May 20 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasinghe yesterday ordered the Police to submit a progress report by 23 June on the investigation into a school teacher accused of sexually abusing a schoolgirl from Kotahena, who later died by suicide. The directive was issued after the magistrate reviewed the information presented by the Police in Court. Police informed the Court that, following instructions from the DIG of Police, the case had been referred to more..

May 20 (NW) Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), MP Mano Ganesan, has called on Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to address the root causes that caused the 30-year civil war in SL. MP Mano Ganesan made the appeal in a post on ‘X’, on the eve of the Victory Day and Mullivaaikkal Commemorations. He further said that the Sri Lankan national journey should reach the patriotic destination where Sri Lankans should be able to commemorate all those who died in the war. more..

May 20 (TM) Election Commission (EC) stated that the Govt is yet to consult them on holding Provincial Council (PC) Elections. PC Elections have not been held since 2014 due to a legal issue that arose following a legal amendment that UNF-led Govt from 2015 to 2020 attempted to bring in. When queried as to whether Govt had consulted them regarding the holding of the PC Elections, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that EC would be part of the process if the necessary arrangements are to be made. more..

May 20 (NF) Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, revealed alarming connections between prominent political figures and ten major organized crime syndicates operating in Sri Lanka. The revelations come amid a broader govt crackdown on drug trafficking, contract killings, and transnational criminal networks. The Minister made this statement while addressing the House on the govt’s ongoing efforts to combat organized crime. more..

May 20 (CT) SL Railway Station Masters’ Union (SLRSMU) has issued a stern warning to the Govt, stating that its members will launch an indefinite strike if their long-standing demands are not addressed by the end of today. Association Chairman Sumedha Somaratne said, the executive committee is scheduled to convene tomorrow, to decide on initiating continuous trade union action unless the authorities present acceptable solutions. Association had previously staged a one-day strike from more..

May 20 (CT) The CIABOC informed the Colombo High Court yesterday that it has recovered all previously misplaced documents related to a case filed against former Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne and another defendant. The Commission stated that the missing documents were found among files previously sent to the Ministry and others stored in its own archives. This follows an earlier Court date where the Commission had reported that several key documents were untraceable. more..

May 20 (EN) Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board has announced an insurance scheme for those engaged in fishing due to the hazardous nature of their work. Govt decided to introduce an insurance scheme to develop the fishing industry, the board said in a statement. “This insurance scheme will provide benefits to fishermen in the event of accidents, disabilities and loss of life, etc., that may occur to them while engaged in sea work due to adverse weather conditions or any other emergency.” more..

May 20 (AD) CIABOC has filed an indictment before the Colombo High Court against former Minister Chandrani Bandara, alleging abuse of power and corruption during her tenure as Minister of Women and Child Affairs and Dry Zone Development. According to the indictment, former minister is accused of unlawfully appointing H.M. Chandrawansa as the Project Director of Ministry of Dry Zone Development without following the proper procedures. She is also alleged to have influenced the appointment of more..

May 20 (AD) The value of the vehicle is not the determining factor when imposing taxes, Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma said in Parliament. He said the type of vehicle and the cubic centimeter (cc) capacity are factored in when imposing excise duty. Accordingly, diesel vehicles are taxed the most followed by petrol vehicles while the lowest duty is imposed on electric vehicles. Meanwhile, duty imposed on hybrid vehicles is higher than the amount imposed on electric vehicles more..

May 20 (PMD) In a gesture to bolster care for war-disabled soldiers, the Presidential Secretariat today handed over five vehicles to the Ranaviru Seva Authority (RSA) for use in treatment and rehabilitation efforts. The handover ceremony, held at the President Secretariat Vehicle Yard, followed a request from the RSA to address logistical shortages at its nationwide facilities. Under the directives of Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake, Secretary to the Prez Nandika Kumanayake more..

May 20 (AD) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters will visit Sri Lanka, Nepal, India and Australia later this week, the New Zealand government has announced. Foreign Minister Peters is travelling first to Adelaide, Australia to undertake six-monthly Australia-New Zealand Foreign Ministers’ Consultations with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong. He will then travel to South Asia, with programmes in Sri Lanka, Nepal and India. more..

May 20 (NW) The COPE has been informed that the Airports and Aviation Services (SL) (Pvt) Ltd (AASL) has paid Rs. 37 billion to Taisei Corporation for the Passenger Terminal Building & Associated Works construction contract, Package A, for an actual progress of about 5.44%, compared to the expected physical progress of 30%. The matter was revealed when the COPE Committee met in Parliament recently to examine the current performance of the AASL. more..

May 20 (DM) The U.S. Embassy in SL has issued a warning to the public about a recent surge in fake social media accounts impersonating embassy officials. In an official statement, Embassy urged social media users to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of any account claiming to represent the U.S. Embassy or its staff. The warning comes amid growing concerns about misinformation and fraudulent online activity targeting individuals seeking information related to the United States. more..

May 20 (EN) SL’s largest state-held Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) has suspended some services, including paying funds to its members, for three days from May 21 due to essential maintenance services on its computer network, Dept of Labour said. The urgent and essential maintenance service on its computer network has pushed all Labour Dept offices across the country to suspend service from May 21-23. Services like payment of EPF for its members and dead, 30% payment, more..

May 20 (FT) Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the latest buzzword. Every industry and profession seems to be concerned about how AI is impacting their work. Discussions are unfolding not only about integrating AI tools to enhance efficiency, but also whether some advanced AI systems could replace certain human held jobs. The media industry and media profession are also beginning to have such conversations. It is clear that AI is becoming an invaluable tool in journalistic processes. more..

May 20 (FT) John Maynard Keynes once described the ideal economist as someone who was a mathematician, historian, statesman and philosopher. in equal measure. Keynes isn’t fashionable anymore. Economics, which is about human behaviour, has become a mathematical science. So much so, Larry Summers as chief economist of the World Bank wrote in 1991 the laws of economics are like the laws of engineering. One set of laws works everywhere. more..

May 20 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake made a powerful call for national unity, justice, and lasting peace during the 16th War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony held at the War Heroes’ Memorial in Battaramulla. Addressing the solemn gathering, Prez asserted that remembrance must transcend tribute—it must serve as a pledge to never allow conflict to rise again in SL. “This memorial is not just a place of remembrance. more..

May 20 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Assistant Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara recently said that the recent spell of deflation in Sri Lanka is expected to be short-lived, lasting no more than two to three months. Speaking at the Q&A session following the CBSL’s public lecture on State of the Economy as Reflected in the Annual Economic Review 2024 last Friday, he acknowledged the unusual deflationary trend in recent months, attributing it primarily to supply-side factors. more..

May 20 (DN) A total of 46 shootings have been recorded across the country from Jan 1 to date, this year, Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said. He said that 31 of the 46 shootings had been orchestrated by organised criminal gangs. Police Spokesman said that investigations have been launched into all these shootings and steps are being taken to arrest those involved. He said that more than 100 suspects have been arrested so far in connection with the 31 shootings. more..

May 20 (CP) After long-standing discussions, UNP, led by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, and SJB, led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, have reached an agreement to form a political alliance, putting aside personal differences in consideration of the country’s future. The agreement was reached during a meeting held yesterday in Colombo, chaired by Opposition Leader Premadasa. The meeting was attended by more..

May 20 (CP) Following a preliminary investigation into several complaints made by the Registrar of the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court and other officials, the Judicial Service Commission suspended the service of Chanima Wijayabandara, who was acting as the Magistrate of the said court. Internal sources in the Judicial Service Commission say that a detailed announcement will be issued in the near future regarding the decision and the allegations leveled against the Magistrate. more..

May 20 (EN) SL’s newly appointed heads of mission to key global destinations have met with the local business community to discuss how to better represent and support them overseas. The networking session was hosted by the CCC to foster practical collaboration and ensure that SL’s economic interests are well-articulated on the global stage, the chamber said. Ambassadors designated to Cuba, India, Japan, Pakistan, UAE, UK and UN, met private sector representatives, more..

May 20 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe last Friday stated that the imposition of a 44% reciprocal tariff on SL exports to the US is unlikely, citing ongoing diplomatic engagement and recent developments in global trade policy. He made these remarks at a public lecture organised by the CBSL titled State of the Economy as Reflected in the Annual Economic Review 2024 last Friday. Responding to concerns over the 90-day tariff pause currently granted to SL by the US, more..

May 20 (ST) The CEB has sought approval from the PUCSL to increase electricity tariffs by 18.3%, with an assurance from the CPC that it would provide fuel at a lower cost than the market price to the CEB for electricity generation. The CEB, after considering proposals to raise tariffs between 25 to 35%, had eventually settled on a lower rate following a govt decision to seek and obtain the support of the CPC to provide fuel at a reduced rate for power generation. more..

May 20 (NW) The NPP has gained support from several independent councillors in the Colombo Municipal Council but remains short of the 59-seat majority needed to form an administration. The NPP won 48 out of 117 seats in the May 6 local govt elections, emerging as the largest single party. Although the opposition bloc—led by the SJB—initially claimed a numerical edge with the backing of multiple parties, more..

May 20 (FT) The Advocata Institute has urged the Govt to reassess the recent price controls imposed on bottled water. Effective 1 April 2025, the CAA, through an Extraordinary Gazette notification, imposed price controls on bottled drinking water manufactured and sold in the country. The maximum price ranged from Rs. 70 per small bottle and Rs. 350 for larger bottle. Advocata said it has previously raised concerns about the market distortions caused by price controls. more..

May 20 (FT) In a move to elevate and safeguard the global standing of one of Sri Lanka’s most vulnerable exports, the Govt has accepted standardisation for Ceylon Tea with strategic support from global conglomerate Unilever. Unilever, a key stakeholder in the global beverage market, has stepped forward to sponsor the standardisation and awareness programs, solidifying its commitment through a MoU signed with Agriculture Ministry a year ago. Against this backdrop, more..

May 20 (DN) 80th General Assembly and Congress of the Int'l Military Sports Council (CISM) commenced yesterday at the Grand Maitland Hotel in Colombo. Recognised as the world’s second-largest sporting body after the Int'l Olympic Committee, CISM brings together military athletes and officials under the banner of Friendship through Sport. This Global event is hosted by SL for the first time and high ranking military officials from across the globe will participate in the five day event. more..

May 20 (DM) A 10-year-old boy and his 8-year-old sister in the Kosgoda Police area have been subject to grave sexual abuse by three men. The three suspects of 22, 73 & 63 years of age have been arrested by the Kosgoda Police. 22-year-old young man is one of the closest relatives of the victims and a welcome visitor to the house, and the other two men are residents of the area. Investigations revealed that the suspects had visited the house when the children’s mother, employed as a more..

May 20 (HRW) Last weekend, Tamils in Sri Lanka gathered to commemorate those who died or went missing in the country’s civil war, which lasted from 1983 to 2009. As they have for the last 16 years, they also called for justice. Despite overwhelming evidence gathered by the United Nations and human rights groups of war crimes and human rights abuses by state security forces, successive govts have failed to launch more..

May 20 (DN) Two girls and Olympian Kyle Abeysinghe, have been confirmed for the World Aquatics C'ship to be held in Singapore from July 11 to Aug 3. The selection follows a three-day trial concluded on Sunday, conducted by SLASU. Final names are subject to the approval of the SLASU Selection Committee. The second male spot is still up for grabs, with three swimmers vying for it. This selection trial served as a key event for selecting swimmers for the World Aquatics C'ship more..

May 20 (DN) Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd, is set to introduce a diverse range of new SKUs, catering to evolving consumer demands. This expansion will be driven by a Rs. 3.1 billion investment in a state-of-the-art Greenfield dairy processing facility in Ibbagamuwa at Kurunegala district. The new factory is being developed as a environmentally sustainable project featuring modern infrastructure that integrates the latest advancements in dairy processing technology. more..