The death toll from the recent clash at Negombo Prison has risen to 27 after another injured inmate died while receiving treatment at Negombo Hospital. Police stated that the fatalities now include seven prison officers and 20 inmates.

Negombo Prison clash death toll rises to 27

Sri Lanka has launched a national programme to conserve 1,000 archaeological sites across the country, marking the start of Archaeology Week. The first phase will focus on conserving 100 identified sites while accelerating excavation, research and preservation efforts. Community Conservation Committees will also be established to encourage public participation, with all activities carried out under the guidance of the Department of Archaeology. This year's Archaeology Week is being held under the theme "Bringing Heritage to Life."

National programme to conserve 1,000 archaeological sites begins

The University of Moratuwa has closed all faculties for two weeks due to the risk of dengue fever spreading.The closure took effect on 06 July, while lectures and other academic activities will continue online. The decision was taken after several students with fever reportedly attended university examinations. The university is scheduled to resume on-campus academic activities on 21 July.

University of Moratuwa closes all faculties for two weeks over dengue risk

South Korean technology giant Samsung Electronics says it expects to post a 19-fold jump in its profits, driven by global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips.&nbsp;The company forecast that it made 89.4tn won (£43.6bn; $58.4bn) between the start of April and the end of June, marking its third record quarterly operating profits in a row.&nbsp;Major South Korean firms like Samsung release forecasts of their earnings ahead of official detailed reports to help guide investors.&nbsp;Samsung's latest forecast, released on Tuesday ahead of its full results due later in July, comes as demand for semiconductors continues to outstrip supplies - which has pushed up prices.&nbsp;Samsung said in the preview, known as earnings guidance, that it brought in around 171tn won of sales during the quarter, more than double the amount for the same period last year.&nbsp;The company's projected earnings mark one of "the best quarterly performances ever", which was close to the tech sector record set by Nvidia earlier this year, said industry analyst Marc Einstein from Counterpoint Research.&nbsp;"This has everything to do with the AI boom as memory companies continue to ride a tidal wave driven by limited supply and unprecedented demand," he added.&nbsp;Samsung has hiked the prices of its memory chips as supplies remain tight.&nbsp;Research firm IDC said demand for semiconductors for data centres and other AI infrastructure has been "different from anything the memory industry has navigated", impacting the supply of chips for everyday electronics.&nbsp;"We do expect supplies to be tight through next year given the unabated demand from AI data centres," said tech devices researcher Bryan Ma from IDC.&nbsp;Samsung is one of the world's biggest semiconductor manufacturers, making chips for firms like Nvidia and Google along with its range of electronic devices. The shares major tech firms have soared in recent months due to surging demand for chips.&nbsp;Samsung's shares fell by around 5.5% in Seoul on Tuesday morning.&nbsp;Its stock market value has more than doubled since the start of this year, while South Korean rival SK Hynix has jumped by more than 200%.&nbsp;The strong performance of both companies has helped lift the value of South Korea's benchmark share index, the Kospi, by more than 80% this year.&nbsp;In May, Nvidia posted record quarterly sales and profits, with revenue between January and March topping $80bn.&nbsp;But Nvidia's stock fell at the time, in what some analysts said was a sign that investors were increasingly worried about rising competition in the sector.&nbsp;In June, South Korea unveiled plans for at least $880bn of investments in projects led by Samsung and SK Hynix to build out the country's chip manufacturing in the coming years.&nbsp;Rival Asian firms in Japan, China and Taiwan are also investing heavily in chip factories to meet soaring demand.&nbsp;Source: BBC

Samsung profits jump 1,800% as AI boom drives chip sales

The Colombo High Court has served indictments against former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two others over alleged corruption-related offences. The court released the three defendants on two personal bails of Rs. 1 million each and imposed an overseas travel ban. According to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, the charges relate to the alleged misuse of official influence to obtain Rs. 8.85 million in compensation through the Office for Reparations. The case has been fixed for a pre-trial conference on 05 August.

Indictments served against Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two others

<ul><li>19&nbsp; inmates, seven Prison officers killed in renewed violence</li><li>Nearly 100 injured as security forces regain control</li><li>Prisoners being transferred; SLAF drones monitor situation</li><li>Cabinet appoints probe led by Justice Priyantha Fernando</li></ul>﻿&nbsp;At least 26 people, including seven Prison officers and 19 inmates, were killed yesterday (6) after fresh violence erupted inside the Negombo Prison, just a day after an earlier clash had claimed two lives, bringing the death toll from two days of unrest to 27.Nearly 100 people were injured and admitted to the Negombo General Hospital, with Hospital Director Dr Pushpa Gamlath confirming the fatalities. Eight of the seriously injured were later transferred to the National Hospital in Colombo for specialised treatment.The renewed unrest broke out around 10:00 a.m. after inmates allegedly attempted to force their way through the Prison's main entrance following a confrontation between rival groups in the male ward.According to Prisons Commissioner and Media Spokesperson A C Gajanayake, the violence began while Prison officers were distributing breakfast to inmates. Officers who intervened to stop the fighting were allegedly attacked and chased towards the Prison's main entrance before some inmates attempted to breach the main gate, prompting officers to use the minimum force necessary to restore order.Police, the Police Special Task Force (STF) and additional security personnel were deployed to contain the violence, while several gunshots were fired during the operation. Security forces later entered the Prison compound and succeeded in regaining control.The Sri Lanka Air Force deployed two surveillance drones and a Bell 412 helicopter to monitor the situation from the air, while additional military personnel were stationed around the Prison to reinforce security.Authorities have also begun transferring inmates to other prisons in an effort to reduce tensions and restore normalcy.Outside the Prison, an estimated 2,500 relatives and loved ones gathered throughout the day demanding information on those killed and injured, saying they had received no official confirmation of the identities of the casualties.The latest bloodshed followed a clash between remand prisoners and convicted inmates on 5 July, which left two inmates dead and 38 injured.Police said preliminary investigations indicate the earlier violence was triggered by a dispute over the exposure of a drug trafficking operation within the Prison.Investigators are also probing allegations that an inmate known as "Suresh", believed to have close links to organised crime figure "Booru Moona", orchestrated the clash between rival groups of inmates.Following Sunday’s violence, female inmates staged a rooftop protest before a separate group of male inmates also climbed onto the roof in protest. Four inmates were later injured when part of the roof collapsed and were admitted to Hospital.Relatives of inmates also protested outside the Prison, accusing authorities of failing to provide information about those inside. Police later facilitated visits by a group of relatives to inmates receiving treatment at the Negombo General Hospital.Gajanayake said the latest violence was confined to the male section of the Prison and stemmed from clashes between rival groups linked to organised crime and drug-related activities. The female section was not directly involved in the fighting despite the separate protest by female inmates.Appealing to relatives to remain calm, he said Prison authorities were taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of those in custody. He added that the Negombo Prison currently houses approximately 2,400 inmates.Meanwhile, the Cabinet yesterday approved the appointment of a three-member committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the deadly incident.The committee has been tasked with determining the causes of the violence, recommending action against those responsible and proposing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.Retired Supreme Court Justice Priyantha Fernando will chair the committee, with retired Additional Solicitor General and President's Counsel Milinda Gunatilleke and President's Counsel Mohan Weerakoon serving as members.Separately, the Prisons Commissioner General has appointed a special internal investigation team to inquire into Saturday's clash.Police, the STF and riot control units remained deployed at the Prison last evening as investigations continued and authorities worked to restore normalcy.&nbsp;With inputs from Aneesha Manage reporting from Negombo&nbsp;

Negombo Prison erupts again

<ul><li>Claims Govt responsible for institutional inefficiency&nbsp;</li><li>Prisoners rights group blames ‘highhandedness’ of Prisons Dept&nbsp;</li><li>Justice Minister ‘shocked and saddened’&nbsp;</li></ul> Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, called yesterday (6) for an independent and transparent investigation into the deadly violence that erupted at the Negombo Prison, saying the Government must be held accountable for the loss of life.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters, Premadasa said the deaths and injuries resulting from the unrest pointed to a breakdown in the Prison administration and institutional inefficiency. He said the current administration should take responsibility for the incident, noting that the President had previously maintained, while in the Opposition, that governments should be held accountable for deaths occurring inside prisons.&nbsp;Premadasa also said the Government had come to power promising systemic change, but argued that the incident at the Prison highlighted the continued failure of the existing system. He questioned the Government's ability to maintain law and order and ensure effective Prison administration.Premadasa further said the inability to uphold a humane Prison management system is a matter of serious concern and urged the Government to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident, noting that the public is closely monitoring the developments.Meanwhile, the Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) claimed the violence at the prison escalated because of the arrogant response of the Prisons Department, particularly its failure to provide timely information to inmates' families and allow prisoners to communicate with their relatives following the tensions on 5 July.&nbsp;Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (6), CPRP’s President, Senaka Perera said the situation could have been brought under control earlier if the authorities had acted appropriately.&nbsp;"This situation could have been controlled, but they failed to do so. The relatives of inmates were waiting for the Department to provide some information about their family members on 5 July, but that never happened. The inmates themselves expected to be given an opportunity to speak to their relatives, but they were not given that opportunity either," he said.&nbsp;Perera alleged that the Department's handling of the situation only aggravated tensions. "The Department acted in a very arrogant manner. A group of Police officers who suited that approach also arrived at the scene. Instead of listening to the concerns of the inmates' relatives, they tried to drive them away. It was like pouring fuel on a fire. The Prisons Department and the Government must take responsibility for what happened," he said. Referring to the situation on 5 July, Perera said tensions had eased to some extent by the time CPRP representatives visited the Prison, but claimed security personnel and Prison officials behaved as though the CPRP had contributed to the unrest.&nbsp;"When we went there, the security forces and Prison officials behaved as if we had created the situation," he alleged. He also claimed that the families of inmates were subjected to unnecessary hardship while trying to obtain information about their relatives. "When the relatives asked about the inmates, the Department told them to go to the Hospital. When they went to the Hospital, they were told to bring a letter from the Prison. Families were sent from one place to another and put through unnecessary difficulties," he said. He further alleged the Government had still failed to properly recognise the seriousness of the crisis, dismissing the appointment of investigative committees as ineffective. "Appointing committees is a joke. Committees have been appointed since 2012. These appointments only waste public money." &nbsp; Attempts to contact the Justice Minister, attorney Harshana Nanayakkara, the Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, and Prisons Spokesperson A C Gajanayake proved futile. His remarks came after 25 individuals, including Prison officers and inmates, had been killed in violence at the Prison yesterday. Police stated that the dead included Prison officers while nearly 100 people were reportedly injured. The unrest followed a clash between two groups of inmates on 5 July, in which two prisoners were killed and 38 others were injured.&nbsp;However, Nanayakkara expressed shock and sadness over the violent clash at the Prison, which resulted in the deaths of 25 individuals. Speaking on the incident, he said the unrest had occurred within an institution under his purview and that he therefore had to take responsibility for the situation. He said the situation at the Prison had now been brought under control, adding that the loss of any life was unacceptable and that measures must be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.&nbsp;“There is deep shock over the loss of human lives. I extend my condolences to the families of those who died. We will visit the site, assess what has happened, and ensure that such incidents do not recur. This is not about blaming anyone,” he said.Nanayakkara also said that closed circuit television camera systems and a body scanner at the Prison were completely destroyed during the unrest.Nanayakkara said that disrupting Prison operations appeared to be the primary objective of the inmates involved in the violent clash at the Prison.He said that a group of inmates identified as being at the centre of the violence had been transferred to the Agunukolapelessa and Welikada Prisons.

Negombo Prison clash: Sajith calls for independent probe 

Several hospitals across the Western Province have reached the maximum capacity due to the sharp rise in dengue patients, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).&nbsp;Acting NDCU Director Dr Kapila Kannangara said the rapid increase in cases has placed severe pressure on hospitals, making it increasingly difficult to provide adequate care for patients.&nbsp;He warned that if the number of infections continues to rise, the dengue-related death toll is also likely to increase proportionately.Commenting on the current situation, Dr Kannangara stated that 52.4 per cent of the country's 59,638 reported dengue cases have been recorded from the WP. In response, the authorities have identified 22 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Divisions with the highest number of dengue cases across the three Districts of the WP. A week-long special dengue control programme is currently being carried out in these high-risk areas. He said that the progress of the programme will be reviewed at the end of the week, following which the authorities will decide on further measures.&nbsp;Dr&nbsp; Kannangara also noted that a three-phase strategy comprising short-term, medium-term, and long-term measures has been prepared to manage the outbreak. However, he stressed that priority is currently being given to emergency short-term interventions, as the outbreak has reached a critical stage and many hospitals are operating at full capacity, placing the healthcare system under significant strain."The current increase in dengue cases is extremely serious. Many hospitals have already reached their maximum capacity, creating major challenges in caring for patients. If the number of cases continues to rise, the number of deaths is also likely to increase proportionately," Dr Kannangara warned.The total number of dengue cases reported in Sri Lanka so far this year has increased to 61,060. According to the NDCU, 2,604 new dengue cases have been reported during the past 24 hours (5 July). The WP has recorded the highest number of cases, accounting for 32,054 infections, or 52.5% of the total.&nbsp;

Dengue reaches critical stage: Hospitals reach maximum capacity 

<ul><li>1,000 archaeological sites to be conserved</li></ul>All arrangements have been finalised to launch the national programme to conserve 1,000 archaeological sites across Sri Lanka, alongside the commencement of the Archaeology Week, which begins today (7).&nbsp;Speaking on the initiative, Deputy Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister, Gamagedara Dissanayake said the programme aims to identify sites of historical and archaeological significance and expedite excavation, research, and conservation efforts. Under the project, a total of 1,000 archaeological sites are scheduled to be conserved. As the first phase, work will begin on 100 identified sites during the Archaeology Week programme.&nbsp;He also announced that "Community Conservation Committees" will be established in areas surrounding the identified sites to encourage greater public participation in protecting the country's archaeological heritage. Recommendations and proposals submitted by these committees will be implemented with the guidance and direct involvement of technical officers from the Archaeology Department.The 2026 Archaeology Week will be held under the theme “Bringing Heritage to Life”, reflecting the Government's commitment to preserving and revitalising Sri Lanka's archaeological and historical heritage through community engagement and scientific conservation.Dissanayake noted that public commitment and involvement in protecting archaeological sites have remained limited. To address this, he said that the Government plans to officially designate identified locations as archaeological sites and establish Community Conservation Committees with the participation of local residents.&nbsp;"Through these committees, we will obtain proposals and suggestions on whether excavation, research, or conservation work should be carried out at each site," he said, adding that all activities will be undertaken with the technical guidance and direct involvement of officers from the Department. He further expressed confidence that greater community engagement would strengthen efforts to safeguard the country's archaeological heritage.&nbsp;"We believe that when local communities become actively involved with these sites, we will be better able to achieve our goal of protecting them. It is with this objective in mind that we have organised these initiatives as part of the Archaeology Week," he said.

Negombo Prison clash death toll rises to 27

National programme to conserve 1,000 archaeological sites begins

National programme to conserve ...

University of Moratuwa closes all faculties for two weeks over dengue ...

University of Moratuwa closes ...

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Samsung profits jump 1,800% as ...

Indictments served against Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two others

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Negombo Prison erupts again

Negombo Prison erupts again

Negombo Prison clash: Sajith calls for independent probe

Negombo Prison clash: Sajith c ...

Dengue reaches critical stage: Hospitals reach maximum capacity

Dengue reaches critical stage: ...

Urumayata Jeevayak: Heritage to life programme kicks off today

Urumayata Jeevayak: Heritage t ...

National programme to conserve 1,000 archaeological sites begins

National programme to conserve ...

University of Moratuwa closes all faculties for two weeks over dengue ...

University of Moratuwa closes ...

Samsung profits jump 1,800% as AI boom drives chip sales

Samsung profits jump 1,800% as ...

Indictments served against Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two others

Indictments served against Sha ...

Negombo Prison erupts again

Negombo Prison erupts again

Negombo Prison clash: Sajith calls for independent probe

Negombo Prison clash: Sajith c ...

Dengue reaches critical stage: Hospitals reach maximum capacity

Dengue reaches critical stage: ...

Urumayata Jeevayak: Heritage to life programme kicks off today

Urumayata Jeevayak: Heritage t ...

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National programme to conserve 1,000 archaeological sites begins

National programme to conserve ...

University of Moratuwa closes all faculties for two weeks over dengue ...

University of Moratuwa closes ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Samsung profits jump 1,800% as AI boom drives chip sales

Samsung profits jump 1,800% as ...

Indictments served against Shasheendra Rajapaksa and two others

Indictments served against Sha ...

Negombo Prison erupts again

Negombo Prison erupts again

Negombo Prison clash: Sajith calls for independent probe

Negombo Prison clash: Sajith c ...