Mar 23 (DM) Even though assurance was given by the govt that no power cuts will be imposed soon, CPC chairman D.J Rajakaruna said that the refinery which produces furnace oil and naphtha for power generation, will have to be shut down by middle of April due to unavailability of crude oil. He said that the crude oil stocks in the country will be sufficient to run the refinery only till Mid April and that the next crude oil shipment is due on June 19 & 20 after the cancellation of two crude oil shipments of more..

Mar 23 (NW) Iran’s Ambassador to SL, Alireza Delkhosh, has claimed that Iranian warships were heading to Sri Lankan waters at the country’s invitation prior to the attack involving one of the vessels, while also confirming ongoing talks with Colombo to take the remaining sailors home. Speaking during a media interaction on the incident involving the Iranian vessel Dena, the envoy said the ships had been engaged in non-combat activities and were in the region for peaceful purposes. more..

Mar 23 (Reuters) US President Donald Trump said on Monday he had given orders to postpone ​any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days, hours ahead of a deadline that threatened further escalation in the conflict now in its fourth week. Trump said in ‌a post on his Truth Social platform that the US and Iran had had very good and productive conversations over the past two days about a complete and total resolution of more..

Mar 23 (NW) Former Minister Arjuna Ranatunga and former Chairman of the CPC Dhammika Ranatunga were indicted before the Colombo High Court today on corruption charges. The court subsequently ordered their release on two personal bails of Rs. 5 million each. Case has been scheduled for a pre‑trial conference on May 15. According to the indictments, during a six‑month period in 2017–2018, three long‑term tenders arranged by the CPC to procure SL’s fuel requirements were cancelled. more..

Mar 23 (NW) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla welcomed a SL Parliamentary delegation led by Chairman of the Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Issues, MP S.M. Marikkar, at the Parliament of India. Speaker Birla said the interaction reflected the deep‑rooted civilizational ties, shared democratic values, and strong partnership between India and Sri Lanka. Discussions focused on strengthening parliamentary cooperation as a vital pillar of bilateral more..

Mar 23 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed the officials to take all possible measures to safeguard the country’s energy conservation by raising public awareness on the prudent use of energy during the peak consumption period between 6 pm to 10 pm, while ensuring the active participation of the public in these efforts. Prez emphasised that, in the face of the global challenge of maintaining uninterrupted energy supplies more..

Mar 23 (AD) The overall rate of inflation, as measured by National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), has decreased to 1.6% in Feb 2026, compared to 2.4% in Jan 2026. Meanwhile, food inflation has decreased to 1.1% in February compared to 3.4% in January while the Y-o-Y inflation of the non-food group increased to 1.9% in February from 1.6% in January. On a Year-on-Year, contribution of food commodities to inflation was 0.50% in Feb 2026 compared to Feb 2025. more..

Mar 23 (NW) Milk powder importers and wheat flour companies today assured Minister of Trade, Wasantha Samarasinghe, that the prices of imported milk powder and wheat flour in the country will not be increased. They further pledged that sufficient stocks of imported milk powder and wheat flour will be supplied for the next three months, and confirmed that no price hikes of any kind will be introduced until the end of the upcoming New Year season. The assurance was given during a meeting more..

ar 23 (DM) SL Bottled Water Association (SLBWA) has requested Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to revoke or temporarily suspend the gazette introducing maximum retail prices (MRPs) for bottled drinking water, considering the cost-related pressures faced by the industry. In a letter addressed to the Prez, Industries Minister and Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), SLBWA stated that many small and medium-scale producers are struggling to continue operations under more..

ar 23 (CI) Dasun Shanaka has replaced the injured Sam Curran at Rajasthan Royals (RR) for IPL 2026 and has informed his PSL team, Lahore Qalandars, of his decision. Shanaka will join RR for INR 2 crore (US$ 214,000). "Sam brings immense value with both bat and ball," Kumar Sangakkara, director of cricket and head coach, RR, said. "However, we are pleased to have found an ideal replacement in Dasun Shanaka, a finisher with the bat and a quality all-rounder who helps maintain more..

Mar 23 (Island) The ongoing controversy surrounding the importation of substandard coal to the Lakvijaya (Norochcholai) Coal Power Plant has spiralled into a full-blown national energy crisis, with severe technical disruptions, mounting financial losses, and growing fears of widespread power outages, a former General Manager of the CEB has warned. Speaking with authority shaped by decades of experience, more..

Mar 23 (EN) Dimuth Atapattu has been appointed as Director General of SL’s Data Protection Authority (DPA) with effect from March 5. “TBoard looks forward to working with Mr Atapattu as he leads the DPA in safeguarding the privacy rights of individuals and supporting responsible data-driven innovation,” DPA chairman Rajeeva Bandaranaike said. Appointment of a Permanent Director General to DPA strengthens the country’s personal data protection & enforcing the privacy framework more..

Mar 23 (DM) Nearly 50% of Sri Lanka’s adult population have never visited a dental clinic, health officials reveal. According to Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, access to dental care remains unequal despite progress in the sector. Speaking at the national event marking World Oral Health Day held at Galle Face Green recently, he noted that many people only seek treatment after symptoms appear, highlighting weak public awareness and poor early detection. more..

Mar 23 (Island) SL is preparing to host a landmark global scientific gathering that will bring some of the world’s foremost experts on snakes to the island, placing the country firmly on the international map of reptile research, conservation science, and venom studies. World Congress on Snakes (WCS) 2026, first int'l conference dedicated exclusively to snake biology, conservation and human–snake interactions, will be held from Oct 1 to 4, more..

Mar 23 (NW) Three-wheeler fares in the Western Province have been increased by Rs. 10 with effect from today, Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority announced. Accordingly, the starting fare for the first kilometre has been increased from Rs. 100 to Rs. 110. The fare for each additional km from the second kilometre onwards has also been revised from Rs. 80 to Rs. 90. Fare revision comes amid rising fuel costs, impacting public transport charges across the province. more..

Mar 23 (TM) Residents living near the Ambatale water treatment plant have reported a troubling phenomenon: thousands of fish have been dying in the Kelani river over the past several days. Local residents observed large numbers of dead fish floating on the surface of the river, raising concerns about environmental pollution and its potential impact on the water treatment process. They have stated that they immediately informed PS, CEA & NARA about the situation. more..

Mar 23 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the govt to ensure that fuel subsidies are directed to ordinary citizens rather than the ultra‑rich, stressing that relief must reach the middle and lower income groups. He said that while the govt has raised fuel prices by the highest percentage, it must now honour its election promise to reduce prices. Premadasa accused the govt of leading a corrupt coal deal that has reduced electricity generation at the Norochcholai power plant by more..

Mar 23 (FT) McLarens Group of Companies Managing Director Shehara De Silva has been named to the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurial Winning Women (EWW) Class of 2026 announced by Ernst & Young (EY), which recognises 23 women entrepreneurs leading some of the region’s fast-growing businesses. EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women is a bespoke executive program designed to support high-potential, women-led businesses as they scale internationally. more..

Mar 23 (EN) SL has seen a 5% growth in GDP for 2025, surpassing US$ 106.8 billion, according to DCS provisional GDP estimates. The services sector made the biggest contribution to GDP in 2025, at 54.6%, with industries second at 25.4%. Agriculture and taxes less Subsidies on products were at 8.4% and 11.6% respectively. GDP growth in 2025 was a continuation of that from 2024, which was the first year of GDP growth more..

Mar 23 (DM) Bakery product prices across the country are set to increase by Rs. 10 from midnight today, following rising production and distribution costs triggered by the recent fuel price hike, the Bakery Owners’ Association said. Accordingly, the price of a 450g loaf of bread will increase to Rs. 130, while other bakery items will also see a similar price adjustment. The association noted that higher fuel costs have significantly impacted expenses related to transportation and production, more..

Mar 23 (NW) Police have arrested the daughter and son‑in‑law of a University of Jaffna lecturer in connection with her murder. According to police, the victim’s son lodged a complaint on Thursday, reporting his mother missing. The complainant had voiced suspicion about his sister and her husband, after which the Police apprehended the couple in Trincomalee. Investigations into the arrest led to the two suspects confessing to killing the 54‑year‑old lecturer at her residence. more..

Mar 23 (AD) At a press conference held at the Embassy of Iran in Colombo, Iranian Ambassador Dr. Alireza Delkhosh reiterated Iran’s commitment to its bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka and emphasized continued cooperation between the two countries. Addressing the media, Ambassador Delkhosh described SL as a friendly nation and stated that Iran maintains an open and supportive stance toward its partners. more..

Mar 23 (EN) The US Embassy in Colombo has urged US citizens in Sri Lanka to exercise increased caution and follow security alerts it issues. “Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate,” it said sharing a caution issued by the Department of State, which advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution. “U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted." more..

Mar 23 (ANI) BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said on Monday that the Congress and DMK surrendered India's maritime rights by giving Katchatheevu island to SL. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, he also celebrated PM Narendra Modi's record tenure days in public office as a Chief Minister and PM, describing it as a historic milestone for Indian democracy. "I have provided the documents; I have provided a copy of the agreement. The agreement copy states that the entire maritime area more..

Mar 23 (FT) Since the publication of the previous article in this series titled Mideast war, emerging external shocks and Sri Lanka’s choices, the geopolitical picture looming over Sri Lanka and other nations has become scarier. Here is a quick shot of the situation. The United States, the country regarded as having the most modern and equipped military, is unbelievably stuck in the war with Iran, a relatively less-sophisticated nation in military terms. At the outset, President Trump, more..

Mar 23 (TM) Sri Lanka is being asked, once again, to live within limits. The Govt’s call for mindful consumption of fuel is not a gentle appeal. It is a stark reminder that the country remains dangerously exposed to global shocks. But if this moment feels familiar, it is because it is. We have been here before. And the real question is whether those in charge, and those on the ground, have learned anything at all. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa is right to warn the public. more..

Mar 23 (FT) Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday said the Govt is absorbing Rs. 20 billion a month to cushion the impact of sharply higher fuel prices, even after raising pump rates to levels last seen during the 2022 economic crisis, to shield consumers while preventing renewed pressure on currency and foreign reserves. He said the State continues to subsidise Rs. 100 per litre of diesel and Rs. 20 per litre of petrol despite this week’s more..

Mar 23 (TM) In the wake of a proposed increase of over 10% in bus fares being scheduled for consideration by the Cabinet today, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) stated that its members island-wide would refrain from operating buses due to inadequate fuel supplies. National Transport Commission (NTC) announced yesterday that a bus fare increase of more than 10% was assessed following the recent fuel price hike, and the proposal was scheduled to be submitted more..

Mar 23 (TM) Following Prez Dissanayake announcing that temporary permits would be issued to US dollar-dominated businesses to import fuel for sale to the tourism and export sectors, five companies have so far applied for such permits, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. He said that the Govt was currently reviewing the applications submitted by the five companies. He added that the fuel imported under this mechanism would be issued specifically for industrial requirements. more..

Mar 23 (TM) The recent fuel price hike announced by the CPC has sent shockwaves through multiple industries across the country, intensifying pressure on sectors already grappling with rising costs. The price revision, which came into effect from yesterday has compounded existing economic challenges, leaving fishing boat owners, vegetable farmers, bus operators, and bakery owners struggling to manage escalating more..

Mar 23 (AD) Dept of Posts has decided to limit mail transportation to an alternate-day basis in response to the fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Co-Convenor of the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front, Chinthaka Bandara, stated that this decision was taken as a strategic measure to manage the current fuel quotas allocated to the department and to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices. Accordingly, he stated that postal administration has decided to conduct more..

Mar 23 (TM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna yesterday (22) warned that the country could face a significant fuel-related challenge affecting power generation in the coming days. He said that if a crude oil shipment does not arrive on 24 or 25 March, refinery operations could continue only until around 25 March. “As a result, stocks of fuel oil and naphtha, both used for electricity generation, are expected to run out, posing a serious issue,” he said. more..