Apr 7 (FT) In a major step towards public sector digitalisation, the Cabinet of Ministers last week green lighted a Rs. 626 million project to establish a unified Digital Communication and Collaboration Platform for Govt employees. The initiative will be implemented this year as part of the country’s broader digital transformation agenda under the Digital Economy Plan approved by the Cabinet on 21 Oct 2025. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the platform is intended to create a secure, more..

Apr 7 (TM) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) revealed that 11,409 complaints related to corporal punishment had been reported to the Authority by 28 Feb this year. NCPA Director Shanika Malalgoda urged the public to promptly report any incidents of child abuse or corporal punishment. NCPA also noted that more than 10,000 complaints were recorded in 2025, with a total of 10,455 complaints received during the year. more..

Apr 7 (FT) Mintpay has launched its Corporate Gifting Solution, enabling organisations to issue digital vouchers that employees can redeem across more than 2,500 merchants islandwide, giving organisations a more flexible and relevant way to reward their teams. As companies rethink employee engagement, traditional gifts and single store vouchers are increasingly seen as restrictive. Mintpay’s solution allows organisations to offer rewards employees can use across a wide more..

Apr 7 (FT) Ritzbury, of CBL Foods International Ltd, has secured the SL National Quality Award (SLNQA) 2023 in the Manufacturing – Large Scale category, winning it for the second time. The achievement reflects Ritzbury’s continued commitment to world-class quality standards, strong governance, and the delivery of safe, reliable, and high-quality products, while contributing to SL’s industrial growth. The award was presented at the SLNQA ceremony organised by the SL Standards Institution, more..

Apr 7 (DN) Less than a week remains until the dawn of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year 2026. People are busier than ever, rushing to buy everything needed for the celebrations. This year, however, it is a tougher road than before, now that the cost of food, clothing, and other essentials has soared, driven by rising fuel and electricity prices. The ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East has added fuel to the fire. Our focus is elsewhere. It is drawn to the group that has long been overlooked over more..

Apr 7 (TM) As the month of April unfolds, the air in SL usually begins to carry the scent of coconut oil and the sound of the koha. It is a period defined by the spirit of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, a season where the concept of renewal is a vital psychological reset for the nation. However, this year, the sense of anticipation is being overshadowed by a far more pragmatic and painful reality. The announcement on Sunday midnight that once again the prices of domestic LP gas more..

Apr 7 (TM) From last November’s Cyclone Ditwah to the prevailing drought and the upcoming El Niño phenomenon, SL is increasingly facing climate extremes that leave it little space to manoeuvre until the next weather event hits, placing the economy and its people under significant strain. According to Uni of Colombo, Dept of Zoology and Environment Sciences Prof. Erandathie Lokupitiya, SL is among most climate-vulnerable nations more..

Apr 7 (ST) In a nation where an IGP was once held responsible for the grievous torture of a suspect (but nevertheless continued in office until the winds of political change forced him out), it is little surprise that this week, an ostensibly unassuming police spokesman was found by a majority opinion of the Supreme Court, to be personally liable for violating the right of an attorney-at-law to exercise his constitutional right to practice his profession. Facts of this case were a tad different from more..

Apr 7 (DM) Another Easter Sunday -- the 7th after that fateful Easter Sunday which fell on April 21, 2019, has passed two days ago. Ironically, people still debate many unanswered questions about that fateful day when over 270 innocent men, women and children were killed by a group of fanatical Muslim terrorists. The fact that investigations into this brutal crime have been dragging on for seven years without finding an answer to the question who did it, is an indictment of the political leaders more..

Apr 7 (SO) Christians all over the world are celebrating the springtime religious festival of Easter today. They consider it the most important celebration, even more solemn and central to their religion than Christmas which generally takes on a popular festive culture. At the heart of Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, a radical dogma of the faith on which Christianity stands or falls. more..

Apr 7 (GV) Sri Lanka stands at a fragile yet defining moment in its economic journey. Emerging from one of the most severe financial crises in its post-independence history, the country continues to navigate debt restructuring, fiscal consolidation and a slow, uneven recovery. While recent stabilisation measures have helped restore a degree of macroeconomic balance, the deeper structural weaknesses that contributed to the crisis remain largely unresolved. more..

Apr 7 (CT) Do recent DNA studies, particularly a groundbreaking 2025 whole-genome sequencing study published in Current Biology, indicate that the Sinhalese population in SL, has strong genetic ties to South Indian populations? If that be so, does it mean racially the Sinhalese and Tamils are of the same genetic affinity but they differ only by language? Yes of course! The Sinhalese historians in order to show themselves as separate from the Tamils of SL had suggested an exclusive more..

Apr 6 (EN) Many of Sri Lanka’s groceries were no longer selling liter boxes of fresh milk, amidst fears of a price increase. Supermarket shelves were empty of the larger packet of fresh milk over the weekend and into Monday. Only smaller packets and flavoured varieties were available. Fresh milk 1-litre packs of brands like Ambewela and Kotmale generally retail around 470–550 rupees. The state-owned Milco sells its Highland Full Cream Uht 900ml milk packet for 380 rupees. more..

Apr 6 (Island) Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council, in collaboration with the Urban Development Authority and the Road Development Authority, has launched a programme to beautify the hill capital ahead of the upcoming tourist season and the annual Vasantha Senakeliya (Spring Festival). Authorities have begun planting flower saplings and improving facilities at popular attractions, including Victoria Park and Gregory Lake, in preparation for the influx of visitors expected during the festive period. more..

Apr 6 (NW) A meeting between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the heads of banks and financial institutions was held at the Presidential Secretariat today, following the launch of the National QR Payment Promotion Initiative. Prez explained the responsibility entrusted to banks and financial institutions in ensuring the success of the National QR Payment Promotion Initiative, marking a new milestone in SL’s digital transformation. more..

Apr 6 (EN) The internal fraud at SL’s National Development Bank (NDB), which officially unfolded in early April 2026, represents one of the largest operational risk failures in the history of Lankan commercial banking. While the bank and the regulator have moved to stabilize the situation, the timeline of disclosures and the sheer scale of the loss have raised significant questions about oversight and transparency. Based on corporate disclosures and CB statements, more..

Apr 6 (DM) Shocking news has emerged from the Tamil TV industry. Popular actress Subashini Balasubramaniyam breathed her last today. Following a family conflict, the actress reportedly took her own life by hanging herself. She took this step just a few days before her birthday. Subashini committed suicide at her residence in Chennai. She was known for playing a pivotal role in the popular Tamil serial Kayal. Actress, who was of SL origin, had been residing in an apartment in more..

Apr 6 (TM) COPF has withheld approval for a key gazette notification aimed at regulating tax incentives under the Strategic Development Projects (SDP) Act, citing significant structural concerns. The decision had been taken during a high-level hearing on Tuesday (31), where COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva had described the proposed regulations as a terrible miscalculation that could hinder high-tech sector growth and more..

Apr 6 (CT) Sri Lanka lost a revenue of USD 51 million last year due to delays in preparing Electronic Navigation Charts for its Exclusive Economic Zone, said former Minister Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. He pointed out that though any ship entering any area in Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs) of the SL Exclusive Economic Zone should pay USD 25, Sri Lanka is yet to prepare such ENCs and that mapping the deep sea requires a Deep Water Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES), more..

Apr 6 (Island) In a significant recognition of global piritual leadership and community service, Canterbury Christ Church University has conferred its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honour Award upon the Most Venerable Dr Kirinde Assaji, one of SL’s most respected Buddhist leaders. The award ceremony took place at the University Chapel, within the Anselm Building, as part of an official visit by the Venerable Monk to the university. The recognition celebrates his decades-long contribution to more..

Apr 6 (NW) SL Railways has announced that train services on the Northern line, including the Kankesanthurai intercity train, Night Mail train, and the Yarl Devi train, will resume this week. Services from Jaffna to Kankesanthurai will restart, with the Jaffna Intercity train and Jaffna Night Mail train operating daily from April 9, while the popular Yal Devi train will resume daily operations from April 10. The dept has announced the resumption of services following the completion of repair works more..

Apr 6 (TM) The Tamil-Speaking Women Journalists Association recently celebrated International Women’s Day at Choccan Indian Restaurant, Wolfendhal Street, Colombo 13, bringing together women journalists and media professionals for an evening of recognition, solidarity, and inspiration. The event, led collectively by all members of the Association, highlighted the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of women in the field of journalism, while creating more..

Apr 6 (AD) GMOA has alleged that specialist medical posts have been removed from several hospitals across the country. Its President, Consultant Dr. Sanjeewa Thennakoon stated that political interference has also influenced the transfers of grade medical officers. He pointed out that while the national requirement for specialist doctors stands at 3,000, only around 2,100 are currently in service. more..

Apr 6 (AD) A special meeting was held today between Minister Sunil Handunneththi, and representatives of the IMF. The discussion focused on the contributions of the country’s industrial sector to economic stability and the overall wealth it generates. During the meeting, Minister Handunneththi briefed the visiting IMF delegation on the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the policy measures the govt has implemented to support them. more..

Apr 6 (NW) Six Sri Lankan fishermen who had been detained in Bangladesh since July 2025 have been released and safely repatriated to Sri Lanka. The fishermen, who were on board the SL fishing vessel IMUL-A-0138-PTM (SLFV Sudu Duwa-4), had been apprehended by Bangladesh authorities last year. The six fishermen arrived at BIA at 5:10 a.m. on April 2, 2026, on FitsAir flight 8D912. The release was facilitated by the High Commission of SL in Dhaka through diplomatic engagement, more..

Apr 6 (AD) Banking system bears a significant cost in providing cash transaction services through ATM machines, Governor of the CB Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has stated. He made this assertion during a special discussion held between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and heads of banks and financial institutions. Following the launch of the National QR Payment Promotion Initiative, a meeting between Prez and heads of banks more..

Apr 6 (NW) A new report by Freedom House has highlighted Sri Lanka as one of the countries that recorded improvements in political rights and civil liberties in 2025, even as global freedom declined for the 20th consecutive year. In its Freedom in the World 2026 report, Freedom House said Sri Lanka gained five points, citing progress following the 2024 presidential election and efforts by the new government to combat corruption and promote religious tolerance. more..

Apr 6 (NW) GMOA has suspended the ongoing doctors’ strike after the Health Minister agreed to hold a discussion on Thursday. The islandwide strike, which disrupted routine hospital services, was launched over concerns related to doctor transfers and post-intern appointments. Emergency services, however, continued during the trade union action. The GMOA said the decision to suspend the strike was taken following agreement from the Health Minister to hold discussions aimed at more..

Apr 6 (DM) While awarding Rs. 225,000 in compensation to a daily wage earner for unlawful arrest, detention and torture by three policemen attached to the Hanwella Police Station in 2023, Supreme Court held that the Constitution does not permit law enforcement authorities to treat individuals differently based on prejudice or social profiling, particularly on account of their poor economic status. The SC delivered this judgement in a Fundamental Rights application filed by more..

Apr 6 (DM) One of the seven persons who gang-raped and murdered schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya in Jaffna in 2013 is alleged to have attempted to sexually abuse a lady Doctor on duty at the prison in Pallekelle, Kandy where he is being held since conviction. Police said the prisoner J. Kokilan Kanna, who is under treatment at the prison hospital, had grabbed the Doctor in embrace and attempted to rape her. Police said following screams from the lady Doctor, prison officials rushed to more..

Apr 6 (NW) The National Development Bank (NDB) says the estimated loss from the recently reported fraud incident amounts to approximately Rs. 13.2 billion, while assuring that customer deposits remain unaffected and banking operations continue as normal. In a corporate disclosure issued on 6 April, the bank said investigations determined that the fraud was confined to a specific operational area and more..

Apr 6 (NW) Retired Major General Suresh Sallay, the former head of Sri Lanka’s State Intelligence Service, has filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal challenging his arrest and detention by the CID. The arrest was made under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in connection with ongoing investigations related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. The petition, submitted through his lawyers, names several senior officials as respondents. more..