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‘No secret that I visited Pillayan in prison’: Namal responds to accusations over Easter attacks
‘No secret that I visited Pillayan in prison’: Namal responds to accusations over Easter attacks
The National Organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa, has responded to accusations related to the Easter Sunday attacks’ probe stating that it is no secret that he visited Sivasathurai Chandrakanthan, alias ‘Pillayan’, while the latter was in prison during the 2018/2019 period. MORE..
Sri Lanka steps up surveillance, preparedness after WHO declares Ebola health emergency
Sri Lanka steps up surveillance, preparedness after WHO declares Ebola health emergency
The Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka says it has decided to implement a five-point preparedness plan in line with recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) following its declaration of the Ebola virus outbreak in DR Congo as a public health emergency. MORE..
Meaningful transformation requires patience, negotiation, and sustained public engagement: PM
Meaningful transformation requires patience, negotiation, and sustained public engagement: PM
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has attended the 2026 OSGA Annual Lecture held at the University of Oxford, where she delivered a lecture titled “The Politics of Development: Sri Lanka and Beyond.” MORE..
Chinese FM Wang Yi elaborates on outcomes from Trump’s China visit
Chinese FM Wang Yi elaborates on outcomes from Trump’s China visit
Following the May 13-15 state visit to China by US President Donald J. Trump, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, gave a detailed briefing on the outcomes and on what China considers...MORE..
Iran threatens war ‘beyond the region’ if US attacks
Iran threatens war ‘beyond the region’ if US attacks
Iran threatened on Wednesday to spread war beyond the Middle East if the United States attacks again, after President Donald Trump said he had come within an hour of restarting the military campaign. MORE..
President urges reduced consumption of fuel and imported goods amidst soaring US dollar
President urges reduced consumption of fuel and imported goods amidst soaring US dollar
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that Sri Lanka is currently facing a severe crisis concerning the US Dollar, noting that the strengthening of the US Dollar against other foreign currencies has directly affected the value of the Sri Lankan Rupee. MORE..
| May 20, 2026 5:11 pm
Case against ex-SIS chief Suresh Sallay to be recalled on July 01
Case against ex-SIS chief Suresh Sallay to be recalled on July 01
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has ordered that the case pertaining to Suresh Sallay, who is being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), be called again on July 01. MORE..
New Batticaloa Public Library vested in the public
New Batticaloa Public Library vested in the public
The new Public Library Building of the Batticaloa Municipal Council was ceremonially vested in the public this morning (20) in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with former Member of Parliament M.A. Sumanthiran officially declaring the building open. MORE..
Sri Lanka launches digital seed production, certification and traceability system
Sri Lanka launches digital seed production, certification and traceability system
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and the Department of Agriculture, with the technical support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), launched the CROPIX Seed Production, Certification & Traceability System...MORE..
Four including alleged fake sureties in Kapila Chandrasena case granted bail
Four including alleged fake sureties in Kapila Chandrasena case granted bail
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release on bail of two suspects accused of acting as fraudulent sureties to secure bail for the late Kapila Chandrasena, who later died under suspicious circumstances, along with two others alleged to have aided and abetted the said offence. MORE..
JAAF says rupee depreciation driven by global pressures, not economic decline
JAAF says rupee depreciation driven by global pressures, not economic decline
The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said the recent depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee must be viewed in the context of wider global pressures, including the conflict in the Middle East, rising global fuel prices and increasing shipping costs. MORE..
Former SIS Chief Suresh Sallay produced before court
Former SIS Chief Suresh Sallay produced before court
Former Director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Suresh Sallay, who is currently being detained by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), has been produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. MORE..
Trump approval drops to 35% as Republican support softens, Reuters poll finds
Trump approval drops to 35% as Republican support softens, Reuters poll finds
Donald Trump’s presidential approval rating fell to nearly its lowest level since he returned to the White House, hit by a drop in support among Republicans, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. MORE..
Last two bodies of Italian divers killed in scuba diving accident recovered, Maldives says
Last two bodies of Italian divers killed in scuba diving accident recovered, Maldives says
The last two bodies of Italian divers killed in a scuba diving accident in the Maldives have been recovered, the media office of the Maldives president said on Wednesday, completing recovery efforts after the island nation’s deadliest diving tragedy. MORE..
45–60 children born annually with Thalassemia, Health Ministry reveals
45–60 children born annually with Thalassemia, Health Ministry reveals
Sri Lanka has reported approximately 2,500 thalassemia patients, while between 45 and 60 children are born annually with major thalassemia, health officials revealed. MORE..
Sugar, dhal and rice prices likely to increase, importers warn
Sugar, dhal and rice prices likely to increase, importers warn
The Essential Food Importers’ Association has warned that the prices of several imported goods are likely to increase in the coming weeks due to the continuous depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee and the rising value of the US dollar. MORE..
5.9-magnitude earthquake hits southwestern Japan
5.9-magnitude earthquake hits southwestern Japan
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 rattled the southwestern island region of Amami in Kagoshima Prefecture on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued, the weather agency said, News.Az reports, citing Kyodo. MORE..
Speaker orders removal of MP Chamara Sampath from Parliament Chamber
Speaker orders removal of MP Chamara Sampath from Parliament Chamber
The Speaker of House, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has ordered Member of Parliament Chamara Sampath Dassanayake to be removed from the Parliament Chamber. MORE..
| May 20, 2026 12:08 pm
Imported powdered milk prices increased
Imported powdered milk prices increased
The Milk Powder Importers’ Association has announced an increase in the prices of imported powdered milk, citing prevailing market conditions and exchange rate fluctuations. MORE..
Expressway maintenance cost exceeds Rs. 5 billion, Minister reveals in Parliament
Expressway maintenance cost exceeds Rs. 5 billion, Minister reveals in Parliament
The Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake, stated that the annual maintenance cost for Sri Lanka’s entire expressway network, spanning 312.57 kilometers, amounts to Rs. 5,180.90 million. MORE..
Putin, Xi hail ‘unyielding’ ties in talks after Trump visit
Putin, Xi hail ‘unyielding’ ties in talks after Trump visit
President Xi Jinping hailed China and Russia’s “unyielding” ties in talks with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (May 20), as the pair met to underscore their alliance days after Donald Trump’s visit to the Asian superpower economy. MORE..
US Dollar selling rate climbs above Rs. 342
US Dollar selling rate climbs above Rs. 342
The selling rate of the US dollar has risen above Rs. 342, according to the latest daily exchange rates released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) today (20). MORE..
Wimal Weerawansa says ready to face any legal action over War Heroes Memorial incident
Wimal Weerawansa says ready to face any legal action over War Heroes Memorial incident
Former Member of Parliament Wimal Weerawansa says he is prepared to face any legal proceedings in connection with the recent incident near the National War Heroes’ Memorial. MORE..
UN cuts global growth forecast to 2.5%, blames Middle East crisis
UN cuts global growth forecast to 2.5%, blames Middle East crisis
The United Nations on Tuesday cut its forecast for global economic growth, saying the Middle East crisis had reignited inflationary pressures and heightened uncertainty. MORE..
Police open fire at lorry allegedly transporting cattle illegally in Hungama
Police open fire at lorry allegedly transporting cattle illegally in Hungama
Police have opened fire on a lorry suspected of illegally transporting cattle in Kattakaduwa, Hungama, resulting in the arrest of four suspects, authorities said. MORE..