Apr 5 (AD) PM of India Narendra Modi has arrived in the island this evening on a historical three-day state visit. PM Modi who arrived at the Katunayake International Airport, is accompanied by Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Indian Foreign Secretary and several senior officials of the Govt of India. Indian delegation was officially received by SL’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath more..

Apr 5 (MoD) In a prominent display of cooperation and environmental stewardship, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) joined forces for a coastal cleanup initiative at the iconic Galle Face on 03 Apr 25. The event which exhibited the camaraderie of both maritime forces, brought together naval personnel from the visiting JMSDF BUNGO and ETAJIMA as well as the SL Navy. The collaborative effort aimed to ensure the pristine condition of Galle Face, more..

Apr 5 (NF) Earl Sugi Perera, a key witness who testified before the Batalanda Commission, spoke to Newsfirst this morning. Previously, we reported on his abduction and torture for extortion, but he insisted on recounting the crimes in his own voice. Earl Sugi Perera, also known as Sydney, was abducted on March 23, 1990. He was taken to a house in the Batalanda housing complex, where he endured various forms of torture. On some days, he was forced to wear women's clothing & wigs. more..

Apr 5 (FT) SL yesterday announced its readiness to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, following US Govt’s decision under its reciprocal tariff policy. “We are committed to substantially reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers that hinder trade and investment. Improving the ease of doing business remains a top priority of the Govt, as we strive to create an environment that encourages innovation, fosters commercial partnerships, more..

Apr 5 (EAR) Indian PM Narendra Modi is visiting Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6 to bolster economic and strategic ties with New Delhi’s southern neighbor. The visit comes at a critical juncture as India navigates shifting dynamics in South Asia, including uncertainties surrounding Sri Lanka’s left-nationalist govt under Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the fallout from the ouster of the India-friendly Sheikh Hasina regime in Bangladesh, and growing Chinese influence in the region. more..

Apr 5 (FT) SJB MP and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva called for a unified national approach to address the tariff crisis, offering his expertise to the Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake-led Govt. “I am willing to help figure the way forward on Trump tariffs if Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake so desires. This crisis is national. Fallout could be huge. My position has always been that SL must break (tariff) walls and build (trade) bridges, SJB blueprint – not other way around,” he noted via ‘X.’ more..

Apr 5 (Island) Customs officials took into custody a haul of foreign cigarettes worth over Rs 435 billion while they were being smuggled into the country at the Orugodawatta cargo inspection division. The cigarettes were found inside a 20-foot container that had been brought into the country from the Jebel Ali port in the UAE. Customs spokesman Additional Customs Director General Sivali Arukgoda said that Customs officers found 2.5 million cigarettes in the container. more..

Apr 5 (DM) One of the three main revenue-generating arms of the country and the competent authority regulating the liquor industry, the Excise Department of Sri Lanka has earned a record revenue of Rs.61 billion during the first quarter of this year. The department comes third amidst the revenue-generating arms of the Department of Inland Revenue and Sri Lanka Customs functioning under the Ministry of Finance and has been given a revenue target of Rs.242 billion for 2025. more..

Apr 5 (EN) Indian PM Narendra Modi’s current two-day state visit to SL holds significant implications for both nations and the broader geopolitical landscape. This visit comes at a pivotal moment, addressing various facets of bilateral relations, historical complexities, and regional dynamics.​ Modi’s visit is strategically timed as SL emerges from a severe economic crisis that saw the nation declare bankruptcy in April 2022, more..

Apr 5 (CT) Resident Representative of the UNDP in SL, Azusa Kubota, stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive disability assessment system in the country, stating that the absence of such a framework has hindered a full understanding of the needs and capabilities of the disability community. Kubota made these remarks at a lesson-learning session organised on Friday, by the Ministry of Rural Development and Social Security, focused on reviewing the outcomes of Model Disability more..

Apr 5 (DM) Colombo Rubber Traders Association (CRTA) joined the bandwagon in expressing deep concern about the recent imposition of a 44 percent blanket tariff by the United States on all imports from Sri Lanka and said it is particularly worried on the devastating impact it would have on Sri Lanka’s natural rubber industry. As one of the country’s key export sectors, the natural rubber industry contributes significantly to both employment and foreign exchange earnings. more..

Apr 5 (NW) GMOA has issued a media statement in response to a serious allegation of sexual misconduct reported at the Negombo District General Hospital. According to the statement, a young woman who visited the hospital’s Outpatient Dept (OPD) for treatment has filed a complaint claiming she was subjected to sexual harassment by a doctor. GMOA acknowledged the gravity of the incident and revealed that the doctor named in the complaint had been previously expelled more..

Apr 5 (FT) Colombo stock market plunged further yesterday as investors remained negative over the impact to the economy from US President Donald Trump’s exorbitant 44% reciprocal tariff. The active S&P SL20 saw an over 2% decline for the second successive day and the benchmark ASPI was down by 1.8%. For the week, ASPI lost 2.8% and the S&P SL20 was down by over 4%. Turnover yesterday was Rs. 3.1 billion involving 218 million shares. For the week, turnover averaged Rs. 2.8 billion. more..

Apr 5 (FT) Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association (FTZMA) said SL, being an unsuspecting player in this global trade confrontation, finds itself grappling with an unprecedented challenge that threatens to derail its export-driven industries following the US’s reciprocal tariffs. In a seismic move shaking SL’s economic foundations, US Prez Donald Trump on 2 April unleashed a sweeping 44% reciprocal tariff targeting nations with more..

Apr 5 (FR) US tariffs have reached levels that are transforming the global economic outlook, significantly raising US recession risks and constraining the Federal Reserve’s ability to lower interest rates further, says Fitch Ratings. The Liberation Day tariff increases outlined by the US govt on 2 April sharply exceeded the already steep rises assumed in our March 2025 Global Economic Outlook (GEO). These increases impose a minimum tariff rate of 10% for all US trade partners and more..

Apr 5 (DN) A discussion was held yesterday (03) between Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Minister of Sports Sunil Gamage at the Shangri-La Hotel. During the meeting, Sheikh Salman acknowledged that while many Asian nations face economic challenges, SL is making positive strides forward under the current govt. He expressed confidence that football in SL would also see significant progress in the coming years. more..

Apr 5 (AD) The 2025 LG Elections will be held as scheduled on May 6, according to the Chairman of the National Election Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake. He noted that they will comply with court rulings as several petitions have been filed in relation to the rejection of nomination papers. Rathnayake confirmed that the printing of polling cards and ballot papers that are not affected by court cases have commenced. more..

Apr 5 (ST) Hong Kong-based casino owner and operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd, which will operate the John Keells Holdings’ multibillion-rupee integrated resort, City of Dreams SL, has paid Rs 5 billion for a 20-year licence it secured. In line with accounting treatments, Melco Resorts has recognised it as an intangible asset (non-monetary asset) which will be amortised on a straight-line basis (equal depreciation expense annually) until the casino licence expires. more..

Apr 5 (ST) Five of Sri Lanka’s top female athletes were celebrated at Her Journey, Her Victory, recognising the resilience and achievements of women in sports. Organised by the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL), the event served as both a celebration and a call to action for gender equity in sports. In his speech, NOCSL President Suresh Subramanian addressed struggles women face in sports—how, for centuries, societal expectations have dictated their paths. more..

Apr 5 (DN) Kandy’s 118th Battle of the Maroons the big match between Kingswood College and Dharmaraja College, will be played for 3 days, starting from April 4th, 5th, and 6th at the Pallekele Stadium, In this big match Dharmaraja College holds the edge with 37 wins against Kingswood College’s 19, while 53 matches have ended in a draws. Last year Dharmaraja Colelge ended as winners and this time it is going ot be close game if the weather favours both teams are in good form. more..

Apr 5 (Island) The govt has, with the help of National Food Promotion Board, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture, launched a programme to provide the public with nutritious food at reasonable prices as part of its Clean SL initiative. The public, fleeced by private eatery owners ruthlessly, will surely benefit from this programme, which deserves praise. It will also help improve the govt’s approval rating significantly. A way to a person’s heart is said to be through his or her stomach. more..

Apr 5 (ST) Northern fishermen reiterated once again this week to visiting TN fishermen leaders that they will not tolerate Indian mechanised bottom trawling under any circumstances, and they will have to stop venturing into the country’s territorial waters. A 5-member delegation of Tamil Nadu fishermen from Ramanathapuram and Rameshwaram districts met with representatives of Northern Federation more..

Apr 5 (Island) SL’s agricultural landscape is witnessing a silent yet profound transformation with the rapid expansion of oil palm plantations. Once introduced as a commercial crop, the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is now at the center of a heated debate, with environmentalists and scientists warning of its devastating ecological consequences. Research scientist Rajika Gamage, said: “The spread of oil palm in SL is not just a concern for biodiversity, but also for water resources, more..

Apr 5 (FT) SL Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) has announced the launch of the 7th annual SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards 2025. Premier event, which recognises technological innovation and ingenuity across all sectors, will highlight SL talent making a significant impact globally. The awards ceremony will take place in June, where winners will be celebrated at a grand gala for their contributions to innovation, ethics, and leadership in technology. more..

Apr 5 (TM) “The Tamil people aren’t wrong here. These are innocent people; they are only asking for their land. I am on their side,” says Nagadeepa Temple Chief Incumbent Ven. Navandagala Padumakiththi Tissa Thera about the struggle for land rights in Thaiyiddi, Jaffna. According to him, a temple was situated on about one-and-a-half acres of land belonging to the Nagadeepa Temple in Thaiyiddi. With the outbreak of ethnic tensions in 1958, the temple was abandoned but more..

Apr 5 (FT) The Trump trade shock is a massive blow to the global order. It represents the biggest rupture since the end of the Bretton Woods system in the 1970s. In fact, it could have greater consequences, even inviting global economic disintegration and geopolitical conflagration. How does a small country like ours respond to this crisis and what policies should we adopt? The current upheaval was not unexpected. The fallout of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, leading to Brexit and more..

Apr 5 (CT) The 44% reciprocal tariff imposed by the US has sent shockwaves through SL’s export sector, deepening concerns for a financially struggling economy that is still grappling with a crisis despite IMF assistance. Exporters and economists warn that this steep increase, roughly from 12% to 44%, is crippling and could have severe economic consequences if no immediate remedies are found. SL now joins a group of nations more..

Apr 5 (DM) As April dawns, Lanka is faced with an Ides of March situation. US President Trump has imposed a 44% tax on Lankan exports to the US. Worse, the US is the largest export market for Lanka. In 2024, Lanka exported nearly US$ 3 billion in goods to the US. The steep increase in tariffs could have grave consequences for our fragile economy. In turn, this could result in our goods becoming noncompetitive in the US market and result in a sharp drop in income. more..

Apr 5 (CT) Sri Lanka now faces a critical economic test as the United States moves forward with its reciprocal tariff policy, imposing a staggering 44 per cent duty on Sri Lankan exports. Set to take effect on 9 April 2025, this new tariff structure could have far-reaching implications for the island nation’s already fragile economy. The Govt has responded with urgency, dispatching a high-level delegation to Washington in the hope of negotiating a more favourable arrangement. more..

Apr 5 (CT) In a development that could severely impact SL’s already fragile economy, the US has announced the imposition of a 44% reciprocal tariff on SL exports, effective 9 April 2025. In anticipation of this challenge, a high-level delegation comprising senior economists and business leaders from both the public and private sectors is set to travel to Washington, D.C. within next 2 days to engage in urgent discussions before tariff takes effect. more..

Apr 5 (GV) SL was ranked as the 121st least corrupt nation out of 180 countries according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by TI. SL scored a 32 on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The country ranked number one is perceived to have the most honest public sector. SL’s score has declined every year since the 2020 Index, in which it scored 38. Corruption is a critical development issue that has been discussed widely during the last two to three decades. more..

Apr 5 (DM) The URF in its complaint quoted the Prez as having said in that rally that the funds from the central govt would be released only to the local councils that are run by untainted groups of people and that only the groups led by the NPP could be deemed to be so high-minded. Interpreting this purported statement, the URF Vice Chairman, Theekshana Gammanpila, has argued in his complaint that Prez was to decide as to which councils are to be provided with more..