Geopolitical tensions between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have put the future of Asian cricket under threat, with the upcoming Asia Cup hanging in the balance. ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also a Pakistani minister, has been accused of letting political motives influence his decisions and ignoring the need for consensus among member nations. His stance has led to friction with India and raised doubts about the tournament’s viability.

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have reportedly aligned with India, while participation from several other full and associate member countries including Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore and the UAE remains uncertain. Without the required quorum, ACC meetings and key decisions about the Asia Cup face serious challenges.

July 23 is shaping up to be a critical date for Asian cricket. Whether Naqvi prioritizes the integrity of the sport over political interests remains to be seen. For now, the game stands at a crossroads as the region’s political disputes threaten to overshadow its most celebrated tournament.

Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi told Parliament today (18) that the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has only 12 veterinarians to manage wildlife health across Sri Lanka, highlighting a critical shortfall in resources as the country grapples with escalating incidents of human-elephant conflict.

Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Minister revealed that these veterinarians work under difficult conditions, with no veterinary assistants, nurses, or technicians to support them.

“Unlike in other countries, our veterinarians work alone, under challenging conditions and with limited resources,” Patabendi said, emphasizing that the DWC vets are responsible for treating all wild animals, not just elephants.

Patabendi disclosed a worrying rise in elephant shootings, saying that:

• On July 10, the entire team of 12 vets had to respond to 9 elephants with gunshot injuries.
• By July 15, the number of injured elephants had increased to 13.

He also suggested the possibility of an organized campaign targeting elephants, pointing out that all of the animals had been shot in the same area—below the knee, indicating a pattern.

The Minister’s remarks underscore a deepening wildlife crisis, both in terms of conservation threats and manpower shortages. With mounting incidents of elephant injuries and human-elephant conflict affecting rural communities, the government faces increasing pressure to scale up veterinary resources, improve protective infrastructure, and investigate patterns of targeted violence against elephants.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya emphasized the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks that foster innovation while upholding safety, efficacy, data privacy, security, and ethical standards in digital technologies.

Delivering the keynote address at a roundtable discussion on digital mental health hosted by the Global Digital Mental Health Network of eMHIC, held today (22) at Temple Trees, Dr. Amarasuriya outlined the government’s commitment to integrating digital health solutions into the national mental health system. The event was supported by the Prime Minister’s Media Division.

She noted that this move is part of the government’s broader digital transformation agenda, and stressed the importance of a coordinated, multi-sectoral, and multidisciplinary approach. This includes building a well-trained mental health workforce and enhancing community-level engagement to ensure equitable access and responsiveness.

Addressing Key Challenges

Dr. Amarasuriya also pointed to significant challenges in the digital mental health landscape, particularly the intergenerational gap in understanding psychological and digital well-being between parents and children. She stressed the importance of addressing these gaps in the context of educational reforms, which increasingly incorporate digital tools and platforms.

International Collaboration and Participation

The high-level discussion brought together a diverse range of international and local stakeholders, including:

• Senator Kathy Hay of Canada
• Professor Anil Thapliyal, Executive Director of eMHIC
• Representatives of the eMental Health International Collaborative
• Officials from government ministries, academia, and professional bodies

The event served as a platform to explore technology-driven innovations to tackle mental health issues in Sri Lanka and to strengthen cross-border cooperation in digital mental health strategies.

Dr. Amarasuriya concluded by reaffirming the government’s readiness to adopt forward-looking policies that ensure the responsible development and implementation of digital mental health technologies, in alignment with national priorities and ethical values.

A high-level meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was held this afternoon (22 July) at the Presidential Secretariat to address and streamline the procurement and distribution process of essential medicines across Sri Lanka.

The discussion included Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, and senior health officials. The meeting focused on current challenges within the medicine procurement and distribution mechanisms, with an emphasis on preventing shortages and ensuring uninterrupted access to vital drugs at public hospitals.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the President:

• Instructed officials to urgently address existing inefficiencies in the system,
• Called for immediate measures to resolve any ongoing medicine shortages,
• Emphasised the need to implement long-term plans to prevent future disruptions.

President Dissanayake reaffirmed that necessary funds for medicine procurement have already been allocated by the Treasury, and stressed that collective responsibility and swift action are essential to deliver reliable and high-quality healthcare to the public.

Among those present were:

• Dr. Anil Jasinghe – Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media
• Dr. Asela Gunawardana – Director General of Health Services
• W.S.N. Botheju – Senior Assistant Secretary (Procurement), Ministry of Health and Mass Media
• Dr. Manuj C. Weerasinghe – Chairman, State Pharmaceuticals Corporation
• Prof. Jayantha Wijayabandara – Chairman, State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation
• Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama – Chairman, National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA)
• Other senior officials of the Ministry of Health

The meeting reflects the Government’s ongoing focus on strengthening Sri Lanka’s public health infrastructure, especially in the wake of prior medicine shortages and procurement delays.

Parliament today (22 July) passed three significant labour-related bills with overwhelming support, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to improving wage protections for workers across Sri Lanka.

The bills passed include:

1. Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Bill – 2005 Act
   • Second Reading: 182 votes in favour, none against
   • Third Reading (post-committee stage): 181 votes in favour, none against
2. Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers (Amendment) Bill – 2016 Act
   • Second Reading: 180 votes in favour, none against
   • Third Reading: 181 votes in favour, none against
3. National Minimum Wage for Workers (Amendment) Bill
   • Passed with amendments and without a vote

The Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Acts (2005 and 2016) were amended to revise and streamline the existing provisions related to wage allowances granted to workers, particularly in the context of economic challenges and inflationary pressures.

The National Minimum Wage for Workers (Amendment) Bill was also passed to update the legal minimum wage thresholds, helping ensure a baseline standard of living for all workers across sectors. The bill’s passage without objection reflects bipartisan support for strengthening workers’ rights.

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara previously stated that these legislative changes are part of the Government’s broader agenda to improve wage equity, promote decent work conditions, and support low-income employees across the country.

Residents of Inamaluwa, Dambulla have reported the discovery of the carcasses of six wild elephants, including a tusker, suspected to have died about a month ago within the Inamaluwa Government Forest Reserve and adjacent areas.

Locals say the decomposed bodies of a tusker and two other elephants were located within the reserve and the nearby Teak Plantation, approximately a kilometre apart. They also claimed that three additional carcasses exist deeper in the forest, but due to terrain difficulties, access to those locations has been limited.

According to residents, repeated alerts had been made to relevant authorities over several weeks, with no adequate response or investigation into the cause of death. It is alleged that the tusks of the tusker had been cut off and removed, raising serious suspicions of poaching.

When contacted, Wildlife Conservation Officer at the Sigiriya Wildlife Office, S.S. Malinda, confirmed that he had received information regarding three elephant deaths, noting that one carcass had been reported to court while another was located outside his jurisdiction. However, he admitted that no formal investigation has yet been launched to ascertain how the elephants died.

Residents are now demanding an immediate probe by both the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Forest Conservation Department, urging authorities to take swift action against possible illegal wildlife trafficking or negligence, and to prevent further loss of Sri Lanka’s endangered elephant population.

India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, inaugurated the country’s first replica of King Ashoka’s Pillar of Dhamma in Vaishali during a ceremony at the Rajaguru Sri Subuthi Maha Viharaya in Waskaduwa.

Joining High Commissioner Jha was the Temple’s Chief Incumbent, Most Ven. Dr. Waskaduwawe Mahindawansa Mahanayake Thera, as they unveiled a special exposition of the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics. During the event, High Commissioner Jha also extended birthday wishes to the Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera and offered prayers for his long life.

In his remarks, Most Ven. Mahanayake Thera underscored the significance of installing the first Ashokan Pillar replica in Sri Lanka as a tribute to King Ashoka’s pivotal role in preserving and propagating Buddhist teachings. He also recounted the historical journey of the temple’s relic collection and expressed deep gratitude to the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its sustained support of Buddhist heritage.

High Commissioner Jha highlighted the shared historical, cultural, and spiritual ties between India and Sri Lanka, noting that Sri Lanka remains one of the foremost centres for Buddhist learning. He outlined several initiatives by India to deepen this heritage in Sri Lanka, including:

• Free solar electrification for nearly 10,000 Buddhist Viharas and Pirivenas
• Support for the Anuradhapura Sacred City Complex restoration project
• Upcoming exposition of Sacred Relics of the Buddha from Devnimori, Gujarat
• Past expositions featuring relics from Sarnath and Kapilavastu
• Special pilgrimage visits and mobile exhibitions on the life of the Buddha
• Republishing of ancient Pali grammar treatises such as Namamala and Balawatharo
• Distribution of Sinhala translations of the Jataka Tales to Dhamma schools nationwide

The inauguration of the Ashokan Pillar replica and accompanying relic exposition mark a milestone in India–Sri Lanka cultural diplomacy, further cementing the two nations’ enduring Buddhist heritage and cooperation.

Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku informed Parliament that six airlines, including SriLankan Airlines, have defaulted a total of Rs. 27.659 billion in embarkation levy payments owed to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Of this amount, SriLankan Airlines alone accounts for Rs. 24.655 billion in unpaid levies. The other defaulters and the amounts owed are:

• Air Asia Berhad – Rs. 88 million
• Aeroflot (Russia) – Rs. 508 million
• Air India – Rs. 57 million
• Thai Air Asia – Rs. 221 million
• Fitz Aviation – Rs. 2.126 billion

The Deputy Minister was responding to a question raised by SJB MP Kins Nelson, and stated that the CAA has already initiated steps to recover the arrears, including notifying the airlines via email and written communication.

He added that bank guarantees held by the CAA have been liquidated in some cases to recover portions of the outstanding funds. However, the current Civil Aviation Authority Act lacks legal provisions to pursue full recovery through legal means.

To address this gap, the Ministry plans to submit a Cabinet paper proposing necessary amendments to the Act, which would empower the CAA to initiate legal proceedings against defaulting airlines in the future.

Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody informed Parliament that the Rs. 50 tax on fuel will be removed once the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s (CPC) debt, previously absorbed by the Treasury under the former government, is fully repaid.

The Minister said that of the Rs. 884 billion in CPC debt taken over by the Treasury, nearly half has already been settled, and that only standard government taxes are currently being imposed on fuel.

Responding to a question raised by SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara on July 22, Minister Jayakody clarified that the fuel surcharge was introduced specifically to address CPC’s liabilities, and not as a permanent levy. He further stated that the Government is conducting investigations into possible fraudulent fuel sales that may have occurred during the period from September 21, 2023 to September 20, 2024.

Minister Jayakody also advised MP Jayasekara to stay informed about the fuel pricing formula and refrain from making unsubstantiated allegations regarding fuel taxes and pricing mechanisms.