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Buddhist monks of “Walk for Peace” fame arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday to re-enact the peace march they recently held in the United States, covering a 2,300-mile path across the country and winning the appreciation of millions. The Sri Lankan peace march programme will be held from April 21 to April 28 (see story [...]
Low-grade coal: Minister quits amid presidential probe
Special Presidential Commission appointed for wider scrutiny of coal imports Jayakody says remaining in office would hinder inquiry process Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala resigned on Friday after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake appointed a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry to ‘examine whether any irregularities or unlawful acts have occurred in [...]
India’s VP here today
India’s Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will arrive in Sri Lanka today for a two-day visit, which the Indian High Commission described as “the first bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka”. He will hold talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, and other political and Indian community leaders. The [...]
New formula: Electricity tariffs to change only once a year
By Damith Wickramasekara The Energy Ministry is set to introduce an electricity tariff formula that will be revised only once a year. The proposed formula will benefit both domestic and industrial consumers since the tariff will not change every three months as happens under the current tariff structure, a senior Energy Ministry official told the [...]
Price shocker: CPC admits paying over US$281 for a barrel of oil
By Namini Wijedasa The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) bought three shipments of diesel between the last week of March and the second week of April at prices of between US$288 and US$281 per barrel, General Manager Mayura Neththikumarage said this week. Thus, the CPC acquired 240,000 barrels on March 31, 2026, at the cost of [...]
Aloka to join peace walk, but stray threats remain a concern
By Kasun Warakapitiya Security arrangements are being finalised for Aloka, the peace dog, who is set to take part in the Walk-for-Peace programme by Buddhist monks from the United States in Sri Lanka, beginning next Tuesday. Venerable Melpitiye Wimalakitthi Thera confirmed that the “peace dog,” which captured the hearts of millions in the US during [...]
Memories of savage attacks linger alongside quest for Easter justice
By S. Rubatheesan Ahead of last week’s New Year holiday season, T. Regan and his family left for their hometown, Pundaluoya, Kandy. They did not go to mark the New Year in their hometown but to visit the cemetery where their five-year-old daughter, Leema Rithika, was buried. She was among the 270 victims of the [...]
Mill blockages and fires: Coal headaches continue
Frequent capacity reductions recorded as audit reveals imported stock failed to meet basic energy standards By Namini Wijedasa Trident Chemphar’s coal caused serious, repetitive problems at the Lakvijaya coal power plant (LVP), including inability to generate full power capacity, severe overconsumption of coal, high pyrite (hard mineral particles that cannot be ground by the mills), [...]
Shangri-La doubles profit from mall and apartments to US$14.2m in 2025
By Kapila Bandara Shangri-La Asia’s real estate in Colombo including seafront luxury apartments, and commercial and office spaces have generated strong profit for the group in 2025, more than double the income from the year before. The group’s investment properties including One Galle Face shopping mall and One Galle Face Tower, posted US$14.2 million (about [...]
CIABOC probes complaints against suspended parliament official and Speaker
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has begun probes into complaints against suspended Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne and a counter complaint against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. A third complaint lodged by an individual identified as S. Kannan against Mr Kularatne is also being probed. The [...]
Former MPs write to international parliamentary bodies over ‘alarming developments’ within the house
The Association of Former Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka has formally raised serious concerns with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights—regarding what it calls “alarming developments within the Parliament of Sri Lanka.” Secretary of the Association, former MP Pemasiri Manage said [...]
The number of seniors increases; more than 50% of women are still confined to home duty
By Kasun Warakapitiya Increasing numbers of seniors, more widows, and an improved literacy rate are among the highlights from the Census of Population and Housing in 2024. The Department of Census and Statistics released the final report on the Census of Population and Housing 2024 last week. The report covers population distribution and growth, identifying [...]
Retired professor Ven Okkampitiya Pannasara Nayaka Thera builds homes for the needy
A project has been launched to build houses for 20 low-income families in the Monaragala and Buttala Divisional Secretariat Divisions, by Ven Okkampitiya Pannasara Nayaka Thera, retired Professor of the Sinhala Department of the University of Kelaniya. The venerable monk also serves as the Chief Incumbent of the Gal Tammandiya Purana Raja Maha Viharaya and [...]
School meal providers complain of rising costs
By Sajeniya Sathanandan Rising costs of essential goods, cooking gas, and fuel are a challenge to the school’s midday meal programme, suppliers claim. Most school meal suppliers come from underprivileged backgrounds and cannot bear the price increases. A supplier noted financial debt even before the new term starts and that the payment is no longer [...]
A mitigated monsoon due to El Nino; water levels to plummet
By Kasun Warakapitiya Advising people to use water sparingly, the Meteorology Department yesterday said the rain expected in the coming weeks would be insufficient to raise water levels in upper catchment reservoirs. The Mahaweli Department statistics show that most hydropower reservoirs, including Rantambe, Victoria, Upper Kotmale, Maussakele, Samanalawewa, Castlereigh, Kotmale and Dayaraba, contain water below [...]
SriLankan making adjustments as West Asian crisis affects airlines globally
By Dilushi Wijesinghe Airfares have risen sharply in recent months due to escalating global fuel costs linked to the conflict in West Asia. A flight that would typically cost around Rs. 50,000 to Chennai is now significantly higher; Air India charges around Rs. 134,000, SriLankan Airlines around Rs. 86,000, and the lowest fare, offered by [...]
NJC calls for zone of peace and compensation following IRIS Dena disaster
The National Joint Committee (NJC) has called on the Sri Lankan Government to do a comprehensive damage assessment of the IRIS Dena ship that sank off the southern coast and initiate talks with countries responsible for the incident to obtain damage cost/ compensation. The NJC also has urged the government to engage with world bodies [...]