May 15 (SO) Mehewara Piyasa building complex of the Dept of Labour in Narahenpita appears to represent the future of SL’s public service; modern architecture, digital service counters, and the interiors designed to project efficiency and professionalism. In fact, it is the tallest Govt building constructed to date. But, behind this impressive façade lies a very different reality for many citizens. An Accessibility Audit Report has revealed that despite the building’s modern design, more..

May 15 (Island) Politics is full of unexpected twists and turns. No sooner had newly elected TN Chief Minister Joseph Vijay punched above his weight to win a crucial trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to consolidate his power than he had to roll back the appointment of an astrologer as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) due to protests. One of the first few things Vijay did after being sworn in as Chief Minister was to appoint famous astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, as an OSD. more..

May 15 (SO) In the dry plains on the outskirts of Jaffna lies Chemmani, a place whose name has become inseparable from one of the darkest chapters of SL’s war. For decades, Chemmani has stood as a painful symbol of enforced disappearances, wartime abuses, and unanswered questions that continue to haunt families across the North. Chemmani first entered the national and int'l spotlight in 1998, at the height of the armed conflict between the SL military and the LTTE. more..

May 15 (TM) SL’s free healthcare system has long been one of the few institutions this country could genuinely be proud of. While politicians argued, govts changed, and the economy stumbled from one crisis to another, ordinary people still had something precious to rely on: the ability to walk into a State hospital and receive treatment regardless of wealth, class, ethnicity, or political connection. That did not happen by chance. It was built over decades through political vision, public investment, more..

May 15 (CT) The recovery of a mounted leopard skin, a spotted deer skin and live rounds of ammunition during a raid in Attawilluwa Puttalam by the STF and Wildlife officials, at a property reportedly linked to a former DIG, is clear evidence that the illegal wildlife trade is still rampant in SL. SL leopard (Panthera pardus), though strictly protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) are still a part of illegal wildlife trade. more..

May 15 (CT) What is it like to be a Sri Lankan, living in his own country today? How stable is his job, how affordable is his living and how is his family keeping up with dashed hopes and forgotten loyalties? The answers might not be palatable. Yet, looking back, a couple of years at least, he is certainly in a more hopeful place. In the context of the current, real-world perspectives, his life involves a slow-paced, often scenic lifestyle, but one punctuated by high living costs and navigating a challenging, more..

May 15 (ST) SL’s famed Nuwara Eliya tea – the champagne of teas – is quietly losing ground to potato. As last week’s Sunday Times reported, the tea industry is facing a significant decline as large swathes of tea‑planted land are being cleared for vegetable cultivation like potatoes, carrots, and leeks. We do not have to rush to declare whether this is right or wrong based on our opinions or emotions. The more useful question is not is this good or bad? but more..

May 15 (SO) The upscale neighbourhoods of Colombo 3, an area synonymous with old money and political power, became the scene of a grim discovery on Friday (8). The body of Kapila Chandrasena, the man who once held the keys to SL’s most powerful State-owned enterprises, was found dead in his residence. While the Police said that the death is currently ruled as a suspected suicide, timing and heavy legal clouds more..

May 15 (DM) SL’s farmers are facing a double whammy due to unseasonal weather patterns and rising global tensions due to the US-Iran conflict. SL imports more than 90% of its fertiliser requirements, especially urea from Iran. Iran’s urea production is built on its abundant, low-cost natural gas feedstock, making it one of the most cost-effective producers globally. In 2024, up to 30% of global fertiliser trade passed through Strait of Hormuz from Persian Gulf to export markets around the world, more..

May 15 (DM) The fisheries dispute between SL and India remains an irritant in bilateral relations, affecting not only diplomacy between the two neighbours but also the livelihoods and emotions of the Tamil people living in the Northern Province. At a time when SL is attempting to deepen economic cooperation with India and benefit from regional integration, the unresolved fisheries issue remains a political and humanitarian flashpoint capable of generating distrust on both sides of Palk more..

May 14 (DM) The former U.S. Coast Guard Cutter DECISIVE, which departed from the Baltimore U.S. Coast Guard Yard East Wall Jetty, has arrived in Trincomalee after a nearly three-month voyage. The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) formally took delivery of the US Coast Guard Cutter, provided by the United States to SLN, in a ceremony held in Baltimore on 02 Dec 25 The ship began its journey to Sri Lanka on February 20, 2026, covering approximately 14,775 nautical miles. more..

May 14 (NW) Civil society groups, political representatives and activists in SL on Wednesday called for urgent public and diplomatic support to ensure the safety of SL participant Sameera Mahboobdeen and other members of a humanitarian mission set to sail towards Gaza from Turkey on Thursday. The appeal was made by the Free Palestine Movement – SL (FPM), which said the Global Sumud Flotilla, expected to include more than 50 vessels, aims to deliver medical more..

May 14 (DM) Agriculture, Livestock, Lands & Irrigation Ministry and the Agriculture Dept, with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, have launched the CROPIX Seed Production, Certification and Traceability System aimed at modernising SL’s seed sector through digital technology. The new platform is designed to improve transparency, efficiency, traceability and coordination across more..

May 14 (DM) Govt’s primary objective is to create smart citizens capable of facing the challenges of the future world, Public Admin, PCs & LG Minister Prof. Chandana Abeyrathne said. The Minister made these remarks while addressing the certificate awarding ceremony of the 2026-I batch of young cadets at the National Youth Corps Training Center in Walahena on May 12. The inaugural batch completed a formal training programme focused on Information Technology, English language more..

May 14 (AD) Owners of two tourist hotels in Matara have been convicted for selling bottled drinking water above the regulated maximum retail price, with the Matara Magistrate’s Court imposing a total fine of Rs. 1 million. Verdict was delivered after the Consumer Affairs Authority filed charges before the court on May 13. Investigations conducted by the Matara District office of the Consumer Affairs Authority, following public complaints, found that the two hotels had been selling more..

May 14 (Island) Alleging that the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has shifted the massive losses, caused by the coal scam, to the hapless public, Opposition and SJB Leader, Sajith Premadasa, has questioned the conduct of the regulator, noting that it is mandated to protect the interests of both the service provider and the consumers. Premadasa alleged that the PUCSL ignored the representations made by the SJB more..

May 14 (AD) A red warning for heavy rains in several areas of the country has been issued by the Met Dept. The Met. Department noted that the low-pressure area located northeast of the Sri Lanka is expected to move away from SL during the next 48 hours according to the latest weather analysis. Accordingly, very heavy showers above 150mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle, Matara districts. more..

May 14 (DM) The Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, His Excellency ISOMATA Akio, has reiterated Japan’s commitment to supporting the modernisation of SL’s fisheries sector through the introduction of advanced technology and innovation-driven development initiatives. The assurance was given during a special meeting held at the Ambassador’s official residence, following an invitation extended to Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar. more..

May 14 (AD) Indian Naval Ship Sunayna as IOS Sagar with a multinational crew from 16 countries is scheduled to arrive in Colombo tomorrow, in continuation of Indian Navy’s endeavour to build Bridges of Friendship. IOS Sagar was flagged off for sea phase from Mumbai in April, on completion of combined harbour training for multinational crew comprising officers and sailors from SL, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Singapore, more..

May 14 (NW) CID has arrested the Controller of Information Technology and Internal Control at the Dept of Immigration and Emigration, over an alleged financial fraud linked to the installation of official software. FCID said the arrest followed inquiries into a payment of Rs. 9,831,250 made for a User Management Module software that was never installed. Investigators allege govt funds were fraudulently obtained without delivering the system. Police confirmed the suspect was taken more..

May 14 (DM) Members of the IUSF staged a protest today, demanding that the controversial Malwana property allegedly linked to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa be handed over for public use, including for universities facing space shortages. The protest was held at the Malwana estate, which spans nearly 15 acres and has previously been described as an ownerless property.nStudent activists said more..

May 14 (AD) New stamps for the postal facilities provided to Members of Parliament were issued at the Parliamentary Library under the patronage of Speaker of House Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. Accordingly, two new stamps valued at Rs. 20 and Rs. 70 were released, Dept of Communication of Parliament said. The stamps were issued by the Philatelic Bureau of the Dept of Posts of SL, and are expected to facilitate the various postal requirements of Members of Parliament more conveniently. more..

May 14 (TM) Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) has informed Siri Lions Sports Club that they will need to place a refundable financial deposit of Rs. 4.5 million with the former, as a mandatory condition for participation in future ‘A’ Division competitions. This was revealed to The Daily Morning Sports by SLR President and ex-national Pavithra Fernando. According to him the game’s domestic governing body had decided on the said requirement for Siri Lions, following the findings and recommendations more..

May 14 (TM) The Meteorology Dept announced that El Niño conditions are likely to emerge with a probability of about 62% and are expected to persist through at least the end of this year. Operational weather forecaster at the Dept, Preethika Jayakody said rains may continue this month (May) without disruption. In a possible El Niño situation, the guidelines and relevant data will be issued by the Dept. more..

May 14 (BU) Sri Lanka is launching the Public-Impact Champions Network (PIC-Net), a government-wide initiative aimed at accelerating digital transformation across state institutions. Outlined in the Digital Economy Blueprint, this project aims to drive digital transformation across the public sector, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eranga Weeraratne said. The champions will be chosen from 95 govt offices, comprising ministries, state-owned enterprises & provincial councils. more..

May 14 (EN) SL’s Export Development Board and Janathakshan GTE Ltd, are partnering under the UNDP’s GEF-07 Project to promote biodiversity-friendly and climate-resilient agriculture across Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, and Nuwara Eliya. United Nations Development Programme’s GEF-07 Project, Partnerships and Innovative Financing to Mainstream Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management in the Wet Climatic Zone of SL, will facilitate market linkages more..

May 14 (NW) WSO2 has announced that its Founder and CEO, Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana, will step down from his role as CEO with effect from June, 2026. The Board of Directors has initiated a search for a permanent CEO and has appointed WSO2’s Chief Revenue Officer, Devaka Randeniya, as Acting CEO to lead the company during the transition period. “We are grateful to Sanjiva for his vision and leadership in building WSO2 into a globally recognized technology company,” said Jonas Persson, Chairman of the Board. more..

May 14 (EN) The recent depreciation of the SL rupee is a reflection of shifting global market conditions rather than internal economic mismanagement, central bank governor Nandalal Weerasinghe insisted, but admitted intervening to prevent excessive swings. Under the current flexible inflation targeting framework, the exchange rate is primarily determined by market demand and supply in line with macro-fundamentals, he said at a public lecture on 2025 Annual Economic Review. more..

May 14 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday rejected the notion that the CBSL’s role was to directly drive economic growth, productivity gains, or foreign direct investment (FDI), arguing instead that its mandate was confined to preserving monetary and financial stability. The remarks amounted to one of the clearest public attempts yet by the CBSL to draw institutional boundaries around its post-crisis mandate more..

May 14 (AD) A former Director of the National Institute of Education has been sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 3 million by the Supreme Court after being found guilty of contempt of court in relation to the non-implementation of a court order concerning the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Exam. The accused, I.G.S. Premathilaka, former Director of the National Institute of Education, was convicted of contempt of court for failing to comply with a SC more..

May 14 (NW) Sri Lanka and Belarus have signed a bilateral Air Services Agreement aimed at enhancing air connectivity between the two countries. The agreement was signed by SL’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath and Belarus Transport Minister Alexei Lyakhnovich during Herath’s official visit to Minsk. The Foreign Minister also called on Belarusian Prez Aleksandr Lukashenko, with discussions focused on strengthening the longstanding friendship between 2 nations more..

May 14 (DM) Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena’s suspicious death took place at the residence of Aravinda de Silva, where the CCTV cameras were operational, but the system had not been recording footage for a long period and no footage of the location where the death occurred had been captured by the CCTV system, Colombo Crimes Division informed Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today. more..