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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, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa, North-Western provinces and the Monaragala district. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  5:37 pm
Finance Ministry official interdicted over $2.5M cyber fraud found dead at home

Finance Ministry official interdicted over $2.5M cyber fraud found dead at home

An Assistant Director at the External Resources Department of the Finance Ministry, who had been interdicted over the alleged theft of USD 2.5 million by hackers, has reportedly been found dead under suspicious circumstances at his residence in Kuliyapitiya. MORE..

video | April 30, 2026  4:31 pm
EU mobilises €2.6 million to strengthen civil society in Sri Lanka

EU mobilises €2.6 million to strengthen civil society in Sri Lanka

The European Union (EU)-funded “Together We Rise” initiative, implemented by World Vision and SAFE Foundation in Sri Lanka, is a €2.6 million project designed to strengthen civil society and promote human rights, inclusion and accountable governance. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  4:19 pm
US seeks international help to reopen Strait of Hormuz as crude prices surge

US seeks international help to reopen Strait of Hormuz as crude prices surge

The US is pushing for other countries to form an international coalition to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a State Department cable seen by Reuters, as oil prices surged to their highest in more than four years on fears of longer-term disruptions to global fuel supplies. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  4:12 pm
Colombo’s inflation rises to 5.4% in April 2026

Colombo’s inflation rises to 5.4% in April 2026

The overall rate of inflation, as measured by the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) on a year-on-year basis, increased to 5.4% in April 2026, up from 2.2% recorded in March 2026, according to the Department of Census and Statistics. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  3:51 pm
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 Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Central provinces and in Vavuniya, Mullaittivu, Kurunegala, and Trincomalee districts. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  3:37 pm
Proposal submitted for smoking ban for people born after 2010 in Sri Lanka

Proposal submitted for smoking ban for people born after 2010 in Sri Lanka

A concept paper proposing the creation of a “tobacco-free generation” comprising all children born after 2010 has been formally submitted to the Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  3:33 pm
Treasury Secretary arrives in parliament to appear before COPF

Treasury Secretary arrives in parliament to appear before COPF

The Secretary to the Treasury Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma has arrived at the Parliamentary Complex, a short while ago, to appear before the Committee on Public Finance (COPF). MORE..

| April 30, 2026  2:22 pm
Maldivian President to arrive in Sri Lanka on Monday

Maldivian President to arrive in Sri Lanka on Monday

President of the Republic of Maldives Dr. Mohammed Muizzu is scheduled to undertake a State Visit to Sri Lanka from 4–5 May 2026, on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  2:01 pm
Indictments served against Gnanasara Thero over anti-Islamic remarks

Indictments served against Gnanasara Thero over anti-Islamic remarks

Indictments have been served before the Colombo High Court against Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, regarding an allegedly derogatory statement made by him on Islam. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  1:38 pm
Israeli navy intercepts Global Sumud Flotilla vessels heading to Gaza

Israeli navy intercepts Global Sumud Flotilla vessels heading to Gaza

The Israeli navy intercepted vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters late Wednesday as they headed toward Gaza to break a blockade on the enclave. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  1:09 pm
Finance Ministry to brief Parliament on alleged USD 2.5 million theft by hackers

Finance Ministry to brief Parliament on alleged USD 2.5 million theft by hackers

The Ministry of Finance is set to make a special statement in Parliament regarding the alleged misplacement of USD 2.5 million. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  12:41 pm
Court postpones verdict in 4 corruption cases against ex-Dy Minister Sarana Gunawardena

Court postpones verdict in 4 corruption cases against ex-Dy Minister Sarana Gunawardena

The Colombo High Court has postponed the announcement of verdicts in four cases filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena, who is accused of corruption. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  12:02 pm
Treasury Secretary to appear before COPF today

Treasury Secretary to appear before COPF today

The Secretary to the Treasury Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma is scheduled to appear before the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) at 1.00 p.m. today (30).

| April 30, 2026  11:07 am
India hit by $25bn digital fraud surge as central bank plans crackdown

India hit by $25bn digital fraud surge as central bank plans crackdown

A sharp rise in cybercrime has shaken India, where nearly 2.5 million people lost an estimated $25 billion to digital fraud in 2025, highlighting growing risks in the country’s fast-expanding online payment ecosystem. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  10:55 am
SLC Transformation Committee’s priority to overhaul governance and implement new constitution - Eran

SLC Transformation Committee’s priority to overhaul governance and implement new constitution - Eran

The Chairman of the newly appointed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Transformation Committee, Eran Wickramaratne, has stated that the committee’s immediate priority is a complete overhaul of Sri Lanka Cricket’s governance structure, alongside the implementation of the proposed new constitution. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  10:20 am
Special security and traffic plan in Colombo for May Day rallies - Police

Special security and traffic plan in Colombo for May Day rallies - Police

In line with International Workers’ Day, which falls tomorrow (01), numerous May Day rallies, processions, meetings, and celebrations have been organized across many parts of the island. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  9:38 am
Indian carriers plan to resume operations at Hamad International Airport as fragile ceasefire holds in West Asia

Indian carriers plan to resume operations at Hamad International Airport as fragile ceasefire holds in West Asia

In a significant move, India’s leading airlines are set to restore full-scale operations at Hamad International Airport (DOH) starting today, May 1. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  9:02 am
Finance Secretary’s COPE no-show could trigger legal action, Free Lawyers Organization warns

Finance Secretary’s COPE no-show could trigger legal action, Free Lawyers Organization warns

The Free Lawyers Association states that Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, Dr. Harsha de Silva, has the authority to take action through parliamentary mechanisms if the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, fails to appear before Parliament. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  8:26 am
Oil price rises above $120 after reports of ‘extended’ Iran blockade

Oil price rises above $120 after reports of ‘extended’ Iran blockade

Oil prices have soared following reports that the US is preparing for an ‘‘extended’’ blockade of Iran. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  7:25 am
Italy recovers 337 looted antiquities from United States

Italy recovers 337 looted antiquities from United States

The United States has handed back 337 antiquities looted from Italy in one of the largest recent returns of stolen cultural property, officials said on Wednesday, highlighting deepened cooperation between Rome and Washington. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  7:07 am
Govt. seek to establish Central Highlands Protection Authority promptly

Govt. seek to establish Central Highlands Protection Authority promptly

A discussion to review the progress of the process to establish a new authority for the protection and restoration of the Central Highlands has been held yesterday (29) at the Presidential Secretariat, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  6:40 am
Trump welcomes Artemis II astronauts to Oval Office and fields questions on Iran, Comey and UFOs

Trump welcomes Artemis II astronauts to Oval Office and fields questions on Iran, Comey and UFOs

The Artemis II astronauts’ journey to the moon and back landed them at the White House Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon — standing by while President Donald Trump talked UFOs, the Space Force and the Iran war. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  6:00 am
Fairly heavy rainfall above 50 mm expected in some parts of the island

Fairly heavy rainfall above 50 mm expected in some parts of the island

Showers or thundershowers will occur in the most parts of the island after 1.00 pm today (30), the Department of Meteorology said. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  5:46 am
6 crew members freed from US-seized Iranian container ship

6 crew members freed from US-seized Iranian container ship

Six Iranian crew members aboard an Iranian-flagged container ship held by the US have been freed and returned to Iran, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday. MORE..

| April 30, 2026  5:38 am