Apr 11 (AD) SL cricketer Nuwan Thushara has apologised to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) regarding his decision to take legal action over the non-issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). In a letter, Thushara has reportedly stated that he is willing to withdraw the petition filed against Sri Lanka Cricket. In the letter addressed to SLC’s CEO Ashley de Silva, with copies to President Shammi Silva more..

Apr 11 (DN) Rainbow Aquatics signaled their dominance on SL’s biggest junior meet as three of their swimmers were crowned national age group champions, with Rushalee Dissanayake stealing the spotlight with a stunning six-gold, record-breaking performance at the 50th HNB National Age Group Swimming C'ship 2026 held at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex in Colombo. Guided by legendary Olympic swimmer Julian Bolling and coach Penuka Wijemanna, more..

Apr 11 (Island) The much-anticipated 41st Edition of the Colombo Shopping Festival (CSF) – Avurudu Fair was ceremonially declared open at the BMICH Exhibition Centre, marking the beginning of five exciting days of festive shopping in celebration of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The ceremonial opening commenced with the traditional lighting of the oil lamp on 8th April 2026, in the presence of guests, industry leaders, and invitees. Organized by Aitken Spence Conventions and Exhibitions, more..

Apr 11 (DM) Police have been placed on high alert following a disturbing trend in which drug traffickers are using children’s toys to conceal and transport illegal narcotics through courier services. Police said the method is used to avoid routine security checks by disguising drugs inside ordinary, harmless-looking items. Police said that attention was drawn to the tactic after a raid conducted by the Ampara Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau led to the arrest of a suspect linked to more..

Apr 11 (Island) In a significant breakthrough for SL’s trade and logistics sector, authorities have agreed to halve the number of containers subjected to Customs examination at the Colombo Port—an intervention expected to dramatically reduce congestion and costly delays that have plagued importers and exporters for months. The decision emerged following high-level discussions between the Ceylon United Business Alliance (CUBA), senior Customs officials, and more..

Apr 11 (AP) Artemis II’s astronauts returned from the moon with a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific on Friday to close out humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than a half-century. It was a triumphant homecoming for the crew of four whose record-breaking lunar flyby revealed not only swaths of the moon’s far side — never seen before by human eyes — but a total solar eclipse. Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, more..

Apr 11 (FT) During the week, the market gained Rs. 401 billion in value with the ASPI up 4.78% or 1,011.24 points. S&P SL20 was up 4.71% or 277.04 with net foreign outflows recorded at over Rs. 2 billion. Yesterday, ASPI ended on the up by 1.30% or 284.12 points at 22,128.66 and the S&P SL20 was up 1.26% or 76.55 points at 6,152.73. Market turnover was over Rs. 5 billion on nearly 262 million shares traded. Foreign investors remained net sellers, posting a net outflow of Rs. 75.8 m. more..

Apr 11 (DM) Third edition of Varsity Battles, the inter-university capital market quiz competition organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), was successfully concluded at Heritage Hotel, Anuradhapura recently. This event saw participation from 29 teams representing 10 state universities, showcasing the intellectual calibre and enthusiasm of SL undergraduates. The participants at the final round won their way up through more..

Apr 11 (DM) Electricity bills are set to remain in fresh focus as SL pushes ahead with IMF-backed reforms, with rising global energy costs forcing further tariff pressure even as authorities try to protect struggling households. The challenge has been made harder by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which, according to the IMF, could have a significant impact on SL’s economy, particularly through higher fuel and energy costs more..

Apr 11 (TM) Labour Dept has confirmed that the day following the National Vesak Festival in 2026, which falls on 30 May, will not be observed as a public holiday. The 2026 National Vesak Festival in SL is scheduled to take place in Matara on 27, 28, and 29, May featuring religious, cultural, and community activities to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Gautama Buddha. Dept stated that Gazette Notification No. 2438/22 dated 27 May 2025, outlining public holidays for 2026, more..

Apr 11 (DM) SL could face a significant economic downturn if the conflict in the Middle East persists and market forces are not allowed to operate freely, JB Securities CEO and Advocata Institute Chairperson Murtaza Jafferjee warned at a recent webinar. Speaking at the session titled Geopolitics in motion: Understanding the Middle East crisis and its ripple effects, Jafferjee said the country’s 2022 economic crisis was largely driven by the prolonged govt intervention in key markets. more..

Apr 11 (FT) People's Bank, which introduced the tradition of doing business with the bank, is bringing new meaning to the Sinhala and Tamil Avurudu Ganu Denu customs, by making arrangements to offer gifts to all those who take part in traditional Avurudu Ganu Denu. Commenting on this initiative, Deputy General Manager-Retail Banking and Overseas Customer Services Aruni Liyanagunawardana stated: “People’s Bank, known for introducing numerous innovations to more..

Apr 11 (FT) UK’s revised Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), effective from Jan 2026, presents a clear opportunity for SL’s apparel sector. It is particularly significant for small and medium-sized exporters, offering them a stronger footing in a key market. The real strength of the revised scheme lies in its practicality. By easing rules of origin and allowing greater flexibility in sourcing inputs, DCTS removes a longstanding constraint that has disproportionately affected smaller exporters. more..

Apr 11 (FT) Releasing its latest economic outlook for SL yesterday, Asian Development Bank said that containing the economic fallout from the Mideast war and sustaining growth will depend on maintaining reform momentum and improving the execution of underperforming public investment. SL’s economic growth is expected to moderate to 4.0% in 2026 and edge up to 4.2% in 2027, following two consecutive years of 5.0% expansion, more..

Apr 11 (Island) The recent disclosure of a substantial internal fraud at National Development Bank has understandably unsettled the financial community. What began as a relatively contained incident has since been revised upwards, revealing a scheme that operated over an extended period within a specific operational area. To their credit, both the bank and Central Bank responded with speed. Staff were suspended, arrests followed, an independent forensic review was commissioned, more..

Apr 11 (FT) There had been a close silence on the matter of bringing past miscreants in high places to justice until the renewed demand – and fresh deadline – for a former President to prove his bona fides as regards assets, revenue streams and sources of wealth. Then suddenly the cacophony of nationalists crying foul on the grounds of anti-patriotic elements driving the agenda threatened to drown out all other noise around the vexed issue. And it reminded me that not only is our more..

Apr 11 (FT) On my way to a location adjacent to one of our foremost research institutes, I was struck by two near stone age scenes: paddy drying along the roadside and someone inviting me to drive over the harvest for threshing, revealing how rudimentary our agricultural technology remains. This illustrates my main concern—despite advances and repeated inquiries about paddy production and variety, our post-harvest processes have remained stagnant for decades. more..

Apr 11 (Island) JVP-NPP govt has dropped the fig leaf of good governance and defended Minister Kumara Jayakody allegedly involved in a coal procurement scam, which has cost the state coffers billions of rupees and caused a huge drop in the national power supply. It went so far as to defeat a no-faith motion against him in Parliament yesterday. In 2023, JVP/NPP vehemently condemned the then SLPP-UNP govt for defending Minister Keheliya Rambukwella allegedly involved in a more..

Apr 11 (SO) April arrives with familiar signs which stir memory and meaning. The signals to watch out for are the steady call of the Asian koel and the crimson-hued Erabadu flowers in bloom. You also get the mouthwatering aroma of Avurudu sweetmeats sizzling in each kitchen. These are laid out as a feast at the tables during the auspicious hours. Avurudu food takes centre stage during this time. It is not just about consuming more..

Apr 11 (CT) It is a reflection of the rot in governance in this country that the NDB Bank PLC Director Board is still in office despite its shocking negligence to prevent the massive internal fraud estimated at a minimum of Rs. 13.2 Billion. Their removal is necessary for their shocking negligence and the potential to tamper with evidence to save their skins. Since the integrity of most regulatory agencies have been compromised in some shape or form over the years – SEC, CBSL, CA SL and BASL, more..

Apr 11 (DM) Our country the Pearl of the Indian Ocean is once again in the middle of spell of dry weather. Temperatures are soaring and authorities governing our water resources are demanding, people use water sparingly. They warn only very limited quantities of the precious liquid is available and that too, for only a short period of time. The situation, according to the NSWDB, is dire. The reason, technology for preserving water has not grown since the kings of old ushered in more..

Apr 11 (TM) In an initiative to encourage the general public to use energy sparingly, amidst the uncertainty arising from the Iran war and tensions in the Middle East, Govt launched the Surakimu Lanka national programme on 29 March. As its primary objective focuses on fostering a community that carefully conserves energy resources, the programme encourages limiting electricity usage during peak hours more..

Apr 11 (TM) The findings of the Special Audit Report on coal procurement for the 2025/2026 season transcend mere inefficiency. This is a document that shows systemic failure, a damning indictment of a Govt that has allowed the Nation’s energy security to be traded away for shoddy contracts and phantom oversight. Released on 2 April and laid before Parliament on 8 April, the report strips away the veneer of unforeseeable circumstances the Ministry has used to shield itself. more..

Apr 11 (DM) Iran restored the dignity of Muslims worldwide by single-handedly fighting against the world’s most powerful sole super power United States and the artificial political entity of Israel, planted by British and US powers for Jewish settlers, after driving out Palestinian, sons and daughters of the soil, by means of massacres and genocides. This happens while oppressive Arab nations, installed in power by Britain and France in the aftermath of the collapse of Ottoman Empire more..

Apr 10 (FT) Today is an eventful day for the NPP administration, as it faces the first No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against a Cabinet Minister since coming into power in late 2024. Ironically, the NCM - which is moved against Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody – contains allegations of corruption although fighting corruption was the main campaign theme of the NPP-led political alliance during the previous national election cycle. more..

Apr 10 (Island) Former Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should remove Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody unless the minister stepped down on his own.Prof. Peiris, addressing a press conference called by the Opposition, said that Jayakody couldn’t under any circumstance continue to serve as a minister after the CIABOC moved the Colombo High Court against the govt member over a previous financial scandal. more..

Apr 10 (NW) A no-confidence motion against Minister Kumara Jayakodi is scheduled to be debated in Parliament today. Motion, submitted by the Opposition, is based on allegations related to the procurement and quality of coal imports and their impact on power generation. Opposition MPs have claimed that issues linked to coal procurement and supply contributed to disruptions in electricity generation, prompting the move to bring a no-confidence motion against the Minister. more..

Apr 10 (FT) In a major boost for the country, SL has reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on the combined Fifth and Sixth Reviews under its $ 3 billion EFF, positioning the country to access around $ 700 million in fresh financing, subject to key reform conditions. IMF said the agreement remains contingent on the restoration of cost-recovery electricity and fuel pricing, alongside the completion of financing assurances and more..

Apr 10 (NW) The ultra-luxury cruise ship Silver Dawn arrived in Galle (09) carrying 596 tourists and 411 crew members, bringing the total number onboard to 1,007. The vessel, currently anchored off the Galle Harbour, is 213 metres long and features 11 decks equipped with high-end luxury facilities. Tourists arriving on the cruise ship are scheduled to visit several popular destinations including the Galle Fort, Balapitiya Madu River, Unawatuna, Rumassala and Koggala. more..

Apr 10 (TM) SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara taking part in parliament sessions on Tuesday charged that the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL) had failed to hold its annual general meeting for 2025, while failing to pass its budget for this year. He alleged that under such suspicious circumstances the NOCSL was planning to press ahead with its election of office bearers for the four-year term 2025-29 on 25 April. “NOCSL has also failed to submit the completed audit report for 2024, more..

Apr 10 (Island) Lankan Australian playwright S Shakthidharan, widely known as Shakthi, has won the $US 175,000 ($250,000) Windham-Campbell Prize for drama.The international prize is awarded each year to writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama for their body of work. Writers are nominated secretly and cannot apply. Shakthi won the award for his ambitious, multigenerational plays exploring Sri Lankan Tamil migrant experiences, including his debut Counting and Cracking. more..

Apr 10 (Island) SL could face extended drought conditions through September if an El Niño event develops during the upcoming southwest monsoon season, Dept of Meteorology warned. Additional Director General Ajith Wijemanna stressed the need for proactive water management to mitigate potential shortages. He cautioned that both drinking water supplies and irrigation systems would need to be carefully managed in the months ahead, particularly if rainfall levels decline. more..