Apr 1 (FT) The Second Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Sri Lanka and Brazil were held on 20 March 2026 at the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry in Colombo, marking an important step in further strengthening the longstanding and friendly relations between the two countries. The meeting was co-chaired by the Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja and Foreign Affairs Ministry of Brazil Secretary – Asia and the Pacific Ambassador Susan Kleebank. more..

Apr 1 (TM) This Easter, ITC Ratnadipa invites guests to celebrate the season with a special brunch at the Indian Ocean Pavilion on 5 April, from 12.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. The Easter brunch offers a festive and relaxing afternoon complemented by a range of interactive and playful activities for children and a stunning view of the Indian Ocean, priced at Rs. 9,500 Nett per person with kids dining at half rate. The brunch features live cuisine theatres, allowing families to enjoy an int'l buffet more..

Apr 1 (FT) SL’s current account surplus declined 68% YoY to $ 117.2 million in February, which was also down 68% from January, with import growth outpacing exports. The current account surplus was up 3.8% YoY to $ 486.9 million for the first two months of the year. The deteriorating external sector performance in February is a concern, with the Middle East war broke out on 28 Feb. Through March, the conflict is affecting SL beginning with energy and extending across the wider economy. more..

Apr 1 (Island) This Article is formed from listening to university students from across the country for two research initiatives, one on academic freedom and another on higher education policy. In speaking with students, the fears they carry could not be ignored. Students navigate university education, with anxieties about their future and fears that they and their university education are inadequate, all while managing their families’ daily struggles. I explore students’ anxieties and more..

Apr 1 (Island) JVP-NPP govt continues to signal left and turn right. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake often does the diametrical opposite of what he promised to do while he was an Opposition MP, so much so that his political opponents mockingly ask whether former JVP MP Dissanayake has disappeared and the incumbent President is a doppelganger. SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam tongue in cheek lamented, at a media briefing on Monday, that the former progressive Opposition MP Dissanayake more..

Apr 1 (ST) It might seem strange that the Trump-inspired Iran war—which poured military power into the Indian Ocean, blowing up innocent Iranians from their unarmed ship—reminds me so much about the gangsterism that haunts SL today. SL gangster warlords enjoy a good life and live in luxury mainly in Dubai and other Middle Eastern desert cities, ordering their local gunmen to eliminate their enemies in SL. Like the desert rats of the past, a presidential Al Capone who lives in Washington more..

Apr 1 (TM) The month of April is traditionally heralded by the persistent, rhythmic call of the Koha bird and the vibrant crimson of the Erabadu flowers. As the sun enters Aries, marking the Aluth Avurudu, it is a time for renewal, for the settling of old scores, and for the gathering of kin. Yet, as we approach the dawn of Avurudu in 2026, the festive atmosphere feels strangely stifled. The Koha still sings, but the families listening are preoccupied with a much harsher melody: more..

Apr 1 (SO) In a landmark judgment that cuts to the core of governance in Sri Lanka’s health sector, the Supreme Court has delivered a powerful rebuke to the arbitrary exercise of public power, ruling that a controversial pharmaceutical procurement process violated the fundamental rights of citizens. The decision, delivered on March 27, 2026, in SC/FR 65/2023, is more than a legal verdict. It is a stark indictment of how institutional safeguards were bypassed at more..

Apr 1 (GV) As some the scars inflicted by the decades long civil war slowly begin to heal in the Northern Province, two communities – Muslims returnees and Malaiyaha Tamils – are facing many challenges fitting in. For both groups, the major concern is land; they also lack proper housing, infrastructure facilities and livelihood opportunities, and face ongoing discrimination and maginalisation. In Oct 1990 some 75,000 to 100,000 Muslims in the Northern Province, about 5% of the province’s total population, more..

Apr 1 (CT) On a busy street in Colombo, the signs of a distant war rarely announce themselves directly. There are no sirens, no air raids, no missile trails overhead. But the effects arrive anyway, often invisibly at first, then all at once: a rise in fuel costs, a jump in transport fares, dearer food, tighter household budgets and that familiar, sinking feeling that another external shock is about to squeeze a country already stretched thin. That is how wars work for small economies like SL. more..

Apr 1 (SO) For thousands of families across Sri Lanka, the pain of enforced disappearance is not a chapter of the past but a continuing reality, stretching across decades of political violence and civil conflict since the 1970s. In the absence of consistent State-led truth-seeking, it is often individuals and civil society organisations that have carried the burden of demanding answers, keeping alive the voices of those who vanished without a trace. more..

Apr 1 (DM) In 416 BC, Athenian historian Thucydides enacted a dramatic negotiation between Athenian invaders and the leaders of the neutral small state of Melos. The interaction, dramatised as the Melian dialogue in his treatise, The History of the Peloponnesian War, is one of the best-remembered anecdotes of the brutal reality of the international system, and a starting point for any student of international politics. During the siege of Melos, when the Athenians demanded more..

Apr 1 (DM) Unlike so many other allegations leveled by the Opposition against the govt, the allegation of corruption by the CIABOC against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was no doubt a slap in the face of the ruling NPP. The CIABOC which filed charges against him, has alleged that in 2016, while serving as the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company, Jayakody committed an act of corruption, causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the state by influencing more..

Mar 31 (Island) A landmark hybrid renewable energy project is set to transform the energy landscape of the northern islands of Delft Island, Nainativu and Analativu, offering a long-awaited shift from diesel dependency to a cleaner, more reliable power system. Funded through a USD 10.995 million grant from the India to Sri Lanka, the project marks a decisive step toward energy security and sustainability in some of the country’s most underserved regions. more..

Mar 31 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval to provide fuel allowances for Ministers, MPs, and govt officers based on the fuel prices as of March 1, 2026. All other fuel-related allowances will be maintained at the same rate until further notice, Cabinet Spokesman announced. He stated that the govt has already taken several urgent measures to mitigate the economic impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on SL. Meanwhile, the need to manage govt expenditure within existing fiscal limits more..

Mar 31 (AD) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, stated that no electricity supply restrictions will be imposed during the upcoming Vesak and Poson religious festivals despite the energy crisis that has emerged in SL due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. Responding to a question raised by a journalist, Minister noted that the govt has already implemented several steps to manage energy consumption, including declaring more..

Mar 31 (AD) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), Chandana Kodituwakku, has stated that a new act featuring stringent laws specifically targeting organized criminals will be introduced within the next two weeks. He noted that the provisions of the new act will enable law enforcement authorities to take organized criminals—who have already been convicted and imprisoned—back into police custody for further investigations. more..

Mar 31 (AD) The overall rate of inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) on a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis, increased to 2.2% in March 2026, compared to 1.6% in Feb 2026. The CCPI for all items for March 2026 was 195.8, recording an increase of 0.5 index points compared to 195.3 in Feb 2026. Meanwhile, the Y-o-Y inflation of the Food Group has increased to 0.7% in March, 2026 compared to 0.2% in February, while the Y-o-Y inflation of the Non-Food Group more..

Mar 31 (NW) Sri Lanka will introduce a six‑month program granting free tourist visas to passport holders from 39 selected countries, in a bid to boost the nation’s tourism industry. Approval for the initiative was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on July 21, 2025. Under the Immigration and Emigration Act, draft regulations prepared by the Legal Draftsman for the issuance of free visas will be presented to Parliament for approval. more..

Mar 31 (Wisden) Playing for NCC in the Major League Tournament, Udara hit 94 and 100 not out against Colts Cricket Club in the final round of the Super Eight stage. Though his side conceded the first-innings lead, the opener only added to his great form, taking his tally across the last five innings to 601 runs. Udara’s golden run started with a massive 261 against the Police Sports Club in Galle, and he followed it up with knocks of 126 and 20 against Bloomfield, before the 194-run aggregate more..

Mar 31 (DM) A high-level Indian business delegation, led by the International Trade and Delegation Federation of Chambers (ITDFC), concluded a 4-day visit to Sri Lanka last week, highlighting a renewed momentum in bilateral trade and investment ties, particularly in healthcare, infrastructure and cross-border services. The delegation, led by ITDFC Chief Operating Officer Bency George, comprised industry representatives from healthcare, infrastructure, trade and investment sectors. more..

Mar 31 (TS) Kugatheeswaran Thuraisinkam grew up in SL amid a civil war, witnessing death and suffering displacement. He dropped out of elementary school to work. He fled to Canada for asylum, part of a voyage that made int'l headlines, but instead of finding peace, trauma and misfortune followed him here. He has had to deal with an agent who his lawyer claims mishandled his case, prolonged separation from his wife and three children, homelessness, and psychosis that went more..

Mar 31 (NW) A special discussion was held today at the Consumer Affairs Authority to ensure that Kithul treacle sold in the market complies with SL standards and to provide consumers with high-quality products. Representatives from the Consumer Affairs Authority, SL Standards Institution (SLSI), and companies engaged in commercial Kithul treacle production participated in the meeting. During the discussion, officials highlighted the importance of manufacturing Kithul treacle more..

Mar 31 (DN) Australian HC Matthew Duckworth made a significant visit to Sri Lanka’s largest lentil and pulse processing plant located in Kelaniya last week. His visit aimed to showcase the remarkable collaboration between Australia and Sri Lanka, where top-quality Australian produce meets local manufacturing expertise to create a powerful partnership that is making waves in the global market. Duckworth suggested that more..

Mar 31 (Island) A group of social justice and human rights activists yesterday urged the public to remain vigilant over a proposed counter-terrorism law they say could threaten democratic freedoms if enacted. Speaking at a press briefing convened by the Christian Solidarity Movement (CSM), campaigners warned that the government’s proposed Protection of the State from Terrorism Act (PSTA) could concentrate sweeping powers in the hands of the Executive. more..

Mar 31 (NW) Four suspects, including the two sons of former Minister Johnston Fernando, who were remanded over the misuse of a Lanka Sathosa lorry, have been released on bail by the Negombo High Court. The other suspects released on bail today are the former Working Director and the former Transport Manager of Lanka Sathosa. Johnston Fernando, his elder son Johan Fernando, his younger son Jerome Fernando, and the other two former state officials were arrested and more..

Mar 31 (AD) Supreme Court has ruled that the Colombo Municipal Council and the Kolonnawa Urban Council violated fundamental rights of residents by illegally dumping waste on the land known as Pothuvil Kumbura in Meethotamulla. The ruling was delivered in a fundamental rights petition filed by a group of residents from the affected area, including lawyer Nuwan Bopage. The case was heard before a 3-judge bench of the SC, more..

Mar 31 (NW) The Cabinet has approved plans to hold the State Vesak Festival of 2026 (Buddhist Year 2570) in the Matara District, centred at the ancient Midellawala temple premises in Thihagoda. Organized jointly by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Public Administration, and the Department of Buddhist Affairs, the festival will be conducted under the theme Abhiththaretha Kalyane (Let us swiftly unite for the common good). more..

Mar 31 (NW) The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today ordered the release of former Parliamentarian Sajin Vass Gunawardena on bail, following his arrest by the Bribery Commission over allegations of illegally earning assets worth Rs. 243.8 million. Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama imposed two sureties of Rs. 05 million each and barred the suspect from foreign travel. Gunawardena was produced before court by prison officials after being held in remand custody since March 9, more..

Mar 31 (DM) In the wake of controversy over substandard coal imports to SL, a parliamentary Committee has instructed officials to immediately prepare a plan for the environmentally friendly disposal of ash emitted from the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant. It was revealed at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability, which met in parliament complex recently, that the volume of ash emitted during electricity generation more..

Mar 31 (DM) Minister Sunil Handunneththi, announced that 2026 will witness the highest number of loans granted to entrepreneurs in recent history, as part of the govt’s efforts to strengthen the industrial sector. Addressing the Central Province Entrepreneurship Awards Ceremony as the chief guest, Minister said the govt is placing significant emphasis on empowering local industrialists and expanding access to finance. A substantial allocation of Rs. 87 billion had been made in 2025 to more..