May 2 (AD) The Election Commission has issued guidelines on the proper procedure of marking ballots during the upcoming Local Govt (LG) Elections, scheduled to be held on May 06, 2025. Explaining the procedure to all voters eligible to cast ballots in the Local Authorities Election, Chairman of the Election Commission R.M.A.L. Ratnayake stated that each elector is entitled to one vote, meaning each elector more..

May 2 (DM) China is among the countries which are ready to help Sri Lanka join the BRICS coalition in the future, a bloc with economies which account for an estimated 37.3% of global gross domestic product based on purchasing power parity. Sri Lanka, at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October, last year, placed on record its request to join the bloc. However, Sri Lanka’s application will be considered later since BRICS has no plan for expansion at the moment. more..

May 2 (DM) A young man who was arrested with drugs yesterday, died while in the custody of the Kosgoda police this afternoon. Victim Tharindu De Soysa (27) was a resident of Hataramanhandiya in Kosgoda. His parents told the media that he had been arrested on the previous day on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs. Police said the suspect who was taken ill suddenly yesterday afternoon died on admission to hospital. His father Nimal De Soysa said the police had severely manhandled more..

May 2 (AD) Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa claims that SL’s debt repayment in 2028 is at risk, given the current state of the country’s economy. He alleged that the previous govt, led by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, agreed to initiate the debt repayment process in 2028—despite the possibility of obtaining an extension until 2033—in order to use it as a campaign point for the 2024 Prez Election. “But it brought no benefit to the country or its people,” he added. more..

May 2 (AD) Ministry of Finance has issued a new gazette notification easing several more restrictions on vehicle imports, with effect from April 29, 2025. The directive paves the way for the clearance of several types of vehicles that had been stranded at ports due to previous restrictions. Commenting on the development, Chairman of the SL Vehicle Importers’ Association Prasad Manage said: “We’ve been unable to clear these vehicles for the past one and a half to two months. more..

May 2 (NW) Gold and Silver belonging to civilians, which had been with the LTTE during SL’s civil war and were subsequently recovered by the Army, were officially handed over to Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya. The stock of gold and silver was handed over to the Acting IGP at the Army Headquarters in Battaramulla today. According to the SL Army, the Gold and Silva are to be transferred to the Central Bank by more..

May 2 (NW) Pakistan High Commission in Colombo says it will not respond to the protests held in front of its premises this week, over the recent Pahalgam attack in Kashmir. A Spokesman of the Pakistan HC said the elements orchestration and creating divisions neither have any regard for the harmony of society nor any respect for the rules and local laws. “It is not a secret who instigated and sponsored those innocent people to be part of the protest, most of whom did not even know more..

May 2 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has urged trade unions not to take to the streets, in protest for petty demands and has called on them to change their old attitudes. In his May Day speech, Prez said that the NPP as a political force, has given up perks and privileges entitled to them through the constitution, gazettes and circulars. "We urge trade unions to shed their old attitudes. Do not fight even for petty things. We, as a political force, have given up perks and privileges more..

May 2 (TM) SL’s worker remittances surged by 21.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) in March, reaching a historic monthly high of $ 693 million. This marks the highest March remittance inflow on record, providing critical support to the country’s external sector. Remittances have been a lifeline for SL’s economy, with cumulative inflows for Q1 2025 totaling $ 1.81 billion, an 18.1% increase compared to the same period last year. more..

May 2 (FT) As per Section 102 of Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 1917, with effect from 1 Jan 2024, any individual who is at the age of 18 years or more or who attains the age of 18 years on or after 1 Jan 2024, it is mandatory to register with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number which is popularly known as TIN. Persons who do not obtain registration as per the above instructions, will be registered by the Inland Revenue Department and more..

May 2 (SLN) Demonstrating its continued commitment to social responsibility and empowerment, SL Navy conducted conducive environmental enhancement initiatives at 3 schools in Ampara on 20, 22 and 28 Apr 25.The programmes were launched as part of the Clean Sri Lanka initiatives, centered on the theme A School Full of Happiness. Consequently, RMK Girls’ Vidyalaya in Karaitivu, MHM Ashraff Vidyalaya in Sainthamaruthu and AL – Hussain Vidyalaya in Karaitivu more..

May 2 (AD) A group of SLFP organisers have called upon former Prez Maithripala Sirisena to lead the party’s unification efforts. Organisers have made this request on two occasions, urging the former Prez to either accept the chairmanship of the party or, if unwilling, to refrain from accepting while still supporting the unification initiative. Additionally, Api Sri Lanka, an organization affiliated with the SLFP, has also formally requested Sirisena’s involvement in steering the party toward unity. more..

May 2 (FT) Sri Lanka’s recently elected Prez, Anura Kumara Disanayake’s political coalition—the NPP, won an overwhelming amount of support from the majority Sinhalese community as well as the minority Tamil community, receiving a historic supermajority in the Nov 2024 Parliamentary elections. This broad mandate across ethnic lines presents a historic opportunity to address the constitutional deficiencies that have plagued the nation since independence, particularly the challenges of more..

May 2 (FT) Prez and NPP party Leader Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday delivered a fiery and heartfelt speech, not just to celebrate workers, but to declare the beginning of a new political chapter in SL—pledging rebuild the nation on the principles of justice, unity, and clean governance. Standing before a sea of supporters at Galle Face Green at the NPP May Day rally, his words marked a clear departure from more..

May 2 (DM) NPP govt came to power by telling endless lies, SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa said. Addressing the May Day rally at the Ananda Samarakoon Open Theatre in Nugegoda yesterday, MP Rajapaksa said the current govt is maintaining excessive tax policies that people can no longer bear. "The current govt blames us, saying the Rajapaksa govt reduced taxes. But we never imposed unfair taxes on people when they were facing tough times. more..

May 2 (DN) Nearly 40 acres of land located within the High-Security Zone in Jaffna were officially released to civilian authorities yesterday . The land was handed over by Jaffna District Security Forces Commander, Major General Manatha Yahampath to Jaffna District Secretary M. Piiratheepan during an official event held at the Jaffna District Secretariat. The released lands include 20 acres from the Vasavilan area, 15 acres from the Mangkollai region, and five acres from the Thikkam locality. more..

May 2 (FT) SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa launched a scathing critique of NPP-led govt of resorting to deception and propaganda, in a desperate bid to sway public opinion ahead of the upcoming LG Elections on 6 May. Speaking at the SJB’s May Day rally held in Talawakelle under the theme Workers’ Power in the Battle to Win the Village, he described it as a call for working-class empowerment and rural revitalisation. more..

May 2 (CT) Chief Security Officer of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has been transferred with immediate effect. Chief Inspector Ashoka Ariyawansa, who served as Wickremesinghe’s principal personal security officer, has been reassigned to the Kankesanthurai Police Station. Transfer has reportedly been approved by the National Police Commission. Ariyawansa has been part of RW’s security detail for 23 years, including 15 years as his chief personal security officer. more..

May 2 (TM) Sri Lanka’s current account recorded a surplus for the third consecutive month in March, driven by the record inflows of workers’ remittances. Current account recorded a surplus of $ 459.5 million in March, reporting an increase of 76.8% year-on-year (y-o-y), while the current account surplus for the first three months stood at $ 949 million. Meanwhile, the merchandise trade deficit expanded in March to $ 395.6, showing a modest improvement compared to February. more..

May 2 (Island) Party leaders are scheduled to meet today in the Parliamentary complex to fix a date for the resumption of the debate on the Batalanda Commission report. The Committee on Parliamentary Business is scheduled to meet today from 9.30 am. A decision on parliamentary business for the next sitting week will be taken at the meeting. During the meeting a decision is expected to be taken on the date for the second day of the debate on the report of the Commission of Inquiry more..

May 2 (Island) Sri Lanka’s agricultural backbone, Monaragala District, is buckling under the weight of climate change, according to the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ). Executive Director, Dilena Pathragoda said that their study outlines a stark warning that the district’s economic survival is in grave danger unless urgent action is taken. “The impacts of climate change are no longer distant predictions. They are happening here and now; devastating crops, livelihoods and more..

May 2 (TM) Following reports that Police officers had visited suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon’s residence and informed him of an alleged assassination plot, Ministry of Public Security stated that the Police would take necessary steps if there is a credible threat. It was reported on Wednesday (30) that Police officers including the OIC of the Athurugiriya Police Station had visited Tennakoon's residence, & informed the latter more..

May 2 (AD) A total of five persons were swept away by strong currents while bathing in the Deduru Oya today (1). However, three of them have been rescued while two others are still missing, according to Police. The missing, aged 20 and 22, are employees of a supermarket in Kandy. Three females who were rescued are also employed at the same establishment. The owner and employees had gone on an excursion since the supermarket was closed today in view of it being Labor Day. more..

May 2 (NW) Police have issued a statement addressing media reports that a minor was arrested and held overnight at the Welioya Police Station. According to the statement, officers visited the home of a woman in Helabawewa, Welioya, who was wanted on an arrest warrant. After presenting the warrant and explaining the charges, officers requested the woman to prepare for transport to the Police station. However, Police said the woman fled through the back door into a wooded area, more..

May 2 (FT) The gem and jewellery industry has urged the Government to resolve the crisis arising from the proposed high reciprocal tariff by US President Donald Trump via dialogue. “The proposed imposition of a reciprocal tariff by the US stands to significantly disrupt Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery sector—one of the most historically significant and economically vital industries in the country. We are seriously concerned about the impact,” industry sources said. more..

May 2 (DM) SL’s construction sector showed signs of continued expansion in March, with PMI for Construction reaching 54.3. While this marks a slight dip from February’s 55.6, it indicates the industry is still on an upward trajectory, remaining above the neutral 50.0 threshold for the third consecutive month. The modest expansion is largely attributed to a stable environment (steady input prices and favourable weather conditions), that has allowed construction work to continue. more..

May 2 (NW) Police have launched an investigation into the death of a student of the Sabaragamuwa University, who reportedly died by suicide following an incident of ragging. The investigation began following a complaint to the Samanalawewa Police by a fellow student, alleging the death was linked to ragging. Inquiries are underway to determine whether the student had been subjected to ragging and to identify more..

May 2 (DN) Sri Lanka women’s cricket team, led by Chamari Athapaththu, will look to bounce back when they face South Africa Women in a crucial Tri-Nation ODI today at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The match is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. This fixture is vital for the SL side after their defeat to India in the opening game at the same venue. India currently sit atop the points table with two back-to-back wins. South Africa, who put up a strong performance, narrowly lost to India by 15 runs. more..

May 2 (AD) A stash of jewellery suspected to be gold has been found in a safe linked to organized criminal Janith Madushanka, also known as Podi Lassie, and his close family members. Accordingly, the Illegal Assets Investigations Division has taken custody of jewellery weighing approximately 1 kg and 112 grams in total suspected to be gold items deposited in a safety deposit box at a bank located in Ambalangoda, belonging to the mother-in-law of Podi Lassie, Police said. more..

May 2 (EN) Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has urged the Chinese Ambassador in SL to help with investment in the pharmaceutical sector and assist with essential drugs that are facing shortage in the island nation. The request came at a meeting between Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and Minister Jayatissa early this week. The meeting comes three months after Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s official visit to Beijing more..

May 2 (DM) Brandix confirmed that US tariffs imposed on imports have not yet triggered order cancellations through September. However, the company warned of potential pressures on export volumes and margins in the final quarter of 2025. Brandix Managing Director Hasitha Premaratne emphasised that while immediate disruptions are limited, negotiations with U.S. brands over cost-sharing and inflationary risks to consumer demand could impact holiday-season shipments. more..

May 2 (FT) Lanka India Business Association (LIBA) announced that it will launch the first-ever online business advisory service that will connect business advisors in India directly to businesses in SL (members of LIBA). One of the most pressing challenges in today’s business landscape is gaining access to the right network. Many business leaders and entrepreneurs struggle to connect with the right individuals at the right time, resulting in lost opportunities for growth and success. more..