News
Home » NewsWorld marks Vesak on May 1, some in Lanka as well
Two full moon Poya days in one month is not unusual, but it becomes a recipe for public confusion when the calendar system has to be altered with a Vesak Week starting from May 27 and including May 30 Vesak Poya Day declared as official. With the United Nations and the rest of the Buddhist [...]
Fuel prices hiked again
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation increased fuel prices from midnight yesterday, marking the third hike in three months. The price of 92-octane petrol was raised by Rs. 12 per litre, bringing the new retail price to Rs. 410. Petrol 95 octane was increased by Rs 15 and is now priced at Rs 470 per litre. The [...]
Govt headhunting 400 digital champs in state bodies
New central force to guide digital transformation in public sector By S. Rubatheesan The government is set to form a 400-member cohort of digital transformation champions, to be known as the Public-Impact Champions Network (PIC-Net), comprising senior state officials to implement its ambitious digital transformation efforts. These champions, handpicked from 95 government offices, including ministries, [...]
ST Rs 200 from next Sunday
It is with much hesitation and thought that we inform our dear loyal readers that we are compelled to increase from next week the cover price of the Sunday Times from Rs 180 to Rs 200. This is solely to cope with rising production costs. Please bear with us and support us. We, however, assure [...]
Ranil’s case: AG advises CID to formally obtain details from UK university
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is to forward an application to formally obtain the details it had earlier obtained via post from the University of Wolverhampton regarding the invitation sent to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The move comes after the Attorney General’s Department advised the CID to formally apply to obtain the [...]
FBI called in to probe Treasury theft Ministry denies French papers missing
By Damith Wickremasekara Sri Lankan investigators have reached out to the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as they widen their probe into the Treasury’s US$2.5 million loss linked to an email hacking, a senior CID official said. They have also contacted a US-based cybersecurity company that specialises in detecting and mitigating email hacking [...]
Death of interdicted Treasury official: JMO panel rules out foul play, confirms suicide
By Damith Wickremasekara ad Srinath Prasanna Jayasuriya Foul play has been ruled out in the death of the interdicted Treasury official after a post-mortem examination by a four-member panel of Judicial Medical Officers (JMOs) ruled he had taken his own life. The deceased official, 50-year-old Ranga Nishantha Rajapaksha, was among five Treasury External Resources Department [...]
Expert committee to conduct probe into Treasury heist
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has given permission to appoint an expert committee comprising representatives of all relevant agencies to conduct a comprehensive probe into the USD 2.5 million Treasury cyber-heist. Acting on a request from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara ordered that the expert committee should [...]
Coal unloading persists despite more substandard shipments
Coal continues to be unloaded for the power plant at Norochcholai, with stocks both from the emergency tender and outstanding shipments from the Trident Chemphar term tender arriving in a steady stream. Shipment 17—procured via emergency tender from the Indian company Taranjot—was being unloaded on Friday, official sources said. Meanwhile, one ship from Trident is [...]
Special traffic arrangements in place for visiting Maldivian President
Special traffic arrangements will be implemented in Colombo with the arrival of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in Sri Lanka today. He is here on an official visit until May 6. Upon his arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport today, the Maldivian President’s motorcade will proceed to Colombo via the Katunayake–Colombo Expressway. Several key roads within the [...]
Circular sent out to make 10,000 public servants permanent; future recruitments to be streamlined
Nearly 10,000 persons recruited to the public service on a temporary, casual or contract basis prior to 2009 are to be made permanent in their jobs this month, the Cabinet has decided. The Ministry of Public Administration has sent out a circular to ministries, provincial councils, departments and statutory bodies about the recruitment scheme. Over [...]
A govt. built and protected by the people now delivering to the people, says President at May Day rally
Corruption and mismanagement weakening state institutes: Sajith hits out at SJB rally Political parties and trade unions across the country commemorated International Workers Day (May Day) on Friday, with rallies and gatherings. There were colourful displays as people marched across the country, clad mainly in red, to commemorate the day. The largest rallies were held [...]
Tamil parties in North and East reiterate longstanding demand
Marking the day with rallies in the North and East, Tamil political parties reiterated demands for political and economic reforms. Central to these is the longstanding call for a constitutional solution to ensure a dignified livelihood for the Tamil-speaking community. The grand old party of Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) observed International Workers’ Day by [...]
Labour laws to catch up with employment changes
By Kasun Warakapitiya The Labour Ministry has begun discussions to amend the labour law to update it in line with new trends in employment as well as the prevailing situation. The Labour Department is also fixed on digitalising activities to maintain one digital system where they could monitor the resolution of disputes such as Employees [...]
IT expert warns of major security hole in DIE’s ETA visa page
Says no foreigner would want to visit Sri Lanka if they became aware that their passport details could easily be accessed by hackers An Australia-based IT engineer has identified a security hole in the Department of Immigration and Emigration’s (DIE) electronic travel authorisation (ETA) visa page, which allows the mere entry of a confirmation code—with no [...]
Dismissal of 2 police officers: Court of Appeal quashes decisions of the IGP, the PSC and AAT
Grants relief to the petitioners, including their promotions and salary increments from the time they were interdicted By Ranjith Padmasiri The Court of Appeal quashed the disciplinary order of the IGP and the decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and set aside the dismissal of two police officers, holding that the disciplinary findings against them [...]
Police team to probe coal fraud, Commission asks public for information
By Ranjith Padmasiri A Police team under the command of an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) has been appointed to assist investigations of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry (SPCoI) appointed to probe whether any irregularities or unlawful acts had occurred during coal procurement purchases. The Police team has been appointed by the Inspector General [...]
Goods importers and households weighed down by price pressures
By Sajeniya Sathanandan Sri Lanka’s economy is being tested by external pressures with a rising US dollar and escalating international conflicts driving up the cost of fuel imports, domestic cooking gas, and electricity. Traders and consumers are trapped in a dilemma of unpredictable price changes. Traders claim that importers are absorbing much of the cost [...]
Ranil’s counsel challenges accuracy of accounts submitted by London mission
By Manopriya Gunasekara The accounts provided by the Sri Lankan High Commission in London regarding the expenses of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UK visit have been overstated, his counsel, Tilak Marapana, told the court this week. Counsel Tilak Marapana, PC, questioned the accuracy of the accounts when the case against Mr Wickremesinghe and the then [...]
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association concerned about suspension of Deputy Secretary
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Stephen Twigg, has acknowledged receipt of a letter sent by the Association of Former Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka (AFMPSL) raising serious concerns regarding the alleged unlawful suspension of the Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and the reported intervention of the Speaker. The AFMPSL said the CPA [...]
More arrests ordered as police dig into the bottom of the narcotics case
By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe Police has launched a search for another Buddhist monk and two others allegedly involved in the incident of using 22 monks to smuggle narcotics into the country, a senior police officer said. The case related to the monks was taken up at the Negombo courts yesterday. Negombo Additional Magistrate Subhani Abeysekara on [...]
Former foreign travel rules for Buddhist monks to be reintroduced; Mahanayakes call for stringent measures after narcotics case
By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe and Mahesh Keerthiratna The procedure requiring Sri Lankan Buddhist monks to obtain a written recommendation, endorsed by their respective chief prelates, before traveling abroad, suspended in 2025, is to be reintroduced, the Buddha Sasana Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said. He said that this follows a request made by senior monks who met [...]
Train from Badulla to Nanu Oya expected to resume in under two months
Pix and story by Prasad Rukmal Railway authorities expect to resume train services from Badulla to Nanu Oya within the next one-and-a-half to two months, as repair work continues on sections of the upcountry line damaged by landslides during Cyclone Ditwah. Services between Badulla and Colombo Fort have remained suspended for five months, with the [...]
Monks praise Sri Lankans for kindness and care
By Kasun Warakapitiya The week-long ‘Walk for Peace’ led by US-based Vitenamese monk Venerable Pannakara Thera ended this week, with the monk leaving a strong message of peace while appreciating the response from Sri Lankans throughout the journey. Before the final day of the walk began from Kelaniya, Pannakara Thera held a Dhamma talk at [...]
Plans for an ‘Aloka the Peace Dog Foundation’
By Kaveesha Fernando He has walked thousands of kilometres in the freezing cold of the United States and the burning heat of Sri Lanka. Following the just concluded Walk for Peace in Sri Lanka, ‘Aloka the Peace Dog’, the Walk’s endearing mascot, is a celebrity today with 1.1 million followers on Facebook and over 440K [...]
Life back to normal for Kalu following tug of war after peace walk
Kalu – the Lankan dog who alongside Aloka briefly stole the spotlight at the recent Peace Walk found himself at the centre of a rather less peaceful dispute. The Sunday Times learns that “Kalu”, originally named “Shadow”, who became a minor sensation after briefly appearing to fill in for Aloka alongside Ven Pannakara Thera, had [...]
Uhana farmers facing difficulties with worm-like pest
Story and pix by Gnanasiri Hettiarachchi Farmers in the Uhana Divisional Secretariat area are facing severe difficulties due to an infestation of a worm-like pest, similar to a caterpillar, that is rapidly destroying young paddy plants in their fields, according to representatives of farmer organisations. This pest has been observed spreading for about the past 15 [...]
Kilinochchi soldier laid to rest with military honours
The final rites of Lance Corporal A.P. Mariyalujisan, who succumbed to injuries from a train accident, were conducted with full military honours on Friday at the Sawaththi Public Cemetery at Aiyakachchi in Kilinochchi. He joined the Sri Lanka Army in June 2014 and was subsequently attached to the 12(V) Engineer Services Regiment. On April 19, [...]
He leads a fruitful life far from the madding politics
Many politicians rarely fade into the background; once in the fray, they tend to remain in the public sphere for as long as possible. However, one former politician who lost his seat in the last parliamentary election has turned his attention far from the world of politics. He is now pursuing one of his greatest [...]
Low dose triple pill cuts risk of recurrent stroke by 40%
Evidence from global TRIDENT trial with Lanka playing a major role By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Heartening news for stroke survivors – irrevocable facts with powerful scientific proof are now on the table. A low-dose 3-in-1 pill, GMRx2, to keep the silent killer that is hypertension (high blood pressure) under control has been found to cut [...]
Easter attacks: Weerasekera misconstrues National Interest column’s concerns
Former Minister Sarath Weerasekera has chosen to take issue with my article published in the Sunday Times of April 19, 2026, under the column “In the National Interest”, which examined the implications of Udaya Gammanpila’s recent book on the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. His response, however, appears to misconstrue both the argument advanced and the [...]
Importance of giving ear to nature’s symphony as Sri Lanka’s harmful noise levels rise
International Noise Awareness Day fell on April 29 while International Dawn Chorus Day falls today By Malaka Rodrigo This week, brings together two international observance days linked to sound, yet standing at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is International Noise Awareness Day, on April 29 that draws attention to the harmful effects of excessive [...]
Predator or prey? the ‘villains’ of the sea come under limelight
Sri Lanka hosts Sharks International 2026 conference as concern mounts for the future of the subclass elasmobranchii By Malaka Rodrigo This Sunday, Colombo will become the global centre of shark and ray research as scientists, conservationists, fisheries experts, and students from around the world gather for the Sharks International 2026 conference, the world’s largest scientific [...]
Measles vaccination pitched as shield against potential death
By Sajanya Sathanathan Health professionals strongly urge parents to use available immunisation services to protect their children and the wider community from the serious health threats from measles, a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease but preventable through vaccination. Doctors in outpatient clinics, wards, and general practitioners have been urged to report cases immediately. Blood [...]
Govt. greenlights interim housing programme for 1000 Ditwah-displaced families
By Dilushi Wijesinghe The Government this week greenlighted an interim housing programme for 1,000 families displaced by cyclone Ditwah, following Cabinet approval of a proposal by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Defence Minister, amid continuing shortages of rental accommodation in affected districts. The move comes in the wake of extensive damage caused [...]