Apr 11 (TM) Ministry of Health has accused certain pharmaceutical companies of launching personal smear campaigns against govt officials involved in key decision-making processes including those relating to pharmaceutical drug price reductions in the recent past. Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni claimed that around five companies are behind coordinated efforts to discredit officials of institutions such as more..

Apr 11 (SLN) In coordinated efforts, the Sri Lanka Navy, along with the Negombo Excise Department and the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB), carried out separate raids in Kochchikade and Mawanella areas on 10 Apr 25. The operations led to the confiscation of around 2,554 kg of smuggled Kendu leaves, along with 02 lorries and 01 van used to transport those smuggled items. The Navy also apprehended five individuals in connection to these incidents. In a joint search operation on the night of 10 Apr, more..

Apr 11 (TM) Police have launched a comprehensive security operation ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, aimed at ensuring public safety during the festive season. SSP Buddhika Manathunga stated that over 35,000 Police officers have been deployed across the country as part of the special security programme. Additionally, intelligence officers in civilian attire have been stationed in densely populated urban areas to monitor and deter any potential threats, according to the Police. more..

Apr 11 (AD) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) has refuted a claim circulated through a YouTube channel operating from a foreign country, that migrant workers will be given Rs. 10,000 each for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The video allegedly advises migrant workers to send a copy of their travel documents to any branch office of the SLBFE. The bureau stressed that no such announcement has been issued by SLBFE, and it urges the public not to fall victim to such more..

Apr 11 (DM) Despite the allocation of a massive Rs.450 billion by the govt in 2024 for banks to close potential capital shortfalls, funds were not required as the banks submitted recapitalisation plans instead to show that they were capable of raising capital by themselves, Central Bank said. In the lead up to the allocation of the Rs.450 billion from the 2024 budget for the licensed banks, Central Bank along with the Finance Ministry developed what they call a bank recapitalisation strategy. more..

Apr 11 (AD) Police will be able to issue more than one charge sheet for traffic violators with the introduction of the online instant payment method to pay fines through the GovPay application, Harsha Purasinghe, a board member of the ICTA said. Harsha Purasinghe said based on a request by SL Police, the new system has been introduced. He said the new system will enable those who receive charge sheets to instantly pay the fines by more..

Apr 11 (NW) A new hotspot has arrived in the heart of Colombo 01 with the opening of Level 4 Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, located directly in front of the World Trade Centre. The venue opened its doors on April 5th with a lively evening of cocktails and refreshments, drawing guests to its stylish setting and rooftop views. Blending local charm with a modern vibe, Level 4 offers the perfect spot to relax with friends or enjoy live music under the stars. Level 4 is situated at 4/1 Canal Row, Col 1. more..

Apr 11 (EN) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said Trump’s reciprocal tariff will pave the way for public support moving towards China while the rest of the world will have to decide the United State’s position in the world order. Trump’s stubborn tariff hike on Chinese products has compelled Beijing to retaliate amid the world financial markets taking the toll due to sudden policy changes. He said the high reciprocal tariff seeks to destroy the manufacturing capacity of Asia from East Asia to South Asia. more..

Apr 11 (MoD) A specially deployed SL Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Team, consisting of personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force, continues to support on-going disaster recovery operations in Myanmar following the recent powerful earthquake that caused significant damage and displacement. Upon their arrival in Myanmar last week, the team was immediately dispatched to Nay Pyi Taw province, one of the regions more..

Apr 11 (Island) School administration had been severely affected by the irregular appointment of acting principals under previous govts, Parliament was told. Responding to questions raised by the Opposition during the Ask the PM session, PM Harini Amarasuriya said current govt had decided to implement a standardised policy and procedure for appointing principals across all schools. PM said previous govt had made the process of appointing school principals chaotic. more..

Apr 11 (CT) Sri Lanka’s electricity consumption, supplied by the CEB, for the first time exceeded the 50 GigaWatt hour (GWh) mark, reaching 50.29 GWh on Tuesday (8), according to CEB data. Furthermore, cheap and clean green electricity – also known as renewable energy (RE) – dominated the country’s electricity sector by providing over 50% of national electricity needs for the fourth consecutive day up to Tuesday, aided by rainfall after a 53-day dry spell, data also showed. more..

Apr 11 (SLN) In a groundbreaking celebration, the Malima Diving Club of the SL Navy Malima Hospitality Services (MHS), in collaboration with the Navy Diving Unit, marked the Sinhala and Tamil New Year with a unique underwater festival at the Trincomalee sea area. This first-of-its-kind event saw divers performing traditional cultural rituals and engaging in folk games beneath the waves, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. The celebration aimed not only to celebrate the rich heritage of more..

Apr 11 (AD) Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has signed the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the 350 MW Sahasdhanavi Combined Cycle Power Plant, which will be built, owned, and operated by Sahasdhanavi Limited. Issuing a statement, the CEB said that the ownership of the power plant will be transferred to the CEB after 25 years. This marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s pursuit of reliable and affordable electricity for families and businesses, the CEB said in the statement. more..

Apr 11 (AD) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has indicated that he is prepared to appear before the CIABOC to record a statement about the bribery case filed against NDF MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake. This is in response to the letter directed by CIABOC earlier today. Communiqué issued by the Office of the former Prez states it is baffling and surprising about the quick reaction by Bribery Commission more..

Apr 11 (NW) The SL Tourism Promotion Bureau, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan and the SL Business Community in Japan, is proud to announce Sri Lanka’s participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, which will take place from 13th April to 13th Oct 2025 in Osaka, Japan. This global event will serve as a significant platform for Sri Lanka to present its unique cultural heritage, innovation, and commitment to sustainability to an international audience. more..

Apr 11 (Island) The Communist Party (CP) of Sri Lanka yesterday expressed grave concern over the NPP govt’s unilateral decision to enter into a defence MOU with Quad-member India. The CPSL urged All democratic and progressive forces to pressure the government to reveal the contents of the defence agreement with India. It also asked the NPP govt to revive the Indian Ocean Peace Zone proposal at the UN and mobilise global opposition to militarisation in the region. more..

Apr 11 (AD) Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been requested to be present before the CIABOC in relation to a statement he had made about the bribery case filed against NDF MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake. In a letter directed to former Prez Wickremesinghe, the Assistant Director General of the CIABOC, Asitha Anthony has requested him to be present before the Commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (17). more..

Apr 11 (TM) The public will be given an opportunity to witness the upcoming women’s ODI tri-nations series to be played between Sri Lanka, India, and South Africa free of charge, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a media release on Tuesday (8). The tournament will be played at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo from 27 April, SLC has announced. Accordingly, each team will play four games, and the top two teams will qualify to play in the finals to be played on 11 May. more..

Apr 11 (FT) Let it be clear that the shocking Detention Order (DO) signed by Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake (AKD) to incarcerate Mohammed Rushdi (now released), a youth in his twenties under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, is purely an administrative act. Such actions are subject to the principle of proportionality thus ensuring that legal standards are complied with before intruding into the rights of a person. Administrative powers are conferred with discretion to enable more..

Apr 11 (Island) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijayapala told Parliament yesterday that the govt would expedite the recruitment of an additional 2,500 officers to the Police Department. Responding to a question raised by SJB Anuradhapura District MP Rohana Bandara, the Minister stated that approval had already been granted for the immediate recruitment of police personnel. Minister Wijayapala said that the relevant Gazette notification would be published soon. more..

Apr 11 (FT) Is the NPP govt really trying to keep its campaign-trail opposition-mode promises? Or has the NPP given up the ghost of manifestoes past in the face of the more nuanced reality it has encountered as a govt? Today, we suggest a three-body problem type of lens through which to observe the incumbent administration. Three bodies are notoriously harder to predict in terms of speed and position in space compared to simply two, which interact arithmetically; but more..

Apr 11 (DM) India has proposed a land connectivity project with Sri Lanka once again during the visit of Indian PM Narendra Modi, but the SL govt has not committed yet. In 2002, the then SL govt proposed a land bridge between Rameswaram in TN, India, and Talaimannar in SL. That was based on the ancient land link called Ram Setu or Adam’s Bridge. According to the plan, road and rail bridge links were proposed to be developed. more..

Apr 11 (NW) SL Police HQ has announced the implementation of a new digital system to issue instant traffic fines through the GovPay app, under the Clean Sri Lanka initiative. This online mechanism enables traffic officers to immediately issue fines for violations and allows motorists to make payments via the GovPay platform without delay. Once the payment is confirmed, the traffic officer will be able to release the detained driver’s license on the spot, eliminating need for visits to police stations more..

Apr 11 (FT) The cost of preparing a traditional kevili table for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has increased by 7% in 2025 compared to 2024, and stands more than twice as high as it was in 2019. This was revealed in the annual New Year Kevili Table analysis conducted by Verité Research. The analysis found a 7% increase in the cost of ingredients between March 2024 and March 2025, primarily due to a rise in coconut prices and coconut oil prices by 80% and 40%, respectively. more..

Apr 11 (TM) Ministry of Public Security stated that the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, now in a new phase, have revealed additional information beyond what was uncovered by the various commissions and committees that previously examined the incident. Prez recently said that the CID officials were currently working to expose the group allegedly behind terror attacks before 21 Ap this year. more..

Apr 11 (NW) Minister Bimal Rathnayake says that steps will be taken—through legal means and, if necessary, with international assistance—against those found responsible for the Batalanda torture camps, including former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. “We will conduct all possible investigations within the law to hold Ranil Wickremesinghe accountable for his actions and ensure that these murderers are punished, even if it is at the latter part of their lives,” he said. more..

Apr 11 (EN) Transparency International SL (TISL), the island nation’s corruption watchdog, has urged stronger safeguards and judicial oversight to implement the newly enacted Proceeds of Crimes Act (POCA) successfully. The POCA was passed in the parliament early this week unanimously. “TISL also draws attention to several concerns that must be addressed to ensure the Act’s successful implementation,” the TISL said in a statement. “Stronger safeguards and judicial oversight more..

Apr 11 (EN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake govt’s ambitious Clean Sri Lanka programme has planned to launch 34 new projects this year. Clean Sri Lanka is an ambitious project of the new govt and is a comprehensive national initiative aimed at fostering both environmental sustainability and ethical rejuvenation across the country. This program seeks to address the degradation of SL’s social and environmental fabric by promoting cleanliness and revitalization in all sectors of society. more..

Apr 11 (ST) The High Court Judges’ Association (HCJA) has written to the Bar Association of SL (BASL) expressing concerns over what it says are attempts by some members of the Bar in recent days to intentionally tarnish the reputation of the judiciary following a recent incident. “It has been brought to our notice by the members of the judiciary and also members of the Bar that some lawyers are willfully targeting the judiciary in order to meet their personal ends,” says the letter, more..

Apr 11 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday led a productive all-party meeting to tackle rising concerns over the high reciprocal tariffs announced by the US and possible repercussions on SL’s economy. The meeting was held in response to a request from several Opposition MPs who called for a direct discussion with the Prez on formulating a national response to the issue. Prez began the session by briefing more..

Apr 11 (DN) Court of Appeal yesterday ordered the relevant returning officers to accept another 35 nominations that were originally rejected in connection with the Local Govt Elections. A Court of Appeal Bench, comprising Justice Mohammed Laffar and Justice K.P. Fernando, made this order after considering several writ petitions that had been filed to challenge the rejection of nomination papers, which were taken up for hearing. Court of Appeal noted that this order would apply to more..

Apr 11 (FT) SL’s tourism industry continues to build momentum in 2025, with over 56,000 arrivals in the first nine days of April alone—a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. A total of 56,567 tourists was registered during the first nine days of April, pushing the cumulative arrivals for the year to 778,843 and marking a robust 13.5% year-on-year (YoY) growth. The daily average arrivals rate has also risen to 6,285 during the nine days of April, up from 5,615 in the same period last year. more..