Iran on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz has been opened to all commercial vessels for the remaining duration of the ceasefire, stating that the move is in line with the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement.

The report published by the United Nations Development Programme, released on Thursday, provides a preliminary assessment on how the ongoing conflict is destabilising global trade, energy markets, and financial systems.

Oil prices plunged by about 11% on Friday, extending earlier losses, after Iran’s foreign minister said ​that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of ‌Hormuz was open for the remaining ceasefire period.

The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka today called for the setting up of an independent prosecution office to ensure that those who are found responsible for the Easter Sunday bomb attacks could be dealt with effectively.

The US president Donald Trump says Iran has “agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again.”

The Vatican has officially declared the Easter Sunday bomb victims as Heroes of Faith, the Sri Lankan Catholic Church announced today.

While criticising the resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa said the move comes far too late, despite it being accepted.

MP Ravi Karunanayake who responded on the statement issued by the Central Bank if Sri Lanka (CBSL) that the NDB is safe despite the Rs 13.2 billion scam, questioned as to whether the former is enjoying special immunity.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed G.M.R.D. Aponsu as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Energy.

The forensic audit is expected to commence shortly

Warm Weather Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 17 April 2026, valid for 18 April 2026. The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caut

A temporary shade shelter made of sackcloth has been installed at the Thirunelveli signal junction in Jaffna by members of the Nallur Council.

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Several armed men robbed a bank in broad daylight in Naples, holding 25 people hostage before making their escape via a tunnel. Police surrounded a branch of Crédit Agricole in the southern Italian city shortly after the

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Oil prices have plummeted after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” to commercial ships for the remainder of the ceasefire. The cost of a barrel of Brent crude fell to $88 dollars a barrel, having b

Sri Lanka’s Sapugaskanda oil refinery has been modified to refine Murban since 2012

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Iran has demanded that it receive compensation for the destruction caused by the United States and Israel’s attacks, as the country remains defiant and regional powers continue their attempts to mediate an end to the con

Being a key frontline stakeholder in the national mission, ‘A Nation United,’ the Navy continues to maintain a vigilant maritime shield to eradicate the drug menace from society. During yet another successful operation o

lt;p align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Third shipment fails nbsp;quality test nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;None so far ha

lt;strong gt;By Jayani Madawla lt;/strong gt; The prevailing heatwave that Sri Lanka is experiencing is expected to continue through mid-May according to the Department of Meteorology. Experts warn that the situation cou

lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, who was indicted on corruption charges, was released on bail by the Colombo High Court on Friday after having his fingerprints

A renewed call for integrity, excellence and solidarity within the legal profession took centre stage at a women lawyers rsquo; gathering held in Hulftsdorp last week, where Supreme Court Justice Kumuduni Wickremasinghe

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Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” for all commercial vessels during the current ceasefire period, Foreign MinisterContinue Reading The post Iran says Strait of Hormuz open to commercial vessels ami

While the Sri Lanka Navy assisted in bringing to shore an ailing member of the crew of a Chinese research vessel anchored in Sri Lanka rsquo;s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the vessel will not be allowed into the countr

lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Ranith Padmasiri lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; The Court of Appeal has set aside the acquittal of all accused in the assassination case of

lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;Pix and text by K R Rajamanthri nbsp; nbsp; lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; A new ward is being constructed to serve communities in the Uva Paranagama area and parts of the Central Province, replacing th

lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Former Director General of the Land Reform Commission (LRC) Liyanage Padmasiri has acknowledged that a statement he made claiming Kandy District MP Chamindrani Kirie

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has welcomed Friday rsquo;s Supreme Court rsquo;s judgment which found that former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and several former health officials had violated the fun

lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Appeal Court decides the lsquo;harm rsquo; that may result from release of lsquo;transaction level rsquo; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;information during 2015-2017 outweighs lsquo;pu

lt;strong gt;By Kapila Bandara lt;/strong gt; Fertiliser companies and agrochemical suppliers have agreed to abide by regulated prices days ahead of the Yala paddy planting season, in a coordinated policy response to mit

lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;By S. Rubatheesan lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; gt;The government is set to dece

lt;strong gt;Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Large scale coconut industrialists are using the crisis in West Asia to exploit cottage level coconut husk industry traders the latter c

lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt;The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has received ldquo;a couple of hundred rdquo; offers in response to an open call for proposals to supply fuel md

Motor Traffic Commissioner General Kamal Amerasinghe, who was arrested on Friday over a fraudulent vehicle‑registration case, has been remanded until tomorrow. He was taken into custody by the Financial Investigation Uni

lt;strong gt;By Niranjala Ariyawansha nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Although the war in West Asia will have a significant impact on the Sri Lankan economy both in the short as well as long-term, Sri Lanka can control the ec

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lt;strong gt;By Damith Wickremasekera lt;/strong gt; Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a phone conversation this week to expedite the energy sector projects agreed upon b

lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Two opinions have emerged within the Attorney General rsquo;s Department regarding the University of Wolverhampton's response to the Criminal Investigation Departmen

Rupee depreciated

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“Overall market sentiment was positive, supported in part by developments surrounding geopolitical tensions