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Govt. expects US$700 million IMF tranche on May 27 — Deputy Minister
Govt. expects US$700 million IMF tranche on May 27 — Deputy Minister
The government is hopeful of receiving US$700 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on May 27, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, (Prof.) Anil Jayantha Fernando has stated. MORE..
| May 21, 2026 11:54 am
Luxury cruise ship makes maiden call at Colombo Port carrying over 2,300 tourists
Luxury cruise ship makes maiden call at Colombo Port carrying over 2,300 tourists
A luxury passenger cruise ship named ‘‘Mein Schiff 6’’, carrying 2,380 tourists, has arrived at the Colombo Port and docked at the East Container Terminal Stage (ECT). MORE..
PM Harini hold talks British Foreign Secretary
PM Harini hold talks British Foreign Secretary
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has held a bilateral meeting with Yvette Cooper MP, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom. MORE..
Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay expands his Cabinet
Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay expands his Cabinet
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expanded his Cabinet today with the induction of 23 MLAs in the Council of Ministers. 21 MLAs from Vijay’s TVK party and 2 from the ally Congress took oath as ministers in the new government. MORE..
US Dollar selling rate surpasses Rs. 350
US Dollar selling rate surpasses Rs. 350
The Sri Lankan Rupee continues to weaken against the US Dollar amidst multiple factors including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. MORE..
Trump says he will speak to Taiwan’s president in break from protocol
Trump says he will speak to Taiwan’s president in break from protocol
US President Donald Trump says he will talk to Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te about a possible arms sale, in what would be a sharp departure from diplomatic tradition. MORE..
India mulls all options, including rate hike, as rupee slumps
India mulls all options, including rate hike, as rupee slumps
The Reserve Bank of India is considering all of its available options to stabilise the rupee, including an interest rate hike, more currency swaps and raising dollars from investors overseas, according to people familiar with the matter. MORE..
42 antique paintings missing from National Art Gallery — Minister
42 antique paintings missing from National Art Gallery — Minister
A total of 42 antique paintings from the National Art Gallery have been reported missing, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi told Parliament. MORE..
| May 21, 2026 10:14 am
UK eases sanctions on Russian jet fuel and diesel imports
UK eases sanctions on Russian jet fuel and diesel imports
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended Wednesday (May 20) a contentious move to ease sanctions on imports of Russian jet fuel and diesel as the Middle East war causes prices to spiral. MORE..
Police freeze assets of couple over alleged drug trafficking via instant money transfers
Police freeze assets of couple over alleged drug trafficking via instant money transfers
Police have frozen assets belonging to a married couple accused of trafficking narcotics through instant money transfer systems. MORE..
Ebola vaccine could take nine months as death toll rises further, WHO warns
Ebola vaccine could take nine months as death toll rises further, WHO warns
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it could take up to nine months before a vaccine against this particular species of Ebola is ready. MORE..
Two killed in separate incidents in Seeduwa and Grandpass
Two killed in separate incidents in Seeduwa and Grandpass
Police have launched investigations into two separate murder incidents reported in Seeduwa and Grandpass, in which two individuals have died. MORE..
Sri Lankan Rupee slumps as Asia’s worst-performing currency this month
Sri Lankan Rupee slumps as Asia’s worst-performing currency this month
The Sri Lankan rupee has been identified as the worst-performing currency in Asia this month, according to a report published by a leading global business news platform. MORE..
Trump says willing to wait for a few days to get ‘right answer’ on Iran peace deal
Trump says willing to wait for a few days to get ‘right answer’ on Iran peace deal
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (May 20) said the United States was ready to proceed with further attacks on Tehran if Iran did not agree to a peace deal, but suggested Washington could wait a few days to “get the right answers”. MORE..
128 wild elephant deaths reported so far this year
128 wild elephant deaths reported so far this year
A total of 128 wild elephant deaths have been reported so far this year, according to the Department of Wildlife Conservation. MORE..
RDA engineers launch indefinite trade union action over unmet demands
RDA engineers launch indefinite trade union action over unmet demands
The Engineers’ Association of the Road Development Authority (RDA) has announced that it has launched an indefinite trade union action from today (21), citing two key demands including a salary anomaly issue. MORE..
Govt. to give special attention to rural roads, drinking water supply and waste management in next budget
Govt. to give special attention to rural roads, drinking water supply and waste management in next budget
Special attention will be given in the forthcoming Budget towards the development of rural roads, the provision of drinking water and resolving waste management issues, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated. MORE..
South-west monsoon brings heavy rain and strong winds across Sri Lanka
South-west monsoon brings heavy rain and strong winds across Sri Lanka
The South-West monsoon is gradually establishing over the island, bringing showers and strong winds to several parts of the country, according to the Department of Meteorology. MORE..
Sri Lanka to elevate its engagement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Sri Lanka to elevate its engagement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath held productive discussions with the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Nurlan Yermekbayev at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism. MORE..
US charges Cuba’s Raúl Castro with murder over 1996 downing of two planes
US charges Cuba’s Raúl Castro with murder over 1996 downing of two planes
The US has charged former Cuban leader Raúl Castro with conspiracy to kill US nationals and other crimes over the 1996 downing of two planes between Cuba and Florida. MORE..
‘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..