Apr 9 (ST) Vijitha Rohana Wijemuni, a former naval rating who gained notoriety after assaulting then Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi with his rifle butt on July 30, 1987, remains suspicious of Indian intentions in SL and says the govt needs to be transparent about the agreements it plans to sign with its southern neighbour. “There was secrecy when the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed in 1987, and even now the public are unaware of more..

Apr 9 (Island) In a historic first for SL, a defence pact was signed last week by Prez AKD with PM Modi of India, to the surprise of the people of SL who had no inkling that such a thing was on the cards. It has justifiably given rise to agitated discussion in this country, not only due to the secrecy surrounding the contents of the pact, but also due to its sudden emergence. For a seriously consequential decision such as this, there had been zero discussion in the public domain, more..

Apr 9 (Island) Hardly a day passes in SL without the government and the Opposition locking horns and trading allegations of deception, lying and corruption. Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage, who is at the forefront of the govt’s propaganda campaign against the ruling NPP’s political rivals, has caused quite a stir by making a false claim about SL’s economic recovery process. Politicians as well as their mistruths, half-truths and blatant lies are rarely, if ever, out of the news in this country. more..

Apr 9 (ST) Like the renowned Socrates, who gathered a vast array of thinkers to debate the issues of the day, Gotabaya Rajapaksa rounded up his Viyathmagarians with great aplomb, thinking he could show brother Mahinda, a small-time lawyer, his governance skills. That was not all Gota, as he was called in his brief stay in the president’s house, hoped to achieve, stamping his political legacy in the shape of Napoleon Bonaparte. He never intended or even thought that a riff-raff, more..

Apr 9 (DM) Indian PM Narendra Modi concluded a 3-day visit to SL last week, his fourth visit to the country and the first since the election of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the JVP-led NPP govt. In some ways, the irony was rich for the JVP, whose megalomaniac leader, Rohana Wijeweera, conducted must-attend classes for the party cadres about the danger of Indian Expansionism. Those youngsters then, who survived the state counter-terror unleashed against their equally nihilistic more..

Apr 9 (SO) The US was born as the result of people from thirteen colonies protesting against taxation without representation imposed by the British monarch. Several centuries later, another leader — this time the President of the US himself — has imposed heavy taxes on the world without representation from Congress, the body constitutionally empowered to levy taxes. With the stroke of a pen, Prez Donald Trump has sent more..

Apr 9 (TM) The last six years have been tough for SL. We have seen the disastrous security failures of 2019 and the aftermath of mismanaging accountability pre/post incident, weathered the Covid-19 pandemic, survived the ensuing socio-political climate, was battered, bruised and brought to our knees by the worst economic crisis. We had just managed to get on track towards recovery, when the US Prez took a baseball bat to the world trade order and slapped a 44% tariff on SL exports more..

Apr 9 (CT) At long last, SL has a fresh and complete Census Report in hand. Census of Population and Housing 2024, compiled by the DCS, has now been handed over to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. It is a commendable achievement, not merely for the volume of data collected but for the sheer logistical undertaking it required. Yet, as we digest its findings, there is a lingering discomfort: why has something so fundamentally necessary been treated more like a luxury than a national necessity? more..

Apr 9 (SO) Political analyst and former diplomat Dayan Jayatilleka shares his take on India-SL relations as PM Narendra Modi visits Colombo. He raises serious concerns about SL’s growing dependence on India in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and defence, warning that such entanglements could undermine the island’s autonomy and strategic space. Jayatilleka also called for a more balanced foreign policy, more..

Apr 9 (DM) World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, is a global call to action to prioritise health and well-being. The latest evidence-based medicine provides a roadmap for maintaining fitness and vitality in an era where lifestyle diseases—such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension—continue to challenge global populations. This article delves into five key areas of good health habits, namely—nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental health and preventive care—rooted in cutting-edge more..

Apr 9 (DM) The leader of the Catholic Church in Lanka—Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith—while condemning the attack, added "... we have to be very clear about identifying who is behind this whole attempt and avoid falling into the trap of inter-religious violence”. In his message, the Cardinal also referred to the members of the Muslim community as our brothers. The Cardinals’ calming words played a significant role in preventing inter-religious violence in the country. more..

Apr 8 (PMD) A meeting between Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake and senior officials of SriLankan Airlines was held this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat. The discussions mainly focused on proposals to transform SriLankan Airlines into a more profitable state-owned enterprise. Special attention was also given to possible short-term and long-term solutions for the airline’s debt management. The talks further explored new investment opportunities for the airline. more..

Apr 8 (NF) The process for the removal of the IGP was set in motion with the approval of a proposal in Parliament. The proposal was presented to Parliament by Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra, a MP from the NPP. The motion received overwhelming support, with 151 votes in favor and no votes against. The proposal which was passed, was signed by 115 MPs, was submitted to the Speaker. According to the Removal of Officers Act No. 5 of 2002, the proposal includes more..

Apr 8 (FT) In the wake of the US’s announcement of a 44% reciprocal tariff on SL exports, Govt yesterday confirmed that Washington has officially requested to propose ways to reduce its trade deficit with the US, prompting immediate diplomatic and economic engagement between the two countries. Deputy Ministers Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando and Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma disclosed ongoing efforts to respond to more..

Apr 8 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has met with an IMF delegation led by Incoming Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou, to review Sri Lanka’s economic situation. The discussions held at the PM’s Office was centered on progress of SL thus far under the IMF-supported programme and the next steps required to achieve the future economic targets of the country. Both parties exchanged views on emerging economic challenges, and need for progress solution and action, more..

Apr 8 (AD) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa says that politically driven delays in development projects in Sri Lanka resulted in an energy crisis that ultimately led to the country’s worst financial crisis. Speaking during a special address themed The South Asian Platter: Menu for Growth at the Rising Bharat Summit held in India today (8), Rajapaksa stressed that development efforts must be carried out without delay, highlighting the importance of acting when the moment demands it. more..

Apr 8 (NF) Mahinda Siriwardana, Secretary to the Treasury, shared his insights on the events leading up to SL's economic crisis and the ongoing efforts to steer the country towards recovery. Speaking on the third anniversary of his appointment and the launch of his book, SL's economic revival, reflections on the journey from crisis to recovery, Siriwardana recounted his experience as Deputy Governor of the CB more..

Apr 8 (CT) The Ministry of Transport has unveiled a special combined public transport plan, in collaboration with the National Transport Commission (NTC), Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), and Sri Lanka Railways, in anticipation of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year travel season. The transport plan will be operational from 9 April to 21 April 2025, aimed at facilitating the smooth movement of passengers travelling to their hometowns for the festive holidays. more..

Apr 8 (MoD) A specially deployed SL Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Team, comprising Tri-Service personnel, has been mobilized in Myanmar to support post-disaster recovery efforts following a powerful earthquake that recently struck the country. Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport the same day, the team proceeded to the disaster-stricken region approximately 450 km away and are currently stationed in Nay Pyi Taw province. On Monday (7), they were deployed to more..

Apr 8 (EN) Sri Lanka should reduce and make simplify border taxes, which will also reduce corruption and strengthen links with India and other countries with free trade agreements, Advocata Institute, a Colombo based think tank has said. Trump tariffs on SL which is among the highest in the world according to the formula used by Americna has exposed a problem in SL’s high levels of protectionism which began about 20 years ago. Advocata has recommended more..

Apr 8 (AD) Leader of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance, MP Dilith Jayaweera says the agreements signed with India should be publicised, if the current administration has nothing to hide. MP noted that a number of agreements were signed during the recent visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi to SL, without informing the public. He said, “It is disappointing that those in the govt, who called for transparency previously, have failed to table the agreements during today’s Parliament sitting.” more..

Apr 8 (NF) SL people are paying a regrettably high price for past policy missteps and insufficient preparation for the bad luck that struck, said Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief of the IMF. He said that unsustainably low taxes and sizable tax exemptions were an accident waiting to happen. "The flip side of the govt's enhanced ability to fund its essential services today is that taxpayers have had to shoulder a higher burden, even as more..

Apr 8 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval to call for open tenders to purchase 15 million polycarbonate cards to issue new electronic National Identity Cards (e-NIC). The e-NIC project is introduced to collect the biodata, biometric data, family information, and Int'l Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) certified photographs of every SL citizen over the age of 15, and issue electronic National Identity Cards with SL Unique Digital Identity (SL-UDI) numbers to every registered person. more..

Apr 8 (CT) In an unprecedented move, SL Govt gazetted and declared the Anuradhapura Air Force Base, which is a domestic airport, as an int'l airport for a single day—Sunday, 5 April—to facilitate the departure of Indian PM Narendra Modi. This gesture highlighted the strong bilateral ties between the two countries and the significance of PM Modi’s visit. The temporary upgrade was made to accommodate PM Modi’s journey to Tamil Nadu, where he was scheduled to inaugurate newly constructed more..

~Apr 8 (DM) SL is facing an astonishing decline in its growth rate with the percentage hitting an all-time low of 0.5% since 1871, leading to social issues such as the shrinkage in the working age group and the increase in the aged population that will trigger challenges for policymakers to spend more on welfare and health. Recent report reveals that SL’s population at the end of 2024 is 21,763,170 in comparison to 20,359,439 in 2023 more..

Apr 8 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has responded to criticism over investigations involving an elderly woman linked to an alleged fraud case, stating that age does not exempt anyone from accountability if public funds are involved. He stated that the authorities are focused solely on recovering the money allegedly stolen from the public. “Some are criticizing us for making inquiries from an elderly woman. I will say, she is facing this due to her fraudulent grandchildren,” he said. more..

Apr 8 (Island) Gigalingua Lanka, a premier German language institute, officially launched in Colombo with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by distinguished guests, including Dr. Felix Neumann, German ambassador to SL. This marks a significant milestone for SL professionals, especially nurses, looking to expand their careers in Germany’s thriving healthcare sector. In collaboration with its strategic partner Global Care Solutions (Pvt) Ltd – a renowned company in the foreign more..

Apr 8 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval to a proposal to increase the monthly minimum wage of private sector employees from Rs. 17,500 to Rs. 27,000 with effect from 1 April 2025. Cabinet paper in this regard has been presented by Minister of Labour. The daily minimum wage of private sector employees will be increased from Rs. 700 to Rs. 1,080. Furthermore, Cabinet paper has proposed to increase the monthly minimum wage of private sector employees to Rs. 30,000 from more..

Apr 8 (DM) A group of men who undertook to perform rituals to dispel malefic effects that had befallen a family had fled with jewellery valued at Rs. 3.8 million. The victim was a trishaw operator in Chilaw who fell prey to a soothsayer frequenting Munneswaran Kovil. The soothsayer had warned him of a possible disaster befalling his family due to the evil planetary influence and undertook to perform rituals to dispel it. As appointed the soothsayer called on his house and started the rites. more..

~Apr 8 (EN) Stocks have regained investor interest following a two day stock market tank, brokers said. ASPI closed 3.19% up, or 467.26 points, at 15,127.71. The S&P SL20 Index was up 4.54%, or 193.65 points, at 4,458.49. Turnover was at2.8 million rupees. Stocks remained unfazed ahead of the US administration’s tariff implementation deadline, effective on Wednesday (9). On Monday the CSE saw waves of more..

Apr 8 (NW) Badulla District MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, who was granted bail over a bribery case today, says he is the first to be arrested under the newly introduced Anti-Corruption Act. Addressing Parliament today, MP said he was among those who voted in favour of the Act while in the ruling party of the previous govt. “I voted for the act when I was on that side. I am the first person to have cases filed under the new Act. Three cases have been separately filed against me. more..

Apr 8 (AD) Former State Minister Sathasivam Viyalendran, who was arrested and remanded over bribery charges, has been granted bail after he was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. Accordingly, the Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali ordered Viyalendran to be released on five surety bails of Rs. 1 million each and a cash bail of Rs. 50,000. Meanwhile, the court also imposed an overseas travel ban on the former State Minister. During the trial, the officials of more..