Apr 21 (EN) Seven years have passed since the morning of April 21, 2019, when the tranquility of Easter Sunday was shattered by a series of coordinated suicide bombings by Islamist extremists across Sri Lanka. What remains today is not just the physical scars on the walls of St Sebastian’s Church, St Anthony’s Shrine or the Zion Church, but a profound and festering justice gap. The delay in concluding a credible investigation has become a defining characteristic of more..

Apr 21 (NW) In a landmark announcement, Indian Vice President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan has extended Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Card eligibility to include 5th and 6th generation Indian Origin Tamils (IOTs) in SL, expanding the current condition, which applied only up to the 4th generation. Speaking at a community reception attended by around 1,000 members of the Indian diaspora in Colombo, the Vice President also announced simplification of the OCI process. more..

Apr 21 (AD) The official programme for the 2026 State Vesak Festival has been issued by the Ministry of Public Admin, PCs and LG. Accordingly, Vesak Week has been declared from May 27 to June 2 by the Cabinet of Ministers. Ministry of Public Administration said arrangements have been made to celebrate the Vesak Festival in a grand manner across the country with the guidance of the All Ceylon Shasanarakshaka Mandalaya, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, more..

Apr 21 (EN) Sri Lanka will complete the standard of procedure (SOP) for handling foreign research vessels within the next two months, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said. The island nation has dragged the SOP to handle research ships in the past two years after arrivals of Chinese research vessels into the island nation’s shore were strongly opposed by the United States and India citing possible security threat to the Indian Ocean. more..

Apr 21 (TM) Here and Now delivered a measured performance to secure victory in one of SL’s leading horse racing events, overcoming an early setback to finish strongly. Slow off the gates by nearly 10 lengths, the horse settled during the middle stages before maintaining balance and control ahead of the final stretch. It then produced a late run to move past rivals and complete the race with a clear advantage. The performance highlighted Here and Now’s stamina, race awareness and more..

Apr 21 (AD) Govt of Japan, through its Japanese Supplementary Budget, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting SL’s development journey by announcing two new projects aimed at fostering climate resilience in vulnerable communities and advancing gender equality. These initiatives, undertaken together with the Govt of SL and implemented in partnership with the UNDP in SL, will contribute significantly to sustainable recovery from disasters and inclusive development across the country, more..

Apr 21 (TM) As SL’s domestic cement market’s import mix has shifted towards a roughly 69% dependency on India for clinker since 2022, when the nation had faced FX constraints, the sector now faces risks related to a limited supplier base and currency volatility, according to LOLC Securities’ Construction and Material sector outlook report for March 2026. “The import mix has shifted notably towards India in 2024, reflecting cost optimisation and supply chain realignment amid FX constraints. more..

Apr 21 (EN) Indian Navy Ship Nireekshak has arrived at the port of Colombo in Sri Lanka for an operational turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on Tuesday. “Commanded by Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel in SL is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the SL Navy.” The crew is set to participate in several activities organized by the SL Navy. They will also visit some tourist attractions within the country, the navy said. more..

Apr 21 (DN) During the two-day visit of Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan to SL, special attention was focused on expediting several large-scale projects scheduled to be implemented in Sri Lanka under Indian assistance. Vice President Radhakrishnan departed for New Delhi with the Indian delegation after concluding a successful two-day official visit to SL yesterday. Indian Vice President stated that he had a productive visit to SL and outlined the key productive more..

Apr 21 (AD) The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has announced a new set of procedures to be followed by multi-day fishing trawlers navigating through Maldivian waters. The Director General of the Department, Susantha Kahawatta, stated that these measures must be adhered to by all multi-day fishing vessels entering the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) while en route to the Arabian Sea for fishing activities or when returning after completing their operations. more..

Apr 21 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has extended his support to the Walk for Peace pilgrimage, which commences today in Sri Lanka, highlighting its role in promoting mindfulness, loving‑kindness, unity, and harmony among all people. “As this sacred walk sets out from Dambulla carrying the Sacred Relics of the Buddha and a Bodhi tree sapling, I invite all Sri Lankans to reflect on the enduring values of peace and compassion that define our heritage,” the Prez said more..

Apr 21 (FT) Grief came fast, but anger followed soon after. The explosions had torn through churches and hotels while the country rested under the illusion of safety. In the stillness that followed, sorrow hung heavy, but beneath it was a quiet rage: not only for the lives lost, but for the warnings ignored, the intelligence dismissed, the arrogance that let it happen. The process of counting the dead became a national debacle. The numbers shifted with every press briefing—359, then 321, then down again. more..

Apr 21 (FT) taught to strike while the iron is hot. It makes sense. One presses one’s advantage. This holds for investors, politicians and even those navigating complex strategic situations. If life is a game, if countries and economies are at war with one another, then such truisms can be and are applied. Then again, we know of fishing in troubled waters. It makes sense too, but in this case, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Somehow, making capital of someone more..

Apr 21 (Island) National Development Bank (NDB), in consultation with the Central Bank, will soon appoint an international firm to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit into the Rs 13.2 billion bank fraud, currently being investigated by the CID. Controversy surrounds the failure on the part of relevant authorities to detect the massive scam that certain employees started perpetrating in mid-2024. more..

Apr 21 (AD) Seven years have elapsed since the Easter Sunday attacks, and island-wide religious observances are being conducted today in solemn remembrance of the victims. According to the Director of Mass Communication for the Catholic Church, Rev. Father Jude Krishantha Fernando, all churches across the country are conducting special commemorative programs this morning. These include tolling of bells, a two-minute silence, lighting of candles or oil lamps, and prayer services more..

Apr 21 (NF) Ven. Pannakara Thero has arrived in Sri Lanka from Texas, USA, with Aloka in preparation for the Global Walk For Peace in Sri Lanka. All arrangements have been finalized for the march, which begins tomorrow and will continue across Sri Lanka until April 28. In parallel with the Walk For Peace, an Asa Disa Pooja will take place, commencing today at 3.00 p.m. at the sacred grounds of the Ruwanwelisaya in Anuradhapura. Full coordination of the International Walk more..

Apr 21 (NF) Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that he will fully disclose all facts related to coal transactions carried out since 2009, emphasizing that all details will be revealed with names, leaving nothing concealed. Ranawaka said that at the committee level, Auditor General was instructed to submit a complete audit report on coal imports from 2009 to 2016, and that the report has now been more..

Apr 21 (AD) Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe has stated that certain findings in the Auditor General’s report on the controversial coal importation cannot be accepted. Minister pointed out that the Auditor General’s report does not indicate that any fraud had taken place, but rather presents observations on possible scenarios. Expressing his views, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe emphasized that the govt’s position remains that no fraud occurred in relation to the incident. more..

Apr 21 (FT) People’s Bank achieved its highest-ever profit in 2025, while the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) recorded its strongest financial performance in its 87-year history during the same year. National Savings Bank (NSB) also registered a record pre-tax profit of Rs. 59 billion in 2025, according to the Chairpersons of the respective banks. These remarks were made during the presentation of the 2025 Annual Reports of People’s Bank, BOC, and NSB to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. more..

Apr 21 (BBC) The Trump administration has begun processing refunds for billions of dollars in tariffs that the US Supreme Court struck down in February. In what is to be the biggest repayment programme in history, companies can apply online for money they were charged under the so-called Liberation Day tariffs - plus interest - to be returned. The US Court of International Trade in March ordered customs officials to refund the more than $160bn (£121bn) the govt had collected, more..

Apr 21 (AD) PM and the Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, today (20) affirmed that the govt’s goal is to transform schools into safe and trustworthy environments where children receive love and care. Speaking at the inauguration of a new programme, PM stressed the importance of fostering a positive psychosocial environment within schools. She noted that all officials within the education system must act with a strong sense of responsibility to achieve this objective. more..

Apr 21 (TM) In the wake of calls by the Opposition to forward the special audit report on the alleged substandard coal imports to the Attorney General (AG), COPE Chairperson Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera said that such a step is unnecessary, as a Prez Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) is already conducting an investigation into the matter. He said there is no need to refer the report to AG’s Dept, noting that a fully-fledged PCoI more..

Apr 21 (AD) Senior Professor O.G. Dayaratna Banda has assumed duties as the 15th Director General of the National Institute of Education (NIE) Maharagama, with effect from today (20). Prof. Dayaratna Banda is a senior academic with extensive experience in both local and international higher education and research. Prior to his appointment, he served as Senior Professor of Economics at the University of Peradeniya. He has also held several key administrative positions, more..

Apr 21 (AD) The Excise Department of Sri Lanka has reported a record performance in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2026, exceeding its projected target and registering notable year-on-year growth. According to official figures, excise revenue as at March 31, 2026, reached Rs. 70.4 billion, surpassing the quarterly target of Rs. 61.95 billion. This represents an achievement of 113.6% against the set target. When compared with the corresponding period in 2025, more..

Apr 21 (DN) Opener Imesha Dulani (52) and Hansima Karunaratne (54) hit maiden half centuries but it was in vain as Bangladesh women recorded three wickets win with nine balls to spare over Sri Lanka women in their first ODI of the three-match series played at Rajshahi, Bangladesh yesterday. It was the first international match at the venue. Bangladesh chasing a target of 206 couldn’t make a good start losing both openers Juairiya Ferdous (5) Samin Sultana (0) within the first two overs. more..

Apr 21 (NW) Welcome to Sri Lanka, the travel documentary produced by Mark Julian Edwards, won the prestigious Television Broadcast of the Year award at the Inspire Global Media Awards 2026, contested by the BBC and Amazon TV. Sri Lanka’s storytelling excellence took centre stage at the ceremony held recently in London, UK, with a packed room of media glitterati. The documentary was selected from a competitive international field of entries, with judges highlighting more..

Apr 21 (ST) Ahead of last week’s New Year holiday season, T. Regan and his family left for their hometown, Pundaluoya, Kandy. They did not go to mark the New Year in their hometown but to visit the cemetery where their five-year-old daughter, Leema Rithika, was buried. She was among the 270 victims of the deadly Easter Sunday attacks, SL’s biggest terrorist attack. The attacks that targeted churches in Colombo & Batticaloa more..

Apr 21 (FT) Sri Lanka’s fragile economic recovery in 2026 is being tested by fast-escalating geopolitical tensions, and early signs of disruption were already emerging within tourism, exports, and shipping, said industry leaders recently. These statements were made during a business forum titled, Present Geopolitical Tensions: Navigating Their Impacts on Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery in 2026. Organised by the SL-Italy Business Council, it drew industry leaders and stakeholders more..

Apr 21 (FT) SL’s plan to remove para-tariffs will reduce import duties by around nine percentage points (ppts) and alter cost structures across manufacturing, while raising household consumption and real incomes, according to the World Bank’s South Asia Economic Update April 2026. The report notes that Sri Lanka’s simple average import duty is 19%, of which 11 ppts come from para-tariffs rather than statutory tariffs. “Less than half of these import duties are statutory tariffs,” World Bank said, more..

Apr 21 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict could raise inflation, widen the trade deficit, and disrupt key foreign exchange inflows, even as macroeconomic conditions show signs of recovery. SL now faces pressure across its main external channels, with remittances, exports, and tourism all exposed to spillovers from the conflict, testing buffers rebuilt since 2023 through more..

Apr 21 (Island) The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA), the apex body of Sri Lanka’s plantation industry, expressed growing concern over rising prices and limited availability of fertilizer amid the escalation of the crisis in the Middle East. With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, shipping traffic through the region is reported to have dropped by 90%. Given that an estimated one-third of global trade in raw materials for production of fertilizer flows through the Strait, more..

Apr 21 (TM) In a significant development ahead of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) election of office bearers for the 2026-30 term on 25 April, all objections filed against the candidacy of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar, were formally rejected on Sunday (19). This was done by the independent Election Committee formed to oversee the NOCSL election and its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday. more..