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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that UNESCO’s initiative to protect the historic Sacred City of Anuradhapura should be appreciated and emphasized that Anuradhapura is not only a Sri Lankan heritage but a universal value. The prime minister made these remarks while addressing the International Expert Conference on “An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka,” which was convened at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The…

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on April 4 for a three-day state visit at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake. Reaffirming the theme "Friendship of Centuries, Commitment to a Prosperous Future," Prime Minister Modi’s visit aims to strengthen the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. He will be accompanied by a delegation that includes Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar. The official welcoming ceremony will take place on the morning…

President Anura Kumara Disanayake appointed a committee to conduct an in-depth study on potential issues that may arise due to the new reciprocal tariff system introduced by US President Donald Trump and to submit recommendations to the government. Accordingly, the committee includes the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the Director General of Economic Affairs at the…

India batter Venkatesh Iyer smashed 60 off 29 balls to fire holders Kolkata Knight Riders to an 80-run hammering of Sunrisers Hyderabad in a comeback IPL win. Iyer's knock and 91-run stand with fellow left-hander Rinku Singh propelled Kolkata to 200-6 at their home in Eden Gardens after being invited to bat first in a rematch of last year's final. Iyer proved his worth in a blitz laced with seven fours and three sixes after Kolkata paid a whopping $2.81 million for him in the November auction. Skipper Ajinkya…

Senior Sri Lankan parliamentarian Mano Ganesan suggests that Sri Lanka reduce its import tariffs on US goods to seek reciprocal relief and consider sourcing raw materials from the US to bolster trade ties. His reaction came as the US imposed a 44% tariff on Sri Lankan goods, effective April 9, 2025, under US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy, targeting Sri Lanka’s 88% trade barriers. This will likely threaten Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, which relies on the US for 23% of its $3 billion annual exports…

India's prime minister flew to Bangkok for a regional summit and talks with his Thai counterpart but did not mention a widely speculated meeting with Bangladesh's leader. Narendra Modi said he would meet with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and attend the BIMSTEC grouping of the seven nations on the Bay of Bengal. Top representatives of BIMSTEC members — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand — are expected to attend the Bangkok summit. Bangladeshi media have widely speculated…

The US is increasing the number of aircraft carriers deployed in the Middle East to two, keeping one that is already there and sending another from the Indo-Pacific, the Pentagon said. The announcement comes as US forces hammer Yemen's Houthi rebels with near-daily airstrikes in a campaign aimed at ending the threat they pose to civilian shipping and military vessels in the region. The Carl Vinson will join the Harry S. Truman in the Middle East "to continue promoting regional stability, deter aggression, and protect…

The Food Policy and Security Committee has recommended the importation of rice in the near future to ensure an uninterrupted supply for consumers. A notable increase in rice prices has been observed in the market, along with reports of shortages in certain rice varieties, despite the current harvest season. Given this situation, discussions were held regarding the need for the Cabinet to prioritize the maintenance of sufficient stock levels through rice imports. The Committee, chaired by Minister of Agriculture,…

England's Jos Buttler hammered an unbeaten 73 to lead Gujarat Titans to a thumping eight-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League. Chasing 170 for victory, Gujarat depended on a 75-run second wicket stand between Buttler and opener Sai Sudharsan, who hit 49, to achieve the target with 13 balls to spare in Bengaluru. Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj set up Gujarat's second successive victory with figures of 3-19 from his four overs to help restrict Bengaluru to 169-8. It was Bengaluru's…

Shammi Silva, who was recently re-elected uncontested as the Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for the fourth consecutive term, has been appointed to three key committees of the International Cricket Council (ICC). At a council meeting held yesterday (April 1), Silva was named to the ICC’s Human Resources and Remuneration Committee, Finance and Commercial Committee, and Nominations Committee. Silva’s re-election as SLC President extends his tenure for another two years, from 2025 to 2027. In addition to his role…

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has reported that a total of 229,298 tourists have arrived in the country in March 2025. Accordingly, the total number of tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2025 stands at 722,276. Throughout March, weekly tourist arrivals exceeded 50,000, with the highest single-day arrival recorded on March 28, when 8,619 tourists entered the country. Among source markets, India accounted for the highest share of tourist arrivals in March, contributing 17.1% of the total,…

A new government initiative to ensure food security and make nutritious meals affordable for the public was officially launched at the "Palessa" restaurant of the National Food Promotion Board in Narahenpita. This project is being implemented in collaboration with the National Food Promotion Board, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture. It also involves the support of existing restaurant businesses and is integrated with the "Clean Sri Lanka" programme. This initiative allows people to enjoy specially…

Wicketkeeper-batsman Prabhsimran Singh scored an explosive 69 off 34 balls as Punjab Kings cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants for their second win this IPL. Punjab chased down the target of 172 set by Lucknow with nearly four overs to spare, and captain Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 52 off 30 balls. "This is the start we required," Iyer said. "Boys actually played their roles well, they contributed to the best of their ability, and whatever we planned, they executed it to the fullest."…

Eighteen people were killed and five others injured in an explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in western India, officials said. The fiery blast sent chunks of rock and metal flying far from the factory complex in the town of Deesa in Gujarat state. "There was a huge blast in the factory causing the concrete roof to collapse, killing 18 people and injuring five others," government spokesman Rishikesh Patel said. The factory was operating without a licence, he added. Authorities have launched a probe into…

Tesla's sales in key European markets fell again in March, data showed, adding to signs that drivers are shunning Elon Musk's electric car brand as competition from China stiffens and some protest against his political views. New Tesla sales in France and Sweden dropped for a third consecutive month, contributing to its lowest first-quarterly sales figures in the two countries since 2021. Billionaire CEO Musk has stirred controversy by courting far-right parties in Europe, adding to Tesla's sales slump ahead of the…

The Board of Governors of the President’s Fund convened under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, has decided to provide financial assistance as an encouragement to ensure the uninterrupted education of children from families affected by daily incidents of elephant intrusions into their villages. Priority will be given to families who have lost a member or have individuals injured due to elephant intrusions. Additionally, children from families that have suffered property or crop damages as a result of…

A sparkling debut performance by medium pacer Ashwani Kumar, powered up by a single banana, helped Mumbai Indians register their first win of the IPL season, downing Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets. Kumar's 4-24 —and an overall disciplined bowling performance — restricted champions Kolkata to a modest total of 116, which Mumbai chased down with more than seven overs to spare. The 23-year-old accounted for Kolkata captain Ajinkya Rahane, Rinkhu Singh, Manish Pandey and the powerful Andre Russell. "I didn't…

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP)  welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Sri Lanka this week. Modi will begin a two-day visit to Sri Lanka on April 4. “This visit represents a cherished milestone in the timeless relationship between our two great nations,” a party statement said. The UNP said the visit presents an opportunity to strengthen the “India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision” adopted in July 2023. The UNP recalls that India’s provision of USD 4…

Under the Clean Sri Lanka Programme, the first phase of the Urban Forest Project was launched this morning (30) near the Kelaniya Bridge in Peliyagoda. This initiative was implemented in collaboration with S-lon Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of The Capital Maharaja Group, aligning with the "Tree Guardian" project. It also coincided with today’s (30) Zero Waste Day, further reinforcing its environmental significance. Guided by the Presidential Secretariat, key government and private sector stakeholders, including the…

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was "pissed off" at Russian President Vladimir Putin and will impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on buyers of Russian oil if he feels Moscow is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Trump told NBC News he was very angry after Putin last week criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's leadership, the television network reported, citing a telephone interview early on Sunday. Since taking office in January, Trump has adopted a more…