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..

Mar 23 (AD) Lanka IOC PLC (LIOC) has announced an increase in the prices of several fuel categories, effective from today (22). According to the company, the price of Lanka Auto Diesel has been increased by Rs. 79, bringing the new retail price to Rs. 382 per litre. Concurrently, the price of Lanka Super Diesel has been raised to Rs. 572 per litre. In the petrol category, Octane 95 Petrol is now priced at Rs. 487 per litre, while Octane 92 Petrol has been increased to Rs. 398 per litre. more..

Mar 23 (SO) Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector is expected to remain insulated from immediate geopolitical shocks following the closure of the Hormuz Strait, Agriculture, Livestock, Land & Irrigation Ministry officials said. Fertiliser stocks, preemptive imports, and robust paddy reserves are helping safeguard supplies and stabilise prices amid rising concerns over Middle East tensions, they said. NFS Director Chandana Lokuhewage said that the Govt had preemptively imported more..

Mar 23 (TM) Govt is exploring mechanisms to enable Sri Lankans living overseas to cast their votes, with initial discussions currently underway among key institutions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had initiated a round of stakeholder consultations with line ministries, focusing on a comparative analysis of overseas voting models. However, it is learnt that large-scale models used in some foreign countries are reportedly more..

Mar 23 (DM) SL’s logistics sector has begun absorbing the first clear pass-through from the global oil price shock, with container transport operators raising charges by 20% from Monday as fuel costs surge following disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Container Transport Owners’ Association (CTOA) said the revision was driven sharply by higher operating expenses linked to rising global crude prices and tighter shipping conditions amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. more..

Mar 23 (NW) Opposition MP Harsha de Silva has raised concerns over the govt’s fuel pricing formula, alleging a lack of transparency in how current prices are being calculated. de Silva said his back calculations suggest that the govt is using assumed global oil prices of USD 130 per barrel for Petrol 92 and USD 180 per barrel for auto diesel when determining fuel prices at CPC filling stations. He further claimed that authorities are factoring in subsidies of around Rs. 20 for petrol more..

Mar 23 (FT) Uber and PickMe, have urged the Govt for support to keep Sri Lanka moving in light of the latest fuel constraints. Highlighting the critical role played by ride-hailing and delivery platforms in helping people access transport, food and essential services, the platforms have jointly asked for higher fuel quotas for their most engaged driver and delivery partners. Uber and PickMe said, “We welcome the Govt’s decision to increase regular fuel quotas from 21st March onwards more..

Mar 23 (AD) CMC has decided to resume the collection of vehicle parking fees across its jurisdiction starting today. The decision was reached during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance. Consequently, parking management and fee collection operations will return to their regular schedule from 6 a.m. Collection of parking fees had been temporarily suspended since March 18 due to severe traffic congestion and long vehicle queues observed near fuel stations across the city. more..

Mar 23 (FT) Advocata Institute CEO Dhananath Fernando said SL’s fuel consumption is heavily skewed, with the top 30% income cohort consuming 70% of fuel, pointing to the need for price-based adjustments rather than relying solely on rationing. At a CMA SL webinar on the economic impact of the Middle East war, Fernando said fuel prices, despite recent increases, remain below levels required to reflect actual costs. more..

Mar 23 (ST) At least six fraudulent websites posing as National Fuel Pass platforms have been taken down after being flagged for stealing personal and vehicle registration data to obtain QR codes, according to the national cybersecurity agency. Nirosh Ananda, Chief Information Security Engineer at the SLCERT, said that these deceptive links were circulated widely on social media and messaging apps to harvest personal information and vehicle details for fuel QR codes. more..

Mar 23 (FT) In a landmark step towards strengthening national safety standards and advancing engineering research, Uni of Sri J'pura has established the Centre for Fire Safety Engineering (CFSE), SL’s first dedicated facility for fire testing and structural fire research. Formally established in Aug 2022, the Centre represents a major milestone in SL’s higher education and public safety landscape. It was developed as a result of a significant research grant more..

Mar 23 (ST) The fuel crisis has far-reaching consequences for a range of sectors, varying from industries to individuals engaged in various businesses. These sectors called on the govt to respond fast so they can maintain services. They complained that although the politicians make bold statements in Parliament and explain mechanisms, solutions have not been implemented. Bakeries expressed concern over the non-availability more..

Mar 23 (FT) Strategic planning and capable leadership are essential to mitigate the adverse effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East while capitalising on emerging opportunities. These views were shared at a seminar titled The War in the Gulf Region: Its Implications and the Way Forward for SL, recently held at the Organisation of Professional Associations of SL (OPA). The event featured Y. N. Jayaratne and Advocata Institute CEO Dhananath Fernando as guest speakers. more..

Mar 23 (Island) St. Servatius’ College ended more than five decades of frustration when they defeated arch rivals St. Thomas’ College by five wickets in the annual Battle of the Blues encounter concluded at the Uyanwatta Stadium on Sunday. The victory marked a historic moment for the Servatians as they recorded their first big match win in 55 years, the previous triumph coming in 1971 under the captaincy of Nimal Munaweera. SL U-19 player Viran Chamuditha played a decisive role more..

Mar 23 (FT) Board of Investment (BOI) of SL has postponed the Sri Lanka Investment Forum 2026 due to ongoing global developments. BOI said: “We wish to inform our valued registered participants and all stakeholders that the Sri Lanka Investment Forum 2026, scheduled for 30 March 2026, in collaboration with its partners—the European Union (EU), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) has been postponed. more..

Mar 23 (Island) Today is a red-letter day for Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium. Exactly 25 years ago, to this very day, the venue hosted its maiden international, Sri Lanka locking horns with England and in the quarter-century since, the ground has grown from a bold gamble into one of the country’s prized cricketing possessions. From Sachin Tendulkar’s silken drives to Dale Steyn’s thunderbolts, the game’s greats have left their imprint here. Dambulla has seen it all, more..

Mar 23 (TM) Four suspects linked to the Easter Sunday attacks have filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition before the Supreme Court, claiming that their trial has reached a procedural impasse that undermines their right to a fair hearing. Petitioners – Muhammad Akram Ahakkam, Mohamed Hanifa Seinul Abdeen, Jazeem Zeinulabdeen, and Razik Rasa Hussain – who are currently in remand at the New Magazine Prison in Borella, more..

Mar 23 (FT) Only a few days ago, a large-scale illegal cyber operation was uncovered in the Anuradhapura–Mihintale area, a region better known for its religious and cultural significance than for organised crime. Acting on intelligence, SL Army Intelligence, together with the Dept of Immigration and Emigration, conducted coordinated raids across multiple locations, leading to the arrest of 134 foreign nationals. Among those taken into custody were 126 Chinese nationals, more..

Mar 23 (Island) The ownership of Trincomalee port was highly contested by the Dutch, French and British as Gateway to Bay of Bengal in 1700s and 1800s. Famous seafarer Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, as a fleet Midshipman on board HMS Seahorse, in 1775, wrote in his journal Trincomalee is the Finest Natural Harbour in the World. What Lord Nelson realised as a Midshipman was the immense Strategic, Natural and Commercial value of the port, considered as one of the deepest more..

Mar 23 (Island) The fuel price revision on the eve of the reintroduction of the QR-based fuel quota system the other day was only a feint, and the killer hook followed on Saturday, when massive fuel price hikes sent the public reeling. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has said that despite the latest fuel price increases, “the Treasury is still bearing a cost of Rs. 100 per litre of diesel and Rs. 20 per litre of petrol, resulting in an estimated monthly subsidy expenditure of approximately Rs. 20 billion”. more..

Mar 23 (CT) There was a commemoration ceremony of the late Gamini Dissanayake on the occasion of his 84th birthday. Sajith Premadasa, Leader of SJB and the Leader of the Opposition, delivered a speech in which he outlined his political viewpoint. He has expressed these sentiments previously as well and he operates in this line. The following are the quotes of his speech and the translation was by the writer. “Today a lot of people talk about different camps of ideologies. more..

Mar 23 (TM) Following US-Israel attacks on Iran and the inability of the attackers to contain conflict, SL is grappling with a familiar difficulty, as the island is once again pushed into a fuel crisis. For many Sri Lankans, the situation seems like an eerie déjŕ vu, with memories of the foreign currency crisis-induced fuel shortages of the recent past coming to mind. It seems that SL has not learnt from its past or is moving too slowly in doing so. more..

Mar 23 (DM) Tehran has repeatedly caught Washington off guard, launching attacks on U.S.-aligned Arab nations, effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz, and most recently deploying long-range ballistic missiles with a range of 4,000 kilometers, a stunning setback for U.S. and Israeli military experts, according to their own statements to Wall Street analysts. There is no clear evidence that the CIA or U.S. military intelligence have let down Donald Trump. more..

Mar 23 (GV) Most of the business of the UN are so routine they barely make the news. Like the UN Commission on the Status of Women’s annual vote on Agreed Conclusions. For 30 years, the vote had been a mere formality. Consensus was the name of the game. After extensive deliberations, delegates would agree on a final document. Those member countries with reservations would abstain. Year 2026 was different. At first, normalcy prevailed. After extensive deliberations, member countries more..

Mar 23 (SO) In an interview, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath outlined how the Govt is seeking to maintain a policy of strict neutrality despite mounting geopolitical pressures. Emphasising principles of non-alignment, impartiality and territorial integrity, he discussed Sri Lanka’s response to recent maritime incidents, its approach to international law, and efforts to diversify trade and strengthen regional cooperation. more..

Mar 23 (ST) The war raging in West Asia and its adverse impact on Sri Lanka was uppermost in the minds of lawmakers as the conflict entered its third week. The war also messed up the House’s agenda for the week, as the govt’s decision to declare Wednesday a holiday for the public sector to conserve fuel forced the Committee on Parliamentary Business to cancel Parliament sittings that had earlier been scheduled for Wednesday (18). Highlighting the extent of the challenges more..

Mar 23 (DM) As tensions rise in the Middle East and global uncertainty becomes the new normal, Sri Lanka once again finds itself watching events unfold with a sense of helplessness. A conflict thousands of miles away begins to push up fuel prices. Shipping routes become uncertain. The cost of living creeps up. And as always, it is the ordinary citizen who feels the pressure first. This is not new. It is a pattern we have lived through time and again. Every global crisis, whether it is a war, more..