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First crude oil tanker since Middle East conflict to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow
First crude oil tanker since Middle East conflict to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow
Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) has announced that the first crude oil tanker to arrive since the onset of the Middle East conflict is scheduled to reach the island tomorrow (17). MORE..
Registration of Persons Dept. temporarily suspends services tomorrow due to system failure
Registration of Persons Dept. temporarily suspends services tomorrow due to system failure
The Department for Registration of Persons (ID Office) has announced that all public services, including the one-day service at its head office and all provincial offices, will be suspended tomorrow (April 17). MORE..
Pakistan says no dates set for second round of US-Iran talks
Pakistan says no dates set for second round of US-Iran talks
No dates have been decided for the second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Thursday. MORE..
Pope Leo to hold peace meeting in Cameroon amid Trump attacks
Pope Leo to hold peace meeting in Cameroon amid Trump attacks
Pope Leo was scheduled to travel to the biggest city in Cameroon’s conflict-hit anglophone region on Thursday, the latest stop on an ambitious four-country Africa tour amid attacks on the pontiff by U.S. President Donald Trump. MORE..
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 Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts. MORE..
Fuel and electricity supply to continue uninterrupted despite Middle East conflict – Minister
Fuel and electricity supply to continue uninterrupted despite Middle East conflict – Minister
Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, has stated that Sri Lanka’s fuel and electricity supply will continue without interruption despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. MORE..
| April 16, 2026 2:13 pm
Former MP Chandana Kathriarachchi arrested
Former MP Chandana Kathriarachchi arrested
Former Member of Parliament Chandana Kathriarachchi has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). MORE..
Police to seize vehicles with non-standard number plates
Police to seize vehicles with non-standard number plates
Sri Lanka Police have announced that vehicles fitted with number plates that do not comply with prescribed standards will be taken into police custody and produced before court. MORE..
44 dead in 42 road accidents reported during festive period: Police
44 dead in 42 road accidents reported during festive period: Police
Sri Lanka Police reported a total of 42 road traffic accidents across the island between April 10 and 15, resulting in 44 fatalities. MORE..
TIME releases list of ‘100 most influential people’; Trump, Mamdani, Netanyahu among top leaders
TIME releases list of ‘100 most influential people’; Trump, Mamdani, Netanyahu among top leaders
TIME released its list of the ‘100 Most Influential People of 2026’ on Wednesday, naming Pope Leo, US President Donald Trump, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, among others. MORE..
Six Chinese nationals arrested with smuggled cigarettes at BIA
Six Chinese nationals arrested with smuggled cigarettes at BIA
A total of six Chinese nationals who illegally brought a consignment of cigarettes into the country have been arrested by Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). MORE..
Sri Lanka assures uninterrupted travel for Bangladeshis despite global crisis
Sri Lanka assures uninterrupted travel for Bangladeshis despite global crisis
Travel to Sri Lanka remains fully unaffected for Bangladeshi tourists despite ongoing global conflicts and economic uncertainties, said Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, while talking to The Bangladesh Monitor during a media networking session held at Le Meridien Dhaka on April 5. MORE..
Trump says talks between leaders of Israel and Lebanon ‘will happen’ on Thursday
Trump says talks between leaders of Israel and Lebanon ‘will happen’ on Thursday
US president Donald Trump has said talks between the leaders of Israel and Lebanon “will happen” on Thursday. MORE..
Legal action initiated against over 400 traders during festive season – PHIs
Legal action initiated against over 400 traders during festive season – PHIs
The Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) states that legal action has been initiated against more than 400 traders following island-wide inspections conducted in view of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. MORE..
Private bus and train services to gradually normalize from today
Private bus and train services to gradually normalize from today
The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) has announced that steps will be taken to operate between 50% and 60% of the private bus fleet island-wide starting today (16). MORE..
Chinese FM says reopening of Strait of Hormuz is a “unanimous demand” of international community
Chinese FM says reopening of Strait of Hormuz is a “unanimous demand” of international community
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was a unanimous demand from the international community. MORE..
Auspicious time for commencing urgent duties falls tomorrow
Auspicious time for commencing urgent duties falls tomorrow
The auspicious time for departing for urgent duties, as specified in the Sinhala and Tamil New Year auspicious time schedule (‘Nekath Seettuwa’), falls tomorrow (April 17). MORE..
Nine Chinese cybercrime suspects arrested at BIA
Nine Chinese cybercrime suspects arrested at BIA
A total of nine Chinese nationals were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayaka early this morning (16) while attempting to enter the country to allegedly engage in cybercrime-related activities. MORE..
Major fire at Australian oil refinery to impact nation’s petrol supplies
Major fire at Australian oil refinery to impact nation’s petrol supplies
A major fire has broken out at one of Australia’s two oil refineries, deepening fears over the nation’s petrol supplies amid a global fuel crunch. MORE..
Fairly heavy rainfall expected in parts of the island
Fairly heavy rainfall expected in parts of the island
The Meteorology Department says showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central, Uva and North-western provinces after 1.00 pm. MORE..
Senate Republicans reject effort to halt Iran war, but some eye future war powers votes
Senate Republicans reject effort to halt Iran war, but some eye future war powers votes
The Republican-led Senate on Wednesday rejected the latest Democratic attempt to halt President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, turning aside a resolution that would require the U.S. to withdraw forces from the conflict until Congress authorizes further action. MORE..
Nine killed in second Turkish school shooting in two days
Nine killed in second Turkish school shooting in two days
At least eight students and one teacher have been killed and several others injured following a shooting at a school in southern Turkey, Interior Minister Mustafa Cifci has said. MORE..
Online ticketing introduced for New Year return travel from Galle and Matara to Makumbura
Online ticketing introduced for New Year return travel from Galle and Matara to Makumbura
Passengers returning to Colombo from Galle and Matara following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holiday period can now obtain bus tickets through an online reservation system, the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development announced. MORE..
IMF cautions countries against broad fuel subsidies to deal with war-driven energy shock
IMF cautions countries against broad fuel subsidies to deal with war-driven energy shock
The war in the Middle East has intensified strains on an already fragile global fiscal situation, with higher interest rates and rising energy prices already fueling calls for support from emerging markets and developing economies, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday in its Fiscal Monitor report. MORE..
Ten injured in multi-vehicle collision in Eheliyagoda
Ten injured in multi-vehicle collision in Eheliyagoda
A road accident has been reported in Eheliyagoda after a car had lost control and crashed into a line of vehicles. MORE..