Hot News
Pakistan Navy ships TAIMUR and ASLAT conclude goodwill visit
Pakistan Navy ships TAIMUR and ASLAT conclude goodwill visit
The Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) TAIMUR and ASLAT departed the island, following a two-day goodwill visit, the Sri Lanka Navy said. MORE..
Russia renews offer to receive Iran’s enriched uranium
Russia renews offer to receive Iran’s enriched uranium
Russia has renewed an offer to “resolve the issue of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles”, as speculation mounts of a fresh round of US-Iran peace talks in the coming days, state media reported on Wednesday. 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, as well as in the Galle, Matara, Anuradhapura, and Kurunegala districts. MORE..
US will not renew 30-day waiver on Iranian oil
US will not renew 30-day waiver on Iranian oil
The US will not renew a 30-day waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil at sea that expires this week, and quietly let a similar waiver on sanctions on Russian oil expire over the weekend, two administration officials told Reuters on Tuesday, as the U.S. imposes a blockade on shipments from Iranian ports. MORE..
President engages in religious observances in Kandy
President engages in religious observances in Kandy
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (15) visited the historic Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, engaged in religious observances and received blessings for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. MORE..
| April 15, 2026 11:32 am
Gold prices in Sri Lanka rise by around Rs. 4,000
Gold prices in Sri Lanka rise by around Rs. 4,000
Gold prices in Sri Lanka have increased by around Rs. 4,000, Local market data indicates. MORE..
One dead, three family members injured in Buttala accident
One dead, three family members injured in Buttala accident
An individual died while three of his family members sustained injuries following a fatal road accident reported on the Wellawaya–Monaragala main road in Buttala, early this morning (15), police stated. MORE..
US destroyer interdicts two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran, official says
US destroyer interdicts two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran, official says
A U.S. destroyer interdicted two oil tankers attempting to leave Iran on Tuesday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump’s blockade went into effect, and instructed them to turn around, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. MORE..
Trump again hits out at Pope Leo and NATO in flurry of Truth Social posts
Trump again hits out at Pope Leo and NATO in flurry of Truth Social posts
Donald Trump has once again hit out at Pope Leo and NATO in a series of Truth Social posts. MORE..
Government offices to remain open April 15–17; Bus and train services resume after New Year holidays
Government offices to remain open April 15–17; Bus and train services resume after New Year holidays
Government offices across the country will remain open as usual on April 15, 16, and 17, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has announced. MORE..
Man and woman killed in separate incidents; Unidentified body recovered in Anuradhapura
Man and woman killed in separate incidents; Unidentified body recovered in Anuradhapura
Two murders have been reported in Wellawaya and Payagala resulting in the deaths of a woman and a man, while another unidentified male body has also been recovered, police said. MORE..
Oil prices fall for a second day on expectations US-Iran talks may resume
Oil prices fall for a second day on expectations US-Iran talks may resume
Oil prices fell for a second day on Wednesday on expectations peace talks between the US and Iran may resume and eventually release supply from the key Middle East producing region trapped by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. MORE..
US set to launch tariff refund system on April 20
US set to launch tariff refund system on April 20
US President Donald Trump’s administration plans to launch next Monday the system it will use for issuing refunds to American importers for $166 billion the companies paid in tariffs that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in February as unlawful. MORE..
Donald Trump believes Iran war will end soon
Donald Trump believes Iran war will end soon
US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that the war against Iran is “very close” to completion. MORE..
250 Rohingya and Bangladeshis missing after migrant boat sinks in Andaman Sea
250 Rohingya and Bangladeshis missing after migrant boat sinks in Andaman Sea
About 250 Rohingya and Bangladeshis, including children, are missing after their boat capsized last week in the Andaman Sea, according to the United Nations’ refugee and migration agencies. MORE..
Anointing of oil ritual for New Year begins
Anointing of oil ritual for New Year begins
The auspicious time for the tradition of anointing oil for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year commenced at 6:55 a.m. today (15). MORE..
| April 15, 2026 6:56 am
President participates in New Year oil anointing ceremony in Kandy
President participates in New Year oil anointing ceremony in Kandy
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is participating in the official state ceremony for the traditional oil-anointing ritual of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in Kandy. MORE..
| April 15, 2026 6:47 am
Two dead, three missing in separate drowning incidents
Two dead, three missing in separate drowning incidents
Three brothers who went to bathe in the Mahaweli River, which flows through the Somawathiya Reserve in Serunuwara, have drowned and gone missing. MORE..
No breakthrough during historic talks between Lebanon and Israel
No breakthrough during historic talks between Lebanon and Israel
Lebanon and Israel held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades on Tuesday in Washington following more than a month of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it a “historic opportunity” but making clear that no breakthrough agreement would happen right away. MORE..
Additional buses and trains to be deployed for those returning to Colombo
Additional buses and trains to be deployed for those returning to Colombo
Based on the needs of passengers who travelled to their hometowns for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, steps have been taken to deploy additional buses to Colombo starting today (15), the National Transport Commission (NTC) has announced. MORE..
Showers expected in several provinces after 1pm today
Showers expected in several provinces after 1pm today
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, and North-western provinces and in the Anuradhapura district after 1.00 p.m. today (15), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..
Trump hints Iran talks could resume this week as US maritime blockade continues
Trump hints Iran talks could resume this week as US maritime blockade continues
President Donald Trump has suggested talks aimed at ending the war in Iran could resume this week, after negotiations collapsed at the weekend, prompting the US to blockade Iranian ports. MORE..
State oil-anointing ceremony for New Year to be held today
State oil-anointing ceremony for New Year to be held today
The official state ceremony for the traditional oil-anointing ritual of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year is scheduled to take place this morning (April 15) at the premises of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. MORE..
Journalist detained in Kuwait after posting video of crashed US fighter jet
Journalist detained in Kuwait after posting video of crashed US fighter jet
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a journalist known for his past work at VICE, HuffPost, Al Jazeera and other outlets, is apparently behind bars in Kuwait, six weeks after posting a video of a US Air Force fighter jet crash west of Kuwait City. MORE..
More than 200 Iranian sailors leave Sri Lanka on special aircraft
More than 200 Iranian sailors leave Sri Lanka on special aircraft
More than 200 Iranian nationals who were held at the Welisara Detention Centre and the Koggala Detention Centre have left the island on a special aircraft on Tuesday (14). MORE..