Jun 1 (DN) SL’s promising middle distance athlete Tharushi Abhisheka (Podi Tharushi) once again came to the highlight when she clinched her second medal winning bronze in 800m women’s final at the final day of the Asian Under 20 Athletic Championship held in Hong Kong China yesterday. Tharushi is the only SL athlete to win two individual medals in this meet. Tharushi earlier won 1500 gold medal on the first day and more..

Jun 1 (DN) Abhiru Perera of Killerspin TT Academy and Jessica Venya of Holy Cross College Gampaha emerged open men’s and women’s champions in the SL Future Stars Table Tennis Championship at Gateway College Indoor Stadium Colombo over the weekend. Abhiru made two straight sets win (11-4 11-8) over K.D.Chrish of Loyala College Bopitiya to win the men’s title at the final while Jessica defeated Minuli Hettiarachchi of Horizon Int'l School Malabe with two sets (11-5,11-5) to win women’s title. more..

Jun 1 (FT) In a remarkable feat for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, arrivals surpassed the 1 million mark on 28 May, sparking optimism about meeting the ambitious target of 3 million visitors by the end of the year. From 1 Jan to 28 May, the country welcomed a total of 1.01 million tourists, reflecting a 1% YoY decline compared to the same period last year. During the first 28 days of May, 134,530 visitors arrived in the country, up 12% YoY compared to 120,120 during the same period. more..

Jun 1 (CT) National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama has rejected allegations that the regulator uses an ad-hoc pricing mechanism for pharmaceutical products, maintaining that licences are being withheld only in cases where companies seek prices that exceed those permitted under the approved pricing formula. He stressed that the regulatory process applies equally to all more..

Jun 1 (FT) Lanka Hospitals Corporation successfully hosted its exclusive Pulse of Excellence awards ceremony today. The event was organized to recognise and celebrate the institution’s remarkable milestone achievements and outstanding overall performance in 2025. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, who attended as the Chief Guest and delivered a special address. During his address, Minister highlighted the institution’s profound contribution to SL, more..

Jun 1 (FT) LOLC Holdings said it delivered a strong operating performance for the year ended 31 March 2026, underpinned by robust income growth, a significant expansion in core operating profitability, and the continued scale-up of its financial services-led diversified business model. With a global operating presence across 27 countries, the Group continues to strengthen its position as Sri Lanka’s most internationally diversified conglomerates, combining financial services more..

Jun 1 (FT) The most diversified conglomerate Hayleys Group has delivered a record performance during the financial year ended 31 March 2026, achieving the highest revenue in its history with a 19% year-on-year (YoY) increase to Rs. 585.02 billion, whilst Consolidated Profit Before Tax (PBT) rose by 4% to Rs. 38.04 billion. Performance gathered momentum in the fourth quarter, with revenue increasing by 29% to Rs. 164.62 billion and PBT improving by 6% to Rs. 13.87 billion. more..

Jun 1 (Island) On 6 May, I wrote an essay in this column titled, Monks, the Law and the Future of the Buddhist Monastic Order. While my point of departure was the arrest of 22 Buddhist monks on narcotics charges, my focus was the need to treat everyone in this country equally before the law – including Buddhist monks. The fact that the Mahanayaka Theros had requested in a statement that the errant monks be thoroughly investigated and legally dealt with was encouraging given more..

Jun 1 (TM) The latest fuel price increase, which came into effect yesterday is expected to have a significant impact on several sectors, particularly transport and agriculture, with industry representatives warning of rising operating costs and potential price increases. LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said that private bus operators had decided to seek an increase in fares by five per cent following the diesel price hike. more..

Jun 1 (TM) The events that unfolded across the country on Saturday, Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, exposed a profound irony at the heart of our national energy strategy. On a day meant to celebrate enlightenment, the National System Operator switched off power to certain sections of the country. In a spectacular display of operational failure, the State grid operator first requested residential rooftop solar producers to manually deactivate their systems during the peak afternoon sun, and more..

Jun 1 (DM) The Scalloped Hammerhead is not simply a strange-looking shark. It is a test of how well Sri Lanka can see what moves through its seas, fisheries, markets and public records. At a fish harbour, morning does not wait for perfect identification. Boats come in. Boxes move. Fish are sorted, weighed, recorded, priced and sent onward before the heat settles properly into the day. A shark, if it appears, is not always a headline. Sometimes it is just another shape among many: more..

Jun 1 (Island) The latest round of fuel price hikes in Sri Lanka came on Saturday night as global oil trading closed, with the price of crude posting its biggest one-month decline (20%) in six years and with international media reporting that the oil price drop had delivered some relief to consumers at the pump in many countries, such as Pakistan, Malaysia, Spain and Portugal. At this rate, Sri Lanka’s fuel prices may continue to soar even if US President Donald Trump behaves and more..

Jun 1 (DN) Sri Lanka has more than 10,000 state schools now. Schools, teachers, teaching, and schoolchildren have long been the subject of public discussion in the country. Over the past several decades, successive governments have introduced various changes to the education system. What truly matters, however, is what is actually happening inside state schools and the impact these institutions have on society at large. This is an area worthy of close examination. more..

Jun 1 (TM) SL’s global reputation is built almost entirely on the back of its premium export: tea. Yet, behind the branding and the aromatic blends that stock international shelves lies a multi-generational human tragedy. In the Southern Province, far removed from the heavily unionised, highly scrutinised hill-country plantations, a vulnerable population of Malaiyaha workers has been enduring systemic, structural abuses more..

Jun 1 (DM) For many Sri Lankans, the idea of travelling overseas carries with it a quiet anxiety that often overshadows the excitement. It is not just about packing bags or planning itineraries. It is about doing mental calculations at every step, converting every dollar, every dirham, every pound back into rupees, and feeling the weight of how far our currency falls short. The weakness of the Sri Lankan rupee is not something new. It has been part of our reality for decades. more..

Jun 1 (CT) An eighteen month old child. Working mom. A pond with no fence. This is how the tragic incident in Medamulana, Hambantota entered the national news in March 2026, briefly painfully, and then like many other stories headlines quietly disappeared. Daycare center manager taken into custody. Yet for the mother, the loss remains beyond the reach of any judicial outcome. Across the nation, similar childcare settings persist, thousands of families continue to rely on these facilities more..

Jun 1 (SO) As SL marks World Environment Day on June 5, Ministry of Environment has outlined a series of policy measures, conservation initiatives, and legislative reforms aimed at strengthening environmental protection and addressing long-standing ecological challenges. Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi detailed the Govt’s progress over the past year, including the expansion of protected areas, legal reforms, and steps more..

Jun 1 (DM) The arrival of Vesak brings with it an atmosphere of devotion, reflection, and serenity. Across Buddhist communities worldwide, homes and streets are illuminated with lanterns, temples overflow with worshippers, and acts of generosity become expressions of faith. Yet, Vesak is far more than a cultural or religious celebration. It is a sacred occasion that invites humanity to reflect on the life, teachings, and timeless wisdom of Gautama Buddha. more..

Jun 1 (ST) Siddartha is perturbed. Seated beneath a grove of sal trees at Lumbini Park in his father’s kingdom to let the tempestuous storm raging in his mind break out in a downpour of doubts, he can clearly see that life lies perpetually under sorrow’s siege. The three sights he had seen that morning had left him deeply disturbed. Not that they were strangers to him. He had met them before in his father’s stately palace and found them in a villager’s ramshackle hut. more..

May 31 (ST) In many ways, NPP is the polar opposite of political parties and alliances that have ruled SL since Independence. Much of that difference is down to its main party, the JVP. A party that tried, unsuccessfully, to topple democratically elected govts through armed insurrections on two occasions, the JVP was built around a culture of rigid secrecy and unquestioned loyalty. Within this party structure, where key decisions are taken by more..

May 31 (CT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated in Matara on 27 May that the Govt will reinstate the Dharma Court to safeguard discipline within the Buddhist Sangha, following a request made by the Mahanayaka Theras. The move comes amid public debate following protests over the alleged sexual abuse of a minor involving Pallegama Hemarathana Thera. President said, the decision was taken after discussions involving the Attorney General and Govt officials. more..

May 31 (AD) Ceypetco has announced a revision of fuel prices, effective from midnight today (30). Accordingly, the price of Auto Diesel has been increased by Rs. 15 to Rs.407 per litre, and the price of Super Diesel has been increased by Rs. 20 to Rs. 478 per litre. Meanwhile, the price of Petrol 92 Octane has also been increased by Rs. 24 to Rs. 434 per litre and Petrol 95 Octane up by Rs. 25 to Rs. 495 per litre, the CPC said. Meanwhile, the price of kerosene has been hiked by Rs. 20 more..

May 31 (ST) Cabinet directed Dept of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) to terminate with immediate effect the ongoing procurement process for the personalisation of e-passports. Tender included an issuance system and relevant public key infrastructure (PKI) components for e-passport personalisation. PKI is the cryptographic security framework that protects the data stored on the microchip of a modern e-passport. more..

May 31 (ST) The govt has set out stringent rules for coal imports next year, with new specifications included in the fresh tender to prevent substandard products from entering the country, Energy Minister Anura Karunathillake said. Tender has been floated for 25 shiploads, each carrying 60,000 metric tonnes, for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya coal power plant, he said. Henceforth, the load-port report verifying the condition, quality, and loading process of coal will be obtained directly by SL, more..

May 31 (NW) Minister Anura Karunathilaka says electricity supply has been disconnected in nearly 100 areas, including parts of Colombo, due to an imbalance in the national power grid. Minister said the measure was taken to maintain the stability of the system, after electricity supply exceeded demand due to higher-than-expected solar power generation. He said recent rainy weather had led authorities to expect lower solar generation today, but strong sunlight resulted in a large amount more..

May 31 (ST) The report on the US$2.5 million Business Email Compromise (BEC) or Treasury heist is expected to be handed over to Parliament by the Treasury soon, Finance Ministry officials said. They said that cybercriminals employed tactics like creating look-alike domains and compromising the internal e-mail system to intercept communications related to the repayment, which allows them to replace legitimate recipient bank details with their own. What ensued was a total of $2.5 million, more..

May 31 (CI) Jacques Kallis, Sachin Tendulkar and Muthiah Muralidaran have been named the greatest men's int'l cricketers of the 21st century by an all-star ESPNcricinfo jury of players and former players. Tendulkar was voted the greatest batter, Muralidaran the greatest bowler, and Kallis the greatest all-round cricketer, for their performances in the 2000-2025 period across int'l formats. Ellyse Perry was voted greatest women's int'l cricketer of the century in a separate exercise. more..

May 31 (TM) TGovt is preparing a restructuring plan for SL’s National Carrier, which is expected to be finalised within the coming weeks before being submitted for Cabinet approval. A formal timeline for the process will be established following the submission of the plan, according to Deputy Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku. The remarks come against the backdrop of a request by SriLankan Airlines for an additional Rs. 10 b more..

May 31 (ST) SLC has finalised its annual player contract list for the 2026-27 season, awarding contracts to 46 players across six categories, with fast bowler Nuwan Thushara’s inclusion emerging as one of the biggest talking points. Thushara’s place on the list comes as a surprise given his earlier request to be excluded from future national contracts. The paceman had previously informed SLC that he did not wish to be considered for central contracts, making his return to more..

May 31 (NW) SL’s National System Operator (NSO) says several electricity feeders have been temporarily disconnected across the country to maintain the stability of the national power grid amid unusually low electricity demand and high solar power generation. NSO said electricity demand had dropped significantly due to the Vesak Poya holiday and the long weekend, while solar power generation from rooftop systems had exceeded expectations because of favourable weather conditions. more..

May 31 (SO) Major General Nilantha Premaratne has been appointed as the 69th Chief of Staff of the SL Army, from May 29. Major General Premaratne, who currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, is a veteran artillery officer with over three decades of service. Born in Kandy on Sept 25, 1971, he is an alumnus of St. Servatius College, Matara. He joined the SL Army in 1990 as an Officer Cadet and completed his basic military training at the SL Military Academy in 1992, more..

May 31 (NF) National System Operator (pvt) Limited (NSO) has requested rooftop solar panel owners across the country to voluntarily switch off their solar power systems until 3 pm today (30) to help ensure the reliable and stable operation of the national electricity grid during the Vesak festival period. The request has been made due to the significantly low electricity demand currently observed in the system, which requires careful management to maintain grid stability. more..