Apr 24 (NW) UNP has condemned what it described as a sudden visit by officers of the CID to the residence of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to record a statement from his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe. UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena said the party was saddened by the move, noting that Wickremesinghe is currently recovering after undergoing heart surgery. He said Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe has been overseeing the former Prez’s health and more..

Apr 24 (TM) A migrant health screening programme that is in place and is capable of generating revenue for Sri Lanka has yet to be taken over by the Govt, despite the initial investment having been fully recovered by 2022, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni said. He said that under the system implemented by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), migrants who remain in SL for more than six months are required to undergo medical examinations to screen more..

Apr 24 (TM) In anticipation of possible food insecurities that could arise from the ongoing Middle East (ME) war, Trade, Commerce, Food Security & Cooperative Development Ministry, in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, is moving to boost and encourage the cultivation of high-yield seeds grown under special conditions, through training farmer-entrepreneurs. Deputy subject Minister R.M. Jayawardhana said that more..

Apr 24 (AD) Continuing his official visit to the UN Headquarters in New York City, SL’s Secretary of Defence, Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha, engaged in a high-level meeting with Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General responsible for the Middle East, Europe, Americas, Asia and the Pacific at the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO). During the discussions, SL delegation provided a comprehensive outline of more..

Apr 24 (AD) Minister Chandana Abeyrathne stated that a formal complaint has been lodged with the CID regarding an apparent cyberattack targeting the official website of the Ministry of Public Administration. Minister noted that the complaint was filed through the intervention of the Ministry Secretary. Recent reports indicate that the Ministry’s website was subjected to a cyberattack, during which perpetrators allegedly attempted to auction data obtained from the site for financial gain. more..

Apr 24 (Island) The govt has suspended sand mining permits issued in March 2026 across the Mannar District following the launch of a CID probe into alleged large-scale irregularities. The decision was taken at a district-level meeting on sand distribution held at Mannar District Secretariat on April 18, chaired by Mannar District Secretary K. Kanageswaran. The meeting was attended by State Minister Upali Samarasinghe, more..

Apr 24 (TM) In a ceremony emphasising environmental preservation and peace, two forest areas are set to be declared protected reserves today, as part of the ongoing Walk for Peace programme. Official designation will be conveyed through a Sannas Patra, which is scheduled to be presented to Venerable Pannyakara Thero of Vietnam and other dignitaries participating in the peace walk. The forests identified for protection are Nagahamulayaya in the Matale District more..

Apr 24 (DM) A man who climbed onto a traffic light in front of the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo was safely rescued this morning by Police and firefighters. Fire and rescue teams had positioned an inflatable safety cushion beneath the structure as a precaution. According to video footage, cloth the man was holding suddenly gave way, but he landed safely on the cushion without injury. As emergency teams moved in, the man could be heard pleading, Please don’t hit. more..

Apr 24 (DM) All liquor shops islandwide will be closed for three days in May in view of Int'l Workers’ Day and the Vesak festival, the Dept of Excise said. Accordingly, liquor outlets will remain closed on May 1 to mark Int'l Workers’ Day (May Day). The dept further stated that all liquor stores will also be shut on May 30, which falls on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, and on May 31, the day following Vesak. The govt, meanwhile, said that Vesak Full Moon Poya Day will be observed on May 30 more..

Apr 24 (TM) World Immunization Week starts today (24) and will run until 30 April. The week-long event aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages from preventable diseases and to underscore the importance of collective action in immunization efforts. The World Health Organization (WHO) collaborates with numerous countries to raise awareness about the vital role vaccines play in safeguarding public health. WHO provides Govts with essential guidance and more..

Apr 24 (AD) General Manager of Railways, Ravindra Pathmapriya, stated that the re-railing operations for the derailed Sagarika train have commenced and that train services on the coastal line are expected to be restored within two days. He made these remarks while addressing the media, adding that the Minister has instructed officials to take all necessary measures to minimise the inconvenience caused to passengers. more..

Apr 24 (NF) CID is currently recording a statement from Maithree Wickremesinghe, the wife of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, police said. Police stated that, based on information provided by her legal representatives regarding her medical condition, CID officers have gone to her place where she is residing at, to record the statement. The statement is being obtained in connection with an ongoing case filed against former Prez over allegations of using public funds more..

Apr 24 (NW) Third day of the Walk for Peace pilgrimage commenced this morning in front of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. PM Harini Amarasuriya and the Maha Sangha of both monastic chapters participated in today’s event organized as part of the campaign’s third day. Most Venerable Pannakara Thero, who previously led a 110-day peace walk in the US from Texas to Washington, covering ten states, arrived in SL together with members of the Maha Sangha more..

Apr 24 (AD) The Director of Mass Communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, Reverend Father Jude Chrysantha, has stated that reports claiming that His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has decided to step down from his post as Archbishop of Colombo in late 2026 are false. Responding to an inquiry, he clarified that decisions regarding the appointment or retirement of an Archbishop are made solely by Vatican. more..

Apr 24 (NF) The Colombo High Court trial-at-bar rejected a request made by former IGP Pujith Jayasundara seeking permission to add new information to the statement he made from the dock in the Easter Sunday terror attacks case. The request was considered before the three-judge bench comprising Justices Priyantha Liyanage, Viraj Weerasuriya, and Thilakaratne Bandara. The case has been filed against the former IGP Pujith Jayasundara under several charges, more..

Apr 24 (Island) Discussions at the ILO-organized South-4-Care Learning Hub highlighted that progress in the care economy across South Asia is within reach when govts, employers and workers act together through coherent policies and social dialogue. Countries across South Asia came together to advance decent work in the care economy through a four-day South-South knowledge exchange and capacity-building initiative organized by the Int'l Labour Organization (ILO), more..

Apr 24 (AD) The Colombo High Court today has postponed the hearing of the case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his grandmother Daisy Forest, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, until June 10, 2026. The case was taken up before Colombo HC Judge Rashmi Singappuli. During the proceedings, State Counsel informed the court that another case related to these charges has been filed before High Court No. 8. more..

Apr 24 (DM) The registration process for Dansal organised islandwide in view of the upcoming Vesak Poya has already commenced, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) said. According to President of the SL Public Health Inspectors Union, K.P. Boralessa, individuals and groups intending to organise Dansal events must inform and register with the PHI in charge of the relevant area. He urged organisers to provide details, including the location and the type of Dansal planned when submitting more..

Apr 24 (FT) Petroleum Distributors’ Association has appealed to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, calling for urgent intervention to revise the current fuel dealer discount mechanism, warning that the existing system threatens the viability of filling stations across the country. In a letter to the Prez, the association noted that the efforts to resolve the issue through discussions with institutions including the CPC had failed, more..

Apr 24 (NW) Dept for Registration of Persons has issued a public warning after it was revealed that certain parties are misusing the department’s hotline number and name to obtain personal information and commit financial fraud. According to the statement, calls have been made using numbers similar to the official hotline, including +94115226126, +0115226126, and mobile numbers 0771167739 and 0742756098, to deceive individuals. more..

Apr 24 (DM) Sri Lanka’s first-ever national event calendar was launched in Colombo yesterday under the patronage of Minister Sunil Handunnetti. The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s growing event management sector, which was valued at around Rs. 60 billion in 2025. The Sri Lanka Events Calendar has been developed by the Event Management Advisory Board with guidance from the Ministry, compiling major events taking place across the country. more..

Apr 24 (NW) PM Harini Amarasuriya says the govt is taking the necessary legal action regarding the recent financial fraud involving unauthorized access to the computer system of the Dept of External Resources under Ministry of Finance. She noted that investigations have already commenced, with international assistance offered. “In particular, Govt of Australia has informed us of its willingness to support the investigative process, more..

Apr 24 (NW) Sri Lanka Police have announced that legal action will be taken against bus operators who charge passengers more than the stipulated fares. The warning follows public complaints that both the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and private buses engaged in public transport have been demanding higher fares. According to the Police, inspections carried out jointly with officials of the National Transport Commission revealed instances where passengers were overcharged. more..

Apr 24 (AD) Former Minister Johnston Fernando has been granted bail by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court. Wattala Magistrate’s Court ordered the release of the former Minister, who had been in remand custody over allegations of misusing a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa. The order was issued when the case was taken up today before Wattala Magistrate Kanchana N. Silva. Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered him released on a cash bond of Rs. 25,000 and four personal sureties of more..

Apr 24 (FT) Over the years, I have heard the same frustration from investors. They arrive with genuine interest, spend time exploring opportunities, hold meetings, visit sites, discuss structures, and then somewhere along the way their enthusiasm begins to drain away. The opportunity may still be there, but the process starts to exhaust them. Facilitating foreign investment into SL is one of the things I do, and I have seen from close quarters how often serious investor interest gets slowed down more..

Apr 24 (FT) Conversations about Aswasuma have sparked again with much criticism in social media for the Govt decision to increase the cash transfer allowance in April. Many complained that undeserving ones are getting it, and the selection is politically biased. However, Aswasuma was designed to take away patronage politics, and it achieved that task way better than the previous social protection system, Samurdhi. To understand the origin of Aswasuma, it is important to more..

Apr 24 (Island) The alleged diversion of SL’s $2.5 million debt repayment is unlikely to be a simple hack, but rather a case of a compromised payment process, where weak verification layers, email-based instructions, and insufficient system segregation created an opening for fraud, a fintech expert said. He pointed out that in cross-border public payments, especially sovereign debt servicing, transactions typically moved more..

Apr 24 (DN) Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Senior Information Security Engineer Charuka Damunupola said that SLCERT will provide technical support to the investigations into the alleged diversion of US$ 2.5 million during a foreign debt repayment at the Treasury. “We are committed to extending our fullest technological co-operation to police investigators,” he said. Damunupola stressed that institutions must exercise greater caution when handling emails, noting that more..

Apr 24 (DN) A formal meeting was held yesterday at the Sports Ministry premises between the Russian Ambassador to SL Levan S. Dzhagaryan, and Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. Russian Ambassador officially invited Sport Minister to participate in upcoming international forums scheduled to be held in Russia. The discussion focused on further expanding the long-standing friendship between the two nations through the fields of youth development and sports. more..

Apr 24 (TM) Customs has released three out of five books authored by Theepachelvan Piratheepan, which were detained in late March over allegations that their content could damage national harmony. Customs Spokesperson Chandana Punchihewa said that following recommendations, the books have already been released. "We are asked not to release the other two books. We don’t know the content it holds. more..

Apr 24 (FT) Hambantota International Port (HIP) successfully handled container vessel MSC Marie Leslie, marking one of its highest-volume vessel calls to date. The achievement further strengthens the Port’s position as an emerging hub for containerised cargo in the region. The vessel, operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company, was berthed at HIP from 11 to 15 April. Port achieved 7,968 container moves during this period, translating to a total volume of 13,260 TEUs; more..

Apr 24 (AD) As the official program for the 2026 State Vesak Festival is scheduled to be held on May 30, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Govt has issued an extraordinary gazette notification declaring the following day, May 31, as a public holiday. Accordingly, the relevant gazette notification has been published, revising the public holiday that was previously scheduled for May 2. This year’s Vesak Week has been declared from May 27 to June 2. more..