News

The parents of the child who tragically passed away in Kotahena, along with the police team conducting the investigation, met at the Prime Minister’s Office today for a detailed discussion.

The meeting was also attended by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Paulraj, and several other officials.

During the meeting, the police team was instructed to carry out a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation into the incidents that allegedly took place at the school and tuition class, which are believed to have contributed to the child’s death.

The Ministry of Education is currently conducting an internal inquiry to assess whether the appropriate procedures were followed effectively from the moment the incident was reported.

In addition, a three-member committee chaired by Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Asvini Fernando has been appointed to take necessary measures to strengthen coordination among government institutions responsible for responding to such cases. (PM Media)

Member of Parliament Dr. Archchuna Ramanathan was removed from the Parliamentary Chamber this afternoon (May 8) for disrupting proceedings during a debate on proposed amendments to the Customs Ordinance.

The removal followed repeated warnings from the presiding member, which Archchuna failed to heed, prompting action to restore order in the chamber.

Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake also strongly condemned Archchuna for repeatedly disrupting parliamentary proceedings, and interrupting his allotted speech time.

he National Vesak Week commences today, with this year’s theme being “Let's associate with noble people with good qualities.” 

Secretary to the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, W.P. Senadheera said that it will continue until the 16th of May.

The official inauguration ceremony will take place today at the Nuwara Eliya Buddhist Center, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

All liquor stores and meat outlets across the island will remain closed for three days during the week.

Sri Lanka Railways has announced special train services to accommodate devotees attending the State Vesak Festival in Nuwara Eliya and those traveling to Anuradhapura.

These services will be operational from today through the 13th of May.

Black smoke rose from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 11:50 on Thursday morning, signalling the second ballot of the first full day of the conclave – and the third ballot overall – was inconclusive.

As the cardinals break for lunch, the people in the square continue to look up at the chimney in anticipation. Voting is expected to resume at around 16:00.

Around 15,000 people had gathered in St Peter’s Square to await the announcement.

Bids have been called for the auction of 27 luxury and decommissioned vehicles belonging to the President's Office.

These vehicles were manufactured between 1991 and 2016.

Tenders can be obtained until the 14th of this month, by visiting the President's Office between 9 am and 3 pm on weekdays.

These vehicles can be inspected in Salu Sala located on Jawatte Road, Colombo, on the 14th of May.

Under the first phase of the auction, 14 luxury vehicles and 6 decommissioned vehicles were auctioned.

Samantha Ranasinghe was sworn in as a Member of Parliament representing the National People's Power in the Kegalle District this morning.

Samantha Ranasinghe took Oaths before the Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

Ranasinghe was sworn in as a MP to fill the Parliamentary seat that fell vacant following the demise of National People’s Power (NPP) Kegalle District MP Kosala Nuwan Jayaweera last month.

In a devastating incident, a Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force's No. 7 Squadron crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir at approximately 8:17 AM today (9).

According to Air Force spokesperson Group Captain Eranda Geeganage, six individuals tragically lost their lives in the crash.

The victims include four members of the Sri Lanka Army Special Forces and two Air Force gunners. Their bodies have been transported to the Polonnaruwa General Hospital.

Among the survivors are the two pilots of the helicopter, who are currently receiving treatment at hospitals in Polonnaruwa and Aralaganwila.

The helicopter was carrying 12 military personnel at the time of the accident.

The Bell 212 helicopter had taken off from the Hingurakgoda Air Force Base at 6:47 AM, heading towards Maduru Oya for a drill exhibition.

The cause of the crash is yet to be determined, and an investigation team comprising nine members has been appointed by the Air Force Commander to probe the incident.

The World Bank Group announced a $1 billion financing package aimed at creating jobs and unlocking private sector growth over the next three years, for Sri Lanka.

The initiative targets high-potential sectors including energy, agriculture, tourism, and regional development.

The announcement followed a high-level meeting in Colombo between Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga—marking the first visit by a World Bank President to the country in two decades.

“This support from the World Bank Group is an investment in the people of Sri Lanka,” said President Dissanayake, according to a statement from the World Bank. “It will help create jobs, support small businesses, and open up new opportunities across the country. We are committed to ensuring this partnership delivers real change for our communities.”

President Banga emphasized the urgency of leveraging this moment to accelerate reforms and attract private capital.

“This is a moment of opportunity for Sri Lanka,” Banga said. “With progress underway to stabilize the economy and restart growth, core elements for job creation are in place. Now is the time to create the conditions for private enterprise to thrive—particularly in sectors that can create jobs at scale.”

The World Bank estimates that nearly one million young people will enter Sri Lanka’s workforce over the next decade, yet only 300,000 jobs are projected to be created under current trends. The new initiative aims to close this gap by mobilizing both public and private investment.

Key components of the package include:

Energy ($185 million): Supporting 1 GW of new solar and wind capacity to reduce electricity costs and attract over $800 million in private investment. Includes $40 million in guarantees.

Agriculture ($100 million): Enabling 380,000+ farmers and agribusinesses to adopt modern technologies and access markets, with $17 million in expected private financing.

Tourism ($200 million): Enhancing natural and cultural assets to boost tourism and create community-based jobs.

Regional Development ($200 million): Investing in infrastructure and industries in underserved areas, including the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

This integrated approach combines financing, technical expertise, and private sector tools to drive inclusive growth and resilience.

The World Bank Group has been a development partner to Sri Lanka for over 70 years, with current investments exceeding $2.2 billion.

This new initiative deepens that partnership, focusing on job creation, private sector expansion, and inclusive economic transformation.

spended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandhu Tennakoon has been informed to appear before the ‘Committee of Inquiry appointed to inquire and report its findings on Tennakoon in respect of acts of gross abuse of power’, on May 19, 2025.

The committee has met in the Parliament premises on several occasions as of now, and accordingly, for the first time, IGP Deshabandhu Tennakoon has been informed by the committee, to appear before the said, for future investigations, the Parliamentary Communications Department said.

The National People’s Power (NPP) has secured victory in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) by winning a total of 48 seats after polling over 81,000 votes (36.92%).

National People’s Power (NPP) – 81,814 (48 seats)

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) – 58,375 (29 seats)

United National Party (UNP) – 26,297 (13 seats)

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) – 9,341 (5 seats)

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) – 8,630 (4 seats)

Independent Group 03 – 5,934 (3 seats)

Independent Group 05 – 4,659 (2 seats)

United Peace Alliance – 4,473 (2 seats)

Sarvajana Balaya (SB) – 3,911 (2 seats)

Independent Group 04 – 3,640 (2 seats)

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with Mr. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss Sri Lanka’s development priorities and the continuation of strategic collaboration.

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the World Bank’s support during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis and reiterated the government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. Mr. Banga commended the government’s reform agenda and emphasized the importance of job creation and enhancing employment quality as key drivers of economic recovery.

Discussions focused on investment in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, tourism, and production industries. Mr. Banga also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to transform key sectors, particularly agriculture, and encouraged Sri Lanka to explore its application for innovation and productivity. The Prime Minister noted ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare policy and expand technical and vocational education to better align with the demands of emerging industries.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Trevor Kincaid, Special Advisor; Mr. David Sislen, Country Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka; Mr. Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Manager for Maldives and Sri Lanka; and Mr. Imad Fakhoury, Regional Director for South Asia at the International Finance Corporation. Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister; Dr. P.K.G. Harischandra, Alternate Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund for the constituency of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri Lanka; Mr. Dharshana Perera, Senior Director General of the Economic Affairs (Bilateral) Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism; and Mr. Dammika Premarathna, Additional Director General of the External Resources Department.

Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who was arrested earlier today by the Bribery Commission, has been remanded until May 20 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.

He was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, where the magistrate ordered that he be remanded pending further inquiries.