May 13 (FT) Ports Minister Anura Karunathilaka denied speculation that the Govt has decided to privatise the East Container Terminal (ECT), insisting that no policy decision has been taken despite growing investor interest. He said the Govt remains open to receiving investment proposals, but stressed that no formal move has been made to privatise the strategic terminal. “As a Govt, we have not told investors not to submit proposals. We are engaging in discussions with interested parties, but more..

May 13 (Island) The Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, comprising 11 floors, has been constructed with the assistance of the Govt of India with the objective of serving as a hub for cultural activities in SL and expanding bilateral cooperation for the promotion, preservation, and fostering the cultural heritage of Jaffna. In accordance with the approval granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2022-02-21, a Joint Management Committee has been appointed to make decisions relating to more..

May 13 (MB) Buddhist monks associated with the Walk for Peace initiative have carried a sapling of the sacred pipal or bodhi tree to the US, more than 2000 years since the Indian Emperor Ashoka’s daughter, Sanghamitta, a Buddhist nun, carried a sapling of that same lineage from India to SL. In both narratives, the pipal tree became more than a plant but a living bridge across cultures and faith, rooting itself in new lands while carrying the same timeless message more..

May 13 (NW) Opposition MP S.M. Marikkar has questioned whether it is necessary to report to the Presidential Commission appointed to probe substandard coal imports, citing a recent statement made publicly by JVP Secretary General Tilvin Silva. Marikkar played a video to the media in which Silva claimed the Commission would clear the govt of allegations within three months. The MP pointed out that while the President has appointed the Commission for a six‑month duration, Silva is already suggesting more..

May 13 (DM) SLPP National Organizer and MP Namal Rajapaksa said that if the President’s claim that no one is above the law is to be upheld, all individuals allegedly involved in wrongdoing must be investigated without exception. Speaking at a public meeting in Kesbewa on 12 May 2026, Namal said that if the principle of equal justice is to be maintained, then those linked to alleged financial and administrative irregularities must also face legal scrutiny. more..

May 13 (AD) The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has directed the promotion of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Director of the CID, Shani Abeysekara, to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). Accordingly, the National Police Commission (NPC) has been informed of the decision today. The promotion is to take effect from August 25, 2026, and a decision has also been made to pay all arrears of salary and allowances lost since the date of his suspension. more..

May 13 (FT) Dinana Dakuna Collective has written to CIABOC, urging the anti-graft body to safeguard its independence, credibility and impartiality amid growing public scrutiny over its conduct in high-profile investigations. In a letter signed by Collective Leadership Board members Attorney Shiral Lakthilaka, Maithri Gunaratne, PC and Nadeesha de Silva, the group said public confidence in the Commission could be undermined if investigations are not conducted impartially and transparently. more..

May 13 (EN) SL’s central bank has no mandate to cross-check or alter payment instructions provided by the govt, Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said, likening the regulator’s role to a commercial bank executing a client’s transfer. Addressing concerns over the US$ 2.5 million fraudulent debt repayment, Weerasinghe said responsibility for the accuracy of recipient details lies with the initiating departments under Ministry of Finance, specifically External Resources Dept more..

May 13 (Island) The Govt is expected to commence compensation payments, within the next few days to electricity sector employees who opted for voluntary retirement, under the ongoing power sector restructuring programme, following a high-level discussion chaired on Monday by Minister Anura Karunathilaka. The discussion, held at the Ministry, focused on finalising arrangements related to the payment process, and addressing several issues that had arisen in connection with the compensation scheme. more..

May 13 (NW) SL Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the gruesome killing of a man in Mamadala Junction, Ambalantota, where the victim was shot, hacked to death, and his severed head placed on a statue before the attackers fled. One suspect was taken into custody by Ambalantota Police yesterday (12), while two others were arrested the same day by the Tangalle Division Crime Investigation Unit. According to the Police, all three are residents of the Ambalantota area. more..

May 13 (DM) Amidst most global airlines cutting flights and shrinking operations due to skyrocketing jet fuel prices, the govt has confirmed that national carrier SriLankan Airlines will continue all its current international routes without any cuts, even as major carriers around the world struggle to survive rising costs. Minister Anura Karunathilaka said that the govt has signed an agreement with the CPC to supply fuel on credit for a limited period. more..

May 13 (TM) Football Federation of SL (FFSL) Indefatigable President Jaswar Umar says he is single-mindedly focused on steering the national team to its first Men’s SAFF Championship title in 31 years, despite whatever brickbats hurled at him by his critics. SL won its first and only Men’s SAFF Championship title then named the SAFF Gold Cup in 1995, when former Renown SC defender Roshan Pereira led the host nation to a famous 1-0 victory over India in the final at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. more..

May 13 (DM) Govt is planning to amend the Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 in a move to include pigs, goats and sheep in addition to cattle and cows in the definition of animal in the Act. The Cabinet of Ministers has granted in-principle approval on Dec 1, 2025 for the proposal submitted by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation in this regard. Attorney General has also granted clearance for the draft Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman in all three languages. more..

May 13 (AD) The low-pressure area located northeast of Sri Lanka is expected to move away from the island and gradually weaken over the next 48 hours, Met Dept stated. Due to the influence of this system, the prevailing showery weather conditions across the country are expected to continue for the next two days. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Northwestern, and Northern provinces, as well as in the Anuradhapura District. more..

May 13 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has crossed the 900,000-visitor mark for 2026, offering cautious optimism toward the Govt’s ambitious 3 million arrival target, despite signs of weakening momentum amid global travel uncertainty. Latest figures from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) show that the country welcomed 922,883 tourists from January through 10 May, reflecting a marginal 2.22% year-on-year (YoY) decline compared to the same period last year. more..

May 13 (FT) The hotel industry warned that the country risks losing billions in potential revenue, unless authorities urgently address mounting policy delays, foreign exchange leakages, weak regulation and the absence of sustained global destination marketing. Hotels Association of SL (THASL) said a growing disconnect between tourist arrivals and actual earnings was emerging as one of the sector’s biggest concerns, even as visitor numbers continue to recover. more..

May 13 (FT) Home Lands Group’s Home Lands Port City Ltd signed the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd to develop a twin tower high-rise project in the Central Park District of Port City that will merge with and overlook 40 acres of lush central parkland. Home Lands said the project investment of $ 150 million marks the largest real estate investment by a single Sri Lankan developer. With the total project value estimated at over $ 300 million, more..

May 13 (AD) Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has issued a special announcement urging the public to refrain from using polythene and plastic materials for various decorations and Dansal activities during the upcoming Vesak festival. CEA emphasized that the measure has been introduced with the objective of safeguarding the ecosystem, including both humans and animals. The sale, display and use of the following materials commonly utilized for Vesak lanterns, decorations and more..

May 13 (NW) SL’s oil import bill has risen more than six times between February and May, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed, warning of mounting economic challenges. He noted that while the actual cost of a litre of diesel is around Rs. 720, it is being supplied to the public at Rs. 392, leaving the govt and the CPC to absorb heavy losses. Prez said oil imports cost USD 98 million in Feb, USD 216 mil in March, USD 368 mil in April, and are projected to reach USD 522 mil in May. more..

May 13 (EN) SL Customs reached the 1 trillion rupee revenue milestone this week, its spokesman said, while it has been continuously exceeding its monthly targets. “Yesterday, SL Customs surpassed a special milestone in revenue collection for 2026, when we reached (the) Rs. one trillion mark,” Customs Spokesman Chandana Punchihewa said on Wednesday (13). Customs revenue reached 995.8 billion rupees on Monday, which is 45.1% of the 2,207 billion rupee target for this year, more..

May 13 (AD) The Dept of Railways says train services on the Colombo-Puttalam railway line have been limited only up to Chilaw Railway Station due to sudden flooding. Issuing a statement this afternoon, the Dept said several locations along the Puttalam line in the Thilladi area have been inundated due to prevailing adverse weather conditions. It further noted that the water level is continuing to rise, prompting the restriction of train operations on the Puttalam line up to Chilaw more..

May 13 (FT) Sri Lanka has reached a critical milestone by moving out of bankruptcy, but it would be misleading to call it a success. Debt restructuring is almost completed. Most agreements have been secured, a pathway to debt sustainability has been mapped, and institutional frameworks such as the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDS) and institutionalising the centralised debt management function are being put in place. Please refer my 2017 article on MTDS more..

May 13 (FT) As the world turns to the 14-15 May Beijing summit between the US and China, the balance of power appears less symmetrical than diplomatic protocol suggests. At the very moment Prez Donald Trump arrives at the table, he is burdened—militarily, economically, and politically—while Prez Xi Jinping engages from a position of calibrated strength and mindful narrative. Meanwhile, in Colombo, the presidents of Vietnam and the Maldives have just met with their SL counterpart more..

May 13 (TM) Nearly 100,000 Aswesuma beneficiary families have begun earning a stable income through alternative support programmes since the introduction of the welfare scheme, with the Govt hoping to gradually stop welfare payments for as many families as possible over the next three years (2027-2029), it is learnt. Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa said the Govt is working towards helping beneficiaries more..

May 13 (AD) A total of 16 major reservoirs and 17 medium-scale reservoirs under the management of the Dept of Irrigation are currently spilling following heavy rains recorded across several parts of the country. Director of Irrigation Engineer H.M.P.S.D. Herath said the situation was reported as of 6 a.m. today. Reservoirs currently spilling include Rajanganaya Reservoir in the A'pura District, Ambewela Reservoir in the Badulla District, and the Mau Ara, Lunugamvehera, Thissa Wewa, more..

May 13 (AD) An Amber Advisory for heavy rains has been issued for the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Puttalam, Galle and Matara districts today. Dept of Meteorology stated that the prevailing showery conditions are expected to continue further due to the low-pressure area in the vicinity of Sri Lanka. Accordingly, very heavy showers above 200 mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Puttalam, Galle and Matara districts, more..

May 13 (TM) Ministry of Ports & Civil Aviation has launched a formal drive to attract both local and int'l investors to Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA), for which the BoI will work with all stakeholders and prospective investors as a facilitator. Acting on behalf of Airport & Aviation Services (AASL), Ministry has initiated the process of inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) covering a wide array of commercial opportunities. more..

May 13 (NW) Harsha de Silva says he entered politics with the vision of building a developed Sri Lanka and insists he will not join the Govt despite ongoing speculation. In a lengthy statement, SJB MP said none of his family members were involved in politics and that his decision to enter public life was driven by a desire to see SL become a developed nation one day. Harsha de Silva said he does not make political decisions based on narrow political advantages and rejected claims that more..

May 13 (NW) Seven public transport drivers and conductors were found to have used dangerous narcotic substances during a special drug screening programme conducted at the Kadawatha bus stand yesterday. The operation was carried out under a special programme launched by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development targeting drivers engaged in public transport services, with the aim of improving passenger safety and road discipline. According to the Ministry, more..

May 13 (NW) Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera has strongly denied allegations that he sexually abused a 15-year-old girl, while the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate on Tuesday declined to issue a fresh remand order against the suspect monk over legal procedural issues. The development took place when the case was taken up before A'pura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Wickramaratne. Prez’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing for Ven. Hemarathana Thera, told court more..

May 13 (EN) SL’s private credit recovered strongly in March, and the rupee whimpered in cascading credit driven by money printed through fx swaps and dollar purchases that aggressively signalled the market to depreciate the currency. The external problems are coming amid current and overall budget surpluses. On Thursday, rupee fell to 323.25/75 to the US dollar around 322/322.30 levels in a constrained spot market which was largely inactive. One-week forwards were quoted close to 324 to US$, more..

May 13 (Island) Prof. Prathibha Mahanamahewa has emphasised the need to examine the circumstances under which the court staff executed the bail bond, and the release process, in respect of the late Kapila Chandrasena, former CEO of SriLankan Airlines. Chandrasena’s body was found in a house at Pedris Road, Colombo 3. In case of any doubt regarding bail condition/s or any other matter (insufficient surety, identity issues, more..