist organisation. 

In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote: "Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong."

The gang's leader, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, was charged in a New York federal court in December with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including lending support to terrorists in crimes that stretched more than a decade.

US attorney Jay Clayton said at the time that the gang is responsible for countless acts of violence, extortion and drug trafficking in North America, South America and Europe.

The US State Department had offered rewards of up to $5m for information leading to Guerrero Flores' arrest.

Venezuelan authorities have not yet commented on the operation.

Source: Sky News

A 45-year-old man lost his life after being swept away by strong sea currents while bathing at Moragalla in Aluthgama, according to police.

The victim was identified as a resident of Eheliyagoda.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had entered the sea with a group of friends when strong currents pulled him away from shore. Despite the circumstances, the incident ended in tragedy.

Police said the body was later recovered from the sea.

Authorities have launched further investigations into the incident to determine all surrounding circumstances.

Sri Lanka Police are continuing inquiries into the drowning.

The Ministry of Education has announced that schools will remain open until August 7, 2026, for students preparing to sit for the 2026 General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.) Advanced Level Examination.

According to the 2026 academic calendar, the first phase of the third school term for Sinhala and Tamil medium schools will run from July 27 to August 7, providing students with nine school days for revision and final preparation before the examination begins.

Education authorities have encouraged all examination candidates to attend classes regularly and make full use of the remaining classroom sessions to strengthen their preparation.

The 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination is scheduled to take place from August 10 to September 5, 2026.

Meanwhile, officials stated that arrangements for conducting the national examination have already been finalized, with thousands of students expected to sit for the examination across the country.