http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sat, 02 May 2026 18:51:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/world-marks-vesak-on-may-1-some-in-lanka-as-well-640950.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:57 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-640951 quot; title= quot;Vesak quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260503/uploads/2026/05/Vesak.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;375 quot; / gt; lt;/p gt; lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;Two full... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/fuel-prices-hiked-again-640961.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:55 pm 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 price of Auto Diesel rose by Rs. 10 to Rs. 392 per litre, while Super Diesel recorded a... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/govt-headhunting-400-digital-champs-in-state-bodies-640948.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:54 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;em gt; lt;strong gt;New central force to guide digital transformation in public sector lt;/strong gt; lt;/em gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By S. Rubatheesan lt;/strong gt; 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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/st-rs-200-from-next-sunday-640946.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:54 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt;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 lt;em gt;the Sunday Times lt;/em gt; 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 you of our cont... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/ranils-case-ag-advises-cid-to-formally-obtain-details-from-uk-university-640944.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:52 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/fbi-called-in-to-probe-treasury-theft-ministry-denies-french-papers-missing-640942.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:51 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Damith Wickremasekara lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; 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 cy... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/death-of-interdicted-treasury-official-jmo-panel-rules-out-foul-play-confirms-suicide-640939.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:50 pm lt;strong gt;By Damith Wickremasekara ad Srinath Prasanna Jayasuriya nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 Externa... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/expert-committee-to-conduct-probe-into-treasury-heist-640936.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:38 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri lt;/strong gt; The Colombo Fort Magistrate rsquo;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 orde... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/coal-unloading-persists-despite-more-substandard-shipments-640933.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:36 pm 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 mdash;procured via emergency tender from the Indian company Taranjot mdash;was being unloaded on Friday, official sources said. Meanwhile, one ship from Trident is also in anchorage ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/special-traffic-arrangements-in-place-for-visiting-maldivian-president-640931.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:36 pm 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 rsquo;s motorcade will proceed to Colombo via the Katunayake ndash;Colombo Expressway. Several key roads within the Colombo c... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/circular-sent-out-to-make-10000-public-servants-permanent-future-recruitments-to-be-streamlined-640925.html 2 May 2026 @ 11:35 pm 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 the past few years their services could not... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/a-govt-built-and-protected-by-the-people-now-delivering-to-the-people-says-president-at-may-day-rally-640890.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:57 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;Corruption and mismanagement weakening state institutes: Sajith hits out at SJB rally lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; 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 ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/tamil-parties-in-north-and-east-reiterate-longstanding-demand-640882.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:48 pm 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 rsquo; Day by holding two major rall... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/640878-640878.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:45 pm lt;strong gt;By Kasun Warakapitiya nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 Provident Fund (EPF... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/it-expert-warns-of-major-security-hole-in-dies-eta-visa-page-640868.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:40 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Says no foreigner would want to visit Sri Lanka if they became nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;aware that their passport details could easily be accessed by hackers lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; An Australia-based IT engineer has identified a security hole in the Department of Immigration and Emigration rsquo;s (DIE) electronic travel authorisatio... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/dismissal-of-2-police-officers-court-of-appeal-quashes-decisions-of-the-igp-the-psc-and-aat-640866.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:38 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Grants relief to the petitioners, including nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;their promotions and salary increments from the time they were interdicted nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri lt;/strong gt; The Court of Appeal quashed the disciplinary order of the IGP and the decision of the Administrative Appe... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/police-team-to-probe-coal-fraud-commission-asks-public-for-information-640863.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:37 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; nbsp; lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; 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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/goods-importers-and-households-weighed-down-by-price-pressures-640846.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:33 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Sajeniya Sathanandan lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; Sri Lanka rsquo;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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/ranils-counsel-challenges-accuracy-of-accounts-submitted-by-london-mission-640829.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:18 pm lt;strong gt;By Manopriya Gunasekara nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/commonwealth-parliamentary-association-concerned-about-suspension-of-deputy-secretary-640827.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:15 pm 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 Secretary-Gen... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/more-arrests-ordered-as-police-dig-into-the-bottom-of-the-narcotics-case-640822.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:15 pm lt;strong gt;By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 the ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/former-foreign-travel-rules-for-buddhist-monks-to-be-reintroduced-mahanayakes-call-for-stringent-measures-after-narcotics-case-640820.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:14 pm lt;strong gt;By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe and Mahesh Keerthiratna nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 mad... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/train-from-badulla-to-nanu-oya-expected-to-resume-in-under-two-months-640789.html 2 May 2026 @ 10:11 pm lt;strong gt;Pix and story by Prasad Rukmal lt;/strong gt; 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 worst-affected ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/monks-praise-sri-lankans-for-kindness-and-care-640760.html 2 May 2026 @ 9:54 pm lt;strong gt;By Kasun Warakapitiya lt;/strong gt; The week-long lsquo;Walk for Peace rsquo; 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 the Kelani... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/plans-for-an-aloka-the-peace-dog-foundation-640751.html 2 May 2026 @ 9:47 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;By Kaveesha Fernando nbsp; nbsp; lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; 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, lsquo;Aloka the Peace Dog rsquo;, the Walk rsquo;s endearing mascot, is a celebrity today with 1.1 million followers on Facebook and over 44... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/life-back-to-normal-for-kalu-following-tug-of-war-after-peace-walk-640746.html 2 May 2026 @ 9:44 pm 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. lt;em gt;The Sunday Times lt;/em gt; learns that ldquo;Kalu rdquo;, originally named ldquo;Shadow rdquo;, who became a minor sensation after briefly appearing to fill in for Aloka alongside Ven Pannakara Thera, had belonged to an indivi... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/uhana-farmers-facing-difficulties-with-worm-like-pest-640738.html 2 May 2026 @ 9:41 pm lt;strong gt;Story and pix by nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;Gnanasiri Hettiarachchi nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 ha... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/kilinochchi-soldier-laid-to-rest-with-military-honours-640730.html 2 May 2026 @ 8:51 pm lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-640731 quot; title= quot;01-(2) quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260503/uploads/2026/05/01-2.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;289 quot; / gt; 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 Sawathth... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/he-leads-a-fruitful-life-far-from-the-madding-politics-640722.html 2 May 2026 @ 8:47 pm 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 passions: managing his property in Ruwanwella. After nearly two decades in polit... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/low-dose-triple-pill-cuts-risk-of-recurrent-stroke-by-40-640716.html 2 May 2026 @ 8:45 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Evidence from global TRIDENT trial with Lanka playing a major role lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; nbsp; lt;strong gt;By Kumudini Hettiarachchi nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Heartening news for stroke survivors ndash; irrevocable facts with powerful scientific proof are now on the table. A low-dose 3-in-1 pill, GMRx2, to keep the silent killer... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/easter-attacks-weerasekera-misconstrues-national-interest-columns-concerns-640711.html 2 May 2026 @ 8:35 pm Former Minister Sarath Weerasekera has chosen to take issue with my article published in the Sunday Times of April 19, 2026, under the column ldquo;In the National Interest quot;, which examined the implications of Udaya Gammanpila rsquo;s recent book on the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. His response, however, appears to misconstrue both the argument advanced and the concerns raised. To restate... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/importance-of-giving-ear-to-natures-symphony-as-sri-lankas-harmful-noise-levels-rise-640705.html 2 May 2026 @ 8:33 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;International Noise Awareness Day fell on April 29 while International Dawn Chorus Day falls today lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Malaka Rodrigo lt;/strong gt; 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 Ap... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/predator-or-prey-the-villains-of-the-sea-come-under-limelight-640700.html 2 May 2026 @ 8:29 pm lt;strong gt;Sri Lanka hosts Sharks International 2026 conference as concern mounts for the future of the subclass lt;/strong gt; lt;em gt;elasmobranchii lt;/em gt; lt;strong gt;By Malaka Rodrigo lt;/strong gt; 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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/measles-vaccination-pitched-as-shield-against-potential-death-640697.html 2 May 2026 @ 8:28 pm lt;strong gt;By Sajanya Sathanathan nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 h... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260503/news/govt-greenlights-interim-housing-programme-for-1000-ditwah-displaced-families-640695.html 2 May 2026 @ 8:27 pm lt;strong gt;By Dilushi Wijesinghe nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 ...