Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island during the afternoon or night. Showers may occur in Western, Southern and North-western coastal areas in the morning too.

Heavy rainfall of above 100 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and Southern provinces.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Northern and North-central provinces during the morning.

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 tomorrow (05^th) are Kahawa, Meetiyagoda, Elamaldeniya, Ambakolawewa and Bundala at about 12:13 noon.

April 03, Colombo LNW: A media briefing was held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel to inform the media about the upcoming under-85kg rugby tournament between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which will bring a lot of valuable experience to Sri Lankan rugby. The announcement of the press conference was kept secret from the media, as the officials involved in the case of Sri Lanka being fined £50,000 were currently working together.The current ministry has also taken no steps to meet the needs of those involved in this incident and has accepted a constitutional amendment to make the case accordingly. Despite this, the Sports Minister, in order to please his government’s voters, spoke loudly in Parliament about the illegal transfer of foreigners to Sri Lanka, who were fined £50,000 as a result of Baby’s rugby, and also criticized Namal Rajapaksa.

However, the officials responsible for the incident have not taken any action regarding the offense to date. The current government has followed the same approach. A prime example of this is the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the previous wrongful administration as the Chairman of the committee tasked with advising the Minister. Furthermore, the offense has not been recognized as a violation of the Immigration and Emigration Act, and the Secretary of the same administration has now been assigned a key role in rugby governance.

The key priority is to gain the trust of the Asia Rugby President while ensuring the involvement of the chairman of the offending administration, who also serves as the President of Asia Rugby’s High-Performance Training and Tournaments. Given that no punishment or ban was imposed for the incident, it is widely believed that the Minister will take no further action against Babyla or the officials who played rugby for them, beyond the statement made by Namal Babies.For the benefit of rugby fans who have some knowledge of the rugby fraternity, it is worth noting that the Asian official, who has faced no consequences for his wrongdoing and is instead enjoying privileges, has also managed to secure a role in this event.

If the Minister places his trust in this individua someone who merely claims to know rugby while being fully aware of the crisis it will only highlight the extent to which certain individuals are attempting to feign innocence.

Congratulations to the Sri Lankan Under-85kg team and the tournament. If the Minister possesses the wisdom to acknowledge that he is endorsing a betrayal of trust and conscience in the rugby field, it will have significant implications for the future of the sport in the country.

SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has urged the government to urgently suspend the removal of the SVAT scheme for exporters, warning of serious repercussions if relief is not granted amid rising global trade tensions following the re-imposition of U.S. tariffs.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Dr. de Silva expressed his willingness to assist President Anura Dissanayake in navigating the crisis, stressing, “This crisis is national. Fallout could be huge.” He emphasized the need for Sri Lanka to “break tariff walls and build trade bridges” instead of reverting to protectionist policies.

Referring to the BIMSTEC Dialogue held recently, Dr. de Silva warned that without major trade and investment reforms, Sri Lanka’s regional integration goals would remain elusive. “RCEP will only be a dream unless we commit to liberalizing in goods and services,” he added.

He called on the government to immediately suspend next week’s amendment that would remove SVAT benefits for exporters, citing the growing economic uncertainty.

Adding to the alarm, former MP Charitha Herath highlighted that Sri Lanka’s 2024 trade deficit stands at $6.88 billion, cautioning that a sharp drop in U.S. exports could widen the deficit by $1.5 billion, drain reserves, and weaken the rupee.

Herath warned that a new debt crisis could be looming, as foreign investors may withdraw and export-driven companies might relocate to lower-tariff markets, threatening Sri Lanka’s industrial base.

Quoting Professor Wasantha Athukorala from the University of Peradeniya, Herath said Sri Lanka should seek a grace period on tariffs in the short term, while pursuing long-term reforms like strengthening free trade agreements (FTAs), diversifying exports, and building trade ties with China, India, and the Asia-Pacific region.

“Sri Lanka must boost production efficiency, enhance competitiveness, and create an investment-friendly environmentto weather this storm,” Herath said. He concluded with a challenge to policymakers:
“Can Sri Lanka turn this crisis into an opportunity? Do we have the leadership to drive necessary reforms? Now is the time for bold decisions and forward-thinking policies.”

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited Hamburg, Germany, focusing on enhancing vocational education and boosting economic partnerships between Sri Lanka and Germany.

During her visit, she took part in the 102nd East Asia Friendship Dinner, held high-level talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and participated in discussions on investment, education, and economic reforms.

As Guest of Honour at the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV) annual meeting, the Prime Minister addressed top German business leaders, highlighting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and its potential as a rising investment destination. She noted the ongoing contributions of over 160 German companies operating in Sri Lanka and encouraged greater collaboration in trade and industry.

In her role as Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, the Prime Minister delivered a keynote at the German-Asian Forum on Vocational Education & Training, expressing gratitude for Germany’s longstanding support and calling for modernised, industry-relevant vocational training.

She also visited ITECH vocational school, NXP Semiconductors, and DESY (German Electron Synchrotron) to explore potential partnerships in information technology and research-driven industries.

In her meeting with President Steinmeier, Prime Minister Amarasuriya reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s dedication to economic stability, social protection, and national unity. She also attended a business roundtable where discussions centred around economic expansion, digitalisation, and sustainable development.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany, Varuni Muthukumarana, and senior officials from the Sri Lankan Embassy.

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) witnessed a sharp decline today, with key indices tumbling amid growing investor anxiety over the reciprocal tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

The All Share Price Index (ASPI) dropped by 349.84 points, closing at 15,657.60, while the S&P SL20 Index fell by 119.30 points, ending the day at 4,643.32.

The market recorded a turnover of Rs. 3.82 billion, reflecting heightened trading activity amid the sell-off. Analysts attribute the decline to fears of a broader economic impact from the new tariffs, particularly on Sri Lanka’s export sector and foreign investor sentiment.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has expressed deep concern over the imposition of a 44% tariff on Sri Lankan exports to the United States, following a sweeping trade move announced by US President Donald Trump.

The Chamber noted that with the US accounting for approximately USD 3 billion in exports and representing 25% of Sri Lanka’s total merchandise exports, the new tariff presents a serious challenge to trade and economic stability.

In a statement issued today, the CCC warned that the tariffs, alongside broader global trade disruptions, could hamper economic growth by reducing demand in key export markets, including the US and EU.

The CCC welcomed the Sri Lankan President’s decision to appoint a committee to evaluate the impact of the tariffs and recommend steps to safeguard the export sector.

Amid ongoing efforts under the IMF Extended Fund Facility programme, the CCC stressed the importance of negotiating a reduction in the tariff rate and called for a review of the local tariff structure to improve trade facilitation and the ease of doing business.

Reaffirming its commitment to support the Government, the CCC urged all stakeholders to collaborate in developing a coordinated, strategic response to protect Sri Lanka’s trade interests and ensure the sustainability of the export sector.

The Malwathu and Asgiri Maha Viharas, together with the Sri Dalada Maligawa, have donated Rs.15 million to support the people of Myanmar affected by the recent earthquake.

The donation was formally handed over to the Myanmar Ambassador in Colombo, Daw Marlar Than Htaik, at the Sri Dalada Maligawa premises. The contribution was presented by Most Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera, the Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, with the participation of the Anunayake Theras of both the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters.

The gesture reflects the strong religious and cultural ties between the two nations and the commitment of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist clergy to humanitarian support.

The Cabinet of Ministers has appointed a three-member committee to examine the recent sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom on four individuals, including three former military commanders, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced.

The committee includes Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, and Defence Deputy Minister Aruna Jayasekara. It is tasked with studying the implications of the sanctions and recommending appropriate measures to the Cabinet.

The committee has been granted authority to consult with relevant officers and subject experts, as necessary, to formulate its recommendations.

Dr. Jayatissa described the UK’s action as a unilateral decision and emphasized that the committee was formed to assess potential responses and measures the Sri Lankan Government could consider in light of the situation.

In a strong move to improve Sri Lanka’s healthcare delivery, Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has vowed to keep the medicine procurement process free from political interference.

Addressing a key stakeholder meeting at the Colombo National Hospital, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted supply of high-quality medicines to the public.

For the first time in the country’s healthcare history, officials involved in medicine procurement convened at the hospital’s new Outpatient Department auditorium to discuss streamlining procedures and reducing delays that contribute to drug shortages.

The initiative focuses on improving efficiency, transparency, and the timely delivery of essential medications, marking a significant step toward strengthening Sri Lanka’s public health infrastructure.