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.

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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.

Sri Lanka earned USD 8.4 billion in export revenue in the first half of 2025, reflecting a 7% increase compared to the same period last year, Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe announced yesterday (7).

Speaking at a press briefing at the Department of Government Information, Wijesinghe stressed the need to maintain this growth momentum to achieve the Government’s annual export target of USD 18 billion. “Our goal for the first six months was a 7% growth rate. For the third and fourth quarters, we aim for 8% to 10%,” he said, warning that failure to meet these targets could make the annual goal difficult to reach.

A new Export Development Plan—based on the National Export Strategy (2018–2022) and incorporating newly targeted sectors—is set to launch by September or October. Developed with industry input, the plan aims to boost exports to USD 36 billion by 2030, increasing the sector’s share of GDP from the current 19% to 25%.

Exports remain Sri Lanka’s largest source of foreign exchange, accounting for over 60% of total inflows, or about USD 1.4 billion monthly. Tourism adds around USD 350 million, while worker remittances make up the rest, bringing total monthly foreign earnings to nearly USD 2.4 billion. Import costs range from USD 1.6 to 1.8 billion, especially after vehicle imports resumed.

Merchandise exports in the first half of 2025 totaled USD 6.5 billion, while services contributed USD 1.8 billion, marking a 16% year-on-year increase. Apparel exports rose by 5%, with strong growth also seen in tea, processed foods, gems and jewellery, electronics, and spices.

The U.S. remained Sri Lanka’s top export destination, importing goods worth USD 1.7 billion—65% of which came from the apparel sector. Recent U.S. tariff changes have strengthened Sri Lanka’s competitive edge over rivals such as India and Vietnam, creating new opportunities to diversify exports.

Wijesinghe also highlighted renewed policy coordination through the revival of the Export Development Council of Ministers—last convened in 1992—chaired by the President. The council’s next review meeting will be held next Tuesday to assess export sector performance and ambassador-led market expansion efforts.

To promote inclusive growth, export development targets have been extended to all districts and Divisional Secretariats, supported by new EDB offices in Kurunegala, Jaffna, Kandy, and Matara.

The Government is taking steps to remove all obstacles preventing specialist doctors who left Sri Lanka from returning to serve in the local health sector, Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament yesterday (7).

Responding to a question from NPP MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, the Minister revealed that Sri Lanka currently has 72 specialist medical services with an approved cadre of 3,181 positions. Of these, 2,042 are filled, while 1,139 vacancies remain. He noted that many doctors who had migrated for overseas employment have already returned, with the Government planning to fill existing vacancies using these returning specialists.

Dr. Jayatissa made an open invitation to all Sri Lankan specialist doctors abroad, stressing their moral duty to contribute to rebuilding the country’s health service, given the significant public investment in their education and training. He assured that the Government will facilitate their return by addressing administrative hurdles, providing schooling for their children near assigned hospitals, and ensuring transport and other necessary facilities.

The Minister highlighted that during the previous administration, a surge in medical migration saw only 40% of those who left returning by September 2024. This figure has now risen to 65–70%. He expressed hope that the remainder will also return, noting past cases where specialists appointed to remote hospitals opted to go abroad again rather than take up their posts.

The grand finale of the Kandy Esala Perahera, the final Randoli Maha Perahera, will parade through the streets of Kandy tonight (August 8), starting from the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) at 6:51 p.m.

The majestic procession will travel northward from the Maligawa, passing along Dalada Veediya, Yatinuwara Veediya, Kande Veediya, and D.S. Senanayake Veediya, before ascending Raja Veediya and returning to the temple. In the early hours of tomorrow (August 9) at 1:18 a.m., the Perahera, along with the four Devale processions of Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama, and Pattini, will ceremonially place the Sacred Relic Casket at the Gedige Viharaya.

At dawn, the four Devale Peraheras will perform the traditional water-cutting ceremony (Diya Kapeema) at Getambe Diya Kapana Thota, before arriving at the Gana Devale Kovil. The Dalada Maligawa Perahera will then depart from Gedige Viharaya at 2:16 p.m., proceeding along D.S. Senanayake Veediya to join the Devale processions near the Kandy Municipal Council junction.

The united Perahera will ascend Raja Veediya, perform three ceremonial circumambulations of the Maligawa Square, and conclude its sacred journey. The official closing ceremony will take place tomorrow at the Kandy President’s House, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Following the daytime procession, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, along with the Basnayake Nilames of the four main Devales and affiliated rural shrines, will deliver the Perahera Sandeshaya — the traditional message marking the successful completion of this year’s festival — to the President, in accordance with centuries-old custom.