Sri Lanka (Page 4)

June 26, Colombo (LNW): Former Minister Duminda Dissanayake remains in custody as investigations continue into the discovery of a gold-plated assault rifle found at a high-end residential complex in Colombo. Dissanayake, who once held the portfolio of Agriculture, was ordered to be held in remand until July 07 following his appearance before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court earlier today (26). The case has drawn considerable public and media attention due to the unusual nature of the weapon involved—a gold-plated T-56 assault rifle—raising questions about the former minister’s possible links to unauthorised possession of military-grade arms. Dissanayake was initially apprehended on May 23 at a luxuryRead More →

June 26, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s health sector is currently grappling with a marked increase in respiratory infections, as damp and unsettled weather patterns have created ideal conditions for the spread of various airborne viruses. The seasonal rains, which have brought cooler temperatures and high humidity, appear to have intensified the transmission of respiratory ailments, placing added strain on healthcare services across the island. Medical professionals are raising the alarm over the growing number of patients presenting with symptoms such as fever, cough, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. Whilst many of these cases are mild, the volume of infections is significant, and health officialsRead More →

C.W. Mackie PLC, the diversified business conglomerate in Sri Lanka and category leader for Scan Jumbo Peanuts, has initiated its second CSR initiative aimed at empowering the farming families who form the backbone of its supply chain. ‘Scan Daru Diriya’ focuses on enhancing the educational prospects of 100 children from 75 farmer families in Rideemaliyadda in Mahiyanganaya with the support of the Block Managers’ Office of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority by providing essential school supplies. This initiative seeks to bolster the academic achievements and overall well-being of these children, whose parents are integral to Sri Lanka’s peanut farming industry. Mr Mangala Perera, Director/Group ChiefRead More →

June 26, Colombo (LNW): A slice of Sri Lanka’s cultural identity has officially found its way into the global linguistic stage, as several uniquely Sri Lankan words have been incorporated into the Oxford English Dictionary’s (OED) June 2025 update. The inclusion represents a growing international recognition of the island’s rich culinary traditions, music, and socio-cultural heritage. One of the standout additions is the term asweddumize, a word deeply rooted in the country’s colonial-era agricultural history. Originally documented as far back as 1857, asweddumize refers to the process of converting forest or uncultivated land into irrigated paddy fields—a cornerstone of traditional land reform initiatives in SriRead More →

June 26, Colombo (LNW): A collective of Tamil political parties and civil society organisations in Sri Lanka have made a fresh appeal to the United Nations, urging a principled and results-oriented international response to long-standing grievances over wartime accountability and post-war reconciliation. The call was made through a jointly signed letter handed to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, during his visit to the island’s Northern Province on Wednesday. The letter, endorsed by key Tamil political formations—including the Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Tamil National People’s Front, and Democratic Tamil National Alliance—expressed deep frustration over the absence of meaningfulRead More →