Showers expected in sea areas around island

The Meteorology Department says showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas around the island during the next 24 hours.

Iran says success of Islamabad talks depends on US avoiding ‘illegal demands’

Iran said Sunday that talks with the United States in Islamabad will succeed only if Washington abandons “excessive” and “illegal” demands.

US-Iran talks pause for now, disagreements remain

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that his negotiating ​team was leaving Pakistan after not reaching a deal with Iran after 21 hours of negotiations.

Trump says US forces are ’clearing’ Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump on ​Saturday posted on social media that the United States ‌military has started to clear the Strait of Hormuz, and that all of Iran’s minelaying ships have been sunk.

Iran threatens to attack US Navy ships entering Strait of Hormuz after first US vessels moved through channel

Iran threatened to attack any US Navy ships that enter the Strait of Hormuz shortly after American vessels moved through the channel for the first time since the war broke out.

Iranian negotiators in Pakistan ‘defending Iran’s interests’: Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed support for the Iranian negotiators in Pakistan, saying the delegation will “negotiate bravely” in defence of the country’s interests.

CID seals Lanka Coal Company office

Officials attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have sealed the office of Lanka Coal Company (Pvt.) Ltd. as part of an ongoing investigation into coal imports.

Rubio says revoked visas of ex-Iranian vice president’s relatives

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he has revoked the residency statuses of several individuals related to Iran’s former Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Police introduce WhatsApp number to report reckless driving

Police have introduced a dedicated WhatsApp number for the public to submit videos and information related to reckless and dangerous driving incidents.

Kamala Harris says she is considering 2028 presidential run

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Friday that she is considering a presidential run in 2028, implying that she may run for president for the third time.

Trilateral US-Iran ceasefire talks begin in Pakistan

Trilateral ceasefire talks between the United States, Iran and Pakistan have started in Pakistani capital, Islamabad – the highest-level talks between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Trump says empty oil tankers heading to U.S. to load up with oil, gas

U.S. President Donald Trump said on ​Saturday that large numbers of completely empty ‌oil tankers were heading to the United States to load up with oil and gas.

Maldives President to visit Sri Lanka

The President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next month, with discussions already underway to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fisheries sector.

Iran’s new supreme leader has severe and disfiguring wounds, sources say

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is still recovering from severe facial and leg injuries suffered in the airstrike that killed his father at the beginning of the war, three people close to his inner circle told Reuters.

Iran leader says US should focus on ‘America First’ policy – not ‘Israel First’

Iran’s first vice president says the outcome of the high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad rests entirely on US priorities.

Secretary to President complains to CID over coal imports

The Secretary to the President has lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) requesting a formal investigation into coal imports since 2009.

Iran has lost track of mines it planted in Hormuz, reopening delayed: Report

Iran’s inability to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz stems from a basic problem that it cannot locate all the naval mines it deployed during the Middle East conflict and lacks the technical capability to remove them, US officials told The New York Times.

Hormuz remains at near standstill after ceasefire

Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained well below normal volumes despite a U.S.-Iran ceasefire as Tehran asserted its control by warning ships to keep to its territorial waters while doing so.

UK-Based Entrepreneur and Jaffna College Alumnus donates Rs. 30M bus in memory of mother

Seevaratnam Muresh, UK-based entrepreneur, a proud Old Boy of Jaffna College, Vaddukoddai, and current President of the Jaffna College Alumni Association UK, donated a brand-new Rs. 30 million Mitsubishi Fuso bus to the college. The bus was officially handed over to the Principal, Rushira Kulasingam, on February 27, 2026, in loving memory of his late mother, Thirumalar, on the first anniversary of her passing.

Gap between rich and poor nations growing even wider: UN report

The gap between rich and poor nations is widening as key reforms promised last year, including changes to global financial institutions, remain largely unimplemented, a new UN report has warned.

No fines collected on substandard eye medicines, says doctors’ union

The Doctors’ Trade Union Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights, claimed that no fines have been collected so far from pharmaceutical companies accused of importing substandard eye medicines and other drugs into the country.

Wildlife Department employee killed by elephant

An employee of the Wildlife Conservation Department assigned for duty in the Wanathawilluwa-Thewanuwara electric fence had been trampled to death by a rogue elephant on his way back after duty.

EU airline industry warns of fuel shortages if Strait of Hormuz stays closed

Europe will suffer jet fuel shortages in just three weeks if the the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen, the trade body for the continent’s airports has warned.

Summon Central Bank officials before Privileges Committee: MP

Accusing Central Bank officials of continued unilateral conduct, opacity, arrogance or ignorance, and an apparent disregard for parliamentary accountability, Opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake yesterday called for the summoning of Central Bank officials before the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges.

Inaction of CB has led to NDB scam: Ravi K

The complete failure of the Banking Supervisory Unit of the Central Bank (CB) has led to the Rs. 13 billion scam at the NDB which has become more complex today, MP Ravi Karunanayake said today.

CPC suspends QR fuel quotas for festive season

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has announced a temporary suspension of the QR-based fuel quota system for petrol vehicles, effective from today (April 11) until April 18, 2026.

Crude oil prices decline

Brent crude oil prices on Saturday eased as Iranian and United States delegations head to Islamabad for the peace talks. The decline in crude prices is giving hope to consumers after oil prices dipped before reaching a record of $119 per barrel during the recent tensions in the Middle East.

Group of schoolchildren consuming liquor arrested

A group of schoolchildren from a leading school in the Haldumulla area were arrested yesterday for consuming liquor during school hours. All of them were about 16 years of age.

US plane carrying team for talks with Iran lands in Islamabad

A U.S. government plane ​carrying top U.S. ‌officials landed in the Pakistani capital ​Islamabad on ​Saturday for peace talks with ⁠Iran, two ​Pakistani sources told ​Reuters.

Chinese national arrested at BIA with Rs. 3.9 million cigarette consignment

A 35-year-old Chinese businessman was arrested by Customs officers at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning (11) for attempting to smuggle a consignment of cigarettes valued at Rs. 3,915,000.