May 30 (Island) IMF Mission Chief for SL, Evan Papageorgiou, yesterday said SL’s current monetary policy stance remains broadly appropriate, despite the CB's recent 100-basis point policy rate hike. Addressing the media, virtually, from Washington, he said the country’s macroeconomic recovery remained on track, supported by stabilising prices, improving foreign reserves, and continued economic momentum. more..

May 30 (NF) In a message issued to mark the Vesak festival, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stressed the importance of inner spiritual peace as the foundation for achieving peace in the wider world. On a Post on X, he said Buddhism teaches that, in order to establish peace in the external world, inner spiritual peace within the individual must first be secured. President also mentioned that we must recognise that this inward and peaceful approach, as advocated by Buddhism in guiding more..

May 30 (NW) Former Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Professor Kapila Perera, has denied reports that his resignation was linked to a recent Supreme Court ruling against him. Addressing his farewell event, Perera said he had repeatedly requested permission to leave his post since October last year, as he needed to return to his university position, with the upcoming academic year being his final year before retirement. He stated that he had informed more..

May 30 (OCCPR) Nearly 300 SL monks have been accused of abusing children in the last three years, leading to charges against nearly 30 of them, the country’s child protection agency has disclosed. The revelation by SL’s National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), which was made in response to a freedom of information request by OCCRP, comes as the Buddhist-majority country grapples with the recent arrest of more..

May 30 (NW) Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court ordered the arrest of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Bhashwara Gunaratne, Managing Director Rumi Jauffer, and several others over the alleged misuse of Rs. 7.8 million from the Tourism Promotion Authority during the 2014 Uva Provincial Council election campaign. Magistrate Pasan Amarasena directed the CID to arrest and produce the suspects in court, following submissions that more..

May 30 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has defended former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa following questions over his continued stay in the US despite facing scrutiny over several legal and corruption-related matters in Sri Lanka. Namal Rajapaksa rejected claims that Basil Rajapaksa was avoiding the law, stating that he does not believe any member of the Rajapaksa family is evading legal proceedings. “People in the Govt speak to my uncle more often than I do. more..

May 30 (DN) Minister Bimal Ratnayake instructed the relevant officials to immediately seek the necessary legal advice regarding over 450 drivers who have been suspended due to various disciplinary issues and to reconsider the procedures related to further course of disciplinary actions. He said this during a discussion on the drivers who were suspended with salaries at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Transport, Highways and Urban Development held in Parliament. more..

May 30 (DM) A series of policy decisions have been taken to establish a new network of Model Cities across Sri Lanka under the Government’s Clean Sri Lanka initiative, with a focus on digital services, environmental sustainability and strong social values. The decisions were made during a meeting of the Clean Sri Lanka Task Force held yesterday (28) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. more..

May 30 (MB) Each year, the arrival of greater flamingos transforms the lagoons of northern SL into a mesmerizing spectacle of pale pink and white. Their synchronized movements across the shallow waters of Mannar attract birdwatchers, photographers, tourists and nature lovers from around the country and abroad. But behind this beauty lies a growing crisis. Recently, three flamingos were killed in Mannar after more..

May 30 (EN) Maharaja Media Network, part of the Capital Maharaja Group, has signed an agreement with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, broadening SL’s media industry engagement with the wider Indo-Pacific region. “This is an arrangement that will cover co-production, it will cover sharing of content, and it will cover greater cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region in producing stories that will speak to both of our countries,” said Matthew Duckworth of more..

May 30 (DN) Veteran professional golfer N. Thangaraja produced a superb final-round performance to win the Sri Lanka Open Championship 2026 in commanding fashion at the Royal Colombo Golf Club yesterday, finishing eight shots clear of his nearest rival on the par-71 course. Thangaraja, one of SL’s most experienced golfers, sealed the prestigious title with a brilliant final-round score of 64, the lowest round of the tournament, to finish with an aggregate of 266 over 4 rounds. more..

May 30 (EN) Sri Lanka’s construction sector activity declined in April 2026 amidst rising raw material costs and labour shortages, registering an index value of 45.7, according to a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank. “Many survey respondents cited input shortages, particularly of petrochemical-based raw materials, and rising costs stemming from the conflict in the Middle East as challenges to the timely execution of planned work,” the central bank said. more..

May 30 (DM) Sri Lanka has reiterated the importance of maintaining the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace, cooperation and shared prosperity amid evolving global security challenges. Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd.) made the remarks while addressing the 14th International Meeting of High-Ranking Officials Responsible for Security Matters held in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday. During his address, the Defence Secretary highlighted the growing geopolitical more..

May 30 (EN) SL’s external current account recorded a deficit in April 2026 compared to the surplus recorded during January through March 2026, central bank said. “This was mainly driven by the widened trade deficit, a moderation in the services surplus, and higher primary income account deficit, despite an increase in workers’ remittances compared to a year earlier.” The merchandise trade deficit widened in Apr more..

May 30 (ST) National Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala are being improved with better animal enclosures, beautification, and landscaping. Zoo Director General Dr Chandana Rajapaksa said that improvements have begun. Dehiwala Zoo is over 90 years old, and Rs 300m will be spent for the revamp. Annual projects for 2026 and 2027 have already been initiated. He explained that the overall revamp also includes restoring the roads and pathways to enclosures, cleaning, rearranging enclosures, more..

May 30 (DN) Former SL fullback Lakala Perera has been appointed as the backs coach of the SL national 15-a-side rugby team, bringing his valuable playing and coaching experience to the national setup. Perera, a former St. Peter’s College star who also represented Havelocks Sports Club, CH and FC, and the SL national team, earned a reputation as one of the country’s finest fullbacks during his playing career. Experienced rugby coach has been serving as a coach of St. Joseph’s College more..

May 30 (Island) Iranian Ambassador in Colombo Dr. Alireza Delkhosh says the Islamic Republic of Iran remains fully prepared to face US-Israeli aggression. In an interview with The Island at the Iranian Embassy, in Colombo, Dr. Delkhosh emphasised that in case of a fresh outbreak of hostilities, the aggressors, as well as those who provided bases for unprovoked military campaign, should be prepared to face consequences. more..

May 30 (FT) VietJet Air officially marked the opening of its Colombo office at a special ceremony inaugurated by Vietnam Ambassador to SL Trinh Thi Tam. The airline’s operations in Sri Lanka will be represented by its General Sales Agent (GSA) Andrew The Aviation Company Ltd., under the leadership of its Chairman Mahen Kariyawasan. Colombo office will serve as a key point for passenger services, trade partnerships, travel agent support and operational coordination in SL. more..

May 30 (TM) SL’s economic stability could face a significant long-term impact if oil prices are not adjusted effectively in line with the country’s economic conditions, said Advocata Institute CEO Dhananath Fernando. He stressed that failing to adjust prices could trigger a cycle of rupee depreciation, rising inflation, and economic instability. “Oil prices have a significant impact on inflation in the country, and if oil prices aren’t managed effectively, the long-term impact is more..

May 30 (DM) CSE closed on a strong positive note on 29th May 2026, supported by renewed investor confidence following the latest round of corporate earnings releases. Improved earnings performance across several listed companies encouraged buying interest, helping the market sustain upward momentum throughout the session despite mixed movements in selected heavyweight counters. Investor participation strengthened during the day, with both turnover and share volume levels more..

May 30 (CI) Batter Vishmi Gunaratne, wristspinner Shashini Gimhani and seamer Kawya Kavindi have been picked in SL's squad of 15 for the Women's T20 World Cup in England starting on June 12. Chamari Athapaththu was named captain of the team and will be representing SL in her tenth T20 World Cup. Rashmika Sewwandi, Dewmi Vihanga, Inoka Ranaweera were left out of the squad that played the series against Bangladesh earlier this month. Gimhani, 17, is an ambidextrous more..

May 30 (TM) While it is somewhat more than probable that a considerable portion of society would be kicked into abject poverty in no time if social security programmes like Aswesuma are not launched to support them in our country, a simple yes or no to the question of whether these programmes are practical or not is not necessarily enough. On the other hand, it is not only a stereotype to say that most in the country more..

May 30 (FT) Public institutions across the world are under increasing pressure to perform. Citizens expect faster services, greater transparency, and higher standards of accountability. In response, many governments have focused on improving efficiency—streamlining processes, reducing costs, digitising services, and optimising workflows. While these efforts are necessary, they are no longer sufficient. Efficiency, by itself, is a concept rooted in a simpler era—one where challenges more..

May 30 (TM) India and SL are separated by a narrow strait, but connected by a far deeper civilisational continuum that is still not fully appreciated on either side of the Palk Strait. While SL has its own distinct identity and historical evolution, its cultural, religious, linguistic, and mythological foundations are deeply interwoven with India. These connections span both North and South India and are reflected across both of SL’s principal communities—the Sinhalese and the Tamils. more..

May 30 (DN) Hatred ceases not by hatred, but by love alone. These immortal words of the Buddha resonate even more strongly this Vesak, as we are living through three major wars – US-Iran, Israel-Lebanon and Russia-Ukraine, apart from around 50 other conflicts around the world. These wars have claimed thousands of lives, mainly because we have failed to understand one another across various man-made boundaries. The fear of the Other seems to have taken over our very lives. more..

May 30 (Island) Joint Opposition (JO) has submitted a petition to the CIABOC, calling for the suspension of CIABOC Director General Ranga Dissanayake and a high-level probe into his allegedly arbitrary and biased conduct. It has claimed that Dissanayake is misusing his position to further the interests of the ruling NPP led by the JVP, and the integrity of the CIABOC investigations has been undermined by his political bias and arbitrary actions. There are arguments for and against more..

May 30 (CT) Sri Lanka is recognised as one of 36 global biodiversity hotspots in the world and boasts the highest species concentration in Asia and high levels of endemism, especially in the wet zone and southwestern region, with 43% of indigenous vertebrates being endemic. The unique biodiversity in the island includes tropical rainforests, wetlands (like Muthurajawela), mangroves, and coral reefs, which serve as crucial habitats. more..

May 30 (CT) It’s Indeed an honour and privilege to pen this write-up on Buddha; The Enlightened One, and the essence of Dhamma, and his boundless compassion and loving kindness towards all beings – an epitome of humanity, peace and enlightenment. As the Buddhists commemorate and celebrate the Thrice Blessed Day of Vesak on 30th May, there’s absolutely no better time than now to reflect on Buddha’s infinite wisdom, spiritual awakening and timeless Buddhist teachings. more..

May 30 (GV) Govt led by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced plans to reintroduce a Dharma Court with authority to make determinations regarding disciplinary issues involving Buddhist monks, based on requests made by the Mahanayake Theros, through amendments to the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance No. 19 of 1931. Announcement has triggered significant debate across political, legal and social spheres. Various concerns and objections began emerging, more..

May 30 (DN) More than 2,500 years ago, beneath the shade of a Bodhi tree in northern India, a man sat down and refused to rise until he had seen reality exactly as it is. When he finally opened his eyes, he was no longer simply a man. He was the Buddha, the Awakened One. What he achieved that night, and what he spent the next 45 years of his life teaching, stands as one of the most remarkable accomplishments in the history of more..

May 30 (DM) Child sexual abuse has become an urgent concern, with a troubling number of children subjected to physical and sexual abuse within religious institutions. In recent decades, reports of such misconduct have emerged across various faiths, including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. Often, those in leadership roles within these organisations have either hidden the incidents or used their authority to impede investigations, allowing the perpetrators to get away. more..

May 30 (DM) Going by recent media analyses, some SL commentators seem to think that gains by England’s far right Reform Party, and losses by the ruling Labour Party, point to Nigel Farage’s Reform being the dominant force in British politics from now on. But a closer look at elections results shows that this isn’t a foregone conclusion. At first glance, the results of English Council elections held on May 07 look shocking. Labour lost more than half of its council seats, while Reform was more..