May 25 (FT) Minister Vijitha Herath will undertake an official visit to New Zealand and Australia from 26 May to 3 June, at the invitation of the two Govts. During the visit, Minister Herath will hold bilateral discussions with his counterparts, Minister Winston Peters of New Zealand and Minister Penny Wong of Australia. He will also meet senior Govt representatives, officials, business leaders, academics, think tanks, and members of the SL community in both countries. more..

May 25 (FT) Central Bank announced that its Governing Board has decided to introduce a maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for credit facilities applicable to motor vehicle financing and loans secured by gold with effect from today. Under the new directions, a maximum LTV ratio of 70% has been imposed on credit facilities secured by gold collateral granted by Licenced Banks and Licenced Finance Companies, including existing credit facilities when renewed on or after the effective date. more..

May 25 (FT) JB Securities CEO Murtaza Jafferjee has warned that SL must accept painful but necessary economic adjustments to restore stability in the external sector, arguing that attempts to delay or dilute those adjustments risk worsening underlying imbalances. He cautioned against relying on expectations that future market conditions would reverse present losses or correct imbalances without immediate policy action. “Economic agents must adjust to prevailing realities now, more..

May 25 (FT) Hemas Holdings has announced record earnings for both the fourth quarter and full financial year 2025/26, marking a historic milestone for the Group. Group earnings reached Rs. 3.03 billion in 4Q, representing 17.6% year-on-year (YoY) growth, and Rs. 8.92 billon for the full year, up 10.7% YoY. Revenue for FY26 grew 8% to Rs. 127.4 billion, and all three key business units recorded revenue growth, both annually and quarterly. Gross profit margin expanded by 110 basis points (bps), more..

May 25 (FT) In remarkable turnaround of events for the SL rupee, respected financial news agency Bloomberg said the currency has surged against the dollar, snapping a 9-day losing streak to become Asia’s best-performing currency on Friday. The rupee strengthened as much as 2.7%, its biggest gain since March 2023, reversing losses from Thursday when it slid to a three-year low. Data show the extent of the panic that gripped SL’s foreign exchange market last week, more..

May 25 (FT) Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), despite being SL’s largest financial institution, has lower transparency and disclosure standards compared to other entities that manage funds on behalf of third parties, such as companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), licenced commercial banks, and unit trusts. This was revealed in a new research brief by Verité Research titled The Employment Provident Fund in SL: A Comparative Assessment of the Adequacy of Information Disclosure published recently. more..

May 25 (FT) The Government has amended its recent Gazette Notification on vehicle imports to ensure that the 50% surcharge on Customs duties also applies to Letters of Credit (LCs) opened on or before 15 May if amendments were made after the Gazette came into effect. Under the original Gazette, the tax increase did not apply to LCs opened on or before 15 May. However, the amended Gazette, effective from 18 May, brings altered LCs within the scope of the surcharge. more..

May 25 (FT) To catalyse bilateral trade and investment and drive regional economic integration, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai facilitated a series of high-level strategic engagements between The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and leading Indian commercial institutions on 13 and 14 May. The delegation from The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was led by Chairman Krishan Balendra, and comprised a distinguished group of SL industry leaders from Hirdaramani Group, more..

May 25 (FT) Dr. Rohitha Silva has been appointed President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of SL (FCCISL), one of the country’s leading apex business organisations representing 63 chambers countrywide trade associations, entrepreneurs, regional business communities and private-sector stakeholders. His appointment comes at a critical time when SL entrepreneurs and businesses are still recovering from multiple crises conditions, including COVID-19, more..

May 25 (FT) SL’s vehicle market slowed sharply in April, with total registrations declining to 51,156 units from 59,734 units in March. The contraction was broad-based across almost all vehicle categories, with the decline in three-wheeler registrations making the largest contribution to the overall slowdown. Motor car registrations fell to 3,238 units in April from 4,856 units in March, while brand-new car registrations more than halved to 467 units from 1,432 units. more..

May 25 (FT) The recent discussions surrounding dark tourism in Sri Lanka raise an uncomfortable but necessary question: are we slowly losing control of the tourism industry we worked so hard to build? To answer this honestly, we must first understand how Sri Lankan tourism evolved. Over the last four decades, SL’s tourism industry has largely followed the same trajectory as other Asian leisure destinations such as Goa, Bali, Phuket, Pattaya, and parts of Thailand. more..

May 25 (Island) Sri Lankans recently celebrated the fourth anniversary of the Aragalaya, which, some believe, ushered in an era of Left populism in SL. Left politics in Sri Lanka has been ravaged by a crisis, since the late 1970s. It was basically one of an inability to regain the mass basis the Left lost in the 1977 elections. The Left was pushed out of the coalition govt, led by Sirimavo, by the right-wing forces, within it, in the context of the global oil crisis that led to the adoption more..

May 25 (DN) Justice delayed is justice denied is the legal maxim that points us towards a simple truth: when legal relief or justice is not delivered in a timely manner, it amounts to no justice at all. The concept highlights how prolonged delays in the judicial system can undermine its very foundation by eroding public confidence. It can weaken the deterrent effect of the law. It can prolong the suffering of victims. It can even cause vital evidence to disappear with the passage of time. more..

May 25 (TM) The growing concern over suspected meningitis cases reported from several parts of the country must serve as a timely warning to both the authorities and the public. We may not yet be facing a national health emergency, but the emergence of more than 100 suspected cases across multiple districts is reason enough for vigilance, preparedness, and swift preventive action. According to the Ministry of Health, 116 patients suspected of contracting meningitis have been identified so far. more..

May 25 (GV) A man walks down a corridor with heavy steps, as if weighed down by the stack of files in his hand. He stops to pick up a crumpled piece of paper and put it into a trash can, a small act which reveals much. His destination is the office of his new boss, a smartly dressed young woman. He places the files on her table, the gesture indicative of resignation, official and psychological. He has been an investigative officer for 20 years, he informs his new boss, more..

May 25 (FT) The use of digital banking services in Sri Lanka has increased rapidly over the past few years. Today, thousands of customers use mobile banking apps, internet banking platforms, QR payments, and online fund transfer facilities for their daily financial activities. While these services offer convenience and speed, there has also been a noticeable increase in online financial fraud targeting banking customers across the country. It is important for the public to understand that, more..

May 25 (CT) The above observation, though strongly worded, reflects a growing concern now spreading across many sectors of the country regarding the alarming and rapid deterioration of the SL rupee. Within a relatively short period, the exchange parity of the US dollar has increased sharply, placing enormous pressure on the national economy, businesses and the ordinary citizen. While external global developments and international market trends undoubtedly exert pressure on developing economies, more..

May 25 (SO) As Sri Lanka rapidly expands its digital economy, cybercriminal networks are increasingly exploiting the country’s open visa regime, growing internet penetration and low levels of public awareness to run sophisticated online scam operations. In recent months, the police have arrested hundreds of foreign nationals linked to alleged cybercrime syndicates and scam farms operating from rented houses and apartments across the country, more..

May 25 (DM) United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, voted 141–8 to adopt a landmark resolution endorsing the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which states that States have a legal obligation to address climate change. It is indeed a powerful pronouncement on international law, climate justice, and science. The resolution was initiated by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, one of the countries on the frontline of the climate crisis. more..

May 25 (DM) SL’s renewed pressure on foreign exchange is once again exposing the delicate balance between fiscal gains and external stability. What appears, on the surface, as an improvement in govt revenue is increasingly being offset by rising dollar outflows triggered by import liberalisation and worsening global conditions. At the centre of this emerging strain is the reopening of vehicle imports. After years of restrictions, the policy shift has unlocked pent-up demand, resulting in a sharp rise in imports. more..

May 24 (TM) Alleged plans to amend the Right to Information (RTI) Act have triggered growing concern among media organisations and civil society groups, amid fears that proposed changes could weaken the RTI framework and undermine the independence of the RTI Commission. The controversy emerged following a meeting held last week between media organisations and Deputy Minister Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathne, more..

May 24 (SO) Heavy rains and strong winds linked to the developing South-West monsoon have left one person dead and affected over 7,700 people across several districts, DMC said, citing increasing risks of landslides and floods in vulnerable areas. 7,757 people from 1,966 families have been affected by the prevailing adverse weather. 201 people have been relocated to six safety centres, while two houses were completely destroyed and 123 houses were left partially damaged. more..

May 24 (AD) US Embassy in Colombo has rejected certain local media reports which claim that a team from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrived in SL to support the investigation into the USD 2.5 million cyber fraud involving Treasury funds. No such deployment has occurred, a spokesperson for the embassy said in reference to the claims. She stated that, as is standard practice in many countries, US maintains an FBI Legal Attaché presence at the Embassy to coordinate more..

May 24 (CT) A scheduled hearing between the Right to Information (RTI) Commission and the CIABOC was postponed at the eleventh hour on 28 April and was not officially informed of the next date, according to an update published on RTI Commission’s website, raising renewed concerns regarding transparency and institutional accountability in Sri Lanka. RTI Commission said that due to unavoidable circumstances, more..

May 24 (CT) Around 2,500 foreign tourists visit Sigiriya daily, generating an income of nearly Rs 25 million per day, Director General of the CCF Nilan Cooray said. Data shows that Sigiriya remains one of the most preferred tourist destinations among visitors arriving in SL, with many tourists showing a strong interest in the site. The attraction is largely due to Sigiriya’s historical significance as well as its unique environmental and ecological value. He further said that, given increasing popularity more..

May 24 (CT) Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) plans to increase the bus fares and expects them to come into effect from July onwards, considering the increase in fuel prices, resulting from the skyrocketing exchange rate of the local currency against the USD, said Gemunu Wijeratne, President of the LPBOA, on 22 May. When contacted for further information, Wijeratne further stated that the minimum fare increase has not yet been decided. However, discussions are currently underway, more..

May 24 (DM) Sarvajana Balaya National Organiser Dilum Amunugama has been summoned by Police to record a statement over controversial remarks made during a media briefing, following complaints that the comments may have prejudiced a minor linked to an ongoing child abuse case. Police Spokesman F. U. Wootler said investigations are underway after concerns were raised that the remarks could have caused harm to 15-yr-old victim & witness involved in court proceedings. more..

May 24 (AD) Hatton Police have released CCTV footage of the suspect allegedly involved in the murder of a couple in Dikoya, Hatton, and are seeking public assistance to locate and arrest the suspect. The suspect had allegedly slit the woman’s throat using a sharp weapon on Thursday (21) before fleeing with 18 pounds worth of gold jewellery, including a gold necklace, wedding necklace (Thali), and earrings worn by the victim. Police stated that the suspect had arrived in Dikoya town more..

May 24 (TM) While the refurbishment of two oil tanks at the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm has concluded, they cannot be utilised yet due to unfinished pipeline connections and supporting infrastructure, according to Deputy Minister Arkam Ilyas. “At the Trincomalee oil tank complex, work began on four tanks, and two have been completed. We still cannot fill them with oil because the relevant pipeline system is not finished,” more..

May 24 (DM) The Clean Cities National Waste Management Programme under the govt’s Clean Sri Lanka initiative was launched in Jaffna yesterday (22), with authorities outlining plans for a nationwide waste management drive over the next three years. The programme commenced at the Northern Provincial Chief Secretariat in Kaithadi, Jaffna, with a special workshop held to educate heads and officials of Northern local govt institutions. The event was inaugurated by N.S. Kumanayake. more..

May 24 (AD) SL Police have uncovered further details regarding the 21 suspects who were brought back to the island last morning (22) following their deportation from Dubai. Among the deported individuals are Mahawatte Chamara and Wanathe Kudu Duminda, who are identified as notorious drug traffickers against whom Red Notices had been obtained by the police. It is reported that the duo had been arrested during a party held in Dubai. Kudu Duminda is identified as more..

May 24 (DM) Gangodawila Magistrate has ordered the owner of Rainbow Manpower Foreign Employment Agency, accused of conducting a large-scale foreign employment scam by promising jobs in Romania, to repay the money owed to victims within one year. SL Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE) said the case against Rainbow Foreign Employment Agency was taken up before the Nugegoda Chief Magistrate's Court. Officers from the CID's Financial Investigation Unit and the SLBFE's more..