Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today called on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to establish an independent prosecution office specifically to hold accountable those responsible for the Easter Sunday bomb attacks that took place six years ago.

Speaking at a ceremony held to mark the sixth anniversary of the attacks, the Cardinal also urged the government to create a new society free from private hit squads, white vans and illegal detention centres. “The political culture that has prevailed has contributed to the Easter Sunday bomb attacks,” the Cardinal said.

Sri Lanka and the United States agreed to continue the discussions on reciprocal tariff with the objective of finalising a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries,the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath will represent the Government of Sri Lanka at His Holiness Pope Francis' funeral, which will be held on Saturday (April 26) in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City.

A severe lightning warning has been issued for 18 districts, valid for 11 pm today, the Meteorology Department said.

A schoolboy who attempted to enter the Sri Dalada Maligawa, clad as a Buddhist monk was arrested by the police. The suspect is identified as a 18-year-old schoolboy, a resident of Kirallawela, Gampaha.

A total of 28 people including 10 school children were injured when a bus met with an accident at the Mahiyangana-Tissapura PTS junction this morning, police said. The Mahiyangana police said that the accident occurred due to a brake failure in the bus.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe today questioned the claim made by the government on a successful deliberation with the US on the Reciprocal tariff on imports.

Four people who visited Kandy to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic and for official duties have died, Director National Hospital, Kandy Dr. Iresha Fernando said.

The Education Ministry has decided to close schools on May 5 as notified in the Commissioner General of Elections' letter dated April 19, in view of the Local Government elections scheduled for May 6.

The government has declared April 26, 2025 as a national day of mourning in view of the passing away of Pope Francis. Accordingly, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government requests that the national flag at all government institutions be hoisted at half mast.

Retired SSP Shani Abeysekera, serving the Police Department again, has been appointed to the committee headed by Senior DIG Asanka Karawita, tasked with studying the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) report on the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage.