Rejection of Sri Lankan student visa applications to Australia surge to 38%

Sri Lankan students are increasingly affected by the impact of Australia’s tightened student visa policies, with new data showing a significant rise in rejection rates for higher education visas.

President faces contempt of court allegations over remarks on May 25 judgment

Riled by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s claim that he had prior knowledge of a judgment to be delivered on May 25, the Joint Opposition is now planning to address a letter to the Chief Justice, drawing his attention to this very distressing situation.

Sri Lanka named priority country in U.S. Food for Progress funding for 2026

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has officially designated Sri Lanka as a priority country for its Food for Progress programme in the upcoming 2026 fiscal year.

Sajith should act as Opposition Leader, not as SJB leader: Joint Opposition

Sajith Premadasa should act as the Opposition Leader and should work with all Opposition political parties, former Minister Dilan Perera said on behalf of the Joint Opposition.

Special Parliamentary Committee appointed to review election laws

A special Parliamentary committee chaired by Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dr. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna has been appointed to review and make recommendations on laws pertaining to elections, except for laws pertaining to the Provincial Council elections.

37 Chinese nationals arrested in Negombo deported under tight security

A group of 37 Chinese nationals who had entered Sri Lanka on business visas and were allegedly hiding in a house in the Negombo area were deported late last night following their arrest by immigration authorities.

Explosion at China fireworks factory kills 21 people

A blast at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province has killed 21 people and left 61 wounded, according to state media.

VAT revision not a tax increase, govt. clarifies tax change

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera yesterday rejected claims of a looming VAT hike, stating that tax changes due to take effect on July 1, 2026, are intended to streamline the system without increasing the overall tax burden.

Sri Lanka’s new VAT rules could have negative outcome on tourism, telecom, IT sectors

The government’s latest move to expand the Value Added Tax (VAT) net to the digital economy, effective July 1, has triggered alarm bells across multiple sectors.

US strikes Iranian fast boats as Iran attacks UAE oil facility

President Donald Trump says the US has struck seven Iranian ’’fast boats’’ in the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington seeks to guide stranded ships out of the Gulf through the largely closed waterway.

Tamil Nadu election results final: TVK shocks Dravidian giants, looks to form govt amidst fractured verdict

While Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay began his journey to the chief minister’s office at For St George on Monday, Tamil Nadu entered an uncharted political territory of a fractured mandate and the possibility of a coalition govt.

Port unions oppose SLPA terminal privatisation

The Ports Trade Unions Joint Alliance has warned it will strongly oppose any attempt to privatise key terminals at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, claiming that operating them under state control is more beneficial.

India trade push could boost Sri Lanka exports by half: ADB

Sri Lanka could expand its exports by as much as 50 percent by deepening the trade ties with India, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said, while it went on to warn that the island nation’s continued reliance on the Western markets is leaving it exposed to external shocks and constraining growth.

Hambantota International Port attracts major global shipping lines

Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) last week hosted senior representatives from two of the world’s leading container shipping lines, signalling growing commercial interest in the port as global trade patterns adjust to instability in the Middle East.

SriLankan Airlines partners with Flynas to boost Saudi connectivity

SriLankan Airlines has entered into a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Flynas to enhance air connectivity between the two countries, with the aim of offering the passengers more convenient travel options across key routes. The alliance is aimed at improving access for tourists, business travellers and pilgrims by enabling smoother connections between international and domestic flights.

MK Stalin concedes defeat, says DMK will work as exemplary Opposition

MK Stalin has conceded defeat in the Tamil Nadu election, accepting the verdict of the people and congratulating the winning side. “We bow to and accept the verdict of the people. Congratulations to the victors!” Stalin said in a post on X, acknowledging the outcome after a closely watched contest in the southern state.

Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee members receive appointment letters

The official appointment letters for members of the newly established Cricket Transformation Committee (CTC) were handed over today by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

Hot, humid weather to end by mid-May: Met. Dept.

The current hot, humid weather, which causes excess perspiration, is expected to end by the middle of this month with the onset of the southwest monsoon, the Department of Meteorology said today.

PM Modi hails historic win in West Bengal and Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi on Monday as counting trends showed the party surging past the majority mark in West Bengal and retaining power in Assam.

Two major turmeric hauls hidden in chilli imports seized by customs

In two separate operations, today, officers of the Customs Prevention Division seized large stocks of undeclared turmeric that had been concealed among imported dried chillies.

Gammanpila demands fresh post-mortem over Finance Ministry official’s death

While rejecting the post-mortem report on the death of Ranga Nishantha, an Assistant Director at the Ministry of Finance, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila has called for a second post-mortem to be conducted by a new, independent panel.

Sri Lanka appoints representative to Palestine equivalent to ambassador

Sri Lanka has appointed M. Fauser as Sri Lanka’s representative to Palestine, equivalent in status to an ambassador, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

UAE says Iran fired drones at oil tanker in Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) says Iran launched two suicide drones at a tanker affiliated with its Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the Strait of Hormuz.

WhatsApp video scam targets Sri Lankans; victims blackmailed for ransom

Several complaints have been lodged with the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) in recent days over a new WhatsApp-based video scam that has reportedly targeted Sri Lankans, with operations believed to be linked to India.

Russia offers AI health support, advanced medical training for Sri Lankan doctors

Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko held talks today on strengthening Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare system and expanding the use of modern technology, including artificial intelligence, in the health sector.

US denies Iranian claim it struck American warship

US Central Command (Centcom) denies that one of its warships has been struck by two Iranian missiles.

Netherlands marks Remembrance Day in Colombo with tribute to war victims

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands today commemorated Remembrance Day with a solemn ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves section of the Jawatta Cemetery, honouring Dutch victims of war buried in Sri Lanka.

SriLankan Airlines wins two top South Asia awards at PAX 2026

SriLankan Airlines has secured two major accolades in the South Asia category at the PAX International Readership Awards 2026 held recently in Hamburg, Germany.

Former SLPP MP nabbed over Rs. 21.3 mn Romania job scam

A former Member of Parliament affiliated with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has been arrested over an alleged large-scale foreign employment scam involving more than Rs. 21.3 million, The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.

Iran prevents entry of U.S. warships into Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s navy said on Monday it had prevented the entry of enemy warships into the Strait of Hormuz by issuing a “swift and decisive warning”, according to state TV.