Anura Karunathilaka says 50% of compensation for ex-CEB retirees will be paid via Treasury funds by May 15, with the remaining 50% to follow shortly after.
ASPI ends at 22,584, with First Capital citing 'panicked retail selling' tied to Middle East escalation and Hormuz fears.
Sri Lanka Customs collected Rs. 236.5 billion in April against a Rs. 181.2 billion target, with cumulative four-month revenue at Rs. 919.3 billion.
Nishantha Jayaweera says financial services VAT and SSCL are being merged into a single 20.5% rate, not raised, ahead of the July 1 amendment.
Fertilizer Secretariat rejects claims Sri Lanka overpaid for urea at USD 800 per tonne, citing the Indian benchmark against Kazakhstan's USD 220-320.
Energy Minister Karunathilaka tells Parliament Sri Lanka is procuring grid-stability software, battery storage and a World Bank synchronous condenser.
Ganeshan Wignaraja says the IMF's blank GDP forecast groups Sri Lanka with Syria and Lebanon, exposing debt-restructuring risk and weak foundations.
Indian HC Santosh Jha calls for permanent land link, ETCA progress and submarine power line, citing 50% FDI share and 65% FTA usage by SL exporters.
Cabinet approves land acquisition across seven DS divisions for the long-delayed Kelani Valley line upgrade from Maradana to Avissawella.
Rupee depreciation and frozen drug price caps are squeezing pharma importers; Health Minister Jayatissa says a ceiling-price revision is under review.
Menzies Aviation Australia wins a three-year SriLankan Airlines ground handling contract at Sydney Airport worth AUD 8.32 million.
BoC subsidiary to offer 4 new preference shares for every 21 ordinary shares at Rs. 10 each to bolster Tier I capital, with a 5-year-yield-linked dividend.
Cabinet awards Rs. 2.026 billion to rehabilitate two A2 southern corridor stretches: Kamburugamuwa-Dewinuwara and Talalla-Kudawella.
The Central Bank's construction PMI fell to 57.1 in March from 70.3 in February, with firms citing fuel shortages and Middle East-linked supply bottlenecks.
Cabinet has awarded Rs.1,458mn in tenders for 16 double cabs, 84 single cabs and 9 tractors to United Motors, Toyota Lanka and DIMO for wildlife duties.
Cabinet approves Wimal Liyanagama to succeed Seevali Arukgoda as Customs Director-General; he currently heads Treasury's Management Services department.
Final SLTDA data show April tourist arrivals fell to 135,643, down 24.8% on a year earlier, with India, China and the UK the top source markets.
Bimal Rathnayake says work on a Colombo-Ragama-Makumbura-Panadura electric railway will start next year, with three to four years to complete construction.
Sri Lanka Customs detects two attempts to smuggle 13,710kg of turmeric concealed in dried chilli shipments from India in raids on Kandy and Badulla traders.
Four fuel hikes in five weeks under the IMF cost-reflective formula, with transport and housing now the largest drivers of April inflation in Sri Lanka.
China says SINOPEC will not proceed with the USD 3.7bn Hambantota refinery unless Sri Lanka raises the local sales share from 20% to 30%.
Construction has begun on Sri Lanka's first Metro Bus depot in Kadawatha — a Rs. 102 million facility due July 30 ahead of an August fleet expansion.
Bimal Rathnayake launched a pilot online seat reservation system at busticket.gov.lk for long-distance private bus travel, with SLTB to follow.
First Capital says AGAL, KGAL, KOTA and HOPL are well placed to gain from rising rubber prices, with Watawala and Sunshine leading the ASPI's gainers.