By: Staff Writer

August 21, Colombo (LNW): The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) has unveiled an ambitious plan to create the country’s first-ever investment zone exclusively for Japanese investors—an initiative aimed at deepening bilateral economic ties and leveraging unique Japanese industrial practices.

BOI Chairman Arjuna Herath first floated the idea during the Sri Lanka–Japan Investors’ Meeting and Conference at the World Trade Center in Colombo, inviting small, medium, and large Japanese firms to participate in a dedicated industrial park.

He noted that Japanese industrial culture and methods differ significantly from those of other nations, justifying the need for a tailored zone that can best accommodate Japan’s operational strengths.

Herath emphasized Sri Lanka’s long-standing appreciation for Japanese investments and highlighted the government’s efforts to create a highly conducive investment environment. Japanese attendees reportedly responded favorably, expressing interest across sectors such as manufacturing, technology, and services.

Importantly, this would mark the first such single-nation–focused investment zone in Sri Lanka—a significant milestone that positions Japan as a uniquely valued investment partner.

This new development complements Sri Lanka’s existing network of Special Investment Zones (including Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks) administered by the BOI. Currently, there are 15 such zones spread across the country, including Katunayake, Biyagama, Koggala, Mirigama, Horana, Kandy and Seethawaka among others.

For example, the Katunayake EPZ, established in 1978 near the international airport, is the country’s largest, covering 332 acres and serving over 31,000 workers. It recently received acclaim from fDi Intelligence, earning a special honorable mention in the 2022 Free Zones Awards for its reinvestment strategy—where four large tenant firms pledged an additional US$ 26.5 million in investment and nearly 1,000 new jobs.

Overall, the BOI recorded a 38 % year-on-year increase in FDI receivable, rising from US$ 780 million in 2021 to US$ 1,076 million in 2022. Export figures (merchandise plus services) also rose by 7 % to US$ 9.385 billion, and employment under BOI zones grew by 3 %, adding 14,332 positions. Manufacturing, telecommunications, and port development led sectoral FDI growth, with port development surging an impressive 329 %.

Building on this performance, the government and BOI are moving forward on plans to establish five new investment zones across the North, East, Northwest, and Southern provinces—targeting areas like Kilinochchi, Paranthan, Trincomalee, Kankesanthurai, and Bingiriya Phase 2.

In summary, Sri Lanka’s BOI is championing a multifaceted strategy: boosting FDI with compelling results, expanding geographic reach through new zones, and now pioneering the country’s first nationality-specific industrial park for Japanese investors. This layered approach signals a bold new chapter in attracting targeted, high-quality foreign investments.

August 21, Colombo (LNW): The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has granted approval for the 2026 budget estimates of the National Audit Office, paving the way for the proposal to be tabled in Parliament, subject to the Committee’s recommendations.

The review and endorsement took place during a session held yesterday (19), in accordance with Section 34 of the Audit Act No. 19 of 2018.

With the Committee’s regular Chair, Dr Harsha de Silva, currently abroad, the proceedings were presided over by MP Rauff Hakeem, who assumed the role of Acting Chair for the session.

Senior representatives from the National Audit Office, including Acting Auditor General G.H.D. Dharmapala, were in attendance, along with officials from the Department of National Budget. Their discussions centred around ongoing institutional challenges faced by the Audit Office, which is responsible for overseeing financial accountability across nearly 2,000 entities—including ministries, departments, state-owned enterprises, and foreign-funded projects.

Key issues highlighted during the session included a critical shortage of qualified staff, particularly at the level of Chartered Accountants. Officials pointed out that only around 35 professionals with this qualification are currently employed at the National Audit Office, and that competitive private sector salaries have made it difficult to attract and retain highly trained personnel.

The Committee also explored ways to improve operational capacity through the decentralisation of services. Members expressed interest in establishing provincial-level branches of the National Audit Office, which could help distribute workloads more efficiently across regions.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the potential benefits of adopting advanced technological tools, including artificial intelligence, to streamline audit processes. Committee members were in broad agreement that modernising the office’s systems could improve productivity and oversight, even with limited human resources.

The meeting was attended by several members of the Committee on Public Finance, including Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe and Members of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake, Harshana Rajakaruna, Ajith Agalakada, Dr Kaushalya Ariyarathne, Nimal Palihena, Chithral Fernando (Attorney-at-Law), Wijesiri Basnayake, Thilina Samarakoon, Champika Hettiarachchi, and Lakmali Hemachandra (Attorney-at-Law).

The approved budget estimates, along with the Committee’s observations, are expected to be presented in Parliament in the coming weeks.

August 21, Colombo (LNW): Ongoing excavations at a mass burial site uncovered within the Colombo Port premises have led to the discovery of skeletal remains believed to belong to at least 88 individuals, officials have revealed.

The site, which came to light in July 2024 during groundwork for an elevated expressway project, has quickly drawn national and international attention due to its scale and historical significance.

The excavation is being conducted under the close supervision of Colombo Additional Magistrate Kasun Kanchana Disanayake, with forensic and archaeological support led by Senior Professor Raj Somadeva.

The process is being handled with considerable care to ensure the preservation of evidence and to assist in any future identification efforts or legal proceedings.

Though the full context of the grave is still under investigation, its discovery has prompted fresh scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s past, particularly in light of the island’s history of conflict and political unrest.

Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, commenting on the broader context, confirmed that this site brings the number of officially recorded mass graves in the country to 17.

August 21, Colombo (LNW): A significant meeting took place on Wednesday (20), at the Presidential Secretariat, where President Anura Kumara Dissanayake engaged in discussions with His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL).

The discussions, held in a cordial atmosphere, provided a platform for the Church’s leadership to share key insights and concerns arising from the recent tri-annual gathering of the Catholic Bishops.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), Cardinal Ranjith briefed the Head of State on a range of topics deliberated during the bishops’ conference, including matters of social, ethical, and national significance.

The delegation, led by Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, President of the CBCSL, also presented the President with a set of views and proposals currently under consideration within the Catholic Church.

President Dissanayake, in turn, welcomed the dialogue and affirmed his commitment to maintaining open lines of communication with religious leaders.

August 21, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of former State Minister Diana Gamage, following her failure to appear in court over a case concerning alleged breaches of Sri Lanka’s immigration laws.

The case was heard earlier today before Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayatunga, who ordered the warrant after noting the absence of the former state official during the scheduled court proceedings.

Ms Gamage stands accused of violating provisions of the Immigration and Emigration Act—offences which carry serious legal consequences, particularly for public figures who are expected to uphold the law.

The nature of the alleged infractions has not been disclosed in detail at this stage, but legal sources suggest the charges may relate to documentation irregularities or questions surrounding her citizenship status.

Her continued absence from proceedings has prompted the judiciary to take firm action, reinforcing the principle that no individual, regardless of political status, is above the law. The issuance of the arrest warrant signals the court’s intent to proceed with the case without delay and ensure accountability through due legal process.

August 21, Colombo (LNW): In a move aimed at enhancing workplace efficiency and cleanliness within the state sector, the government has unveiled a focused programme to eliminate long-neglected and redundant items from public offices across the country.

Branded as “Seiri Week,” the initiative is scheduled to run from September 01 to 04 and is set to involve all government bodies.

The campaign, introduced under the broader “Clean Sri Lanka” national initiative, is intended to foster a more orderly, hygienic, and secure working environment, enabling public servants to carry out their duties more effectively and comfortably.

Officials hope that by tackling years’ worth of accumulated clutter, institutions will not only become more presentable but also more functional.

The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has taken the lead on the initiative, issuing a formal circular outlining the programme’s objectives and procedures.

This directive has been disseminated to Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, Department Heads, District Secretaries, as well as the heads of public corporations and statutory bodies.

According to the circular, each institution is expected to conduct a thorough inventory to distinguish between essential items and those deemed obsolete, damaged, or otherwise unnecessary.

The disposal process must be handled responsibly, with emphasis on environmental considerations, recycling where possible, and adhering to public sector regulations on asset management.

August 21, Colombo (LNW): Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon is due to be presented before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today (21), following his arrest by officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The arrest, which took place at his residence yesterday, marks a significant development in ongoing investigations linked to the controversial crackdown on anti-government demonstrators in May 2022.

The former top-ranking police officer has been taken into custody in relation to the violent incidents that unfolded at Galle Face Green on 9 May 2022, during the peak of the ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement. The protest, which drew widespread public participation and international attention, was forcefully dispersed amid allegations of state-sanctioned violence and collusion between law enforcement and pro-government groups.

Tennakoon, who was serving in a senior police capacity at the time, has faced persistent scrutiny over his alleged role in either facilitating or failing to prevent the assault on peaceful protesters. His arrest follows a series of legal manoeuvres undertaken by his legal team to avoid detention, including the submission of an anticipatory bail application earlier this week.

However, on August 20, Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura dismissed the bail request after considering the submissions made by Tennakoon’s lawyers. The application sought to forestall any attempt to arrest the former IGP, citing concerns over due process and potential political motivations behind the case. The Magistrate, however, found no sufficient grounds to grant the protective relief requested.

Legal observers view this arrest as a critical test of accountability in the aftermath of the 2022 unrest, which saw public institutions, including law enforcement, accused of failing to uphold constitutional protections.

With Tennakoon now in custody, the court proceedings are expected to shed light on the extent of institutional involvement in the events of that day.

August 21, Colombo (LNW): Three new petitions have been brought before the Supreme Court, as opposition mounts against a contentious government bill seeking to remove privileges granted to former Presidents. The latest petitions allege that key sections of the proposed legislation are fundamentally incompatible with the nation’s Constitution.

The legal actions have been initiated by Mahinda Pathirana, a lecturer from the University of Sabaragamuwa; Raveendra Manoj Gamage, an attorney-at-law and former media secretary to ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa; and retired Navy Chief of Staff, Mohan Wijewickrama. The Attorney General has been cited as the respondent in all three cases.

At the core of the challenge are Clauses 1 through 4 of the bill, which the petitioners argue breach the constitutional principle of separation of powers. They assert that the proposed law, in its current form, not only infringes upon the independence of state institutions but also undermines the sovereignty of the citizenry, which is enshrined in the country’s foundational legal document.

According to the petitioners, the bill disregards several essential constitutional safeguards, notably those outlined in Articles 1, 3, 4, and 12(1). These include provisions related to the supremacy of the Constitution, the sovereignty of the people, the framework of governmental authority, and the guarantee of equal rights under the law.

In their appeals, the petitioners have urged the Supreme Court to declare that the contentious clauses cannot be lawfully enacted unless they receive the backing of a two-thirds majority in Parliament, followed by approval through a national referendum. Such a requirement, they contend, is necessary given the bill’s potential to alter core democratic structures and civil liberties.

This wave of legal scrutiny follows an earlier petition lodged by Renuka Perera, Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), along with two others, signalling broad-based concern over the implications of the proposed legislation.

August 21, Colombo (LNW): Atmospheric conditions are getting favourable for evening thundershowers
in the Northern, North-Central, Central, Uva and Eastern provinces during the next few days, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (21).

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Northern, North-Central, Central, Uva and Eastern provinces and Hambantota district after 1.00 p.m.

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

Marine Weather:

Condition of Rain:
Mainly fair weather will prevail over sea areas around the island.

Winds:
Winds will be westerly to south-westerly and wind speed will be (25-35) kmph.

Wind speed can increase up to 50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota.

State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota may be fairly rough at times.