May 21 (ST) Two young parents grieving the loss of their firstborn at the Trincomalee Hospital are demanding justice while the Ministry of Health has launched a formal inquiry into suspected medical negligence. 28-year-old Sathyaseelan Thilakshika and 33-year-old Vijayan Vasanthan, in a complaint lodged at the local police station and the Human Rights Commission, claim that gross medical negligence on the part of Trinco Hospital staff more..

May 21 (GV) More than 100 years have passed since Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan warned about the dangers of majoritarian rule in Ceylon. Yet in 2026, same political concerns surrounding equality, constitutional recognition, devolution and Tamil political identity continue to dominate national and international discussion. History is repeating itself because SL has never fully resolved the Tamil question. From 1921 to 1978 and now to 2026, different generations of Tamil political thinkers more..

May 21 (Island) The annual Commemoration of War Heroes was held on Tuesday, and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his address, pledged to fulfill the aspirations of those who had made the supreme sacrifice for the country. He said they had laid down their lives in the hope that their sacrifices would help build a better country. Last year, he drew criticism for avoiding the term war heroes when referring to the fallen military personnel, but he used it on Tuesday. more..

May 21 (DN) The decision by a group of university students to vacate the disputed Malwana residence which they thereafter handed over to PM Harini Amarasuriya was a welcome move which averted another potential upheaval involving university students. Following the handing over it has now been decided to transfer the building to the UGC. According to the IUSF, Govt has responded positively to their groups’ request and in view of that response they had decided to leave more..

May 21 (ST) We have passed a quarter of the 21st century. At the turn of the century 1 in 4 Sri Lankans were poor. About 25 years later, again at least 1 in 4 is poor – it could be as large as 1 in 3 or even more. As Sri Lanka has not produced any official poverty indicators after 2019, we are not aware of the country’s poverty analysis in crisis time. In the absence of official data, we refer to the poverty estimates of international organisations such as UNDP and World Bank as well as more..

May 21 (SO) Recent excavations in Velanai in the Jaffna Peninsula have uncovered the oldest known settlement to emerge in Northern SL. The findings, which date back to around 3460 BCE, challenge long-held assumptions about the impossibility of sustaining early human life in the region. For decades, archaeologists believed prehistoric communities were concentrated mainly in the wetter and resource-rich Southern and more..

May 21 (CT) Why aren’t the Tamil Parties of the North and East asking for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment and consequently insisting on the holding of the Provincial Council Elections at least in the North and East immediately? Many reasons stand in the way. Firstly each Party thinks selfishly that any solution to the Tamil Problem must be placed before the Govt or any World Body under their insistence or sponsorship. In other words internal rivalry among the Tamil Parties more..

May 21 (Island) When Sri Lanka gained Independence, the only anti-corruption legislation in force consisted of Sections 158, 159 and 160 of Chapter IX of the Penal Code, which dealt with public servants accepting or soliciting gratification for doing or forbearing to do any official act, or showing favour to any person, etc. Since these provisions were considered inadequate, the Bribery Act was promulgated in 1954. An amendment to the Bribery Act (No. 40) of 1958 created more..

May 21 (SO) SL, often called the heart of the Indian Ocean, derives a significant strategic advantage from its geography. With an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of approximately 517,000 km² and a coastline of 1,585 km, SL’s marine territory is nearly eight times larger than its landmass. These waters are not merely scenic; they represent a critical resource base for economic development under an emerging blue economy framework. more..

May 21 (TM) The warning from the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe, at the recent State of the Economy public lecture serves as a sobering reality check for our nation. After two consecutive years of robust 5% growth in 2024 and 2025, Sri Lanka is once again at the mercy of forces beyond its shores. The Governor’s candid admission that our previous growth forecasts are now hostage to global instability must not be taken lightly by policymakers or the public. more..

May 21 (TM) There is a comforting, almost poetic resonance to the speech delivered by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the 17th National War Heroes’ Day Commemoration. Speaking from a platform traditionally reserved for triumph, Prez pivoted toward a language of universal fairness, a celebration of multiculturalism, and a stern warning to the privileged elites who have long manipulated the gears of the State. To hear a leader, declare the law will be applied equally regardless of more..

May 20 (DM) SL’s fast weakening rupee is beginning to expose a deeper strain within the country’s export sector, with exporters warning that the rising cost of imported fuel, raw materials and industrial inputs is rapidly eroding the short-term gains from a stronger dollar. National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) yesterday asserted that while the depreciation of the rupee may temporarily inflate export earnings in local currency terms, the broader economic fallout could leave manufacturers more..

May 20 (AD) Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said the recent depreciation of the SL rupee must be viewed in the context of wider global pressures, including the conflict in the Middle East, rising global fuel prices and increasing shipping costs. JAAF noted that a weaker rupee should not be interpreted as a sign that Sri Lanka’s economy is underperforming. This position is also consistent with recent comments by Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, more..

May 20 (NW) The CID, through the AG’s Dept, today made a series of explosive allegations before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court, claiming former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Suresh Salley had played a central role in the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and in a wider network of alleged politically motivated operations. Appearing for the CID, Additional Solicitor General Dilip Peiris told court that investigators had more..

May 20 (Island) Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi sounded a strong warning over the rapid destruction of elephant habitats in the Hambantota region, declaring that the proposed Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve was no longer an option but an urgent national necessity to prevent a deepening environmental crisis. Addressing a media briefing convened to create public awareness on the reserve, Dr. Patabendi said decades of political interference, illegal land grabs, more..

May 20 (NW) Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thero has extended his support to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake following a meeting held during the President’s visit to Batticaloa, stating that he would move away from what he described as the Rajapaksa Nikaya. In a video statement released after the meeting, the Thero said he had earlier shared a message indicating he would take a step forward if efforts to engage with Prez failed. He said he had attempted to establish contact more..

May 20 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that Sri Lanka is currently facing a severe crisis concerning the US Dollar, noting that the strengthening of the US Dollar against other foreign currencies has directly affected the value of the SL Rupee. Prez made these remarks while addressing the Ratama Ekata national anti-narcotics programme held in the Batticaloa District today. Addressing prevailing economic situation, more..

May 20 (TM) With $ 600 million already spent on vehicle imports so far in 2026, SL is likely to spend more foreign exchange on vehicle imports in 2026 than initially anticipated, according to CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe. Governor stated that nearly $ 2 billion (b) had been spent on vehicle imports last year, exceeding the earlier projection of between $ 1.5 b and $ 1.7 b. He noted that the higher import volume had also resulted in increased revenue for the Treasury through taxes and more..

May 20 (DM) Sri Lanka could face a major sugar supply and price crisis, along with potential price hikes in imported milk powder and other essential food items, after India suspended sugar exports and the SL Rupee continued to weaken sharply against the US Dollar, the Essential Food Importers Association warned yesterday. Association spokesman said importers are now scrambling to source sugar from alternative markets including Brazil, Thailand and several European more..

May 20 (DM) A wide-ranging bilateral discussion was held between the Minister Professor Chandana Abayarathne, and UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche, focusing on accelerating SL’s digital governance, institutional reforms, and disaster management systems. The meeting, held on Tuesday (18) at the Ministry premises in Colombo, reviewed progress on the OneRegistry programme aimed at digitalising SL’s Civil Registration & Vital Statistics system. more..

May 20 (DM) Health experts have given mixed signals over the risk of Ebola entering SL, with one specialist saying there is no immediate danger, even as he calls for stronger screening at airports and greater public caution. Federation of Doctors for Medical and Civil Rights President Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa said SL is not at risk of an Ebola outbreak, despite ongoing cases in parts of Africa. He said international reports have recorded around 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases linked to more..

May 20 (DM) SL has done impressive work on its domestic finances. We achieved a primary surplus and collected nearly 5 trillion rupees in taxes. But this success is in rupees only. Our external balance sheet – the one measured in dollars – remains dangerously weak. Official gross reserves stand at $6.76 billion (end‑April 2026). That is barely two months of imports. But even that number overstates strength, because more..

May 20 (DM) SL’s industry marked a new chapter with the launch of the SL Association of Animal Nutrition (SLAAN) at an event hosted in collaboration with the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) in Kandy earlier this month. “We established the SLAAN as a professional body dedicated to advancing the livestock industry through science, innovation and sustainability,” added SLAAN Founder President Rohitha Samarakoon. “With partners such as more..

May 20 (AD) Essential Food Importers’ Association has warned that the prices of several imported goods are likely to increase in the coming weeks due to the continuous depreciation of the SL rupee and the rising value of the US dollar. Secretary of the Association, P. Subramaniam stated that the fluctuation in exchange rates would directly impact the cost of importing essential commodities. He noted that prices of several essential food items, including sugar, dhal and rice are expected more..

May 20 (TM) Though Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves position is at $ 6.8 billion (b) as at the end of April, its $ 2.35 b in dollar obligations owed to domestic banks are not deducted from gross official reserves when calculating Net International Reserves, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said in Parliament. “The latest published Govt official reserve (GOR) position at the end of April 2026, is provisionally estimated at $ 6.8 b. more..

May 20 (NW) The Supreme Court has ruled that the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation violated the fundamental rights of a senior SL Administrative Service (SLAS) officer by preventing him from assuming duties in a post he had been officially appointed to. In its judgment delivered on 19 May 2026, the Court held that Professor Kapila Perera acted arbitrarily and interfered with powers vested in the Public Service Commission (PSC), more..

May 20 (Island) Former SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga said that the 17th anniversary of SL’s triumph over the LTTE emphasised the responsibility on the part of those who represented the legislature to protect the country’s unitary status. Paying a glowing tribute to the armed forces who brought the war to an end on 18 May and recovered LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s body on the following day, the ex-lawmaker said that the armed forces more..

May 20 (Island) The govt will waive the full interest on outstanding income tax payments of defaulters who settle their dues within six months, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Nishantha Jayaweera, told Parliament yesterday. Opening the Second Reading debate on the Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill, Jayaweera said provisions for the interest waiver had been incorporated into the proposed amendments to encourage tax compliance and improve revenue collection. more..

May 20 (DM) Commotion reigned in Parliament today when Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake was prevented from raising a privilege issue.Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne threatened to remove the MP from the chamber. MP Dassanayake said he has been prevented from visiting China on an official tour as a fresh case has been filed against him compelling the Judiciary to impound his passport. "You chased me when I came to your office to handover my privilege issue," more..

May 20 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release on bail of two suspects accused of acting as fraudulent sureties to secure bail for the late Kapila Chandrasena, who later died under suspicious circumstances, along with two others alleged to have aided and abetted the said offence. Accordingly, the suspects who were in remand custody—Mohamed Rizwan and Mohamed Irshad—along with more..

May 20 (FT) Recognising the important role that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play in driving SL’s economy, People’s Bank further strengthened its commitment to MSME development in 2025 by expanding its MSME business volume to Rs. 20.8 b, reinforcing its role as a key partner in the country’s economic recovery and long-term growth. As one of SL’s leading state-owned commercial banks, People’s Bank has positioned MSME development as a long-term strategic priority more..

May 20 (AD) Sri Lanka has reported approximately 2,500 thalassemia patients, while between 45 and 60 children are born annually with major thalassemia, health officials revealed. The information was disclosed during a media briefing held in conjunction with International Thalassemia Day, observed on May 8. Director of the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sriyani Alahapperuma stated that although the current number of patients more..