News

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.

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.

The Court of Appeal has dismissed a writ petition that was filed requesting to revoke the Parliamentary seat of Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala.

A judge-bench, consisting of the Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mohammed Thahir Laffar, and Justice Sarath Dissanayake, announced the decision today.

The petition was filed by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Administrative Secretary Renuka Perera over Wijepala’s appointment as the Chief of Staff of the President.

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.

The National People's Power (NPP) has secured a historic and commanding victory in Sri Lanka’s 2025 Local Government Elections, winning 3,927 local government seats with a total of 4,503,930 votes, according to final results released on Wednesday (7). The National People's Power won a total of 265 Local Government Institutions, compared to the 12 won by the Samagi Jana Balavegaya.

The SLPP and the UNP, once-dominant forces in Sri Lankan politics, failed to secure even one local government body.

This outcome marks a dramatic shift in the country’s political dynamics, with the NPP—led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake—cementing its position as the dominant political force at the grassroots level.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Sajith Premadasa, came in a distant second with 2,258,480 votes and 1,767 seats, while the once-dominant Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP continued its decline, securing only 742 seats with 954,517 votes.

The United National Party (UNP), which once held significant urban influence, managed just 381 seats with 488,406 votes, further reflecting its diminishing national presence.

Other notable results include:

• People’s Alliance (PA): 300 seats (387,098 votes)

• Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK): 377 seats (307,657 votes)

• Sarvajana Balaya (SB): 226 seats (294,681 votes)

• Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC): 116 seats (139,858 votes)

• Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA): 106 seats (89,177 votes)

• All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC): 60 seats (75,268 votes)

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.

Four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and one Agreement were signed today (05 May) between Sri Lanka and Vietnam, in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President of Vietnam, Luong Cuong.

According to Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Division (PMD), the signing took place following bilateral discussions held at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi earlier this morning.

Among the agreements signed was a bilateral pact on enhancing cooperation and mutual support in customs affairs between Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Additionally, an MoU between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development of Sri Lanka on cooperation in machinery and equipment manufacturing, an MoU between the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Agriculture of Sri Lanka on cooperation in agriculture, an MoU between the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI) of Sri Lanka and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and an MoU between the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board on trade promotion cooperation were also signed.

These agreements aim to facilitate knowledge sharing and the exchange of diplomats, experts, officials, scholars and researchers, while also encouraging the organization and participation in academic and research programmes, training initiatives and conferences related to diplomacy.

They also provide a platform for a broad range of trade promotion activities, including the exchange of trade and market intelligence, joint participation in trade fairs and exhibitions in both countries, and the organization of business networking events for private sector representatives.

According to the PMD, it is expected that this enhanced cooperation will unlock significant market opportunities for both countries, particularly in the sectors of value-added agriculture, fisheries, apparel and Processed food.

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.

The 2025 Local Government Election will be held tomorrow, May 6. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. across the country at 13,759 polling centres.

How to vote:

Each voter receives one ballot paper showing:

• Political party or independent group names along with their symbols
• Voters must mark an X in the box next to their chosen party or independent group. While you may have a preferred candidate, votes are cast only for parties or groups—not for individual candidates. The local government election does not allow voting directly for candidates.
• No other marks are allowed; incorrectly marked ballots will be rejected.