May 17 (SO) SL Men’s and Women’s completed a dominant opening day of the inaugural Central and South Asia (CASA) Rugby Sevens Tournament, which began in Tashkent, Uzbekistan yesterday. Both teams maintained a clean sheet as they recorded three back-to-back victories to stay in contention for the Cup Championship of this tournament, which includes teams from across the two regions. SL Tuskers made their intentions very clear and launched their campaign in style more..

May 17 (Island) For every Sri Lankan, 1996 will forever remain a special year. At a time when the nation was battered by the scars of war and weighed down by uncertainty, the cricket team produced a performance for the ages. They beat India twice in their own backyard in intimidating strongholds like Delhi and Calcutta before hammering the final nail in the coffin by toppling Australia in Lahore. Nobody believed SL could go the distance. Yet here was a team that ripped up conventional wisdom more..

May 17 (TM) SL seems to be the touring destination of choice for overseas teams, as the Northampton Saints have agreed to play the Asia Pacific Lions (APL) in SL on 28 Aug at the Race Course Int'l Stadium in Colombo. A press release said that they had signed a MOU with SC Global Consultancy’s APL Rugby at Cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens. APL were officially launched in Sydney, Australia, during the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour with an ambitious goal of bringing world-class rugby more..

May 17 (CT) Quarter-miler Kalinga Kumarage lit up the rainsoaked chaos of the 2nd National Trials, clocking 45.26 seconds to win the men’s 400m and secure qualification for the Asian Games. The trials, which serve as selections for the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Championships, faced repeated disruptions due to inclement weather. Originally scheduled for 13–15 May, the meet was pushed to 14–16 May after the opening day was washed out. more..

May 17 (ST) While in Belarus, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath had the opportunity to hold talks with Prez Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk on Thursday. They discussed expanding cooperation between the two countries. During the discussion, Prez Lukashenko, who has led the country since 1994, noted that Belarus is a country with developed manufacturing and agriculture and that Sri Lanka may find these areas of particular interest. more..

May 17 (Island) The death of Mr Kapila Chandrasena (KC), former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, caused quite a stir in the country. A few politicians, particularly from the opposition, tried to take advantage of the confusion surrounding his death, whilst social media went into a frenzy, with everyone having a theory as to the cause of death. Even Transparency International SL (TISL), independent anti-corruption watchdog, issued a public statement urging the Govt to ensure more..

May 17 (Island) There is much more to state visits of world leaders than a mere desire to strengthen bilateral relations. US President Donald Trump had several key items on his agenda when he visited China. So did his host, President Xi Jinping. The so-called summit diplomacy for Trump is an opportunity to strike trade deals, and pursue other commercial interests more than anything else. This time around, there was a difference. He sought to promote a peace plan as well. more..

May 17 (ST) My dear Mahinda maama, I am writing to you now after seeing you visiting the commission that investigates bribery or corruption. Although you have been in the news from time to time, this is the first time in a long time that you have been directly summoned before those who enforce the law. Honestly, I wondered why the pohottuwa made such a fuss about it. After all, all that you were being asked to do was to provide a statement. Yet, the pohottuwa chaps were running around more..

May 17 (ST) The irony was not lost on many when the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was hauled before the BIABOC) in the month a fascist terrorist organisation was defeated 17 years ago by his Govt. Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, already booted out of his official residence in Colombo, was asked to explain if he was a personal beneficiary of kickbacks from the purchase of aircraft for the national airline when he was in office. That investigation will, no doubt, take its course more..

May 17 (CT) As it prepares for a very elusive battle to gain public trust, the SJB is clearly struggling with the challenges in its path that the coming months will pose, with this week’s politically loaded social media post by its member, Dr. Harsha de Silva. Ending months of speculation on his standing within the Party, de Silva earlier this week spoke of the country’s need for a new era of progress, and on Wednesday set many more..

May 17 (SO) The GMOA reached its centenary last week. It has a history worth remembering. It was inaugurated on Oct 16, 1926, in Kandy, with 16 medical officers. It was registered as a Trade Union in 1949. Today, it is the largest professional body of doctors in Sri Lanka. A few professional bodies in Sri Lanka have survived for a century with such reach and influence. In the past, GMOA commanded respect because it defended doctors’ working conditions, called for better facilities, more..

May 17 (CT) The glass and steel towers of Colombo’s financial district, long symbols of a post-colonial drive toward global economic integration, now stand as monuments to a deepening crisis of institutional legitimacy as a wave of banking scandals exposes the systemic fragility of the nation’s financial architecture. From the digital evaporation of billions at the NDB to the siphoning of millions from private accounts in Kandy, these failures reveal a landscape more..

May 17 (TM) As SL attempts to convince itself that the worst of the economic crisis is behind it, the country is once again being reminded how fragile recovery can become when public confidence begins to weaken. The steady slide of the rupee, rising electricity tariffs, warnings of future fuel price hikes, and fresh allegations of shortages in essential sectors are steadily eroding the political breathing space that Prez AKD & his JVP-led more..

May 17 (TM) As the Sri Lankan Rupee continues its rapid depreciation against the US Dollar and other foreign currencies, public anxiety is also steadily rising in a corresponding manner. For many Sri Lankans, the weakening currency is not merely an economic statistic flashing across Central Bank screens or currency exchange boards; it is an emotional trigger that revives painful memories of 2022 and the final months of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. more..

May 17 (SO) On Tuesday (19), SL marks the 17th anniversary of the military victory over the LTTE. The war in SL, which pitted brother against brother, sister against sister on the two sides of the ethnic divide continued for over 30 years, uprooting young lives and devastating the economy. The war marked a dark chapter in the country’s checkered history, with ethnic politics playing a major part in igniting the flames of conflict. Politicians opted for division instead of unity, discord instead of amity more..

May 16 (DM) For many Sri Lankans, passport power is not something learned from an index or a website. It is learned in embassy waiting rooms. In rejected applications. In deadlines missed because approvals did not arrive on time. According to the latest Henley Passport Index released on May 7, Sri Lanka’s passport is now ranked 94th in the world, offering visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or eTA access to 39 destinations. more..

May 16 (Island) Nearly one in five Sri Lankans is suffering from some form of non-communicable disease (NCD), Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said, warning that the trend poses a serious public health challenge. He said the estimate covering all age groups from children to the elderly was confirmed in a 2024 report by the DCS, and underscored the urgent need for stronger national interventions. Minister was speaking at the inauguration of a newly constructed 4-storey ward more..

May 16 (DN) Sri Lanka will host a tri-nation ‘A’ team cricket series featuring India A and Afghanistan A from June 9 to 21 at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. The 50-over tournament involving SL A, India A and Afghanistan A is expected to provide valuable exposure for young cricketers aiming to break into their respective national teams. Following the completion of the tri-series, India A will remain in SL to play two four-day matches against SL A at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. more..

May 16 (DM) SL’s businesses and households borrowed at one of the fastest monthly paces on record in March, even as the economy began showing signs of fresh stress from the Iran war, raising questions over whether firms were rushing to secure loans before borrowing costs climbed further. New Central Bank data showed commercial banks expanded loans to the private sector by Rs.258.4 billion in March, almost doubling Rs.144.4 b more..

May 16 (AD) Economists warn that if the Sri Lankan rupee continues to depreciate, fuel prices, electricity and water tariffs, as well as the prices of goods and services, could increase in the future. Commenting on the situation, economic analyst Dhananath Fernando stated that the Central Bank’s (CBSL) purchase of dollars in the market and the excess liquidity of rupees in the financial system have increased the demand for US dollars, contributing to the weakening of the SL Rupee. more..

May 16 (NW) A group of students attached to the Inter-University Students’ Council (IUSC) continued occupying the controversial Malwana property on Thursday, insisting their protest over uni accommodation issues would continue despite criticism and ongoing debate surrounding the move. The students had entered the sprawling Malwana property, which had previously drawn controversy after claims it was linked to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, arguing that unused state assets more..

May 16 (AD) Twelve passengers were injured after a train travelling from Polgahawela to Colombo derailed, causing one carriage to overturn on the railway line between Wanawasala and Hunupitiya this morning. The injured passengers were admitted to private hospitals located near the scene of the accident, while one injured person was transferred to the Colombo National Hospital for further treatment. Train involved in the accident had departed from Polgahawela at 3.25 a.m. and more..

May 16 (ST) Senarath Paranavitharne Teaching and Research Museum at the Uni of Peradeniya was reopened this week amidst an ongoing investigation into missing artefacts, including several valuable ivory items. Chancellor Lakshman Dissanayake and Vice Chancellor Terrance Mudajith declared the museum reopened on Monday after the CID obtained judicial approval. Speaking at the ceremony, VC lamented that, because of the closure, 4 batches of archaeology honours more..

May 16 (ST) SL’s largest retirement money pool for more than 2 million private sector workers and semi-govt workers, the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), offloaded seven holdings, including Laugfs Gas, and pared down 13 others in 2025. The fund also increased its holding in the NDB, private commercial bank now wrestling with the biggest financial fraud in the country. NDB shares had a market value of more than more..

May 16 (FT) Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to the UNESCO organised a cultural evening themed Let us make haste to stand together for the common good on 4 May at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in commemoration of the International Day of Vesak. The event was organised in partnership with the UNESCO and 15 Member States, reflecting the growing significance of Vesak within the UNESCO following the decisions adopted by its governing bodies. more..

May 16 (NW) A high-level team from the International Cricket Council (ICC), including a senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is expected to visit Sri Lanka following the govt’s appointment of an interim body to oversee cricket administration in the country. ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja is expected to arrive in SL on Friday night and will be followed on Saturday by another ICC official who also holds a top-level role within the BCCI. more..

May 16 (NW) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) says it has faced no interference in relation to the ongoing investigations into the widely discussed child abuse case involving a minor girl in Anuradhapura. NCPA said it has been monitoring the case since it was first reported to ensure the law is properly enforced and the child’s rights are protected throughout the investigation process. The authority said it remains prepared to take appropriate measures whenever necessary to safeguard more..

May 16 (Island) Asian Development Bank is no longer treating digitalisation as a secondary development theme. Increasingly, bank views digital infrastructure as the economic nervous system of Asia’s future growth model – a strategic national asset now considered as critical to economic competitiveness as highways, ports & power grids. That shift carries an important message for countries like SL: modernise digital systems rapidly or risk falling behind regional competitors. more..

May 16 (CT) SL’s property market has seen an increase in its land at unprecedented numbers over the last few decades. Several factors are recorded as having contributed to rising property prices, including the nature of the country’s economy, the concentration of facilities in Colombo as the commercial hub, foreign direct investment, and local investments. Against this backdrop, CT examined how land in Colombo is being sold, more..

May 16 (DN) Rain once again played spoilsport in the second unofficial one-day game between SL Women’s A and NZ Women’s A, which ended in a no result for the second consecutive time at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday. SL Women’s A, batting first for the second successive game of the series, scored 197 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Rain interrupted play after the completion of the innings, and after a lengthy delay, NZ Women’s A were set a revised target of 123 runs in 20 overs. more..

May 16 (FT) John Keells CG Auto (JKCG Auto), has launched a campaign in partnership with Bank of Ceylon (BOC) and SL Insurance Corporation General Ltd. (SLIC) to accelerate New Energy Vehicles (NEV) adoption among Govt sector employees. The initiative, which commenced on 4 May will continue till 31 July 2026. It is designed to improve accessibility and affordability of NEVs for public servants through a structured set of financing, insurance & ownership support mechanisms. more..

May 16 (DN) The opening game of the Lanka Premier League 2026 will be played between Jaffna and Galle teams, who emerged as the Champions and Runners-up respectively in the 2024 season. Opening game is scheduled to be played on July 17 at SSC, commencing at 7.30 p.m. Prior to the start of the tournament opener, a spectacular opening ceremony will be held at the SSC and organisers are expected to give a good start more..