May 8 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to swiftly introduce all necessary reforms, including amendments to existing laws, in order to eliminate the drug menace from the country. The President issued these instructions while attending the meeting of the Ratama Ekata National Steering Council convened this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss efforts aimed at eradicating the drug menace, the PMD reported. more..

May 8 (FT) Mila Fashion Ltd, has clarified that it has not ceased operations, following recent media reports concerning its Welioya facility. Company stated that it is currently carrying out a temporary and structured operational consolidation as part of a broader business continuity measure, in response to global market conditions affecting the apparel sector. Company confirmed that the process does not amount to a closure of business, and that no employee has been unlawfully terminated more..

May 8 (NW) Vehicles that fail to comply with maintenance orders issued over excessive smoke emissions will be blacklisted, Dept of Motor Traffic said. Dept said owners who ignore maintenance directives or avoid follow-up inspections could face major difficulties when obtaining revenue licences and other vehicle-related documentation. Officials warned that black smoke emissions are not merely a technical fault but more..

May 8 (Island) Supreme Court yesterday directed the Election Commission to take necessary steps in accordance with the law to conduct elections for the Kalmunai Municipal Council and the Sainthamaruthu Urban Council. A three-judge bench comprising Janak de Silva, Priyantha Fernando and Sampath Abayakoon delivered the ruling in a Fundamental Rights petition filed by two residents of Sainthamaruthu. The petitioners said they were residents within Sainthamaruthu UC more..

May 8 (FT) ITAK Leader Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam called on the Govt to provide clearer solutions to several issues affecting pension beneficiaries and public sector employees. Rasamanickam said he had raised three questions with the Minister of Public Admin relating to pension payments and pension eligibility. The issues raised included the removal of withholding tax on pension payments amid the economic crisis, establishment of a Pension Fund more..

May 8 (NW) SL Police has denied media reports claiming that the owner of a bird park in Hambantota was acquitted in a case involving the illegal importation of high-powered motorcycles. In a clarification issued on Thursday, police said media reports stating that the suspect had been cleared by court were inaccurate. According to police, the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) is continuing legal proceedings against the bird park owner from Nagarawewa, Hambantota, more..

May 8 (DM) Sri Lanka currently has around 2,500 registered thalassemia patients, with an additional 45 to 60 children newly diagnosed each year, Non-Communicable Diseases Unit of the Health Ministry Director Dr. Srini Alahapperuma said. Addressing the media, she said that the country operates 15 dedicated thalassemia treatment centres, while carrier status can be identified through a simple full blood count test, enabling early detection and intervention. more..

May 8 (DM) The proposed amendments to the Inland Revenue Act have sparked debate among tax experts, particularly over a provision that could limit the ability of authorities to scrutinise tax returns. Under the new framework, taxpayers who increase their tax payments by at least 20% compared to the previous year, and submit an affidavit declaring no fraud, deviation or willful default, would have their returns accepted more..

May 8 (DN) Dambulla fought back strongly to record a 119-run victory over Colombo and win the NSL Four-Day Tournament Championship in yesterday’s final at the RP Premadasa Stadium. Chasing a target of 299 runs, Colombo were bowled out for 179 as Dambulla produced a superb bowling performance. Paceman Mohammed Shiraz led the attack with impressive figures of 4 for 38 in 16.2 overs, while young paceman Nisala Abeyratne provided excellent support with 2 for 23. more..

May 8 (DN) A business meeting between the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) delegation and the SL Export Development Board (EDB) was successfully held on 6th May at the EDB premises in Colombo, reaffirming the longstanding economic ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The meeting was headed by Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the EDB, and attended by Muhammad Raza, Senior Vice President of KCCI, distinguished members of the KCCI delegation, more..

May 8 (FT) Close on the heels of the $ 2.5 million phishing attack, the Treasury has now admitted that duplicate Aswesuma welfare payments amounting to Rs. 248.79 million were mistakenly made to thousands of beneficiaries after a payment file was uploaded twice during processing of festive allowances. In a statement issued by the Welfare Benefits Board, which comes under Finance, Planning & Economic Dev. Ministry, more..

May 8 (Island) BETSS.COM, the digital platform of Sporting Star, is ushering SL’s horse racing into a new era through a landmark three-year title sponsorship of the BetSS Governor’s Cup and BetSS Queen’s Cup. This long-term commitment by Sports Entertainment Services (Pvt) Ltd, operators of BETSS.COM, marks a significant step in elevating two of the country’s most prestigious racing events—enhancing their visibility, engagement, and relevance in a digitally connected world. more..

May 8 (EN) Sri Lanka and Türkiye discussed on the progress in defence and security cooperation when the top officials of the two nations met for the second round of political consultation in Ankara. The second round of political consultations between the two countries was held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye in Ankara. “Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining regular political dialogue to review progress and identify new avenues for collaboration, more..

May 8 (FT) SL Insurance Corporation General Ltd (SLICGL), said it has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first general insurance company in SL to surpass Rs. 30 billion in Gross Written Premium (GWP). It said the landmark achievement sets a new benchmark for the industry and demonstrates SLICGL’s unmatched strength, credibility, and customer trust. In addition to this record-breaking performance, SLICGL has strengthened its no. 1 position in SL’s general insurance market more..

May 8 (Island) A special collaboration between the Presidents’s Fund and the Janashakthi Foundation, aimed at expanding healthcare facilities available to children under the age of 18, was launched on Wednesday. Implemented under the theme Building a Healthier Today for a Winning Tomorrow, this national initiative has been introduced through the joint efforts of the President’s Fund and the Janashakthi Foundation with the objective of reducing the the financial barriers more..

May 8 (FT) Federation of Renewable Energy Developers (FRED) yesterday demanded urgent intervention from the Finance Ministry and Treasury to release at least 50% of the Rs. 10 billion in unpaid dues owed by the National System Operator Ltd, (NSO) for electricity supplied since Dec 2025. FRED representatives said the outstanding amount has now escalated to Rs. 10 billion, with an additional Rs. 2.5 billion more..

May 8 (Island) Sri Lanka’s construction industry has long been a central pillar of sustainable development. From roads and bridges to homes, schools, and hospitals, construction shapes the country’s physical landscape and supports economic progress. As the nation continues to rebuild and modernise, the demand for construction materials and infrastructure keeps rising. However, this growth also brings a significant environmental cost. Cement, steel, bricks, aggregates, and more..

May 8 (DN) Eleven years have passed since one of the most controversial financial scandals in SL’s modern history shook public confidence in State institutions. The Central Bank bond scam of 2015, which unfolded under the good governance administration, remains etched in the national consciousness as a moment when trust placed by millions of ordinary citizens appeared to be deeply betrayed. At the heart of the matter were the EPF and ETF, financial lifelines built over more..

May 8 (Island) Pity the land that needs heroes, Brecht has famously said. Some countries have gone to the extent of elevating political greenhorns to positions of power, expecting them to play messianic roles, simply because of their popularity in the tinsel world and adeptness at uttering Goebbelsian lies and making Machiavellian promises. Tamil Nadu voted overwhelmingly for Vijay (Joseph Vijay) recently. However, his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) could not secure more..

May 8 (ST) It was apparently a clever and deceptive email address that resulted in some of the money in the US$2.5 million Treasury heist being siphoned off to an unknown entity, police investigations have revealed. It was disclosed in court that while the official email address was exportfinance.gov.au, it had been replaced with exportfinanceav.com catching an unsuspecting Finance Ministry official (or was it deliberate?) napping in making the transfer. A similar case was reported in Feb 2016 more..

May 8 (SO) The mysterious US$ 2.5 million money heist linked to a Govt loan repayment to Australia earlier this year remains under investigation, with more questions than answers. Believed to have stemmed from a serious cyber security lapse, the incident is being described as unprecedented, marking the first known breach of its kind on an external debt repayment handled by the Central Bank of SL or the Treasury of SL. more..

May 8 (DN) Sri Lanka and VietNam have religious and cultural links dating back several centuries, which have been bolstered in recent decades by robust diplomatic ties sans any outstanding issues. Most recently, the close religious connection was highlighted by the Global Peace Walk, which was led by renowned VietNamese Bhikkhu Ven. Pannakara Thera. Now, To Lam, President of VietNam, is visiting Sri Lanka to give a further boost to the ties between the two nations. more..

May 8 (DM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s remarks at the May Day rally regarding a court judgment expected on May 25 have triggered a controversy that goes far beyond day-to-day politics. What may have appeared to supporters as a politically charged statement has instead opened a serious debate about judicial independence, separation of powers and the constitutional limits that should guide those who occupy the highest office in the country. more..

May 8 (SO) A tall and commanding figure, Ex-Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne is a man of many accomplishments. A Naval officer with nearly 40 years of service in the SL Navy, he is a decorated war veteran with four gallantry medals and the founder of the Navy’s elite Special Boat Squadron. Since his retirement, Wijegunaratne’s career has also extended beyond the military, serving as a High Commissioner more..

May 8 (CT) There is a looming crisis before us. As an agricultural nation, we should fear the disruption of fossil oil and fertilizer as our crops cannot produce without them and our fleet of tractors cannot function without them. Sadly, this dependency was for seen. The national newspapers carried the following article in the Observer in 1977, warned of high energy dependent agriculture. It bears repetition today because the stakes are much higher. A case-in-point is the miracle rice that gives more..

May 8 (TM) We live in the age of political communication. It is not just growing; it is spiralling. Politicians now think twice before they speak — sometimes even before they type. On 19 September 1952, standing at the City Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, US, Presidential candidate Adlai Ewing Stevenson the 2nd said: “If they would stop telling lies about us, we would stop telling the truth about them.” Seventy-three years on, that line still does most of the hard work. more..

May 7 (AD) UNICEF has welcomed the Cabinet’s recent approval of the Global Charter for Child Care Reforms — a landmark decision that strengthens protection for children and builds momentum for Sri Lanka’s existing Alternative Care Policy. Over the years, UNICEF has partnered with the Govt of SL to advance care reform. This includes supporting the development of the National Alternative Care Policy, the national census of residential care institutions, and provincial action plans more..

May 7 (AD) A Municipal Councillor representing the National People’s Power (NPP) in the Kurunegala Municipal Council, B. W. Premachandra, has resigned from his position. Kurunegala Mayor and Attorney-at-Law Ananda Sahabandu said the relevant resignation letter was handed over to him yesterday by Premachandra. Premachandra stated that he decided to resign due to the failure to curb irregular governance, fraud, corruption and wastage within the Municipal Council. more..

May 7 (TM) SL has an opportunity to position itself as an emerging real estate investment destination, but industry stakeholders say the country must address policy inconsistency, weak promotion, regulatory delays and investor uncertainty if it is to convert interest into capital inflows. The concerns were raised at Driving Growth Through Real Estate: 10 Year Plan, Session 1, a high-level forum organised by RIUNIT at Colombo Port City more..

May 7 (AD) A group of foreign nationals accused of engaging in financial scams while staying in the country in violation of visa conditions has been arrested in separate raids carried out in Colombo & Matara. In the first incident, a team of officers attached to the Kollupitiya Police Station arrested a total of 74 foreign nationals, including 41 male suspects and 33 female suspects, during a raid carried out last evening at a housing complex in the Uttarananda Mawatha area of Kollupitiya. more..

May 7 (NW) A new govt‑run Child Daycare Centre has been opened in Battaramulla, using equipment and supplies donated by the All‑China Women’s Federation to the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus. Centre, located within the premises of the Govijana Mandiraya of the Ministry of Agriculture, was inaugurated yesterday. It includes a preschool named Little Roots and operates as a joint project of the SL Parliament, Ministry of Women & Child Affairs, and Ministry of Agriculture. more..