May 28 (DM) The Supreme Court ruled that a bank is legally entitled to institute action directly against a guarantor without first proceeding against the principal debtor, provided the guarantor has expressly waived that right in the guarantee agreement. Delivering the judgment into an appeal filed by a guarantor, the Supreme Court affirmed the Commercial High Court’s decision holding one Vithanage Happawana liable as guarantor for credit facilities obtained from DFCC Bank. more..

May 28 (DM) Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a present and growing reality affecting countries across the world, including SL. Its impacts are already being felt through extreme weather events, changing rainfall patterns, increasing pressure on livelihoods, rising threats to food security, damage to infrastructure, and wider risks to sustainable national development, officials said. Against this backdrop, the official launch of the 8th Steering Committee Meeting of more..

May 28 (DM) SL Police urged the public to fully cooperate with law enforcement officers during vehicle inspections and residential searches, warning that attempts to evade police checkpoints or obstruct official duties could result in legal action and the use of necessary police force. Statement follows an incident in the early hours of this morning in which police opened fire on a vehicle that repeatedly ignored orders to stop at three separate more..

May 28 (AD) The IMF Executive Board completed the combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Sri Lanka, providing the country with immediate access to SDR 508 million (about US$ 695 million) to support economic policies and reforms. These are the sixth and seventh tranches Sri Lanka receives under the IMF-EFF. Accordingly, the total IMF financial support disbursed so far increases to SDR 1.778 billion (about US$ 2.4 billion). more..

May 28 (NW) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met with Vanushi Walters, the opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs in the New Zealand Parliament, during his official visit to the country. Herath said the two sides held constructive discussions on a range of bilateral matters. The Foreign Minister said he also briefed Walters on Sri Lanka’s economy, including developments related to trade, tourism, investment opportunities and the political situation in the country. more..

May 28 (DM) Applications have been called to recruit 400 public officers as Digital Champions for the Public Impact Champions Network (PIC-NET), an institutional pilot initiative aimed at optimising public services through digitalisation. As a key component of the Govt’s Digital Economy Plan to enhance efficiency and quality in the public sector, an awareness programme for coordinating executive officers of public institutions was held more..

May 28 (MoD) Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara conducted a field inspection visit to several key locations in the Jaffna Peninsula on Tuesday (26). Joining the Deputy Minister for the field visit were Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, the District Secretary of Jaffna, and relevant govt officials. During the visit, Deputy Minister paid close attention to addressing ongoing concerns related to national security and public welfare. He assessed the overall security framework of the area more..

May 28 (TM) Govt's proposal to introduce legislation aimed at cancelling the parliamentary seats of MPs who switch parties has triggered fresh political debate, with the SJB claiming the move is being rushed due to fears of defections within the ruling side. When queried as to whether they would support the proposed legislation, SJB General Secretary and MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that the matter would first need to be discussed within the party’s Working Committee before more..

May 28 (TM) Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security & Community Empowerment stated that it planned to bring at least 5 million out of the estimated 6 million informal sector workers in SL into the SL Social Security Board (SLSSB) pension programme. Deputy subject Minister Wasantha Piyathissa noted that State sector employees are entitled to pensions, private sector workers receive Employees’ Provident Fund benefits and farmers are covered under the farmers’ pension scheme. more..

May 28 (NW) A major accident was narrowly avoided when a train driver and a wildlife officer acted swiftly to prevent a collision with a wild elephant crossing the tracks between Habarana and Palugaswewa. Incident occurred as the Batticaloa–Colombo train was travelling through the area. Mobile phone footage captured the elephant crossing the railway line, highlighting the tense moments as the train approached. Thanks to the driver’s quick reflexes, train was brought under control, averting more..

May 28 (AD) ASP F.U. Wootler said that police are preparing to bring back to the country 89 criminals who have been issued Red Notices and are currently hiding abroad while being involved in various crimes in SL. ASP stated that eight suspects who had been hiding in the UAE were brought back to SL last night. On May 22, a total of 21 suspects, including 19 men and two women, were repatriated from the UAE. more..

May 28 (DM) A new species of spiny mouse has been discovered in SL’s Puwakpitiya Valley in the Dumbara (Knuckles) Mountain Range, adding to the island’s rich record of endemic biodiversity. The species has been scientifically named Mus dumbara, and is commonly referred to in English as the Dumbara Valley spiny mouse and in Sinhala as Dumbara katu heen meeya. The discovery was confirmed through integrated analysis of external morphology, skull characteristics, and more..

May 28 (NW) PM and Minister of Education, Harini Amarasuriya has emphasized the need to add a new dimension to SL’s medical education to produce doctors with compassion. She made the remarks at the inaugural meeting of the expert committee appointed to draft a National Policy on Medical Education, held at the Ministry of Education recently (26). The committee is tasked with preparing a comprehensive policy to strengthen medical education in line with national health needs. more..

May 28 (EN) SL’s tighter macroprudential restrictions on vehicle and gold-backed lending will benefit lenders’ risk profiles, particularly those of finance companies, Fitch Ratings says. CB’s lower loan-to-value (LTV) caps target two products that have expanded rapidly in recent years and represent a substantial share of mainly finance companies’ balance sheets. Tighter caps may also weigh on volumes and earnings growth, more..

May 28 (FT) Lanka Lions Foundation (LLF), the charitable arm dedicated to humanitarian and community upliftment under Lions in SL, continues to make a significant impact on grassroots entrepreneurship through its long-standing micro loan program aimed at supporting economically active low-income individuals who are unable to access traditional banking facilities. As of 30 April 2026, the Foundation has successfully awarded 3,079 micro loans totaling Rs. 112,784,045 more..

May 28 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, in her Eid-ul-Adha message, extended her felicitations to the Muslim community in SL and around the world, highlighting the festival’s values of selflessness, unity, and compassion. She emphasized that the Hajji Festival commemorates the boundless devotion to God and the noble spirit of generosity demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim. PM also stressed the importance of rising above differences and standing together in unity and solidarity. more..

May 28 (AD) Seven Sri Lankan youths who had been detained by security authorities in Abu Dhabi, UAE, have been deported back to Sri Lanka. The group arrived at the BIA last night (27). They were reportedly arrested by Abu Dhabi security agencies over allegations of possession of photographs and video footage related to drone and missile strikes in the ongoing Middle East conflict situations, as well as for engaging with such content on social media through comments and reactions. more..

May 28 (NW) The suspect wanted in connection with the double murder of an elderly couple in Dikoya, Hatton, is yet to be arrested, contrary to earlier media reports of him being rearrested, the Police said. According to Police Media Division, the suspect was arrested and had been taken to the Kandy National Hospital yesterday due to an illness. However, he had escaped while under the supervision of prison officials and remains at large. Police further refuted media reports claiming more..

May 28 (WMO) Global average temperatures are likely to continue at or near record levels in the next five years, with Arctic temperature anomalies expected to continue to be higher than the global mean, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Org (WMO). Global Annual-to-Decadal Update also takes a look at the observed climate over the past 5 years and gives regional predictions for temperatures and more..

May 28 (NW) CCTV footage of the fatal shooting of a businessman in Kalutara South has been released to the media, showing gunmen in a car opening fire at the victim as he travelled on a motorcycle in the Wettumakada area. The deceased has been identified as a 38‑year‑old resident of Kalutara South. Meanwhile, police have recovered a van suspected to have been used by the gunmen prior to the attack. White van was found abandoned in the Dodangoda area along Kalutara–Matugama more..

May 28 (AD) Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) states that nearly 15,000 Dansals organised across the country have been registered so far to be held in view of the upcoming Vesak festival. Secretary of the union, Chamil Muthukuda, stated that further opportunities will be provided for the registration of Dansals. He also urged organisers to strictly adhere to proper health guidelines, particularly as several infectious diseases are currently being reported from different parts of the island. more..

May 28 (EN) A team of 20 legislators and 4 parliament officials are participating in a Workshop for MPs of SL being held in Beijing and Guangdong Province, China. The programme is organized by the Int'l Cooperation Center of the National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) of China from May 26 to June 5. The programme includes a series of lectures, discussions, institutional visits and more..

May 28 (DM) A major railway accident was narrowly averted when a train driver and a wildlife officer acted swiftly to prevent a collision with a wild elephant crossing the tracks between Habarana and Palugaswewa. The incident occurred as the Batticaloa–Colombo train was passing through the area. A wild elephant was seen crossing the railway line, creating a tense situation as the train rapidly approached. A wildlife officer travelling in the train reportedly spotted the animal first and more..

May 28 (NW) The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has issued a public warning about an ongoing cyber scam targeting motorists through fraudulent SMS and WhatsApp messages impersonating official police notifications. According to SLCERT, the messages falsely claim that traffic violations have been detected via CCTV cameras and direct recipients to pay fines through a fake website designed to closely resemble the Govt’s official GovPay platform. more..

May 28 (FT) Global geopolitical conflicts increasingly shape economic stability and organisational operations. Recent escalation of tensions involving Iran, Israel & US has significantly disrupted global energy markets, leading to considerable increases in oil prices and economic uncertainty worldwide. Developing countries that rely heavily on imported energy, such as Sri Lanka, are particularly vulnerable to such disruptions. In response to severe fuel shortages, more..

May 28 (FT) The global economic architecture of 2026 is defined by starkly different developmental choices made over the last century. At the time of their independence, nations like Sri Lanka held immense promise, outperforming major regional peers. Decades later, structural choices have propelled China into a manufacturing and technology titan, left the US defending its consumption-heavy economic model, and forced Sri Lanka into a rigorous cycle of macroeconomic recovery. more..

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..