Coal Scandal Engulfs Government as Energy Minister Faces Ouster; US-Iran Tensions Peak with Trump's 'Stone Age' Threat

A major political crisis is unfolding as Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody faces ouster over an alleged substandard coal import scandal, which has been linked to recent electricity tariff hikes and power cuts. The President has reportedly asked for his resignation ahead of a no-confidence motion, while the parliamentary COPE committee has launched an investigation set to begin on April 9th

. Internationally, tensions have soared as US President Donald Trump threatened to take Iran "back to the Stone Age" if a deal isn't reached by Tuesday evening, setting a hard deadline for negotiations

. Iran has officially formulated its response to ceasefire proposals, rejecting earlier US demands as "excessive"

. The conflict saw a significant escalation with the killing of Iran's Revolutionary Guard intelligence chief, Majid Khademi, in an attack for which Israel has claimed responsibility

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On the domestic front, the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks remain a focal point. Udaya Gammanpila has launched a book naming Zahran Hashim as the mastermind and alleged that critic MP Mujibur Rahman had links to an IS suspect

. Parliament is set to hold its 14th debate on the attacks this Thursday

, while former SIS Chief Suresh Salley is challenging his PTA detention in court

. Meanwhile, the GMOA strike continues as the Health Minister travels abroad for a WHO conference

, and Sri Lanka is deepening its economic engagement with Russia and the UK

. The final report of the 2024 Population and Housing Census, which utilized digital data collection for the first time, was presented to the President

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Consumers are facing a fresh wave of price hikes as Litro and LAUGFS increased domestic LP gas prices, with a 12.5 kg Litro cylinder now costing Rs. 4,765 after a Rs. 775 increase. Litro has also introduced new district-wise pricing

. This has led to an immediate impact on food prices, with restaurants increasing the cost of kottu and fried rice by Rs. 20, while reducing short eats by Rs. 10 due to lower oil costs

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Amidst the energy crisis, filling station owners protested a reduction in their profit margin, concluding after a positive discussion with the CPC Chairman

. To bolster supply, China has agreed to provide a shipment of refined fuel, with the first consignment expected by mid-April

. In a push for a digital economy, the government launched a national QR payment initiative, waiving merchant fees for transactions up to Rs. 5,000 to drive adoption

. Meanwhile, NDB Bank reported a Rs. 380 million internal fraud but assured that customer deposits are unaffected and its capital remains above regulatory requirements

. Customs also intercepted a major illegal shipment of 3.38 million cigarettes valued at Rs. 507 million, which had been falsely declared as 'bed linen'

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Law enforcement agencies have conducted major nationwide operations, leading to the seizure of over 300kg of heroin and 261kg of 'ice'. Seven suspects, including an SJB local government candidate, have been remanded in connection with the bust

. Separately, Customs officials at BIA foiled three attempts to smuggle Kush cannabis worth over Rs. 586 million

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A significant murder investigation has revealed that a missing Panadura three-wheeler driver, Sandun Udara Alwis, was murdered and buried 1.5 years ago. Alwis was the main eyewitness in a 2021 murder case involving notorious underworld figure "Kudu Salindu"

. In another case, a 26-year-old Chinese national was arrested in connection with the murder of a foreign woman in Kohuwala, with 'Ice' also found in his possession

. Meanwhile, the National Child Protection Authority revealed it received 10,455 complaints in 2025, with over 2,000 related to cruelty against children

. Police have also issued a public warning about a rise in online financial scams during the New Year season

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An expert committee, chaired by Professor Liyanage Amarakeerthi, has been appointed to enhance standards and restructure the National Colleges of Education. The committee is tasked with strengthening the institutional framework to produce capable teachers with leadership qualities

. In a related initiative, the Ministry has launched the "Surakimu Lanka" school energy conservation program to foster efficient energy use in schools nationwide, especially in light of potential climate changes

. On the international stage, Most Venerable Dr. Kirinde Assaji of Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK for his global contributions to interfaith harmony and education

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To accommodate festive season travel, special transport services will commence on Thursday, April 9th. The SLTB will deploy approximately 1,500 additional buses from Colombo, and special train services will also be operational for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year

. In a series of tragic incidents, at least three people have died in separate wild elephant attacks across the country, including in Anuradhapura and Mahiyanganaya

. During the main Easter Mass, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith delivered a message urging prayers for world peace, stating that humanity is suffering due to one individual's desire to dominate the world

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The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced a 12-hour water cut from 8:00 PM on April 6th to 8:00 AM on April 7th for Pelanwatta and surrounding areas, including Mattegoda and Polgasowita, due to the ongoing dry spell

. The country continues to experience a period of intense heat, with the sun positioned directly overhead several towns until April 15. The Met Department forecasts showers or thundershowers after 1:00 PM on April 7th for several provinces

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A truck driver was killed in a fatal collision on the Southern Expressway near the Welipenna service area on the morning of April 6th. His cement powder bowser crashed into the rear of a container truck that had stopped to change a tire, causing severe traffic congestion

. Also this morning, a fire broke out at a wax fabric factory in Wattala, prompting a response from three fire trucks and the Sri Lanka Navy. The blaze has since been brought under control

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NASA's historic Artemis II mission has successfully orbited the Moon, but the four-person crew is facing a technical issue with a malfunctioning toilet system due to a frozen waste pipe

. During their lunar transit, the astronauts experienced a planned 40-minute communication blackout with Earth as their Orion spacecraft passed over the dark side of the Moon, an event that occurred as scheduled on Monday

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