- President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a committee to look into the preparation of the national visa policy. Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando says that he suspects that the on-arrival visa issuance delay at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on Thursday (May 02) could be an act of sabotage.
- Former Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has refuted reports claiming that he has joined forces with the Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), as he had participated in the party’s May Day rally this week.
- Sri Lanka has dropped fifteen places and ranks 150th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Sri Lanka’s ranking was 135 out of 180 countries last year. Pakistan is ranked 152 while India is 159th this year.
- Litro Gas Lanka reduced prices for domestic LP Gas cylinders, with the 12.5 kg cylinder now priced at Rs. 3,940, a reduction of Rs. 175. Laugfs’ 12.5 kg cylinder price also dropped by Rs. 275 to Rs. 3,840.
- The Colombo High Court today announced that it will deliver its decision on May 31 concerning the plea filed by four defendants, including former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, seeking the dismissal of the case filed against them by the Bribery Commission and the release of the defendants. The defendants stand accused of allegedly causing a staggering loss of over Rs. 1.8 billion to the government of Sri Lanka through investments in Greek bonds in 2012.
- The All-Ceylon Restaurant Owners’ Association has decided to reduce the prices of multiple food items including Kottu, Fried Rice and short eats. Accordingly the price of a packet of Kottu will go down by Rs. 20, while the prices of short eats have been reduced by Rs. 10.
- Sports Ministry will award Rs. 1 million each to the families of the victims of the Fox Hill Supercross tragedy in Diyatalawa that happened last month and claimed the lives of seven and injured several more.
- Police used water cannons in order to disperse the protesting medical students near the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo 07. The protest march was organised by the Medical Faculty Students’ Action Committee against the establishment of private medical colleges in the country and the decision to establish a Faculty of Medicine at the National School of Business Management (NSBM).
- Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha disclosed plans for the commencement of a ferry service from Nagapattinam to Kankasenturai, set to launch in just two weeks pending successful preparations.
- Sri Lanka is ranked 7th in both the Men’s Test and One Day International formats with 83 and 93 rating points, respectively. According to the ICC, Sri Lanka is ranked 08th in the Twenty-20 format with 232 rating points.
