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Commercial Bank leads effort to bring PayPal to Lanka

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Sampath Bank CEO Sanjaya Gunawardana, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, PayPal’s Senior Vice President for International Cross-Border Trade, Nadia Syed, BoC CEO Y.A. Jayathilaka and Commercial Bank CEO Sanath Manatunge

PM backs move to boost digital economy

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has taken a leading role in efforts to introduce PayPal to Sri Lanka, in a development welcomed by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as a boost to the country’s digital economy ambitions.

The Prime Minister made the remarks at a special event attended by senior government officials, industry leaders, and representatives of financial institutions, where the new collaboration between Sri Lanka’s banking sector and the global payments platform PayPal was highlighted.

According to the Finance Ministry, the initiative marks a significant step forward in expanding Sri Lanka’s digital economic framework. Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been at the forefront of facilitating the introduction of PayPal services in the country.

In the initial phase, Bank of Ceylon (BOC), Commercial Bank, and Sampath Bank are expected to roll out PayPal-related services, with additional banks likely to join in the coming months.

The move is expected to provide freelancers, entrepreneurs, startups, and consumers with a secure gateway for international transactions.

Officials said the development would particularly benefit Sri Lanka’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which contribute around 52% of GDP, by easing access to global markets and removing key barriers faced by freelancers and digital entrepreneurs.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya, speaking at the event, said the initiative was “a moment worth celebrating,” adding that it signalled international recognition of Sri Lanka’s role in the digital economy. She said the government’s growth strategy was based on equity, transparency, and accountability, and that the new system would create job opportunities while strengthening secure and globally recognised financial channels.

PayPal’s Senior Vice President for International Cross-Border Trade, Nadia Syed, said the platform would enable Sri Lankan entrepreneurs and freelancers to receive payments seamlessly from overseas clients. She added that further details on service rollout would be announced through banking partners in the coming weeks.

Representatives from participating financial institutions, including Commercial Bank, said the initiative would significantly strengthen Sri Lanka’s digital financial ecosystem.

Banks are expected to provide customers with further information on how to activate the service once it becomes operational.



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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura

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The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 0400hrs on 12th June 2026 to 0400hrs on 13th June 2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Doluwa in the Kandy district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ayagama, Ratnapura, Godakawela, Kalawana and Nivitigala in the Ratnapura district

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Wife, counsel seek regular access to ex-Spy Chief Sallay held under President’s detention order

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Suresh Sallay

Wife of former State Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay has asked CID Director retired SSP Shani Abeysekera to allow her, her family members and lawyers to visit her husband in the National Hospital, Colombo. Sallay’s counsel has also written to Abeysekera, asking for permission to visit the former spy held on a detention order signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The text of Manori’s letter: “I respectfully request your assistance in granting me, and my daughter or alternatively my son, permission to visit my husband, Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is currently at the National Hospital, Colombo.

“As you are aware, my husband is presently engaged in a fast-unto-death campaign. His physical condition and emotional well-being are of deep concern to our family. During this difficult period, the presence and support of his immediate family are extremely important to him.

“I firmly believe that regular visits from me with our daughter or our son would help uplift his spirits, provide him with much-needed emotional strength, and may encourage him to reconsider continuing this course of action. Family support can play a vital role in preserving his mental and emotional health while he remains hospitalised.

“In view of these exceptional circumstances, I kindly request that permission be granted for either me and my daughter or my son to visit him daily during the period of his hospitalisation.

“I would be most grateful for your compassionate consideration of this request.”

“The text of the counsel’s letter: “I write in my capacity as Counsel for Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is presently under detention and admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.

As you are aware, Major General Sallay has embarked on a fast-unto-death campaign, giving rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, it is imperative that I be granted reasonable and regular access to my client during his hospitalisation.

As his legal representative, I have a professional obligation to monitor his condition and obtain instructions from him so that I may accurately apprise the relevant courts of his health status and any developments affecting his rights and welfare. Effective legal representation requires continuous communication with my client, particularly in light of the grave circumstances presently confronting him.

I also wish to respectfully highlight that Major General Sallay has placed explicit trust and confidence in me as his counsel. Indeed, I was the first person he contacted following his arrest.

Given the trust he reposes in me, I believe I am uniquely positioned to engage with him constructively and persuade him to discontinue this campaign and instead place his confidence in the legal remedies and judicial processes available to him.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that I be granted permission to visit my client on a daily basis during the period of his hospitalization.

Such access would not only facilitate the discharge of my professional responsibilities but may also contribute meaningfully towards safeguarding his health and encouraging a resolution through lawful and institutional means.

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CIABOC summons Yoshitha over his participation in British Navy training programme

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Yoshitha

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who served as a Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy, has now been summoned to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption next Tuesday (16) for questioning over his participation in a Royal Navy training programme in the United Kingdom outside established procedures.

The Commission is expected to record statements in relation to several complaints received regarding his recruitment and subsequent service in the Navy after he enlisted on December 14, 2006.

According to sources, the investigation focuses on allegations concerning the educational qualifications considered at the time of his enlistment, as well as foreign training opportunities he is said to have received while in service, which are suspected to have been granted in violation of due process.

The Bribery Commission has launched the inquiry under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, officials said.

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