Apr 27 (AD) Locomotive engine drivers will strictly adhere to prescribed speed limits in future, Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union has announced while warning that this may result in delays to rail services. President of the Union Jeeva Gunawardena said the decision was taken following the suspension of the staff of the Sagarika Express train, which recently derailed at the Wadduwa Railway Station. more..

Apr 27 (EN) 10 SL ICT companies were able to enter the Japanese market, generate over 300 leads and networking outcomes at Japan IT Week 2026, EDB said. “The programme created significant future business potential estimated at over USD 2 million, along with multiple partnership and joint venture opportunities,” EDB said. “It served as a strong market exposure and relationship building platform, strengthening SL–Japan ICT collaboration and laying a solid foundation for future business conversions.” more..

Apr 27 (CT) Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha, inspected the Kankesanthurai Cement Factory (KKS Cement) yesterday (25) with a view to reviving the factory operations, which have been inactive since the 26-year civil war. This was consequent to a site visit to the Factory in March last year by Minister Sunil Handunnetti, Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma, and Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar. Deputy Minister Dr Jayantha stated that steps would be taken to transform the facility into more..

Apr 27 (AD) Investigations have been initiated into an incident involving several saffron-robed individuals arrested with narcotics at the BIA, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala stated. He emphasized that all individuals are equal before the law and that no distinction will be made between the powerful and the vulnerable in legal proceedings. He stated that the relevant facts regarding the incident have already been submitted to courts and that further legal action more..

Apr 27 (AD) A Supreme Court justice has today recused himself from hearing an appeal filed by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen against a Court of Appeal ruling in a case concerning alleged deforestation and resettlement activities in forest areas near the Wilpattu reserve. The appeal was listed before a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Sampath Abeykoon, and Gihan Kulatunga. At the commencement of proceedings, Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz informed court that more..

Apr 27 (TM) Colombo Port City looks forward to increasing local footfall from the current permitted single visit allowed within the year, to allowing two visits for each arrival within the year, Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) Director of Finance Ruwan Karunaratne told the COPF at its last meeting. Addressing regulatory concerns, Karunaratne explained the reasoning behind the proposed changes to visit limits. more..

Apr 27 (NW) Digital Trust Alliance, together with a coalition of professional organisations in SL, has called on the government to strengthen cybersecurity governance and institutional resilience across the public sector following recent incidents involving govt financial systems. Addressing Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in a letter dated April 27, Alliance noted that investigations are underway into the diversion of USD 2.5 million after a breach of Finance Ministry systems. more..

Apr 27 (CT) SL Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) has condemned an alleged incident involving Presidential Media Division, claiming that two journalists from the State-owned Sunday Observer newspaper were intimidated while covering the Ehipassiko Peace Walk. In a letter addressed to Prez Dissanayake last week, SLWJA alleged that Presidential Media Division adviser Chandana Sooriyabandara had intimidated the journalists, including personnel from State media institutions at Lake House. more..

Apr 27 (DM) SL’s tourism sector recorded a massive resurgence in investor confidence in 2025, with realised investments reaching their highest level since 2019. Driven by a record-breaking influx of tourists, the sector saw approved investment projects surge to USD 196.18 million, representing a nearly fourfold increase from the US$ 41.72 million recorded in the previous year. A deeper analysis of the investment data reveals a robust pipeline of future developments. more..

Apr 27 (EN) SL and China have agreed on a raft of joint initiatives to boost the tourism industry under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the South Asian island nation’s Foreign Ministry said. Two countries reached consensus on the initiatives during an official visit by Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe to Sichuan Tourism College in China last week. The visit concluded with a cooperation symposium, where both sides reached preliminary consensus on several joint initiatives, more..

Apr 27 (CT) Nearly 1,900 Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) beneficiaries who exited the CEB under the Ministry of Energy’s restructuring programme say they will launch a protest campaign, VRS – Api Wenuwen Api, on or after 27 April if the promised payments are not released. Group claims that each approved retiree is entitled to a govt-stipulated payment of Rs 5 million, which has remained pending despite repeated assurances. They allege that the Cabinet approval explanation given by more..

Apr 27 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has invited the UNP to join the SJB May Day rally, calling for unity in protecting workers’ rights and advancing national prosperity. In a special statement for International Workers’ Day, Premadasa said the SJB seeks to take the foremost step toward safeguarding the rights of working people while steering the country forward through social democracy and a social market economy. He emphasized the need to move away from more..

Apr 27 (AD) Donations received for the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund are securely held in the Treasury, according to the Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha. He made this statement while providing a special clarification regarding concerns that have arisen by various factions about the fund. As of April 24, a total of Rs. 9,583 million has been received for the Rebuilding SL Fund. Minister also stated that Sri Lankans living abroad from 49 countries, as well as foreign nationals, have contributed to these donations. more..

Apr 27 (FT) Vehicle imports slowed sharply in early 2026, with the sector’s contribution to growth and fiscal revenues beginning to taper even as March registrations rose on existing inventory. JB Securities CEO Murtaza Jafferjee said monthly vehicle imports have shown a clear slowdown this year, particularly in personal vehicles, with import values declining from a peak of $ 240.9 million in Dec 2025 to $ 148.4 million in February. more..

Apr 27 (AD) Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna, who was arrested by the Ilavalai Police this morning, has been remanded. MP Archchuna has been remanded until April 29 by the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court. MP was arrested in connection with allegations of criminal intimidation involving the brandishing of a firearm, as well as criminal trespass. According to police, on April 25, in the Periyavilan area of Jaffna, MP Archchuna allegedly threatened a woman while brandishing a firearm. more..

Apr 27 (NW) Road Development Authority has strongly denied allegations that more than Rs. 380 million was mistakenly paid twice to contractors, describing the claims as false, misleading, and completely baseless. In an official statement, RDA said no such double payment had been made from its accounts and confirmed that no financial loss had occurred to the institution. The authority further stated that it had no involvement in initiating or processing the transactions referred to in the allegations. more..

Apr 27 (DM) SLC President Shammi Silva is expected to step down from his position on Wednesday, amid mounting pressure and ongoing discussions at the highest levels of govt, according to informed sources. However, it remains unclear whether the SLC Executive Committee will also step down alongside him. Sources indicate that Silva’s decision follows a request made by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Insider sources revealed that Silva met Prez Dissanayake last Friday more..

Apr 27 (DM) The CID has intensified its probe into the theft of US 2.5 million from the computer systems of the Department of External Resources, which operates under the Ministry of Finance. As part of the ongoing investigation, the CID recorded formal statements from seven officials. Police said these individuals represent both the Department of External Resources and the State Debt Management Office of the General Treasury. To assist with digital evidence gathering, more..

Apr 27 (NW) A special traffic plan will be implemented in Colombo tomorrow in connection with the Walk for Peace programme. According to the Police, the programme is scheduled to commence at 4 pm at Independence Square in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. As such, vehicular movement will be restricted on several key roads from 11 am onwards, subject to prevailing conditions. The affected roads include Baseline Road (from Bandaranaike Roundabout to Borella Junction), Maradana Road, Ward Place, Lipton Roundabout, Dharmapala Mawatha, more..

Apr 27 (FT) According to Kpler, a global business intelligence company, seaborne crude and condensate exports were down 6.9 million bpd in March compared to the previous month, and are down another 1.8 million bpd through 20 April. This leads to the conclusion that loadings are likely to be down 8.8 million bpd from prewar levels. If no miracles occur in the remaining days of April, then crude and condensate exports will be about the same as the lows last seen during the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020. more..

Apr 27 (FT) It has been fashionable for notable figures and political leaders to arouse positive sentiments among people deeply entrenched in crises, urging them not to lose faith but to use crises as opportunities to make a new start as a nation. The 2nd Century CE Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, put this nicely into a workable guide by advising that the impediment to action advances action; what stands in the way becomes the way. In a speech in 1959, US President John F. Kennedy more..

Apr 27 (TM) In one of the largest narcotics seizures ever recorded at the BIA, 22 individuals dressed in Buddhist monastic robes were arrested with more than 110 kilograms of Kush cannabis and Hashish valued at over Rs. 110 million. The arrests were made during a special operation conducted yesterday by officers of the PNB airport unit. Police stated the drugs were concealed inside specially modified false compartments more..

Apr 27 (CT) Third phase of excavation at the Chemmani mass grave site is scheduled to commence today. During the first two phases of excavation at the Chemmani site, a total of 240 human skeletal remains were identified, of which 239 have been exhumed. As additional skeletal remains are believed to be present in the area, JMO submitted a request to Court seeking approval to proceed with a third phase of excavation, noting that an 8-week period would be required for more..

Apr 27 (Island) A land distribution programme benefiting families displaced by disaster in the Kandy District was held on April 24 at the Kandy District Secretariat, with 44 affected households receiving plots in the Hanthana area. The initiative targeted residents of the Gangawata Korale DS division whose homes were completely destroyed in a recent disaster, leaving them without permanent shelter. The event was presided over by Minister K.D. Lalkantha, more..

Apr 27 (FT) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe has pointed to negligence and vulnerability in Treasury payments following the $ 2.5 million cyber breach linked to a Govt debt transaction, framing the incident as part of broader systemic weaknesses in public sector processes. In a Facebook post, Abeysinghe said the breach reflected longstanding deficiencies in administrative systems rather than an isolated failure, more..

Apr 27 (TM) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism has instructed the Sri Lankan Mission in Ethiopia to explore possible ways to assist in securing the release of a SL crew member aboard an oil tanker reportedly seized by pirates. Sources from the Ministry stated the SL Mission in Ethiopia had been directed to liaise with Somali authorities regarding the repatriation of the Sri Lankan national who was serving aboard a fuel tanker allegedly seized by Somali pirates. more..

Apr 27 (FT) The Govt has invited local and int'l investors to submit proposals to develop and operate the underutilised Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA) by June in a renewed push to unlock value from the Hambantota-based facility. The call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs), issued by Ports & Civil Aviation Ministry on behalf of Airport and Aviation Services SL Ltd (AASL), seeks investment partners to utilise airport resources across both operational and commercial segments. more..

Apr 27 (DM) The Mahanayaka Theros of SL’s three main Nikayas—Siyam, Amarapura and Ramanna—have issued a joint statement strongly condemning what they described as anti-Sasana and illegal acts carried out by individuals posing as Buddhist monks and misusing saffron robes to transport narcotics. In their statement, the Chief Prelates expressed grave concern that such actions have tarnished the historic role and reputation of the Buddhist clergy both locally and internationally. more..

Apr 27 (AD) The Sagarika Train, which derailed, will resume operations from today (27), according to the Department of Railways. Transport Superintendent Asanka Samarasinghe stated that the train will return to its normal schedule starting today. The derailment occurred on April 24 when the Sagarika train, travelling from Beliatta to Maradana, went off the tracks at Wadduwa Railway Station. During the incident, 11 out of the train’s 13 compartments derailed. Following the accident, more..

Apr 27 (FT) SL’s tourism sector showed clear signs of cooling in April, even as the country edged close to the 100,000 mark in arrivals during the first three weeks of the month. According to SLTDA, SL welcomed 99,777 visitors between 1 and 22 April, marking a 26% decline year-on-year (YoY) compared to 133,979 arrivals in the same period last year. The slowdown comes despite SL crossing the symbolic 100,000 visitor threshold during the period, a clear shift from the strong momentum more..

Apr 27 (FT) In response to the recent floods that affected the infrastructure of the Faculty of Agriculture at the Uni of Peradeniya, Cargills Dairies Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, through its leading ice cream brand Magic, donated laboratory equipment and laptops to support the restoration of faculty facilities. These contributions are intended to help rebuild the learning and research environment while providing students with hands-on experience in dairy more..

Apr 27 (ST) A message of peace and compassion reached the hearts of people of Sri Lanka when a delegation of monks led by Ven. Pannakara Thera began a much-anticipated walk in Sri Lanka. The monks who arrived in SL from the US along with peace dog Aloka are spreading the word of the Buddha and teachings of kindness and compassion. With deep respect and kindness, Sri Lankans are supporting the visiting monks more..