Nepal Embassy to host ‘Sagarmatha Programme’ to boost Everest Tourism links with Sri Lanka

The Embassy of Nepal in Colombo has announced plans to host a special “Sagarmatha Programme” on May 29, 2026, aimed at promoting Nepal’s mountain heritage—particularly Mount Everest—and strengthening cultural and adventure tourism ties with Sri Lanka.

First Batch of 2026 Hajj pilgrims departs

The first group of Sri Lankan pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj season departed from Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake tonight (May 1).

NPP May Day rally held...

Socialist Alliance May Day march

FLSP holds May Day rally at Hyde Park

SLFP May Day rally at Campbell Park

Post-mortem confirms suicide in death of suspended Treasury Assistant Director

A four-member committee of forensic medical experts has confirmed that the suspicious death of a suspended Assistant Director of the Ministry of Finance was a suicide caused by self-inflicted injuries.

Iran says it has sent its latest proposal to US via Pakistani mediators

An Iranian diplomatic source has told Al Jazeera that the government submitted a new proposal to Pakistani mediators on Thursday.

Riot erupts over Australian Indigenous girl’s suspected killer, authorities urge calm

Hundreds of protesters clashed with Australian emergency services ​workers in a remote town following the arrest of a man suspected of murdering a 5-year-old Indigenous girl, police said ‌on Friday.

U-19 cricketers released on bail over alleged bathroom filming incident

Two members of Sri Lanka’s Under-19 cricket team who were arrested over the alleged recording of an obscene video involving a woman at a hotel in Narahenpita have been released on bail, Police said.

Journalists manhandled, barred from usual coverage at SJB May Day rally

Media personnel who were present to cover the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) May Day rally this afternoon were not allowed to engage in the usual coverage as they were chased away.

Tribute paid to T. B. Ilangaratne

Fire at Inland Revenue Kalutara office; no impact on tax data systems

A fire broke out at the Kalutara Regional Office of the Inland Revenue Department on last night (April 30), prompting immediate response measures, authorities said.

Amber alert for severe lightning issued across several provinces

The Department of Meteorology has issued an ‘Amber’ advisory warning of severe lightning in several parts of the country, effective from noon today (01) until 11.30 p.m.

Vesak is today as per UN charter: Ranil

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a letter addressed to Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, said that his party cannot participate in the SJB May Day rally today as Vesak is celebrated today as per the UN charter.

President signals intensified anti-corruption drive, targets major cases

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the government is intensifying legal action against corruption and organised crime, claiming that a series of high-profile cases are moving through the courts under strengthened state institutions.

Four-member forensic panel appointed for suspended official’s post-mortem

The Health Ministry Secretary has said that a panel of four expert forensic medical specialists has been appointed to conduct the post-mortem examination of the Assistant Director of the Department of Foreign Resources, who had been suspended in connection with the alleged $2.5 million incident linked to the Treasury.

Hormuz blockade sees alternative land routes opening for trade

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is reshaping trade routes with container ship traffic now using land routes to reach destinations, the AFP news agency reports.

A. E. Gunasinghe remembered

SJB, UNP leaders mark 33rd Premadasa anniversary

19 rescued from drowning in April as Sri Lanka Coast Guard total reaches 2,629

The Sri Lanka Coast Guard rescued 19 people from drowning during April 2026 in a series of operations carried out along popular beaches around the island.

May Day celebrations begin in Nuwara Eliya

Oscar goes missing after Academy Award winner is blocked from taking it on flight

Oscar winner Pavel Talankin was forced to check his golden statuette for his documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin at a New York airport - and now it’s missing.

Thundershowers likely after 1.00 pm today: Met Dept

Showers or thundershowers are expected over most parts of the island after 1.00 pm today, the Meteorology Department said.

Govt issues circular to confirm temporary staff as permanent

The government has issued a circular to grant permanent appointments to employees currently serving on a temporary, casual (daily), substitute, contract or concessionary basis in government institutions.

U.K. whiskey tariffs eased after Trump met with King Charles III

President Donald Trump posted online Thursday that he would remove tariffs on some whiskey, a move that could ease trade tensions for Scotch whisky and Kentucky bourbon producers.

Tobacco-free Sri Lanka: Can post-2010 generation be smoke-free?

Can Sri Lanka create a tobacco-free generation among children born after 2010? A new proposal submitted to Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa aims to do just that.

Vesak Day observed in Kelaniya

Sri Lanka faces essential drug shortage amid economic pressure, doctors’ union warns

Sri Lanka is facing a shortage of several essential medicines due to economic pressures and disruptions in the drug supply mechanism, a medical trade union representative has warned.

Myanmar’s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi moved to house arrest, military says

Myanmar’s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to be moved to house arrest, state media reported on Thursday, more than five years after the military ousted the civilian government she led and jailed the Nobel laureate.