May 16 (DM) For many Sri Lankans, passport power is not something learned from an index or a website. It is learned in embassy waiting rooms. In rejected applications. In deadlines missed because approvals did not arrive on time. According to the latest Henley Passport Index released on May 7, Sri Lanka’s passport is now ranked 94th in the world, offering visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or eTA access to 39 destinations. more..

May 16 (Island) Nearly one in five Sri Lankans is suffering from some form of non-communicable disease (NCD), Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said, warning that the trend poses a serious public health challenge. He said the estimate covering all age groups from children to the elderly was confirmed in a 2024 report by the DCS, and underscored the urgent need for stronger national interventions. Minister was speaking at the inauguration of a newly constructed 4-storey ward more..

May 16 (DN) Sri Lanka will host a tri-nation ‘A’ team cricket series featuring India A and Afghanistan A from June 9 to 21 at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. The 50-over tournament involving SL A, India A and Afghanistan A is expected to provide valuable exposure for young cricketers aiming to break into their respective national teams. Following the completion of the tri-series, India A will remain in SL to play two four-day matches against SL A at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. more..

May 16 (DM) SL’s businesses and households borrowed at one of the fastest monthly paces on record in March, even as the economy began showing signs of fresh stress from the Iran war, raising questions over whether firms were rushing to secure loans before borrowing costs climbed further. New Central Bank data showed commercial banks expanded loans to the private sector by Rs.258.4 billion in March, almost doubling Rs.144.4 b more..

May 16 (AD) Economists warn that if the Sri Lankan rupee continues to depreciate, fuel prices, electricity and water tariffs, as well as the prices of goods and services, could increase in the future. Commenting on the situation, economic analyst Dhananath Fernando stated that the Central Bank’s (CBSL) purchase of dollars in the market and the excess liquidity of rupees in the financial system have increased the demand for US dollars, contributing to the weakening of the SL Rupee. more..

May 16 (NW) A group of students attached to the Inter-University Students’ Council (IUSC) continued occupying the controversial Malwana property on Thursday, insisting their protest over uni accommodation issues would continue despite criticism and ongoing debate surrounding the move. The students had entered the sprawling Malwana property, which had previously drawn controversy after claims it was linked to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, arguing that unused state assets more..

May 16 (AD) Twelve passengers were injured after a train travelling from Polgahawela to Colombo derailed, causing one carriage to overturn on the railway line between Wanawasala and Hunupitiya this morning. The injured passengers were admitted to private hospitals located near the scene of the accident, while one injured person was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital for further treatment. Train involved in the accident had departed from Polgahawela at 3.25 a.m. and more..

May 16 (ST) Senarath Paranavitharne Teaching and Research Museum at the Uni of Peradeniya was reopened this week amidst an ongoing investigation into missing artefacts, including several valuable ivory items. Chancellor Lakshman Dissanayake and Vice Chancellor Terrance Mudajith declared the museum reopened on Monday after the CID obtained judicial approval. Speaking at the ceremony, VC lamented that, because of the closure, 4 batches of archaeology honours more..

May 16 (ST) SL’s largest retirement money pool for more than 2 million private sector workers and semi-govt workers, the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), offloaded seven holdings, including Laugfs Gas, and pared down 13 others in 2025. The fund also increased its holding in the NDB, private commercial bank now wrestling with the biggest financial fraud in the country. NDB shares had a market value of more than more..

May 16 (FT) Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to the UNESCO organised a cultural evening themed Let us make haste to stand together for the common good on 4 May at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in commemoration of the International Day of Vesak. The event was organised in partnership with the UNESCO and 15 Member States, reflecting the growing significance of Vesak within the UNESCO following the decisions adopted by its governing bodies. more..

May 16 (NW) A high-level team from the International Cricket Council (ICC), including a senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is expected to visit Sri Lanka following the govt’s appointment of an interim body to oversee cricket administration in the country. ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja is expected to arrive in SL on Friday night and will be followed on Saturday by another ICC official who also holds a top-level role within the BCCI. more..

May 16 (NW) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) says it has faced no interference in relation to the ongoing investigations into the widely discussed child abuse case involving a minor girl in Anuradhapura. NCPA said it has been monitoring the case since it was first reported to ensure the law is properly enforced and the child’s rights are protected throughout the investigation process. The authority said it remains prepared to take appropriate measures whenever necessary to safeguard more..

May 16 (Island) Asian Development Bank is no longer treating digitalisation as a secondary development theme. Increasingly, bank views digital infrastructure as the economic nervous system of Asia’s future growth model – a strategic national asset now considered as critical to economic competitiveness as highways, ports & power grids. That shift carries an important message for countries like SL: modernise digital systems rapidly or risk falling behind regional competitors. more..

May 16 (CT) SL’s property market has seen an increase in its land at unprecedented numbers over the last few decades. Several factors are recorded as having contributed to rising property prices, including the nature of the country’s economy, the concentration of facilities in Colombo as the commercial hub, foreign direct investment, and local investments. Against this backdrop, CT examined how land in Colombo is being sold, more..

May 16 (DN) Rain once again played spoilsport in the second unofficial one-day game between SL Women’s A and NZ Women’s A, which ended in a no result for the second consecutive time at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday. SL Women’s A, batting first for the second successive game of the series, scored 197 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Rain interrupted play after the completion of the innings, and after a lengthy delay, NZ Women’s A were set a revised target of 123 runs in 20 overs. more..

May 16 (FT) John Keells CG Auto (JKCG Auto), has launched a campaign in partnership with Bank of Ceylon (BOC) and SL Insurance Corporation General Ltd. (SLIC) to accelerate New Energy Vehicles (NEV) adoption among Govt sector employees. The initiative, which commenced on 4 May will continue till 31 July 2026. It is designed to improve accessibility and affordability of NEVs for public servants through a structured set of financing, insurance & ownership support mechanisms. more..

May 16 (DN) The opening game of the Lanka Premier League 2026 will be played between Jaffna and Galle teams, who emerged as the Champions and Runners-up respectively in the 2024 season. Opening game is scheduled to be played on July 17 at SSC, commencing at 7.30 p.m. Prior to the start of the tournament opener, a spectacular opening ceremony will be held at the SSC and organisers are expected to give a good start more..

May 16 (ST) The recent diversion of US$ 2.5 million intended for Australia has triggered a national firestorm. While the political opposition decries it as theft and the public laments it as gross incompetence, these labels—though understandable in an atmosphere of high tension—fail to capture the structural reality of what has actually occurred. What the country is currently experiencing is less a crisis of intent and more a profound national confusion born from a lack of technical clarity. more..

May 16 (ST) For the past five days, Colombo became the global capital of shark and ray science as Sri Lanka hosted Sharks International 2026 (SI2026), the world’s largest scientific conference dedicated entirely to sharks, rays and chimaeras. Held from May 4 to 8, the event marked a milestone not only for marine conservation, but also for Sri Lanka itself. Hosted by the SL conservation organisation Blue Resources Trust, the conference brought together more than 800 participants; more..

May 16 (FT) In a bid to expand SL’s economic ties with the leading stakeholders in Türkiye, SL Ambassador to Türkiye Niluka Kadurugamuwa, with his official delegation, met with Istanbul Chamber of Commerce President Şekib Avdagiç recently at the Chamber’s HQ in Istanbul. Meeting focused on exploring new avenues for bilateral trade and investment cooperation between SL and Türkiye, with the objective of further enhancing the mutually agreed bilateral trade target of $ 500 million more..

May 16 (DN) SL women’s champion javelin thrower Nadeesha Lekamge who took part in last Paris Olympics once again came to the fore with a superb throw of 58.57m to win her event at the 2 nd National athletic trials held at Diyagama yesterday. With this achievement she qualified to take part in both Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. The 39 year old, Nadeesha Lekamge proved she’s still at the top of her event and her experience paved the way to get qualification for both major meets. more..

May 16 (FT) After more than a decade of discussions, and week of speculation, the Govt yesterday officially announced the launch of PayPal services in SL, marking a significant development in the country’s digital economy and cross-border payments landscape. The announcement was made at a high-level event held at the Galle Face Hotel attended by PM Harini Amarasuriya, with PayPal services set to more..

May 16 (Island) A group of undergraduates seized what remains of a mansion that belongs to the State, in Malwana, on Thursday. They represent the new IUSF, created by the JVP-NPP govt as a counter to the original IUSF controlled by thebreakaway JVP group, Frontline Socialist Party (FSP). The protesters’ JVP links became clear from the subservient manner in which the police behaved. It was alleged after the 2015 regime change that that the Malwana Mansion belonged to Basil more..

May 16 (Island) Should Sri Lanka consider an 18th IMF programme? Some academicians exploring Sri Lanka’s development prospects in depth are raising this issue. It is yet to emerge as a hot topic among policy and decision-making circles in this country but common sense would sooner rather than later dictate that it be taken up for discussion by the wider public and a decision arrived at The issue of an 18th IMF programme was raised with some urgency locally by none other than more..

May 16 (FT) Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2026, published in the Govt Gazette of 20 Feb and placed before Parliament on 17 March, proposed several significant changes to the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017. Five petitions were filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of certain clauses, heard on 2 April 2026 by a bench comprising Justices Janak De Silva, Arjuna Obeyesekere, and Sampath Wijeratne. The determination, delivered in S.C. (S.D.) more..

May 16 (TM) Many incarcerated SL mothers whose substance abuse is entwined with contexts of structural violence, gendered labour exploitation, intergenerational trauma, the normalisation of substance use and addiction in families and workplaces, poverty, exploitation, domestic violence, and systemic neglect, note that stigma including social stigma and marginalisation, the fear of withdrawal, trauma, and maternal guilt and psychological burden, hindered timely more..

May 16 (SO) As discussions between the SJB and the UNP over a possible political alliance gather momentum, questions continue to arise over the future structure, leadership and direction of the proposed partnership. Amid growing speculation over reconciliation between the two parties, internal disagreements, the role of senior figures and the Opposition’s broader strategy against the Govt have all come under increasing public scrutiny. more..

May 16 (ST) In Dec 2017, when SriLankan Airlines went through the same critical process as the national carrier is facing today, a Sunday Times Poll, on the fate of the airline, revealed that most respondents were not in favour of an outright sale of the struggling, debt-ridden national carrier. This was in contrast to a similar poll conducted (only) online in April 2016 where email respondents, representing largely middle and upper classes of society, were in favour of the govt exiting from the airline. more..

May 16 (SO) Colombo last week hosted state visits by the Presidents of The Maldives, our immediate Indian Ocean island neighbour and ethnic kin, and of Vietnam, our NPP govt’s ideological kin and historic defier of French and US aggression. These important diplomatic overtures by an entirely new ideological regime in geo-strategically important Sri Lanka came as warring American forces continued their onslaught on Iran from their Indian Ocean deployments. more..

May 16 (SO) For more than four decades, this stipend has carried the aspirations of village children into lecture halls, laboratories and professional offices. Its beneficiaries are scattered across the world today: doctors in London hospitals, engineers in the Gulf, lawyers in Colombo chambers, academics in Australian universities. Many of them remember the humble beginning of the monthly Mahapola stipend that arrived more..

May 16 (CT) Sri Lanka faces a pivotal economic moment. Following a severe financial collapse, the nation has adopted a stabilization strategy guided by the IMF—enforcing strict fiscal policies, raising taxes, and implementing structural reforms to restore debt sustainability. On the surface, indicators seem positive: inflation has decreased, the currency remains stable, and external confidence is gradually returning. However, beneath this surface lies a more troubling reality— more..

May 16 (FT) Having served as a Member of Parliament, Chairman of the COPE Committee of Parliament, Secretary to a Ministry, and as an academic for more than twenty years — including serving as a Professor before resigning to enter public service and policymaking — I feel a responsibility to express several observations regarding the present state of university administration and the treatment of academic and non-academic staff within SL universities. more..