May 15 (DM) Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has launched an investigation into claims by underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickremeratne, alias Harak Kata, who alleged that he is being detained in Tangalle after refusing to pay a Rs. 300 million bribe. Wickremeratne claimed the bribe was allegedly demanded by former Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon. He made the allegations on Wednesday while being escorted by police more..

May 15 (AD) The recording of evidence related to the suicide of a young girl in Kotahena was held before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today. The evidence was recorded before Acting Colombo Magistrate Sampath Jayawardena. Testimonies were recorded under the supervision of the Kotahena Police. First, a testimony was taken from the President of the association at the apartment complex where the deceased girl had resided. Subsequently, the testimony of the girl’s more..

May 15 (USE) US Embassy in Sri Lanka has provided state-of-the-art radiation and chemical detection equipment valued at $1 million (Rs. 299 mil) to SL Navy, significantly boosting the country’s capacity to detect and respond to nuclear, radiological, and chemical threats in its maritime domain. This advanced equipment, supplied through the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) and more..

May 15 (Island) The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), the cultural arm of the High Commission of India, Colombo, commemorated the 164th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate, poet, philosopher, and visionary, with a vibrant evening of intellectual and artistic homage on May 8. The Indian HC press release: ” The celebration commenced with a lecture by renowned academic and cultural commentator Prof. Praneeth Abhayasundara more..

May 15 (Island) Former Minister Ali Sabry, PC, has issued a statement criticising Canada for the recent opening of what was called Tamil genocide memorial in Canada. The ex-parliamentarian said: “If ever there was a genocide in Sri Lanka, it was the LTTE’s brutal ethnic cleansing of Muslims and Sinhalese from the Northern Province. In October 1990, Muslims, fellow minorities, were given just 24 hours to pack up and leave their ancestral homes. Over 75,000 people were expelled. more..

May 15 (CT) A large-scale racket involving the sale of fertiliser containing a low percentage of nitrogen as fertiliser with a high percentage, was uncovered in Siripura, Polonnaruwa, yesterday. The large-scale businessman had allegedly sold fertiliser containing 21% nitrogen, as fertiliser containing 46% nitrogen, after repackaging it in new bags. He had sold them to farmers at a high price while purchasing fertiliser with 21% nitrogen at a very low cost. more..

May 15 (PMD) Seven newly appointed foreign ambassadors to SL presented their credentials to Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake today at the Presidential Secretariat. The new ambassadors represent the State of Israel, Argentine Republic, Republic of Zimbabwe, Republic of Philippines, Republic of Tajikistan, Kingdom of Cambodia, and Kingdom of Denmark. Accordingly: Mr. Mariano Agustin Caucino has been appointed as the Ambassador-designate of Argentine more..

May 15 (AD) The SLPP has decided not to attend today’s special meeting to be held among representatives of the opposition parties to discuss ways to establish power within local govt bodies, where the NPP does not hold a majority. Leaders of opposition political parties yesterday reached an agreement on establishing control over all local govt bodies, including municipal and urban councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas where opposition parties’ collectively have a majority. more..

May 15 (CI) SL wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis will replace Jos Buttler in the Gujarat Titans squad for the IPL playoffs. Kusal Mendis had been at the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with Quetta Gladiators until last week, playing as their wicketkeeper-batter. He'd last played for them on May 7. But ESPNcricinfo has learned he will not travel to Pakistan for the remainder of the PSL due to perceived safety concerns, and has now pivoted to playing in the IPL, a league in which he more..

May 15 (NW) Sarvajana Balaya Leader, MP Dilith Jayaweera, says he has requested the UNP to correct their statement mentioning his name, adding that the claim that they had contacted him via telephone during a recent meeting was false. Issuing a statement on social media, MP Jayaweera said the UNP had claimed that he had participated via telephone call in a meeting chaired by UNP Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with several other opposition parties. more..

May 15 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that it is the responsibility of ambassadors to convey SL’s ongoing political transformation to the international community and to elevate the country’s image on the global stage. Prez made these remarks during a meeting held today with the newly appointed state diplomats assigned to Foreign Service. He invited the newly appointed Diplomats to act as stakeholders of this political more..

May 15 (CI) In the lead-up to the WTC final between Australia and South Africa at Lord's from June 11, ESPNcricinfo, Star Sports and JioHotstar are inviting you to help us pick the greatest Test of the 21st century. There are 32 contenders, with two Tests pitted against each other until we identify the winner. Get voting now! The Perera miracle in Durban, 2019: SL were enduring a tough time heading into this series. They were coming off a 2-0 pummeling in Australia, their captain had been sacked, more..

May 15 (AD) The GovPay facility, introduced to streamline and modernize government service payments, currently covers 16 major state institutions and is accessible to the public via www.govpay.lk. The latest phase of this digital transformation was marked at a ceremony held today at the Supreme Court Complex, under the patronage of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando. Legal professionals and officials from the ICTA and LankaPay also attended the event. more..

May 15 (AD) Renowned SL chef and YouTube content creator Charith N. Silva, known for his popular YouTube channel Wild Cookbook, has featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia: The Arts list for the year 2025 under the Arts (ART & STYLE, FOOD & DRINK) category. Silva is among young chefs worldwide infusing local flavors with international flair and Chinese fashion designers taking on the red carpet. Known for videos more..

May 15 (EN) The number of automated teller machines in Sri Lanka decreased 0.5% in 2024 from 2023, while transactions have steadily picked up over the past year. The number of ATM terminals reduced from 3,813 in 2023 to 3,622 in 2024. The average transaction volume, cash withdrawals and transfers, rose from 396.1 million in 2023 to 430.2 million in 2024. The total value of financial transactions during rose 13.6% from 6,404.2 billion rupees to 7,274.9 billion rupees. more..

May 15 (FT) Yesterday’s news carried a deeply troubling report from Ella that should concern every SL citizen invested in our nation’s recovery and reputation. According to Daily Mirror, a 26-year-old female foreign tourist was allegedly drugged, robbed of valuables worth Rs. 800,000, and pushed from a precipice near Rawana Ella, only to survive and report the crime. Most disturbing is that the alleged perpetrator is a 70-year-old retired police inspector now operating as a transport provider. more..

May 15 (Island) There appears to be no let-up in road accidents in the central hills. A van plunged down a precipice in Ramboda, injuring 11 passengers, yesterday. The police swing into action after catastrophic road accidents—not to address the root causes of those mishaps but to adopt band-aid solutions to deflect criticism. Following Sunday’s fatal bus accident, which killed 23 passengers near Kotmale, they have launched a programme to inspect long-distance buses at night. more..

May 15 (FT) We South Asians need to thank Great Power rivals USA and China. The USA has stopped the dangerously escalating Indo-Pak war. China manufactured the weapons that helped Pakistan create the stalemate that gave time and space for the American initiative. But the toughest issue remains: India’s dangerous regional and global precedent of weaponising the waters of the Indus river which were shared with Pakistan since 1960 under an international agreement which more..

May 15 (EN) Sri Lanka signed a MoU with the India on defence cooperation between the two neighbours when PM Narendra Modi was on an official visit to Colombo last month. Concerns have been raised in SL, in the context of longstanding geopolitical tensions between India and China as neither party revealed details of the MOU. India has strongly opposed Chinese research vessels coming to Sri Lankan waters. more..

May 15 (CT) Election Commission stated the newly-elected members of local govt bodies across SL will officially commence their term of office on 2 June, following the recently concluded LG Elections. The Election Commission instructed political Parties and independent groups that secured majorities in local authorities to submit their nominations for key leadership positions within one week. These include the posts of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman, and Vice Chairman of respective councils. more..

May 15 (TM) The Litro Gas Company said that the strike action launched yesterday (14) by a group of manpower workers at the Litro Gas Terminal in Kerawalapitiya, in relation to employment-related demands, has been called off following the resolution of the dispute. The Company has confirmed that there has been no disruption to the filling or distribution of liquefied petroleum gas owing to this situation, and that operations will continue as normal. more..

May 15 (DN) Minister Bimal Ratnayake yesterday said that a number of measures will be implemented soon to prevent future road and train accidents. These measures include the introduction of AI-powered driver observation system, a new compensation scheme for vehicle accidents, and the construction of rail crossings and traffic lights at 440 unprotected railway lines. Speaking at a special media briefing over more..

May 15 (AD) The leaders of opposition political parties have reached a consensus to collectively establish administrative control over all local government bodies — including municipal councils, urban councils, and Pradeshiya Sabhas — where the NPP does not hold a clear majority. The decision was made during a high-level meeting held today (14) at the political office on Flower Road, Colombo, under the patronage of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. more..

May 15 (DM) Sri Lanka will decide on the acceptance of over US $ 62 million grant for the development of Kankesanthurai Port (KKS), depending on the business feasibility of the project only, Deputy Minister Janitha Kodituwakku said. India has already offered the grant for the development of the port in the north, which is in close proximity. Deputy Minister said that the SLPA is currently carrying out a feasibility study on the port. “We will work out a business plan. more..

May 15 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said the govt will amend laws if someone challenges and tries to disrupt the mandate, while claiming that NPP has the right to form councils in local bodies where the NPP has secured a majority as per the mandate. Speaking at the 60th anniversary commemoration of the JVP, he said that the NPP has a clear majority in 152 local bodies to form councils and that councils will be formed in 115 councils on the first sitting day of the councils. more..

May 15 (DN) General Manager of Solidaridad Network Dr. Suresh Motwani said that by enforcing smallholder farmers aiming to increase their income level, the country can achieve economic prosperity easily. He points out that smallholder farmers are the backbone of the rural economy and that strengthening them can provide a solution to the food crisis and a sustainable solution to food shortages. However, the smallholder farmers face numerous challenges, but they also have more..

May 15 (DM) Amid a slight increase in chickenpox cases, the varicella vaccine that helps prevent the disease is currently out of stock at hospitals. When inquired at leading private hospitals, officials confirmed that the vaccine is unavailable. Cost of the vaccine ranges from Rs 7,500 to Rs 9,500. Vaccine is also not available at govt hospitals. Private hospitals noted that a considerable number of patients had received the vaccine over more..

May 15 (Island) As the global community convened for the World Bank Group’s 2025 Spring Meetings under the timely theme Jobs: The Path to Prosperity, one message stood out: prosperity in the developing world depends not only on physical infrastructure but also on strong financial systems. Among the influential voices at this year’s gathering was Douglas L. Peterson, Special Advisor to S&P Global and a longstanding advocate of resilient market economies. more..

May 15 (Island) Sprinter Aruna Dharshana who is undergoing treatments for an injury he sustained during the World Relays, is racing against time to recover for the Asian Athletics C'ships which will be held in South Korea later this month. 400 metres specialist is one of the two sprinters slated to compete in the one lap race. He is also a key member of the men’s 4×400 metres and 4×400 metres mixed relays alongside Kalinga Kumarage. “Currently Dharshana is undergoing more..

May 15 (DN) SL’s wheelchair tennis team made history by finishing as the second-best country in Asia and securing an impressive ninth place in the world at the prestigious BNP Paribas World Team Cup 2024, which concluded in Antalya, Turkey on Sunday. The tournament, held from May 6 to 11, brought together the world’s top 16 nations in wheelchair tennis. Despite being one of the underdogs, SL outperformed several leading countries, proving their growing strength more..

May 15 (DN) SL women’s cricket captain Chamari Athapaththu has moved up two spots to joint seventh in the latest ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings. Vishmi Gunaratne has jumped eight places to 63rd, while wicketkeeper-batter Anushka Sanjeewani made the biggest leap, climbing 19 spots to 75th. These ranking improvements follow SL’s performance in the recently concluded Tri-Nation ODI Series in SL, where they finished as runners-up after losing to India by 97 runs more..

May 15 (TM) Election Commission (EC) reiterated that it is the Police — not the EC — that has the legal power to take action over election-related offences, including deciding which law applies and filing cases in court, in consultation with the Attorney General (AG). EC Chairperson, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that although the EC can notify the Police about election-related law violations, it cannot initiate legal proceedings more..