Officers must prioritise public grievance committees: Minister

Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Professor Chandana Abayaratne has emphasized that public officers are duty-bound to provide prompt solutions to public grievances and must prioritise Divisional Coordination Committee meetings above other official engagements.

Sri Lanka tourism wins four international awards at SITF 2026 in South Korea

Sri Lanka Tourism has earned international acclaim at the 41st Seoul International Travel Fair (SITF 2026), held from June 4–7 at COEX, Seoul, South Korea, securing four prestigious awards that underscore the country’s rising profile in the global tourism industry.

Preschool education gets science-based overhaul

Sri Lanka is introducing major reforms to preschool education with a new science-based curriculum designed to improve the quality of early childhood learning across the country.

UAE bans social media for children under the age of 15

The UAE Cabinet has issued a resolution regulating children’s access to social media platforms and sets the minimum age for social media use at 15 years.

Probe launched into Police-Air Force standoff in Kalpitiya

The Sri Lanka Police have launched an investigation into a tense standoff that erupted between a group of police officers and Sri Lanka Air Force personnel during a raid at the Kalpitiya seashore.

Rough seas, strong winds expected off southern and southeastern coast

The Meteorology Department has warned that sea areas off the coast from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be rough at times, with strong gusty winds reaching speeds of 50 to 60 kmph.

Parents urged to choose only registered preschools as quality drive gathers pace

The government has urged parents to enrol their children only in government-registered preschools as part of a nationwide effort to improve standards in Sri Lanka’s early childhood development sector.

Middle East conflict puts global spotlight on Colombo Port, World Bank tells government

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has placed the Colombo Port under increased global attention, prompting the World Bank to urge the Sri Lankan government to exercise great care in its future development and management, during discussions with Civil Aviation and Energy Minister Anura Karunathilake at the Ministry premises.

Govt assures preschool teachers reforms will not threaten jobs

The government has assured preschool teachers that the ongoing reforms in Sri Lanka’s early childhood development sector will not jeopardise their employment, urging them not to be misled by misinformation surrounding the new policy changes.

AI will create more jobs for humans, not replace them, Amazon founder Bezos says

AI will lead to more need for workers rather than make people redundant, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos predicted during an appearance at a tech conference in Paris.

“Let my houses stay where they are”: Lalkantha tells critics to go to court

Minister K.D. Lalkantha dismissed allegations over his properties, saying anyone with concerns should take legal action.

Trump says he will visit India as frosty relationship with Modi thaws

US President Donald Trump promised to visit India during a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit in France, signalling a thawing of relations between the two countries.

Health authorities urge public to eliminate mosquito breeding sites as cases climb

The Health Promotion Bureau has launched a nationwide awareness campaign urging the public to take immediate action to prevent the spread of dengue as cases continue to rise across the country.

Trump and Iran’s Pezeshkian sign initial deal to end war; Further talks planned

US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have reportedly signed an initial agreement aimed at ending ongoing hostilities between the two countries, according to details released from the event.

Bird flu kills more than 75% of baby seals on remote Australian island, study finds

Bird flu has killed thousands of southern elephant seal pups on remote Antarctic islands belonging to Australia, new research has shown.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s mother gets visa to attend World Cup

The mother of Cape Verde’s star goalkeeper Vozinha has been granted a visa to enter the United States in time for her 40-year-old son’s next World Cup match, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced.

Sugeeshwara Bandara arrested

The leader of the New People’s Front, Sugeeshwara Bandara, has been arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), police said.

Ghost’s children have entered UNP working committee: Ravi K

Ghost’s children have entered the United National Party (UNP) working committee while seniors have been kept out, MP Ravi Karunanayake said today.

Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman deemed to have vacated post after losing budget - Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled that a Chairman of a Pradeshiya Sabha who fails to obtain the approval of council members for the annual budget after the first two years is deemed to have vacated his office.

Ukraine strikes key Moscow oil refinery for the second time in a week

Ukraine struck a key oil refinery in Moscow early Thursday morning for the second time this week, Russian officials said, as Kyiv increasingly targets Russian energy infrastructure in long-range attacks.

Nuwara Eliya police probe woman’s body found near Teldeniya hospital

Nuwara Eliya Police have launched an investigation into the discovery of a young woman’s body found inside a vehicle near the Teldeniya Hospital in Kandy on the 17th, following reports that she had been staying at a tourist hotel in Nuwara Eliya with her boyfriend a day earlier, on the 16th.

Crop insurance expanded due to climate volatility and extreme weather risks

Due to growing concerns over climate volatility and extreme weather patterns, the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board under the Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Ministry has expanded its crop insurance coverage islandwide, introducing a broader scheme designed to protect farmers from natural disaster-related losses.

Oil down 2% after US, Iran sign ceasefire agreement

Oil prices fell more than $1 per barrel on Thursday after the U.S. and Iran signed ‌an interim agreement that would end the Iran war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and waive U.S. sanctions on Tehran’s oil, boosting the oil supply outlook.

Apple to raise prices as AI boom pushes up chip costs

Apple plans to raise the prices of its products as the cost of the memory chips it uses has surged, the technology giant’s boss has said.

Sri Lankan delegation visits Borobudur Temple

A delegation from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy visited Indonesia’s iconic Borobudur Temple as part of a Religious Familiarization Trip aimed at strengthening cultural, spiritual, and people-to-people ties between Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Colombo said.

Sri Lankan monk among seven arrested in Boston prostitution sting, resigns from post

Tufts Buddhist Chaplain Ven. Vineetha Mahayaye was one of seven men arrested on Saturday by the Boston Police Department’s human trafficking unit for allegedly attempting to pay for sexual acts. Mahayaye resigned from his position at Tufts, which he had held since December 2024, on Monday.

Rough sea conditions expected over next 24 hours

The Meteorology Department has warned of strong winds and rough sea conditions in several sea areas around Sri Lanka over the next 24 hours, while showers and thundershowers are also expected in parts of the western and southern coastal waters.

Schools targeted in nationwide dengue Control drive today

In line with the ongoing National Dengue Control Week, authorities have launched a nationwide dengue prevention programme today (18), focusing on schools and other educational institutions as efforts continue to curb the worsening dengue situation across the country.

Nearly 30,000 new teachers to be recruited this year – PM

The government will recruit nearly 30,000 new teachers this year in what Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya described as the largest teacher recruitment drive in the country’s history.

Global crude oil prices fall further as U.S.-Iran peace deal eases supply fears

Global crude oil prices extended their decline on Thursday after the United States and Iran signed an interim peace agreement, easing concerns over oil supply disruptions in the Middle East and raising expectations of increased global crude exports.