Namal highlights Asia’s civilizational role due to economic rise

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organiser and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa said Asia’s future leadership should extend beyond economic growth and focus on moral, cultural and civilizational values.

Govt. imposes 50% Custom duty surcharge on vehicle imports

The Ministry of Finance has decided to levy a 50% surcharge on the prevailing Customs import duties applicable to all imported vehicles, effective immediately from today (May 16).

Train derails between Wanawasala and Kelaniya; Two Injured

A train travelling from Polgahawela to Colombo Fort derailed between the Wanawasala and Kelaniya railway stations early this morning, causing disruptions to train services on the main railway line.

Iran has ‘no trust’ in the U.S., will negotiate only if it is serious, Araghchi says

Tehran has “no trust” in the U.S. and is interested in negotiating with Washington only if it is ​serious, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday, as ‌talks on ending the war remained on hold.

Indian geologist arrested at BIA with cocaine worth Rs. 108 mn

A 60-year-old Indian national was arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday (16) after Customs officers detected a consignment of cocaine worth an estimated Rs. 108 million concealed in his luggage.

CEJ seeks court order to channel shopping bag charges into environmental fund

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has filed a case seeking to establish an environmental conservation levy mechanism using the charges currently imposed on shopping bags, arguing that the funds should be directed to a government environmental fund rather than retained by private businesses.

Xi will visit US in fall at Trump’s invitation, Chinese foreign minister says

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit ‌to ⁠the ⁠U.S. in the fall at the invitation of President Donald Trump, China’s ⁠foreign minister ‌Wang Yi said on ⁠Friday.

Early rally fades as profit-taking pulls market to a flat close

The Colombo Stock Exchange commenced today’s session on a positive note, supported by encouraging quarterly earnings released by several listed companies, which helped boost investor sentiment and push the indices higher during early trading. The ASPI gained over 78 points during the session as buying interest emerged across selected counters.

Sri Lanka-linked accounts behind anti-immigration AI videos targeting UK

A network of social media accounts linked to Sri Lanka and several other countries has been spreading AI-generated anti-immigration content targeting the United Kingdom, according to a BBC investigation.

Energy crisis not over, vigilance still needed: PM Harini

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said the government has managed the energy crisis through a sustainable process without placing a burden on the public, while warning that the crisis is still not over.

Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits northern Japan, no tsunami warning issued

An earthquake ​with a ‌preliminary magnitude of 6.3 ​hit northern ​Japan on Friday, ⁠the Japan ​Meteorological Agency ​said.

Death toll in attack on Kyiv apartment building now stands at 24

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that a Russian missile attack on a Kyiv apartment building the previous day killed 24 people, including three children.

IMF no longer confers with me, says Sajith

The International Monetary Fund no longer confers with him because he has been critical of the organisation, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said today.

New outbreak of Ebola kills 65 in eastern DR Congo

Africa’s top health agency has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Ituri province.

Father and daughter killed in wild elephant attack in Wilgamuwa

A 56-year-old father and his 25-year-old daughter were killed in a wild elephant attack in the Hettipola area of Wilgamuwa on Friday morning.

Rupee slides as US Dollar surpasses Rs. 331 mark

The Sri Lankan Rupee has weakened further against the US Dollar, with the selling rate crossing the Rs. 331 mark for the first time after December in 2023, according to the latest exchange rate report issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on May 15.

Oil gains after Trump says Xi agrees Iran cannot have nuclear weapons

Oil prices gained about 2% after U.S. President Donald Trump said he and ‌China’s Xi Jinping agree Iran cannot have nuclear weapons and as concerns persisted over ship attacks and seizures despite Tehran saying about 30 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz.

Another faulty financial transaction hits government

Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy Minister Aruna Karunathilleke confirmed to the Daily Mirror today that another transaction error had occurred in the payment of 74,000 UAE dirhams to a SriLankan Airlines service provider.

Prime Minister welcomes collaboration with PayPal to support cross-border services

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya today welcomed the initiative by Sri Lankan banks to collaborate with PayPal as the country advances its digital economy ambitions.

Total of 104 people sheltered in two safe centres due to adverse weather: DMC

Claiming that there is no major disaster situation reported in the country due to the previaling rainy weather, Director of the Disaster Management Centre, Pradeep Kodippili said today that 104 people have been sheltered in two safe centres in the Kalutara and Puttalam districts.

Government purchases potato harvest in Nuwara Eliya

Farmers in the Nuwara Eliya area have begun handing over their potato harvest to the government under a special purchasing programme introduced to address the marketing difficulties faced by local potato growers.

Israel job seekers protest outside Presidential Secretariat over delays

A group of people who had applied for jobs in Israel staged a protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat today, demanding solutions to the difficulties faced by them who claim to have been waiting in the web system for more than 15 months after qualifying for jobs in Israel’s restaurant sector.

US jury awards family of Boeing 737 MAX crash victim $49.5 million

A jury in Chicago awarded $49.5 million to the family of a woman who was killed in the March 2019 crash of an Ethiopian ​Airlines Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab 737 MAX.

Madonna, Shakira, BTS to headline first World Cup final halftime show

Madonna, Shakira and K-pop megastars BTS will headline a Super Bowl-style halftime show at the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, FIFA said Thursday.

Government wooing continues but no one will go: SJB MP

The government is continuously wooing opposition members but no one will join, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman said today.

Trump says China wants to buy oil from US

U.S. ​President Donald ‌Trump said ​China ​wants to buy ⁠oil ​from the ​United States.

India hikes petrol, diesel prices more than 3%, retailers say

India has raised petrol and diesel prices for the first time in four ​years by 3 rupees ($0.03) per litre, or more than 3%, according to ‌retailers in Delhi on Friday, to recoup some of the losses incurred due to higher global crude oil prices.

Vegetable prices likely to rise further as bad weather continues

Vegetable prices are expected to increase in the coming days as adverse weather conditions continue to disrupt supplies across the country, while the Department of Meteorology yesterday warned that the prevailing rainy conditions are likely to persist for several more days.

Buried treasure a myth: Archaeology DG

Claiming that more than 100 incidents of illegal archaeological excavations have been reported so far this year, Director General of Archaeology Senarath Wickramasinghe said yesterday most of the illegal excavations are driven by myths of buried treasure.

7th National Police Commission term ends today

The three-year term of the 7th National Police Commission (NPC) is set to expire today (May 15), bringing to an end the tenure of the independent oversight body appointed in 2023.