May 20 (EN) Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board has announced an insurance scheme for those engaged in fishing due to the hazardous nature of their work. Govt decided to introduce an insurance scheme to develop the fishing industry, the board said in a statement. “This insurance scheme will provide benefits to fishermen in the event of accidents, disabilities and loss of life, etc., that may occur to them while engaged in sea work due to adverse weather conditions or any other emergency.” more..

May 20 (CT) The CIABOC informed the Colombo High Court yesterday that it has recovered all previously misplaced documents related to a case filed against former Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne and another defendant. The Commission stated that the missing documents were found among files previously sent to the Ministry and others stored in its own archives. This follows an earlier Court date where the Commission had reported that several key documents were untraceable. more..

May 20 (CT) SL Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has issued a stern warning to the Govt, stating that its members will launch an indefinite strike if their long-standing demands are not addressed by the end of today. Association Chairman Sumedha Somaratne said, the executive committee is scheduled to convene tomorrow, to decide on initiating continuous trade union action unless the authorities present acceptable solutions. Association had previously staged a one-day strike from more..

May 20 (NF) Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, revealed alarming connections between prominent political figures and ten major organized crime syndicates operating in Sri Lanka. The revelations come amid a broader govt crackdown on drug trafficking, contract killings, and transnational criminal networks. The Minister made this statement while addressing the House on the govt’s ongoing efforts to combat organized crime. more..

May 20 (TM) Election Commission (EC) stated that the Govt is yet to consult them on holding Provincial Council (PC) Elections. PC Elections have not been held since 2014 due to a legal issue that arose following a legal amendment that UNF-led Govt from 2015 to 2020 attempted to bring in. When queried as to whether Govt had consulted them regarding the holding of the PC Elections, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that EC would be part of the process if the necessary arrangements are to be made. more..

May 20 (NW) Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), MP Mano Ganesan, has called on Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to address the root causes that caused the 30-year civil war in SL. MP Mano Ganesan made the appeal in a post on ‘X’, on the eve of the Victory Day and Mullivaaikkal Commemorations. He further said that the Sri Lankan national journey should reach the patriotic destination where Sri Lankans should be able to commemorate all those who died in the war. more..

May 20 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasinghe yesterday ordered the Police to submit a progress report by 23 June on the investigation into a school teacher accused of sexually abusing a schoolgirl from Kotahena, who later died by suicide. The directive was issued after the magistrate reviewed the information presented by the Police in Court. Police informed the Court that, following instructions from the DIG of Police, the case had been referred to more..

May 20 (DM) Ven. Katumuluwe Sumanarathana Thera of the Padeniya Rajamaha Vihara has been suspended from his position as Chief Sanghanayake of the Devamedi Hatpatuwa by the Malwatta Chapter for holding the Sihinaya programme on May 17 at the Padeniya Rajamaha Vihara. The decision was taken in view of the Thera’s conduct, which was deemed unbecoming of the traditions of the Buddha Sasana and in violation of directives issued by Karaka Sangha Sabha of the Malwatta Chapter. more..

May 20 (DM) Cabinet has approved a proposal to provide relief to low-income individuals affected by the recent increase in the withholding tax rate from 5% to 10%, introduced under the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2025, effective from April 1, 2025. The revision has led to witholding tax being charged even on individuals earning less than Rs. 1.8 million annually—the threshold for tax liability—causing financial hardship for low-income earners and small-scale depositors. more..

May 20 (CT) The Joint Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) has warned it will stage a token strike on Thursday (22), urging the Health Ministry to address five key demands, including the recruitment of graduates in Allied Health Sciences (AHS). In a letter to the Minister of Health and Media, JCPSM President Ravi Kumudesh, Secretary Chanaka Dharmawickreme, and Deputy Secretary Lesantha Chathuranga said that the Minister’s continued failure to resolve more..

May 20 (DM) It is not yet possible to say that the country's national security will be lost, but it could happen, former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa said at the War Heroes' Memorial in Battaramulla today. SLPP held their commemoration event this morning at the National War Heroes' Monument. “We fought for peace and to free the country and not to take over anyone. It is uncertain whether the National War Heroes’ Commemoration will continue to be held in the future. That decision lies with the current govt,” more..

May 20 (NF) Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered the son of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Ramith Rambukwella, to appear before the Bribery Commission tomorrow to provide a statement in connection with a corruption case involving the alleged misuse of over Rs. 8 million in public funds. The directive was issued by Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali during a court session where the former minister, currently in remand custody, was presented once again. more..

May 20 (DM) A suspected T56 assault rifle was recovered from a luxury apartment at the Havelock City housing complex in Colombo following a tip-off from a security officer, police said. The alert was raised after the officer noticed a 67-year-old female resident placing a suspicious-looking bag into her vehicle. Upon receiving the information, the Wellawatte Police conducted a search of the premises. Officers discovered a gold-coloured weapon inside a bag located on the back seat of the woman’s car. more..

May 20 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the relevant authorities to appoint a special committee, led by the Presidential Secretariat, to investigate alleged corruption and irregularities at SriLankan Airlines. The directive was issued during an extensive discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon, with the airline’s Board of Directors and representatives from all affiliated trade unions. The meeting lasted nearly four hours and focused on more..

May 20 (EN) L did not relax the import ban on salt imposed on the people by the state due to requests from industries, after an initial shipment, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said as the country is in the grip of a salt crisis. That continued rains which helped boost electricity generation but were going to reduce salt harvests were known from last year and plans were made to import industrial salt. “We first imported about 12,500 tonnes of salt,” more..

May 20 (NW) Minister Ananda Wijepala today informed Parliament about investigations done on possible life threats to SL politicians, including PM Harini Amarasuriya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. He said the PM’s Office had received an email containing death threats to PM Harini Amarasuriya. “An Additional Secretary of the PM’s Office has filed a complaint in this regard. We have requested a report from Google concerning the email. We have received the report,” more..

May 20 (AD) SL Twenty20 International skipper Charith Asalanka has been signed by Mumbai Indians as a replacement for the playoffs of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). Mumbai Indians announced three major replacement signings as they continue to remain in the race for the last IPL 2025 Playoffs spot alongside Delhi Capitals. Should they qualify for the last-four stage, MI are set to lose the services of wicket-keeper Ryan Rickelton, all-rounder Will Jacks and seamer Corbin Bosch to more..

May 21 (CT) The NPP govt needs to take a more proactive approach in effectively managing and resolving conflicts that occur within the country. The JVP just celebrated its 60th anniversary on May 14. Its leader reflected on the movement’s history of struggle and resilience. Two days later, the police intervened to disband and break up a protest outside the Ministry of Health in Colombo and arrested several participants for allegedly disrupting hospital activities. more..

May 21 (CT) SL took a quiet but meaningful step forward this week in its long and uneven journey towards environmental accountability. The proposed elevated expressway through the environmentally-sensitive Thalawathugoda Wetland will no longer go ahead, the Court of Appeal was informed on Monday (19). The decision was conveyed during the hearing of a fundamental rights petition (Case No. CA WRT 97/21) filed in 2021 by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) & several concerned residents. more..

May 21 (CT) In March 2021, the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry issued Clinical Practice Guidelines for Primary Care Doctors on the Identification and Management of Acute Dengue Infection, which undoubtedly played a significant role in reducing dengue-related deaths on the island. The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) has called on the President to focus directly on adopting advanced technologies more..

May 21 (DM) Modern democracies tend to be reluctant to use air power against insurgents because of the fear of causing collateral civilian damage and harming the bid to win the hearts and minds of the people. But that air power can play a critical role in counter insurgency warfare has been repeatedly proven both in the past and the present. More precisely, air power can be an effective adjunct in a coordinated all-services engagement with deadly non-state actors. more..

May 21 (ST) Just the other day our nice neighbours nearly blew themselves up with their nuclear playthings so that our egg-headed bureaucrats could sit back in their cosy chairs and tell each other how to spell their president’s name in the English language. Either we kill each other or misspell names hardly worth the salt we can no longer produce and need to import because our agglomeration of scientific maestros are balancing on some murunga attha or chasing monkeys more..

May 21 (TM) The future of the Vehicular Emission Test Trust Fund (VETTF) hangs in the balance as the Treasury, under new legislative reforms, moves to absorb decentralised public funds into the consolidated fund, stirring controversy and uncertainty over the continuation of key environmental regulatory functions. The directive comes under the newly enacted Public Financial Management Act No.44 of 2024, more..

May 21 (TM) My, my, my, our dear friend and president – AKD for short- after much huffing and puffing did put in an appearance at the govt-sponsored National Heroes Commemoration Ceremony (NHCC) on Monday. Prez Dissanayake after indicating that he would not attend the state-sponsored event ultimately not only put in an appearance, but made an impassioned speech calling for reconciliation. But sadly, his forces which are supposed to maintain law and order, more..

May 21 (TM) SL’s long-standing issues with its law enforcement agencies, subculture brutality, and abuse of authority from State institutions are well recorded. Therefore, this week’s statement released by the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) regarding custodial deaths came as no surprise. The HRCSL reported 49 deaths in police custody and 30 during confrontations from 2020 to May 2025. Commissioner of HRCSL Nimal Punchihewa also renewed calls for urgent reforms to restore more..

May 21 (FT) The SL Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP) will hold the highly anticipated National Convention on Quality and Productivity (NCQP) today and tomorrow at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo. It will bring together over 440 teams from more than 70 companies, each showcasing innovative approaches and achievements in quality and productivity enhancement. This event is set to be the largest gathering of quality professionals in SL. more..

May 21 (FT) Celebrating International Tea Day on 21 May, Emirates and Dilmah Tea will be presenting a complimentary pack of luxury leaf artisan teas to customers on all flights, commemorating a successful 33-year partnership, and more than 33 million cups of tea served every year. Emirates Lounges across the world will also offer crafted Dilmah tea cocktails and mocktails, as well as traditional hot teas paired with sweet treats. On Int'l Tea Day, customers in all classes more..

May 21 (Island) Former MP Gevindu Cumaratunga warned that Provincial Council (PC) elections could undermine the unitary status of the country as separatist forces were once again working overtime to break up the country with external help. That was clearly evident from the results of the recent local govt polls, especially in the North and East, with separatist elements garnering the majority of votes, he said. more..

May 21 (Island) The battle raging over local councils has taken a nasty turn. The govt and the Opposition are pulling out all the stops to seize control of the hung councils. They are apparently operating under the belief that the end justifies the means, and offering various inducements to the swing councillors holding the balance of power in a bid to secure their support. Their much-flaunted scruples and principles have fallen by the wayside. The govt is seeking to mitigate the political fallout o more..

May 21 (TM) Court of Appeal yesterday threw out a Contempt of Court case filed against Sports Director General (DG) Shemal Fernando, over his alleged failure to conduct elections for Sri Lanka Rugby, as per an agreement previously reached before the Colombo District Court. Delivering its order, comprising Justices Acting President of the Court of Appeal Mohamed Lafar Tahir and Priyantha Fernando, also instructed the withdrawal of the contempt charges against the DG concerned. more..

May 21 (Island) Sir David Attenborough has been an internationally recognised household name. On May 8, 2025, he did celebrate 99 years on this planet, and he remains as dynamic as ever. Fans of his span multiple generations, from the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers to Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and even Gen Alpha. On that account, it’s no surprise that Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. As a nature documentary narrator, more..

May 21 (DN) SL youth boxers despite facing defeat in the semifinals of the ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships, impressed with their performances and secured a total of 14 bronze medals so far, including three bronze medals after yesterday’s semi final bouts at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo. In the men’s 67kg category, Sanchith Jayanga Perera faced tough competition against Zhassulan Berdaly of Kazakhstan. Despite showing fighting spirit, Perera was defeated by more..

May 21 (DM) Global technology giant IBM gave thumbs up for SL’s efforts in digital transformation while implying the country has the right foundation to achieve its ambitions under the Digital Economy Strategy 2030. IBM India and South Asia Managing Director Sandip Patel, who is on a brief visit to the island this week commended the country, its path charted towards reaching a digital economy. “We see immense potential in SL’s Digital more..

May 21 (Island) A new cohort of apparel professionals passed out as the Brandix Corporate Campus (BCC) concluded its 2024 Convocation at the BMICH in Colombo recently. The event marked a significant milestone for BCC, as 146 diploma holders graduated — including the first batch from its flagship programme, the full-time Diploma in Fashion, Apparel, and Textiles. At a time when the apparel sector is undergoing rapid transformation amidst global uncertainties, more..

May 21 (DM) The tea industry showed renewed momentum in April 2025, with monthly production reaching 26.39 million kg, marking a year-on-year increase of 4.93 million kgs from 21.46 million kgs recorded in April 2024. All elevations; High, Mid, and Low Grown, posted gains for the month compared to the same period last year, signalling a broad-based recovery across the sector. When compared to April 2023’s 25.24 million kgs, this year’s output shows a more modest uptick of 1.15 million kgs. more..