1. Education Ministry decides to introduce Information Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to school syllabuses from 2024: These subjects to be taught for Grades 06 – 13: Subject Minister Susil Premjayanth says the decision was made in a bid to further raise SL’s standard of education in parallel with international standards: A pilot programme to be implemented in this regard in June, 2023 within 20 selected schools.
2. India’s Enforcement Directorate raids the Chennai office of LYCA, the production company that made the hit Bollywood film ‘Ponniyin Selvan’, over money laundering and tax evasion charges: LYCA is the current owner of EAP Group which owns Swarnavahini and is believed to be the company that is going to buy Lanka Hospitals and Sri Lanka Telecom PLC.
3. The SJB Working Committee unanimously selects Party Leader Sajith Premadasa as their Presidential Candidate for the upcoming Presidential Polls.
4. The CID obtains a travel ban against Pastor Jerome Fernando, who calls himself the ‘Prophet of God’ advocating for the Glorious Church of Colombo, Sri Lanka, from the Fort Magistrate Court: Fernando accused of making controversial public remarks against Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism; believed to have fled the country.
5. Police use water cannons to disperse a protest staged by Medical Faculty students in Colombo against the government’s alleged move of granting medical degree-awarding rights to institutions such as Lyceum, Gateway and NSBM: The protest was organised by the students of Medical Faculties of all state universities.
6. The Supreme Court dismisses a FR petition filed by Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen pertaining to his arrest in connection with the Easter Sunday Bombings; Bench rules the petitioner failed to provide sufficient details on the alleged transactions probed by the Police and therefore, his arrest was not unlawful on any account.
7. President Ranil Wickremesinghe appoints K.A. Rohanadheera as the new Secretary General of Parliament, and retired High Court Judge Lalith Ekanayake as the new Chairman of the National Police Commission.
8. SLTDA announces Sri Lanka will hit the half million mark of tourist arrivals at the end of May, 2023: Up to May 14, 2023 a total of 477,277 tourists visited the island with India dominating the market with 9,323 arrivals showing a 26% increase, Russia 3,686 showing a 10% increase, and the UK 2,523, against May 2022.
9. President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake issues instructions to the Health Ministry urging them to continue implementing the dengue control programmes in collaboration with the Dengue Control Task Force: The Ministry has launched a comprehensive programme nationwide to combat the spread of dengue.
10. SL’s ODI Cricket team prepped for the World Cup qualification tournament scheduled to commence on June 18, 2023 in Zimbabwe: SL already relegated to play in the 10 team qualifier tournament where the finalists will join the eight automatic qualifiers in the main draw.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken a significant step towards strengthening law enforcement in Sri Lanka by appointing members to the National Police Commission (NPC). The President’s Media Division recently announced the appointment of Lalith Ekanayake, a retired High Court Judge, as the Chairman of the NPC.

The National Police Commission plays a crucial role in ensuring the accountability and professionalism of the Sri Lankan Police Force. By appointing Ekanayake, an experienced legal professional, as the Chairman, President Wickremesinghe aims to enhance the commission’s effectiveness and promote transparency in police operations.

As a retired High Court Judge, Lalith Ekanayake brings a wealth of legal expertise and knowledge to his new role. His appointment is expected to bolster the commission’s ability to address issues related to law enforcement, misconduct, and the protection of citizens’ rights.

Sri Lanka is bracing itself for scorching temperatures as a heat index advisory has been issued for 13 districts across the country. The advisory comes in response to the soaring heat and humidity levels that are expected to persist in the coming days, posing potential health risks to the population.

The Meteorology Department of Sri Lanka, in collaboration with health authorities, has issued the advisory for the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, and Monaragala. These districts are particularly susceptible to high heat indices due to their geographical location and climatic conditions.

The heat index, also known as the “feels-like” temperature, takes into account both air temperature and relative humidity, giving a measure of how hot it actually feels to the human body. When the heat index rises, the body’s natural cooling mechanisms, such as sweating, become less effective, leading to an increased risk of heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

To safeguard public health during this period, authorities have urged residents in the affected districts to take precautionary measures. People are advised to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, preferably water, and to avoid excessive exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the peak heat hours.

Vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are advised to remain indoors in well-ventilated areas and to use cooling mechanisms, such as fans or air conditioning, if available. Wearing lightweight and loose-fitting clothing that provides adequate skin coverage is also recommended.

In a momentous decision, the Working Committee of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has unanimously selected Sajith Premadasa, the Party Leader, as their Presidential Candidate for the impending Presidential election.

The announcement came following a productive meeting held by the Working Committee in the evening.

Premadasa firmly asserted that planning the Presidential elections solely based on the directives of the President or those aligned with him would be an infringement on the democratic process. In an effort to ensure a fair and timely election, Premadasa vowed the Opposition’s backing to implement the necessary regulations required for conducting the Presidential elections promptly.

With the SJB rallying behind Sajith Premadasa as their Presidential Candidate, the stage is set for an intense electoral battle that will shape the future of Sri Lanka.

ikman once again showcased its prowess and resilience, by securing multiple well-deserved top rankings in the recently published Digital Outlook Sri Lanka 2023 – The Annual Market Insight Report.

Accordingly, ikman received multiple category recognitions, placing it high up in the list of Sri Lanka’s Top 25 Most Prominent Online Brands.

The company secured first-place in the “Most Popular Websites in Sri Lanka” category, second-place in the “Most Popular Online Shopping Sites in Sri Lanka – Local” category, sixth-place in the “Most Visible Brands Online – E-Commerce Marketplace Platforms” category, as well as eighth-place in the “Most Popular Mobile Apps in Sri Lanka (Excluding Social Media Apps) – Local” category.

ikman is a leading online marketplace in Sri Lanka, with over 4 million monthly users and an inventory of nearly 400,000 advertisements representing more than 50 categories. It offers a simple and safe online platform for individuals and small businesses to buy and sell almost anything, with island-wide reach.

“These rankings and recognitions are a testament to our relentless determination, innovation and eagerness to collaborate and introduce a wider and more refined range of services through our platform over the years. We are excited for what ikman has in store for the future, and are grateful to the Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing and the University of Kelaniya for their remarkable efforts in putting forth Digital Outlook Sri Lanka 2023, the fourth edition of a highly reputable and insightful Annual Market Insight Report,” noted ikman’s Chief Executive Officer, Shaif Mohamed. “I would also like to thank our enthusiastic and committed team at ikman, for putting in the hours and effort to make this achievement a reality. This isn’t just a win for ikman, this is a win for teamwork and collective effort.”

As for the ikman mobile app, it is designed from the ground up to bring smart buying, selling and renting right to customers’ fingertips and into their pockets. It also serves as an extension to the brand’s overall offering of convenience and innovation to its users and patrons across the nation. Racking up more than 100,000 downloads every month on both Android and iOS platforms, it is apparent that the app is steadily becoming a solid favorite among Sri Lankans.

ikman has already established itself as a famous brand across the nation, and is driven by a team of stellar performers who work day and night, dedicating themselves to delivering outstanding service on every front. The company employs a healthy workforce of over 200, with its headquarters located in the heart of Colombo.

Digital Outlook Sri Lanka – The Annual Market Insight Report aims to provide marketing and business professionals with the latest data and pertinent insights on the rapidly evolving digital sector, whilst also highlighting and recognising game-changing online brands and platforms by analyzing the latest available data and insights on the digital media behavior of Sri Lankan consumers, covering the overall digital footprint in the country. The survey is the result of a collaborative effort between the Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing (APIDM) and the Department of Marketing Management at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

WION: Sri Lanka’s Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva spoke to WION on Hambantota and Colombo ports, investments by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in the country, and more.

“We have excellent relations with India. India is helping and we are reciprocating. We have started flights from India to our airports. We have started ferry services to and from Madras [Chennai]. We have increased connectivity,” de Silva told WION on the sidelines of the sixth international Indian Ocean Conference in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

“We have to be mindful about the security of India. We have very friendly relationship,” the minister emphasised, while adding that New Delhi is helping Colombo build its energy sector.

“We have requested India to come to Trincomalee port and do the value addition,” he said, in an invitation for New Delhi to invest in the port, located about 262 km southwest of Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

The Sri Lankan ports minister also expressed confidence on the Indian conglomerate Adani group’s investment in Colombo port.

The minister added that while Colombo had to sell the Hambantota port to China, it has ensured that the port is not used for war or security purposes.

“We had to sell the Hambantota [port]. We asked India to take it over and the US to take it over. Then the Chinese came and took it over. It is a private sector [takeover]. It is not being used for other purposes. Our agreement with the Chinese is very clear that it cannot be used for any war or security purposes but only trade,” he added.

Source: WION