Apr 22 (TM) Seven Buddhist monks, led by Vietnamese monk Pannakara Thera arrived in the country yesterday to take part in the Walk for Peace in SL. The rescue dog Aloka has also arrived along with the delegation. The international Walk for Peace programme is scheduled to be held in SL until 28 April, under State patronage. The procession, led by Pannakara Thera along with the Buddhist clergy, will carry a Bodhi sapling obtained from more..

Apr 22 (Island) Ven. Bhante Gunaratana, Chief Sangha Nayaka for North America has requested all Sri Lankans to support the second phase of the International Walk for Peace scheduled to begin in Sri Lanka this week. The following is the text of a statement issued by Ven. Bhante Gunaratana: “As a distinguished assembly of Venerable monks embarks upon the second phase of the International Walk for Peace across our beloved island, I respectfully and earnestly implore all more..

Apr 22 (AD) Special attention should be given at the district level to expedite the payment of compensation for those affected by the Cyclone Ditwah and to accelerate reconstruction work, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated. The Prime Minister also noted that all necessary allocations have already been made to the Provincial Councils, and instructed that progress on disaster damages and reconstruction should be closely monitored at the provincial level. more..

Apr 22 (TM) Chief Sanganayake of the Amarapura Sect, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera said that despite three Presidents having left office and a fourth now in power, and with successive Govts coming and going, the shadow cast by the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks has still not been lifted. Addressing the gathering at the seventh-year commemoration of the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks at Kochchikade Shrine yesterday, more..

Apr 22 (UCAN) UN urged SL to deliver concrete results after long-running investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed 279 people, including 45 foreigners. UN's top envoy to the country, Marc-Andre Franche, said survivors and families of victims were still waiting for answers, despite multiple probes and renewed political pledges following the formation of a new govt in Sept 2024. "Public commitments by the govt to pursue justice are important & must be welcomed," more..

Apr 22 (AD) SL Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) has called for urgent action to prevent a looming medicine shortage crisis in SL, warning that growing pressure on the pharmaceutical supply chain could affect the country’s ability to ensure uninterrupted access to essential and life-saving medicines. Chamber cautioned that unless immediate and practical steps are taken, SL could face increasing shortages across both pvt & public healthcare channels, more..

Apr 22 (Island) The CIABOC has directed the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera to cancel an internal transfer of a senior official. Sources said that the CIABOC intervened as the female official to be transferred is a key witness in the ongoing investigation into the conduct of suspended Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne. The CIABOC has asked the Secretary General to delay the transfer until the conclusion of its investigation. more..

Apr 22 (FT) SL’s strong human development achievements have not translated into equal economic participation for women, with structural barriers, particularly unpaid care work, continuing to limit labour force entry, a senior World Bank Group official said. Speaking at the South-4-Care Learning Hub in Colombo, WB Group Senior Operations Specialist and Acting Country Manager for SL and the Maldives Asela Dissanayake noted that while SL has built strong foundations in education, more..

Apr 22 (TM) In the wake of reports that the Energy Ministry and the Finance Ministry are in the process of introducing a new electricity tariff formula, the PUCSL stated that any tariff methodology has to be prepared and approved by the PUCSL to ensure reasonable costs and fair profits within the electricity sector. PUCSL Director - Communication, Jayanat Herat said that electricity tariffs are determined based on more..

Apr 22 (DN) SL long distance runner Gamini Sugathadasa has won the gold medal in the 55–59 age category at the world-renowned 130th Boston Marathon in 2026, which concluded on April 20 in USA. Gamini finished the 42kms race with 2 hours, 36 minutes and 32 seconds to win the gold. This is the best performance by a Sri Lankan in this age group on American soil and it will undoubtedly be etched in golden letters in the country’s sports history. He had previously won a bronze more..

Apr 22 (DM) Marking the World Earth Day, Barista Sri Lanka reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability, reflecting the brand’s broader focus on responsible growth, innovation and environmental stewardship. As the country’s café market leader, with 87 locations across 16 districts, Barista Sri Lanka continues to strengthen its efforts to build a more conscious and future-ready business while delivering the distinctive café experience for which the brand is known. more..

Apr 22 (AD) A total of 50 foreign nationals who had entered Sri Lanka on business visas and continued to remain illegally after their visas expired have been arrested this afternoon (21) by a group of officers from the Dept of Immigration and Emigration. Among those arrested are 47 Chinese nationals, two Malaysian nationals and an Indian national. The suspects were apprehended while staying at a house in Negombo, following intelligence received by the Immigration Dept’s intelligence unit. more..

Apr 22 (DN) Bimandee Bandara, the National number one ranked women’s paddler will lead the SL 5-member women’s team for the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championship finals which will be held from April 28 to May 10 in London. Championship will feature 64 men’s and 64 women’s teams competing across 13 days at two iconic London venues. SL women’s team took part at the ITTF –ATTU Asian TT Championship in India last year to get qualification for this world team more..

Apr 22 (ST) Increasing numbers of seniors, more widows, and an improved literacy rate are among the highlights from the Census of Population and Housing in 2024. DCS released the final report on the Census of Population and Housing 2024 last week. The report covers population distribution and growth, identifying people with difficulties, sex and age distributions, ethnic diversity, and birth and mortality rates as well as more..

Apr 22 (DM) WEAIR, a new entrant into Sri Lanka’s aviation sector, is set to commence operations in May 2026, aiming to strengthen the country’s air freight capacity and enhance regional connectivity. Backed by Luxembourg-based IOTC Investments and led by Sri Lankan-born Group CEO Thinesh Ganeshakumaran, WEAIR is positioned as a next-generation cargo airline designed to address growing demand across key trade corridors, the entity said in a statement. more..

Apr 22 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tea production fell sharply in March, hit by prolonged dry and hot weather conditions. Output declined to 20.8 million kilograms (Mn/Kgs), down from 24.4 Mn/Kgs registered in March last year, a drop of 3.5 Mn/Kgs or 14.5% year-on-year (YoY). While production in 2024 was lower at 19.6 Mn/Kgs, the latest figure still ranks among the weakest on record, exceeded only by the unusually low 13.5 Mn/Kgs seen during the COVID-19 lockdown period. more..

Apr 22 (FT) Fitch Ratings has said that SL’s recovery remains fragile despite improved macroeconomic fundamentals, with the Middle East energy shock now testing the gains achieved through stabilisation and reforms. In its latest SL update on credit development, Fitch said growth is expected to slow, inflation to rise and the fiscal deficit to widen in 2026, even as the economy builds on stronger fundamentals following the 2022 crisis. more..

Apr 22 (Island) Today (22), as the world marks Earth Day, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) warned that SL’s fragile economic recovery could face serious setbacks if environmental degradation and climate vulnerabilities are not urgently addressed—framing sustainability as a core economic priority rather than a peripheral concern. CEJ stressed that the country’s exposure to climate shocks—ranging from floods and droughts to coastal erosion—poses direct and escalating risks more..

Apr 22 (FT) At a time when South Asia is rethinking labour markets and social protection, PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday called for a fundamental rethinking of how economies define productivity, urging policymakers to recognise unpaid care work as a core pillar of economic systems. Delivering the keynote at the inaugural session of the three-day South-4-Care Learning Hub in Colombo, organised with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), World Bank Group and more..

Apr 22 (FT) SL has achieved a landmark milestone in its public debt management reform journey, with the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) being awarded Debt Management Office of the Year (Asia-Pacific) at the Commonwealth Debt Management Award Ceremony held at Marlborough House, London, on 26 March, in parallel with the Commonwealth Debt Management Forum held from 23–27 March. This prestigious international recognition, achieved within just 15 months of more..

Apr 22 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the further examination of evidence on May 12 in the case filed by the CID against former State Minister Diana Gamage. The case has been filed on charges of providing false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to obtain a passport and of residing in Sri Lanka without a valid visa. The case was taken up today (21) before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama, said Ada Derana reporter. more..

Apr 22 (FT) The regulator and insurance industry have unveiled a national roadmap aimed at doubling insurance penetration by 2030 and tripling it by 2035, including proposals to introduce mandatory home insurance and Govt-supported schemes to widen coverage. The Insurance Regulatory Commission of SL (IRCSL), in partnership with the Insurance Association of SL (IASL), yesterday launched the Insurance more..

Apr 22 (ST) When Udaya Gammanpila announced the release of his book, In Search of a Mastermind, it was thought that he would make a big revelation. However the whole event proved to be an anti climax. It turned out to be more a strategy of deflection rather than a search for justice Its timing and content reveal a different motive. By narrowing the scope of the tragedy to a settled narrative and targeting the investigators currently tasked with reopening the case, more..

Apr 22 (Island) Opposition is in overdrive, attacking JVP-NPP govt, left, right and centre, over the coal procurement scam, which has resulted in a huge increase in the cost of power generation and electricity tariffs, besides bleeding the Treasury. The govt has said the additional cost of burning diesel to produce electricity to meet the Norochcholai generation shortfall will not be passed on to the public, but the funds it is spending on diesel liberally for power generation belong to the public, more..

Apr 22 (TM) The bells of St. Anthony’s Shrine and St. Sebastian’s Church toll not just in memory of the fallen, but as a reminder of a State that has failed its most fundamental duty. Seven years have vanished since the Easter Sunday carnage of 2019, yet the quest for the Grand Conspiracy remains trapped in a labyrinth of commissions, classified files, and convenient postponements. For the survivors and the families of the 269 victims, the passage of time has not brought healing. more..

Apr 22 (Island) The resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody comes after several weeks of controversy over his ministerial role. The controversy sharpened when the minister was indicted by the CIABOC for a transaction he was involved in ten years ago as a govt official in the Fertiliser Corporation. The other issue was the govt’s purchase of substandard coal from a new supplier. Minister Jayakody’s resignation followed the appointment of a Special PCoI to investigate more..

Apr 22 (TM) A potential El Niño event is raising fresh concerns over SL’s food security, with meteorologists warning of a heightened risk of below-average rainfall during the critical southwest monsoon months. Meteorological projections indicate a significant warming of the Pacific Ocean, pointing to a roughly 60% probability of El Niño conditions developing by mid-year. For an economy still recovering from 2025 cyclone more..

Apr 22 (GV) On April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday, coordinated suicide bombings tore through churches and luxury hotels across SL, killing at least 260 people and injuring hundreds more. The attacks devastated families, traumatised communities and left one of the darkest scars in the country’s recent history. Seven years on, the central demand of victims and survivors remains the same: to be given the full truth and real accountability. There has been progress but it has been too slow and partial. more..

Apr 22 (DM) All the Living Beings prove that they are living by being in action and it proves that the actions are prompted by initiation, which in turn prove that they need kinds of prodding that may be very mild at the lowest while such can be very forceful. There can be life which can be limited to reflexive action or automatic and such life is simply mechanical. The difference is in the presence of mindfulness. Mind is the centre where thinking starts and that is where everything starts. more..

Apr 22 (CT) Mano Ganesan, Leader of the TPA, is known for his vocal engagement in Parliament, consistently advocating for minority rights for over a decade. Speaking to Ceylon Today, he discusses the current Govt and reflects on the role minority parties have played in successive govts over the years. Q: Following your most recent meeting with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, what tangible outcomes can you point to more..

Apr 22 (DM) In SL today, getting onto a public bus is no longer a simple or routine part of life. For many, it has quietly become something they do with hesitation. There is always that small, unspoken fear in the back of the mind. Will I reach home safely? For decades, we have spoken about reforming our public transport system. Every government has, at some point, acknowledged the problems and promised change. Yet, despite these repeated assurances, the condition of our bus service more..

Apr 22 (DM) Sri Lanka is spending hundreds of millions of rupees on elephant management strategies that scientists, affected communities, but Sri Lanka’s own National Action Plan (NAP), as all acknowledge, is making the problem worse. Two approaches dominate: long-distance drives that push herds into protected areas (PAs) and translocation of problem males into National Parks and elephant holding grounds (EHGs). Both intensify the conflict they are meant to resolve. more..