FIFA ups payments to clubs who send players to World Cup

Clubs whose players go to the World Cup, or appeared in qualifying, will receive increased compensation this summer, FIFA, the governing body of world football, announced on Friday.

Correct guidance needed to prevent Sri Lanka becoming “Climate Orphans” – CEJ

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has called for urgent action to strengthen climate resilience and environmental management in Sri Lanka, warning that the country risks becoming “climate orphans” if proper guidance and adaptation measures are not implemented.

IPL fireball: Here comes the sun…

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who last week was declared as the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) most valuable player, arrived in Sri Lanka today with the India A team to contest a Triangular series that will also feature Afghanistan in Dambulla.

Sri Lanka launches EU-backed green reporting guidelines

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today launched revised green reporting guidelines to align local public and private sectors with international sustainability standards.

Trinity’s spirit too much for worn out Wesley

Trinity outclassed Wesley by 43 points to 10 in their Cup segment match of the Dialog Schools Rugby league tournament played at Havelock Park. It turned out to a one-sided affair as the Lions dominated proceedings and had things their own way.

CSE ends week on a soft note as early gains fade amid cautious Friday profit-taking

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) ended the week on a slightly weaker footing on Friday, as an early attempt at recovery lost momentum and the market drifted lower into the close. Despite a positive start to the session, profit-taking and selective selling during the latter half of trading erased intraday gains, resulting in a marginally negative finish.

Massive raid nets 19 firearms, Ice and 100,000 pregabalin pills

Police have seized 19 firearms, T-56 ammunition, crystal methamphetamine (Ice), and more than 100,000 Pregabalin pills following a two-week investigation that uncovered a suspected drug and weapons trafficking network operating between the Southern and Western provinces.

Wrong decisions led to rupee devaluation crisis - Mujibur

Wrong decisions have led to the current rupee devaluation crisis, a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP said today.

Gimhani ruled out of Women’s T20 World Cup; Vimukthi called up

Sri Lanka have suffered an injury setback ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Shashini Gimhani ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a lower-back injury during training.

Suspected Ebola case reported in India

A suspected case of Ebola virus disease has been reported in Rajasthan, prompting health authorities to activate precautionary protocols while awaiting laboratory confirmation. The patient, a woman from Uganda who arrived in Jaipur from Sharjah on Friday morning aboard an Air Arabia flight, was flagged during routine airport screening after exhibiting symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease.

FCID arrests Wimal’s ex-media secretary

Former Media Secretary to Wimal Weerawansa, Prasad Manju, has been arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) in connection with an investigation into the alleged misuse of state resources, Police said.

Sangakkara Joins Women Cricketers’ Transformation Meeting

Players of the National Team, Sri Lanka ‘A’, and Under-19 teams participated in the meeting, which was chaired by Eran Wickramaratne, Chairman of the Cricket Transformation Committee.

Rupee depreciation not an economic crisis, says Deputy Finance Minister

Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando has dismissed claims that the recent depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee signals an economic crisis, describing such portrayals as misleading.

US Senate approves US$70 billion for Trump immigration crackdown

The US Senate on Friday (Jun 5) approved US$70 billion in funding for Donald Trump’s hardline immigration crackdown, but only after a long day of votes on multiple amendments that highlighted Republican infighting over some of the president’s other contentious policy proposals.

LAUGFS gas prices remain unchanged

LAUGFS Gas PLC has announced that domestic LPG prices will remain unchanged for June despite rising global procurement costs, supply chain challenges, and the depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee.

Police hunt three suspects in Meegoda fatal crash

Police have sought public assistance to locate and arrest three suspects who allegedly fled the scene of the fatal road accident near the Meegoda Junction on the Avissawella-Colombo High Level Road, which claimed six lives and left seven others critically injured.

Fifa regrets free ticket error but demands fans pay

Fifa has admitted an error on its website allowed 60 fans to purchase World Cup tickets for free.

Nearly 50 people die of thirst in Sahara desert after lorry breaks down

At least 49 people have died of thirst in a remote part of the Sahara desert in northern Niger after the truck carrying them broke down, authorities said.

Huge flags and pyrotechnics with World Cup anthems

Fifa has unveiled what it describes as a new ’’unique, immersive experience’’ pre-match ceremony for all matches at the 2026 World Cup.

Special islandwide dengue control programme as cases rise

The Ministry of Health has announced the implementation of a special dengue mosquito control programme on June 8, 9, and 10, in light of the rising spread of the disease in Sri Lanka.

Rs. 30 Mn worth properties frozen in probe linked to female drug trafficker

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division has launched an investigation into a suspected drug trafficking operation following a complaint referred by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) involving a female suspect residing in Colombo 14.

Anil Jayantha to represent Sri Lanka at ILO meet

Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando is scheduled to leave Sri Lanka on June 7 to attend the 114th Annual Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupts, forcing airport to close

A highly active volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted several times on Friday (Jun 5), spewing towering ash columns into the sky and forcing a local airport to close, authorities said.

Xi Jinping to meet Kim Jong Un in rare visit to North Korea

China’s president Xi Jinping will meet Kim Jong Un next week in a trip to North Korea, in his first visit in nearly seven years, according to both countries’ state media.

Assistant Manager, security officer arrested over Horana bank robbery

An Assistant Manager and a security officer have been arrested in connection with the robbery of Rs. 35 million from a state bank in Horana recently.

Zelensky proposes face-to-face talks in open letter to Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a face-to-face meeting between himself and Vladimir Putin in a renewed bid to end the war.

Several injured in Boeing 787 nose-gear collapse in Frankfurt

Several staff members were injured when the nose gear ​of a Boeing (BA.N) 787 jetliner unexpectedly collapsed ‌at a gate at Frankfurt airport on Thursday, its operator Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) said.

Immediate measures underway to address flooding on airport access roads

Immediate action has been launched to address the recurring flooding of access roads leading to the Bandaranaike International Airport, following interventions by Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku.

Bear opens window in factory escape, Japanese police say

A bear that was holed up inside an electronics factory in north-east Japan after attacking four people has eluded capture, apparently by opening a window by itself and fleeing under the cover of night, authorities said.

US plans to fight flesh-eating screwworm outbreak with flies and dogs

US agriculture and health officials have outlined a plan to combat a flesh-eating parasite that has been detected in the US for the first time since 1966.