May 25 (TM) Hydropower sales have registered a sharp 61% decline in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period last year, Govt statistics reveal. Sales fell to Rs. 434,406 million, down from Rs. 1,119,999 million in Q1 2024 – a decrease of Rs. 685,593 million. In such a backdrop, the CEB has incurred significant operational losses and proposed an 18.3% increase in electricity tariffs for the final seven months of this year. more..

May 25 (Island) A Master of Public Financial Management (MPFM) Degree Programme 2025/26, jointly conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA SL), and it’s public sector wing, the Association of Public Finance Accountants of Sri Lanka (APFASL), was inaugurated recently in Colombo, said a release from CA Sri Lanka. The event was graced by Tishan Subasinghe, Vice President of CA SL; Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary to the Treasury; more..

May 25 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his condolences following the death of veteran actress Malini Fonseka, whom he described as a true icon of Sri Lankan cinema whose grace and talent inspired generations. Fonseka passed away in the early hours today (24) at the age of 78, while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. “Deeply saddened by the passing of Malani Fonseka, a true icon of SL cinema whose grace and talent inspired generations.” more..

May 25 (DM) Sri Lanka is currently grappling with a major outbreak of the Chikungunya viral disease, marking the most significant resurgence of the virus in the country in nearly 20 years, according to renowned virologist Professor Neelika Malavige. Sharing the findings on social media, Prof Malavige revealed that whole-genome sequencing was conducted on the virus strain using the Oxford Nanopore analysis system. Results confirmed that the strain currently circulating in SL belongs more..

May 25 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the govt is taking necessary actions to enhance the facilities and professional standard within the healthcare sector, and that expecting a compassionate discharge of duties from the nurses and midwives. The PM made these remarks while addressing a ceremony held today (24) at Temple Trees to deliver the official appointments to 3,147 nurses in the health sector, according to the PM’s Media Division. more..

May 25 (TM) As the Ministry of Defence wraps up its sweeping initiative to recall all civilian firearms for verification and reclassification, officials confirm that only 33 registered weapons remain unreturned, with most attributed to licence holders currently overseas. The Govt had previously issued 1,697 licensed firearms, leaving just a handful outstanding. As such, the recall operation has thus far received 1,664 firearms. more..

May 25 (ST) SL Police have mobilised support for Anudi Gunasekara, daughter of SSP Hemantha Gunsasekara, as she competes in the 72nd Miss World pageant. A congratulatory message was officially shared this week, recognising her as Sri Lanka’s representative at the international event. A circular issued by the Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya was shared with Senior DIGs, DIGs, commanding officers, directors, OICs, and headquarters inspectors across the country. more..

May 25 (ST) A Bribery Commission raid at the Motor Traffic Department on Friday resulted in the detection of Rs. 4.1 million in cash in the office of a deputy commissioner, believed to be bundled for distribution among selected staff later in the day as part of collections from private parties during the week. Investigators from the CIABOC had found the cash packed in packets and ready for distribution when they raided the premises armed with a search warrant. more..

May 25 (ST) One major strength of JVP-led NPP has been its supreme organisational ability. These skills were widely instrumental in helping to carry Anura Kumara Dissanayake to the presidency last year at a time propelling the party from virtual obscurity to power and place. Indeed, when journalists from this newspaper were covering the election, it was quite clear that NPP was leaps and bounds ahead of more..

May 26 (DM) From a military expert’s perspective, this article seeks to illuminate the fundamental, indeed irreconcilable, differences between the Sri Lankan soldier and the LTTE terrorist, dissecting their purpose, authority, roles, legal standing, societal impact, ultimate acceptance on both national and international stages, and the controversial statement made by a govt deputy minister equating soldiers with LTTE terrorists which underpins the state and security apparatus. more..

May 26 (CT) The legendary actress Malini Fonseka, often known as the Queen of Sinhala Cinema, will bid adieu to the nation today, leaving a great void in the Sinhala film industry. Her grace, extraordinary talent, unique beauty, and unmatchable personality were loved by the entire nation. She was the first Sri Lankan actor or actress to win an international award. Malini’s work in the 1960s and 1970s represented the golden era of Sinhala cinema. She even acted in South Indian films. more..

May 26 (CT) With the increase in the number of road traffic accidents and the highest death toll as a result of it, Govt realises the necessity and importance of addressing this issue in order to safeguard human lives from falling victim to road traffic accidents. Ceylon Today spoke to some local people in different parts of the country to learn their views about the increasing road traffic accidents and how they view it and more..

May 26 (DM) The south west monsoon period will commence during the last week of this month. The rains are of course a necessary part of our agriculture-driven economy and no one wishes the monsoon will bring us less rainfall, especially in the paddy growing areas of the country. During times the local kings held sway in this country, the boast of one of the more famous kings (Parakramabahu) was that not a single drop of rain should wash away into the sea without benefitting the people of SL. more..

May 26 (CT) The modernist approaches to acting and theories pertaining to actor’s work have always been fascinated by the ways how the actor represents certain meanings, images, and values pertaining to a particular social or cultural context. Actor’s body as a device of acting or a tool of communication has been defined as a projector or rather in some extreme situations, a marionette of an author whose artistic practices and aesthetic sentiments are brought forward to spectators. more..

May 26 (TM) SL’s sugar industry is on the brink of collapse as thousands of metric tonnes of locally produced brown sugar remain stuck in storage, unable to reach the market due to a failed Govt-appointed distribution system. With the new harvesting season underway, Lanka Sugar Company faces a critical shortage of storage space and mounting financial pressures, including delayed salaries for employees and unpaid dues to more..

May 26 (TM) Education is a broadly accepted basic human right that helps raise men and women out of poverty, level inequalities and ensure sustainable development of all communities. Health is also a well-recognised human right. Without education, there will be little public health, and with limited public health, there will be little change for education for all. There is a shortage in access to higher education and a shortage of doctors in Sri Lanka today. Thousands of professionals including more..

May 26 (Island) Road discipline reflects a nation’s overall level of discipline and orderliness. It is a crucial indicator of our collective behaviour as motorists, and, unfortunately, it is an area where our society falls short, much like in other aspects of human conduct. The current state of road discipline has reached such a low depth that it is bound to leave a negative impression on tourists and other visitors to this country. For many foreigners arriving on our shores, their initial experience more..

May 26 (ST) The need to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House is a requirement all MPs are asked to adhere to, yet time and again, whichever Parliament is elected, there are always occasions where MPs cross the line, leading to ugly exchanges across the aisle. So it proved during this Parliament week as well, when several MPs on the govt and opposition benches got into unseemly exchanges that diverted attention from the main Parliamentary business of the day. more..

May 26 (FT) Making remarkable strides in global expansion, Prima KottuMee has introduced its Korean Ramen noodles to several prominent markets, including Australia, Italy, Maldives, UAE & UK. This milestone represents a pivotal moment in the brand’s evolution as it continues to captivate global audiences with its bold flavours and high standards of quality. Building on the success of Prima KottuMee Korean Ramen in SL, this int'l rollout aligns with the massive surge in more..

May 26 (TM) Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) claimed that proposed Bill to amend the SL Electricity Act No. 36 of 2024 curtails the rights of electricity consumers and landowners, and also discourages electricity generation at the lowest possible cost. The relevant Bill was gazetted on 16 May and subsequently tabled in the Parliament. ECA General Secretary, Sanjeewa Dhammika alleged that the Bill goes against more..

May 26 (Island) Former Minister Duminda Dissanayake has been remanded in custody in connection with a T-56 assault rifle with some gold-coloured parts, taken into custody at an apartment complex in Colombo. The police have said they are conducting further investigations to find out whether the firearm has been used in criminal activity. Crime and politics are joined at the hip, in Sri Lanka. Many politicians are believed to have undeclared firearms in their possession. One can only hope that more..

May 26 (FT) SL Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the NZ High Commission, successfully conducted a pivotal Awareness Session on Market Access for Export Agricultural Products to the New Zealand Market at the EDB premises in Colombo. The session brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including exporters, producers, Government agencies, and industry professionals. This initiative aimed to equip participants with comprehensive knowledge more..

May 26 (PMD) A meeting between Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake and the Joint Association of Performing Artists of SL was held today (25). Prez praised the efforts of outdoor performance artists in reviving cultural engagement, particularly in rural areas where communities have been deprived of access to cultural life. He emphasised that alongside the govt’s economic development programmes, enriching the cultural lives of rural citizens is vital to alleviating their hardships. more..

May 26 (DN) Rashmi Mudalige and Savinaka Weerasekara emerged open women’s and men’s champions in the Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA) All Island Badminton Championships concluded yesterday at the Mercantile Badminton courts at Col 7. It was a superb performance by Rashmi Mudalige who bagged a triple crown at the tournament. Top seed shuttler defeated Vidara Vidanage in two straight sets 21-17, 21-12 at the women’s singles final while Rashmi partnered more..

May 26 (ST) Workers have been left in limbo following the abrupt closure of a sewing factory within the Katunayake FTZ, leading to the laying off of some 1,400 workers, some of whom have worked for almost two decades. “I went in expecting to finish my shift at 7 pm like I have done for most of the past 19 years, but suddenly they walked in and told us to pack up and leave at 5 pm,” said a 49-year-old worker who claims that more..

May 26 (DN) Former Senior DIG and one-time Special Task Force Commandant, M.R. Latheef has been appointed as the Chairman of a newly restructured five-member committee to run Sri Lanka Rugby until its much-delayed Annual General Meeting is held. The decision comes after Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage amended his earlier gazette notification within just 24 hours of its issue, following legal concerns and criticism from the media and rugby stakeholders. more..

May 26 (DM) SL’s apex apparel body has sounded the alarm on the growing burden of operational costs, calling for urgent, industry-wide collaboration following the sudden closure of NEXT’s Katunayake plant, one of the largest single-factory shutdowns in recent times. “This development highlights the need for urgent, collaborative efforts to address cost pressures and safeguard long-term industry viability,” Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Secretary General Yohan Lawrence said. more..

May 26 (TM) Amid the growing chikungunya outbreak in several Indian Ocean countries, including in Sri Lanka, the Govts of US and UK have issued travel advisories for their citizens. Last week, US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the Dept of Health, released two important updates to warn international travellers about various chikungunya outbreaks in the Indian Ocean region. more..

May 26 (EN) SL’s Hambantota Port said 9,151 vehicles were imported through its facilities since vehicle imports were allowed in Feb 2025. Port operations have been streamlined for faster clearing of vehicles, the port said on May 25. SL has imported around 200 million dollars of vehicles and 450 million dollars of letters of credit have been opened central bank said on May 22. Vehicles were the last major import allowed after sweeping import bans were placed in the country in 2020 more..

May 26 (FT) In a sudden and shocking move, Govt has closed the door on locally qualified GCE A/L students for the Medical Degree at the KDU this year, depriving a large number of qualified students and causing a colossal income loss of approximately Rs. 2 billion. KDU annually recruits Cadets and Day Scholars (for a payment) for various degree programs, and as a result, has already recruited over 120 students in 2023 and 2024 to follow the Medical Degree for a payment of Rs. 12.5m more..

May 26 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake paid his final respects to the late veteran actress Malani Fonseka today (25) at the Tharangani Theatre Hall of the National Film Corporation, where her remains lie in state. Arriving at the venue this evening, the President offered floral tributes and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. He also engaged in meaningful conversations with fellow artists in attendance, recognising the profound loss to Sri Lanka’s film industry. more..

May 26 (NW) Police have responded to a viral video circulating on social media showing a SL man assaulting a foreign national, clarifying that the incident occurred in Feb 2024 in the Weligama area. The victim, a Filipino tourist, had filed a complaint on Feb 14 last year, stating he was assaulted by an employee of a surfing training facility on Pelena beach after a dispute over filming. The 24-year-old suspect was arrested the same day and produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court. more..

May 26 (TM) Deputy Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni stated that there is a shortage of only around 40 medicines in the national hospital network. This, following media reports that claimed around 180 types of medicines are in short supply at hospitals across the country. He stated that although it was reported that 180 types of medicines were in short supply, in reality, only about 40 types are unavailable in hospitals, at present. more..

May 26 (DN) Sri Lanka is an island open to all people of the whole world. It is an island of human beings. So human beings should enjoy and have a kind of a warmness of others, that is the message that we want to take to the world, SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam told the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) Media Convention, held in Colombo last week. “We might be having ups, we might be having downs, but we are sailing through all this time more..

May 26 (AD) Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters has arrived in the island on an official visit. The Deputy PM of NZ arrived at the BIA last night (24), where he was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra. This is the first visit by a New Zealand Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka since 2013. During his official visit, the Foreign Minister of NZ is scheduled to call on Prez, PM, and Foreign Minister. more..