May 23 (CT) CIABOC has launched an investigation into the installation of a digital radiological image archiving and communication system—commonly known as the PACS system—at five SL hospitals. The probe follows concerns that the project was implemented in violation of official procurement guidelines and without a formal request from the Ministry of Health. PACS system, designed to digitally manage and access CT & MRI more..

May 23 (AD) IMF Spokesperson Julie Kozack stated that the completion of the review is subject to approval by the executive board and that the IMF expects the board meeting to take place in the coming weeks. However, Kozack noted that the precise timing of that board meeting is contingent on two things - the first is the implementation of prior actions. She stated that the main prior actions are relating to restoring electricity cost recovery pricing and ensuring proper function of more..

May 23 (TM) Sri Lanka is expected to record a surplus in its current account for the third consecutive year in 2025, with a 0.9% of GDP increase projected in the surplus, CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said. He said that SL is going to have a third year of current account surplus in 2025, even after full relaxation of import controls. “Our projection on the external side, although the external demand factor is lower, but still, because of the favourable impact on petroleum prices, more..

May 23 (FT) Sri Lanka cut rates by 25 basis points due to lower than projected inflation and expected lower external demand from geopolitical uncertainties, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. Central Bank lowered its lending window rate to 8.25% and the enforceable deposit facility to 7.25%. Its so-called overnight policy rate which has been held up by signalling in recent weeks, was lowered to 7.25%. more..

May 23 (DN) Minister Sunil Handunnetti told Parliament that the crisis over a salt shortage in the country has now been resolved. Speaking in Parliament yesterday (22) in response to several Opposition members’ claims on shortage of salt in the country, the Minister refuted all such claims by the Opposition stating that with the recent salt shortage, sufficient stocks of salt have now arrived at the Port with the Govt’s Cabinet decision to import salt from abroad. more..

May 23 (AD) Anudi Gunasekara of SL has secured a spot among the final 20 contestants in the Miss World Head-to-Head Challenge, following a powerful first round that spotlighted eloquence, compassion, and global awareness from 107 young women around the world. Head-to-Head Challenge serves as a platform for contestants to speak on issues close to their hearts—ranging from personal journeys to pressing global challenges. This year’s first round saw an outpouring of more..

May 23 (DN) A delegation from the World Bank Group held a meeting with the Jaffna District Govt Agent, M. Piiratheepan, to discuss development priorities and regional economic challenges facing the Northern Province. The meeting was convened at the District Secretariat in Jaffna and focused on structural issues, sectoral constraints and investment requirements related to agriculture, industry, infrastructure and livelihoods. Govt Agent presented a brief on the limited growth and more..

May 23 (Island) The earthquake relief humanitarian aid donation shipment from SL at last has reached Myanmar. Ambassador of SL to Myanmar and the staff officially handed over the donation to the relevant Myanmar Govt Authorities on 18 May at the Asia World Port Terminal in Yangon. The relief items, intended for the victims affected by the recent earthquake in Myanmar, were voluntarily collected and donated by the Most Ven. Amarapura & Ramanna Monastic Communities in SL, more..

May 23 (Island) The COPF has approved the resolution for the revision of the limits of several Advance Accounts of ministries and departments, including CIABOC and SL Customs. The COPF approved the resolutions under Section 8 of the Appropriation Act No. 34 of 2023 to revise the limits of several ministries and departments for the year 2024. Approval was granted at a recent meeting of the COPF held in Parliament more..

May 23 (TM) National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has filled over 60 vacancies in a move aimed at improving its operational efficiency, following serious concerns raised in a recent audit report about delays and lapses in drug regulation. NMRA Chairperson Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said that approval had been received to recruit officers, and that around 60 to 70 new staff members were recruited over the past month (April). “Some of them were given their appointment letters on more..

May 23 (FT) A special workshop to brief Ministry Secretaries on the Govt’s Digital Economy Strategy and its implementation was held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. The session focused on the Govt’s latest digital economic strategies and their implementation, along with discussions regarding the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into public sector functions. more..

May 23 (DN) Police seized a stock of heroin weighing over 100 kg that was hidden inside a house in Weeraketiya in Hambantota. SSP Buddhika Manatunga said that a stock of 101.47 kg of heroin have been discovered and seized along with two suspects who were arrested while in possession of the stock of narcotics that was hidden inside a house in the Athubode area of Weeraketiya in Hambantota yesterday. A team of officers of the Police Narcotics Control Bureau had carried out a raid more..

May 23 (ST) Sri Lanka is grappling with a deepening crisis in the coconut and palm oil industry, triggered by a severe shortage of coconuts and soaring global palm oil prices. A ban on oil palm cultivation as a substitute crop, along with a restriction on oil palm imports, is threatening the industry, potentially leading to a halt in domestic coconut production within the next 3-4 years. The govt’s position is still uncertain, with no clear indication of when the ban may be lifted. more..

May 23 (TM) Noting that the Auditor General’s (AG) Department has thus far remained an institution with no issues, SJB questioned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s nominations for the post of the AG. The SJB questioned as to why the Prez took steps to nominate to the post someone who is connected to the Govt. SJB MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha posed these questions during a press briefing held yesterday. more..

May 23 (FT) Hemas Holdings announced strong earnings for the financial year ended 31 March 2025 and singled out the continuity of the ‘AAA’ credit rating despite revenue pressures. Hemas Group delivered a strong performance during the year, accomplishing cumulative earnings of Rs. 8.1 billion, a year-on-year growth of 31.9%. Healthcare and Mobility sectors witnessed a cumulative revenue growth compared to last year, while the Consumer Brands sector recorded a 9.4% decline. more..

May 23 (TM) Ex-SL cricket captain Mahela Jayawardena has warned the public against fake AI-generated advertisements misusing his name and image. His warning comes after his colleague former skipper Kumar Sangakkara too had issued a similar warning previously of his own image being fraudulently used to publicise certain commercial brands. In a social media post, Jayawardena clarified that all genuine endorsements and partnerships will only be announced more..

May 23 (TM) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage yesterday removed with immediate effect the appointment of Shemal Fernando as the Competent Authority (CA) for Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR). This was by revoking the Extraordinary Gazette Notification bearing No. 2386/08 published on 29 May 2024 by his predecessor Harin Fernando. In a startling shake up of the local rugby status quo, minister thus resorted to his actions more..

May 23 (Island) In a decisive move to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry demands, Exiga, ROBOXA and ICBT Campus entered into strategic partnerships that promise to significantly enhance SL’s technology talent pipeline. The landmark MOU signing ceremony, held at the Kingsbury in Colombo recently drew industry heavyweights, academia and representatives from EY Global Delivery Services. The event marked the formalization of two key agreements: more..

May 23 (DN) SL’s Hiruni Wijesinghe claimed the nation’s first silver medal at the ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championship yesterday, boosting the country’s medal count to 18 bronzes as the event entered its penultimate day at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo. Hiruni, fighting in the women’s 63kg weight class, fought bravely but lost to Kazakhstan’s powerful Alina Kudaigenova in the final bout. Despite the defeat, Hiruni made history as SL’s best-performing more..

May 23 (FT) The cut in the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) had a positive impact on the Colombo stock market yesterday, with indices and turnover gaining relatively higher. The ASPI gained by 0.7% and the active S&P SL20 by 0.54%. Turnover was Rs. 4.54 billion involving 277.35 million shares. The Monetary Policy Board at its meeting on Wednesday evening decided to reduce the OPR by 25 bps to 7.75%, thereby easing monetary policy further. more..

May 23 (ST) Recently, I came across a popular slogan: Let’s make the country by making the village first! While this phrase is politically correct and sentimentally appealing, a deeper examination reveals that, from an economic standpoint, it is more opinion-based than principle-driven. According to the latest issue of SL’s Development Updates, released by World Bank in April 2025, nearly a quarter of Sri Lankans survive on less than Rs. 1,000 per day, while 2/3ds live on less than Rs. 2,000 daily. more..

May 23 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tea export performance saw a notable uptick in April 2025, with total exports reaching 18.20 million kg, marking an increase of 1.82 million kg compared to 16.38 million kg recorded in April 2024. The growth was driven by improved performance across all categories except Tea in Bulk, reflecting a diversified demand for value-added products such as Tea Packets, Tea Bags and Instant Tea. more..

May 23 (Island) Constitutional Council (CC) has rejected Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s nominee for the post of the Auditor General. The Opposition has torn into President Dissanayake—and quite rightly so—for his attempt to have one of his cronies elected to the post of Auditor General at the expense of a highly deserving officer with 30 years of experience in the Auditor General’s Dept. The rejected nominee has only five years of experience in the CPC, the Opposition has alleged. more..

May 23 (FT) CH17 International, official rewards and loyalty partner of Port City Colombo, has launched a high-impact promotional campaign in Dubai to spotlight the exceptional duty-free retail experience available at The Mall at Port City Colombo. This campaign is being driven through CH17’s regional franchise partner, Finwin Group, who have mobilised a dedicated team of front-line representatives across the UAE to raise awareness of this first-of-its-kind opportunity for SL travellers. more..

May 23 (Island) TV news showed Keheliya Rambukwella with a walking aid and grizzled unshaven, attending courts and leaving in a prison van. His son Ramith is implicated in a corruption case being heard against his father. So it’s a case of like father, like son. We recall this cricketer son was no gentleman. He supposedly broke into an office in his college – Royal, Colombo 7 – to interfere with a marks sheet or whatever. More notoriously, returning from Australia as a member of a cricket team, more..

May 23 (CT) As of late, functioning without a definitive authoritative figure at the helm has become somewhat of a second nature for SL governance. Not so long ago, country had a ghost Police Chief whom no one could find, but the Police work kept on going. Following Prez Election, the whole country functioned without having a proper govt and a strong Cabinet high in number, just like how it has been in the past govts. Local Govt effectively stopped functioning many months ago, more..

May 23 (SO) After nearly five years of import restrictions, the Govt has opened the gates to the global automobile market. As of Feb 1, 2025, all types of vehicles are once again permitted into the island, under a new regulatory regime aimed at balancing economic revival with foreign exchange discipline.Nearby car dealerships. The decision marks the most significant shift in trade policy since the 2020 blanket ban on vehicle imports more..

May 23 (FT) Orion City recently introduced OC by Orion City, a new chapter in flexible office solutions, located at one of the most prestigious and connected addresses in Colombo 3. Designed to meet the evolving needs of modern businesses, this new building offers a seamless blend of convenience and comfort. OC by Orion City is more than just an office building; it is a place where businesses can focus on growth without the distractions of traditional setup costs and overheads. more..

May 23 (CT) Since the establishment of the AKD/NPP govt about six months ago, it paved the way for the opening of the Sri Lanka–New Zealand High Commission in Wellington, NeZ, on March 3, 2025. This has been a long-felt need for various reasons. NZ’s Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, will make an official visit to SL from May 24 to 28, 2025. This marks a historic and significant occasion for SL, as it is the second visit by a NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs. more..

May 23 (DM) Peter M. Haugan, the policy director at the Institute of Marine Research, Norway and a professor at the Geophysical Institute, Uni of Bergen in Norway, shares his vision on the blue economy and what the ocean holds for the benefit of mankind. He has more than 30 years of experience in marine scientific research and international ocean science coordination covering ocean, climate and energy issues. more..

May 23 (TM) Commuting into and from Colombo, you can’t help but observe the number of people who are struggling with some form of a flu or respiratory illness. With authorities warning about the cyclic rise of vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya, the public is at a loss to figure out what ails them and how to get cured. Meanwhile, there was a concern growing that a new variant of Covid-19 had emerged and was doing the rounds through urban communities. more..

May 23 (DM) Galle is a celebrated tourist destination for both local and foreign tourists. Very recently a partnership that Sri Lanka and China entered into added to the importance of Galle, which is already a UNESCO heritage site. This week, China and SL set up a bilateral cooperation focusing on Galle. The partnership is aimed at boosting heritage-led tourism and cultural economy development. This partnership is sure to unlock economic and diplomatic opportunities for both nations. more..