Spill gates opened at Tabbowa, Inginimitiya; Mi Oya flow rises

The Irrigation Department has issued a spill discharge notice for the Tabbowa and Inginimitiya reservoirs today (14), with a total of 9,400 cubic feet per second (cusec) being released into the Mi Oya basin.

Roast duck, beef ribs: State banquet sets the table for Trump-Xi reset

When Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping sat down to a ​lavish state banquet in Beijing on Thursday, the menu itself read like a work of diplomacy.

’Floating armoury’ ship reportedly seized by Iran

A vessel reportedly operating as a ’’floating armoury’’ in the Gulf of Oman has been seized by Iranian military personnel, according to the maritime risk management company Vanguard.

Early gains fade as market ends slightly lower in choppy session

The Colombo Stock Exchange witnessed a volatile session today, where early optimism quickly faded into mild selling pressure by the close. The market opened on a positive note, with the ASPI rising by 66 points within the first 15 minutes of trading, supported by active participation and turnover exceeding LKR 400 Mn during the early session.

Red alert issued as heavy rain over 150mm expected

The Meteorology Department has issued a red warning for very heavy rainfall affecting several parts of the country as the low-pressure area located northeast of Sri Lanka continues to persist.

Ex-NIE Director gets six years jail term for contempt of court

Former Director of the National Institute of Education (NIE), I.G.S. Premathilaka, was today sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court after being found guilty of contempt of court in connection with the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination controversy.

20% of Sri Lankans suffer from non-communicable diseases: Health Minister

Nearly 20 percent of Sri Lanka’s population suffers from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), describing the figure as a serious public health concern, Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Sooryavanshi earns maiden India A call-up for one-day tri-series in SL

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden India A call-up for the upcoming one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka, which will also feature Afghanistan. This continues the 15-year-old’s rapid rise in top-flight cricket, after the Rajasthan Royals batter became an IPL sensation last year, and was India Under-19s’ highest run-getter in the World Cup earlier this year. In the Under-19 World Cup final, he smashed 175 off 80 balls to set up India’s title win

Arrest if any senior NDB officials if found to have aided Rs. 13 billion fraud: Court told

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today observed that the Criminal Investigation Department should arrest and produce before the court if any senior officials of the National Development Bank (NDB) have aided and abetted the fraudulent misappropriation of Rs. 13 billion from the bank’s general ledger account.

White House claims Xi, Trump agree ’Hormuz must remain open’

U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed that the Strait of Hormuz ’’must remain open,’’ the White House said Thursday after the U.S.-China summit in Beijing.

Sri Lanka moves to protect first geothermal wetland

Sri Lanka has taken steps to conserve and officially gazette the country’s first-ever geothermal wetland, located at Kapurulla in the Bogamuyaya Grama Niladhari Division of Maha Oya in the Ampara District.

Wimalasurendra reservoir begins overflowing

The Wimalasurendra Reservoir began overflowing from the afternoon of May 14 following heavy rainfall experienced in the Norton Bridge area, reservoir engineers said.

Xi: China, US should be partners, not rivals

China and the United States should find the right way for major countries to get along well with each other in the new era, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Concerns raised over Rs. 3 billion HIQI digital health procurements

The All Ceylon Medical Officers Association (ACMOA) has called for an investigation by the Investigation Division of the Health Ministry into four procurements carried out under the Health Information and Quality Improvement (HIQI) Project, implemented through the United Nations Office for Project Services, involving around Rs. 2.8–3.0 billion in grant funding.

Chinese soldier beside Trump’s Air Force One goes viral for composure

As US President Donald Trump’s visit to China drew global attention to Beijing and the image China projected during the high-profile trip, one unexpected moment at the airport quickly went viral online — a Chinese soldier standing guard beside the runway as Air Force One taxied past him without the slightest movement.

Excise trade unions raise concerns over security label tender process

Trade union representatives within the Excise Department have alleged that the Finance Ministry is preparing to award a tender for printing security labels on alcohol products to a company lacking international experience and qualifications.

Trump invites Xi to White House in September

US President Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to pay a return visit to the White House.

Kotmale–Gampola road temporarily closed due to heavy rain and landslide risk

The Kotmale–Gampola B431 main road has been temporarily closed since the afternoon of May 14 following heavy rainfall in the Kotmale area, police said.

Belarus, Sri Lanka open new chapter in bilateral relations following high-level talks

Belarus and Sri Lanka have agreed to open a new chapter in their bilateral relations following discussions between Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

IUSF demands Basil-linked Malwana property be handed over for public use

Members of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) staged a protest today (14), demanding that the controversial Malwana property allegedly linked to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa be handed over for public use, including for universities facing space shortages.

Japan reaffirms support for modernising Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector

The Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, His Excellency ISOMATA Akio, has reiterated Japan’s commitment to supporting the modernisation of Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector through the introduction of advanced technology and innovation-driven development initiatives.

Low pressure system to move away within 48 hours: Heavy rain expected

A low-pressure area located northeast of Sri Lanka continues to persist but is expected to move away from the island within the next 48 hours, according to the latest weather analysis issued on the morning of May 14.

Immigration IT controller arrested over Rs. 9.8 mn 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 a software installation project.

Govt aims to create ‘Smart Citizens’ for future world: Minister

The government’s primary objective is to create “smart citizens” capable of facing the challenges of the future world, Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Prof. Chandana Abeyrathne said.

CCTV at Aravinda de Silva’s residence was functional but not recording

Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena’s suspicious death took place at the residence of Aravinda de Silva, where the CCTV cameras were operational, but the system had not been recording footage for a long period and no footage of the location where the death occurred had been captured by the CCTV system, the Colombo Crimes Division informed Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena today.

CEB to award Rs. 8.5bn VRS compensation tomorrow

Financial compensation amounting to Rs. 8.5 billion will be awarded to 1,898 employees retiring voluntarily under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) as part of its ongoing restructuring process.

Rat poison watermelon deaths puzzle Indian investigators

Nearly three weeks after an Indian family of four were found dead in their home, investigators tell the BBC they are no closer to knowing what actually happened.

ROP foils attempt to transfer $6.6 million linked to cyber fraud

The General Directorate of Investigation and Criminal Research at the Royal Oman Police, in cooperation with the National Central Bureaus of the Interpol, has foiled an attempt to transfer approximately $6.6 million through a local bank in Oman after investigations revealed the funds were linked to electronic fraud operations originating from an Asian country.

Indian naval ship IOS Sagar to arrive in Colombo tomorrow

The Indian Naval Ship INS Sunayna operating as IOS Sagar with a multinational crew from 16 countries is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Colombo tomorrow (15), marking its seventh port call during the second edition of the deployment.

Heavy rainfall to intensify; red warning issued for multiple districts

The Department of Meteorology has issued a red warning for heavy rainfall affecting several parts of the country, warning that showers exceeding 100 mm are likely in some areas.