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Israeli strike severs last bridge linking southern Lebanon to rest of country – report

Israeli strike severs last bridge linking southern Lebanon to rest of country – report

An Israeli strike has severed the last bridge linking southern ⁠Lebanon to the rest of the country, a senior Lebanese security official told ⁠Reuters, adding that the strike “shattered” the ⁠bridge and left no ⁠possibility of repairing ⁠it.

| April 16, 2026  6:12 pm
Police statement on arrest of ex-MP Chandana Kathriarachchi

Police statement on arrest of ex-MP Chandana Kathriarachchi

Sri Lanka Police has issued a statement regarding the arrest of former Member of Parliament Chandana Kathriarachchi by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). MORE..

video | April 16, 2026  6:02 pm
Fishing vessel with suspected narcotics haul intercepted in naval operation

Fishing vessel with suspected narcotics haul intercepted in naval operation

The Sri Lanka Navy has taken into custody a local multi-day fishing vessel carrying several sacks suspected to contain narcotics during a special operation conducted in deep-sea waters south of Sri Lanka. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  5:23 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 residents of the Northern, North-Central, North-Western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and the Monaragala district. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  4:39 pm
Police to take strict action against vehicles emitting excessive black smoke

Police to take strict action against vehicles emitting excessive black smoke

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W.P.J. Senadheera, said that strict legal action will be taken against vehicles emitting excessive black smoke while operating on public roads. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  4:30 pm
Further details emerge on arrest of ex-MP Chandana Kathriarachchi

Further details emerge on arrest of ex-MP Chandana Kathriarachchi

Further details have emerged regarding the arrest of former Member of Parliament Chandana Kathriarachchi by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). MORE..

video | April 16, 2026  4:14 pm
First crude oil tanker since Middle East conflict to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow

First crude oil tanker since Middle East conflict to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow

Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) has announced that the first crude oil tanker to arrive since the onset of the Middle East conflict is scheduled to reach the island tomorrow (17). MORE..

| April 16, 2026  3:55 pm
Registration of Persons Dept. temporarily suspends services tomorrow due to system failure

Registration of Persons Dept. temporarily suspends services tomorrow due to system failure

The Department for Registration of Persons (ID Office) has announced that all public services, including the one-day service at its head office and all provincial offices, will be suspended tomorrow (April 17). MORE..

| April 16, 2026  3:49 pm
Pakistan says no dates set for second round of US-Iran talks

Pakistan says no dates set for second round of US-Iran talks

No dates have been decided for the second round of talks between ⁠the U.S. and Iran, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Thursday. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  3:21 pm
Pope Leo to hold peace meeting in Cameroon amid Trump attacks

Pope Leo to hold peace meeting in Cameroon amid Trump attacks

Pope Leo was scheduled to travel to the biggest city in Cameroon’s conflict-hit anglophone region on Thursday, the latest stop on an ambitious four-country Africa tour amid attacks on the pontiff by U.S. President Donald Trump. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  2:35 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, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  2:21 pm
Fuel and electricity supply to continue uninterrupted despite Middle East conflict – Minister

Fuel and electricity supply to continue uninterrupted despite Middle East conflict – Minister

Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, has stated that Sri Lanka’s fuel and electricity supply will continue without interruption despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. MORE..

video | April 16, 2026  2:13 pm
Former MP Chandana Kathriarachchi arrested

Former MP Chandana Kathriarachchi arrested

Former Member of Parliament Chandana Kathriarachchi has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). MORE..

| April 16, 2026  1:50 pm
Police to seize vehicles with non-standard number plates

Police to seize vehicles with non-standard number plates

Sri Lanka Police have announced that vehicles fitted with number plates that do not comply with prescribed standards will be taken into police custody and produced before court. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  1:18 pm
44 dead in 42 road accidents reported during festive period: Police

44 dead in 42 road accidents reported during festive period: Police

Sri Lanka Police reported a total of 42 road traffic accidents across the island between April 10 and 15, resulting in 44 fatalities. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  1:13 pm
TIME releases list of ‘100 most influential people’; Trump, Mamdani, Netanyahu among top leaders

TIME releases list of ‘100 most influential people’; Trump, Mamdani, Netanyahu among top leaders

TIME released its list of the ‘100 Most Influential People of 2026’ on Wednesday, naming Pope Leo, US President Donald Trump, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, among others. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  12:13 pm
Six Chinese nationals arrested with smuggled cigarettes at BIA

Six Chinese nationals arrested with smuggled cigarettes at BIA

A total of six Chinese nationals who illegally brought a consignment of cigarettes into the country have been arrested by Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). MORE..

| April 16, 2026  12:11 pm
Sri Lanka assures uninterrupted travel for Bangladeshis despite global crisis

Sri Lanka assures uninterrupted travel for Bangladeshis despite global crisis

Travel to Sri Lanka remains fully unaffected for Bangladeshi tourists despite ongoing global conflicts and economic uncertainties, said Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, while talking to The Bangladesh Monitor during a media networking session held at Le Meridien Dhaka on April 5. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  10:23 am
Trump says talks between leaders of Israel and Lebanon ‘will happen’ on Thursday

Trump says talks between leaders of Israel and Lebanon ‘will happen’ on Thursday

US president Donald Trump has said talks between the leaders of Israel and Lebanon “will happen” on Thursday. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  10:14 am
Legal action initiated against over 400 traders during festive season – PHIs

Legal action initiated against over 400 traders during festive season – PHIs

The Public Health Inspectors’ Union (PHIU) states that legal action has been initiated against more than 400 traders following island-wide inspections conducted in view of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  10:06 am
Private bus and train services to gradually normalize from today

Private bus and train services to gradually normalize from today

The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) has announced that steps will be taken to operate between 50% and 60% of the private bus fleet island-wide starting today (16). MORE..

| April 16, 2026  9:47 am
Chinese FM says reopening of Strait of Hormuz is a “unanimous demand” of international community

Chinese FM says reopening of Strait of Hormuz is a “unanimous demand” of international community

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was a unanimous demand from the international community. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  9:31 am
Auspicious time for commencing urgent duties falls tomorrow

Auspicious time for commencing urgent duties falls tomorrow

The auspicious time for departing for urgent duties, as specified in the Sinhala and Tamil New Year auspicious time schedule (‘Nekath Seettuwa’), falls tomorrow (April 17). MORE..

| April 16, 2026  9:20 am
Nine Chinese cybercrime suspects arrested at BIA

Nine Chinese cybercrime suspects arrested at BIA

A total of nine Chinese nationals were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayaka early this morning (16) while attempting to enter the country to allegedly engage in cybercrime-related activities. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  8:47 am
Major fire at Australian oil refinery to impact nation’s petrol supplies

Major fire at Australian oil refinery to impact nation’s petrol supplies

A major fire has broken out at one of Australia’s two oil refineries, deepening fears over the nation’s petrol supplies amid a global fuel crunch. MORE..

| April 16, 2026  7:22 am