May 27 (PMD) A series of programmes organised by the Presidential Secretariat to mark Vesak will be held from 30 May to 2 June at the Presidential Secretariat. These events will be held in conjunction with the Buddha Rashmi Vesak Zone, organised with the assistance of the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple. Accordingly, Bhakthi Gee performances will begin each day at 6.30 p.m. from 30 May to 02 June, with the participation of Bhakthi Gee groups of the Tri-Forces and the Sri Lanka Police, more..

May 27 (AD) Minister Vijitha Herath says he was honoured to receive the traditional Māori Pōwhiri welcome at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand this morning. Minister noted that he was the first SL Foreign Minister to be accorded this ceremonial welcome at the start of his official visit to the country. Vijitha Herath is currently undertaking an official visit to NZ and Australia from 26 May to 3 June 2026, at the invitation of the two govts. During the visit, Minister Herath will hold more..

May 27 (DM) In a comprehensive diplomatic review, Chinese Ambassador to SL Qi Zhenhong has re-anchored the bilateral relationship within a two-thousand-year historical legacy, tracing ties from the ancient Rubber-Rice Pact to modern crisis interventions. Addressing critical geopolitical shifts, including the US-Iran conflict and a mutating global energy market, Ambassador detailed Beijing’s multi-million dollar more..

May 27 (FT) Sampath Bank has introduced integrated PayPal withdrawal and account connectivity capabilities through Sampath Vishwa, marking a major advancement in Sri Lanka’s digital banking landscape and expanding access to secure global payments. SL’s digitally connected workforce and business community continue to expand across international marketplaces and cross-border industries. Growth in freelancing, entrepreneurship, online commerce, exports, and remote work more..

May 27 (AD) SL Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha, who is currently on an official visit to the Russian Federation, met with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Osmakov in Moscow. Defence Minister Osmakov stated that the meeting took place yesterday. The meeting was held in conjunction with the Defence Secretary’s participation in the first International Security Forum and the Annual International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for more..

May 27 (DM) A flood of youth or schoolboy cricket may make matters worse for the new interim set of office bearers of SLC who will make no secret of the proliferation of the sport at junior level that is piling up quantity more than quality. The interference of parents and the deployment of substandard coaches that have mushroomed in an overnight syndrome have also contributed to the overdose of school cricket compared to more..

May 27 (TM) Former selection committee chair Pramodya Wickramasinghe says that his panel had selected three 15-man squads originally for SL’s upcoming all-format series in the West Indies. He alleged that the new panel headed by Kapila Wijegunawardene had tinkered with the selections done by his committee, at the insistence of player managers, by increasing the Test, ODI and T20I squads to 17, 16 and 15-men, respectively. Wickramasinghe stated that Kasun Rajitha more..

May 27 (NW) SL’s tourism industry has surpassed the one million mark in international tourist arrivals before the end of May 2026 for the second consecutive year, according to Minister Vijitha Herath. Herath said the milestone follows the record-breaking performance recorded in 2025 and reflects the continued strength of the sector despite recent challenges. Although Sri Lanka recorded a year-on-year decline in tourist arrivals during March and April, industry observers largely attributed more..

May 27 (Island) Most of the country’s major rivers remained at normal levels despite intermittent overnight rainfall, according to the Irrigation Department early Tuesday. However, officials warned that the Kuda Ganga at Kalawellawa (Millakanda) had reached the “Alert” level and was showing a rising trend following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas. Irrigation Department Director L.S. Sooriyabandara, said the department was closely monitoring the situation, more..

May 27 (TM) SLC has launched a special programme to educate and develop school cricket coaches under the guidance of the Cricket Transformation Committee. The inaugural session was held on Monday at the SLC High Performance Centre with the participation of 74 coaches representing Division 1 and 2 schools. Gary Kirsten, Head Coach of the SL Men’s Team, conducted a two-hour session focusing on modern coaching methods and nurturing young cricketers more..

May 27 (AI) Malaiyaha Tamils working on private tea estates and smallholdings in Sri Lanka are being subjected to abuses that meet many of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) indicators of forced labour, while being denied access to the country’s strict labour protections, Amnesty International said in a new report. The research, which documents the plight of workers in SL’s Southern Province, found that members of more..

May 27 (DM) A controversy has erupted over alleged fund and donation collections at Thurstan College, Colombo, with a parents’ union claiming the school has been requesting dry rations and school supplies from parents despite the govt’s stance that schools have no legal authority to collect money. According to the parents’ association, the school principal recently convened a meeting and urged parents of students from Grades 1 to 13 to contribute dry rations and school essentials for nearly 600 more..

May 27 (AD) OIC of Welikada Police has been arrested in Veyangoda by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau over allegations of illegal possession of passports belonging to 19 Chinese nationals, according to police. He was arrested for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs. 300,000 per person to release passports of 19 Chinese nationals arrested in connection with an online scam. Investigations indicate that the OIC had retained the passports of the individuals arrested more..

May 27 (BBC) Rooted in Buddhist teachings, Sri Lanka's roadside dansal offer free food and drinks to strangers – and this year, amid rising costs and extreme heat, the tradition feels especially relevant. When I was a little girl growing up in SL, I always looked forward to the month of May. That was when my father and I would decorate octagon bamboo lanterns to celebrate Vesak – the sacred day marking the birth, enlightenment and more..

May 27 (DM) A 25-year-old mother accused of selling her 20-day-old infant for Rs. 100,000, along with a woman alleged to have bought the baby were arrested by officers attached to the Puttalam Divisional Crime Investigation Unit, the Sri Lanka Police said. The arrests were made following investigations into an incident reported from the Kammandaluwa area in Pallama. Police said the infant had allegedly been handed over to a woman residing in the Kadayamottai area of more..

May 27 (AD) Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar ordered that the case filed against former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former IGP Pujith Jayasundera be called on June 12. The two face charges, including criminal negligence of duty, for allegedly failing to prevent the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks despite prior intelligence warnings. The cases were taken up today before a three-judge High Court bench comprising Justices Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasuriya, and more..

May 27 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to inaugurate construction work on the second phase of Section 3 of the Central Expressway on Friday at the Galagedara Public Grounds. This phase of the project covers the stretch between Rambukkana and Galagedara and forms part of the broader Central Expressway development. It is aimed at improving connectivity between the Central Province and other parts of the country. Earlier this month, Cabinet of more..

May 27 (AD) Hatton Police said the suspect allegedly involved in the recent double murder of an elderly couple inside a shop in Dikoya, Hatton, had escaped from the custody of prison officers early this morning while receiving treatment at hospital. According to police, the suspect had been admitted to the Kandy National Hospital yesterday by prison officials due to an illness he mentioned while in remand custody until June 3. The suspect, who was receiving inpatient care, more..

May 27 (DM) The following is a statement issued by the National Commission on Women regarding protection and access to justice of the child in alleged sexual abuse case. National Commission on Women established under the Women Empowerment Act No. 37 of 2024, submits the following statement regarding recent reports of alleged sexual abuse of a girl child. Commission emphasises that the rights of the child more..

May 27 (NW) The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction and 10-year prison sentence imposed on a Buddhist monk over the sexual abuse of a minor boy in 2009. According to the judgment delivered on 26 May 2026, the accused, Rev. Uduwila Sujatha, had appealed against the conviction handed down by the Balapitiya High Court in August 2023. The monk had been convicted for committing grave sexual abuse on a nine-year-old boy who had been living at the temple at the time. more..

May 27 (AD) Dept of Excise has announced that all liquor stores across the island will remain closed on May 30 and 31 in view of the 2026 Vesak Festival. Excise Commissioner General Premaratne Bandara confirmed the closure when contacted for comment on the matter. Meanwhile, Ministry of Public Admin, PCs & LG had announced that all meat shops, slaughterhouses, betting centres, casinos, and nightclubs will remain closed for three days in view of the 2026 National Vesak Festival. more..

May 27 (NW) Former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga has called for a comprehensive reform programme within the Buddhist clergy, stressing that the long-term preservation of Buddhism depends on safeguarding both the Dhamma and Vinaya (discipline). In a statement addressed to the Mahanayake Theras of the three Buddhist chapters, Kumaratunga said Buddhist history has shown that periods of crisis within the Sasana were more..

May 27 (NF) Japan has reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to Sri Lanka’s post-conflict recovery by extending over US$1.34 million (approximately Rs. 400 million) in fresh funding to support humanitarian demining efforts in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The initiative marks another significant step in the ongoing effort to restore safety, dignity, and opportunity to communities still living with the legacy of decades of conflict. The funding, provided under Japan’s Grant Assistance for more..

May 27 (NW) Consulate General of SL in Los Angeles, together with the Sri Lanka Tea Board, organized a special Ceylon Tea Tasting Session on May 21 to mark International Tea Day 2026. The event brought together tea importers, diplomats, media representatives and tea enthusiasts to promote the heritage, quality and sustainability of Ceylon Tea. Delivering the welcome remarks, Consul General Achini Perera highlighted the importance of International Tea Day and the contribution more..

May 27 (FT) Back in Dec 2025, when the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL) finally wrapped up the 5G spectrum auction, it felt like we had turned a corner. It was a massive win for the country, bringing in over LKR 15 billion for the state. More importantly, it felt like the formal start of a high-speed era that would finally connect the entire island. But as we move into the second quarter of 2026, that initial excitement is starting to feel like a memory. more..

May 27 (FT) The decision by Central Bank of SL to increase the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 100 basis points to 8.75% is a significant and rather forceful monetary tightening measure. Such an increase generally reflects deep concern within the monetary authority regarding emerging inflationary pressures, exchange rate instability, excessive liquidity expansion, or deteriorating external sector conditions. Several important observations arise from this development: more..

May 27 (FT) Contradicting JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva’s recent statements, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said financial provisions had already been allocated for the conduct of Provincial Council elections, rejecting claims that the polls could not be held this year due to funding constraints. Dr. Jayatissa said the primary obstacle to holding the elections was the unresolved legal framework governing PC electoral system. more..

May 27 (FT) SL’s tourism industry regained its growth momentum in May despite earlier indications of moderating visitor inflows, with tourist arrivals during the first 24 days of the month rising 8.31% year-on-year (YoY). SL welcomed 113,755 visitors between 1 and 24 May, compared to 105,026 arrivals during the corresponding period last year. The improved May performance so far has also pushed the year-to-date (YTD) arrivals to 990,032 tourists, narrowing the overall decline to more..

May 27 (NW) Board of Investment (BOI) has launched a new digital investment platform aimed at attracting foreign investors by offering direct access to 30 structured, project-ready opportunities across multiple sectors. The platform, titled Ready to Invest, is now live via readytoinvestsl.com. The platform features investment opportunities across eight key sectors, including Tourism and Leisure, Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics, ICT, Innovation & Tech Park Development, more..

May 27 (FT) CB Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday projected strong confidence in SL’s economic resilience, insisting that the latest 100 basis point policy rate hike was a proactive measure to safeguard macroeconomic stability and sustain the country’s recovery momentum amid rising global uncertainties. Addressing the post-Monetary Policy Review meeting media briefing, Dr. Weerasinghe said the economy remained more..

May 27 (NW) Three police lifeguards attached to the Sri Lanka Police Lifeguard Unit carried out a rescue operation at Kirinda beach on Monday (25), saving several teachers and students who were swept away by strong waves while bathing in the sea. The group, from a school in the Badalkumbura area, had travelled to Kirinda to participate in a co-curricular programme when the incident occurred. A 56-year-old teacher was first dragged into the sea by strong waves. more..

May 27 (Island) Sri Lanka’s banking sector has provided a collective and categorical assurance that it remains stable, resilient, and secure despite a few recent isolated incidents of financial fraud, emphasising that these developments do not pose a threat to the safety of customer deposits or the overall integrity of the financial system. While acknowledging that such incidents have understandably generated some concerns, the industry has reiterated that it is addressing more..