May 28 (FT) In an expected yet major confidence boost, the Executive Board of the IMF yesterday approved the combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews under SL’s 4-year EFF program, unlocking around $ 700 million in financing and marking another key milestone in the country’s post-crisis recovery program. In a statement yesterday, IMF said: “Executive Board of the IMF completed combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews more..

May 28 (TM) Free Lawyers Organisation claimed the absence of a strategic plan for coal procurement has resulted in another substandard coal shipment arriving in SL, and the country having to incur heavy demurrage charges on shipments that have yet to be unloaded. Maithri Gunaratne, President of the organisation, alleged that three coal shipments are currently anchored near the Colombo Port without being unloaded. “Three coal shipments are anchored near the Colombo Port without more..

May 28 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the removal of all taxes on menstrual hygiene products. Full text of his statement. Today, as we observe World Menstrual Hygiene Day, SL unites under the global movement and theme: Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. Our collective mission is to ensure that by 2030, menstruation is accepted as a normal, healthy fact of life. To achieve this, our first step must be to break free from outdated, regressive cultural taboos more..

May 28 (DN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said that amendments will be brought to the Sections 41 and 42 of the Buddhist Temporalities Act of 1931 at the request of Maha Nayake Theras of three Chapters. Prez said that the Act will be amended, restoring the authority to the Maha Sangha to take disciplinary action through the Dhamma courts against monks who violate discipline. “Maha Sangha of the 3 Nikayas more..

May 28 (DN) The CID has recorded a statement from SJB MP Mujibur Rahman over an incident where the CID investigators have uncovered that 53 phone calls had been exchanged between the MP and a drug trafficking suspect in jail. The information about the exchange of phone calls between MP Mujibur Rahman and the prison inmate have been revealed during an ongoing probe by the CID after discovering a mobile phone in the possession of the jailed drug trafficking suspect. more..

May 28 (NW) SL Police have warned the public over a scam involving fake SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to motorists claiming they have committed traffic offences captured on CCTV cameras. Police Media Division said the messages are being sent from fake phone numbers and are designed to appear as if they were issued by the Sri Lanka Police. According to police, recipients are directed to a fraudulent website and instructed to pay fines for alleged traffic violations. more..

May 28 (AD) Two children from the same family have reportedly died today (27) after inhaling smoke from a fire that broke out in a hotel room in Batticaloa. The deceased are a 3-year-old boy and his 5-year-old sister. The mother of the deceased children was receiving treatment at the Batticaloa Hospital due to being diagnosed with cancer. The two children, residents of Badulla, had temporarily stayed at the hotel room when they came with their father to visit their mother in Batticaloa. more..

May 28 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today handed over compensation to farmers affected by flooding caused by damage to the Nilwala River salinity barrier in Matara. Speaking at an event held at the Malimbada Pradeshiya Sabha Auditorium this morning to award compensation to farmers, the President said Rs. 1,200 million had been allocated through this year’s Budget for the compensation programme covering seven cultivation seasons from 2019 to 2022. more..

May 28 (DN) SL white-ball skipper Kusal Mendis believes the team must adapt quickly to Caribbean conditions ahead of their upcoming tour of the West Indies. “The conditions in the West Indies are going to be different, so we must adapt as quickly as possible,” said Mendis before the team’s departure. SL ODI squad and officials left for WI on Tuesday, while fast bowler Eshan Malinga, who is currently involved in IPL, will join squad later. more..

May 28 (Island) 400 metres relay quartet inclusive of Sadew Rajakaruna and Omel Shashintha and 800 metres specialist Tharushi Abisheka will lead the country’s medal quest in the boys and girls categories when the Asian Junior Athletics C'ship starts in Hong Kong today. After having run sub 46 seconds in the 400 metres recently, Rajakaruna is expected to carry huge expectations to the regional event alongside Shashintha who too came almost close to clock sub 46. more..

May 28 (FT) SL United Business Alliance (SLUBA), a collective representing local entrepreneurs, yesterday accused the Govt of misleading the business community despite its earlier pledges to protect domestic industries and strengthen entrepreneurship. SLUBA President Tania Abeysundara said local entrepreneurs had been repeatedly let down by successive govts, including the current NPP Govt. “As entrepreneurs, we have contributed significantly to the economy, more..

May 28 (PMD) Today, 28th May, marks the observance of the sacred festival of Eid al-Adha, celebrated with deep devotion by Muslims across the world. According to Islamic belief, the Hajj commemoration symbolises the unwavering faith and unparalleled sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim in devotion to Almighty Allah. The observance holds special significance as the pilgrimage to Mecca is regarded as the fifth of the five great obligations of Islam. In a world increasingly affected by more..

May 28 (DN) Sri Lanka’s leading javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga is set to compete in the Diamond League at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Morocco, next Sunday. This will be a historic occasion, as Rumesh becomes the first SL athlete to compete in a field event at the Diamond League. 23-year-old is currently ranked world No. 7 and is among the top performers in the world this season. Rumesh also became the first SL male javelin thrower to qualify for World C'ships final, more..

May 28 (FT) Free Lawyers Organisation yesterday alleged that liquidity expansion by the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) during 2025 and early 2026 contributed to current foreign exchange pressures and rupee volatility. Free Lawyers CEO Keerthi Tennakoon claimed that the CBSL had printed Rs. 1,653 billion, referring to the expansion in M2b monetary supply, during 2025 and a further Rs. 610.7 billion between Jan and Mar 2026 more..

May 28 (TM) Samson Trading Company (Pvt) Ltd, a member of the DSI Samson Group, opened its new TVS showroom in Malabe on 23rd May, launching its official dealership with TVS Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. The partnership represents a strategic expansion for Samson Trading Company (Pvt) Ltd. into the two-wheeler automotive sector while reinforcing its long-standing reputation within the DSI Samson Group for reliability and trust. The showroom, dedicated exclusively to TVS two-wheelers, more..

May 28 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers earlier this week approved revising regulations to be tabled in Parliament for approval, aimed at strengthening oversight of money and value transfer services and closing regulatory gaps in line with Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) standards. The updated framework issued under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, No. 28 of 2005 introduces key revisions to the Payment or more..

May 28 (TM) The Govt has no plan to stop the current fuel subsidy arrangement until the crisis linked to the Middle East (ME) conflict eases, according to the Energy Ministry. Speaking at a special District Coordination Committee meeting in Nuwara Eliya recently, President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the Govt could not continue indefinitely to absorb the losses incurred in fuel and electricity supply. more..

May 28 (FT) LankaPay, SL’s National Payment Network has announced the launch of the eMudhra e-Sign Remote Signature with LankaSign, in collaboration with eMudhra Ltd, at an event held on 22 May at Shangri-La Colombo, with Commercial Bank of Ceylon becoming the first bank in SL to be onboarded to this facility, further strengthening its leadership in introducing innovative digital solutions to customers. eMudhra Ltd, is a globally recognised provider of digital trust services, more..

May 28 (FT) Showcasing an expansive range of tailored digital and AI‑driven business solutions, SLT‑MOBITEL Enterprise successfully hosted SmartChat Mega – Kandy at Oak Ray Regency, Kandy, recently. SmartChat Mega – Kandy, built on the momentum of the Colombo edition held earlier this year, continued to empower SMEs with the tools and expertise they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. SLT-MOBITEL delivered tailored solutions and insights, enabling more..

May 28 (FT) SL-German Business Forum 2026 commenced yesterday in Colombo, bringing together senior representatives from the German public and private sectors alongside SL business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties. Organised by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in SL (AHK SL) with the support of the German Embassy in Colombo, 3-day forum is aimed at promoting SL as an attractive more..

May 28 (ST) Ceylon Chamber of Women Entrepreneurs (CCWE) has officially announced the CCWE Fashion Week & International Summit 2026 at a press conference held in Colombo, unveiling a historic national initiative that will mark the first-ever fashion week in SL and the South Asian region dedicated exclusively to women entrepreneurs. Held under the theme Threads of Inclusion Woven from Every Walk of Life, the event is scheduled to take place on July 16-17 at Cinnamon Life, more..

May 28 (ST) The Big Cat is out of the bag – the sad truth backed by strong data on leopard deaths due to the human-animal conflict has been uncovered and is crying for attention and action! Before delving into the comprehensive study in Wildlife Letters, an international academic journal, published this month by the Northeast Forestry University based in Harbin, China, and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd, more..

May 28 (GV) She has been compared to the boy David in the Bible story who challenged the mighty giant Goliath armed with just a slingshot and five stones. Confronting the brutal Israeli military, which has been credibly accused of committing horrific war crimes including genocide and sexual assault, unarmed and vulnerable aboard a fragile yacht, Sameera Mehboobdeen indeed seems like David. A humanitarian activist, medic, forensic psychologist, criminologist and mental health practitioner, more..

May 28 (Island) The IMF staff and SL authorities have reached a staff-level agreement to conclude the combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews of SL’s reform programme under the EFF. If approved by the IMF Executive Board, SL will gain access to about US$700 million in financing. While the IMF has acknowledged progress in reserves, growth, and revenue performance, it has also warned that SL remains exposed to external shocks, including the Middle East conflict and the aftermath of more..

May 28 (DN) The pending decision of the Govt to revoke the Parliamentary Membership of those crossing sides is a welcome step and a move that will help to restore the dignity and decorum of the country’ s Supreme Legislature which in recent times has been taking a heavy beating and caused public opprobrium towards the elected Members. MPs have crossed over under various guises, but it was mostly a one-way street from the Opposition to the Govt. In the majority of instances, more..

May 28 (Island) JVP-NPP govt would have the public believe that the economy is resilient enough to absorb external shocks, and the rupee is stabilising. True, the rupee has staged a countertrend rally recently, but the situation is far from rosy. Anything is possible in this topsy-turvy world, with US Prez Donald Trump acting whimsically. Much more therefore needs to be done to strengthen the rupee. This requires a truly national effort. Sadly, govt and Opposition are at daggers drawn, more..

May 28 (TM) For thousands of financially distressed Sri Lankans, the Financial Consumer Relations Department (FCRD) of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) is supposed to represent a place of relief, a final avenue before costly legal battles, repossessions, and financial collapse. For a growing number of complainants, the experience has led instead to frustration, distrust, and troubling questions about accountability inside more..

May 28 (DM) Sri Lanka is at a point where it must make an important decision about its children and their future. Social media has become a powerful part of daily life, but for young people, especially those under 16, it is doing more harm than good. The govt has already discussed bringing in a law to restrict social media use for children. What is needed now is not more discussion, but action. For many children today, social media is not just entertainment. It is where they try to build more..

May 28 (TM) Recent disclosures obtained by The Daily Morning under the RTI Act have laid bare a sobering, financial reality regarding our cultural preservation. Over the past eleven years, Sri Lanka’s eleven national museums have cost the State a staggering Rs 4.5 billion to maintain. Yet, over that period, they generated less than Rs 740 million in total income. It is a bleak fiscal deficit that recovers barely 17% of its operational costs, exposing an institution heavily burdened by more..

May 28 (SO) For decades, the Jaffna peninsula was home to people of different communities. Long before the war deepened ethnic divisions across Sri Lanka, Sinhalese families lived in several parts of the district, including Chunnakam, Kankesanthurai, Dambakola Patuna, and a number of smaller settlements. According to the 1981 Census, 4,068 Sinhalese residents were living in the Jaffna district at the time. more..

May 28 (CT) SL’s recent, unexpected currency depreciation—which pushed the Sri Lankan Rupee (SLR) toward the 345–354 per US Dollar range—has triggered widespread economic anxiety, evoking dark memories of the 2022 collapse. While mainstream commentators routinely blame generic global shocks or resort to circular political rhetoric, they consistently overlook the structural reality. The crisis stems from a profound policy asymmetry: SL aggressively stabilized and strengthened more..

May 28 (ST) The continuing slide of the SL rupee against the US dollar and the resulting strain on the country’s economy were uppermost in the minds of lawmakers this week. Opposition MPs voiced concern that the rupee’s rapid depreciation was plunging the country towards a similarly bleak situation that was witnessed during the worst days of the 2021/2022 economic crisis – concerns which the government strongly dismissed. Addressing Parliament, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha more..