May 15 (NW) Jaffna Kings announced today that the team will come under the ownership of Sports Commune, led by Indian sports entrepreneurs Manjot Kalra and Mayank Goel, ahead of Lanka Premier League (LPL) Season 6. The new ownership brings together cricketing experience, entrepreneurship, youth development, digital media and grassroots sports engagement. Through Sports Commune, the owners aim to strengthen Jaffna Kings as a competitive cricket franchise while more..

May 15 (AD) The Fort Magistrate’s Court has ordered that 74 Vietnamese nationals arrested and remanded on suspicion of involvement in online financial scams be further remanded until May 21. It has been revealed that the suspects are individuals who were previously deported from Cambodia in connection with similar cybercrime-related offences. The Kollupitiya Police informed the court of these findings today (15) before Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, said Ada Derana reporter. more..

May 15 (AD) Former Chairman of the Arachchikattuwa PS, Jagath Samantha, has been sentenced to five and a half years of imprisonment after being found guilty of assaulting the Divisional Secretary of Arachchikattuwa. Chilaw High Court delivered the verdict today. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the defendant to pay Rs. 1 million as compensation to the assaulted Divisional Secretary. The court further ruled that failure to pay the compensation more..

May 15 (FT) Ernst & Young (EY) SL has warned that several provisions in the proposed VAT amendments could widen tax exposure, increase compliance costs and create uncertainty for businesses, particularly in relation to digital services, financial services and passive investment income. In a tax update analysing the proposed VAT (Amendment) Bill published through Gazette Notification dated 24 April, EY said ambiguities in the draft legislation may lead to differing interpretations more..

May 15 (AD) The Registrars of the three main Buddhist chapters (Nikayas) in SL have requested 23 arrested monks, who are currently in remand custody over allegations of smuggling narcotics from Thailand, to voluntarily disrobe to return to lay life. Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thero, Registrar of the Asgiriya Chapter, made this statement while attending a religious ceremony held today (15) to confer the title of more..

May 15 (EN) SL will have to compromise higher economic growth if it chooses to reduce the inflation target, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe told a Parliament Panel this week. Central Bank has been formulating monetary policies based on a 5% medium term inflation target with a flexible exchange rate. Under a new Act in 2023, CB is allowed to maintain 3%-7% inflation with the 5% medium term target decided between the Bank and the country’s Finance Ministry under a 3-year agreement. more..

May 15 (NW) The BBC has identified several social media pages linked to operators in Sri Lanka and other countries that were allegedly involved in creating and amplifying AI-generated anti-immigration content targeting UK audiences. According to the investigation by BBC Panorama and the Top Comment podcast, one of the main pages identified was Great British People, which claimed to be based in Yorkshire but was found to be operated by an individual in Sri Lanka. more..

May 15 (PMD) At an industry event attended by senior govt officials, industry leaders and representatives of participating financial institutions, PM welcomed PayPal’s entry into SL as the country advances its digital economy ambitions. PM Harini Amarasuriya today welcomed the initiative by SL banks to collaborate with PayPal. PayPal services will soon be made available in SL through initial banking partners Bank of Ceylon, Commercial Bank and Sampath Bank, more..

May 15 (NW) The govt is considering discontinuing the current odd-even fuel distribution system and increasing fuel quotas as part of ongoing adjustments to the national fuel management programme, officials said. The announcement came during the sixth meeting of the committee on maintaining continuity in public service, held at the PM’s Office under the leadership of PM Harini Amarasuriya. Officials confirmed that SL has sufficient fuel stocks until Aug 2026 and that requests have already more..

May 15 (AD) The Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has announced the launch of an online Complaint Management System (CMS), marking a significant step to facilitate the submission of complaints and grievances by financial consumers relating to Financial Service Providers (FSPs) regulated by CBSL. The CMS has been introduced with the aim of enhancing accountability, efficiency, and transparency in the complaint handling process within the regulatory framework of CBSL, the statement said. more..

May 15 (FT) Sri Lanka is told it is recovering. Inflation is down, the currency has stabilised, and fiscal discipline is being restored under the guidance of the IMF. But beneath these headline gains lies a harder truth: what is being stabilised is not prosperity—it is inequality. The crisis that exploded in 2022—the SL economic crisis (2022)—was not an accident. It was the logical outcome of a system designed to extract value from labour while more..

May 15 (FT) My column last week was about what the Aragalaya might mean to the NPP Govt. today. In it I wrote that some of the issues which animated the unprecedented people’s movement of 2022 remain unresolved and are perhaps as urgent as ever even four years later. Hints of corruption, incompetence and blunders in policymaking, now the deep state still at work. And looking back to 9 May 2022, the question was posed again whether people’s sovereignty in Sri Lanka on that halcyon day more..

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..