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The Supreme Court has fixed October 30, 2026, to consider a Fundamental Rights petition accusing the government of failing to implement adequate pre-disaster measures ahead of Cyclone Ditwah.

The petition seeks a formal declaration that the state's inaction violated the fundamental rights of the general public.

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Janak de Silva and Achala Wengappuli scheduled the hearing after taking up the petition, which was filed by an attorney from Kandy.

The Attorney General, acting on behalf of the President, has been named as a respondent alongside members of the Cabinet of Ministers and several other state officials.

The petitioner contends that the state failed to act despite advance warnings issued by the Department of Meteorology regarding the impending storm.

The lawsuit argues that the administration neglected to put proper contingency plans in place to protect citizens and minimise the widespread damage caused by the natural disaster.

The petitioner has asked the Supreme Court to intervene by ordering the government to take proactive steps for future events.

The motion requests a court directive forcing the state to formulate and implement comprehensive guidelines aimed at preventing or reducing the impact of similar natural disasters.

The Fort Magistrate yesterday (15) ordered Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) to release copies of the email data system belonging to the Public Debt Management Department to assist an ongoing investigation into a massive financial fraud.

The high profile probe concerns the fraudulent disposal of USD 2.5 million of government funds from the Sri Lanka Treasury.

Magistrate Pasan Amarasinghe issued the directive following a motion filed in the Fort Magistrate Court by the Criminal Investigation Department.

The investigators requested the specific data copies held by the telecom provider to expand their inquiry into the missing state funds.

The court heard that detectives have already forwarded hard drives containing sixteen terabytes of retrieved computer data to the University of Colombo for detailed analysis.

The newly requested email logs will be handed directly to a specialised technical committee appointed under the university to trace the fraudulent transactions.

Representatives from the CID emphasised to the court that obtaining these specific email records is absolutely essential for the extensive investigations currently underway.

The escalating military tensions in the Middle East have caused a significant surge in global oil prices, raising alarms about the potential adverse effects on the Sri Lankan economy.

Currently, Brent crude oil prices have risen to around USD 85 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude is reported at USD 80 per barrel.

This continuous rise in oil prices on the world market poses ongoing challenges for national economic stability, suggesting a clear need for proactive measures to safeguard against future repercussions.

To mitigate these severe impacts, economic analysts emphasize the urgent need for the country to adjust local fuel prices in line with international market trends.

They stress that such changes are vital to protect the country from broader economic shocks that usually follow global energy crises.

Highlighting these concerns, economic analyst Dhananath Fernando disclosed that previous bouts of unrest in the Middle East have already imposed severe challenges on the nation’s economy.

He cautioned that the risk of a repeat situation remains high under the current global climate.

He further noted that despite the potential unpopularity of such a move, aligning local fuel prices with global rates is absolutely essential for economic stability.

According to his assessment, taking proactive steps now is the only way to prevent international shocks from destabilising domestic markets.

The Court of Appeal has announced that it will deliver its decision on July 23, 2026, regarding whether to grant leave to proceed with a petition seeking the postponement of the upcoming 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) Examination.

The petition was filed by a group of students preparing to sit for the examination, requesting the court to issue an order to delay the scheduled examination.

After considering submissions made by the petitioners and representatives of the Attorney General’s Department, the Court of Appeal bench decided to announce its decision on whether the petition can proceed on July 23.

The court’s forthcoming decision will determine whether further proceedings will be permitted in relation to the request to postpone the examination.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday (14) that the National People's Power (NPP) had relied heavily on farmers to build its political movement, but had failed to protect them after coming to power.

He said the government was continuously insulting and oppressing the farmers of the country, and that the very farmers who had voted for the government in their millions had today been reduced to Kasippu, or illicit moonshine, drinkers and artificial farmers.

He observed that the farmer who had once been an asset to the NPP had now become a headache for the party.

Premadasa said farmers were struggling to survive because government policy kept the fixed buying price for paddy lower than the actual cost of production, resulting in substantial financial losses for the agricultural community.

He pointed out that while in opposition, the NPP had praised farmers as gods and promised them high guaranteed paddy prices, at one point as much as Rs. 150 per kilogram, yet its own administration had since announced a considerably lower guaranteed price of Rs. 120 per kilogram for Nadu paddy.

He said farmers were producing paddy at a loss of Rs. 137 per kilogram, even as the state guaranteed price remained fixed at just Rs. 120.

The Opposition Leader criticised what he described as a lack of support for farmers amid compounding crises, including supply shortages and the ongoing human elephant conflict.

He said farmers were struggling to secure even the most essential agricultural supplies, with widespread reports of shortages and high costs for seed paddy, quality fertiliser and agrochemicals, while the price of farming machinery and equipment continued to escalate.

Premadasa accused the government of betraying the agricultural community, adding that farmers were being left exposed to exploitation by private millers, as last season's paddy remained trapped in harvest centres, pushing many cultivators further into debt.

While the government has imposed heavy taxes on agricultural equipment, it has reduced taxes on cigarettes, having granted the tobacco company tax relief amounting to Rs. 9.2 billion from January to July 14, 2026, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said.

He said the government had acted to grant tax concessions to tobacco companies while placing a tax burden on farming equipment.

The Opposition Leader made these remarks while participating in a meeting held at Suriyawewa in Hambantota to discuss the problems faced by farmers.

He said that although the government had announced a guaranteed price of Rs. 120 for Nadu paddy, Rs. 130 for Samba and Rs. 140 for Keeri Samba as a means of protecting paddy farmers, it had promised during the election period that a guaranteed price of Rs. 150 for paddy would be made law in the country, a promise that had not been fulfilled to date.

He said farming had today become a loss making profession.

"The farmer is trapped in a deadly debt trap"

The Opposition Leader said that farming had today become a vicious cycle in which farmers had become trapped in a deadly situation, borrowing money from money lenders at high interest to carry out cultivation, while not receiving quality fertiliser, seed paddy or agrochemicals, and not even receiving the fertiliser subsidy as promised.

He said that, in addition, the prices of agrochemicals and fertiliser had risen, and at a time when the prices of equipment had already increased amid these problems, the government had imposed further taxes on this equipment.

He added that the human elephant conflict had also intensified, and that although property, lives and everything else were being lost, none of this appeared to be a concern for the government.

"The government has no answers to farmers' problems"

The Opposition Leader said that although questions had been raised in Parliament today on behalf of the farming community, the government had reached a point where it was delaying answers to these questions.

He said that although the harvesting season in the Eastern Province was drawing to a close, no solutions had been provided, and that the government's attempts amounted to delaying matters until they could be forgotten. He noted that currently only Rs. 120 was being paid for paddy with 14 percent moisture content, and that this had been limited to 2,500 kilograms.

"Govt has no interest in making the country self sufficient"

The Opposition Leader further said that although false promises had been made to win votes, the government was today acting in a manner that caused farmers loss upon loss.

He said that at a time when the farming community was facing numerous problems, the very government that had obtained the farmers' votes had now become a burden to them.

Premadasa said the government itself claimed that it was not the farmer who could guarantee food security and self sufficiency, adding that this government had no target for food security.

He said false promises had been made while in opposition, and that the SJB would continue to fight until a fair price was given for paddy.

Sri Lanka has secured a place among the world’s leading culinary destinations after being named in the Top 50 Food Destinations around the World for 2026 by Travel And Tour World (TTW).

The recognition places Sri Lanka alongside some of the world’s most celebrated food cultures, highlighting the island nation’s unique blend of traditional flavours, regional diversity and authentic dining experiences.

According to TTW, the annual ranking celebrates countries shaping the future of global culinary tourism. The selection was based on several factors, including culinary heritage, street food culture, fine dining experiences, locally sourced ingredients, sustainability, beverage traditions, cultural authenticity and the overall appeal of food experiences.

Sri Lanka was praised for its vibrant cuisine, which reflects centuries of cultural influences combined with the island’s natural abundance of spices, tropical produce and fresh seafood.

“Sri Lanka is a vibrant culinary destination where aromatic spices, tropical ingredients and centuries of cultural influences create unforgettable dining experiences, from bustling street-food stalls to elegant coastal restaurants,” TTW stated.

The island’s traditional dishes, including rice and curry, hoppers, kottu roti, seafood specialities and a variety of sweet delicacies, continue to attract international travellers seeking authentic food experiences.

As part of its feature on Sri Lanka, TTW highlighted 10 destinations across the country known for their distinctive culinary offerings.

Colombo was recognised for its famous rice and curry, kottu roti, hoppers and seafood, while Galle was highlighted for its seafood dishes, Sri Lankan curries and colonial-era dining experiences.

Kandy was noted for traditional cuisine and local sweets, while Negombo gained attention for seafood curries, grilled fish and lagoon-based specialities. Ella was recognised for organic produce and hill-country dining, while Jaffna was celebrated for its crab curry, dosas and strong Tamil culinary influences.

Beach destinations such as Mirissa and Hikkaduwa were praised for fresh seafood and relaxed coastal dining, while Nuwara Eliya was recognised for tea-inspired cuisine, pastries and colonial-style dishes. Trincomalee was also featured for its authentic coastal cuisine and seafood offerings.

Sri Lanka ranked 50th on the global list, which was topped by Mexico, followed by Italy and Spain. Other major culinary destinations featured included Japan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, France and Indonesia.

The ranking also included food destinations from across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, recognising countries that have preserved their culinary traditions while embracing innovation and sustainable food practices.

Sri Lanka’s inclusion in the list is expected to further enhance the country’s appeal among international visitors, particularly travellers seeking cultural experiences through food.

With its diverse regional flavours, historic culinary traditions and growing reputation as a destination for authentic dining, Sri Lanka continues to strengthen its position on the global tourism map.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ajith P. Perera has claimed that the government is planning to implement a proposal to extend the retirement age of Supreme Court judges before the end of this year.

Speaking on the "360°" programme aired on TV Derana, Perera alleged that the move raised serious concerns, particularly since no official request for such an amendment had been made by any relevant institution or stakeholder.

He said Parliament had not been informed of the reason behind the proposed constitutional amendment, and that the matter had not been discussed by any parliamentary committee.

He noted that no request had come from the Chief Justice, Supreme Court judges, Court of Appeal judges or the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to increase the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, and pointed out that both the High Court Judges' Association and the Bar Association were opposed to the move. He added that no one had explained to Parliament why the amendment was being introduced, nor had it been taken up by any parliamentary committee.

Alleging that the proposal carried a hidden political motive, Perera questioned who was actually bringing it forward, saying that no one knew, which in his view pointed to a hidden agenda. He said the party had obtained a draft prepared by a privately appointed committee, and claimed the government was determined to push it through.

Perera further charged that the objective was to influence the balance of the judiciary for political purposes. He said it was now clear that the move was intended to reshape the judiciary to suit the government's political interests, adding that there was a target to have the amendment passed during the first week of December, which he said explained why the entire process appeared highly secretive.

A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing both of his parents following a domestic dispute in the Kiralawelkaduwa area of Embilipitiya, police said.

According to preliminary investigations, an argument within the family had escalated into violence, resulting in the deaths of the suspect's parents.

The victims have been identified as a 58-year-old man and his 54-year-old wife, both residents of Kiralawelkaduwa.

Police said the suspect was arrested shortly after the incident on suspicion of committing the double homicide.

The bodies have been referred for post-mortem examinations, while investigators continue to gather evidence and record statements to determine the circumstances leading to the killings.

Embilipitiya Police are conducting further investigations.