Two officials attached to the Galle Municipal Council were arrested this morning by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on charges of soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs.5,000.

According to the Bribery Commission, the bribe was allegedly taken in exchange for providing a document recording the tax amount due to the Municipal Council for displaying an advertising board at a hardware store.

The arrests were made at around 8.50 am inside the Revenue Inspection Division of the Galle Municipal Council.

The suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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The Galle Harbour Police arrested a 40‑year‑old resident of Poddala on Wednesday (10) in connection with a string of thefts targeting monks’ residences and donation boxes at temples across Galle and surrounding areas.

The suspect was taken into custody in Karapitiya with 4,700 Chinese Yuan, 1,112 US Dollars, Rs. 24,120 in cash, and 2,740 milligrams of heroin, allegedly stolen from a temple in the Makuluwu area.

Investigations have revealed that the suspect is linked to several break‑ins at temples within the police divisions of Galle, Yakkalamulla, Imaduwa and Galle Harbour, where cash was stolen from donation boxes and monks’ quarters.

The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court today (11), while Galle Harbour Police are continuing further investigations. (Newswire)

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The inaugural game of the Lanka Premier League 2026 will be played between the Jaffna and Galle teams, who emerged as the Champions and runners-up, respectively, in the 2024 season, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced today.

Issuing a statement, the SLC said that the opening game is scheduled to be played on July 17 at the SSC Grounds in Colombo, commencing at 7.30 p.m.

Prior to the start of the tournament opener, an opening ceremony will be held at the SSC Grounds in Colombo.

The Lanka Premier League 2026 will be played from July 17 to August 08 across four venues: SSC, Colombo; RDICS, Dambulla; PICS, Pallekele; and RPICS, Colombo.

The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket, the owner of the LPL, in partnership with The IPG Group, the event rights holder. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police have taken into custody a 38‑year‑old resident of Meetiyagoda suspected of transporting the gunman involved in the fatal shooting of Police Inspector D. Balendrasinghe, who was actively engaged in operations against organized crime.

According to the Police, Inspector Balendrasinghe was shot dead by an unidentified assailant on October 9, 2023, in the Karagoda area of Galle. 

The suspect was arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau on Saturday (09), initially on charges of possessing ICE narcotics.

During subsequent investigations, officers uncovered a cache of weapons concealed in a cinnamon estate in Kiralagahawela, Meetiyagoda, yesterday (11).

The recovery included one T‑56 assault rifle, fifteen live rounds of ammunition, and one spent cartridge casing.

The Police said the suspect remains under detention orders while investigators determine whether the recovered firearm was used in the killing of Inspector Balendrasinghe.

Further inquiries are being carried out by officers of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau. (Newswire)

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The National Hospital in Galle has refuted media reports citing Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s claims of a stent shortage at the facility.

Issuing a statement, the Hospital said stenting and angiograms for cardiac patients are continuing as normal, with adequate stocks of pre‑dilatation and post‑dilatation balloons available.

The Ministry of Health has supplied a new Angiogram machine, which is currently being installed. In addition, the Cancer Unit will be equipped this year with a Linear Accelerator, a Brachytherapy machine, a Mammogram machine, and a CT Scanner.

The Hospital further noted that steps are underway to procure a second MRI scanner and a DSA machine to strengthen stroke diagnosis in the Southern Province.

Providing these details, the Hospital stated that the claims in recent media reports were made without formal inquiries from the institution. (Newswire)

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An individual has been reported dead following a shooting in the Dangedera area in Galle this morning.

According to the Police, the victim, who had sustained serious injuries, had died after being rushed to the Karapitiya Hospital.

Details of the victim and those involved in the shooting are yet to be ascertained.

The Dangedera Police are conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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Police have arrested two foreign nationals from Tajikistan in possession of US$ 5,200 in counterfeit notes, foreign currency, and five mobile phones, following a tip‑off received by the Unawatuna Police Tourist Division this morning (07).

The suspects, aged 27 and 26, were taken into custody while staying at a lodge in Galle. 

According to the Police, the fake currency, valued at around Rs. 1.7 million, was seized during the operation.

Investigations revealed that the two men had attempted to rent motorcycles from a business catering to foreigners in Unawatuna by offering counterfeit dollars. 

Acting on the information, police tracked them down and made the arrests.

The suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (08). (Newswire)

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The Galle Additional Magistrate’s Court has imposed fines on two traders who pleaded guilty to selling rice above the stipulated Maximum Retail Price (MRP). 

According to the Consumer Affairs Authority, fines of Rs. 100,000 each, totalling Rs. 200,000, were imposed.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said the traders were apprehended during raids in the Galle area, part of its continuous island-wide campaign to curb illegal practices that inconvenience consumers. (Newswire)

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The flagship luxury passenger ship MS Amadea, operated by a German travel company, arrived at Galle Port today, bringing nearly 900 visitors to Sri Lanka as part of its ongoing world tour.

The vessel, registered under the flag of the Bahamas, carried 580 passengers and 315 crew members, with the majority of tourists being German nationals. 

The ship is currently on a 146‑day global voyage that began in Germany in December 2025.

Measuring 193 meters in length and featuring eight decks, the Amadea offers all “outside cabins” with private balconies, underscoring its reputation as a premier luxury liner.

Passengers were scheduled to visit Galle Fort, Hikkaduwa, Rumassala, Koggala, and Ahangama. However, rough seas prevented the safe use of small boats, prompting the ship to depart for Colombo Port instead.

The Amadea is also widely recognized in Germany as the official filming vessel for the popular television series Das Traumschiff (“The Dream Ship”), adding cultural significance to its visit. (Newswire)

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The High Court and Magistrate’s Court, currently operating inside the UNESCO‑declared Galle Fort, are to be vacated and relocated to the newly built court complex in Beligaha, Galle. 

The move comes under the “Galle Revival Project,” an integrated development initiative designed to preserve the Fort’s archaeological value while promoting tourism.

The Cabinet has approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Urban Development, which will allow the vacated historic buildings to be repurposed for tourism promotion projects through a public‑private partnership model.

According to the government, the decision is part of the Greater Galle Development Plan (2021–2030), which designates the Fort as a World Heritage Tourism Zone. 

The project aims to ease traffic congestion, reduce administrative use of heritage buildings, and enhance the visitor experience for the more than 300,000 local and foreign tourists who visit the site annually. (Newswire)

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The ‘Jana Aragalaya Sandhanaya’  (People’s Struggle movement) has launched a program in Galle to collect aid for the Cuban people, who are facing hardships due to sanctions imposed by the United States.

Organizers said the assistance gathered through the initiative will be handed over to the Cuban Embassy in Sri Lanka.

The movement stressed that the program is intended to show solidarity with the Cuban people during this period of economic strain. (Newswire)

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The bodies of two individuals, hacked to death, have been recovered from a house in the Mawadawila area of Telikada, Galle, today (03).

According to the Police, another woman who had also sustained cut injuries has been admitted to the ICU of the Karapitiya Hospital.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the body of an elderly woman was found in the corridor of the house, while the body of a 35-year-old man was found on a bed inside a room of the house. 

The injured woman was also found inside a room in the house, while her 17-year-old son was found in another part of the house unhurt. 

The victims are believed to be an elderly woman, her daughter and her son-in-law. 

The Police suspect that the attack may have been carried out over a family dispute, with the suspect yet to be arrested. (Newswire)

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The Government Analyst visited the Galle railway station this morning (01) to inspect two train compartments that were destroyed in a fire last night.

The blaze broke out in two of the four train compartments parked near the station on Tuesday (31). 

Firefighters from the Galle Municipal Council deployed two fire engines to extinguish the flames, assisted by Police officers, railway staff, and local residents.

The Galle Police have launched further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Galle Chief Magistrate Sameera Dodangoda today (11) directed the Director of Galle National Hospital to release the bodies of 84 Iranian sailors currently stored in two mobile cold rooms at the hospital to officials of the Iranian Embassy.

The order was issued following a request made to the Galle Chief Magistrate’s Court by the Galle Port Police.

The bodies were recovered after the sinking of the Iranian frigate ‘IRIS Dena’ off the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka recently. (Newswire)

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Thirty-two Iranians rescued from the Iranian warship ‘IRIS Dena’ by the Sri Lanka Navy and brought to Galle have been admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, hospital sources said.

The vessel had reported distress about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle earlier today (04), prompting the Sri Lanka Navy to launch a rescue operation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath earlier told Parliament that around 180 individuals were on board the Iranian Navy vessel when it encountered difficulties at sea. 

“We first received a distress call at around 05.08 am. We immediately dispatched two Navy ships to assist the Iranian Navy Vessel. Thereafter, a joint operation was conducted by the Navy and Air Force to rescue those in need of help. 30 persons in need of urgent help were immediately rescued. They have been admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle,” he said. 

Minister Herath further said that the Iranian Navy vessel was not in Sri Lankan waters, but within close vicinity off the coast of Galle. 

“We are bound by the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR Convention), 1979, to help any ship in distress, irrespective of its nationality,” he added. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Navy vessels have been deployed to assist an Iranian ship reported to be in distress about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle.

Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara said the rescue mission was launched after authorities received information that the vessel was experiencing difficulties at sea.

He said Navy ships have been dispatched to the location and are currently approaching the damaged vessel to carry out the rescue operation.

Earlier, officials confirmed that a ship in distress had been reported in waters off Galle, prompting the Ministry of Defence to instruct the Sri Lanka Navy to immediately launch a rescue mission.

Further details on the vessel and the situation are expected once Navy teams reach the ship. (Newswire)

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A youth who entered a chocolate shop in Galle was caught on CCTV stealing chocolates and fleeing the premises.

The footage shows the suspect attempting to leave with the stolen items while a female employee tries to stop him. 

Despite her efforts, the youth managed to break free and escape.

The incident, fully recorded on the shop’s CCTV cameras, is now under review. (Newswire)

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The Satyagraha launched in Galle on January 19, calling for the implementation of education reforms by 2026, entered its fourth consecutive day today (23).

Organizers of the protest said the campaign will continue until the Cabinet takes a firm decision on the matter. 

The demonstrators are calling for the introduction of the education reforms pertaining to Grade 6, which was postponed due to the inclusion of an inappropriate website in the English module. (Newswire)

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Several roads in Galle were submerged due to the heavy rainfall experienced in the area today (06). 

It is reported that the Galle–Wakwella road near the Galle Police Station was inundated.

Meanwhile, the Galle Police stated that vehicular movement along the Galle–Wakwella road has also been disrupted.

It is further noted that rainfall continues in the Galle area. (Newswire)

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The group, representing the SJB, UNP and SLPP, is due to be produced before the Galle Magistrate today (31). 

The arrest comes after the group had hurled water bottles toward the officials’ seating area during the committee session, causing a tense situation.

The incident had taken place after opposition members clashed with ruling party members, accusing them of budget election fraud, and protesting the presence of the municipal secretary and officials. (Newswire)

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