The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the programme to recruit 30,000 unemployed graduates and youth to the state as proposed in the 2025 Budget.

The move follows a budget proposal by the President in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to allocate Rs. 10 billion for recruiting 30,000 unemployed graduates and youth into the public service.

A special officials’ committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Prime Minister, was appointed to review staffing needs across state institutions. Based on its recommendations, the Cabinet has so far approved 18,853 recruitments.

The recruitments will follow policy which emphasizes merit-based hiring without political interference, the government said.

The Cabinet has also instructed the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to immediately initiate the recruitment process by calling for applications in line with the prescribed schemes under the “Programme to Recruit 30,000 Unemployed Graduates and Youth to the Government Service.”

Due to lower electricity usage during the holiday season, some changes were made on how power is generated in the country, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said.

The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology has issued a "Warm Weather Advisory – Extreme Caution Level" for over 20 districts across the country.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara says that the official polling cards for the upcoming local government elections are scheduled to be delivered to the Department of Post today (April 16). He stated that April 20 has been designated as a special day for the distribution of official polling cards to households.

While highlighting that the US Reciprocal taxes had created a fresh economic crisis as Sri Lanka will have to find ways and means to settle its debts by 2028, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said the government should come out with a plan to face the situation.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) requests rooftop solar power system owners to temporarily disconnect their systems from today but only if they receive an official SMS notification from the board and also only till 3p.m on the specified day.

The National Election Commission has announced a delay in postal voting for 18 Local Government bodies, including the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

A total of 412 patients have been admitted to the Colombo National Hospital during the two-day New Year holiday period from April 13 and 14, due to accidents.

The Election Commission (EC) has requested secretaries and authorised representatives of political parties, as well as leaders of independent groups, to submit copies of any petitions and court judgments to the relevant District Election Offices.

Four suspects have been arrested at the Katunayake Airport for attempting to smuggle in stocks of Kush cannabis and Hashish to Sri Lanka.