May 8 (NW) Ministry of Education has taken steps to immediately transfer the school teacher of a Colombo girls’ school related to the death of a schoolgirl in Kotahena recently. Ministry said its attention has been focused on the tense situation linked to the school located in Bambalapitiya. Ministry said it had summoned the school principal for an explanation, after which it had transferred the schoolmaster involved in more..

May 8 (AD) The govt has taken another step towards ensuring the national minimum monthly and daily wages of private sector employees be increased in parallel with the recent revision in the salaries of state sector employees. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to gazette the amendments to the Budgetary Relief Allowance of Worker Act No. 36 of 2005, Budgetary Relief Allowance of Worker Act No. 4 of 2016 and the Employees’ National Minimum Wage Act more..

May 8 (AM) Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna was removed from the Parliament Chamber today on the instructions of the Chair, following repeated disruptions during a parliamentary debate. The Chair issued multiple warnings to Archchuna after he repeatedly interrupted Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake’s closing remarks. Despite the warnings, the MP continued to behave disruptively and created a disturbance in the Chamber. more..

May 8 (AD) The govt will not allow any faction to use Sri Lanka’s airspace or the country’s territory to attack another nation, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated when questioned on the stance of the govt pertaining to India, Pakistan tensions. Minister said SL will always reject all forms of terrorism and stand for regional peace. Commenting on the developments along the borders of India and Pakistan, more..

May 8 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s return to Sri Lanka on May 6 aboard a private jet sparked debate in Parliament today, with opposition MPs seeking clarification on who funded the trip. SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna questioned Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on whether the Vietnamese Govt bore the cost. In response, Minister Herath clarified that the return flight was funded by a UN-affiliated Vietnamese Buddhist society, not the Vietnamese Govt itself. more..

May 8 (AD) Court of Appeal has issued a writ order canceling the decision made to appoint S.M.P. Suriya Bandara as the Director General of the Road Development Authority (RDA) in 2024. Appeals Court also directed the RDA and the Minister of Transport and Highways to appoint K.W. Kandambi as the Director General effective from March 5, 2024. The order was delivered by the Court of Appeal bench comprising Acting President of the Court of Appeal Mohamed Laffar Tahir and Justice Sarath Dissanayake, more..

May 8 (NF) Deputy General Manager of Railways, N.J. Indipolage says that plans are in place to convert the Polgahawela to Mahawa section of the Northern Railway Line into a dual track system. He stated that under the first phase of the project, the segment between Polgahawela and Kurunegala will be upgraded to a double-track railway. He added that this initiative aims to reduce train delays and improve transportation efficiency. Trains operating along the Northern Line frequently experience more..

May 8 (AD) For the second time since the papal conclave began, black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that no candidate has yet secured the votes needed to become the next pope. To be elected, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority—at least 89 votes from the 133 cardinal electors. The cardinals are expected to vote up to two more times on Thursday. The continued appearance of black smoke suggests no consensus has been reached as they work to select more..

May 8 (NW) The new radiation detection equipment at Port of Colombo, provided by the US Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration’s (DOE/NNSA) Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence through its Megaports Initiative, was commissioned by US Ambassador to SL, Julie Chung, recently. According to the US Embassy in SL, the equipment, valued at Rs. 148 mil more..

May 8 (AD) Samantha Ranasinghe was sworn in as a MP for Kalutara District before the Speaker of House, Jagath Wickramaratne. Ranasinghe was sworn in as a MP to fill the Parliamentary seat that fell vacant following the demise of National People’s Power (NPP) Kegalle District MP Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera last month. MP Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera passed away on April 6 at the age of 38 due to a sudden heart attack while receiving treatment at the Karawanella Hospital. more..

May 8 (AD) The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition filed by former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, who sought an order to quash the indictment filed by the Attorney General against three defendants, including him. The Attorney General had filed the indictment on charges including concealing evidence regarding the alleged hit-and-run incident that took place in 2016, in which the vehicle the former Minister was travelling in collided with a motorcycle in Rajagiriya, more..

May 8 (EN) SL’s gross official foreign exchange reserves dropped US$ 205 million to US$ 6,326 million April 2025 from US$ 6,531 million in March, despite some dollars bought from markets. Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves in April 2025, is below the US$ 6,472 million reached in Oct 2024, when the central bank printed large volumes of money to push call money rates down as private credit picked up, ahead of the last rate cut. more..

May 8 (EN) IPS SL will conduct its bi-annual survey on the ease of doing non-profit work in the island nation, comparing it with 16 other Asian economies. Doing Good Index 2026: How are Civil Society Organisations Faring in SL? looks at the regulatory and societal environment in which private capital is directed toward philanthropy or doing good. Last year’s DGI survey (DGI 2024) showed positive strides in SL’s social sector, elevating its status from Not Doing Enough to Doing Okay. more..

May 8 (AD) An explanation has been called from the school principal over the death of a Grade 10 student following an alleged sexual assault by a teacher, the Ministry of Education has stated. Issuing a statement regarding the matter, Edu Ministry said the teacher in question has been transferred while disciplinary action will be taken based on investigations conducted by police. Earlier today, a group of parents and students staged a protest opposite the school in Bambalapitiya more..

May 8 (FT) For thousands of SL students, gaining admission to a university is a moment of triumph—the result of years of hard work, sleepless nights, and steadfast pursuit. They enter these institutions with dreams of knowledge, growth, and a future filled with promise. Yet, for many, this dream is swiftly shattered by the brutal reality of ragging. The recent tragic death of a second-year student Charith Dilshan at Sabaragamuwa Uni, has reignited concerns about the enforcement of anti-ragging laws in SL. more..

May 8 (FT) When this column appears, readers would know the results of the May 6th LG election, but at the time of its submission, I do not. This gives me the opportunity of expressing perspectival, thematic and strategic political views beyond the results. Now we know the number of agreements signed between the Anura Dissanayake and Narendra Modi administrations. It isn’t 7, it’s 10. It is an unprecedented disgrace and moral outrage that we have to find out even this basic more..

May 8 (TM) Although the number of votes and the overall vote share reduced in comparison to the recent Prez and Parliamentary/General Elections, NPP polled more than double the amount received by the SJB. However, the NPP could not replicate its strong showing at the past two elections among urban voters and the Northern and Eastern voters. NPP, which secured a two-thirds majority power in the Parliament less than more..

May 8 (TM) The Election Commission (EC) stated that they are expecting to conclude their duties by informing political parties and independent groups that secured over 50% of seats in Local Government (LG) bodies to name chairpersons/mayors, as well as the number of female representatives that should be appointed, before 2 June. The LG Elections to elect public representatives for a total of 339 LG bodies were held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday (6). EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake more..

May 8 (DM) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said his party, SJB, will respect the people’s verdict and cooperate with other opposition parties to ensure transparent and effective service delivery through local bodies where the opposition holds a majority. “I will bow down to the will of the people and will work with all opposition parties rather than engaging in confrontational politics. I am willing to engage in this exercise as a person who is always committed to safeguard democracy,” more..

May 8 (DM) The Central Bank has reported an unprecedented 14.5% year-on-year (YoY) growth in physical cash circulation during 2024. Total currency in circulation reached a new post-pandemic high of Rs.1.36 trillion by the end of the fourth quarter. This marks a significant rise from Rs.1.19 trillion in 2023, underscoring the sustained public reliance on cash, despite the increasing adoption of digital payment systems. more..

May 8 (CT) Namal Rajapaksa, National Organiser of the SLPP, acknowledged the party’s failure to gain control of any local authorities but remained upbeat, highlighting what he described as the SLPP’s resilience and regrouping in recent months. “Over the past six months, the SLPP has regrouped and gained momentum by staying true to our principles,” he said. “While some rely on false promises, we remain committed to honest, principled politics that put the people first. more..

May 8 (FT) SL’s tourism industry has surpassed 900,000 tourist arrivals for this year, enhancing the optimism in the sector of achieving the ambitious goal of 3 million tourists by year-end. The milestone was crossed on 1 May with the arrival of 6,311 visitors, bringing the total to 903,105. This achievement highlights robust growth in the sector, as it marks a threshold previously reached only in June 2024. As of 4 May, the year-to-date (YTD) arrivals figure has climbed to 917,406 more..

Apr 8 (DM) SL’s lubricant industry remains without a dedicated regulatory framework over a year, since the formal plans were first announced. While the previous administration failed to act on the commitment made in 2023, the current regime is yet to provide clarity on the matter, which is raising concerns across the sector. Inaction continues despite the repeated calls for oversight and structure and as pressure mounts from the stakeholders, who have escalated issue to relevant authorities. more..

Apr 8 (DN) SL is getting ready to host one of its most important boxing events as the ASBC Asian Under-22 & Youth Boxing Championships 2025 is set to be held from May 12 to 23 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo. The organisers revealed exciting details about the upcoming tournament, which will see over 400 athletes and officials from more than 24 countries arriving in SL. Asian boxing giants such as India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Australia, and Thailand will be in action, more..

Apr 8 (DM) Sri Lanka’s main water sources that supply drinking water have become polluted. Recent findings indicate that consuming water from these sources without proper treatment could lead to serious issues. A study conducted by the Uni of Peradeniya in 2023 examined the extent of this pollution, focusing on the how the presence of bacteria and other harmful substances in the water affects the water sources. more..

Apr 8 (DN) SL has climbed to fourth place in the latest Men’s ODI Team Rankings following the annual update released by ICC. Surge comes after a dominant run at home in recent months, where SL led by Charith Asalanka secured impressive series wins against both India & Australia. Team has gained five rating points in the latest update, reflecting their consistent performances in the 50-over format and this latest ranking give SL team to improve their moral to go forward. more..

Apr 8 (DN) Sri Lanka’s mixed 4 x 400m relay team will compete at the seventh World Relay Championship, scheduled for May 10-11 in Guangzhou, China. Sri Lanka Athletics has selected a six-member team for the event, and they will depart this evening. Kalinga Kumarage, Aruna Darshana and Nadeesha Ramanayake are the experienced runners in the team. They are joined by Sadew Rajakaruna, Neshendra Fernando, and Sayuri Mendis. Coach W.G.M Thushara, more..

May 8 (ST) Agriculture Ministry is yet to cover a few districts to complete the random survey and confirm the accuracy as well as validity of the problem animal census done nearly 50 days back. The five-minute census on problem animals was done on March 15 where people were asked to count Macaques, Langurs, giant squirrels and peacocks. The ministry appointed a Special Committee for Reducing Damages Caused by Wild Animals. It held its most recent meeting last week, and more..

May 8 (NW) The UNP, which has secured 13 councillors in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), has expressed its willingness to support the SJB in forming the next council administration and appointing a Mayor. “We are ready to support SJB,” UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardena said, adding that discussions regarding this collaboration will be held soon. The latest breakdown of CMC seats: NPP – 48 seats; SJB – 29 seats; UNP – 13 seats; SLPP – 5 seats; SLMC – 4 seats more..

Apr 8 (FT) Advocata Institute has welcomed the Cabinet’s overwhelming approval of the Gambling Regulatory Bill. This decisive move marks a significant step towards establishing a transparent, efficient, and accountable framework for the gaming industry. It also said a robust regulatory regime is essential to improving investor confidence, enhancing market integrity, addressing longstanding regulatory gaps, more..

May 8 (Island) As the Asian Development Bank (ADB) revises its influential Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS), activists and economists alike are raising a critical question: Can development be economically viable if it ignores human rights and environmental stability? One such person is environmentalist Hemantha Withanage. He said that the ADB’s new safeguards, currently under final review, aim to modernize protections for communities and ecosystems affected by more..

May 8 (Island) In an era where global financial markets demand innovation and agility, Acuity Knowledge Partners has positioned Sri Lanka as a strategic hub for high-value knowledge services. At the helm of this transformation is Jehan Jeyaretnam, Country Head of Acuity’s SL operations, whose two-decade journey with the firm mirrors the nation’s growing prominence in the global knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) sector. SL’s exceptional talent pool, which is highly educated, more..