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Trump says Lebanon and Israel agree to extend Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire by 3 weeks
Trump says Lebanon and Israel agree to extend Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire by 3 weeks
President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House on Thursday. MORE..
Israel awaiting US green light to ‘return Iran to Stone Age’: defence minister
Israel awaiting US green light to ‘return Iran to Stone Age’: defence minister
Defence minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Israel was “prepared to resume the war against Iran”, adding that his country was awaiting a green light from the United States to return Iran to “the Stone Age”. MORE..
May 02 holiday revised; May 31 declared public holiday for Vesak
May 02 holiday revised; May 31 declared public holiday for Vesak
As the official program for the 2026 State Vesak Festival is scheduled to be held on May 30, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has issued an extraordinary gazette notification declaring the following day, May 31, as a public holiday. MORE..
Iran war pushing more than 30 million back into poverty, UN development chief says
Iran war pushing more than 30 million back into poverty, UN development chief says
More than 30 million people will be pushed back into poverty by the impacts of the Iran war including disruptions to fuel and fertiliser supplies just as farmers are planting crops, U.N. development chief Alexander De Croo said on Thursday. MORE..
West Bengal and Tamil Nadu record highest voter turnout in India
West Bengal and Tamil Nadu record highest voter turnout in India
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar praised voters for their participation as polling concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, announcing that West Bengal and Tamil Nadu achieved the highest-ever voter turnout since Independence. MORE..
Deadline for 2026 A/L exam applications ends midnight tomorrow
Deadline for 2026 A/L exam applications ends midnight tomorrow
The Department of Examinations has announced that the acceptance of applications for the 2026 G.C.E Advanced Level (A/L) Examination will conclude tomorrow (24) at 12.00 midnight. MORE..
Italy ready to deploy two minesweepers in Hormuz Strait, navy chief says
Italy ready to deploy two minesweepers in Hormuz Strait, navy chief says
Italy is ready to deploy up to four vessels, including two minesweepers, as part of an international mission to clear the Strait of Hormuz, the navy’s chief of staff said. MORE..
Trump orders Navy to ‘shoot and kill any boat’ laying mines in Hormuz Strait
Trump orders Navy to ‘shoot and kill any boat’ laying mines in Hormuz Strait
President Donald Trump on Thursday said he has ordered the U.S. Navy “to shoot and kill any boat” that is laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. MORE..
Maithri Gunaratne accuses President, Finance Secretary after hackers steal $2.5 mln
Maithri Gunaratne accuses President, Finance Secretary after hackers steal $2.5 mln
The President of the Free Lawyers Organisation, President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne, has claimed that both the President and the Secretary to the Finance Ministry should be held responsible over the disappearance of a USD 2.5 million payment owed to Australia. MORE..
US military seizes another oil tanker associated with Iran in Indian ocean
US military seizes another oil tanker associated with Iran in Indian ocean
The US military on Thursday seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Iran a day after its paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took control of two vessels in the crucial Strait of Hormuz. MORE..
Landslide early warnings issued to areas in two districts
Landslide early warnings issued to areas in two districts
The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued an early landslide warning for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) in Kurunegala and Ratnapura districts. MORE..
Underworld figure ‘Keselwatte Dinusha’ remanded
Underworld figure ‘Keselwatte Dinusha’ remanded
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (23) ordered that organized criminal Dinush Chathuranga, alias ‘Keselwatte Dinusha’, who was arrested in India and brought back to Sri Lanka, be remanded until May 05. MORE..
Lebanon to seek ceasefire extension in US-hosted talks with Israel
Lebanon to seek ceasefire extension in US-hosted talks with Israel
The United States will host a second meeting between Lebanese and Israeli envoys on Thursday, with Beirut seeking the extension of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a day after Israeli strikes killed at least five people including a journalist. MORE..
“China debt trap” narrative is baseless, pushed by the West, says European scholar
“China debt trap” narrative is baseless, pushed by the West, says European scholar
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is far more ambitious than the ports, railways and highways that it is often reduced to in Western commentary, said Hussein Askary, a prominent Iraqi-Swedish scholar of international relations and geo-economics. MORE..
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..
Hackers breached system via email, efforts underway to recover funds - Finance Secretary
Hackers breached system via email, efforts underway to recover funds - Finance Secretary
The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma says that efforts are already underway to recover as much as possible of the USD 2.5 million in funds obtained by cyber criminals who breached a computer system at the Finance Ministry. MORE..
| April 23, 2026 3:52 pm
‘First revenue’ from Hormuz toll deposited into Central Bank - Iranian deputy speaker
‘First revenue’ from Hormuz toll deposited into Central Bank - Iranian deputy speaker
The deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, Hamidreza Haji Babaei, says the first revenues collected from tolls imposed on ships using the Strait of Hormuz have been deposited into the Central Bank account. MORE..
CAA releases weekly estimated retail price for essential food items
CAA releases weekly estimated retail price for essential food items
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has announced the estimated retail price ranges for several essential food items for the week of April 20 to April 26, 2026. MORE..
‘No time pressure’ on Iran ceasefire, says Trump
‘No time pressure’ on Iran ceasefire, says Trump
In the US, Fox News says President Trump told presenter Martha MacCallum that there is ‘‘no time pressure’‘ on his extension to the ceasefire with Iran. MORE..
Australian HC confirms ongoing probe over irregularities in payments owed by Sri Lanka to Australia
Australian HC confirms ongoing probe over irregularities in payments owed by Sri Lanka to Australia
The Ministry of Finance is currently probing irregularities in payments owed by Sri Lanka to the government of Australia, the Australian High Commission in Colombo stated. MORE..
Sri Lanka reports first measles cases in years, authorities urge vaccination
Sri Lanka reports first measles cases in years, authorities urge vaccination
Health authorities have warned that measles, a disease previously eliminated in Sri Lanka, has re-emerged in the country. MORE..
Police warn of financial scam using ‘SriLankan Airlines’ name
Police warn of financial scam using ‘SriLankan Airlines’ name
Sri Lanka Police has warned the general public of financial fraud being carried out using the name of ‘SriLankan Airlines’. MORE..
13-year-old boy missing in Gampaha; Public requested to assist
13-year-old boy missing in Gampaha; Public requested to assist
A 13-year-old boy, identified as Sithula Nimsath, a resident of Pahala Imbulgoda in Gampaha, has been reported missing since yesterday (22), according to his relatives. MORE..
Advisory issued for severe lightning in several provinces
Advisory issued for severe lightning in several provinces
An ‘Amber’ advisory has been issued by the Department of Meteorology for severe lightning in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western, North-Central, Southern and Uva provinces and in Ampara, and Batticaloa districts. MORE..
Standard vehicle number plates to be issued from late May
Standard vehicle number plates to be issued from late May
Standard registration number plates for new vehicles can be issued from the end of May this year, the Department of Motor Traffic has announced. MORE..
| April 23, 2026 1:22 pm