Apr 6 (EN) Many of Sri Lanka’s groceries were no longer selling liter boxes of fresh milk, amidst fears of a price increase. Supermarket shelves were empty of the larger packet of fresh milk over the weekend and into Monday. Only smaller packets and flavoured varieties were available. Fresh milk 1-litre packs of brands like Ambewela and Kotmale generally retail around 470–550 rupees. The state-owned Milco sells its Highland Full Cream Uht 900ml milk packet for 380 rupees. more..

Apr 6 (Island) Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Urban Development Authority and the Road Development Authority, has launched a programme to beautify the hill capital ahead of the upcoming tourist season and the annual Vasantha Senakeliya (Spring Festival). Authorities have begun planting flower saplings and improving facilities at popular attractions, including Victoria Park and Gregory Lake, in preparation for the influx of visitors expected during the festive period. more..

Apr 6 (NW) A meeting between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the heads of banks and financial institutions was held at the Presidential Secretariat today, following the launch of the National QR Payment Promotion Initiative. Prez explained the responsibility entrusted to banks and financial institutions in ensuring the success of the National QR Payment Promotion Initiative, marking a new milestone in SL’s digital transformation. more..

Apr 6 (EN) The internal fraud at SL’s National Development Bank (NDB), which officially unfolded in early April 2026, represents one of the largest operational risk failures in the history of Lankan commercial banking. While the bank and the regulator have moved to stabilize the situation, the timeline of disclosures and the sheer scale of the loss have raised significant questions about oversight and transparency. Based on corporate disclosures and CB statements, more..

Apr 6 (DM) Shocking news has emerged from the Tamil TV industry. Popular actress Subashini Balasubramaniyam breathed her last today. Following a family conflict, the actress reportedly took her own life by hanging herself. She took this step just a few days before her birthday. Subashini committed suicide at her residence in Chennai. She was known for playing a pivotal role in the popular Tamil serial Kayal. Actress, who was of SL origin, had been residing in an apartment in more..

Apr 6 (TM) COPF has withheld approval for a key gazette notification aimed at regulating tax incentives under the Strategic Development Projects (SDP) Act, citing significant structural concerns. The decision had been taken during a high-level hearing on Tuesday (31), where COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva had described the proposed regulations as a terrible miscalculation that could hinder high-tech sector growth and more..

Apr 6 (CT) Sri Lanka lost a revenue of USD 51 million last year due to delays in preparing Electronic Navigation Charts for its Exclusive Economic Zone, said former Minister Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. He pointed out that though any ship entering any area in Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs) of the SL Exclusive Economic Zone should pay USD 25, Sri Lanka is yet to prepare such ENCs and that mapping the deep sea requires a Deep Water Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES), more..

Apr 6 (Island) In a significant recognition of global piritual leadership and community service, Canterbury Christ Church University has conferred its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honour Award upon the Most Venerable Dr Kirinde Assaji, one of SL’s most respected Buddhist leaders. The award ceremony took place at the University Chapel, within the Anselm Building, as part of an official visit by the Venerable Monk to the university. The recognition celebrates his decades-long contribution to more..

Apr 6 (NW) SL Railways has announced that train services on the Northern line, including the Kankesanthurai intercity train, Night Mail train, and the Yarl Devi train, will resume this week. Services from Jaffna to Kankesanthurai will restart, with the Jaffna Intercity train and Jaffna Night Mail train operating daily from April 9, while the popular Yal Devi train will resume daily operations from April 10. The dept has announced the resumption of services following the completion of repair works more..

Apr 6 (TM) The Tamil-Speaking Women Journalists Association recently celebrated International Women’s Day at Choccan Indian Restaurant, Wolfendhal Street, Colombo 13, bringing together women journalists and media professionals for an evening of recognition, solidarity, and inspiration. The event, led collectively by all members of the Association, highlighted the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of women in the field of journalism, while creating more..

Apr 6 (AD) GMOA has alleged that specialist medical posts have been removed from several hospitals across the country. Its President, Consultant Dr. Sanjeewa Thennakoon stated that political interference has also influenced the transfers of grade medical officers. He pointed out that while the national requirement for specialist doctors stands at 3,000, only around 2,100 are currently in service. more..

Apr 6 (AD) A special meeting was held today between Minister Sunil Handunneththi, and representatives of the IMF. The discussion focused on the contributions of the country’s industrial sector to economic stability and the overall wealth it generates. During the meeting, Minister Handunneththi briefed the visiting IMF delegation on the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the policy measures the govt has implemented to support them. more..

Apr 6 (NW) Six Sri Lankan fishermen who had been detained in Bangladesh since July 2025 have been released and safely repatriated to Sri Lanka. The fishermen, who were on board the SL fishing vessel IMUL-A-0138-PTM (SLFV Sudu Duwa-4), had been apprehended by Bangladesh authorities last year. The six fishermen arrived at BIA at 5:10 a.m. on April 2, 2026, on FitsAir flight 8D912. The release was facilitated by the High Commission of SL in Dhaka through diplomatic engagement, more..

Apr 6 (AD) Banking system bears a significant cost in providing cash transaction services through ATM machines, Governor of the CB Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has stated. He made this assertion during a special discussion held between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and heads of banks and financial institutions. Following the launch of the National QR Payment Promotion Initiative, a meeting between Prez and heads of banks more..

Apr 6 (NW) A new report by Freedom House has highlighted Sri Lanka as one of the countries that recorded improvements in political rights and civil liberties in 2025, even as global freedom declined for the 20th consecutive year. In its Freedom in the World 2026 report, Freedom House said Sri Lanka gained five points, citing progress following the 2024 presidential election and efforts by the new government to combat corruption and promote religious tolerance. more..

Apr 6 (NW) GMOA has suspended the ongoing doctors’ strike after the Health Minister agreed to hold a discussion on Thursday. The islandwide strike, which disrupted routine hospital services, was launched over concerns related to doctor transfers and post-intern appointments. Emergency services, however, continued during the trade union action. The GMOA said the decision to suspend the strike was taken following agreement from the Health Minister to hold discussions aimed at more..

Apr 6 (DM) While awarding Rs. 225,000 in compensation to a daily wage earner for unlawful arrest, detention and torture by three policemen attached to the Hanwella Police Station in 2023, Supreme Court held that the Constitution does not permit law enforcement authorities to treat individuals differently based on prejudice or social profiling, particularly on account of their poor economic status. The SC delivered this judgement in a Fundamental Rights application filed by more..

Apr 6 (DM) One of the seven persons who gang-raped and murdered schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya in Jaffna in 2013 is alleged to have attempted to sexually abuse a lady Doctor on duty at the prison in Pallekelle, Kandy where he is being held since conviction. Police said the prisoner J. Kokilan Kanna, who is under treatment at the prison hospital, had grabbed the Doctor in embrace and attempted to rape her. Police said following screams from the lady Doctor, prison officials rushed to more..

Apr 6 (NW) The National Development Bank (NDB) says the estimated loss from the recently reported fraud incident amounts to approximately Rs. 13.2 billion, while assuring that customer deposits remain unaffected and banking operations continue as normal. In a corporate disclosure issued on 6 April, the bank said investigations determined that the fraud was confined to a specific operational area and more..

Apr 6 (NW) Retired Major General Suresh Sallay, the former head of Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service, has filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal challenging his arrest and detention by the CID. The arrest was made under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with ongoing investigations related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The petition, submitted through his lawyers, names several senior officials as respondents. more..

Apr 6 (DM) In an obvious swipe at US Prez Donald Trump over the US-Israeli war on Iran, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said all nations are suffering today because of selfishness of one man who wants to rule the world. Speaking during the Easter Vigil service, Cardinal Ranjith said these leaders cannot be called Christians considering what they are doing today. “This leader, who is the head of the most important nation in the world, is showering bombs and causing more..

Apr 6 (NW) The special holiday granted on Wednesdays for govt institutions, schools and universities will be cancelled with effect from April 8, the Commissioner General of Essential Services announced. Wednesday holiday had previously been introduced as part of temporary measures implemented in view of prevailing national requirements. According to the Commissioner General of Essential Services, more..

Apr 6 (AD) A vessel carrying 7,000 metric tonnes of LP gas arrived in the country, according to LAUGFS Gas PLC. LAUGFS Gas PLC said it successfully received an LPG shipment of 7,000 metric tons via the vessel ANDOVER at the Hambantota LAUGFS Terminal. The arrival of the shipment will significantly strengthen supply availability across the country and ensure that there will be no shortages during the upcoming festive season, the company said in a statement. more..

Apr 6 (NW) Sri Lanka and Russia have signed a MoU to enhance cooperation in transport sector training and human resource development, during the International Transport and Logistics Forum held in St. Petersburg. The agreement was signed between the Russian Ministry of Transport and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the transport sector. more..

Apr 6 (FT) As Sri Lanka approaches the seventh commemoration of the Easter Sunday Attacks, the national mood is once again marked by grief, reflection, and an enduring sense of incompleteness. Nearly seven years later, the tragedy continues to cast a long shadow not only over the victims and their families, but over the institutions and narratives that have since emerged. Commemoration, however, must go beyond ritual. It must be anchored in clarity, accountability, and restraint. more..

Apr 6 (FT) This writer was invited to deliver the keynote address at a recent event. At the outset, the promoters noted that the Ceylon Foundation for Economic Policy Analysis (CFEP) had its origins in the severe economic crisis SL faced in 2022. They also observed that the young people engaged in this policy analysis, commonly referred to as Generation Z or Gen-Z, differ markedly from the older generations that had governed the country. It was this difference that led them to engage in more..

Apr 6 (FT) The two main domestic gas suppliers, Litro Gas Lanka Ltd, and LAUGFS Gas PLC, have raised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices with effect from yesterday (5) midnight, citing sharp increases in global energy costs and mounting logistical pressures linked to geopolitical tensions. Litro announced that the price of a 12.5 kg cylinder in the Colombo District has been increased by Rs. 775 to Rs. 4,765. more..

Apr 6 (SO) CIABOC has issued notice to former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa to provide a declaration of his assets and liabilities through an affidavit before April 10. CIABOC has directed the former Prez to provide this declaration in connection with an investigation initiated in 2015 into Rajapaksa’s assets and liabilities and of his family between the years of 2010 and 2015. Commission in a letter to the former Prez has stated that the investigations have been delayed for a long period and, more..

Apr 6 (AD) Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Northern, Eastern, North-central, Central and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Puttalam, Galle & Matara districts after 2 pm, today, Met Dept said. Showers may occur in coastal areas of Western province and in the Puttalam and Jaffna districts in the morning. Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa & Uva provinces and in Ampara district during the early hours of the morning, more..

Apr 6 (FT) Govt has published its 2026 Governance Action Plan, which sets out timelines for key structural reforms, including procurement legislation, State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) restructuring, and changes to the governance of EPF, with several measures scheduled for completion within the year. Plan outlines that the Public Procurement Bill is to be drafted and cleared by April 2026 and submitted to the Cabinet more..

Apr 6 (DM) The Petroleum Distributors Association (PDA) has announced that fuel station owners across the island will stage a silent protest in front of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) today (6) at 9.30 a.m., citing several unresolved issues affecting their operations. Executive Committee Member Shantha Silva said that the primary concern prompting the protest is the difficulties faced by filling station employees under the current odd-even fuel distribution system. more..

Apr 6 (AD) The service charge levied on merchants for all LankaQR transactions up to Rs. 5,000 will be completely removed with effect from today (6). Marking a new milestone in Sri Lanka’s digital economy, the National QR Payment Promotion Programme will be officially launched today (6) under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The primary objective of this initiative is to steer Sri Lanka towards a cash-lite economy with reduced reliance on coins & banknotes, more..