Apr 8 (Island) SL’s renewable energy sector is poised for a significant investment surge as the Int'l Solar Alliance (ISA) moves to operationalise a comprehensive Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), positioning the island as a key emerging hub for solar deployment and green financing in South Asia. A high-level ISA delegation led by Director General Ashish Khanna is currently in Colombo (April 6–9), engaging with policymakers, multilateral lenders, and private sector stakeholders more..

Apr 8 (DM) Sri Lanka’s tourism sector successfully crossed the three-quarter million milestone during the first week of April, with cumulative arrivals for the year reaching 767,434 by 5 April. However, a closer look at the inflow indicates a noticeable deceleration in the immediate growth momentum, marking a contraction compared to the same period last year. During the first five days of April 2026, SL welcomed 26,800 tourists. more..

Apr 8 (TM) Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody firmly rejected claims of power cuts, insisting the Govt has not imposed any such measures despite the deepening energy crisis, and asserting that the daily disruptions experienced by the public are merely the result of routine electricity breakdowns. SJB MP Mujibur Rahman challenged the Govt’s position, demanding to know why the public has not been clearly informed if power cuts are, in fact, being carried out. more..

Apr 8 (FT) Malaysian Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Penang (MAICCI) President S. Parthiban led a 15-member team to the Board of Investment (BOI) to explore potential FDI opportunities in SL. The Malaysian investor team represented a diverse range of sectors, including ICT, banking, value-added agriculture, mining, IT infrastructure (data center development), fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), manufacturing, healthcare, recycling, semiconductors, more..

Apr 8 (FT) Uber Eats is now live in Nuwara Eliya, making it easier for locals and tourists to enjoy their favourite meals – from a hot plate of kottu on a chilly evening to a comforting rice and curry spread or crispy egg hoppers – delivered right to their doorstep. Known for its cool climate, old-world charm, and rolling tea estates, Nuwara Eliya sees a surge of Sri Lankan and international visitors during the April holiday season. But as temperatures drop in the evenings, food options more..

Apr 8 (FT) Vogue Jewellers Ltd. has been honoured with two prestigious accolades at the Best Management Practices Company (BMPC) Awards 2026, organised by the Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of SL (CPM SL). Company received a Merit Award in the highly competitive People/HR Governance (ESG) category and was named Winner in the Manufacturing Sector (Diamonds, Gems & Jewellery) for the second consecutive year, in recognition of more..

Apr 8 (TM) Ex-SL head coach Sanath Jayasuriya says that the current set of national players need to be thick skinned and accept both bouquets and brickbats in equal measure, if they intend to carve out long-term careers in the world game. The former national captain who quit his post in the aftermath of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, made this remark during a podcast with Upul Shantha Sannasgala recently. more..

Apr 8 (Island) It is ironic that JVP-NPP govt is now defending tainted ministers and downplaying corruption in the Parliament it came to power promising to clean up. A few weeks ago, it vehemently denied the allegation that more than a dozen coal shipments obtained from a new supplier for the Norochcholai power plant were substandard. Having realised the futility of defending the indefensible, it chose to eat its words. However, it kept on claiming that the lowquality coal more..

Apr 8 (Island) Representatives of almost all the main opposition parties were in attendance at the recent book launch by PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila. The book written by the PHU leader was his analysis of the Easter bombing of April 2019 that led to the mass killing of 279 persons, caused injuries to more than 500 others and caused panic and shock in the entire country. Easter bombing was inexplicable for a number of reasons. First, it was perpetrated by suicide bombers who were SL Muslims, more..

Apr 8 (CT) Donald Trump’s latest post in Truth Social is thus: ‘A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, Who Knows? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. more..

Apr 8 (TM) For the better part of a century, the world operated under a singular, unspoken assumption: when the President of the US spoke, the planet listened. This was not merely a consequence of military might or economic dominance, though those factors certainly provided the stage. Rather, it was born of a profound respect for the gravity of the office and the deliberative power of the words uttered from behind the Resolute Desk. American President was the Leader of the Free World, more..

Apr 8 (TM) SL’s fragile energy sector is once again being tested by forces largely beyond its control, as global geopolitical tensions feed directly into domestic pricing pressures and fiscal strain. Under the $ 3 billion programme with the IMF, the country is required to maintain cost-reflective pricing for both fuel and electricity, a key structural benchmark aimed at preventing the re-emergence of unsustainable subsidies that contributed to more..

Apr 8 (DM) In SL, we have a habit of remembering our politicians with more emotion than honesty. When a public figure fades from power or passes on, the narrative often shifts quickly from scrutiny to sympathy. But a country that has paid such a heavy price for poor governance cannot afford selective memory. It must ask a simple question: What did this leader actually do for the people? Take Mahinda Wijesekara. He held office during a time when SL’s fisheries sector needed strong, practical more..

Apr 8 (ST) Every year for the last seven damning years, a precious stock of the nation’s tears has been held in store to be ritually wept during April for those who died and for those who were left maimed and injured in what the world commonly calls SL’s Easter tragedy of 21st April 2019. A Sunday later, under the headline, Sunday Bloody Sunday the opening paragraphs of the Sunday Punch commented as follows: ‘They were not on the battlefield of war but in silent prayer at more..

Apr 8 (DM) Residents living near the Heen Ela sanctuary in Nawala have raised concerns regarding development activities happening in its surroundings. According to them, several trees and vegetation adjoining the SLLDC ground were cut down and burned in early March, perhaps in an attempt to expand the ground area. Events taking place at the ground during weekends have become a public nuisance for most residents as more..

Apr 8 (GV) The Meethotamulla garbage dump, which collapsed on April 14, 2017 killing 32 people, looks almost like a forest now. People in the area have even used the hill to build replicas of Mihinthale and Siripada from time to time during Vesak and Poson festivals. The former garbage dump stands as a quiet but powerful symbol of the environmental injustices faced by some segments of society. On March 31 this year, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment in which the court found that more..

Apr 8 (DM) Donald Trump’s deadline for power plant day and bridge day to blow up Iranian civilian infrastructure if Tehran refused to open the Strait of Hormuz was set to pass 8 p.m. on Tuesday, setting the stage for a dangerous escalation in the Middle Eastern conflict. The American and Israeli war on Iran, now in its sixth week, has descended into an act of naked aggression and a litany of potential war crimes. The international law and the rule-based world order, which America more..

Apr 7 (NW) Opposition MP D.V. Chanaka has alleged that power cuts took place at 45 locations yesterday due to low-quality coal, contradicting the govt’s claim that no electricity cuts occurred. Chanaka said he had warned in Parliament nearly two weeks ago that SL would face power cuts within weeks due to substandard coal affecting electricity generation. He claimed that 45 feeders were switched off simultaneously without proper approval, resulting in power interruptions across more..

Apr 7 (DM) Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence convened in Parliament this afternoon under the patronage of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as Minister of Defence. During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on the progress of previously raised matters, as well as issues highlighted by MPs representing the Northern Province and both govt and opposition benches. Special attention was focused on challenges related to the release of lands more..

Apr 7 (AD) A special audit report has uncovered multiple irregularities in the coal procurement process carried out by the Lanka Coal Company for the Lakvijaya Power Plant for the 2025/2026 season. According to the report issued by the Auditor General, a controversial supplier, Trident Chemphar Ltd, had relied on laboratory reports from a loading port facility whose license had already been revoked. The audit was conducted more..

Apr 7 (NW) The Chairman of the Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha was arrested today (07) by officers of the CIABOC over allegations of corruption linked to the approval of a building plan. According to the Bribery Commission, the Chairman approved a construction plan for government‑owned land in the Magoda Grama Niladhari Division without following the proper procedures outlined under Sections 8 and 21 of the Urban Development Authority Act No. 41 of 1978. more..

Apr 7 (NW) CIABOC today arrested former Chairman of the SL Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), Sarath Kongahage, and former Additional Director General, Devapriya Abeysinghe, over corruption allegations. The two officials are accused of recruiting six employees outside the approved cadre of the SLRC and assigning them to the personal staff of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. The move is alleged to have caused a financial loss of Rs. 14.32 million to SLRC. more..

Apr 7 (Island) As households across Sri Lanka grapple with rising electricity costs, understanding where energy is consumed has become essential for effective budgeting. A recent awareness push by Lanka Transformers Limited (LTL) highlights the top eight household appliances that account for the bulk of electricity use—offering both insight and practical tips to reduce monthly bills. Leading the list are air conditioners, more..

Apr 7 (Island) Eight persons, involved in a large-scale racket in which nearly 100 illegally assembled luxury vehicles were sold at low prices and later stolen and resold, have been arrested by the Peliyagoda Crimes Division on Saturday. Police said the organised gang had been operating the scam for a considerable period by selling vehicles, lacking proper registration documents, to bargain hunters, at rock bottom prices. Investigations revealed that the suspects had secretly more..

Apr 7 (DM) The NWSDB has announced scheduled water supply suspensions as reservoir levels feeding the Labugama and Kalatuwawa water treatment plants continue to decline due to the prevailing dry weather. With both plants operating under reduced capacity, authorities said water availability has been limited, prompting the implementation of time-bound supply interruptions in several areas. Accordingly, water supply to areas including Pelenwatte, Siddamulla, Arewwala, Niwanthidiya, more..

Apr 7 (NW) Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children has a total of 2,712 children on its surgical waiting list, Health Deputy Minister Hansaka Wijemuni revealed in Parliament. He revealed the figures in response to a question raised by MP Rohini Wijerathne. Accordingly, 1,025 children are awaiting cardiothoracic surgeries, while 593 are listed for general surgery. In addition, 388 children require eye surgeries, 266 are awaiting ENT procedures, and 240 are on the list for plastic surgery. more..

Apr 7 (DM) Increasing the death toll in the human-elephant conflict in the Anuradhapura district, three villagers- two of them in Eppawala and the other in Priyankaragama- had been trampled to death by wild elephants last morning. They had died at the scene. One victim Udaya Chandana (36), was a resident of Palugaswewa in Eppawala and a technical officer of the National Housing Authority.He was father of two children. The other victim, Mangala Prasad (48), was a farmer of the area. more..

Apr 7 (Island) A programme to expand cadet activities in schools to promote national reconciliation and unity among the country’s youth was discussed at a workshop held recently in Jaffna. The workshop, organised by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Defence, was held at the auditorium of the Northern Province Governor’s Office on the 17th under the patronage of more..

Apr 7 (DN) Commemorating its 25th anniversary, CodeGen International donated a state-of-the-art ETX electric three-wheeler to the Accident Service of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka on April 6th.​ The vehicle, valued at approximately Rs. 3 million, was presented by the founder of CodeGen, Dr. Harsha Subasinghe. Speaking at the event, CodeGen officials noted that the ETX model has been specially customized to meet the requirements of emergency patient care and transport. more..

Apr 7 (DM) A total of 10,455 child protection complaints have been reported in 2025, reflecting a growing number of concerns raised by the public, according to the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA). The NCPA’s Director Shanika Malalgoda, said that 2,099 of these complaints were related to cruelty against children, highlighting ongoing concerns over child safety and welfare. She further revealed that a total of 11,409 child-related cases have been reported between 2021 and 2026, more..

Apr 7 (DM) A new generation of digital pioneers is rising from the classrooms of SL as the nation’s robotics scene hits warp speed. The 2026 National World Robot Olympiad has witnessed an unprecedented surge in interest, with participation figures more than doubling as over 500 young innovators descended on Colombo to showcase their mechanical mastery. From autonomous navigators to sustainable more..

Apr 7 (AD) At least 30 Indian fishermen have been repatriated from Sri Lanka today. The group is heading home, authorities said. 30 Indian fishermen were repatriated from SL today and are on their way home, Indian High Commission here said. According to the SL Navy, till April 2026, 15 trawlers have been seized while 102 Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Navy. In 2025, some 346 fishermen had been arrested in 44 trawlers while poaching in SL waters, the Navy said. more..