Apr 17 (TM) Despite Indian PM Narendra Modi’s public comments about an agreement to build a multi-product pipeline aimed at developing Trincomalee as an energy hub, SL authorities remain uncertain about the development. According to reliable sources, the SL Govt has only held one discussion on the pipeline since the new administration came into power, which was limited to a meeting by the Energy Committee, more..

Apr 17 (DM) It was no surprise to see the Trump Administration raising tariffs. What no one expected was how big and how irrational they would be. Countries with zero tariffs on imports such as Singapore and Switzerland were being slapped with tariffs. Territories with no inhabitants were subjected to punitive tariffs on their non-existent exports based on an irrational formula that has nothing to do with tariffs, designed solely to reduce bilateral trade deficits. more..

Apr 17 (CT) “There is silver lining in this for developing countries, which is that for too long, for may be three decades, we have been told that the only way we can develop is through export-led growth, and that’s really – it’s been unfortunate, because we have never seen giving our own workers a fair deal as a good option. We’ve always seen wages as cost, not as a source of our own domestic demand and market. It’s now to me to actually change, to shift gears, more..

Apr 16 (SO) Govt has kicked into gear with immediate effect a comprehensive plan to target corruption on several fronts. Proceeds of Crime Bill was passed in Parliament, which will enable the authorities to track down and locate illegally earned funds. This will complement the previously passed Anti Corruption Act (ACA). In the latest salvo against corruption at all levels in society, Govt will soon implement more..

Apr 16 (AD) The suspect allegedly responsible for the recent shooting of the retired Superintendent of the Boossa Prison was arrested this morning (15) by officers of CID while attempting to leave the country through BIA. The arrest was made at the departure terminal with the assistance of the Face Recognition System installed by the CID at the airport. Suspect was reportedly apprehended while preparing to board SriLankan Airlines flight to Bangkok, Thailand, using a forged passport. more..

Apr 16 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was met with loud cheers after swiftly rescuing a young girl who got trapped in a crowd during a NPP rally held in Samanthurai. As the Prez arrived, a large crowd gathered around the stage, cheering and moving closer to shake hands with him. Many attendees took selfies with the Prez during the rally. After the event, when the Prez was about to leave via stage staircase, a large group of supporters gathered near the steps to greet him. more..

Apr 16 (AD) The CEB has reiterated that owners of rooftop solar systems must switch off their units until 3 p.m. on a daily basis until 21 April if they receive an SMS from the board. CEB noted that such measures are taken when there is a risk of grid instability, owing to the significant reduction in demand during the New Year holiday period. After a detailed study on the forecast demand for electricity during the April holidays and more..

Apr 16 (AD) An American national has been arrested at the BIA this morning (15), by officers of the Narcotics Control Unit of SL Customs for attempting to smuggle 23 kg of Kush cannabis into the country. The 31-year-old suspect, who is employed by a company involved in land trading in the US, had arrived from Bangkok, on a SriLankan Airlines flight. He was detained while attempting to exit the airport through the Red Channel, a designated business corridor at the arrival terminal. more..

Apr 16 (AD) The revenue generated from expressway tolls during the past four days has exceeded Rs. 170 million, the Road Development Authority (RDA) said. A total of 497,223 vehicles have used the expressways since 11 April, it said. Accordingly, the income generated in the past four days from motorists using expressways stood at Rs. 173,505,300. This is an increase of 20% in comparison to the income generated by the RDA during the same period last year. more..

Apr 16 (TM) A total of 412 individuals were admitted to the National Hospital of SL (NHSL) on 13 and 14 April due to various accidents, with 6 pronounced dead on arrival, according to Dr. Indika Jagoda, Director of the Accidents Ward at the NHSL. Of the total, 110 were injured in indoor accidents, while 94 were due to road accidents. About 80 patients required surgeries over the two-day period. Notably, firecracker-related injuries saw a sharp decline this year, with only two cases reported. more..

Apr 16 (ST) The oldest member at the Dehiwala National Zoological gardens, the giant tortoise, who is around 153 years, will be among the animals selected for the traditional New Year oil anointing ceremony on April 16, at 9.04 a.m. Visitors to the Dehiwala Zoological gardens will be able able to witness the event as always. Anoma Priyadharshini, Director of the Zoo said elephants, zebra, hippopotamus, the lion cub Simba, deer and some birds are among others selected for the ritual. more..

Apr 16 (ST) In a damning audit report, Sri Lanka’s Auditor General has uncovered a series of financial mismanagement issues, questionable spending decisions, and governance failures at the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka. The findings raise serious concerns about the organisation’s stewardship of resources meant to develop Sri Lanka’s Olympic athletes and sports programmes. more..

Apr 16 (NW) Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe has lodged a complaint with the Police regarding a series of fake news posts targeting him on social media. Deputy Minister said the misinformation campaign involved deliberately fabricated content. “For years, people attacked JVP leaders with mudslinging. Since 2021, they also tried to discredit newcomers like us. But in the end, the people gave their answer. The era of politics led by corrupt parasites is over. more..

Apr 16 (AD) Special attention must be paid to the prevailing extreme heat in the country, health experts warn. Physician Dr. Nandana Dickmadugoda noted that the high temperatures pose a risk that could even lead to death. Therefore, he emphasized that individuals with chronic illnesses should be particularly cautious, and that even the general public should be mindful of the prevailing weather pattern. He said, “Even though there are occasional rains, we still feel intense heat. more..

Apr 16 (ST) PM Narendra Modi promised to look into a request made by the four Mahanayaka Theras to allow full Buddhist representation in the management of the Maha Bodhi Temple at Buddha Gaya in India when a letter signed by them was handed over to him during his visit to A'pura. A two-month-long agitation campaign is going on in India by Buddhists, demanding full control of the Buddha Gaya Temple Management Committee currently comprising 4 Buddhists and 4 Hindus with more..

Apr 16 (AD) Two suspects have been arrested on charges of money laundering and aiding and abetting money laundering, along with Rs. 5,745,000 in cash found in their possession. The arrests were made as part of the ongoing island-wide crime and drug prevention operation initiated under the directives of the Acting IGP. Two individuals were taken into custody near Thunmodara Junction in the Kirulapone Police Division after being observed acting suspiciously in a three-wheeler more..

Apr 16 (SO) A major SL bank is facing public scrutiny and regulatory questions after a catastrophic cybersecurity breach exposed more than 1.9 terabytes of data, over one million files, containing highly sensitive personal and internal information. The breach, reportedly orchestrated by the ransomware group Hunters International, included National identity card (NIC) scans, phone numbers, bank account details, signatures more..

Apr 16 (ST) In a touching moment of compassion, Sri Lankan cricket sensation Angelo Mathews fulfilled the wish of a terminally ill young fan, bringing joy to a child facing life’s greatest challenge. The emotional visit, arranged by the Indira Cancer Trust’s Make-A-Wish campaign, created memories that will last beyond a lifetime. The cricketer spent precious time with the young fan, whose eyes reportedly lit up with wonder and delight upon meeting his hero. This child, battling against cancer, more..

Apr 16 (NW) SL Police has commenced using new speed cameras to detect speeding motorists. The devices feature dual cameras and night vision technology, capturing the driver’s photo, vehicle number, and speed in real time. Police has introduced advanced speed guns to improve road safety and reduce accidents. The devices, manufactured in the US, can detect vehicles from a distance of 1.2 km, even at night. The recorded video footage can serve as evidence in court more..

Apr 16 (BBC) The cricket tournament at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 will be played at a temporary stadium in Pomona, a southern Californian city about an hour's drive from the athletes' village. A source close to the LA 2028 organising committee said that a number of potential venues were explored during the planning stage. That included holding the event in a city on the East Coast of the US, such as New York, more..

Apr 16 (ST) Mount Lavinia Magistrate Chathurika de Silva will deliver her order on June 16 regarding whether Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe should be named as a suspect in a fraud case. The case involves a building belonging to a trust known as the National Workers’ Institute, which had been leased for Rs. 3.6 million by individuals posing as officials of National Workers’ Congress (NWC) trade union. They included Mr. Samarasinghe. The magistrate gave the order after considering more..

Apr 16 (ST) Eventistry Sports has made all arrangements to inaugurate the country’s first-ever padel competition, SL Padel League (SLPL), which will take place this June in Colombo. Franchise-based tournament will feature six teams, uniquely named after iconic SL cities known for their tourism appeal and global recognition. “We believe SL is ready for a new kind of sport—fast-paced, energetic, and most importantly, community-driven. These were the core motivations behind the creation of more..

Apr 16 (SO) Financial market experts and policy analysts made a red flag warning that if SL fails to lift all tariffs and para-tariffs on U.S. imports it will be in a catch- 22 situation soon without an exit route to the tariff problem. “If these tariffs remains we will go into a deep recession – job losses, large scale NPLs (Non performing loans) in the banking sector, widening fiscal deficit and import curbs,” said former Director of the CSE and current CEO of JB Securities (Pvt) Ltd Murtaza Jafferjee. more..

Apr 16 (SO) Bodyline (Pvt) Ltd, a division of MAS Holdings, officially handed over the 2025 SL athletic kits to the national contingent, as part of Bodyline’s ongoing partnership with Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA). The handover ceremony, held on April 7, 2025, marks the continued partnership between Bodyline and SLA, which extends through to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Bodyline CEO, Sahan Rajapakse, presented the newly designed athletic kits to SLA President, Palitha Fernando, more..

Apr 16 (TS) Indian Ocean island of SL is renowned for its white sand beaches and vast wildlife-filled jungles, though it has an incredibly rich cultural heritage, too. I had endless opportunity for adventure after arriving in Colombo on the west coast, travelling south around the coast and looping back up to the country’s Cultural Triangle in the Central Highlands & North Central Province. A'pura, Kandy and Dambulla are just three of more..

Apr 16 (DM) The sound of the familiar koha (or the asian koel), chanting the rhythmic tune, which millions of Sri Lankans wake up to, is a sign that Avurudu (New Year) is near. Sinhala & Tamil New Year is not just a celebration of the dawn of a new year, but also that of unity, cultural enrichment and a sense of family unity. This is all demonstrated, for example, in the boiling of milk ritual, where milk is boiled in a new clay pot and the time when the whole family sits down more..

Apr 16 (FT) Recently, US govt increased tax rates on imports from several countries, including Sri Lanka. This move is particularly significant given that the US is one of SL’s largest export partners. In 2024 alone, SL exported goods worth approximately $ 2.9 bil to US, accounting for 23% of the country’s total export earnings, a substantial share of the nation’s foreign income. Out of this export revenue, around $ 1.7 billion came from apparel exports, highlighting the sector’s vital role in SL’s economy. more..

Apr 16 (TM) An incident that took place almost twenty-five years ago was labelled as a great betrayal by politicians and interested media to influence public opinion. This they did, through a trial by media which was later endorsed by various other elements. An incident covered by the sands of time. Neither will many in the younger generation know about it nor will the older, remember. However, the recent judicial proceedings and outcome on the betrayal may stand out as more..

Apr 16 (ST) As a mighty Caesar crossing the Rubicon, India’s Narendra Modi crossed the Palk Strait last Friday night firm in his resolve to return triumphantly home with Lanka’s Promethean fire, safely snuffed. Earlier, the sacred primordial flame that had burnt in every Lankan’s lionheart breast, that had withstood every Chola and Pandya attempt to steal or tame, was deemed inextinguishable even by Portuguese and Dutch inquisitors. The British had tried but had tried in vain, until at last, more..

Apr 16 (DM) Once again, I have been gifted with material that provides further invaluable insight into the nature of my father, Lakshman Kadirgamar. April 12, 2025, marks his 93rd birth anniversary, while Aug 12, 2025, will mark 20 years since his assassination. With the passing of my mother, Angela Kadirgamar, in Nov 2024, the task of clearing out her affairs has fallen upon me. It is a deeply heart wrenching task, more..

Apr 16 (Island) Last week I made mention of a gathering in Colombo to remember Kumar David, who passed away last October, as Comrade, Professor and Friend. The event was held on Saturday (5), a day of double significance, first as the anniversary of the JVP insurrection on 5th April 1971, and now the occasion of the official welcome extended to visiting Indian PM Narendra Modi by the still new JVP-NPP govt. The venue was the Ecumenical Institute for Study & Dialogue more..

Apr 16 (Island) I am delighted to be associated with the fifty third anniversary celebrations of HARTI. I cherish pleasant memories of the relentless efforts made as the First Director to establish, incorporate, develop, direct, and manage a nascent institute in the 1970s amidst many challenges. The seven-year period as Director remains as the most formidable and rewarding period in my career as a development professional. I have been fortunate to have had a continuing relationship with HARTI more..