Showers will occur at times in the Sabaragamuwa province and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts. Several spells of showers may occur in the Western and North-western provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva and Eastern provinces during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in North-western, North-central and Southern provinces.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urging decisive and transparent action over the ongoing investigations into the Chemmani mass graves in Jaffna. In a strongly worded letter, ITAK called for international collaboration, proper forensic standards, and accountability for what it described as clear evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The letter highlights the grim history of the Chemmani site, which came to light in 1999 after disclosures during a trial revealed the burial of Tamil civilians. Initial excavations unearthed 15 skeletons, with estimates of hundreds more allegedly buried there. Earlier this year, redevelopment work at the Chemmani Ariyalai Hindu crematorium led to the discovery of further human remains, prompting a new court-supervised excavation.

According to ITAK, approximately 65 skeletons — including those of infants and children — have already been exhumed in 2025, accompanied by personal belongings that affirmed their civilian identity. The party warned that despite repeated findings, meaningful justice and accountability have yet to be delivered, and many perpetrators remain unpunished.

The letter emphasizes the need to:

• Consolidate the 1999 and 2025 investigations into a single judicial and forensic inquiry under the Colombo and Jaffna Magistrate’s Courts.
• Engage independent, internationally respected forensic experts to oversee the excavation process.
• Publicize interim and final forensic findings and DNA identifications.
• Repatriate remains sent abroad for analysis to Sri Lanka for proper examination and dignified return to families.
• Allocate sufficient resources and ensure prosecution of those responsible for the atrocities.

ITAK stressed that failure to act decisively would continue to undermine national healing and reconciliation efforts, calling the current gestures of reconciliation “hollow without real legal action.”

Signatories C.V.K. Sivagnanam and M.A. Sumanthiran stated that ITAK stands ready to support constructive measures to uphold Sri Lanka’s moral and legal obligations and to chart a credible path toward truth and justice.

The party concluded that addressing these long-standing issues is essential not only for the families of the victims but also for the country’s moral integrity and future unity.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest at the inauguration of the international conference “Nourishing South Asia”, held from July 9 to 11 at Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo, with the central aim of reducing anemia among young women and children across South Asia.

Delivering the keynote address, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and multi-sectoral commitment to address what she described as a “solvable but urgent” public health challenge.

“The goal of this conference is to build a South Asia where no adolescent girl or woman suffers from preventable anemia. Achieving that requires more than government intervention — it calls for a united effort from every sector of society,” she said.

Dr. Amarasuriya stressed the need to ensure that every girl has access to nutritious food, proper health education, and quality care, while also fostering an environment that enables women to realise their full potential.

She reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s governmental commitment, citing the country’s school nutrition programme as a key initiative designed to protect children from malnutrition and improve overall public health outcomes.

“Anemia among adolescent girls and women is a serious concern. But it is not insurmountable. Through renewed commitment, regional cooperation, and collective action, we can nourish future generations and break the cycle of undernutrition,” she added.

Concluding her remarks, the Prime Minister called on all participating nations to unite under a shared regional visionand pledged Sri Lanka’s continued support in building a healthier and more equitable South Asia.

“By nurturing our women and young girls, we can nourish the entire South Asian region,” she declared.

The event, organised with participation from key regional and international stakeholders, saw the presence of Md. Golam Sarwar representing SAARC, Sanjay Wijesekera of UNICEF, and several high-level delegates. The Prime Minister was formally welcomed by noted moderator and media professional Rini Simon Khanna.

The three-day conference is expected to yield practical commitments and collaborative strategies to combat anemia, and foster long-term investments in women’s and children’s health across South Asia.

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dharmapala Weerakkody, paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, during which the two sides held extensive discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation.

The meeting, also attended by Minister Counsellor (Commerce) Srimali Jayaratne, focused on advancing collaboration in key sectors such as trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, ICT, education, and tourism.

High Commissioner Weerakkody congratulated Ambassador Siam on his new role and highlighted the strengthening economic and cultural ties between the two countries. He noted the growing number of Bangladeshi tourists visiting Sri Lanka and underscored the potential to further enhance tourism cooperation. He also urged the early convening of the next round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) within the year and called for the expedited finalisation of pending bilateral Agreements and MoUs.

A key area discussed was the procurement of pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh. The High Commissioner requested support from the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry to fast-track the finalisation of a Government-to-Government MoUfor Sri Lanka to purchase medicines from Bangladesh.

Ambassador Siam reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening ties with Sri Lanka, particularly in economic cooperation. He stressed the value of expanding into new areas such as maritime affairs, education, ICT, tourism, and pharmaceuticals, noting that such efforts would provide mutual benefits.

He also welcomed Sri Lanka’s proposal to hold the Foreign Office Consultations by the end of 2025, recognising it as a platform to deepen strategic and people-centric collaboration.

Also present at the meeting were Ishrat Jahan, Director General of the South Asia Division, and Director Baky Billahfrom the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Dr. Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation, on Wednesday (10) for high-level discussions aimed at fostering strategic collaboration in agriculture, nutrition, digital public infrastructure, and rural technology integration.

Held at the Presidential Secretariat, the meeting centred on the Inclusive Digital Agriculture Transformation (IDAT) initiative, a programme that harnesses technology and data to support smallholder farmers in making informed decisions, enhancing rural livelihoods, and boosting climate resilience.

Welcoming the partnership, President Dissanayake said,

“We appreciate the continued support of the Gates Foundation as we work to build a healthier, more equitable, and digitally empowered Sri Lanka.”

He noted the Government’s broader goal of integrating rural communities with modern technology and expressed optimism that the Foundation’s global expertise would help Sri Lanka overcome economic challenges and implement national development priorities.

The Gates Foundation delegation reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s digital economy strategy, with special emphasis on modernising agriculture, improving livestock and dairy industries, and enhancing socio-economic development.

President Dissanayake also highlighted the importance of bridging the technological divide between urban and rural areas, stressing the need to ensure that all citizens benefit from digital transformation.

Dr. Elias responded positively, stating,

“Our continued discussions in agriculture, health and digital infrastructure reflect a shared interest in advancing impactful solutions. We thank the Government of Sri Lanka for its commitment to inclusive development.”

Gates Foundation representatives included Dr. Chris Elias, Jamal Khan, Archna Vyas, Thushan Wijesinghe, and Chandita Samaranayake.
The Sri Lankan delegation comprised Deputy Digital Economy Minister Eranga Weeraratne, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief Digital Economy Advisor Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, and Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President.

The Environment Ministry has launched the ‘Vanaspathi’ national programme with the goal of increasing Sri Lanka’s forest cover and strengthening environmental protection. As part of its first phase, 20 forests located on state lands in the Moneragala and Ampara districts will be declared as forest reserves.

Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody announced that the initiative involves identifying forest areas of five hectares or more in every district, with particular focus on mountain peak regions due to their ecological importance.

Sri Lanka’s forest cover, which ideally should be 32% of the total land area, has dropped to 28%, according to figures from the Forest Conservation Department. The Vanaspathi programme aims to restore and expand forest coverage to meet the recommended target through strategic conservation measures and the formal designation of reserves.

Gold prices edged higher on Thursday, fuelled by a weaker U.S. dollar and escalating global trade tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff measures.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to $3,320.58 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures advanced 0.3% in early morning trade (8:21 a.m. GMT). The U.S. dollar index slipped by 0.2%, making dollar-denominated assets like gold more appealing to investors using other currencies. Additionally, the 10-year Treasury yield declined by 0.074% to 4.341%, reflecting growing investor caution.

The rise in gold prices comes a day after Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, surprising markets, especially as the U.S. recorded a trade surplus with Brazil last year. The decision followed a public spat with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

In addition to Brazil, the U.S. has issued letters to several other nations, including Sri Lanka, outlining reciprocal tariff measures, with an enforcement deadline of August 1. Trump also revealed a 50% tariff on copper, a metal critical to multiple industries, further stoking market fears.

Gold has gained 26% so far this year, driven by safe-haven demand amid mounting economic uncertainty and recession risks linked to aggressive trade actions.

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The government has decided to move forward with a comprehensive plan to establish a national network of daycare and therapy centres for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

As per the directive of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has instructed officials to submit a detailed concept proposal within two weeks, following discussions held at the Presidential Secretariat, the PMD stated.

This initiative will be implemented under the supervision of the Presidential Secretariat and will involve a coordinated effort across multiple ministries and government departments. A sum of Rs. 250 million allocated in the 2025 budgetwill be utilised through the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, with funding directed to district-level administrators for effective rollout.

The programme focuses on developing specialised human resources, creating a scientifically validated care model, and setting up operational guidelines for the centres. Officials stressed the importance of an integrated, multi-sectoral approach involving healthcare professionals, education specialists, and social services to ensure comprehensive support for children and their families.

The initiative represents a significant step toward inclusive care and early intervention for children with neurodevelopmental challenges across Sri Lanka.

A discussion was held between Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody and representatives of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) trade unions regarding the draft legislation and process related to the restructuring of the CEB, the Ministry of Energy said in a statement.

The meeting took place at the Ministry premises, where union representatives raised concerns — particularly about the protection of employee rights and benefits during the restructuring process.

Addressing these concerns, Minister Jayakody assured participants that it is the Government’s firm policy to retain the electricity sector under state ownership, and that the restructuring process would not compromise the rights or benefits of employees.

Trade union representatives expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage directly with the Minister and welcomed the commitment to state ownership and employee protection. They also extended their support and pledged cooperation in efforts to develop the sector.

According to the Ministry, representatives from 42 trade unions affiliated with the CEB were invited to the discussion.

An individual was injured in a shooting incident reported earlier today (11th July) in Hirana, Panadura, according to Police.

The victim sustained injuries as a result of gunfire and has been admitted to hospital for treatment. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation, and further details, including the identity of the victim and motive, have yet to be released.

Police said that search operations are underway to apprehend the suspect or suspects involved.