Apr 22 (AD) A total of 50 foreign nationals who had entered Sri Lanka on business visas and continued to remain illegally after their visas expired have been arrested this afternoon (21) by a group of officers from the Dept of Immigration and Emigration. Among those arrested are 47 Chinese nationals, two Malaysian nationals and an Indian national. The suspects were apprehended while staying at a house in Negombo, following intelligence received by the Immigration Dept’s intelligence unit. more..

Apr 22 (DN) Bimandee Bandara, the National number one ranked women’s paddler will lead the SL 5-member women’s team for the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championship finals which will be held from April 28 to May 10 in London. Championship will feature 64 men’s and 64 women’s teams competing across 13 days at two iconic London venues. SL women’s team took part at the ITTF –ATTU Asian TT Championship in India last year to get qualification for this world team more..

Apr 22 (ST) Increasing numbers of seniors, more widows, and an improved literacy rate are among the highlights from the Census of Population and Housing in 2024. DCS released the final report on the Census of Population and Housing 2024 last week. The report covers population distribution and growth, identifying people with difficulties, sex and age distributions, ethnic diversity, and birth and mortality rates as well as more..

Apr 22 (DM) WEAIR, a new entrant into Sri Lanka’s aviation sector, is set to commence operations in May 2026, aiming to strengthen the country’s air freight capacity and enhance regional connectivity. Backed by Luxembourg-based IOTC Investments and led by Sri Lankan-born Group CEO Thinesh Ganeshakumaran, WEAIR is positioned as a next-generation cargo airline designed to address growing demand across key trade corridors, the entity said in a statement. more..

Apr 22 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tea production fell sharply in March, hit by prolonged dry and hot weather conditions. Output declined to 20.8 million kilograms (Mn/Kgs), down from 24.4 Mn/Kgs registered in March last year, a drop of 3.5 Mn/Kgs or 14.5% year-on-year (YoY). While production in 2024 was lower at 19.6 Mn/Kgs, the latest figure still ranks among the weakest on record, exceeded only by the unusually low 13.5 Mn/Kgs seen during the COVID-19 lockdown period. more..

Apr 22 (FT) Fitch Ratings has said that SL’s recovery remains fragile despite improved macroeconomic fundamentals, with the Middle East energy shock now testing the gains achieved through stabilisation and reforms. In its latest SL update on credit development, Fitch said growth is expected to slow, inflation to rise and the fiscal deficit to widen in 2026, even as the economy builds on stronger fundamentals following the 2022 crisis. more..

Apr 22 (Island) Today (22), as the world marks Earth Day, the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) warned that SL’s fragile economic recovery could face serious setbacks if environmental degradation and climate vulnerabilities are not urgently addressed—framing sustainability as a core economic priority rather than a peripheral concern. CEJ stressed that the country’s exposure to climate shocks—ranging from floods and droughts to coastal erosion—poses direct and escalating risks more..

Apr 22 (FT) At a time when South Asia is rethinking labour markets and social protection, PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday called for a fundamental rethinking of how economies define productivity, urging policymakers to recognise unpaid care work as a core pillar of economic systems. Delivering the keynote at the inaugural session of the three-day South-4-Care Learning Hub in Colombo, organised with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), World Bank Group and more..

Apr 22 (FT) SL has achieved a landmark milestone in its public debt management reform journey, with the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) being awarded Debt Management Office of the Year (Asia-Pacific) at the Commonwealth Debt Management Award Ceremony held at Marlborough House, London, on 26 March, in parallel with the Commonwealth Debt Management Forum held from 23–27 March. This prestigious international recognition, achieved within just 15 months of more..

Apr 22 (AD) The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the further examination of evidence on May 12 in the case filed by the CID against former State Minister Diana Gamage. The case has been filed on charges of providing false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to obtain a passport and of residing in Sri Lanka without a valid visa. The case was taken up today (21) before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama, said Ada Derana reporter. more..

Apr 22 (FT) The regulator and insurance industry have unveiled a national roadmap aimed at doubling insurance penetration by 2030 and tripling it by 2035, including proposals to introduce mandatory home insurance and Govt-supported schemes to widen coverage. The Insurance Regulatory Commission of SL (IRCSL), in partnership with the Insurance Association of SL (IASL), yesterday launched the Insurance more..

Apr 22 (ST) When Udaya Gammanpila announced the release of his book, In Search of a Mastermind, it was thought that he would make a big revelation. However the whole event proved to be an anti climax. It turned out to be more a strategy of deflection rather than a search for justice Its timing and content reveal a different motive. By narrowing the scope of the tragedy to a settled narrative and targeting the investigators currently tasked with reopening the case, more..

Apr 22 (Island) Opposition is in overdrive, attacking JVP-NPP govt, left, right and centre, over the coal procurement scam, which has resulted in a huge increase in the cost of power generation and electricity tariffs, besides bleeding the Treasury. The govt has said the additional cost of burning diesel to produce electricity to meet the Norochcholai generation shortfall will not be passed on to the public, but the funds it is spending on diesel liberally for power generation belong to the public, more..

Apr 22 (TM) The bells of St. Anthony’s Shrine and St. Sebastian’s Church toll not just in memory of the fallen, but as a reminder of a State that has failed its most fundamental duty. Seven years have vanished since the Easter Sunday carnage of 2019, yet the quest for the Grand Conspiracy remains trapped in a labyrinth of commissions, classified files, and convenient postponements. For the survivors and the families of the 269 victims, the passage of time has not brought healing. more..

Apr 22 (Island) The resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody comes after several weeks of controversy over his ministerial role. The controversy sharpened when the minister was indicted by the CIABOC for a transaction he was involved in ten years ago as a govt official in the Fertiliser Corporation. The other issue was the govt’s purchase of substandard coal from a new supplier. Minister Jayakody’s resignation followed the appointment of a Special PCoI to investigate more..

Apr 22 (TM) A potential El Niño event is raising fresh concerns over SL’s food security, with meteorologists warning of a heightened risk of below-average rainfall during the critical southwest monsoon months. Meteorological projections indicate a significant warming of the Pacific Ocean, pointing to a roughly 60% probability of El Niño conditions developing by mid-year. For an economy still recovering from 2025 cyclone more..

Apr 22 (GV) On April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday, coordinated suicide bombings tore through churches and luxury hotels across SL, killing at least 260 people and injuring hundreds more. The attacks devastated families, traumatised communities and left one of the darkest scars in the country’s recent history. Seven years on, the central demand of victims and survivors remains the same: to be given the full truth and real accountability. There has been progress but it has been too slow and partial. more..

Apr 22 (DM) All the Living Beings prove that they are living by being in action and it proves that the actions are prompted by initiation, which in turn prove that they need kinds of prodding that may be very mild at the lowest while such can be very forceful. There can be life which can be limited to reflexive action or automatic and such life is simply mechanical. The difference is in the presence of mindfulness. Mind is the centre where thinking starts and that is where everything starts. more..

Apr 22 (CT) Mano Ganesan, Leader of the TPA, is known for his vocal engagement in Parliament, consistently advocating for minority rights for over a decade. Speaking to Ceylon Today, he discusses the current Govt and reflects on the role minority parties have played in successive govts over the years. Q: Following your most recent meeting with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, what tangible outcomes can you point to more..

Apr 22 (DM) In SL today, getting onto a public bus is no longer a simple or routine part of life. For many, it has quietly become something they do with hesitation. There is always that small, unspoken fear in the back of the mind. Will I reach home safely? For decades, we have spoken about reforming our public transport system. Every government has, at some point, acknowledged the problems and promised change. Yet, despite these repeated assurances, the condition of our bus service more..

Apr 22 (DM) Sri Lanka is spending hundreds of millions of rupees on elephant management strategies that scientists, affected communities, but Sri Lanka’s own National Action Plan (NAP), as all acknowledge, is making the problem worse. Two approaches dominate: long-distance drives that push herds into protected areas (PAs) and translocation of problem males into National Parks and elephant holding grounds (EHGs). Both intensify the conflict they are meant to resolve. more..

Apr 21 (AD) The govt has moved to expedite compensation payments to farmers affected by crop losses resulting from the salinity barrier constructed across the Nilwala River in Matara. The barrier, implemented in 2019 by the NWSDB as a special project to prevent saltwater intrusion into the district’s drinking water sources, has since been linked to recurring damage to paddy cultivation due to its irregular construction. Cultivated lands in several areas, including Dikwella, Kamburupitiya, Kekanadura, Madiha, Malimbada, more..

Apr 21 (DM) SL Police have denied claims circulating on social media that the STF is set to receive motorcycles from Avant Garde. In a statement, Police said reports alleging that the Avant Garde Company would provide 50 motorcycles with 450cc engine capacity free of charge, along with 15 years of maintenance support, are completely false and baseless. The Police further clarified that no such agreement or arrangement exists between the STF and the company. more..

Apr 21 (NW) Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Mass Media against Hiru TV, alleging the broadcaster published a false and misleading report regarding his assets declaration. According to the complaint, the issue relates to a news report aired by Hiru TV based on the minister’s voluntarily submitted declaration of assets and liabilities for 2024/25 to the CIABOC. more..

Apr 21 (NW) A new low‑floor bus service prioritizing persons with disabilities and special needs was launched today under the Clean Sri Lanka National Programme, led by Minister of Transport Bimal Ratnayake. Ten specially designed buses were introduced to the fleet, enabling wheelchair users, visually impaired passengers, and expectant mothers to board with ease. Each bus is equipped with 30 passenger seats, including designated seating for wheelchair users. more..

Apr 21 (DM) Former MP Premalal Jayasekara, known as Choka Malli, has been arrested by the Nuwara Eliya Police. Arrest follows an incident where the former MP had allegedly threatened a group of individuals during a heated dispute. Jayasekara is accused of brandishing a firearm and making death threats to intimidate those involved in the altercation. Investigations revealed that the firearm used during the incident was being held illegally, as its license had already expired. more..

Apr 21 (NW) The Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, says investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks are making progress under the current govt. Addressing the special mass held this morning to mark seven years since the attacks, the Archbishop noted that certain factions are attempting to obstruct the investigations. He expressed regret over the Attorney General and his Department more..

Apr 21 (DN) DIG in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety Range, W. P.J. Senadheera said that there has been a sharp increase in road accidents and the number of deaths from accidents during the New Year season – April 10 to 19 – in comparison with the previous year. Addressing a press conference, DIG Senadheera said that there was an increase of 18 fatal road accidents with an increase of 20 deaths from accidents during the period stated in 2026 compared to last year. more..

Apr 21 (DM) Against the backdrop of fluctuating global fuel prices, Sri Lanka has decided to continue with the QR code system for the rationalisation of fuel distribution indefinitely, an official said. In the wake of the escalation of the Middle East conflict, the SL govt reintroduced the QR code system as a fuel-saving measure. Currently, the volatile situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage responsible for nearly 20% of global fuel transportation, more..

Apr 21 (DM) Ship-tracking data indicates that a crude oil tanker intercepted by the US military in the Indian Ocean made a sharp change of course in the early hours of this morning and is now broadcasting its position around 700km (430 miles) south-east of SL. According to data from MarineTraffic, the crude oil tanker Tifani, which has a carrying capacity of nearly 300,000 tonnes, is currently loaded with cargo. The vessel has been sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control more..

Apr 21 (AD) The overall rate of inflation, as measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), has increased to 2.4% in March 2026, compared to 1.6% in Feb 2026. Meanwhile, food inflation has decreased to 0.7% in March compared to 1.1% in February while the Year-on-Year inflation of the non-food group increased to 3.8% in March from 1.9% in February. On a Year-on-Year, the contribution of food commodities to inflation was 0.32% in Mar 2026 compared to Mar 2025. more..