Energy Minister Survives No-Confidence Vote Amidst Deepening Coal Crisis; US-Iran Peace Talks Begin

The IMF delegation praised Sri Lanka's economic progress and the President's LKR 100 billion relief package, while flagging risks from the Middle East conflict to trade and tourism

. The IMF also identified substandard coal and procurement issues as a key driver of rising electricity costs

, as the NSO requested an additional 15% tariff increase

. The alleged NDB Bank fraud has escalated to Rs. 13.2 billion, with a fourth suspect arrested

. On the international front, global oil prices rebounded to $96.75 a barrel amid ceasefire concerns

, while China agreed to supply refined fuel and fertilizer for the Yala season

. The ADB projected Sri Lanka's growth to moderate to 4.0% in 2026 with inflation rising to 5.2%

. Locally, tourist arrivals reached 767,434 by early April

, and the IRD collected over Rs. 600 billion in Q1, a 17.7% growth

. The Speaker certified the Social Security Contribution Tax Amendments Bill

, and the government announced an additional Rs. 5,000 subsidy for tea fertilizer

. In other news, three were arrested in a Rs. 30M+ foreign job scam

, the 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' fund received corporate donations

, a record Rs. 629 million lottery jackpot was awarded

, and the cost of a traditional New Year 'kevili' table rose by 7%

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A no-confidence motion against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was defeated by 104 votes in Parliament, despite accusations of negligence in coal procurement for the Norochcholai power plant

. The government plans a Presidential Commission to probe coal imports from 2010 to date, following an Auditor General's report on irregularities

. On the deadline day, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa submitted his 2015 asset declaration to CIABOC

. The GMOA announced it will end its 48-hour nationwide strike on April 11th, following a dispute over the post-intern doctor transfer list

. In international affairs, critical US-Iran peace talks, mediated by Pakistan, commenced in Islamabad under a security lockdown, with US Vice President J.D. Vance expressing cautious optimism

. A 32-hour ceasefire was announced in the Russia-Ukraine conflict for Orthodox Easter

. Locally, the Motor Traffic Commissioner General was remanded until April 20

, and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe returned from medical treatment in Singapore

. A clash between two Colombo Municipal Councilors resulted in one being hospitalized

. The Transport Ministry is taking action against vandalism at the newly renovated Pettah Bus Stand

and approved reforms for passenger transport permits

. The Navy also arrested 10 Indian fishermen for poaching

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The Ministry of Defence has implemented an island-wide special security program to ensure public safety during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities

. To facilitate holiday travel, an integrated transport service is underway, with special train services extended to destinations like Anuradhapura

. The Excise Department has ordered all liquor outlets to be closed on April 13 and 14, providing the hotline 1913 for public complaints

. Meanwhile, the human-elephant conflict continues, with a 34-year-old wildlife electric fence worker killed in an attack in Wanathavilluwa, bringing the recent death toll from such incidents higher

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Customs officials at BIA arrested two more Chinese nationals on April 10th, bringing the recent total to fifteen, after seizing 84 used iPhones valued at Rs. 5.3 million and 10,000 cigarettes

. The death toll from illegal electric fences has risen to six after a 60-year-old farmer was killed; a police sergeant has been arrested in connection with the incident

. Island-wide police operations on April 9th resulted in the arrest of 763 individuals, including 240 warrant suspects and 132 for driving under the influence

. A post-mortem revealed that a 19-year-old student who died after a hotel party clash in Homagama succumbed to a heart attack

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The G.C.E. Ordinary Level Aesthetics practical examinations are scheduled from April 22 to May 4 at 1,198 centers island-wide, with a listening test for Western Music on April 26

. Government and government-approved schools began their Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays on April 10, with classes set to resume on April 20

. The March installment of the Mahapola scholarship, amounting to Rs. 10,000, has been credited to university students' accounts ahead of schedule due to increased efficiency

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Sri Lanka is experiencing a mix of extreme weather, with the Meteorology Department issuing persistent 'Caution Level' heat advisories for numerous provinces while also forecasting widespread thundershowers and severe lightning, particularly in the afternoons

. The sun is also passing directly overhead the island until April 15. A major fire broke out at the Karadiyana garbage dump, a site used by several Colombo-area councils, prompting the deployment of Air Force helicopters to assist firefighting efforts. Officials noted such fires are an almost annual occurrence during dry weather

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Around 2,000 Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) have launched a special island-wide food safety drive for the festive season, inspecting everything from production facilities to restaurants and markets

. The Court of Appeal has set May 8 as the date to decide whether to grant permission to hear the petition filed by two medical interns challenging the controversial appointment list

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Cricketer Nuwan Thushara has issued a letter of apology to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and expressed his willingness to withdraw the legal action he initiated. The case was filed after SLC refused to grant him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the 2026 IPL and other international leagues

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The Artemis II mission has concluded successfully with the four astronauts returning safely to Earth. The Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 11, 2026, after its historic 10-day, nearly 695,000-mile journey around the Moon, enduring re-entry temperatures over 2,760 degrees Celsius

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