Mar 21 (FT) Raigam Solar’s Sunflower Energy has announced the completion of yet-another commercial-scale solar project in Polonnaruwa. This landmark project caters to the energy needs of DTH Tyre Manufacturers, strategically located at their new export focused tyre manufacturing facility in Polonnaruwa. DTH Tyre Manufacturers, a forward-thinking entity, is keen on investing in renewable energy sources, foreseeing a brighter, and eco-friendly future. more..

May 21 (TM) The Ministry of Public Security stated that while there are no Parliamentarians holding dual citizenship as per the information available to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, there could, however, be MPs who have acquired the citizenship of another country while continuing to pose as Sri Lankan citizens. The Department of Immigration and Emigration comes under purview of ministry of public security. more..

May 21 (ST) The Supreme Court has stayed a Court of Appeal order that prevented the Colombo High Court from hearing the bribery case against former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and businessman Arjun Aloysius. The case had been filed by the CIABOC over an incident where a company allegedly owned by Mr. Aloysius paid the lease for a luxury apartment where Mr. Karunanayake was staying. Making a preliminary objection at the beginning of the HC trial, more..

May 21 (FT) Good Life X (GLX) on Wednesday announced the launch of ‘The Creative Catalyst Fellowship’ (CCF) at Trace Expert City. The program, funded by the US Govt’s development arm - USAID, seeks innovative solutions to social issues, harnessing the power of creatives to raise awareness, mobilise resources, and advocate for positive change. USAID SL and Maldives Director,Office of Governance and Vulnerable Populations Asta Zinbo delivered opening more..

May 21 (TM) Following speculation that more than 650 employees at the Sapugaskanda Refinery, the country’s sole oil refinery, will face potential job losses due to its transformation into a separate public enterprise, Ministry of Power and Energy stated that while the number of employees in the Refinery should be revised, no employee will lose their job as claimed by certain parties. Several media outlets, quoting sources within Govt, more..

May 21 (DN) SL Under-12 Boys and Girls Tennis teams won their matches against Nepal and Maldives respectively in the ATF Asia 12 & Under Team Competition South Asia Regional Qualifying Event held at the Nepal Tennis Complex Stadium in Lalitpur, Kathmandu yesterday. SL Under-12 Boys team defeated Maldives 3-0. The Girls team also won against Nepal with a 3-0 clean sweep in their first round ties. The boys’ team includes Buvindu Jayawardhana from Maliyadeva College, more..

May 21 (DN) Twenty two year old Thaha Irshath emerged national billiards champion for the third successive year when he came out victorious in the 69th National Billiards Championship by defeating Susantha Wickrama of the Army BC by 670 points to 591 in the final played at the AAC billiards table in Colombo yesterday. The three hour final saw defending champion Thaha playing with utmost confidence by taking a lead of over 250 points at the end of the first session of proceedings. more..

May 21 (DN) Sri Lanka 4 x 400 m mixed relay team won silver medal at the Inagural Asian Relay Championship held in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday. SL team comprised Aruna Dharshana, Pasindu Kodikara, Sayuri Mendis and Nadeesha Ramanayake and they did this achivement with a time of 3 minutes 17 seconds while India team with a time of 3 minutes 14.12 seconds (3.14.12) won the first place to take gold. Vietnam team won the bronze with a time of 3.18.45 seconds. more..

Mar 21 (FT) In its May edition, business magazine LMD reports that “businesses are still wrestling with uncertainty – a familiar challenge in recent times. The latest results from the one-of-a-kind LMD-PEPPERCUBE Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey reflect a mixed bag in the context of economic sentiment.” While there are some positive indicators, several negatives persist, LMD states. In April, only 28% of survey participants expressed optimism about the economy improving in more..

Mar 21 (FT) In a landmark bilateral meeting at the 10th World Water Summit, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indonesian Prez Joko Widodo reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the enduring relationship between the two countries. The leaders engaged in extensive discussions covering a range of regional and int'l issues, stressing the importance of collaboration in tackling global challenges. more..

May 21 (FT) DP Education IT Campus reached a milestone of making 4,000 youth ready for IT jobs with the conclusion of coding courses worth Rs. 3 billion in the Kurunegala district. The certification handover attended by business leader turned SLPP Parliamentarian and founder of DP Education Dhammika Perera was done ceremoniously involving parents numbering 10,000 of the students who underwent courses at 10 of the DP Education IT Campuses in the Kurunegala district. more..

Mar 21 (CT) CID informed Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrama that there is insufficient cooperation, from the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), regarding the investigation into the Human immunoglobulin scandal. CID reported to Court that the documents requested as per Court orders for the investigations have not yet been received. Magistrate issued an order to the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and the Director General of more..

May 21 (EN) Sri Lanka is expecting a second around of talks with private investors very soon to restructure sovereign bonds State Minister for Finance Shehan Semasinghe said without giving a date. Sri Lanka is planning to complete debt restructuring by June 2024 and go the IMF board for the next round. “I cannot specify a timeline, but we are confident and optimistic that a second round of talks will commence very soon,” Minister Semasinghe told reporters in Colombo. more..

May 21 (DN) 33,493 people from 8,974 families have been affected by heavy rains and strong winds, while three people are reported missing. As South-West monsoon conditions gradually establish across the island, prevailing showery and windy conditions will continue further, with cloudy skies to prevail over most parts of the island. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western Southern and Northern Provinces. more..

May 21 (FT) PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila criticised the Sri Lankan Govt yesterday for permitting Mullaivaikkal commemoration events in the North, describing them as gatherings to honour LTTE terrorists killed in the war. Addressing a press conference, Gammanpila said he acknowledges the right of family members and friends to memorialise those who died as combatants. more..

Mar 21 (EN) Sri Lanka declared a national mourning day on Tuesday (21) in view of expressing its solidarity with Iran after sudden death of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi following a helicopter crash. President Raisi and eight others including Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian were killed in the crash when the helicopter had a hard landing reportedly due to adverse weather conditions with heavy fog. However, Prez’s 2 convoy helicopters reached the destination safely. more..

May 21 (TM) The CID has submitted a report to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court, naming former State Minister Diana Gamage as a suspect in the case pertaining to the obtaining of a diplomatic passport. Accordingly, the Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage has ordered the CID to take appropriate measures and report back to the Court. The CID has also reported facts to the Colombo Chief Magistrate alleging that the suspect is missing from her residence. more..

May 21 (DM) SL is about to receive 100 Octane premium petrol, known as XP100 rating fuel, which helps enhance the performance of vehicles, particularly high-end luxury cars and bikes. A senior official from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) said the fuel stock is about to be received. The price of a litre of fuel will be much higher than that of ordinary fuel products. This will be the first ever fuel produced with the highest Octane rating more..

May 21 (FT) “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do,” said Steve Jobs, an American entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of Apple. His passion for innovative ideas and thoughts led Apple Inc., to become the most valuable technology company setting the world a good example of how a creative mind can change the world. Like Steve Jobs, entrepreneurs are assets to any society as they have the potential to spread their wings over more..

May 21 (FT) The present moment in SL politics is one where the campaign strategies of the major political parties appear to be shifting to a new phase. As the possibility of elections gets higher, encounters among different political factions are entering a more intensified phase of confrontation. With the gears shifting, there appears to be little political movement and considerable ambiguity, which translates into voter confusion. However, a deeper scrutiny of recent political events more..

May 21 (AD) Foreign Minister Ali Sabry will leave for Iran tonight to attend Prez Dr. Ebrahim Raisi’s funeral in Tabriz, Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The funeral procession for late Iranian Prez Ebrahim Raisi and other officials who died in a helicopter crash started Tuesday in the northwestern city of Tabriz. Tens of thousands of Iranians, including senior officials and military commanders, gathered in the city’s Martyrs Square to witness the funeral rites of the country’s more..

May 21 (DM) Russian embassy expressed concerns over the western pressure on SL regarding human rights while the very same forces are having a separate stand on the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan etc. The embassy said it has noted increased external pressure on SL with regard to the human rights situation in the country. “Numerous western political figures, diplomats and foreign quasi human rights organizations have come up with their more..

May 21 (AI) Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnčs Callamard, concluded a five-day visit to SL today, in which she met with officials and a diverse cross-section of society, stakeholders to discuss a range of pressing human rights issues. Speaking at the end of her mission, she said: “This visit has provided insights into the many challenges that SL is confronting 15 years after the end of the war that has fractured more..

May 21 (Island) Marking 15 years since the end of SL’s 3-decade-long conflict, US Ambassador Julie Chung has said the United States will remain a steadfast partner to the SL people, including those who continue seeking justice, equal rights, and access to opportunities. Taking to X Chung said her country stands in solidarity with all Sri Lankans, reflecting on the resilience and hope for a united future. “We reaffirm our commitment to support SL’s journey toward a prosperous and more..

May 21 (DM) Former State Minister Diana Gamage was today ordered to be released on bail after she appeared before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court in connection with a magisterial inquiry over a complaint that she had obtained a SL passport after furnishing false information. Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage ordered the release of Diana Gamage on a cash bail of Rs. 500,000, with two sureties of Rs. 1 million. He observed that there is no material to prove that more..

May 21 (TM) Incidents such as the recent arrest of four individuals commemorating the Mullivaikkal war dead will deter the Tamil population from voting for any majority candidate in the upcoming Prez Election, opined TMTK Leader C.V. Wigneswaran. Four persons including three women and a man were arrested by the Sampur Police recently for allegedly violating a Court order by commemorating the Mullivaikkal war dead. more..

May 21 (DM) With the outbreak of the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) among cattle in the Nuwara Eliya District, there is a growing tendency among dairy farmers to sell off their affected livestock. Dr. Suresh Kumara, the Govt Veterinary Surgeon in charge of the Kotagala-Talawakele division, reported that the district contributes 12 percent of the Central Province’s milk production. The outbreak has led to the death of many milch cows, resulting in a sharp decline in milk output. more..

May 21 (FT) Pathfinder Foundation Founder Milinda Moragoda said SL’s present oppressive tax regime is undermining the country’s economic growth agenda. Moragoda says, furthermore, many local entrepreneurs and businesses that can afford it are relocating abroad, and new investments have decreased significantly. Full text: While the demand compression it has created has, to an extent, stabilised the economy, it has made the poor more destitute and is driving the middle class more..

May 21 (CT) President of the Footwear and Leather Industry Association, Buddhika Wimalasiri, revealed alarming figures indicating that SL is losing a staggering Rs 35 billion annually, due to the influx of illegally produced shoes into the local market, equating to approximately Rs 100 million per day. Wimalasiri highlighted that this issue, compounded by governmental decisions, such as lifting import bans, has plunged over 15,000 local footwear manufacturers into dire circumstances, more..

May 21 (DM) SL cricketer Kusal Mendis, whose visa was delayed for travel to the USA for the T20 World Cup, is finally set to depart after receiving approval for his visa. Despite the rest of the squad having already left for the USA, Mendis' visa was held up at the US Embassy in Colombo for several days due to incomplete documentation. The delay was attributed to Mendis' failure to submit several required documents to the embassy. Earlier, in response to reports that more..

May 21 (Reuters) Sri Lanka’s consumer price inflation rose to 2.7% in April from 2.5% in March, official data showed on Tuesday. National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) captures broad retail price inflation and is released with a lag of 21 days every month. Food prices rose 3.3% in April from 5% in March. Prices for non-food items rose 2.3% in April from 0.7% in March, as the impact of a 22% reduction in power tariffs for more..

May 21 (DM) New liquor licenses are awarded only on the basis of factors such as the population of the country and the arrival of tourists, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. He denied that the govt intends to transfer 55 out of 100 liquor licenses belonging to Sathosa outlets and to other companies owned by Arjun Aloysius. Minister said no other govt had collected taxes from liquor companies which had such an impact and also levied such a systematically. more..

May 21 (AD) A total of 15,667 personnel of the Sri Lanka Army who had been absent without leave (AWOL), including 373 currently overseas, have been legally discharged from service under the general amnesty, the SL Army announced. The general amnesty period announced for the SL Army absentees concluded yesterday (20). The army had declared an amnesty period from April 20 to May 20, 2024, for personnel who have been absent without leave since December 31, 2023 and earlier. more..

May 21 (DM) Incumbent Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe will officially announce his candidacy for the Prez election next month, Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said. “A story is being spread by many, including SJB, that Prez Wickrmesinghe will not be contesting the Prez election that is to be held this year. However, Wickremesinghe will deliver a blow to all those who make such a claim, as he will seek another term. more..

May 21 (CT) Minister Douglas Devananda said that he is focusing on making the employees who are temporarily serving at the Kilinochchi Agriculture Research Institute permanent. During his visit to Kilinochchi, Minister made a brief visit to the Institute, held extensive discussions with the employees, and inquired about their grievances. The employees, who have been working there on a temporary basis since 2014, informed Devananda that they have been earning a daily wage more..

May 21 (AD) Four suspects have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a store at Imaduwa in Galle. A foreign-manufactured firearm and three found in the possession of the suspects at the time of the arrest have also been taken into police custody. Police said that the suspects had arrived in car and carried out the armed robbery. Police say that it has been revealed that the arrested suspects includes the owner of a neighboring shop and that shop owner in question had planned more..