Apr 10 (FT) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday described Sri Lanka’s 5% growth in 2024 as having exceeded expectations and forecasts over 3% improvement in the economy in the next two years, but warned the country remains fragile and the outlook faces several downside risks. ADB revealed its observations on SL whilst launching its flagship economic publication, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2025. more..

Apr 10 (ST) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has warned the public to be cautious about online shopping scams, especially conducted through social media during the festive season. In SL, online shopping typically takes place in three key areas – official company websites, recognised online shopping platforms and social media platforms, said Asela Bandara, the CAA’s Director – Consumer Affairs and Information. “While the first two are relatively safe, social media is where more..

Apr 10 (DN) Sri Lanka Rugby is caught in a worrying situation just days before their crucial Asian Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship match against Malaysia, scheduled for April 19 at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo. Only 49 players from the initial 64-member national pool are currently fit and available, according to sources close to the team. The rest, including many frontline players, are out injured—raising serious concerns about SL’s ability to field its best side for the vital contest. more..

Apr 10 (FT) SL–Benelux Business Council (SLBBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce conducted its 29th AGM on 26 March at the Ceylon Chamber premises. Addressing the event, Chief Guest, Embassy of Netherlands to SL and the Maldives Deputy Ambassador and Head of the Economic Department Iwan Rutjens, highlighted the importance of business collaboration in fostering economic growth. He acknowledged the enduring trade and investment ties between SL and more..

Apr 10 (FT) As economic uncertainty looms globally, Sri Lanka should pursue strategic reforms, diversify exports, strengthen foreign investment and defend the global free trade system, said Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata while pledging continued bilateral cooperation to support these efforts. This discussion took place at an interactive members’ evening with the Japanese Ambassador on the topic of Aligning Sri Lanka’s economic revival with opportunities in Japan. more..

Apr 10 (DM) Sinhala and Tamil New Year, or Avurudu, is one of the most significant and cherished celebrations in SL. This festival, which falls in April annually, is marked by cultural rituals, family gatherings, and a strong community bond. However, as SL approaches Avurudu celebrations, there is a growing concern about how the current cost of living may affect the spirit of the New Year season. In this context, it’s important to grasp how people more..

Apr 10 (Island) SL needs to take full stock of its current economic situation and use to the maximum the potential in its GSP+ facility for export sector growth. In the process, it should ensure that it cooperates fully with the European Union. The urgency of undertaking these responsibilities is underscored by the issues growing out of the recent US decision to sweepingly hike tariffs on its imports, though differentially. These were principal takes for participants in the Pathfinder Foundation’s more..

Apr 10 (CT) The recent Parliamentary intervention by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has once again brought the Parate Law into sharp focus in SL. With the Govt’s decision to extend its temporary suspension under a tiered framework until the end of 2025, the debate has entered a pivotal phase—demanding not only legal scrutiny but also broader economic and humanitarian reflection. Parate Law, a Roman-Dutch legal mechanism, empowers Licensed Commercial Banks to auction mortgaged more..

Apr 10 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s letter to US Prez Donald Trump over the US tariff hikes has received much publicity. The NPP govt is reportedly sanguine about a positive response from Washington to its request for lower tariff on SL’s exports, especially apparels. Hope is said to spring eternal, and there is nothing wrong with being optimistic, but it behoves SL to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Prez Trump’s mind is so elusive that it is not possible to predict his moves, more..

Apr 10 (ST) Indian PM Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Prez Donald Trump – are the three main global figures that Sri Lanka has to deal with. But ask any person on the street nowadays who – among these three leaders – they are familiar with and pat would be the answer – Modi, given India’s influence in this country and also Modi’s April 4-6 visit. Modi’s visit was also part of the discussion of the trio on Thursday, a day before he arrived in the country. more..

Apr 10 (FT) UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Deputy Chief Economist Fergus Cumming was in SL this week on an official visit. He met representatives of the Govt, civil society organisations, think tanks, private sector among others. Daily FT met up with Cumming, for a recap of his observations following his first visit in March last year and how SL has managed its challenges and opportunities since then. more..

Apr 10 (DM) The recent death of a Grade 1 student who was admitted to the Ratnapura District Hospital adds to the list of innocent lives that have succumbed to medical negligence in the recent past. Taking to social media, the father of the deceased described the events that unfolded after taking the child to the hospital due to a high fever. The doctor in question had requested the father to purchase a tablet from a pharmacy, and the child had subsequently been admitted to the hospital. more..

Apr 10 (DM) Sri Lanka has potential to be self-sufficient in paddy and fish. One look at the island’s geography and this is confirmed. But we do import rice and fish; even if such business activities can embarrass us in the eyes of the global world. Just a few days ago, there were media reports circulating that a temperature-controlled agriculture warehouse was inaugurated in Dambulla under the auspices of visiting Indian PM Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. more..

Apr 10 (TM) A study of the sexual harassment of female doctors in healthcare related workplaces, found that 221 (58.6%) out of a representative sample of 377, faced such at some point in the form of suggestive looks (50.3%), sexual jokes (42.7%), sexual remarks (34.7%), inappropriate touching (69/18.3%), attempted rape (8/2.1%), rape (5/1.32%), and secretly being watched (30/7.9%) in the settings of more..

Apr 10 (TM) With the Avurudu festive season around the corner, many families are struggling to get by as the anticipated reduction in the cost of living has yet to occur. This, as some traders opined that they anticipate a slight price hike in many goods. Some traders we spoke to said that despite it being the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, they are anticipating higher prices of essentials. With the prices of essential goods stagnating and accompanied by shrinking spending power post-economic more..

Apr 10 (CT) A young street-vendor Mohammed Rushdi’s sticker expressing his anti-Israel sentiment over what is happening in Gaza since Oct 2023 has provided the rationale for an incompetent police department to arrest this youngster under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), originally introduced as a temporary measure in 1979 but made permanent in 1982 by the then Prez JR Jayewardene. Muslim community has not forgotten that it was under that same Act more..

Apr 9 (NW) The SL Police, in collaboration with the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), is preparing to launch the pilot phase of the GovPay Traffic Fines system—an online platform designed to enable motorists to pay traffic fines digitally. A workshop to finalize the implementation of the pilot project was held today in Dambulla, with the participation of senior police officials, including the Acting IGP and the DIG Traffic, along with key representatives from govt & tech. sectors. more..

Apr 9 (Xinhua) Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya has issued a directive to establish more than 14,000 public safety committees across the country, according to a circular sent by the police to media on Wednesday. These committees will be set up in all Grama Niladhari divisions, the smallest administrative units in the country, with a total of 14,022 committees to be formed, the circular said. The main goals of the initiative are to strengthen police-community relations, more..

Apr 9 (AD) The present govt has two urgent priorities before commencing the process of formulating a new constitution for the country, PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said in Parliament today. PM said the govt, when it came to power last year, was fully focused on stabilizing the economy and ensuring democracy in the country by conducting the elections that were delayed. During the PM’s questions session this morning, more..

Apr 9 (NW) Minister of Health Nalinda Jayatissa says Sri Lanka has reduced its maternal mortality rate to 25 per 100,000 live births, affirming the Health Ministry’s commitment to further lowering the rate. According to the Health Minister, the figure was well below the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 70. Minister Jayatissa attributed this feat to SL’s free healthcare system and assured to ensure the delivery of high-quality health services in the country. more..

Apr 9 (NW) Minister Bimal Rathnayake, has announced that Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will convene an all-party meeting this week to discuss the recently imposed US tariffs. Minister said the President will meet all party leaders at the Presidential Secretariat tomorrow, 10 April 2025. “The discussion will focus on the impact of unusual US Tariffs on our exports. Today morning, 12 opposition party leaders requested to meet the president to discuss the issue,” he added. more..

Apr 9 (ADB) Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) flagship economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2025, forecasts SL’s recovery to continue at a moderate growth of 3.9% in 2025 and 3.4% in 2026 following the strong rebound in 2024. Economic recovery that began in the second half of 2023 continued across all sectors in 2024. Inflation decelerated significantly in 2024 following major cuts in energy prices. more..

Apr 9 (NF) A police constable has been arrested in the Karadiyanaru area in connection with allegations of misleading the investigation into the 2018 murders of two police officers in Vavunativu. The arrest was made by officials from the CID. The incident dates back to Nov 30, 2018, when two police officers were killed while on duty in Vavunativu, Batticaloa. The police constable is accused of diverting the investigation by falsely claiming that a jacket found at the scene belonged to the LTTE. more..

Apr 9 (EN) Sri Lanka has deported several foreign nationals on tourist visas who were conducting businesses locally, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe said. “We have enforced the law on some. We have deported some as well,” Ruwan Ranasinghe told reporters. “When we try to apprehend tourists conducting business while here on tourist visas, we come across locals who are subletting to them. It is the responsibility of citizens to ensure the law of the country is upheld.” more..

Apr 9 (CT) The decision of the Supreme Court regarding the Bill titled Value Added Tax (Amendment), which was challenged in the Supreme Court, was received by the Chair of Parliament. Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih informed the House yesterday (08) that he had received the Supreme Court’s decision on the Bill, which had been challenged under Article 121(1) of the Constitution. Accordingly, the SC communicated that, since both petitioners in S.C. (SD) 05/2025 and more..

Apr 9 (AD) Dept of Meteorology announced that on the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during April 05 to April 14 this year. The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead tomorrow (10) are Hatthikuchchi, Kalankuttiya, Halmillewa, Ipalogama, Palugaswewa, Habarana at about 12:11 noon, it said. Meanwhile, showers will occur at times in Western and Southern provinces and in Puttalam district, more..

Apr 9 (NW) JVP General Secretary, Tilvin Silva, has refuted claims by certain opposition politicians claiming that the govt has betrayed the country by entering into several agreements with India. He challenged the opposition to prove if any of the agreements have been signed in a manner that could be detrimental to SL. Stating that the agreements signed during Indian PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit have been openly more..

Apr 9 (AD) Former State Minister Sathasivam Viyalendran, who was arrested and remanded over bribery charges, has been released after meeting his bail conditions. On March 25, CIABOC arrested Viyalendran after recording a statement in connection with an incident of allegedly aiding and abetting the soliciting of a bribe of Rs. 1.5 million to issue a sand permit. Former State Minister was granted bail after he was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, yesterday (8). more..

Apr 9 (CT) The people whose lands were acquired for the construction of the Sampur Thermal Power Plant said they have not been compensated yet. The residents in those areas said both the state-owned and private lands were acquired by the Govt for the Sampur Project and that the private landowners have been left in a desperate situation due to the loss of their lands including their paddy fields. They say they objected to the Thermal Power Plant Project being given to India without more..

Apr 9 (EN) SL’s Parliament, in a historic step aimed at combating systemic corruption and enhancing the rule of law, passed the Proceeds of Crime Act unanimously this week, a move that could be used to fast track unresolved and dragged past corrupt deals. This landmark legislation enables the govt to identify, seize, and recover illicit assets acquired through criminal conduct. The Act, analysts say, marks a new chapter in SL’s more..

Apr 9 (AD) Sri Lanka and Australia have reaffirmed the commitment to deepening defence ties and exploring new avenues for cooperation in areas such as maritime domain awareness (MDA), training exchanges and capacity-building initiatives. A number of key matters of mutual interest, particularly in the area of defence and security cooperation were deliberated when the Australian High Commissioner to SL, Paul Stephens, paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Defence, more..

Apr 9 (DN) The Sri Lanka A team for the upcoming tri-nation cricket tournament in the UAE has been announced. The team will be captained by Sadheera Samarawickrama. The selected players are Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Lasath Kruspulle, Nuwanindu Fernando, Pasindu Suriyabandara, Pawan Ratnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Sonal Dinusha, Dushan Hemantha, Tharindu Ratnayake, Wanju Sahan, Milan Ratnayake, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Dilshan Madushanka, and more..