Sri Lanka Police have appealed to the public for assistance in locating a suspect wanted in connection with the break‑in at the Dambulla Divisional Secretariat Office on 12 June 2026, where files were removed and property damaged.

According to the Police, investigations by the Dambulla Police Station uncovered photographs and video footage of the suspect, which have now been circulated to media institutions to aid in the search.

Police said the same suspect has also been identified as wanted for a previous incident involving the break‑in and theft at the Thambuttegama Divisional Secretariat Office.

Authorities urged anyone with information to contact investigators through the following numbers:

• Officer‑in‑Charge, Dambulla Police Station: 7071‑8591091
• Dambulla Police Station: 066‑2284703 (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the commencement of Stage 1 of Phase 4 of the Central Expressway Project, covering the section from Kurunegala to Galewela.

Approval for Phase 4 of the project, which runs from Kurunegala to Dambulla, was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on March 3, 2026. Following discussions by a special committee on economic management to determine funding arrangements, it was decided to implement the project in two phases.

Stage 1 of Phase 4, covering the 38.5-kilometre stretch from Kurunegala to Galewela, will be financed through Government of Sri Lanka funds.

The Cabinet also endorsed a proposal by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to carry out procurement in a manner that enables local contractors to participate, ensuring greater domestic involvement in the project. (Newswire)

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The Dambulla Magistrate’s Court today (29) imposed a fine of Rs. 510,000 on a restaurant in the Dambulla area after it was found guilty of selling expired drinking water bottles above the maximum retail price.

The case followed a raid conducted by the Matale District Office of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA). 

According to the CAA, the restaurant had sold water bottles, which expired on March 15, 2026, for Rs. 120 each, despite the maximum retail price being Rs. 80.

Upon being produced before the court, the restaurant was fined Rs. 510,000.

The CAA urges consumers to always check expiry dates before purchasing food or beverages and to avoid paying more than the maximum retail price printed on products. (Newswire/ AI image)

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The Sri Lanka Police have assisted a Swiss national teacher, Jian Müller, in recovering his misplaced mobile phone during his travels in the country.

According to the Police, Müller, who was touring Sri Lanka, realized he had lost his Apple phone shortly after disembarking from a bus in Dambulla around 6.30 pm. 

Distressed, he sought help from Police Sergeant U.K. Nimal, who was on traffic duty nearby. Sergeant Nimal immediately reassured the visitor and used the bus ticket details to contact the bus owner, driver, and conductor. 

Within ten minutes, the driver confirmed the phone was still on board and arranged to deliver it to the Dambulla Police Station.

“It is as if I have regained my life. Important files and data needed for my educational work were in this phone,” Müller said at the Police Station, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Sergeant Nimal and Headquarters Inspector Sugath Bandara Wijesundara, even offering a reward.

The officers declined, noting that the Sri Lanka Police is committed to serving at all times, and thanked him for his appreciation. (Newswire)

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A new concept called the ‘Bustaurant,’ a luxury bus equipped with hotel facilities for tourists, was officially launched today (15 Jan) in Dambulla.

It is reported that the project has been initiated with the support of several state institutions, including the Dambulla Municipal Council and the Pradeshiya Sabha.

Through this service, tourists can travel along rural routes to historic sites such as Dambulla, Pelwehera, Inamaluwa, Kimbissa, Sigiriya, and Pidurangala, while enjoying food and beverages inside the bus and experiencing a relaxed journey.

Along the route, visitors are also given the opportunity to view scenic reservoirs such as Randenigama, Ibbankatuwa, and Kandalama, as well as paddy fields.

The first bus carrying both local and foreign tourists began its journey today, guiding passengers to spend a day with full facilities while exploring Sigiriya and its surrounding beauty. (Newswire)

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Construction of a new regional postal exchange centre equipped with modern facilities is set to begin in Dambulla, with the project estimated to cost Rs. 129 million, officials said.

The foundation stone for the proposed Dambulla Regional Postal Exchange Centre will be laid on Sunday (23) under the patronage of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. Construction is scheduled to commence on the same day and is expected to be completed within nine months, with the target set for completion before the end of August 2026.

The project will be implemented based on a modern architectural design and will include infrastructure to accommodate at least three lorries and two postal vans simultaneously, along with additional parking facilities for three more lorries and three vans. The centre will also house office spaces for administrative and documentation duties, as well as rest rooms for staff, as operations will continue around the clock.

The Buildings Department will provide technical supervision for the construction work, while the facility will function as a key mail handling hub in the Central Province and surrounding regions.

Once completed, the Dambulla centre will serve as a main transit and temporary storage point for mail transported from Colombo to regional destinations including Jaffna, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Kandy. It will also handle incoming mail from these areas for redistribution to the Colombo Central Mail Exchange.

The construction of the Dambulla facility forms part of a broader modernisation programme initiated under the guidance of Minister Jayatissa, aimed at upgrading the Sri Lanka Postal Department’s infrastructure, improving operational efficiency and enhancing customer service standards through the use of modern technology and streamlined processes. (Newswire)

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Seven Grade 7 students from a school in Dambulla have been admitted to the hospital after coming into contact with a chemical substance.

Among the affected students are five male students and two female students.

It is reported that during the recent school holidays, monkeys had entered the school’s science lab. 

When classes resumed today, students visited the lab and noticed damage to some of the items and a red-colored substance scattered on the floor.

The students had mistaken the scattered iron-identifying chemical substance for chilli powder and attempted to examine it by tasting it.

Following this exposure, they were admitted to the Dambulla Hospital. (Newswire)

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A group of former MPs have pointed out that the Dambulla Agro cold storage complex, inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April this year, has been issued an electricity bill amounting to Rs. 8,409,000, even before beginning operations.

The matter came to light after former MPs led by Udaya Gammanpila undertook an observation tour of the temperature-controlled agricultural warehouse in Dambulla.

During the visit today (15), a security guard at the site revealed that the power supply to the temperature-controlled warehouse has reportedly been disconnected due to non-payment of the electricity bill.

The warehouse was constructed several years ago with assistance from the Indian government, following a proposal by opposition MP Harsha de Silva.

The official opening took place on April 5th, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the facility remotely, at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. However, since that day, no services have been carried out at the warehouse.

Commenting on the situation, former MP Udaya Gammanpila urged the government to refrain from deceiving a foreign nation and its state officials, similar to deceiving the public of Sri Lanka. 

He warned that such actions could result in conflicts between Sri Lanka and other nations.

“It is nearly 04 months since the facility has been declared open. But it is not operational yet. It is ok for the government to deceive us. But please don’t deceive at an international level. This could cause wars between nations. This is a dangerous situation,” Gammanpila warned. (Newswire)

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Continuing its Digital Payments Promotion Campaign of 2025, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has organized a promotional event in Dambulla with the participation of the CBSL Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and other senior officials. 

According to a Central Bank statement, the promotional event will be held on 01 and 02 August from 9.30 am to 7.00 pm at the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre.

CBSL launched its nationwide campaign under the theme ‘Shaping the future through digital payments’, considering the important role played by digital payments in enabling financial inclusion, leading to economic development. 

The campaign intends to empower Sri Lankans with knowledge and experience of making digital payments, which is a safer, more convenient, and efficient alternative to cash. 

As part of its campaign, CBSL successfully conducted two events in Hambantota and Nuwara Eliya districts earlier this year, in collaboration with financial institutions and other stakeholders. 

Banks, finance companies, e-money service providers (i.e., mobile network operators) and LankaPay (Pvt.) Ltd. (LankaPay) – the operator of the national retail payment network, will also attend the event in Dambulla. 

The general public will be able to obtain assistance for opening new accounts, registering for mobile payment applications, receiving information on products and services, resolving any issues faced when making digital payments and any other matter related to digital payments. The general public will also be able to purchase a range of goods and services from various micro, small, and medium-sized businesses present at the event and receive exclusive discounts when using digital payment methods. 

In addition, individuals and business entities will be able to receive information on the services provided by the Credit Information Bureau of Sri Lanka (CRIB) and obtain free credit reports on demand during this event. 

Further, a special merchant awareness campaign will be conducted by financial institutions and LankaPay from 29th to 31st July 2025 in the Sigiriya, Habarana and Dambulla areas respectively, to facilitate business entities to obtain the LANKAQR payment acceptance facility. 

CBSL invites the general public and business entities to make use of this opportunity to enhance their knowledge on digital payments and experience the convenience of making digital payments, with guidance and personalised assistance from financial institutions. (Newswire)

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Cabinet approval has been granted to resume the acquisition and suspended activities related to the construction of the Kurunegala to Dambulla stretch of the Central Expressway (Phase IV). 

The government says approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held in March 2023 to make the payment of the remaining compensation for the plots of land acquired for Phase IV of the Central Expressway Project and divestment of the plots of land for which compensation has not been paid in terms of the Land Acquisition Act. 

The physical progress of Phase IV of the Central Expressway Project is at 73.2%. 

As such, it has been identified that the completion of Phase IV is essential to meet the requirement for a quantitative and qualitative road system to access the Northern, North Central, Eastern and Central provinces, and to achieve the full expected benefits of the entire Central Expressway. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport and Highways to resume the acquisition and suspended activities for the construction of the relevant stretch from Kurunegala – Dambulla. (Newswire)

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Six suspects who were arrested in connection to the robbery and asault of a driver of a private vehicle rental service in the Dambulla area, have been remanded. 

The Police said the suspects had been arrested by officials of the Dambulla Police Station on Sunday. 

The suspects are aged between 41 and 55 years old and are residents of Dambulla. 

Preliminary investigations reveal that the driver had obtained a hire via the company’s online service to transport a passenger from Dambulla to the Katunayake Airport on 04 January 2025.

After having arrived at Dambulla Town and picking up the passenger, the driver had been assaulted by a group warning him not to accept hires from Dambulla.

The group had also stolen Rs. 87,000 in cash and a pair of spectacles worth Rs. 15,000 from the suspect. 

The suspects who were produced before the Dambulla Magistrate’s Court have been remanded until 08 January 2025. (Newswire)

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The operational office of the United National Party (UNP) in Dambulla has been attacked by an unidentified group, Minister Harin Fernando said, hinting at pre-election violence.

Minister Fernando said the UNP office is located at the residence of former Dambulla Municipality councillor Maya Padeniya.

He further said that the office sustained damage to boards prominently featuring the images of President Ranil Wickramasinghe and the Dambulla Constituency Organizer.

Minister Harin Fernando made the remarks after having visited the site to assess the situation and implement measures to restore order. 

He directed the Police to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the perpetrators responsible for this destructive act. 

Condemning the opposition’s alleged involvement, Minister Fernando labelled such actions as indicative of their desperation and inability to face challenges gracefully.

He added that authorities have lodged a formal complaint with the Dambulla Police, who are actively investigating the incident. (Newswire)

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Sequoia Consultants, Inc., a leading civil engineering consulting firm based in Los Angeles, California, has come forward to take over the future of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Dambulla. 

In a joint statement, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and LPL organizers announced that the Dambulla team will be operated under DeSilva Holdings, specifically set up for this purpose. 

The majority stake in Sequoia Consultants is owned by Mr. Priyanga De Silva, a Chartered Civil Engineer, who is the CEO and President of Sequoia Consultants, Inc. 

De Silva, a former first-class cricketer, played for Sri Lanka U19 in 1983 and currently represents the United States Masters Over 60 Cricket Team. 

He also volunteers his time as head coach of the not-for-profit Southern California Youth Cricket Association and owns several other businesses in the USA and Sri Lanka. 

According to the SLC & LPL joint statement, with the new buyer, the team will be known as “Dambulla Sixers’ in the LPL 2024 cricket tournament. 

The change in ownership comes after the team previously known as Dambulla Thunders saw its owner being arrested and remanded over match-fixing allegations. 

The arrest came a day after the LPL Player Auction during which the Dambulla Thunders had made 18 signings. 

Full statement by SLC & LPL organizers:

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A tense situation has been reported at the Dambulla International Cricket grounds as the public has arrived to purchase tickets for the ongoing T20I series between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Earlier, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that tickets for the last two games of the series had been sold out and requested the public to refrain from attempting to purchase tickets.

However, several people had turned up at the Dambulla International Cricket grounds today, resulting in a tense situation.

Despite Police being deployed for security, the crowd had managed to break down the barricades and attempted to enter the ticket counters. 

Sri Lanka, who won the first T20I by 4 runs, will take on Afghanistan in the second match at 07.00 pm local time today (Feb 19). (NewsWire)

Tense situation near Dambulla International Cricket Stadium as fans clamor for tickets to the Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan match. SLC says all tickets sold out for next two games pic.twitter.com/EAEGoTmJcF

— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) February 19, 2024

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the sale of tickets for the 2024 Afghanistan Tour of Sri Lanka.

According to the SLC, match tickets for the T20I series can be purchased online via www.srilankacricket.lk

Tickets can also be purchased from 09 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the below-given counters.  

• Vidya Mawatha, Colombo  
• RDICS, Dambulla on non-match days  
• AG Office, Dambulla on Match Days (NewsWire)

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Sigiriya/Dambulla and Trincomalee are to be developed as tourism zones through an investment of Rs. one billion, Minister of  Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga said.

According to Daily News, the development project will be carried out by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) with the investment being provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Minister Ranatunga said the project stalled due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis will be recommenced this year with an initial investment of Rs. 320 million. 

He further said that under this project locations identified in Sigiriya/Dambulla and Trincomalee cities would be converted into tourism zones and infrastructure would be provided to them.

Accordingly, the Trincomalee project consists of 6 sub-projects and includes the development of the Dutch Bay and Back Bay Beach Development, Fort Frederick, Preservation and improvement, public facilities of hot springs development, construction of floating restaurants and creating eco-parks.

The project also includes the improvement of Powder Island and Crow Island areas, and the modernisation of Colonial Buildings, including the Trincomalee Port Head Office Premises. (NewsWire)

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