Sri Lankan President announces economic relief package amid rising living costs

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Defence met in Parliament this afternoon (April 7) under President and Defence Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with key attention on releasing lands in the North and East, reopening closed roads and speeding up Cyclone Ditwah recovery work.

Former Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Chairman Sarath Kongahage and former Director General Devapriya Abeysinghe have been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

The chairman of the Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) officers at around 9:10 a.m. today (April 7) over a corruption charge linked to granting an undue benefit to an applicant.

Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has ordered former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to submit a full affidavit of his assets, expenses, and income sources by April 10, 2026, warning that no further extensions will be granted after a 10-year delay.

Sri Lanka will launch special New Year transport services from April 9, 2026 with 1,500 Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses, resumed Northern Line trains, and extra luxury buses on the Colombo-Kandy route.

A broker was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on April 6, 2026, in Norwood after allegedly accepting Rs. 45,000 as a bribe and previously obtaining Rs. 275,000 by falsely claiming he could arrange a land deed.

Sinopec has increased the price of a litre of Super Diesel by Rs. 28, effective from April 7, 2026.

Sri Lanka’s Industry Ministry held a special discussion with an IMF delegation today (April 6), focusing on industrial sector challenges, support for local entrepreneurs, and steps toward a production-based economy.

Former State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief retired Major General Suresh Sallay has filed a writ petition in the Court of Appeal challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) over the Easter Sunday attacks investigation.

LankaQR transactions up to Rs. 5,000 are now free of merchant service fees, as Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (April 6) launched Sri Lanka’s National QR Payment Adoption Programme to speed up the shift towards a cash-lite digital economy.

Sri Lanka has cancelled the weekly Wednesday holiday for public sector employees from April 8, 2026.

Sri Lanka’s Restaurant Owners’ Association says the prices of rice and curry packets, fried rice, and kottu will go up by Rs. 20 from April 7, 2026, while short eats prices will be cut by Rs. 10.

The island-wide strike by government medical officers was temporarily suspended from 8:00 AM today (April 6), after the GMOA was given a chance to discuss its concerns over the medical transfer process with Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa on April 9, 2026.

Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. and LAUGFS Gas PLC have increased the prices of their domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LP Gas) cylinders, effective from April 6, 2026.

Sri Lanka’s Department of Meteorology has warned that the heat index may reach “Caution” level in several provinces and Monaragala District on April 6, 2026 urging the public to take steps to protect their health.