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Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Ministry Secretary resign from posts

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Ministry Secretary resign from posts

Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala have resigned from their respective positions. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  2:41 pm
QR code fuel quota system for petrol vehicles to resume from midnight tomorrow

QR code fuel quota system for petrol vehicles to resume from midnight tomorrow

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has announced that the temporary suspension of the QR code-based fuel quota system for petrol-powered vehicles will come to an end from midnight tomorrow (18). MORE..

| April 17, 2026  2:05 pm
Vijay unveils TVK’s manifesto; promises free gas cylinders

Vijay unveils TVK’s manifesto; promises free gas cylinders

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay on Thursday unveiled the party’s election manifesto, promising Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women and 8 gm gold and silk saree for every bride from families with annual income below Rs 5 lakh for if voted into power in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  1:10 pm
Special train services scheduled to operate for passengers returning to Colombo

Special train services scheduled to operate for passengers returning to Colombo

The Railway Department has deployed several special train services for the public returning to Colombo after visiting their hometowns for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  12:51 pm
President appoints commission to probe alleged irregularities in Lanka Coal Company

President appoints commission to probe alleged irregularities in Lanka Coal Company

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a Commission of Inquiry to investigate whether irregularities or illegal acts occurred within the state-owned Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd ...MORE..

| April 17, 2026  12:47 pm
Former SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena further remanded after bail refusal

Former SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena further remanded after bail refusal

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered the refusal of the bail application of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, who is currently in remand custody in connection with an incident involving the alleged acceptance of bribes during the purchase of Airbus aircraft for the airline. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  12:42 pm
Advisory issued for severe lightning

Advisory issued for severe lightning

An ‘Amber’ advisory has been issued by the Department of Meteorology for severe lightning in the Southern Province and in Colombo, Kaluthara, Monaragala and Rathnapura districts. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  12:41 pm
Nuwara Eliya PS chairman’s bail application rejected

Nuwara Eliya PS chairman’s bail application rejected

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has rejected the bail application of the Chairman of the Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha, Velu Yogaraj, who is currently in remand custody over corruption allegations. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  11:41 am
Trump says Iran war should end ‘soon’, both sides may meet at weekend

Trump says Iran war should end ‘soon’, both sides may meet at weekend

US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that an agreement could soon be reached to end the Iran war and urged the Tehran-aligned Hezbollah group to hold its fire as a 10-day truce went in to effect between Lebanon and Israel. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  11:32 am
Sarath Kongahage and Devapriya Abeysinghe granted bail

Sarath Kongahage and Devapriya Abeysinghe granted bail

The former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), Sarath Kongahage and the former Director General, Devapriya Abeysinghe who were arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), have been granted bail by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  11:27 am
Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan to visit Sri Lanka

Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan to visit Sri Lanka

The Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, is scheduled to undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from April 19 to 20, 2026. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  11:20 am
Deduru Oya drowning incident: Death toll rises to 8 as last two bodies recovered

Deduru Oya drowning incident: Death toll rises to 8 as last two bodies recovered

Sri Lanka Police have confirmed that the recovery of the last two bodies from the Deduru Oya drowning incident has brought the death toll to eight. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  11:00 am
Special bus services deployed for passengers returning to Colombo after New Year

Special bus services deployed for passengers returning to Colombo after New Year

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has announced that special bus services have commenced today for the public returning to Colombo after the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  10:38 am
Iran has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium supply, says Trump

Iran has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium supply, says Trump

US President Donald Trump said Thursday (Apr 16) that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were “close” to a peace deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  10:26 am
Attempted shooting targeting “Podi Patty” reported in Ahungalla

Attempted shooting targeting “Podi Patty” reported in Ahungalla

A shooting incident targeting an individual known as “Podi Patty,” the brother of organized criminal figure “Loku Patty,” has been reported in the Ahungalla area. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  10:13 am
Ministry issues notice on implementation of Grade 1 education reforms

Ministry issues notice on implementation of Grade 1 education reforms

The distribution of activity books for Grade 1, covering the second and third terms for the year 2026, has already commenced, according to the Ministry of Education. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  10:12 am
Global oil prices dip as fragile Israel-Lebanon truce announced

Global oil prices dip as fragile Israel-Lebanon truce announced

Global oil prices retreated slightly on Friday morning in Asia after a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel came into effect. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  9:13 am
Over 150 kg of heroin worth Rs. 4 bln found on seized fishing trawler off Southern Seas

Over 150 kg of heroin worth Rs. 4 bln found on seized fishing trawler off Southern Seas

Over 150 kilograms of heroin, valued at around Rs. 4 billion, have been recovered from a fishing trawler seized by the Sri Lanka Navy and brought to the Dikowita Fisheries Harbour this morning (17). MORE..

video | April 17, 2026  9:06 am
Six bodies recovered following drowning incident at Deduru Oya

Six bodies recovered following drowning incident at Deduru Oya

Six bodies—comprising two females and four males—have been recovered from among a group of individuals who were reportedly swept away while bathing in the Deduru Oya in the Kuratiyagahamula area of Kobeigane. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  8:50 am
Navy seizes 10 multi-day fishing trawlers linked to drug trafficking in first quarter

Navy seizes 10 multi-day fishing trawlers linked to drug trafficking in first quarter

The Sri Lanka Navy has seized a total of 10 local multi-day fishing trawlers involved in drug trafficking during the first three months of this year. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  8:30 am
Eight people killed in helicopter crash in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan

Eight people killed in helicopter crash in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan

All eight people on board a helicopter were killed when it crashed in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province, authorities said on Friday as search teams tried to retrieve the bodies and wreckage. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  8:29 am
First crude oil tanker since Middle East conflict to arrive today

First crude oil tanker since Middle East conflict to arrive today

Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) has announced that the first crude oil tanker to arrive in Sri Lanka since the outbreak of the Middle East conflicts is scheduled to arrive today (17). MORE..

| April 17, 2026  7:41 am
Multi-day fishing vessel with suspected narcotics brought to Dikkowita Harbour

Multi-day fishing vessel with suspected narcotics brought to Dikkowita Harbour

UPDATE: The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has confirmed that the substance recovered from the local multi-day fishing vessel is heroin. MORE..

video | April 17, 2026  7:32 am
Registration of Persons Dept. services suspended today due to system failure

Registration of Persons Dept. services suspended today due to system failure

The Ministry of Digital Economy has announced that all public services of the Department for Registration of Persons (ID Office) have been temporarily suspended today (17) following an unexpected system breakdown. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  7:25 am
Trump says he may go to Islamabad if Iran deal reached

Trump says he may go to Islamabad if Iran deal reached

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that if a deal with Iran to conclude the war is reached and signed in Islamabad, he might go, and that Iran has agreed to almost everything. MORE..

| April 17, 2026  6:19 am