May 19 (Island) Former GOC of the 58 Division General Shavendra Silva found fault with successive govts since 2009 for failing to counter unsubstantiated war crimes accusations. The failure on the part of them led to punitive international measures against senior officers who spearheaded the offensive against the LTTE, the Gajaba veteran said. The former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) declared his angst at the country’s failure at more..

May 19 (CT) Police are examining CCTV footage related to a shooting targeting the vehicle of Thusitha Halloluwa, the former Executive Director of National Lotteries Board (NLB). Accordingly, four teams from the Colombo Crimes Division and the Narahenpita Police are reviewing security camera footage from the vicinity of the incident. The shooting took place on the night of 17 May near a private hospital on Narahenpita Circular Road, when unknown assailants opened fire on the jeep more..

May 19 (CT) Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has taken steps to immediately suspend Kaduwela Magistrate Chanima Wijebandara, according to sources from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). It is also reported that the official chamber of the Magistrate has been sealed. The decision to suspend the Magistrate was made following a special inquiry conducted into several complaints filed against her. As part of this investigation, the Registrar of the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court, more..

May 19 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to participate in the National War Heroes’ Day celebrations to be held today, in commemoration of the 16th anniversary of the war victory, according to the Ranaviru Seva Authority. Chairman of the Authority Brigadier Senarath Kohona (Rtd.) stated that the ceremony will be held under the patronage of the President in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief. more..

May 19 (FT) President Anura Kumara Disanayake, known as AKD, is reported to have warned the Opposition parties not to disrupt the formation of the local bodies by his NPP Govt while addressing the 60th anniversary of the main constituent party, JVP recently. He has said that there had been a clear mandate given by the people at the recently concluded Local Govt elections for NPP to head these bodies and it was the duty of the Govt to honour that mandate. more..

May 19 (FT) Local Govt election is a wakeup call to the Govt. It should realise, if it hasn’t already, that failure is not an option. However, failure is assured if it does not course correct. Govt must not forget that many that would not have traditionally voted for the JVP voted for the NPP for two main reasons; the lack of viable alternatives and because the NPP was viewed as a break from the venal, corrupt, patronage driven political culture and governance processes of the past. more..

May 19 (NW) The gunman arrested in the murder of a 19-year-old youth in Mount Lavinia recently had been previously remanded over another shooting incident in the same area, SSP Buddhika Manatunga said. He said the suspect had been involved in the shooting targeting the 19-year-old youth, less than 20 days since being released on bail in connection with the previous shooting incident. Suspect had been arrested as the main gunman in a shooting reported in Dehiwala area in Sept 2024 more..

May 19 (CT) British authorities are in contact with Sri Lankan officials following the arrest of a 21-year-old British woman at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), accused of attempting to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics into the country. According to a statement from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), “We are supporting a British woman who has been arrested in Sri Lanka and are in contact with her family and the local authorities.” more..

May 19 (AD) Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has been remanded until May 26 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court in connection with the controversial payment made to a Chinese firm for a consignment of substandard organic fertiliser in 2021. Aluthgamage appeared before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today, following an arrest warrant issued against him on May 16. The warrant was issued by more..

May 19 (CT) CEB said that under the proposed electricity tariff revision, rates will increase; however, they will still be lower than the prices charged at the beginning of this year. This was stated in a media release issued by the CEB, following the submission of its proposal for the electricity tariff revision for the second half of 2025 to the PUCSL. CEB explained that although the new tariffs will be higher than current rates, they will remain below the tariff levels implemented at the start of 2024. more..

May 19 (DM) The authorities representing the Road Development Authority (RDA) today informed the Court of Appeal that the proposed four-lane elevated highway will not be constructed through the Thalangama Wetlands. Counsel appearing on behalf of the RDA informed the court that while the elevated highway will not be built through the Thalangama Wetlands, alternative routes will be considered. These statements were made by the RDA in response to writ petitions filed by more..

May 19 (DM) The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed deep concern over a surge in online content, including social media posts, that it says unfairly targets judicial officers and threatens the integrity of the justice system. In a statement, the BASL noted that several such posts are being widely circulated and commented upon by members of the public in ways that are harmful to the reputation of the judiciary more..

May 19 (DM) While the authorities are struggling to cope with a huge salt shortage in the country more than 15,000 metric tons of harvested salt intended for collection have been washed away due to sudden heavy rains, according to salt producers in Puttalam. They state that the ongoing salt shortage across the country is primarily due to the continuous rainfall and the lack of sufficient sunlight needed for proper salt production. Puttalam contributes approximately 60% of total salt production. more..

May 19 (CT) Journalist Sivam Pakkiyanathan, who secured victory in the recently concluded Local Govt Election for the Batticaloa Municipal Council, is set to become the next Mayor of Batticaloa. ITAK has unanimously endorsed his appointment. The decision was made at a meeting held on 13 May at the residence of Batticaloa District MP Dr. I. Srinath. The meeting was attended by all 16 ITAK members elected to the Municipal Council, as well as Batticaloa District MPs I. Srinath, more..

May 19 (Nw) The Attorney General is scheduled to file indictments against 12 former armed forces officers in the Colombo High Court next week on charges of abducting and torturing Sri Lankan journalist Keith Noyahr, it was reported. The former armed forces officers are to face 30 charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to kidnap, assault and wounding. The indictments come 17 years after the incident reported near Keith Noyar’s residence in Dehiwala in May 2008. more..

May 19 (DM) Top economists are strongly advocating for SL and India to conclude an early harvest investment agreement within this year, viewing it as a critical first step towards a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This urgent call for fast-tracked investment protection is a central theme in the new report, The New Geopolitics and South Asia’s Trade Architecture - What Next? by Gateway House, authored by Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Amit Bhandari, and more..

May 19 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake paid a visit this morning to the Mihindu Seth Medura convalescent home in Attidiya, where he inquired into the health and wellbeing of the resident war heroes currently receiving long-term care at the facility. During the visit, President engaged warmly with the veterans, taking time to speak with them and offer his well wishes. He also observed their artwork and creative projects, more..

May 19 (AD) Suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon appeared before the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee today, which is tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct and serious abuse of office against him. Tennakoon’s appearance took place at 2 p.m. in Committee Room No. 8 of Parliament. This marks his first appearance before the committee, which has been conducting preliminary inquiries over the past few weeks and formally commenced its investigation today. more..

May 19 (TOI) Days after rebuffing Rohingya Muslims’ plea against deportation, the Supreme Court on Monday rejected a Sri Lankan national’s plea to settle in India after completing his seven-year imprisonment sentence under UAPA and said the country struggling with 140 crore population cannot be a dharamshala (free shelter) for foreign nationals. The SL national was arrested in 2015 for his links with LTTE, a separatist organization decimated by the SL Army. more..

May 19 (TS) A 21-year-old former cabin crew member from south London has been arrested in Sri Lanka after allegedly attempting to smuggle £1.5 million worth of cannabis into the country. Charlotte May Lee, from Coulsdon, was detained on Monday at BIA in Colombo after arriving on a flight from Bangkok. Sri Lankan authorities say they seized 46kg of Kush – a high-grade strain of cannabis – tightly packed in her luggage. more..

May 19 (DM) A troop of monkeys have reportedly been causing disturbances at the residence of the Acting Director General of Dept of Wildlife Conservation, located in the Kaduwela area. According to reports, the troop, which visits the house once a week, recently attempted to enter the bedrooms of the Director General’s daughters and even tried to make off with personal belongings. Witnesses state that the monkeys manage to open locked doors and engage in various more..

May 19 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake states that the country is not fully free even after the end of the war. Addressing the National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony held opposite the War Heroes Memorial in Battaramulla, President Dissanayake stated that the country does not yet have complete victors, and the only way to become true winners is by fully establishing law and peace in the country. Further elaborating, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated: more..

May 19 (AD) Former Commander of the SL Army, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, says he has not seen significant progress in the country’s military after the end of the war. He mentioned that a significant number of the tanks used during the war have been destroyed. He said: “I wholeheartedly disagree with the claim that there has been progress in the military over the past 16 years since the war ended. Let me give you an example: when I was in the war, we had 80 tanks. more..

May 19 (NW) Former MP of the SLPP, Milan Jayathilake, who was earlier arrested in connection with a case filed by the Bribery Commission, has been granted bail. Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court released the former MP on a surety of Rs. 1 million after being produced in court today. Former SLPP MP was arrested by the Bribery Commission in connection with an alleged irregularity in the approval of a land plan and for causing losses to the govt. The incident has been reported during more..

May 19 (ST) Saveen Semage, CEO of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), resigned with immediate effect yesterday, citing threats to his life. On May 9, CCTV in his home captured two men breaking in and walking around the residence for around half an hour from 11.30pm to midnight. They were observed peeping into the bedroom where Dr. Semage slept. His wife and children were also asleep in the house. more..

May 19 (NW) In line with the 16th Ranaviru Day commemorations, SL Army has promoted 10,093 non-commissioned officers (NCOs), effective May 19, 2025. According to the Army, 225 senior NCOs holding the rank of Warrant Officer II have been promoted to Warrant Officer I. Another 816 senior NCOs in the rank of Staff Sergeant have been elevated to Warrant Officer II. Additionally, 1,191 Sergeants have been promoted to Staff Sergeant. Among other promotions, 2,302 Corporals more..

May 19 (Island) Human rights lawyer and former member of the Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) Ambika Satkunanathan has warned that the NPP will face the prospect of further drop in its vote share in the North and the East in the next Provincial Council polls unless it takes remedial measures. Asked what would be the likely scenario at the forthcoming PC polls, Satkunanathan said that she didn’t want to speculate. However, if the NPP failed to acknowledge its mistakes and more..

May 19 (EN) SL’s opposition parties are forced to negotiate for an unlikely coalition to establish local councils in the bodies in which Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s ruling NPP does not have the majority amid threats by the Prez. In an unexpected twist, the ruling NPP has vowed to take control of several local govt councils despite not having a numerical majority in them. The development, which political observers warn more..

May 19 (NW) Hambantota Int'l Port (HIP) marked a significant milestone in its cruise operations, welcoming the Sphinx-class AIDAstella, the first vessel from AIDA Cruises to call at the port. The luxury liner, which called at the port during the Vesak weekend, is the seventh in a series of Sphinx class ships owned by the Cruise Line, HIP said in a statement. The AIDAstella, which sails under the Genoa, Italy flag, arrived from Malaysia carrying 2,000 passengers and 620 crew. more..

May 19 (NW) Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been released on 2 personal bails by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court in connection with a case that had been filed by the Bribery Commission over the misuse of state funds. Badulla Magistrate’s Court today released the MP on two personal bails of Rs. 01 million each concerning a case filed over the misappropriation of Rs. 01 million. MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake was arrested by the Bribery Commission, more..

May 20 (DM) A day before the govt held National War Heroes Commemoration at the National War Heroes Commemoration cenotaph in Sri J'pura Kotte, Tamil leaders particularly in the north commemorated what they call the Mullivaikkal Day to remember those Tamils killed in the three-decade long separatist war. When a group of people attempted to hold a Mullivaikal Day commemoration at the Wellawatte beach on Sunday, another group belonging to another ethnicity had barged more..

May 20 (DM) A new direction on a revised script of acclaimed director Prasanna Vithanage’s Sinhala language adaptation of Dario Fo’s play, Horu Samaga Heluwen, is currently being staged at two strategic locations across Colombo. This innovative theatrical experience divides the narrative between Flower Road in the city and Pelawatta in the suburbs, offering audiences a unique dual perspective on political maneuvering. Vithanage’s adaptation brings Fo’s satirical style to more..

May 20 (DM) In an interview with the Daily Mirror in the wake of tension between India and Pakistan, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha warned that India would not treat another terror attack as a law-and-order issue, but as an act of war. His comments were a clear signal that New Delhi’s tolerance for cross-border terrorism has ended. He said that Operation Sindoor is the established policy of India against terrorism. more..

May 20 (CT) I had initially intended to publish this article before the LG elections. However, I postponed it, concerned that my comments might be misinterpreted or politicised. Now that the elections have concluded and local representatives have been chosen, I believe the time is right to highlight some critical observations. If the NPP/JVP govt is truly committed to its vision of a Rich and Beautiful SL, as promised in its manifesto, it must welcome both praise and constructive criticism. more..

May 20 (CT) The announcement of Kaduwela Magistrate Chanima Wijebandara falling under investigation with the Magistrate’s official chamber being sealed was a surprise turn of events, and one that has brought the spotlight on conversations about the importance of an independent judiciary for the upholding of the rule of law. Like in any functioning democracy, Judiciary plays a critical role in government by upholding the laws established by the Legislature and holding all parties more..

May 20 (CT) On 9 May 2025, tragedy struck Sri Lanka’s armed forces when a SLAF Bell 212 helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir during a routine rehearsal for a Special Forces passing-out parade. On board were 12 military personnel — highly trained soldiers and airmen, each committed to serving their country. Six of them — four Special Forces soldiers and two SLAF crew members — lost their lives. more..