May 8 (FT) Close on the heels of the $ 2.5 million phishing attack, the Treasury has now admitted that duplicate Aswesuma welfare payments amounting to Rs. 248.79 million were mistakenly made to thousands of beneficiaries after a payment file was uploaded twice during processing of festive allowances. In a statement issued by the Welfare Benefits Board, which comes under Finance, Planning & Economic Dev. Ministry, more..

May 8 (EN) Sri Lanka and Türkiye discussed on the progress in defence and security cooperation when the top officials of the two nations met for the second round of political consultation in Ankara. The second round of political consultations between the two countries was held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye in Ankara. “Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining regular political dialogue to review progress and identify new avenues for collaboration, more..

May 8 (DM) Sri Lanka currently has around 2,500 registered thalassemia patients, with an additional 45 to 60 children newly diagnosed each year, Non-Communicable Diseases Unit of the Health Ministry Director Dr. Srini Alahapperuma said. Addressing the media, she said that the country operates 15 dedicated thalassemia treatment centres, while carrier status can be identified through a simple full blood count test, enabling early detection and intervention. more..

May 8 (NW) Vehicles that fail to comply with maintenance orders issued over excessive smoke emissions will be blacklisted, Dept of Motor Traffic said. Dept said owners who ignore maintenance directives or avoid follow-up inspections could face major difficulties when obtaining revenue licences and other vehicle-related documentation. Officials warned that black smoke emissions are not merely a technical fault but more..

May 8 (Island) A special collaboration between the Presidents’s Fund and the Janashakthi Foundation, aimed at expanding healthcare facilities available to children under the age of 18, was launched on Wednesday. Implemented under the theme Building a Healthier Today for a Winning Tomorrow, this national initiative has been introduced through the joint efforts of the President’s Fund and the Janashakthi Foundation with the objective of reducing the the financial barriers more..

May 8 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa raised serious concerns in Parliament over the lack of transparency and efficiency in the country’s fuel procurement process, calling for immediate clarification on alleged irregularities involving the CPC. Speaking under Standing Order 27(2), Premadasa questioned the registration of new fuel suppliers over the past 12 months, the identities of those suppliers, and whether any had been excluded from the distribution process. more..

May 8 (DN) A business meeting between the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) delegation and the SL Export Development Board (EDB) was successfully held on 6th May at the EDB premises in Colombo, reaffirming the longstanding economic ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The meeting was headed by Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the EDB, and attended by Muhammad Raza, Senior Vice President of KCCI, distinguished members of the KCCI delegation, more..

May 8 (FT) Mila Fashion Ltd, has clarified that it has not ceased operations, following recent media reports concerning its Welioya facility. Company stated that it is currently carrying out a temporary and structured operational consolidation as part of a broader business continuity measure, in response to global market conditions affecting the apparel sector. Company confirmed that the process does not amount to a closure of business, and that no employee has been unlawfully terminated more..

May 8 (FT) President of Viet Nam and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm arrived in Sri Lanka last night on a State visit undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The visit coincides with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam and follows Prez Dissanayake’s State visit to Viet Nam in 2025. more..

May 8 (Island) Supreme Court yesterday directed the Election Commission to take necessary steps in accordance with the law to conduct elections for the Kalmunai Municipal Council and the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council. A three-judge bench comprising Janak de Silva, Priyantha Fernando and Sampath Abayakoon delivered the ruling in a Fundamental Rights petition filed by two residents of Sainthamaruthu. The petitioners said they were residents within Sainthamaruthu UC more..

May 8 (FT) ITAK Leader Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam called on the Govt to provide clearer solutions to several issues affecting pension beneficiaries and public sector employees. Rasamanickam said he had raised three questions with the Minister of Public Admin relating to pension payments and pension eligibility. The issues raised included the removal of withholding tax on pension payments amid the economic crisis, establishment of a Pension Fund more..

May 8 (NW) SL Police has denied media reports claiming that the owner of a bird park in Hambantota was acquitted in a case involving the illegal importation of high-powered motorcycles. In a clarification issued on Thursday, police said media reports stating that the suspect had been cleared by court were inaccurate. According to police, the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) is continuing legal proceedings against the bird park owner from Nagarawewa, Hambantota, more..

May 8 (Island) BETSS.COM, the digital platform of Sporting Star, is ushering SL’s horse racing into a new era through a landmark three-year title sponsorship of the BetSS Governor’s Cup and BetSS Queen’s Cup. This long-term commitment by Sports Entertainment Services (Pvt) Ltd, operators of BETSS.COM, marks a significant step in elevating two of the country’s most prestigious racing events—enhancing their visibility, engagement, and relevance in a digitally connected world. more..

May 8 (DM) The proposed amendments to the Inland Revenue Act have sparked debate among tax experts, particularly over a provision that could limit the ability of authorities to scrutinise tax returns. Under the new framework, taxpayers who increase their tax payments by at least 20% compared to the previous year, and submit an affidavit declaring no fraud, deviation or willful default, would have their returns accepted more..

May 8 (DN) Dambulla fought back strongly to record a 119-run victory over Colombo and win the NSL Four-Day Tournament Championship in yesterday’s final at the RP Premadasa Stadium. Chasing a target of 299 runs, Colombo were bowled out for 179 as Dambulla produced a superb bowling performance. Paceman Mohammed Shiraz led the attack with impressive figures of 4 for 38 in 16.2 overs, while young paceman Nisala Abeyratne provided excellent support with 2 for 23. more..

May 8 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to swiftly introduce all necessary reforms, including amendments to existing laws, in order to eliminate the drug menace from the country. The President issued these instructions while attending the meeting of the Ratama Ekata National Steering Council convened this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss efforts aimed at eradicating the drug menace, the PMD reported. more..

May 8 (FT) PayPal is set to launch in SL on 15 May, in a move expected to expand formal digital payment channels, initially starting with B2B payments to exporters. Initial rollout will focus on enabling inward payments to exporters, with several local banks already appointed as agents for the service. While an official announcement is yet to be made, sources said the launch is currently scheduled for 15 May, with Prez Secretariat likely to host the event. more..

May 8 (NW) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala says claims regarding the awarding of a tender for SL’s e-passport project are completely false. “The statement made regarding the e-passport is completely false because no tender has been awarded so far,” the minister said, adding that the procurement process is still ongoing. He noted that the e-passport tender process began under the previous govt and that several companies had since sought legal action over the matter. more..

May 8 (DM) Health authorities have ruled out the risk of a major viral meningitis outbreak in Deniyaya for now, while continuing to closely monitor the situation following a rise in suspected infections among schoolchildren, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Palitha Karunapema said a total of 47 students have been suspected of infection so far, but only 15 cases have been confirmed as viral meningitis. “Samples from the remaining students have been sent for further laboratory testing,” he noted. more..

May 8 (FT) SL Insurance Corporation General Ltd (SLICGL), said it has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first general insurance company in SL to surpass Rs. 30 billion in Gross Written Premium (GWP). It said the landmark achievement sets a new benchmark for the industry and demonstrates SLICGL’s unmatched strength, credibility, and customer trust. In addition to this record-breaking performance, SLICGL has strengthened its no. 1 position in SL’s general insurance market for 2025, more..

May 8 (FT) Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha yesterday urged the Govt to take urgent measures to address what he described as widening system-wide governance and financial security risks, warning that recent cyber breaches, banking frauds, and institutional lapses could undermine investor confidence and economic stability. Musthapha referred to the reported $ 2.5 million Treasury phishing scam and alluded to the Rs. 13.2 billion theft linked to National Development Bank (NDB), more..

May 8 (FT) Federation of Renewable Energy Developers (FRED) yesterday demanded urgent intervention from the Finance Ministry and Treasury to release at least 50% of the Rs. 10 billion in unpaid dues owed by the National System Operator Ltd, (NSO) for electricity supplied since Dec 2025. FRED representatives said the outstanding amount has now escalated to Rs. 10 billion, with an additional Rs. 2.5 billion becoming due every month, placing nearly 400 renewable energy companies, more..

May 8 (Island) Sri Lanka’s construction industry has long been a central pillar of sustainable development. From roads and bridges to homes, schools, and hospitals, construction shapes the country’s physical landscape and supports economic progress. As the nation continues to rebuild and modernise, the demand for construction materials and infrastructure keeps rising. However, this growth also brings a significant environmental cost. Cement, steel, bricks, aggregates, and more..

May 8 (Island) Pity the land that needs heroes, Brecht has famously said. Some countries have gone to the extent of elevating political greenhorns to positions of power, expecting them to play messianic roles, simply because of their popularity in the tinsel world and adeptness at uttering Goebbelsian lies and making Machiavellian promises. Tamil Nadu voted overwhelmingly for Vijay (Joseph Vijay) recently. However, his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) could not secure more..

May 8 (DN) Eleven years have passed since one of the most controversial financial scandals in SL’s modern history shook public confidence in State institutions. The Central Bank bond scam of 2015, which unfolded under the good governance administration, remains etched in the national consciousness as a moment when trust placed by millions of ordinary citizens appeared to be deeply betrayed. At the heart of the matter were the EPF and ETF, financial lifelines built over decades by more..

May 8 (ST) It was apparently a clever and deceptive email address that resulted in some of the money in the US$2.5 million Treasury heist being siphoned off to an unknown entity, police investigations have revealed. It was disclosed in court that while the official email address was exportfinance.gov.au, it had been replaced with exportfinanceav.com catching an unsuspecting Finance Ministry official (or was it deliberate?) napping in making the transfer. more..

May 8 (SO) The mysterious US$ 2.5 million money heist linked to a Govt loan repayment to Australia earlier this year remains under investigation, with more questions than answers. Believed to have stemmed from a serious cyber security lapse, the incident is being described as unprecedented, marking the first known breach of its kind on an external debt repayment handled by the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) or the Treasury of SL. more..

May 8 (DN) Sri Lanka and VietNam have religious and cultural links dating back several centuries, which have been bolstered in recent decades by robust diplomatic ties sans any outstanding issues. Most recently, the close religious connection was highlighted by the Global Peace Walk, which was led by renowned VietNamese Bhikkhu Ven. Pannakara Thera. Now, To Lam, President of VietNam, is visiting Sri Lanka to give a further boost to the ties between the two nations. more..

May 8 (TM) We live in the age of political communication. It is not just growing; it is spiralling. Politicians now think twice before they speak — sometimes even before they type. On 19 September 1952, standing at the City Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, US, Presidential candidate Adlai Ewing Stevenson the 2nd said: “If they would stop telling lies about us, we would stop telling the truth about them.” Seventy-three years on, that line still does most of the hard work. more..

May 8 (SO) A tall and commanding figure, Ex-Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne is a man of many accomplishments. A Naval officer with nearly 40 years of service in the SL Navy, he is a decorated war veteran with four gallantry medals and the founder of the Navy’s elite Special Boat Squadron. Since his retirement, Wijegunaratne’s career has also extended beyond the military, serving as a High Commissioner under the Govt of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe more..

May 8 (CT) There is a looming crisis before us. As an agricultural nation, we should fear the disruption of fossil oil and fertilizer as our crops cannot produce without them and our fleet of tractors cannot function without them. Sadly, this dependency was for seen. The national newspapers carried the following article in the Observer in 1977, warned of high energy dependent agriculture. It bears repetition today because the stakes are much higher. A case-in-point is the miracle rice that gives more..

May 8 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s remarks at the May Day rally regarding a court judgment expected on May 25 have triggered a controversy that goes far beyond day-to-day politics. What may have appeared to supporters as a politically charged statement has instead opened a serious debate about judicial independence, separation of powers and the constitutional limits that should guide those who occupy the highest office in the country. Addressing the rally, Prez referred to a pending case and more..