Apr 13 (AD) A group of employees who opted for voluntary retirement following the restructuring of the CEB claim that they have not yet received the compensation pledged to them. According to the retirees’ association, although the govt assured payment of compensation after the CEB’s dissolution on March 9, the payments have still not been made. Group stated that the delay has resulted in a violation of their fundamental human rights, prompting them to submit a detailed letter to more..

Apr 13 (CT) Many merchants are of the view that this situation must improve soon, allowing them to conduct their businesses without hindrance. According to the vegetable sellers at the Peliyagoda Central vegetable market, sales have significantly dropped following the fuel crisis, which has had a severe impact on their daily income. M. Mahesh, a wholesale vegetable trader at Manning Market in Peliyagoda, stated that vegetable prices have dropped significantly in the recent past. more..

Apr 13 (TM) There are no immediate plans to restrict vehicle imports despite pressure on foreign exchange reserves and global energy market volatility, Ministry of Finance said. Treasury maintained that anticipated inflows, including the next IMF tranche, alongside existing market controls, would be sufficient to sustain stability without resorting to import curbs. Treasury Deputy Secretary Ananda Seneviratne more..

Apr 13 (ST) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who returned to the country on Thursday after undergoing cardiac surgery in Singapore, had several visitors while he was recuperating in hospital. Among them was George Yeo, a former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore who paid a visit to check on his health and wish him a speedy recovery. Former MP and UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena also visited Mr Wickremesinghe in Singapore to wish his leader on his birthday more..

Apr 13 (CI) Matheesha Pathirana has cleared the mandatory Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) fitness test and has been given the no-objection certificate to travel to India and link up with his team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at IPL 2026. Pathirana has recovered sufficiently from his injury. He will travel to India and is likely to join KKR there on April 17, the day of their next game, against Gujarat Titans, but only be available for selection from the subsequent game, on April 19 at home against more..

Apr 13 (SO) In homes across SL, the familiar rhythms of Avurudu are beginning to unfold — kitchens fill with the aroma of sweetmeats, auspicious times are carefully noted and families prepare to gather as they have for generations. For many SL families, Avurudu is not something to be scaled down but it is something to be protected. Thus, even as budgets tighten and prices rise, the instinct to gather cook and celebrate more..

Apr 13 (CT) SL’s 4x400m relay team recorded their second fastest time ever in Chandigarh, India, securing qualification for the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Botswana. However, Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) now faces a dilemma: whether to send the team to Botswana or allow athletes to concentrate on medal ambitions at the Asian Games and Asian Junior Championships. Several quartermilers have voiced concerns that competing in Botswana on 2–3 May would disrupt more..

Apr 13 (DM) The month of Bak, falling in April, is one of the most spiritually luminous periods in SL’s calendar, a time when religion, tradition, and seasonal renewal converge into something rare and precious: an invitation to pause, to reflect, and to make peace. In a world increasingly defined by noise and division, such a moment is not merely welcome; it is urgently necessary. For peace is not a single event. It is a living thing, and it must be tended at every level of human life, more..

Apr 13 (NW) Sri Lanka Women’s cricket captain Chamari Athapaththu has been appointed to the Player Advisory Board of the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), marking a significant milestone for Sri Lankan cricket. The WCA announced a number of updates to its Player Advisory Board, with Athapaththu joining a group of leading international cricketers including Pat Cummins, Jason Holder, Heather Knight, Aiden Markram, Scott Edwards and Laura Wolvaardt. more..

Apr 13 (TM) SL’s Data Protection Authority (DPA) Secretariat is set to commence operations by next month, with its initial focus on educating institutions about their data protection obligations, according to the Deputy Minister of Digital Economy. Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne stated that the DPA Secretariat was undergoing capacity building at present, adding that a Director General (DG) had already been appointed a few weeks ago and approximately 50 staff members recruited. more..

Apr 13 (TM) It was the morning of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year – Avurudu – and I was standing in the narrow lane beside my grandmother’s house in a Colombo neighbourhood that no longer quite resembles itself. In the compound of this house stood a large jackfruit tree under which, in earlier times, giant fruits would fall into the yards of three neighbouring houses. That tree had long since disappeared, but more..

Apr 13 (CT) Select Committee, to look into and report to Parliament on the matter of selecting the electoral system under which the Provincial Council Elections should be held, is seeking information from the AG’s Dept and the Elections Secretariat. Select Committee met for the second time this week in the Parliament Complex under the chairmanship of Minister Vijitha Herath. Expressing their views, Elections Secretariat Officials pointed out that the issue of holding PC Elections more..

Apr 13 (FT) The recent, high-profile fraud unearthed at National Development Bank (NDB) sends a chill far beyond the balance sheets of a single institution. It is not merely a story of financial misconduct; it is a profound failure across every layer of institutional oversight of internal, external, and regulatory watchdogs. This incident has exposed a conceivable critical fault lines within SL’s financial system, casting serious doubts on the integrity, control mechanisms, and supervisory rigour that more..

Apr 13 (Island) This year, Easter Sunday on April 5 was a deeply meaningful and reflective day for me. As I contemplated the solemn stillness of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the hope of His resurrection, my thoughts travelled far beyond the Catholic churches and quiet streets of Poland—back to the rice fields, dusty roads, and restless dreams of my childhood in the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa. One memory, in particular, remains vivid. It was exactly 55 yrs ago—Apr 5, 1971. more..

Apr 13 (ST) With less than two weeks to go before the 7th anniversary of the Easter Sunday terrorist attack, Parliament held yet another adjournment debate on one of the country’s darkest chapters in recent history. While there was nothing to distinguish this debate from multiple others that had been held on the same subject since 2019, it was a stark reminder that even after almost seven years, victims’ families were yet to find closure or receive justice. Much of the debate saw more..

Apr 13 (SO) The Sinhala and Tamil New Year has long been celebrated as a time of renewal and reunion. How has it changed over time, and what remains grounded? How far does one’s financial capacity matter in celebrating Avurudu in a meaningful way? Sunday Observer spoke to Colombo Uni Sinhala Department Prof. Sandagomi Coperahewa and Kelaniya Uni Mass Communication Dept Senior Lecturer Wijayananda more..

Apr 13 (ST) A newspaper had reported that the call of the Koha, the bird which emerges during the Avurudu season, would be heard less this year for different reasons. Kussi Amma Sera was, however, lucky to hear the call well and clearly just before the Avurudu and informed us. It was one of the few calls we will hear this year. As I prepared on Wednesday (a day earlier than the usual Thursday as Kussi Amma Sera and her friends were going to their respective villages on their seasonal trip back more..

Apr 13 (SO) Never forget, the Iran–Iraq war raged for eight brutal years from 1980 to 1988. Iran survived the Iraqi invasion. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, once courted by the West for strategic gain, was dragged from his hideout near Tikrit and executed after a deeply flawed tribunal. Today, United States Prez Donald Trump has toyed with another reckless scheme to de-stabilise Iran, a continuation of his decapitation project, even as Tehran struggles with fractures demanding more..

Apr 13 (CT) While energy remains central to global power and geopolitical control, in SL, it has increasingly become a source of economic strain and political instability. That reality has now come to a head, with a No-Confidence Motion against Power & Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, even as a widening coal procurement scandal exposes deep structural failures in the country’s energy sector. SL’s energy sector has once again been thrust more..

Apr 13 (TM) In recent times, Opposition political circles have been raising criticisms that the JVP, the leading party of the ruling NPP, intends to establish a one-party rule in SL. Among Tamil politicians, ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran has been at the forefront of voicing these concerns. These criticisms were initially sparked by comments made by JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva following his visit to China last June, where he discussed the advantages of China’s one-party system. more..

Apr 13 (CT) In recent weeks, SL’s coal procurement process has come under intense scrutiny, following revelations from audit findings, parliamentary disclosures, and political accusations. At the center of the controversy are allegations of irregular tender procedures, substandard coal imports, and financial losses running into billions of rupees. While the issue has quickly evolved into a political battleground, a careful examination of available evidence reveals a more layered more..

Apr 12 (ST) As the National New Year dawns, SL, which has undergone many difficult periods in recent years, is facing yet another challenging time. No doubt it will be a time that both the country’s govt and its people will be truly tested, as events at home and abroad threaten to push back hard-won economic gains. Foremost challenge facing the NPP govt, just like many others in the region and around the world, is the fuel crisis more..

Apr 12 (AD) Officials attached to the CID have sealed the office of the Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd. Earlier it was announced that a decision was taken to provide special police protection to the office of the Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd. The decision was taken following a complaint lodged by the Secretary to the President with the CID this morning (11), calling for an investigation into coal imports since 2009, police stated. The Secretary to the President lodged the complaint to the CID more..

Apr 12 (SO) The SL Transport Board (SLTB) and SL Railways have launched special services to meet the increasing demand of travellers during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. SLTB Chairman Sajeeva Kanakaratne said that the special bus service which commenced from April 9 will continue till April 21. Outbound services from Colombo and the surrounding suburbs to outstation destinations will operate till April 13, while return journeys to Colombo are scheduled from April 15 to 21. more..

Apr 12 (TM) The No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, linked to the substandard coal import controversy, was defeated by a majority of 104 votes on Friday (10). A total of 153 MPs voted against the motion, while 49 Opposition members voted in favour when the division was held on Friday evening following the debate. The motion was spearheaded by the Opposition, led by the SJB, and more..

Apr 12 (SO) There will be no shortage or price increase in rice and vegetables during the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said. Allaying growing public concerns over food supplies during the festive season, Minister Samarasinghe said there will be no increase in prices of essential items such as milk powder and wheat flour, as part of the steps taken by the Govt to ease the Cost-of-Living burden on consumers. more..

Apr 12 (DM) The All Ceylon Fireworks Manufacturers Association (ACFMA) says the firecracker industry is experiencing steady demand ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season, although supply has been affected by disruptions caused by the recent Ditwah cyclone. ACFMA Chairman Dinesh Fernando said a significant portion of firecracker stocks produced for the festive period had been damaged due to the cyclone, leading to pressure on overall supply. more..

Apr 12 (Island) CEB has directed owners of large-scale rooftop solar systems to temporarily disconnect their installations for a 10-day period beginning from Friday (10), citing growing concerns over grid stability amid low electricity demand and high solar generation. The directive applies to rooftop solar systems exceeding 300 kW capacity, which are required to remain switched off until April 20. The move coincides with the extended holiday season, during which more..

Apr 12 (ST) Tea smallholders have expressed concern that the govt continues to sideline their requirements and the latest offer of 25,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fertiliser at subsidised prices is largely insufficient to meet growers’ needs. Galle-Kalutara Tea Smallholders Association President Ushan Samarasinghe said that the recent subsdised fertiliser announced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is a mere 20 per cent of the total annual requirement. more..

Apr 12 (TM) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) is not considering an electricity tariff increase to offset losses stemming from the recent coal procurement crisis. A senior PUCSL official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the regulator would not entertain tariff revisions linked to the procurement failures. “If the coal is of low quality, the loss must be borne by the responsible parties, including the supplier. more..

Apr 12 (AD) Sri Lanka received USD 814.8 million in workers’ remittances in March 2026, according to the latest figures released by the CB. In March 2025, foreign remittances to the country were recorded at USD 693.3 million. Accordingly, remittances in March 2026 increased by USD 121.5 million compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the CB stated that remittances sent to the country by migrant workers from January to March 2026 amounted to USD 2.29 billion. more..

Apr 12 (NW) SL Police has introduced a dedicated WhatsApp number, 070-4755600, for the public to report incidents of reckless and dangerous driving. The move comes as increased use of social media has led to more road incidents being recorded and shared online. Authorities said members of the public have been submitting video footage of traffic violations, including speeding, unsafe overtaking and other hazardous driving behaviors. Police said such submissions have assisted in identifying more..