New Energy Minister Appointed Amid Coal Crisis as US-Iran Tensions Spike Global Oil Prices

Sri Lanka is set to mark the 7th anniversary of the Easter Sunday attacks with nationwide services and a 2-minute silence, led by Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith

. The nation's political landscape is dominated by the fallout from the coal import crisis, which saw the resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody. The controversy involves a Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry into substandard coal purchases and a prior bribery indictment against Jayakody

. In response, Anura Karunathilake was swiftly sworn in as the new Minister of Energy, also retaining his Ports and Civil Aviation portfolio

. The Joint Opposition insists the entire Cabinet is accountable for the collective decision to import the substandard coal

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Internationally, the US-Iran conflict has intensified dramatically. Iran's IRGC has fully closed the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels and warned that US warships are within missile range

, while President Trump stated the US blockade on Iranian ports will not be lifted until a deal is reached

. The US Navy seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship 'Touska' in the Arabian Sea after disabling its engine room

. Hopes for de-escalation faded as Iran announced it has no plans to attend a second round of peace talks in Pakistan, citing a lack of seriousness from the US

. Former US VP Kamala Harris accused Israeli PM Netanyahu of pulling Trump into the conflict to divert from domestic issues

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Locally, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa reiterated the SLPP's "big plan" to seize power, while confirming the party will skip its May Day rally for religious observances

. Indian Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan concluded his visit, reinforcing bilateral ties

. Other developments include former Minister Piyasena Gamage being granted bail in a corruption case

, the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic receiving bail

, and the launch of a pilot low-floor bus service for persons with disabilities

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Global oil prices have surged following Iran's re-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent crude jumping over 7% to $94.69 a barrel

. The escalating conflict, which saw direct attacks by both the US and Iran, has caused significant market volatility, with prices fluctuating amid uncertain peace talks

. Locally, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has lodged a complaint against Hiru Media for falsely reporting a $286 per barrel price for crude oil, clarifying the price was for a diesel shipment

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On the domestic front, Sri Lankan expressways generated a record Rs. 489.6 million in revenue between April 10-19

. State banks, including People's Bank and Bank of Ceylon, reported record-breaking profits for 2025

, and the Central Bank presented its annual reports to the President, noting strengthened economic progress

. Tourist arrivals surpassed 800,000 by mid-April, with India remaining the top source market

. However, gold prices continue to climb, with a 24K sovereign now exceeding Rs. 402,000

. Meanwhile, NDB is set to appoint an international firm for a forensic audit into a Rs 13.2 billion fraud

, and high-level talks with India advanced proposals for a Trincomalee energy hub and an oil pipeline

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Authorities are now monitoring if the new GOV Pay instant fine system has led to an increase in road accidents, as concerns rise that drivers may be speeding more frequently

. The international 'Walk for Peace' pilgrimage is set to commence on April 22nd, with Venerable Pannakara Thero and service dog Aloka having arrived in Sri Lanka today

. Public services at the Department for Registration of Persons have fully resumed today after a system failure caused a nationwide halt

. The Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre facilitated nearly 155,000 passengers during the New Year period, with return services to Colombo now underway

. Updated auspicious times for the New Year include specific attire and directions for departing for work on April 20th

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A massive smuggling ring has been busted at BIA, with 38 individuals arrested throughout April and over Rs. 140 million in contraband seized. The haul includes approximately 717,000 illegal cigarettes and sophisticated electronic devices linked to cybercrime, with the latest arrest on April 20th netting a Chinese national with Rs. 35 million worth of cigarettes

. Island-wide police operations continue, with 608 individuals arrested on April 19th alone for various offenses

. The IGP announced intensified efforts against overseas organized crime, revealing 32 criminals have been repatriated in the last year, with 13 more expected shortly

. A wave of fatal assaults includes a hacking death in Kalavanchikudi and a man beaten to death in Balangoda over a gambling dispute, leading to three arrests

. In Ragama, seven people, including a shop owner, have been arrested and remanded over an alleged hair-cutting incident

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The Department of Meteorology forecasts heavy rainfall exceeding 100 mm for today in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, and North Western provinces, as well as Galle, Matara, and Anuradhapura districts, amid an ongoing El Niño outlook

. A new heat advisory has been issued for April 21, warning of 'Caution level' temperatures in multiple provinces

. Internationally, following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake, the Japanese government has issued a warning for a potential mega-quake of magnitude 8 or higher

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The Public Health Inspectors' (PHI) festive season food safety drive, which ran until April 18th, resulted in 1,289 lawsuits being filed after inspecting over 21,000 establishments. Over 3,000 food items deemed unfit for consumption were destroyed

. In Colombo, the Health Minister awarded diplomas to 952 medical and paramedical professionals, emphasizing their critical role in the sector's future

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Senior Professor O. G. Dayaratna Banda, a former Dean at the University of Peradeniya, has assumed duties as the 15th Director General of the National Institute of Education (NIE)

. Following the New Year holidays which concluded on April 10, schools are set to reopen, with the distribution of Grade 1 activity books expected to be completed by April 30

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The Bangladesh Women's cricket team achieved their first-ever WODI victory against Sri Lanka, securing a three-wicket win in the first One Day International in Rajshahi

. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has been banned from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for one year due to a breach of contract, after he unilaterally withdrew to join the IPL

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A humanoid robot has set a new half-marathon world record in Beijing, completing the 21km race in an astonishing 50 minutes and 26 seconds. The event saw over 300 robots participate, with 40% running autonomously without external control, a significant technological leap from the previous year

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A 25-year-old engineering student from Moratuwa University has drowned in the Bentota sea. The victim, identified as Kadeer Kamanadan Mithusan from Jaffna, was reportedly caught in a rip current while swimming with friends

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