News

Parliamentary information technology and digital systems face a severe threat of cyber attacks that could lead to sensitive data theft and severe reputational damage, according to the annual performance report for 2025.

The warning comes following a specialised evaluation conducted by the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT), which examined the cybersecurity infrastructure of the legislature over the course of the reviewed year.

The assessment highlighted critical vulnerabilities across the national assembly's digital architecture, with forty six out of fifty six technical and security areas evaluated demonstrating high risk levels.

Experts say that these weaknesses leave systems exposed to malicious activities, including the theft of confidential state documents and the defacement of official web portals.

The audit emphasised that immediate remedial action and robust defensive measures must be deployed to mitigate the substantial risks posed by these digital security lapses.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa says his party is open to alliances based on national interests but will not engage in secret political negotiations.

Speaking to the media, Rajapaksa said the SLPP believed in discussing political matters openly and transparently.

"We do not hide and engage in politics. If we hold discussions, we will do so openly because, in the end, we have to move forward with the people," he said.

He said that any alliance would be formed based on the needs of the country and its people rather than the interests of individuals.

Rajapaksa also said anyone who agreed with the SLPP's political ideology and programme was welcome to join the party.

He added that while some members had left the party in the past, others had joined, and it was his responsibility to unite all those who believed in the party and build a stronger political force.

A civil society organisation, ‘Rata Next’, has called for a national referendum on the government’s proposed constitutional amendment to increase the retirement age of judges, stating that the current process risks a potential conflict of interest.

The call follows a recent Cabinet decision approving a proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice to extend the judicial retirement age. Because the move involves altering the Constitution, it requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament before being submitted to the Supreme Court to determine whether public approval via a referendum is necessary.

In a statement released on Tuesday (28), Rata Next organisation said that expecting Supreme Court judges to rule on legislation that directly alters their own terms of service places them in an untenable position. The organisation noted that such a scenario could create a perceived conflict of interest and potentially undermine public trust in the judiciary.

"The judges of the Supreme Court should not be placed in a position where they are required to determine a constitutional amendment that directly affects their own retirement age," the statement read, urging that the final decision be put directly to the electorate.

Rata Next also questioned whether extending the retirement age would meaningfully address systemic delays in the administration of justice. The group argued that if the government’s primary goal is to clear court backlogs and improve efficiency, more direct structural reforms are required.

Among the measures suggested were increasing the overall judicial cadre, recruiting more judges, accelerating the digital transformation of court infrastructure, expanding the network of District and Magistrates' Courts, and introducing a legally regulated house arrest system for eligible offenders.

The organisation respectfully urged the Supreme Court to rule that the proposed amendment be submitted to the people in a referendum to safeguard transparency and maintain public confidence in Sri Lanka’s constitutional framework.

The Lawyers for Public Mandate organisation has accused politicians facing pending corruption charges of fabricating claims that the government's proposed judicial reform Bill threatens court independence, following Cabinet approval to raise the retirement age of judges.

Speaking at a media conference in Colombo, representatives from the legal group asserted that the legislative changes form an essential component of the administration's anti-corruption mandate and broader court reforms.

Under the approved proposals, the retirement age for Supreme Court judges will increase from 65 to 67 years, while Court of Appeal judges will retire at 65 rather than 63.

The tenure of the Chief Justice will be capped at 67 years or six years from appointment, whichever occurs first. At the lower court level, High Court judges will see their mandatory retirement age rise from 61 to 63 years, with Magistrates and District Judges moving from 60 to 62 years.

Attorney Akalanka Ukwatta supported the framework by pointing to international precedents, noting that retirement ages stand at 70 in Australia and Denmark, 75 in Canada and Brazil, and remain lifetime appointments in the United States.

Citing the classic work of American jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr, Ukwatta noted that legal practice relies on experience as much as logic, arguing that retaining seasoned judges will bolster rather than weaken the administration of justice.

The organisation emphasised that addressing acute institutional shortages is vital to clearing chronic backlogs across the legal system.

Attorney Anuradha Kiralawella highlighted that out of 110 approved judicial posts in the High Court, only 93 serving judges are currently in office, alongside significant deficits in physical courtrooms and staff.

Kiralawella firmly rejected allegations that the amendment seeks to favour specific sitting judges, maintaining instead that politicians implicated in past public thefts are raising alarms about judicial independence purely to protect themselves from impending prosecution.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced a substantial allocation of Rs. 2 trillion for capital expenditure in 2027, marking an increase of roughly 40 per cent to accelerate state-led economic development.

Speaking at the Galle District Special Coordination Committee Meeting at the Galle District Secretariat on Tuesday (28), the Head of State outlined a major fiscal realignment aimed at curtailing recurrent operational costs while channelling greater resources into long-term national growth.

The government intends to recalibrate public spending by trimming recurrent expenditure from its present level of 9 per cent and raising capital expenditure from 4 per cent.

To enhance administrative performance and reduce overall operational overheads, the upcoming Budget will focus heavily on digitalising public services so citizens can access government facilities remotely.

The administration is also evaluating proposals to raise the retirement age across designated sectors in order to preserve skilled talent within the civil service.

Further details presented during the meeting revealed significant progress in regional infrastructure, including the approval of 122 rural road initiatives backed by Rs. 250 million, with 57 projects already fully delivered.

Authorities reported that the ongoing national anti-drug campaign titled 'Ratama Ekata' had yielded 12,608 raids and the seizure of nearly 120 kilograms of illicit narcotics within the Galle District.

Meanwhile, discussions addressed poverty alleviation, urban housing, sports facilities, municipal waste management, water supply schemes, and the wider Galle City Development Plan.

The President observed that recent international evaluations reflected encouraging advancements in Sri Lanka’s economic stability, social indicators, and anti-corruption efforts.

He insisted that every Treasury rupee must be deployed with strict financial discipline to prevent future generations from inheriting unsustainable debt burdens, while directing state bodies to align regional operations under a singular national development strategy.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the government of attempting to erode judicial independence by proposing a constitutional amendment that seeks to alter the retirement age of judges.

Addressing the media, the Opposition Leader said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake holds a public mandate exclusively to reform the Executive Presidency through constitutional changes, rather than interfering with the judicial branch or subordinating the courts to executive authority.

He claimed that the administration, which assumed power on the promise of systemic reform and democratic strengthening, is instead adopting measures that threaten to pave the way for authoritarian rule.

Emphasising the constitutional separation of powers among the legislature, executive, and judiciary, Premadasa warned that executive interference in judicial matters poses a severe threat to democratic checks and balances.

He remarked that if the President or the Minister of Justice failed to comprehend these foundational principles, they should consult the works of French political philosopher Montesquieu, specifically 'The Spirit of the Laws'.

He also said that pushing forward with the proposed constitutional amendment despite widespread concern risks undermining public trust in the credibility, integrity, and impartiality of the legal system.

The controversy surrounding the proposed amendment underscores growing national concerns over the preservation of democratic governance and the rule of law in Sri Lanka, as political opposition mounts ahead of upcoming parliamentary discussions on the matter.

Samabima Party Leader Deepthi Kumara Gunaratne has asserted that economic capital controls society by permitting public expression while strictly preserving existing property ownership structures.

Speaking during a recent broadcast on the Ideas Front YouTube channel hosted by journalist Narada Bakmeewewa, Gunaratne outlined his critique of contemporary political and economic dynamics in Sri Lanka.

Explaining his theoretical position, Gunaratne highlighted the political vulnerability of ruling party supporters following judicial outcomes.

He emphasised that the inability of the National People's Power (NPP) government to intervene on behalf of individuals convicted over the fatal violence in Nittambuwa serves as a prime example of capital operating above political allegiance.

According to the party leader, political movements often allow citizens the freedom to voice dissent or support but structural economic arrangements and legal boundaries ultimately dictate the limits of executive protection and social mobility.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved an additional foreign exchange adjustment allowance of up to Rs. 2.5 million annually for students selected under the government’s overseas scholarship programme.

The decision was taken following the depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee against major global currencies, which has increased the cost of overseas education-related expenses for scholarship recipients.

The additional allowance is intended to help students pursuing undergraduate programmes at internationally ranked foreign universities manage higher costs caused by exchange rate fluctuations.

The overseas scholarship programme was introduced under the 2025 Budget to support Sri Lanka’s highest-performing students from the 2024 GCE Advanced Level Examination by providing opportunities to pursue first degree programmes at foreign universities.

Under the scheme, each student is eligible to receive financial assistance of up to Rs. 20 million per year, with total support limited to Rs. 80 million over the four-year duration of the degree programme.

A total of 32 students were selected based on their Advanced Level examination results. Of them, nine students have already departed Sri Lanka to commence their studies, while arrangements are being made for the remaining scholarship recipients to travel overseas.

Officials said the depreciation of the Rupee had increased foreign currency payment requirements, resulting in the originally allocated funds becoming insufficient to cover certain expenses faced by students.

The proposal to introduce the foreign exchange adjustment allowance was submitted by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, and was subsequently approved by the Cabinet.

United States Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan is leading a high-level Congressional Delegation to Sri Lanka to strengthen bilateral ties and reinforce regional stability across the Indo-Pacific.

The visit, spanning 27 to 30 July 2026, involves extensive diplomatic engagements in Colombo aimed at advancing mutual security, commercial partnerships, and defence cooperation between Washington and Sri Lankan officials.

During her time in the capital, Representative Houlahan, an Air Force veteran who serves as the Ranking Member on the House Subcommittee on Military Personnel and sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, will confer with prominent government, military, and political figures.

Scheduled dialogue partners include Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Retired Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Dr Rizvie Salih, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Discussions are expected to focus heavily on combating transnational crime, bolstering economic development through expanded trade, and deepening maritime and security collaboration across the region.

American diplomatic officials emphasised that the visit underscores Washington's sustained commitment to an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific framework.

They noted that maintaining strong ties with Colombo remains central to counter-narcotics efforts, maritime domain awareness, and economic resilience in South Asia.

The Vavuniya Magistrate's Court has fined a private healthcare facility Rs. 500,000 after officers of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) caught the institution charging patients above government-mandated price caps for Full Blood Count (FBC) tests.

The CAA launched the investigation after identifying unfair pricing practices at the private medical facility. During the raid, investigators verified that the hospital was issuing bills to patients that exceeded maximum retail prices established by national health regulations for basic blood analysis.

Following the investigation, legal action was taken against the private hospital before the Vavuniya Magistrate's Court.