Apr 29 (NF) Former State Intelligence Chief, retired Major General Suresh Salley, who is currently being held under a detention order in connection with the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, was presented before a Judicial Medical Officer this morning. Salley was produced before the Colombo JMO under tight security provided by the STF. This step was taken by the CID following a court order issued based on a request more..

Apr 29 (TM) Deshabandu Sirisumana Godage, the founder of Godage Publications and a prominent figure in SL’s printing and publishing industry, has passed away at the age of 90. He was conferred with the Deshabandu title in 2003 in recognition of his services to society. Born in May 1936 in Palatuwa village in the Matara District, he was the sixth of nine siblings. He completed his education at Gunaratana Maha Vidyalaya in Palatuwa and later moved to Kalutara at around the age of 15 more..

Apr 29 (TM) The group of Buddhist monks and participants who completed the seven-day Ehipassiko peace walk in Sri Lanka departed the island this morning (29). Led by Venerable Pannakara Thero, a Vietnamese monk based in US, the delegation left BIA at 7:12 a.m. bound for Istanbul, Turkey, with plans to connect to the US. The delegation included monks, lay participants, and a dog named Aloka. During their departure, they offered alms at the airport’s VIP lounge, more..

Apr 29 (EN) UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing fertilizer vouchers to smallholder paddy farmers to recover production in time for the upcoming Yala cultivation season. The farmers in Anuradhapura saw their fields partially or fully damaged by Cyclone Ditwah during the Maha cultivation season in SL 2025/26. Through a voucher scheme valued at 300,000 dollars, FAO will provide targeted fertilizer support to 3,489 smallholder paddy farmers, including 1,686 women farmers. more..

Apr 29 (AD) Sri Lanka and Indonesia have held discussions to grant visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders of both countries. The proposal was deliberated during a visit of the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Muhammad Anis Matta, who undertook an official visit to Sri Lanka, at the invitation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra. During the visit, Vice Minister Matta held bilateral discussions with Deputy Minister Hemachandra. more..

Apr 29 (DM) As incidents of digital harassment and misuse of personal contact details continue to rise, Police have reiterated the legal safeguards available to protect the public. Police said individuals who are subjected to repeated harassment through phone calls or messages now have clear legal grounds to take action under SL law, following strengthened provisions introduced in recent amendments to the telecom egislation. more..

Apr 29 (DM) Vietnamese Buddhist monk Ven. Pagnakara Thera says he believes a dog named Aloka may have been a monk in a previous life, speaking at a Dhamma session held yesterday at the Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya. He suggested that, due to past actions and discipline, the monk may have been reborn as a dog but has now found its way back to a spiritual path. “Because of his actions and discipline, maybe he was reborn as a dog. Now the dog has found the path again, more..

Apr 29 (NW) A Russian delegation led by Health Minister Mikhail Murashko will undertake a three-day visit to Sri Lanka in May. According to the Ministry of Health, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko will be in SL on an official visit from 3–5 May. During the visit, the Russian Health Minister will hold discussions with his SL counterpart, Nalinda Jayatissa. Russian delegation will hold discussions on strengthening relations and cooperation between Russia and SL in the health sector. more..

Apr 29 (TM) SLC has reportedly revised national player contracts with fresh bonuses on offer and fines imposed for series losses across all formats, in a bid to usher in a new results-driven era under the stewardship of Men’s head coach South African Gary Kirsten. The new performance-based payment structure has been incorporated to the revised national player contracts, following the advent of the ex-Proteas opener more..

Apr 29 (DN) A high-level discussion on modernising railway services in the Colombo suburban area was held this morning chaired by Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The meeting focused on the implementation of the Colombo Suburban Railway Project, with particular attention given to the introduction of electric train services in its first phase. Under these plans, electric trains are expected to operate along the Kelani Valley Line from Maradana to Makumbura, Main Line from Colombo Fort more..

Apr 29 (DM) A vendor operating on the Meenagaya train service was fined Rs. 100,000 by the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court yesterday after being found guilty of selling bottled drinking water above the maximum retail price. The case involved a 1000 ml (1 litre) water bottle, which has a stipulated maximum retail price of Rs. 100. However, the vendor had sold the same item for Rs. 160, overcharging passengers by Rs. 60. The incident occurred on the train service operating more..

Apr 29 (DM) Health experts in SL have raised concern over a rising number of gastritis-related cases, estimating that nearly 25% of patients seeking medical attention are now presenting symptoms of the condition. Medical professionals say the most common symptoms include abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, indigestion and loss of appetite, which can significantly affect daily routines if left untreated. Doctors further warn that stress is emerging as a major contributing factor, more..

Apr 29 (AD) The decision on the revised electricity tariffs is scheduled to be announced on May 9, PUCSL stated. Accordingly, the Commission said that public consultations on the special electricity tariff revision proposal for 2026 will begin today (29). Due to rising global fuel prices, National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd. submitted a revised cost estimate for electricity generation for the second and third quarters of 2026 to the Commission for approval on April 27, 2026. more..

Apr 29 (Island) The launch of a dedicated wildlife unit at Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport is expected to deliver significant economic benefits by improving aviation safety, strengthening ecotourism and enhancing SL’s investment appeal, Wildlife Conservation Dept Director General Ranjan Marasinghe said. Speaking at the signing of a MoU between the Dept of Wildlife Conservation and Airport and Aviation Services (SL) Ltd, more..

Apr 29 (NW) Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today directed the CID to report on July 8 the progress of investigations into a complaint concerning alleged misuse of state funds involving former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake. Appearing for the complaint, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris informed the court that indictments against the suspects would be filed before the next hearing date. He further stated that consideration is being more..

Apr 29 (EN) SL Customs exceeded its monthly target for a fourth consecutive month, achieving the April target before the end of the month. Customs’ April revenue target was set at 181.3 billion rupees. However, the revenue collecting body had already collected 186.5 billion rupees in the first 27 days of the month, exceeding the target. Customs has set a revenue target of 2,207 billion rupees for this year, 13.5% less than last year as it expects a significant decline in car imports. more..

Apr 29 (AD) An interim committee headed by former MP Eran Wickramaratne has been appointed to run Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) following the resignation of SLC president Shammi Silva and his Executive Committee. Former SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne has been appointed as the Chairman of the new Sri Lanka Cricket Restructuring Committee (Interim Committee) by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage at the ministry more..

Apr 29 (TM) A warm weather advisory has been issued for residents of the North-Central, Eastern, and Sabaragamuwa provinces, as well as in the districts of Kurunegala, Monaragala, Vavuniya, Mullaittivu, and Kilinochchi. Met Dept forecasts that the heat index—the temperature felt by the human body may rise to the Caution Level in some areas within these provinces and districts during the day tomorrow. The heat index is calculated based on relative humidity and maximum temperature, more..

Apr 29 (FT) The woman venerates the dog, or does she? This was the minor controversy unfolding at the beginning of the Walk for Peace that had reached Sri Lanka, following its remarkably successful conclusion in the USA (even though the whole exercise seems to have had little direct and immediate effect on the imperial war machinery there). The group of monks on the peace walk are from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Texas, led by the Vietnamese monk more..

Apr 29 (FT) When multimillion-dollar losses emerge from within the public treasury, it is not just money that disappears. It is trust. And trust, once fractured at the level of the state, does not self-repair through press releases, ministerial reshuffles, or the procedural comfort of a parliamentary majority. It deepens. It spreads like cancer. And eventually, it becomes the defining story of an era. The most dangerous risk facing any Govt is not an Opposition with sharp questions. more..

Apr 29 (ANI) India and Sri Lanka reaffirmed their growing maritime partnership through the fourth edition of the bilateral diving exercise, IN-SLN DIVEX 2026, conducted at Colombo from April 21-28. The exercise witnessed participation of the Indian Navy’s Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel, INS Nireekshak, alongside diving teams from both navies- underscoring enhanced operational coordination and professional synergy, the Indian Navy said in a statement. more..

Apr 29 (NF) CID reported facts to court in connection with an incident in which cybercriminals are alleged to have stolen USD 2.5 million from the Treasury. After reviewing the progress of the investigation, Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court approved a request made by the CID to impose overseas travel bans on five officials. When the case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththikumara, the CID revealed several more..

Apr 29 (NF) The state ceremony of the Walk for Peace in the Island of Peace was held Tuesday evening at Independence Square under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. During the event, the Prez formally presented a sacred sapling of the Sri Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi to members of the Maha Sangha who had arrived from the US, in a diplomatic and official capacity. The sapling, taken from the revered Sri Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in A'pura, was officially handed over by more..

Apr 29 (FT) Tensions between rival political groups surfaced near the residence of Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma yesterday, as a protest over the $ 2.5 million Treasury breach descended into disorder and thuggery, prompting Police intervention to restore order. A political group, the Nava Janatha Peramuna, led by former Private Secretary to ex-Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa Sugeeshwara Bandara, staged a protest yesterday near residence of Dr. Suriyapperuma more..

Apr 29 (TM) The authorities have uncovered that a businessman is the alleged mastermind behind a major drug trafficking operation involving 22 monks who were arrested at BIA. Chief monk believed to have coordinated the operation was arrested in Gampaha. Police report that he has not been cooperating with ongoing investigations. The suspects were taken into custody on 25 April upon arrival from Thailand, carrying more..

Apr 29 (ST) CID detectives have taken down an eight-page statement during a nearly 4-hour interview with former First Lady Maithree Wickramasinghe with regard to their probe into former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UK visit to attend a graduation ceremony at the Uni of Wolverhampton, where she was conferred an honorary professorship. Five CID officers arrived at former Prez’s private residence at 5th Lane in Colombo at about 9 am on Friday. more..

Apr 29 (AD) 19 out of 22 Buddhist monks arrested at BIA with a large stock of narcotics have tested positive for drug use, according to the Judicial Medical Officer. The suspects were taken into custody on April 25 after arriving from Thailand with 112 kg of Kush cannabis and Hashish, valued at over Rs. 110 million. They are currently being detained and questioned by the Police Narcotics Bureau. Investigations have revealed that a group of monks had previously traveled to Thailand, more..

Apr 29 (TM) Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that a State Bank had clarified the recent revelations regarding the double payment of Rs. 380 million by the Road Development Authority (RDA) to its contractors, stating the issue had occurred during the SL Inter-Bank Payment System file transmission, where the Bank had paid an additional amount to the contractors. Dr. Jayatissa, clarifying the situation said the Bank, however, had a system in place to reclaim the money. more..

Apr 29 (AD) A discussion on the arrest of a group of Buddhist monks at the BIA for the possession of narcotics, the related investigations and the situation that has emerged in its aftermath, was held this afternoon (28) under the leadership of the Maha Sangha representing the three main Nikayas, with the participation of Prez Dissanayake. During the meeting, the Prez pointed out that this incident clearly demonstrates that the drug menace has now become a national disaster. more..

Apr 29 (FT) Govt said that neither Prez and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake nor the Cabinet had discussed the reported $ 2.5 million Treasury cyber breach and internal investigation, leaving the matter to the Finance Ministry and external investigative agencies. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the alleged irregularity and the internal investigation initiated by the Finance Ministry in January had not been taken up more..

Apr 29 (DN) SL women’s hockey team failed to qualify for the Asian Games after suffering a heavy 1-6 defeat against Uzbekistan in the Women’s Asian Games Qualifier 2026 match played in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday. SL, playing in the 5th to 8th place match, showed early resistance but could not contain a strong Uzbekistan side that dominated the second half to seal a convincing win. After a goalless first period, SL struck first through a field goal by Dil Miskin in 28th minute to take 1-0 lead. more..

Apr 29 (Island) Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia. According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. more..