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Sri Lanka seeks foreign partnerships to expand ports and aviation sector

Sri Lanka seeks foreign partnerships to expand ports and aviation sector

A special discussion was held between British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick and the Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation, and Energy, Anura Karunathilaka. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  10:40 pm
EU agrees to widen sanctions against Iran

EU agrees to widen sanctions against Iran

The European Union will expand the criteria of its Iran sanctions to include those responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely shut for nearly two months upending global energy and commodities markets, two EU diplomats said. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  9:52 pm
50 foreign nationals arrested for overstaying business visas

50 foreign nationals arrested for overstaying business visas

A total of 50 foreign nationals who had entered Sri Lanka on business visas and continued to remain illegally after their visas expired have been arrested this afternoon (21) by a group of officers from the Investigation Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  9:24 pm
PM instructs officials to expedite disaster relief and infrastructure restoration

PM instructs officials to expedite disaster relief and infrastructure restoration

Special attention should be given at the district level to expedite the payment of compensation for those affected by the Cyclone Ditwah and to accelerate reconstruction work, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  8:58 pm
Pakistan urges US, Iran to consider extending 14-day ceasefire

Pakistan urges US, Iran to consider extending 14-day ceasefire

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday urged the United States and Iran to consider extending the 14-day ceasefire beyond its Wednesday deadline and “give dialogue and diplomacy a chance.” MORE..

| April 21, 2026  8:28 pm
Tourist arrivals in April top 85,000

Tourist arrivals in April top 85,000

A total of 88,221 tourists have arrived in the country thus far in April, data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) shows. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  7:49 pm
US mulling financial help for Gulf countries, Trump says

US mulling financial help for Gulf countries, Trump says

US President Donald Trump has suggested that he may offer financial assistance - or a currency swap - with Gulf countries he believes have proven to be reliable allies with the war in Iran. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  7:31 pm
SLCPI calls for urgent action to prevent medicine shortages in Sri Lanka

SLCPI calls for urgent action to prevent medicine shortages in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) has called for urgent action to prevent a looming medicine shortage crisis in Sri Lanka, warning that growing pressure on the pharmaceutical supply chain could affect the country’s ability to ensure uninterrupted access to essential and life-saving medicines. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  7:04 pm
State Vesak celebrations 2026 set for May 27–June 2

State Vesak celebrations 2026 set for May 27–June 2

The official programme for the 2026 State Vesak Festival has been issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  6:27 pm
US forces board ‘sanctioned’ oil tanker between Sri Lanka and Indonesia

US forces board ‘sanctioned’ oil tanker between Sri Lanka and Indonesia

The Pentagon says US forces boarded a sanctioned tanker overnight “without incident” in the Indo-Pacific region in efforts to “disrupt illicit networks” supporting Iran. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  6:27 pm
Flooding in Hatton–Dickoya submerges 50 estate houses

Flooding in Hatton–Dickoya submerges 50 estate houses

Around 50 estate houses in low-lying areas of the Fordyce Estate in Dickoya have submerged following heavy rainfall experienced this afternoon (21) in the Hatton–Dickoya area. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  6:13 pm
NATO criticises Russian and Chinese nuclear stances, urges cooperation with US

NATO criticises Russian and Chinese nuclear stances, urges cooperation with US

NATO criticised Russian and Chinese nuclear arms policies on Tuesday and urged both countries to work with the United States to establish greater stability and transparency at an upcoming international conference. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  6:05 pm
Easter Sunday attack investigation to be concluded soon, says Minister

Easter Sunday attack investigation to be concluded soon, says Minister

Investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks are expected to be successfully completed within a short period of time, the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala stated. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  5:57 pm
Aswesuma April allowance to be credited tomorrow

Aswesuma April allowance to be credited tomorrow

The Welfare Benefits Board of Sri Lanka has announced that the April allowance of the Aswesuma Welfare Benefits Payment Scheme will be credited to the bank accounts of the relevant beneficiaries tomorrow (22). MORE..

| April 21, 2026  5:19 pm
UN urges Sri Lanka to deliver results in Easter bombing probe

UN urges Sri Lanka to deliver results in Easter bombing probe

The United Nations urged Sri Lanka on Tuesday to deliver concrete results after long-running investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bombings that killed 279 people, including 45 foreigners. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  4:59 pm
Sri Lanka’s inflation increases to 2.4% in March

Sri Lanka’s inflation increases to 2.4% in March

The overall rate of inflation, as measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), has increased to 2.4% in March 2026, compared to 1.6% in February 2026, according to the latest data released by the Department of Census and Statistics. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  4:56 pm
Middle East tensions push up costs, dampen sentiment in India’s housing market

Middle East tensions push up costs, dampen sentiment in India’s housing market

Tensions in the Middle East are starting to ripple through India’s housing market, pushing up construction costs and making homebuyers more cautious. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  4:54 pm
Indian Navy Ship ‘Nireekshak’ arrives in Sri Lanka for training and operational visit

Indian Navy Ship ‘Nireekshak’ arrives in Sri Lanka for training and operational visit

The Indian Navy Ship (INS) ‘Nireekshak’ arrived in Sri Lanka for an Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit today (21). MORE..

| April 21, 2026  4:40 pm
Warm weather advisory issued for several provinces

Warm weather advisory issued for several provinces

A warm weather advisory has been issued for residents of the Northern, North-Central, North-Western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and Eastern provinces and the Monaragala district. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  4:31 pm
Court fixes May 12 for further evidence in Diana Gamage case

Court fixes May 12 for further evidence in Diana Gamage case

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the further examination of evidence on May 12 in the case filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) against former State Minister Diana Gamage. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  4:19 pm
Expressway revenue during festive period exceeds Rs. 536 million

Expressway revenue during festive period exceeds Rs. 536 million

The Ministry of Transport states that more than Rs. 536 million was earned from operators of vehicles using expressways during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period from April 10 to 20. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  4:07 pm
67 drunk drivers arrested yesterday; 51 nabbed for reckless driving

67 drunk drivers arrested yesterday; 51 nabbed for reckless driving

A total of 25 individuals identified as directly linked to criminal activities have been arrested during operations carried out yesterday (20) under the ‘‘Nation United - National Drive’’ campaign aimed at eradicating narcotics from the country. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  3:28 pm
Sri Lanka receives USD 2.6M from Japan to strengthen climate resilience and gender equality

Sri Lanka receives USD 2.6M from Japan to strengthen climate resilience and gender equality

The Government of Japan, through its Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB), has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s development journey by announcing two new projects aimed at fostering climate resilience in vulnerable communities and advancing gender equality. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  3:03 pm
Low-floor buses launched to boost accessible public transport for differently-abled

Low-floor buses launched to boost accessible public transport for differently-abled

A new low-floor bus service that gives priority to persons with disabilities and special needs was launched today (21) from the Makumbura Multimodal Center (MMC). MORE..

| April 21, 2026  2:56 pm
Spain starts program to legalize up to half-million migrants

Spain starts program to legalize up to half-million migrants

Spain has kicked off a program aimed at grantinglegal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants, in a move that goes against a trend of anti-immigration rhetoric and policies in the United States and much of Europe. MORE..

| April 21, 2026  1:57 pm