Apr 17 (NW) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has rejected claims that Sri Lanka paid $286 per barrel for crude oil and said it intends to pursue legal action over reports it described as inaccurate. CPC Chairman said the corporation imports crude oil solely for the Sapugaskanda refinery. The first crude oil shipment to arrive in SL following recent instability in the Middle East region is scheduled to reach the country on April 17 more..

Apr 17 (MEE) The price paid for a barrel of oil in Asia has reached as high as $286 in at least one case, as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Georges Elhedery, CEO of HSBC Bank, said at an investment forum in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Elhedery made the remarks to underscore how the benchmark price of oil in the West does not reflect the actual price buyers in certain parts of the world are paying. “What worries me is not the headlines. I mean, oil headline is above $100, $110,” he said, more..

Apr 17 (NW) The dog named Aloka, which has drawn public attention in connection with the upcoming Walk for Peace, will travel in the passenger cabin on a flight to Sri Lanka. Aloka has been granted permission to travel inside the cabin rather than in the cargo hold as a certified service animal. A special seat has been allocated for Aloka alongside Venerable Pannakara Thero, who is leading the delegation arriving for the event. Aloka is a rescue dog of Indian origin who more..

Apr 17 (TM) Energy Ministry rejected allegations the Govt has decided to release water from the Victoria Reservoir in an unusual manner for electricity generation, stating that national electricity production declines during the festive season due to the temporary shutdown of factories across the country. Deputy Minister Arkam Ilyas said that releasing water from a reservoir cannot be done arbitrarily, adding that such matters are more..

Apr 17 (AD) Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL) has announced that the first crude oil tanker to arrive since the onset of the Middle East conflict is scheduled to reach the island today. Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumara stated that the vessel is carrying 97,500 metric tonnes of crude oil to SL. He further noted that an additional tanker is expected to arrive by the end of this month. “The first crude oil ship following the war situation is arriving in SL with 97,500 metric tons. more..

Apr 17 (AD) A local multi-day fishing vessel carrying several sacks suspected to contain narcotics has been brought to the Dikowita Fisheries Harbour following a special deep-sea operation south of SL. The vessel was intercepted and taken into custody by the SL Navy yesterday, along with four suspects on board. The arrest was made during an operation conducted by the Navy’s long-range operational vessel unit. The seized sacks suspected to contain narcotics are yet to be examined, more..

Apr 17 (AD) SL Police has issued a statement regarding the arrest of former MP Chandana Kathriarachchi by the CCD. It said that acting on received information by the CCD, officers obtained a search warrant and carried out a raid at the ex-MP’s residence in Mampe. During the search, officers recovered a cache of weapons, including a live hand grenade, two T-56 magazines, 221 rounds of T-56 live ammunition, 103 rounds of 0.22 calibre ammunition, 31 rounds of 84S calibre more..

Apr 17 (AD) SriLankan Airlines has clarified what it describes as inaccurate and misleading media reports regarding an alleged clash involving an airline official and flight crew at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Int'l Airport. According to a statement issued by SriLankan Airlines, the incident occurred on April 2, when SriLankan Airlines crew members were preparing to check in for duty at the Suvarnabhumi Int'l Airport. SriLankan Country Manager entered passenger check-in area more..

Apr 17 (ST) Director of Corporate Communications at the PUCSL, Jayanath Herath, stated that the commission has received a proposal for a new tariff increase and is currently studying and evaluating it. Mr. Herath said that an increase cannot be implemented immediately, as the commission must first complete its study before a decision is reached. He noted that the proposal was submitted because the utility providers’ costs more..

Apr 17 (TM) The National Tea Planters’ Association (NTPA) said the recent fertiliser subsidy recommended by the Govt for smallholder tea planters is not being distributed efficiently, adding that what planters truly need is not a subsidy but a reduction in fertiliser prices. Association’s President Saman Geeganage said that even the fertiliser subsidy provided previously had not reached some Tea smallholders and planters, nor is it offered to them when it is most needed. more..

Apr 17 (AD) DIG of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W.P.J. Senadheera, said that strict legal action will be taken against vehicles emitting excessive black smoke while operating on public roads. He stated that police have already received complaints regarding such vehicles, noting that air pollution remains a serious global issue, with nearly one million deaths reported annually. The DIG further said that to control this situation, authorities will work in collaboration with inspectors from more..

Apr 17 (AD) Two bodies have been recovered, while two others have been hospitalized and six individuals reportedly remain missing after a group of 15 went bathing in the Deduru Oya near the Kuratiyagahamula area of Nikaweratiya within the Kobeigane Police Division, police said. The recovered bodies are reported to be that of a man and a woman, police said. According to police, a group of seven people from the Kadawatha area had visited a relative’s house in Kobeigane. more..

Apr 17 (NW) SL has recorded a rise in the number of PhD holders, alongside a broader shift towards higher educational attainment over the past decade, according to the data on the population aged 25 and above in the Census of Population and Housing 2024. PhD holders increased from 6,557 in 2012 to 11,757 in 2024, though still accounting for just 0.1% of the population. The number of people with degrees more than doubled, rising from 358,052 (3.0%) to 780,958 (5.6%). more..

Apr 17 (TM) In the wake of the severe impact caused by substandard coal consignments on the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai and the resulting losses exceeding billions of rupees, the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (SLAB) noted that discussions have commenced with State and Govt authorities on the need to introduce accreditation for coal testing laboratories and at related regulatory facilities. more..

Apr 17 (DN) All-rounder Sonal Dinusha led Sri Lanka ‘A’ with an unbeaten 90, well supported by opener Lahiru Udara (61) and Ramesh Mendis (48), as the hosts reached 324 for 7 at the close of Day One in their first four-day unofficial Test against New Zealand ‘A’ at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota yesterday. Sri Lanka ‘A’ elected to bat first and made a steady start, with openers Lahiru Udara and Nishan Madushka adding 46 runs in 13.1 overs. more..

Apr 17 (TM) Football Federation of SL (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar declared himself as a common candidate put forth by a majority of sports associations, as he submitted his nomination on 10 April to contest next week’s election of office bearers to the National Olympic Committee of SL. The election and the AGM of the NOCSL for the 2025-29 four-year term is scheduled to be held at the Olympic House premises at 4 p.m. on 25 April, and it is to be supervised by a 3-member panel more..

Apr 17 (Island) Former Chairman of the COPE Charitha Herath has said it is the COPE, and not the Secretary to the Prez, that should have asked the CID to probe irregularities in the procurement of coal for the Lakvijaya power plant. Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, who is the Secretary to the President, lodged a complaint with the CID last week seeking an investigation into coal procurement. No previous Secretary to a Prez had done so, more..

Apr 17 (EN) Mark Mobius, the emerging market guru and Sri Lanka’s main foreign investor into the island nation’s govt bonds after the end of the war died at the age of 89. Known globally as the pioneer of emerging markets, Mobius was more than just a fund manager to Sri Lanka. He died on Wednesday at the age of 89. The post did not mention a cause of death. Known for his willingness to unlock new, ‌sometimes hazardous jurisdictions, Mobius relished the challenge. more..

Apr 17 (SO) Jordan Campbell has won Gold at the North American Travel Journalists Association Awards for her stunning SL photo essay The Passing Glances of Train Car #3. Jordan’s work beautifully captures the essence of SL, from candid human moments to cultural depth, showcasing the island in a way that resonates with global audiences. It reflects the power of authentic storytelling and the emotional connection our island creates through its people, culture, and everyday life. more..

Apr 17 (Island) Methika Jayasinghe and sister Binuthi Jayasinghe delivered exceptional performances at the recently concluded All-Island Under-20 Basketball Championship, securing championship titles and earning the prestigious Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in their respective categories. The tournament, held from April 8 to April 11, 2026, featured the finest young basketball talent from across SL. The girls’ final took place on April 10, followed by the boys’ final on April 11. more..

Apr 17 (ST) The Lanka Property Show 2026 was held on March 21-22 at Cinnamon Grand hotel in Colombo. The event was SL’s premier property exhibition which brought together property buyers, sellers, and developers from across the island. I was invited to speak at its Panel Discussion titled Meeting Tomorrow’s Housing Demand: How Demographics, Migration, and Lifestyle Changes are Reshaping Real Estate Investment? The topic was timely and fit into my interests of making more..

Apr 17 (SO) For more than a year, one of Colombo’s busiest urban intersections, the Colpetty (Kollupitiya) junction has reportedly been operating without functioning traffic lights, exposing thousands of motorists and pedestrians to daily danger and raising serious questions about administrative negligence, coordination failures, and accountability among public authorities. A 5-month ground-level investigation has found that more..

Apr 17 (GV) An event on enforced disappearances, The Shriek of Silence, organized by the Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research explored the collective responsibility of society in seeking justice for the grave human rights violations committed against our people. Violence against the Tamil people has been ongoing, often with govt support, since Sri Lanka gained independence. The losses suffered during the full scale war, particularly in the final phase of 2008-2009, were especially severe. more..

Apr 17 (CT) Govts, by nature, communicate success. It is part of political survival. The current NPP-led administration is no exception. Since assuming power, there has been a visible and energetic effort to showcase achievements—statistics highlighted, narratives amplified, and messaging carefully curated across platforms. But somewhere between projection and reality, an important question arises: what truly constitutes progress? The controversy surrounding more..

Apr 17 (Island) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is reported to have told his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in a telephone conversation, that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is a unanimous demand from the int'l community. He has stressed that Iran’s sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights should be respected as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz, but the freedom of navigation and safety through the strait should be ensured. One cannot but agree with the Chinese Foreign Minister. more..

Apr 17 (TM) SL today stands at a constitutional crossroads. More than a decade after the last Provincial Council (PC) Elections were held, the country continues to operate without functioning, elected Provincial bodies, an anomaly in any democracy that claims to value representation, devolution, and accountability. The delay is no longer a procedural inconvenience. It is a democratic deficit as the current ruling alliance, NPP repeatedly stressed both at Prez election of Sept 2024 more..

Apr 17 (CT) Large numbers of SL tech employees have been laid off in the past several months, including from multinational tech firms operating in the country, reported industry sources to Ceylon Today. Industry stakeholders and experts highlight that without forward-thinking policies implemented now, and necessary adaptation, Sri Lanka’s ICT sector – one of the biggest contributors to national GDP – is in danger of more..

Apr 17 (DN) Viktor Orbán ruled Hungary for 16 years with an iron fist, gradually eroding its democratic credentials. His oppressive regime ended last week with a landslide election win for his former ally turned critic Péter Magyar (45) of the Centre-Right Tisza (Respect and Freedom) Party, who will take oaths as PM in May. Orbán, with his extreme Far-Right views, was a thorn on the side of the European Union (EU). A close ally of Russian Prez Vladimir Putin, he kept blocking an EU loan more..

Apr 17 (TM) The prospect of the current two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran expiring on 22 April is a scenario that the int'l community simply cannot entertain. While the rhetoric emerging from Truth Social and the subsequent naval blockade ordered by the Trump administration suggest a return to maximum pressure, the geopolitical reality of 2026 is vastly different from that of a decade ago. We are no longer debating regional influence or abstract nuclear protocols in a vacuum. more..

Apr 17 (SO) Marking the 55th April Heroes commemoration, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva sat with the Sunday Observer to elaborate on how the 1971 uprising shaped SL’s history and the party’s journey. From Rohana Wijeweera’s bold vision of building the JVP from nothing, to the struggle against entrenched elites and harsh State repression, Silva highlighted the courage, sacrifice, and lessons of that generation and more..

Apr 17 (Island) Coal procurement, a primary input for electricity generation in Sri Lanka, has, in recent years, become a highly contested policy, financial, and governance issue. Given its direct impact on energy security and the fiscal position of the state, decisions in this sector carry far-reaching economic and social consequences. However, this issue cannot be understood merely as a matter of cost or operational efficiency. It must be viewed through a broader political economy lens— more..

Apr 17 (Island) The govt’s defeat of the no-confidence motion against Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, by a large parliamentary majority, was not surprising. The vote was 153 against and 49 in favour – a majority of 104. The significance of this debate and vote lies not only in the numerical strength of the govt, but in the larger questions of credibility and consistency that it has brought into public view. Behind the margin of victory were two significant factors. more..