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Pope says he ‘cannot support war,’ citing rising toll on innocent lives
Pope says he ‘cannot support war,’ citing rising toll on innocent lives
Pope Leo XIV said Thursday that he “cannot be in favor of war,” warning that conflicts around the world are claiming the lives of too many innocent people, including children. MORE..
Office train services to continue despite ‘Sagarika’ derailment in Wadduwa - SLR
Office train services to continue despite ‘Sagarika’ derailment in Wadduwa - SLR
Despite the derailment of the “Sagarika” express train at Wadduwa, Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) has decided to continue office train services without cancellations. MORE..
Fairly heavy rainfall expected in several parts of the island
Fairly heavy rainfall expected in several parts of the island
The Department of Meteorology has announced that showers or thundershowers will occur in most parts of the island after 1.00 p.m. MORE..
Sri Lanka’s Q1 2026 export earnings rise 2% despite Middle East conflict
Sri Lanka’s Q1 2026 export earnings rise 2% despite Middle East conflict
The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB Sri Lanka) states that despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Sri Lanka recorded export earnings of US$ 1,467 million in March. MORE..
‘Walk for Peace’ heads to Beligammana Rajamaha Viharaya in Mawanella today
‘Walk for Peace’ heads to Beligammana Rajamaha Viharaya in Mawanella today
Today (23) marks the third day of the internationally recognized “Ehipassiko - Walk for Peace.” MORE..
Deadline for 2026 A/L exam applications ends midnight today
Deadline for 2026 A/L exam applications ends midnight today
The Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka has announced that the acceptance of applications for the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) Examination will conclude today (24) at 12:00 midnight. MORE..
Trains delayed on coastal line after ‘Sagarika’ derails near Wadduwa
Trains delayed on coastal line after ‘Sagarika’ derails near Wadduwa
Train services on the coastal line were disrupted after the ‘Sagarika’ express train, travelling from Beliatta to Maradana, derailed this morning (24), the Department of Railways said. MORE..
| April 24, 2026 8:09 am
Iran has to cut Hezbollah’s funding: Trump
Iran has to cut Hezbollah’s funding: Trump
US President Donald Trump has been assembling the protagonists of today’s peace talks for another impromptu news conference at the White House. MORE..
Trump says leaders of Lebanon and Israel could meet in next three weeks
Trump says leaders of Lebanon and Israel could meet in next three weeks
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the leaders of Lebanon and Israel could meet at the White House during the next three weeks - the period for which a ceasefire between the two countries has been extended. MORE..
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