May 15 (Island) Adverse weather conditions prevailing across the country have severely affected 3,475 persons belonging to 1,113 families in seven districts, according to the DMC. 1,310 individuals from 489 families had been relocated to eight temporary safety shelters due to the deteriorating weather situation. DMC also confirmed one death from the Koralepatthu South area in the Batticaloa District. more..

May 15 (NW) Global digital payment platform PayPal is expected to begin operations in SL from today, amid growing indications of expanded support for local users. SL users are expected to be able to make int'l payments through PayPal, including payments for overseas services and online purchases, while locally issued debit and credit cards can also be linked to PayPal accounts to facilitate transactions. The platform allows users to make payments without directly sharing card more..

May 15 (Island) SL’s 1996 World Cup-winning team will arrive in Kuala Lumpur today for a series of events marking the 30th anniversary of their triumph that stunned the cricketing world. The tour, organised by Tourism Malaysia, Cricket Malaysia and the Royal Selangor Club, will feature several events spread across four days. The highlight of the visit will be a T20 game involving the World Cup-winning side on Saturday, starting at 11:30 am SL time. Match will be telecast live on Dialog TV. more..

May 15 (DM) A new crop of future SL women’s cricketers has surfaced unheralded, unsung and are currently in line to showcase themselves against the NZ second string team now touring the island having come through safe hands. Nine of the girls in the squad, known as SL A, have been cared for with parental-like dedication and virtually rescued from prowling predators that in the past caused several girls with hopes to fade into more..

May 15 (TM) Organised crime suspect Ousmand Gunasekara, alias Gampaha Ousmand, has been arrested by the Colombo Crime Division for allegedly aiding and abetting in the killing of organised crime suspect Sanjeewa Samararatne, alias Ganemulla Sanjeewa, and for allegedly supplying firearms used to carry out the murder. Police have obtained a 72-hour detention order for Gunasekera. Ganemulla Sanjeewa was shot dead inside the Colombo Number Five Magistrate’s Court more..

May 15 (FT) National Development Bank (NDB) yesterday disclosed that the Commercial High Court of the Western Province has directed the petitioner in case No. 21/2026/CO to serve notice on the bank, its Board of Directors, and its external auditors as at 31 Dec 2025, M/s Ernst & Young (EY) and its partners, with the matter returnable on 26 May. The Court has also fixed the matter for support by the petitioner. The disclosure follows a derivative action filed last week by an NDB shareholder more..

May 15 (TM) Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) claimed that despite the establishment of six new companies following the dissolution of the CEB, there has been no improvement in efficiency or relief for electricity consumers. Commenting on the recent restructuring process, ECA General Secretary claimed the change had only affected the name and structure of the institution, with no visible benefits to the public. “The name of the CEB has changed, efficiency has not improved at all. more..

May 15 (TM) The Colombo High Court yesterday rejected a preliminary objection raised by the defence in a case filed against the son of former President and attorney Mahinda Rajapaksa, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, thereby allowing the trial to proceed. The ruling was delivered by Judge Udesh Ranatunga. Delivering the order, the Judge stated that the preliminary objection raised by the defence, claiming that the conspiracy charge against more..

May 15 (TM) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage says that the Govt is yet to hold official talks with the ICC on the setting up of the Cricket Transformation Committee (CTC) for SLC recently. However, he averred that unofficially the game’s global governing body based in Dubai was aware of the formation of the Eran Wickramaratne helmed CTC, and noted that the duration of the latter would be decided once and for all following official discussions with the ICC. more..

May 15 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday strongly criticised the Govt’s proposed tax reforms, warning that a new clause under the tax law could unfairly criminalise ordinary taxpayers and small business owners over administrative errors. In a post shared via ‘X,’ Premadasa took aim at the proposed Clause 185A, alleging that the provision could turn routine compliance failures such as delayed tax return filings or registration lapses into criminal offences. more..

May 15 (ST) Train services to the upcountry remain severely disrupted due to delays in repairing the railway line which was badly damaged by Cyclone Ditwah. Railway officials said that the Upcountry and Matale railway lines have serious damages in 32 locations. Train operations on the Northern Line are continuing under speed restrictions, while passenger train services on the Upcountry Line have been limited only up to Rambukkana. Upcountry railway transportation has been disrupted due to more..

May 15 (FT) The term of office of the National Police Commission is scheduled to expire today, with the commission’s final meeting taking place yesterday. Despite the expiry of its official term, the current members are expected to continue performing their duties until new appointments are made. The present commission was appointed on 15 May 2023 and is chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Lalith Ekanayake. Under constitutional provisions, President appoints the Chairperson and more..

May 15 (FT) Commercial Bank of Ceylon and its subsidiaries have become the first private sector banking group in Sri Lanka to exceed Rs. 3.5 trillion in assets, one of several achievements in a milestone-studded first quarter of 2026, the bank said. Building on its lending-centred record-breaking performance of 2025, the Commercial Bank Group posted total assets of Rs. 3.61 trillion as at 31 March 2026, a growth of Rs. 230 billion or 6.81% over the first three months of the year. more..

May 15 (DM) The dream of owning a home in SL is slipping further out of reach for everyday citizens, even as foreign money pours into the country’s luxury property market. While the economy shows signs of recovery and int'l investors are eagerly funding high-end apartments and hotels, local families are left facing a massive shortage of affordable housing. This growing divide between booming foreign investments and more..

May 15 (FT) Cabinet approved additional compensation payments for families affected by land acquisition linked to the Yan Oya Reservoir, which was developed to strengthen agricultural water supply in the North Central and Eastern regions. Following earlier Cabinet approval on 18 March 2024 to provide additional compensation in lieu of alternative lands to 614 selected families, authorities have already paid compensation to 540 eligible families identified by Horowpothana DS. more..

May 15 (DN) SL women’s cricket team is scheduled to play two warm-up games against Pakistan and the Netherlands ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in England from June 12 to July 5. SL women’s squad for the tournament has not yet been officially announced by SLC. However, preparations following a successful Bangladesh tour are continuing under new head coach Jamie Siddons and his support staff: Chamila Gamage (fast bowling), Sajeewa Weerakoon more..

May 15 (DN) Royal College and Ladies’ College emerged as the overall champions of the men’s open and women’s open categories respectively at the 36th Ranfer Regatta organised by the Colombo Rowing Club and sponsored by Ranfer Teas at the Beira Lake in Colombo recently. Royal College dominated the men’s open championship by collecting 48 points out of a possible 59 points, while Ladies’ College secured the women’s open title with an impressive tally of 40 points out of 59. more..

May 15 (DM) Sri Lanka is set to strengthen enforcement of its tax laws through proposed amendments that would allow authorities to prosecute taxpayers who fail to register, file returns or respond to official notices, tax experts said. The Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill of 2026 introduces a new Chapter XVIIA on the Prosecution of Offences, including Section 185A, which lays out the legal process for instituting criminal proceedings against non-compliant taxpayers. more..

May 15 (FT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama yesterday ordered the CID to arrest and produce before Court any senior National Development Bank (NDB) officials found to have aided and abetted the alleged fraudulent misappropriation of Rs. 13.2 billion from the bank’s general ledger account. The Magistrate also directed the CID to submit a detailed report regarding recommendations issued by CB more..

May 15 (FT) SL Export Development Board (EDB) has entered into a strategic partnership with Janathakshan GTE Ltd, to strengthen biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management and climate-resilient livelihoods, while creating new export opportunities for rural producer communities. The collaboration was formalised through the signing of a MoU with EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe and Janathakshan CEO and Executive Director Janaka Hemathilaka signing the agreement more..

May 15 (FT) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) Group said it has posted a strong start to the year, posting double-digit revenue growth and significantly higher profitability in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year, driven by notable gains in operating profit and net earnings and a sustained demand for broadband (internet) services. The Group’s results signal a decisive turnaround and significant momentum heading into the rest of the year, the telco said. more..

May 15 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Economic Research Department Director Dr. Lasitha Pathberiya stressed the need for SL to sustain structural reforms and strengthen economic resilience, warning that rising global volatility and recurring shocks were becoming a permanent feature of the economic landscape rather than temporary disruptions. Presenting CBSL’s SL Economic Review 2026, Dr. Pathberiya said more..

May 15 (SO) Mehewara Piyasa building complex of the Dept of Labour in Narahenpita appears to represent the future of SL’s public service; modern architecture, digital service counters, and the interiors designed to project efficiency and professionalism. In fact, it is the tallest Govt building constructed to date. But, behind this impressive façade lies a very different reality for many citizens. An Accessibility Audit Report has revealed that despite the building’s modern design, more..

May 15 (Island) Politics is full of unexpected twists and turns. No sooner had newly elected TN Chief Minister Joseph Vijay punched above his weight to win a crucial trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to consolidate his power than he had to roll back the appointment of an astrologer as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) due to protests. One of the first few things Vijay did after being sworn in as Chief Minister was to appoint famous astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, as an OSD. more..

May 15 (SO) In the dry plains on the outskirts of Jaffna lies Chemmani, a place whose name has become inseparable from one of the darkest chapters of SL’s war. For decades, Chemmani has stood as a painful symbol of enforced disappearances, wartime abuses, and unanswered questions that continue to haunt families across the North. Chemmani first entered the national and int'l spotlight in 1998, at the height of the armed conflict between the SL military and the LTTE. more..

May 15 (TM) SL’s free healthcare system has long been one of the few institutions this country could genuinely be proud of. While politicians argued, govts changed, and the economy stumbled from one crisis to another, ordinary people still had something precious to rely on: the ability to walk into a State hospital and receive treatment regardless of wealth, class, ethnicity, or political connection. That did not happen by chance. It was built over decades through political vision, public investment, more..

May 15 (CT) The recovery of a mounted leopard skin, a spotted deer skin and live rounds of ammunition during a raid in Attawilluwa Puttalam by the STF and Wildlife officials, at a property reportedly linked to a former DIG, is clear evidence that the illegal wildlife trade is still rampant in SL. SL leopard (Panthera pardus), though strictly protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) are still a part of illegal wildlife trade. more..

May 15 (CT) What is it like to be a Sri Lankan, living in his own country today? How stable is his job, how affordable is his living and how is his family keeping up with dashed hopes and forgotten loyalties? The answers might not be palatable. Yet, looking back, a couple of years at least, he is certainly in a more hopeful place. In the context of the current, real-world perspectives, his life involves a slow-paced, often scenic lifestyle, but one punctuated by high living costs and navigating a challenging, more..

May 15 (ST) SL’s famed Nuwara Eliya tea – the champagne of teas – is quietly losing ground to potato. As last week’s Sunday Times reported, the tea industry is facing a significant decline as large swathes of tea‑planted land are being cleared for vegetable cultivation like potatoes, carrots, and leeks. We do not have to rush to declare whether this is right or wrong based on our opinions or emotions. The more useful question is not is this good or bad? but more..

May 15 (SO) The upscale neighbourhoods of Colombo 3, an area synonymous with old money and political power, became the scene of a grim discovery on Friday (8). The body of Kapila Chandrasena, the man who once held the keys to SL’s most powerful State-owned enterprises, was found dead in his residence. While the Police said that the death is currently ruled as a suspected suicide, timing and heavy legal clouds more..

May 15 (DM) SL’s farmers are facing a double whammy due to unseasonal weather patterns and rising global tensions due to the US-Iran conflict. SL imports more than 90% of its fertiliser requirements, especially urea from Iran. Iran’s urea production is built on its abundant, low-cost natural gas feedstock, making it one of the most cost-effective producers globally. In 2024, up to 30% of global fertiliser trade passed through Strait of Hormuz from Persian Gulf to export markets around the world, more..

May 15 (DM) The fisheries dispute between SL and India remains an irritant in bilateral relations, affecting not only diplomacy between the two neighbours but also the livelihoods and emotions of the Tamil people living in the Northern Province. At a time when SL is attempting to deepen economic cooperation with India and benefit from regional integration, the unresolved fisheries issue remains a political and humanitarian flashpoint capable of generating distrust on both sides of Palk more..