May 1 (FT) Though world military expenditure has been increasing continuously during the last nine years, no member country had stopped to ask, How can this be? We have endorsed and ratified the UN founding Charter of 1945, with the firm pledge, “We the Peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind…” and the most important of all purposes of the UN mentioned as more..

May 1 (DM) Rarely any other time, save the campaign rallies, would the politicians speak so passionately about labour rights as they would today, the International Workers’ Day. But, in this quirky interest reeking of opportunism, there is a sense of irrelevance of what May Day was supposed to be. Consider today, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa and a horde of Ministers who would ride their Pajeros to the podium while the party members who are bused from four corners of more..

May 1 (TM) Prison-based industries and work programmes have become a staple in correctional and rehabilitation facilities in the country, providing male inmates with opportunities to build skills and earn some income. However, female inmates often encounter a very different situation. Despite a substantial female prison population, the employment programmes and vocational training accessible to them are far fewer, more..

May 1 (CT) We are at a crossroads, deciding which path Sri Lanka will take. This decision lies in the hands of the people of this country. Are we moving forward? Are we stagnating? Or do we wish to regress? These remarks were made by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe at a recent event where he emphasised the govt’s aim to create a highly competitive, export-oriented economy based on a market economy. He expressed full faith in the business community of the country. more..

May 1 (ST) The SLFP’s ongoing leadership controversy took a dramatic turn last Sunday when the ousted Maithripala faction appointed an acting chairman to the party. Following Maithripala stripping Govt Ministers Amaraweera and Alagiyawanna, together with Duminda Dissanayake of all positions in the SLFP for joining the Govt and holding ministerial posts in it, Chairman Maithripala declared: “If they wish to join the SLFP they must leave their privileged posts and come.” more..

May 1 (SO) Workers around the world celebrate May Day, also known as Labour Day and International Workers’ Day, on May 1 (Wednesday). It is a national holiday in more than 80 countries including Sri Lanka and the event is celebrated in some of the most staunchly capitalist countries such as the UK too. However, Labour Day is now celebrated in September in the USA, the country that May Day originated from. more..

May 1 (TM) Today, 1 May, Colombo like many capitals of the world, and key cities around our island nation will be dressed in red, blue and shades of green with processions of people marching to the beat of drums and chants which champion labour rights and justice for the working class. However, the reality is that the Labour Day, better known in Sri Lanka as May day, is no longer about the so-called working class, nor is it about labour rights. Today, May day is, more..

May 1 (DM) The doctors in our country seem to be girding up their loin cloths for a possible fight with the govt in the aftermath of a govt decision to set up a medical faculty at the National School of Business Management (NSBM) and at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). A study by The National Library of Medicine shows currently around 1,450 doctors enter the health system annually and the national doctor-to-patient ratio is 1:671 to 1,000 patients. more..

May 1 (CT) Reports in the mainstream media give every indication of a convergence between Prez Wickremesinghe and the SLPP led by the Rajapaksas. This seems shocking given that the SLPP was born precisely in opposition to the SLFP’s disastrous alliance under the leadership of Prez Sirisena with Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2015. However, a shared hatred of the Aragalaya as well as a shared perception of belonging to an Establishment electorally besieged by more..

May 1 (Island) Another International Workers’ Day has dawned. Grand preparations have been made in this country to celebrate it amidst an unprecedented economic crisis. These celebrations, however, have little or nothing to do with workers; they have apparently everything to do with political parties and their leaders. The next prez election is only a few months away, and therefore we will see a lot of political muscle flexing today, with the prospective candidates bringing as many supporters more..

May 1 (FT) John Keells Holdings (JKH) revealed that it is partnering with world famous Macau casino operator Melco for its integrated resort project developed by subsidiary Waterfront Properties Ltd. (WPL). JKH said a wholly-owned subsidiary of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd. (Melco) will be the operator of the gaming facility at the Cinnamon Life Integrated Resort, which has been developed by John Keells Group more..

May 1 (Island) Arespected law firm in New Zealand, when advertising positions for apprentice lawyers, tends to overlook applications from graduates who have not attended top-ranked institutions. Hence, it becomes crucial for universities to achieve int'l high rankings. Beyond scenarios like job searches, there are several reasons why a higher ranking holds significance for a university. A higher rank enhances the prestige and reputation of a university both nationally and internationally. more..

May 1 (DN) SL ‘A’ team secured an easy 8-wicket win with 88 balls remaining in their rain-interrupted second ODI against Afghanistan ‘A‘ played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. SL ‘A’ already holds a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first, but they were struggling at 30 for 6 wickets after 6.5 overs, eventually being all out for 121 in 27.2 overs. SL had a revised target of 101 in 30 overs, and they achieved it in great style. more..

May 1 (DN) The chess team representing Colombo City from SL gave an excellent display in an international tournament, securing the second runner-up position in the Asian Cities Chess Team Championship. This event, organized by the Chess Federation of Russia and overseen by the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE, took place in Khanty Maniysk, Russia from April 21 to 29. Led by non-playing captain Sanjeewa Anuradha, the Colombo City team included skilled players more..

May 1 (DN) SL Para athletic team comprised seven players won seven medals including two gold and three silvers at the Marrakech World Para Athletic Grand Prix in Morocco. The Lankan team will return home today (1) and welcome ceremony will be organised by the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) today morning at the Karunanayake Airport. President of the NPC Colonel Deepal Herath said seven athletes took part this Grand Prix which was the main Paralympic qualification event. more..

May 1 (Island) Sri Lanka will not be able to field their formidable men’s 4×400 metres relay quartet inclusive of the two fastest men in Asia in the 400 metres this season at the upcoming World Relays in Bahamas due to visa issues. The team inclusive of Aruna Dharshana, who has clocked the fastest time in Asia (45.30 secs) so far this year and Kalinga Kumarage (45.35 secs, second fastest time in Asia) are currently ranked 16th in the world more..

May 1 (Island) In a remarkable display of knowledge of and enthusiasm for the environment, 14-year-old student Akira Alagiyawanna from Wycherley Int'l School, Colombo, delivered a captivating video address on climate phenomena at the Uni of California in Los Angeles – UCLA, during an Earth Day event on April 20. The event, hosted by the America-SL Photographic Art Society in Los Angeles, provided a platform for Akira to share his insights with viewers, even from a distance. more..

May 1 (ST) The trial began this week over the 2017 attempted murder of Jaffna High Court Judge Manicavasagar Elancheleyan and the murder of his police bodyguard. In this case, Selvarasa Jeyanthan has been accused of fatally shooting Police Sergeant Sarath Hemachandra and the attempted murder of Judge Elancheleyan and police officer Waththegedara Rathna Wimalasiri on July 22, 2017. Both the deceased Sergeant Hemachandra and Constable Wimalasiri, who was injured, more..

May 1 (TM) Following certain ministers and Govt MPs criticising Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith – during the recently held three-day Parliamentary debate on the Easter Sunday attacks of 21 April 2019 – claiming that he is encouraging the public to vote for a particular political party at the upcoming Prez Election, Colombo Archdiocese denied the allegations levelled by those politicians. more..

May 1 (DN) SL’s rugby team showed its strength in a dominant 45-10 win over neighboring rival India, securing their spot in the final against Kazakhstan at the Asian Division I Rugby Tournament. The match, held at Colombo’s Racecourse Stadium, saw SL take a commanding lead of 21-3 by halftime. Despite a drenched field and slippery ball, SL managed to score five goals and two tries, while India only secured one goal and one penalty kick, totaling 10 points. The match started an hour late due to more..

May 1 (FT) The second round of Indonesia - Sri Lanka Preferential Trade Agreement (ISLPTA) is scheduled to be held from 19 and 20 June in Colombo. “The move aligns with the Government’s vision of strengthening economic ties with major and emerging economies, whilst giving a particular focus on ASEAN countries,” Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. The first meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee was held online from 3 - 4 April 2024. more..

May 1 (DN) Due to the Red Sea crisis, the newly added infrastructure development in the last 8 months and steps taken to increase productivity, Colombo Port will record its best ever performance this year, said SLPA Chairman Keith D. Bernard. “This will be in terms of both container movements (TUI’s) as well as in revenue.” He said that at the end of the first quarter of the year (Jan to March end) TUE’s volumes have gone up from 441,032 TEUs to 652, 766 TEUs by 48% more..

May 1 (CT) Although nearly 2,000 SLTB buses were requested for people’s participation in May Day celebrations across the island today (1), payment has been received for only 200 buses. A senior official at the SLTB, said, as in previous years, most of the major political parties and organisations in the country have requested SLTB buses for the May Day events, but have not paid for the services properly. He expressed concern that the board may incur significant losses as a result of providing more..

May 1 (DM) In a surprising move, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, in a meeting with a delegation of Communist Party of China (CPC), has offered to play a mediatory role between two Asian giants implying India and China. A source familiar with the meeting said that Premadasa made such an offer during the discussion between his party and the CPC delegation that visited SL recently. However, the CPC is reported to have said that more..

May 1 (FT) Recognising the economic and ecological importance, the Govt aims to transform Mirissa into a Blue Flag Coastal Zone and a Marine Wildlife Sanctuary aligning with int'l standards. On 22 May 2023, Cabinet of Ministers discussed a proposal to designate the Mirissa Marine Zone as a wildlife sanctuary, aiming to protect its rich biodiversity. Subsequently, a ministerial sub-committee, led by the Prime Minister, was formed to study proposal’s implications & benefits. more..

May 1 (DM) It has been revealed that out of the 5,308 Headquarters Police Inspectors (HQIs), Station Officer In-charges (OICs), and sectional OICs (Crimes, Administration, etc.), a total of 1,106 officers permanently reside within the police division where they are stationed, accounting for 7.2% of the total. This was revealed in a latest study conducted by the Senior DIG of the North Central Province Priyantha Weerasuriya on the instruction of the IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon. more..

May 1 (DM) CPC has reduced its fuel prices with effect from tonight. Accordingly, a litre of Lanka Petrol 92 Octane Euro 4 (Rs. 371) has been reduce by Rs. 3, and its new retail price will be Rs. 368. A litre of Lanka Petrol 95 Octane Euro 4 (Rs. 440) has been reduce by Rs. 20, and its new retail price will be Rs. 420. A litre of Lanka Auto Diesel (Rs.363) has been reduce by Rs.30, and its new retail price will be Rs.333. A litre of Lanka Super Diesel 4 Star Euro 4 (Rs. 386) has been reduced by Rs. 9, more..

May 1 (TM) The police force’s recent initiatives aimed at preventing inmates from engaging in illegal activities that take place outside the prison focus on monitoring the outsiders that interact with inmates as visitors. This was revealed by DIG Nihal Thalduwa, who explained that attention has been paid to inmates that engage in criminal activities through those who visit them as visitors. He added that law enforcement groups that have been deployed for this purpose will monitor who visits inmates, more..

May 1 (GN) Pressure is mounting from members of the public and elected officials for the chief of one of Canada’s biggest police forces to apologize for meeting the notorious head of SL police. Tamil Canadians, including Toronto city councillor Parthi Kandavel, are calling the visit deeply upsetting to all Canadians. Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah serves Mississauga, Brampton and Pearson airport more..

May 1 (EN) Illegal prostitution in the guise of spa or wellness centers should be regulated to prevent AIDS and other health issues among SL youth, State Tourism Minister Diana Gamage said. At least 695 new HIV positive people were identified in the country in 2023 and it has seen a 14% rise over 2022. Sri Lanka has witnessed mushrooming spas or wellness centers throughout the island nation in the last three years amid an unprecedented economic crisis, tourism officials say. more..

May 1 (TM) The 52 key State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) which recorded losses in 2022 have recorded a collective profit of Rs. 340 billion in 2023 after they underwent the reform agenda, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe. He said that the key identified strategically important SOEs which recorded a loss of Rs. 740 billion in 2022 has recorded an approximate profit of Rs. 340 billion in 2023. SOEs will have to be vigilant and operate far better than the private sector more..

May 1 (CT) Forty public rallies and processions have been organised for today to commemorate International Labour Day. The Police announced special traffic plans in anticipation of the public rallies and processions to be held in Colombo, Gampaha, A'pura, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy. Approximately 2,100 Police officers will be deployed for security and 1,300 for traffic duties in Colombo during the May Day celebrations. more..

May 2 (DM) Historically and traditionally, democracy’s four pillars have been the Executive, legislature, judiciary and the press or media. In recent years, social media has also come to the scene largely with dramatic reports, some of which are alternative facts, twisted reports or outright lies, as we see. The US’ Republican Party Prez candidate, Donald Trump, is seeking re-election in November while he faces more than a hundred criminal charges relating to malpractice, more..

May 2 (DM) SL's current State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) reforms coincide with an unprecedented economic crisis and the 2024 election year. The economic crisis heightens the need for reforms, but the election timing dictates that privatization should be off the table for now. Instead, reforms should focus now on fixing management, transparency, competition, and regulation. This will substantially improve the value of these SOEs to investors as well as society before privatization. more..

May 2 (TM) The presence of beggars at traffic lights in populated areas including Colombo has been causing disruption for motorists and motorbike riders. This growing concern has prompted the Police, along with certain other agencies, to embark on a campaign aimed at curbing begging at traffic lights and discouraging motorists and riders from handing out spare change. Yet, the topic is fraught with sensitivity, more..

May 2 (TM) Yesterday (1), on this year’s May Day, Govt responded to long-drawn-out salary related issues raised by the country’s plantation sector workers. Issued by the Commissioner General of Labour H.K.K.A. Jayasundara, a gazette notification dated Tuesday (30) said that the minimum daily wage for workers employed in the tea and rubber growing and manufacturing trade has been increased to Rs. 1,700. According to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who spoke about more..