<ul><li>Expenditure far outweighs income in 11 national museums&nbsp;</li><li>Rs&nbsp; 4,516 m incurred with only Rs&nbsp; 738 m income&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul> Sri Lanka’s 11 national museums have cost the State more than Rs&nbsp; 4.5 billion to maintain over the past 11 years, but generated less than Rs&nbsp; 740 m&nbsp; in income during the same period, figures obtained by The Daily Morning under the Right to Information (RTI) Act have revealed.According to the information released under the RTI Act, No. 12 of 2016, a total of Rs&nbsp; 4,516.66 m&nbsp; had been spent on recurrent and capital expenditure from 2015 to 2025, while total income generated by the museums amounted to only Rs&nbsp; 738.16 m .&nbsp;The network of national museums includes the National Museums in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, and Ratnapura, the National Museum of Natural History in Colombo, the Dutch Museum in Colombo, the Independence Memorial Museum in Colombo, the Maritime Museum in Galle, the Folk Museum in Anuradhapura, the Ancient Technology Museum in Polonnaruwa, and the Magampura Ruhunu Heritage Museum in Hambantota. According to information obtained under the RTI, in 2015, the recurrent expenditure stood at Rs&nbsp; 149.85 m&nbsp; and capital expenditure at Rs&nbsp; 268.24 m . In 2016, recurrent expenditure increased to Rs&nbsp; 157.84 m , while capital expenditure rose to Rs&nbsp; 333.75 m . In 2017, recurrent expenditure was Rs&nbsp; 184.89 m&nbsp; and capital expenditure Rs&nbsp; 252.37 m . In 2018, recurrent expenditure amounted to Rs&nbsp; 189.90 m&nbsp; and capital expenditure to Rs&nbsp; 267.88 m . In 2019, recurrent expenditure rose to Rs&nbsp; 210.75 m , while capital expenditure dropped sharply to Rs&nbsp; 75.43 m .&nbsp;In 2020, recurrent expenditure increased further to Rs&nbsp; 225.12 m&nbsp; and capital expenditure stood at Rs&nbsp; 67.13 m . In 2021, recurrent expenditure was recorded at Rs&nbsp; 221.61 m&nbsp; and capital expenditure at Rs&nbsp; 153.82 m . In 2022, recurrent expenditure rose to Rs&nbsp; 257 m , while capital expenditure declined to Rs&nbsp; 71.95 m . In 2023, recurrent expenditure stood at Rs&nbsp; 272.68 m&nbsp; and capital expenditure at Rs&nbsp; 99.1 m . In 2024, recurrent expenditure reached Rs&nbsp; 323.68 m&nbsp; and capital expenditure Rs&nbsp; 334.51 m . In 2025, recurrent expenditure further increased to Rs&nbsp; 388.98 m , while capital expenditure stood at Rs&nbsp; 307.18 m . Overall, recurrent expenditure from 2015 to 2025 totalled Rs&nbsp; 2,285.3 m , while capital expenditure totalled Rs&nbsp; 2,231.36 m . Meanwhile, museum income figures show that Rs&nbsp; 37.11 m&nbsp; was generated in 2015, Rs&nbsp; 43.69 m&nbsp; in 2016, Rs&nbsp; 64.57 m&nbsp; in 2017, and Rs&nbsp; 92.92 m&nbsp; in 2018. Income declined to Rs&nbsp; 74.95 m&nbsp; in 2019 before dropping sharply to Rs&nbsp; 22.84 m&nbsp; in 2020 and Rs&nbsp; 6.91 m&nbsp; in 2021, during the Covid-19 period. Income later recovered to Rs&nbsp; 31.58 m&nbsp; in 2022, Rs&nbsp; 82.58 m&nbsp; in 2023, Rs&nbsp; 132.43 m&nbsp; in 2024, and Rs&nbsp; 148.58 m&nbsp; in 2025. The total income generated by the museums from 2015 to 2025 amounted to Rs&nbsp; 738.16 m .

2015-2025: Museums running at a massive loss 

<ul><li>Sajith notes serious economic risk; public being misled with false stats</li></ul> The main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), is awaiting a response from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding their request to convene an all-party conference to discuss the country’s ongoing economic situation, including the depreciation of the Rupee.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (26), SJB General Secretary and Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that all Opposition groups had recently met Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa and jointly requested him to ask the President to convene an all-party conference. “We officially informed the President about the request for an all-party conference following discussions among all Opposition groups. However, we have not received a response yet.”Attempts to contact the Chief of President's Staff, Prabath Chandrakeethi, the Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, and the Chief Government Whip Dr&nbsp; Nalinda Jayatissa proved futile. Earlier, Premadasa, in a social media post, said that the worsening economic uncertainty and the pressure on the Rupee should not be viewed as partisan issues. He said that the Opposition had decided to formally request the President to convene an all-party conference to discuss urgent national solutions. The call for discussions comes at a time when Sri Lanka is facing a series of economic concerns, including exchange rate pressures, uncertainty in global markets, and frequent fuel price fluctuations linked to tensions and conflict in the Middle East (ME).&nbsp;Premadasa has warned that Sri Lanka is facing a serious economic risk, alleging that the Government is misleading the public with “false statistics” instead of revealing the true state of the economy.&nbsp;He made these remarks during a meeting with social media activists held at the headquarters of the SJB. Premadasa claimed that the Government, led by President Dissanayake, continues to conceal the country’s economic vulnerabilities while increasing the prices of essential commodities such as fuel and milk powder. He stated that rising fuel and milk powder prices are clear indicators of the prevailing economic crisis and stressed that the public must be made aware of the situation. According to internationally accepted economic standards, foreign reserves should be sufficient to cover at least three months of imports, Premadasa stated.&nbsp;He pointed out that although the President claims that the country has United States Dollars ($) seven b&nbsp; in reserves, Sri Lanka spends approximately $ two b&nbsp; per month, meaning that at least $ six b&nbsp; is required to cover three months of imports. Premadasa further emphasised that the depreciation of the Rupee and rising fuel prices are reducing the country’s ability to maintain that level of reserves. Premadasa also claimed that although the reserves include Chinese Yuan worth 1.2 b , those funds are not readily usable, leaving only around $ 5.8 b&nbsp; effectively available. Referring to fuel prices, he stated that the price of Octane 95 petrol had reached Rs. 470 per litre in 2022, while it is currently being sold at around Rs. 410 per litre. He warned that any further increase in global oil prices could push the country toward bankruptcy.&nbsp;He further said that although foreign remittances have increased in recent months, the ongoing conflict in the ME could destabilise regional economies and result in job losses for migrant workers, thereby reducing remittance inflows. He also warned that once Sri Lanka’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concludes in March of next year (2027), the country will lose the stabilising support provided by international financial institutions. Premadasa cautioned that a decline in remittances, combined with rising oil prices and further depreciation of the Rupee, could trigger a severe economic crisis. He further noted that Sri Lanka’s foreign debt repayments are expected to increase from $ 1.5 b&nbsp; to $ 3.5 b&nbsp; annually from 2028 onward, emphasising the urgent need to strengthen foreign reserves.&nbsp;According to Premadasa, the IMF has recommended that Sri Lanka maintain reserves of around $ 13.4 to 14 b , but that the country currently holds only around 50 per cent of that target.&nbsp;He added that Sri Lanka would need to increase reserves by approximately $ 600 m per month to reach the target, while current monthly reserve growth stands at only around $ 60 m.

Economic situation: SJB awaits Prez word on all-party conference 

<ul><li>CPC says stocks sufficient until end-July</li><li>No sharp increase in prices expected&nbsp;</li></ul> The Government has no plan to stop the current fuel subsidy arrangement until the crisis linked to the Middle East (ME) conflict eases, according to the Energy Ministry.Speaking at a special District Coordination Committee meeting in Nuwara Eliya recently, President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the Government could not continue indefinitely to absorb the losses incurred in fuel and electricity supply.When contacted by The Daily Morning as to whether the Government would make any decision regarding the continuation of the arrangement, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said the Government would continue to bear part of the fuel cost during the period of economic pressure faced by the public. “What the President said was that this could not continue indefinitely. Once the current crisis situation eases, the subsidy will be removed. During this period, the Government will bear the cost. Cabinet of Ministers approval was obtained to reduce the economic pressure faced by the people due to the ME situation.” At present, the Government bears Rs&nbsp; 100 per litre of diesel and Rs&nbsp; 20 per litre of petrol under the existing subsidy arrangement. On an earlier occasion, Cabinet Spokesperson Dr&nbsp; Nalinda Jayatissa said that the Government is currently absorbing around Rs&nbsp; 20 billion per month to cushion the impact of fuel costs on consumers&nbsp; He warned that if the Government is to bear the full cost of fuel imports, it could lead to an additional annual expenditure of about US$ 1.5 b, placing heavy pressure on the fuel sector and the broader economy. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has sufficient fuel stocks available until the end of July, according to Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Dr&nbsp; Mayura Neththikumarage. He stated that two additional crude oil shipments are scheduled to arrive in the country tomorrow (28) and on 31 May. Speaking on domestic fuel prices, Dr&nbsp; Neththikumarage said that a sharp increase in prices is not expected in the near future, although a price reduction is also unlikely.&nbsp;He further noted that many consumers have rushed to filling stations following reports of a possible fuel price hike. However, he emphasised that no decision has been taken to increase fuel prices and assured that there is no fuel shortage in the country. Dr&nbsp; Neththikumarage also said that all expected fuel shipments for this month (May) have already arrived, while the upcoming crude oil cargoes would help maintain fuel supplies in the coming months. He added that although global diesel prices rose in April, they are now gradually declining, reducing the need for a significant fuel price increase that had previously been anticipated.Elsewhere, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted its approval for a proposal presented by Karunathilaka to implement a comprehensive national programme titled “Surakimu Lanka” aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security. The initiative comes in response to Sri Lanka’s increasing dependence on fossil fuels, recurring supply disruptions caused by unpredictable weather conditions and geopolitical instability, volatility in global fuel prices, and the rising economic burden of fuel imports on the national economy. Inefficient and irregular electricity consumption patterns have further intensified these challenges.&nbsp;Under this programme, efforts will be made to shift electricity consumption towards periods of higher renewable energy generation, while improving overall energy efficiency and promoting behavioural changes among the public regarding energy use. The integrated initiative will be implemented jointly by the Presidential Secretariat, the Energy Ministry, the Sustainable Energy Authority, the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, along with all relevant State institutions, State-owned enterprises, the private sector, and the general public.

Energy Ministry informs: Fuel subsidy to last until ME crisis eases 

<ul><li>SLBFE says $ 3.06 b in Jan-Apr alone&nbsp;</li></ul>Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), Koshala Wickramasinghe stated that Sri Lanka is expected to record the highest volume of migrant worker remittances in its history by the end of this year. Wickramasinghe noted that migrant worker remittances had reached US$ 3.06 b during the first four months of 2026, and that the projection is based on this performance.He made these remarks while addressing a press conference held at the Bureau on Monday (25). He further stated that the highest annual migrant remittance inflow in Sri Lanka’s history was recorded last year. In comparison, remittances during the first four months of 2026 have already surpassed the US$ 2.4 b recorded during the corresponding period in the previous year, reaching US$ 3.06 b. Based on these trends, he expressed confidence that total remittances for 2026 could exceed US$ 9 b.Wickramasinghe also noted that despite ongoing conflict conditions in the Middle East, factors such as increased basic wages for workers, improved confidence in Sri Lanka’s foreign employment sector due to policy measures introduced by the new Government, and enhanced welfare support for migrant workers have contributed to the increase in remittance inflows.

Migrant workers: 2026 to record highest inflow of $ 9 b?

Another vessel carrying coal anchored near the Colombo Port has sparked controversy after concerns were raised regarding its compliance with tender specifications, the Free Lawyers Association said in a statement.&nbsp;The organisation noted that copies of the ship’s cargo manifest were circulated on 30 April to officials of the Ceylon Coal Company and the Energy Ministry Secretary, among others.&nbsp;According to the report, the vessel arrived from the Richards Bay Coal Terminal in South Africa carrying 59,766 metric tonnes of coal. The statement further claimed that the coal’s ash content stands at 16.8 per cent, exceeding the 16 per cent limit specified in the tender issued by the Ceylon Coal Company, potentially placing the shipment outside the required quality standards. The Association said the shipment may not be eligible for purchase even under penalty conditions due to the deviation from the specifications.Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka stated that the stock of coal, despite being of lower quality than required, could still be used for electricity generation at the Norochcholai Power Plant. He further said that legal action has already been initiated regarding issues related to the tender process and quality compliance. He also dismissed certain claims about the vessel, alleging that some parties are spreading false information for political purposes.

Free Lawyers: Concerns raised over another coal stock 

Deputy Women and Child Affairs Minister Dr Namal Sudarshana said the Government is looking at an age-based regulatory approach to children’s social media and phone usage, rather than imposing an outright ban for those under 15.Fielding questions from The Daily Morning yesterday (26), Dr&nbsp; Sudarshana said the proposal raised in Parliament by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, calling for a social media ban on children under 15 years of age, had to be considered with care.&nbsp;He said the issue is complex and needs broader consultations before any final decision can be reached. He said that discussions have already been held under the leadership of the Prime Minister and Education Minister with the participation of the Digital Economy Ministry, the Education Ministry, the Women and Child Affairs Ministry, non-governmental organisations and international organisations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund.&nbsp;Dr&nbsp; Sudarshana noted that technology can no longer be completely removed from children’s lives, particularly as education increasingly depends on digital tools. He said that the authorities are instead looking at a categorised system based on age groups rather than a blanket restriction. He said that very young children may face strict limitations or complete restrictions on phone access, while older teenagers, especially students above the age of 16, could be allowed greater freedom due to their understanding of responsible technology use. He said that children within middle age groups may be given regulated access limited mainly to educational or approved websites.&nbsp;Dr&nbsp; Sudarshana noted the Digital Economy Ministry has been tasked with developing a technically feasible proposal on how such regulations could be implemented in practice. He said that it was decided that a blanket ban below a certain age limit could not simply be imposed. The idea has since been referred to the Digital Economy Ministry so that they can study it and identify suitable technical methods if restrictions are to be introduced. He said that the Digital Economy Ministry has been asked to submit a report on the matter, and that it is now up to them to put forward proposals on how such limitations could be implemented.He explained that the foundation for the policy is yet to be laid, as only initial discussions had taken place so far.&nbsp;He further noted that in countries such as Australia, although the issue has become a key topic for discussion, the approach taken had involved introducing limitations and restrictions rather than an outright ban on the use of social media.

Children’s social media use: Govt to introduce age-based regulations

<ul><li>Opposition calls for Polls under pre-2017 electoral system&nbsp;</li><li>Necessary financial provisions are available to conduct the Provincial Council (PC) Elections, according to Cabinet Spokesperson Dr&nbsp; Nalinda Jayatissa.</li></ul>He made this assertion while responding to a question raised by a journalist during the weekly Cabinet media briefing held yesterday (26). He was responding to a query regarding a recent statement by General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Tilvin Silva, who had claimed that the PC Elections could not be held this year due to a lack of funds, as the allocated funds had been utilised to provide relief in connection with cyclone Ditwah.Dr&nbsp; Jayatissa assured that the required funds for the Elections have already been allocated and that there is no issue with regard to financial provisions.&nbsp;However, he pointed out that the main obstacle to holding the PC Elections lies in the existing legal framework. He further stated that a Parliamentary Committee is currently examining the matter and working towards resolving the legal issues. He added that once the necessary legal provisions are enacted, the PC Elections can be conducted without delay.Meanwhile, a coalition of Opposition political parties and election monitoring organisations has called for the immediate conduct of the long-delayed PC Elections, following a discussion convened by the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections in Colombo yesterday.&nbsp;The meeting focused on the urgency of holding the PC Polls, the reasons behind their prolonged postponement, and the electoral system under which the Elections should be conducted. All participating Opposition parties and civil society organisations present at the meeting, with the exception of one political party, agreed that the Elections should be conducted under the electoral system that was in place before the 2017 reforms took effect.&nbsp;A joint statement reflecting this agreement, signed by the consenting parties, is expected to be submitted to the relevant Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). Also, the parties and organisations agreed, on a voluntary basis, to ensure 25 per cent representation for women and youth in the PC Elections.&nbsp;The discussion was attended by representatives from several Opposition parties, including the UNP, the SJB, the SLPP, the Tamil Progressive Alliance, the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, the United Socialist Party, the Communist Party, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya. Representing the Government, the National People’s Power General Secretary and Parliamentarian Dr&nbsp; Nihal Abeysinghe attended the meeting.&nbsp;

PC Polls: Cabinet says funds already available for Polls

<ul><li>Alto Dharme nabbed&nbsp;</li></ul> A suspected major drug trafficker identified as Shiran Basik has been arrested in Dubai, according to Police sources. Police said the arrest was carried out by the Dubai security forces.Reports indicate that Basik has alleged links to an Iranian drug trafficking network and is also wanted by the US. Authorities further said that he had been living in Dubai while posing as a wealthy businessman. He is believed to be one of five major traffickers involved in supplying narcotics to Sri Lanka.However, the Sri Lankan authorities have not yet received official confirmation of his arrest.An organised crime figure known as Alto Dharme was arrested by the Dubai Police in connection with drug trafficking activities. According to sources, his wife and two children were also taken into custody by the Dubai Police.&nbsp;An International Criminal Police Organisation Red Notice had previously been issued against Alto Dharme who is wanted in connection with a number of allegations, including his suspected involvement in large-scale drug trafficking operations.

Major drug trafficker Shiran Basik arrested? 

The National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) said that nearly 22,000 deaths are reported annually in Sri Lanka due to tobacco use.The Chairperson of the NATA, Dr&nbsp; Ananda Rathnayake stated that over 200 diseases have been identified as being caused by tobacco consumption.Dr&nbsp; Rathnayake made these remarks while addressing a media briefing held in Colombo to mark the ‘World No Tobacco Day 2026’. Commenting further, he said: “Nearly 22,000 people die every year in this small country due to tobacco use. If we talk about the economic loss, according to the 2016 estimates, nearly Rs. 214 billion is spent annually. That is like building a Lotus Tower. The amount that we spend to maintain the damage caused by tobacco is equivalent to the cost of building 16 Lotus Towers. The same amount that would be spent to build two highways.”Dr&nbsp; Rathnayake also highlighted the environmental damage caused by tobacco use. “In Sri Lanka alone, between nine and 11 million cigarette filters are discarded into the environment. These used filters contain toxic chemicals and carcinogens, and the environmental and health damage caused by them is immense,” he added.

2015-2025: Museums running at a massive loss

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