Will Kapila’s legal team be called to testify? - Court to decide on June 2

Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena ordered that the decision on whether the 19th and 20th witnesses, namely President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne and his junior counsel Udara Muhandiramge, are required to give evidence in relation to the death of Kapila Chandrasena, be delivered on June 2.

Minor flood risk forecast for Kuda Ganga and Maguru Ganga within 48 hours

The Irrigation Department has issued a warning that a minor flood situation may occur within the next 48 hours in low-lying areas of the Kuda Ganga and Maguru Ganga floodplains, following increased rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Kuda Ganga sub-basin of the Kalu Ganga.

Measures planned to prevent flooding on Katunayake airport road

Authorities have decided to take immediate and long-term measures to prevent flooding on the main road from Katunayake Airport to Andiambalam and Minuwangoda following repeated inundation of the area during adverse weather conditions.

New Sri Lankan High Commission inaugurated in Wellington

Strengthening bilateral ties between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the new High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Wellington was officially opened yesterday (28).

Humanoid robots ’the future’ of car making, says BMW

For the first time, BMW will use humanoid robots for car manufacturing in Europe. Two robots, made by Hexagon Robotics, are planned to work in production from the summer.

Netanyahu says he directed Israeli military to take over 70% of Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he has directed Israel’s military to take over 70% of Gaza’s territory.

Traffic alert: Special plan for Matara-Hakmana road

A special traffic plan will be implemented today (May 29) on the roads surrounding the Midellawala Purana Viharaya in Thihagoda, Matara, in view of the 2026 State Vesak Festival, police announced.

Transport ministry secretary resigns

Professor Kapila Perera, the Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, has reportedly decided to resign from his post.

Rain and strong winds likely across several areas

The Meteorology Department today forecast showers or thundershowers at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces and in the Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts.

AI facial recognition to check age of asylum seekers from next year

An AI facial recognition tool that aims to detect adult migrants posing as children will be deployed at the UK’s borders next year.

American crude arrives for the first time

A stock of American crude oil arrived in the country for the first time yesterday, steadying the fuel supply despite a possible price hike expected soon, an official said yesterday.

Colombo port expansion plans gather pace with US$ 2Bn pipeline

​The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has unveiled an ambitious investment pipeline reaching up to US$ 2 billion over the next one to three years, aimed at transforming the country’s maritime and logistics sector.

Global crises slam brakes on Sri Lanka’s recovery: IMF

Sri Lanka’s economic recovery is beginning to lose momentum under the weight of renewed global shocks, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, warning that the war in the Middle East, rising oil prices, and post-cyclone disruptions are slowing growth.

Essential services gazette notification issued

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a wide range of public services as essential services under the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979, in view of the post-disaster situation caused by the cyclone.

Government lacks votes, not funds: Dayasiri slams election delays

Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara strongly criticised the government over the continued delay in holding Provincial Council elections, claiming the administration is avoiding polls due to fear of political defeat rather than financial difficulties.

’Breakneck’ Ebola epidemic in Congo outpaces world’s response

In an Ebola outbreak, hours matter. Yet the response to the deadly and fast-spreading epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is weeks if not months behind - and missing thousands of people who may be at risk.

Banks can proceed against guarantors without suing principal debtor first: SC

The Supreme Court ruled that a bank is legally entitled to institute action directly against a guarantor without first proceeding against the principal debtor, provided the guarantor has expressly waived that right in the guarantee agreement.

Spurning just war, Pope Leo ends Catholic ’permission slip’ for conflicts

Pope Leo this week repudiated a major teaching used by the Catholic Church since at ​least the fifth century to evaluate when countries might be justified in waging wars, in a move experts said could have long-reaching impact ‌for global powers.

400 Digital Champions to be recruited for PIC-NET digital drive

Applications have been called to recruit 400 public officers as Digital Champions for the Public Impact Champions Network (PIC-NET), an institutional pilot initiative aimed at optimising public services through digitalisation.

Israel hits Lebanese capital in ’targeted strike’

Israel has hit the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for only the second since the start of a ceasefire last month.

Force may be used against those evading checkpoints, warn police

Sri Lanka Police urged the public to fully cooperate with law enforcement officers during vehicle inspections and residential searches, warning that attempts to evade police checkpoints or obstruct official duties could result in legal action and the use of necessary police force.

Climate change no longer distant threat, officials say

Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a present and growing reality affecting countries across the world, including Sri Lanka. Its impacts are already being felt through extreme weather events, changing rainfall patterns, increasing pressure on livelihoods, rising threats to food security, damage to infrastructure, and wider risks to sustainable national development, officials said.

Reduce taxes on sanitary products: Sajith

Highlighting that ‘menstruation’ of women had become a major social and health issue, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said today that reducing taxes on sanitary products and thereby reducing prices will help resolve the issue.

Israel strikes Beirut and southern Lebanon after large-scale evacuation orders

Waves of Israeli strikes have hit southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, according to the Israeli military.

Train avoids elephant collision on Habarana–Palugaswewa line

A major railway accident was narrowly averted when a train driver and a wildlife officer acted swiftly to prevent a collision with a wild elephant crossing the tracks between Habarana and Palugaswewa.

New report suggests more global temperature records ahead

Global average temperatures are likely to continue at or near record levels in the next five years, with Arctic temperature anomalies expected to continue to be higher than the global mean, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), produced by the UK’s Met Office.

Rs. 2.8bn spent on elephant fences amid rising conflict: Audit Report

The Department of Wildlife Conservation has spent nearly Rs. 2,835.1 million on the construction and maintenance of elephant fences between 2021 and 2024, according to the 2024 audit report.

Police to bring back 89 red notice suspects hiding abroad: Spokesperson

Police Media Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wutler says authorities are continuing efforts to repatriate 89 suspects wanted under Red Notices who are currently hiding in foreign countries in connection with serious criminal offences in Sri Lanka.

Welikada Police OIC remanded over alleged passport bribery scandal

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Welikada Police Station to be remanded in custody over allegations of soliciting an LKR 300,000 bribe per passport to return the travel documents of a group of Chinese nationals who were recently arrested in Rajagiriya.

Iran says it targeted American base after fresh US strikes

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has targeted an American air base in the region, after fresh US strikes on southern Iran.