Apr 25 (FT) SL’s export sector is operating well below potential, with an estimated $ 6 billion in unrealised export capacity, as weak trade performance continues to strain the country’s external position and weigh on currency stability. This is according to a recent Asian Development Bank brief notes that if this untapped potential were fully realised, SL’s exports could increase by 47%, providing a critical buffer as external debt more..

Apr 25 (FT) SLASSCOM Women in Tech Conference 4.0 reaffirmed its position as SL’s premier platform for advancing women’s leadership in the digital economy. Held under the theme Give to Gain: Building Inclusive Digital Futures, it convened industry leaders to explore the future of work, digital transformation, and the growing role of women in shaping business, technology, and policy, highlighting gender diversity as a strategic imperative for future-ready organisations. more..

Apr 25 (FT) Agriculture Ministers from across Asia and the Pacific have called for stronger regional cooperation to safeguard food security and build resilient agrifood systems, as geopolitical tensions and climate pressures intensify risks to global food supply chains. The discussions took place at the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Brunei Darussalam, convened by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). more..

Apr 25 (ST) The first zero-emission Material Collection and Processing Facility in SL was recently inaugurated. This initiative is funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), implemented by Janathakshan, with Neptune Recyclers serving as the recycling partner, in collaboration with Talawakelle Plantation. Somerset ECO Material Collection & Processing Centre was officially opened on March 18, commemorating World Recycling Day, under the theme Circular Symbiosis for more..

Apr 25 (TM) The recent Iran conflict demonstrates that modern warfare is fundamentally intertwined with energy law and energy security. Rather than being limited to military confrontation, the conflict has exposed the vulnerability of energy systems as central pillars of national and global stability. Attacks on energy infrastructure — such as oil refineries, pipelines, and power plants — transform war into a direct assault on economic lifelines. From a legal perspective, the targeting of more..

Apr 25 (TM) National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) is currently unable to carry out breast cancer screening for women at its recently relocated Cancer Early Detection Centre in Colombo due to a lack of space to install a mammography machine, Govt Radiological Technologists said. The Centre, which operated for over 20 years in a private building on Alvitigala Mawatha, Narahenpita, was relocated in February to a new facility more..

Apr 25 (FT) The Colombo stock market ended a cautious and volatile week down 0.9% or 205.7 points while the active S&P SL20 Index decreased by 59.3 points. During the week, the market witnessed a net foreign outflow of over Rs. 2.6 billion, taking the year-to-date net outflow to Rs. 24.9 billion. Yesterday, ASPI gained 1.05 points to close at 22,567.63 and the S&P SL20 ended 0.02% lower, down 1.11 points to 6,204.62. Market turnover was over Rs. 2b on over 120 mil shares traded. more..

Apr 25 (CT) In the Sinharaja region of Southern Sri Lanka, a forest corridor known as Bootiyathenna is being cleared through mechanised gem mining and land conversion for tea cultivation. The destruction is ongoing, documented, and according to environmental activists and researchers, pushing several species found nowhere else in the world closer to extinction. A leading businessman from Rakwana city has been identified as the primary actor behind the clearing. more..

Apr 25 (Island) Another scandal has come to light and made international headlines. The illegal diversion of Treasury funds amounting to USD 2.5 million, meant for bilateral debt repayment to Australia, to a third party, could not have come at a worse time. It has happened close on the heels of the launch of the National QR Payment Adoption Programme to transform SL into a cashlite economy. Although the two payment systems are vastly different, and risks are much lower where more..

Apr 25 (TM) Colombo, as we know and experience it today, is largely built on its own ecological memory. What now seems like solid urban terrain was once a complex wetland landscape, an intricate mosaic of marshes, floodplains, waterways, tree canopies, wildlife habitats, and aquatic plants that contributed to the City’s original environmental awareness. This was not vacant land awaiting development, but a living delta system guiding the water flow, settlement, and the City’s breathing. more..

Apr 25 (ICG) What’s new? Almost eighteen months into its term in office, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s NPP govt has kept SL’s economic recovery on track and made notable efforts to fight corruption. But it faces growing questions about its ability and commitment to achieve its bold promises of system change. Why does it matter? Dissanayake’s election in Sept 2024 & NPP’s subsequent parliamentary majority more..

Apr 25 (DM) Few agricultural products in the world carry the prestige and recognition of Ceylon Tea. For more than a century, the emerald hills of Sri Lanka have produced a beverage that has travelled from misty plantations to the tables of millions across the globe. Tea has shaped the country’s landscapes, built communities, and created livelihoods for generations. It became not merely a crop, but a national identity. Yet today SL’s tea industry stands at a defining moment in its history. more..

Apr 25 (DM) The diversion of nearly USD 2.5 million from SL’s Treasury highlights a dangerous evolution in financial crime: the manipulation of trusted communication over traditional hacking. With investigations pointing toward compromised emails and privilege creep, the incident underscores a global reality where 80% of breaches involve identity misuse. As SL’s digital transformation accelerates, this heist serves as a critical wake-up call to move beyond simple perimeter defense more..

Apr 25 (SO) Anuradhapura South prospered following the Mahaweli water transfer program launched in 1976 under the Mahaweli Development Plan which was approved in 1968. This program was to ensure reliable water supply for agriculture, domestic use and commercial activities thereby transforming livelihoods of what is now known as Wet Anuradhapura. In contrast, areas North of Anuradhapura referred to as more..

Apr 25 (DM) The landscape of domestic violence in SL is defined by a profound tension between progressive legislative frameworks and deeply entrenched patriarchal social norms. While the State has made significant strides in codifying protections for women, the lived reality for many survivors is governed by a culture of silence and the social pressure of lajjawa-baya (shame and fear). This cultural weight often reclassifies criminal acts as private domestic disputes, more..

Apr 25 (DM) It’s over a year-and-a-half since the NPP Govt captured political power in this country. Over four years have passed since the country declared itself bankrupt in 2022 following an unprecedented economic crisis. The crisis in turn led to unprecedented protests and calls for leadership, social and regime change. Memorable slogans of Gota go Home and Mynah go Gama – demanding then President and Premier resign. The JVP and its splinter group －the FSP, more..

Apr 24 (NW) UNP has condemned what it described as a sudden visit by officers of the CID to the residence of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to record a statement from his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe. UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena said the party was saddened by the move, noting that Wickremesinghe is currently recovering after undergoing heart surgery. He said Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe has been overseeing the former Prez’s health and more..

Apr 24 (TM) A migrant health screening programme that is in place and is capable of generating revenue for Sri Lanka has yet to be taken over by the Govt, despite the initial investment having been fully recovered by 2022, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni said. He said that under the system implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), migrants who remain in SL for more than six months are required to undergo medical examinations to screen more..

Apr 24 (TM) In anticipation of possible food insecurities that could arise from the ongoing Middle East (ME) war, Trade, Commerce, Food Security & Cooperative Development Ministry, in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, is moving to boost and encourage the cultivation of high-yield seeds grown under special conditions, through training farmer-entrepreneurs. Deputy subject Minister R.M. Jayawardhana said that more..

Apr 24 (AD) Continuing his official visit to the UN Headquarters in New York City, SL’s Secretary of Defence, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha, engaged in a high-level meeting with Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General responsible for the Middle East, Europe, Americas, Asia and the Pacific at the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO). During the discussions, SL delegation provided a comprehensive outline of more..

Apr 24 (AD) Minister Chandana Abeyrathne stated that a formal complaint has been lodged with the CID regarding an apparent cyberattack targeting the official website of the Ministry of Public Administration. Minister noted that the complaint was filed through the intervention of the Ministry Secretary. Recent reports indicate that the Ministry’s website was subjected to a cyberattack, during which perpetrators allegedly attempted to auction data obtained from the site for financial gain. more..

Apr 24 (Island) The govt has suspended sand mining permits issued in March 2026 across the Mannar District following the launch of a CID probe into alleged large-scale irregularities. The decision was taken at a district-level meeting on sand distribution held at Mannar District Secretariat on April 18, chaired by Mannar District Secretary K. Kanageswaran. The meeting was attended by State Minister Upali Samarasinghe, more..

Apr 24 (TM) In a ceremony emphasising environmental preservation and peace, two forest areas are set to be declared protected reserves today, as part of the ongoing Walk for Peace programme. Official designation will be conveyed through a Sannas Patra, which is scheduled to be presented to Venerable Pannyakara Thero of Vietnam and other dignitaries participating in the peace walk. The forests identified for protection are Nagahamulayaya in the Matale District more..

Apr 24 (DM) A man who climbed onto a traffic light in front of the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo was safely rescued this morning by Police and firefighters. Fire and rescue teams had positioned an inflatable safety cushion beneath the structure as a precaution. According to video footage, cloth the man was holding suddenly gave way, but he landed safely on the cushion without injury. As emergency teams moved in, the man could be heard pleading, Please don’t hit. more..

Apr 24 (DM) All liquor shops islandwide will be closed for three days in May in view of Int'l Workers’ Day and the Vesak festival, the Dept of Excise said. Accordingly, liquor outlets will remain closed on May 1 to mark Int'l Workers’ Day (May Day). The dept further stated that all liquor stores will also be shut on May 30, which falls on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, and on May 31, the day following Vesak. The govt, meanwhile, said that Vesak Full Moon Poya Day will be observed on May 30 more..

Apr 24 (TM) World Immunization Week starts today (24) and will run until 30 April. The week-long event aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages from preventable diseases and to underscore the importance of collective action in immunization efforts. The World Health Organization (WHO) collaborates with numerous countries to raise awareness about the vital role vaccines play in safeguarding public health. WHO provides Govts with essential guidance and more..

Apr 24 (AD) General Manager of Railways, Ravindra Pathmapriya, stated that the re-railing operations for the derailed Sagarika train have commenced and that train services on the coastal line are expected to be restored within two days. He made these remarks while addressing the media, adding that the Minister has instructed officials to take all necessary measures to minimise the inconvenience caused to passengers. more..

Apr 24 (NF) CID is currently recording a statement from Maithree Wickremesinghe, the wife of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, police said. Police stated that, based on information provided by her legal representatives regarding her medical condition, CID officers have gone to her place where she is residing at, to record the statement. The statement is being obtained in connection with an ongoing case filed against former Prez over allegations of using public funds more..

Apr 24 (NW) Third day of the Walk for Peace pilgrimage commenced this morning in front of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. PM Harini Amarasuriya and the Maha Sangha of both monastic chapters participated in today’s event organized as part of the campaign’s third day. Most Venerable Pannakara Thero, who previously led a 110-day peace walk in the US from Texas to Washington, covering ten states, arrived in SL together with members of the Maha Sangha more..

Apr 24 (AD) The Director of Mass Communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, Reverend Father Jude Chrysantha, has stated that reports claiming that His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has decided to step down from his post as Archbishop of Colombo in late 2026 are false. Responding to an inquiry, he clarified that decisions regarding the appointment or retirement of an Archbishop are made solely by Vatican. more..

Apr 24 (NF) The Colombo High Court trial-at-bar rejected a request made by former IGP Pujith Jayasundara seeking permission to add new information to the statement he made from the dock in the Easter Sunday terror attacks case. The request was considered before the three-judge bench comprising Justices Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasuriya, and Thilakaratne Bandara. The case has been filed against the former IGP Pujith Jayasundara under several charges, more..

Apr 24 (Island) Discussions at the ILO-organized South-4-Care Learning Hub highlighted that progress in the care economy across South Asia is within reach when govts, employers and workers act together through coherent policies and social dialogue. Countries across South Asia came together to advance decent work in the care economy through a four-day South-South knowledge exchange and capacity-building initiative organized by the Int'l Labour Organization (ILO), more..