Apr 10 (Island) As SL continues to recover from the recent cyclone and widespread flooding, a meaningful example of corporate purpose in action has taken shape through the Back to School Project 2026. Delivered in partnership with the Rotary Club of Colombo Port City, the initiative was funded by The Sixty Three Foundation via Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., and supported on the ground by Fairfirst Insurance, which coordinated implementation on behalf of its parent more..

Apr 10 (ST) A shortage of Keeri Samba and complaints of prices exceeding Rs 350 a kg have emerged ahead of the biggest cultural festival this month. As a solution to the shortage of Samba and Keeri Samba, Food Policy and Security Committee has focused on importing alternative rice varieties. Since Keeri Samba is cultivated only in SL, it is not possible to import it. Cabinet approval was recently granted to more..

Apr 10 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has seen a sharp slowdown in early April as escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupted global air travel, although overall arrivals for the year remain marginally positive. Tourist arrivals fell 22% year-on-year (YoY) to 39,627 in the first eight days of April, down from 50,542 in the same period last year. Average daily arrivals also dropped to 4,953, compared to 6,318 a year earlier, highlighting the scale of the disruption to inbound travel. more..

Apr 10 (DN) Governor of the CB Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe on Wednesday informed the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) that an initial investigation into the fraud that has taken place at the National Development in this regard is currently underway. He further assured that the Central Bank will report back to the Committee at the earliest possible opportunity once the necessary information has been gathered. Dr. Weerasinghe said so when the Committee which met on Wednesday more..

Apr 10 (FT) Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Ministry is set to award the largest lottery prize in SL’s history today, with a jackpot of Rs. 629.8 million under the Jayamalle Kapruka Lottery. The winning prize was drawn on 19 Feb 2026, marking a record pay-out for the country’s lottery sector. The official cheque presentation is scheduled to take place at the Development Lottery Board auditorium under the patronage of Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe. more..

Apr 10 (ST) SriLankan Airlines is currently navigating a pivotal era of restructuring and growth amidst a leadership crisis. Following the resignation of Chairman Sarath Ganegoda on March 31, the company is now under the interim guidance of a Treasury official. Mr. Ganegoda and another director Rohan Goonetilleke stepped down from the board without any reasons attributed to the move. Both were appointed after NPP’s Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected Prez in late 2024. more..

Apr 10 (FT) The CoPF has raised concerns over what it described as, significant lapses in corporate governance, at National Development Bank (NDB), alongside supervisory gaps within the Central Bank of (CBSL) and delays in the disclosure of material information in relation to the alleged Rs. 13.2 billion fraud. Committee said such shortcomings were unacceptable and directed that immediate corrective measures more..

Apr 10 (Island) Coal-fired power generation remains a central component of SL’s energy mix, with the Lakvijaya (Norochcholai) Power Plant contributing a substantial share of national electricity production. Recent concerns regarding the importation and use of low-quality coal have raised critical questions about environmental emissions and associated public health risks. This article synthesizes global epidemiological evidence on coal-related pollution and evaluates its relevance to the SL context, more..

Apr 10 (SO) After six decades of neglect, the Pettah Central Bus Terminal is set to reopen on April 8 with state-of-the-art facilities, ending years of inconvenience for the 75,000 passengers who use the hub daily. Opened in 1964 on a three-acre site, the terminal had long suffered from leaking roofs, muddy access roads, and poorly maintained sanitation systems. Commuters boarding nearly 2,000 buses daily endured unsafe and unsanitary conditions—until now. more..

Apr 10 (DN) The impasse over the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil flows, has triggered a debate over our over-reliance on fossil fuels. We consume around 100 million barrels of oil and gas per day for transport, power generation, cooking and many other tasks. The world will indeed grind to a halt – literally – if the oil runs out tomorrow. As the Hormuz impasse led to a rapid price increase of all petrochemical products, Govts & consumers are scrambling to answer more..

Apr 10 (Island) A motion of no confidence against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody is scheduled to be taken up in Parliament, today. JVP-NPP govt, which came to power promising to eliminate bribery and corruption and cleanse Parliament, finds itself in an unenviable position. It assured the public that its members would be above suspicion, but it is now in the dock over a corrupt deal. It has chosen to defend Minister Jayakody indicted of corruption & allegedly involved in a corrupt coal procurement deal. more..

Apr 10 (TM) For SL’s small-scale exporters and local manufacturers, long regarded as the backbone of the economy, 2026 was expected to mark a period of recovery and relative stability following years of economic strain. Instead, the sector now finds itself navigating a renewed wave of uncertainty following the Middle Eastern war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered an energy crisis, with little time to recover more..

Apr 10 (ST) Jawatta Road is a familiar road to many who used to live or work or travel in the heart of Colombo. About 2 km long Jawatta Road connects Bauddhaloka Mawatha in Colombo 7 and Thimbirigasyaya Road in Colombo 5. Halfway along Jawatta Road, you arrive at a junction that tells an interesting story. On one side of the road stands Lanka Salusala, – a govt-owned business. Directly opposite, you find a private enterprise – the sales outlet of CIC Holdings. more..

Apr 10 (DM) It is said that truth is the first casualty of war. But when men lacking integrity lead the world, truth becomes a casualty even in peace. Deception shrouds the 14‑day truce announced early Wednesday, just hours before the deadline US President Donald Trump imposed with a genocidal warning: “A whole civilisation will die tonight” unless Iran agrees to a deal to end the war and lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Having been deceived twice, Iran does not trust more..

Apr 10 (CT) Four months after Cyclone Ditwah tore through SL’s central highlands, the visible signs of destruction are gradually fading. Roads have been cleared, schools have resumed, and estate work has cautiously restarted. Yet, beneath this appearance of recovery, a far more troubling reality persists. In the quiet, mist-covered plantations, a cry continues to echo—not for those who perished, but for those who survived. more..

Apr 10 (CT) In view of the ongoing economic crisis, compounded by external shocks arising from the Middle East conflict, the govt headed by Prez has introduced a comprehensive Rs. 100 billion relief package aimed at cushioning the impact on households, producers, and key economic sectors. This three-month emergency spending plan represents a significant and targeted policy intervention designed to balance urgent social protection needs with the imperatives more..

Apr 10 (DM) Finally, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake himself admitted that inferior quality coal had been supplied for power generation. Simultaneously, Auditor General reports that the procurement process is scarred with some grey areas. Come what may, it has once again cast a spotlight on the vulnerabilities within SL’s energy sector. While the Prez clarified that the tender procedure had not been violated, the admission that coal of substandard quality had reached more..

Apr 9 (DM) Education Ministry has issued a directive urging schools to exercise financial prudence when organizing festivals and other celebrations, following concerns over excessive spending that may place an additional burden on parents. Ministry said that despite previous instructions, some schools continue to spend heavily on such events. It emphasized that all programs should be conducted in a cost-effective manner, minimizing unnecessary expenses while maintaining the quality of activities. more..

Apr 9 (DM) The govt officially commenced the modernization of the Colombo Fort Railway Station today. The project's inauguration was presided over by PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the station premises. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development's Project Management Unit, the Railway Efficiency Improvement Project is being implemented with the Sri Lanka Railways Department as the employer. Given the station's historical significance, more..

Apr 9 (AD) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala has claimed that ongoing investigations have uncovered that the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks were not an isolated incident, but a result of a conspiracy that had been in motion since 2017. Delivering a statement in Parliament today, the Minister revealed that the Easter attacks were the result of a series of coordinated and systematically executed events carried out over several more..

Apr 9 (AD) The National New Rice Festival, a traditional annual ceremony in which newly harvested rice from the Maha season is offered to the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, was held this morning under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in the presence of the historic Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura. On the guidance of the Chief Prelate of the Atamasthana, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Nayaka Thera, the 59th National New Rice Festival was more..

Apr 9 (AD) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has informed the Colombo District Court that it intends to file objections to a petition submitted by cricketer Nuwan Thushara over the non-issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). The petition requests an interim order requiring SLC to issue a No Objection Certificate enabling him to participate in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) and other international league tournaments. more..

Apr 9 (Island) SL’s power sector is bracing for a steep electricity tariff hike, with senior officials confirming that a revised proposal seeks an additional 53% increase, just weeks after the last revision took effect on 1 April. The move follows a deepening cost crisis, triggered by substandard coal imports and ongoing fossil fuel supply constraints, which, officials say, have already imposed a burden exceeding Rs. 20 bil for April–June period. more..

Apr 9 (Island) SJB leader Sajith Premadasa said the govt had admitted that substandard coal had been imported. Speaking in Parliament in response to a statement made by Prez Dissanayake on Tuesday, SJB leader alleged that the low electricity generation, recorded at the country’s main coal-fired power plant, was evidence of the problem. He said the previous day’s power output had fallen to an unprecedented level, claiming it was the first time such a situation had arisen, under any govt. more..

Apr 9 (DM) A large stock of imported foreign liquor worth over Rs.20 million, kept ready for distribution during the Avurudu season, was seized by the Department of Excise from a location in Wellawatta this week. Officials of the Excise Special Intelligence Unit, acting on information, raided the residence of a businessman in Wellawatta and found the stock of liquor concealed in a storeroom. Authorities found about 400 one-litre bottles of liquor from over 50 foreign brands, more..

Apr 9 (FT) The Court of Appeal on 30 March 2026 rejected a motion filed by Petitioner Sirimalee Liyanagama in an ongoing writ application challenging the Pentara condominium project. The matter was taken up to consider a motion filed by the petitioner after the case had already been fixed for order. Along with the motion, the petitioner had presented a news article referring to an alleged internal report from Urban Development Authority (UDA) concerning Pentara project. more..

Apr 9 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has renewed calls for independent and transparent investigations into the Easter Sunday bombings, stressing that seven years on, the masterminds remain unidentified despite repeated promises by successive govts. Premadasa said political mudslinging and revenge must be avoided, and that justice can only be delivered if all past inquiry reports are made public and perpetrators are identified through accountable mechanisms. more..

Apr 9 (DM) FSP has raised serious allegations over the awarding of two coal tenders, claiming that both long-term and emergency contracts are illegal and calling for legal intervention. Speaking at a media briefing today, FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said the long-term tender for 25 coal shipments awarded to Trident Kempfer and the emergency spot tender for 5 shipments granted to Taranjot Resources more..

Apr 9 (AD) The motion to approve the extension of the State of Public Emergency under the Public Security Ordinance was passed in Parliament toda by a majority of 110 votes. A total of 137 votes were cast in favor, while 27 votes were cast against the motion. Members of the SJB, ITAK, NDF & SLPP, along with Jaffna District Independent MP Ramanathan Archchuna, voted against the motion. The vote was held after ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stated that a division more..

Apr 9 (NW) Ministry of Plantation and Rural Infrastructure reports that SL’s new QR system for subsidized tea fertilizer has achieved remarkable progress within just six months since its launch on October 1. Compared to the 2024/2025 year, when only 84,472 farmers received 13,015.5 metric tons of fertilizer, the QR system has delivered fertilizer to more than double that number of farmers in half the time, a 122.3% increase in beneficiaries and a 62.2% rise in fertilizer distribution. more..

Apr 9 (FT) Motorists and vehicle importers are facing mounting delays in vehicle registrations amid operational disruptions at the Dept of Motor Traffic (DMT), with industry stakeholders warning of growing inefficiencies despite strong demand following the reopening of imports. Vehicle Importers Association of Lanka (VIAL) said registration books, though already printed in many cases, remain pending at the RMV, more..

Apr 9 (AM) Prices of cleaning products have been increased by 25% with effect from midnight on 8 April, according to the Domestic Entrepreneurs Empowerment Organisation. Price revision applies to a wide range of cleaning products and liquids. Accordingly, the price of washing powder has been increased by Rs. 75 per kg, while dishwashing liquid has been raised by Rs. 105. Toilet cleaning liquid prices have increased by Rs. 115, and handwash liquid by Rs. 120. more..