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No sooner had the renovated Pettah Central Bus Stand been declared open last week than images and visuals emerged of damage to property at the location.

The mystery of who was responsible for the acts of vandalism soon led to various accusations being made on social media, where some fake posts circulated widely.

The fake posts also targeted activists from opposition political parties, including the Sarvajana Balaya and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). Both parties lodged complaints with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding fake posts that claimed activists of these parties had been arrested for damaging property at the bus stand.

In its complaint, the Sarvajana Balaya said one of its Pradeshiya Sabha members in Katana had been targeted by social media posts which falsely claimed she had been arrested for causing damage to the female toilets at the bus stand.

Meanwhile, the SLPP also lodged a complaint over social media posts that falsely claimed one of its youth activists had been “beaten up” by commuters and handed over to police after he was caught damaging property at the bus stand. Both parties turned up at the CID to lodge complaints with their respective party activists, whom the posts claimed had been “arrested” for damaging bus stand property.

Both parties also accused the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) of being responsible for the fake online posts targeting their activists, describing it as an NPP mudslinging operation.

Police have so far arrested one person in connection with the damage caused to the bus stand property. The suspect is a 33-year-old resident of Kelaniya. Police have not commented on the political affiliations of the suspect in custody.

Is a picture worth a thousand words—or Rs 5,000?

Charging Rs 5000 for a picture of stilt fishermen is a scam, says the tourist

“Welcome to the biggest con in Sri Lanka” is how a foreign tourist begins a video to slam a group of men who are exploiting tourists who wish to take photographs of stilt fishermen down south.

The foreigner states that though beaches are public areas in the country, he was asked to pay Rs 5,000 to take a photograph of the stilt fishermen. A board clearly seen in the video states that one has to buy a Rs 5,000 ticket to photograph stilt fishing, a special feature in several southern coastal areas, including Ahangama, Koggola and Weligama.

It is not clear if the charges are imposed with the permission of the tourism authorities or decided by those engaged in the practice.

New Year cheer in MoH’s ‘Donate a Wear’

Many New Year celebrations took place across the country, but this one was a rare event organised by the Medical Officer of Health office in Wellawaya.

Under the programme spearheaded by Medical Officer of Health S.H. Piyasumana, new clothes were collected through well-wishers and donors.

The recipients were those who usually call over for the clinics and the villagers.

As a result, those who attended the event were able to walk away with any new clothing of their choice. Clothes to the value of over Rs 200,000 were distributed.

Breaking tradition, President celebrates New Year at Ditwah victim’s new home

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake takes part in the house-warming ceremony of Ditwah victim Indrajith Sampath Senarathna and his family

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake broke with the tradition of marking the dawn of the Sinhala New Year, usually together with one’s immediate family members, by spending the day with a family affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Galnewa.

H.M. Indrajith Sampath Senarathna, whose house had been completely destroyed by the cyclone, had his new house built within five months under a government compensation programme for fully damaged homes. He welcomed the President as the first guest. The informal setting brought together villagers, officials, and guests in a community-focused celebration of the festival.

Several ministers and government officials accompanied the President during the visit. Among them were Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha, Trade, Commerce and Food Security Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, and Housing, Construction and Water Management Minister Susil Ranasinghe. Also present were North Central Province Governor Wasantha Jinadasa and Anuradhapura District Parliamentarian Susanta Kumara Navaratne, along with other Members of Parliament, heads of local government institutions, and public representatives.

Sticking to tradition, PM plays rabana at New Year festivities

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya joins villagers, playing the Rabana to herald the National New Year

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya showed off her rabana-playing skills during the festivities on New Year’s day during an event held in the Gampaha District.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, was held under the Prime Minister’s patronage
and featured a blend of traditional customs, rituals, and community celebrations.

During the cultural segment, the Prime Minister joined a group of elders and villagers seated together for a traditional ‘round the rabana’ performance.

In line with tradition, the Prime Minister also took part in several symbolic activities, including planting a sapling, joining folk games with children, and engaging in educational observances linked to the auspicious time for learning
and work.

Several ministers and officials attended the event, including Cultural Minister Hiniduma Sunil Senevi and Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath, along with parliamentarians, district officials, and local authorities.

Chinese electronic item carriers caught red-handed at Green Channel

What began as a routine walk through the Green Channel at Katunayake International Airport took an unexpected turn on April 16, when Customs officials intercepted nine Chinese nationals carrying what can only be described as a rather unusually packaged assortment of electronic items.

The group had arrived in Sri Lanka on China Eastern Airlines, Air China, and AirAsia flights and initially moved through standard arrival procedures without raising any immediate concern. However, a routine screening at the terminal prompted Customs officers to take a closer look.

What followed was a more detailed inspection, during which officials uncovered a concealed stock of electronic communication equipment, including 383 used mobile phones, 101 tablet computers, and six Wi-Fi routers.

The items, valued at around Rs. 24.2 million, were reportedly found secured within their clothing using adhesive tape.

The passengers had attempted to exit through the Green Channel, reserved for travellers with nothing to declare.

All nine individuals were taken into Customs custody while further investigations are underway to determine the intended purpose of the equipment and whether the consignment is linked to a wider network of scams.

Newborn Sri Lankan leopard cubs debut at Singapore Zoo

Newborn Lankan leopard cubs at the Singapore Zoo. Credit: Mandai Wildlife Group

The Singapore Zoo is set to unveil a new attraction with a touch of irony as three Sri Lankan leopard cubs, born on January 01, 2026, will make their public debut at the ‘Wild Africa Exhibit’.

The cubs are part of a growing conservation and breeding programme at the Singapore Zoo.

According to a statement issued on April 16 by the Mandai Wildlife Group, which manages Singapore’s network of wildlife parks, visitors will be able to see the leopard triplets and their mother daily until mid-May. After that, viewing will continue on a scheduled basis every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, depending on animal management routines and exhibit programming.

While the cubs and their mother are showcased under an African-themed exhibit environment, they are, ironically, native to Sri Lanka – which is regarded as a ‘South Island nation’ known for its rich biodiversity and protected leopard population in the wild.

The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) holds the distinction of being the largest big cat in Sri Lanka and remains the country’s only undisputed apex predator.

According to a report in the local newspaper, The Straits Times, the three cubs – two males and one female – were born to mother ‘Yala’ and father ‘Asanka’.

The birth is considered a milestone, as they are reportedly the first of their species to be born at the Singapore Zoo, adding a new chapter to the facility’s conservation breeding efforts.