May 20 (CB) The Colombo Kaps franchise, formerly known as Colombo Strikers, in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) have new owners. LPL organisers IPG Global, on Tuesday (May 19), announced that the franchise will come under the ownership of Witness Sports Alliance LLC, led by Saranyan Palaniswamy and KC Shyam Kangayan. Murfad Mustafa, a Dubai-based businessman from Kannur, Kerala, connected to the Faza Group, were the previous owners of the franchise. more..

May 20 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket's new transformation committee has had cordial and constructive discussions with Imran Khwaja, the ICC's deputy chair, according to a member of the new SLC committee. Khwaja had been in SL over the last few days to gather information as the ICC decides what its response to the sweeping govt-led changes at SLC should be. During the course of that visit, Khwaja not only spoke with members of SLC's transformation more..

May 20 (FT) 9th Session of the UNCTAD Inter-governmental Group of Experts on E-commerce and the Digital Economy, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva from 11 to 13 May, examined how digital platforms can contribute to strengthening fiscal revenues in developing countries. Sri Lankan e-commerce platform Kapruka Holdings was represented on the panel by Chairman Dulith Herath. Session 2, titled “Digital solutions for strengthening fiscal administration capacity more..

May 20 (ST) More details are emerging in the NDB Bank’s Rs. 13.2 billion fraud revealed over a month ago, with foreign forensic auditors closely scrutinising NDB processes relating to this fraud. The foreign team which includes some local expertise has been here for the past two weeks. Central Bank (CB) officials appearing before the CoPF said that on April 1, which was a Poya day, NDB alerted the CB governor to this fraud, initially estimated at Rs. 380 million. more..

May 20 (Island) Private taxi operators at BIA are calling for urgent rental relief, stating that they are struggling to sustain operations after paying nearly Rs. 19 million in monthly rental fees amid a sharp decline in tourist arrivals during the off-season. The operators said tourist arrivals have dropped by nearly 80%, severely affecting their income and making it difficult to continue meeting high operational costs. “Only a small number of tourists are now arriving at the airport, more..

May 20 (ST) In the wake of the US$ 2.5 million cyber heist, the Ministry of Finance has dismantled decades of bureaucratic leniency, replacing it with an ironclad regime of personal and criminal accountability, and announcing new regulations covering departments under its purview. Under newly-amended Treasury financial regulations, any officer who manually overrides an automated cyber security domain flag or transfers funds to an unverified account will face direct civil liability. more..

May 20 (ST) Public Security Ministry has recommended the award of a lucrative tender to Thales DIS Finland Oy/Just in Time (JIT) that will see the French-SL joint venture personalise 3.15 million e-passports—that is, enter biometric and biodata into the books—over the next few years. But the proposed contract has one concerning feature that subject experts warn is a glaring vendor lock-in trap. It makes the Dept of Immigration more..

May 20 (FT) Fraud in Sri Lanka’s banking and finance sector has become a growing concern over the past three decades, with major incidents reported from the 1990s to the present, including large-scale financial scams, insider fraud, money laundering, document forgery, loan irregularities, and illegal pyramid schemes. Several of these cases have resulted in significant financial losses and weakened public confidence in banks and financial institutions. The recurrence of such incidents more..

May 20 (Island) The police did precious little to prevent the various events, held in the North and the East on Monday, to commemorate the LTTE members killed during Eelam War IV. Some of the youth who attended those commemorations were seen blatantly flouting traffic laws by riding motorcycles without wearing helmets in an unruly manner. The police looked the other way. But they went all out to prevent a group led by NFF Leader and former minister Wimal Weerawansa more..

May 20 (Island) Open any business newspaper in Sri Lanka on any given weekend and the headlines read like a celebration. Bank A’s assets have crossed Rs. 3 trillion. Bank B has reached the Rs. 2 trillion asset milestone. Bank C has posted a profit after tax of Rs. 6 billion in the first quarter of 2026 alone. Bank E has reported a profit before tax of Rs. 2 billion. Bank E has cleared Rs. 1.5 billion in pre-tax profit. Bank F revealed a profit after tax of Rs. 4 billion. more..

May 20 (GV) Connotations of religion are different from those of religions – its plural noun. This may sound intriguing given the inviolable place religion occupies in society as our utmost moral guide. Let’s consider the two words religion and religions. While religion connotes peace, spirituality, love, kindness, generosity, mercy and all the sentiments that are conducive for harmonious living, connotations of religions are quite the opposite, not unsurprisingly. They are associated with more..

May 20 (SO) SL’s prisons are again facing intense public scrutiny following a series of controversial inmate deaths, alleged assaults by prison officers, shootings within prison premises, and reports of underworld-linked birthday celebrations taking place behind bars. Human rights activists, lawyers and families of victims are now raising serious concerns over whether violence and abuse have become normalised within the more..

May 20 (ST) War always reminds me of Vietnam because some of us had seen the geopolitical and media clashes from the early days and the last—from divided Berlin to Hawaii—and were hoping to recall experiences from those days as Third World journalists who had to be taught the craft by Western pundits. I intended to recall those days on the 50th anniversary of the end of the war on April 30, 2025. But fortuitous and sad circumstances prevented me from doing so. Hence, I was planning to do so more..

May 20 (DN) SL Air Force (SLAF) has served the motherland with dedication for over seven decades. Today we discover one of the formidable flying formations, the No.07 Helicopter Squadron. The No.07 Helicopter Squadron, known as the Cradle of Helicopter Pilots, located at SLAF Base Hingurakgoda has an epic history from 1994, rendering many years of distinguished service to the nation. Globally the introduction of helicopters or rotary wing aircraft has changed the. more..

May 20 (SO) In the sun-drenched expanse of Gandhi Park in Batticaloa, where the salt air of the lagoon meets the bustling town still haunted by its violent history, a small but resolute group of men and women gather. They are not here for a fleeting protest or a loud political rally but for the Justice Walk, a quiet act of defiance that has become a staple of the local landscape. As SL grapples with the shifting tides of its political leadership, more..

May 20 (DM) There are moments in the life of a nation when ordinary men and women are called upon to bear extraordinary burdens. In times of uncertainty, conflict, and sacrifice, it is the members of the armed forces who stand between peace and chaos, stability and disorder, freedom and fear. Among them are those who gave everything they had in their youth, their dreams, their futures, and ultimately their lives in the service of the nation. Today, the Association of Retired Flag Rank more..

May 20 (DM) Seventeen years ago, on May 19th, a protracted civil war in Sri Lanka came to its bloody conclusion. During its twenty-five long years of existence, it was called a liberation struggle by some – though it deployed the world’s largest contingent of suicide bombers at the time – and a nihilistic terrorist campaign by others, and brought Sri Lanka to its knees at times. On May 19th, the SL military achieved a feat no other army had achieved in the fight against terrorism. more..

May 19 (AD) Police have requested public assistance to locate and arrest a suspect linked to the double murder of a lawyer and his wife who were shot dead in a parking area of a supermarket in Akuregoda. The incident occurred on February 16, when unidentified gunmen opened fire inside the supermarket parking area, killing the couple on the spot. Police said the suspect being sought is believed to have served as the driver of the vehicle used by the gunmen to flee the scene. more..

May 19 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval to formulate a National Space Policy for SL. Minister Vijitha Herath said it has been recognised that space technology and its applications have become essential tools for national development, with a significant impact on sectors such as disaster management, communication, security, environmental monitoring, and economic forecasting. In light of the growing global importance of space technology, more..

May 19 (NW) Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando told Parliament today that the recent depreciation pressure on the SL Rupee was largely driven by global uncertainty, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, rising oil prices and increased demand for the US Dollar. Responding to concerns raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on the continued weakening of the Rupee, Anil Jayantha said more..

May 19 (AM) UNP’s Ashu Marasinghe has withdrawn his Rs. 1.5 billion defamation case against Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya activist Hirunika Premachandra after she apologised and expressed regret before court over allegations made against him in 2022. The case was filed by Marasinghe against Premachandra and his former wife Adarsha Karandana over statements linking him to an alleged act of animal sexual abuse. The controversy emerged in Dec 2022 more..

May 19 (NW) A collective statement has called for a fair and independent investigation into the serious abuse allegations against Anuradhapura Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, stressing that the upcoming hearing on May 22 is not merely about one individual but a test of whether SL’s law applies equally to the powerful and the powerless. Statement highlights that according to information shared by the girl, she is alleged to have faced abuse from a very young age, more..

May 19 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the aspirations of war heroes who fought to liberate the country included the creation of a developed and just nation, and that the govt is committed to fulfilling that vision. Prez made the remarks while addressing the 17th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony held in Battaramulla today. Prez said the armed forces made a significant contribution in bringing more..

May 19 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to procure 15,000 metric tonnes of urea fertilizer through Agrarian Service Committees under the Department of Agrarian Development for the 2026 Yala cultivation season. Although initial estimates indicated that 550,000 hectares of paddy land would be cultivated during the season, current projections suggest the cultivated extent is expected to be between 450,000 and 500,000 hectares. Based on this, more..

May 19 (NW) President’s Counsel and attorney Upul Kumarapperuma says a recent court ruling linked to a former minister Sanath Nishantha’s brother marks an important moment in reinforcing the rule of law, while attorney Akalanka Ukwatta says unlawful political interference that was once common is no longer taking place. Addressing a media briefing held at the JVP hq on Monday, the two lawyers referred to a ruling delivered by the Chilaw High Court over an incident dating back to 2008. more..

May 19 (NF) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka has expressed concern over attempts by certain groups to create instability in the country once again. The former Commander of the SL Army stated that politicians have repeatedly misled the public while portraying themselves as saviors of the nation. He noted that, at various times, people had fallen victim to such narratives. Fonseka specifically referred to individuals such as Wimal Weerawansa and others who shared similar political platforms, more..

May 19 (MSN) On the occasion of Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday expressed solidarity with the global Tamil diaspora, pledging his administration's continued support for their rights. In a social media post on 'X', the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief wrote: "Let us hold the memories of Mullivaikkal in our hearts. We will always stand by the rights of our Tamil kindred living across the seas." LTT had run a military more..

May 19 (EN) SL has imposed US$27 million so far from the first 15 of the 19 coal shipments under term contract due to wrong specifications, Deputy Energy Minister Arkam Ilyas said. Out of the 19 coal shipments, the island nation has received 17 with a delayed schedule after test results proved Indian firm Trident Chemphar Ltd imported coal with wrong specifications with lower Gross Calorific Value (GCV). “We have imposed a US$ 27 million more..

May 19 (NW) Sri Lanka has received special recognition from the World Health Organization for maintaining the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis as a public health concern, in line with international standards and global advisory recommendations. The recognition was awarded in appreciation of SL’s continued progress in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis to levels where they are no longer considered a major public health issue. more..

May 19 (AD) A complaint has been filed with the Human Rights Commission of SL over an incident in which a group was allegedly prevented from paying floral tributes at the National War Heroes’ Monument near Parliament. The complaint was submitted today by Dr. Supun Abeysinghe, a Central Committee member of the NFF, along with a group of party representatives. The matter relates to an incident that occurred yesterday at the National War Heroes’ Monument, when a group led by more..

May 19 (AD) Officials of the SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) informed the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Women and Child Affairs that a decision has been taken to provide a monthly allowance of Rs. 10,000 for children aged between 2 and 13 years of parents employed overseas, if those children are enrolled in daycare centres. The officials made these remarks during the Committee meeting chaired by more..

May 19 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited the Ranaviru Sevana Rehabilitation Centre in Ragama this morning and inquired into the wellbeing of military personnel receiving residential treatment there. During the visit, President engaged in cordial discussions with the soldiers and commended the sacrifices made by all of them in safeguarding the unity of the motherland. Thereafter, Prez Dissanayake also held discussions with the medical staff, including doctors serving more..