May 11 (AD) GMOA has denied any connection between its trade union activities and the death of a newborn during a delivery at the Trincomalee District General Hospital. GMOA Vice President Chandika Epitakaduwa stated that obstetric care falls under emergency medical services and that doctors do not withdraw from emergency duties during trade union action. He added that there appears to be an attempt by certain parties to unfairly attribute blame to the association over the incident. more..

May 11 (DM) Around 84% of the population in Sri Lanka has expressed their willingness to donate eyes, according to relevant data, reflecting strong public support for corneal donation programmes in the country. SL’s remarkable eye donation achievements and the progress of the National Eye Bank were highlighted at a special ceremony held at the BMICH to mark its 15th anniversary, under the patronage of Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Anil Jasinghe. more..

May 11 (EN) The US has removed a temporary ban it imposed on Sri Lanka’s blue swimming crabs after the island nation complied with the strict conditions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) imposed by the U.S. for the import of fish products, the Fisheries Ministry said. U.S. authorities had temporarily banned the export of SL’s blue swimming crabs in October last year after a lawsuit alleged that the administrative agency violated administrative procedures by denying more..

May 11 (PMD) Of the LKR. 25,000 million allocated under the 2026 Budget for the Prajashakthi National Poverty Alleviation Programme, development projects valued at Rs. 23,000 million have already been approved and forwarded to District Secretaries for implementation. The allocations have been directed towards projects prioritised by Community Development Councils in the areas of livelihood development, the production economy and food security. These details were revealed during more..

May 11 (NW) The low-level atmospheric disturbance, in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, has developed into a low-pressure area and is located to the northeast of Sri Lanka, according to the Dept of Meteorology. Per the latest weather analysis issued at 03.00 pm today, the prevailing showery conditions over the island are expected to continue during the next few days. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in most parts of the island, while cloudy skies are also expected. more..

May 11 (AD) Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to appear before the CIABOC tomorrow, according to his media spokesperson Attorney Manoj Gamage. He said former President Rajapaksa is expected to present himself at the Commission at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Gamage noted that discussions are currently underway regarding certain procedural matters and a meeting with the legal team is planned for later today to further review the situation. more..

May 11 (AD) A detainee who had been sentenced to death in connection with the killing of former Polonnaruwa District MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala has died after falling from a building within the Welikada Prison. The inmate sustained critical injuries following the fall and was immediately admitted to hospital. However, he was pronounced dead after admission. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while the circumstances surrounding the fall remain unclear. more..

May 11 (DM) Buttala Police have arrested four women after a video showing three young women riding dangerously on a motorcycle without safety helmets went viral on social media. The incident attracted widespread public attention and prompted an immediate police investigation into the matter. According to police, the video showed three women traveling on a single motorcycle in a reckless manner along a public road. Following the circulation of the footage online, more..

May 11 (FT) She wakes before the mist clears. By the time most of Colombo is having breakfast, she has already been working for two hours, plucking, carrying, meeting a daily quota that does not change regardless of her rest, discomfort or nourishment. She works on a tea plantation and is among many others whose contributions are vital to the economy, yet whose experiences are not always reflected in any occupational health statistic. The pressure to meet quotas is often matched by more..

May 11 (FT) With the recent phishing episode at SL’s General Treasury involving $ 2.5 million, alertness has been aroused among Sri Lankans that cybercriminals are on the job to trap them into seemingly genuine but fake transactions to steal their money. In the General Treasury’s case, as information in the public domain reveals, Treasury officials, who appear to be greenhorns on the job, were duped by cybercriminals into paying a routine debt repayment into a fake account rather than more..

May 11 (ST) A part of the US$ 2.5 million transferred by the Treasury to scammers after a breach of the computer system at the Ministry of Finance has been traced to a bank account in the state of Delaware in the US, a senior police officer said. Account had been in the name of a company in Delaware engaged in registering online businesses while the account was maintained at a branch of the TD Bank in the state, official involved in more..

May 11 (DM) Some leading companies from the Middle East which is now caught in the Israeli/ US war with Iran are among the parties that have shown interests in investing in the Mattala international airport, according to a Minister. Sri Lanka has called for Expressions of Interest to run the international airport in Mattala, Hambantota district. A Cabinet-appointed committee has been tasked with negotiating the deal with prospective domestic and foreign investors. more..

May 11 (NF) An organized criminal and drug trafficker, Manoj Suranga Liyanage, alias Batuwatte Chamara, who was taken into custody while overseas, was repatriated to the island last night (10). Batuwatte Chamara was arrested in Azerbaijan about a year ago. The alleged drug trafficker and organized criminal had fled the country and was hiding in Dubai. He was brought to Sri Lanka from Azerbaijan via India at around 10:10 p.m. last night. The 48-year-old Manoj Liyanage, more..

May 11 (FT) Sri Lanka’s fiscal position strengthened markedly in the first two months of 2026, with the Govt recording a sharp expansion in the primary surplus and reversing the Budget deficit into a surplus position. The Govt recorded a primary surplus of Rs. 545.42 billion during Jan-Feb 2026, up 66.1% from Rs. 328.45 billion a year earlier, reflecting continued improvement in revenue performance more..

May 11 (TM) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he would comply with the summons issued by the CIABOC and appear before the Commission tomorrow. The former President made the remarks while attending the funeral of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena to pay his final respects. Rajapaksa has been instructed via a letter to appear before the CIABOC to record a statement regarding the controversial Airbus deal. The case relates to allegations that Chandrasena, more..

May 11 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has strongly criticised the Govt’s decision to raise electricity tariffs by 18%, claiming authorities are shifting the financial burden of alleged substandard coal imports onto consumers and businesses. Making a special statement, Premadasa claimed the latest increase unfairly penalises electricity users despite repeated calls not to pass on costs linked to what he described as questionable coal procurement decisions. more..

May 11 (AD) The final rites of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena were conducted this evening (10) at the Borella General Cemetery. Chandrasena’s body was found on May 8 at a residence in Colpetty. Police had initially stated that the death was suspected to be a case of hanging, while investigations into the incident have now been handed over to Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). Meanwhile, a five-member panel of specialist judicial medical officers more..

May 11 (NW) The Yal Devi train operating between Colombo and Kankesanthurai will resume services from today. Accordingly, the train will operate from Colombo Fort to Kankesanthurai on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Yal Devi train from Kankesanthurai to Colombo Fort will operate only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The train consists of four air-conditioned first-class compartments. Passengers can reserve tickets through Dept of Railways’ official website more..

May 11 (TM) Heavy rainfall is expected to continue over the coming days, with the Met Dept warning the prevailing atmospheric disturbance could develop into a low-pressure area today. Meteorologist Malith Fernando said the current weather pattern remains a pre-monsoon condition and that monsoon conditions are expected to develop around 20 May following the formation and intensification of low-pressure system. more..

May 11 (SO) Payments to private contractors by the CEB have more than doubled over the past decade, rising to Rs. 4,370 million in 2024 from Rs. 1,643 million in 2015, according to official data presented to Parliament. The sharp increase in outsourcing comes despite the State utility maintaining a workforce of over 22,400 employees, raising fresh questions about efficiency and the use of in-house staff. CEB data shows that Rs. 4,370 million was spent in 2024 on outsourced services, more..

May 11 (CT) The selection process for the new CEO of SriLankan Airlines has drawn 210 applications, Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said. He said, from the large pool of applicants, four candidates have been shortlisted following interviews, and the most suitable individual will be appointed as the airline’s next CEO. The shortlisted candidates are all Sri Lankan nationals, he added. The Govt expects the final appointment to be made within a month. more..

May 11 (AD) Free Lawyers organisation has accused the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance of attempting to protect the real culprits in a controversial payment involving the CB and the Treasury. In a statement, the organisation claimed that the eight-page report seeks to shield senior officials while placing responsibility on lower-level officers and computer systems. It further alleged that the committee has failed to fulfil its statutory responsibilities under Standing Order 121, more..

May 11 (AD) Police have issued a special notice regarding the issuance of digital motor vehicle insurance cards, which came into effect from May 1. In accordance with a decision jointly taken by the Insurance Regulatory Commission of SL, Insurance Association of SL, and other stakeholders in the insurance industry, insurance companies commenced issuing Digital Motor Insurance Cards in place of conventional Motor Insurance Certificates. Accordingly, IGP has issued more..

May 11 (SO) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will soon award a contract valued at around Rs.16 billion to lay an aviation fuel pipeline from Muthurajawela to BIA as part of the Govt’s broader plan to transform SL into a regional aviation services hub. CPC Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage said that the project has entered the mandatory standstill phase after the selection of the successful bidder. more..

May 11 (Island) In the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand, where merchants once connected civilisations through trade and ideas, a new conversation unfolded from 3–6 May at the 59th Annual Meetings of the ADB. Political leaders, central bank governors, investors, innovators and development partners gathered under a compelling theme: Crossroads of progress: Advancing the region’s connected future. The message resonating across the forum was unmistakable. more..

May 11 (DN) The 20th Battle of the Golds big match between D.S Senananyake College Colombo and Mahanama College ended in a draw at the SSC grounds yesterday. However both teams’ batters dominated this 3-day encounter while Mahanama skipper Dulnith Sigera came to the highlight yesterday with a magnificent knock of 189 in 209 balls with 10 fours and 9 sixes which helped them to pose a first innings total of 387 for 9 wickets declared in replay to DS’s first innings 344 more..

May 11 (NW) A factory located in the Homagama Industrial Zone has been sealed by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) for allegedly manufacturing and distributing substandard steel bars without the mandatory SLS certification. The raid was carried out on May 9 following a tip-off received by CAA officials. The factory had been operating at the location for nearly three years and was producing 6mm steel bars alongside its other products before releasing them to the market. more..

May 11 (EN) SL’s Central Bank became a net dollar seller for the first time in 22 months, after it had been buying the U.S. currency to build reserves to meet the targets the island nation agreed with the IMF. CB sold US$13 million on a net basis in April this year. It last sold dollars on a net basis in June 2024. The CB, however, net bought US$ 697.2 million in the first four months of this year following a net purchase of US$2 billion last year. CB's net dollar sales also coincide with a 3.7% fall more..

May 11 (FT) Workers’ remittances climbed to a record high in April, marking one of the strongest four-month performances in the country’s history, despite economic uncertainty stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, a region that hosts a large share of SL migrant workers. Latest data from the CB showed that inflows rose 19% year-on-year (YoY) to $ 767.9 million. April marked the fourth consecutive month of exceptionally strong more..

May 11 (ST) The govt has plans to expedite a Rs.1 billion promotional campaign in a bid to overcome the drop experienced recently in tourist arrivals as a result of the war in West Asia. Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe said said that a Rs.1 billion tender is to be finalised for which the evaluation is being carried out for the Australian market to conduct a digital and PR campaign in about two weeks’ time. SL will also be carrying out similar campaigns in other key markets more..

May 11 (TM) The Ministry of Labour is taking steps to professionalise the caregiving sector by introducing an allowance system while also working to establish clear criteria to identify individuals who require caregiving assistance. As part of the initiative, the Ministry is in the process of drafting an activity plan and studying progressive international practices related to the sector. Labour Ministry Secretary S.M. Piyatissa said that when professionalising any sector, more..