Apr 25 (FT) SL’s latest Census of Population and Housing points to a structural shift in the country’s economic foundations, with ageing, low fertility, and weak labour force participation emerging as the most critical pressures on future growth and fiscal stability. According to 15th Census of Population and Housing – 2024 Final Report, the population stood at 21.78 million in 2024, but the more consequential shift lies in its composition. more..

Apr 25 (Island) The Opposition yesterday called for the entire Cabinet-of-Ministers to accept responsibility for the coal scam. Addressing the media at the Flower Road Office of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris emphasised that Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody’s resignation, in the wake of the damning report issued by the National Audit Office (NAO), has now implicated the entire Cabinet-of-Ministers. Prof. Peiris asserted that Jayakody, more..

Apr 25 (DN) Two high-tech machines provided to the Kandy National Hospital at a cost of Rs.600 million as part of the planned programme implemented by the Ministry of Health to increase the physical resources of the health service were inaugurated by Kandy National Hospital Director Dr. Iresha Fernando. Accordingly, two machines, the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) machine and the Digital Subtraction Angiography, were made available to the public. more..

Apr 25 (FT) CEB remained under financial strain in 2025 despite cost-reflective tariff adjustments, Central Bank said in its Annual Economic Review. CEB recorded an overall loss of Rs. 38.7 billion during the year, reflecting the impact of tariff reductions and elevated generation costs. Electricity tariffs were revised downward by an average of 20% in Jan 2025 following earlier reductions in 2024, but higher thermal generation costs during more..

Apr 25 (DN) Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando yesterday said that a failure to properly verify the intended recipient may have led to US$ 2.5 million being transferred to a third party during foreign debt repayment by the Finance Ministry. Responding to a question raised by a journalist, he said that officials responsible for external debt servicing should have confirmed the recipient’s account details in Australia before releasing the funds. more..

Apr 25 (ST) Shangri-La Asia’s real estate in Colombo including seafront luxury apartments, and commercial and office spaces have generated strong profit for the group in 2025, more than double the income from the year before. The group’s investment properties including One Galle Face shopping mall and One Galle Face Tower, posted US$ 14.2 million (about Rs 4.4 billion) full year profit for the year ended 31 Dec 2025, versus US$5.2m in 2024. This was an increase of more than 173%. more..

Apr 25 (DN) SL’s Ishara Samanmali and Sashikala Lankathilaka secured silver and bronze medals respectively in the women’s long jump at the 6 th Asian BeachGames held in Sanya, China yesterday. Samanmali won silver with a 5.87m leap which is a historic first silver medal by a Sri Lankan at Asian Beach Games. Meanwhile Shashikla Lankathilaka claimed bronze with a 5.83m jump in this same event. Thi Thuy Hang Ha of Vietnam won the gold medal in this event with a leap of 6.16m. more..

Apr 25 (DM) Bake House Kandy has officially relaunched with a refreshed brand identity, contemporary interiors and an enhanced customer experience, marking a new chapter for one of the city’s most recognised heritage dining establishments. With a legacy spanning over 55 years, relaunch reflects a strategic transformation designed to resonate with Gen Z and Millennials, while continuing to honour the loyalty of families who have grown alongside the brand for decades. more..

Apr 25 (FT) Sri Lanka’s latest Census data on language literacy reveals a sharp and unexpected decline in English literacy among the Burgher community, standing in contrast to broad-based gains recorded across all other ethnic groups. English literacy among Burghers fell to 79.3% in 2024 from 97.4% in 2012, marking the most significant drop across any community over the period. more..

Apr 25 (NW) SL’s javelin star Rumesh Tharanga produced a sensational performance in Nairobi, winning gold with a new meet record at the Kip Keino Classic after a massive throw of 89.28m. He outperformed a world-class field, including Olympic champion Thomas Röhler of Germany and Olympic silver medallist and world champion Julius Yego of Kenya. This marks his second 89m+ throw within 30 days, further underlining his consistency at elite international level and establishing him as more..

Apr 25 (BBC) Olympic cricket stadium for LA 2028 could host IPL teams in the future as part of its global expansion plans, says Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore. Construction has now started on the site at the Fairgrounds, officially known as Fairplex, in the southern Californian city of Pomona in readiness for cricket's return to the Games. The stadium will become the home to KKR's US franchise, Los Angeles Knight Riders and will host Major League Cricket matches this July. more..

Apr 25 (DM) Health authorities in Anuradhapura District have expressed concern about the rapid increase of HIV cases in the district. Senior Medical Officer of Anuradhapura teaching hospital Dr. Hema Weerakoon said 170 HIV infected patients have undergone treatment at the centre since 2003. She added that about two thirds of these cases are from the Anuradhapura district. The remaining one third are from other districts, and they visit the Anuradhapura centre for treatment. more..

Apr 25 (DN) Leg-spinner Dilum Sudeera took an impressive 6 for 107 as New Zealand A were bowled out for 305 before lunch on day two of the second unofficial four-day match against SL A at Galle. NZ A resumed from 238 for 4 but lost their last six wickets for just 67 runs. Sudeera was the pick of the bowlers, while Ramesh Mendis supported well with 3 for 103. Rain interrupted play for more than two hours after the innings break. Despite this, SL A made a strong reply, reaching 197 for 2 more..

Apr 25 (ST) It may have appeared to be a minor issue over adequate parking space in a Colombo apartment complex but the matter received the attention of the highest court of the land and, and what was more admirable is that the issue was fought by two laypersons appearing for themselves in court without a battery of lawyers. And they won after a 23-year struggle The fundamental rights case in the Supreme Court filed by more..

Apr 25 (DM) Three-wheelers continue to play a critical role in SL’s transport ecosystem, supporting thousands of drivers across urban and rural areas. However, growing evidence suggests that long-term operation of conventional fuel-powered three-wheelers may pose significant occupational health risks. A study published in the SL Journal of Occupational Health highlights that prolonged exposure to engine vibrations, combined with extended driving hours and suboptimal more..

Apr 25 (FT) A special program organised to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day, which recognizes the value of human creativity, was held yesterday at the Duncan White Auditorium of the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry. World Intellectual Property Day, which falls on 26 April, is celebrated this year under the theme “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate.” The event highlighted the critical role of intellectual property rights in driving innovation, technology, branding, and more..

Apr 25 (FT) SL’s export sector is operating well below potential, with an estimated $ 6 billion in unrealised export capacity, as weak trade performance continues to strain the country’s external position and weigh on currency stability. This is according to a recent Asian Development Bank brief notes that if this untapped potential were fully realised, SL’s exports could increase by 47%, providing a critical buffer as external debt more..

Apr 25 (FT) SLASSCOM Women in Tech Conference 4.0 reaffirmed its position as SL’s premier platform for advancing women’s leadership in the digital economy. Held under the theme Give to Gain: Building Inclusive Digital Futures, it convened industry leaders to explore the future of work, digital transformation, and the growing role of women in shaping business, technology, and policy, highlighting gender diversity as a strategic imperative for future-ready organisations. more..

Apr 25 (FT) Agriculture Ministers from across Asia and the Pacific have called for stronger regional cooperation to safeguard food security and build resilient agrifood systems, as geopolitical tensions and climate pressures intensify risks to global food supply chains. The discussions took place at the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Brunei Darussalam, convened by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). more..

Apr 25 (ST) The first zero-emission Material Collection and Processing Facility in SL was recently inaugurated. This initiative is funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), implemented by Janathakshan, with Neptune Recyclers serving as the recycling partner, in collaboration with Talawakelle Plantation. Somerset ECO Material Collection & Processing Centre was officially opened on March 18, commemorating World Recycling Day, under the theme Circular Symbiosis for more..

Apr 25 (TM) The recent Iran conflict demonstrates that modern warfare is fundamentally intertwined with energy law and energy security. Rather than being limited to military confrontation, the conflict has exposed the vulnerability of energy systems as central pillars of national and global stability. Attacks on energy infrastructure — such as oil refineries, pipelines, and power plants — transform war into a direct assault on economic lifelines. From a legal perspective, the targeting of more..

Apr 25 (TM) National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) is currently unable to carry out breast cancer screening for women at its recently relocated Cancer Early Detection Centre in Colombo due to a lack of space to install a mammography machine, Govt Radiological Technologists said. The Centre, which operated for over 20 years in a private building on Alvitigala Mawatha, Narahenpita, was relocated in February to a new facility more..

Apr 25 (FT) The Colombo stock market ended a cautious and volatile week down 0.9% or 205.7 points while the active S&P SL20 Index decreased by 59.3 points. During the week, the market witnessed a net foreign outflow of over Rs. 2.6 billion, taking the year-to-date net outflow to Rs. 24.9 billion. Yesterday, ASPI gained 1.05 points to close at 22,567.63 and the S&P SL20 ended 0.02% lower, down 1.11 points to 6,204.62. Market turnover was over Rs. 2b on over 120 mil shares traded. more..

Apr 25 (CT) In the Sinharaja region of Southern Sri Lanka, a forest corridor known as Bootiyathenna is being cleared through mechanised gem mining and land conversion for tea cultivation. The destruction is ongoing, documented, and according to environmental activists and researchers, pushing several species found nowhere else in the world closer to extinction. A leading businessman from Rakwana city has been identified as the primary actor behind the clearing. more..

Apr 25 (Island) Another scandal has come to light and made international headlines. The illegal diversion of Treasury funds amounting to USD 2.5 million, meant for bilateral debt repayment to Australia, to a third party, could not have come at a worse time. It has happened close on the heels of the launch of the National QR Payment Adoption Programme to transform SL into a cashlite economy. Although the two payment systems are vastly different, and risks are much lower where more..

Apr 25 (TM) Colombo, as we know and experience it today, is largely built on its own ecological memory. What now seems like solid urban terrain was once a complex wetland landscape, an intricate mosaic of marshes, floodplains, waterways, tree canopies, wildlife habitats, and aquatic plants that contributed to the City’s original environmental awareness. This was not vacant land awaiting development, but a living delta system guiding the water flow, settlement, and the City’s breathing. more..

Apr 25 (ICG) What’s new? Almost eighteen months into its term in office, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s NPP govt has kept SL’s economic recovery on track and made notable efforts to fight corruption. But it faces growing questions about its ability and commitment to achieve its bold promises of system change. Why does it matter? Dissanayake’s election in Sept 2024 & NPP’s subsequent parliamentary majority more..

Apr 25 (DM) Few agricultural products in the world carry the prestige and recognition of Ceylon Tea. For more than a century, the emerald hills of Sri Lanka have produced a beverage that has travelled from misty plantations to the tables of millions across the globe. Tea has shaped the country’s landscapes, built communities, and created livelihoods for generations. It became not merely a crop, but a national identity. Yet today SL’s tea industry stands at a defining moment in its history. more..

Apr 25 (DM) The diversion of nearly USD 2.5 million from SL’s Treasury highlights a dangerous evolution in financial crime: the manipulation of trusted communication over traditional hacking. With investigations pointing toward compromised emails and privilege creep, the incident underscores a global reality where 80% of breaches involve identity misuse. As SL’s digital transformation accelerates, this heist serves as a critical wake-up call to move beyond simple perimeter defense more..

Apr 25 (SO) Anuradhapura South prospered following the Mahaweli water transfer program launched in 1976 under the Mahaweli Development Plan which was approved in 1968. This program was to ensure reliable water supply for agriculture, domestic use and commercial activities thereby transforming livelihoods of what is now known as Wet Anuradhapura. In contrast, areas North of Anuradhapura referred to as more..

Apr 25 (DM) The landscape of domestic violence in SL is defined by a profound tension between progressive legislative frameworks and deeply entrenched patriarchal social norms. While the State has made significant strides in codifying protections for women, the lived reality for many survivors is governed by a culture of silence and the social pressure of lajjawa-baya (shame and fear). This cultural weight often reclassifies criminal acts as private domestic disputes, more..

Apr 25 (DM) It’s over a year-and-a-half since the NPP Govt captured political power in this country. Over four years have passed since the country declared itself bankrupt in 2022 following an unprecedented economic crisis. The crisis in turn led to unprecedented protests and calls for leadership, social and regime change. Memorable slogans of Gota go Home and Mynah go Gama – demanding then President and Premier resign. The JVP and its splinter group －the FSP, more..