Lifestyle
Met Department warns of fairly heavy rain above 50mm as South-West monsoon establishes
Showers expected in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces; seas off Hambantota to Kankesanthurai to turn rough with 30–40 kmph winds.
Lifestyle
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Lifestyle
Sri Lanka ranks fourth globally for family relocation in Remitly's 2026 Immigration Index
Last year's number one slips to fourth behind Spain, China and the US as the index adds new metrics on schooling, childcare and parental leave.
Lifestyle
Government to Lift Fuel and Electricity Restrictions for Vesak Week
PM Secretary Saputhanthri chaired the final Buddha Rashmi Vesak Zone meeting at Temple Trees, with fuel and power curbs to be lifted for festival week.
Lifestyle
Police Announce Island-Wide Security Plan for Vesak Week
Sri Lanka Police have announced enhanced patrols, traffic management and strict conduct rules for the Vesak season ahead of Poya on May 30.
Lifestyle
128 Wild Elephant Deaths Recorded in First 4.5 Months of 2026
DWC reports 128 wild elephant deaths through 15 May 2026; 35 human deaths from elephant attacks also recorded over the same period.
Lifestyle
Half of diesel vehicles tested emit harmful black smoke; DMT gives 14 days to fix or face blacklist
About 1,000 vehicles inspected this year; mobile teams in 12 high-usage districts, Emissions Division Director Dasun Janaka Gamage tells NewsFirst.
Lifestyle
Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve an 'urgent national necessity', Patabendi warns
Minister Patabendi declares the proposed Hambantota elephant management reserve a national environmental emergency tied to food security and rural safety.
Lifestyle
Cabinet clears Jaffna University's four-year UK global-health research agreement
University of Jaffna will partner with Birmingham and 11 institutions on a Rs. 173.92mn UK-NIHR project on violence against women and children.
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Health Ministry activates five-point Ebola preparedness plan, calls Sri Lanka 'low-risk'
DGHS Asela Gunawardena says airport surveillance, NIID and MRI readiness and WHO coordination have been stepped up after the DR Congo Bundibugyo outbreak.
Lifestyle
Castle Street Hospital Rejects Social-Media Claims of Gender-Change Procedures on Children
Castle Street Hospital director Dr. Ajith Danthanarayana rejected viral claims the women's hospital performs gender-change procedures on children.
Lifestyle
Sri Lanka Records 15 Dengue Deaths, Nearly 30,000 Cases in 2026
Health authorities report 15 dengue deaths and 29,589 cases this year, with Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces hit hardest amid intermittent rain.
Lifestyle
SLBFE to Pay Rs. 10,000 Monthly for Migrant Workers' Children in Registered Daycare
SLBFE will pay Rs. 10,000 a month per child aged 2–13 of overseas workers, channelled to registered daycare centres via District Secretariat offices.
Lifestyle
Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles Banned in State Institutions from May 31
A Public Administration Ministry circular bans the purchase and use of single-use plastic water bottles in all state institutions from May 31.
Lifestyle
South-West Monsoon Begins Establishing Over Sri Lanka, Met Office Warns of Wind and Lightning
South-West monsoon is gradually establishing over Sri Lanka, with showers, thundershowers and strong winds across most provinces and rough seas off the coast.
Lifestyle
Vesak dansal registration made mandatory, Health DG announces
Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena says all Vesak dansals must now be registered, formalising oversight of alms-giving food stations.
Lifestyle
Vietnam pledges USD 50,000 for Colombo Public Library's Vietnamese section
Vietnamese Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam and Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar signed an agreement to renovate the library's Vietnamese collection by 2027.
Lifestyle
Sri Lanka awarded WHO certificate for eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission
Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa accepted the Public Health Achievement Certificate from Director-General Tedros at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
Lifestyle
Adverse weather damages 204 houses, affects over 5,200 people in 13 districts
DMC reports 204 partially damaged houses, two deaths and 5,277 people affected as adverse weather continues to disrupt daily life across 14 districts.
Lifestyle
Govt to compensate weather-damaged crops via Agrarian Insurance Board, two-week reporting window
Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne said affected farmers have two weeks to submit damage details; Insurance Board chair pledges swift inspection-based payouts.
Lifestyle
Sri Lanka has only four blood cancer specialists, doctors warn
Sri Lanka has only four haemato-oncologists treating thousands of patients, Maharagama Apeksha Hospital doctors warned at a World Blood Cancer Day forum.
Lifestyle
CMC launches school canteen policy banning processed meats, sugary drinks
Colombo Municipal Council's new School Canteen Food Environment Policy bans processed meats, deep-fried foods, sugary drinks and chocolates in CMC schools.
Lifestyle
Police warn of rising water-related deaths, cite negligence and lack of awareness
Police Media Division urged greater caution near rivers and reservoirs after a series of fatal drownings, citing negligence as the main factor.
Lifestyle
Circular tells Vesak Dansal organisers to use yellow flags, not Buddhist flags
Buddhist Affairs Commissioner Asela Madhusankha said a Cabinet-approved circular directs Dansal organisers to use yellow flags instead of Buddhist flags.
Lifestyle
Popular Batticaloa hotel sealed for two weeks after health violations
Batticaloa Magistrate's Court seals a city-centre hotel for two weeks and fines it Rs.50,000 after PHIs found food unfit for consumption; third warning.