Apr 2 (NW) Further details have emerged regarding the fishing trawler seized with narcotics during a SL Navy surveillance operation in deep seas, based on foreign intelligence. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the consignment of drugs had been transferred to the vessel from an Iranian ship. The trawler, named Ave Maria, had departed from the Wellemanakanda Fisheries Harbour on Feb 4. Six fishermen arrested in connection with the incident had reportedly set out on more..

Apr 2 (AD) Veterinarian Dr. Shobhath Wijeratne has warned that the prevailing extreme heat conditions can lead to fatal consequences for pets. High temperatures can be particularly fatal for dogs and cats with dark coloured fur. Dr. Wijeratne explained that extreme heat causes a rapid rise in animals’ body temperature, which they are unable to control, increasing the risk of fatal reactions. He further stressed that pets should never be left inside parked vehicles under any circumstances. more..

Apr 2 (TM) The prevailing dry weather conditions over the island are expected to change from today, Met Dept stated. Meanwhile, showers or thunder storms may occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa & Southern Provinces in the evening or night. The general public is requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thunderstorms. more..

Apr 2 (FT) Suresh Shah has assumed office as Chairman of the Board of Hatton National Bank PLC from yesterday. Prior to the appointment he was an Independent Non-Executive of the bank. Shah is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. His experience includes serving as CEO of two listed entities, extensive involvement in economic and related matters through trade chambers and employer organisations and leading Govt SOE reforms. more..

Apr 2 (EN) Cabinet has approved a proposal to procure 300 MW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to stabilize the growth of renewable energy, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) moved the project timeline forward from 2032 to the 2028-2029 period, after identifying that peak demand is increasing two years faster than forecasted in the Long-Term Power Generation Plan. To meet this requirement, the Cabinet cleared two procurement strategies; more..

Apr 2 (AD) SL Navy proudly announces that Rear Admiral Princely Liyanage (Retd) has etched his name in the annals of global endurance by qualifying for three Guinness World Records on a manual treadmill. His monumental journey commenced on 20 March and reached a triumphant milestone on the morning of 22 March, as he successfully completed 48 hours of continuous running, it said. Under the guidance of more..

Apr 2 (DM) The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has flagged key risks in the proposed Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill of 2026 and cautioned that several provisions could strain financing, compliance and investor confidence at a delicate stage of economic recovery. Following a review by its Tax Steering Committee, the CCC said while updating the tax framework is necessary, certain proposals risk undermining business continuity, taxpayer rights and overall competitiveness. more..

Apr 2 (ST) A new ward is being constructed to serve communities in the Uva Paranagama area and parts of the Central Province, replacing the Dimbulana District Hospital ward that was closed in 2013 due to landslide risks. The estimated Rs 42 million project is being carried out with the support of the SL Navy’s Civil Engineering Unit, under the supervision of Engineer Ananda Silva, and led on-site by Chief Petty Officer M L M P Kumara. Construction follows plans prepared by Uva Provincial more..

Apr 2 (FT) Representatives of the SL–Benelux Business Council (SLBBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently paid a courtesy call on Kingdom of the Netherlands Ambassador to SL Wiebe De Boer. The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from the Embassy, followed by comments from the President of the SL–Benelux Business Council, who thanked the Ambassador for the opportunity to engage and reaffirmed the Council’s interest in encouraging stronger more..

Apr 2 (FT) Liberty Lands and Developments (LLD) has acquired the remaining shares of Scope Cinemas, securing full ownership of the cinema chain as part of its broader group restructuring and long-term strategic direction. The acquisition marks a significant step in LLD’s efforts to consolidate its entertainment portfolio and strengthen its commitment to delivering world-class cinema experiences, while enhancing operational alignment. With Scope Cinemas now fully under more..

Apr 2 (FT) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe vent his frustration with the banking sector, accusing them of withholding State-funded concessional credit to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He said the Govt’s Rs. 95 billion MSME financing push is facing bottlenecks at the banking level, with official data showing slow disbursement of funds. Abeysinghe shared scheme-level and bank-level data, more..

Apr 2 (Island) SL scientists have uncovered a remarkable long-distance migration route used by seabirds, linking the island’s shores with the Arctic—an achievement that is expected to reshape global understanding of bird movement and highlight SL’s importance in the natural world. The discovery, led by Professor Sampath Seneviratne of the University of Colombo, shows that Heuglin’s Gulls travel nearly 8,000 kilometres from Sri Lanka to breeding grounds in northern Russia, more..

Apr 2 (Island) The truth about the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks remains buried under a mountain of conspiracy theories. The way most stakeholders have sought to get at the truth reminds us of the ancient folk tale, The Blind Men and the Elephant. They have grasped only fragments of what they believe to be the truth, each assuming that his or her limited perspective represents the entire reality. There are still others who have let their political prejudices and self-interest colour more..

Apr 2 (DN) Govt’s decision to implement strict energy conservation measures is a timely move, especially considering the many factors that mitigate against the uninterrupted provision of electricity to consumers. Such moves have been implemented even by some developed countries to conserve energy wherever possible given the serious energy crisis stemming from the Iran War. Today we live in a gadget-oriented society where almost everything operates at the press of a button or the click more..

Apr 2 (TM) The Supreme Court ruling delivered on 31 March is more than a mere legal victory for the residents of Meethotamulla. It is a damning indictment of a State machinery that has, for decades, treated the fundamental rights of its citizens as secondary to the convenience of illegal dumping. By holding the Colombo Municipal Council, the Kolonnawa Urban Council, and the Urban Development Authority accountable for the catastrophic collapse of the Pothuvil more..

Apr 2 (CT) Dept of Agrarian Development has made all necessary arrangements to ensure an adequate supply of fuel for farmers. This will enable them to carry out land preparation work, complete the ongoing Maha season paddy harvesting, and begin cultivation for the upcoming Yala season without disruption. These measures come in response to the fuel shortage caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, more..

Apr 2 (DM) Since 2019, there’s just one topic that almost every Sri Lankan is interested in particularly in April, other than the Sinhala and Hindu New Year. Seven years have elapsed since the Easter Sunday carnage but the mastermind has not yet been revealed. This means justice has not yet been done to victims and survivors of the deadly attacks. This also means that it would take many more years or even an entire lifetime to bring closure to these victims. more..

Apr 2 (DM) I just asked Google AI what really prompts the US to attack Iran. It gave a list of reasons. Here are some of them, which it attributed to US Prez Donald Trump: To ensure that Iran could not develop a nuclear weapon, to stop planned Iranian attacks on Americans, specifically citing threats against U.S. diplomats and military personnel, to destroy Iran’s missile production and naval capabilities, to prevent the Iranian regime from continuing to arm, fund, and more..

Apr 2 (TM) The SL leopard, also known as Panthera pardus kotiya, is a subspecies native to SL and is the country’s apex predator. However, Uni of Peradeniya is currently on alert following multiple leopard sightings and related activity on campus premises, raising concerns among students and staff. The uni administration has intensified safety measures after CCTV footage showed leopards – who were believed to have more..

Apr 2 (ST) Uncle Thennakoon is known to me since my childhood. I guess he must now be in his eighties. He retired about 25 years ago after serving many long years at Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) as a Bus Conductor. He was not only a friendly bus conductor to the passengers and honest public sector employee to the government, but also a knowledgeable and intelligent person. Those days, I found lots of insights and in-depths in his conversations. more..

Apr 2 (CT) The foremost responsibility of the AKD govt is one: safety and security of its people. Everything else falls second to it. Sustained prosperity, a superior education system and a healthy upbringing of her children are amongst them. Prez Dissanayake and his govt is facing today a global situation which is unique; its architecture and design, its roots and its branching out, its very sustenance depends not on the narrow implementation of the domestic policies more..

Apr 1 (MB) Amid the hustle and bustle of Pettah, one of the busiest marketplaces in the Colombo, Sandya Jayasekara was busy cutting king coconuts for her customers. Despite the heat, Sandya must engage in her business outdoors to earn a living and to fund her medical treatment. “I have been selling king coconuts from a very young age,” Sandya said. “But sales are exceptionally low now because the price of a king coconut varies,” more..

Apr 1 (FT) Govt has moved to simultaneously shield consumers from surging global fuel prices and rein in public expenditure, as it scrambles to manage the economic fallout from escalating tensions in the Gulf region. At its latest meeting on Monday, Cabinet approved a dual-track strategy that underscores both the urgency of the external shock and the fiscal constraints facing the State. In a direct intervention to stabilise retail prices, Cabinet approved to compensate fuel importers if more..

Apr 1 (AD) The implementation of the standardized Value Added Tax (VAT) tax invoice format has been postponed once again, the Inland Revenue Department has announced. The implementation of the specified Tax Invoice format has been postponed until July 1, 2026. Meanwhile, the amendment to the gazette notification in this regard will be issued in due course. The reform was initially scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2026 under Gazette Extraordinary No. 2463/05. more..

Apr 1 (TM) No decision was taken regarding the ministerial position of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said, adding that the Minister will continue in office despite being indicted. Dr. Jayatissa said that Jayakody would continue to function in his current role. He noted the case relates to allegations of corruption stemming from Jayakody’s tenure at a State fertiliser company. more..

Apr 1 (TM) Finalising arrangements with Russian oil companies before the 11 April expiry of the US sanctions waiver is likely to be challenging, Chairperson of CPC Janaka Rajakaruna said. He noted that SL is currently in discussions with Russia to procure oil, but acknowledged that time constraints and procedural complexities may hinder the conclusion of agreements before the deadline. Russia has emerged as an uncertain supplier for some Asian countries following temporary more..

Apr 1 (NF) Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Rudenko arrived in Sri Lanka today for an official visit. His visit is intended for participation in the 11th session of Bilateral Political Consultations between SL and Russia. The consultation will take place this Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session will be attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of SL, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, and special representatives from both nations. more..

Apr 1 (NW) Two individuals have been arrested over a dangerous three-wheeler stunt in Weliweriya after a video of the incident circulated on social media, DIG of Police in charge of Traffic Management and Road Safety W.P.J. Senadheera said. The incident took place on Monday along the main road from Nedungahena towards Meegahawatta, within the Weliweriya Police Division. DIG Senadheera said the suspect vehicle and those involved were identified following an analysis of viral video by police. more..

Apr 1 (TM) Energy Ministry has moved to initiate changes to procurement processes in the energy sector, with particular attention focused on coal procurement, amid longstanding concerns over inefficiencies and repeated scrutiny of tender procedures. Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala said that issues had been identified in the current procurement framework and that corrective steps were now underway. “We have started to review procedures and introduce adjustments more..

Apr 1 (AD) The results of the GCE A/L Examinations 2025, have been released online. The results can be obtained by entering the correct index number after logging on to the official websites of the Dept of Examinations (www.doenets.lk). A total of 221,413 school applicants and 60,397 private applicants sat for the 2025 GCE A/L examination. 146,405 school applicants have qualified for university admission while more..

Apr 1 (DN) “We had strong commitment, and every player made a maximum contribution, which helped us win the Major Club three-day league championship,” said Colts CC skipper Dhananjaya Lakshan said. Colts CC secured the title after a closely contested battle with Ace Capital CC, finishing ahead by a narrow margin of 0.970 points. This marks Colts’ seventh title in their 153-year history, ending a 14-year drought. Their last c'ship win came in the 2011–12 season, more..

Apr 1 (DN) SL produced a powerful and clinical display to stun higher-ranked hosts Chinese Taipei national football team 3-1 in their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers match at Taipei Municipal Stadium yesterday, recording a famous away victory after leading 2-0 at half-time. The result marked SL’s second consecutive win over Chinese Taipei, highlighting their growing dominance despite the islanders entering the match ranked 194 in the FIFA rankings against their opponents’ 174. more..