Opposition MP Harsha de Silva says a 22-year-old youth recently arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (ACT) has been released in anticipation of the upcoming discussion with the European Commission.

Addressing the Parliament, MP Harsha de Silva said that despite several governments, including the incumbent government, promising to repeal the PTA, it has been used once again to detain a youth.

MP de Silva pointed out that as a European Union delegation is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka in two weeks, the Government immediately released the youth who was detained under the PTA.

“A youth working at a store in Slave Island was detained under the PTA over a sticker. The detention under the PTA was made under an order signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. But what happened? You received telephone calls from various persons. Due to the European Commission coming to Sri Lanka for the evaluation of the GSP+, the detained youth was released,” he said.

The opposition MP added that the motive behind the matter cannot be concealed from the EU officials, as was done with the Sri Lankan public.

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.