Apr 28 (AD) Attention has been drawn towards launching cable car projects at several tourist destinations, including Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), during a meeting of the Tourism Task Force held today, under the patronage of Minister Vijitha Herath. It was noted that requests have been made over a considerable period by various parties to commence a cable car project in the vicinity of Sri Pada. In addition, several locations, more..

Apr 28 (Dawn) Troops from Pakistan and Sri Lanka commenced a two-week bilateral counter-terrorism exercise in Tarbela, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. The Pakistan–Sri Lanka Bilateral Exercise Shake Hands-II is a joint counter-terrorism exercise conducted between the two armies, ISPR said. The exercise commenced on April 27 (Monday) at Tarbela, with the participation of Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group (SSG) and Special Forces from the SL Army. more..

Apr 28 (Island) Nuwara Eliya Municipal Councillor Jude Chandana Madegama alleged, during the recent Council meeting, that a massive financial misappropriation of Rs. 9.7 million had taken place through the illegal procurement of street lamps and related materials, without the approval of the Finance Committee. Although those items were allegedly purchased for the city’s annual development projects, it was disclosed that they reached the warehouse before obtaining more..

Apr 28 (Island) The death of Sujeewa, a female elephant held under state custody for nearly a decade, has ignited renewed calls for accountability, transparency, and urgent reform in SL’s handling of wildlife crime—particularly the shadowy networks behind elephant smuggling. Environmental conservationist and researcher Supun Lahiru Prakash has urged authorities, including the Ministry of Environment and the CID, to launch an immediate and comprehensive investigation more..

Apr 28 (NW) The govt has announced that several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed during the upcoming state visit of the President of the Republic of Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, to Sri Lanka. President Muizzu will visit Sri Lanka from May 3–5, at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the signing of MoUs aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors. These include: An MoU between the Maldives more..

Apr 28 (DM) Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Ashish Khanna, who was in Sri Lanka recently, spoke to the Daily Mirror on the future of solar energy utilisation in the country and the plans put in place for it. Q: Given the current situation, what is the programme this time around and since you discussed certain matters during your last visit, what improvements have been made and what is the way forward now? more..

Apr 28 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal to call for investment proposals to develop a plot of land belonging to the UDA at Maradana Road, Colombo 10, on a 50‑year lease basis. A special committee was appointed to identify suitable development activities for UDA‑owned land not currently in use. The committee recommended that the Colombo 10 property, measuring 1 acre, 1 rood, and 12.4 perches, be developed as a mixed‑use project based on new innovations related to more..

Apr 28 (Island) Defence Secretary (retd) Air Marshal Sampath Thuyakontha has discussed with UN officials in New York the deployment of SL troops in Haiti, under a new UN authorised force, tasked with tackling heavily armed gangs operating in the violence ravaged country. The UN is in the process of building up a force comprising approximately 5,500 officers and men for deployment in Haiti. SL delegation included SL’s Permanent Representative to the UN, former CJ Jayantha Jayasuriya. more..

Apr 28 (AD) President of SLC, Shammi Silva, and the SLC Executive Committee have decided to resign at a special committee meeting held today. Shammi Silva, who was first elected as SLC President in 2019, has held the position for nearly 7 years. In recent times, the administration has faced multiple allegations, and media reports suggest that govt authorities have urged the current administration to step down. more..

Apr 28 (AD) The Court of Appeal today concluded the hearing of a writ petition filed by the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Sambuddha Jayanthi Bodhiraja Viharaya in Trincomalee. The petition sought an order preventing the implementation of a directive issued by the Department of Coast Conservation to demolish a portion of the temple premises. The petition was filed by the Chief Incumbent of the temple, Ven. Trincomalee Kalyanawansa Tissa Thero, said Ada Derana reporter. more..

Apr 28 (NW) COPF Chairman MP Harsha de Silva says he intends to summon the Finance Ministry Secretary before the committee regarding the recently reported $2.5 million Treasury cyber fraud. MP said that the committee is meeting today, during which he intends to propose summoning the Finance Ministry Secretary before the committee. “I have summoned the COPF committee members today. I am of the view that the Finance Ministry Secretary must be summoned regarding more..

Apr 28 (AD) Cabinet has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to provide assistance for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of places of worship affected by Cyclone Ditwah. An integrated programme has been formulated by the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs, together with the departments related to religious affairs under its purview, to provide relief for the reconstruction more..

Apr 28 (AD) Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena, who was arrested in connection with an incident involving the alleged acceptance of bribes during the purchase of Airbus aircraft for the airline, has been further remanded until May 5, 2026. Colombo Magistrate’s Court also announced that the decision on the defendant’s bail application would be delivered on that date. The order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama after considering the facts more..

Apr 28 (AD) In a move that highlights SL’s accelerating push toward a more resilient and renewablepowered electricity system, National System Operator (NSO) has called for int'l bids to modernise the country’s core grid management infrastructure. Tender—issued under Power System Strengthening & Renewable Energy Integration Project (PSSREIP)—is backed by the ADB, reflecting continued multilateral confidence more..

Apr 28 (AD) General Secretary of the UNP, Thalatha Atukorale has issued a letter in response to an invitation from the SJB to join its May Day celebrations this year. In the letter, she stated that since May Day falls on a Poya Day this year, UNP had previously decided to dedicate the day to religious observances rather than engage in political activities. She further recalled that during his tenure as PM, the late R. Premadasa had emphasized that it was inappropriate to more..

Apr 28 (DM) PM Harini Amarasuriya has said that, amid the prevailing turbulent global environment, the agriculture sector is facing significant challenges, while food security has become a key factor influencing a country’s stability, sovereignty, and national security. PM made these remarks today at Waters Edge, while addressing the National Youth Agripreneur Showcase and B2B Connect Conference organised under the Smallholder Agribusiness Partnership Programme. more..

Apr 28 (AD) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has revealed that investigations have been launched regarding a payment made by SL’s Dept of Posts to US Postal Service (USPS), which has not been received by the intended party. While explaining the facts pertaining to the previously reported USD 2.5 million Treasury payment during the media briefing, Minister also disclosed that a sum of USD 625,000 paid by the Dept of more..

Apr 28 (NW) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) today provided a financial grant of Rs. 10 million to rising javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage. This support was extended under the direction of SLC President Shammi Silva and the Executive Committee of SLC, following a request made by the Minister of Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage. Rumesh Tharanga received the grant at the SLC headquarters this evening. This initiative is part of SLC’s ongoing efforts to support and promote sports beyond cricket, more..

Apr 28 (AD) The President of Vietnam, To Lam is scheduled to address the Parliament of SL on May 8. This was revealed at the meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held under the chairmanship of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. Accordingly, Parliament is scheduled to meet from May 5 to May 8. On May 5, the time from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for Business of Parliament as per Standing Order r 22(1) to (6) of the Parliament. more..

Apr 28 (FT) There is a number that dominates almost every conversation about a country’s fiscal health. It is the debt-to-GDP ratio: total public debt expressed as a share of the economy. Governments cite it, international institutions monitor it, and commentators reach for it whenever a country’s finances come under scrutiny. The problem is that it often tells only part of the story, and sometimes a misleading one. Japan carries a debt-to-GDP ratio well above 200%. more..

Apr 28 (FT) The recent revelations surrounding the large-scale fraud at NDB Bank—now estimated in excess of Rs. 13 billion—have sent shockwaves across SL’s financial system and raised serious concerns regarding governance, internal controls, and institutional oversight. This incident has demonstrated, in no uncertain terms, that even well-established control frameworks—comprising Board Audit Committees, Risk Management Committees, internal audit functions, and external audits more..

Apr 28 (FT) The Govt has rejected an Opposition request at the party leaders’ meeting to hold a parliamentary debate on the $ 2.5 million Treasury cyber breach, as scrutiny intensifies over the circumstances of the loss and the handling of its aftermath. Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka said the matter was raised at a party leaders’ meeting held yesterday, where the Opposition called for a debate when more..

Apr 28 (AD) The final day of the Ehi Passiko Peace Walk will be held today. The peace march, which is scheduled to commence at 12 noon from the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, will proceed towards the Independence Square. A special state ceremony is set to take place at 4 p.m. at the Independence Square, with the participation of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. During the event, Prez is expected to officially hand over a sapling of the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi to a delegation more..

Apr 28 (ST) A senior military officer expressed dissatisfaction to Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Dileepa Peiris following his statement in open court this week, accusing certain Army officers of obstructing the Easter Sunday attack investigation. An officer from the Army’s Legal Division had first met the ASG and informed him that the senior officer wished to speak to him. The conversation, held over the phone, had initially been cordial but had grown heated when the officer had claimed more..

Apr 28 (NF) A report containing recommendations to enable more than 1.5 million Sri Lankans living abroad to exercise their voting rights in domestic elections has been officially handed over to the Minister of Public Admin, PCs & LG. The report was prepared by a Special Committee appointed to formulate the necessary legal and practical mechanisms to facilitate overseas voting. Accepting the report, the Minister stated that more..

Apr 28 (FT) Govt announced that it has moved to expand remote working across the public sector, issuing interim digital guidelines to ensure continuity of services while easing pressure on fuel and energy resources amid ongoing Middle East tensions. The initiative, led by the Digital Economy Ministry, follows directives from a Cabinet committee chaired by PM Harini Amarasuriya, which called for greater use of remote work to manage operational demands during the current energy constraints. more..

Apr 28 (TM) Ongoing reforms to procurement processes in the energy sector are mainly aimed at ensuring efficiency and that less-qualified suppliers do not enter the process, according to Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka. Shortcomings had been identified in the current purchasing process, including inconsistencies in the criteria used during evaluations. “Sometimes, there are changes in the criteria that are taken into account, and this affects the overall efficiency of the process,” more..

Apr 28 (FT) SL’s fuel import framework is under strain as global price movements and supply disruptions push costs well beyond domestic pricing, raising questions over the sustainability of the current model. Speaking at the webinar on Crisis or Opportunity: SL’s Path During the Middle East Crisis, former CPC CEO Susantha Silva said crude oil supply to the country has been constrained by developments in the Middle East, a region that has historically accounted for a significant share more..

Apr 28 (NW) SJB MP Harsha de Silva has raised concerns over the legal existence of the govt’s Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund, stating that it was never formally established. In a post on X, he challenged recent claims made by Deputy Finance Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando that the fund remains safe, arguing that no such fund exists in a legal sense. De Silva pointed out that under the programme with the International Monetary Fund, several funds were abolished, allowing more..

Apr 28 (TM) The Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry has scheduled a meeting with the Chief Prelates of the three Buddhist Sects; Siam, Amarapura, Ramanna, today regarding the incident in which a group of 22 monks was arrested at the BIA on 26 April for the possession of Kush cannabis and Hash narcotics, estimated to be valued at over Rs. 110 million. Ministry Secretary, W.P. Senadheera said more..

Apr 28 (NW) Following damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, the train services to Kandy are expected to resume by the end of this year, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said. He said the previously announced timeline for restoring services remains unchanged. “We still believe that by the end of this year, it will be possible to operate trains to Kandy,” he said. 97 major damaged locations were identified along the main railway line from Colombo Fort to Badulla via Kandy, more..

Apr 28 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has accused the govt of attempting to downplay alleged irregularities related to payments made through the RDA, following recent denials by the administration. In a post on X, Rajapaksa responded to Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena’s statement that allegations of duplicate RDA payments were baseless. He said official records indicated otherwise, claiming that a Bank of Ceylon (BOC) Recall of Funds notice confirmed that more..