May 6 (ST) An Australia-based IT engineer has identified a security hole in the Dept of Immigration and Emigration’s (DIE) electronic travel authorisation (ETA) visa page, which allows the mere entry of a confirmation code—with no additional layer of protection—to access information such as passport numbers, full names, nationality and dates of birth. “In that link, only the confirmation code needs to be entered to see more..

May 6 (FT) The phishing and impersonation scam probe in Treasury for a sum of $ 2.5 million has now moved into its final phase following fresh discoveries regarding the role of the Central Bank in the process of paying back debts owed to Australian Agency, both past and present during the recent transition to the Finance Ministry. MP Ravi Karunanayake has made a clarion call that a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) be formed to examine the theft of $ 2.5 million in debt funds more..

May 6 (FT) Sri Lanka has sent its largest-ever business delegation to US for the SelectUSA investment summit, with 14 entrepreneurs and business leaders currently engaging with partners and investors. US Embassy in SL said: “This year is the largest-ever SL delegation to SelectUSA—14 entrepreneurs and business leaders are in the US right now building networks, exploring investment opportunities, and driving shared prosperity for a stronger US–SL economic partnership”. more..

May 6 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers approved awarding of a new ground handling contract for SriLankan Airlines operations at Sydney Airport in Australia, following the expiry of the previous agreement on 30 April 2026. The procurement was conducted through a limited international competitive bidding process, with three proposals received. After evaluation, High-Level Standing Procurement Committee recommended Menzies Aviation Australia Ltd, as the substantially responsive lowest bidder. more..

May 6 (FT) The Maldives, synonymous with its dried fish, yesterday launched a milestone initiative with its giant MIFCO launching premium tuna products in Sri Lanka in partnership with Development Interplan Ceylon Ltd, in the presence of the visiting Prez Mohamed Muizzu as the Chief Guest. The initiative saw the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Ltd, (MIFCO) launching premium tuna brand, Fasmeeru, in Sri Lanka, formalising an exclusive distribution partnership with DICL. more..

May 6 (FT) Sri Lanka and Maldives reaffirmed their long-standing friendship and commitment to deeper economic cooperation at the Maldives–SL Business Forum in Colombo, with leaders from both countries highlighting shared resilience, mutual support and growing opportunities for partnership. Forum brought together policymakers, and more than 400 business leaders and investors from both countries, reflecting more..

May 6 (Island) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s demeanour, body language, and speaking style appear to have changed noticeably in recent weeks, a visible sign of embarrassment. The most likely reason is a stark contradiction between what he once publicly criticised and analysed so forcefully, and what his government is actually doing today. His own recent speeches seem to reflect that contradiction, sometimes coming across as confused and inconsistent. more..

May 6 (CT) Sri Pada is not merely a scenic mountain or a tourism asset—it is one of SL’s most sacred living landscapes and among its most significant biodiversity strongholds. Anchored by the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, spanning approximately 224 square km, this region contains an extraordinary mosaic of tropical rainforest, montane forest, and cloud forest ecosystems. These habitats sustain a remarkable concentration of endemic life—from delicate orchids and ancient ferns to more..

May 6 (SO) For weeks, the jeers were loud and predictable. Why was the Govt sitting idle while SLC lurched from one embarrassment to another? From the stands to the studios, the blame game rarely stopped at the players; management, many insisted, was the real problem and the Govt, critics said, was simply looking the other way. Except, as it turns out, it wasn’t. What emerged this week is that the reset had been quietly stitched together well away from the public gaze. more..

May 6 (ST) At the turn of the century, about one in four Sri Lankans lived below the official poverty line. It continued to decline gradually but slowly over the years, 25 years later, we find ourselves back where we started: once again, about a quarter of our population is considered poor. Of course, there was a series of shocks underlying the sudden poverty reversal. However, I thought of highlighting its policy-driven part. This is important to understand that changes in policy directions can more..

May 6 (CT) “We walk this Peace March in silence. It is very important. Our monks walk very quietly, mindful of their breathing and footsteps. We greet the people on both sides of the road, but we never make any noise. We only talk to the people at the place where we receive alms in the afternoon or at the places where we rest at night. Therefore, in order for the message of this Peace March to be properly disseminated in society, we request more..

May 6 (CT) An open letter issued on 15 April by British MPs Liz Kendall and Dan Jarvis addressed to the UK’s business leaders deserves close reading even in Sri Lanka. The letter warns British businesses that new AI models are collapsing the expertise barrier which once confined sophisticated cyber-attacks to a small cadre of highly skilled criminals, with frontier capabilities now doubling every four months rather than every eight. The British Dept of Science, Innovation more..

May 6 (TM) The recent electoral upheaval in Tamil Nadu has sent shockwaves across the Palk Strait, arriving at the shores of Colombo. The victory of Vijay and his Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) marks the end of a long-standing duopoly, yet for Sri Lanka, it signals the beginning of a precarious new chapter in bilateral relations. While the corridors of power in New Delhi and Colombo are accustomed to the seasoned rhetoric of the DMK and AIADMK, the entry of a populist firebrand armed with more..

May 6 (TM) Sometimes, the most common sights, no matter how important they are, go almost unnoticed, because there is no way for an individual to experience their absence. Those people, the street cleaners, who step onto the streets before any of us get out of bed - to make the streets that we take to go to school, university, or work, clean, pleasant, and, most importantly, bearable - go unnoticed on most occasions, more..

May 6 (GV) One of the most damaging features of the collapse of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was the speed at which its own ranks fragmented under pressure. As corruption scandals mounted and electoral defeats accumulated former allies, MPs and party functionaries abandoned the sinking ship, many defecting to the BJP. In the last week of April 2026, seven AAP MPs including prominent figures quit to join the BJP. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal reportedly tried personally to prevent more..

May 6 (Island) The tragic death of Assistant Director of the External Resources Department of the Ministry of Finance, Ranga Rajapaksha, 50, has given rise to doubts, suspicions and various conspiracy theories. It has become an issue reminiscent of the complex plot twists and tropes found in classic whodunits such as Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and modern murder mysteries like Knives Out. Not even a postmortem exam has helped put the matter to rest. more..

May 5 (NW) National Fertilizer Secretariat has rejected reports aired on several television channels on Monday alleging that the govt paid excessively high prices for fertilizer imports. A representative of the National Farmers’ Union had claimed that urea could be purchased from Kazakhstan at USD 220–320 per metric ton, while the govt had permitted imports at around USD 800 per metric ton. In a statement, the National Fertilizer Secretariat clarified that although requests to import more..

May 5 (Island) Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) has accommodated Prof. Deepika Udagama and Ambassador (Retd) Esala Weerakoon to its Board of Directors, at its meeting held on 30 April. They succeed former Secretary to the PM, Deshamanya M.D.D. Pieris, and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank (CB) and member of the Monetary Board of the CB, Dr. Ranee Jayamaha, who completed their terms recently. The current members of the BoD comprise more..

May 5 (GF) SL is rewriting its economic story. After enduring the 2022 economic collapse and the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah in late Nov 2025—the deadliest disaster since the 2004 tsunami—the nation has emerged with renewed global confidence. Board of Investment (BOI) recently reported that 2025 foreign direct investment (FDI) surged by 72%, reaching a historic $1.06 billion—the first time foreign investments more..

May 5 (NW) Opposition MPs today issued a statement warning that recent remarks by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake pose a serious threat to the independence of the judiciary. Statement referred to comments made by Prez at the May Day rally, where he said he was ready to raise his hand after the court delivers its judgment on May 25. Opposition legislators said the remark suggested prior knowledge of a pending judgment and amounted to an attempt to bring the judiciary more..

May 5 (ICC) Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu has been rewarded for her excellent recent form by making big gains on the latest ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings. Athapaththu was adjudged Player of the Series during Sri Lanka's recent 3-0 whitewash over Bangladesh, with the veteran compiling 115 runs from three innings and chipping in with four wickets in an ominous display ahead of the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup that commences on June 12. more..

May 5 (EN) In just five weeks, Sri Lankans have faced a staggering four rounds of fuel price hikes with the latest taking effect on Sunday. This aligns with the cost-reflective pricing SL agreed upon with the IMF. With global crude prices hitting near four-year highs following the escalation of conflict in West Asia, the govt had no choice. However, this rapid succession of increases has sent shockwaves through more..

May 5 (EN) Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved the acquisition of land for the long-delayed development of the Kelani Valley (KV) railway line, from Maradana to Avissawella, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. The project, which aims to modernize the narrow-gauge corridor, will involve land acquisition across seven Divisional Secretariat Divisions, including Colombo, Thimbirigasyaya, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Maharagama, Homagama, Padukka, and Seethawaka. more..

May 5 (NW) Work is set to commence on six priority socio-economic projects in the Eastern Province under Indian grant assistance, the High Commission of India in SL said. The projects fall under the framework MoU on Implementation of Indian Multi-Sectoral Grant Assistance for the Eastern Province, signed during the April 2025 state visit of the Indian PM to SL. According to the High Commission, the projects include the establishment of batik training centres to promote women’s empowerment, more..

May 5 (DM) The current govt has resumed restoration work on several archaeological sites that had been previously stalled, Buddhist Studies, Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senavi said. Minister, who is currently on an official visit to the US, made the remarks during a meeting with the Chief Judicial Sangha Nayaka of North America, Katugastota Uparathana Nayaka Thera, held at the Maryland Int'l Buddhist Temple, where he also received blessings. more..

May 5 (FT) In keeping with its commitment to continuous professional development, the Bar Association of SL (BASL) will commence an Online Certificate Course in Digital Law on 6 May 2026. The course will be conducted every Wednesday from 3 pm to 5 pm over a period of 11 weeks and will be delivered online. It is open to Attorneys-at-Law, law students, and all those with an interest in digital law and its growing relevance across industries. BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya said: more..

May 5 (EN) Sri Lanka may face a shortage of medicines as the pharmaceutical industry is facing a challenge due to the regulator failing to allow price revisions despite the rupee fall and amid restrictive price caps, industry stakeholders say. SL rupee has tumbled with the Central Bank’s indicative exchange rate falling 5.6% in the last six months – from 302.6 per US dollar in October 2025 to 319.5 this week. more..

May 5 (AD) There is no requirement to remove the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma from office in connection with the reported incident involving US$2.5 million intended for external debt repayment but allegedly diverted to another party, the Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has stated. Minister said various parties had commented on the matter, but the Finance Ministry had already taken prompt action once the issue was identified. He stated that complaints to the CID and more..

May 5 (EN) Ministry of Power and Energy is implementing technical reforms, including the procurement of specialized software and battery storage systems, to prevent a recurrence of the countrywide power outage experienced in Feb 2025, Minister Anura Karunathilaka told Parliament. Two committees — one from the ministry and another from the CEB — appointed to investigate the failures of Feb 9, 2025, made 12 recommendations to secure the national grid against future more..

May 5 (FT) India has called for a bold reset in its economic and strategic engagement with Sri Lanka, with Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha urging both countries to move beyond symbolism and accelerate long-discussed agreements on trade, connectivity, energy, and digital integration. Delivering a keynote address at the Global Innovation and Leadership Summit in Colombo on Saturday, organised by Z Media more..

May 5 (NW) Three prison guards of the Welikada Prison have been arrested in connection with the death of a remand prisoner, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Minister confirmed the arrests, revealing that statements have been recorded from two inmates and civilians on the incident. He further said that separate investigations are underway by the Police and Prisons Dept. The inmate, who had been held on drug‑related charges, had reportedly attempted to escape during a cleaning more..

May 5 (DM) Dismissing growing speculation, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma was not a dual citizen during his time in public office. Recent media reports had raised concerns over whether Suriyapperuma possessed both Sri Lankan and Australian citizenship, and whether he had formally renounced his Australian citizenship at the time of taking oath as a Member of Parliament or had only submitted an application for renunciation. more..