June 03, Colombo (LNW): Authorities at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) have confirmed that a recent cyber intrusion targeting their SMS communication system has not resulted in any loss or compromise of sensitive customer data.
The incident, which unfolded on Sunday, involved an unauthorised attempt to access the Board’s web-based systems, leading to a temporary disruption in its SMS services.
According to Additional General Manager Pradeep Herath, whilst the infiltration allowed the unidentified perpetrator to send out around 10,000 deceptive text messages to customers’ mobile phones, internal systems containing user data remained secure.
The attacker reportedly issued messages urging recipients to make payments in exchange for access to their own information—a tactic reminiscent of common phishing or ransomware schemes, though no payment platform was engaged.
The Board acted swiftly to regain control of the SMS platform, cutting off the unauthorised access and restoring normal operations within hours. Affected customers were subsequently notified about the fraudulent nature of the messages, with reassurances that no action was required on their part.
The organisation has since launched a specialised programme to enhance the security infrastructure surrounding its digital platforms.
This breach has raised broader concerns over the vulnerability of state-run digital infrastructure. In response, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has announced plans to implement round-the-clock monitoring mechanisms for public sector websites.
Charuka Damunupola, a senior cybersecurity analyst at SLCERT, noted that weaknesses in existing security protocols may have contributed to the success of the intrusion. He stressed the urgent need for robust preventative measures across all government-managed web platforms.
June 03, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to former cabinet minister Keheliya Rambukwella and his son, Ramith Rambukwella, who are currently under investigation for alleged abuse of public funds.
The decision was made by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali following detailed submissions presented by both the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and the defence.
The court ruled that both individuals be released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 each, in addition to two surety bails amounting to Rs. 1 million per suspect. As part of the bail conditions, a travel ban has been imposed on both the former minister and his son, barring them from leaving the country while the legal proceedings are ongoing.
The corruption case centres on allegations that Keheliya Rambukwella, during his time as a government minister, orchestrated the appointment of fifteen individuals to his personal staff without proper authorisation.
These appointments, according to the complaint lodged by the Bribery Commission, resulted in a financial loss exceeding Rs. 8 million to the state, through the illicit collection of salaries, allowances, and overtime payments made to these personnel.
Rambukwella was initially detained on May 07, whilst his son, a former national cricketer, was arrested two weeks later after voluntarily appearing before the anti-corruption authorities to provide a statement.
The case is now set to resume on October 10, when the court will review the progress of the investigation.
June 03, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (03).
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.
Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in and Trincomalee district.
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:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.
Manly fair weather will prevail over the other sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly.
wind speed will be (30-40) kmph and can increase up to 50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.
Wind speed will be (20-30) kmph in the other sea areas around the island.
Wind speed can increase up to 45 kmph in the sea areas extending from Chilaw to Galle via Colombo and from Kankasanthurai to Trincomalee via Mullaittivu.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be rough at times.
The sea areas extending from Chilaw to Galle via Colombo and from Kankasanthurai to Trincomalee via Mullaittivu will be fairly rough at times.
Temporarily strong wind gust and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
June 02, Colombo (LNW): Port City Colombo marked a significant milestone on Friday with the official handover of office space to key anchor tenants at its Business Centre. The event signals the commencement of active commercial operations within the Colombo Port City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), enhancing investor confidence in the region and putting the zone’s progressive regulatory framework into action.
The Business Centre comprises nine low-rise office buildings, including a dedicated IT hub and commercial hub. Approximately 80% of the office space has already been leased to “Authorised Persons” – investors registered and approved by the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) to operate within the SEZ.
This development represents a $5 million Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), one of the world’s largest infrastructure firms and a Fortune 500 company. With the Business Centre soon to be operational, Port City Colombo strengthens its position as a rising hub for business, investment, and innovation in South Asia.
The handover ceremony drew high-profile attendees including CCCC Deputy General Manager Chen Zhong, CPCEC Chairman Harsha Amarasekera, CHEC Chairman Bai Yinzhan, Finance Ministry’s Director General of Corporate Affairs Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena, and CHEC Port City Colombo Managing Director Xiong Hongfeng.
Construction of the Business Centre began in March 2024, and it now stands as a premier IT and business park designed to facilitate business growth, knowledge sharing, and technological advancement. The new tenants are expected to benefit from the SEZ’s attractive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, positioning Port City as a magnet for regional and international enterprise.
CCCC, employing over 120,000 people across 145 countries, has been active in Sri Lanka since 1998 and views Port City Colombo as one of its most strategic investments. Through CHEC, it has already invested around $1.4 billion in the Port City project—Sri Lanka’s largest FDI-backed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to date.
With the onboarding of new tenants, Port City Colombo is poised to contribute significantly to Sri Lanka’s economic transformation—creating jobs, fostering innovation, and anchoring the nation’s future as a vibrant business destination in South Asia.
June 02, Colombo (LNW): In a significant policy shift, the National People’s Power (NPP) government is preparing to invite Expressions of Interest (EoI) from private investors to operate various services at the loss-making Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), despite its long-standing opposition to the privatization of state assets.
Opened in 2013 with funding from China EXIM Bank, the MRIA has consistently drawn criticism due to its underutilization and heavy financial losses. Over the years, multiple administrations have sought to transfer its operations to private or foreign entities, with limited success.
Most notably, the previous government attempted to hand over the airport’s management to a 30-year India-Russia joint venture—India’s Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt) Ltd. and Russia’s Airports of Regions Management Company. The proposal, however, was eventually shelved due to legal constraints under the Civil Aviation Authority Act, which prohibits the outsourcing of certain core aviation services.
Now, the NPP government is aiming for a more segmented approach. Ports and Civil Aviation Ministry confirmed that a Cabinet paper would soon be submitted to initiate the EoI process. He added that the previous India-Russia consortium could also respond once the call is officially made.
The government intends to invite private investment in areas such as passenger services, cargo handling, and aircraft maintenance—while retaining core aviation functions like air traffic control and airport security under the state-run Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL).
The Civil Aviation Authority official reiterated that while airport management could be partially opened to private players with ministerial consent, key services related to safety and air navigation must remain under state control.
Internal documents obtained through the Right to Information Act revealed that the former government had already forwarded a draft agreement with the Indo-Russian venture to the Attorney General’s Department.
If approved, it would have marked Sri Lanka’s first instance of outsourcing airport operations to a non-state entity, diverging from the precedent of using the government-owned Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL).
However, legal barriers surfaced. The AASL’s Memorandum of Association (MoA) did not allow any entity other than itself to manage an airport. The Attorney General, in an opinion dated August 8, 2024, advised amending three key clauses in the MoA to facilitate such a move.
The AG further clarified that, under existing laws, essential services—such as firefighting, search and rescue, aviation security, and air traffic operations—must remain under government oversight, either through AASL or CAASL.
The Cabinet subsequently cleared the AASL in August 2024 to revise its MoA, allowing it to partner with or promote other companies to operate non-core services at the MRIA. These amendments are seen as a way to navigate legal constraints while still attracting foreign or private sector participation to salvage the struggling airport.
If implemented, the move could signal a pragmatic shift in the NPP’s economic policy, blending public control with private efficiency in an effort to finally make Mattala a viable transport hub.
June 02, Colombo (LNW): The economic revival of Sri Lanka is tenuous as the country is about to have a balance of payments (BoP) crisis, and as-yet unresolved tariffs issue with the United States, and rising geopolitical alignments based on escalating ties with China.
Even after achieving short-term financial stability after a sovereign debt crisis in 2022, Sri Lanka’s path towards sustainable growth continues to be hampered by structural obstacles and tight fiscal space
“There are only four methods that can fix the economy, one is to have a high income, second is to limit the expenditure, third is to maintain the budget deficit by managing the income and expenditure and fourth is to have an influx of foreign exchange income and minimise the outflow,”.vetran economist and former minister Bandula Gunawardana told the Sunday Times.
Sri Lanka is unlikely to fully bridge its projected Rs. 2 trillion budget deficit or resolve its balance of payments (BoP) crisis in 2025 due to major fiscal and monetary constraints, he predicted.
As per Q1 2025 data, the government recorded a Rs. 498.28 billion deficit, with total revenue at Rs. 1,064.66 billion and expenditure at Rs. 1,562.94 billion.
Borrowing is restricted by the Public Finance Management Act, and monetary financing is banned under the Central Bank Act (2023).
On the BoP front, foreign reserves remain fragile (USD 3–4 billion), and Sri Lanka continues to face external debt repayments, high import costs, and limited capital inflows. While remittances and tourism are recovering, they are not sufficient to close the external financing gap.
Despite these challenges, partial stability can be realized through continued IMF support, increased tax collections, grants, and structural reforms such as privatization of SOEs and export diversification.
The government must also complete external debt restructuring to ease pressure on reserves and restore investor confidence, he emphasised.
Sri Lanka cannot fully overcome its budget and BoP crises in 2025, but with strong reform implementation, fiscal discipline, and external support, the country can achieve gradual stabilisation and lay the groundwork for sustainable recovery by 2026–2028, he opined. .
Sri Lanka is also faced with critical fiscal constraints as it grapples to achive revenue targets outlined in the 2025 Budget while dealing with its ongoing current account deficit in the Balance of Payments (BoP), economic analysts added.
The government has to collect Rs 4.2 trillion in total revenue this year, of which Rs 3.9 trillion would be raised through taxes – an increase of 46 percent over last year. Dr. Gunawardana warns that weak tax compliance, delay in the refund of VAT, and widespread application of tax exemptions could threaten such estimates
The IMF emphasised that boosting tax compliance and reinstating an efficient VAT refund mechanism are essential to avoiding further tax hikes and preventing fiscal leakages.
The Fund also warned that new tax exemptions should be avoided to reduce corruption risks and preserve funding for social safety nets.
At the same time, Sri Lanka’s BoP current account remains in deficit, reflecting a wider imbalance between imports and exports. As of 2024, the country recorded a US$ 1.2 billion current account shortfall, fueled by high import bills and modest foreign exchange inflows.
“The country’s dual deficits – the State Budget’s current account deficit and the BoP current account deficit – were central to the 2022 economic crisis,” Dr Gunawardana said. adding that addressing both fronts is critical to long-term recovery.”
Failure to meet previous IMF performance benchmarks has delayed financial support and damaged investor confidence, further complicating the economic recovery path.
The government’s four-pronged strategy is for stabilizing the economy includes: enhancing revenue collection, curtailing recurrent and capital spending, increasing foreign exchange inflows, and reducing unnecessary outflows.
Finance Ministry officials are also reviewing public sector efficiency and import restrictions to manage pressure on the rupee and foreign reserves.
As Sri Lanka navigates a fragile post-crisis recovery, fiscal discipline, transparency, and effective implementation of reforms will be key to building economic resilience and regaining international credibility.
June 02, Colombo (LNW): A senior delegation from Australia led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow (02) for a diplomatic visit aimed at reinforcing strategic ties and fostering closer defence cooperation between the two countries.
The visit, announced by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marks an important chapter in the growing partnership between Colombo and Canberra, particularly in the realms of maritime security, regional stability, and mutual support in geopolitical matters.
During his stay, Mr Marles is expected to engage in official discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.
These courtesy calls are intended to review ongoing bilateral engagements and explore fresh avenues for collaboration in areas ranging from defence training and security coordination to economic partnerships and regional diplomacy.
Further engagements will include a high-level dialogue with Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara, where both parties are likely to delve into regional defence concerns, joint military exercises, and capacity-building initiatives.
As part of the diplomatic hospitality, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya will host a luncheon at the Australia House in Colombo, where she will also serve as the Chief Guest. The gathering is expected to underscore the long-standing ties between the two Commonwealth nations, whilst celebrating shared values and people-to-people connections.
The Deputy Prime Minister will be accompanied by senior officials from Australia’s Department of Defence, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Prime Minister’s Office, highlighting the importance placed on this visit by Canberra. Their presence is expected to contribute to a series of parallel consultations with Sri Lankan counterparts across multiple sectors.
June 02, Colombo (LNW): The nation’s foremost body of legal professionals has called for immediate action to address a critical leadership gap at the helm of the Right to Information Commission.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has issued a formal communication to the Constitutional Council, expressing grave concern over the continued vacancy of the position of Chairperson of the Commission, a post considered integral to safeguarding citizens’ access to public information.
The letter, jointly signed by BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya and Secretary Chathura Galhena, underscores the urgent need to restore full operational capacity to the Commission, which has been without a Chairperson since the departure of retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Abeyratne on 9 March 2025.
In the absence of a new appointment, the Commission’s ability to discharge its legal duties, particularly those involving oversight and enforcement of the public’s right to information, has been significantly impaired.
The Right to Information Act, enacted in 2016, outlines the Chairperson’s central role in leading the Commission’s deliberations, issuing directives, and ensuring administrative accountability. Without a properly appointed Chairperson, the BASL argues, the Commission is unable to function with the effectiveness and credibility that the law requires.
This vacancy, the BASL notes, comes at a time when public interest in governmental transparency is increasingly urgent, with citizens relying on mechanisms like the RTI Commission to obtain answers on matters of governance, accountability, and public expenditure.
The lack of leadership at the top, they caution, risks eroding public trust in the very institutions designed to protect democratic rights.
The letter calls upon the Constitutional Council, which is constitutionally mandated to advise on key appointments to independent commissions, to fulfil its obligation without further delay.
The BASL stressed that recommending a suitably qualified and independent candidate for Presidential appointment would be a strong affirmation of the state’s commitment to openness, accountability, and the rule of law.
June 02, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake underscored his administration’s firm commitment to safeguarding public funds, revealing that substantial reductions have already been made to discretionary spending under the presidential budget.
His remarks came during the formal inauguration of National Tax Week, held at the Presidential Secretariat, where he reiterated that every rupee entrusted to the state by the people must be used with utmost responsibility.
In a strongly worded address, the President emphasised that this commitment to frugality is not merely symbolic but represents a decisive shift in how public finances are managed.
He framed it as the first concrete step in dismantling entrenched inefficiencies and misuse of resources within the state apparatus. At the heart of this effort, he noted, is a mission to reinforce public confidence by ensuring every taxpayer’s contribution is treated with respect and protected from waste or corruption.
President Dissanayake spoke candidly about the systemic flaws that have long plagued Sri Lanka’s revenue ecosystem. Rather than placing blame solely on high-profile departments such as Customs or Excise, he described a far more entrenched “black mechanism” of interlinked inefficiencies and corruption within state institutions. He warned that unless this network is dismantled through genuine reform, the country risks sliding deeper into economic stagnation.
As part of this broader reform effort, the President announced plans to accelerate the digital transformation of government services. He said that digitalisation would not only improve service delivery but also serve as a powerful tool in bringing transparency and accountability to areas vulnerable to manipulation or abuse.
By introducing technology into tax collection and administrative procedures, the government aims to eliminate room for malpractice and ensure the rule of law applies uniformly across all sectors of society.
Speaking directly to the business community and the wider public, President Dissanayake made a pledge: those who contribute to the nation’s development through honest tax compliance will be protected. He assured taxpayers that the government views its duty to protect their contributions as paramount, and that any misuse of funds would trigger swift legal consequences. “If you pay, we will protect every rupee. If a single rupee is squandered, legal action will follow,” he stated firmly.
National Tax Week, which will continue until 7 June, is being observed under the theme “Badu Shakthi”, or “Power of Tax”. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) will lead a range of educational and outreach efforts to increase public understanding of tax responsibilities and procedures. The campaign seeks to promote a culture of voluntary compliance and to expand the country’s tax base.
In a significant development marking the start of this initiative, the President also officiated the launch of the IRD’s new digital platform, which will now serve as the exclusive portal for tax report submissions from the 2024–2025 assessment year onwards.
This move, officials say, represents a pivotal moment in the modernisation of Sri Lanka’s tax administration and will enhance the efficiency, traceability and integrity of financial declarations.
June 02, Colombo (LNW): A national initiative aimed at promoting awareness of tax responsibilities and strengthening the country’s fiscal framework officially commenced today, with a week-long series of activities and public outreach.
Dubbed “National Tax Week”, the programme marks a concerted government effort to encourage civic understanding of taxation and the benefits of timely compliance.
The launch ceremony took place at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attending in his official capacity to underline the significance of the campaign.
Framed under the theme “Badhu Shakthi”, meaning “Power of Tax”, the week-long initiative is being spearheaded by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), with events scheduled nationwide until 7 June.
Deputy Commissioner General of the IRD, P.K.S. Shantha, explained that the campaign is designed to demystify the tax process, assist citizens in understanding their obligations, and shed light on how public funds are utilised for national development.
Officers from the department will engage directly with the public through information booths, community workshops, and media appearances to improve literacy around income tax, value-added tax (VAT), and the role of taxation in building resilient public services.
One of the focal points of this drive is the promotion of the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), which has become an increasingly essential requirement for a range of official transactions.
These include registering motor vehicles, opening designated types of bank accounts, and participating in formal economic activity.
According to recent statistics, more than 10 million individuals have already secured their TINs, a figure that reflects growing integration into the country’s formal tax network.
