Apr 4 (FT) Devika Brendon is an academic, teacher, reviewer and editor of English Literature whose first novel Aversion was recently published. She is also a creative writer of poetry and prose, and her poems and short stories, and journalistic essays and articles, have been widely published in anthologies and journals in both print and digital media. Devika shares a wide array of thoughts, ranging from publishing her novel in multiple formats to her routine as an author. more..

Apr 4 (EN) Sri Lanka has to take a new approach to trade, fostering regional trade, an analyst has said, after the island nation was hit by a 44% tariff on goods exported to the US. “Sri Lanka has to take a new approach to trade, focusing on regional trade partnerships and openness to trade,” Economist and director at Arutha Research Rehana Thowfeek told EconomyNext. “It should have diversified its export basket and destinations a long time ago, it cannot be done overnight.” more..

Apr 4 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the current govt is working to transform an economy that was in disarray. Participating in the National New Paddy Harvest Festival, Prez revealed the Paddy Marketing Board is burdened with a debt of Rs. 28 billion, while harvested paddy is being left to spoil in storage. Prez emphasized that the current administration has accepted the responsibility of restoring & restructuring more..

Apr 4 (EN) US Prez Donald Trump has said he will consider phenomenal offers to reduce tariffs imposed on the rest of the world, as SL also eyes negotiations to reduce 44% tax that threatens to cripple apparel export firms in particular. Trump aides had previously said that the tariffs were not negotiable. “And those tariffs have come in, and every country has called us,” Trump told reporters in Air Force One. “That’s the beauty of what we do. We put ourselves in the driver’s seat. more..

Apr 4 (FT) The SL Export Development Board (EDB) recently held a meeting to discuss enhancing bilateral trade relations with Switzerland. The meeting was attended by Ambassador of Switzerland Dr. Siri Walt and EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe. The discussions focused on expanding economic collaboration between the two countries. Wijesinghe outlined SL’s comprehensive Export Development Plan, which aims to boost the country’s export sector. more..

Apr 4 (DM) LankaPay is poised to significantly enhance Sri Lanka's appeal to Chinese tourists by launching WeChat Pay integration within two weeks. This initiative will enable over 400,000 LANKAQR merchants nationwide to accept mobile payments directly from Chinese visitors, according to LankaPay CEO Channa De Silva. Building upon the earlier introduction of WeChat Pay in Sri Lanka through a 2019 partnership between Commercial Bank of Ceylon and Tenpay Payment more..

Apr 4 (TM) An inmate has been murdered inside the Boossa High-Security Prison, reportedly stabbed with a sharp weapon. The victim, identified as 46-year-old Nandakumar Shiva Nandan, was a remand prisoner. Authorities suspect that a convicted inmate carried out the attack. Reports indicate that the victim sustained stab wounds in approximately 11 places on his body. A major search operation was conducted at Boossa Prison, during which several mobile phones and routers were discovered. more..

Apr 4 (Island) Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) says that if JVP’s pioneer leader Rohana Wijeweera had been alive today, he, too, would have joined the FSP in opposing the proposed defence agreement between SL and India, calling it a serious betrayal of the nation’s interests. Duminda Nagamuwa, Propaganda Secretary of the FSP, said that the JVP-led NPP govt was reportedly planning to sign the agreement. more..

Apr 4 (NW) More than 590 people have lost their lives in just the first three months of 2025 due to fatal road accidents, Sri Lanka Police revealed today (3). DIG Indika Hapugoda, who heads the Traffic Division, said that 565 fatal road accidents were reported between January and March this year, resulting in 592 deaths. He noted that during the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year season, steps must be taken to minimise road accidents and urged the public to be cautious. more..

Apr 4 (AD) The Colombo High Court has fixed the pre-trial conference pertaining to the case filed by Bribery Commission against former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal and a group of defendants on June 26, 2025. The Bribery Commission had filed this case against five defendants including former Governor of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Ajith Nivard Cabraal, alleging that they caused a loss of over Rs. 1.8 billion to the SL govt through the Greek Treasury Bond investments in 2012. more..

Apr 4 (FT) The UK has imposed sanctions on four Sri Lankans allegedly responsible for serious human rights abuses and violations committed during the war between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE. The UK-sanctioned quartet are former Army commander Jagath Jayasuriya, ex-Navy commander Wasantha Karannagoda, former army commander Shavendra Silva, and Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan more..

Apr 4 (CT) The 2025 Grade Five Scholarship Examination is scheduled to be held on 10 August. Dept of Examinations said it will accept applications from candidates from today (4) to 30 April. Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara noted that online applications will be accepted until midnight on 30 April. Applications will be accepted only from students studying at govt or govt-approved private schools, added the Examinations Department. more..

Apr 4 (NW) Sri Lanka and Japan have signed an agreement on the engineering consultancy service contract related to the implementation of SL’s Terrestrial Television Broadcast Digitalisation Project (DTTB). The signing of the agreement was carried out by the Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Isomata Akio. The contract was signed at the Ministry of Digital Economy located at the SL Information and Communication Technology Agency more..

Apr 4 (NW) Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi expressed concern over the recent reciprocal tariffs imposed on Sri Lanka by the US, calling the move unexpected and potentially damaging to the country’s export ambitions. “This is actually a big shock, This is not something that we anticipated,” Handunneththi said speaking to media. The new tariffs, he said, could hinder his govt’s target of increasing exports by $3 billion. more..

Apr 4 (AD) Security authorities have implemented a series of special traffic arrangements to ensure security and minimize public inconvenience, as Indian PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in SL today. According to police, intermittent road closures will be in effect on the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway and Baseline Road between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. today (4). Commuters, including both local and foreign nationals traveling to and from BIA, are advised to use alternate more..

Apr 4 (NW) SL Police has denied allegations that street dogs are being removed from Colombo ahead of Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the country. A senior police officer dismissed the claims as completely false. “We have not taken any action and it’s a complete lie,” he said. “We have asked protesters where this has happened, and they are unable to provide any information,” he added. The officer confirmed that special security more..

Apr 4 (CT) National Programme Manager, Child Care Development and Special Needs Unit, Family Health Bureau (FHB), Dr. Asiri Hewamalage, said that there was a rise in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders globally. However, SL only has data gathered from a survey conducted in 2009 on a small sample of babies who were 18 months old. Addressing the media, Dr. Hewamalage said that according to the 2009 survey, one in 93 children suffer from autism. more..

Apr 4 (AD) The Convenor of the IUSF Madushan Chandrajith and another individual who were arrested and remanded for staging a protest in defiance of a court order have been granted bail. The duo was each released on two surety bails of Rs. 1 million each after being produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court. They were among 27 individuals arrested on 27 March for staging a protest opposite the Ministry of Health premises. A total of 25 others arrested during the protest more..

Apr 4 (NW) The COPA has disclosed that a significant misuse has occurred in issuing permits for the importation of fully electric vehicles to Sri Lankans employed abroad, based on foreign remittances. This was disclosed during the COPA Committee meeting held recently (2) to discuss the special audit reports compiled regarding the scheme implemented between 1 May 2022 and 15 Sept 2023 to grant permits for the importation of fully electric more..

Apr 4 (Island) Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) and National Transport Commission (NTC) are on a collision course over the proposed bus fare hike. LPBOA has firmly said that bus fares will rise significantly in July, despite potential reductions in fuel prices around the Sinhala & Tamil New Year. LPBOA Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said that the private bus industry was currently operating at a loss of Rs. 3 per km. He argued that fare increases were unavoidable more..

Apr 4 (AD) Court of Appeal has ordered the relevant Returning Officers to re-accept nearly 37 rejected nomination papers submitted by candidates to contest for several LG institutions across the island. This order was issued by the two-member Appeals Court bench comprising the Acting President of the CA Justice Mohammed Thahir Laffar and Justice K.P. Fernando after considering writ petitions filed by several political parties and independent groups challenging the rejection of their more..

Apr 5 (DM) The URF in its complaint quoted the Prez as having said in that rally that the funds from the central govt would be released only to the local councils that are run by untainted groups of people and that only the groups led by the NPP could be deemed to be so high-minded. Interpreting this purported statement, the URF Vice Chairman, Theekshana Gammanpila, has argued in his complaint that Prez was to decide as to which councils are to be provided with more..

Apr 5 (GV) SL was ranked as the 121st least corrupt nation out of 180 countries according to the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by TI. SL scored a 32 on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The country ranked number one is perceived to have the most honest public sector. SL’s score has declined every year since the 2020 Index, in which it scored 38. Corruption is a critical development issue that has been discussed widely during the last two to three decades. more..

Apr 5 (CT) In a development that could severely impact SL’s already fragile economy, the US has announced the imposition of a 44% reciprocal tariff on SL exports, effective 9 April 2025. In anticipation of this challenge, a high-level delegation comprising senior economists and business leaders from both the public and private sectors is set to travel to Washington, D.C. within next 2 days to engage in urgent discussions before tariff takes effect. more..

Apr 5 (CT) Sri Lanka now faces a critical economic test as the United States moves forward with its reciprocal tariff policy, imposing a staggering 44 per cent duty on Sri Lankan exports. Set to take effect on 9 April 2025, this new tariff structure could have far-reaching implications for the island nation’s already fragile economy. The Govt has responded with urgency, dispatching a high-level delegation to Washington in the hope of negotiating a more favourable arrangement. more..

Apr 5 (DM) As April dawns, Lanka is faced with an Ides of March situation. US President Trump has imposed a 44% tax on Lankan exports to the US. Worse, the US is the largest export market for Lanka. In 2024, Lanka exported nearly US$ 3 billion in goods to the US. The steep increase in tariffs could have grave consequences for our fragile economy. In turn, this could result in our goods becoming noncompetitive in the US market and result in a sharp drop in income. more..

Apr 5 (CT) The 44% reciprocal tariff imposed by the US has sent shockwaves through SL’s export sector, deepening concerns for a financially struggling economy that is still grappling with a crisis despite IMF assistance. Exporters and economists warn that this steep increase, roughly from 12% to 44%, is crippling and could have severe economic consequences if no immediate remedies are found. SL now joins a group of nations more..

Apr 5 (FT) The Trump trade shock is a massive blow to the global order. It represents the biggest rupture since the end of the Bretton Woods system in the 1970s. In fact, it could have greater consequences, even inviting global economic disintegration and geopolitical conflagration. How does a small country like ours respond to this crisis and what policies should we adopt? The current upheaval was not unexpected. The fallout of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, leading to Brexit and more..

Apr 5 (TM) “The Tamil people aren’t wrong here. These are innocent people; they are only asking for their land. I am on their side,” says Nagadeepa Temple Chief Incumbent Ven. Navandagala Padumakiththi Tissa Thera about the struggle for land rights in Thaiyiddi, Jaffna. According to him, a temple was situated on about one-and-a-half acres of land belonging to the Nagadeepa Temple in Thaiyiddi. With the outbreak of ethnic tensions in 1958, the temple was abandoned but more..

Apr 5 (FT) SL Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) has announced the launch of the 7th annual SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards 2025. Premier event, which recognises technological innovation and ingenuity across all sectors, will highlight SL talent making a significant impact globally. The awards ceremony will take place in June, where winners will be celebrated at a grand gala for their contributions to innovation, ethics, and leadership in technology. more..

Apr 5 (Island) SL’s agricultural landscape is witnessing a silent yet profound transformation with the rapid expansion of oil palm plantations. Once introduced as a commercial crop, the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is now at the center of a heated debate, with environmentalists and scientists warning of its devastating ecological consequences. Research scientist Rajika Gamage, said: “The spread of oil palm in SL is not just a concern for biodiversity, but also for water resources, more..

Apr 5 (ST) Northern fishermen reiterated once again this week to visiting TN fishermen leaders that they will not tolerate Indian mechanised bottom trawling under any circumstances, and they will have to stop venturing into the country’s territorial waters. A 5-member delegation of Tamil Nadu fishermen from Ramanathapuram and Rameshwaram districts met with representatives of Northern Federation more..

Apr 5 (Island) The govt has, with the help of National Food Promotion Board, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture, launched a programme to provide the public with nutritious food at reasonable prices as part of its Clean SL initiative. The public, fleeced by private eatery owners ruthlessly, will surely benefit from this programme, which deserves praise. It will also help improve the govt’s approval rating significantly. A way to a person’s heart is said to be through his or her stomach. more..

Apr 5 (DN) Kandy’s 118th Battle of the Maroons the big match between Kingswood College and Dharmaraja College, will be played for 3 days, starting from April 4th, 5th, and 6th at the Pallekele Stadium, In this big match Dharmaraja College holds the edge with 37 wins against Kingswood College’s 19, while 53 matches have ended in a draws. Last year Dharmaraja Colelge ended as winners and this time it is going ot be close game if the weather favours both teams are in good form. more..

Apr 5 (ST) Five of Sri Lanka’s top female athletes were celebrated at Her Journey, Her Victory, recognising the resilience and achievements of women in sports. Organised by the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL), the event served as both a celebration and a call to action for gender equity in sports. In his speech, NOCSL President Suresh Subramanian addressed struggles women face in sports—how, for centuries, societal expectations have dictated their paths. more..