Apr 27 (AD) A coordination meeting on the construction of interim shelters for communities affected by the Cyclone Ditwah was held at the Army Headquarters under the patronage of the Deputy Minister of Defence, Aruna Jayasekara. The discussion focused on reviewing progress and expediting the implementation of interim shelter projects in the worst affected districts of Kegalle, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla. Primary objective of the program is to temporarily resettle more..

Apr 27 (EN) 10 SL ICT companies were able to enter the Japanese market, generate over 300 leads and networking outcomes at Japan IT Week 2026, EDB said. “The programme created significant future business potential estimated at over USD 2 million, along with multiple partnership and joint venture opportunities,” EDB said. “It served as a strong market exposure and relationship building platform, strengthening SL–Japan ICT collaboration and laying a solid foundation for future business more..

Apr 27 (CT) Police have launched expeditious investigations into two separate incidents in which 10 dogs were killed, suspected to have been poisoned a few days earlier, in the Tambuttegama and Ipalogama Police divisions in the A'pura District. The incidents, which have sent shockwaves through local communities and animal welfare circles, have prompted parallel investigations in Tambuttegama and Ipalogama, where similar more..

Apr 27 (AD) The Free Lawyers Organisation has stated that although five days have passed since the alleged cyberattack involving a USD 2.5 million Treasury transaction, the relevant facts have not yet been reported to a Magistrate’s Court. The organisation further claimed that, to date, investigators have not recorded statements from the suspended officers involved. Accordingly, it has directed 22 open questions to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Cabinet, emphasizing that more..

Apr 27 (NW) SLC has decided to dedicate the Major Club Women’s 50-Over Tournament in memory of the late Gwen Herat, the founding president of the SL Women’s Cricket Association. This decision has been made in recognition of the outstanding service rendered by Mrs. Herat towards the founding of Women’s Cricket Association in the country. It was under her leadership that the SL Women’s Cricket Association was established in 1997, where she served as its founding president. more..

Apr 27 (AD) Locomotive engine drivers will strictly adhere to prescribed speed limits in future, Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Union has announced while warning that this may result in delays to rail services. President of the Union Jeeva Gunawardena said the decision was taken following the suspension of the staff of the Sagarika Express train, which recently derailed at the Wadduwa Railway Station. more..

Apr 27 (NW) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama today ordered that the female lawyer arrested in connection with allegations of aiding and abetting the murder of underworld figure Ganemulla Sanjeewa, be remanded until May 7. The suspect lawyer was produced before the court by the CID today. She is accused of providing a copy of the Penal Code to the accused Ishara Sewwandi to conceal and carry the pistol used in the killing. The lawyer was arrested by CID on Oct 28, 2025 more..

Apr 27 (EN) Sri Lanka and China have agreed on a raft of joint initiatives to boost the tourism industry under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the South Asian island nation’s Foreign Ministry said. Two countries reached consensus on the initiatives during an official visit by Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe to Sichuan Tourism College in China last week. The visit concluded with a cooperation symposium, where both sides reached preliminary consensus on several joint initiatives, more..

Apr 27 (AD) Investigations have been initiated into an incident involving several saffron-robed individuals arrested with narcotics at the BIA, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala stated. He emphasized that all individuals are equal before the law and that no distinction will be made between the powerful and the vulnerable in legal proceedings. He stated that the relevant facts regarding the incident have already been submitted to courts and that further legal action more..

Apr 27 (AD) A Supreme Court justice has today recused himself from hearing an appeal filed by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen against a Court of Appeal ruling in a case concerning alleged deforestation and resettlement activities in forest areas near the Wilpattu reserve. The appeal was listed before a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Sampath Abeykoon, and Gihan Kulatunga. At the commencement of proceedings, more..

Apr 27 (TM) Colombo Port City looks forward to increasing local footfall from the current permitted single visit allowed within the year, to allowing two visits for each arrival within the year, Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) Director of Finance Ruwan Karunaratne told the COPF at its last meeting. Addressing regulatory concerns, Karunaratne explained the reasoning behind the proposed changes to visit limits. more..

Apr 27 (NW) Digital Trust Alliance, together with a coalition of professional organisations in SL, has called on the government to strengthen cybersecurity governance and institutional resilience across the public sector following recent incidents involving govt financial systems. Addressing Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in a letter dated April 27, Alliance noted that investigations are underway into the diversion of USD 2.5 million after a breach of Finance Ministry systems. more..

Apr 27 (CT) SL Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) has condemned an alleged incident involving Presidential Media Division, claiming that two journalists from the State-owned Sunday Observer newspaper were intimidated while covering the Ehipassiko Peace Walk. In a letter addressed to Prez Dissanayake last week, SLWJA alleged that Presidential Media Division adviser Chandana Sooriyabandara had intimidated the journalists, including personnel from more..

Apr 27 (DM) SL’s tourism sector recorded a massive resurgence in investor confidence in 2025, with realised investments reaching their highest level since 2019. Driven by a record-breaking influx of tourists, the sector saw approved investment projects surge to USD 196.18 million, representing a nearly fourfold increase from the US$ 41.72 million recorded in the previous year. A deeper analysis of the investment data reveals more..

Apr 27 (CT) Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha, inspected the Kankesanthurai Cement Factory (KKS Cement) yesterday (25) with a view to reviving the factory operations, which have been inactive since the 26-year civil war. This was consequent to a site visit to the Factory in March last year by Minister Sunil Handunnetti, Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma, and Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar. Deputy Minister Dr Jayantha stated that steps would be taken to transform more..

Apr 27 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has invited the UNP to join the SJB May Day rally, calling for unity in protecting workers’ rights and advancing national prosperity. In a special statement for International Workers’ Day, Premadasa said the SJB seeks to take the foremost step toward safeguarding the rights of working people while steering the country forward through social democracy and a social market economy. He emphasized the need to move away from more..

Apr 27 (AD) Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna, who was arrested by the Ilavalai Police this morning, has been remanded. MP Archchuna has been remanded until April 29 by the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court. MP was arrested in connection with allegations of criminal intimidation involving the brandishing of a firearm, as well as criminal trespass. On April 25, in the Periyavilan area of Jaffna, MP Archchuna allegedly threatened a woman while brandishing a firearm. more..

Apr 27 (AD) Donations received for the Rebuilding SL Fund are securely held in the Treasury, according to the Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha. He made this statement while providing a special clarification regarding concerns that have arisen by various factions about the fund. As of April 24, a total of Rs. 9,583 million has been received for the Rebuilding SL Fund. Minister also stated that Sri Lankans living abroad from 49 countries, as well as foreign nationals, have contributed to donations. more..

Apr 27 (FT) Vehicle imports slowed sharply in early 2026, with the sector’s contribution to growth and fiscal revenues beginning to taper even as March registrations rose on existing inventory. JB Securities CEO Murtaza Jafferjee said monthly vehicle imports have shown a clear slowdown this year, particularly in personal vehicles, with import values declining from a peak of $ 240.9 mil in Dec 2025 to $ 148.4 mil in February. more..

Apr 27 (CT) Nearly 1,900 Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) beneficiaries who exited the CEB under the Ministry of Energy’s restructuring programme say they will launch a protest campaign, VRS – Api Wenuwen Api, on or after 27 April if the promised payments are not released. Group claims that each approved retiree is entitled to a govt-stipulated payment of Rs 5 million, which has remained pending despite repeated assurances. They allege that the Cabinet approval more..

Apr 27 (NW) RDA has strongly denied allegations that more than Rs. 380 million was mistakenly paid twice to contractors, describing the claims as false, misleading, and completely baseless. In an official statement, RDA said no such double payment had been made from its accounts and confirmed that no financial loss had occurred to the institution. The authority further stated that it had no involvement in initiating or processing the transactions referred to in the allegations. more..

Apr 27 (DM) SLC President Shammi Silva is expected to step down from his position on Wednesday, amid mounting pressure and ongoing discussions at the highest levels of govt, according to informed sources. However, it remains unclear whether the SLC Executive Committee will also step down alongside him. Sources indicate that Silva’s decision follows a request made by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. more..

Apr 27 (DM) The CID has intensified its probe into the theft of US 2.5 million from the computer systems of the Department of External Resources, which operates under the Ministry of Finance. As part of the ongoing investigation, the CID recorded formal statements from seven officials. Police said these individuals represent both the Department of External Resources and the State Debt Management Office of the General Treasury. To assist with digital evidence gathering, more..

Apr 27 (NW) A special traffic plan will be implemented in Colombo tomorrow in connection with the Walk for Peace programme. According to the Police, the programme is scheduled to commence at 4 pm at Independence Square in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. As such, vehicular movement will be restricted on several key roads from 11 am onwards, subject to prevailing conditions. The affected roads include Baseline Road more..

Apr 27 (FT) According to Kpler, a global business intelligence company, seaborne crude and condensate exports were down 6.9 million bpd in March compared to the previous month, and are down another 1.8 million bpd through 20 April. This leads to the conclusion that loadings are likely to be down 8.8 million bpd from prewar levels. If no miracles occur in the remaining days of April, then crude and condensate exports will be about the same as the lows last seen during more..

Apr 27 (FT) It has been fashionable for notable figures and political leaders to arouse positive sentiments among people deeply entrenched in crises, urging them not to lose faith but to use crises as opportunities to make a new start as a nation. The 2nd Century CE Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, put this nicely into a workable guide by advising that the impediment to action advances action; what stands in the way becomes the way. In a speech in 1959, US Prez John F. Kennedy more..

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..