The government has refuted a news report by Mawbima newspaper, which claimed that the Election Commission had sent a letter to the President regarding alleged violations of election laws.
The Mawbima report stated that the Election Commission had sent the letter to the Presidential Secretariat based on complaints made by several election monitoring organizations. The complaints alleged that the President’s statements on political platforms about not providing funds to local government bodies that do not have government power were a violation of election laws.
However, the Government Information Department issued a statement denying the report and stated that no such letter had been sent.
Mawbima newspaper has stood by its report, stating that it was based on a statement from a senior official of the Election Commission and that it could produce a recording of the relevant conversation to prove its veracity.
The Election Commission has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
In a recent report, the UN’s trade and development body, Unctad, urged US President Donald Trump to exempt 28 of the world’s poorest nations from hefty import tariffs. These countries, including Laos, Mauritius, and Myanmar, were singled out by the Trump administration for “reciprocal” tariffs despite their minimal contribution to the US trade deficit.
Unctad warns that these tariffs could cause “serious economic harm” to these vulnerable economies, which are unlikely to pose any threat to the US economy due to their small size and export volumes.
Noticeably absent from the list of 28 nations is Sri Lanka, which is currently grappling with a severe economic crisis. Experts suggest that this exclusion could be attributed to the Sri Lankan government’s failure to respond appropriately to the US trade policies and its lack of proactive engagement with international trade organizations.
Critics are pointing fingers at the current administration, particularly President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, for its perceived mishandling of the situation. They argue that the government’s inward-looking policies and its inability to foster strong trade relations with the US and other major economies have isolated Sri Lanka on the global stage.
The exclusion from the tariff exemption list could further exacerbate Sri Lanka’s economic woes. The potential impact of US tariffs on Sri Lankan exports could further strain the economy and lead to job losses.
Economists and opposition leaders are calling for urgent action from the government to address the situation. They are urging the government to engage in constructive dialogue with the US and other key trading partners to explore potential avenues for tariff relief and to take steps to improve the country’s overall trade competitiveness.
President Anura Disanayaka has pledged to expose those accountable for the Easter Sunday bombings as the sixth anniversary of the attacks approaches on April 21st. The Criminal Investigation Department is reportedly working to identify and apprehend suspects before this date.
The Catholic Church has responded with cautious optimism, expressing its trust in the new government’s commitment to justice.
Meanwhile, the FBI has confirmed that Zaharan Hashim was the mastermind behind the attacks, and former minister Pillayan has revealed information about women trained by Hashim. Fifteen women participated in one such training program in December 2018. Five of these women were killed in a subsequent bomb attack, three have been arrested, and the remaining seven are being questioned by the Terrorism Investigation Division.
In a separate development, the Criminal Investigation Department has launched an investigation into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s request to speak by phone with former minister Pillayan, who is currently in detention. The request was denied by a prison official.
A high-level group within the National People’s Power (NPP) has raised concerns that the prevailing public perception of government leaders and ministers being “liars” could negatively impact their electoral prospects.
The group has identified the urgent need to address this issue and is contemplating strategies to counter these claims.
One proposed approach involves highlighting false statements made by opposition politicians in the past.
Additionally, the group plans to sternly caution election candidates and ministers to exercise greater caution in their public and media statements.
Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has stated that the taxes imposed by the United States globally will not have a significant impact on Sri Lanka.
Silva pointed out that Sri Lanka’s exports to the US are minimal, with the majority being garments. He assured that if any garment industry jobs are lost due to these taxes, affected individuals will receive temporary allowances until they find alternative employment.
During an online discussion, Silva expressed his belief that the US’s current strategy is unsustainable and will negatively impact the world and the US itself. He also asserted that the US cannot win a trade war with China and will ultimately be defeated.
Silva concluded that the US President will soon be forced to reverse his “wrong decision” due to the prevailing circumstances.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has raised concerns about the emergence of a dangerous extremist ideology within the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.
Speaking at a public rally in Batticaloa, the President stated that this ideology, which promotes the concept of a ‘Super Muslim,’ does not represent the views of the majority of Sri Lankan Muslims and is a deviation towards violent extremism. He emphasized the need for security forces to take action against such extremist elements.
The President’s remarks come in the wake of investigations by intelligence and security agencies into extremist groups that have been critical of his stance on the issue.
Sri Lanka received the second-highest amount of remittances ever in March 2025, with a value of US$693.3 million. This pushed the total remittances for the first quarter of 2025 to US$1,814.4 million, an 18.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The only time Sri Lanka received a higher remittance amount was in December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many Sri Lankan workers abroad returned home and sent large terminal benefits.
Remittances play a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s economy, providing a vital source of foreign exchange.
Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillaiyan, was arrested on April 8th by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the investigation into the abduction and disappearance of Professor Sivasupermaniam Ravindranath.
Police say they have obtained permission to detain and question him for 90 days under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
The arrest has sparked controversy, with many people suspecting that it is an attempt to make the PTA more acceptable to society. Legal experts argue that special laws like the PTA are not necessary to take legal action against individuals like Pillaiyan, who are accused of committing crimes with the patronage of the government.
Professor Ravindranath, who served as the Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University from 2004 to 2006, disappeared in 2006. The CID launched an investigation into his disappearance that year and found that he had been abducted. Pillaiyan’s arrest comes nearly 19 years after the incident.
The Minister of Public Security also stated in Parliament that Pillaiyan is being investigated for his alleged involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks.
In a recent political interview, Minister Lal Kantha declared that former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was the only leader capable of rescuing Sri Lanka from its worst economic crisis. He emphasized that no other leader at the time could have accomplished this feat.
Minister Lal Kantha praised Wickremesinghe’s deep understanding of the economic system and his unwavering commitment to his principles, positioning him as the most prominent figure to emerge within that system since J.R. Jayawardene. He asserted that even Chandrika Kumaratunga did not reach that level of expertise.
Upon assuming the presidency, Wickremesinghe took decisive steps to manage the crisis, and the current government continues to implement the program he initiated with the International Monetary Fund without any alterations, according to the minister.
Minister Lal Kantha acknowledged their existence when asked about Wickremesinghe’s past mistakes during the interview, but did not elaborate further.
Mohammad Nawufer, a key figure in the Sri Lankan cell of the Islamic State (ISIS), has confessed to his involvement in the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. In a series of interviews with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Nawufer disclosed his role in the planning, training, and ideological groundwork that led to the attacks, which killed over 250 people.
Radicalization and Rise to Leadership
Nawufer’s path to radicalization was gradual, beginning with exposure to extremist ideologies in Qatar in 2009. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that he fully embraced ISIS ideology, influenced by the preaching, lectures, and online content of Zaharan Hashim, the leader of the National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ). Under Hashim’s guidance, Nawufer pledged allegiance to ISIS and committed himself to Jihad.
Nawufer revealed that Hashim sent a video to ISIS leaders in Syria, showcasing the allegiance of Sri Lankan ISIS members. Subsequently, Hashim declared that their group in Sri Lanka had been recognized as an official ISIS cell.
Hashim appointed Nawufer as his second-in-command, tasking him with recruitment, propaganda, and ideological indoctrination. Nawufer organized eight multi-day training camps, providing instruction in bomb-making, firearms, and religious principles.
The Rift and Aftermath
Weeks before the Easter attacks, a dispute arose between Nawufer and Hashim. Nawufer questioned Hashim’s leadership and security measures and attempted to resign, but Hashim refused.
Nawufer claims he last saw Hashim on March 9, 2019, and went into hiding after their disagreement. On the morning of the attacks, he was informed by another group member that Hashim had “executed a series of attacks.” Upon seeing news of the bombings on Facebook, Nawufer fled.
Nawufer’s Confession and Corroborating Evidence
Nawufer’s deep involvement was further evidenced by independent witness testimony and digital forensics. Nine individuals detained by Sri Lankan authorities identified Nawufer as a leader, and 13 witnesses confirmed a leadership breakdown within the group prior to the attacks. Social media and email records further substantiated Nawufer’s activities and allegiance to ISIS.
Significance of the Revelations
Nawufer’s confession confirms that the Easter Sunday attacks were not the actions of lone wolves, but rather the result of a structured, trained, and ideologically driven jihadist cell operating as a local arm of the Islamic State.
