May 18 (CB) SL-India Test series will be played in the second half of August. The exact dates for the two Tests have not yet been finalised, but Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has identified a two-week window for the matches, which are part of the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Sources within SLC and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have revealed that the matches will be played between Aug 15 and 27. There is, however, no confirmation yet on the 3 Twenty20Is more..

May 18 (Island) Taking a decisive step towards safeguarding SL’s maritime heritage, a high-level discussion was held today at the Ministry of Environment. Jointly chaired by the Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody and Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, meeting focused on the urgent need to prevent environmental pollution and protect the coastal waters around the northern seas and their adjacent islands. The discussion was attended by senior naval officers, more..

May 18 (AFP) A surge in arrests of suspected foreign scammers in Sri Lanka has authorities concerned that the island is fast becoming a hub for online crime, following sweeping crackdowns in hotspots Cambodia and Myanmar. Officials say some scam networks forced out of countries in Southeast Asia have simply shifted to new bases, increasingly moving operations to Sri Lanka -- an attractive destination due to a relaxed visa more..

May 18 (TM) SL Chamber of Garment Exporters (SLCGE) warned that SL is gradually losing market share to more competitive countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh & India, stating that rising fuel prices and electricity tariff hikes are driving up production costs. SLCGE Vice President Rumesh Perera said the recently announced 18% electricity tariff hike for domestic consumers using over 180 units had created additional pressure on garment factories already struggling with rising more..

May 18 (AD) Compensation for crop damage caused by the recent adverse weather conditions will be provided through the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne has stated. Deputy Minister noted that information regarding the affected farmland is currently being collected and urged farmers to submit details of crop damage to the relevant officials. He noted that reports had been received about cultivation lands damaged by more..

May 18 (TM) The skeletal remains at the Chemmani mass grave have increased to 252 following the recommencement of excavations in April, with activities being halted due to the adverse weather. “A few more bodies were found when they restarted the excavation, but I think they may have stopped because of the heavy rain here. We’re just finding more and more skeletal remains. Now it’s at 252, the last I checked,” TNA MP more..

May 18 (NW) Police say legal action will be initiated against former MP Wimal Weerawansa and a group of around 35 individuals after an incident during a rehearsal for the National War Heroes Day commemoration ceremony in Battaramulla. According to the Police Media Division, the rehearsal for the National War Heroes Day event, scheduled to be held on May 19 under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, took place today at War Heroes Memorial near the Parliament more..

May 18 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya has departed for an official visit to the UK to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting. The visit will include several high-level academic and diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation in education, research, development studies, and international partnerships. During the visit, PM is scheduled to meet UK Education Secretary Bridget more..

May 18 (FT) Sri Lanka has taken a bold step toward transforming its energy landscape, as the Energy Ministry and the Board of Investment of SL (BOI) jointly issued a Request for Information (RFI) inviting local and int'l investors to participate in the development of Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia projects across the island. Issued on 23 April, the RFI marks a pivotal moment in the country’s clean energy journey — one that officials say could position SL as a regional more..

May 18 (EN) Sri Lanka is likely to see a current account deficit this year, bucking the trend for the first time in four years, due to higher dollar outflows than inflows amid expensive global oil prices, a top CB official said. Since the Middle Eastern escalation started on Feb 28 this year, SK has been paying a higher amount for oil imports due to the spike in the global crude prices. “We’ve had surpluses for three years. For this year, we are expecting a small deficit in the current account,” more..

May 18 (NW) The JVP has strongly rejected claims published in the May 17 edition of a Sunday newspaper alleging internal tensions and a dispute during a meeting at its Pelawatte office. In a statement issued today, the JVP said the report published in the newspaper’s political gossip column under the headline Who kicked a chair at the Pelawatte meeting? was completely false and a fabricated story with no basis in fact. more..

May 18 (TM) A special hospital management meeting was recently held at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo under the patronage of Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni to discuss patient care services, administration, and several ongoing issues affecting the hospital. The discussion, attended by hospital administrators, medical specialists, medical officers, nurses, and other staff members, was held at the hospital’s Epilepsy Treatment Centre auditorium. more..

May 18 (AD) A total of 5,289 Tri-Service personnel have been promoted to their respective next ranks in view of the 17th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Day, which falls tomorrow (19). Promotions have been granted to their next respective ranks in recognition of their dedicated service rendered to the nation, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. National War Heroes’ Commemoration Day is commemorated annually on 19 May to honour and appreciate more..

May 18 (TM) SL Transport Board (SLTB) has requested an allocation of Rs 1.91 billion from the Treasury through the Ministry of Transport to mitigate a severe liquidity crisis. Financial shortfall has been primarily triggered by the recent surges in global diesel prices combined with mandatory increments in employee salaries. Last year, Govt provided financial assistance to the State transport entity, allocating Rs. 274 million per month more..

May 18 (DM) Hundreds of import licence renewals are currently pending at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), creating serious disruptions to the pharmaceutical supply chain, the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) said. The industry body said the delays were preventing pharmaceutical companies from placing orders with international suppliers on time, raising concerns over the availability of essential medicines in the coming months. more..

May 18 (AD) Although Sri Lanka had initially expected an economic growth rate of around 5% for 2026, recent changes in global economic conditions after March have made it difficult to provide an accurate forecast, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has said. Governor noted that before the emergence of the current global economic instability, projections had indicated that Sri Lanka’s economy would grow by approximately 5% in 2026. more..

May 18 (DM) Vehicle Importers Association of SL (VIASL) has announced the estimated price increases following the Govt’s decision to impose a 50% surcharge on vehicle imports. According to VIASL, the combined impact of the surcharge, currency appreciation and existing taxes could push up vehicle prices by between Rs. 1.5 million and Rs. 2.5 million depending on the model. Industry estimates suggest price increases across several categories as follows: Mini Cars / Kei CarsAlto/Carol – Rs. 421,750, more..

May 18 (DM) Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC) has highlighted the need to establish animal crematorium facilities for dogs, arguing that such services would allow pets and stray animals to be treated with dignity after death, similar to humans. AWC Executive Committee Member Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara said that while establishing dog orphanages, safety centres and welfare facilities has become a major topic of discussion in recent times, such models have largely proven ineffective more..

May 18 (NW) The Inter‑University Students’ Federation (IUSF) announced that PM Harini Amarasuriya has agreed to hand over the disputed land and house in Malwana, currently under the Dompe Divisional Secretariat, to the University Grants Commission (UGC). The decision was conveyed following a discussion held at the PM’s Office today (18). Convenor Sasindu Perera said that the PM had promised to more..

May 18 (DM) Ministry of Transport, Highways & Urban Development today signed an agreement to import 104 new buses for Metro Transit, a subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), in a move aimed at improving the country’s public transport service. The agreement was signed at the Ministry premises in Koswatta, Battaramulla, between the Ministry of Transport, Highways & Urban Development and Indra Traders (Pvt) Ltd. Secretary to the Ministry, Prof. Kapila Perera, and more..

May 18 (FT) CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe is reported to have stirred up a hornets’ nest when he had, quite correctly of course, firmly remarked that I want to make it clear: CBSL does not promote economic growth in answer to a question from the press when the bank’s Economic Policy Review for 2025 was unveiled to the public recently. Immediately, several high-ranking citizens of the country approached me with the simple question whether I would endorse controversial stand more..

May 18 (DM) Following months of speculation of arguments and rifts within the NPP camp, Daily Mirror reliably learns that some senior govt members have told Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to consider inviting capable MPs from the opposition to join the govt in an attempt to take the nation forward. Inside sources said that during a recent meeting at the JVP HQ in Pelawatta, senior JVP camp had discussed a proposal more..

May 18 (DM) A tense situation was reported between the police and a group led by former MP Wimal Weerawansa near the War Heroes' Memorial in Battaramulla after the group attempted to hold a War Heroes' commemmoration. Tense situation arose after the police prevented the group led by Weerawansa from entering the premises, claiming that another event is being organised at the location. Weeranwansa was seen confronting the police and attempting to forcibly enter the location when more..

May 18 (AD) A writ petition has been filed before the Court of Appeal seeking an order directing the Commissioner General of Excise and others not to grant approval for the use of rice and sugar as primary raw materials in beer production. The petition, filed by a group of licensed liquor retailers, has named the Commissioner General of Excise, officials of the Department of Excise, SL Standards Institution, the Attorney General, the IGP and several others as respondents. more..

May 18 (AD) Yellow flags should be used instead of Buddhist flags to direct people toward dansal food distribution events in future, Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs Asela Madusanka stated. He made this assertion at a media briefing held today regarding the State Vesak celebrations. Commissioner said that a circular had already been issued with Cabinet approval instructing that Buddhist flags should not be used for directing the public to dansal events, and instead yellow more..

May 18 (FT) The recent meeting between Prez Donald Trump and Prez Xi Jinping in Beijing was far more than another diplomatic engagement between two powerful leaders. It was a reminder that the world is entering a period of profound geopolitical transition. What made the meeting particularly significant was Prez Xi Jinping’s invocation of the Thucydides Trap, a concept that has increasingly become part of the global conversation surrounding the future of relations between US & China. more..

May 18 (Island) SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has launched a scathing attack on the govt for the 50% Customs duty surcharge on vehicle imports, accusing the latter of burdening the public with additional costs, despite its earlier promises to make vehicles more affordable. Premadasa said those who had once pledged to make a Vitz car available for Rs. 1.2 m had now moved in opposite direction by increasing duties on vehicles. more..

May 18 (AD) Muslims in Sri Lanka will celebrate the Haj festival (Eid al-Adha) on 28 May, the Colombo Grand Mosque has announced. Colombo Grand Mosque and the Moon Sighting Committee have stated that the crescent moon for the month of Dhul Hijjah —the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar- has not been sighted in SL today and therefore May 19 will mark the first day of the new month. Accordingly, Hajj festival will be observed on Thursday, 28 May, as it always falls on more..

May 18 (NW) A bill to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act has been published through an extraordinary gazette notification. The relevant bill, prepared on the instructions of the Minister of Defence, was published in the Govt Gazette on May 15. The draft legislation has been prepared to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009 and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The bill, titled the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Act, 2026, more..

May 18 (AD) Today marks 17 years since the defeat of the brutal LTTE terrorism that plagued SL for more than three decades. The war officially came to an end on May 18, 2009, following the death of LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran at the hands of SL military forces in the Nandikadal lagoon area. Roots of LTTE terrorism in SL date back to July 27, 1975, with the assassination of then Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah, regarded as one of the more..

May 18 (FT) People’s Bank has informed that an error relating to the application of the exchange rate in one currency within a specific remittance system, which resulted in certain customers receiving excess amounts during the period from May 2023 to March 2026, was recently identified and has since been fully rectified. Upon detection, the bank immediately initiated a detailed internal review and strengthened the relevant operational controls. The matter is currently being reviewed in consultation more..

May 18 (TM) Residents of Monaragala have alleged that several officials attached to the Monaragala Divisional Secretariat engaged in fraudulent practices while distributing Ditwah disaster compensation payments, including forcibly taking portions of compensation money from recipients. Some residents claimed they were asked to pay commissions in order to receive compensation that had already been approved for them. A female accused a Disaster Relief Services Officer more..