- President Ranil Wickremesinghe asserts there are plans underway to establish a dedicated commission to enforce legal measures aimed at empowering women, in a move to safeguarding women’s rights: assures the passing of the Gender Equality Bill before the end of June, and expressed hope for unanimous support from the MPs.
- The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Constituency Conference is set to commence today, aiming the upcoming elections: Kalawewa Constituency Conference will be held today at Talawa Bus station today: SLPP Sanjeewa Edirimanne says the organisation of district meetings will be chaired by district leaders S.M. Chandrasena and S.M. Ranjith: adds under first phase of the Constituency Conference, 50 conferences will be held.
- NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake responds to the SJB’s claim that a JVP member has joined the SJB: refutes the claim, clarifying that the person in question is not a JVP member but an SLFP candidate who submitted nominations for the local government election for the Bendiwewa Division of the Polonnaruwa Municipal Council, known as Hitihamilage Saman Kumara: accuses the SJB of hoodwinking the people by any means necessary.
- The Customs Department warns the public of a job offering scam for job seekers in the Department: Dept Spokesman Sivali Arukgoda says they have received many complaints in this regard: adds this scheme is being executed targeting exam candidates of the state sector: asserts there is no such way of joining the customs and that only those who obtain high marks in the competitive exam will be recruited.
- Sources say that the draft bill proposing the decriminalisation of consensual same-sex conduct between adults thereby safeguarding the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Sri Lanka is set to meet Parliament scrutiny in the first week of June: The bill was presented by SLPP MP Premnath Dolawatte.
- The Meteorology Department warns that the Deep Depression over East central Bay of Bengal has intensified into a Cyclonic storm and located near 18.8°N and 89.5°E at 05.30 p.m. of 25th May: Named “Remal”, the storm is very likely to move northwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by 26th May morning: adds thereafter, it would move northwards and cross Bangladesh and adjoining west Bengal coasts by 26th May midnight.
- The National Building Research Organisation issues a potential landslide warning for seven districts: The Padukka, Seethawaka DSD and surrounding areas in the Colombo District, the Attanagalla DSD and surrounding areas in the Gampaha District, the Dodangoda, Walallawita, Agalawatta, Palindanuwara, Horana, Ingiriya, Bulathsinhala and Mathugama DSD and surrounding areas in the Kalutara District, Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Yatinuwara, Ududumbara, Pasbage Korale, Kandy Four Gravets or Gangawata Korale DSD and surrounding areas in the Kandy District, Aranayake, Kegalle, Dehiowita, Ruwanwella, Deraniyagala, Yatiyanthota, Bulathkohupitiya, Warakapola, Mawanella and Galigamuwa DSD and surrounding areas in the Kegalle District, along with along with the Kotmale, Ambagamuwa DSD and surrounding areas in the Nuwara Eliya District have been issued possible landslide warnings: The Nivithigala, Pelmadulla, Opanayake, Kahawatta, Kiriella, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kalawana, Eheliyagoda, Kuruwita, Balangoda, Elapatha, Imbulpe DSDs and the surrounding areas of the Ratnapura District have been alerted to possible landslides.
- The Disaster Mgt Centre (DMC) says spill gates at several reservoirs have been opened due to the adverse weather and the high rainfall in the catchment areas: adds six spill gates of the Deduru Oya Reservoir in the Kurunegala district have been opened for four feet: notes four spill gates of the Thabbowa Wewa have been opened, and two spill gates of the Kala Wewa, one spill gate of the Kukule Ganga Reservoir, and three spill gates of the Polgolla Dam have also been opened: urges those living in low-lying areas to be vigilant over possible floods with the continuous rain during the next few days.
- The CIABOC officers arrest the Judge of the Udathalawinna Quazi Court on the allegation of soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs. 4,500 to issue the divorce certificate of the judgement issued by the Quazi Court: The judge was arrested based on a complaint by a female resident of Rajawella, and is to be produced before the Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court.
- The SLC vehemently refutes the allegations levelled by MP Hesha Withanage concerning the SLC President, the Tournament Director of the LPL, and other SLC officials being involved in a match-fixing scandal related to the LPL: clarifies that SLC’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of cricket led to the engagement of ICC ACU officials in the process, and it was these ICC ACU officials who informed the Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports suspicious activities involving one of the owners of the Dambulla team: adds the event led to the arrest made by local police authorities: stands firm in its ‘dedication to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency’ in cricket.
