News Room : Trump’s gamble – The Island
US President Donald Trump stopped vacillating and ordered attacks on three Iranian nuclear sites, which he subsequently boasted of having obliterated. He has repeated his call for Iran’s unconditional surrender. His action has made it abundantly clear that Israel would not have launched unprovoked attacks on Iran without an assurance from Washington that the US would join its bombing...
News Room : CA Sri Lanka marks 65 years – The Island
(UNDP) For 30 years, the Human Development Index (HDI) showed a consistent increase in development progress and a decrease in inequality. Although the crises of 2020-2021 disrupted this trend, last year’s report saw tentative signs of recovery. The 2025 HDR has quashed this optimism. Amid ongoing global turmoil, inequality has increased for the fourth consecutive year. The situation is especially severe...
News Room : Hey, Mr. Councillor – Who’s Watching Your Kids?
BY Methmalie Dissanayake Despite women making up 52% of Sri Lanka’s population, their presence in the country’s political sphere remains shockingly low. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2024 ranks Sri Lanka at 115th out of 146 countries—an uncomfortable reminder of the gender imbalance we’ve normalised in both representation and discourse. This inequality is not confined to statistics. It...
News Room : Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Illegal — Police Back in Gear to Strip Down Illegal Vehicle Mods
The Police have announced that the nationwide operation to remove unauthorised and modified vehicle accessories will resume on 1 July. Director of Traffic Control and Road Safety, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) H.A.K.A. Indika Hapugoda, stated that the crackdown will target illegally installed equipment such as high-intensity LED lights, loud sound systems, and metal rods. DIG Hapugoda explained that many road accident...
News Room : Namal Hits Back at Bimal’s Expressway Lease Claim
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa has rejected a statement made by Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake, who claimed that the Rajapaksa administration had leased a service area on the Southern Expressway for 99 years at just Rs 10,000. Responding via a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Rajapaksa clarified that the service area in question was...
News Room : UN Human Rights Chief to Visit SL on Monday
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will conduct an official visit to Sri Lanka from 23 to 26 June 2025. It will be the fourth such visit by a UN Human Rights Chief to the country. During his visit, Türk is scheduled to meet President Anura Kumara Disanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism...
News Room : Halloluwa granted bail – The Island
The Committee of Inquiry investigating allegations of gross abuse of power by IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon convened for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, under the Chairmanship of Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena. The Committee also includes Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake, Chairman of the National Police Commission, the Parliament Media Division said. It said that as of...
News Room : ‘Silent epidemic’, chilling stats
Saturday 21st June, 2025 The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has taken about 44 vehicles including 15 SLTB and private buses off the road, following a random vehicle inspection on the Hatton-Kandy road on 19 June. About 115 vehicles underwent roadside checks, we are told. In other words, about 38% of vehicles inspected by the DMT randomly in one location...
News Room : Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma Likely to Be Appointed New Treasury Secretary: Sources
Deputy Finance Minister Dr Harshana Suriyapperuma likely to be appointed as the next Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Asian Mirror reliably learns. The post became vacant following the recent retirement of Mahinda Siriwardana, who previously served as Secretary to the Treasury. Dr Suriyapperuma, who entered Parliament via the National List, is expected to resign from his parliamentary position and is...
News Room : Galle Deputy Mayor Losses Party Membership
Priyantha Godagama Sahabandu, who was appointed as the Deputy Mayor of the Galle Municipal Council representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), has had his party membership suspended. This was announced in a statement issued under the signature of SLPP General Secretary and Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam. The statement further notes that disciplinary action will be taken against him. According to the SLPP,...