At least 50 persons have been injured following a collision between two buses in the Thalalla area in the Gandara Police Division in Matara.

According to the Police, two private buses collided head-on this morning. 

The injured persons have been admitted to the Matara and Betheegama hospitals following the incident. (Newswire/ Image- Accident1st)

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The Matara Magistrate’s Court today (22) issued a warrant for the arrest of former minister Basil Rajapaksa after he failed to appear in court over a case involving allegedly illegally acquired funds.

The case centres on claims that Rajapaksa used unlawfully obtained money to purchase land at Brown’s Hill in Matara. 

His absence in court prompted the magistrate to issue the arrest warrant. (Newswire)

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The Matara Magistrate’s Court has imposed a total fine of Rs. 1,000,000 on two tourist hotels in the district for selling bottled drinking water above the government‑regulated Maximum Retail Price (MRP). 

According to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), each hotel was fined Rs. 500,000 yesterday (13).

The hotels were detected following raids conducted by the Matara District Office of the CAA, based on complaints by consumers. 

Per consumer complaints, the hotels had sold a 1-litre water bottle priced at Rs. 100 for Rs. 450, and a 500ml bottle priced at Rs. 70 for Rs. 300, exploiting customers by charging several times the stipulated price.

The CAA urged consumers to always check the printed MRP and expiry date before purchasing goods, demand receipts for purchases, and avoid paying more than the stipulated price. 

They further encouraged the public to report such violations with proof to the CAA hotline 1977. (Newswire)

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The Matara Magistrate’s Court yesterday (29) imposed a fine of Rs. 100,000 on a supermarket in Matara for selling bottled water above the government-regulated Maximum Retail Price (MRP).

According to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), the stipulated MRP for a 1 litre water bottle is Rs. 100, but the supermarket sold it at a higher price, violating price control regulations.

CAA officers from the Matara District conducted a raid, reported the case to the court, and the shop owner pleaded guilty before being fined.

The CAA has reminded consumers to always check the printed MRP and expiry date before purchasing goods, and urged the public not to pay more than the stipulated price.

Consumers are also encouraged to report such violations with proof, such as receipts, to its hotline 1977. (Newswire/ AI image)

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The Commissioner General of Examinations, A.K.S. Indika Kumari Liyanage, announced today that special measures are being taken to ensure Advanced Level (A/L) students in flood-affected areas of Galle and Matara districts can reach their examination centres.

According to the Disaster Management Centre, several locations in these districts have been submerged due to heavy rains, creating serious difficulties in transportation.

In response, the Disaster Management Centre has deployed boats to assist students in reaching their exam centres safely.

Commissioner General Liyanage further stated that additional steps will be taken as necessary to guarantee that no student is prevented from sitting for the examination due to the adverse weather conditions. (Newswire)

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The Matara Additional District Magistrate has been dismissed from service by the Judicial Service Commission.

According to local media, NewsFirst, she was dismissed after being found guilty following a disciplinary inquiry conducted by the Commission.

Meanwhile, the Mathugama Magistrate has announced her decision to resign from her post.

The resignation comes after she pleaded guilty before the Judicial Service Commission to the allegations levelled against her.

The Additional Magistrate of the Mathugama Court has been appointed as the acting magistrate until a new appointment is made. (Newswire)

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An Expert Committee and sub-committee have been appointed to commence drafting a Heritage & Development Foundation Act for Matara Fort & City.

The Cabinet decision to appoint the expert Committee was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in June 2025, while the Act’s Drafting Committee held their first meeting on 12th August.

Accordingly, public and private sector appointees have been made to both the Drafting Committee and its sub-committee – the Matara Development and Investment Coalition.

The appointment of an Expert Committee was submitted jointly by the Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing (UDCH), Anura Karunathilaka; the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hiniduma Sunil Senevi; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath. 

The Expert Committee is tasked with leading plans to preserve heritage, boost sustainable investments and create jobs.

Meanwhile, the Heritage & Development Foundation Act for Matara Fort & City will set parameters for how Matara Fort & City can both secure its heritage as a colonial-era fort and historical centre, while preparing the groundwork to encourage investment in Matara from local and international investors, to bring economic development and employment to the Matara District. (Newswire)

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The Matara Festival for the Arts (MFA) will be held this year, with the government announcing that the event will be held from 12 – 15 December 2025.

In a post on social media, Matara District MP and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi, announced the return of the festival. 

The contemporary art and music festival, inaugurated in February 2024, is part of the ongoing economic, tourism, and cultural revival of Matara Fort & City, and the larger district.

The 2024 festival featured 100+ established and rising Sri Lankan, diaspora & international artists, musicians and entrepreneurs, and employed local creatives in both its media and festival production. Of this, about 50 were Matarians. And over 4000 visitors (foreign and local tourists, and Matara community members) visited in 2024.

‘MFA 2025’ will seek to continue the Festival’s guiding ethos of ‘Culture, Community and Collaboration’ through facilitating new work collaborations between mentor-mentee pairings and peer-to-peer artist groupings. Some members of last year’s community artist trainings will be elevated to peer roles, and newer Matara community members will be engaged. Music, from Jazz to Dance, will feature in evening events, and workshops and talks will run throughout the programme.

The festival will be helmed once again by festival art curator and eminent contemporary artist and archaeologist Prof. Jagath Weerasinghe, in tandem with his festival co-founder and director Chanchala Samaraweera Gunewardena & fellow co-founder Jayanthi Samaraweera Gunewardena, who led the late Mangala Samaraweera’s Freedom Hub.

The festival announcement is in follow-up to the June 2025 passing of a Cabinet Decision to appoint a committee to draft a Matara Heritage and Development Act that will lay out the framework for Matara Fort’s revitalisation. MFA’s 2024 ‘Invest in Matara’ conversation series renewed investment interest in the city, and the upcoming framework will further strengthen opportunities to be a part of the city’s forward development. (Newswire)

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Three officers attached to Police Stations in the Matara Division have been suspended from duty over misconduct at a spa in Matara.

The suspension order was issued by the Acting Superintendent of Police (ASP) for the Matara Division.

The three officers had reportedly visited a spa located in the Walgama area of Matara, where they engaged in a heated verbal exchange with the manager. 

They then allegedly attempted to obtain services from the establishment free of charge.

Following a complaint, an investigation was conducted, and the officers were found guilty of the allegations.

As a result, disciplinary action was taken against them on charges of conduct detrimental to police discipline, misusing their official position for personal gain, and engaging in disgraceful and corrupt behaviour.

The officers were identified as Sub-Inspectors serving at the Matara Division Intelligence Unit and the police stations in Thihagoda and Mawarala.

The Matara Police Superintendent’s Office is conducting further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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A 94-year-old man who had tried to take his own life by jumping from the Matara Mahanama Bridge last afternoon has been rescued by Army personnel.  

Troops from the 3rd Gemunu Watch Regiment acted swiftly and successfully rescued the individual, admitting him to the Matara General Hospital.

Further investigations into the incident are being conducted by the Matara Police. (Newswire)

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A series of short-term measures has been proposed to address the irrigation challenges caused by the Nilwala River Salinity Barrier.

According to the President’s Office, the short-term measures are to be executed until a long-term solution is implemented.

During a recent discussion, chaired by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, officials from all relevant ministries and institutions agreed to promptly implement these proposals.

It was also informed that the ongoing study by the University of Peradeniya to identify long-term solutions for the issues arising from the Nilwala Salinity Barrier will be reassessed and reviewed.

• Measures to be implemented concerning the Nilwala River Salinity Barrier;

The sand piled along the riverbanks, which was deposited during the construction of the salinity barrier, will be removed to ensure smooth water flow during floods. The height of the sheet pile barriers on both sides of the salinity barrier will be reduced to facilitate water drainage. 

Accumulated sand in the riverbed will be cleared, while alternative canal pathways will be cleaned and obstructions removed to improve water flow. 

Additionally, water pumping stations used to drain excess water from paddy fields will be properly maintained.

• Measures to be implemented to address flooding in Matara;

To address the drainage issues affecting the homes, lands and access roads of residents of Circle Road, Hittatiya centre, Matara during heavy rains, a few short-term solutions have been proposed while awaiting a permanent resolution. 

A new drainage system will be developed along Dahanayake Road to divert water from Hittatiya First Milepost to Nupe Ela, replacing the current connection to the canal system along Circle Road. The existing drainage system will be upgraded to increase its capacity.

The drainage capacity along Circle Road will be improved, and telecommunication cables currently obstructing water flow in the drainage system will be relocated to a more suitable location. The drainage system from the central section of Circle Road through Handayawatta and along Padiliyawatta Road to Nupe Ela will be expanded, with blockages removed to enhance water flow. 

Upon obtaining the final land survey map from the local authorities, a decision will be made regarding the existence of a natural canal in the affected area. (Newswire)

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Video footage has emerged of a Matara-Galle bus being obstructed on the road and the driver being beaten. 

According to the video, a lorry is seen obstructing the bus in the middle of the road. Thereafter, the lorry driver is seen verbally arguing with the bus driver and then resorting to assaulting the driver.

Several more persons are also seen entering the bus through the driver’s door and front entrance, proceeding to attack the driver. 

Passengers and the conductor had diffused the tension, following which the bus had been taken to the nearest Police Station with the passengers.

It is reported that private bus employees working on the Matara-Galle route had resorted to a silent protest over the incident. (Newswire)

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Officials from the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, and Urban Development, Construction, and Housing have been instructed to take all necessary measures to minimize potential flooding in the Matara district due to heavy rainfall.

The directive was given by Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake during a meeting with officials from all relevant ministries and institutions held at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (12 Mar). 

The progress of a previous discussion on the project of the Salinity Barrier across the Nilwala River, led by the Secretary to the President, was reviewed during the meeting. 

Various short-term and long-term measures to control the flooding in the Matara region caused by the barrier were proposed, and all parties agreed to take the necessary steps. The meeting also assessed the progress of these proposed actions.

Accordingly, officials informed that the University of Peradeniya and its affiliated Engineering Design Center have been assigned to study and report on long-term solutions. It was also stated that the proposed solutions would take into account the issues that have arisen following the Construction of the Salinity Barrier.

As short-term solutions, officials reported that steps have already been taken to remove fallen trees and other obstructions in the river to ensure faster water drainage during emergencies. Additionally, canal banks are being cleaned, and the temporary salinity barrier, previously constructed with sandbags by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, has been removed.

Furthermore, by April, measures will be taken to deepen the Nilwala estuary and canal routes to temporarily retain excess water during flood situations. The Irrigation Department also proposed increasing the capacity of the water pumps currently used to accelerate water drainage, they further informed. 

The Secretary to the President Dr. Kumanayake also instructed that all measures taken on this matter be reported to the Matara District Development Committee.

Measures are being taken to address flooding in the Matara District as local residents and farmers have expressed concerns that the Nilwala Salinity Barrier has exacerbated flooding and led to saltwater intrusion into paddy fields, resulting in crop damage. (Newswire)

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A 37-year-old foreign tourist has been rescued from drowning in the seas off Polhena in Matara last afternoon.

The tourist had been rescued by two Police lifeguards who were on duty at the beach at the time of the incident.

The rescued tourist has been identified as a 37-year-old Russian national. (Newswire)

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The large drug haul which was recently seized in Matara had been smuggled into Sri Lanka via the sea route, the Police said, giving further details on the seizure. 

According to the Police, information had been received that the drugs had been smuggled in through the sea route in the Nunnawela area in Gandara, Matara on Monday and had been transported via a van. 

The Matara Division Crimes Investigation Unit launched a probe leading to the arrest of five persons on suspicion in Matara on Wednesday, during which they had also seized Rs. 615,000, which is suspected to have been used for drug peddling.

The arrested suspects are aged 29,42, 44, 46 and 58 years old and are residents of Gandara, Devinuwara, and Beliatta.

Further interrogation of the suspects led to the arrest of one suspect in the Gandara area, one suspect in Mount Lavinia, and two suspects in Ratmalana yesterday. 

Interrogations of these suspects had led to the arrest of another suspect from the Nagoda area in Galle with 160 kilos of ICE and 60 kilos of heroin. 

The arrested suspects are aged 26, 27, 29, 51, and 58 years old and are residents of Nagoda, Galle, Welipenna, Maharagama, and Ratmalana. The group has been arrested on charges of transporting and possession of narcotics. 

The Matara Division Crimes Investigation Unit and the Police Narcotics Unit are conducting further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Ten persons who were in possession of a stock of ICE and heroin have been arrested in the Gandara area in Matara.

Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said the suspects were arrested by officials from the Matara Division Criminal Investigation Unit.

During the arrest, the Police seized 160 Kg of ICE and 60 Kg of heroin from the suspects’ possession.

The Matara Division Criminal Investigation Unit is conducting further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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The National Peoples’ Power (NPP) has won six (06) seats in the Matara District under the Preferential voting system.

The preferential votes for the Matara District are as follows;

• NPP – 06 seats

Sunil Handunneththi – 249,251 votes

Saroja Polraj – 148,379 votes

L.M. Abeywickrama – 68,144 votes

Arkam Ilyas – 53,835 votes

Ajantha Gammaddage – 48,820 votes

Lal Premanath – 48,797 votes

• SJB – 01 seat

Chathura Galappaththi – 32,196 votes. (Newswire)

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Three suspects have been arrested following a raid conducted on an illegal weapons manufacturing den in Matara on Wednesday.

The Police said a 63-year-old man was arrested during the raid on the weapons den, while two suspects were later arrested with two locally manufactured firearms in Ahangama.

During the raid on the weapons manufacturing den, officials had seized a locally manufactured firearm, five bullets of a 9 mm firearm, one welding machine, and various other equipment. 

Interrogation of the suspect had revealed that he had sold two firearms, after which the Matara Police traced the buyers and arrested them along with the weapons. 

The arrested suspects are aged 47 and 54 years and are residents of the Ahangama area.

The suspects, along with the seized items have been handed over to the Matara Police, who are conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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The newly renovated American Corner in Matara was inaugurated by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung on Wednesday (Aug 14).

According to the US Embassy, open since 2018, the American Corner in Matara has served as a bridge between the people of the United States and Sri Lanka through programs, events, and learning opportunities.

Following the renovation, the expanded American Corner in Matara has doubled its original capacity to host innovative, free programs for local Sri Lankan youth to learn entrepreneurship, leadership, English language, STEM, and other key areas.  

The American Corner in Matara is part of the United States’ global American Spaces network that comprises more than 600 cultural and information centres in more than 140 countries in every geographic region worldwide.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Chung remarked: “The American Corner Matara has long been a hub for learning, innovation, and cultural exchange in this vibrant southern Sri Lankan community. With this newly expanded space, we are pleased to meet the growing demand, enabling us to provide even more resources that support economic opportunities, education, and social inclusion for the people of Matara and the broader southern region.” (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Education has decided to close government schools in some districts and education zones due to the prevalent adverse weather conditions.

Accordingly, all schools in the Galle, Matara, Kegalle, Ratnapura, and Kalutara Districts will be closed on Tuesday (June 04).

All schools in the Homagama Zone in the Western Province will also remain closed tomorrow. 

However, all schools outside these districts will function as normal tomorrow. (Newswire)

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