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Avissawella records highest rainfall as heavy showers affect island-wide river basins

The highest rainfall recorded during the 24-hour period ending at 5.00 a.m. today (15) was observed in the Avissawella area, amid adverse weather conditions affecting the island. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 9:28 am

Schools in Hatton Education Zone closed today due to bad weather

Due to the prevailing heavy rainfall across Sri Lanka, a special holiday has been declared today (15) for all schools within the Hatton Education Zone. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 8:46 am

Red warning issued for heavy rains; system expected to recede within 36 hours

A red warning for heavy rainfall in several areas of the country has been issued by the Department of Meteorology. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 10:34 am

Trump leaves China after talks dominated by trade, oil and Taiwan

U.S. President Donald Trump departed Beijing Friday after two days of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that ran the gamut from Iran and Taiwan to trade, oil and Boeing. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 12:30 pm

India hikes petrol, diesel prices more than 3%, retailers say

India has raised petrol and diesel prices for the first time in four years by 3 rupees ($0.03) per litre, or more than 3%, according to retailers in Delhi on Friday, to recoup some of the losses incurred due to higher global crude oil prices. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 10:59 am

Multiple reservoirs across Sri Lanka spill amid ongoing heavy rainfall

The Department of Irrigation reports that 21 major reservoirs and more than 19 medium-scale reservoirs under its management are currently spilling. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 9:40 am

CAA takes legal action against traders overcharging for Samba rice

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) states that legal action has been initiated against a group of traders in the Marawila area for selling Samba rice above the government-mandated Maximum Retail Price (MRP). MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 11:33 am

Very heavy showers above 150 mm likely in some areas today

According to the Department of Meteorology, the low-pressure area located northeast of Sri Lanka persists. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 8:44 am

Provincial Council elections will be held within this year - Minister

The Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeyasena, has stated that the Provincial Council elections will definitely be held within this year. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 12:21 pm

US Justice Dept close to dropping charges against India’s Gautam Adani, sources say

The U.S. Justice Department is close to dropping criminal fraud charges against Gautam Adani, an Indian billionaire who has promised to invest $10 billion in the U.S. economy, according to two sources familiar with the matter. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 5:45 am

Death toll from adverse weather in Sri Lanka rises to two

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) states that a total of two deaths have been reported as a result of the disaster situation affecting several districts across the island. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 8:45 am

Sanath Nishantha’s brother sentenced to prison

The former Chairman of the Arachchikattuwa Pradeshiya Sabha, Jagath Samantha, has been sentenced to five and a half years of imprisonment after being found guilty of assaulting the Divisional Secretary of Arachchikattuwa. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 12:45 pm

Trump says China wants to buy oil from US

U.S. President Donald Trump said China wants to buy ⁠oil from the United States. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 10:27 am

88 houses partially damaged across seven districts due to bad weather - DMC

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reports that 88 houses across the island have sustained partial damage due to prevailing adverse weather conditions in Sri Lanka. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 10:31 am

Scientists dig up Southeast Asia’s largest dinosaur in Thailand

Along a meandering river in a warm and arid region that is now Thailand roughly 113 million years ago, a plant-eating behemoth almost 90 feet (27 meters) long browsed on the treetops without much fear of predators due to its sheer size. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 11:19 am

74 Vietnamese nationals further remanded over alleged online scams

The Fort Magistrate’s Court has ordered that 74 Vietnamese nationals arrested and remanded on suspicion of involvement in online financial scams be further remanded until May 21. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 12:03 pm

Trump and Xi set for second day of talks after Taiwan warning

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet on Friday to wrap up a two-day state visit that has featured pomp and business deals but also a stark warning from Xi that mishandling the Taiwan issue could push U.S.-China relations to “a very dangerous ‌place.” MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 5:39 am

NBRO extends landslide warnings amid heavy rainfall across Sri Lanka

Taking into account the prevailing heavy rainfall across Sri Lanka, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has extended the landslide early warnings issued last night (14). MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 11:56 am

Minor flood warning issued for Kuda Ganga sub-basin of Kalu River

The Department of Irrigation has issued a minor flood warning for the next 48 hours regarding the Kuda Ganga sub-basin of the Kalu River. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 15, 2026 9:07 am

Latvian PM resigns after row over stray Ukrainian drones

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has resigned following a political crisis over Russia-bound Ukrainian drones straying into Latvian territory. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 4:56 pm

Sri Lanka, Belarus sign Air Services Agreement and MoUs to strengthen long-term bilateral cooperation

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, who is currently on an official visit to the Republic of Belarus, held bilateral discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov, and senior Belarusian officials in Minsk. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 1:50 pm

Low pressure area expected to move away from Sri Lanka within 48 hours

The low pressure area located northeast of the Sri Lanka is expected to move away from Sri Lanka during the next 48 hours according to the latest weather analysis by the Department of Meteorology. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 2:58 pm

72-hour detention order issued on ‘Gampaha Ousmand’

Police have obtained a 72-hour detention order for Ousmand Gunasekara, alias “Gampaha Ousmand”, who was arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the killing of organised criminal figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa, according to the Police Spokesman. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 11:14 am

Yoshitha Rajapaksa pleads not guilty to money laundering charges

The Colombo High Court today (14) rejected a preliminary objection raised by the defence in a case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, thereby allowing the trial to proceed. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 12:25 pm

UK maritime authority flags diversion of ship near Hormuz Strait ‘by unauthorised personnel’ to Iranian waters

A ship off the UAE coast near the Strait of Hormuz has been taken by unknown people and is now headed towards Iranian territorial waters, a UK maritime agency said on Thursday. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 2:02 pm

China, US should be ‘partners, not rivals,’ Xi tells Trump in Beijing

China’s President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Donald Trump Thursday that Washington and Beijing should be "partners, not rivals" as the two leaders met in the Chinese capital. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 11:03 am

Kotmale–Gampola road closed amid renewed landslide fears

The Kotmale–Gampola B431 main road has been temporarily closed from this morning (14) due to heavy rainfall affecting the Kotmale area, police said. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 4:02 pm

National Police Commission term ends tomorrow

The term of office of the National Police Commission is scheduled to end tomorrow (15), with the commission’s final meeting scheduled to take place today (14). MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 2:07 pm

Court fines two hotels Rs. 1 million for selling bottled water above maximum retail price

Owners of two tourist hotels in Matara have been convicted for selling bottled drinking water above the regulated maximum retail price, with the Matara Magistrate’s Court imposing a total fine of Rs. 1 million. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 4:50 pm

China-US relations the most important in the world: President Xi

China-US relations are the most important bilateral relations in the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping has stated. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 4:17 pm

Higher Europe air fares ‘inevitable’, says industry head

Higher ticket prices for air travellers in Europe are “inevitable” because of the high cost of jet fuel, according to the head of the International Air Transport Association. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 8:34 am

Myanmar proposes death sentence for cyberscam offences

Myanmar published a parliamentary bill on Thursday (May 14) proposing the death sentence for those who detain or violently coerce victims into working in online scam centres. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 3:18 pm

AI researchers achieve landmark breakthrough in Sinhala AI with publication in prestigious IEEE Access journal

While global tech giants spend billions training artificial intelligence that still struggles in Sinhala, a Sri Lankan research team has quietly built a model that does it properly — using just two GPUs. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 12:35 pm

Heavy rainfall above 100 mm expected due to low-pressure area near Sri Lanka

The low pressure area located northeast of Sri Lanka continues to persist and is expected to move away from the island and gradually weaken during the next 36 hours, the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 6:10 am

IUSF demands Malwana property be handed over for public and university use

The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) today (14) staged a protest demanding that the controversial Malwana property, widely known as an ownerless estate, be handed over for public use, including for universities. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 2:51 pm

Netanyahu says he ‘secretly visited’ UAE during war with Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he “secretly visited” the United Arab Emirates and met its president during the war with Iran. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 7:33 am

Red warning issued for heavy rains in several areas

A red warning for heavy rains in several areas of the country has been issued by the Department of Meteorology. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 10:30 am

Irrigation Dept. warns river water levels may rise again despite temporary decline

The Department of Irrigation says that water levels in several river basins, which had previously risen due to heavy rainfall, are now showing a decline following the reduction in rainfall over the past 24 hours. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 10:10 am

Govt. seeks to create ‘Smart Citizens’ suitable for future world – Minister

The government’s core objective is to produce ‘smart citizens’ who can thrive in the future world, the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Professor Chandana Abayarathne stated. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 3:46 pm

‘Miraculous’: 11 plane crash survivors rescued at sea off Florida

All 11 people aboard a private airplane that crashed at sea off central Florida survived the wreck and were rescued from their lifeboat hours later by a U.S. Air Force Reserve team, U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force officials said on Wednesday. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 6:34 am

Lockdown in Philippine Senate after gunshots fired

The Philippine Senate was locked down with military personnel seen entering the building where a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) had sought refuge. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 7:12 am

Landslide warnings issued to several areas in 11 districts

Level 2 landslide warnings have been issued to several areas of three districts owing to the prevailing heavy rainfall conditions across the country. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 2:40 pm

Puttalam records highest rainfall of over 250 mm within 24 hours

The Department of Meteorology stated that the highest rainfall recorded in the country during the 24-hour period from 8.30 a.m. yesterday to 8.30 a.m. today (14) was reported from Puttalam, which received 256.2 mm of rainfall.

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 10:20 am

Immigration Department IT Officer arrested over Rs. 9.8 million software fraud

An official attached to the Department of Immigration and Emigration has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over an alleged financial fraud linked to the installation of a software system. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 2:16 pm

1,000 families in seven districts affected by adverse weather across Sri Lanka

A total of 3,475 individuals from 1,113 families have been affected by the adverse weather conditions prevailing in the country, according to the Disaster Management Center (DMC). MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 4:35 pm

Thief jailed after stealing unreleased Beyoncé music from car

A man who broke into a car and stole hard drives containing unreleased music by Beyoncé has been sentenced to two years in prison. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 8:43 am

Xi warns Trump that mishandling of Taiwan could lead to conflict

China’s Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump that trade talks were making progress at the start of a two-day summit on Thursday but warned that disagreement over Taiwan could send relations down a dangerous path and even lead to conflict. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 2:11 pm

Belarus seeks closer ties with Sri Lanka – Lukashenko

Belarus is interested in expanding cooperation with Sri Lanka, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during a meeting with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath in Minsk on Thursday (14 May), Belarusian media reported. MORE..

(0)Comments | May 14, 2026 3:36 pm

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