May 8 (TM) Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry has officially commenced its preliminary investigations into coal procurement activities spanning from 2009 to 16 April, 2026. The commission was established to examine alleged irregularities and potential illegal activities associated with coal imports, electricity generation using coal, and related operations during this period. The commission is based at the 5th Floor, Magistrate’s Court Complex, Hulftsdorp more..

May 8 (EN) Colombo Port City (CPC) officials will head to Dubai to meet with investors on June 11, as SL’s most ambitious economic zone looks for further foreign investments. “We are meeting people in Dubai and the Middle East in order to demonstrate that Colombo Port City can be a supplementary zone of investment,” Harsha Amarasekara, Chairman, Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC), said. Meeting will be organised by CPCEC, China Harbour more..

May 8 (EN) Research vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen has departed Colombo after completing a marine scientific survey in SL’s waters to strengthen the country’s ocean knowledge base. “The data and expertise generated through this mission will contribute to safeguarding marine ecosystems while supporting livelihoods and strengthening food security for communities that depend on the ocean,” Ambassador of more..

May 8 (NW) Two luxury buses worth nearly Rs. 70 million, allegedly purchased using proceeds from drug trafficking, have been frozen under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, while the current owner of one of the buses has also been arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting money laundering, police said. Illegal Assets Investigation Division carried out the operation following investigations into assets believed to have been acquired using illegally earned money by more..

May 8 (DM) Former Director General of SL Customs, Seevali Arukgoda, has officially retired from service after completing 37 years at the department. In a farewell message issued on Thursday, Arukgoda said he retired from SL Customs on May 5, describing his career as a long and deeply meaningful journey marked by challenges, sacrifices, and valuable lessons. He said that throughout his tenure, he remained committed to upholding the law and serving with more..

May 8 (AD) Police have informed the Fort Magistrate’s Court that former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena, was found dead under suspicious circumstances. Chandrasena’s body was discovered this morning at a residence located on Pedris Road, Kollupitiya. According to police, the body was found hanging inside a room of the house. The Colombo JMO also visited the scene earlier today. While reporting the facts to more..

May 8 (DM) Investigations have revealed that Kapila Chandrasena, former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, was found dead at the residence of SL cricketer Aravinda de Silva in Kollupitiya. Police said Chandrasena’s body was discovered at the house on Pedris Place, Kollupitiya, which belongs to his brother-in-law, Aravinda de Silva. It was reported that the two families are closely connected, as Chandrasena and de Silva are married to sisters, Priyanka Wijenayake & Anushka de Silva. more..

May 8 (NW) SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam today raised serious concerns over the death of Kapila Chandrasena, questioning whether it was a suicide, murder, or a case of being forced to take his own life. Kariyawasam claimed that Chandrasena had recently become a controversial figure after allegedly providing an affidavit to court detailing threats made against him. According to Kariyawasam, the affidavit stated that Chandrasena had been taken to the office of more..

May 8 (FT) The recent cyber incident involving Sri Lanka’s Treasury offers a timely moment to reflect on how cybersecurity is approached within Government institutions. While investigations are ongoing and facts continue to emerge, the episode offers something more valuable than outrage or blame. It brings into focus the need to pay closer attention to cybersecurity frameworks and to give greater priority to information governance in public institutions. more..

May 8 (FT) In one of the most dramatic political upheavals in southern India in over half a century, actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has emerged as the single largest party in the TN Assembly, winning 108 of 234 seats in the 23 April elections. Result has decisively ended the long-standing duopoly of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which had alternated power since the late 1960s. more..

May 8 (FT) PayPal is set to launch in Sri Lanka on 15 May, in a move expected to expand formal digital payment channels, initially starting with B2B payments to exporters. Initial rollout will focus on enabling inward payments to exporters, with several local banks already appointed as agents for the service. While an official announcement is yet to be made, sources said the launch is currently scheduled for 15 May, more..

May 8 (DM) Health authorities have ruled out the risk of a major viral meningitis outbreak in Deniyaya for now, while continuing to closely monitor the situation following a rise in suspected infections among schoolchildren, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Palitha Karunapema said a total of 47 students have been suspected of infection so far, but only 15 cases have been confirmed as viral meningitis. “Samples from the remaining students have been sent for further laboratory testing,” he noted. more..

May 8 (NW) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala says claims regarding the awarding of a tender for SL’s e-passport project are completely false. “The statement made regarding the e-passport is completely false because no tender has been awarded so far,” the minister said, adding that the procurement process is still ongoing. He noted that the e-passport tender process began under the previous govt and that several companies had since sought legal action over the matter. more..

May 8 (FT) President of Viet Nam and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm arrived in Sri Lanka last night on a State visit undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The visit coincides with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Viet Nam and follows Prez Dissanayake’s State visit to Viet Nam in 2025. more..

May 8 (FT) Opposition MP Faiszer Musthapha yesterday urged the Govt to take urgent measures to address what he described as widening system-wide governance and financial security risks, warning that recent cyber breaches, banking frauds, and institutional lapses could undermine investor confidence and economic stability. Musthapha referred to the reported $ 2.5 million Treasury phishing scam and alluded to the Rs. 13.2 billion theft linked to National Dev Bank (NDB), more..

May 8 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa raised serious concerns in Parliament over the lack of transparency and efficiency in the country’s fuel procurement process, calling for immediate clarification on alleged irregularities involving the CPC. Speaking under Standing Order 27(2), Premadasa questioned the registration of new fuel suppliers over the past 12 months, the identities of those suppliers, and whether any had been excluded from the distribution process. more..

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..