May 19 (SO) Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) President, Pavithra Fernando believes with the setting up of the high-performance sevens program, SL have set their goal towards winning an elusive Asian Games Medal. “This is a defining moment for SLR. For the first time, we are committing fully to a high-performance sevens program with a clear and uncompromising objective – to win a medal at the Asian Games,” Pavithra said. “While we recognise the short-term impact on our fifteens results, more..

May 19 (Island) As the world prepares to observe the International Day for Biological Diversity, commonly known as World Biodiversity Day, on May 22, SL stands as a vivid example of how a relatively small island can hold an extraordinary concentration of life. The annual observance serves as a global reminder of the importance of protecting ecosystems and the rich variety of life forms that sustain the planet. This year’s observance comes amid increasing international concern over more..

May 19 (CT) In the twenty-first century, national security can no longer be defined solely through military strength, territorial defence, or conventional warfare capabilities. The rapidly evolving global environment has demonstrated that economic resilience, energy security, food stability, technological competitiveness, and strategic supply chains are now equally critical to the survival and prosperity of nations. In many ways, economic security has become the foundation upon which more..

May 19 (Island) Time, it is said, is the great healer. But there are some wounds that will not heal with time. They need specific and focused treatment. The dates May 18 and 19, the two final days of Sri Lanka’s three decade long war, are less in the consciousness of the people than before. But the continuation of the untreated and unhealed wounds of the war continues to be seen in the many groups of people who gather to remember their loved ones on these days. more..

May 19 (CT) While Chinese nationals are reportedly more involved in online scamming networks in SL, there is also a growing trend of individuals from India entering such operations. Police arrested 192 Indians and 29 Nepalis in coordinated raids over suspected online scam activities in Southern coastal towns between 11 and 12 May. Online scammers entering SL on tourist visas are being counted as part of the country’s official tourist arrival figures, more..

May 19 (Island) 17 years have elapsed since the defeat of LTTE terrorism, which plagued the country for about a quarter century. If not for the successful military campaign that eliminated the LTTE leadership, thousands of lives would have been lost in terror attacks and on the battlefield since 2009, and it would not have been possible to rekindle democracy in the North and the East. Today, children can go to school without fear of being abducted and turned into cannon fodder by the LTTE; more..

May 19 (ST) If Mahinda Rajapaksa had harboured any fears of being slipped unnoticed into the melting pot of this nation’s tumultuous history to end up merely as an inconspicuous footnote on one of the chronicle’s pages, then this month’s dramatic happenings showed he wouldn’t be forgotten in a hurry. Not under this govt anyway. The more they try to bury him under heaps of unproven corruption charges, the more the man rises unsoiled, with his fleece as white as the driven snow. more..

May 19 (SO) General Secretary of the SLPP, Sagara Kariyawasam is a key figure in one of SL’s most influential political parties, playing a central role in shaping its strategy and public messaging during a period of political and economic change. He discussed the SLPP’s plan to regain power, responded to criticism over the 2022 economic collapse and addressed questions on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s legal challenges. more..

May 19 (GV) It is with tremendous sadness that I write about the passing of D.B.S. Jeyaraj. He was a journalist, a chronicler and, for those of us who found our way to the Tamil cause through his words, something far more personal: a moral framework. As a young teenager who was born and raised in Canada, it was Jeyaraj’s writings which first introduced me to the works of constitutional scholar Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam. His writings significantly influenced and shaped my views on the ethnic conflict and more..

May 19 (DM) The murder of Francis Attygalle (21), the only male heir of a wealthy family, shocked colonial Ceylon in 1906. The handsome millionaire, linked by marriage to the families of D.S. Senanayake, Sir John Kotelawala, and J.R. Jayewardene, died from a gunshot wound under mysterious circumstances, leaving controversies that haunted the island’s political landscape for decades. John Kotalawala, the chief suspect and brother-in-law of the victim, a former police officer, more..

May 18 (CB) SL-India Test series will be played in the second half of August. The exact dates for the two Tests have not yet been finalised, but Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has identified a two-week window for the matches, which are part of the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Sources within SLC and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have revealed that the matches will be played between Aug 15 and 27. There is, however, no confirmation yet on the 3 Twenty20Is more..

May 18 (Island) Taking a decisive step towards safeguarding SL’s maritime heritage, a high-level discussion was held today at the Ministry of Environment. Jointly chaired by the Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody and Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, meeting focused on the urgent need to prevent environmental pollution and protect the coastal waters around the northern seas and their adjacent islands. The discussion was attended by senior naval officers, more..

May 18 (AFP) A surge in arrests of suspected foreign scammers in Sri Lanka has authorities concerned that the island is fast becoming a hub for online crime, following sweeping crackdowns in hotspots Cambodia and Myanmar. Officials say some scam networks forced out of countries in Southeast Asia have simply shifted to new bases, increasingly moving operations to Sri Lanka -- an attractive destination due to a relaxed visa more..

May 18 (TM) SL Chamber of Garment Exporters (SLCGE) warned that SL is gradually losing market share to more competitive countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh & India, stating that rising fuel prices and electricity tariff hikes are driving up production costs. SLCGE Vice President Rumesh Perera said the recently announced 18% electricity tariff hike for domestic consumers using over 180 units had created additional pressure on garment factories already struggling with rising more..

May 18 (AD) Compensation for crop damage caused by the recent adverse weather conditions will be provided through the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne has stated. Deputy Minister noted that information regarding the affected farmland is currently being collected and urged farmers to submit details of crop damage to the relevant officials. He noted that reports had been received about cultivation lands damaged by more..

May 18 (TM) The skeletal remains at the Chemmani mass grave have increased to 252 following the recommencement of excavations in April, with activities being halted due to the adverse weather. “A few more bodies were found when they restarted the excavation, but I think they may have stopped because of the heavy rain here. We’re just finding more and more skeletal remains. Now it’s at 252, the last I checked,” TNA MP more..

May 18 (NW) Police say legal action will be initiated against former MP Wimal Weerawansa and a group of around 35 individuals after an incident during a rehearsal for the National War Heroes Day commemoration ceremony in Battaramulla. According to the Police Media Division, the rehearsal for the National War Heroes Day event, scheduled to be held on May 19 under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, took place today at War Heroes Memorial near the Parliament more..

May 18 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya has departed for an official visit to the UK to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting. The visit will include several high-level academic and diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation in education, research, development studies, and international partnerships. During the visit, PM is scheduled to meet UK Education Secretary Bridget more..

May 18 (FT) Sri Lanka has taken a bold step toward transforming its energy landscape, as the Energy Ministry and the Board of Investment of SL (BOI) jointly issued a Request for Information (RFI) inviting local and int'l investors to participate in the development of Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia projects across the island. Issued on 23 April, the RFI marks a pivotal moment in the country’s clean energy journey — one that officials say could position SL as a regional more..

May 18 (EN) Sri Lanka is likely to see a current account deficit this year, bucking the trend for the first time in four years, due to higher dollar outflows than inflows amid expensive global oil prices, a top CB official said. Since the Middle Eastern escalation started on Feb 28 this year, SK has been paying a higher amount for oil imports due to the spike in the global crude prices. “We’ve had surpluses for three years. For this year, we are expecting a small deficit in the current account,” more..

May 18 (NW) The JVP has strongly rejected claims published in the May 17 edition of a Sunday newspaper alleging internal tensions and a dispute during a meeting at its Pelawatte office. In a statement issued today, the JVP said the report published in the newspaper’s political gossip column under the headline Who kicked a chair at the Pelawatte meeting? was completely false and a fabricated story with no basis in fact. more..

May 18 (TM) A special hospital management meeting was recently held at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo under the patronage of Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni to discuss patient care services, administration, and several ongoing issues affecting the hospital. The discussion, attended by hospital administrators, medical specialists, medical officers, nurses, and other staff members, was held at the hospital’s Epilepsy Treatment Centre auditorium. more..

May 18 (AD) A total of 5,289 Tri-Service personnel have been promoted to their respective next ranks in view of the 17th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Day, which falls tomorrow (19). Promotions have been granted to their next respective ranks in recognition of their dedicated service rendered to the nation, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. National War Heroes’ Commemoration Day is commemorated annually on 19 May to honour and appreciate more..

May 18 (TM) SL Transport Board (SLTB) has requested an allocation of Rs 1.91 billion from the Treasury through the Ministry of Transport to mitigate a severe liquidity crisis. Financial shortfall has been primarily triggered by the recent surges in global diesel prices combined with mandatory increments in employee salaries. Last year, Govt provided financial assistance to the State transport entity, allocating Rs. 274 million per month more..

May 18 (DM) Hundreds of import licence renewals are currently pending at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), creating serious disruptions to the pharmaceutical supply chain, the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) said. The industry body said the delays were preventing pharmaceutical companies from placing orders with international suppliers on time, raising concerns over the availability of essential medicines in the coming months. more..

May 18 (AD) Although Sri Lanka had initially expected an economic growth rate of around 5% for 2026, recent changes in global economic conditions after March have made it difficult to provide an accurate forecast, the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has said. Governor noted that before the emergence of the current global economic instability, projections had indicated that Sri Lanka’s economy would grow by approximately 5% in 2026. more..

May 18 (DM) Vehicle Importers Association of SL (VIASL) has announced the estimated price increases following the Govt’s decision to impose a 50% surcharge on vehicle imports. According to VIASL, the combined impact of the surcharge, currency appreciation and existing taxes could push up vehicle prices by between Rs. 1.5 million and Rs. 2.5 million depending on the model. Industry estimates suggest price increases across several categories as follows: Mini Cars / Kei CarsAlto/Carol – Rs. 421,750, more..

May 18 (DM) Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC) has highlighted the need to establish animal crematorium facilities for dogs, arguing that such services would allow pets and stray animals to be treated with dignity after death, similar to humans. AWC Executive Committee Member Dr. Chamith Nanayakkara said that while establishing dog orphanages, safety centres and welfare facilities has become a major topic of discussion in recent times, such models have largely proven ineffective more..

May 18 (NW) The Inter‑University Students’ Federation (IUSF) announced that PM Harini Amarasuriya has agreed to hand over the disputed land and house in Malwana, currently under the Dompe Divisional Secretariat, to the University Grants Commission (UGC). The decision was conveyed following a discussion held at the PM’s Office today (18). Convenor Sasindu Perera said that the PM had promised to more..

May 18 (DM) Ministry of Transport, Highways & Urban Development today signed an agreement to import 104 new buses for Metro Transit, a subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), in a move aimed at improving the country’s public transport service. The agreement was signed at the Ministry premises in Koswatta, Battaramulla, between the Ministry of Transport, Highways & Urban Development and Indra Traders (Pvt) Ltd. Secretary to the Ministry, Prof. Kapila Perera, and more..

May 18 (FT) CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe is reported to have stirred up a hornets’ nest when he had, quite correctly of course, firmly remarked that I want to make it clear: CBSL does not promote economic growth in answer to a question from the press when the bank’s Economic Policy Review for 2025 was unveiled to the public recently. Immediately, several high-ranking citizens of the country approached me with the simple question whether I would endorse controversial stand more..

May 18 (DM) Following months of speculation of arguments and rifts within the NPP camp, Daily Mirror reliably learns that some senior govt members have told Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to consider inviting capable MPs from the opposition to join the govt in an attempt to take the nation forward. Inside sources said that during a recent meeting at the JVP HQ in Pelawatta, senior JVP camp had discussed a proposal more..