Apr 30 (NW) Former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando told court that he believes former President Maithripala Sirisena had prior knowledge of the Easter Sunday attacks. The former Secretary made the statement while testifying before a Trial-at-Bar hearing the case against him over alleged dereliction of duty in preventing the deadly terrorist attacks of 2019. Fernando said he believes that then President Maithripala Sirisena, who was also the Defence Minister and more..

Apr 30 (TM) The Colombo High Court (HC) has postponed the announcement of verdicts in four cases filed by the CIABOC against former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena. The verdicts, which were initially scheduled to be delivered today (30th), have now been deferred to 26 May 2026. The cases concern allegations by the Bribery Commission that Gunawardena caused financial losses to the govt in 2006 while serving as Chairman of the National Lotteries Board. more..

Apr 30 (DM) Jana Aragala Vyaparaya activist Wasantha Mudalige expressed strong criticism over the govt’s handling of SL’s proposed electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) project, particularly its reported cooperation with India. Mudalige alleged that Sri Lanka’s decision-making authority over the biometric ID system had been compromised and raised concerns over data security and foreign influence. more..

Apr 30 (AD) The Sri Lankan govt has decided to make it mandatory for Buddhist monks travelling abroad to obtain recommendations from their respective senior monk (Guru Hamuduruwo), the regional Buddhist leader, and the Mahanayaka Thero of their respective Nikaya. Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Gamagedara Dissanayake stated that although this law had been enacted previously, it had not been strictly implemented in recent times. more..

Apr 30 (NW) HSBC Bank’s consumer banking operations in Sri Lanka officially come to an end today, following the completion of the transfer of its retail banking division to Nations Trust Bank (NTB). The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) received approval from the Central Bank of SL in Dec 2025 to hand over its consumer banking operations to NTB. A Binding Sale and Purchase Agreement signed between the two banks in Sept 2025 has now been finalized. more..

Apr 30 (Island) Rooftop solar power in Sri Lanka has reached a critical turning point as the country responds to the combined pressures of the economic crisis, rising electricity tariffs and national climate commitments. What was once considered an optional investment for affluent households is increasingly becoming a practical solution for ordinary consumers, businesses and industries seeking lower energy costs and more..

Apr 30 (DM) A discussion on organising the annual Esala Maha Perahera of Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya and securing sponsorship was held yesterday (29) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. They said the 76th Esala Maha Perahera of the historic temple is scheduled to be held from July 25 to Aug 16. During the meeting, attention focused on conducting this year’s perahera, regarded as one of the country’s more..

Apr 30 (DM) The human–elephant conflict in SL has claimed the lives of 427 people and elephants as of April 25 this year, data revealed. 108 elephants have died so far in 2026, while 35 people have lost their lives in elephant attacks during the same period. A senior official from the department said that the causes behind elephant deaths included 16 from gunshot injuries, 14 from electrocution, nine from explosives concealed in food items known as hakka patas, and five in train collisions. more..

Apr 30 (DM) NPP reiterated that the govt is conducting investigations into the money allegedly hidden in foreign countries by leaders during previous govts with the support of those particular countries. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that the govt is expecting to reveal all the details regarding the individuals, amount and the countries where the money was hidden after the investigations. He said foreign countries are assisting the govt in conducting those more..

Apr 30 (NW) The NPP has announced plans to hold 21 May Day rallies across 21 major cities of SL, with the participation of its senior leadership. Party Leader and Prez Anura Dissanayake will attend the May Day rally in Nuwara Eliya on the morning of May 1, followed by the rally in Maharagama in the afternoon. PM Harini Amarasuriya is scheduled to join the May Day rally in Ratnapura. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva will take part in rallies in Kalutara, Matara, and Tangalle, while more..

Apr 30 (EN) New active credit cards in Sri Lanka increased by 17,081 in February this year, CB data showed, as the country’s economic recovery amid lower interest rates helps boost their usage. The number of total active credit cards reached 2,193,380 by the end of February, compared to 2,176,299 by the end of January, showing a 0.8% increase for the month. The number has expanded by 1.3% in the first two months of this month. more..

Apr 30 (NW) Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu will undertake a State Visit to Sri Lanka from May 3 to May 6, 2026, at the invitation of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayaka. During the visit, President Muizzu is scheduled to meet senior Sri Lankan leaders and hold official talks with President Dissanayaka aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations. The two leaders will also witness the signing and exchange of several MoUs covering cooperation across multiple sectors. more..

Apr 30 (Island) US Embassy in SL, on April 26, celebrated the 15th anniversary of American Corner Jaffna (ACJ), highlighting its longstanding role in connecting communities in Northern SL with the US through programmes focused on education, innovation, and American values. The Embassy also inaugurated the new Freedom 250 Pavilion, part of the global Freedom 250 initiative commemorating 250 years of American independence, the Embassy said in a press release more..

Apr 30 (DM) The second highest category of complaints received by the NCPA relates to physical abuse, with between 2,000 and 2,500 cases of corporal punishment reported each year. Despite increasing awareness on child rights, physical punishment continues to be widely used as a disciplinary method by parents, teachers and educators in Sri Lanka, reflecting long-standing cultural and social norms. more..

Apr 30 (EN) SL is focused on strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation with Israel, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has said. Herath recently met Ambassador of Israel to SL Reuven Javier Azar, who is based in New Delhi, India. “Focused on strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation across multiple spheres,” Herath said after the meeting. “Looking forward to continued engagement for mutual benefit.” Israel is currently conducting a ground invasion and more..

Apr 30 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers has approved new rules strengthening the Central Bank of SL’s (CBSL) powers to collect data required for monetary policy formulation, including provisions to impose administrative sanctions on entities that fail to comply, alongside approving the tabling of its 2025 financial and operational report in Parliament. Under the provisions of the Central Bank of SL Act No. 16 of 2023, the CBSL is empowered to collect statistics and information from more..

Apr 30 (TM) A new concept paper proposing a tobacco-free generation for children born after 2010 has been officially submitted to Minister of Health, Nalinda Jayatissa. Developed by the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA), the plan aims to eliminate future exposure to tobacco by implementing key legislative reforms, including restricting access for the younger population. The proposal highlights the urgent need to address the health, social, and more..

Apr 30 (DM) Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Paulraj has said that there is a need to further expand and strictly enforce legal and policy provisions in light of recent concerns over the safety and wellbeing of children in early childhood development and day care centres. She made these remarks during a recent meeting held with the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development. The Minister said that Provincial Preschool Units established under more..

Apr 30 (EN) SL’s overall rate of inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI), touched near the Central Bank’s upper inflation target rate of 5.4% in April 2026, data showed. The Central Bank had expected to reach its mid-term target of 5% much later than April and analysts say the sudden increase may pressure the Central Bank to tighten its monetary policy sooner rather than later. more..

Apr 30 (NW) SL has climbed five places in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, ranking 134th out of 180 countries with a global score of 40.77. The latest report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) marks an improvement from 2025, when the country was placed 139th. According to RSF, press freedom issues in SL are closely tied to the civil war that ravaged the island until 2009, as well as the still-unpunished crimes of violence against numerous journalists when the Tamil rebellion more..

Apr 30 (NW) SL’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has appealed to the public for assistance in locating information about the next of kin of Ms. Rahima Sahabdeen, a Sri Lankan national currently detained in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The request follows a notice from the Consulate General of SL in Jeddah, which highlighted the urgent need to establish her identity in order to facilitate repatriation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that Ms. Rahima is suffering from memory loss more..

Apr 30 (AD) An Assistant Director at the External Resources Dept of the Finance Ministry, who had been interdicted over the alleged theft of USD 2.5 million by hackers, has reportedly been found dead under suspicious circumstances at his residence in Kuliyapitiya. He was reportedly found dead at his residence in Kuliyapitiya today by relatives who then proceeded to inform the police. Police officers have already visited the scene more..

Apr 30 (AD) European Union (EU)-funded Together We Rise initiative, implemented by World Vision and SAFE Foundation in Sri Lanka, is a €2.6 million project designed to strengthen civil society and promote human rights, inclusion and accountable governance. Over three years, the project will support 50 civil society organisations (CSOs) by providing targeted training and resources, while also engaging govt institutions, policymakers and 250 social activists to enhance transparency, more..

Apr 30 (FT) May Day 2026 holds up a mirror before SL’s politico-electoral reality. Contrary to mirages of multipolarity, the political contest reveals itself as strategically bi-polar: Sajith Premadasa vs. Anura Dissanayake; SJB vs. JVP-NPP. The country’s essential choice of leadership in 2029 is discernible. It is a pity that the SLPP isn’t celebrating May Day. While 1 May is indeed a Poya (full moon) Day, it isn’t Vesak. Observances of sil are usually completed in the morning. more..

Apr 30 (EN) With SL’s export competitiveness steadily declining in major destination markets amid global economic uncertainty, the need to explore innovative tools for sustaining export growth has become urgent. Improving export competitiveness is essential for robust growth. One powerful, yet often underutilised, tool in this effort is the country’s intellectual property rights (IPR) system. SL stands at a critical juncture as the int'l community marks World Intellectual Property (IP) Day in April. more..

Apr 30 (FT) In SL, as in many developing economies, most citizens pay taxes almost without noticing it. Every supermarket bill, litre of fuel, mobile reload, restaurant payment, or transport fare quietly includes a tax component. These indirect taxes are built into prices, collected instantly, and rarely questioned. Direct taxes, however, are different. Income tax is visible, personal, and intentional. It requires an individual or business to stop, calculate, declare, and consciously decide to comply. more..

Apr 30 (FT) Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma has declined to appear before the CoPF today stating that Prez and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake was expected to address Parliament on the $ 2.5 million Treasury breach. CoPF Chairman MP Dr. Harsha de Silva was not having any of it. “This is a kick in the face of the promised ‘system change’ the people of this country voted for. It is also a breakdown of more..

Apr 30 (NW) Deputy Minister Kaushalya Ariyarathne has clarified media reports regarding Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma informing the COPF that he would be unable to appear before the committee on Thursday. COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva said he had received a letter from the Treasury Secretary stating that he is unable to attend the committee meeting scheduled for Thursday. He added that the Treasury Secretary had cited the President’s intention to make a statement more..

Apr 30 (NW) SJB has asked former MP Eran Wickramaratne to relinquish his party membership following his recent appointment to head SLC’s Transformation Committee. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the party has accepted Wickramaratne’s resignation from its Working Committee and Management Committee, but has also formally requested that he step down from the party altogether. The decision is in line with the SJB’s policy of not allowing politicians more..

Apr 30 (DM) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage said a Cricket Transformation Committee has been appointed to rebuild Sri Lankan cricket and guide it toward a stronger future. “We want to take SL cricket from where it is now to a completely different, better place,” he said. The Minister said the new body has been appointed under the Sports Act to oversee cricket admin. & introduce immediate reforms. more..

Apr 30 (Island) Director General of the Department of Meteorology Athula Karunanayake, who allegedly predicted the impending Cyclone Ditwah, on 12 Nov, 2025, but didn’t take appropriate measures to alert the people before the Cyclone made landfall on 27 Nov, last year, recently appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) inquiry into the failure on the part of the relevant authorities to act. Karunanayake issued the warning when he appeared on Derana Big Focus. more..

Apr 30 (DM) Eventually and finally the Empire that was Sri Lanka Cricket came to its long-awaited end yesterday as incumbent president Shammi Silva and his executive committee decided to officially step down, making way for what many believe could be the beginning of a new era for the country’s best-known passion and most marketable brand name. Silva and his executive board had one final meeting on Tuesday as the clock ticked following Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s decision to overhaul more..