In a significant ruling, the Court of Appeal directed the Election Commission (EC) to accept 35 additional nomination papers for the 2025 local government elections that had previously been rejected by election officials.

The ruling was delivered by a bench consisting of Acting President of the Court of Appeal Justice Mohamed Lafar Tahir and Justice Priyantha Fernando. The Court ordered the relevant Returning Officers to accept these nominations, following hearings on several petitions filed by political parties and independent groups contesting the rejections.

This latest decision follows a similar ruling from last week, where the Court of Appeal instructed the Election Commission to accept 37 nomination papers that had been rejected earlier.

This ruling has been viewed as a victory for the political parties and independent groups, ensuring a more inclusive participation in the upcoming local government elections.

The National Building and Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued early landslide warnings for multiple areas across four districts, as heavy rainfall continues in parts of Sri Lanka.

The warnings will remain in effect until 4:00 p.m. on April 11, and are categorized as Level 1 (Yellow) alerts—indicating a potential risk of landslides, slope failures, and rock falls in the following Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) and surrounding areas:

• Galle District: Elpitiya DSD
• Kalutara District: Walallawita DSD
• Matara District: Pitabeddara DSD
• Ratnapura District: Ratnapura and Kalawana DSDs

Residents in the affected areas are urged to stay alert, monitor official updates, and take necessary precautions, especially those living near slopes or hilly terrain.

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced temporary changes to its passport issuance services on April 15, 16, and 17, in light of the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year period.

According to the department:

• Tokens for both one-day and regular passport services will only be issued until 12 noon on the specified dates.
• The 24-hour one-day passport issuance service will be suspended during this period.

Authorities urge applicants to plan their visits accordingly and complete any urgent passport-related matters before the affected dates.

In a move to modernize traffic law enforcement and enhance public convenience, the Sri Lanka Police Headquarters has announced the introduction of a digital traffic fine system through the GovPay app, as part of the government’s “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative.

The system allows traffic officers to issue instant fines for violations, with motorists able to make payments online via GovPay. Upon confirmation of payment, the detained driver’s license will be released on the spot, eliminating the need for follow-up visits to police stations or government offices.

The digital mechanism aims to promote transparency, reduce corruption, and minimize inconvenience to the public by streamlining the traffic fine process.

A pilot phase will be conducted from April 11 to April 30, 2025, across 12 selected areas:

• Kurunegala
• Doratiyawa
• Malsiripura
• Gokaralla
• Galewala
• Dambulla
• Madatugama
• Maradankadawala
• Kekirawa
• Thirippane
• Kavarakkulama
• Anuradhapura

The Police Headquarters stated that the pilot rollout will be used to evaluate the system’s performance and gather public feedback before considering a nationwide expansion.

Under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme is set to commence 34 new projects this year as part of a broader national effort to drive social, environmental, and ethical transformation. Project work is expected to begin before the end of April.

A one-day workshop was held on April 10 at the “Clean Sri Lanka” Secretariat in the Lotus Building at Temple Trees, led by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. The session focused on preparing project proposals aligned with Department of National Planning formats to expedite approval and implementation.

With Rs. 5 billion allocated from the 2025 national budget, the programme is a major government initiative aiming for cross-sectoral impact. Upon approval, detailed action plans will be developed, with priority projects fast-tracked for launch.

The workshop was attended by senior officials from more than a dozen ministries and agencies, including Public Administration, Environment, Education, Health, Urban Development, and Sri Lanka Police.

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), chaired by MP Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, conducted a field investigation at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on April 9. The visit was in connection with the BIA Development Project and the Auditor General’s Reports for 2022 and 2023, as well as a review of the current performance of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL).

The project aimed to expand aircraft stands through the construction of a Remote Apron and Taxiways. However, COPE found that both AASL and the Japanese joint venture hired for design and consultancy had proceeded without adequate technical or operational analysis, making it difficult to meet project goals.

Despite these planning flaws, AASL has taken corrective steps, which the committee reviewed during the visit. COPE engaged in discussions with the local representatives of the Japanese consultancy and senior officials, expressing dissatisfaction over financial losses caused by oversight and poor planning.

The committee stressed the need for better project planning to avoid misuse of public funds and announced plans to reconvene with AASL officials for further review.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala announced yesterday that approval has been granted to recruit 2,500 new personnel into the Sri Lanka Police Force. The relevant Gazette notification is expected to be issued next week, following which the recruitment process will begin without delay.

The announcement was made in Parliament in response to a query from opposition MP Rohana Bandara. Minister Wijepala stated that the decision is part of a broader initiative aimed at strengthening the police force and improving its operational capacity.

He also revealed that a special programme has been introduced to address longstanding challenges faced by police officers in carrying out their duties.

Additionally, the Minister noted that discussions are ongoing with the Attorney General’s Department concerning 100 court cases involving police officials. These legal matters are being reviewed to ensure proper handling and accountability.

In a move to reinforce neutrality and restore public trust, Minister Wijepala confirmed that steps are being taken to remove political interference from police operations. As part of these reforms, the previously politicised Security Committee has been abolished. The Minister claimed that some of these committees were previously used to exact political revenge, and emphasized the government’s commitment to fostering a more professional and independent police service.

A key section of Palaly Road, linking Vasavilan Junction to the Ponnalai-Paruthithurai Road, has been reopened for civilian use after more than three decades of closure. This long-awaited development comes just a day ahead of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya’s visit to Jaffna, underscoring its political and symbolic weight.

The 2.5-kilometer stretch, running through what was once a high-security military zone, had remained off-limits to the public since 1990 at the height of Sri Lanka’s civil conflict. For years, residents of Jaffna travelling to northern areas such as Palaly were forced to take lengthy detours through Kankesanthurai, creating daily hardship and cutting off direct access within the peninsula. Despite repeated calls from the public after the war ended in 2009, the road remained closed—until now.

The road was officially reopened on April 10 under stringent regulations. Public access is allowed only between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day. Entry is currently restricted to pedestrians and public buses; private and commercial vehicles remain prohibited. All travelers must carry valid identification, and movement is capped at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. Authorities have also banned stopping, turning, as well as taking photos or videos along the route. Clear signboards in Tamil warn that violations may lead to legal action.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya is set to arrive in Jaffna today (April 11) for a series of public engagements, including discussions with local communities, civil society groups, and regional development officials. The timing of the road’s reopening is widely seen as a strategic move by the Government to demonstrate its commitment to rebuilding trust, restoring civil liberties, and addressing long-standing grievances in the North.

Government sources indicate that the Prime Minister’s visit aims to deepen engagement with Tamil communities and boost reconciliation efforts. The reopening of Palaly Road is not just a logistical improvement—it carries deep symbolic meaning. It represents a tentative but important step toward healing, reconnecting communities, and signaling national recognition of the North’s recovery needs.

Local leaders and residents have welcomed the move, while urging authorities to eventually allow full, unrestricted access to all vehicles. Human rights advocates echoed this sentiment, acknowledging that while the current restrictions are tight, the decision marks a critical first move in restoring freedom of movement in historically restricted areas.

Beyond improved connectivity, the reopening of this road serves as a powerful indicator of potential political change and a renewed focus on post-conflict reconciliation in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a meeting with Party Leaders yesterday to address the implications of the recent U.S. reciprocal tariff system on the Sri Lankan economy. The discussion centered on potential frameworks for initiating bilateral dialogue with the United States and emphasized the urgent need for Sri Lanka to diversify its export markets in order to mitigate any adverse effects.

During the meeting, President Dissanayake presented the key findings of a Committee appointed to conduct a comprehensive study on the anticipated impact of the new U.S. tariff regime. The Committee has also submitted several recommendations to the Government. A detailed discussion followed, highlighting both the Committee’s findings and additional proposals submitted by opposition parties.

The recommendations from the Committee, along with input gathered during the meeting, will be consolidated and forwarded for further government deliberation.

This meeting was convened in response to a request by several opposition parliamentarians, who stressed the importance of a unified approach and direct engagement with the President on this critical issue.

Following the meeting, SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva described the discussions as productive.
“Meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Trump Tariff successful. Common agreement that while we do everything to strengthen trade with world, immediate issue is to arrive at a HS Code-based bilateral trade deal with US. Two channels opened. We will support,” Dr. de Silva stated on social media.

The meeting saw participation from a broad spectrum of political parties, including Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa; MP Harsha de Silva (Samagi Jana Balawegaya); MP S. Rasamanickam (Tamil National Alliance); MP Ravi Karunanayake (New Democratic Front); MP D.V. Chanaka (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna); MPs Mano Ganesan and Palani Digambaram (Tamil Progressive Alliance); MP M.L.A.M. Hizbullah (Sri Lanka Muslim Congress); MP Rishad Bathiudeen (All Ceylon Makkal Congress); MP Dilith Jayaweera (Sarvajana Balaya Party); MP Jeevan Thondaman (United National Party); MP Dayasiri Jayasekara (Sri Lanka Freedom Party); and MP A. Archuna representing 17 Independent Groups.

Also in attendance were MPs Gayantha Karunathilaka, Kavinda Jayawardena, S.M. Marikkar, and Kader Masthan, who contributed to the extensive discussions.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.

Several spells of showers may occur in Anuradhapura, Matale and Mannar districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in Uva province and in Ampara, Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly heavy rainfall of above 50 mm are likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Mataradistricts.

Fairly strong winds of (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 05^th to 14^th of April in this year. The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (11^th) are Maningamuwa, Rambewa, Kahatagasdigiliya, Eithala wetunu wewa and Muthur at about 12:11 noon.