Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra has underscored Sri Lanka’s keen interest in deepening private sector cooperation with Bangladesh, emphasizing its importance for enhancing bilateral trade and investment.

The remarks came during a meeting with a visiting business delegation from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), led by its President Taskeen Ahmed, held in Colombo, according to an official press release.

Deputy Minister Hemachandra highlighted that Sri Lanka has already signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Thailand and Singapore, and is currently evaluating the potential benefits of a similar agreement with Bangladesh. He invited Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to invest in Sri Lanka’s growth sectors and assured full government support for such ventures.

Taskeen Ahmed noted that shifting global trade dynamics, driven by evolving geopolitical factors, are opening up new opportunities across South and Southeast Asia. While Bangladesh is a global leader in ready-made garments, he pointed out that Sri Lanka excels in technology, innovation, and value addition, providing a complementary foundation for deeper collaboration.

He also stressed the potential of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to enhance trade, investment, and people-to-people connectivity between the two nations, expressing optimism about joint ventures and mutual investment.

Former DCCI President Rizwan Rahman echoed these sentiments, suggesting that due to the structural similaritiesbetween the two economies, a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) may fall short, and a comprehensive FTA would be more effective in driving growth.

In a separate discussion, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyaperuma highlighted joint opportunities in IT, digital services, pharmaceuticals, tea, energy, financial services, and tourism. He also shared Sri Lanka’s vision to become a fully digital state within two years, encouraging foreign investment in digital infrastructure, including state-of-the-art data centers.

Dr. Suriyaperuma further invited Bangladeshi investors to explore pharmaceutical manufacturing in Sri Lanka, as the country seeks to expand domestic capacity to meet rising healthcare demands.

The Kumana entrance on the eastern edge of Yala National Park is set to reopen today (21) to accommodate pilgrims journeying to Kataragama for the 2025 pilgrimage season.

Recognized as the longest pilgrimage in Sri Lanka, the annual Kataragama walk sees devotees from the North and East of the country travel over 100 kilometers on foot, passing through rugged landscapes and wildlife zones in the Kumana and Yala National Parks.

An official from the National Park Department confirmed that the Kumana gate will remain open for two weeks, enabling safe passage for the pilgrims traveling from Okanda to Kataragama.

This sacred journey culminates at the historic Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, where the annual Perahera Festival is scheduled to begin on June 26. Pilgrims typically take five to six days to complete the spiritual trek, navigating a route rich in both natural beauty and religious significance.

A high-level committee led by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has been appointed to devise and implement sustainable, scientific solutions to mitigate the growing threat posed by wild animals to agricultural and plantation sectors in Sri Lanka.

The newly formed committee, comprising senior government officials and subject-matter experts, held its inaugural meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, according to a statement from the President’s Media Division (PMD).

The committee’s primary focus is to scientifically assess the extent of agricultural damage caused by wild animalsand develop short, medium, and long-term strategies. It will also draft national policies and legislation, and coordinate human, physical, and financial resources to implement these solutions.

Emphasizing the need for ecological balance, committee members noted that any mitigation efforts must respect the right of wild animals to their natural habitats. A rapid response programme for high-risk districts was also discussed.

Professor Ashoka Dangolla of the University of Peradeniya highlighted insights from over 15 years of research on the Toque macaque, noting that population control and coexistence solutions can be achieved through a scientific approach.

Meanwhile, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.C. Marasinghe stressed the importance of animal censuses and a multi-pronged strategy rooted in empirical data, beyond public opinion or anecdotal evidence.

The committee agreed to gather input from a wide range of stakeholders, including academics, environmentalists, wildlife experts, government officials, and affected community members, to ensure comprehensive and inclusive decision-making.

The meeting was attended by several key officials, including Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Ministry Secretaries, defence sector officers, university professors, and members of the newly appointed committee.

Cybersecurity experts have uncovered what they describe as the “mother of all breaches”—a massive leak involving over 16 billion individual records across 30 different databases. The compromised data includes login credentials and passwords linked to government agencies as well as major tech giants such as Apple, Google, Facebook, and Telegram.

While some of the database files were labeled vaguely with names like “logins” and “credentials,” others hinted at their origin, offering researchers partial insight into their sources. According to the investigators, most of the data appears to have been compiled by cybercriminals using infostealing malware, although some may have been gathered by ethical hackers, or “white hats.”

The breach was detected by the team at Cybernews, who reported that the databases were briefly accessible online before being taken offline. The ownership of the leaked datasets remains unknown, raising serious concerns about their potential misuse.

Given that more than 5.5 billion people globally use the internet, researchers caution that a vast number of users could have had their personal information exposed. They strongly recommend that all users immediately change their passwords and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible to safeguard their accounts from malicious actors.

Colombo, June 20 — Housing Deputy Minister T. B. Sarath revealed in Parliament yesterday that the controversial milch cow import project carried out during the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration has resulted in a staggering loss of Rs. 2,100 million to the state.

Speaking during the parliamentary session, the Deputy Minister stated that the financial damage incurred through this project — which spanned from 2014 to 2020 — is now irreversible. “This is a blatant destruction of public funds. The country is going bankrupt because of these kinds of decisions,” he said.

He further emphasized that all those involved in the alleged misconduct will be held accountable:

“Anyone involved in theft will be arrested in the future. We will punish everyone who stole this public money.”

Deputy Minister Sarath assured the House that legal action will be taken against those responsible, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to ensuring justice and restoring public trust in state governance.

The milch cow import project, launched under the promise of revitalising the dairy industry, has long been criticised for poor planning, questionable procurement processes, and high mortality rates among the imported cattle. Investigations into the matter have been called for by several sectors over the past years, with this latest disclosure reigniting demands for accountability.

In a landmark move aimed at improving public access and transparency, all services provided by the President’s Fund will be available through a new online platform starting tomorrow (June 21).

The initiative follows the successful launch of digital applications for medical assistance via Divisional Secretariats across the island, which began on February 7. Building on that success, the online system is now being expanded to cover all services offered by the Fund.

Through this digital platform, citizens can apply online at any Divisional Secretariat in the country for a range of support services, including:

• Poverty alleviation assistance
• Educational scholarships and recognition for academic excellence
• Aid for individuals with special needs
• Relief for children affected by human-elephant conflict
• Recognition of national service or individual contributions to the country
• Emergency and disaster relief assistance

This marks the first time in its 47-year history that the President’s Fund services will be available nationwide through a digital medium. Previously, access to many of these services was largely restricted to the Colombo office.

The digital transformation was implemented under the guidance of the Board of Governors of the President’s Fund, chaired by the President, and is expected to broaden access, streamline operations, and curb misuse by ensuring a more transparent and accountable process.

Officials say the change will allow more equitable distribution of aid and simplify the process for those in rural and underserved areas who previously faced logistical barriers to accessing assistance.

The Consulate General of India in Jaffna hosted the Tourism Conclave 2025 at the Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, spotlighting the untapped tourism potential of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The hybrid-format event brought together leading stakeholders from India and Sri Lanka to foster stronger regional tourism ties and build a collaborative cross-border tourism ecosystem.

Inaugurating the conclave, Consul General Shri Sai Murali highlighted the cultural, geographic, and historical proximity between the two nations, calling tourism a “natural bridge” in the bilateral relationship. He emphasized that connectivity is the foundation of tourism, pointing to the revived Nagapattinam–Kankesanthurai ferry and enhanced flight services between Chennai, Jaffna, and Trichy as key enablers.

“India remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s tourism revival,” the Consul General stated, urging travel operators and tourism boards to co-create a sustainable and thriving tourism network.

Northern Province Tourism Bureau Chairman A. Pathinathan, speaking on the region’s strategic location and Indian tourist influx, especially from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, said the conclave was vital in building mutual understanding and facilitating cooperation among tourism stakeholders. He stressed that the growing number of Indian tourists are visiting not only for religious pilgrimage but also for leisure, commerce, and cultural exploration.

“This is a critical moment to elevate the Northern Province into a fully-fledged tourism hub,” Pathinathan noted. He identified Delft Island and the Northern coastline as prime areas for development, with initiatives already underway to boost infrastructure and accessibility.

The conclave featured presentations from a Nagapattinam delegation and tourism officials from six Indian States and Union Territories, who shared insights on collaborative tourism strategies. Key industry figures, including Sirharan Balan (Chairman, South India Chamber of Commerce – Tourism), T. Devaki (Chairperson, Travel Agents Association of India – Southern Region), and K. Pandian (Chairperson, Indian Association of Tour Operators – Tamil Nadu and Puducherry), spoke on emerging travel trends and inbound tourism promotion.

Tourism experts at the event described Jaffna as a hidden tropical gem, rich in cultural, historical, and natural assets. With landmarks like Jaffna Fort, Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, and Casuarina Beach, the region offers a compelling blend of heritage and coastal beauty. Stakeholders agreed that with the right investment and cross-border cooperation, Sri Lanka’s Northern Province could become a premier destination for South Asian tourism.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB)“Serendipity Knowledge Programme (SKOP)” on the theme Innovation for Economic Transformation, held in Colombo yesterday.

The SKOP initiative is part of ADB’s broader effort to foster knowledge-sharing on key development issues in Sri Lanka, while encouraging long-term collaboration between the Government, global experts, and stakeholders to strengthen the country’s national innovation ecosystem.

Addressing the forum, Prime Minister Amarasuriya stressed that innovation is essential for overcoming Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic challenges and escaping the middle-income trap. She reiterated the Government’s commitment to creating supportive policy frameworks that facilitate collaboration with the private sector and promote innovation at all levels of the value chain.

“Although Sri Lanka has a solid foundation for innovation, there exists a significant disconnect,” she noted, highlighting Sri Lanka’s current ranking of 89th out of 113 countries in the Global Innovation Index 2024. The Prime Minister pointed to chronic underinvestment in higher education and research, with gross expenditure on research and development (R&D) at just 0.1% of GDP.

“Our Government is determined to reverse this trend,” she said. “We will increase funding for R&D and invest strategically in higher education, ensuring Sri Lanka can build a truly innovation-driven economy.”

The event was also attended by ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission Country Director Takafumi Kadono, Prime Minister’s Secretary G. Pradeep Saputhanthri, and Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education, Education and Vocational Training Nalaka Kaluwewe, along with university faculty members and other officials.

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts 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 Northern, North-central, Southern and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee district.

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