Apr 23 (DM) The thrust of all the conspiracy theories, unsubstantial allegations and a search for an elusive mastermind are based on this whimsical premise. This runs counter to findings not only from the SL investigation agencies but also from the FBI and a group of foreign investigation teams, including Australian, Dutch, Scotland Yard, and Danish, and Indian. The elusive mastermind Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith claims was behind the attacks, has long been revealed by a host of foreign intelligence agencies more..

Apr 23 (DM) In mid-March this year, the Commissioner of Elections announced the long overdue LG elections would be held on May 6 this year. God willing, this time around, the LG elections will hopefully be held in a timely fashion. The term of office for 340 out of 341 local govt authorities expired on March 19, 2023. However, LG elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were postponed by Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa due to the economic crisis. He extended the term by a year. more..

Apr 23 (SO) Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has had quite the windfall — over just four days, it raked in a whopping Rs. 600 million during the Avurudu travel surge. Some 350 additional buses were rolled out to meet the holiday rush, with daily earnings peaking at around Rs. 200 million. Both State-run and private buses were in overdrive during the 2025 New Year commute. The SLTB expanded its capacity, while private operators helped shoulder the demand. more..

Apr 23 (TM) Responsible motorists in Sri Lanka have long called for improved enforcement of traffic laws and sought an improvement of general discipline while monitoring. Sri Lanka has long spoken of and piloted the use of CCTV surveillance for traffic control. However, only recently has the Sri Lanka Police begun to use CCTV as an effective tool for traffic enforcement, and action has taken place, which is a commendable development by law enforcement authorities. more..

Apr 23 (CT) SL, renowned as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, boasts a vibrant and diverse cultural heritage and pristine natural endowments. It is blessed with spectacular sandy beaches, mesmerizing hilly terrain, abundant natural water streams and rivers, cascading waterfalls, lush greenery, dense forestlands, a vast expanse of tea lands in cool climes, numerous historical monuments and religious sites speaking of a great civilization, breathtaking scenic beauty and a rich biodiversity that attracts more..

Apr 23 (TM) The current minimum basic salary in the SL public sector stands at Rs. 24,250. Budget 2025 proposed an increment of Rs. 15,750, increasing the basic salary to a maximum of Rs. 42,775, with implementation slated for 1 April. The Sunday Morning learns from the Treasury that Govt sector institutions had been instructed to finalise the public sector salary increment on or before 10 April, if feasible. more..

Apr 23 (CT) The recent foundation-laying of a new Day Care and Learning Centre at the Katunayake Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) might not make headlines like a big investment deal or a flashy ribbon-cutting ceremony. But for thousands of working women who constitute 70% of the total workforce at KEPZ, especially mothers, this quiet move by Board of Investment (BOI) and the Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association (FTZMA) is a lifeline. It’s a reminder that real progress sometimes more..

Apr 23 (ST) I wonder whether our whizz-kids in the tourism industry grant frequent visitor passes for those who set foot in our country like no other, especially now that Emperor Trump has trumped the rest of the world and gathered up much of what he could to negate the rest of the universe. Personally, I doubt that those gatherers of dollars would have given up such an opportunity when they have been moaning for decades that they have been the mistreated ones. more..

Apr 23 (Island) A 4-member committee has been appointed to study the report of the Prez Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) that probed the Easter Sunday terrorist bombings (2019). It comprises a Senior Deputy Inspector General (Chairman), DIG of the CID, Director of the CID and the Director of the Terrorism Investigation Division. It is reported to have set up several subcommittees. Based on new evidence that may emerge, fresh investigations will be launched, Police Media Spokesman has said. more..

Apr 23 (Island) In a rare and a prestigious honour in the world of biological sciences, a newly discovered species of bronzeback snake has been named after one of Sri Lanka’s foremost herpetologists, Dr. A. A. Thasun Amarasinghe. The new species, scientifically named Dendrelaphis thasuni, was found in Eastern SL and belongs to the genus Dendrelaphis— a group of slender, tree-dwelling snakes known for their agility and distinctive colouration. This naming is more than symbolic. more..

Apr 23 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on Monday approved the establishment of a Special Committee on Economic Development to oversee and guide policy decisions in line with national performance objectives and growth targets. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the new Committee will be tasked with coordinating and supervising policy initiatives that contribute to achieving over 5% GDP growth in the medium term. more..

Apr 23 (FT) Leema Creations, SL’s premier interior solutions provider, has taken a significant step towards sustainability by installing and commissioning a 500kWp / 400kW Solar PV System at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Dompe. The project was undertaken by David Pieris Renewable Energy Ltd. This initiative is a bold stride and smart alternative towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reduction of electricity bills and also to positively contribute to the environment by more..

Apr 23 (FT) The Board of Investment (BOI) SL has been rated well for promoting gender equity and women empowerment among global investment promotion agencies by the leading FDI Strategist, the FDI Centre’s report Advancing Gender Equality in Investment Promotion: A Practical Guide for IPAs. The BOI has been featured as a best practice case study for recommendation 2.4 of the report: Conduct regular staff training sessions promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. more..

Apr 23 (ST) Experts in the renewable energy sector have criticised the CEB for requesting the voluntary disconnection of solar power systems, calling it a major setback for their industry and blaming the utility for systemic failures. Between April 10 and 21 this year, CEB requested the disconnection of net plus and net plus plus systems. Under the current structure, net plus and net plus plus contributors receive direct payment for electricity more..

Apr 23 (FT) Apparel exports have reached a new high in March and in the first quarter, an achievement which is likely to be overshadowed by the looming high duty in its biggest market the United States. Shipments in March rose by 11.65% to $ 467 million, highest in recent months whilst for the first quarter exports rose by 11.7% to $ 1.3 billion. As per provisional data imports by the US in March rose by 16.5% to $ 172 million whilst the EU saw a 14.5% increase to $ 142 million. more..

Apr 23 (FT) Dubai-based Dnata Airport Services Ltd, has won the contract to provide ground handling services to SriLankan Airlines in Melbourne International Airport, Australia for three years. Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal by Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake in his capacity as the Finance, Planning & Economic Development Minister to award the contract after bids were called from registered suppliers for the long-term agreement of ground handling for three years. more..

Apr 23 (TM) Ministry of Urban Development, Construction & Housing has instructed the UDA to submit a report on past irregularities related to its land and properties, including instances where certain politicians had illegally used them or handed them over to their associates. In the past, there have been numerous reports of UDA-owned properties being illegally occupied by various parties, along with allegations of irregularities and corruption in processes involving the UDA. more..

Apr 23 (FT) Govt has decided to increase the Govt’s financial contribution from Rs. 650,000 to Rs. 1,000,000 per beneficiary under the national housing program A house for you—A tomorrow for the country. This adjustment is intended to ease the financial burden on low-income recipients was approved by the Cabinet on Monday to ensure continued progress on housing construction across the country. Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the move is in response to rising construction costs more..

Apr 23 (FT) In a bold step toward streamlining gaming and betting laws, the Cabinet on Monday approved publishing the draft Bill on Gambling Sports Regularisation Act in the Govt gazette and presenting the same in Parliament for approval. The move paves the way for a long-awaited overhaul of rules. “The Gambling Sports Regularisation Act has received the clearance of the Attorney General and the draft Bill will now be published in Govt Gazette more..

Apr 23 (FT) The ROK Navy ship Kang Gam Chan, the 44th Escort Task Group (ETG) arrived at Colombo Port yesterday. The port call was followed by a reception and was graced by Ambassador of Korea Miyon Lee, Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekara, and Commanders of all three armed forces. The port call of ROKS Kang Gam Chan marked an important landmark given that this is the second visit of a ROK Naval ship within a span of one and a half years since the previous visit in year 2023. more..

Apr 23 (AD) The convenor of the Nawa Sinhale National Movement and political activist, Dan Priyasad, has succumbed to his injuries after being hospitalized following a shooting incident in Wellampitiya last night (22). According to reports, he was initially admitted to the Colombo National Hospital with gunshot wounds, but passed away shortly after due to the severity of his injuries. The shooting incident took place at the Laksanda Sevana Housing Complex in Wellampitiya last evening, more..

Apr 23 (CT) Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has assured the public that there is no shortage of insulin in the country, emphasising that sufficient stocks have been secured to meet national demand until Sept 2025. Minister urged the public not to give in to unfounded fears regarding insulin availability, noting that the Govt has already distributed enough stock to cover the next four months. “Govt is taking proactive steps to maintain a buffer stock of medicines for four to six months more..

Apr 23 (DN) SL’s national men’s rugby team made a leap in the World Rugby Rankings after thrashing Malaysia 59-19 in the Asian Rugby Emirates Men’s C'ship Playoff last Saturday in Colombo. With this dominant victory, SL moved up one place to 39th in the latest World Rugby Rankings released yesterday. This marks a major breakthrough for SL rugby, as they are now ranked fourth in Asia — behind only Japan, Hong Kong China, and South Korea and are the only South Asian nation among Asia’s top four. more..

Apr 23 (Island) Former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that a genuine effort should be made to ascertain why the first warning regarding SL extremists’ direct link with ISIS was ignored by Parliament. “Those who are harping on Easter Sunday masterminds and grand conspiracies have conveniently forgotten that the alleged link was exposed in Parliament on Nov, 18, 2016, by me in my then capacity as Justice, Prison Affairs & Constitutional Reforms Minister,” more..

Apr 23 (AD) Police says that the clash between two groups of inmates in the Matara Prison is still continuing with tear gas fired to control the situation. Tear gas has been used and STF has also been called in to help bring the situation under control. Prison officials have fired shots into the air this evening to control a clash between two groups of inmates at the Matara Prison. Prison sources have confirmed that the unrest has been brought under control to a considerable extent. more..

Apr 23 (FT) McLarens Group recently hosted the 3M-McLarens Occupational Health and Safety Symposium 2025, marking a historic milestone in SL’s commitment to workplace safety. Private sector-led initiative brought together over 300 participants from more than 100 companies across diverse industries, under scoring the need for advanced standards of safety at the workplace. Symposium served as a platform to educate, empower and equip safety and procurement managers with the latest insights, more..

Apr 23 (TM) Sri Lanka’s reserve money remained steady for a second consecutive week, signalling a cautious but stable monetary stance, as the Central Bank manages liquidity in a gradually recovering economy. According to data for the week ending 17 April, reserve money - comprising currency in circulation and commercial bank deposits held with the Central Bank - stood at Rs. 1,798.5 billion, showing no significant movement from the previous week’s Rs. 1,798.4 billion. more..

Apr 23 (DN) SL’s young boxers have already started high-performance residential training camp in preparation for the much awaited international tournaments of ASBC Asian U22 and Youth Championships. The Boxing Association of SL (BASL) has organized the event at the newly inaugurated state of the art boxing ring at Katukurunda Police Training School and it will conclude on May 9. The training camp features the 25 member boxers who were selected to more..

Apr 23 (Island) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar yesterday found fault with Prez Anura Dissanayake for failing to deliver on his promise to reveal the mastermind behind the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. Marikkar said that the Prez’s earlier claim—that the main perpetrator would be exposed—had not materialised. “The Prez said the mastermind behind the Easter attack would be revealed. But it hasn’t been. So, what Prez said was a lie,” more..

Apr 23 (DN) The most venerable Mahanayake Thera of the Lanka Amarapura Dharma Rakshitha Nikaya, Aggamaha Pandita, Rajakaya Pandita Sastrapati, the Incumbent of Bambalapitiya Vajiraramaya, venerable Trincomalee Ananda Maha Thera visited the Peliyagoda Vidyalankara Pirivena on April 09 to review the progress of the Tamil language education programme conducted by the Dharmavijaya Foundation. The Tamil language education programme, which began about 2 mo. ago more..

Apr 23 (TM) Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release of a man and a woman who were arrested on suspicion during the Easter Sunday service at the St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade. The suspects were produced before court by the Foreshore Police. The arrests were made by officers after the individuals were observed walking suspiciously adjacent to the church premises on 20 April. Presenting evidence to court, Police stated that no incriminating more..

Apr 23 (FT) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa urged the public and political actors not to undermine the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, insisting that the probe is now moving in the right direction even after five and half years of delays and alleged suppression. He stressed the complexity of the case and the widespread network behind the attacks. “The unfortunate incidents took place 6 years ago, more..

Apr 23 (FT) Govt previously announced the suspension of parate action which was in existence will not be extended beyond 31 March 2025. This has now been confirmed by the press release issued by the Ministry of Finance wherein certain financial accommodations have been revealed towards assisting affected SME sector. Accordingly, parate execution is now effective. Decision of the Govt in lifting the suspension of parate action is commendable and I consider it as a bold more..

Apr 23 (FT) Minister in charge of the subject of tourism has said that an alternative to Booking.com is being developed by a SL expatriate with the Govt’s support to break the platform’s monopoly and thereby bring down the commissions paid by owners of tourist accommodation and generate taxes for the Govt. Minister’s comments display poor understanding of how platforms work. Given the increasing importance of platforms across the economy, it is necessary for all in positions more..