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Cyber heist at External Resources Dept: Funds diverted in email hack ...
Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando Business Sun Siyam Pasikudah marks the New Year at the shore of Sri Lanka’s rising coast Published 7 hours agoon 2026/04/24 There is something about Avurudu that naturally fills every corner of Sri Lanka with energy and connection, and this year, that spirit extended to the shores of Pasikudah. At Sun Siyam Pasikudah, part of the Prive Collection within The House of Siyam, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year was celebrated on 14 April with a vibrant, full day programme that brought together guests and team members in true festive spirit, warm, lively, and centred around shared traditions and generous feasts. The day followed the rhythm that Sri Lankan families know well. At the auspicious hour determined by the almanac for the New Year, the hearth at The Kitchen was ceremonially lit and the milk pot set to boil, symbolising warmth, unity, and the drawing in of abundance for the year ahead. This followed another auspicious moment at noon where a Traditional Sweet Table was laid out, where kiribath, kokis, kavum, aasmi and more were on offer, prepared by the resort’s culinary team and enjoyed by guests who had gathered, some for whom this was the most natural thing in the world, and others encountering the tradition for the very first time. From 3:00 PM onwards, the afternoon opened into games. The resort grounds hosted the full run of Avurudu classics: Kana Muttiya (Pot Breaking), Kaba Adeema (Tug of War), Banis Kama (Bun Eating Contest), Balum Pipirawima (Balloon Blowing), Kotta Pora (Pillow Fighting), the Sack Race, Spoon Race, Blindfold Yogurt Feeding, Eyeing the Elephant, and Finding the Coin on the Plate. Guests of all ages joined in, and the kind of laughter that filled the afternoon is really the only way to describe what Avurudu at its best feels like. “Avurudu is one of those occasions where the feeling in the air does all the work. The auspicious timings, the lighting of the hearth, the sweet table, the games in the afternoon: each of these carries its own meaning, and when you observe them properly and together, the day takes on a quality that is hard to replicate at any other time of year. We wanted our guests, wherever they had travelled from, to feel genuinely part of that, not simply watching from the outside. I think the day showed that Pasikudah is a place where that kind of celebration feels entirely at home,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager, Sun Siyam Pasikudah The celebration is also a ...
Finance Ministry probes cyber breach at External Resources Department
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development says it has already lodged complaints with law enforcement agencies and other relevant institutions regarding the theft committed by cyber hackers who breached the computer system of the External Resources Department of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Based on identified information relating to a foreign currency payment in January 2026, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development informed the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SL-CERT) and the Computer Crime Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Police, according to the statement. Based on the investigations carried out, a complaint was subsequently lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank, it said. A preliminary internal inquiry has also been conducted in this regard, necessary actions have been taken, and disciplinary actions have been initiated against several officials, the ministry further clarified. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development said it will continue to extend the necessary cooperation and has already provided the required information to support the investigations that are being conducted by the relevant law enforcement agencies. “Since investigations are currently underway, updates regarding this matter will be provided at an appropriate time in the future, so as not to disturb those ongoing investigations,” it added. The Finance Ministry stated that in accordance with the existing agreements between Sri Lanka and foreign jurisdictions, necessary future arrangements will be made regarding this matter.
Finance Ministry probes cyber breach at External Resources Department
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development says it has already lodged complaints with law enforcement agencies and other relevant institutions regarding the theft committed by cyber hackers who breached the computer system of the External Resources Department of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
## CID and Financial Intelligence Unit launch probe into cyber theft ...
A specialised investigation into a theft carried out by cyber hackers who accessed the computer systems of the Department of Foreign Resources under the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic ...
