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..

Apr 27 (FT) The CoPF has approved new regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021, easing restrictions on duty-free retail operations within Colombo Port City. The regulations, issued via Gazette No. 2475/28 dated 13 Feb, relax limits previously imposed on SL citizens purchasing goods from duty-free shopping complexes in Port City. The move is aimed at increasing local participation in retail activity within the zone. more..

Apr 27 (ST) The Hemas Group is in the process of obtaining EU GMP (European Union Good Manufacturing Practice), in a bid to venture into European markets with their locally-made medicines, a top official said. EU GMP consists of stringent regulations that guarantee pharmaceutical products are consistently manufactured and controlled to meet high-quality and safety standards, and it encompasses quality management, personnel, premises, documentation, and production for more..

Apr 27 (TM) Deflecting allegations of diminishing surveillance in the prevention of a resurgence of measles in the country, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana said that there was a case based surveillance system in place at ground level to prevent the disease from reemerging. He said that the public health services carried out a surveillance in which the patients – whether child or adult, contacts who were exposed to the patient were identified and advised to be cautious. more..

Apr 27 (FT) For thousands of schoolchildren across SL, a daily meal is more than nourishment—it is the foundation for learning, growth, and a more secure future. It is within this context that the Lions Clubs Int'l Foundation (LCIF) recently convened a press conference to highlight the scale of national impact achieved through Lions-led initiatives, specially its collaboration with the UN World Food Program (WFP). The collaboration with the WFP is part of a $ 2 million partnership more..

Apr 27 (DN) Leg spinner Dilum Sudeera finished with impressive bowling figures taking match bag of 10 for 145 while Kamil Mishara hit superb knock of 174 as SL A recorded an easy innings and 109 runs win over New Zealand A in their second 4-day unofficial test match to seal the series win 1-0 at Galle Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. NZ A continued their overnight total of 45/4 and were bowled out for 104 yesterday before lunch after batting only 18.2 overs of the first session. more..

Apr 27 (FT) SL’s fiscal position strengthened markedly in Jan 2026, with a sharp expansion in the primary surplus and a near-elimination of the overall Budget deficit, according to the data. Govt recorded a primary surplus of Rs. 222.82 billion for the month, up 86.7% from Rs. 119.33 billion a year earlier, reflecting a continued improvement in revenue performance alongside restrained expenditure growth. more..

Apr 27 (DM) ​Sri Lanka’s local automotive market recorded a substantial influx of vehicle imports in March, with total motor vehicle registrations expanding by 15.6% month-on-month to reach 59,734 units, according to the latest data. This sharp acceleration is largely driven by a pronounced pickup in electric vehicle adoption, reflecting immediate consumer momentum as the country grapples with rising foreign exchange outflows. ​A comprehensive breakdown of the March more..

Apr 27 (NW) A video circulating on social media shows MP Ramanathan Archchuna involved in an altercation with a group of individuals during a dispute in Periyavilaan, Jaffna, over a contested piece of land. The incident is linked to an ongoing case before a magistrate’s court regarding ownership of the land, with both the MP and another party, including a woman, claiming rights over the property. On the 25th, the MP was reportedly engaged in cleaning work on more..

Apr 27 (Island) Sri Lanka’s Tuskers showed bite but not quite enough teeth as New Zealand’s Under-85kg side edged a bruising 27-16 win in the opening leg of their two-match series at Racecourse on Saturday. Under lights for the second straight year, the visitors rode pressure, precision and a late sucker punch to take first blood in a contest that swung on momentum and discipline. NZ struck early at the breakdown, forcing a turnover penalty with SL pinged for holding on. more..

Apr 27 (AD) COPF is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, and a decision will be taken then over the incident involving a US$2.5 million foreign debt repayment without any political party differences, says the Chairman of the Committee, MP Dr. Harsha de Silva. He also stated that the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance is expected to be summoned to the Parliament based on the decision taken there. MP said that it is absolutely unbelievable that the computer network of the Ministry of Finance more..

Apr 27 (DN) Making SL an event management hub is on top of the government’s agenda, Minister Sunil Handunnetti told the launch event of SL’s first event calendar held in Colombo on Thursday. He said, “SL has naturally received many good opportunities in this sector due to the geographical location of our country and we will make our maximum contribution by providing the necessary facilities for this industry, more..

Apr 27 (Island) US President Donald Trump would have the world believe that Saturday evening’s shooting incident during the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner, at the Washington Hilton, was part of a plot to assassinate him. The event had just got underway when shots were heard in a lobby adjoining the ballroom. Prez Trump, his wife, Vice Prez J. D. Vance and other govt politicians were rushed off the stage unhurt and escorted out of the hotel. Others ran for cover. more..

Apr 27 (DN) Sri Lanka produced a fighting performance to record a hard-earned 3-2 win over Kazakhstan in their Pool B match of the Women’s Asian Games Hockey Qualifier 2026 played in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday. The SL women showed strong character and composure to control the game in key moments, holding their nerve under pressure to seal an important victory in the tournament. After a goalless first quarter, SL opened scoring in the 19th minute through skipper more..

Apr 27 (Island) SL’s coal supply crisis is significantly deeper than previously understood, with senior engineers and energy analysts warning that a dangerous combination of reduced procurement volumes, rising coal consumption and shipment delays could place national power generation at serious risk. Information reviewed by The Island shows that Lanka Coal Company (LCC) had originally planned to secure 2.32 million metric tons of coal for the relevant supply period to meet more..

Apr 27 (FT) The case study presentation to MTI’s Global Strategy Interns in the Balkan countries was delivered by Curry Souls Founder Clement Senaratne—the pioneering SL street food franchise in Serbia and Croatia. His outlets are celebrated for their vibrant, funky, and youthful atmosphere, blending authentic SL flavours with a modern, urban setting that resonates with the dynamic spirit of the Balkans. Curry Souls has consistently ranked among the top restaurants in Serbia on Trip Advisor. more..

Apr 27 (SO) Former Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, who resigned from his ministerial portfolio following the recent controversy over coal imports, said he stepped aside for the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to proceed without obstruction. Jayakody rejected allegations of political interference in coal procurement, saying that the Opposition is attempting to undermine the credibility of the NPP Govt, and outlined more..

Apr 27 (CT) They walked for miles barefoot. The sun and rain didn’t bother them. Three Buddhist monks were on a mission – to promote Peace. It all originated in 2022 in India, when, based on the 2022–2026 peace walks, the Buddhist monks, known for Walking for Peace, were led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, a Vietnamese American Buddhist monk and a former engineer. Bhikkhu Pannakara walked in India, for a notable 112-day journey, primarily to promote peace, more..

Apr 27 (ST) Sri Lankans are confronted with two contradictory (not surprisingly so) framing of the 2019 Easter Sunday jihadist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka in regard to which investigations, we are informed, have reached a critical stage. There is a (nauseatingly) familiar mix of political opportunism and anguished calls for justice in commemorating the seventh anniversary of the atrocity. Speaking at an event, Catholic and Muslim clergymen alike condemned more..

Apr 27 (TM) Sri Lanka’s digital infrastructure and financial security are currently under intense scrutiny following two significant cyber incidents that have exposed vulnerabilities within the State apparatus. The first involves a highly sophisticated cyber heist resulting in the misdirection of $ 2.5 million in Treasury funds, initially intended for foreign debt repayment. The second incident revolves around the alleged breach and more..

Apr 27 (GV) On May 31, 1962 Adolf Eichmann, the SS official responsible for the identification, assembly and transportation of Jews in occupied Europe to Auschwitz, was executed by hanging in a Tel Aviv prison. He was the second and the last man to be hung in Israel. In March 2026, Israeli parliament passed a law imposing mandatory death sentence on Palestinians of West Bank convicted by Israeli military courts of nationalist crimes. Death Penalty for Terrorists Law passed in more..

Apr 27 (DM) S.J.V. Chelvanayakam KC Memorial Lecture Delivered at Jaffna Central Collage on Sunday 26 April by Professor G.L. Peiris. Had Mr. Chelvanayakam been with us today, he would no doubt be profoundly unhappy with the state of our country and the world. Samuel James Velupillai Chelvanayakam was born on 31 March 1898 in the town of Ipoh in Malaya. When he was four years of age, he was sent by his father, along with his mother, for the purpose of his education more..