Apr 24 (Island) The alleged diversion of SL’s $2.5 million debt repayment is unlikely to be a simple hack, but rather a case of a compromised payment process, where weak verification layers, email-based instructions, and insufficient system segregation created an opening for fraud, a fintech expert said. He pointed out that in cross-border public payments, especially sovereign debt servicing, transactions typically moved more..

Apr 24 (DN) Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Senior Information Security Engineer Charuka Damunupola said that SLCERT will provide technical support to the investigations into the alleged diversion of US$ 2.5 million during a foreign debt repayment at the Treasury. “We are committed to extending our fullest technological co-operation to police investigators,” he said. Damunupola stressed that institutions must exercise greater caution when handling emails, noting that more..

Apr 24 (DN) A formal meeting was held yesterday at the Sports Ministry premises between the Russian Ambassador to SL Levan S. Dzhagaryan, and Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. Russian Ambassador officially invited Sport Minister to participate in upcoming international forums scheduled to be held in Russia. The discussion focused on further expanding the long-standing friendship between the two nations through the fields of youth development and sports. more..

Apr 24 (TM) Customs has released three out of five books authored by Theepachelvan Piratheepan, which were detained in late March over allegations that their content could damage national harmony. Customs Spokesperson Chandana Punchihewa said that following recommendations, the books have already been released. "We are asked not to release the other two books. We don’t know the content it holds. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Hambantota International Port (HIP) successfully handled container vessel MSC Marie Leslie, marking one of its highest-volume vessel calls to date. The achievement further strengthens the Port’s position as an emerging hub for containerised cargo in the region. The vessel, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company, was berthed at HIP from 11 to 15 April. Port achieved 7,968 container moves during this period, translating to a total volume of 13,260 TEUs; more..

Apr 24 (AD) As the official program for the 2026 State Vesak Festival is scheduled to be held on May 30, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Govt has issued an extraordinary gazette notification declaring the following day, May 31, as a public holiday. Accordingly, the relevant gazette notification has been published, revising the public holiday that was previously scheduled for May 2. This year’s Vesak Week has been declared from May 27 to June 2. more..

Apr 24 (DM) Review progress on expanding foreign employment opportunities for retiring Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel in the shipping and marine sector was the focus of a follow-up discussion held. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekera and Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Kodithuwakku. Discussions centred on progress made since the previous meeting, particularly on establishing a structured mechanism to facilitate more..

Apr 24 (DN) Matthew Boyle struck a superb 102 off 116 balls as New Zealand ‘A’ reached 238 for 4 in their first innings on day one of the second unofficial four-day match against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Play was restricted to just 63 overs due to bad light, which forced an early close on the opening day. After winning the toss, NZ ‘A’ elected to bat first. Openers Rhys Mariu (22) and Curtis Heaphy put on 34 runs for the first wicket more..

Apr 24 (TM) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) is of the view that bringing fuel pricing under its regulatory authority, as originally envisaged at the time of its establishment, would strengthen public trust by ensuring that related decisions are made through a clear, transparent and consistently applied framework grounded in actual costs and reasonable margins, it is learnt. Well-placed sources within PUCSL stated that more..

Apr 24 (Island) Civil society group Free Lawyers, which exposed the payment of USD 2.5 mn loan instalment by the Treasury to a third party instead of Australia, said that in spite of the Treasury having the legitimate bank account mentioned in the relevant agreement, the payment had been made to another account subsequently received from a person who had been in contact with some senior officials. Civil society activist Keerthi Tennakoon on behalf of Free Lawyers emphasised that more..

Apr 24 (ST) Port City Colombo has entered a new era of US$15 billion high velocity growth, transitioning from its primary engineering phase the reclamation of 269 hectares of land to a vertical development and commercial operation. This shift is marked by the commencement of major infrastructure projects and the activation of commercial spaces that are now ready for immediate occupancy. CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd recently secured US $300 million more..

Apr 24 (FT) Discussions on the prospective deployment of SL troops to Haiti under a proposed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) centred on operational readiness, compliance with UN standards, and adherence to human rights requirements during high-level talks in New York. A SL delegation led by Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyacontha held a series of meetings with senior UN officials as part of ongoing MoU negotiations linked to the proposed deployment. more..

Apr 24 (FT) The SL–Korea Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently hosted an awareness session titled Doing business with South Korea, bringing together key stakeholders to explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations between SL and Republic of Korea. The event was graced by Ambassador of Korea to SL Miyon Lee, along with officials from the Embassy including Deputy Head of Mission Eunji Kang, and Research Officer Minwoo Jo. more..

Apr 24 (TM) The Govt is to invite expressions of interest (EOIs) in the coming days with the aim of securing a joint venture partner to operate the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) and steer it towards profitability, Deputy Minister Janitha Kodithuwakku said. He said the facility had not delivered the expected results since its inception and is running at an annual loss of around Rs. 3 billion, roughly equivalent to its operating costs. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Cabinet earlier this week approved submitting the Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 01 of 2026 to Parliament for approval, while also allowing a key exemption to facilitate aviation operations. “The regulations, issued under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 via Extraordinary Gazette No. 2481/02 dated 23 March 2026, will now be presented to Parliament for approval,” Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said at the post-Cabinet meeting more..

Apr 24 (TM) Cabinet have approved a resolution to draft a bill to amalgamate Industrial Development Board (IDB), National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), and Small Enterprise Development Division (SEDD) into a single entity, by way of a draft bill to establish the SL Industrial Transformation and Innovation Authority. “An Officials’ Committee appointed under the chairmanship of the Secretary to the PM to review non-commercial State-owned institutions more..

Apr 24 (FT) Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma yesterday said SL does not face a technical default following the diversion of funds intended for Australia’s export credit agency, responding to concerns raised by CoPF Chairman MP Harsha de Silva. Cyber criminals had breached email systems linked to the Finance Ministry External Resources Department and the creditor, redirecting repayments of around $2.5 m. more..

Apr 24 (Hindu) INS Nireekshak, the Indian Navy’s Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel, arrived in Colombo on Tuesday (21) to participate in the fourth edition of the India–SL Diving Exercise (DIVEX 2026), scheduled from April 21 to 27. The bilateral exercise will be conducted over a week and brings together diving teams from both navies to undertake specialised underwater operations and training. The engagement aims to enhance interoperability, operational cohesion, and more..

Apr 24 (NW) Sri Lanka positioned itself as a trusted and reliable investment partner during a high‑level virtual roundtable chaired by Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investment and Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof. Representatives from major U.S. corporations, including SpaceX, Apple, Coca‑Cola, Mastercard, Visa, Boeing, Chevron, Corteva, Meta, Google, and Airbnb, joined the discussions. In a statement on ‘X’, Hanif Yusoof said that, during the discussion, more..

Apr 24 (Island) On the occasion of World Earth Day, the conversation around sustainability often turns to forests, oceans, and climate. Yet, one of the most critical resources sustaining life remains largely unnoticed – soil. Beneath every thriving crop and every secure food system lies a complex, living ecosystem that quietly performs functions essential not just for agriculture, but for the health of the planet itself. Soil is far more than a passive medium for plant growth. more..

Apr 24 (TM) In a country where the average citizen is squeezed for every cent of tax and every rupee of VAT, the news of $ 2.5 million vanishing into the digital ether is an insult. This is not some minor accounting error or a rounding mistake in a ledger. We are talking about nearly Rs. 750 million of public money, intended for a bilateral agreement with Australia that has reportedly been diverted through nothing more than a few fraudulent email instructions. If the situation were not so tragic, more..

Apr 24 (FT) SL’s total export earnings registered a modest increase in the first quarter of 2026, reaching over $ 4.3 billion, up 1.6% year-on-year (YoY), according to EDB. Merchandise exports in 1Q rose 1.2% YoY to exceed $ 3.3 billion, while estimated services exports grew at a faster pace of 3.13% YoY to $ 921.11 million, reflecting resilience in sectors such as ICT/BPM, construction, financial services & logistics. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Pride Rock Partners, a SL company specialised in Ceylon Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oils, cemented its position on the global stage when it hosted a session at the World Aroma Ingredients Congress and Expo 2026 organised by the Essential Oil Association of India from 16 March to 18 March, at Hotel Fairmont Mumbai. The congress brought together leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers who represent the global fragrance and flavour ecosystem under more..

Apr 24 (Island) Opposition is intensely resentful that the govt has thwarted its attempt to have President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also Minister of Finance, summoned before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the green-channelling of 323 red-flagged freight containers in the Colombo Port in Jan 2025. When the Opposition members of the PSC proposed that President Dissanayake be summoned, their govt counterparts put the proposal to a vote and defeated it. more..

Apr 24 (DM) Nothing in recent human history has dominated the life of a human being than the motor car. Be it war, peace, exploration, or any kind of humanitarian activity, they have always increased in efficiency due to the motor car and of course its internal combustion engine. Even though the motorcar was developed into a luxurious car in the European countries, including Germany and England, it is not until Henry Ford came up with this Model T, a car for the great multitude that more..

Apr 24 (GV) The prosecution of war crimes has increasingly transcended national borders, reflecting a growing interplay between domestic legal systems and international accountability mechanisms. Where states are perceived as unwilling or unable to address grave violations, foreign courts have invoked universal jurisdiction, extending legal scrutiny beyond territorial boundaries. For SL, this is not an abstract concern. Nearly 15 years after the end of its protracted conflict with the LTTE, more..

Apr 24 (TM) Train services along Sri Lanka’s scenic upcountry railway line remain disrupted months after Cyclone Ditwah, with the iconic Udarata Menike train currently operating only up to Rambukkana as repair work continues on severely damaged sections of track. The curtailment reflects the scale of destruction caused by the cyclone, which damaged 223 locations along the Colombo–Badulla railway line due to landslides and more..

Apr 24 (DM) Flaws in procedures in procurement of 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 checkers (Damm) boards landed former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando in jail last year. Would a similar scenario take place in the case regarding the coal procurement controversy, landing Kumara Jayakody, the Energy Minister of the NPP govt, in prison? Govt ministers have been arguing that no procurement procedures have been violated during more..

Apr 24 (DM) SL is once again in the global spotlight with the Ehipassiko Global Walk for Peace currently parading the streets across the country. Led by Ven. Pannakara Thera, the Walk commenced in October 2025 when monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Centre in Texas walked 2,300+ miles to Washington DC. The main objective of this Walk is to promote unity, compassion and mindfulness amidst social division. One of the main highlights of this walk is the story of Aloka, the peace dog. more..

Apr 24 (DM) SL’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is 1.3, according to the latest census. This is lower than non-Hispanic whites in the USA. This is a drastic drop since 2016, when the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) reported a TFR of 2.2 live births per woman. However, the decline should not have come as a surprise. Number of births in SL had collapsed following the 2022 economic crisis. There were 171,140 marriages registered in 2022, more..

Apr 24 (CT) This is about our Leftist President who has made a turn to the Right. His Opponents claim they know better and could perform better. So, this essay is about Political Hypocrisy. The Global Economy is where the Left and Right finally meet. Adam Smith’s invisible hand is best used for reaching into someone else’s pocket or as the War in West Asia has shown, a global hegemons ability to seize confiscate another sovereign nation’s natural resources. more..

Apr 24 (DM) The recent money hacking incident at Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry has cast a long and uncomfortable shadow over the govt’s reform narrative. It is not merely the breach itself that alarms, but its timing—coming in the wake of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s press release formally transferring public debt management responsibilities to the Finance Ministry. What was projected as a structural reform aligned with international best practice now risks being viewed through more..