Apr 27 (AD) Jaffna District MP Ramanathan Archchuna, who was arrested by the Ilavalai Police this morning, has been remanded. MP Archchuna has been remanded until April 29 by the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court. MP was arrested in connection with allegations of criminal intimidation involving the brandishing of a firearm, as well as criminal trespass. On April 25, in the Periyavilan area of Jaffna, MP Archchuna allegedly threatened a woman while brandishing a firearm. more..

Apr 27 (AD) Donations received for the Rebuilding SL Fund are securely held in the Treasury, according to the Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha. He made this statement while providing a special clarification regarding concerns that have arisen by various factions about the fund. As of April 24, a total of Rs. 9,583 million has been received for the Rebuilding SL Fund. Minister also stated that Sri Lankans living abroad from 49 countries, as well as foreign nationals, have contributed to donations. more..

Apr 27 (FT) Vehicle imports slowed sharply in early 2026, with the sector’s contribution to growth and fiscal revenues beginning to taper even as March registrations rose on existing inventory. JB Securities CEO Murtaza Jafferjee said monthly vehicle imports have shown a clear slowdown this year, particularly in personal vehicles, with import values declining from a peak of $ 240.9 mil in Dec 2025 to $ 148.4 mil in February. more..

Apr 27 (CT) Nearly 1,900 Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) beneficiaries who exited the CEB under the Ministry of Energy’s restructuring programme say they will launch a protest campaign, VRS – Api Wenuwen Api, on or after 27 April if the promised payments are not released. Group claims that each approved retiree is entitled to a govt-stipulated payment of Rs 5 million, which has remained pending despite repeated assurances. They allege that the Cabinet approval more..

Apr 27 (NW) RDA has strongly denied allegations that more than Rs. 380 million was mistakenly paid twice to contractors, describing the claims as false, misleading, and completely baseless. In an official statement, RDA said no such double payment had been made from its accounts and confirmed that no financial loss had occurred to the institution. The authority further stated that it had no involvement in initiating or processing the transactions referred to in the allegations. more..

Apr 27 (DM) SLC President Shammi Silva is expected to step down from his position on Wednesday, amid mounting pressure and ongoing discussions at the highest levels of govt, according to informed sources. However, it remains unclear whether the SLC Executive Committee will also step down alongside him. Sources indicate that Silva’s decision follows a request made by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. more..

Apr 27 (DM) The CID has intensified its probe into the theft of US 2.5 million from the computer systems of the Department of External Resources, which operates under the Ministry of Finance. As part of the ongoing investigation, the CID recorded formal statements from seven officials. Police said these individuals represent both the Department of External Resources and the State Debt Management Office of the General Treasury. To assist with digital evidence gathering, more..

Apr 27 (NW) A special traffic plan will be implemented in Colombo tomorrow in connection with the Walk for Peace programme. According to the Police, the programme is scheduled to commence at 4 pm at Independence Square in Colombo under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. As such, vehicular movement will be restricted on several key roads from 11 am onwards, subject to prevailing conditions. The affected roads include Baseline Road more..

Apr 27 (FT) According to Kpler, a global business intelligence company, seaborne crude and condensate exports were down 6.9 million bpd in March compared to the previous month, and are down another 1.8 million bpd through 20 April. This leads to the conclusion that loadings are likely to be down 8.8 million bpd from prewar levels. If no miracles occur in the remaining days of April, then crude and condensate exports will be about the same as the lows last seen during more..

Apr 27 (FT) It has been fashionable for notable figures and political leaders to arouse positive sentiments among people deeply entrenched in crises, urging them not to lose faith but to use crises as opportunities to make a new start as a nation. The 2nd Century CE Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, put this nicely into a workable guide by advising that the impediment to action advances action; what stands in the way becomes the way. In a speech in 1959, US Prez John F. Kennedy more..

Apr 27 (TM) In one of the largest narcotics seizures ever recorded at the BIA, 22 individuals dressed in Buddhist monastic robes were arrested with more than 110 kilograms of Kush cannabis and Hashish valued at over Rs. 110 million. The arrests were made during a special operation conducted yesterday by officers of the PNB airport unit. Police stated the drugs were concealed inside specially modified false compartments more..

Apr 27 (CT) Third phase of excavation at the Chemmani mass grave site is scheduled to commence today. During the first two phases of excavation at the Chemmani site, a total of 240 human skeletal remains were identified, of which 239 have been exhumed. As additional skeletal remains are believed to be present in the area, JMO submitted a request to Court seeking approval to proceed with a third phase of excavation, noting that an 8-week period would be required for more..

Apr 27 (Island) A land distribution programme benefiting families displaced by disaster in the Kandy District was held on April 24 at the Kandy District Secretariat, with 44 affected households receiving plots in the Hanthana area. The initiative targeted residents of the Gangawata Korale DS division whose homes were completely destroyed in a recent disaster, leaving them without permanent shelter. The event was presided over by Minister K.D. Lalkantha, more..

Apr 27 (FT) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe has pointed to negligence and vulnerability in Treasury payments following the $ 2.5 million cyber breach linked to a Govt debt transaction, framing the incident as part of broader systemic weaknesses in public sector processes. In a Facebook post, Abeysinghe said the breach reflected longstanding deficiencies in administrative systems rather than an isolated failure, more..

Apr 27 (TM) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism has instructed the Sri Lankan Mission in Ethiopia to explore possible ways to assist in securing the release of a SL crew member aboard an oil tanker reportedly seized by pirates. Sources from the Ministry stated the SL Mission in Ethiopia had been directed to liaise with Somali authorities regarding the repatriation of the Sri Lankan national who was serving aboard a fuel tanker allegedly seized by Somali pirates. more..

Apr 27 (FT) The Govt has invited local and int'l investors to submit proposals to develop and operate the underutilised Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA) by June in a renewed push to unlock value from the Hambantota-based facility. The call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs), issued by Ports & Civil Aviation Ministry on behalf of Airport and Aviation Services SL Ltd (AASL), seeks investment partners to utilise airport resources across both operational and commercial segments. more..

Apr 27 (DM) The Mahanayaka Theros of SL’s three main Nikayas—Siyam, Amarapura and Ramanna—have issued a joint statement strongly condemning what they described as anti-Sasana and illegal acts carried out by individuals posing as Buddhist monks and misusing saffron robes to transport narcotics. In their statement, the Chief Prelates expressed grave concern that such actions have tarnished the historic role and reputation of the Buddhist clergy both locally and internationally. more..

Apr 27 (AD) The Sagarika Train, which derailed, will resume operations from today (27), according to the Department of Railways. Transport Superintendent Asanka Samarasinghe stated that the train will return to its normal schedule starting today. The derailment occurred on April 24 when the Sagarika train, travelling from Beliatta to Maradana, went off the tracks at Wadduwa Railway Station. During the incident, 11 out of the train’s 13 compartments derailed. Following the accident, more..

Apr 27 (FT) SL’s tourism sector showed clear signs of cooling in April, even as the country edged close to the 100,000 mark in arrivals during the first three weeks of the month. According to SLTDA, SL welcomed 99,777 visitors between 1 and 22 April, marking a 26% decline year-on-year (YoY) compared to 133,979 arrivals in the same period last year. The slowdown comes despite SL crossing the symbolic 100,000 visitor threshold during the period, a clear shift from the strong momentum more..

Apr 27 (FT) In response to the recent floods that affected the infrastructure of the Faculty of Agriculture at the Uni of Peradeniya, Cargills Dairies Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, through its leading ice cream brand Magic, donated laboratory equipment and laptops to support the restoration of faculty facilities. These contributions are intended to help rebuild the learning and research environment while providing students with hands-on experience in dairy more..

Apr 27 (ST) A message of peace and compassion reached the hearts of people of Sri Lanka when a delegation of monks led by Ven. Pannakara Thera began a much-anticipated walk in Sri Lanka. The monks who arrived in SL from the US along with peace dog Aloka are spreading the word of the Buddha and teachings of kindness and compassion. With deep respect and kindness, Sri Lankans are supporting the visiting monks more..

Apr 27 (FT) The CoPF has approved new regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021, easing restrictions on duty-free retail operations within Colombo Port City. The regulations, issued via Gazette No. 2475/28 dated 13 Feb, relax limits previously imposed on SL citizens purchasing goods from duty-free shopping complexes in Port City. The move is aimed at increasing local participation in retail activity within the zone. more..

Apr 27 (ST) The Hemas Group is in the process of obtaining EU GMP (European Union Good Manufacturing Practice), in a bid to venture into European markets with their locally-made medicines, a top official said. EU GMP consists of stringent regulations that guarantee pharmaceutical products are consistently manufactured and controlled to meet high-quality and safety standards, and it encompasses quality management, personnel, premises, documentation, and production for more..

Apr 27 (TM) Deflecting allegations of diminishing surveillance in the prevention of a resurgence of measles in the country, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana said that there was a case based surveillance system in place at ground level to prevent the disease from reemerging. He said that the public health services carried out a surveillance in which the patients – whether child or adult, contacts who were exposed to the patient were identified and advised to be cautious. more..

Apr 27 (FT) For thousands of schoolchildren across SL, a daily meal is more than nourishment—it is the foundation for learning, growth, and a more secure future. It is within this context that the Lions Clubs Int'l Foundation (LCIF) recently convened a press conference to highlight the scale of national impact achieved through Lions-led initiatives, specially its collaboration with the UN World Food Program (WFP). The collaboration with the WFP is part of a $ 2 million partnership more..

Apr 27 (DN) Leg spinner Dilum Sudeera finished with impressive bowling figures taking match bag of 10 for 145 while Kamil Mishara hit superb knock of 174 as SL A recorded an easy innings and 109 runs win over New Zealand A in their second 4-day unofficial test match to seal the series win 1-0 at Galle Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. NZ A continued their overnight total of 45/4 and were bowled out for 104 yesterday before lunch after batting only 18.2 overs of the first session. more..

Apr 27 (FT) SL’s fiscal position strengthened markedly in Jan 2026, with a sharp expansion in the primary surplus and a near-elimination of the overall Budget deficit, according to the data. Govt recorded a primary surplus of Rs. 222.82 billion for the month, up 86.7% from Rs. 119.33 billion a year earlier, reflecting a continued improvement in revenue performance alongside restrained expenditure growth. more..

Apr 27 (DM) ​Sri Lanka’s local automotive market recorded a substantial influx of vehicle imports in March, with total motor vehicle registrations expanding by 15.6% month-on-month to reach 59,734 units, according to the latest data. This sharp acceleration is largely driven by a pronounced pickup in electric vehicle adoption, reflecting immediate consumer momentum as the country grapples with rising foreign exchange outflows. ​A comprehensive breakdown of the March more..

Apr 27 (NW) A video circulating on social media shows MP Ramanathan Archchuna involved in an altercation with a group of individuals during a dispute in Periyavilaan, Jaffna, over a contested piece of land. The incident is linked to an ongoing case before a magistrate’s court regarding ownership of the land, with both the MP and another party, including a woman, claiming rights over the property. On the 25th, the MP was reportedly engaged in cleaning work on more..

Apr 27 (Island) Sri Lanka’s Tuskers showed bite but not quite enough teeth as New Zealand’s Under-85kg side edged a bruising 27-16 win in the opening leg of their two-match series at Racecourse on Saturday. Under lights for the second straight year, the visitors rode pressure, precision and a late sucker punch to take first blood in a contest that swung on momentum and discipline. NZ struck early at the breakdown, forcing a turnover penalty with SL pinged for holding on. more..

Apr 27 (AD) COPF is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, and a decision will be taken then over the incident involving a US$2.5 million foreign debt repayment without any political party differences, says the Chairman of the Committee, MP Dr. Harsha de Silva. He also stated that the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance is expected to be summoned to the Parliament based on the decision taken there. MP said that it is absolutely unbelievable that the computer network of the Ministry of Finance more..