Lifestyle
State Vesak Festival 2026 Set for May 27 to June 2
Cabinet approves Vesak Week from May 27 to June 2; Ministry of Public Administration has issued the official state Vesak celebration programme.
Lifestyle
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Lifestyle
Nuwara Eliya to Regulate Gregory Lake Boat Services After Capsize
Mayor Upali Wanigasekera says strict safety rules will be imposed on tourist boats and jet skis at Gregory Lake, after a jet ski overturned a boat.
Lifestyle
NPP MP Proposes Ban on Kottu, Fried Rice and Instant Noodles in School Canteens
Gampaha MP Ruwanthilaka Jayakody has filed a parliamentary motion to ban unhealthy foods from school canteens, citing a rising diabetes crisis among children.
Lifestyle
Second School Term Opens Islandwide After Avurudu Break
The second term for all government and government-approved private schools began on Monday after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holiday.
Lifestyle
'Welcome to Sri Lanka' Documentary Beats BBC, Amazon to Win Top Global TV Award
British filmmaker Mark Julian Edwards' travel documentary took 'Television Broadcast of the Year' at the Inspire Global Media Awards 2026 in London.
Lifestyle
Tourists Rescued After Boat Capsizes at Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya
All passengers pulled to safety by police lifesaving unit after a speeding jet ski struck their boat on Gregory Lake; skipper and jet ski operator arrested.
Lifestyle
Low-Floor Accessible Bus Service Launches from Makumbura on April 21
Sri Lanka's first low-floor priority bus service for wheelchair users launches April 21 from Makumbura under a Rs. 430.7mn Clean Sri Lanka pilot.
Lifestyle
20 Drown During Avurudu Holidays as Father Dies Saving Children in Mihintale
Police confirm 20 drowning deaths during the April 12-16 holiday period, including a man who sacrificed his life to rescue two children.
Lifestyle
Gratiaen Prize 2026: 12 Works Longlisted for Sri Lanka's Premier English Literary Award
The Gratiaen Trust announces a record-entry longlist of 12 works for the 33rd annual prize; shortlist due May 4.
Lifestyle
Father Drowns Saving Children in Mihintale; Teen Dies in Dehiowita River
Two drowning deaths in post-Avurudu weekend outings bring the holiday period toll to at least 22 since April 12, police say.
Lifestyle
Special Buses and Trains Deployed for Post-Avurudu Weekend Return Rush
NTC deploys additional expressway bus services and Railway adds special trains from outstations for the post-New Year return to Colombo.
Lifestyle
Census 2024: PhD Holders Nearly Double as Tertiary Education Surges
Sri Lanka's PhD holders rose from 6,557 to 11,757 between 2012 and 2024, while tertiary education jumped 8 percentage points to 26.2%.
Lifestyle
Education Ministry Rolls Out Grade 1 Curriculum Reforms for 2026
New activity books for Grade 1 Terms II and III being distributed to all schools by April 30 as part of education reforms.
Lifestyle
Red Lightning Alerts Issued for Seven Districts Including Colombo
Meteorology Department warns of severe lightning in Southern Province and four other districts with red alerts valid until 11pm.
Lifestyle
Germany's 'Dream Ship' MS Amadea Arrives With 580 Tourists on World Tour
The 193-metre luxury cruise ship docks in Sri Lanka as part of a 146-day global voyage; rough seas divert it from Galle to Colombo.
Lifestyle
Deduru Oya Death Toll Rises to Six as Search Continues for Missing
Six people have drowned in the Deduru Oya at Kobeygane after a group of 15 entered the river during Avurudu. Search teams seek remaining missing.
Lifestyle
Buddhist Monks to Lead Islandwide 'Walk for Peace' From April 21 to 28
Senior Buddhist monks will walk from Anuradhapura to Kelaniya April 21-28 with a national ceremony at Independence Square.
Lifestyle
44 Killed in Road Accidents During Avurudu Holiday Period
44 people died in 42 road accidents across Sri Lanka between April 10–15; motorcycles and drunk driving were the primary factors.
Lifestyle
Education Ministry Launches Playground Development in All 25 Districts
Sri Lanka's Education Ministry picks one school per district for standardised playground construction to upgrade public school facilities.
Lifestyle
PHIs Take Legal Action Against Over 400 Traders After Avurudu Inspections
Public Health Inspectors filed cases against more than 400 traders after island-wide raids during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, with 12,000 shops inspected.
Lifestyle
Singapore Zoo's First Sri Lankan Leopard Cubs Make Public Debut
Three Sri Lankan leopard cubs born at the Singapore Zoo on January 1 have made their public debut — the first of the vulnerable species born at the facility.
Lifestyle
Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau Assures Bangladesh Visitors; SriLankan Adds $30 Fuel Surcharge
Sri Lanka Tourism's chairman told Bangladeshi partners services are uninterrupted, while SriLankan Airlines added a $30 fuel surcharge on Dhaka-Colombo.
Lifestyle
Veteran Sri Lankan Singer Antoinette De Alwis Passes Away
Legendary western vocalist Antoinette De Alwis, a prominent figure in Sri Lanka's music scene, has died.
Lifestyle
President Dissanayake Marks New Year with Oil Anointing, Visits Buddhist Prelates
AKD participates in Kandy oil anointing ceremony, then visits Malwathu and Ramanna nikaya prelates for New Year blessings.