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Egg and Chicken Prices Soar Ahead of New Year Festivities

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Egg and chicken prices have reportedly increased with the approach of the New Year season. The price of an egg, previously sold between 28 and 32 rupees, has now climbed to between 38 and 40 rupees.

Similarly, the price of a kilogram of chicken has also risen. Previously priced between 1100 and 1200 rupees, a kilogram of chicken now costs between 1400 and 1500 rupees.

On March 26, InfoSriLanka.LK reported that egg prices could rise during the festive season due to small-scale egg producers leaving the industry.

AKD Vows to Uphold Accountability in Corruption Probe, Even for Elderly

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has defended the ongoing corruption investigation involving an elderly female relative of the Rajapaksa family, emphasizing that age will not shield those implicated in the misuse of public funds from scrutiny.

Dismissing criticism against the questioning of the woman, believed to be connected to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s family, Dissanayake stressed that accountability extends to all individuals involved in concealing stolen state resources. He stated that the investigation focuses on recovering looted public funds, regardless of the age or familial ties of those involved.

While Dissanayake did not mention specific names, his remarks are widely interpreted as a reference to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) probe into Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his grand-aunt Daisy Forrest Wickramasinghe. Investigators suspect that Wickramasinghe may have been used to conceal stolen public funds through her assets.

Dissanayake reaffirmed his government’s commitment to eradicating corruption, irrespective of political connections or family ties. Since taking office in 2024, his administration has initiated multiple investigations into financial misconduct and corruption linked to members of the former Rajapaksa regime, including probes into military procurement deals and the misuse of foreign aid.

Sajith Premadasa Faces Calls to Boycott All-Party Meeting Amidst US Tariff Tensions

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President Anura Kumara Disanayaka has called for an all-party leaders’ meeting tomorrow (10) to discuss the impact of US tariffs.

Minister Bimal Rathnayaka announced on his X account that the meeting will be held at the Presidential Secretariat tomorrow. He also mentioned that 12 opposition leaders had requested to meet with the President this morning to discuss the US tariff issue.

Meanwhile, some government members are criticizing Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, with Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe posting a derogatory comment on his Facebook account.

However, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha stated that President Disanayaka has already sent a letter to US President Donald Trump regarding the tariff impact issue.

Due to these statements from the government, many people have requested Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa not to attend the all-party meeting.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung have engaged in discussions focusing on advancing the US-Sri Lanka trade relationship.

Former PS Chairman Arrested for Unauthorized Approval of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Construction Project

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The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested Asela Wickramasinghe, the former chairman of the Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha, for granting unauthorized approval for a construction project near Manik Ganga.

The construction is allegedly owned by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

In a separate incident, a police constable has been arrested for allegedly misleading investigations related to the Easter Sunday attack. He is also accused of obstructing investigations into the murder of two police officers in Batticaloa in November 2018. The constable was attached to the State Intelligence Service at the time and was arrested by CID officers in Karadiyanaru.

RW Issues Statement on US Tariffs and Sri Lankan Economy

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated the new tariffs imposed by the United States and its impact on the Sri Lankan economy. He highlighted the potential trade war between the US and China, emphasizing the vulnerability of small economies like Sri Lanka in the face of such global economic shifts.

Wickremesinghe warned that the tariffs will hinder Sri Lankan exports, leading to factory closures and significant job losses. He also predicted a widening trade deficit and potential political unrest due to the deteriorating economic conditions.

The former President proposed several countermeasures, including the immediate implementation of the National Tariff Policy and the acceleration of discussions with the European Union for a GSP Plus agreement. He also stressed the importance of finalizing the ECTA agreement with India and implementing the Thailand-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement.

Meanwhile, SJB MP Harsha de Silva suggested that Sri Lanka should join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to overcome the challenges posed by the US tariffs. He emphasized the need for a change in attitude and highlighted the potential benefits of joining this large economic bloc.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa also expressed concerns about the negative impact of the US tariffs on Sri Lanka’s exports, particularly the apparel sector. He warned of potential job losses and a decline in economic growth due to the tariffs.

Former MP Pillayan Arrested Over Disappearance of Professor Ravindranath

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Former Member of Parliament Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pillayan, has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department for questioning in connection with the 2006 disappearance of Professor Sivasuubramaniam Ravindranath, the Vice-Chancellor of Eastern University.

Pillayan, a former military leader, faces allegations of involvement in acts of violence and war crimes. He led the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and later served as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council.

Professor Ravindranath disappeared in 2006 after attending a conference in Colombo. He had been receiving threats from armed groups operating under the TMVP, which at the time was fighting against the LTTE with the tacit support of the Sri Lankan government.

Before his disappearance, Professor Ravindranath had been threatened, and Dr. K. Balasukumar, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Eastern University, had been abducted by members of the Karuna group.

While Pillayan’s direct involvement in Professor Ravindranath’s disappearance has not been proven, he has been under suspicion due to his leadership of the TMVP. Another paramilitary leader, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (Karuna Amman), has also been questioned in connection with the case.

Pillayan’s arrest is a significant development in the case of Professor Ravindranath’s disappearance. Armed groups operating with the government’s protection during that period have been widely accused of involvement in disappearances and other crimes. The lack of accountability for these crimes has been a major concern.

Pensioners’ April Payments Deposited, But No Increase Reflects Budget Changes

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Pension payments for April were deposited into retirees’ bank accounts today. All pension allowances for state employees and retirees will be credited by tomorrow.

However, pensioners express disappointment that their pensions have not been increased following the recent budget and subsequent salary revisions by the government. They state that their April payment is the same as their March payment.

SJB Accuses Government of Inaction on US Taxes

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the government of failing to take action on US taxes imposed several months ago, despite warnings from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. Premadasa made these remarks during a public meeting in the Dedigama electorate ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Parliamentarian Prasad Siriwardana had also raised concerns about the issue. During his tenure, Wickremesinghe planned to remove the CESS and PAL import taxes to counter the US President’s tariff war. He had also pledged to eliminate these taxes within five years during the 2023 budget presentation.

Wickremesinghe’s strategy involved reducing taxes on imports from the US and other countries and using economic diplomacy to persuade the US to offer concessions on tariff impositions on Sri Lanka. However, the effectiveness of this approach was questioned, especially given the sudden reduction of taxes on US purchases in the budget and the uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s response.

Ranathunga and Herath Crowned Champions at 41st MBA Novices Badminton Championship

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Sasidu Ranathunga of John Keells Holdings and Yasasri Herath of IFS emerged victorious in the Men’s and Women’s Open Singles categories at the 41st MBA Novices Badminton Championship 2025, held at the MBA Indoor Courts in Colombo from March 22nd to 30th.

The tournament, organized by the Mercantile Badminton Association (MBA), saw the participation of nearly 390 shuttlers representing 52 local corporations.

In the Men’s Open Singles final, Ranathunga defeated Sapumal Bimsara of Nations Trust Bank 2-1 in a closely contested match. The Women’s Open Singles final saw Herath comfortably defeat Nivodi Perera of Seylan Bank 2-0.

The Men’s Doubles title was claimed by Kasun Priyanka and Sapumal Bimsara of Nations Trust Bank, while Chamali Botheju and Keshani Devindi of LOLC won the Women’s Doubles title. The Mixed Doubles title was won by Bhagya Ranasinghe and Yasmitha Dayarathne of John Keells Holdings.

The nine-day championship, consisting of 12 events and 416 matches, concluded with a colorful awards ceremony featuring former Sri Lanka sprinter Ranga Wimalawansa as Chief Guest.

Sri Lanka’s First-Ever Media Festival to be Held on April 25-26

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The Sri Lanka-India Media Friendship Association (SLIMFA) will host Sri Lanka’s inaugural Media Festival at the Taj Samudra Colombo on April 25 and 26. The event aims to advance the country’s media landscape by bringing together various media professionals, including journalists, editors, content creators, publishers, newsroom leaders, and media students.

Under the theme “Navigating the New Media Landscape Together,” the festival will delve into current media trends and innovations, with a focus on AI in journalism, mobile journalism, media monetization, data journalism, disinformation and fact-checking, content creation, podcasts, and audio journalism. The festival will feature panel discussions, workshops, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, fostering professional development and collaboration between media professionals from Sri Lanka and India.

The Media Fest welcomes all media professionals, journalism and multimedia students, and stakeholders to register via www.mediafest.lk. SLIMFA, established in May 2024 to strengthen media ties between Sri Lanka and India, has organized several media-focused initiatives, including panel discussions and roundtables.

Speakers