May 29 (DM) A seven-year-old schoolboy who had reportedly planned to travel alone to Colombo to meet his parents was rescued by police after being found waiting at the Hatton bus stand. The child had drawn the attention of a timekeeper at the bus stand after he was seen loitering alone in his school uniform and failed to clearly explain why he was there. Timekeeper subsequently handed the boy over to the Police for further inquiries. During questioning, the child told police that more..

May 29 (DM) A recent survey has revealed 5780 children in the Anuradhapura district are vulnerable to sexual harassment or rape. DIG North Central Province T.B. Sugathapala told the meeting of the District Coordinating Committee that they are underage children less than 16 years of age. The District Coordinating Committee met under the co-chairmanship of Minister Wasantha Samarasinha and Governor Wasantha Jinadasa at the Provincial Council Auditorium. more..

May 29 (FT) German business leaders and policymakers yesterday identified SL as a strategically important partner in the Indo-Pacific region, while urging faster reforms, policy consistency, and stronger investment facilitation to unlock the full potential of bilateral economic ties. Speaking at the inauguration of the SL-German Business Forum 2026 themed Building Trusted Partnerships in Colombo, officials from more..

May 29 (DN) SL’s promising middle-distance runner Tharushi Abisheka once again showcased her talent by winning the gold medal in the women’s 1500m event at the Asian U-20 Athletics C'ships in Hong Kong yesterday. 18-year-old athlete, popularly known as Podi Tharushi on the local track, produced a brilliant performance to clock 4 minutes 31.41 seconds and secure the title ahead of Iran’s Maryam Baluoutaki (4:33.35) and South Korea’s Song Dawson (4:35.42), who finished second and more..

May 29 (FT) SL’s ICT and BPM sector has achieved a major national milestone, with digital services exports surpassing tea export earnings during the first four months of 2026, reflecting the country’s accelerating transition towards a knowledge-driven digital economy. According to recent export performance data published by the EDB, ICT/BPM export earnings reached approximately $ 581.7 mil during January to April, exceeding tea export earnings of $451.6 m during the same period. more..

May 29 (Island) Constitutional Council of SL has approved the appointment of Yasantha Kodagoda as a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), filling the vacancy created by the retirement of former Supreme Court Justice S. Thurairaja. Official sources said Justice Kodagoda would assume duties on the Commission following the completion of the constitutional approval process. The Judicial Service Commission plays a critical role in Sri Lanka’s judicial administration, more..

May 29 (FT) National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) is monitoring progress on the country's accession to the Madrid Protocol, a move that would give SL businesses access to a streamlined international trademark registration system used by over 100 economies worldwide. As of 2025, Madrid members represent 68% of all countries globally. Based on the NCE's most recent correspondence with the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO), the accession process is currently in its legislative phase. more..

May 29 (FT) Board of Investment (BOI) has launched a new digital investment platform titled Ready to Invest, featuring more than $ 3 billion worth of investor-ready projects across eight priority sectors as the country intensifies efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and strengthen long-term capital inflows. SL recorded around $ 1.06 billion in FDI inflows during 2025, marking a sharp increase from previous year more..

May 29 (Island) 21st edition of the Build Sri Lanka housing and construction exhibition concluded last week at the BMICH. On the surface, it was a modest success: stalls were staffed, catalogues were exchanged, and the usual dignitaries cut the usual ribbons. But beneath the low hum of polite conversation, a far more urgent story was unfolding – one that policymakers appear to have missed entirely. For an industry that contributes nearly 8% to SL’s GDP and employs over 500,000 people, more..

May 29 (Island) Aitken Spence Printing has achieved a landmark international recognition by becoming the first and only offset printing company in SL to win an award at the prestigious WorldStar Awards, organised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). Company secured the WorldStar 2026 Award for Packaging Excellence in the Luxury Packaging category, reaffirming SL’s growing capability in world-class printing and packaging innovation. The award was presented at more..

May 29 (FT) PM Harini Amarasuriya pitched Sri Lanka as a resilient and reform-driven investment destination to German businesses, whilst assuring policy consistency, macroeconomic stability and stronger governance reforms as the country seeks to deepen economic ties with Europe. Addressing the inauguration of the SL-German Business Forum 2026 titled Building Trusted Partnerships in Colombo, PM said more..

May 29 (DM) ADRA Ceylon, an entity within the Pink Eagle Group, marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of remarkable transformation from a local venture into a globally recognized leader in premium Ceylon tea export. Since its inception, the company has successfully delivered exquisite teas to over 37 countries, firmly establishing its position among Sri Lanka’s tea exporters. This significant milestone reflects the strategic vision and unwavering commitment that have propelled more..

May 29 (FT) National Savings Bank (NSB) Group has recorded a steady and resilient performance for the first quarter of 2026, supported by a stronger core banking income base and disciplined asset-liability management. For the three months ended 31 March 2026, Group reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 11.8 billion and Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 7 billion, while making a total tax contribution of Rs. 8.5 billion during the quarter. NSB said the performance reflects its ability to maintain more..

May 29 (Island) The sudden fall and equally rapid recovery of the SL rupee within a matter of days has left many Sri Lankans confused about what truly happened inside the country’s foreign exchange market. Within a short span, the rupee weakened sharply from around Rs. 324-325 against the US dollar to Rs. 354 in parts of the commercial market, before unexpectedly stabilising again close to previous levels. Speed of both the depreciation and recovery triggered widespread speculation more..

May 29 (ST) Bairaha Farms has achieved a milestone in corporate sustainability, becoming one of SL’s leading poultry-businesses to receive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Verification at the organisational level with a reasonable level of assurance. The ISO 14064 framework provides two levels of verification assurance with reasonable assurance representing the higher and more rigorous standard. By achieving the higher standard, Bairaha Farms has demonstrated more..

May 29 (ST) As the dollar rate climbed to around Rs. 353 over the past week, importers of essential food items said that the sudden increase is driving up the cost of food imports, shipping and related charges, placing both traders and consumers under pressure. Importers say the dollar, which had remained around Rs. 310 to Rs. 315 for a considerable period, suddenly surged to nearly Rs. 350 within days before more..

May 29 (Island) Every year, the spiritual compass of the Muslim world turns towards the holy city of Makkah, where millions of pilgrims gather for Hajj — one of humanity’s oldest and most profound journeys of faith. This year, too, the sacred valleys of Saudi Arabia are filled with the echoes of Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik — Here I am, O Allah, here I am — as Muslims from every continent respond to a divine call that dates back thousands of years to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). more..

May 29 (Island) How long the Provincial Councils (PCs) will remain unelected is anybody’s guess. All of them are currently under the provincial Governors appointed by the President. There have been five Presidents and four govts since the conclusion of the last PC elections held on a staggered basis between 2012 and 2014. JVP-NPP govt is under increasing pressure to hold the much-delayed PC polls. The NPP’s National Policy Framework, A Thriving Nation: A Beautiful Life, promises to hold more..

May 29 (FT) Vesak is one of the rare religious festivals that has escaped the confines of creed and become something of a civilisational ethic. In Sri Lanka especially, it has evolved into something larger than liturgy. Now, and for ever, since time out of mind for my generation at least, it has been a season of stillness, lunar-lit tranquillity, memory, cultural artistry, generosity of spirit, and an islandwide mosaic of aesthetics. Look ahead, and perhaps in our better avatars, more..

May 29 (TM) In the wake of several deaths reported within prisons in recent years, including the latest incident involving a death-row inmate linked to the killing of a MP, attention has once again turned to the mental health and well-being of people living within the country’s correctional system. People within prisons and correctional centres face pressures very different from those experienced outside. Overcrowding, uncertainty surrounding court proceedings, separation from families, more..

May 29 (TM) The window for deliberation is closing. The time for coordinated action is here. Sri Lanka is at a fork in the road on energy – and it has been standing there too long. The decisions made, or left unmade, over the next 12–18 months will determine whether the country moves towards a secure, affordable, and self-reliant energy future, or remains trapped in a familiar cycle of power shortages, tariff shocks, and more..

May 29 (ST) In the recent past, US dollar has quietly stepped down from the pedestal against major currencies such as the Euro, British pound, Chinese yuan and Japanese yen. Weakening of US dollar means strengthening of other currencies. This may be one reason why other currencies look stronger against US dollar. Then, the point is that other currencies like SL rupee should get stronger against weakening dollar. But the problem is that the rupee showed a sudden slip down a long slope. more..

May 29 (CT) On the 17th of May, Mr ‍DBS Jeyaraj published his final column in The Morning. It appeared, as his columns had for years, without fanfare, a piece of careful, considered journalism from a man who happened to be writing from Canada about a country he had been forced to leave nearly four decades earlier. Days later, he was gone. His death marks the end of a body of work that was, in its discipline, its moral seriousness, and its sheer breadth, without parallel in SL Tamil more..

May 29 (TM) A few weeks ago, a complaint was brought to my attention involving a young girl from the plantation sector near Hatton. Like many young Sri Lankans searching for financial opportunity in a difficult economy, she had reportedly been drawn into an online investment and earning platform promising quick returns through mobile-based transactions. What began with a small deposit gradually escalated into repeated payments more..

May 29 (DM) Tilvin Silva, the General Secretary of the JVP has stirred up a hornet’s nest by claiming that the provincial council elections which had been last held in 2014 would only be held next year, if any new issue is not cropped up. This statement made at the opening ceremony of the JVP’s Jaffna District office on Saturday runs counter to many promises on the provincial council elections by the leaders of the NPP, the coalition that has been formed by the JVP and the repeated demands by more..

May 29 (DM) Much has been spoken about the alleged sexual abuse of a child by a monk holding a position of authority in the country. However, the public continues to be divided with regards to how the state handled the above matter. Some have scrutinised state actors for shielding a monk while others continue to demand a thorough investigation. It is ironic that over 20 lawyers appeared on behalf of the monk in question while there were a handful of lawyers who appeared pro bono for the child. more..

May 28 (DM) The Supreme Court ruled that a bank is legally entitled to institute action directly against a guarantor without first proceeding against the principal debtor, provided the guarantor has expressly waived that right in the guarantee agreement. Delivering the judgment into an appeal filed by a guarantor, the Supreme Court affirmed the Commercial High Court’s decision holding one Vithanage Happawana liable as guarantor for credit facilities obtained from DFCC Bank. more..

May 28 (DM) Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a present and growing reality affecting countries across the world, including SL. Its impacts are already being felt through extreme weather events, changing rainfall patterns, increasing pressure on livelihoods, rising threats to food security, damage to infrastructure, and wider risks to sustainable national development, officials said. Against this backdrop, the official launch of the 8th Steering Committee Meeting of more..

May 28 (DM) SL Police urged the public to fully cooperate with law enforcement officers during vehicle inspections and residential searches, warning that attempts to evade police checkpoints or obstruct official duties could result in legal action and the use of necessary police force. Statement follows an incident in the early hours of this morning in which police opened fire on a vehicle that repeatedly ignored orders to stop at three separate more..

May 28 (AD) The IMF Executive Board completed the combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Sri Lanka, providing the country with immediate access to SDR 508 million (about US$ 695 million) to support economic policies and reforms. These are the sixth and seventh tranches Sri Lanka receives under the IMF-EFF. Accordingly, the total IMF financial support disbursed so far increases to SDR 1.778 billion (about US$ 2.4 billion). more..

May 28 (NW) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met with Vanushi Walters, the opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs in the New Zealand Parliament, during his official visit to the country. Herath said the two sides held constructive discussions on a range of bilateral matters. The Foreign Minister said he also briefed Walters on Sri Lanka’s economy, including developments related to trade, tourism, investment opportunities and the political situation in the country. more..