Apr 19 (CT) The 10-day exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, which began on 18 April, has drawn an unprecedented number of devotees, with Police estimating that over 1.5 million people will attend this rare religious event after 16 years. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake inaugurated the sacred ceremony with the auspicious blessings of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. To ensure the safety of devotees, a robust security operation has been deployed, more..

Apr 19 (EN) A team from Sri Lanka will travel to Washington to have discussions on easing a 44% reciprocal tariff imposed on the island on April 22, Minister Anil Jayantha said. The delegation will have talks with the US Trade Representative on lowering tariffs and increasing imports to reduce a trade surplus with America, Minister said. SL had held virtual discussions with Assistant US Trade Representative more..

Apr 20 (CT) Easter Sunday of 21st April 2019 was one of if not the bloodiest days in the history of Buddhist SL. It was staged by a small group of religiously deranged Muslim mercenaries headed by a vagabond madrasa truant and backyard imam apparently hired by a politically ambitious cabal. In a series of three articles under the heading Anatomy of an Islamic Infamy authored by this columnist and published in this journal on 5th 8th and 10th May 2019 several issues regarding that more..

Apr 20 (SO) If there is one thing we learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, which engulfed the world five years ago, it is that the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if. Thousands of Covid-like viruses are lurking in animals, waiting for an opportunity to jump to humans (hence the term zoonotic disease). Climate factors, biodiversity loss and the illegal and legal trade in wildlife are all contributory factors, along with increased travel. Covid-19 was a bad experience from the point of view of more..

Apr 20 (SO) Today is yet another Easter Sunday for Sri Lankans, especially the Catholic community, without justice for the hundreds of victims killed in the 21 April 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. Tomorrow (21) marks the sixth anniversary of the attacks, and the Catholic Church continues to hold Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his JVP-led NPP Govt to the pledge given to the country’s Catholic community & Archbishop more..

Apr 20 (ST) My dear Pillayan, I am writing to you because everyone is suddenly talking about you when they should be talking about the New Year, Dalada exhibition or the local govt elections. This is because you were first arrested, then detained under the PTA and various people wanted to contact you after that. Some will argue that you should have been detained under the PTA a long time ago, when you first joined Velu and his Tigers as a child soldier at the age of 16 years. That did not happen. more..

Apr 20 (CT) Amidst a spectrum of opinions, one thing is clear: the campaign finance law currently in place in SL cannot be underestimated and it deserves more credit than it receives —it is far from trivial. Detractors may argue that legislation framework is futile in a country where implementation is often flawed—but that critique misses the mark. In fact, SL boasts some of the most advanced campaign finance regulations in the region. Yet, as with any legal framework, more..

Apr 20 (ST) Dy Minister Chaturanaga Abeysinghe faced a lot of ridicule on social media after a speech he made at a public rally claiming that US Prez Donald Trump’s decision to freeze tariffs for 90 days was prompted by the letter sent by Prez Dissanayake to his US counterpart. He may not have said so specifically, but given the metaphors and double-speak his party colleagues have now got accustomed to, in office, he was being more..

Apr 20 (ST) As Christians around the world celebrate Easter Sunday today, the day is still overshadowed by the local Catholic Church hierarchy’s battle with successive govts seeking justice for the victims of the coordinated bombings of churches that fateful Easter morn in 2019. Multiple investigations to find out who was behind these dastardly acts and the motive for them have only resulted in the fog of a war of words by conflicting forces and conspiracy theorists. more..

Apr 20 (TM) Six years to the day and hundreds of promises and three different presidents and govts later, with a fourth president and govt in office, SL is no closer to identifying the mastermind/s behind the deadly Easter Sunday attacks than on that fateful day of 21 April 2019. The promises of swift justice have been plenty; so have the appointment of numerous commissions of inquiry and their equally numerous reports, yet, six long years later, the country is still awaiting justice more..

Apr 20 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake continues to draw heavy flak from the Opposition for repeatedly declaring, at the NPP’s LG election rallies, that he will readily approve financial allocations for the local councils to be won by the NPP and others will face difficulties in obtaining funds as the political rivals of the NPP cannot be considered clean. The Opposition and some election monitors have taken exception to what can be considered a warning issued by Prez more..

Apr 20 (Island) There was a time when SL parents drummed into their kids that the only ticket out of the rat race was a university degree. Unless you were born with a silver spoon, it was books over bats. But those equations have been rewritten. These days, if you can land the ball on a sixpence and send stumps cartwheeling, the world’s your oyster. Just ask Kasun Rajitha — the latest poster boy for how far cricket can take you. Hailing from the sleepy hamlet of Telijjawila, more..

Apr 20 (TM) On 21 Apr 2019, an unthinkable act of terror unfolded across the country, targeting Catholic worshippers celebrating one of Christianity’s holiest days and foreign nationals enjoying breakfast in Colombo’s five-star hotels. The psychological, political, and communal aftershocks of this catastrophe continue to haunt us to this day. Despite numerous investigations – both local and international more..

Apr 20 (ST) SL discovered three promising junior athletes for the national relay team during a thrilling 4x400m Selection Trial held at the Int'l Stadium in Diyagama, Homagama yesterday. The one-day trial, organised by SL Athletics, saw Sadew Rajakaruna, Kalhara Indupa, and Omel Silva—all schoolboys—record personal best times and earn their places in the national squad. In the final race, Kalinga Kumarage of SL Army, a seasoned campaigner, finished first with a strong time of 46.10s. more..

Apr 20 (Island) In his tract on the ethnic conflict, written on the eve of the second insurrection, Rohana Wijeweera framed Indian intervention in SL as part of a wider historical process, underscoring the island’s long history of occupation by foreign forces. Neither Wijeweera nor the top brass of the party advocated for or justified violence against the Sri Lankan Tamil community, even those who were wrongly viewed as fifth columns. Yet in making such observations, Wijeweera trivialised more..

Apr 20 (TM) The SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) reveals that it has entered into lease agreements with several investors in respect of 510 acres of land earmarked for tourism development in Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee. SLTDA Deputy Director General Upali Ratnayake revealed that to date, the authority had entered into lease agreements with around 10-11 investors in respect of the land in Kuchchaveli granted to the SLTDA for the Kuchchaveli beach resort project. more..

Apr 20 (SO) 17-year-old Yevan David may not be old enough to legally drive a car on the streets, but put him behind the wheel of a Formula 3 car and he’s ready to leave the competition in the dust. Racing at speeds over 265 km/h, SL teenager is already turning heads in the motorsport world, proving he’s on the fast track to greatness. David’s latest leap forward is a major one. The young driver has signed with Motopark, one of the most prestigious teams in European motorsport, for the 2025 more..

Apr 20 (ST) Sri Lanka produced a breathtaking performance to smash Malaysia 59-19 in the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship Playoff 2025 match played at the Racecourse grounds in Colombo yesterday. Backed by a full house of passionate home fans, the Tuskers delivered a commanding first-half display to lead 33-7 at the break and maintained their dominance to seal a memorable win, as they went on to more..

Apr 20 (TM) Despite a notable rise in vegetable prices across key markets due to limited supply, the Ministry of Agriculture assures that there is no imminent risk of a shortage. As the country emerges from the Avurudu festive season, the heightened demand for ingredients used in traditional meals has begun to ease. However, Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne said that demand was expected to surge again with the upcoming Vesak Poya Day, as preparations for religious observances and more..

Apr 20 (ST) CIABOC is taking steps to file as many as 50 court cases shortly regarding long-running bribery and corruption investigations which have now been completed. A majority of the accused who are to be indicted are govt officials, including several senior officials, CIABOC sources said. The court cases to be filed include several investigations that had been completed some time ago, though indictments had not been filed. Indictments are to be filed before the Colombo High Court. more..

Apr 20 (TM) Sri Lanka yesterday firmly denied reports circulating in some Indian media outlets about the cancellation of naval engagements with Pakistan, with the Ministry of Defence clarifying that no such cancellation had occurred. Pakistan HC also refuted the cancellation claims, confirming that a request for a port call by one of their naval ships had been made several weeks ago and was duly approved by SL authorities. more..

Apr 20 (NW) SL Police have launched an inquiry into a Grade 05 scholarship tuition teacher who had misused Police vehicles for a private event, a video of which has been widely circulated on social media. SSP Buddhika Manathunga said that the female tuition teacher had requested Police personnel and vehicles for an event held to honour students who had passed the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam. He said she had claimed that the event would host 8000 students and 35,000 parents, more..

Apr 20 (AD) Two suspects have been arrested by Special Task Force (STF) personnel in Gampaha along with two T-56 assault rifles and ammunition. It is reported that the STF has also been able to arrest five more suspects following the interrogation of the two suspects. Further investigation has revealed that all seven arrested individuals are associates of the notorious underworld figure infamously known as Kehelbaddara Padme. During interrogation, it has also been uncovered that more..

Apr 20 (NoB) Kadeeja Aslam, a SL national who lived undocumented in Bahrain for over two decades, and her 18-year-old son, Rafik Katheed, have been successfully repatriated to SL. The repatriation was the result of coordinated efforts between the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bahrain, Bahraini immigration authorities, medical staff at Salmaniya Medical Complex, and several civil society organisations. Ms. Kadeeja, who had been battling a serious health condition, more..

Apr 20 (EN) SL will face continued complexities around debt and volatility in food prices as the global trade war escalates, a UN trade body has said. “Many low-income countries face a perfect storm of worsening external financial conditions, unsustainable debt and weakening domestic growth,” UNCTDA said in a new report published this week. “Food price volatility will remain a risk and complexities around debt will continue to affect economies such as B'desh, Pakistan & SL.” more..

Apr 20 (ST) Elections Commission has received a 2nd complaint against Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, alleging that he violated election laws during the ongoing local councils campaign. The watchdog body, Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), submitted its complaint on Friday, following its first complaint, for which, it says, it has not received an acknowledgement so far, though it was filed on April 2. more..

Apr 20 (SO) He said Trump has focused narrowly on the U.S. trade deficit in goods, ignoring the broader and more accurate measure that includes services. In reality, the U.S. deficit in goods and services is significantly smaller than the numbers Trump cites. Crucially, the U.S. runs a massive surplus in digital services — advertising, cloud computing, software, and financial services — where it remains the global leader. Although US accounts for only 4.5% of global population, it contributes 26% of global GDP more..

Apr 20 (EN) SL’s EPF of private sector workers, managed by the central bank has paid the highest real return in many years as the central bank missed its inflation target amid East Asian style monetary policy. The EPF has declared interest on member balances of 11% in 2024, after declaring 13% in 2023. Though inflation measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index was 4% last year it was a negative 1.7% in 2024, as the rupee was appreciated for 2 years in a row by CB itself, more..

Apr 20 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake says his recent remarks regarding the allocation of funds for Local Councils have been misinterpreted by the opposition. Prez addressed claims that he had stated funds would not be allocated to Local Councils not won by the NPP. Clarifying his position, the Prez said he merely stated that funds carefully collected by the Central Govt would not be allocated to corrupt Local Councils — not that only NPP-controlled councils would receive them. more..

Apr 20 (NW) ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran has raised concerns over Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent statement regarding the allocation of funds for Local Councils ahead of the election. Sumanthiran said that it was regrettable that the Prez has chosen to repeatedly offer bribes to voters by stating that funds will be more easily allocated to councils governed by NPP and not to others. Sumanthiran pointed out that this was false as it is an election offence. more..

Apr 20 (TM) Two days before marking the sixth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks, the Catholic Church has expressed satisfaction with the state of the ongoing investigations. Colombo Archdiocese Communication Director Rev. Father Jude Krishantha said that the authorities had been periodically updating the church on the progress of investigations into the attack. more..

Apr 20 (EN) On Apr 21, 2025, SL marks the sixth anniversary of the devastating Easter Sunday suicide bombings that claimed at least 269 lives and injured over 500, casting a long shadow over the country’s post-war recovery and national security. Six years later, the grief remains raw for many Sri Lankans, not only because of the horror of that day but because justice, accountability, and closure continue to be elusive. As the nation remembers, it must also confront the uncomfortable truths more..

Apr 20 (SO) Sixth anniversary commemoration of the Easter Sunday attacks will begin today at 8.30 am at St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade, Colombo, under the patronage of Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. Religious leaders, Ambassadors and families of the victims will participate. The procession will begin at 7.00 am from St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena and proceed to St. Anthony’s church, Kochchikade by 8.45 am. Bells will be rung at all religious places and more..

Apr 20 (ST) Sri Lanka today commemorates the sixth anniversary of the Easter Sunday massacres, a tragedy that claimed 269 lives, including men, women, and children, many of whom were attending worship. This year, the memory is overshadowed by explosive new claims suggesting fresh investigations have unearthed previously unknown masterminds. This controversy has deepened after Minister Ananda Wijepala more..

Apr 21 (CT) In SL today, the title ‘Dr.’ has unfortunately become one of the most misused and misrepresented designations. A recent incident involving a person named Hayeshika Fernando clearly illustrates this growing problem. With just a small payment and a carefully staged photo shoot, anyone can now appear on social media proudly brandishing a doctorate. What once symbolised a lifetime of learning and intellectual rigour has, in many cases, become a performance more..

Apr 21 (DM) Six years have elapsed since the horrific Easter Sunday carnage on April 21, 2019, that ripped through churches and luxury hotels in SL, leaving a trail of devastation and loss. The echoes of the explosions still reverberate through the nation, not just in the collective memory of the nearly 270 lives lost and hundreds more injured, but in the agonizingly slow pace towards justice for the victims and their families. The principle of justice delayed is justice denied has become more..