June 29, World (LNW): Global oil prices moved higher on Monday as renewed military exchanges involving the United States and Iran reignited fears over disruptions to energy supplies through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures rose by 52 cents to trade at $72.51 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 71 cents to reach $69.94 a barrel in early trading. The rebound followed a sharp decline last week, when Brent recorded its third consecutive weekly loss amid expectations that crude exports from the Gulf would recover.
Market sentiment shifted after fresh attacks on vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz raised concerns over the security of one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes. The latest incidents, including an attack involving a tanker linked to Qatar, were followed by retaliatory military action from both Washington and Tehran, marking the most serious escalation since the two countries reached an interim peace agreement earlier this year.
Energy analysts said investors are beginning to reassess assumptions that oil exports from the Persian Gulf would quickly return to normal levels. Although the interim agreement had initially eased concerns over supply, ongoing instability has highlighted the vulnerability of regional energy infrastructure and shipping lanes.
Despite the renewed tensions, reports suggest that the United States and Iran have agreed to suspend further military action and resume negotiations in Qatar over maritime security and the Strait of Hormuz. While the report has yet to be independently confirmed, hopes of renewed diplomacy helped limit stronger gains in oil prices.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s state-owned energy company Aramco has restarted crude loading operations at its Ras Tanura export terminal after a suspension lasting almost four months. The resumption comes as major Gulf producers increase oil and gas exports in an effort to restore market confidence, although analysts caution that logistical bottlenecks, damaged infrastructure and production constraints could delay a full recovery in supplies until later this year.
Separately, operations at the Ras Tanura terminal continued despite a helicopter crash involving an Aramco aircraft on Sunday that claimed the lives of 14 people. Saudi authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.
Oil Prices Edge Higher as Gulf Tensions Renew Supply Concerns
From Conjecture to Credible Evidence: Serious Questions That Demand Answers
By: Roger Srivasan
June 29, LNW (Colombo): For some time, discussion surrounding Charith Wasantha Kumara Abeysinghe has been dismissed by some as little more than political rumour. However, newly unearthed material significantly alters that landscape.
A published report reproducing details from British proceedings identifies a man named Charith Abeysinghege, director of Uniforex, as having been convicted at Southwark Crown Court following a lengthy Metropolitan Police investigation known as Operation Grangecourt. According to the report, he was sentenced in April 2011 to seven years’ imprisonment for money-laundering offences.
The report further states that confiscation proceedings followed the conviction, resulting in financial orders totalling approximately £884,801.70. It alleges that assets in both the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka were targeted, including land, bank accounts and substantial sums of cash. The investigation reportedly concluded that the criminal enterprise generated benefits of approximately £1.5 million.
These are not casual allegations circulated on social media. They are specific claims referring to a named police investigation, a Crown Court, a sentence of imprisonment and confiscation proceedings under the criminal justice system.
If the individual identified in those British proceedings is indeed the present-day Sri Lankan politician, then the political implications are profound.
That inevitably leads to a second and equally important question.
Why was such an individual admitted into the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and entrusted with a position of responsibility? Was a comprehensive background check undertaken? Were concerns raised internally? If so, why were they disregarded?
Political leadership is measured not merely by eloquence on the campaign platform but by the judgement exercised in selecting those who represent a party. The responsibility for that judgement rests ultimately with the party leader.
The public deserves clear, unequivocal answers. Matters of this gravity cannot be brushed aside with platitudes or partisan rhetoric. Confidence in public life depends upon transparency, accountability and an honest willingness to confront uncomfortable facts wherever they may lead.
WHO Sounds Alarm as Europe’s Relentless Heatwave Pushes Death Toll Higher
June 29, World (LNW): An intense heatwave sweeping across Europe has been linked to more than 1,300 excess deaths in recent weeks, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to urge governments to strengthen measures aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from extreme temperatures.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the prolonged spell of exceptionally hot weather has become a growing public health emergency, describing heat stress as a “silent killer”. In a message posted on X, he warned that Europe is experiencing warming at nearly twice the global average, making severe heatwaves increasingly frequent and dangerous.
The continent has continued to shatter temperature records as the heat spreads eastwards. Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic all registered record-breaking temperatures over the weekend, with Germany recording 41.7°C in the eastern town of Coschen. Poland reached a historic 40.5°C in Slubice, while the Czech Republic reported 41.1°C in Doksany, north of Prague.
French health authorities also reported a significant rise in heat-related fatalities, estimating around 1,000 more deaths than expected since the middle of last week. Officials noted that older adults, particularly those aged 65 and above, have been disproportionately affected, alongside a sharp increase in the number of people dying at home during the heatwave.
The WHO warned that millions of Europeans are currently enduring hazardous conditions, with schools forced to close in some areas, electricity networks coming under strain and healthcare systems facing increased pressure. Many homes, workplaces and public buildings across Europe were designed for milder climates, leaving residents less equipped to cope with prolonged periods of extreme heat.
Tedros attributed the worsening conditions to climate change, cautioning that heatwaves once considered rare are now occurring almost every year. He urged European governments to expand heat-health action plans, improve public awareness and strengthen long-term climate resilience to reduce the growing human and economic costs of extreme weather.
Over 18,400 Poson Dansals Registered as Health Officials Issue Public Safety Appeal
June 29, Colombo (LNW): Health authorities have stepped up preparations for the Poson festival, with more than 18,400 Dansals registered across the country and inspections set to intensify to ensure food safety and public health standards are maintained.
The Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union said 18,412 Dansals have been officially registered ahead of the annual religious observance. Union Secretary Chamil Muthukuda stated that PHIs will conduct inspections at Dansals operating on 30 June and 1 July to ensure food is prepared, stored and distributed in hygienic conditions.
In addition to inspecting Dansals, health officials will monitor shops and temporary food stalls operating within Poson festival zones throughout the festive period to ensure compliance with public health regulations.
The PHI Union has also appealed to organisers to minimise the use of single-use plastics when serving food and drinks, warning that improper food storage—particularly keeping hot or cold food in polythene bags—can pose serious health hazards. Organisers have been advised to follow recommended food handling and storage practices to safeguard devotees.
With dengue cases continuing to be reported in several parts of the country, the Union has urged both organisers and the public to remain vigilant. It warned that discarded plastic cups, bottles and other disposable containers can collect rainwater and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes if not disposed of properly.
Health officials have therefore called on everyone taking part in Poson celebrations to dispose of waste responsibly and help maintain a clean environment while reducing the risk of disease transmission during the festival.
President Calls for Ethical Revival and National Unity in Poson Message
June 29, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called on Sri Lankans to revive the nation’s moral and ethical values while working together to build a modern, enlightened and civilised State, in his Poson Full Moon Poya Day message.
Marking the significance of Poson, the President said the arrival of Arahat Mahinda Thera on a Poson Poya Day marked a defining moment in Sri Lanka’s history, introducing the teachings of Buddhism and laying the foundation for the country’s spiritual, cultural, social and political development.
He noted that Buddhism not only strengthened the nation’s spiritual heritage but also transformed education by establishing temples as centres of learning and monastic education. The President said the religion also inspired remarkable achievements in architecture, irrigation engineering, painting, wood carving and other artistic traditions, helping Sri Lanka gain international distinction.
Reflecting on the country’s present challenges, President Dissanayake said Sri Lankans, as heirs to this rich heritage, have a collective responsibility to restore the values and moral principles that have gradually diminished in society. He added that his Government is already working to restore civility across public life, including Parliament and State institutions.
The President stressed that no nation can achieve genuine progress without a strong ethical foundation. Referring to the Cūḷa Hatthi Padôpama Sutta expounded by Arahat Mahinda Thera, he highlighted the importance of gradual training and disciplined development as guiding principles for national progress.
Calling for unity, the President urged all citizens to join hands in rebuilding a society founded on ethical, social and environmental values, saying such principles are essential for creating a modern and enlightened State.
Concluding his message, President Dissanayake wished that the sacred Poson Festival would fill every heart with compassion, loving-kindness and wisdom.
Full Statement:
“It was on a Poson Full Moon Poya Day such as today that the noble teachings of Buddhism, which profoundly transformed the course of the Sri Lankan nation, were first bestowed upon this land.The arrival of Arahat Mahinda Thera marked the beginning of Sri Lanka’s emergence as a centre of Theravada Buddhist philosophy and tradition. That momentous event, which gave rise to both a spiritual awakening and a far-reaching social transformation, extended far beyond its religious significance and laid the foundation for a more advanced cultural, social and political order throughout the country.Buddhism not only established a strong foundation for the nation to flourish but also brought about a transformation in education. By turning temples into centres of learning and monastic education, it fulfilled a vital social role as a hub of knowledge, fostering a profound spiritual renaissance among the people. Moreover, it inspired remarkable developments in architecture, painting, irrigation engineering, building
design, wood carving and other artistic traditions, elevating our nation to a position of distinction and pride before the world.As the present-day heirs to such a glorious and noble heritage, we all bear an inescapable responsibility to revive the values and moral principles that are gradually fading from society and to work together towards building a civilised State. In this endeavour, we are already engaged in the struggle to restore civility across all spheres of public life, including Parliament and State institutions.No nation can achieve genuine progress without an ethical foundation. The Cūḷa Hatthi Padôpama Sutta, expounded by Arahat Mahinda Thera, underscores the importance of gradual training and disciplined
development. By re-establishing on Sri Lankan soil the proud legacy of the civilised society that came with Buddhism, let us join hands with unwavering determination to build a modern and enlightened State founded
upon the ethical, social and environmental values that our nation so urgently requires.I therefore invite all citizens to unite in this noble endeavour with strength and conviction.May this sacred Poson Festival illuminate every heart with compassion, loving-kindness and wisdom.”
Showery conditions continue across Island: Fairly heavy falls above 50 mm expected (June 29)
June 29, Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts, the Department of Meteorology said today (29).
Fairly heavy falls above 50 mm are likely at some places in these areas.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damage 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 Chilaw to Matara via Colombo and Galle.
Winds: Winds will be south-westerly. Wind speed will be (30-40) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to (50-60) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Pottuvil via Mannar, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.
State of Sea: The sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Pottuvil via Mannar, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota will be rough at times. The other sea areas around the island will be moderate.
The wave height may increase about (2.0 – 3.0) meters in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota.
Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
AKD’s Selective Justice Must Stop
By Adolf
The controversy surrounding the arrest of an Opposition MP, the son of a former Justice Minister, and a former state official on allegations of corruption and money laundering has become far more than a criminal investigation. It has evolved into a test of whether President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government is genuinely committed to equal justice or merely practising selective accountability.
The arrests came unexpectedly, creating immediate political shockwaves. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake quickly addressed Parliament, clearly hoping the developments would reinforce the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s anti-corruption credentials while placing the opposition on the defensive.
If evidence exists, the law must take its course irrespective of political status or family connections. The problem is not the arrests themselves, but the glaring inconsistency in how related allegations have been treated.
The investigation was reportedly triggered by statements and audio recordings submitted by the wife of the alleged drug kingpin Harak Kata. According to investigators, the material implicated the accused in a scheme involving money allegedly paid to secure protection and facilitate his release.
However, another allegation arising from the same sequence of events has received remarkably different treatment. Harak Kata himself publicly alleged that he paid Rs. 300 million to a former Public Security Minister and a former senior police officer. While the allegations made by his wife resulted in swift arrests, his own claims appear to have vanished into official silence.
This inconsistency lies at the heart of the controversy. If one allegation connected to the same suspect is considered credible enough to justify arrests, why has the other not even prompted a visible investigation?
The issue is not whether these allegations are true or false. That is for investigators and the courts to determine. The issue is consistency.
Sri Lankan law allows any citizen to provide information regarding a cognizable offence, irrespective of that person’s own criminal status. The threshold for commencing an investigation is far lower than the threshold required to secure a conviction. Article 12 of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law. Investigators cannot simply choose which allegations deserve attention based on the political identity of those involved.
This perception is becoming increasingly damaging. Critics argue that individuals such as Rakitha Rajapaksha and Opposition Stalwart Charith Abeysinghe have become convenient examples through which the government can demonstrate action while avoiding potentially more politically damaging allegations emerging from the same investigation.
Whether that perception is fair is almost beside the point. In politics, perception often becomes reality.
The allegations concerning Rakitha Rajapaksha are especially troubling because they involve someone closely connected to Sri Lanka’s legal establishment. His father served as Minister of Justice when the alleged events took place. No allegations have been proven, and every accused person enjoys the presumption of innocence. However, if even part of the accusations ultimately withstand scrutiny, the implications for public confidence in the justice system would be profound.
Restore Integrity
The NPP came to power promising to restore integrity to public institutions. If it is seen to investigate only politically convenient targets while ignoring others connected to the same facts, it risks undermining its own credibility. Selective enforcement would reduce what should be an independent criminal investigation into little more than political theatre.
The controversy also exposes a deeper national problem. The narcotics trade appears capable of penetrating politicians, law enforcement, lawyers, bureaucrats and other influential figures. Drug trafficking survives not merely because of criminal syndicates but because elements of the state itself may have become compromised.
The real challenge facing Sri Lanka is therefore not simply arresting drug dealers but dismantling the political, financial and institutional networks that protect them.
President Dissanayake’s statement to Parliament intensified rather than eased these concerns. While he addressed several aspects of the case, he made no reference to the allegations involving the former Public Security Minister or the alleged Rs. 300 million payment.Legally, silence proves nothing. Politically, however, silence carries consequences.When governments address one part of a controversy while ignoring another arising from the same facts, they inevitably invite accusations of selective justice. Such perceptions are especially damaging for an administration elected on promises of accountability and equal treatment under the law.
Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. If the public concludes that anti-corruption laws are being used primarily against political opponents while politically useful figures remain untouched, the NPP’s moral authority will erode rapidly.
Justice must be equal
The simplest solution is also the strongest: investigate every allegation without fear or favour. No sacred cows. No protected individuals. No politically convenient blind spots.Equally important is ensuring the safety of key witnesses and suspects. Sri Lanka has witnessed too many controversial cases where individuals with potentially vital information died before investigators uncovered the larger networks involved. If Harak Kata possesses information capable of exposing corruption within powerful circles, the state has a responsibility to ensure he remains alive to face justice and disclose everything he knows. The controversy has also placed the legal profession under uncomfortable scrutiny. Following the arrests, reports that large numbers of lawyers appeared in court supporting Rakitha Rajapaksha generated considerable public criticism. Although the Bar Association of Sri Lanka later clarified that it had not authorised anyone to represent it and was merely observing proceedings involving one of its members, the episode highlighted growing public concern about the perceived relationship between sections of the legal profession and powerful interests.Ultimately, however, the greatest contradiction lies elsewhere.Government leaders have repeatedly challenged the Samagi Jana Balawegaya to explain what action it intends to take against Charith Abeysinghe. They are entitled to ask that question. But the public is equally entitled to ask what action the government intends to take against individuals within its own orbit who continue to face serious allegations that appear to have stalled. One standard for political opponents and another for political allies is not justice—it is hypocrisy. The NPP’s anti-corruption campaign now stands at a defining moment. It can either become a genuine effort to cleanse public life or descend into another exercise in selective accountability. The difference will not be determined by speeches or parliamentary debates but by whether every allegation is pursued with equal determination, regardless of whose interests are threatened. The public is no longer asking only who has been arrested. Increasingly, they are asking who has not—and why. The NPP was elected on a promise to end impunity and privilege. If it now repeats the very practices it once condemned, it will have betrayed not only its mandate but also the hopes of a nation demanding genuine change. Selective justice is not justice. It is politics disguised as principle. And increasingly, that disguise is wearing thin for AKD.
India Expands Commercial Services at Ferry Terminal Linking Sri Lanka
June 28, Colombo (LNW): The Indian state of Tamil Nadu is taking steps to enhance commercial activity at the Nagapattinam International Passenger Terminal following the strong performance of the passenger ferry service connecting India and Sri Lanka.
The Tamil Nadu Maritime Board (TNMB), which developed and manages the terminal, has invited bids to operate duty-free retail outlets and foreign currency exchange services, signalling growing confidence in the long-term viability of the cross-border ferry route.
The commercial expansion comes less than two years after passenger ferry operations between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai resumed, restoring a maritime link that has strengthened tourism, business travel and family connections across the Palk Strait.
According to the TNMB, the ferry service has carried more than 25,000 passengers since commencing operations in August 2024, comfortably exceeding initial projections. The vessel, which accommodates up to 150 passengers per journey, has attracted a steady mix of tourists, traders and members of the Tamil diaspora travelling between the two countries.
Officials believe the increasing passenger traffic has created sufficient demand for services commonly found at international transport hubs. As a result, separate tenders have been issued for the operation of a duty-free shopping facility and a foreign exchange outlet within the terminal.
Fast-Track NIC Scheme Introduced to Restore Elderly Benefit Payments
June 28, Colombo (LNW): The Government has introduced a special fast-track programme to provide National Identity Cards (NICs) to elderly citizens who have been unable to receive their monthly financial assistance because they do not possess the required identification document.
The initiative is being implemented through a joint effort involving the National Secretariat for Elders, the Department for Registration of Persons and the Department of the Registrar General, operating under the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.
The National Secretariat for Elders currently provides a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to low-income citizens aged 70 and above. The current administration recently increased the payment from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 while also expanding the scheme to cover one million beneficiaries nationwide.
According to official figures, 698,790 eligible senior citizens receive the allowance through Aswesuma-linked bank accounts, while another 232,496 beneficiaries are paid through post offices. However, 76,716 elderly individuals have been excluded from receiving the benefit because they have not been issued with a National Identity Card.
To ensure these individuals are not deprived of financial assistance, the authorities have launched an accelerated process to issue NICs without unnecessary delays, allowing eligible recipients to resume receiving their monthly allowance as quickly as possible.
The National Secretariat for Elders has urged affected senior citizens, or their family members, to contact their respective Grama Niladhari, Community Empowerment Officer or Elder Rights Promotion Officer at the earliest opportunity so that their applications can be processed under the special programme.
In addition, details of eligible beneficiaries are being gathered through District and Regional Coordination Committees, Community Shakthi organisations and Community Development Councils. Officials say this coordinated approach is intended to identify every eligible senior citizen who has been left out of the scheme and ensure they are brought back into the payment system without delay.
Government Moves to Toughen Penalties for Child Labour Offences
June 28, Colombo (LNW): The Government is seeking to introduce significantly tougher penalties for child labour offences by increasing the maximum fine for offenders tenfold under proposed amendments to existing labour laws.
The reforms, put forward by the Minister of Labour, are contained in amendments to the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act. The relevant Bill has already been tabled in Parliament and published in the Government Gazette as part of the legislative process.
If enacted, the amendments will raise the maximum fine for employing a child in a public or private industrial establishment from the current Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000, reflecting a stronger stance against the exploitation of children in the workplace.
The proposed legislation also introduces stricter punishment for those found guilty of employing individuals under the age of 18 in violation of the law. Convicted offenders could face a fine of up to Rs. 100,000, a prison sentence of up to 12 months, or both, depending on the nature and seriousness of the offence.
In addition, the Bill empowers courts to impose both a custodial sentence and a financial penalty where circumstances warrant, giving the judiciary greater discretion in dealing with child labour violations.
The proposed changes form part of wider efforts to strengthen legal safeguards for children and young people while reinforcing Sri Lanka’s commitment to preventing child exploitation and promoting fair labour practices. If approved by Parliament, the revised provisions are expected to serve as a stronger deterrent against unlawful employment of minors.