Apr 27 (TM) Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha called on former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe this week. Both the former leaders were not afforded opportunities to meet Indian PM Narendra Modi when he visited earlier this month, but the HC took the time to call on them to make amends. It was clear that the visitor did not want to dilute the connectivity with President A.K. Dissanayake. more..

Apr 27 (ST) Addressing an election rally in Ratnapura earlier this week, Prez A.K. Dissanayake announced that a Joint Statement would be issued as an outcome of the meeting between the Sri Lanka delegation in Washington and the US side to negotiate preferential tariffs with the US govt and that the talks have yielded positive results. High expectations on this front were dampened, however, by a subsequent media release from the President’s Media Division (PMD), not a Joint Statement, more..

Apr 27 (TM) The dramatic escalation of cross-border tensions between SL's neighbour India and Pakistan following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir that killed 26 tourists last week has renewed concerns of a full-blown conflict between the two nuclear-armed South Asian nations. India’s response to the attack – the first in a long time in the disputed region – was swift and decisive. Not only did the Indian authorities identify the attackers as being a Pakistani outfit just hours after the event, more..

Apr 27 (Island) Dr. R. A. D. Jeewantha was honoured as the Most Innovative Dentist of the Year at the Business World International Awards, 2025. Organised by the Business World International Organisation, the award ceremony was held recently at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. A graduate of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Dr. Jeewantha has built a reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s most respected and forward-thinking dental surgeons. more..

Apr 27 (Island) “You know that it was the duty of the Conclave to give Rome a Bishop. It seems that my brother Cardinals have gone to the ends of the earth to get one, but here we are.” That was then Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Buenos Aries, Argentina, and newly elected as Pope Francis on 13 March 2013, addressing the throng of faithful Christians and curious tourists from the papal balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Sacristy sarcasm, as a Catholic writer has aptly described it, more..

Apr 27 (TM) Kandy City has always been a city of deep spiritual significance as the home of the Sacred Tooth Relic. However, these last 10 days have seen it become the epicentre of Buddhist devotion in an unprecedented way as it hosts the Siri Dalada Vandana – the 2025 public exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic at the revered Sri Dalada Maligawa. Sacred Tooth Relic, believed to be a tooth of the Buddha himself, more..

Apr 27 (SO) SL has never produced an Olympic open water swimmer, but all that could change with the rise of Dilanka Shehan. 25-year-old swimmer is on track to change the country’s history in the sport, having recently earned a silver medal at the 20th Swim Miami Open Water Swimming Championship in Florida. This event, one of the largest open water meets in the region, served as a powerful platform for Shehan, who swam the fastest-ever 10km race in SL open water swimming history, more..

Apr 27 (CT) At the exciting launch of the Dialog U-19 Schools Rugby Season for 2025 at BMICH on Wednesday (23), media representatives were buzzing with questions about Clause 15.3 of The Tournament Manual of the SL Schools Rugby Football Association. This clause states, “Foreign referees may be used as referees in the competition with the prior approval of the School Association and with the agreement of the two participating schools. The two schools shall bear the cost of this.” more..

Apr 27 (ST) SL’s top diver Dulanjan Fernando has made a heartbreaking decision that could change the future of the watersport in the island nation. The 25-year-old, who was widely seen as the country’s best hope to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, has rejected the renewal of his World Aquatics scholarship due to the SL govt and Sports Ministry failing to fund his travel for international competitions. “It’s like swimming against the tide,” said a frustrated Fernando, more..

Apr 27 (Island) When conservative Pope Benedict XVI stepped down in 2013, citing frailty of body, the Catholic world braced for a like-minded successor. All eyes were on Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola, then 71, a theological twin of Benedict and the bookmakers’ favourite. But as the age-old adage in Rome goes, “He who enters the conclave as pope, exits as cardinal.” When white smoke emerged from Sistine Chapel, the bells of St. Peter’s rang and the words Habemus Papam echoed across more..

Apr 27 (TM) PHU Leader Udaya Gammanpila has publicly revealed two previously undisclosed agreements signed between SL and India last month, accusing the Govt of deliberately concealing critical details from the public. Gammanpila claimed that while the current administration had vehemently criticised former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe for delaying the release of bilateral agreements with India in 2023, more..

Apr 27 (ST) While Sri Lanka’s economic stability is in the making, a glaring imbalance in the nation’s national budget is ringing alarm bells among economists: nearly Rs. 3 trillion has been allocated for debt interest payments in 2025—more than twice the Rs.1,300 billion for public investment. According to experts, this imbalance would threaten long-term growth and render the economy more vulnerable, despite reforms backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). more..

Apr 27 (ST) A group of parents has raised serious allegations against a gymnastics coach accusing him of corruption, favouritism, and misuse of public resources. In a letter to Sports Minister Sunil Gamage, the parents expressed concerns about the said coach’s s private training club where reportedly over 50 young gymnasts train six days weekly. The parents allege that gymnasts must bring fruit baskets to coach as expressions of gratitude. Each student allegedly pays a monthly fee of Rs. 5,000. more..

Apr 27 (TM) The 24-hour passport issuance service introduced to clear a backlog of applications will likely be discontinued next month as operations at the Dept of Immigration and Emigration return to normal, according to Minister Ananda Wijepala. He stated that the extended service had helped streamline passport issuance, alleviating long queues and delays. “The 24-hour service has assisted in normalising the backlog and more..

Apr 27 (ST) Many SL companies are gearing to set up bases in Africa and other regions while the Export Development Board (EDB) with the Commerce Department has advised. SL ambassadors to negotiate markets and look at Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the African Region on the back of crippling US tariffs, top officials said. The EDB had met with several ambassadors organised by Ministry of Foreign Affairs early this month on identifying products & finding new markets more..

Apr 27 (AD) Governor of CB, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Secretary to the Treasury, Mahinda Siriwardana represented SL at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) held in Washington, DC, on 23 April 2025. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of IMF and World Bank Group (WBG). Established in Feb 2023, the GSDR brings together debtor countries and creditors to foster a common understanding of debt-related challenges and solutions. more..

Apr 27 (AD) Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, Prime Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the most valuable resource of our country is its human capital, and that the purpose of educational reforms is to utilize this human resource more effectively. PM made these remarks while addressing the 30th Anniversary Celebrations of the Polgolla Devapala Vidyalaya in Kurunegala, held at the school’s main hall. The Prime Minister further stated: more..

Apr 27 (CT) Linear Accelerator (LINAC) radiation therapy for cancer patients has come to a standstill at the Cancer Unit of the National Hospital in Galle, at a time when four more of the country’s 10 LINAC machines are also facing critical issues. Since Wednesday (23), the LINAC machine providing radiation treatment at the Galle Cancer Unit had completely ceased functioning due to a fault in the cooling system of the unit where the machine is housed. more..

Apr 27 (TM) The Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) reveals that it expects to obtain and commence full implementation of Geographical Indication (GI) certification for Ceylon Tea by the end of 2025. SLTB Chairperson Rajpal Obeyesekere revealed that on or around September 2024, the SLTB had submitted its application to obtain GI certification for Ceylon Tea with the assistance of the French Agricultural Research Centre for more..

Apr 27 (AD) Veteran singer Saman De Silva, a renowned and popular Baila artist, has passed away, family sources confirmed. Saman De Silva was widely celebrated for his contribution to Baila music. Among his popular songs are ‘Niyare Piya Nagala’, ‘Punchi Kurulu Kuduwe’, ‘Suroopi Viroopi’ (Epa Epa Rewatenu), ‘Santhosa Wenna Preethi Wenna’, ‘Thana Nilla Dige’, and ‘Pura Handa Neguna’, all of which remain favorites among audiences. Throughout his musical career, more..

Apr 27 (DM) Following an investigation by the Homagama Police, two cars involved in a street race on the High Level Road during the inauspicious time at dawn on New Year’s Day were identified, police said. A video of the street race was circulated on social media. The illegal race appears to have started from the pedestrian crossing at Galawilawatta on the High Level Road in Homagama. After the investigation, the cars involved in the race were taken into police custody more..

Apr 27 (PMD) As part of the Clean Sri Lanka program held in conjunction with the Siri Dalada Vandanawa, an initiative focused on the proper disposal of waste was carried out today (26) for the ninth consecutive day. The program centred around the main access roads leading to the Dalada Vandanawa and surrounding areas. Officials from the Clean SL Secretariat, along with several volunteer groups comprising both youth and adults, actively participated in this effort. more..

Apr 27 (AD) The names of the students who have obtained the best results in the island at the 2024 A/L exam from each stream have been released. Accordingly, the island’s first in the Mathematics stream is Lesandu Kumarage of Bandaranayake College, Gampaha. In the Biological Science stream, Sandithi Hegodaarachchi of Maliyadeva Girls’ College, Kurunegala has secured the top ranked position. In the Commerce stream, Amasha Perera of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo has obtained more..

Apr 27 (TM) With today (27) being the final day of the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the opportunity to worship remains uncertain for many devotees. However, with authorities requesting new devotees to refrain from arriving, crowds have drastically declined. A collective decision had been made by authorities to not extend the duration of the exposition and to conclude it today as originally planned. more..

Apr 27 (EN) Joint Apparel Association Forum of exporters have called for parity with other manufacturing nations in negotiations with the US, as the island attempts to reduce a 44% Trump tariff. “…[W]e are encouraged by the Govt’s commitment to address key trade barriers and seek solutions that safeguard market access and competitiveness for SL exports,” the JAAF said. “We trust that any future tariff arrangements agreed upon will reflect parity with those offered to other more..

Apr 27 (AD) A total of 149,964 school applicants have qualified to apply for university admission based on the results of the 2024 G.C.E. A/L examination. A total of 27,624 private applicants have also qualified to apply for universities. Accordingly, a total of 177,588 or 64,73% of the total applicants who sat for the exam have qualified to apply for university entrance. Meanwhile, the results of 456 candidates, including 420 school applicants have been withheld, it said. more..

Apr 27 (ST) Last Sunday marked the sixth anniversary of the devastating Easter Sunday attacks, with Sri Lankans coming together to remember the victims. The nation was once again reminded of the lingering questions and unresolved issues surrounding the pursuit of justice. Despite numerous investigations and promises of accountability, the most recent developments have left many feeling disillusioned, as more..

Apr 28 (DM) On the morn of Easter Sunday 21 April 2019, suicide bombers exploded their deadly payloads of explosives in three Churches and three luxury hotels in the country killing over two-hundred civilians and injuring over five-hundred others. A particular Christian Member of Parliament -in the aftermath of the bombings admitted his father had warned him not to attend service that day. Our then President was out of the country. The then premier was out of Colombo. more..

Apr 28 (DM) I was recently invited to give a talk as part of the centenary celebrations of the Colombo Public Library. I accepted with alacrity because libraries have educated me more than schools. But then I realized that I had not used the Colombo Public Library since the 1970s or any other library in SL since my return in 2002. I was a heavy user of libraries in Colombo in the 1960s and 1970s. I continue to be a heavy user of information. What happened in past 5 decades is the internet. more..

Apr 28 (SO) The Buddha’s Tooth Relic Exposition, also known as the Sri Dalada Vandanawa, which ends today (27) attracted hundreds of thousands of devotees to Kandy to catch a glimpse of the most venerated relic of Gautama Buddha. The ten-day Exposition, taking place after 16 years, is now considered to be one of the largest Expositions in the recorded history of the country. Staying true to the tradition of the Sovereign being more..

Apr 28 (TM) A scan of last week is sufficient to observe much effort is needed to push through the system changes many Sri Lankans marched for in the recent past. Several incidents pointed to how deep the culture of corruption and entitlement is entrenched, and how widespread the lack of accountability and dereliction of duty is in the State sector. It also showed how unprepared and inexperienced the current Govt is, despite its massive mandate for change. more..

Apr 28 (ST) In early Oct 2024, then just-elected Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was permitted, with the blessings of the Roman Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith looking benignly on, to speak to the Catholic faithful from the inner sanctum of the Katuwapitiya Church where a jihadist exploded himself one sunny Easter morning in 2019, killing more than a hundred of the faithful, including children praying with their parents. NPP Prez, electioneering for his party in more..

Apr 28 (TM) Kohonawala Primary School by the mountains of Madulsima in the Passara Educational Zone has 15 students. Despite its student number being seven in 2021, Principal R.M. Jayasena, who has served there for 20 years, has managed to increase the student number. This school is among the 1,471 schools in SL with fewer than 50 students. Most of these schools are in rural and remote areas. more..

Apr 28 (CT) As we observe World Immunisation Week from 24 to 30 April, it is an opportune moment to reflect on SL’s commendable achievements in public health, particularly in immunisation. Our nation’s commitment to protecting its citizens through vaccination has been unwavering, resulting in significant strides in combating vaccine-preventable diseases over the decades. SL’s National Immunisation Programme (NIP) has been a cornerstone of our healthcare system since more..

Apr 28 (Island) The truth becomes the first casualty of any propaganda campaign, especially in SL politics, which exemplifies the Macbethian paradox—fair is foul, and foul is fair; politicians of all hues have mastered the art of stretching the truth to the breaking point ahead of elections and duping the public. The truth is distorted or exaggerated in such a way during election campaigns that it becomes hardly distinguishable from an outright lie in most cases, as evident from claims, counterclaims more..