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Wealthy nations slashed development aid in 2025 for second year in row, debt group says

Wealthy nations slashed development aid in 2025 for second year in row, debt group says

Wealthy nations slashed their development aid in 2025, probably by record-breaking amounts, a debt group said, ahead of data set to be released on Thursday by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  10:42 pm
Lebanon says 89 killed in Israeli strikes, 700 wounded

Lebanon says 89 killed in Israeli strikes, 700 wounded

A spokesperson for Lebanon’s health ministry told Reuters that Israel’s strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday had killed “89 martyrs and wounded 700 people.” MORE..

| April 8, 2026  10:21 pm
Iran halts tanker traffic at Strait of Hormuz after Israeli strikes on Lebanon

Iran halts tanker traffic at Strait of Hormuz after Israeli strikes on Lebanon

Oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been halted following Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported, citing Iran’s Fars News Agency. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  9:37 pm
Iran may quit US ceasefire if Israel continues attacks in Lebanon: Iranian media

Iran may quit US ceasefire if Israel continues attacks in Lebanon: Iranian media

Iran will withdraw from a ceasefire agreement with the US if Israel continues to violate it through attacks on Lebanon, an informed source told Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  9:29 pm
Missile warnings in northern Israel

Missile warnings in northern Israel

Israel’s Home Front Command has reported rocket and missile fire in northern parts of the country in the past hour and a half. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  8:52 pm
Iran to approach peace talks with US with caution, Iranian ambassador to UN says

Iran to approach peace talks with US with caution, Iranian ambassador to UN says

Iran will approach peace talks with the U.S. with greater caution than in the past due to a deep lack of trust, and the war will affect the future legal regime of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva said on Wednesday. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  8:30 pm
GMOA to launch 48-hour token strike tomorrow

GMOA to launch 48-hour token strike tomorrow

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has announced that it will begin a 48-hour nationwide token strike starting from 08.00 a.m. tomorrow (09). MORE..

| April 8, 2026  7:32 pm
PUCSL requested for further 15% electricity tariff hike for Q2

PUCSL requested for further 15% electricity tariff hike for Q2

The National System Operator (Pvt.) Ltd. has requested the PUCSL for a further 15% increase in electricity tariffs for the second quarter (April - June) of 2026, in addition to the 10% tariff increase that has already been implemented for the same quarter. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  6:45 pm
Strengthening local industries a key priority of govt – President

Strengthening local industries a key priority of govt – President

Strengthening local industries is a primary objective of the Government, and there are plans to expand opportunities for domestic businesses in meeting Government procurement needs in the future, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  6:36 pm
Colombo Dockyard and Dredging Corporation of India sign MoU for maritime cooperation

Colombo Dockyard and Dredging Corporation of India sign MoU for maritime cooperation

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha took part in the signing of the MoU for Cooperation between Colombo Dockyard and Dredging Corporation of India. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  6:17 pm
Warm weather advisory issued for most parts of the country

Warm weather advisory issued for most parts of the country

A warm weather advisory has been issued for tomorrow (09) for residents of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Eastern, North-Western, Northern and North-Central provinces and in Monaragala District. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  6:01 pm
Trump announces 50% tariffs on nations supplying Iran with weapons

Trump announces 50% tariffs on nations supplying Iran with weapons

The U.S. will impose tariffs of 50% on “any and all” goods imported to the country from any nation “supplying military weapons to Iran”, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  5:44 pm
Health Ministry issues set of guidelines for Avurudu games

Health Ministry issues set of guidelines for Avurudu games

The Directorate of Non-Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health has issued a set of guidelines to prevent accidents and acute medical conditions during traditional Avurudu games and events organized during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festive season in Sri Lanka. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  5:27 pm
Trump declares Iran ‘regime change,’ vows no enrichment and nuclear removal

Trump declares Iran ‘regime change,’ vows no enrichment and nuclear removal

US President Donald Trump declared that Iran has undergone what he called a “very productive Regime Change.” MORE..

| April 8, 2026  5:18 pm
Iran says Lavan Island refinery came under attack after ceasefire announced

Iran says Lavan Island refinery came under attack after ceasefire announced

An oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island came under attack Wednesday, hours after a ceasefire in the war was announced, Iranian state television reported. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  4:53 pm
Zelenskiy, welcoming Iran de-escalation, says Ukraine ready for ceasefire with Russia

Zelenskiy, welcoming Iran de-escalation, says Ukraine ready for ceasefire with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday he welcomed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, adding that Kyiv was ready to “respond in kind” if Moscow ceased strikes. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  3:58 pm
CSE records strong gains as ASPI surges over 4%

CSE records strong gains as ASPI surges over 4%

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recorded notable gains today, with the All Share Price Index (ASPI) increasing by 885.14 points, representing a rise of 4.21%. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  3:27 pm
Northern Line train services to resume tomorrow; extra trains for festive season

Northern Line train services to resume tomorrow; extra trains for festive season

Train services on the Northern Line, which were disrupted following Cyclone Ditwah, will resume from tomorrow (09), according to Sri Lanka Railways. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  3:22 pm
Iraq reopens airspace after weeks of disruption linked to regional tensions

Iraq reopens airspace after weeks of disruption linked to regional tensions

Iraq has reopened its airspace to civil aviation after an improvement in security conditions, allowing flights to resume across one of the region’s key air corridors. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  3:03 pm
PM Harini instructs officials to promptly complete compensation payments to those affected by Cyclone Ditwah

PM Harini instructs officials to promptly complete compensation payments to those affected by Cyclone Ditwah

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has instructed officials to expedite the completion of compensation payments for those affected by the disaster caused by Cyclone Ditwah. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  3:03 pm
Kuwait Airways to recommence Colombo operations from Apr. 15

Kuwait Airways to recommence Colombo operations from Apr. 15

Kuwait Airways, the national carrier of the State of Kuwait, will officially commence flight operations to Colombo from April 15. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  2:42 pm
More than 15 countries planning to facilitate Strait of Hormuz access, Macron says

More than 15 countries planning to facilitate Strait of Hormuz access, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron said about 15 countries were planning to facilitate the resumption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply usually flows, after a ceasefire between the United States ⁠and Iran was announced. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  2:13 pm
Sri Lanka assures fullest support to ensure peace and stability in Middle East

Sri Lanka assures fullest support to ensure peace and stability in Middle East

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has affirmed that Sri Lanka, both as an individual nation and collectively with others will extend its fullest possible support within the framework of international law, towards ensuring peace, security, and stability in the Middle East. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  2:08 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 Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva and North-Western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya districts. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  2:01 pm
India orders major airports to cut some charges by 25%, in relief to airlines

India orders major airports to cut some charges by 25%, in relief to airlines

India’s airport tariff regulator has ordered major airports to cut landing and parking charges by 25% for three months for domestic flights, offering relief to the country’s airlines that are under financial pressure due to the Iran war. MORE..

| April 8, 2026  1:37 pm