May 12 (TM) Just as Sri Lankans were collectively drawing a sigh of relief with signs that a ceasefire would come into effect between our Indian ocean neighbours; India and Pakistan, two events at home shook Lankans back to the bitter realities we face as a nation. On Friday, an Air Force helicopter crashed into Maduru Oya reservoir claiming the lives of 6 armed forces personnel. Yesterday, a calm long weekend Sunday ahead of Vesak week was shattered with news of a SLTB bus veering off more..

May 12 (Island) Of all women down the ages, including present times, I most admire Yashodara of 2,600 years ago. I revere her too and strongly empathize with her. If the latter part of my statement implies hubris in me or in plain language makes me a presumptions upstart, none of those accusations are justified. She was a human being and so I can equalize myself to the extent of stating I empathize with her. Yashodara, in the Buddhist stories we absorbed and sermons we listened to, more..

May 12 (TM) In a decision already drawing sharp criticism, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has confirmed it will grant Waivers of Registration (WORs) for unregistered pharmaceutical products to be imported under Govt’s proposed Govt-to-Govt (G2G) procurement agreements. Announcement has sparked fresh controversy within the pharmaceutical industry, rekindling concerns over regulatory bypasses more..

May 12 (CT) In my last column on the recent history of Ceylon, specifically since the beginning of the twentieth century up to now, I related the storied flow of events which could be eventually the product of the then prevalent sociopolitical circumstances, both objective and subjective. However, that particular historical context was partly a creation of the then leaders of our national life. The leading Tamils were the two Ponnambalam brothers, Ramanathan and Arunachalam, followed by GG Ponnambalam, more..

May 12 (CT) Vesak or Vaishakha, also known as Buddha Poornima, is the most important and sacred religious celebration in the Theravāda Buddhist world. Mahāyāna Buddhists too usually celebrate the Buddha’s birthday on the same day as Theravāda Vesak. For Theravādins, Vesak marks the birth of Prince Siddhartha, the enlightenment of ascetic Siddhartha, and the Parinibbāna of the Buddha. This day is celebrated with decorations, offerings, rituals, and spiritual practices across the globe. more..

May 12 (DN) The full moon day in May holds profound significance in Buddhism. It commemorates three pivotal events in the life of Prince Siddhartha Gautama: his birth, enlightenment, and passing, all of which occurred on the same day. Buddhism is a deeply spiritual tradition grounded in the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, born in 653 B.C. in Lumbini, Nepal. Throughout its 2,600-year history, Buddhism has transformed into more..

May 12 (DM) Each year, Vesak arrives with its familiar rhythm—lanterns lighting up homes and temples, children dressed in white visiting Dansal stalls, families tuning into televised sermons. It is a cherished moment of cultural unity, a rare occasion when the island’s often fractured psyche seems to settle into quiet reverence. But beneath the surface, there is an uncomfortable question we seem determined not to ask: Have we reduced the Buddha to an icon, while forgetting his message? more..

May 12 (DM) One of the most attention-grabbing elements of Trump’s presidency has been his aggressive stance on trade, particularly the so-called Tariff War — a mantra repeated loudly from the day of his inauguration. The global response was immediate and intense: stock markets wobbled, world leaders panicked, and business communities from CEOs to small entrepreneurs braced for impact. Trump made it clear from the outset: countries with a positive trade balance more..

May 11 (ST) LG elections delivered a brutal reckoning for the NPP–JVP govt, as the public’s simmering frustration boiled over into the ballot box. Six months on, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s administration has suffered a staggering drop in support—one that can no longer be dismissed as midterm jitters. With just 4,503,930, or 43%, of the votes cast at the local council elections, the number speaks for itself: more..

May 11 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has instructed the Police to carry out a formal and swift investigation into the incident involving the schoolgirl who took her own life in Kotahena recently, allegedly after being sexually assaulted by a school teacher. Instructions were given during a meeting held today (10) at the Office of the Prime Minister, chaired by PM Amarasuriya. The parents of the child and the police teams investigating the incident also attended the meeting. more..

May 11 (ST) Govt would have to revise electricity tariffs in a way that covers a Rs 25 billion loss before obtaining clearance from the IMF for the implementation of the new tariffs, a senior Treasury official said. He said the next review of the IMF is due in July, but the proposals should be sent by next month. The staff-level agreement with the IMF is contingent on two conditions, and one of them is the implementation of prior actions relating to restoring electricity cost-recovery pricing and more..

May 11 (TM) CEB is unlikely to receive an immediate 10% increase in electricity tariffs in June, despite Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent announcement, as Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) clarified that any revision required a formal tariff submission from the CEB. “We cannot act without a formal submission,” PUCSL Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe said, referring to CEB’s failure to submit a more..

May 11 (SO) State Vesak Festival commenced yesterday in Nuwara Eliya. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake attended several events in this connection in Nuwara Eliya yesterday. A special commemorative stamp was also issued. This marked the beginning of Vesak Week, which will continue till May 16. Religious, cultural, and social programs will take place across SL during the Vesak Week. All wine stores, nightclubs, slaughterhouses, meat stalls in supermarkets, more..

May 11 (CT) National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) said that by midnight on Thursday (8), the total number of reported dengue cases in the country had risen to a startling 19,039. The highest number of cases was recorded in April (5,175) and January (4,936), while the first two weeks of May alone accounted for 1,493 cases. The only small comfort is that there have been just seven dengue-related deaths reported so far. Western Province accounted for 8,676 cases —approx. 45.5% of the total. more..

May 11 (DM) Police have launched an investigation to arrest Hayeshika Fernando, also known as Teacher Amma, a well-known tutor who conducts tuition classes for Grade 5 students, for allegedly assaulting a young man. Fernando is accused of kicking the victim in the testicles, leading to his admission to the Negombo Hospital for treatment. Following the incident, Fernando has fled the area. Her husband and her manager were arrested by the Katana Police in connection with the case. more..

May 11 (SO) Sri Lanka will meet India in the Women’s Tri-Nation ODI Series final at the R. Premadasa Int'l Cricket Stadium in Colombo today, commencing at 10 a.m. Entry to the final is free for the public with the gates opened from 9 a.m. SL will hope star batter Harshitha Samarawickrama continues to fire against India in key clashes as her 61-ball 53 played a pivotal role in the hosts’ win in a league match. Samarawickrama will also draw confidence from her match-winning knock more..

May 11 (TM) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has raised the alarm over a staggering Rs. 52 per unit discrepancy in the projected cost of electricity generation from the second 300 MW Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Combined Cycle Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya. In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry of Energy on 3 April, the commission has accused the ministry of presenting misleading figures to more..

May 11 (ST) The growing threat of the diversion of transshipment business to India has come closer to becoming a reality as the Vizhinjam Port in Kerala is set to ensure vessels reroute with no stops in Colombo. SL will be a feeder port as mother vessels will in time to come call in India, Global Shippers’ Forum Chairman Sean Van Dort said. The Colombo Port’s main business comes from transshipment operations to India and Bangladesh. He noted that SL needs to improve on its efficiency levels more..

May 11 (BBC) India and Pakistan have accused each other of violations hours after the two nations said they had agreed to a ceasefire following days of cross-border military strikes. After sounds of explosions were heard in Indian-administered Kashmir, India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said there had been repeated violations of the understanding we arrived at. A short while later, Pakistan's foreign ministry said it remained "committed to faithful implementation of a more..

May 11 (Island) In view of the upcoming Vesak festival, all liquor outlets, bars, taverns, meat stalls, butcheries, horse race betting centres, casinos, and clubs will be closed for three days from tomorrow (May 12), Ministry of Public Administration announced. The closures, effective on May 12, 13, and 14, are part of the official Vesak Week (May 10–16), declared by Cabinet decision. A circular has been issued to relevant authorities, confirming the nationwide observance, Secretary to more..

May 11 (EN) Dialog Finance, a unit of Dialog Axiata said it had been hit by external financial fraud for which 29.9 million rupees had been provided. “The Company has identified a case of external financial fraud in June 2024 and steps were taken to immediately recover a portion of funds,” Dialog Finance said. “The Company has initiated legal action as per the advice of external legal counsel and currently working with law enforcement authorities to recover the remaining funds. more..

May 11 (TM) Both the US and the SL Govt are motivated to reach an agreement within 90 days with respect to the 44% reciprocal tariffs imposed on SL, according to the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe revealed that talks were ongoing between the Govt and the US delegation aimed at reaching an amicable settlement on the perceived more..

May 11 (EN) Chicken and egg prices have eased amid a recovery in farming, while a top feedmiller said it reduced feed prices taking a cut in margins and it was helped by a strong rupee which reduced cost of imported feed. Per capita chicken availability increased from 10.6 kilograms in 2023 to 11.3 kilograms in 2024, but the resulting market surplus led to intensified competition, price reductions and compressed profit margins, Ceylon Gain Elevators, a feed milling and poultry group said. more..

May 11 (PMD) State Vesak Festival for the Buddhist Year 2569 commenced today (10) at the Int'l Buddhist Centre Temple in Nuwara Eliya, under the patronage of the Most Venerable Maha Nayaka Theros of the Three Nikayas and with the participation of Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake. This year’s State Vesak Festival is held under the theme Bhajetha Miththe Kalyane–Bhajetha Purisuththame (Associate with noble friends of virtue) and will be conducted from May 10 to 16, more..

May 11 (ST) Maxwell de Silva, former Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOC), has been issued a five-year ban from any role within the organisation. This significant disciplinary measure follows a thorough ethics investigation that found de Silva violating multiple constitutional provisions of the Olympic body.The ruling, delivered through an official letter signed by NOCSL Prez Suresh Subramaniam, more..

May 11 (ST) A concerned group of stakeholders from the local rugby fraternity has approached the country’s Auditor General’s Dept with serious and alarming charges that may further tarnish the already tainted image of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR). Going through a serious administrative crisis since May of 2024, when the then Minister of Sport, Harin Fernando, dissolved SLR and appointed Director General of Sports (DG) of Dept of Sports Development as the Competent Authority, more..

May 11 (ST) Embarking on their maiden international tour, New Zealand Under-85kg team ran riot against SL to win the second Test of the two-game series by 32-6 under scorching conditions at the Racecourse ground in Colombo last evening. The Tuskers had their moments, a few electrifying breakthroughs that went to waste, but they surely gained the much-needed exposure and experience ahead of the upcoming Asian Men’s C'ship where they will have to face Hong Kong, South Korea & UAE. more..

May 11 (Island) When Sanath Jayasuriya walked into his first media briefing as Head Coach, he didn’t waste time playing it safe. He went straight to the point — fielding was going to be a game-changer. And true to his word, what the team has pulled off over the last 12 months is nothing short of a stunning comeback. Here was a side that had just been bundled out of the ICC Cricket World Cup with a wooden spoon finish — ninth place — and failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy. more..

May 11 (FT) April is an important, happy, festive, and holy month for Sri Lankans. Bak Full Moon Poya Day, falling in April, is significant for Buddhists in SL as it commemorates the Buddha’s second visit to the island. Tamil and Sinhala New Year, and Easter Sunday fall in April. Is April becoming an unlucky month for Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka was rocked by a series of deadly blasts in April 2019. Sri Lanka was named the 16th highest-risk country for contracting the COVID-19 virus in April 2020. more..

May 11 (CT) After 15 long years, one of SL’s most significant environmental legal battles has finally come to a close. The Supreme Court’s ruling on Wilpattu National Park case isn’t just about closing roads. It represents a watershed moment in environmental litigation in the country. It is a compelling testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of independent institutions, & capacity of the legal system more..

May 11 (Island) Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) last week announced the appointment of Mr. Manjula Wijesundara as its new Chairman for the year 2025/26. A COYLE news release described him as a respected entrepreneur and passionate advocate for business-led development and said he steps into leadership with a bold theme that reflects the needs of the hour—A Year of International Growth. With the global economy undergoing profound shifts, the appointment marks more..

May 11 (Island) The missionary life is no highway paved with comforts. It is a journey of grit and grace, often walked amid many difficulties and hardships. You leave behind your homeland, your language, your family and begin afresh in lands where your name means nothing and your faith is everything. You must learn to speak a new language, eat what the people eat, walk where they walk and suffer as they suffer. It’s not a life for the fainthearted, but for those made of sterner stuff and more..