Mar 30 (Island) Recommendations made by retired High Court Judge Ms. Sujatha Alahapperuma, following an inquiry into claims by a female employee of the Dept of Information Systems and Management of Parliament, regarding sexual harassment, denial of due salary increments and other forms of harassment, were yet to be implemented, sources familiar with the investigation said. Retired HC Judge handed over more..

Mar 30 (AD) Prabhath Madusanka, also known as Midigama Chuti, a member of an organized criminal gang who was taken into custody in Oman, has been brought back to the country this morning. He was escorted to the BIA by a team of special police officers. Midigama Chuti, who is connected to multiple criminal activities, was taken into custody by Omani security authorities last year while having a red warrant issued against him. Accordingly, 3 officers from the CID departed for Oman more..

Mar 30 (DN) Sri Lanka’s 400m men’s, women’s and mixed relay teams secured second place at the 1st International Invitation Relay held in Chandigarh, India over the weekend. In the mixed 4x400m relay led by Kalhara Indupa Silva, followed by Jithma Wijethunga and Aruna Darshana, kept Sri Lanka in front for much of the race. However, in the final 100m, anchor runner Nishendra Fernando was overtaken by India’s runner. India won the race and SL had to satisfy with silver medal. more..

Mar 30 (SO) The country’s power system is under mounting pressure, with engineers predicting that targeted night- outages may become necessary from next month. Energy sector engineers said that falling water levels in reservoirs and rising diesel costs are squeezing supply margins, forcing officials to consider short, rotational power cuts to stabilise the grid. “Delaying such measures could lead to more severe, more..

Mar 30 (TM) Amid mounting political and public pressure over a controversial coal tender, Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) yesterday launched a public petition demanding the immediate resignation of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, alleging the procurement of substandard coal has caused massive financial losses to the State. Association’s General Secretary, Sanjeewa Dhammika said the signature campaign commenced in Nugegoda, with plans to gather islandwide support more..

Mar 30 (NW) Govt yesterday launched the national programme Surakimu Lanka, aimed at encouraging the public to conserve energy, citing potential supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict and forecasts of possible El Niño weather conditions. The programme, launched on March 29, will run for five months and seeks to promote responsible energy use while strengthening national energy security. The initiative aims to foster a community that carefully conserves energy resources more..

Mar 30 (ST) Two opinions have emerged within the Attorney General’s Department regarding the Uni of Wolverhampton’s response to the CID in relation to its probe into former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Britain in 2023. The difference of opinion has resulted in a delay in the completion of the probe into the allegation that Mr Wickremesinghe misused more than Rs 16.6 million in state funds to attend the Wolverhampton University’s graduation ceremony where his wife, Maithree Wickramasinghe, more..

Mar 30 (NW) Supreme Court conducted a landmark paperless trial on March 26, marking a major step in the country’s judicial digitalisation. The hearing, led by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena with judges Arjuna Obeyesekera and Sobitha Rajakaruna, involved a case of contempt of court. Respondent had failed to pay a govt-ordered fine of Rs. 3 million related to the 2024 Grade 5 scholarship exam question paper leak. For the first time, the court used a fully digital case file instead of more..

Mar 30 (TM) Another Indian fuel vessel, HARI ANAND, arrived at the Colombo Port yesterday, carrying 36,000 metric tonnes (MT) of diesel and petrol, as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with fuel supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. The vessel docked at the Dolphin Jetty at around 1.30 pm, and pumping of the fuel to the Kolonnawa storage complex commenced shortly after, authorities stated. more..

Mar 30 (NW) Businessman Dudley Sirisena has raised concerns over SL’s 36% personal income tax, warning that high taxation and excessive public holidays could hinder investment and slow the country’s economic recovery. Speaking at an event in Galle, Sirisena said the country was currently facing a severe economic challenge amid global uncertainties, including the Middle East conflict, and stressed the need for stronger cooperation between the govt and the business community. more..

Mar 30 (TM) Anti-dumping legal measures aimed at curbing the sale of imported goods at prices lower than local products will soon be formulated Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti said recently to media, during a special inspection tour of the Nalanda and Kaludewala industrial zones in the Matale District. He urged complaints to be lodged whenever imported products are sold at prices lower than those of locally produced goods. more..

Mar 30 (ST) Former Director General of the Land Reform Commission (LRC) Liyanage Padmasiri has acknowledged that a statement he made claiming MP Chamindrani Kiriella had illegally acquired 43 acres of land in Hantana, Kandy, was false. He has tendered an apology to the SJB MP over the false statement and also expressed his regret over the matter. Tendering his apology before Parliament’s Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Mr Padmasiri claimed that the statement was made when more..

Mar 30 (DM) SL’s tourism sector has crossed the 150,000 mark for March, but the industry is grappling with a sudden contraction that threatens the newly revised monthly target of 200,000 arrivals. 151,693 tourists arrived in the country between Mar 1 and Mar 25. On a cumulative basis, SL welcomed 708,348 international visitors during the year up to Mar 25. Despite a strong start to 2026, the current pace represents a stark drop compared to the 185,164 arrivals registered during more..

Mar 30 (ST) A third coal shipment from South Africa—bought via the Indian supplier Trident Chemphar—has failed quality testing by the independent accredited laboratory Cotecna, officials said this week. Trident has now been charged penalties totalling US$8.1mn for three shipments out of the 12 that have been unloaded at Norochcholai, officials from Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC) said. Its contract, however, more..

Mar 30 (Island) SL champion thrower Rumesh Tharanga created history with yet another worldleading effort when he shattered his own national record at the Champions Track and Field event held at Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium on Saturday. Tharanga produced a massive throw of 89.37 metres in his final attempt, a distance which, once ratified by World Athletics, is expected to stand as the fourth-longest throw ever recorded in Asia. The outstanding performance further more..

Mar 30 (FT) JAT Holdings said that following the successful market validation of its SEAFORM Perth joint venture, it has entered the Australian cabinetry manufacturing segment through securing a manufacturing facility in Perth. The company said that JAT’s initial entry into the market through SEAFORM Perth provided clear indicators of demand for premium cabinetry solutions. The business observed sustained traction at a premium price point, alongside an opportunity to more..

Mar 30 (FT) SL’s rupee has remained relatively stable in early 2026, with depreciation contained despite pressure from the Middle East conflict, while the Central Bank continued to build reserves through net foreign exchange purchases. CB Economic Research Director Dr. Lasitha Pathberiya said the rupee depreciated by 1.3% so far in 2026, with pressure emerging in recent weeks following the onset of the conflict. more..

Mar 30 (FT) The Customs House Agents (CHA) Traders Association and Wharf Representatives Union have expressed serious concern over delays in clearance of imports as well as rising costs. Their anguish follows a detailed and constructive discussion covering the entire Customs clearance workflow—from Long Room operations and container movement from port to examination yards to procedures at examination points. Concerns have been communicated to Treasury Secretary, more..

Mar 30 (FT) Colombo Port City Economic Commission and the Board of Investment (BOI) told the CoPF that the current Middle East crisis presents an opportunity to attract investment flows to SL, particularly from businesses seeking alternative locations in the region. Commission officials, who appeared before the CoPF earlier this month, said the initial outreach is being prepared, including engagement through Foreign Affairs Minstry and SL’s diplomatic missions in Gulf countries. more..

Mar 30 (FT) Suren Rajakarier has assumed duties as Managing Partner of KPMG’s member firm in SL and its practice in Maldives with effect from 1 April 2026. Rajakarier previously served as COO for KPMG SL and Maldives. He led the firm’s audit practice for nearly two decades. With over 38 years of experience in audit and assurance services, he has worked extensively with multinational corporations as well as leading SL organisations across a broad range of industries. more..

Mar 30 (FT) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), together with the Presidential Secretariat of SL and the World Bank, convened a seminar on Competition Policy and Law in Colombo. The event brought together over 70 Govt policymakers and regulators, private sector leaders, development partners, think tanks and Sri Lankan and international experts to discuss how stronger competition frameworks can support SL’s ongoing economic reforms and long-term growth. more..

Mar 30 (FT) SL’s export sector is being squeezed by a sharp spike in global freight costs and logistics disruptions, with the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) warning that a prolonged ME crisis could severely undermine trade flows, competitiveness, and broader economic stability. “The impact is already being felt across both sea and air cargo, with shipping rates surging and routes disrupted as vessels avoid conflict-hit zones,” more..

Mar 30 (Island) No sooner had Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody been indicted for corruption than he was released on bail last Friday. The CIABOC, which filed charges against him, has alleged that in 2016, while serving as the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company, he committed an act of corruption, causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the state; he influenced a procurement process related to the refurbishment of the company’s more..

Mar 30 (Island) Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm stands today as one of the most strategically significant yet historically underutilized energy assets in South Asia. Located off the deep natural harbour of Trincomalee, the facility embodies a convergence of history, geopolitics, and economic potential. In the current global context—marked by energy insecurity, shifting geopolitical alliances, and regional competition—the Trincomalee oil farm offers Sri Lanka a renewed opportunity to more..

Mar 30 (GV) The condition of youth in the North cannot be understood through a single narrative. I t is shaped by history, the long period of war, social change and the pressures of a globalised economy. What emerges is a complex picture. University students, particularly those at the Uni of Jaffna, have a strong sense of cultural and political custodianship. Many see themselves as protectors of Tamil identity in the post-war period. This has led to mobilisation around issues such as more..

Mar 30 (SO) On Feb 28, 2026, in response to US-Israeli military aggression, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz through which around a quarter of seaborne oil trade passes. Over 80% of the oil and gas that travels through Hormuz goes to economies in Asia. This bodes badly for the world economy, as it is Asia that has been propping up global growth rates – the IMF’s Jan 2026 World Economic Outlook had projected five percent growth in emerging and developing Asia compared to more..

Mar 30 (CT) What is being promoted as a major step towards renewable energy is rapidly turning into one of the most controversial environmental issues in the country. Large-scale solar power projects underway in Hambanthota are facing serious allegations of illegal forest destruction, regulatory violations, and escalating human-elephant conflict. At the heart of the issue lies the Hambanthota elephant management reserve more..

Mar 30 (SO) The ongoing Israel-USA war on Iran, doubled by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, is causing a global economic fallout with Asia being affected the hardest. Sri Lanka, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, depends mainly on imports to meet their energy demands, is already rationing its fuel consumption and even a weekly public holiday has been introduced to curb the demand. The Strait of Hormuz, which sees more than three quarter of Asia’s oil imports flow out of West Asia, more..

Mar 30 (ST) Sri Lanka presented an embarrassment, not of riches but of stinging pointers to the negation of the law and the Constitution during the past few weeks. The tone deaf nonchalance of the NPP Govt in shrugging off the indictment of its Energy Minister who continues in Cabinet office is truly astounding. Minister concerned was indicted for corruption in regard to procurements when he served as the Procurement Manager of the Lanka Fertiliser Company by the CIABOC. more..

Mar 30 (TM) Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture regarding power generation and continuous supply, amid concerns over current tensions in the Middle East following the conflict involving Iran and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The current energy crisis is driven by a critical shortage across multiple power generation sources, primarily affecting electricity supply. While hydropower typically accounts for a significant portion of more..

Mar 30 (DM) War has entered the second month. Donald Trump repeated his assertion that he is in talks with Iran to end the ongoing war, a claim Tehran denies. He went further, claiming that Iranian leaders had suggested he become their next Supreme Leader. The remark raised eyebrows and prompted widespread debate about his mental fitness. The world is in turmoil. From the bold claims of Donald Trump to the escalating U.S.–Israeli war on Iran, global politics is unpredictable. more..

Mar 30 (DM) Sri Lankans are used to talking about floods and heavy rains. When rivers overflow or roads go underwater, the danger is clear and immediate. But there is another threat building quietly, one that does not make as much noise but affects just as many people. The heat is rising and, with the possible return of El Niño in the coming months, the question we must ask is simple. Is SL ready? Over the past few weeks, the signs have already been there. more..