Apr 3 (TM) SL has seen a notable improvement in life expectancy over the past 15 years, largely credited to the effective implementation of the National Immunization Programme by the Ministry of Health. Chief Epidemiologist of Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Palitha Karunapema, highlighted that routine childhood vaccinations under the programme have successfully controlled a wide range of diseases. He shared these insights during a media briefing held to mark World Immunization Week, more..

Apr 3 (DM) Police have issued an urgent warning regarding a sophisticated financial fraud operation impersonating the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines. Police said fraudsters are reportedly contacting victims via WhatsApp, posing as airline representatives to lure them into downloading a malicious mobile application designed to drain bank accounts. According to investigations, victims are directed to download an application named Sri Lankan.apk from fraudulent websites. more..

Apr 3 (DM) In a landmark development, Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today made permanent its conditional order against two respondents in the first-ever case filed under SL’s Online Safety Act No. 9 of 2024. The case, filed on April 4, 2024, marked the first judicial proceeding instituted under the newly enacted legislation. The petitioner, Janaka Rathnayake, former Chairman of the PUCSL, more..

Apr 3 (NF) Sri Lanka has recorded a notable increase in foreign worker remittances during the first quarter of this year, with inflows rising by 26.5 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. The Bureau said that more than USD 2.2 billion in remittances were received between January and March this year. Of this amount, USD 751 million was received in January, USD 729 million in February, and USD 815 million in March. more..

Apr 3 (TM) The COPE is in the process of reviewing activities in 457 institutions that fall under its purview, and any findings of irregularities or corruption will be forwarded directly to the CIABOC and CID. COPE Chairperson, Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera said that in the past, COPE was only able to submit its reports to the relevant Parliamentary process, but that recent changes now allow the Committee to directly send its reports to the CIABOC or the CID when necessary. more..

Apr 3 (AD) Health authorities have warned that measles, a disease previously eliminated in SL, has re-emerged in the country. According to the Health Ministry, two cases involving children have been identified in the Colombo District, raising concerns about a possible resurgence. Officials are urging parents to ensure that children who have not received the measles vaccine, or have received only a single dose, complete the full vaccination more..

Apr 3 (NW) The Motor Traffic Department is working on a new system to introduce personalized vehicle number plates bearing personalized names, the Parliamentary Committee on Public Funds (COPF) was informed. During a recent meeting of the COPF, Motor Traffic Department officials noted obstacles due to the existing, outdated system. They further said that once the system is updated, the department intends to introduce a special project with regard to personalized number plates. more..

Apr 3 (NW) The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) resumed activities at its office in Yakkala, Gampaha District, today with the participation of district members. The resumption of activities at the office follows a recent court ruling affirming the party’s right to occupy the premises. In March this year, the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court ruled that the FSP is legally entitled to continue occupying its headquarters located at Salmal Uyana along Kirindiwela Road in Yakkala. more..

Apr 23 (NW) Minister Sunil Handunneththi, held talks with Michael Otter, Director General of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WKO), in April in Vienna, with discussions centring on strengthening bilateral trade, industrial partnerships, and technical cooperation. The meeting, held during the Minister’s participation in Int'l Vienna Energy & Climate Forum 2026, aimed at positioning SL as a premier destination for sustainable industrial investment, transparent economic governance. more..

Apr 23 (DM) A man who had allegedly recorded a video of a neighbouring woman while she was bathing and had sent it to one of her friends was ordered to be remanded till May 4 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama today. The suspect, a resident of Maradamuna, was arrested by the Cinnamon Gardens Police following a complaint lodged by a young woman residing on a rental basis in Colombo 7. Presenting facts before court on behalf of the complainant, officers of more..

Apr 23 (CI) When Gary Kirsten coached India to ODI World Cup glory in 2011, 20 million SL hearts were shattered. Now, as Sri Lanka's new head coach, his mission is to mend them. In a wide-ranging Q&A session with the local media, his first since being appointed last month for two years - officially from April 14 - Kirsten laid out the roadmap as he sought to blend data-driven modernisation with the island's cricketing DNA. more..

Apr 23 (TM) The much anticipated biographical film Michael made a powerful impression during its early screening premiere at Scope Cinemas yesterday (22), where audiences experienced the film on the grand IMAX screen. The film, centered on the life of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, delivers an emotional, visually stunning and highly entertaining journey through his legendary career, personal struggles and the controversies that surrounded his life. more..

Apr 23 (AD) Colombo High Court today ordered that the case filed against MP Namal Rajapaksa in connection with the controversial Krrish project deal be recalled on May 29. The case was taken up today before High Court Judge Nadee Suwandurugoda. The accused, Namal Rajapaksa, appeared before the court when the case was called. Subsequently, the judge ordered that the matter be taken up again on May 29. The case has been filed by the Attorney General alleging that more..

Apr 23 (CI) SL seamer Nuwan Thushara has withdrawn his lawsuit against SLC, just weeks after filing it when SLC denied him a no-objection certificate (NOC) to play in IPL 2026, where he is a part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who are yet to name a replacement for the 31-year-old slinger. Thushara told the Colombo District Court that he wished to withdraw his case as much of the IPL was now already completed. more..

Apr 23 (AD) SL delegation headed by the Governor of the CB (CBSL), Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has engaged extensively with the international investor community, on the sidelines of the IMF–WB Spring Meetings 2026, in Washington, D.C. SL delegation is currently in the US to attend the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings 2026. The CBSL noted that during the visit, the delegation was part of several engagements including an investor seminar organized by J.P. Morgan, investor meetings more..

Apr 23 (DM) Sri Lanka, which is planning to purchase crude oil from Russia, has agreed to settle payments in Chinese Renminbi (RMB), newly appointed Energy Minister Aruna Karunatilake said. He was sworn in as Energy Minister by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake after Mr. Kumara Jayakodi stepped down pending investigations into alleged fraud and irregularities in the import of coal for power generation. The new minister assumed duties on Tuesday. more..

Apr 23 (OHCHR) SL’s universal education, healthcare, and food subsidies once made it a global development model. But austerity measures led to budget cuts and financialization that redirected resources away from people toward infrastructure. Until recently it was a country that was self-sufficient and exporting seafood worldwide. However, according to FAO’s 2025 Hunger Map and WFP’s 2024 Household Food Security Overview, today around one million people are chronically more..

Apr 23 (NW) The Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka has confirmed that both the mission and SL’s Ministry of Finance are aware of irregularities in payments owed to the Australian Govt. Sri Lankan authorities have launched an investigation into the matter and are coordinating closely with Australian officials, who are assisting the inquiry, Australian HC said. The HC further said that Australia remains committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s path toward debt sustainability. more..

Apr 23 (AD) Standard registration number plates for new vehicles can be issued from the end of May this year, DMT has announced. This was revealed when officials from the dept appeared before the CoPF. Motor Traffic Dept also stated that a new system allowing vehicle owners to obtain personalized number plates displaying their names will be introduced soon. Chairman of the Committee, MP Harsha de Silva noted that more..

Apr 23 (AM) NPP MP Najith Indika says there was no reason to bring forth four witnesses requested by the opposition before the Parliamentary Special Committee investigating the release of 323 containers from the Colombo Port without mandatory physical inspection. Indika revealed that the opposition could not provide valid reasons to summon the witnesses. “At yesterday’s meeting we did not oppose the summoning of any witness. This is an investigative committee, more..

Apr 23 (AM) A suspect who allegedly posed as the husband of PM Harini Amarasuriya’s private secretary in an attempt to secure admission for two students to a leading school in Borella was arrested yesterday, the Colombo South Crimes Division said. The suspect is a 40-year-old resident of Borella. Police said he had also posed as a Wing Commander of the SL Air Force and attempted to win the confidence of the school principal by claiming he had performed a parachute jump more..

Apr 23 (NW) The Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Harshana Suriyapperuma, says that efforts are being made to recover as much as possible of the USD 2.5 million that cyber criminals obtained from the Ministry of Finance. Secretary further said that these hackers had entered the relevant system through email. He further said that the Australian High Commissioner and the creditor had been informed regarding this incident. more..

Apr 23 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered that organized criminal Dinush Chathuranga, alias Keselwatte Dinusha, who was arrested in India and brought back to Sri Lanka, be remanded until May 05. The suspect, who was the subject of an international Interpol Red Notice, had been arrested while hiding in India and brought to Sri Lanka, where he was initially held under detention orders. The order was issued when the suspect in question, who remained in custody, more..

Apr 23 (EN) National Development Bank (NDB) said it has appointed Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India to conduct a forensic review of the facts and circumstances relating to the fraud incident. “This Forensic Review will examine the circumstances surrounding the fraudulent transactions, including any lapses in controls, oversight and governance. Its findings, including any interim updates and the final report, will be submitted directly by Deloitte to the Central Bank of SL.” more..

Apr 23 (FT) A child presents to a busy private clinic with persistent headaches. The consultation is brief. There is no structured documentation template, no escalation pathway and no system to ensure follow-up. Weeks later, the family seeks help elsewhere with worsening symptoms. Everyone involved is competent. Everyone is well-intentioned. Yet the system has failed the patient. In SL, we often attribute such gaps to resource limitations. But many of our quality challenges are not purely more..

Apr 23 (FT) Two common characteristics of the twenty-first century smoker are: (1) they are well aware of the health-risks associated with their habit of choice; and (2) they have repeatedly tried to quit but somehow found themselves back at the mercy of a smoke. Being as technologically and medically advanced as we are, it is hard to believe that we have been unable to come up with solutions to an issue that over a billion people across the world are facing. It begs the question more..

Apr 23 (TM) A USD 2.5 million payment linked to a bilateral agreement between Sri Lanka and Australia has come under scrutiny after it was allegedly diverted through fraudulent email instructions, with lawyers and civil society organisations now urging the Finance Ministry and key State financial agencies to take clear responsibility and ensure a full public account of what happened. more..

Apr 23 (Island) President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne has urged the Parliament to intervene in an ongoing investigation conducted by the Treasury into the wrongful payment of USD 2.5 mn loan instalment to a third party instead of the country that gave the loan to the Govt of SL. Gunaratne, in a letter addressed to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne copied to leaders of all political parties represented in Parliament, General Secretaries of those political parties, COPF, more..

Apr 23 (NW) A senior police officer has appealed to the public to avoid obstructing the Walk for Peace, refrain from crowding the route, and allow the monks to continue their journey peacefully. The officer said Aloka the Peace Dog, the certified service canine accompanying the procession from Dambulla, became unwell and received treatment after heavy crowds and disruptions along the route yesterday. He said large numbers of people, media crews and onlookers attempting to take selfies, more..

Apr 23 (DM) SL’s economic recovery is entering a more fragile phase, with the Central Bank warning that rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are beginning to test the resilience built through recent stabilisation efforts, even as domestic conditions remain broadly supportive of growth. CB, in its latest macroeconomic outlook released Monday, noted that while the economy has regained a degree of more..

Apr 23 (TM) Opposition members of the Parliamentary Committee probing the release of 323 containers from the Colombo Harbour without mandatory physical inspection have formally requested that several high-ranking officials be summoned to give evidence. The committee has been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the release of the containers, which were not subjected to required inspections, and to present its findings, recommendations & more..

Apr 23 (TM) Despite India–SL energy cooperation projects being discussed during Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan's recent visit to SL, the Energy Ministry stated that no immediate implementation is planned for either the proposed gas pipeline or the Trincomalee energy hub projects, as initial steps remain to be completed. Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said that with regard to the proposed gas pipeline, a feasibility study has not yet been carried out, and there is no more..