Apr 24 (FT) Treasury Secretary Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma yesterday said SL does not face a technical default following the diversion of funds intended for Australia’s export credit agency, responding to concerns raised by CoPF Chairman MP Harsha de Silva. Cyber criminals had breached email systems linked to the Finance Ministry External Resources Department and the creditor, redirecting repayments of around $2.5 m. more..

Apr 24 (Hindu) INS Nireekshak, the Indian Navy’s Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel, arrived in Colombo on Tuesday (21) to participate in the fourth edition of the India–SL Diving Exercise (DIVEX 2026), scheduled from April 21 to 27. The bilateral exercise will be conducted over a week and brings together diving teams from both navies to undertake specialised underwater operations and training. The engagement aims to enhance interoperability, operational cohesion, and more..

Apr 24 (NW) Sri Lanka positioned itself as a trusted and reliable investment partner during a high‑level virtual roundtable chaired by Presidential Special Envoy for Foreign Investment and Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof. Representatives from major U.S. corporations, including SpaceX, Apple, Coca‑Cola, Mastercard, Visa, Boeing, Chevron, Corteva, Meta, Google, and Airbnb, joined the discussions. In a statement on ‘X’, Hanif Yusoof said that, during the discussion, more..

Apr 24 (Island) On the occasion of World Earth Day, the conversation around sustainability often turns to forests, oceans, and climate. Yet, one of the most critical resources sustaining life remains largely unnoticed – soil. Beneath every thriving crop and every secure food system lies a complex, living ecosystem that quietly performs functions essential not just for agriculture, but for the health of the planet itself. Soil is far more than a passive medium for plant growth. more..

Apr 24 (TM) In a country where the average citizen is squeezed for every cent of tax and every rupee of VAT, the news of $ 2.5 million vanishing into the digital ether is an insult. This is not some minor accounting error or a rounding mistake in a ledger. We are talking about nearly Rs. 750 million of public money, intended for a bilateral agreement with Australia that has reportedly been diverted through nothing more than a few fraudulent email instructions. If the situation were not so tragic, more..

Apr 24 (FT) SL’s total export earnings registered a modest increase in the first quarter of 2026, reaching over $ 4.3 billion, up 1.6% year-on-year (YoY), according to EDB. Merchandise exports in 1Q rose 1.2% YoY to exceed $ 3.3 billion, while estimated services exports grew at a faster pace of 3.13% YoY to $ 921.11 million, reflecting resilience in sectors such as ICT/BPM, construction, financial services & logistics. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Pride Rock Partners, a SL company specialised in Ceylon Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oils, cemented its position on the global stage when it hosted a session at the World Aroma Ingredients Congress and Expo 2026 organised by the Essential Oil Association of India from 16 March to 18 March, at Hotel Fairmont Mumbai. The congress brought together leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers who represent the global fragrance and flavour ecosystem under more..

Apr 24 (Island) Opposition is intensely resentful that the govt has thwarted its attempt to have President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also Minister of Finance, summoned before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the green-channelling of 323 red-flagged freight containers in the Colombo Port in Jan 2025. When the Opposition members of the PSC proposed that President Dissanayake be summoned, their govt counterparts put the proposal to a vote and defeated it. more..

Apr 24 (DM) Nothing in recent human history has dominated the life of a human being than the motor car. Be it war, peace, exploration, or any kind of humanitarian activity, they have always increased in efficiency due to the motor car and of course its internal combustion engine. Even though the motorcar was developed into a luxurious car in the European countries, including Germany and England, it is not until Henry Ford came up with this Model T, a car for the great multitude that more..

Apr 24 (GV) The prosecution of war crimes has increasingly transcended national borders, reflecting a growing interplay between domestic legal systems and international accountability mechanisms. Where states are perceived as unwilling or unable to address grave violations, foreign courts have invoked universal jurisdiction, extending legal scrutiny beyond territorial boundaries. For SL, this is not an abstract concern. Nearly 15 years after the end of its protracted conflict with the LTTE, more..

Apr 24 (TM) Train services along Sri Lanka’s scenic upcountry railway line remain disrupted months after Cyclone Ditwah, with the iconic Udarata Menike train currently operating only up to Rambukkana as repair work continues on severely damaged sections of track. The curtailment reflects the scale of destruction caused by the cyclone, which damaged 223 locations along the Colombo–Badulla railway line due to landslides and more..

Apr 24 (DM) Flaws in procedures in procurement of 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 checkers (Damm) boards landed former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando in jail last year. Would a similar scenario take place in the case regarding the coal procurement controversy, landing Kumara Jayakody, the Energy Minister of the NPP govt, in prison? Govt ministers have been arguing that no procurement procedures have been violated during more..

Apr 24 (DM) SL is once again in the global spotlight with the Ehipassiko Global Walk for Peace currently parading the streets across the country. Led by Ven. Pannakara Thera, the Walk commenced in October 2025 when monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Centre in Texas walked 2,300+ miles to Washington DC. The main objective of this Walk is to promote unity, compassion and mindfulness amidst social division. One of the main highlights of this walk is the story of Aloka, the peace dog. more..

Apr 24 (DM) SL’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is 1.3, according to the latest census. This is lower than non-Hispanic whites in the USA. This is a drastic drop since 2016, when the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) reported a TFR of 2.2 live births per woman. However, the decline should not have come as a surprise. Number of births in SL had collapsed following the 2022 economic crisis. There were 171,140 marriages registered in 2022, more..

Apr 24 (CT) This is about our Leftist President who has made a turn to the Right. His Opponents claim they know better and could perform better. So, this essay is about Political Hypocrisy. The Global Economy is where the Left and Right finally meet. Adam Smith’s invisible hand is best used for reaching into someone else’s pocket or as the War in West Asia has shown, a global hegemons ability to seize confiscate another sovereign nation’s natural resources. more..

Apr 24 (DM) The recent money hacking incident at Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry has cast a long and uncomfortable shadow over the govt’s reform narrative. It is not merely the breach itself that alarms, but its timing—coming in the wake of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s press release formally transferring public debt management responsibilities to the Finance Ministry. What was projected as a structural reform aligned with international best practice now risks being viewed through more..

Apr 3 (TM) SL has seen a notable improvement in life expectancy over the past 15 years, largely credited to the effective implementation of the National Immunization Programme by the Ministry of Health. Chief Epidemiologist of Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Palitha Karunapema, highlighted that routine childhood vaccinations under the programme have successfully controlled a wide range of diseases. He shared these insights during a media briefing held to mark World Immunization Week, more..

Apr 3 (DM) Police have issued an urgent warning regarding a sophisticated financial fraud operation impersonating the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines. Police said fraudsters are reportedly contacting victims via WhatsApp, posing as airline representatives to lure them into downloading a malicious mobile application designed to drain bank accounts. According to investigations, victims are directed to download an application named Sri Lankan.apk from fraudulent websites. more..

Apr 3 (DM) In a landmark development, Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today made permanent its conditional order against two respondents in the first-ever case filed under SL’s Online Safety Act No. 9 of 2024. The case, filed on April 4, 2024, marked the first judicial proceeding instituted under the newly enacted legislation. The petitioner, Janaka Rathnayake, former Chairman of the PUCSL, more..

Apr 3 (NF) Sri Lanka has recorded a notable increase in foreign worker remittances during the first quarter of this year, with inflows rising by 26.5 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. The Bureau said that more than USD 2.2 billion in remittances were received between January and March this year. Of this amount, USD 751 million was received in January, USD 729 million in February, and USD 815 million in March. more..

Apr 3 (TM) The COPE is in the process of reviewing activities in 457 institutions that fall under its purview, and any findings of irregularities or corruption will be forwarded directly to the CIABOC and CID. COPE Chairperson, Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera said that in the past, COPE was only able to submit its reports to the relevant Parliamentary process, but that recent changes now allow the Committee to directly send its reports to the CIABOC or the CID when necessary. more..

Apr 3 (AD) Health authorities have warned that measles, a disease previously eliminated in SL, has re-emerged in the country. According to the Health Ministry, two cases involving children have been identified in the Colombo District, raising concerns about a possible resurgence. Officials are urging parents to ensure that children who have not received the measles vaccine, or have received only a single dose, complete the full vaccination more..

Apr 3 (NW) The Motor Traffic Department is working on a new system to introduce personalized vehicle number plates bearing personalized names, the Parliamentary Committee on Public Funds (COPF) was informed. During a recent meeting of the COPF, Motor Traffic Department officials noted obstacles due to the existing, outdated system. They further said that once the system is updated, the department intends to introduce a special project with regard to personalized number plates. more..

Apr 3 (NW) The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) resumed activities at its office in Yakkala, Gampaha District, today with the participation of district members. The resumption of activities at the office follows a recent court ruling affirming the party’s right to occupy the premises. In March this year, the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court ruled that the FSP is legally entitled to continue occupying its headquarters located at Salmal Uyana along Kirindiwela Road in Yakkala. more..

Apr 23 (NW) Minister Sunil Handunneththi, held talks with Michael Otter, Director General of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (WKO), in April in Vienna, with discussions centring on strengthening bilateral trade, industrial partnerships, and technical cooperation. The meeting, held during the Minister’s participation in Int'l Vienna Energy & Climate Forum 2026, aimed at positioning SL as a premier destination for sustainable industrial investment, transparent economic governance. more..

Apr 23 (DM) A man who had allegedly recorded a video of a neighbouring woman while she was bathing and had sent it to one of her friends was ordered to be remanded till May 4 by Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama today. The suspect, a resident of Maradamuna, was arrested by the Cinnamon Gardens Police following a complaint lodged by a young woman residing on a rental basis in Colombo 7. Presenting facts before court on behalf of the complainant, officers of more..

Apr 23 (CI) When Gary Kirsten coached India to ODI World Cup glory in 2011, 20 million SL hearts were shattered. Now, as Sri Lanka's new head coach, his mission is to mend them. In a wide-ranging Q&A session with the local media, his first since being appointed last month for two years - officially from April 14 - Kirsten laid out the roadmap as he sought to blend data-driven modernisation with the island's cricketing DNA. more..

Apr 23 (TM) The much anticipated biographical film Michael made a powerful impression during its early screening premiere at Scope Cinemas yesterday (22), where audiences experienced the film on the grand IMAX screen. The film, centered on the life of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, delivers an emotional, visually stunning and highly entertaining journey through his legendary career, personal struggles and the controversies that surrounded his life. more..

Apr 23 (AD) Colombo High Court today ordered that the case filed against MP Namal Rajapaksa in connection with the controversial Krrish project deal be recalled on May 29. The case was taken up today before High Court Judge Nadee Suwandurugoda. The accused, Namal Rajapaksa, appeared before the court when the case was called. Subsequently, the judge ordered that the matter be taken up again on May 29. The case has been filed by the Attorney General alleging that more..

Apr 23 (CI) SL seamer Nuwan Thushara has withdrawn his lawsuit against SLC, just weeks after filing it when SLC denied him a no-objection certificate (NOC) to play in IPL 2026, where he is a part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who are yet to name a replacement for the 31-year-old slinger. Thushara told the Colombo District Court that he wished to withdraw his case as much of the IPL was now already completed. more..

Apr 23 (AD) SL delegation headed by the Governor of the CB (CBSL), Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has engaged extensively with the international investor community, on the sidelines of the IMF–WB Spring Meetings 2026, in Washington, D.C. SL delegation is currently in the US to attend the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings 2026. The CBSL noted that during the visit, the delegation was part of several engagements including an investor seminar organized by J.P. Morgan, investor meetings more..

Apr 23 (DM) Sri Lanka, which is planning to purchase crude oil from Russia, has agreed to settle payments in Chinese Renminbi (RMB), newly appointed Energy Minister Aruna Karunatilake said. He was sworn in as Energy Minister by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake after Mr. Kumara Jayakodi stepped down pending investigations into alleged fraud and irregularities in the import of coal for power generation. The new minister assumed duties on Tuesday. more..