Apr 21 (DN) Opener Imesha Dulani (52) and Hansima Karunaratne (54) hit maiden half centuries but it was in vain as Bangladesh women recorded three wickets win with nine balls to spare over Sri Lanka women in their first ODI of the three-match series played at Rajshahi, Bangladesh yesterday. It was the first international match at the venue. Bangladesh chasing a target of 206 couldn’t make a good start losing both openers Juairiya Ferdous (5) Samin Sultana (0) within the first two overs. more..

Apr 21 (NW) Welcome to Sri Lanka, the travel documentary produced by Mark Julian Edwards, won the prestigious Television Broadcast of the Year award at the Inspire Global Media Awards 2026, contested by the BBC and Amazon TV. Sri Lanka’s storytelling excellence took centre stage at the ceremony held recently in London, UK, with a packed room of media glitterati. The documentary was selected from a competitive international field of entries, with judges highlighting more..

Apr 21 (ST) Ahead of last week’s New Year holiday season, T. Regan and his family left for their hometown, Pundaluoya, Kandy. They did not go to mark the New Year in their hometown but to visit the cemetery where their five-year-old daughter, Leema Rithika, was buried. She was among the 270 victims of the deadly Easter Sunday attacks, SL’s biggest terrorist attack. The attacks that targeted churches in Colombo & Batticaloa more..

Apr 21 (FT) Sri Lanka’s fragile economic recovery in 2026 is being tested by fast-escalating geopolitical tensions, and early signs of disruption were already emerging within tourism, exports, and shipping, said industry leaders recently. These statements were made during a business forum titled, Present Geopolitical Tensions: Navigating Their Impacts on Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery in 2026. Organised by the SL-Italy Business Council, it drew industry leaders and stakeholders more..

Apr 21 (FT) SL’s plan to remove para-tariffs will reduce import duties by around nine percentage points (ppts) and alter cost structures across manufacturing, while raising household consumption and real incomes, according to the World Bank’s South Asia Economic Update April 2026. The report notes that Sri Lanka’s simple average import duty is 19%, of which 11 ppts come from para-tariffs rather than statutory tariffs. “Less than half of these import duties are statutory tariffs,” World Bank said, more..

Apr 21 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict could raise inflation, widen the trade deficit, and disrupt key foreign exchange inflows, even as macroeconomic conditions show signs of recovery. SL now faces pressure across its main external channels, with remittances, exports, and tourism all exposed to spillovers from the conflict, testing buffers rebuilt since 2023 through more..

Apr 21 (Island) The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA), the apex body of Sri Lanka’s plantation industry, expressed growing concern over rising prices and limited availability of fertilizer amid the escalation of the crisis in the Middle East. With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, shipping traffic through the region is reported to have dropped by 90%. Given that an estimated one-third of global trade in raw materials for production of fertilizer flows through the Strait, more..

Apr 21 (TM) In a significant development ahead of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) election of office bearers for the 2026-30 term on 25 April, all objections filed against the candidacy of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar, were formally rejected on Sunday (19). This was done by the independent Election Committee formed to oversee the NOCSL election and its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday. more..

Apr 21 (FT) The GRIT (Growth, Resilience, Investment and Training) – Entrepreneurship Development Training Program (GRIT-EDTP) recently concluded its first cohort pitch competition at Jetwing Jaffna, marking a significant milestone in empowering women-led enterprises in the Northern Province. The GRIT-EDTP initiative is designed to strengthen women entrepreneurs by enhancing their business resilience, investment readiness, and growth potential. more..

Apr 21 (FT) Minister Bimal Rathnayake has said ongoing construction projects across the country remain uninterrupted despite the prevailing conflict in the Middle East. In a video statement Minister said key infrastructure developments are continuing without delay, with particular emphasis on the third phase of the Central Expressway. He noted that construction work on Phase III, spanning from Pothuhera to Rambukkana and extending up to Galagedara, is progressing at a steady pace. more..

Apr 21 (SO) SL Customs detaining over 350 copies of five books authored by Kilinochchi-based Tamil writer, Balendran Piratheepan, known as Theepachelvan Piratheepan, since mid-March has raised concerns among many parties about the extent of Freedom of Speech in the country and the role of the SL Customs Dept. 360 copies of three novels authored by Theepachelvan and two other books belonging to him more..

Apr 21 (SO) April 13 marked the 125 birth anniversary of S.A. Wickramasinghe, a national freedom fighter and founder of the Communist Movement in SL. Wickramasinghe remains a pivotal, if somewhat underrated, figure in the pantheon of the first generation of SL national and leftist leaders. Stories of Wickramasinghe’s politicisation often begin with his experiences of 1915 riots at the young age of 14. Wickramasinghe was appalled by the brutality with which the colonial administration more..

Apr 21 (Island) A quiet yet profound shift is underway in American healthcare, and its implications extend far beyond the US borders. A recent Associated Press report describes a scene that would have seemed improbable, even five years ago: a woman in Texas, experiencing side effects from a weightloss injection, does not call her doctor, visit a clinic, or even search Google. Instead, she opens her phone and consults ChatGPT. She tells the system how she feels, describes her symptoms, more..

Apr 21 (Island) Mastermind has become a household term in this country since the Easter Sunday terror attacks (2019). The last seven years have seen several investigations, conducted by the police, committees and a presidential commission, into the carnage that shook the world, but there has been no general consensus on who actually masterminded the terror strikes. There are several schools of thought and various conspiracy theories about the terror attacks and more..

Apr 21 (TM) There is a particular kind of national anxiety that travels online before it ever reaches the front page. It starts as a question searched in the dark, becomes a post shared from a petrol queue at five in the morning, and ends as a comment under a news article that says simply, Aiyo. In March 2026, SL had one of those moments. And the internet had a great deal to say about it. When the Ministry of Energy reintroduced the National Fuel Pass, a QR-based fuel allocation system brought back more..

Apr 21 (CT) Rich in nature, culture, and heritage would be the best way to describe SL’s Mannar District. The location of the Vankalai Sanctuary, also known as the Mannar Bird Sanctuary, in the Mannar District, has made the area a popular visitor spot, especially during the bird migratory season. Vankalai Sanctuary is a Ramsar site (selected as a Ramsar wetland in July 2010) and a key bird area hosting over 20,000 waterbirds. more..

Apr 21 (ST) Nearly three weeks ago, the White House alerted the world’s media to await an important update on Iran to be delivered by President Tramp. While the Washington press corps gushed amongst themselves what to expect from Trump this time, the White House pursed its lips and only said, Trump plans to address the nation on the war Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET. It turned out it had hardly been worth waiting up to hear what the US Prez had to say, for it was nothing new but more..

Apr 21 (GV) One of the most pressing questions facing the Tamil people of the North and East today is this: where do we stand? Despite more than 75 years of political struggle, marked by immense sacrifice and shifting political landscapes, there remains a strong and growing sentiment across many sections of the community that a clear and unified political direction has yet to emerge. While it is true that new organisations and ideological initiatives continue to take shape, more..

Apr 21 (TM) The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is one of the most reassuring times of the year for Sri Lankans, signifying the dawn of a new beginning and better things to come. It is more than a set of rituals and traditions; rather, it is a time of celebration and family for most, where the bustle of daily life slows down and people are given the time to reflect and reunite with their loved ones. However, this year’s New Year, more..

Apr 21 (CT) With every passing year, SL sports recede further into the shadows, an also ran competitor, in many sports not even qualifying to compete at top international events. The one exception being the game of Cricket, a game played mainly among former British dominions and colonies. Today the mainstay of Cricket are the South Asian countries, which provide much of the money and a vociferous fan base for the game. The game of Cricket itself has morphed, more..

Apr 21 (DM) One can hardly contest the argument by leaders of the ruling NPP that system change cannot be brought in overnight. Yes, it is a change expected to be realised within a degenerate society, utilising components of the very same society which would inevitably take time. System change is not a singe act but a long process. Yet, that does not mean that people have to wait years for the govt to keep all its promises. There are things in which the masses have the right to expect expeditious more..

Apr 20 (AD) A surge in road traffic accidents has been recorded between April 10 and 19 this year compared to the same period last year, according to DIG in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W.P.J. Senadeera. DIG Senadeera revealed that fatal accidents during the period have increased by 18 cases year-on-year while the number of fatalities resulting from these incidents has risen by 20. He further noted a significant increase across multiple categories of road accidents. more..

Apr 20 (DM) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced imposing a two-year ban on Sri Lanka's T20I captain Dasun Shanaka from participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) over his unilateral withdrawal from the ongoing 11th edition. According to the cricket board, the Sri Lankan all-rounder was found to have breached both player registration terms and the tripartite agreement after a thorough review of the developments involving Shanaka and the Lahore Qalandars. more..

Apr 20 (FT) Vehicle registrations increased to an all-time monthly record of 55,470 units in March, up 11.1% from the previous month, with growth driven by a broad-based pick up across segments. Two-wheeler registrations rose 15.7% month-on-month (M-o-M) to 38,977 units, while brand-new car and Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) registrations increased 32.2%, reflecting a sharp rebound in passenger vehicle demand. more..

Apr 20 (DM) A special island-wide food safety inspection programme carried out during the festive season has resulted in widespread inspections and enforcement actions, according to the SL Public Health Inspectors Association. The programme, which began on April 1 and will continue until the end of the festive period, is being implemented by a team of 2,300 Public Health Inspectors deployed across the country. AS of April 18, a total of 2,114 food raids had been conducted island-wide. more..

Apr 20 (AD) A World Health Organization (WHO) expert team has arrived in Sri Lanka to review the progress of the country’s health system and submit recommendations to strengthen it further. The team also met Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa today. The meeting focused at length on the current performance of the health system and the progress of the govt’s programme to establish Arogya Health and Wellness Centres to strengthen the primary healthcare system, more..

Apr 20 (AD) Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilake has been appointed as the Minister of Energy. Minister Karunathilake was sworn in before Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake this afternoon. The Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Kumanayake was also present during the swearing in ceremony. Minister Karunathilake has been appointed as the new Energy Minister following the resignation of more..

Apr 20 (AD) Central Bank of SL’s Annual Economic Review 2025 and Financial Statements and Operations 2025 reports were presented this morning (20) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The two reports were formally presented to the President by the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe. The Central Bank of SL’s flagship publication, more..

Apr 20 (NW) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has urged the Ministry of Mass Media to take immediate action against Hiru Media Network and Asia Broadcasting Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, accusing the broadcaster of gravely misusing media freedom and spreading false information that harmed the institution and the country. In a letter addressed to the Ministry Secretary, CPC Chairman said repeated irresponsible reporting by Hiru Media Network has damaged the CPC’s reputation, more..

Apr 20 (TM) Colombo’s All Share Price Index (ASPI) has a potential downside of 18,000 to 19,000 points if global volatility is to continue to persist, and thereby compress valuations to 8x price-to-earnings (PER), First Capital Holdings stated in its latest equity webinar, recently. The investment institution had further revised its fair value expectations for the ASPI, in view of the ongoing economic repercussions of external shocks materialising. “We expect a further rerating as more..

Apr 20 (NW) Four newly appointed ambassadors and two high commissioners formally presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this morning (20). The envoys are: Vincent Sumale – High Commissioner of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (resident in New Delhi); Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa – Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia (resident in New Delhi) Christian Biever – Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (resident in New Delhi) more..