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US agrees to release frozen Iranian assets in Qatar, other banks: Report
US agrees to release frozen Iranian assets in Qatar, other banks: Report
A senior Iranian source said on Saturday the U.S. had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets that were held in Qatar and other foreign banks, welcoming the move as a sign of “seriousness” in reaching a deal with Washington in talks in Islamabad. MORE..
Chinese national arrested with cigarettes worth nearly Rs. 4 mln at BIA
Chinese national arrested with cigarettes worth nearly Rs. 4 mln at BIA
A Chinese national has been arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake for attempting to smuggle a consignment of Chinese-manufactured cigarettes worth nearly Rs. 4 million into the country. MORE..
No fertilizer shortage: Govt. confirms surplus stocks
No fertilizer shortage: Govt. confirms surplus stocks
Farmers should not develop unnecessary fear regarding the current fertilizer situation in the country, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Namal Karunaratne stated. MORE..
Iran unable to fully reopen Hormuz as it lost track of mines planted: US officials
Iran unable to fully reopen Hormuz as it lost track of mines planted: US officials
Iran is unable to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz for shipping due to its self-inflicted problem: It cannot locate all the mines it laid in the waterway to block the passage amid war, the New York Times reported, citing US officials. MORE..
No petrol shortage until June end, diesel supplies sufficient until May end: CPC Chairman
No petrol shortage until June end, diesel supplies sufficient until May end: CPC Chairman
A total of 12 refined fuel shipments are scheduled to arrive in April, the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), D.J. Rajakaruna confirmed. MORE..
| April 11, 2026 2:13 pm
Passenger arrested at BIA for smuggling ornamental plants
Passenger arrested at BIA for smuggling ornamental plants
A Sri Lankan passenger was arrested by Customs officers at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake in the early hours today (11) for attempting to smuggle packages of ornamental plants into the country. MORE..
US intelligence indicates China preparing weapons shipment to Iran, CNN reports
US intelligence indicates China preparing weapons shipment to Iran, CNN reports
US intelligence indicates China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, CNN reported late on Friday, citing three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments. MORE..
Maldivian President to visit Sri Lanka next month
Maldivian President to visit Sri Lanka next month
The President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next month. 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, Southern, Uva provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. MORE..
Sri Lanka welcomes ceasefire in West Asia, urges durable solution
Sri Lanka welcomes ceasefire in West Asia, urges durable solution
Sri Lanka today said it welcomes the announcement of a temporary ceasefire in West Asia and the forthcoming dialogue. MORE..
Secretary to President files complaint seeking CID probe into coal imports since 2009
Secretary to President files complaint seeking CID probe into coal imports since 2009
The Secretary to the President has submitted a complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning (11) requesting a formal investigation into coal imports since 2009, considering the findings of Audit Reports and the findings of Parliament, indicating that irregularities have occurred in the import of coal into Sri Lanka. MORE..
| April 11, 2026 12:31 pm
QR code not necessary for petrol-powered vehicles until April 18 - CPC
QR code not necessary for petrol-powered vehicles until April 18 - CPC
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says that owners of petrol-powered vehicles can obtain fuel without the QR code-based fuel quota system from midnight today (11) until April 18, 2026. MORE..
| April 11, 2026 12:16 pm
Iran’s new supreme leader has severe and disfiguring wounds – report
Iran’s new supreme leader has severe and disfiguring wounds – report
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in the airstrike that killed his father at the beginning of the war, three people close to his inner circle told Reuters. MORE..
EU airline industry warns of fuel shortages if Strait of Hormuz stays closed
EU airline industry warns of fuel shortages if Strait of Hormuz stays closed
Europe will suffer jet fuel shortages in just three weeks if the the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen, the trade body for the continent’s airports has warned. MORE..
JD Vance-led US delegation lands in Pakistan for high-stakes ceasefire talks with Iran
JD Vance-led US delegation lands in Pakistan for high-stakes ceasefire talks with Iran
A US government aircraft carrying senior officials has landed in Islamabad on Saturday afternoon, setting the stage for crucial negotiations with Iran aimed at ending a six-week war that has shaken the Middle East and global economy, Reuters reported. MORE..
Foreign liquor bottles worth over Rs. 20 mln seized in Colombo
Foreign liquor bottles worth over Rs. 20 mln seized in Colombo
The Department of Excise has seized a stock of bottles of foreign liquor worth over Rs. 20 million during a raid carried out targeting several outlets in the Colombo area within the Western Province. MORE..
Kabir Hashim appointed SJB Chairman
Kabir Hashim appointed SJB Chairman
Member of Parliament (MP) of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Kabir Hashim, has been appointed as the Chairman of the party for the year 2026. MORE..
Large crowds arrive at Makumbura MMC for New Year travel
Large crowds arrive at Makumbura MMC for New Year travel
A large number of commuters are reportedly arriving at the Makumbura Multimodal Centre (MMC) since early this morning (11) to travel to their hometowns via the expressways ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays. MORE..
| April 11, 2026 9:30 am
Gap between rich and poor nations is growing even wider, UN report says
Gap between rich and poor nations is growing even wider, UN report says
The gap between rich and poor nations is growing even wider as actions agreed to by many countries last year, including overhauling the major global financial institutions, remain unfulfilled promises, a U.N. report concludes. MORE..
10-year-old schoolgirl killed in bus accident in Mattakkuliya
10-year-old schoolgirl killed in bus accident in Mattakkuliya
A 10-year-old schoolgirl was killed after being run over by a bus in the Mattakkuliya area, Ada Derana reporter said. MORE..
GMOA strike ends; Future course of action to be decided
GMOA strike ends; Future course of action to be decided
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) announced that its 48-hour island-wide token strike ends at 8.00 a.m. this morning (11). MORE..
Iranian delegation lands in Islamabad ahead of ‘make-or-break’ talks
Iranian delegation lands in Islamabad ahead of ‘make-or-break’ talks
Iran’s negotiating team arrived in Islamabad on Friday for peace talks with the United States, even as Tehran insisted on measures it said needed to be addressed first, throwing last-minute doubt over the meetings. MORE..
Trump says US will have Strait of Hormuz ‘open fairly soon’
Trump says US will have Strait of Hormuz ‘open fairly soon’
President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that the U.S. will have the Strait of Hormuz “open fairly soon” but did not elaborate and acknowledged that it will not be an easy step. MORE..
One dead, 27 injured as bus carrying British tourists crashes in Spain’s La Gomera
One dead, 27 injured as bus carrying British tourists crashes in Spain’s La Gomera
At least one person died and 27 were injured after a bus carrying British tourists crashed down a ravine on the Spanish island of La Gomera, emergency services said on Friday. MORE..
Artemis II astronauts return from moon with splashdown to close out record-breaking lunar voyage
Artemis II astronauts return from moon with splashdown to close out record-breaking lunar voyage
Artemis II’s astronauts returned from the moon with a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific on Friday to close out humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than a half-century. MORE..