May 29 (Island) President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that instead of leading a life focused solely on personal interests, every citizen should commit themselves to a journey dedicated to the collective welfare. Prez further noted that the 75 years of life and 64 years of monastic service of Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero stand as a profound example of such a path. The Prez made these remarks this afternoon (28) more..

May 29 (CT) Northern Province Governor N. Vethanayagan has pointed out that although President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has requested support for the rapid development of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, certain officials in Colombo-based departments continue to act in ways that obstruct these efforts. He made this remark during a meeting with the World Bank delegation, which included Abid Kali, SL Country Operations Manager, and Project Head Gayathri Singh. more..

May 29 (DN) Govt has decided to designate five forest areas in SL as protected reserves for this year’s World Environment Day, Minister Dhammika Patabandi. Minister announced that forests located in the Galle, Kegalle and Moneragala districts would be officially declared as reserves through a gazette notification. The forests are Kottawa in Galle, Uduliyadda and Thulhiriya Werahankanda in Kegalle & Nilgala in Moneragala. Official declarations are set to be made on June 5, more..

May 29 (CT) Cabinet of Ministers yesterday officially revoked the Gazette Notification issued on 28 March 2025, under Section 4 of the Land Settlement Ordinance, which had triggered widespread fear and resistance across Northern Province. ITAK Spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran welcomed the decision, stating, “We extend our sincere thanks to Prez Dissanayake and Cabinet of Ministers for revoking the Gazette, more..

May 29 (FT) Across elite schools in Colombo and the quietest corners of rural SL, a hidden emergency is growing. Children are being groomed, manipulated, and extorted online. The only common factor? Access to a smart device — often handed over by a well-meaning adult, unaware of the danger on the other side of the screen. At Child Protection Force (CPF), we’ve worked with children as young as 10 who have fallen victim to online predators. This is not just a city issue. more..

May 29 (FT) In the high-stakes world of corporate turnarounds, leaders act swiftly to stabilise finances, streamline operations, and reposition brands for growth. Sri Lanka, grappling with economic crisis, could apply these same principles to national policymaking. By embracing fiscal discipline, public sector reform, export-led growth, and strategic FDI attraction, the island nation can chart a path toward sustainable recovery. Here’s how. In corporate turnarounds, more..

May 29 (AD) A total of six individuals arrested over the shooting incident targeting the vehicle of former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), Thusitha Halloluwa, have been remanded until June 12. The order was issued by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena. A total of six individuals including a female were arrested in two separate occasions over the shooting incident. On 17 May, two unidentified men on a motorcycle opened fire at a vehicle more..

May 29 (NW) General Secretary of the UNP Young Professionals Organisation (Colombo Chapter), Attorney Delan De Silva, has publicly condemned the recent govt decision to bar civilian students from entering the Medical Faculty of the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). De Silva called the move a betrayal of our youth and a death blow to free education, adding that it was not a policy, but sabotage. “Sri Lanka is short by over 15,000 doctors. more..

May 29 (DM) A 3-judge bench of the High Court today sentenced former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. He was sentenced after finding him guilty of causing a financial loss to the govt exceeding Rs. 53 million. Between Sept and Dec 2014, carrom and checker boards imported by the Sathosa institution in Colombo were allegedly distributed to sports clubs for political more..

May 29 (NW) An Attorney-at-Law has filed a complaint with the CID seeking a probe into politicians Udaya Gammanpila and Dayasiri Jayasekera’s continuous claims regarding the over 300 containers that were allegedly released by Sri Lanka Customs without proper inspection. Nalin Sampath Kumara said the two politicians have repeatedly claimed, on social media and mainstream media, that a rise in crime has been reported following the release of these containers. more..

May 29 (DM) The 24-hour one-day passport issuance service for the public will come to an end tomorrow (30), Acting Controller General of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Chaminda Pathiraja said. The 24-hour service, which has been in operation since February 18, will be discontinued as scheduled. Accordingly, from Monday (2), applications for the One-Day Service will be accepted from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Head Office of Dept of Immigration & Emigration more..

May 29 (TM) A few sporting institutions who have been planning to conclude their annual election of office bearers or AGMs before this Saturday (31), as per the country’s Sports Law, have been thrown into chaos, informed sources disclosed. This situation has emerged thanks to the revamped Sports Law that was published via a Gazette Notification by the Sports Minister last week, which has mandated all sports institutions here to adhere to more..

May 29 (Island) Int'l Labour Organisation (ILO), in partnership with the Govt of Australia and the Govt of Norway, recently launched the GROW Project– Generating Resilient Opportunities for Work – a transformative US$2.8 million initiative aimed at strengthening livelihoods, climate resilience, and social empowerment for marginalised communities in SL’s Northern Province. Northern Province — home to over 75,000 women-headed households and more than 21,000 persons with more..

May 29 (AD) A total of 16 Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of Sri Lanka Police have been transferred and assigned to new positions with immediate effect. Accordingly, transfers orders to five Inspectors of Police (IP) and eleven Chief Inspectors (CI) have been approved by the National Police Commission. The transfers are part of routine administrative changes aimed at streamlining operations and enhancing efficiency within the department, the Police Headquarters said. more..

May 29 (DN) Ven. Bandarawela Amithananda Thero, a respected and beloved preacher in SL, passed away this afternoon while receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital. The Thero had been battling an illness for some time and was undergoing long-term care at the hospital. A highly influential religious figure, Amithananda Thero was the founder of the Delgoda Youth Center for Dhamma, where he dedicated his life to guiding the country’s youth on the path of Buddhism and moral discipline. more..

May 29 (PMD) A discussion was held this morning (29) at the Presidential Secretariat between President Anura Kumara Disanayake, Chairpersons of District Coordination Committees and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance to gather proposals and ideas for the Budget 2026. During the meeting, President Disanayake emphasized the importance of prioritizing the basic and urgent needs of the people at the district level in the preparation of the upcoming budget. more..

May 29 (DM) In a landmark moment for SL, Anudi Gunasekara etched her name into pageant history by claiming the title of First Runner-Up from Asia in the Miss World Multimedia Challenge at the 72nd Miss World Festival in the vibrant city of Telangana, India. Anudi’s remarkable performance not only earned her a place among the Top 20 global finalists in the prestigious challenge but also made her the first SL contestant ever to reach more..

May 29 (DM) Applications have been called to recruit 190 locomotive engineers, including 160 external applicants and 30 from within the dept, Railways General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara said. Jayasundara said the recruitment drive was initiated following a govt directive to appoint new staff in order to address the current shortage of locomotive engineers within the SL Railways Department. According to officials, nearly 600 applications have been received so far. more..

May 29 (NW) Prem Thakkar, the Indian owner of the Galle Marvels franchise in the Lanka T10 League, has been sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for 10 years, after pleading guilty to a match-fixing charge under SL’s Prevention of Offences Related to Sports Act. Thakkar was also fined Rs. 6 million and ordered to pay Rs. 1 million in compensation. In addition, the Kandy High Court has granted a request by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit to download and examine data from more..

May 29 (Island) Former Director General of Administration, Parliament, Lacille de Silva said that NPP govt should reverse its decision to appoint an outsider as the Auditor General. Pointing out that the qualifications, as well as suitability of Pushpitha Chandana Hewa Kondilage, now on the CPC Board of Directors nominated by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, had been questioned as against the Department’s number two more..

May 29 (AD) Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union says it has decided to withdraw from services in protest against the decision to reduce employee bonuses. The union announced that it would launch a token strike on June 6 if its demands are not met. Commenting further on this matter, a member of the Union said the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) recorded the highest-ever profit by a SL institution in 2024, amounting to Rs. 107 billion and a majority of the profits were transferred to the treasury. more..

May 29 (DN) Minister Dr. Krishantha Abeysena, conducted an inspection tour today at the Technology Incubation Centre located within the Makandura Industrial Estate in Pannala. During the visit, discussions focused on expanding the network of Technology Incubation Centres to all state universities across the country. Currently, four such centres are operational under the Ministry’s guidance — at the Uni of Ruhuna, NERD Institute, Uni of Jaffna (Kilinochchi), and more..

May 29 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday (26) granted approval to the proposal furnished by Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake and Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath to instruct the Legal Draftsmen to draft a law to act against foreign terrorist militants based on the United Nations Defence Council Resolution 2178 (2014). Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said Sri Lanka, as a member of Asia-Pacific region on money laundering, is dedicated to productively execute and more..

May 29 (FT) A delegation from the National Shoora Council (NSC) held a constructive meeting with the Muslim MPs representing the ruling party last week in Colombo. The ruling party MPs included Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of National Integration Sh. Muneer Mulaffer, and all the ruling party Muslim MPs. The delegation, led by NSC President M.M. Zuhair PC, included 10 executive committee members of the NSC who expressed sincere appreciation for the opportunity to more..

May 29 (MB) In the soft first light of dawn, wildlife photographer Priyanath Kotalawela observed a golden silhouette gliding across the wet grasslands in the Thalangama Wetland, not far from the heart of SL’s administrative capital of Sri J'pura Kotte. It was the size of a midsize stray dog, but despite having somewhat similar features, the silhouette turned out to be a golden jackal (Canis aureus), a species not often associated with more..

May 29 (NW) Considering the need of providing a qualitative and quantitative solution to the prevailing drinking water issues faced by the Ruwanwella, Bulathkohupitiya, and Yatiyantota Divisional Secretariat areas in the Kegalle District, the first phase of the Ruwanwella Water Supply Project was officially handed over to the public today (29), under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. A total of USD 25.5 million has been spent on this project, which includes more..

May 29 (DM) In conjunction with World Environment Day, the Vehicle Emissions Trust Fund will organise a free motorcycle and three-wheeler tuning camp, along with an awareness programme on fuel efficiency and air pollution, on May 31, DMT said. They said the event will take place at Nidahas Mawatha, Kegalle from 10 am onwards. This year, the Day to Reduce Air Pollution and Its Adverse Effects will also be observed on May 31, 2025, ahead of World Environment Day on June 5. more..

May 29 (AD) The experts’ committee appointed to investigate the cause of fatal bus crash in Gerandi Ella, Kotmale, has identified driver fatigue as the primary cause of the accident, citing a violation of mandatory rest regulations under the Motor Traffic Act. According to Sections 169/1 and 169/2 of the Act, drivers are required to take a minimum break of 30 minutes after every four and a half hours of driving, final report compiled by more..

May 29 (Island) National Shoora Council (NSC) has urged Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to honour his election pledge and repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) without replacing it with a new Anti -Terrorism law, as no such mandate was sought from the people in the ruling party’s manifesto. The NSC has also pointed out in its letter to Prz Dissanayake that over a dozen new laws had been enacted during the last 25 years with wider powers being vested in the executive and the police. more..

May 29 (CT) PM Harini Amarasuriya has issued a strong condemnation of the way SL’s school system handles incidents of violence against children, warning that institutional priorities often overshadow the well-being and safety of students. Addressing school principals in Colombo District at an event organised by the Human Rights Commission of SL in Colombo, Dr. Amarasuriya questioned whether schools are more invested in protecting their reputation than in ensuring justice for children more..

May 30 (DM) From all the days that we celebrate, World No Tobacco Day takes great importance for many reasons. One reason could be that we must protect the fathers who indulge in smoking products made of tobacco. There are many who say that World No Tobacco Day is more important than World Mothers’ Day because the former can be used to save the lives of those addicted to tobacco and also millions of rupees. World No Tobacco Day falls on May 31 (Saturday). more..

May 30 (CT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake highlighted the need for a new value system in the country while addressing the 75th birth felicitation ceremony for Rev. Omalpe Sobhita. This is a point that he has been reiterating since he assumed duties and even earlier. Another point he mentioned was that the society and its institutions have deteriorated to such an extent that it is not possible to move forward as a nation and country without reforming these. more..

May 30 (SO) The arrest of the 21-year-old British national, Charlotte May Lee at the BIA last Monday (12) for her alleged attempt to smuggle in 46 kg of synthetic cannabis from Bangkok, Thailand to SL has raised concerns about a much larger drug trafficking network operating from Thailand. Drugs found in the former TUI flight attendant’s possession, were in more than 90 vacuum sealed plastic bags and more..

May 30 (DM) I was energised to pen this piece after having read with interest several articles in the press. One of them was an article by veteran journalist Kusal Perera which exposed the manoeuvers by power hungry political party leaders abusing the very objectives of the LG machinery, to achieve their selfish and ulterior political motives, underscoring the need for System Change. Furthermore, political parties delaying the submission of names of their selected more..

May 30 (SO) Sri Lanka, with ample natural resources, can achieve the renewable energy target of meeting 70% of the country’s energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2030, said a top official of Access Solar (Pvt) Ltd. “We are amply blessed with sun, rain and wind which should be harnessed for generating energy,” said Access Solar General Manager Upul Dissanayake on the sidelines of the celebration to mark Access Solar’s 25 years in the industry and the launch of more..

May 30 (TM) Media Ministry’s decision to provide web-based journalists with a form to obtain personal information such as their children’s details was taken to expedite the Defence Ministry clearance given to web-based media organisations, according to an official at the ministry. In the past, web-based media organisations were required to register with the Media Ministry – a process which involved obtaining a Min. of Def. clearance more..