May 14 (AD) 36 motorcyclists, who were riding recklessly while causing panic among the public on Vesak Poya Day, have been arrested by the Matara Police yesterday (12). Police have also seized 36 motorcycles that violated traffic laws by having forged number plates, modified silencers, and additional modifications installed. During a traffic inspection conducted in the Matara city by the Matara HQ Police to prevent traffic accidents, these 36 motorcycles were taken into custody. more..

May 14 (TM) Central Bank data reveals that the rupee value of Sri Lanka's 10 billion Chinese yuan swap facility with the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) decreased by over Rs. 48 billion by the end of 2024 due to rupee appreciation. According to the Central Bank’s financial statements and operational report, the rupee equivalent of the PBoC swap facility saw a Rs. 48.7 billion reduction as the Chinese yuan depreciated by 13.9% against the Sri Lankan rupee in 2024. more..

May 14 (AD) The 5-member special investigative committee appointed to probe the Gerandi Ella bus accident visited the Gampola Hospital today (13) to obtain information about the incident from the injured passengers including the bus conductor currently receiving treatment at the hospital. Prior to this, the committee had visited the scene of the accident and conducted an on-site investigation today. A 5-member committee, headed by more..

May 14 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers last week approved appointing a technical specialist committee to study the introduction of an independent Public Prosecutor’s Office in SL. The committee will be chaired by SC Judge and President’s Advocate Yasantha Kodagoda. The committee is tasked to study and report on the introduction of a new law for the establishment of such an office and to forward recommendations for the introduction of necessary amendments to existing laws when required. more..

May 14 (FT) SL’s tourism earnings in April registered $ 256.7 million, reflecting a 13.8% increase year-on-year (YoY), but also marking the lowest monthly income in 2025 so far. As per the latest data released by the CB, on a month-on-month basis, April earnings saw a 38% decline, highlighting the challenges of sustaining momentum without consistent strategic promotion. Despite this, April 2025 inflow remains the highest recorded for the month since the onset of the COVID-19. more..

May 14 (TM) Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) has questioned as to why the teacher accused of sexually abusing a schoolgirl in Kotahena — who later committed suicide — has only been placed on compulsory leave, while even those accused of minor offences are immediately suspended. Ministry of Education announced last week that the teacher in question had been sent on compulsory leave after receiving a Police B report. CTU Prez Priyantha Fernando claimed that the current Govt more..

May 14 (ST) Four names have been proposed to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to fill two vacancies in the Court of Appeal (CA). Chief Justice Murdu Fernando has proposed the names of High Court Judges Frank Gunawardena, Adithya Kumara Patabendi and Nawaratne Marasinghe on two occasions. Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, meanwhile, has proposed the name of Deputy Solicitor General Riyaz Bary. Prez is due to send 2 of the 4 names to CC for approval. more..

May 14 (CT) A lasting solution to the ongoing cancellation of train services during extended holidays—caused by train drivers taking leave—is expected to take at least three more years under the current operational framework. Root of the issue lies in a persistent shortage of train drivers, which has led to the cancellation of at least 30 scheduled train services per day during extended holiday periods. A significant number of drivers typically take more..

May 14 (Island) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) recently carried out a Fast Bowling Talent Search program in the Polonnaruwa District as part of its ongoing efforts to identify and nurture emerging cricketing talent across the country. The program, held at the Royal College Ground, Polonnaruwa, attracted over 60 promising young players—both boys and girls—including school cricketers of the district. Each participant underwent skill assessments to evaluate their fast bowling potential. more..

May 14 (DM) Sri Lanka’s loss-making national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, plans to add five new aircraft including two narrow-body planes to its fleet by March 2026, according to a top company official. In a recent interview with an Indian travel magazine, SriLankan Airlines’ Regional Manager for India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, Fawzan Fareid outlined the fleet expansion strategy. “We plan to add two narrow-body aircraft between April and June 2025, bringing the total to 13, followed by more..

May 14 (DM) Controversial female primary tutor Hayeshika Fernando, who is still at large over an assault involving a youth, is wanted by three police teams, the police said. Reputed among Grade Five scholarship students as Teacher Amma (mother teacher) for her private tuition classes, Fernando started evading arrest since last week, when a youth was hospitalised in Negombo over assault charges. more..

May 14 (FT) HNB said it continued its growth trajectory in Q1 2025, recording a YoY growth of 49% in Group Profit After Tax (PAT) and a 64% growth in Bank PAT with Group and Bank PAT at Rs. 11.1 billion and Rs. 10.2 billion, respectively. Bank’s Net Interest Income (NII) grew by 7.7% YoY to Rs. 23.7 billion during the first quarter in the backdrop of lower interest rates compared to the corresponding period of 2024. Despite the loan book growing by Rs. 159 billion YoY, interest income recorded more..

May 14 (FT) SLT Group has reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 2,001 million for the first quarter ended 31 March, a surge from Rs. 156 million in Q1 2024, reflecting effective financial management and improved operational efficiency. SLT Group demonstrated strong performance for the first quarter of 2025, with revenue increasing 3.4% to Rs. 27,851 million. The growth was primarily driven by Mobitel’s contribution of increased revenues while SLT PLC revenue remained stable. more..

May 14 (FT) SL Institute of Directors (SLID) has unveiled its newly enhanced IT Governance Masterclass for Board Directors, a timely and critical initiative designed to equip today’s corporate leadership with the strategic insight needed to oversee technology in a rapidly evolving digital world. With businesses increasingly reliant on technology to drive growth, innovation, and resilience, the role of the board in providing effective oversight of IT strategy, risk & compliance more..

May 14 (FT) The American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham SL), in collaboration with the US Embassy, has launched the second edition of the AmCham Bootcamp 2025. The initiative continues to serve as a premier mentorship and professional development platform for young Sri Lankan talent, fostering leadership, career skills, and industry exposure. The Bootcamp pairs 20 promising mentees—drawn from both public and private universities across diverse disciplines, more..

May 14 (SO) 2025 LG Elections were marked by a notably low voter turnout, particularly among the youth. Despite over 17.1 million eligible voters and more than 75,000 candidates vying for 8,287 seats across 339 local bodies, the overall participation was just over 60%, with urban centres such as Colombo recording a mere 57% turnout. This decline in youth engagement is perplexing, especially considering more..

May 14 (Island) The 2025 LG elections in SL were expected to cement the NPP as the country’s emergent political force. However, the results delivered a more complex picture. Despite months of rising public frustration with traditional parties, the NPP saw a surprising loss of momentum—shedding over 2.3 million votes compared to their strong showing in the 2024 elections. This electoral drop has puzzled analysts and frustrated supporters, raising critical questions about political more..

May 14 (Island) It never rains but it pours. Less than 48 hours after Sunday’s tragic accident, where an SLTB bus careened off a winding road and plunged down a precipice near Kotmale, killing 22 passengers and injuring 35 others, a private bus veered off the road, injuring 30 passengers, in Kandy, on Monday night. Thankfully, there were no fatalities. The mishap has been attributed to a brake failure. The Grim Reaper has been in overdrive on Sri Lankan roads. more..

May 14 (GV) Every year on the second Sunday of May Mother’s Day rolls around complete with soft focus advertisements, heartfelt social media tributes and the ceremonial gifting of flowers and breakfast in bed. At first glance, this celebration of mothers appears innocent, even noble. But if we scratch beneath the surface, we begin to see something more insidious: a powerful mechanism of manufactured consent, reinforcing a hegemonic narrative of motherhood rooted in sacrifice, more..

May 14 (ST) On a Vesak full moon day in the far-off northern plains of India over twenty-five centuries ago, the rising sun sheds its tender early morn light upon the scene of a royal litter emerging from the gates of Kapilavasthu, capital of the ruling Shakya clan. At the centre of this royal convoy, borne aloft on a golden palanquin, sits the queen of the domain. She is accompanied by her sister and guarded by a retinue of royal attendants. With the blessings of her husband, the king, more..

May 14 (CT) A society cannot progress if violence becomes the default response to crime. Justice must be pursued through due process, not vigilantism, and the Govt must prioritise rehabilitating individuals from destructive paths towards becoming contributors to SL’s development. Organised crime was responsible for 56 of the 103 shootings that claimed 45 lives in 2024—a staggering figure. Alarmingly, we may be approaching similar more..

May 14 (CT) It was in the early hours of Sunday morning that tragedy struck once again on one of Sri Lanka’s winding mountain roads. An SLTB bus travelling from Kataragama to Kurunegala via Nuwara Eliya veered off the Kandy – Gampola – Nuwara Eliya main road and plunged down a steep precipice at Gerandi Ella, Ramboda. With 77 passengers on board, this marks the deadliest road accident since the catastrophic train-bus collision at Yangalmodara in Apr 2005, which claimed 41 more..

May 14 (TM) Another week, another headline. 22 people were killed and more than 30 injured in a devastating bus accident at Gerandi Ella, Ramboda. In the same week, a bus crash in Welimada left one person dead and 20 others injured. These are not isolated incidents, nor are they shocking anymore. They are part of a grim and predictable pattern, one that demands immediate, comprehensive, and honest intervention. SL’s public transport system, particularly its bus network, seems to be in more..

May 14 (SO) On May 14, 1965, a group of revolutionary-minded youth, led by comrade Rohana Wijeweera, founded the Movement which would later become the JVP. Emerging amidst growing disillusionment with the traditional left, the JVP was influenced by global liberation movements, including the Cuban Revolution and Maoist insurgencies in Asia. It represented a new political current in SL – an alternative to the declining credibility of more..

May 14 (DM) During the 11 months up to January this year, SL recorded 2,937 crimes against children, including 1,526 cases of rape and 544 instances of serious sexual abuse. Western Province reported the highest number of incidents (489), with A'pura district leading with 173 cases. Study shows 35% of the children live in a single-parent family or under another guardian, more than 60% of the parents have low education, 74% of the families are in debt and 77% of the fathers use drugs. more..

May 14 (DM) The analysis of electoral trends demands thoughtful consideration of which comparative baselines yield the most meaningful insights. When examining the recently concluded LG election results, compelling evidence suggests that the 2024 presidential election results provide the most appropriate analytical foundation—significantly more so than either parliamentary elections or the previous 2018 LG elections, where SLPP demonstrated convincing dominance. more..

May 13 (Island) The CEB is in one of the strongest hydro storage positions in recent memory, but it has mismanaged key hydropower complexes, causing an increase in oil-powered electricity generation and and costs. Energy expert Dr. Vidura Ralapanawe has raised serious concerns over CEB’s operational decisions, particularly the skewed use of the Mahaweli and Laxapana hydropower complexes. more..

May 13 (DM) Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata raised concerns about high taxation in Sri Lanka on automobile imports from Japan. Delivering his remarks at a roundtable meeting last week, ambassador said there is high taxation on electric vehicles being imported from Japan compared to those coming from another country. In case Sri Lanka considers a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Japan, he said high taxation on vehicles from Japan should be discussed. more..

May 13 (Island) Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran has said the results of the just concluded local govt elections have dispelled the myth of an “Anura wave” and reaffirmed the enduring strength of Tamil nationalism in the North-East. Speaking at a press briefing, Sumanthiran extended his gratitude to the voters across the North and East, who supported ITAK, allowing it to emerge victorious in several of the contested local councils. more..

May 13 (EN) SL’s loans to private businesses surged to 173 billion rupees in March, up from 105.5 billion rupees in February, while govt credit also expanded. In SL private credit usually expands in March ahead of the April New Year. SL’s private credit has expanded by 1,036 million rupees in the 12 months to March. In the 12 months to March 2024, private credit expanded by only 240 billion rupees, allowing foreign debt to be more..

May 13 (AD) Salt Producers’ Association has raised concerns over a shortage of salt in the local market, attributing the situation to a delay in the arrival of imported stocks. Chairman of the Association, Ganaka Amarasinghe, said that although the govt had approved the importation of 30 metric tons of salt, shipment has been delayed. As a result, a shortage has emerged in the market, affecting both availability and pricing. However, Amarasinghe assured that the shortage is expected to be more..

May 13 (TM) NPP government will not deviate from the IMF programme as promised during the election campaign, despite concerns on raising electricity tariffs, Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma said. He said that the IMF programme requires certain measures to be followed, but as a country, it needs to be understood that the cost recovery measures have to be implemented by institutions that engage in commercial business. more..