Apr 8 (DM) A woman from Maharagama has been arrested over allegations of defrauding more than Rs 10 Million by promising foreign employment opportunities in countries including Albania and Canada, SLBFE said. They said the suspect had been operating under the guise of a student visa agency called Global Educare Consultancy, where she reportedly collected large sums of money from individuals across the island by promising overseas job placements. more..

Apr 8 (NW) MP Ramanathan Archchuna has publicly shared his Parliament salary slip for March 2026, stating that the public should be aware of the earnings received by MP. According to the document shared by the MP, the gross monthly salary and allowances amounted to Rs. 415,169.93. After deductions totalling Rs. 19,308.71, net salary credited to his account was Rs. 395,861.22. The salary breakdown includes a monthly allowance of Rs54,285, telephone allowance of Rs50,000 more..

Apr 8 (AD) National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd. has requested the PUCSL for a further 15% increase in electricity tariffs for the second quarter (April-June) of 2026, in addition to the 10% tariff increase that has already been implemented for the same quarter. National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd (NSO), one of the state-owned private companies established after dissolving the CEB, had submitted its revised generation cost more..

Apr 8 (TM) Multilateral financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank is expected to buffer against the potential impact of dwindling foreign reserves as SL’s tourism arrivals drop, and debt repayment obligations arise this month, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in parliament yesterday. The assistance includes $ 700 million from the IMF, $ 1.2 billion from the ADB, and additional World Bank funding for development projects. more..

Apr 8 (TM) Around 99% of transactions in Sri Lanka are still made in cash, as Rs. 6.3 trillion cash-based transactions were made in the fourth quarter of 2025, while QR-based transactions remained below Rs. 400,000, said Minister of Digital Economy Eng. Eranga Weeraratne speaking at the National Payment Adoption Launch Programme yesterday under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. “Sri Lanka has been able to establish advanced digital facilities so far. more..

Apr 8 (NW) Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara’s legal challenge against SLC over the refusal to grant a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the 2026 IPL has drawn international attention, with the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) expressing concern over players being forced to take legal action to secure playing opportunities. WCA CEO Tom Moffat said the situation reflects a broader global issue regarding player rights more..

Apr 8 (AD) Strengthening local industries is a primary objective of the Govt, and there are plans to expand opportunities for domestic businesses in meeting Govt procurement needs in the future, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated. Prez made these remarks during a discussion held this morning at the Presidential Secretariat with the Ceylon United Business Alliance (CUBA). During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on the challenges faced by local industries more..

Apr 8 (AD) The newly renovated Pettah Central Bus Stand has been officially opened to the public today. The event was attended by Minister of Transport and Highways Bimal Rathnayake, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena and the Commander of the SL Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Edirisinghe, among others. The renovation was carried out under the govt’s Clean Sri Lanka initiative, with the aim of improving facilities and enhancing convenience for commuters using the bus stand. more..

Apr 8 (DM) Claiming that the electricity tariff increase implemented on April 1 was not a result of the current crisis, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday the current estimates suggest that losses over the three-month period may reach approximately Rs. 32 billion and that the people will have to bear Rs. 10 billion out of it while the govt and the electricity companies will bear the rest of Rs. 22 billion. Making a special statement in Parliament, he said more..

Apr 8 (DM) In a bid to restrict reporting of child abuse, PM Harini Amarasuriya hinted that the govt is looking into the possibility of introducing some regulatory system in order to safeguard the victims from the suffering they have to undergo following media reports on their plight. PM who is also the Minister in charge of Education said regulatory framework pertaining to the reporting of child abuse is considered as media is engaged in reporting on child abuse by uncovering more..

Apr 8 (DM) Despite having a principled position that SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, should be revitalized, the govt still remains undecided whether it should involve the private sector or retain sole authority, according to Minister Anura Karunatilake. The restructuring of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) is a core pillar of the IMF EFF programme for SL. It is designed to address fiscal risks and restore long-term debt sustainability. more..

Apr 8 (ANI) Indian High Commissioner to SL Santosh Jha took part in the signing of the MoU for Cooperation between Colombo Dockyard and Dredging Corporation of India. High Commission said that the Indian maritime sector also stands to benefit from the high skill set of the Colombo Dockyard. High Commission said, "High Commissioner Santosh Jha witnessed the signing of the MoU for Cooperation between Colombo Dockyard & Dredging Corporation of India. more..

Apr 8 (DM) Public consultation has commenced on the report of the committee appointed to submit recommendations for the establishment of an Education Council in SL. The proposed Education Council, introduced under the guidance of PM and Minister of Education, aims to enhance the overall standards of the country’s education system. Its key objectives include legislation, quality assurance, accreditation of programmes and institutions, and certification of education professionals. more..

Apr 8 (EN) Opposition MP has questioned the central bank’s supervision role in the NDB fraud, pointing out that billions of rupees had gone out of the country without getting flagged, and pointed out that the same central bank which handles the EPF is investing in NDB Bank. “When an average person tries to transfer 100 rupees out of the country, they have to answer a 4-5 page questionnaire saying why they are sending it, more..

Apr 8 (NW) Sri Lanka recorded nearly 15 million local malware incidents in 2025, with more than a third of users affected by threats spread through offline methods such as USB drives and removable media. Data from the Kaspersky Security Network showed 14,960,244 local malware incidents between January and Dec 2025, with 37.4% of users in SL targeted by threats spread through removable devices including USB drives, CDs, and DVDs. SL ranked 48th globally for local threat exposure. more..

Apr 8 (NW) Kuwait Airways has announced that it will commence direct flight operations to Colombo, starting Wednesday (15). The new service is expected to strengthen air connectivity and provide greater travel opportunities between the two countries. According to the airline, flights will operate weekly every Wednesday. The outbound service departs Kuwait at 01:30 hrs and arrives in Colombo at 18:05 hrs, while the return flight departs Colombo at 19:05 hrs and reaches Kuwait at 03:30 hrs. more..

Apr 8 (Island) The SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Sri Lanka CERT) has reissued a public warning regarding a significant increase in online scams and financial fraud attempts circulating across social media platforms during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season. Sri Lanka CERT has observed that cybercriminals are actively exploiting the festive period when online engagement is at its peak to manipulate public trust and target unsuspecting individuals. more..

Apr 8 (FT) Sri Lanka is once again at a turning point. The headlines speak of debt restructuring, foreign investment and productivity, but beneath the macroeconomics lies a quieter, more personal story: thousands of capable Sri Lankans who simply do not feel ready to lead. The crisis is not a lack of talent; it is a lack of inner confidence to match the complexity of the roles now opening up at home and abroad. In boardrooms and project teams from Colombo to London, early and mid-career more..

Apr 8 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, meeting with the Council of Arab Ambassadors accredited to Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat today, expressed Sri Lanka’s hope for the early restoration of peace in the Middle East. During the discussion, the ambassadors briefed the President on the challenges faced by countries in the Middle East amid the prevailing conflict situation, more..

Apr 8 (EN) Cabinet has cleared awarding a JICA funded contract valued at 628.10 million Japanese Yen (Rs. 2,660.70 million) for the expansion of the A'pura North Water Supply Project Phase II to Maga Engineering (Pvt) Ltd. The contract is for laying distribution mains and providing service connections in the Kahatagas Digiliya, Horowpathana, and Rambewa divisional secretariat divisions, aimed at providing safe drinking water to areas currently dependent on unsafe groundwater. more..

Apr 8 (AD) Directorate of Non-Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health has issued a set of guidelines to prevent accidents and acute medical conditions during traditional Avurudu games and events organized during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season in SL. These guidelines have been issued specifically to focus on festive games such as pillow-fighting (Kotta Pora), Kana Mutti Bindima, cross-country running (Gama Haraha Divima), cycling, swimming, rowing, more..

Apr 8 (CI) SL captain Chamari Athapaththu has no immediate plans to retire, according to new head coach Jamie Siddons. In her 16th year of international cricket, the 36-year-old remains the rock of the national side and is reportedly energised by the team's new tactical direction. Athapaththu's future has been a constant topic of debate, particularly following the 2025 ODI World Cup in India, but Siddons' comments more..

Apr 8 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya has instructed officials to expedite the completion of compensation payments for those affected by the disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah. The directive was issued when the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Presidential Task Force met at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of the PM. Extensive discussions were held on the current progress of the Rebuilding Sri Lanka programme and its future plans during the meeting more..

Apr 8 (FT) The auditing profession occupies a critical place in modern economies. Auditors are entrusted with safeguarding financial integrity, protecting investors, and ensuring that corporate entities adhere to accepted standards of accountability. Yet an uncomfortable question is increasingly being raised: who examines the internal labour practices of the very firms entrusted with auditing others? Recent discussions surrounding the working conditions of audit trainees in SL have drawn attention to more..

Apr 8 (EN) Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Wednesday, with banks pushing turnover. ASPI was up 4.21%, or 885.14 points at 21,917.60. The S&P SL20 was up 4.42%, or 257.68 points at 6,090.50. The two-week ceasefire announcement by the US has seen investors coming back into the market and panic buying, analysts said. John Keells Holdings (up 6.49% at Rs.19.70), Commercial Bank (up 5.01% at Rs.209.75), Hatton National Bank (up 3.95% at Rs.414.00), more..

Apr 8 (FT) On a clear morning in Norochcholai, the three concrete stacks of the Lakvijaya power station stand against the sky like fingers pointing at an accusation nobody wants to read. The plant generates about a third of SL’s electricity. It is the country’s only coal-fired power station, and it has been, by almost any measure of regulatory compliance, operating outside the law for most of its existence. The story of Norochcholai is not simply one of a badly run power plant. more..

Apr 8 (FT) In a special Parliamentary address yesterday, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced a Rs. 100 billion relief package to help contain the impact of the Middle East war on the domestic economy. “You may recall that, in addition to addressing the destruction caused by the Ditwah catastrophe, we allocated Rs. 50 billion to meet public needs. That is what governance entails. Likewise, in response to the current crisis, more..

Apr 8 (Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday ​agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on ‌its civilian infrastructure. Trump's announcement on social media represented an abrupt turnaround from earlier in the day, when he issued an extraordinary warning that a whole civilization will die tonight if his demands were not met. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, more..

Apr 8 (AD) An adjournment motion regarding the current situation in SL, to be moved by the govt is scheduled to be debated today in Parliament. Accordingly, the adjournment debate will take place from 11.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Meanwhile, Parliament will convene at 9:30 a.m. as decided at the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held yesterday under the chairmanship of the Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne. The time from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for more..

Apr 8 (TM) Prez and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake acknowledged in Parliament yesterday that substandard coal supplied to power plants has affected electricity generation, but maintained that there were no issues with the tender procedure and that the problem lay with suppliers failing to provide coal of the required quality. Delivering a statement, he said: “True, there is a quality issue with the coal. But, more..

Apr 8 (TM) Over 1,000 incidents of abuse and violence reported from Govt and private schools from 2015 to 2025 have resulted in 425 school dropouts and six suicides, PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said in Parliament. Presenting year-wise data, PM said that a total of 1,026 incidents were reported from 2015 to 2025 including 69 incidents in 2015, 67 in 2016, 78 in 2017, 86 in 2018, 85 in 2019, 66 in 2020, 62 in 2021, 82 in 2022, 117 in 2023, 155 in 2024, and 159 in 2025. more..

Apr 8 (FT) Rs. 13.2 billion fraud-hit NDB Bank’s share price yesterday fell down 15.13% or Rs. 19.75 to close at Rs. 110.75 after the Colombo Stock Exchange lifted the trading suspension. More than 4.1 million NDB Bank shares changed hands generating Rs. 455 million in turnover, over 24% of the day’s total market turnover of Rs. 1.8 billion. The trading halt was lifted at 8:32 a.m. after it was imposed at 9:02 a.m. on Monday. Most banking stocks gained although sector index fell 0.8% more..