http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sat, 11 Apr 2026 06:36:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/sparse-crowds-in-pettah-as-avurudu-prices-bite-639008.html 11 April 2026 @ 11:53 am lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-639009 quot; title= quot;9Y1A5921_P1 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260412/uploads/2026/04/9Y1A5921_P1.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;221 quot; / gt; Pettah, Colombo rsquo;s bustling shopping hub, was unusually calm this Avurudu season. Streets mdash;normally teeming with shoppers and traffic jams mdash;wer... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/govt-to-adopt-fluctuating-fuel-price-formula-639006.html 11 April 2026 @ 11:52 am lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Multiple revisions on a weekly basis in line with global market trends lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Damith Wickremasekara lt;/strong gt; The government will introduce a new fuel pricing formula which could see multiple fuel price revisions within a month based on fluctuations in world oil prices, rather than the monthly review s... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/energy-minister-survives-no-confidence-vote-153-against-49-in-favour-639003.html 11 April 2026 @ 11:50 am lt;strong gt;By Sandun Jayawardana nbsp; lt;/strong gt; The No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was defeated on Friday in Parliament by a majority of 104 votes. A total of 153 parliamentarians of the ruling National People rsquo;s Power (NPP) voted against the motion, while 49 opposition MPs voted for it. Opposition MPs from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/peace-dog-aloka-set-to-join-buddhist-monks-walk-for-peace-639000.html 11 April 2026 @ 11:47 am Aloka ndash; the peace dog ndash; is expected to travel with a group of Buddhist monks from the United States to Sri Lanka for the week-long ldquo;Walk for Peace rdquo; scheduled to start on April 21. Aloka, who accompanied the monks who undertook the 2,300-mile Walk for Peace across the US, became the star attraction with millions turning up to get a glimpse of the unlikely star. A sourc... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/standing-orders-amended-to-enable-copa-cope-to-directly-refer-corruption-to-ciaboc-police-638998.html 11 April 2026 @ 11:47 am Two amendments were passed to the Parliamentary Standing Orders (SO) this week allowing the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), when they find evidence of fraud, corruption or bribery, to directly report to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption or the Inspector General of Police without waiting to send a report to Parliam... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/imf-agreement-on-eff-offers-relief-strict-reforms-now-essential-638996.html 11 April 2026 @ 11:46 am lt;strong gt;By Bandula Sirimanna lt;/strong gt; The IMF mission has officially reached a staff-level agreement this week for the combined 5th and 6th reviews of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), signalling a powerful vote of confidence in the nation rsquo;s fiscal discipline. Despite the dual shocks of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah and the West Asian conflict, this agreement paves the way... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/ranil-chose-singapore-over-sl-to-spare-lankan-docs-of-harassment-vajira-says-638964.html 10 April 2026 @ 10:02 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_638969 quot; align= quot;alignright quot; width= quot;300 quot; caption= quot;Mr Wickremesinghe with Mr Yeo quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-638969 quot; title= quot;02 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260412/uploads/2026/04/02.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;300 quot; height= quot;387 quot; / gt;[/caption] Former President Ranil Wickremesing... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/committee-on-provincial-council-electoral-system-hears-from-ag-dept-and-ec-638943.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:42 pm The Select Committee of Parliament appointed to look into and report on selecting an electoral system for the Provincial Councils heard submission from the Attorney General rsquo;s Department and Elections Commission (EC) this week. Representatives of the AG and the EC appeared before the PSC headed by Minister Vijitha Herath when the Committee met this week. The AG Department officials info... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/more-buses-trains-for-holiday-period-638940.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:41 pm The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), National Transport Commission (NTC) and Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) announced an integrated transport plan for the Sinhala Tamil New Year. SLTB chairman Sanjeewa Kanakaratne said they launched a special festival season bus service from April 9, until April 21. More buses would ply from Colombo to outstation areas from April 9 to 13 as people head to their h... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/police-got-you-covered-on-the-roads-this-season-638938.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:40 pm The police has deployed 8500 traffic officers for duty on streets in view of the Sinhala Tamil New Year season. The move was taken to ensure road safety and security while people are enjoying the festive season. Accordingly, a special traffic programme as well as security plans have been drawn out by the police while deploying officers undercover in civil attire as a measure against thefts a... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/dry-holiday-as-liquor-outlets-closed-638936.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:40 pm Liquor outlets across Sri Lanka will remain closed on April 13 and 14 in line with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year observances, the Excise Department said. The directive applies islandwide, covering state-run and private retail outlets, as part of customary restrictions observed during the festival period. However, establishments authorised to serve foreign nationals will be permitted to oper... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/controversial-coal-tested-by-lab-with-expired-licence-638933.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:39 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Namini Wijedasa lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; South African coal sold to Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC) by problematic coal supplier Trident Chemphar was repeatedly tested in Indonesia by a laboratory whose accreditation to inspect coal expired on December 29 last year, Sri Lanka rsquo;s National Audit Office ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/fitch-ratings-downgrades-ndb-long-term-rating-to-a-lka-638931.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:38 pm Fitch Ratings has downgraded National Development Bank PLC's (NDB) National Long-Term Rating to 'A-(lka)' from 'A(lka)'. The Outlook is Negative, a statement from the global ratings agency said Friday. Fitch has also downgraded the rating assigned to NDB's Basel III-compliant subordinated debentures to 'BBB(lka)' from 'BBB+(lka)'. The downgrade reflects NDB's weakened credit profile relative... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/sec-meets-with-ndb-board-on-the-rs-13-2-billion-fraud-638929.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:37 pm lt;strong gt;By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera nbsp; lt;/strong gt; The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) convened a meeting with the Board of Directors of NDB Bank on Thursday in connection with the Rs. 13.2 billion fraud at the bank. At the meeting, the SEC has apprised the Board that preliminary investigations into the matter have been formally started, reliable sources said. The... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/government-defeats-ncm-against-energy-minister-638926.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:36 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Sandun Jayawardana nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; Despite intense criticism from both within and outside Parliament, the National People rsquo;s Power (NPP) government stood by Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody on Friday as he faced down an opposition sponsored No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against him. The... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/vindictive-banana-raider-surrenders-to-police-638919.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:35 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Rahul Samantha nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;Hettiarachchi - Hambantota nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; gt;A woman who cut down around 1,900 banana trees belonging to a farmer in the Goda Koggala area, had surrendered to Ambalantota police admitting her fault. ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/newly-refurbished-colombo-central-bus-stand-declared-open-638911.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:32 pm The newly refurbished Central Bus Stand in Colombo was declared open this week, following a year-long redevelopment spearheaded by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The project, completed under the Government rsquo;s ldquo;Clean Sri Lanka rdquo; initiative, marked the overhaul of the Pettah terminal since its establishment in 1964. Handling an estimated 75,000 passengers and nearly 2,000 buses d... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/serious-concerns-over-social-media-posts-on-fatty-liver-disease-638906.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:27 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Important Sri Lankan study finds widespread quality deficiencies and gaps nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;in authoritative health communication lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Kumudini Hettiarachchi nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Serious concerns have come to the fore after a team of Sri Lankan researchers examined social media and he... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/sc-ruling-in-a-dispute-over-shares-being-pledged-against-a-loan-638904.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:22 pm A 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court has overturned a ruling by the Commercial High Court of Colombo where a litigant had established that she had not pledged shares (from her stake in Hunter amp; Company) as security for a loan taken by a company in which she was a shareholder. The case arises from the sale of shares in 2005. The earlier court ruling by the judge decreed that she had not p... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/impractical-school-guidelines-trip-up-heatwave-response-638897.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:18 pm lt;strong gt;By Sajeniya Sathanandan nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Despite a collective commitment to student safety, a lack of infrastructure, water facilities and impractical guidelines have created a critical dilemma for professionals managing heat wave risks. When questioned about the impractical guidelines issued to protect students from heat, Deputy Education and Higher Education Minister Madh... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/public-utilities-commission-studying-proposal-for-a-new-tariff-increase-638895.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:09 pm lt;strong gt;By Ishu Bandara lt;/strong gt; Director of Corporate Communications at the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), M. Jayanath Herath, stated that the commission has received a proposal for a new tariff increase and is currently studying and evaluating it. Mr. Herath said that an increase cannot be implemented immediately, as the commission must first complete its stu... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/doctors-vs-govt-patients-become-pawns-on-a-chessboard-638888.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:09 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_638889 quot; align= quot;aligncenter quot; width= quot;500 quot; caption= quot;Finding no relief at the premier National Hospital : For these patients the public hospital is the only option as private care remains unaffordable quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-638889 quot; title= quot;9Y1A5563_P18 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260412/uploads/2026/04/... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/rising-costs-sour-festive-mood-for-some-638876.html 10 April 2026 @ 9:02 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_638877 quot; align= quot;aligncenter quot; width= quot;500 quot; caption= quot;Less crowds shopping for new clothes for the festive season. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-638877 quot; title= quot;9Y1A5617 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260412/uploads/2026/04/9Y1A5617.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height=... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/islandwide-inspections-to-ensure-food-safety-during-the-season-638874.html 10 April 2026 @ 8:54 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; Nearly 10,000 cases have been filed islandwide under the Food Act for various offenses during the period from April 1 to April 9, The Sri Lanka Public Health Inspectors rsquo; Association said. The Association's Vice President Nishantha Gamage, s... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/slump-in-local-tourist-numbers-in-the-heart-of-avurudu-season-638870.html 10 April 2026 @ 8:53 pm lt;strong gt;By Wasantha Ramanayake nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Most resorts and out-station hotels across Sri Lanka are facing a sharp drop in bookings, particularly from domestic tourists, due to fuel shortages, soaring prices, and a higher cost of living during the festive month of April. Hotel managers say there are few inquiries converting to reservations, even with promotions, forcing tou... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/animal-lovers-suggest-national-plan-on-firecracker-risks-638864.html 10 April 2026 @ 8:48 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Kasun Warakapitiya lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; Animal rights activists say it is high time the Government set up a national action plan and raise awareness about potential harms to animals from New Year fireworks. They pointed out that animals suffer from shock and stress as well as hearing disabilities due t... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/pick-of-the-pix-638853.html 10 April 2026 @ 8:46 pm [gallery link= quot;file quot; columns= quot;4 quot; orderby= quot;rand quot;]... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260412/news/no-lankan-left-unaffected-by-us-israeli-war-on-iran-638811.html 10 April 2026 @ 8:33 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_638815 quot; align= quot;aligncenter quot; width= quot;500 quot; caption= quot;An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, sparking swift retaliation by the Islamic republic which responded with missile attacks across the region. The ...