May 1 (CP) No matter what happens for the rest of this year, 2023 will go down in the history books of SL. This year is like one of those astronomical alignments which only come around once every few centuries. Not only does the country face unprecedented crises this year; it also commemorates the combined anniversaries of major events that have defined modern Sri Lanka. Through the lenses of these anniversaries, the struggles of 2023 come into fresh focus. more..

May 1 (DM) Great Revolt in weeks after the May Day in 2022, characterised by the masses taking over the streets in their millions, led to hopes of setting our country on a progressive path. However, despite the realisation of the Gota Go Home demand with the president fleeing the country, a counter revolution was unleashed by a president appointed by the remnants of the discredited regime. The tremendous repression, the gruelling IMF-inspired austerity measures, more..

May 1 (DM) Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s controversial statement in the Parliament on April 25 that US$ 250 million has been deposited to an account in connection with the X-Press Pearl disaster has created much chaos and confusion with no trace of receiver of the said massive sum. Minister Rajapakshe also said that a lawsuit had been filed on April 25 for the massive damage caused more..

May 1 (GV) A much discussed and debated topic is the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATA) of 2023, which was introduced as a mending patch for the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) Act, No. 48 of 1979. While the ATA repeals the PTA, it is plainly clear that the ATA is largely similar to the previously proposed Counter-Terrorism Bill (CTA), which was never actualised facing severe criticism and backlash. The tabling of the ATA in the Parliament was postponed until early May as noted by the Minister more..

May 1 (DM) May Day rallies like in the past, this time too would be heavily politicized. Just the other day there was speculation that the govt has initiated moves to ensure district offices countrywide have New Year celebrations on May 1. According to unions, this move would in some way curtail the numbers wanting to attend the May Day rallies. Govts in the past, especially the one that was ousted by the people have often feared the May Day. This is the day that workers come under the limelight more..

May 1 (TM) Soaring temperatures have prompted warnings from experts and spikes in energy demand, as Sri Lankans attempt to beat the heat. According to the weather advisory issued by the Met Dept for Tuesday for the Western, North-Western, Northern, North-Central, and Eastern Provinces and Monaragala, Ratnapura, and Hambantota Districts, Heat Index, which is the temperature felt on the human body, was expected to increase up to more..

May 1 (TM) Although the Govt appears to have numerous plans to salvage the crisis-affected country, how many of those plans actually materialise, and how many will succeed remain unknown today. While major issues like external debt and local debt receive adequate attention and prioritisation by policymakers, some issues are conveniently overlooked. The school lunch programme is one such issue that has been swept under the rug. more..

May 1 (CT) Today is May Day, the day when the working class commemorate their hard-won achievements off the oppressors – the ruling parties or the govts – and rally to secure better working conditions. It would be a great disservice to the SL labour movement not to mention Alexander Ekanayake Gunasinha or A.E. Gunasinha – also known as the Father of the Labour Movement in SL. Gunasinha was a relentless advocate of the poor and the working class and did his level best more..

May 1 (ST) In a pre-Avurudhu cracker, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe made a startling claim that 250 million dollars had been deposited in a London bank account of a Lankan national to be paid out as bribes to derail the nation’s 6 billion dollar damage suit for the Xpress Pearl’s marine disaster in Sri Lankan waters on 20th May 2021. He, however, did not take responsibility for the claim nor did he reveal the source of this information nor the date of the deposit. more..

May 1 (ST) Protests issued by the Govt of Sri Lanka over the United States Govt decision to blacklist former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda and his wife from entering the US are farcical, to say the least. First, there is little that Sri Lanka can do, despite this bellowing and distinctly ridiculous rhetoric. Denouncing the blacklisting comes to nothing in the final result. These are matters entirely within the discretion of States. The Foreign Ministry’s agitated response is more..

May 1 (CT) Although the abuse faced by children, who are in the care of adults, has come to light, child abuse in religious institutions hardly makes it to the headlines. When someone dares to speak about children, who are subject to abuse in temples, many are offended that reporting such incidents brings the religion to disrepute. Society chooses to remain silent regarding the lives of novice monks who are also children. more..

May 1 (Island) There seems to be no end in sight to the ongoing Game of Chicken between the govt and university teachers. The signs are that the GCE A/L answer script evaluation will be further delayed. The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has said its members will commence paper marking poste-haste and finish the task within one month if it is allowed to have an audience with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe himself. It does not want to go through any intermediary. more..

May 1 (DN) Aluthgama Police have arrested three youth who allegedly released a Tiktok video showing them stealing pigeons kept in a cage as pets at a house in Dharga town, Aluthgama and killing and eating the meat after barbequing them. The youth had allegedly sent the video to the pigeon owner through WhatsApp. The youth are said to have done this due to a dispute with the pigeon owner and they had broken the cage where there were 50 pigeons. The suspects are between ages 18 and 20. more..

May 1 (ST) Although 25 Chinese suspects have been released on bail, Police are continuing their investigations into the alleged online financial fraud, SSP Nihal Thalduwa said. Police computer crime division detectives were yet to complete their investigations as they had to examine a large number of electronic devices taken into custody along with the suspects. 25 Chinese suspects were released on a surety bail of Rs. 500,000 each by the Kalutara Magistrate on April 14 and more..

May 1 (ST) Caffeine hunters in Colombo that were a staple in the popular coffee houses pre-pandemic are dwindling, so much so that these outlets cannot sustain themselves. Coffee houses are what initially came into being in the late 1990s and started with The Commons in Colombo. So many franchises have entered Colombo during the last two decades and intensifying in the last decade. Like in most industries, the pandemic managed to beat the market down, many int'l coffees house more..

May 1 (PMD) During a recent discussion at the President’s Office, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe commented on the potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to contribute to the country’s development. He instructed officials from the Ministry of Technology to form a presidential task force comprising AI experts and prepare a concept paper to promote AI usage in the country. Prez highlighted the potential of AI more..

May 1 (DM) The Lotus Tower in Colombo witnessed its first skydiving event recently to promote the island's tourism industry internationally. Two skydivers from the Red Bull SL Skydive Team made an exhibition jump off the Lotus Tower as a base jump event. World-famous Red Bull SkyDiving champions Marco Waltenspiel and Marco Furst recently visited Sri Lanka to exhibit the event. While surprising viewers, two skydivers jumped off the tallest tower in South Asia. more..

May 1 (TM) SriLankan Airlines has recorded a net profit of $ 3 million for the financial year 2022-23, the first time the airline has made a net profit after Emirates left the management in 2008, the airline revealed to the COPE. The airline revealed that it had made $ 104 million as operating profit before interest, resulting in a net profit of $ 3 million after interest expenses of $ 101 million. However, the airline recorded a loss in rupee terms of Rs 69 billion mainly due to exchange losses more..

May 1 (TM) SJB MP and Former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne charged that the data and information provided by Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella regarding the current shortage of medicines are false and it could mislead the public. MP Senarathne claimed that Ministry of Health is unnecessarily spending a lot of money to buy medicines, while spreading falsehoods about the shortage of medicines. more..

May 1 (Island) Uga Ulagalla, pristine 58-acre property nestled in Thirappane, Anuradhapura, renowned for its unspoiled cultural allure, has partnered with the Center for Conservation and Research (CCR) to launch its first-ever community-based village fencing project in Pittala Konderama and Karambe. The initiative aims to mitigate human-elephant conflicts (HEC) in the area. The inauguration of the project was graced by distinguished guests, more..

May 1 (AD) Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena says that obtaining financial assistance from IMF is essential, and that he also ruled the country with the money received from the IMF during his tenure. Speaking to the media after meeting Malwathu Mahanayake Thero and the Anunayaka Thero, the former President mentioned that an unnecessary issue has arisen by tabling the IMF agreement in the parliament. “I didn’t table those agreements in the parliament. Now, an unnecessary problem more..

May 1 (PMD) The Women Plus Bazaar 2023 exhibition organized for the first time with the aim of empowering Sri Lankan women was declared open by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo today (30). The exhibition was organized by the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Colombo, the Colombo Municipal Council, the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, and the National Crafts Council targeting tourists. more..

May 1 (AD) Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that 18 Sri Lankans who are currently residing in Sudan have rejected to be evacuated from the country and repatriated to SL. Minister Ali Sabry stated that the 18 individuals in question have expressed their need to remain in Sudan, while stating that they will lose their jobs if they leave. The ministry has taken measures to evacuate 34 Sri Lankans, who have expressed their desire to leave Sudan so far, in view of the prevailing crisis more..

May 1 (EN) SL’s geologists say they are pursuing two lines of inquiry in trying to explain a recent increase in observed earthquake activity in the Indian Ocean Island involving Indo-Australian plate & internal geological formations. SL is generally considered to have been free of major earthquakes or volcanoes for thousands of years. Its major geological activity involving separating lowlands and the hill country is believed to have occurred more..

May 1 (DM) Special security and traffic arrangements have been made for political rallies to be held on May Day. SSP Nihal Thalduwa said special May Day rallies and parades are scheduled to be held in the Colombo, Nugegoda, Kandy, Hatton and Nuwara Eliya areas on 1 May. More than 3,500 police officers have been deployed for the security and traffic operations in the Colombo area. "Police and organizers of political parties and trade unions discussed their plans to hold May Day rallies. more..

May 1 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, has suggested blocking share transfers of privatized plantations companies, according to a statement, in a move that may tend to undermine private property rights and curtail the benefits of private ownership. Prez had met members of a Plantations Reforms Committee. “During the meeting, Prez suggested that companies should not be allowed to sell their shareholdings without the consent of the govt once they have been given land,” more..

May 1 (TM) All the major political parties have announced their plans for the celebration of the International Workers Day today (1 May).The main opposition party SJB and other main political parties such as SLPP, UNP, JVP-led NPP have decided to hold their May Day celebrations today in Colombo and while the SLFP will hold their May Day rally in Kandy. The May Day rally of the country’s ruling party, the SLPP, is scheduled to be held at Campbell Park, Colombo. more..

May 1 (DM) Former CAA Exec Director Thushan Gunawardena alleged that the Ministry of Trade has informed the Lanka Sathosa to sell canned fish unfit for human consumption through its outlets in 2021. Gunawardena shared an email sent to State-owned Sathosa outlets in July 2021 directing them to sell canned fish banned by the Ports Authority. "A cabinet decision has been taken to sell stock of canned fish banned by Ports Authority through Lanka Sathosa outlet network," more..

May 1 (ST) Two of the foreign companies that are planning to enter SL’s retail fuel market have proposed to set up all-purpose fuel stations complete with car wash, service areas, shops and motels and will be entitled to provide fuel without QR code systems. The proposal came up during recent discussions between govt officials and representatives of 2 companies; China’s state-owned Sinopec & US-based RM Parks-Shell. more..

May 1 (AD) Police say that future actions regarding the notorious drug peddler and criminal gang member Sinhara Amal Saminda Silva, alias Kudu Anju, will be taken in accordance with the instructions of the Attorney General (AG). SSP Nihal Talduwa emphasized that the AG has already been notified about the relevant suspect. The notorious criminal figure was arrested in France last Wednesday and the INTERPOL informed the arrest of Kudu Anju to the SL authorities, more..

May 1 (DM) Power & Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has decided to reduce the retail prices of Lanka Petrol 92 Octane, Lanka Petrol 95 Octane Euro 4, Lanka Auto Diesel and Lanka Super Diesel 4 Star Euro 4 from tonight. Consequently, a litre of Lanka Petrol 92 Octane (Rs. 340) will be reduced by Rs. 7, and the new retail price will be Rs. 333. A litre of Lanka Petrol 95 Octane Euro 4 (Rs. 375) will be reduced by Rs. 10 and the new retail price will be Rs. 365. more..

May 1 (AD) Several political parties and trade unions will today (1) celebrate International Workers’ Day, marking the occasion with rallies and processions in towns across the country. UNP's May Day rally will be held at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo today evening with the participation of several leading members of the party. Meanwhile, the May Day rally of the SLPP will take place in Campbell Park in Borella, led by more..

May 2 (DM) Exactly a year ago, Sri Lanka was in the midst of an economic cum political crisis with an unprecedented foreign exchange slump having resulted in miles-long, days-long queues for fuel and cooking gas and prices having gone three-fold up, compared to that of the previous year. In the political front, the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was facing an unprecedented massive public uprising while he was helplessly struggling to resolve economic issues. more..

May 2 (DM) Consider the countries overtaken by demonstrations, strikes and social instability in recent times; France, Israel, many African nations, Ukraine and Burma, to limit the size of my list. This time unlike 1765-90 (American Revolution is conventionally dated to 1765-1781 and French to 1789-99) or the 1848 Revolution that swept Europe (Sicily, France, Germany, Italy, Austria), trouble is rolling out all over the world. Is there reason to believe that another age of revolution is more..

May 2 (DM) Recently, the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for Sri Lanka was approved by the Executive Board of the World Food Program (WFP) for the period Jan 2023 to Dec 2027. The programme is valued at US$ 74.87 million and is set to be implemented in line with SL’s national policy framework and UN sustainable development cooperation framework for 2023-2027. In a letter to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, more..