Apr 2 (TM) National Agrarian Unity (NAU) organisation alleged the fertiliser distribution process through Agrarian Service Centres has failed, claiming the system forces farmers to pay the full cost of the entire season’s fertiliser requirement in a single instalment. The organisation also charged the Govt’s fertiliser subsidy remains inadequate. The organisation’s President, Anuradha Tennakoon, said that under the previous system, farmers were able to purchase fertiliser from more..

Apr 2 (DM) The Director General of the CIABOC Ranga Dissanayake said that all public officials are legally required to declare their assets and liabilities, warning that failure to comply will result in strict legal consequences. Speaking at an event held at the BMICH to launch an electronic system to declare assets and liabilities, he said that any wealth exceeding a person’s known income would be presumed to have been acquired through bribery unless proven otherwise. more..

Apr 2 (AD) Third meeting of the Cabinet-appointed committee tasked with ensuring the continuous functioning of the public service was held under the patronage of PM Harini Amarasuriya, via virtual platform. During the meeting held yesterday, attention was drawn to the progress in implementing decisions taken at the previous meeting to maintain uninterrupted public services while managing fuel and energy in the face of challenges arising from the conflict situation in the Middle East, more..

Apr 2 (TM) United States continues to look forward to seeing Sri Lanka offer market access for its homegrown exports ranging from agricultural commodities, machinery and pharmaceuticals, as Sri Lanka continues to run a $ 2.27 billion trade surplus with the global superpower, US Embassy in SL Economic Unit Chief Zachary Bailey said in a recently (31 March) published panel discussion on social media. “We would also really like to see more US exports coming to Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 2 (AD) The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) says that 3-hour water cuts will be imposed in Battaramulla, Pamankada, Wellawatte, Nawala and surrounding areas on every other day from today (2) until April 10 from 10 pm to 1 am Meanwhile, a 24-hour water cut will be imposed to Padukka, Homagama, Pelanwatta and Pannipitiya areas once in four days for 24 hours from 8 pm today. Accordingly, the water supply will be suspended for 24 hours on one day, more..

Apr 2 (DM) Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol, coffee and sweetened beverages. People with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, kidney diseases and cancers must be extra cautious as their health conditions may worsen due to the extreme heat and even result in death, a health expert said. Consultant-Community Physician of Ministry of Health Dr. Inoka Suraweera said that exposure to extreme heat can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion and even strokes which are fatal. more..

Apr 2 (NW) National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has appointed a special operations committee to monitor and manage the shortage of drinking water, as reservoirs continue to deplete under prevailing dry weather conditions. Committee has been appointed by the Chairman and General Manager of the NWSDB, comprising relevant subject officers. According to the Water Board, the purpose of this committee is to monitor and control water production and distribution. more..

Apr 2 (EN) SL’s rupee is now under pressure after the central bank loaded the dice against the rupee with excess liquidity from swaps and arbitrary interventions that busted confidence, while money in the war zone, protected from macro-economists, is sound as a bell. The central bank systematically loaded the dice against the rupee from late 2024 not only using monetary policy (excess liquidity), but with the aggressive deployment of exchange rate policy at arbitrary rates against more..

Apr 2 (NW) Google is rolling out a long-awaited feature that lets users change their Gmail address without creating a new account, though it's limited for now. For years, your Gmail address has been something you were effectively stuck with; whether it reflected your teenage obsessions, early internet humour, or a questionable combination of numbers and nicknames. That is now finally starting to change. Google has begun rolling out a long-requested feature that allows users to change more..

Apr 2 (Island) SL’s long-discussed Eppawala rock phosphate deposit has finally begun feeding a domestic fertiliser value chain, with Lankem Ceylon PLC unveiling the country’s first locally manufactured Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertiliser in a Rs. 3 billion industrial venture aimed at reducing import dependence and strengthening agricultural resilience. The product, branded Mada Raja, was launched at a ceremony in Colombo on March 30, more..

Apr 2 (NW) The SL National Football Team concluded its 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a remarkable 3–1 victory over Chinese Taipei in Taipei, marking their second consecutive away win against the side. Despite the impressive result, Sri Lanka did not secure qualification for the Asian Cup. Competing in Group D, the team played six matches, winning three and finishing third in the points table. The win, however, has boosted Sri Lanka’s standing in world football. more..

Apr 2 (Island) Perched above the historic town of Gampola, where rolling hills meet drifting clouds, Ambuluwawa emerged this week as a powerful symbol of peace, sustainability, and renewal. Marking the 30th anniversary of the Ambuluwawa Religious and Biodiversity Complex, foundation stones were laid for an International Meditation Centre and an International Library—two landmark initiatives aimed at promoting global harmony, spiritual reflection, and knowledge sharing. more..

Apr 2 (DM) The Excise Department of SL has recorded a revenue growth of over 60% over the past three years, attributing the increase primarily to the implementation of security stickers on liquor bottles. According to the department, the initiative—introduced in January 2022—was aimed at ensuring the proper collection of taxes from all liquor produced in the country. The project mandated the affixing of security stickers on every liquor bottle manufactured locally. more..

Apr 2 (NW) Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake has held a series of high-level meetings in Moscow aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Russia. During the official visit, Minister Rathnayake met Andrey Denisov, First Deputy Chair of the Committee on International Affairs of the Federation Council, where discussions focused on enhancing parliamentary cooperation, transport connectivity and broader economic engagement. more..

Apr 2 (DM) A school principal in the Akuramboda area has been arrested in connection with an alleged abuse incident involving a student. Police said the complaint was lodged with the National Child Protection Authority by the father of a Grade 9 student, who claimed that the child had been abused by the principal. Following a tip-off from the authority, officers from the Mahawela Police arrested the suspect. Police also said that the student was admitted to hospital for medical attention. more..

Apr 2 (FT) The expected has happened. Electricity prices have gone up, with its inevitable effect on cost of production and cost of living. The spectre of stagflation, that dreaded combination of low growth and high inflation, is clearly visible over the economic horizon. The Bibi-Trump’s illegal war on Iran is likely to do as much harm to the Lankan economy and Lankan living standards as Gota-economics did. Cost of living and the poverty line were inching up before the war began. more..

Apr 2 (FT) The war in the Mideast may or may not continue for long, but the after-effects of the destruction of oil production facilities rendered already will lead to a long-term fuel crisis for the rest of the world. Especially hard hit will be debt-ridden countries like Sri Lanka. Wars and crises affect the children disproportionately. While adults may grit their teeth and wait for a crisis to pass, every moment lost is a loss of growth and development in a child’s life. more..

Apr 2 (TM) Arrangements have been finalised to import fuel from Russia, the CPC confirmed. CPC Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage yesterday noted that discussions with Russian suppliers are ongoing, adding that the majority of crude and refined fuel shipments scheduled for this month and next month have already been secured. However, logistical and technical arrangements regarding arrivals more..

Apr 2 (Island) The Examinations Department has said that 62.64 percent of the total applicants who sat the 2025 GCE A/L Exam qualified for university admission. The results of the 2025 A/L Exams were released on Tuesday (31). Dept of Examinations released the names of the students who secured the highest ranks across all subject streams. The full list of top achievers across all streams is as follows: Biological Science stream: First Place: Dilan Sanjana (Royal College, Colombo) more..

Apr 2 (EN) Higher spending on fuel and vehicle imports led to a surged import bill in Feb 2026 and an expanded trade deficit. Merchandise imports in February jumped 25.2% to US$1.83 billion compared to US$1.46 billion recorded in the same month last year. Import bill on personal and commercial vehicles in February skyrocketed to US$ 193.6 million from US$ 9.7 million a year earlier, while the outflow for fuel purchases jumped 43% to US$398m from US$ 278.4m a year earlier. more..

Apr 2 (TM) GMOA alleged that the current Govt including Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa is attempting to compel doctors to provide services against their will. GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Hansamal Weerasuriya stated that more than 23,000 doctors affiliated with the Association are not prepared to work under coercion. Meanwhile, Dr. Jayatissa defended the ongoing annual transfer process for doctors. more..

Apr 2 (Island) Eksath Janaraja Peramuna leader Champika Ranawaka said that SL would not be able to secure oil from Russia before the reimposition of US sanctions on Russian oil. The former Minister said so at a joint Opposition media briefing. He said it wouldn’t be possible to import Russian crude before the 12 April deadline. Deputy Russian Energy Minister Roman Marshavin was here last week to discuss how the Russian Federation could help SL meet its energy needs more..

Apr 2 (DM) US Embassy in SL has issued an update regarding its visa services, announcing an expansion of social media presence review requirements for nonimmigrant visa applicants. Effective March 30, a wider range of visa classifications will be subject to this vetting process, requiring affected applicants to change all social media profiles to public. Affected visa classifications are all A‑3, C‑3 (if a domestic worker), G‑5, H‑3 and their H‑4 dependents, K‑1, K‑2, K‑3, Q, R‑1, more..

Apr 2 (AD) Extreme heat can lead to depression, stress, mental distress, and restlessness, Psychiatrist Vindya Wijayabandara said. She made these remarks while addressing a media briefing held at the Health Promotion Bureau, focusing on the impact of extreme heat on mental health. Dr. Wijayabandara explained that dehydration caused by excessive heat can alter chemical conditions in the body, potentially leading to a decline in mental well-being of a person. more..

Apr 2 (DN) With the election of the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL) scheduled for April 25, one of the presidential candidates, who is a reputed business tycoon, sports administrator and present vice president of the NOCSL Shirantha Peries has announced his candidacy with a clear and practical mandate to strengthen governance, unify affiliated federations and elevate SL’s sporting performance on international stage. Shirantha, a product of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo more..

Apr 2 (Island) Intelligence agencies have uncovered several assassination plots targeting one of the country’s drug traffickers, Samantha Kumara, alias Wele Suda, who is currently being held in the high-security wing of Boossa Prison, security sources said. According to confidential reports issued by Chief of National Intelligence, the plots, allegedly orchestrated by underworld figures operating from overseas, are being planned, more..

Apr 2 (FT) Export Development Board (EDB) recently convened a high-level meeting with the CPC and leading export industry stakeholders to address mounting concerns over fuel distribution and its impact on export performance. The meeting was organised at the initiative of the EDB amid growing concerns from exporters over fuel accessibility, logistical bottlenecks, and the need for a more reliable and prioritised supply mechanism for export-oriented industries. more..

Apr 2 (FT) The Govt has taken a major step towards strengthening its energy storage capacity, with the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approving funding for the proposed Maha Oya Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant, one of the largest grid-scale energy projects planned in recent years. The project, to be implemented by the CEB, is estimated to cost Rs. 243.09 billion and will be financed in line with the provisions of the Public Debt Management Act, No. 33 of 2024. more..

Apr 2 (NW) Further details have emerged regarding the fishing trawler seized with narcotics during a SL Navy surveillance operation in deep seas, based on foreign intelligence. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the consignment of drugs had been transferred to the vessel from an Iranian ship. The trawler, named Ave Maria, had departed from the Wellemanakanda Fisheries Harbour on Feb 4. Six fishermen arrested in connection with the incident had reportedly set out on more..

Apr 2 (AD) Veterinarian Dr. Shobhath Wijeratne has warned that the prevailing extreme heat conditions can lead to fatal consequences for pets. High temperatures can be particularly fatal for dogs and cats with dark coloured fur. Dr. Wijeratne explained that extreme heat causes a rapid rise in animals’ body temperature, which they are unable to control, increasing the risk of fatal reactions. He further stressed that pets should never be left inside parked vehicles under any circumstances. more..

Apr 2 (TM) The prevailing dry weather conditions over the island are expected to change from today, Met Dept stated. Meanwhile, showers or thunder storms may occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa & Southern Provinces in the evening or night. The general public is requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms. more..

Apr 2 (FT) Suresh Shah has assumed office as Chairman of the Board of Hatton National Bank PLC from yesterday. Prior to the appointment he was an Independent Non-Executive of the bank. Shah is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. His experience includes serving as CEO of two listed entities, extensive involvement in economic and related matters through trade chambers and employer organisations and leading Govt SOE reforms. more..