Apr 7 (FT) Banking regulator, Central Bank of SL (CBSL) said it was satisfied that the alleged Rs. 13.2 billion fraud, described as the largest disclosed in the country, has not affected the core financial strength of National Development Bank (NDB). NDB last Thursday disclosed that it has detected a fraud perpetrated by a few employees colluding with third parties amounting Rs. 380 million, with further investigations likely to more..

Apr 7 (Island) Parliament is scheduled to debate, on Friday, a no-confidence motion, submitted by the Opposition, against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody. Parliament will meet for three days this week, beginning today (7), following a decision taken at the Committee on Parliamentary Business, chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. An Opposition-sponsored adjournment debate on the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks is also scheduled to be held on Thursday (9). more..

Apr 7 (AD) The Director General of the Department of Meteorology of SL, Athula Karunanayake, stated that Sri Lanka is expected to receive its usual rainfall by May or June. Elaborating further, Director General Karunanayake said, “During the Southwest Monsoon, rainfall is expected to decrease compared to current levels, potentially by more than 30%. However, May marks only the beginning of El Nińo, and there is confidence that by May and June, normal rains will arrive.” more..

Apr 7 (AD) A major controversy has erupted over the fate of Yala’s famed male leopard Lucas, with authorities launching an investigation into claims that the big cat may have been run over or possibly targeted in a suspected safari jeep incident inside Yala National Park. DWC Director General Ranjana Marasinghe confirmed that an incident had been reported to him and instructed officials to carry out an immediate investigation. more..

Apr 7 (FT) The Govt has accelerated plans to deploy large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), as it moves to address growing imbalances in the power system driven by the rapid expansion of renewable energy. At its meeting last week, the Cabinet of Ministers approved two interlinked decisions aimed at strengthening grid flexibility and enabling greater utilisation of renewable energy, particularly solar power, which has expanded faster than initially projected. more..

Apr 7 (TM) National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) is moving to tighten oversight of new housing construction, with plans underway to make its approval for internal plumbing systems mandatory before building clearance is granted. NWSDB Chairperson Chandana Bandara said that discussions are ongoing with key agencies, including Urban Development Authority (UDA) and Electricity Distribution Lanka (Pvt) Ltd (EDL), to integrate NWSDB clearance into the standard approval more..

Apr 7 (AD) ​The final report of the Census of Population and Housing 2024 in SL was officially presented today (6) at the Presidential Secretariat to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake by K.M.D.S.D. Karunarathne, Director General of the Dept of Census and Statistics. Census of Population and Housing 2024 is the 15th such census conducted in SL and is notable for being the first in the country’s census history to use tablet computers and smart mobile phones for nationwide data collection, more..

Apr 7 (DN) ​The promising middle distance athlete Tharushi Abhisheka of Lyceum International School, Wattala came to the highlight when she set up a new women’s under 20 1500m National record in 4:28.35 seconds at the selection trials for Asian Under 20 Atheletic Championship held at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium Diyagama last week. Tharushi’s achievement paved her way to qualify for the Asian Junior Athletic Championships to be held in Hong Kong from May 28–31. more..

Apr 7 (DM) ​SL officially launched the National QR Payment Adoption Programme yesterday, introducing key measures to accelerate the country’s transition toward a less cash economy, including the complete removal of the merchant discount rate for all LankaQR transactions up to Rs.5,000. Implemented with immediate effect, initiative also unlocks seamless person-to-person (P2P) transactions, allowing individuals to more..

Apr 7 (ST) SL will shortly resume peacekeeping operations in Haiti after a lapse of more than ten years, senior govt officials said. Approval has been given for the SL peacekeepers to join operations in Haiti following talks held with the UN Department of Peace Operations in New York. Minister Vijitha Herath also held talks with the UN Resident Coordinator Marc-Andre Franche to expedite the deployment of the SL peacekeepers in the Caribbean nation. more..

Apr 7 (AD) Sinopec Energy Lanka (Pvt) Limited announced that it has increased the retail price of Super Diesel by Rs. 28 to Rs. 600 per litre with effect from midnight today (6). Issuing a notice, it said that for Petrol Octane 92 and Lanka Auto Diesel (LAD), the Govt-approved retail prices is strictly adhered to while for premium products, namely Petrol Octane 95 and Lanka Super Diesel (LSD), pricing will be based on prevailing international market prices, as permitted by the Govt. more..

Apr 7 (NW) A total of 240 complaints related to wildlife and forest offences have been received through the 1995 Surakimu hotline within five months of its launch, Ministry of Environment said. Hotline and rapid response unit were introduced on Nov 3, 2025, under the patronage of Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi, in collaboration with the Defence Ministry, Police, Tri-Forces, and Depts of Wildlife and Forest Conservation. A progress review meeting was held on Monday (6) more..

Apr 7 (DM) SL’s credit regulator has moved to shield the borrowers hit by Cyclone Ditwah from longer-term financial fallout, introducing temporary relief measures that prevent the disaster-related repayment delays from damaging the credit profiles. Credit Information Bureau of SL (CRIB), under the guidance of the CB, said the measures would apply for up to six months and are designed to support the individuals and businesses facing cash flow disruptions from floods & cyclonic winds. more..

Apr 7 (ST) Since no human remains or artefacts were recovered during the three days of excavations at a specific spot in the suspected mass grave site in Kurukkalmadam, Batticaloa, pit was closed on Friday, according to the Office of Missing Persons (OMP). The excavation activities began on Tuesday (30) under the supervision of the Kaluwanchikudy Magistrate D. Pradeepan. This is the first time a suspected mass grave site more..

Apr 7 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar yesterday said the party would consider joining hands with the UNP, while firmly rejecting any alliance with individuals accused of contributing to Sri Lanka’s economic collapse. Marikkar characterised the UNP as the SJB’s political home of origin, suggesting that despite past divisions, cooperation between the two parties remains possible. “Imagine I got together with a girl. The father opposes. We run away and get married. The father falls sick, and more..

Apr 7 (Reuters) Four astronauts of NASA's ​Artemis II mission cruised on Monday to the deepest point in space reached by any human, following the tug of lunar gravitational force en route to a rare ‌crewed flyby over the shadowed far side of the moon. As the climactic six-hour flyby of Earth's only natural satellite got underway, some two dozen lunar scientists packed a room adjacent to mission control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to record the astronauts' first observations of more..

Apr 7 (TM) Despite experiencing about a 60% reduction in flight operations during the initial days of the Middle East (ME) war and a continued 30% drop in recent weeks, Civil Aviation Ministry remains hopeful of being able to achieve its year-end targets as planned, Deputy subject Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku asserted. He said the aviation sector income has declined due to the reduction in flight operations, although exact financial losses more..

Apr 7 (ST) North Central and North Western provinces stood out of the rest to emerge as the overall champions in Boys’ and Girls’ segments of the All-Island Cadet Sports Festival, held recently at the Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna. From team events such as volleyball, netball and football to track and field events and march band and drill display events, All-Island Cadet Sports Festival was revived after an lapse of six years, with the intention of building camaraderie among cadets through sports. more..

Apr 7 (NW) The first phase of refurbishment work at the Colombo Central Bus Terminal is nearing completion, with authorities aiming to hand over the upgraded facilities to the public ahead of the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The project is being implemented under the Clean Sri Lanka programme, with the objective of creating a cleaner, more modern and passenger-friendly public transport environment. Under the first phase, several improvements have been carried out, more..

Apr 7 (FT) Court of Appeal has affirmed a determination of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission directing People’s Bank to disclose information relating to two bank accounts maintained by the Devinuwara Uthpalawanna Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya, holding that the information cannot be treated as private. Court also held that the RTI Commission as a quasi-judicial institution, is not required to defend its own decisions in the Appeal Court, and not required to be made a more..

Apr 7 (FT) In a major step towards public sector digitalisation, the Cabinet of Ministers last week green lighted a Rs. 626 million project to establish a unified Digital Communication and Collaboration Platform for Govt employees. The initiative will be implemented this year as part of the country’s broader digital transformation agenda under the Digital Economy Plan approved by the Cabinet on 21 Oct 2025. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the platform is intended to create a secure, more..

Apr 7 (TM) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) revealed that 11,409 complaints related to corporal punishment had been reported to the Authority by 28 Feb this year. NCPA Director Shanika Malalgoda urged the public to promptly report any incidents of child abuse or corporal punishment. NCPA also noted that more than 10,000 complaints were recorded in 2025, with a total of 10,455 complaints received during the year. more..

Apr 7 (FT) Mintpay has launched its Corporate Gifting Solution, enabling organisations to issue digital vouchers that employees can redeem across more than 2,500 merchants islandwide, giving organisations a more flexible and relevant way to reward their teams. As companies rethink employee engagement, traditional gifts and single store vouchers are increasingly seen as restrictive. Mintpay’s solution allows organisations to offer rewards employees can use across a wide more..

Apr 7 (FT) Ritzbury, of CBL Foods International Ltd, has secured the SL National Quality Award (SLNQA) 2023 in the Manufacturing – Large Scale category, winning it for the second time. The achievement reflects Ritzbury’s continued commitment to world-class quality standards, strong governance, and the delivery of safe, reliable, and high-quality products, while contributing to SL’s industrial growth. The award was presented at the SLNQA ceremony organised by the SL Standards Institution, more..

Apr 7 (DN) Less than a week remains until the dawn of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year 2026. People are busier than ever, rushing to buy everything needed for the celebrations. This year, however, it is a tougher road than before, now that the cost of food, clothing, and other essentials has soared, driven by rising fuel and electricity prices. The ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East has added fuel to the fire. Our focus is elsewhere. It is drawn to the group that has long been overlooked over more..

Apr 7 (TM) As the month of April unfolds, the air in SL usually begins to carry the scent of coconut oil and the sound of the koha. It is a period defined by the spirit of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, a season where the concept of renewal is a vital psychological reset for the nation. However, this year, the sense of anticipation is being overshadowed by a far more pragmatic and painful reality. The announcement on Sunday midnight that once again the prices of domestic LP gas more..

Apr 7 (TM) From last November’s Cyclone Ditwah to the prevailing drought and the upcoming El Nińo phenomenon, SL is increasingly facing climate extremes that leave it little space to manoeuvre until the next weather event hits, placing the economy and its people under significant strain. According to Uni of Colombo, Dept of Zoology and Environment Sciences Prof. Erandathie Lokupitiya, SL is among most climate-vulnerable nations more..

Apr 7 (ST) In a nation where an IGP was once held responsible for the grievous torture of a suspect (but nevertheless continued in office until the winds of political change forced him out), it is little surprise that this week, an ostensibly unassuming police spokesman was found by a majority opinion of the Supreme Court, to be personally liable for violating the right of an attorney-at-law to exercise his constitutional right to practice his profession. Facts of this case were a tad different from more..

Apr 7 (DM) Another Easter Sunday -- the 7th after that fateful Easter Sunday which fell on April 21, 2019, has passed two days ago. Ironically, people still debate many unanswered questions about that fateful day when over 270 innocent men, women and children were killed by a group of fanatical Muslim terrorists. The fact that investigations into this brutal crime have been dragging on for seven years without finding an answer to the question who did it, is an indictment of the political leaders more..

Apr 7 (SO) Christians all over the world are celebrating the springtime religious festival of Easter today. They consider it the most important celebration, even more solemn and central to their religion than Christmas which generally takes on a popular festive culture. At the heart of Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, a radical dogma of the faith on which Christianity stands or falls. more..

Apr 7 (GV) Sri Lanka stands at a fragile yet defining moment in its economic journey. Emerging from one of the most severe financial crises in its post-independence history, the country continues to navigate debt restructuring, fiscal consolidation and a slow, uneven recovery. While recent stabilisation measures have helped restore a degree of macroeconomic balance, the deeper structural weaknesses that contributed to the crisis remain largely unresolved. more..

Apr 7 (CT) Do recent DNA studies, particularly a groundbreaking 2025 whole-genome sequencing study published in Current Biology, indicate that the Sinhalese population in SL, has strong genetic ties to South Indian populations? If that be so, does it mean racially the Sinhalese and Tamils are of the same genetic affinity but they differ only by language? Yes of course! The Sinhalese historians in order to show themselves as separate from the Tamils of SL had suggested an exclusive more..