Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will leave on a three day state visit to China on April 6 at the invitation of the government of the People's Republic of China. This is his first visit as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to the People's Republic of China, since the Good Governance Government of President Maithripala Sirisena was formed in January last year. The Prime Minister will hold high level discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of The National People's Congress, Zhang Dejiang.

These discussions are expected to advance relations between the two countries to a new level. The visit of the Prime Minister to the People's Republic of China comes as an extension of the goodwill visit made by President Sirisena to China last year. Undertaken to strengthen relations between China and Sri Lanka, this visit is expected to promote co-operation mechanisms between the two countries in the spheres of economic affairs, investment and technology.

It is also expected to bolster co-operation in science, sports, tourism development, financial services and water resources management along with initiation of mobile clinics for kidney patients. During this visit, it is expected that many multi-lateral agreements will be entered into between the two countries. In a gesture that will renew the strong and historic ties between the United National Party and the Chinese Communist Party, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will also hold talks with the Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, Song Tao.

In Sri Lanka, Prime Minister's senior advisor R. Paskaralingam along with Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yi Xianliang have been handling all key matters concerning the Prime Minister's visit. The Chinese Foreign Ministry together with Foreign Ministry Additional Secretary Ranjith Uyangoda and Sri Lankan Ambassador to China Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku are coordinating arrangements in China. During this visit, a group of business representatives from Sri Lanka will hold discussions with leading Chinese entrepreneurs to enhance Chinese investments in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe will accompany the Prime Minister. The Prime Ministerial entourage will include Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Special Projects Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, City Planning and Water Supply Minister Rauf Hakeem, Housing and Construction Minister Sajith Premadasa, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema, Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Athaudahetti, UNP's Co-ordinator for International Relations Mahinda Haradasa and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Sandra Perera.

Two ruling party MPs- Wijesiri Basnayake of Kurunegala and Ajith Gihan of Puttalam- came under mob violence when they came out in their separate vehicles after a meeting with the management of an apparel factory in the Bingiriya area.

The Commissioner General of Examinations, Amith Jayasundara announced that the results of the G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) examination are expected to be released by April 2025.

Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda officially assumed duties as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy at Navy Headquarters today (31). He was appointed following a presentation of the official letter by Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake on December 30.

The official YouTube channel of the Sri Lanka Police has been targeted by a cyber attack. The Police Media Division stated that by now, the control of the channel has completely fallen into the hands of the hackers. The cyber attack had occurred at around 7:30 PM yesterday.

Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo officially assumed duties as Sri Lanka's Army Commander today (31) at Army Headquarters. Previously, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army.

President Anura Kumar Dissanayake has appointed Major General Lasantha Rodrigo as the new Commander of the Army and Rear Admiral Kanchnna Banagoda as the new Commander of the Navy. The official appointment letters were presented to the newly appointed commanders today (30) by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat. Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage and Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera are scheduled to retire from their respective positions tomorrow (31).

The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) has alerted the public on a false post circulating on social media claiming that unclaimed luggage is being offered for sale at a price of Rs. 645, Airport & Aviation Services Sri Lanka Private Ltd. (AASL) said.

In the wake of African swine fever triggering fears about possible extinction of Sri Lanka’s wild boar population in addition to the damage on the pork industry, Sri Lanka’s biosecurity surveillance is under question since the virus is suspected to have entered the country through an unlawful consignment imported into the country during the time of the previous government in 2023.

To mitigate the adverse effects on the education of vulnerable schoolchildren, the government has decided to provide an allowance to assist with the purchase of school stationery at the start of the 2025 school year.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake extended his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, following his passing away.