The Court of Appeal announced that its order on the writ petitions challenging the rejection of nominations for the upcoming local government elections will be delivered tomorrow. Court of Appeal bench, comprised Justice (Acting President) M.T. Mohammed Laffar and Justice K.P. Fernando.

While issuing a warm weather advisory today, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Meteorology Department said that the temperature felt by the human body is expected to rise to caution levels.

Police opened fire at a car that was fleeing after being hijacked in Kotahena last night. They said a man had parked his car with the engine running on Wasala Road, Kotahena, and briefly stepped into a restaurant to buy food, leaving his pregnant wife and mother inside the vehicle.

Six suspects were arrested with 77 kilograms and 484 grams of heroin and 42 kilograms and 334 grams of Methamphetamine (Ice) during a special operation on the high seas by the Sri Lanka Navy.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has obtained a 90-day detention order for the further interrogation of former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as 'Pilleyan', police said. Chandrakanthan was arrested by the CID on Tuesday (08) in Batticaloa in connection with an ongoing investigation.

It has been recently revealed that delays in document processing delays at the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) and at the Price Regulation Committee of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) have also contributed to the prevailing drug shortage.

Reports indicate that nearly 20 ministers and deputy ministers have formally informed the Secretary General of Parliament that they no longer require the fuel allowance they are eligible for as Members of Parliament.

Sri Lanka Navy seized a stock of suspected narcotics during a special operation conducted off the coast of Sri Lanka. According to the Navy, the vessel, along with the stock of suspected narcotics were taken into naval custody.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has criticised the Bribery Commission for summoning him during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays, citing his unavailability. He questioned the unusually swift action within 18 hours following his 10 April comment on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake’s arrest.Wickremesinghe called the Commission’s rapid response “unprecedented” and has requested a new date.

Despite the sharp drop in global crude oil prices, petroleum prices in the country will remain unchanged until the end of the month. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage told The Sunday Morning that the drop in the global market may be reflected in the refined oil prices in Sri Lanka by the end of the month.

President Kumara Dissanayake reportedly told the political party representatives yesterday that the U.S. tariffs slapped on Sri Lanka is a national calamity in economic terms similar to the tsunami disaster and the Covid-19 pandemic, and it should be dealt with through a national approach. He said it was unexpected and unprepared for.

The Court of Appeal today revoked its earlier interim order issued preventing the relevant Returning Officers from conducting Local Government elections for 18 institutions, including the Colombo Municipal Council.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been summoned to appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption on April 17, in connection with an ongoing investigation involving Member of Parliament Chamara Sampath Dassanayake.

The government's move to reopen the Palaly Road in Jaffna with heavy restrictions is truly concerning, MP Namal Rajapaksa said. He said that while the road was initially closed due to security threats, it now appears the government has reopened it without proper security clearance—hence the imposition of heavy restrictions.

A total of 73 election law violations were reported during the 24-hour period ending at 4:30 p.m. yesterday (10), the Election Commission announced. The Commission also said that two additional complaints were received during this period. According to the Commission, the total number of election-related complaints received since March 20 stands at 1,121. Of these, 996 complaints have been resolved so far.

The Court of Appeal today ordered the acceptance of 35 more nominations for the Local Government Elections, which were previously rejected. Accordingly, the relevant Returning Officers have been ordered to accept the nominations.

The Matara Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon. Bail was granted with two sureties of Rs. 1 million each. Tennakoon had been remanded in connection with a shooting incident that occurred on December 31, 2023, in front of the W15 Hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama, Matara.

Rejecting recent media reports, the Government Information Department announced that no holiday has been declared for April 15. In an official statement, the department clarified that no notice has been issued declaring April 15 as a special holiday.

The Sri Lankan rupee has declined against the US dollar today (10), with the spot exchange rate surpassing the Rs. 300 mark for the first time since September 27, 2024.

An All-Party Conference, presided over by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, commenced a short while ago at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss the reciprocal tariffs recently imposed by the United States Government. The meeting brought together representatives from across the political spectrum in an effort to formulate a unified national response to the escalating trade tensions.

The debate on the report of the Commission which probed the unlawful detentions at Batalanda began in Parliament a short while ago.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will meet all party leaders tomorrow at the Presidential Sectatariat to discuss the impact of the unusual US tariffs on Sri Lankan exports. Minister Bimal Ratnayake said that 12 opposition party leaders requested to meet the President to discuss the issue.

SJB MP Jagath Vithana alleged in Parliament that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe funded Maithripala Sirisena’s 2015 Presidential campaign-on the condition that Arjuna Mahendran be appointed Central Bank Governor. The MP said he will reveal much more of a fresh investigation being held into the Bond Scam if he is summoned for it.

People in Batticaloa town lit firecrackers yesterday to express their happiness over the arrest of Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) leader and former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan.

A Cabinet Paper has been presented to appoint a committee to look into repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament today. Responding to a question raised by MP S. Rasamanikkam in the House, she said the government will also come out with a wider consultation on repealing the PTA and to compile new legislation.

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.

The government is committed to ensuring justice for the victims affected by injustices related to enforced disappearances, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said in Parliament. The Prime Minister made the statement in Parliament today (09 Apr) while responding to a question raised by Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake wrote to US President Donald Trump over the recently imposed reciprocal tariffs on Sri Lankan imports to the US, Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha Fernando said today. He told Parliament that the White House has acknowledged that the letter has been received.

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 Department of Meteorology has issued a heat alert to 16 districts, effective until tomorrow (09 Apr). Per the advisory, the heat index, the temperature felt on the human body, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ during this period.

The government has not given up on bringing former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran back to the country at the first opportunity, Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said.