Apr 18 (AD) Siri Dalada Wandanawa, the special exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, being held for the first time in 16 years, is scheduled to commence at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy this afternoon, followed by a 10-day public viewing beginning on April 19. Devotees were seen preparing since yesterday to attend the historic occasion. The special exposition is scheduled to take place from 3.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. today. more..

Apr 18 (DM) A 10-day strict programme is underway presently to counter the sale and consumption of alcohol within the Kandy City limits during the period of the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Dept of Excise announced yesterday. With effect from today (18) until Monday (28), the sale of alcoholic beverages has been prohibited as per the Excise order, where all liquor outlets, restaurants, bars and taverns within the Kandy City limit will remain shut. more..

Apr 18 (AD) SL Police HQ has announced that steps have been taken to implement a special security program in view of the upcoming Easter Sunday celebrations. As Easter services for Christian devotees are scheduled to be held on April 18 and April 20, special police security will be deployed to ensure the safety of devotees on those dates. Meanwhile, Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya has issued instructions to all DIGs in charge of all provinces, SSPs, and OICs in this regard. more..

Apr 18 (Island) The CIABOC has decided against refiling 34 cases that were withdrawn during the 2019-2024 period. The 34 cases are among 102 cases withdrawn during that period, the CIABOC has disclosed, adding that 65 cases had been refiled. Decisions on three others are pending according to statistics made available on 01 March 2025. The CIABOC provided a breakdown of the withdrawal of cases: 2019 (5), 2020 (0), 2021 (44), more..

Apr 18 (DN) A cross erected thousands of years ago on Mount Golgotha cannot remain fixed in that distant past and still speak meaningfully to us today. It must be relocated. Has it been? Indeed, it has. Look at the spires of churches – it stands there. Look at the ornaments worn by women – the cross hangs there too. Visit Christian cemeteries, and you will see it engraved on tombstones. Yet, none of these reflect the relocation most urgently needed. The cross must be moved into the depths of more..

Apr 18 (NW) According to sources at SLC, Dasun Shanaka is set to join the Gujarat Titans for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season as a replacement for the injured Glenn Phillips. Phillips, who was part of the Gujarat Titans squad, has reportedly sustained an injury that has ruled him out of the ongoing tournament. In light of this, the franchise has turned to the experienced SL all-rounder to bolster their squad. Shanaka, who previously featured in the IPL, is expected to travel to more..

Apr 18 (AD) SL Police has introduced a special traffic management and guidance system for the upcoming exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Siri Dalada Wandanawa), which is scheduled to begin today at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. Accordingly, a total of 10,000 police officers have been deployed to ensure the safety of the devotees and manage traffic during the Siri Dalada Wandanawa, which commences today. In addition, SL Police’s Information Technology Division more..

Apr 18 (Island) Sri Lanka’s already vulnerable financial position could be further threatened by the ongoing US trade war, according to a recent analysis by Fitch Ratings. The global ratings agency highlights that SL, currently rated CCC+, is particularly susceptible to negative impacts if its export earnings are hit by the escalating tariffs. Fitch Ratings, Hong Kong, warned that increasing US tariffs would weigh on the credit metrics of many sovereigns in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. more..

Apr 18 (TM) Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) has claimed that Auditor General’s (AG) Dept had, under a former Auditor General (AG), failed to carry out several critical audits related to the CEB, resulting in massive financial losses to the country. In a letter addressed to AG's Dept, Opposition Leader's Office, COPE, CIABOC, and all MPs, ECA General Secretary, Sanjeewa Dhammika accused a former AG, who recently retired more..

Apr 18 (FT) The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) yesterday confirmed that locally produced liquid milk and yoghurt are now exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT). The VAT exemption came into effect from 11 April, following the official certification of the VAT (Amendment) Act No. 04 of 2022. The exemption applies only to products made with at least 50% locally sourced fresh milk. In addition, VAT has also been removed from naphtha supplied by the CPC to the CEB for power generation. more..

Apr 18 (FT) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) recently announced significant changes to the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act No. 14 of 2022, following the official certification of the VAT (Amendment) Act No. 04 of 2025 on 11 April. Under the new amendments, effective from 1 October 2025, VAT will be applied to digital services provided by non-resident entities through electronic platforms to consumers. IRD stated that the Commissioner-General will soon issue detailed guidelines for registration, more..

Apr 18 (CT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has shared his aspiration to see an international cricket match played in Jaffna within the first five years of his govt. Speaking at a NPP election rally, Prez revealed that he had discussed this goal with Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya during a recent meeting. He emphasised that the initiative would include building an int'l-standard stadium in Jaffna and promoting a unified national cricket team featuring Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim players. more..

Apr 18 (NW) As the Deputy Minister of Industries & Enterprise Development, I believe in maintaining transparency, focus & accountability. Beginning of 2025 marked a critical phase in our journey toward industrial and entrepreneurial revival. With a clear strategy and a committed team, we’ve taken tangible steps across multiple fronts. Here’s a comprehensive update for Q1: 1. Stabilization of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs): Many SOEs continue to face operational & financial distress. more..

Apr 18 (FT) The IMF last week lauded the continuous economic recovery by Sri Lanka under its EFF with strong growth, easing inflation and improved reserves, whilst also cautioning on rising global uncertainty, fiscal constraint and unfinished reforms pose significant risks to sustaining these gains underscoring the need for steadfast policy implementation and targeted support for the vulnerable. more..

Apr 18 (DN) Sri Lanka’s medal tally increased to three at the 6th Asian Youth Athletic Championships currently taking place in Amman, Saudi Arabia. On the second day of the meet, SL’s Lahiru Achintha won the bronze medal in the 1500m, while Dhananjana Sewmini Fernando clinched a silver medal in the girls’ 100m. On the first day, Janith Lakshan won a silver medal in the triple jump event. A total of 19 young Sri Lankan athletes are participating in this event. more..

Apr 18 (DN) Determined to earn a place among Asia’s top four rugby nations, SL has named a powerful 23-member squad under the leadership of experienced fly half Nigel Ratwatte for Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship Play-Off against Malaysia, set for this Saturday (19), at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo 7. The final squad was approved yesterday by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Sunil Kumara Gamage, on the unanimous recommendation of SL Rugby’s more..

Apr 18 (FT) The country’s manufacturing and services sectors in March have expanded as per the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), its compiler the CB said. The Manufacturing PMI recorded an index value of 63.9 in March 2025, recording the highest value in four years. This expansion was attributable to positive contributions from all sub-indices posted month-on-month expansions, reflecting a continued expansion more..

Apr 18 (Island) Many crimes, including high-profile assassinations, have gone unpunished in this country during the past several decades. CID has selectively reopened an investigation into one of them. It has arrested and detained former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan over the abduction and disappearance of Vice Chancellor of the Eastern Uni Professor Sivasubramaniam Ravindranath in 2006. The victim had received death threats from more..

Apr 18 (FT) Sri Lanka officially inaugurated its pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, joining over 150 participating countries under the global theme Designing Future Society for Our Lives. The Sri Lanka pavilion is hosted by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan and the Sri Lankan business community in Japan, celebrating the country’s rich cultural heritage and forward-looking development vision. more..

Apr 18 (TM) Alarming statistics from the Govt have shed light on the weaknesses and failures of the draconian prison system, which Sri Lanka continues to uphold, highlighting the need for a new national policy on justice and corrections. According to data, last year (2024), 57.2% of convicts in prison in 2023 had been convicted at least once before. This, while the rates from 2020, 2021, and 2022 had remained below 50%. However, 2023 saw an increase with 2,435 convicts, more..

Apr 18 (Island) Of the several MOUs signed by the President of Sri Lanka during PM Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka, the most consequential in respect of implications to Sri Lanka is the one associated with the Defence Cooperation. Neither the public nor the Parliament is aware of its contents. What the public could glean about the scope of this vital MOU are from articles written by concerned citizens, like the one by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka in the Daily FT of April 10, 2025. more..

Apr 18 (ST) A multi-pronged plan will seek solutions to the human elephant conflict in areas where issues are widespread. One such issue which contributes to elephant injuries and death are train collisions and the Depts of Wildlife, Forestry, Railways, Uni experts and environmental organisations are trying to reduce collisions. Train collisions kill most elephants and cause damage to trains and tracks. more..

Apr 18 (DN) The Board of Investment (BOI) with the financial assistance of ATG Glove took measures to construct a day care and learning centre for the betterment of employees serving in the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Katunayake. Accordingly the foundation stone was laid yesterday (10) at the Phase 4 of the FTZ Katunayake to construct the modern day care and learning centre aiming to provide a safe, protective and learning environment for the children of employees working in the FTZ. more..

Apr 18 (FT) Pathfinder Foundation held an Ambassador’s Roundtable, featuring Ambassador Carmen Moreno of the European Union, who made remarks on EU-SL: Partnership for Growth. Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, think tanks, European Chamber of Commerce, and the print and electronic media attended the event. The roundtable’s purpose was to share the EU’s perspective on the prospects and opportunities for engagement between Sri Lanka and more..

Apr 18 (TM) Within less than three weeks, South/Southeast Asian region has suffered multiple earthquakes, raising questions about predictions made earlier regarding the possibility of the next big one and bringing with it the sobering realisation that SL is ill-prepared for another major seismic or seismic-linked tsunami incident. Yesterday (16), a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines, according to USGS, with no immediate reports of damage or casualties. more..

Apr 18 (CT) The 10th Parliament of SL marked a few new records and showed some positive, progressive signs in governance. For starters, the highest number of new appointments was recorded in the 10th Parliament, marking a change and a new beginning in the SL political trajectory. Moreover, it featured the highest number of female participants in the history of SL parliaments, as well as the lowest number of members who held portfolios in recent parliamentary history. more..

Apr 18 (TM) Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution recently urging the Indian Govt to retrieve Katchatheevu Island from SL. However, with SL maintaining ownership of the contested island, officials are attempting to resolve the fisheries dispute centring it. Resolution states that the retrieval of Katchatheevu Island is the only permanent solution to protect the traditional fishing of TN fishermen. It further states that more..

Apr 18 (FT) Dept of Commerce (DoC), in collaboration with the SL High Commission in London, UK, organised an awareness webinar titled Business Opportunities in the UK and Ireland, held on 1 April. The webinar attracted more than 100 participants representing a number of export sectors including apparel, IT and tech, Ceylon tea, processed foods, spices, cosmetics, and rubber products, as well as reputed trade chambers, industry associations, and business entities more..

Apr 18 (CT) Your Excellency, On behalf of the Well-wishers of Tamils in Sri Lanka, a diaspora organization actively engaged with various civil society groups dedicated to promoting the welfare and empowerment of all Sri Lankans, we write to draw your urgent attention to a deeply concerning matter unfolding in the Thaiddy region of the Northern Province. This issue pertains to the continued occupation of privately owned lands by military forces and unauthorized construction more..

Apr 18 (SO) SL’s police force, tasked with upholding law and order, now stands accused of perpetuating a cycle of violence and impunity that has shattered public trust. Recent incidents range from custodial death at the Welikada Police Station, where a mentally distressed man died under suspicious circumstances, to the midnight arrest of IUSF during a satyagraha outside the Ministry of Health, and the arrest of a young boy under more..

Apr 18 (ST) Heaps and heaps of rotting vegetables and fruits. Some of the memorable clicks by photojournalists have been that of rotting veggies at Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre (DDEC), forced on farmers who are unable to sell their produce when sale prices drop sharply compared to their asking prices (calculating their own cost of production and inputs plus a small profit), purely because there has been an oversupply of vegetables. And with no way to store more..

Apr 18 (DM) These are irritably noisy days, especially when firecrackers are lit during the New Year. Firecrackers may be okay with noisy people who seek attention. But that is not so for people who seek a peace and quiet environment. Cats and dogs, who are terrified of crackers and creep under beds, will second what this writer has to say. Sri Lanka is a nation polluted by noise. There was a time when the public address system was ‘wilfully’ used to notify the whole town of an activity more..