President pledges stronger support for local industries

The Ministry of Transport says that operations at the renovated Colombo Central Bus Terminal began today (April 8).

Lanka IOC has increased the prices of XtraMile Diesel, Super Diesel and Xtra Green Diesel.

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence met in Parliament this afternoon (April 7) under President and Defence Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with key attention on releasing lands in the North and East, reopening closed roads and speeding up Cyclone Ditwah recovery work.

Former Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Chairman Sarath Kongahage and former Director General Devapriya Abeysinghe have been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The chairman of the Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) officers at around 9:10 a.m. today (April 7) over a corruption charge linked to granting an undue benefit to an applicant.

Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has ordered former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to submit a full affidavit of his assets, expenses, and income sources by April 10, 2026, warning that no further extensions will be granted after a 10-year delay.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived in Parliament today (April 7) and presented the government’s economic relief package.

Sri Lanka will launch special New Year transport services from April 9, 2026 with 1,500 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses, resumed Northern Line trains, and extra luxury buses on the Colombo-Kandy route.

A broker was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on April 6, 2026, in Norwood after allegedly accepting Rs. 45,000 as a bribe and previously obtaining Rs. 275,000 by falsely claiming he could arrange a land deed.

Sinopec has increased the price of a litre of Super Diesel by Rs. 28, effective from April 7, 2026.

Sri Lanka’s Industry Ministry held a special discussion with an IMF delegation today (April 6), focusing on industrial sector challenges, support for local entrepreneurs, and steps toward a production-based economy.

Former State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief retired Major General Suresh Sallay has filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) over the Easter Sunday attacks investigation.

LankaQR transactions up to Rs. 5,000 are now free of merchant service fees, as Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (April 6) launched Sri Lanka’s National QR Payment Adoption Programme to speed up the shift towards a cash-lite digital economy.

Sri Lanka has cancelled the weekly Wednesday holiday for public sector employees from April 8, 2026.