Easter Attacks Anniversary Marked by Calls for Justice as Coal Crisis Topples Energy Minister and US-Iran Tensions Hit Sri Lankan Waters

The political landscape was dominated by fallout from the ongoing coal crisis, culminating in the resignation of the Energy Minister to facilitate an impartial inquiry; Anura Karunathilaka was swiftly appointed as his successor, pledging to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies

. Simultaneously, the nation marked the 7th anniversary of the Easter Sunday attacks, with Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith accusing former Presidents, IGPs, and Attorney General's Department officials of actively sabotaging the investigation, while the government stated the probe is nearing its conclusion

. Internationally, the US-Iran conflict saw volatile developments, with President Trump extending a ceasefire but also warning of renewed bombing, as Iran refused further talks citing the US Navy's seizure of its cargo ship 'Tuska'

. Other key developments include a CIABOC complaint against Minister Lal Kantha's assets, the arrest of former MP Premalal Jayasekara for threatening individuals with an unlicensed firearm, and the launch of a pilot low-floor bus service for persons with disabilities

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Sri Lanka's expressways generated a record revenue of over Rs. 536 million from 1.43 million vehicles during the New Year travel period, with authorities announcing plans for automated payment systems by 2027

. In a significant international development with local relevance, US forces boarded and intercepted the sanctioned, stateless oil tanker M/T Tifani approximately 700 km southeast of Sri Lanka

. On the domestic front, state-owned banks, including People's Bank and Bank of Ceylon, reported record profits for 2025, presenting their annual reports to the President

. Global oil prices remained volatile due to US-Iran tensions, with Brent Crude fluctuating between $94 and $109, impacting Sri Lanka's import costs

. Tourist arrivals continued their upward trend, surpassing 828,000 by mid-April, with India remaining the top source market

. Additionally, Japan committed USD 2.6 million for climate resilience and gender equality projects in Sri Lanka

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Police have strongly denied media reports of a foiled bomb plot in Colombo, clarifying that the arrest of an individual was related to his association with notorious underworld figure Kanjipani Imran and not terrorism

. Island-wide police operations continued, with over 500 arrests made for various offenses, including drug possession and drunk driving, alongside 3,332 arrests for other traffic violations on April 20th alone

. In targeted raids, two key associates of drug kingpin 'Panadura Kudu Salindu' were arrested in Payagala with 'Ice' valued at over LKR 1 million

. Separately, 50 foreign nationals, primarily Chinese, were arrested in Negombo for overstaying their visas and are awaiting deportation

. Authorities also apprehended a bank auditing officer in Homagama with heroin and four stolen three-wheelers

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The Department of Meteorology forecasts persistent extreme weather, with moderately heavy rains exceeding 75 mm expected in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, and Southern provinces, alongside a continued heat advisory for 21 districts

. In the central hills, heavy downpours caused the Dickoya stream to overflow, submerging 50 estate houses in the Hatton-Dickoya region and displacing over 100 residents

. Internationally, Japanese authorities have re-issued a warning for a potential mega-quake of magnitude 8.0 or higher in the coming week, following the recent 7.7 magnitude tremor

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The international 'Walk for Peace' pilgrimage commenced under full state patronage, with a second group of monks led by Most Venerable Pannakara Thero arriving from the US

. The pilgrimage began with a blessing ceremony at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, where monks requested local devotees to offer silent support rather than material offerings

. A notable participant is Aloka, a service dog and former Indian street dog, who was granted special permission for in-cabin travel after becoming a global symbol of peace during a similar walk across America

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The Ministry of Health awarded diplomas to 952 new professionals in paramedical fields at a ceremony at the BMICH, where Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa emphasized their critical role in the sector's future

. In a separate development, an expert team from the World Health Organization (WHO) is currently in Sri Lanka to review the national health system's performance. The team held discussions with the Health Minister, focusing on the government's initiative to establish 1000 'Arogya' wellness centers to strengthen primary care

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The Department of Buddhist Affairs has extended the application deadline for the 2026 Dhamma School Teacher Certificate Examination to April 30, 2026. The extension was granted following requests from Dhamma School Headmasters to provide more time for prospective candidates to submit their applications

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