July 27, Colombo (LNW): The Department of Forest Conservation has initiated a focused investigation into the suspected presence and use of firearms within protected forest reserves, following a worrying surge in shootings involving wild animals—particularly elephants.

According to Chandima Palamakumbura, Director General of Forest Conservation, the department has dispatched multiple regional teams to look into reports of illegal hunting activity and the unauthorised carrying of firearms in conservation areas.

The probe aims to uncover the sources of these weapons, identify those responsible, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms within Sri Lanka’s forested regions.

The initiative comes amid growing alarm from conservationists and environmental groups, who have condemned the rising number of incidents involving gun violence against wildlife.

The killings of elephants—many of which are protected under national legislation—have sparked renewed calls for stricter surveillance and harsher penalties for offenders.

Forest authorities have vowed to treat the issue with urgency, noting that protecting biodiversity and maintaining the ecological balance of the country’s forests is a national priority.

July 27, Colombo (LNW): A detailed investigative report concerning the recent death of a student from the Faculty of Technology at Sabaragamuwa University has been formally submitted to the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunil Shantha.

The report, compiled by a five-member independent committee, marks a key development in the ongoing inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.

According to Professor Shantha, the findings will be forwarded to the University Grants Commission (UGC) in the coming week for further review and official disclosure.

The committee’s investigation was extensive, drawing on a wide range of evidence. A committee member revealed that approximately 70 individual testimonies were recorded from fellow students.

In total, more than 150 hours of material were reviewed, which included oral and written statements, as well as photographic evidence, video recordings, and content sourced from social media platforms.

The inquiry was launched amidst growing public concern and student unrest, with many calling for a transparent and thorough examination of the events that led to the student’s death.

July 27, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has voiced serious concern over the unfolding situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border, where recent unrest has reportedly resulted in casualties, the displacement of civilians, and damage to sites of cultural and historical significance.

In a formal statement issued by the Ministry responsible for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, the Sri Lankan government called on both nations to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through diplomatic engagement.

Emphasising its long-standing commitment to peace and non-violence, Sri Lanka urged all parties to prioritise dialogue over confrontation.

Reflecting the country’s spiritual heritage, the statement underscored Sri Lanka’s adherence to principles rooted in the teachings of the Buddha—particularly those of compassion, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.

These values, the government stressed, should guide efforts to de-escalate the situation and pave the way for a negotiated settlement.

The statement also conveyed heartfelt sympathies to the communities affected by the recent violence and upheaval. Sri Lanka reaffirmed its conviction that enduring peace in the region can only be achieved through mutual understanding, respect for sovereignty, and a shared commitment to diplomacy.

July 27, Colombo (LNW): A recent session of the Committee on Public Accounts (CoPA) has brought to light a troubling example of public expenditure lacking in meaningful impact, as over Rs. 2.4 million was reportedly spent on new signage alone for a large-scale reclassification of provincial schools.

The initiative, launched under a previous administration, aimed to rebrand 809 provincial schools as national schools. However, inquiries by the committee revealed that the transformation has been, for the most part, superficial.

The schools in question remain unchanged in terms of infrastructure, staffing, or academic standards—bearing only the new titles without the substantive improvements such a designation would typically imply.

Officials from the Ministry of Education were called before CoPA to explain the rationale behind the spending, which has been criticised for prioritising cosmetic changes over genuine educational development.

Members of the committee expressed concern that the move appears to have been little more than a symbolic gesture, with minimal benefit to students or the broader education system.

In response to the findings, CoPA has instructed the Ministry to compile a detailed report within three months. This report must cover the broader programme to expand the number of national schools to 1,000—a target set by the former government—as well as provide specific updates on 72 related projects initiated under the State Ministry of Education.

July 27, Colombo (LNW): A group of Members of the British Parliament paid a formal visit to Sri Lanka’s central seat of executive power on the afternoon of July 25, engaging in both diplomatic discussion and historical exploration.

The visiting delegation was welcomed at the Presidential Secretariat, where they took part in a brief but cordial meeting with Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, who serves as Secretary to the President.

The dialogue centred on matters of mutual interest, touching upon governance, democratic traditions, and the longstanding ties between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka.

Following the meeting, the delegation was given a guided tour of some of the Secretariat’s most historically significant spaces. Amongst the highlights were the Presidential Secretariat Library, a repository of state documents and rare volumes, the venerable Old Parliament chamber which once housed the nation’s legislature, and the Cabinet Meeting Hall, where many pivotal decisions in Sri Lanka’s history have been deliberated.

Accompanying the delegation were Senior Additional Secretary to the President, Roshan Gamage, and British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick, along with several other senior officials from both governments.

July 27, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Fairly strong winds of about 50 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern and North-central provinces and in Puttalam, Trincomalee, and Hambantota districts.

Marine Weather:

Condition of Rain:
Showers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo and Galle.

Winds:
Winds will be westerly to south-westerly and wind speed will be (30-40) kmph.

Wind speed can increase up to (50-55) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota and from Kalpitiya to Vakarai via Mannar, Kankasanthurai and Trincomalee.

State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota and from Kalpitiya to Vakarai via Mannar, Kankasanthurai and Trincomalee may rough at times.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Member of Parliament Mujibur Rahuman has raised serious concerns in Parliament over an alleged tax evasion racket involving the importation of brand-new BYD electric vehicles to Sri Lanka.

Speaking in Parliament on the 24th, MP Rahuman claimed that there appears to be a suspicious discrepancy in the customs duties charged on brand-new versus used BYD vehicles, specifically the ATTO 3 model.

“These brand-new BYD ATTO 3 vehicles are being declared as having a 100 kW battery capacity, and a duty of only LKR 5.5 million is imposed. But when a used ATTO 3 vehicle is brought in, it is declared with a 150 kW battery and taxed at LKR 10 million,” Rahuman stated.

He pointed out that the official BYD website lists only a 150 kW version for the ATTO 3 model, and no 100 kW variant exists. “So how can a brand-new vehicle be declared as 100 kW and taxed less, while a used one is declared as 150 kW and taxed more? That’s a tax discrepancy of LKR 4.5 million per vehicle,” he added.

Rahuman further questioned whether the main company involved in importing these vehicles has any ties with the government. “Just like the recent scandal with container clearance, is this also being allowed to pass with reduced tax under some special connection?”

The MP urged authorities to investigate whether this was a deliberate misdeclaration aimed at reducing import taxes and whether there was any collusion involved.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya announced that the Government will establish a National Industrial Planning Think Tank aimed at revitalising the rural economy. The proposed body will provide essential technical, scientific, and advisory support to strengthen businesses across the country.

The Prime Minister made this announcement while attending the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the Regional Development Bank (RDB) at the BMICH on Thursday (25).

As part of the anniversary event, the Prime Minister launched the ‘RDB Quick App’, a new online banking facility, and opened a three-day business product exhibition. A commemorative stamp issued by the Department of Posts to mark the milestone was also officially presented to her.

In her address, Dr. Amarasuriya praised the RDB’s role in empowering small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, particularly in rural areas.

“The hand extended by the Regional Development Bank to small and medium-scale entrepreneurs in uplifting the rural economy is highly commendable,” she said. “The Bank’s engagement with rural communities—offering not just capital but also technical guidance and marketing support—has helped elevate local talent to international standards.”

The Prime Minister also highlighted the significant role of women in the Bank’s operations and customer base, noting that most small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka are women-led. She emphasized the importance of RDB’s support in empowering these women and called for continued collaboration in realising the Government’s vision of ‘A Prosperous Country, A Beautiful Life’.

Also present at the event were Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar, RDB Chairman D.M.T.S. Kumara, and senior officials from the Bank.