May 12 (DM) Hand hygiene is the most critical preventive measure, health experts warned as authorities keep a close eye to contain an enteroviral meningitis outbreak reported among schoolchildren in the Deniyaya Education Zone. Dr. Maheshaka Wijayawardena, Consultant Paediatrician said enteroviruses are highly stable RNA viruses capable of surviving for long periods on contaminated surfaces. “Viral meningitis is considered the most common neurological complication more..

May 12 (Island) Sri Lanka should mainly focus on upgrading its trade and investment facilitation system while identifying the paramount importance of the issue, South Korean Ambassador to SL Miyon Lee said. The bureaucratic matters—from Customs clearance to tariff lines, licensing, and registration—should be streamlined, she said at a round table forum recently held at the Colombo Club of the Taj Samudra, Colombo. The forum was organized and conducted by the Pathfinder Foundation more..

May 12 (DM) Sri Lanka’s appetite for wheat, the island’s second staple food, is on a steady upward trajectory, fuelled by a recovering economy and a booming tourism sector but yet to reach the pre-crisis levels. According to the latest report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service, the country’s total wheat consumption for the 2026/2027 marketing year (July-June) is forecast at 1.1 million metric tonnes. more..

May 12 (DN) Govt has launched a project worth Rs. 450 million to encourage school children across the island to engage in sports. The inaugural event, chaired by Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage was held last Friday at the Dept of Sports Development, where the official distribution of sports equipment to several schools commenced. Out of the total Rs. 450 million allocated for the project, funds will be utilised for the development of school playgrounds and the provision of sports gear. more..

May 12 (DN) National men’s cricket team is in the process of appointing a new captain for both the ODI format and Twenty20 format. After considering five names proposed for the same, experienced Kusal Mendis has been proposed as the new captain for the white ball format (ODI and T-20 formats), reliable sources said. New men’s team head coach Gary Kirsten is working hard with the players in preparation for the forthcoming West Indies tour and he is keen to have one captain for the white ball format. more..

May 12 (FT) Deputy Power Minister Arkam Ilyas said the Government has withheld over $ 37 million from coal suppliers, including fines and performance guarantees, as authorities assess losses linked to disputed coal shipments used for power generation. Ilyas said the Govt has so far received 18 coal shipments, of which 16 consignments were supplied by the first supplier, while the remaining two shipments came from a second supplier. “As of today (11), we have withheld $ 22 million as fines. more..

May 12 (FT) In a major push to strengthen grid stability and accelerate renewable energy integration, Govt yesterday announced plans to add 250 to 300 MW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to the national grid by the end of this year. Deputy Power Minister Arkam Ilyas said the Govt has already facilitated the addition of between 700 and 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects to the grid since taking office in 2025, rejecting claims that authorities are discouraging clean energy investments. more..

May 12 (TM) The Treasury is to bear 100% of the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) compensation for employees attached to two newly established successor companies following the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). In addition, 50% of the compensation for employees attached to two other post-CEB restructuring companies will also be borne by the Treasury. The total amount needed to compensate 1,896 employees is Rs. 8.5 billion. more..

May 12 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will lead a senior corporate delegation to Mumbai for the India–SL Business Forum tomorrow, held in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The delegation brings together the leadership of some of SL’s most prominent companies, representing a broad cross-section of the economy. Participants include Chairpersons, CEOs, and Managing Directors from leading firms in banking, manufacturing, energy, logistics, tourism, construction & technology. more..

May 12 (FT) World’s bestselling author and Founder of Directive Communication Psychology Arthur Carmazzi is set to conduct a full-day workshop titled Reset the Brain on 19 June at the Monarch Imperial. The highly interactive and energetic workshop is an opportunity for companies to empower their employees to grow themselves and the organisations. For individuals, Carmazzi will help them become successful people-centric professionals in their work life. more..

May 12 (FT) Power Minister Anura Karunathilaka acknowledged that the Govt’s decision to increase electricity tariffs by 18% will have an indirect impact on consumers across the economy, whilst insisting that the direct effect on the majority of electricity users remains limited. He said while most households will not see an immediate increase in their electricity bills, higher tariffs imposed on industrial and commercial users are likely to be passed on more..

May 12 (FT) DFCC Bank delivered a strong financial performance for the period ended 31 March 2026, underscoring the robustness of its strategy, disciplined execution, and the resilience of its balance sheet. Loan and deposit portfolios recorded sustained growth of 5% and 7%, respectively, compared to 31 December 2025, reflecting calibrated credit expansion and funding optimisation. As a result, total assets increased by 3% to Rs. 884 billion and total liabilities grew by 4% to Rs. 777 billion. more..

May 12 (FT) Famed media industry figure Rayynor Silva yesterday further strengthened his foothold in the financial services industry, upping his stake in Seylan to 10% from 6% with an investment of Rs. 1.2 billion. The market yesterday saw 26.7 million voting shares of Seylan Bank exchanging hands at a price of Rs. 103 per share for Rs. 2.77 billion. It closed the day at Rs. 106.25, up by Rs. 0.25. The seller was National Development Bank (NDB), which, as at 31 March 2026, more..

May 12 (DM) The Court of Appeal has held that where a Marriage Certificate is produced for the purpose of establishing a marital status in an administrative matter, such certificate constitutes prima facie proof of the existence of the marriage, and accordingly, no administrative authority or officer has the power to determine the validity or invalidity of such marriage in the absence of a decree or declaration issued by a competent court. The ruling was delivered by more..

May 12 (DM) After months of intense competition, emotional moments, and exceptional culinary performances, Sanjula Manoj has emerged as the winner of the inaugural season of MasterChef Sri Lanka, earning the title of Sri Lanka’s first-ever MasterChef. The highly anticipated grand finale brought together the season’s top contestants in one final culinary showdown, where creativity, precision, and composure under pressure were put to the ultimate test. Manoj impressed the judges more..

May 12 (ST) A shareholder of NDB this week filed a derivative action in the Commercial High Court of the Western Province against the leadership of the bank and its external auditors, Ernst & Young, following the internal fraud that resulted in a loss of approximately Rs 13.2 billion. M Thiyagarajah alleges that the bank’s board of directors and auditors were grossly negligent in failing to respond to early warning signs or detect highly irregular financial escalations. more..

May 12 (Island) US President Donald Trump yesterday rejected Iran’s response to his peace proposal. He wants the conflict ended on his own terms, but Iran is not amenable to that idea. Oil prices have gone up again. The economic cost of the US-Israeli war on Iran is incalculable, as is obvious. There has been a welcome pause in the conflict, thanks to a fragile ceasefire, but economies across the world are still reeling due to a global energy crisis. more..

May 12 (Island) The death of the most important suspect in the Sri Lankan Airlines Airbus deal has drawn intense public speculation. Kapila Chandrasena the former CEO of the heavily loss-making national airline was found dead under circumstances that the police are still investigating. He had recently been arrested by the CIABOC in connection with the controversial Airbus aircraft purchase agreement signed in 2013. Police investigations are continuing into the cause of death and whether or not more..

May 12 (TM) The resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody came after several weeks of controversy over his Ministerial role. The controversy sharpened when Jayakody was indicted by the CIABOC for a transaction that he was involved in 10 years ago as a Govt official in the Fertiliser Corporation. The other issue was the Govt’s purchase of substandard coal from a new supplier. Jayakody’s resignation followed the appointment of a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate more..

May 12 (TM) The people are once again being told to tighten their belts. Electricity tariffs have gone up yet again, and as always, the public is expected to absorb the shock while State institutions trade blame and excuses. This latest revision may officially spare 95 per cent of consumers on paper, but that does not mean they will escape its consequences. That is the deception at the heart of this announcement. In an economy still recovering from collapse, every increase in energy costs more..

May 12 (TM) Geographical Indication (GI) recognition for agricultural products can improve global recognition for exports while ensuring niche market reach and premium prices, especially by differentiating the certified products in the international market. Sri Lanka’s first-ever GI certification was for Ceylon Cinnamon. While the country is currently taking steps to achieve this recognition for other products like golden pineapple and king coconut, more..

May 12 (ST) There is a disturbing miasma of what the Grecians pithily called hubris pervading the JVP led NPP Govt. The classical old tales tell us that this insolence is, more often than not, followed by nemesis; that is punishment for excessive arrogance. In a political sense, (or what passes for politics in this country these days), much of the Govt’s conceit is due to a performing Opposition that it remains confident, will not challenge them on the streets and more..

May 12 (GV) Sri Lanka is undergoing one of the most significant demographic transitions in its modern history. According to the 2024 Census conducted by the DCS, women now make up the majority of the national population while the country is simultaneously facing declining birth rates, an ageing society and increasing economic pressure. These changes are not isolated developments. Together, they point toward what can be described as the feminisation of the population. more..

May 12 (SO) Amid growing public debate on governance, accountability, and administrative efficiency, Minister of Public Admin, PCs and LG Prof. Chandana Abeyratne addressed a wide range of pressing national issues in this interview from allegations of financial irregularities to disaster compensation and electoral delays. Q: From the outside, it appears that the State Administrative Service is undergoing a serious crisis. more..

May 12 (DM) Capturing power at an election two years after forming a political party is no doubt an incredible achievement even by a highly popular film star. However, Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar popularly known as Thalapathy (Commander) Vijay, who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday after securing support from several small parties, now enjoys an absolute majority in the State Assembly; but he seems to be heading towards a political muddle. more..

May 12 (DM) From the thunder of cavalry charging across open fields, from mighty battleships ruling the seas to jet aircraft streaking across the skies, each era has transformed how nations project power. Every leap in technology has rewritten the rules of conflict. The sword gave way to the musket. The musket yielded to the machine gun. The horse was replaced by the tank, the battleship by the aircraft carrier, the bomber by the missile. And with each transformation, more..

May 11 (CT) Following the arrest of Deputy Mayor of Kurunegala M. Ashardeen Moinudeen by officials of the CIABOC over the charge of allegedly soliciting a bribe from a businessman, he has been suspended from party membership by the high command of the ACMC, said Rushdie Habeeb, Director of Legal and Constitutional Affairs. Moinudeen was arrested by CIABOC officers at a hotel in the Battaramulla area recently over the charge of allegedly soliciting Rs 3 million from the said businessman more..

May 11 (Island) Minister KD Lalkantha invoked the views of Soviet revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin on women’s emancipation while addressing the opening of a new state-run childcare facility in Battaramulla last week. Speaking at the inauguration of the Little Roots daycare centre and preschool at the Govijana Mandiraya premises Lalkantha said women could not achieve true liberation while remaining burdened by household responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning and childcare. more..

May 11 (CT) A massive fire broke out at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital’s drug storage facility around 1 a.m. yesterday (9), destroying medicines and other essential supplies worth over Rs 1 billion. Police have cordoned off the area and launched investigations to determine the cause of the blaze, NPP MP for the Jaffna District and former Director of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Dr. Sri Bavanandarajah said. Tri-Forces personnel, along with the CID more..

May 11 (Island) UNP Vice President and Kandy District Leader, Navin Dissanayake, on Saturday, stressed that any proposed merger between the UNP and the SJB must be carried out formally rather than in an ad hoc manner. Dissanayake said a structured framework was essential to ensure the successful reunification of the two parties ahead of future elections. “A formal mechanism must be established for the unification of the UNP and the SJB. This process cannot be confined to more..

May 11 (AD) SL Police have announced that strict legal action will be taken against vehicles fitted with unauthorized modifications and excessively noisy exhaust systems, as part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and enforce traffic regulations across the country. Police Media Division stated that ensuring traffic discipline and protecting the lives of all road users remain among their primary responsibilities. Authorities have observed a growing number of vehicles more..