Apr 3 (DM) Major reservoirs supplying fresh water to thousands of households in the main Colombo District is soon drying up posing a threat of drinking water becoming scarce in the coming weeks. According to officials in NWSDB, if rains are not received in the coming weeks, the supply of drinking water to Colombo will soon run out with water in the Kalatuwawa reservoir being sufficient only for 22 days and more..

Apr 4 (Island) SLPP National organiser MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should be held responsible for the coal scam. He claimed that the President’s action to protect those allegedly connected to the coal fraud and his failure to recognise the matter as a fraud indicated that he too was responsible for the racket. Rajapaksa said the policies of the present administration were similar to those of the former Good Governance Govt of Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 4 (AD) Nuwara Eliya High Court has sentenced four suspects to death in connection with three separate protracted murder cases. Sentences were pronounced today (2) by HC Judge Viraj Weerasuriya. Accordingly, a 47-year-old accused was found guilty and sentenced to death in relation to a murder that occurred in 1998 within the Nanu Oya Police Division. In a separate case dating to 2009, a 55-year-old man was convicted of the murder of his mother, wife & child in Pattipola more..

Apr 4 (Island) Environmentalists have raised fresh concerns over possible mercury contamination linked to coal used at the Norochcholai coal power plant, warning that SL still lacks binding standards on mercury content in imported coal despite mounting health risks in nearby communities. Chairperson of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ), Environmental Scientist Hemantha Withanage, said more..

Apr 4 (TM) The ruling NPP is yet to make a decision on how it will respond to the no-confidence motion (NCM) brought against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, its General Secretary and Govt MP Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe said. He said the Party had not reached a final position and is still weighing its options. “We’ll see how it goes. There is some time. We have not made a decision yet. We know that there is a moral issue, and we are considering what we need to do,” he said. more..

Apr 3 (AD) A discussion on water management was held this afternoon (2) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in view of prevailing weather and climate variations, the potential onset of El Niño conditions and the commencement of paddy cultivation for the Yala season. During the discussion, attention was given to projected rainfall for the year based on forecasts, as well as the current water levels in reservoirs, more..

Apr 3 (EN) Foreign investors sold US$44.1 million worth of SL govt securities in the two weeks ended March 31, amid renewed depreciation pressure on the local currency. Foreigners sold a net 13,658 million rupees (US$44.1 million at 1$=310 rupees) in the two weeks. Foreigners have sold rupee bonds for a 10th week in the last 29. The latest outflow in the last two reduced foreign investments in rupee bonds to 2,251 million rupees in the first 14 weeks of this year, data showed. more..

Apr 4 (DM) SLC has appointed Ryan van Niekerk as the National Bowling Coach and Jordan Gregory as the National Fielding and Spin Bowling Coach. Ryan van Niekerk, who previously served as the bowling coach and interim head coach of the Netherlands national team from 2023 to 2026, will oversee fast bowling across all national teams, including the national men’s side. Prior to his interim head coach role, he worked as the assistant coach and bowling coach of the Netherlands men’s team. more..

Apr 4 (FT) SL’s tourism sector lost momentum in March, with arrivals falling sharply as escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupted global aviation networks, even as the country maintained modest overall growth for the year. Latest data show that tourist arrivals declined 20% year-on-year (YoY) to 183,979 in March, marking a significant reversal after a strong start to 2026. The downturn follows the outbreak of the US-Israel war more..

Apr 3 (DM) Unannounced power and water cuts are already in force, a group of opposition parties alleged yesterday. Former MPs Patali Champika Ranawaka, Rajitha Senaratne, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Wajira Abeywardena, former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, and sitting MP Dayasiri Jayasekera made this allegation during a joint press briefing. “Unannounced power interruptions and water cuts are already in force in some areas,” MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said. more..

Apr 3 (Island) Ministry of Justice and National Integration officially launched its new Management Information System (MIS) and revamped website, marking a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to modernize SL’s justice sector and strengthen institutional efficiency, transparency, and accountability. MIS was developed as an initiative of the Support to Justice Sector Project (JURE), funded by European Union, in partnership with Ministry of Justice, and implemented by UNDP and more..

Apr 3 (FT) National Development Bank (NDB) said it has detected a fraud involving certain employees acting in connivance with third parties, with preliminary indications placing the exposure at approximately Rs. 380 million, while investigations are ongoing to determine the final amount. The bank issued the below statement: “We wish to disclose that the bank has detected an act of fraud that has been committed by certain employees in connivance with a third party or parties. more..

Apr 3 (DN) Two leading Colombo schools, Thurstan College and Isipathana College, will clash for the Blackham Wijewardena Trophy in their 63rd Battle of the Brothers annual cricket encounter, which begins today and will be played until Sunday at the SSC Grounds. Both sides will be aiming for a result in this three-day encounter. Thurstan enter the match with strong confidence after last year’s victory and possess a solid group of all-rounders capable of mounting another strong challenge. more..

Apr 3 (TM) PM Harini Amarasuriya has informed that a Cabinet paper is to be submitted in the near future on relief measures and infrastructure facilities for the Malaiyaha people, the Civil Society Collective for Malaiyaha Reconstruction claimed. A special meeting between the PM and representatives of island-wide civil society organisations (CSOs) working with people affected by Cyclone Ditwah was held on 28 March more..

Apr 3 (FT) SL’s lending rates have retreated sharply from crisis highs, but credit card interest remains anchored near the regulatory ceiling, exposing a widening disconnect in monetary transmission. Data from the Central Bank show the Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) has fallen from 24.82% in Jan 2023 to 8.88% by end-January 2026, after easing to 11.91% in 2024 and 8.56% in 2025. However, by the week ending 27 March, the AWPR has edged up slightly to 9.28%. more..

Apr 3 (FT) The visiting staff delegation of the IMF yesterday met with leaders of the Opposition parties in Parliament to get their views on issues of mutual interest. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih and comprised MPs Ravi Karunanayake, Dilith Jayaweera, Dr. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, and Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna. For some reason, other party leaders, including those from the SJB and SLPP, were absent, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. more..

Apr 3 (Island) A sweeping regulatory move to safeguard public health came into force April 1, banning the manufacture and sale of baby feeding bottles and reusable plastic bottles containing harmful chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA), while making Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) certification mandatory across the sector. The new regulation, issued by the CAA under Extraordinary Gazette No. 2456/42 dated Oct 1, 2025, requires more..

Apr 3 (ST) Northern and Eastern farmers who are preparing for the upcoming Yala harvesting season are worried about the police crackdown on fuel hoarding. A farmer in Murasumottai, Kilinochchi, was arrested for transporting 400 litres of diesel, in 20 cans, intended for his tractor. He was released on bail after being produced in courts on Thursday. Two large-scale farmers from Uriyaan, Kilinochchi, who cultivate over ten acres of land, were also taken into custody along with their fuel stocks but more..

Apr 3 (Island) A newly launched initiative, the Sri Lanka Brand Forum (SLBF), seeks to redefine the role of business in national development, urging companies to move beyond profit and become institutions of trust, clarity, and progress. At a recent press conference in Colombo, founders announced the forum as a response to what they described as a BANI world – an acronym for Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible – where uncertainty has become the norm. more..

Apr 3 (FT) Most venture funds celebrate one good exit. nVentures is quietly sitting on two, and both are still getting bigger. In the span of three years, the Singapore-SL-based venture capital (VC) fund has logged an acquisition by JPMorgan and watched a portfolio company it seeded get valued at $ 600 million. Neither outcome was obvious when nVentures wrote the cheques. The MAS-licenced firm is now publicly raising Fund II, targeting $ 10 million to back Enterprise AI startups built by more..

Apr 3 (DN) Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte recorded a convincing five-wicket victory over their arch-rivals St. John’s College, Nugegoda in the 26th Battle of Sri Jayawardenapura big match played at the P. Sara Oval Stadium on Wednesday. Ananda Sastralaya skipper Positha Madanayake, an off-spinner, was the standout performer of the match. He delivered a match-winning performance, claiming 5 wickets for 11 runs in his 9-over spell in the first innings, followed by 3 wickets for 62 runs more..

Apr 3 (FT) Discussions yesterday between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the visiting IMF delegation centred on how SL can continue to advance within the EFF program without undermining the economic stability achieved so far, amid fresh external pressures from the Middle East conflict. Visiting delegation, led by Mission Chief Evan Papageorgiou, is here to conduct 5th and 6th Reviews under the EFF program, which more..

Apr 3 (Island) Around 40% of the annual energy we use is consumed in domestic activities. Energy is costly, and supply is not unlimited. Unfortunately, we realize the importance of energy – saving only during the time of a crisis. If you adopt readily affordable energy-saving strategies, you will cut down your living expenditure substantially, relieving the energy burden of the nation. Here are some tips. Cooking: Cooking consumes a good portion of domestic energy demand and more..

Apr 3 (Island) Sri Lankan governments are said to be like cattle-rustling trucks displaying various religious blessings above their windshields. A govt once came to power promising to create a righteous society but did the very antithesis of its pledge. Its rule paved the way for a culture of political violence, election malpractices and corruption. One of the promises made by the JVP-NPP govt during its election campaigns was to restore the rule of law. Those who voted for it may have expected more..

Apr 3 (TM) From war zones to world courts, feminism has reshaped global policy. But, has global policy reshaped feminism in return? An Institute for Youth in Policy (YIP) Fellow and recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Faculty Award at the New York Uni (NYU), legal scholar, feminist thinker, and one of the sharpest critics of how gender, power, and conflict intersect in global governance, Professor Vasuki Nesiah — joined Kaleidoscope to discuss her book International Conflict Feminism, more..

Apr 3 (DN) Cabinet has approved a draft Bill aimed at dismantling criminal gangs, drug trafficking networks and their financial bases, according to our front-page report of yesterday’s edition. The legislation is also aimed at closing legal loopholes and facilitating the forfeiture of assets acquired through illegal means, among other matters. Legal Draftsman is to be instructed to prepare the new draft Bill on the prevention of organized crime in Sri Lanka, the report further adds. more..

Apr 3 (TM) Educational professionals, specifically teachers, are facing widespread financial hardship, with most reporting a decreased family income and insufficient funds to maintain their standard of living. As a result, many are coping by being forced to reduce spending on necessities including food, medicine, transportation, communication, and entertainment, and nearly half of them pursue additional employment more..

Apr 3 (ST) The above headline is the theme song of a popular TV series. I was reminded of this when global experts this week warned of a climate emergency saying the earth has hit a record heat level, with SL experts also warning of extreme heat conditions. This along with the other heat issue – the ongoing conflict in West Asia – places the world in an extremely vulnerable position largely due to man-made and natural disasters. One (man-made) – can certainly be avoided as Donald Trump, more..

Apr 3 (TM) The global order is currently defined by a profound and turbulent transition that mirrors a tectonic shift. For decades, the int'l financial and political architecture operated under a unipolar shadow where a single centre of power issued instructions that the rest of the planet was expected to follow. Today, that shadow is receding, replaced by a multipolar reality where the Global South is finally asserting its economic and political agency. For a small island nation like SL, more..

Apr 3 (TM) SL’s post‑crisis recovery is unfolding against an increasingly hostile global backdrop. As conflict in West Asia threatens energy supplies, trade routes, remittance flows, and tourism corridors, the question is no longer whether SL is stabilising, but whether it is becoming resilient fast enough. Senior Professor in Economics Prasanna Perera warns that headline reserve figures mask deeper vulnerabilities and that the country’s more..

Apr 3 (DM) No sooner had US President Donald Trump ended his special address to the nation on Wednesday—Thursday around 6.50 a.m. SL time—than War Secretary Pete Hegseth took to X to post a hubristic message. Echoing Trump’s warning to Iran, he tweeted with a mix of megalomania, perversion, and sarcasm: Back to the Stone Age. The Stone Age that maverick Trump and fanatic Hegseth threaten to reduce Iran to is, in fact, a more fitting description of the United States’ own behaviour. more..

Apr 3 (DM) Sri Lanka’s renewed engagement with Russia in the energy sector comes at a moment of considerable uncertainty in global geopolitics and energy markets. With the deadline for sanctions-related waivers for Russian oil approaching on April 12, Sri Lanka finds itself traversing a delicate diplomatic and economic path. The prospect of deeper energy cooperation with Moscow is often presented as a pragmatic response to SL’s vulnerability to global fuel shocks. more..