Apr 1 (FT) Philip Gunawardena Commemoration Society held the 53rd commemoration of this veteran politician, popularly called Philip and credited to be the Father of Marxism in Sri Lanka, in Colombo last week. It was a simple ceremony without flamboyance attended by leading members of the Buddhist clergy close to Philip’s family, heads of select diplomatic missions which have an interest in his work, and a galaxy of political leaders including two previous Presidents. more..

Apr 1 (FT) Govt took a significant step towards self-sufficiency in salt production with the opening of the Raja Salt factory at the National Salt Company’s Elephant Pass saltern. Inauguration ceremony, held on Saturday, was presided over Ministers Sunil Handunneththi and Ramalingam Chandrasekar. Equipped with modern technology, the new plant has the capacity to produce five tons of salt per hour, with 1kg and 400g table salt more..

Apr 1 (FT) Former Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has dismissed the motion submitted by NPP MPs to remove Deshabandu Thennakoon from the position of IGP, stating that it holds no legal validity. Rajapakshe pointed out that the Supreme Court had already issued an interim order declaring Thennakoon’s appointment as IGP invalid. As a result, he argued, Thennakoon is no longer the IGP, making any motion for his removal irrelevant under Removal of High Officials Act No.5 of 2002. more..

Apr 1 (AD) Colombo is set to witness a rare celestial phenomenon on Monday (7), at 12.12 p.m., when shadows will momentarily vanish, according to astronomer Anura C. Perera. “This is actually an optical illusion,” Perera explained. He further commented: “At this time of year, the sun is directly overhead, meaning SL is receiving maximum solar energy. That means the sun will be directly overhead the country in the first two weeks of April. This will last from April 5th to 15th.” more..

Apr 1 (DM) Sri Lanka is set to lose US $ 1 billion in FDI since Adani wind power project in Mannar is now uncertain with both the project company and the SL govt remaining firm on tariff rates, Daily Mirror learns. India-based Adani Group was selected to implement the 484 MW Wind and transmission projects by the previous govet. The then Cabinet gave approval to enter into five MoU. Adani quoted US$ 0.826 as its tariff per KWh. more..

Apr 1 (EN) A Swiss business delegation proposes to visit Sri Lanka in mid-June, the ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Siri Walt has said. “This visit aims to strengthen business ties through dedicated forums and B2B meetings,” ambassador Walt was quoted as saying at a forum organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board. The EDB forum discussed enhancing bilateral trade relations and expanding economic collaboration between Switzerland and SL. more..

Apr 1 (AD) Western Province Three-Wheeler Drivers’ and Owners’ Association has stated that despite the reduction of fuel prices, there is no possibility of making any changes to the three-wheeler fares. President of the association Lalith Dharmasekara stated that rather than reducing three-wheeler fares, the government should intervene to provide a more efficient service to the public through proper regulation. Dharmasekara added, “Petrol has been reduced by Rs. 10 more..

Apr 1 (EN) Sri Lanka is mulling sending medical team to Myanmar following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake on Friday, which has killed over 2,060 people as of Monday, Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “The Myanmar embassy said to keep the medical team on standby. They said if in need they would let us know,” Nalinda Jayatissa said. A medical team will be deployed with necessary medicine and medical equipment, Jayatissa said, four days after the earthquake. more..

Apr 1 (NW) Local milk producer, Milco Pvt Ltd, has announced a reduction in the price of several of its products, effective from today. The price of a Highland yoghurt cup has been reduced by Rs. 10, with the new price being Rs. 70. The prices of several fresh milk products have also been reduced as follows; 450ml pasteurized milk – reduced from Rs. 225 to Rs. 200; 450ml fresh milk packet – reduced from Rs. 200 to Rs. 170; 900ml fresh milk packet – reduced from Rs. 440 to Rs. 380 more..

Apr 1 (FT) As Sri Lanka seeks to attract greater foreign investment to drive economic recovery, Govt’s economic policy framework faced intense scrutiny at a panel discussion last week. Amid improving credit ratings, a rebounding rupee, and rising investor confidence – panellists emphasised transparency, capital formation, and market efficiency as the building blocks of sustainable growth. more..

Apr 1 (FT) AI tools can now reproduce and distort any content with remarkable ease. That will accelerate today’s crisis of trust in shared content. How can audiences trust that what they are seeing is not a manipulated AI reproduction? Verité Media, a division of Verité Research, has spearheaded a simple QR code-based publishing method called Trace-it. It is a digital fingerprint that enables media users to instantly verify the authenticity of content by accessing the original source. more..

Apr 1 (PMD) Board of Governors of the President’s Fund convened under the leadership of Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake, has decided to provide financial assistance as an encouragement to ensure the uninterrupted education of children from families affected by daily incidents of elephant intrusions into their villages. Priority will be given to families who have lost a member or have individuals injured due to elephant intrusions. Additionally, children from families that have suffered more..

Apr 1 (DM) Nearly one-third of a Rs.922 billion rise in the govt’s revenue projection for 2025 is expected to be driven by the value added tax (VAT), an analysis conducted by analytics platform PublicFinance.lk showed. The approved budget estimates indicate the total govt revenue, excluding the provincial council revenue and grants, is set to reach Rs.5,012 billion in 2025, reflecting a 23% increase from Rs.4,090 b recorded in 2024. more..

Apr 1 (FT) SL last week marked a significant milestone in its digital payments landscape with the successful hosting of its first-ever Cross-Border Payment Symposium, organised by LankaPay in collaboration with the SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and other key tourism industry bodies. The landmark event brought together financial leaders, tourism stakeholders, and representatives from regional payment networks to explore the transformative impact of more..

Apr 1 (AD) A person has been injured and admitted to the Gampaha Hospital after police opened fire during an altercation when checking for narcotics at a road block in Minuwangoda today. Meanwhile, another individual has been arrested following the incident. The incident had occurred when police officers from the Gampaha Divisional Crimes Bureau had ordered a motorcycle to stop at the police roadblock in Welhena, however, the motorcycle rider had continued without stopping. more..

Apr 1 (DM) The free visa scheme, proposed for 39 countries, is expected to secure the Cabinet approval within the next two weeks, before being tabled in Parliament for the final approval, according to Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Chaminda Ranasinghe. Speaking to reporters last week, he noted that the Cabinet paper has already been submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers. The initiative is expected to boost tourist arrivals, in particular during the lean or off-peak season. more..

Apr 1 (AD) Minister of Science and Technology Krishantha Abeysena says that fuel prices cannot be reduced further as the conditions imposed by the IMF on the country’s economy are still in effect. Minister said, “We would also like to reduce fuel prices, but it is not possible at this moment as we are still dealing with the IMF conditions. We have to consider the country’s income and expenditure. The govt must have a stable income. It is difficult to implement a significant reduction at once.” more..

Apr 1 (TM) Noting that the Govt’s recent decision to revise the payments made for solar power amounts to reversing the progressive steps taken to improve renewable energy sector in the country, SJB, urged the Govt to take prudent and scientific decisions when it comes to the electricity sector. SJB MP Ajith P. Perera expressed concerns that approximately 40,000 individuals are employed in the solar power more..

Apr 1 (AD) MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake has been ordered to be remanded further until April 8. This order was issued after he was produced before Colombo Magistrate’s Court today. Dassanayake, who was taken into custody on March 27, was granted bail in two of the cases but was ordered to remain in remand custody over the third charge. The court had previously remanded him until today for further proceedings. The allegations stem from his tenure as the CM of Uva Province in 2016. more..

Apr 1 (DM) Being overlooked amid performances has been the story of his life, but spinner Akila Dananjaya always finds a way to come back stronger. He made his debut as a teenager in a T20 World Cup (2012) encounter against NZ. After being overlooked by the U-19 selectors, the off-spinner made an instant impact, picking up two wickets in what eventually turned out to be a memorable game, with SL winning in the Super Over. However, one shouldn’t forget to credit one of the greatest more..

Apr 1 (DM) An elephant was seen toppling a safari jeep in Yala National Park while tourists were inside the vehicle. Warden of the park, Manoj Vidyaratne, said that the incident occurred two weeks ago on the Katagamuwa road within the park. "The elephant that toppled the safari jeep was not one of the usual elephants encountered by safari vehicles. It was a new, solitary elephant that had emerged from the forest reserve. more..

Apr 1 (DM) Social activist Sanjaya Mahawatte said that he had given a successful statement to the CID for nearly four hours regarding an accident involving a modern pilot vessel stationed at the Trincomalee Harbour, which resulted in a loss of over Rs. 250 million. Speaking to the media after his statement, Mahawatte revealed that the vessel was operated by Ganaka Hemachandra, Deputy Harbour Master Captain Aranpath, and K.B.S. Jayalath at the time of the accident. more..

Apr 1 (AD) Minister of Justice and National Integration Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara reaffirmed that introducing a new constitution and abolishing the executive presidency will be key priorities under the NPP govt. Minister emphasized that these reforms would be implemented within the next five years. “We conducted the parliamentary elections, and now we must proceed with the long-overdue local govt elections, which have been delayed for two years. more..

Apr 2 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was quoted as saying in one of those election rallies: “It usually takes a decade for a bankrupt nation to make an economic comeback. But we have been able to turn around the SL economy within a surprisingly short time.” This is both true and false. True because SL has shown a surprising degree of resilience through its darkest days of economic crisis. The country has risen from the nadir far quicker than the economic pundits and more..

Apr 2 (DM) Teething is the process by which an infant’s first teeth emerge through the gums. It usually occurs when an infant is between 6 and 10 months old and usually causes discomfort and pain to the infant. Teething sometimes becomes painful to both babies and parents. Some infants tend to behave in a cranky manner before their new teeth emerge. Our infant JVP/NPP govt seems to be going through such a process. The varied silly statements made by different members of the Cabinet more..

Apr 2 (CT) On an ordinary weekday morning, seven-year-old Kavisha wakes up at dawn, rubs her sleepy eyes, and braces herself for the day ahead. Like many of her classmates, her morning routine includes a ritual that is becoming all too familiar for students across SL: Packing her school bag, which often weighs almost as much as she does. Her small frame struggles with the large bag stuffed with textbooks, exercise books, more..

Apr 2 (CT) Another year, another brutal case of university ragging — this time, a first-year student from the Uni of Jaffna has reportedly suffered severe physical assault at the hands of seniors. His father has turned to the UGC, Police, and HRC, pleading for justice and protection for his son. But, honestly, how many more such pleas need to be made before someone, anyone, takes real action? University ragging in SL has long since shed any pretence of being a harmless initiation ritual. more..

Apr 2 (ST) It was bound to happen. SL’s career diplomatic service has long had a troubled past. That is not to say a really bad time away from home, particularly by incompetent and ignorant bosses from discarded political rubbish or dubious lineage that does little to improve the image of the country or those who wish to keep it clean. But as the country’s diplomatic stature deteriorates and its reputation around the world suffers a deleterious descent, as did our economy not too long ago along with more..

Apr 2 (TM) The upcoming LG Elections have encountered a significant hurdle with the rejection of 420 nominations. Election Commission (EC), headed by Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake and Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake, has made it clear that these rejections are based strictly on legal provisions, primarily concerning youth and women representation, as well as procedural errors in nomination process. more..

Apr 2 (GV) Last year, I studied in some depth perceptions of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and NPP after the consequential prez election and again after the even more significant general election. In Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s origin story in Tamil and Sinhala: What the stresses, and silences showcase, published soon after the prez election, Tamil sentiments towards AKD, based on YouTube comments against viral videos featuring his hometown, reflected a complex mixture of more..

Apr 2 (TM) Hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans, particularly women in rural areas, continue to be victimised by unregulated microfinance practices in SL, despite repeated calls for multiple governments to act against the vicious cycle of debt that has led to strife, suicide and destitution. Northern and North Central Provinces have been the most impacted. Nevertheless, despite claims on the political stage to address the issue, the Govt has taken little or no concrete action regarding the issue. more..

Apr 2 (Island) Arch rivals Trinity College Kandy and St. Anthony’s College Katugastota have remained as two of the highest ranked schools cricket teams in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket tournament this season. After having reached the business end of both the two-day tournament and the limited overs tournament, the two teams can take the enviable title as ‘the most successful Big Match rivals’ this season. That will serve as an inspiration for both teams when they meet for more..

Apr 2 (Island) Education should be genuinely free—not just in the sense of being free from privatisation, but also in a way that empowers students by freeing them from oppressive structures. It should provide them with the knowledge and tools necessary to think critically, question the status quo, and ultimately liberate themselves from oppressive systems. Education should empower students to think critically, challenge oppression, and envision a more just and equal world. more..

Apr 2 (TM) Fourteen months after the country’s worst ever motor racing catastrophe – the 2025 Fox Hill Supercross, is set to roll again on 28 and 29 June, as per the year planner, released by the Administrative Committee, formed to oversee the sport, in place of the dissolved SL Automobile Sports (SLAS). The tragic accident at Diyatalawa on 21 April 2024, claimed close to 10 lives and saw 20 others suffering injuries and it prompted more..

Apr 2 (FT) Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association conducted its 44th AGM on 28 March with Tropical Finding Ltd, Director Dhammika Fernando re-elected as the Chairman and Filotex Lanka Ltd Director M.H.Z.M. Marzook was elected as the new General Secretary for the period 2025/2026. ATG Ceylon Ltd Managing Director Fazal Abdeen and Screenline Holdings Ltd, Director Nishantha Bakmeege were elected as the Vice Chairmen Lalan Rubbers Ltd, more..

Apr 2 (FT) Roar Adx, a leading digital platform media solutions company, is celebrating five years of driving Meta advertising solutions and growth for brands across the country. Since its inception, Roar Adx has delivered over 10,000 hours of expert consultancy, empowering over 5000 brands to scale their Meta advertising success through tailored strategy, data-driven creativity, and seamless local billing solutions. Roar Global Chief Marketing Officer Umair Wolid said: more..