May 22 (CT) Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) called off their strike scheduled for today following discussions with Acting Health Secretary Wathsala Priyadarshani. JCPSM Secretary Chanaka Dharmawickrama said that patient care services would continue as usual. Dharmawickrama stated yesterday that the Acting Health Secretary had pledged to discuss the issues faced by the Professions Supplementary to Medicine (PSM), along with their proposed solutions, more..

May 22 (TM) Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana, imposed an interim injunction valid till 3 June on ex-Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe. The interim injunction prevents him from making any derogatory statements or remarks, related to officials of the Executive Committee (Ex-Co.) and staff of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and national players. Court slapped the interim injunction, pursuant to a petition filed by the President of SLC Shammi Silva and its Secretary Bandula Dissanayake. more..

May 22 (TM) SL has received $ 197 million through FDIs in the first quarter of 2025, while govt expects tourism revenue to reach $ 4 billion, Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma said. He said that for the first quarter, the actual amount of investments that has reached SL as FDIs is at $ 197 million. “We believe these numbers will improve as we move forward,” he said adding that this is to encourage and give hope to the businesses more..

May 22 (FT) SL Export Development Board (EDB) hosted an orientation program for the newly appointed Heads of SL Missions on 16 May at the EDB. Organised at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, the session aimed to brief the Heads of Missions on SL’s current export strategies, sectoral priorities, and potential avenues for diplomatic collaboration to enhance international trade. In his opening remarks, EDB CEO Mangala Wijesinghe outlined more..

May 22 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved a national road safety awareness project titled Take Care – Surakimu Magathota (Take Care – Let’s Ensure Road Safety), to be implemented at the school level across the country. The initiative, spearheaded by the Independent Television Network (ITN) under the supervision of the Mass Media Ministry, aims to curb the rising number of road accidents by instilling safety awareness among schoolchildren. more..

May 22 (CT) Mohammed Usaith is on the brink of winning SL’s elusive Gold Medal at the ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships after defeating Kyrgyzstan’s Abdrakhmanov Daniel in the semifinals yesterday. Competing in the 75kg weight category at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, Usaith won by unanimous decision (5-0) and will now face Kazakhstan’s Aman Konsbekov in the final. 20-year-old southpaw hailing from St. Sylvester’s College, Usaith made his int'l debut at 15 more..

May 22 (FT) In a significant step towards strengthening public accountability in the reform process, Transparency Int'l SL (TISL) has launched the Govt Action Plan (GAP) Tracker – an independent online platform that monitors the Govt’s progress in implementing key governance and anti-corruption reforms outlined in the GAP under the IMF-supported program. Two years after the Aragalaya – the mass people’s uprising that demanded an end to corruption, impunity, more..

May 22 (Island) Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday warned MPs against deliberately wasting parliamentary time by raising irrelevant questions and engaging in disruptive behaviour. Making a special statement at the commencement of parliamentary sittings, Speaker Wickramaratne reminded all MPs of the proper procedures for raising questions under Standing Order 27(2), stressing the need for strict more..

May 22 (ST) Over 100 players have registered for next weekend’s player auction of the inaugural SL Padel League (SLPL), which will get underway from June 20 at the Padel House located within the CR&FC premises in Longden Place. With the number of teams being extended from six to eight, 64 players will stand a chance to feature themselves in the country’s first-ever padel league, based on the demand of the franchises. Each of the eight teams of the SLPL will be eligible to rake in players more..

May 22 (ST) SL’s TomEJC mango has gained global recognition as the country exports 85% of mangoes to West Asia, with shipments to the region steadily increasing over the past five years. Mango cultivation in SL has expanded by 11% from 2015 to 2022 to reach 31,000 hectares, while the production for the same period has increased by 30% to reach 193,000 metric tonnes. Last week, Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) hosted, ‘Ripe for Innovation’ a symposium on SL’s TomEJC more..

May 22 (TM) Ministry of Public Security has instructed the Acting IGP, Priyantha Weerasooriya to begin conducting medical clinics at the Police station level, with the aim of supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of Police officers. In response to a query regarding what measures are being taken to ensure the health of Police officers — particularly in light of recent incidents where several Police personnel have taken their own lives using official more..

May 22 (FT) Browns, one of SL’s leading and most diversified conglomerates, will celebrate its 150th anniversary today. This historic milestone underscores its enduring resilience, visionary leadership, and unwavering drive to innovate, establishing Browns as a cornerstone of the nation’s economic progress. Reflecting on this landmark occasion, Brown Chairman Ishara Nanayakkara said: “For 150 years, Brown & Co has woven itself into the fabric of SL’s progress. more..

May 22 (FT) The power of kind-fulness should never be underestimated and could solve many of the problems faced within the sphere of the business world, world renowned Buddhist meditation teacher and author Ven. Ajahn Brahm told SL business leaders in a Business Forum held at the BMICH on Saturday. Aimed at senior professionals and business leaders, the event, organised by Ajahn Brahm Society of SL (ABSSL) in collaboration with corporate community, focused on leadership, more..

May 22 (Island) Sprinter Aruna Dharshana, whose participation at the upcoming Asian Athletics C'ship was in doubt due to an injury, proved his fitness for next week’s event with an impressive performance at the fitness test conducted in Colombo on Wednesday. Dharshana completed 300 metres in a time of 33.41 seconds at the Sugathadasa Stadium to the satisfaction of track and field authorities. SL Athletics announced Dharshana’s effort as successful after 26-yr-old completed the test. more..

May 22 (FT) Access Solar Ltd, SL’s leading provider of photovoltaic (PV) solutions, is marking its 25th anniversary this year. Founded in 2001 with a mission to provide sustainable energy cost-effectively, Access Solar has since evolved into a leader in renewable energy, delivering leading solutions for residential, commercial, industrial, and rural electrification needs. Over the past 25 years, Access Solar has achieved numerous industry firsts, cementing its reputation as a pioneer in more..

May 22 (FT) In a bid to strengthen small businesses in SL, National SME Forum 2025, held yesterday by The CCC, gathered 200+ entrepreneurs and key industry stakeholders for collaboration, capacity building, and global market access. The full-day forum was tailored around the theme Scale Up, with an agenda focused on empowering Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to build and compete globally. more..

May 22 (Island) British apparel manufacturer, NEXT, has closed its production unit in Katunayake, causing a loss of 1,400 jobs. However, it will continue operations at its other factories. It has cited high operational costs as the reason for its decision to close down the Katunayake factory. The factory closure in question should be considered a wake-up call for SL in view of the vulnerability of its export sector, especially the apparel industry, The factory closure in question should be considered more..

May 22 (CT) In a democracy, the legitimacy of a nation’s Police Force hinges on public trust, a principle that is being severely tested in SL today. According to Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL), a total of 79 deaths—49 in Police custody and 30 during Police operations—have occurred between 2020 and May 2025. These deaths are not mere statistics. As Commissioner Nimal Punchihewa rightly asserted, they are symptomatic of systemic failures that urgently demand redress. more..

May 22 (DM) Today (22), is the 53rd anniversary of the Republic of SL. It is not a national holiday. The govt has chosen not to celebrate it. It has instead preferred to honour the 4th of Feb, the day on which, through the good grace of the British monarch, Ceylon graduated from a Crown Colony into a British Dominion. I do not seek to belittle the efforts of D.S. Senanayake and Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, who, in the midst of a world war, succeeded in securing the self-governing status of Ceylon. more..

May 22 (TM) SL’s long-standing issues with its law enforcement agencies, subculture brutality, and abuse of authority from State institutions are well recorded. Therefore, this week’s statement released by the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) regarding custodial deaths came as no surprise. HRCSL reported 49 deaths in police custody and 30 during confrontations from 2020 to May 2025. Commissioner of HRCSL Nimal G. Punchihewa also renewed calls for urgent reforms to restore more..

May 22 (TM) During the Budget presentation, Prez noted that the expected economic growth for 2025 would be around 5%. However, during a recent parliamentary session, the Govt announced that SL's real economic growth rate was projected to decline from the current 5% to 3.5% by 2026, and further to approximately 3.1% by the end of 2026. This rate is expected to remain at around 3.1% annually until 2030. more..

May 22 (DM) Sri Lanka got through the LG Elections sans much difficulties. Now we have to see whether these LG bodies serve a practical purpose as boasted before the elections. The phrase practical purpose is a nice phrase to be used as a yard stick for judging performance. This is a country which is obsessed with art, culture and religion. We can also ask the question what purpose has these segments served for the trouble taken to maintain them? Since there is some form of art more..

May 22 (DM) On Monday, over 1400 apparel sector employees, most of whom were females, lost their jobs when a leading apparel manufacturing company in the Katunayake Export Processing Zone ceased operations. Despite being one of the main sectors that contribute to the GDP, the apparel sector has possibly become a victim of exorbitant import tariffs imposed by U.S. Prez Donald Trump. However, for apparel sector workers, who have been used to a culture of exploitation, unemployment is more..

May 22 (CT) The mechanism of school-based Child Protection Committees was established, jointly by the National Child Protection Authority and the Ministry of Education, with the primary objective of protecting children from all forms of abuse. The foundational legal framework for this initiative is the circular issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education on 10 May 2011. Titled School Child Protection Committees: more..

May 22 (ST) The world indeed is topsy-turvy! Firstly for a man who was known as a bully, Trump seems to have mellowed these days (or is it one of his games he is playing?) and is turning the clock back, initiating trade talks with China and moving towards conciliation while cozying up with the tsars in West Asia with mega deals. Then examine the other developments in the world and it makes you wonder how fast things change. Consider this: The India-Pakistan conflict which threatened more..

May 22 (CT) This article seeks to explore the overarching theme of unconsciousness within the political dynamic of SL, characterized by a pervasive lack of conscious awareness in governance and policy-making. Despite securing power through three significant electoral victories, NPP appears to be adhering to a static and ineffective policy framework, failing to adequately address developmental needs. The continued reliance on leadership figures such as PM Harini may be misguided if the prevailing more..

May 21 (SLN) In a series of search operations conducted by the Navy with the assistance of Fisheries Inspectors from 10 to 19 May 25, 36 individuals involved in various illegal fishing activities were apprehended. The operations were conducted in the sea areas of Kotuwamada, Sallikovil, Erakkandi and Elephant Island, Nandikadal, Kalladi, Point Pedro and Alampil sea areas. Individuals were caught while engaging in illegal fishing practices using unauthorized fishing gear. more..

May 21 (AD) Sri Lanka has reiterated the critical importance of maintaining lasting peace in the Indian Ocean region in order to ensure sustainable development, regional security, and economic resilience. Delivering SL’s opening statement at the 24th Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath reaffirmed SL’s commitment to fostering a cohesive and inclusive region. more..

May 21 (NF) Minister of Health, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has urged for countries to adopt more responsible and ethical recruitment practices, as local authorities battle to strengthen the country’s primary healthcare system, as part of the govt’s broader policy vision, A Thriving Nation, A Beautiful Life. He was speaking at the 78th World Health Assembly being held in Geneva, Switzerland. Theme of this year’s Health Assembly is: more..

May 21 (EN) Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved a proposal to sign a MoU between China’s Chongqing Transmission Corporation Limited and the state-run Rupavahini Corporation to promote mutual understanding, strengthen cooperation, and exchange training opportunities in the field of media, the govt said. The approval comes four months after Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s official visit to China where he signed 15 M0Us including related to media. more..

May 21 (AM) Two women arrested in connection with the discovery of a gold-plated T56 assault rifle have been remanded until 23 May on the orders of the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court. The suspects were produced before Magistrate A.D. Chathurika Silva earlier today, who permitted the Wellawatte Police to detain and question them further. The weapon was discovered around noon on 20 May inside a woman’s travel bag at the Havelock City apartment complex in Wellawatte. more..