May 16 (EN) The number of automated teller machines in SL decreased 0.5% in 2024 from 2023, while transactions have steadily picked up over the past year. Number of ATM terminals reduced from 3,813 in 2023 to 3,622 in 2024, a report from the central bank shows. The average transaction volume, cash withdrawals and transfers, rose from 396.1 million in 2023 to 430.2 million in 2024. Total value of financial transactions during rose 13.6% from 6,404.2 bil rupees to 7,274.9 bil rupees. more..

May 16 (AD) Suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon is scheduled to appear before the inquiry committee, appointed to investigate and report on allegations of misconduct and serious abuse of office against him, on Monday (19). According to the Parliament Secretariat, he is scheduled to appear before the said committee at 2 p.m. on May 19, 2025, in Committee Room No. 8 of the Parliament. The investigative committee, which has been conducting preliminary inquiries over the past more..

May 16 (FT) Former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated 34 years ago by the LTTE on 21 May 1991. The date of Rajiv Gandhi’s death has poignant significance for me personally. 21 May is the date of my birth. Rajiv’s death occurred 37 years after I was born. My birth and his death are intertwined in my consciousness. Rajiv’s memory looms large as each birthday approaches. It is against this backdrop that I re-visit more..

May 16 (AD) Police have arrested at least seven protesters, including the Convenor of the IUSF, for violating a court order during a protest held in front of the Ministry of Health in Colombo today. The protest march was organised by the Allied Health Science Graduates’ Union, based on several demands. Accordingly, a group of protesters, including the IUSF Convenor, Madushan Chandradith, have been taken into custody by police for violating a court order. more..

May 16 (DM) Wildlife Conservation Dept has identified 142 railway stations across the country where wild elephants are known to roam, raising concerns over the ongoing human-elephant conflict. This information was revealed following a two-day workshop held at the Giritale National Wildlife Training and Research Center. The programme was organised to educate train drivers and officials from the Railway Dept on measures to prevent collisions between trains and wild elephants. more..

May 16 (AD) The complaint filed by the Bribery Commission against MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali today. Dassanayake, who is currently in remand custody, was produced in court as proceedings resumed over allegations that he caused a loss of more than Rs. 1.76 billion to the govt during his tenure as Chief Minister of Uva PC. more..

May 16 (AD) The CIABOC has filed a case against former Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and former Director General of the Board of Investment (BOI) Jayantha Edirisinghe, over the alleged misuse of public funds for newspaper advertisements in 2014. Indictments were filed before the Colombo High Court, charging the duo with causing a financial loss of over Rs. 1.7 million to the government by utilising BOI funds to publish newspaper supplements in relation to the anniversary of more..

May 16 (TM) Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra said that Sri Lanka is ready to take on greater responsibilities in support of UN peacekeeping. He led the Sri Lankan delegation to the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting held from 13-14 May in Berlin, Germany, and reaffirmed SL’s commitment to advancing global peace and security through principled, accountable engagement. Delivering SL’s statement during the High Level Segment of the Ministerial meeting, more..

May 16 (FT) A recent Policy Note published by the Centre for a Smart Future (CSF) outlined eight priority trade and competitiveness reforms for SL, in responding to global economic challenges. In a three-part series of articles to this newspaper, we will recap key messages contained in the Policy Note. In this first article, we cover two of the eight priority areas – Priority Area 1: Doubling down on tariff and para-tariff liberalisation and Priority Area 2: Designing credible trade adjustment support. more..

May 16 (FT) A lively and sometimes heated debate that had been simmering for some time in SL’s media community is now unfolding in public: Should a journalist carry an official ID card to carry out their work? My short and clear answer is no. Journalism, by definition, is not a licensed profession. It is a democratic right and civic duty rooted in observation, investigation, and the pursuit of truth. But we cannot deny that this principle becomes more complex when applied in real-world situations— more..

May 16 (TM) Ministry of Public Security has instructed the Police to check whether the previous statements made by organised crime suspect Nadun Wickramaratne alias Harak Kata contain the recent allegation made by him that former Minister Tiran Alles and suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon demanded a Rs. 300 million bribe from him. While being escorted by Police and STF after attending a hearing more..

May 16 (Island) There has been a noticeable increase in the spread of Chikungunya in the city of Colombo, Kotte, and suburbs of Colombo. As of 14 March, the Weekly Epidemiological Report says 173 chikungunya cases have been reported from Colombo, Gampaha, and Kandy. Consultant Community Physician Dr. Kumudu Weerakoon said that the Chikungunya virus had spread to SL in 1960. Meanwhile there had been an increase in the number of children affected by Chikungunya. more..

May 16 (FT) Govt yesterday announced that it has signed Bilateral Amendatory Agreements with the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) of India, marking a significant milestone of the external debt restructuring process of Sri Lanka. The agreements, which pertain to the restructuring of seven Lines of Credit and four Buyer’s Credit Facilities, amount to around $ 930.8 million. The signings took place on 25 March and 3 April, with the participation of senior officials from both countries. more..

May 16 (DM) Sinopec, the leading Chinese petroleum company that has sought to invest in SL, is facing obstacles in pressing ahead with implementation, a leading Chinese scholar who is presently in SL said. Director of Centre for South Asian Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for Int'l Studies, Prof. Liu Zongyi said that companies currently operating locally had gotten in the way of Sinopec, fearing competition. more..

May 16 (DM) A brand-new Rolls-Royce Phantom Series 8 II, Bentley Bentayga and BMW M3 CS have officially arrived in Sri Lanka, marking the high-profile return of ultra-luxury vehicles following the recent easing of the vehicle import ban. The vehicles were spotted being unloaded from an air cargo shipment at the Bandaranaike International Airport. The delivery is reportedly considered one of the most expensive air cargo shipments in Sri Lanka’s history. more..

May 16 (TM) SL’s top 3 private banks’ non-performing loan (NPL) ratio averaged at 3% at the end of the first quarter, compared to the average of 5% during the same period of the previous year, financial statements showed. According to the March quarter financial statements of Commercial Bank, the largest private bank of the country, NPL ratio of the bank improved to 2.58% from 2.76% at the end of 2024 and 5.59% a year ago. Total assets of the Commercial Bank group stood at Rs. 2.9 t more..

May 16 (ST) Local observation organisations monitoring the local govt elections, which concluded on May 6, said it was a free and fair election, similar to the previous two elections held late last year, but was not without election law violations. The CMEV reported that this election was more problematic than the previous two, while the PAFFREL stated it was conducted in line with past elections and without major violations. IRES noted that no serious incidents occurred that could more..

May 16 (Island) In a quiet but strategic cultural initiative, the City Alliance for Maritime Silk Road Heritage Conservation and World Heritage Nomination (CAMSR), a Chinese-led initiative with broad geopolitical undertones, is anchoring its South Asian focus on the historic port city of Galle this May. An official delegation from CAMSR, a coalition of 34 Chinese cities and one from Indonesia, will arrive in SL to host a promotional forum under the theme Floral Whisper Along the Silk Road: more..

May 16 (NW) Three young SL talents have received recognition in Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 Asia list for 2025. This annual list honours 300 notable individuals under the age of 30 across various sectors in the Asia-Pacific region. Sri Lankans included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list for 2025 are; Nikin Matharaarachchi (Social Media, Marketing & Advertising): In 2021, Nikin Matharaarachchi founded Synapse AI Labs, more..

May 16 (CT) In a serious lapse in oversight within the Dept of Posts, Rs 61 million in overtime allowances have been paid to employees without proper verification through attendance records—despite the installation of fingerprint machines intended to prevent such misuse. Rs 57 million was paid to employees at Postal Headquarters between 2022 and 2023 without cross-referencing the biometric fingerprint system, which had been introduced to monitor staff arrival and more..

May 16 (TM) Sri Lanka has the potential to undertake electronics and electrical goods manufacturing for Japanese businesses, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Country Representative Hiroki Oi said. “We see a potentially good opportunity in the electronics and electrical goods manufacturing sector in Sri Lanka, as the cost of production is comparatively affordable. As Japanese we see that the working culture in SL is also favourable for Japanese business.” more..

May 16 (DN) Sri Lanka’s young boxing team endured a tough day but showed plenty of heart at the ASBC Asian Youth and Under-22 Boxing Championships 2025, held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo yesterday. On the fourth day of action, Azhar Sarmin Gafoor Mohamed gave a spirited performance in the 67kg category, standing toe-to-toe with Tajikistan’s Mukhamadsulton Sultonov. 19-year-old SL boxer impressed the home crowd with sharp jabs and smart footwork. more..

May 16 (DN) The recently concluded Women’s Tri-Nation ODI Series highlighted both the strengths and shortcomings of the Sri Lanka team ahead of the upcoming World Cup, said head coach Rumesh Ratnayake. “We need to evaluate both the positives and the negatives and work hard to rectify our mistakes,” said Ratnayake. “A specialist fielding coach from India will join us soon, and a batting coach from England is also expected to assist in improving our skills in that area.” more..

May 16 (DM) Sri Lanka’s tourism sector showed improved growth in tourist arrivals in the first 13 days of May 2025, with an expansion of 21.53% year-on-year (YoY) compared to the same period in 2024. The upward trend was significantly propelled by a strong influx of visitors from India, who accounted for nearly one-third of all arrivals during this period. Sri Lanka welcomed 59,755 tourists between 1 – 13 May 2025. more..

May 16 (FT) There is a growing need to develop and empower women entrepreneurs in SL’s Northern Province. With high levels of unemployment and limited economic diversification, the region holds untapped potential for inclusive growth. Strengthening entrepreneurship among women can serve as a powerful catalyst for local development—unlocking new business opportunities, strengthen local value chains, and generating employment for marginalised youth and women. more..

May 16 (FT) In a ground-breaking achievement for Sri Lanka, Bally’s Colombo was awarded the Best Gaming Property of the Year at the 2025 Asia Gaming Awards in Manila, marking a historic milestone for the country’s gaming and hospitality sectors. This prestigious award not only recognises Bally’s as a global leader in the gaming industry but also puts Sri Lanka on the map as a rising destination for luxury gaming, entertainment, and world-class service. more..

May 16 (DW) When 14-year-old Janani gets her period, she doesn't always make it to school. Some days, there are no sanitary pads at home, and Janani is forced to use a pad made from old clothes. On those days, she skips classes. "I feel ashamed of using cloth," Janani told DW. "If we miss school because of this, they won't teach us again the lessons we've missed, will they?" A survey conducted by DW of more than 500 girls more..

May 16 (DM) SL Athletics (SLA) has named two international level athletes, Sumedha Ranasinghe and Nadeeka Lekamge as the Men’s and Women’s Captain for the 26th Asian Senior Athletic Championship 2025. The meet, organised by the Asian Athletic and South Korean Athletic Association, is scheduled to be held in Gumi, South Korea from May 27 to 31 with the participation of 43 countries from the Asian region. Rio Olympian (2016) Ranasingha and Hangzhou (2022) more..

May 16 (FT) Effective from 17 April, Sampath Bank has been officially designated as a Domestic Systemically Important Bank (D-SIB) by the Central Bank, in accordance with Directive No. 01 of 2025. The bank has been classified under Bucket 1, reflecting its significant role in maintaining the stability and resilience of the national financial system and underscores Sampath Bank’s critical importance to the country’s financial sector. The bank reported a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of more..

May 16 (FT) Bank of Ceylon (BOC) said yesterday it delivered a strong and resilient performance in the first quarter of 2025. Building on the momentum of 2024, the bank maintained financial stability, demonstrated prudent risk management, and remained aligned with national economic priorities in an evolving macroeconomic environment. CEO Russel Fonseka said: “The strength and soundness of the banking sector are critical to sustaining confidence in the financial system. more..

May 16 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has begun to sound just like his predecessors, who succumbed to the arrogance of power and alienated the public. He has declared that he is ready to do everything in his power to enable the JVP-led NPP to secure the control of all local councils it has won with or without absolute majorities. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the JVP, Dissanayake said he would not hesitate to make use of govt’s 2/3ds majority to achieve that goal. more..