Australia and Sri Lanka further cemented their long-standing diplomatic and people-to-people relations as Australia’s Governor-General Samantha Joy Mostyn began her three-day official visit to the island.

The visit marks a new chapter in the 75-plus years of friendship between the two nations, underscoring their shared commitment to enhanced cooperation in economic development, education, defence, tourism and maritime security.

Governor-General Mostyn met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo this afternoon (8), where the two leaders held wide-ranging bilateral discussions.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the talks centred on strengthening existing partnerships and exploring new avenues for mutual benefit.

The Australian Governor-General reaffirmed Canberra’s readiness to extend continued support for Sri Lanka’s progress under President Dissanayake’s “clear and decisive leadership.” She highlighted Australia’s willingness to assist in bolstering Sri Lanka’s economy, reflecting the depth of trust and cooperation between the two nations.

President Dissanayake, welcoming the visit, said it would further reinforce the historic ties between Australia and Sri Lanka. He recalled the significant assistance provided by Australia—both directly and through international bodies—during the 2004 tsunami and more recently, amid Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.

Expressing gratitude for Australia’s ongoing support, the President noted contributions in key sectors including economic growth, education, defence, tourism, and maritime affairs. He also emphasised that Australia has become a major destination for employment, higher education, and vocational training for Sri Lankans, adding that Sri Lanka could greatly benefit from Australia’s expertise in these areas.

The President stressed that the country now offers a favourable climate for Australian investors, opening up new prospects for trade and business partnerships. Such cooperation, he said, would complement broader bilateral goals and people-to-people exchanges.

Governor-General Mostyn’s visit comes at the invitation of President Dissanayake and includes engagements beyond Colombo. Over the course of her stay, she will visit several areas of the island, including Bandaragama, Mirissa and Weligama, to observe community development and other projects supported by Australia.

 Australia and Sri Lanka have maintained diplomatic relations since 1947, with close collaboration in areas ranging from regional security to education exchanges. The current visit is seen as an opportunity to build on this legacy, aligning bilateral cooperation with emerging regional challenges and economic opportunities.

The PMD noted that the discussions between President Dissanayake and Governor-General Mostyn reflected a shared vision for sustainable growth, mutual prosperity, and a strengthened strategic partnership that continues to evolve in the Indo-Pacific context.

Sri Lanka’s gaming and casino sector has rapidly moved from a niche leisure offering into a high-visibility—and high-stakes—component of the island’s tourism and investment landscape.

 As integrated resorts, foreign operators and local licensees expand operations in and around Colombo, calls for a clearer, socially responsible regulatory framework have grown louder.

Observers say the industry’s tax and revenue contribution is increasingly material to public finances and local jobs, but publicly available, consolidated data on casino turnover and tax receipts is limited—making effective policy and social-risk management difficult.

Veteran operator Ravi Wijeratne and Rank Entertainment Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. have crystallised those tensions in a civil suit filed before the Colombo Commercial High Court, seeking Rs. 15 billion in damages from Waterfront Properties (Pvt) Ltd., John Keells Holdings PLC, Hong Kong-listed Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd., and Blue Heaven Services (Pvt) Ltd.

 The plaint alleges breach of contract and unlawful disclosure and use of commercially sensitive information that Rank says it developed over a decade of collaboration and planning for the casino space at the Cinnamon Life integrated resort.

When the matter was heard before Judge M.Y.M. Irsadeen on Tuesday (5), the court directed the defendants to file their answers by November 12, 2025.

According to the plaint, Rank Entertainment and Mr. Wijeratne entered into continuous dealings with Cinnamon Life and John Keells from 2013, maintaining an inactive casino licence—paid for with millions in licence fees to the government—on the understanding that Rank would be allocated the casino space at Cinnamon Life.

The plaintiffs say they invested heavily in design, planning and proprietary commercial information on that basis, only to find the casino space operating under Melco Resorts (through its local entity Blue Heaven Services) and thereby losing the opportunity to operate the venue.

The dispute follows the high-profile launch of Melco’s City of Dreams operation in Colombo, a development that has prompted bold comparisons—some argue Sri Lanka could evolve into a major South Asian gaming hub, even drawing comparisons with Macau. International consultancy

MTI, however, has urged caution: while a strong casino sub-brand can deliver economic gains, MTI warns against letting gambling dominate the country’s national brand. The firm advocates a curated approach that embeds casinos within a broader tourism offering—natural landscapes, cultural heritage and conservation—rather than allowing gambling to define the island’s identity.

Industry watchers say that careful, transparent regulation is essential not only to capture fair tax revenue, but to mitigate social harms associated with gambling. MTI recommends studying regulatory models employed by jurisdictions such as Malta, Denmark, Singapore and Hungary—places that attempt to balance revenue goals with consumer protections and social safeguards.

The current legal battle highlights deeper governance issues: disputes over licences, undisclosed commercial information and the entry of large foreign operators all point to the need for clearer licensing rules, stronger intellectual property protections for commercial know-how, transparent tax reporting by licensees, and robust social-responsibility rules (including anti-money-laundering safeguards and problem-gambling mitigation).

Reliable, consolidated figures on individual casinos’ annual turnover and the exact tax revenue flowing to the state remain patchy in public sources.

For policy that balances growth with social protection, the government will need transparent reporting from operators and a regulatory review that clarifies licence allocation, revenue-sharing and community safeguards. Until then, Sri Lanka’s ambition to capture tourism and investment from integrated resorts will remain shadowed by legal fights and unanswered questions over who benefits—and who bears the risks.

A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Bell 412 helicopter was deployed today (08 Aug) to assist in containing a forest fire in the Raththanagolla–Imbulpe area of Balangoda, in a coordinated operation led by the Ministry of Defence.

The helicopter conducted Bambi bucket operations to help suppress the fire from the air, working in close coordination with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) to prevent further spread and protect forest cover, the Defence Ministry said.

The intervention highlights the Ministry’s commitment to rapid disaster response and environmental protection. Authorities confirmed that firefighting efforts will continue as needed in collaboration with local officials and emergency services.

The deadline for submitting applications for the upcoming G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) examination has been extended, allowing candidates more time to apply.

Applicants can now submit their applications online until midnight on August 12. This extension applies to those who wish to sit for the 2025 A/L examination based on the re-scrutinized results of the 2024 exam, and who missed the earlier application period.

The Ministry of Education stressed that this grace period will not be extended again under any circumstances.

According to the Department of Examinations, the re-scrutinized results of the 2024 A/L examinations were released online yesterday (07).

The final Randoli Perahera of this year’s Kandy Esala Festival paraded the streets last night in a spectacular display of tradition and devotion.

The Grand Randoli Perahera commenced at the auspicious time of 6:51 p.m. from the Sri Dalada Maligawa. The procession began at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, headed northwards, and continued along Sri Dalada Veediya, Yatinuwara Veediya, Kande Veediya, and D. S. Senanayake Veediya before returning to the Temple through Raja Veediya.

At dawn, the four Devale Peraheras performed the traditional water-cutting ceremony (Diya Kapeema) at Getambe Diya Kapana Thota before arriving at the Gana Devale Kovil.

Later in the afternoon, the Dalada Maligawa Perahera began from the Gedige Viharaya at 2:16 p.m. and paraded along D. S. Senanayake Veediya to meet the Devale processions coming from the Kandy Pillaiyar Kovil. The two merged at the Kandy Municipal Council junction before ascending Raja Veediya, performing three circumambulations around the Maligawa Square, and completing the sacred journey.

The festival is set to officially conclude today when the Nilames of the Satara Maha Dewalayas, together with Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, present the Sannasa to the President at the President’s House in Kandy.

This year’s Kandy Esala Festival commenced with the Kap Situweema ceremony on July 25.

https://kandyesalaperahera.com/gallery

Several spells of light showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Northern provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts.

Mainly fair weather will prevail in the other areas of the island.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has suspended six judicial officers, including the former Batticaloa Magistrate, after reviewing evidence linked to multiple cases.

The suspensions were prompted by serious concerns over judicial conduct and performance. Those affected include Moratuwa Magistrate Thilina Gamage, Mahiyanganaya Additional District Judge Rangani Gamage, and three probationary magistrates who had only recently been appointed.

The JSC, chaired by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, also includes Supreme Court Justice Mahinda Samayawardena as a member, while the third position—previously held by retired Supreme Court Justice Gamini Amarasekara—remains vacant pending Constitutional Council approval. High Court Judge Prasanna Alwis serves as the Commission’s Secretary.

This decisive action underscores the JSC’s commitment to ensuring judicial accountability and preserving integrity within Sri Lanka’s judiciary.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has reported a notable surge in aviation fuel sales during the first six months of 2025, with volumes rising by 21 million liters compared to the same period last year.

CPC Managing Director Mayura Netthikumara credited the increase to strategic pricing, which has kept Sri Lanka’s aviation fuel rates competitive within the region. This pricing advantage, he said, has helped attract more international air traffic, providing a boost to the country’s aviation sector.