Apr 1 (MB) Amid the hustle and bustle of Pettah, one of the busiest marketplaces in the Colombo, Sandya Jayasekara was busy cutting king coconuts for her customers. Despite the heat, Sandya must engage in her business outdoors to earn a living and to fund her medical treatment. “I have been selling king coconuts from a very young age,” Sandya said. “But sales are exceptionally low now because the price of a king coconut varies,” more..

Apr 1 (FT) Govt has moved to simultaneously shield consumers from surging global fuel prices and rein in public expenditure, as it scrambles to manage the economic fallout from escalating tensions in the Gulf region. At its latest meeting on Monday, Cabinet approved a dual-track strategy that underscores both the urgency of the external shock and the fiscal constraints facing the State. In a direct intervention to stabilise retail prices, Cabinet approved to compensate fuel importers if more..

Apr 1 (AD) The implementation of the standardized Value Added Tax (VAT) tax invoice format has been postponed once again, the Inland Revenue Department has announced. The implementation of the specified Tax Invoice format has been postponed until July 1, 2026. Meanwhile, the amendment to the gazette notification in this regard will be issued in due course. The reform was initially scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2026 under Gazette Extraordinary No. 2463/05. more..

Apr 1 (TM) No decision was taken regarding the ministerial position of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said, adding that the Minister will continue in office despite being indicted. Dr. Jayatissa said that Jayakody would continue to function in his current role. He noted the case relates to allegations of corruption stemming from Jayakody’s tenure at a State fertiliser company. more..

Apr 1 (TM) Finalising arrangements with Russian oil companies before the 11 April expiry of the US sanctions waiver is likely to be challenging, Chairperson of CPC Janaka Rajakaruna said. He noted that SL is currently in discussions with Russia to procure oil, but acknowledged that time constraints and procedural complexities may hinder the conclusion of agreements before the deadline. Russia has emerged as an uncertain supplier for some Asian countries following temporary more..

Apr 1 (NF) Russia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Rudenko arrived in Sri Lanka today for an official visit. His visit is intended for participation in the 11th session of Bilateral Political Consultations between SL and Russia. The consultation will take place this Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session will be attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of SL, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, and special representatives from both nations. more..

Apr 1 (NW) Two individuals have been arrested over a dangerous three-wheeler stunt in Weliweriya after a video of the incident circulated on social media, DIG of Police in charge of Traffic Management and Road Safety W.P.J. Senadheera said. The incident took place on Monday along the main road from Nedungahena towards Meegahawatta, within the Weliweriya Police Division. DIG Senadheera said the suspect vehicle and those involved were identified following an analysis of viral video by police. more..

Apr 1 (TM) Energy Ministry has moved to initiate changes to procurement processes in the energy sector, with particular attention focused on coal procurement, amid longstanding concerns over inefficiencies and repeated scrutiny of tender procedures. Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala said that issues had been identified in the current procurement framework and that corrective steps were now underway. “We have started to review procedures and introduce adjustments more..

Apr 1 (AD) The results of the GCE A/L Examinations 2025, have been released online. The results can be obtained by entering the correct index number after logging on to the official websites of the Dept of Examinations (www.doenets.lk). A total of 221,413 school applicants and 60,397 private applicants sat for the 2025 GCE A/L examination. 146,405 school applicants have qualified for university admission while more..

Apr 1 (DN) “We had strong commitment, and every player made a maximum contribution, which helped us win the Major Club three-day league championship,” said Colts CC skipper Dhananjaya Lakshan said. Colts CC secured the title after a closely contested battle with Ace Capital CC, finishing ahead by a narrow margin of 0.970 points. This marks Colts’ seventh title in their 153-year history, ending a 14-year drought. Their last c'ship win came in the 2011–12 season, more..

Apr 1 (DN) SL produced a powerful and clinical display to stun higher-ranked hosts Chinese Taipei national football team 3-1 in their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers match at Taipei Municipal Stadium yesterday, recording a famous away victory after leading 2-0 at half-time. The result marked SL’s second consecutive win over Chinese Taipei, highlighting their growing dominance despite the islanders entering the match ranked 194 in the FIFA rankings against their opponents’ 174. more..

Apr 1 (Island) A long-delayed reckoning in SL’s power sector is finally beginning to take shape—driven less by choice and more by necessity. At a time when the country’s fragile economic recovery hinges on stability, the electricity sector—long plagued by inefficiency, political interference, and costly dependence on imported fuel—has re-emerged as both a risk and an opportunity. It is within this context that The Institution of Engineers, SL will host a timely and potentially more..

Apr 1 (DM) Sri Lanka’s apparel sector is entering a critical stress phase, where weakening global demand is no longer the sole concern but a trigger exposing deeper structural pressures within the industry. Exports fell 11.46% year-on-year (YoY) to US$ 361.2 million in February 2026, with declines recorded across all major markets, including the EU (-19.48%), USA (-3.53%), UK (-5.67%), and other destinations (-18.54%). For the first two months of the year, shipments were down 6.91%. more..

Apr 1 (Island) The govt faces a looming fertiliser crisis ahead of the 2026 Yala season, with a sharp shortfall in urea threatening paddy yields and food security. Experts have warned that the fertiliser shortage will take its toll on the yala harvest. With just over 100,000 tonnes of fertiliser in stock by early March—barely enough for paddy cultivation alone—and more than half of expected imports either cancelled or delayed, more..

Apr 1 (ST) Sri Lanka’s iconic Colombo Fort Railway Station modelled after Manchester Victoria station in the UK is undergoing major redevelopment 108 years after the station’s original completion in 1917 under British colonial regime. The current Asian Development Bank funded project is a complete overhaul aimed at transforming the building as a blend of heritage and modern design to maintain its status as a colonial-era footprint into a modern transport hub. more..

Apr 1 (DM) The govt is preparing to gradually remove para-tariffs in a structural trade reform aimed at lowering costs for exporters and improving the country’s competitiveness, as policymakers push to strengthen export-led industrial growth. The move, outlined by Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, is expected to reduce input costs for exporters and support SL’s participation in multilateral trade agreements, marking a shift towards a more open and efficiency-driven more..

Apr 1 (ST) The Port City Colombo has seen an aggressive marketing drive since the end of last year, aligned with the macroeconomic indicators of the country. Sri Lanka’s first dedicated services export zone, the Port City, has attracted more than 200 Authorised Persons to do business with a few more in the pipeline, Thulci Aluwihare, Deputy Managing Director of CHEC Port City Colombo, said. more..

Apr 1 (NW) Former SL cricketer Avishka Gunawardena has resigned from his role at Sri Lanka Cricket’s High Performance Centre, following a recent change in his coaching assignment. Gunawardena, who had been serving as the SL ‘A’ team coach, was recently reassigned by SLC to take over as the SL U-19 team coach. Gunawardena had been credited with successfully handling the SL ‘A’ team in recent assignments, with several emerging players progressing under his guidance. more..

Apr 1 (NW) Colombo District Court directed parties to file written submissions on May 13 in a case seeking an order to obtain blood samples from cricketer Chamika Karunaratne for a DNA test. The case was filed by pilot Sewwandi Senadheera, who is seeking a declaration that Karunaratne is the father of her child and an order for the Registrar General to issue a birth certificate naming him as the father. Appearing for Karunaratne, President’s Counsel Jagath Wickramanayake told court more..

Apr 1 (FT) The Second Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Sri Lanka and Brazil were held on 20 March 2026 at the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry in Colombo, marking an important step in further strengthening the longstanding and friendly relations between the two countries. The meeting was co-chaired by the Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja and Foreign Affairs Ministry of Brazil Secretary – Asia and the Pacific Ambassador Susan Kleebank. more..

Apr 1 (TM) This Easter, ITC Ratnadipa invites guests to celebrate the season with a special brunch at the Indian Ocean Pavilion on 5 April, from 12.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. The Easter brunch offers a festive and relaxing afternoon complemented by a range of interactive and playful activities for children and a stunning view of the Indian Ocean, priced at Rs. 9,500 Nett per person with kids dining at half rate. The brunch features live cuisine theatres, allowing families to enjoy an international buffet more..

Apr 1 (FT) Sri Lanka’s current account surplus declined 68% year-on-year (YoY) to $ 117.2 million in February, which was also down 68% from January, with import growth outpacing exports. The current account surplus was up 3.8% YoY to $ 486.9 million for the first two months of the year. The deteriorating external sector performance in February is a concern, with the Middle East war broke out on 28 Feb. more..

Apr 1 (DM) In 416 BC, Athenian historian Thucydides enacted a dramatic negotiation between Athenian invaders and the leaders of the neutral small state of Melos. The interaction, dramatised as the Melian dialogue in his treatise, The History of the Peloponnesian War, is one of the best-remembered anecdotes of the brutal reality of the international system, and a starting point for any student of international politics. During the siege of Melos, when the Athenians demanded more..

Apr 1 (ST) It might seem strange that the Trump-inspired Iran war—which poured military power into the Indian Ocean, blowing up innocent Iranians from their unarmed ship—reminds me so much about the gangsterism that haunts SL today. SL gangster warlords enjoy a good life and live in luxury mainly in Dubai and other Middle Eastern desert cities, ordering their local gunmen to eliminate their enemies in Sri Lanka. Like the desert rats of the past, a presidential Al Capone who more..

Apr 1 (Island) JVP-NPP govt continues to signal left and turn right. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake often does the diametrical opposite of what he promised to do while he was an Opposition MP, so much so that his political opponents mockingly ask whether former JVP MP Dissanayake has disappeared and the incumbent President is a doppelganger. SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam tongue in cheek lamented, at a media briefing on Monday, that more..

Apr 1 (TM) The month of April is traditionally heralded by the persistent, rhythmic call of the Koha bird and the vibrant crimson of the Erabadu flowers. As the sun enters Aries, marking the Aluth Avurudu, it is a time for renewal, for the settling of old scores, and for the gathering of kin. Yet, as we approach the dawn of Avurudu in 2026, the festive atmosphere feels strangely stifled. The Koha still sings, but the families listening are preoccupied with a much harsher melody: more..

Apr 1 (SO) In a landmark judgment that cuts to the core of governance in Sri Lanka’s health sector, the Supreme Court has delivered a powerful rebuke to the arbitrary exercise of public power, ruling that a controversial pharmaceutical procurement process violated the fundamental rights of citizens. The decision, delivered on March 27, 2026, in SC/FR 65/2023, is more than a legal verdict. It is a stark indictment of how more..

Apr 1 (GV) As some the scars inflicted by the decades long civil war slowly begin to heal in the Northern Province, two communities – Muslims returnees and Malaiyaha Tamils – are facing many challenges fitting in. For both groups, the major concern is land; they also lack proper housing, infrastructure facilities and livelihood opportunities, and face ongoing discrimination and maginalisation. In Oct 1990 some 75,000 to 100,000 Muslims in the Northern Province, about 5% of province’s more..

Apr 1 (CT) On a busy street in Colombo, the signs of a distant war rarely announce themselves directly. There are no sirens, no air raids, no missile trails overhead. But the effects arrive anyway, often invisibly at first, then all at once: a rise in fuel costs, a jump in transport fares, dearer food, tighter household budgets and that familiar, sinking feeling that another external shock is about to squeeze a country already stretched thin. That is how wars work for small economies like SL. more..

Apr 1 (SO) For thousands of families across SL, the pain of enforced disappearance is not a chapter of the past but a continuing reality, stretching across decades of political violence and civil conflict since the 1970s. In the absence of consistent State-led truth-seeking, it is often individuals and civil society organisations that have carried the burden of demanding answers, keeping alive the voices of those who vanished more..

Apr 1 (Island) This Article is formed from listening to university students from across the country for two research initiatives, one on academic freedom and another on higher education policy. In speaking with students, the fears they carry could not be ignored. Students navigate university education, with anxieties about their future and fears that they and their university education are inadequate, all while managing their families’ daily struggles. I explore students’ anxieties and more..

Apr 1 (DM) Unlike so many other allegations leveled by the Opposition against the govt, the allegation of corruption by the CIABOC against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was no doubt a slap in the face of the ruling NPP. The CIABOC which filed charges against him, has alleged that in 2016, while serving as the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company, Jayakody committed an act of corruption, causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the state by influencing more..