Buckingham Palace has announced with “deep sorrow” the death of the Duchess of Kent at the age of 92. She passed away peacefully on Thursday night at Kensington Palace, surrounded by her family. Flags on royal residences, including Buckingham Palace, have been lowered to half-mast as the Royal Family enters a period of mourning.

Katharine, Duchess of Kent, the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, was the oldest member of the Royal Family. She will be remembered for her lifelong devotion to public service, her passion for music, and her enduring empathy for young people.

The King, Queen, and members of the Royal Family paid tribute, recalling her “life-long devotion to all the organisations with which she was associated, her passion for music and her empathy for young people.” Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised her “compassion, dignity and human touch,” while tennis legend Martina Navratilova said the duchess had touched “millions of people around the globe in a positive way.”

A familiar figure at Wimbledon, the duchess became known for consoling athletes and presenting trophies — most memorably comforting Czech player Jana Novotna in 1993, and later handing her the winner’s trophy in 1998.

Born Katharine Worsley in Yorkshire, she married the Duke of Kent in 1961 at York Minster, with Princess Anne as a bridesmaid and Queen Elizabeth II among the congregation. In 1994, she became the first member of the Royal Family in more than 300 years to convert to Catholicism, describing it as a deeply personal decision.

Beyond royal duties, she carved out an individual path through music and social service. She supported numerous music charities, sang in the Bach Choir, and taught music anonymously in a Hull primary school, where pupils knew her simply as “Mrs Kent.” She later set up a charity to help disadvantaged young people access instruments and music education, saying: “Music has the power to give confidence and self-belief.”

The Duchess and Duke of Kent had three children, though one son was stillborn in 1977, an experience that left her struggling with “acute depression” at a time when mental health was little discussed. Her openness in later years brought attention to the issue.

Her funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, though it is expected to follow Catholic rites in line with her faith.

She is survived by her husband, the Duke of Kent, aged 89, and their two sons and daughter.

Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) officials have seized a stock of candy, chocolates, jelly products, and dates from a shop in Pettah after finding them unsuitable for consumption.

During the raid, carried out on a tip-off, officials discovered that the sweets had been imported without proper documentation or labelling and did not display expiry dates. Some products also lacked details of origin, while others had labels deliberately removed.

“ Nobody knows what is included in these products,” officials said, warning of the potential health risks.

Packetted dates deemed unfit for consumption were also confiscated. Legal action has been initiated against the vendor, the CAA confirmed.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with Maria Tripodi, Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, on Thursday at Temple Trees for discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

Talks focused on advancing political consultations, expanding trade and investment cooperation, promoting tourism, and enhancing cultural and educational exchanges. The Prime Minister emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to building a resilient economy, upholding public trust, and advancing a corruption-free, stable nation. She also underscored the importance of relations with the European Union, expressed appreciation for Italy’s longstanding friendship, and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s support in international forums.

Tripodi commended Sri Lanka’s recent progress and reiterated Italy’s continued support.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both delegations. The Italian side included Damiano Francovig, Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka, along with senior officers. The Sri Lankan delegation comprised Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Sagarika Bogahawatta, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister; Sugeeshwara Gunaratna, Director General of the Europe and North America Division; and Isurika Karunarathna, Director of the Europe and North America Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.

A few showers may occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Northern provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy, and Nuwara-Eliya districts.Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva, eastern and Northcentral provinces after 2.00 p.m.

Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere of the island.

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion. The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (06) are Ahungalla, Elpitiya, Amugoda, Thawalama, Deniyaya, Urubokka, Embilipitiya, Suriyawewa, Beralihela and Galkaduwa about 12.08 noon.

Sri Lanka has decided to defer the implementation of its controversial 18% Value Added Tax (VAT) on digital services offered by non-resident companies, following pushback from global online platforms and travel service providers warning of possible withdrawal from the local market.

Originally slated to take effect from October 1, 2025, under the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act No. 4 of 2025, the levy will now be introduced on April 1, 2026, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced yesterday.

The tax targets international digital service providers offering services to Sri Lankan consumers, including Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, Airbnb, Netflix, and Meta (Facebook and Instagram). Many of these firms, citing compliance difficulties and rising operational costs, have expressed concerns that the tax could make the Sri Lankan market less attractive. Some are reportedly reviewing their level of engagement, while smaller platforms have hinted at potential withdrawal if the policy is enforced without transitional measures.

According to industry insiders, Booking.com and Agoda have already flagged difficulties in integrating Sri Lanka’s VAT rules with their global billing systems, warning local hotel operators that additional costs may be passed on to end customers. Similarly, Airbnb is assessing whether compliance with the VAT regime is commercially viable given Sri Lanka’s relatively small market compared to regional tourism hubs.

For the travel and hospitality industry—currently on a revival trajectory after years of crisis—the move could not have come at a worse time. Tourist arrivals in 2025 have already surpassed 1.49 million by August, with the Government targeting 3 million visitors and USD 5 billion in revenue by year-end. Analysts warn that withdrawal or reduced engagement by global booking platforms would severely affect Sri Lanka’s international visibility and online accessibility.

Local hoteliers and tour operators fear that additional costs on digital services could ultimately be passed on to consumers, eroding competitiveness against regional rivals such as Thailand and Malaysia, where digital VAT regimes are either lower or more investor-friendly.

The Government, however, insists that the tax is necessary to ensure equity in revenue collection, arguing that domestic companies already bear VAT obligations while global digital giants earn significant profits without contributing to the Treasury. “The policy decision stands firm, but we are granting more time for non-resident providers to comply with VAT requirements,” Dr. Jayatissa said.

 While the deferral offers breathing space, stakeholders remain divided. Some welcome the delay as a chance to align systems and negotiate compromises, while others fear the looming deadline could still drive international service providers to scale back operations.

The next six months will be critical in determining whether Sri Lanka can balance much-needed revenue mobilisation with maintaining its appeal to international platforms vital for tourism, e-commerce, and digital connectivity.

A new study by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) has revealed that cigarette smuggling is widespread in the country, undermining both public health policies and government revenue collection. The report stresses the urgent need for stronger enforcement, digital tracking systems, and public participation to curb the illegal trade.

The study, titled “Tobacco Smuggling in Sri Lanka – A Scoping Study”, notes that despite high excise taxes imposed to discourage tobacco use, smuggling allows cigarettes to enter the market at significantly lower prices. This makes them more accessible to young people and low-income groups, eroding the effectiveness of anti-tobacco measures.

“Smuggled cigarettes bypass health warnings and taxes, making them cheaper and more dangerous,” said the study’s lead author, IPS Research Fellow Dr. Erandathie Pathiraja.

Co-authors Nishamini Ihalagedara and Ruwan Samaraweera added that the illegal trade not only heightens healthcare costs but also robs the state of badly needed revenue. “This is a double blow—the health sector bears the rising burden while the Treasury loses billions in potential income,” they noted.

The IPS report challenges the common view that higher cigarette taxes directly fuel smuggling. Analysis of customs seizure data shows no consistent correlation between excise tax hikes and volumes of seized contraband. Instead, factors such as corruption, gaps in enforcement, and porous borders play a more decisive role.

Sri Lanka’s tobacco industry is heavily taxed, with excise duties accounting for the bulk of cigarette prices. While taxation is seen as a key tool to reduce consumption, the IPS study cautions that weak enforcement leaves loopholes that smugglers exploit. The result is a parallel market that both undermines official policy and exposes vulnerable groups to unregulated products.

To address the problem, IPS draws on international best practices. Recommendations include introducing digital excise tax stamps to track products, offering incentives for public reporting of smuggling activities, and tightening border control measures. Greater transparency and stronger institutional coordination are also highlighted as priorities.

The report warns that unless decisive action is taken, Sri Lanka risks losing both the health and revenue battle against illegal tobacco. “Technology, enforcement, and public engagement must go hand in hand to tackle smuggling effectively,” the authors stressed.

IPS argues that the country cannot afford to overlook the issue, as unchecked cigarette smuggling threatens to undo years of progress in reducing tobacco use while simultaneously weakening fiscal stability.