Mar 13 (DN) The PAFFREL organisation and the March 12 Movement pointed out that 87% of the Govt budget expenditure has been utilised by the end of 2025, indicating a significant step forward in fiscal progress. This was revealed at the launch of the second semi-annual monitoring report prepared by the PAFFREL organisation and the March 12 Movement, monitoring the implementation of the current Government policy statement, held at the BMICH yesterday March 12. more..

Mar 13 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest in the special event organized to commentate the International Mother Language Day 2026 today at the New Arts Theatre of the Uni of Colombo. The event was held under the theme Languages Unite: Diverse Voices, Shared Humanity. The event was jointly organized by the High Commission of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Education of SL with the support of the UN, SL Scout Association, and SL Girl Guides Association, more..

Mar 13 (DM) Recent economic and natural disasters in the past five years have affected the country’s food security with 2 million individuals having been affected by severe damages to homes, crops, food supplies and critical infrastructure. Entire communities have been left isolated or without basic services, and over 200,000 people were displaced from their homes. Food insecurity increased more than fivefold from 2019 to 2025, more..

Mar 13 (wsws) Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka have spoken to workers and university students about the implications of the criminal US-Israeli war against Iran and the urgent need to build an anti-war movement based on international socialism. The brutal US-Israeli war of extermination, now in its second week, is aimed at subjugating Iran and placing its resources under Washington’s domination. more..

Mar 13 (Island) Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) y accused the govt of trying to award another tender to the Indian company that supplied low-grade coal to the Norochcholai Power Plant and failed to deliver the stipulated amount of coal according to schedule. The allegation was made by the Education Secretary of the Progressive Socialist Party, Pubudu Jayagoda said. He said that in Sept 2025, the govt had awarded a tender to the Indian company Trident Chemphar to supply 25 coal shipments more..

Mar 13 (AD) Nearly 200 kilograms of seized narcotics related to concluded cases were destroyed by SL today at the incinerator located at Lactowatte, Wanathawilluwa. The destroyed stock included drugs linked to cases that had been concluded at the Colombo High Court and the Balapitiya Magistrate’s Court. Additionally, case materials connected to nearly 1,500 cases at the Govt Analyst’s Department were also destroyed during the operation. more..

Mar 13 (DM) Two officials attached to the Fire and Emergency Rescue Division of the Trincomalee Municipal Council have been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs. 20,000. According to the CIABOC, a Fire Officer (Officer-in-Charge) and a firefighter were arrested following a complaint made by a resident of Kantale. Investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly demanded Rs. 40,000 to issue a fire safety certificate for 2026 to a tourist restaurant located in Kantale town. more..

Mar 13 (NW) Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe has ordered streamlining the operations of Ayurvedic Spas, to prevent the operation of brothels under the guise of spas. During a meeting with officials from the Ayurvedic Dept, Police and Pradeshiya Sabhas, Minister Samarasinghe was informed of a practice where companies register as Ayurvedic Spas or ordinary companies, but operate as brothels. Discussions were also held on the lack of sufficient laws and proper procedures for regulation, more..

Mar 13 (AD) SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SL CERT) has issued a public advisory urging people to exercise caution when engaging with online advertisements as the festive season approaches. Senior Information Security Engineer at SLCERT, Charuka Damunupola, stated that several incidents of online scams have already been reported to the organisation during the first two months of this year. He noted that with the upcoming festive season—particularly the Sinhala and more..

Mar 13 (EN) Sri Lanka will host the 23rd edition of Colombo Fashion Week (CFW) this summer, focusing on positioning the capital as a high-end city tourism hub centered on fashion, lifestyle, and global glamour, organizers said. The initiative aims to transform Colombo into a high-spending destination, mirroring global powerhouses like Milan, Dubai, and Singapore. “Historically, fashion weeks work closely with city tourism in major capitals, like Milan or Venice. more..

Mar 13 (DM) In light of the prevailing high temperatures across the country and a recent incident where a 15-year-old student died while training for a school sports event in Buttala, health authorities have urged schools to avoid allowing students to take part in outdoor sports and physical activities during the hottest hours of the afternoon. A Grade 12 student of Dutugemunu National School, had been training for a marathon event more..

Mar 13 (AD) CIABOC informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today that investigations into former State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and other suspects, who are currently out on bail in connection with a corruption allegation, have been concluded. When the case was taken up, Shasheendra Rajapaksa and the other suspects, who are released on bail, appeared before the court. During the proceedings, officials from the Bribery Commission informed the court that more..

Mar 13 (AD) According to the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security & Community Empowerment, one-fourth of SL’s population is currently living in poverty. Minister Upali Pannilage stated that nearly 80% of those affected by poverty reside in rural areas, emphasizing that rural poverty should be eradicated first. Minister noted that the causes of poverty should be identified within each Grama Niladhari Division and that representatives of the Community Development Councils more..

Mar 13 (AD) Sri Lanka Police says that it has received several complaints regarding incidents where individuals employed in domestic service have allegedly stolen valuables such as gold, cash, foreign currency, and other property from the households in which they were employed. In view of these incidents, SL Police seeks to raise public awareness and provide guidance to help prevent such occurrences, more..

Mar 13 (TM) Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) should regularly convene with the Board of Investment (BOI), with the intention of courting companies within the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to consider relocating their offshore ancillary companies within other economic zones in the country, CPCEC Chairperson Harsha Amarasekera said. “Now that our regulatory framework is up, the Act amendment is up, the regulations are up and the tax incentives more..

Mar 13 (RG) Three young Bermudian cricketers, Aaron Paynter, Keegan Jones and Isaiah O’Brien, have missed out on an opportunity to tour SL as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. Paynter, Jones and O’Brien were scheduled to travel to the Asian country with the Ontario Cricket Academy from March 11 to 25 for T20 and 50-overs matches. However, the trip has been called off because of the conflict involving US, Israel & Iran, which has resulted in travel disruption across the region. more..

Mar 13 (NW) Sri Lanka has begun discussions with Russia to secure fuel supplies as concerns grow over disruptions to global energy supply chains due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Minister Vijitha Herath held an urgent meeting today with Russian Ambassador to SL Levan S. Dzhagaryan at the Foreign Ministry to discuss the possibility of purchasing Russian oil. The discussions come following the removal of sanctions that had previously restricted purchase of Russian oil, more..

Mar 13 (FT) The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce brought together Sri Lanka’s business, diplomatic, and government communities, hosting a high-level networking evening recently at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo. Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Acting Minister Arun Hemachandra, attended as the Chief Guest. The event welcomed Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and Consuls General representing nearly 50 countries, alongside representatives from key State institutions. more..

Mar 13 (DM) Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodagamage observed that due to loopholes in actions carried out by state financial institutions under the Foreign Exchange Act, money in SL is being transferred overseas through cryptocurrency transactions. Accordingly, the Magistrate stated that immediate steps should be taken to prevent such activities and to educate the public and directed that the Central Bank more..

Mar 13 (Island) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that the Govt believes investments in education should be encouraged to develop highly skilled human resources essential for rebuilding the country, adding that the scholarship programme is a national initiative that reflects the country’s future vision. PM made these remarks while attending the inauguration ceremony of the scholarship programme that provides opportunities for students who excelled in the 2024 GCE A/L Exam more..

Mar 13 (FT) The Export Development Board (EDB) recently convened a high-level meeting with key industry stakeholders to discuss the challenges faced by exporters shipping goods to the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The meeting focused on identifying measures that the EDB, together with other relevant institutions, could introduce to support exporters and ensure the smooth continuation of export operations during the current period of geopolitical uncertainty. more..

Mar 13 (AD) The bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in the torpedo attack on the warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka’s coast are scheduled to be repatriated to Iran today on a special flight departing from Mattala International Airport, the Defence Ministry said. On March 11, the bodies of the 84 Iranian sailors, stored in two mobile cold storage units at the Galle National Hospital, were ordered to be handed over to officials of the Embassy of Iran in SL. more..

Mar 13 (AD) NWSDB says it has discovered the largest groundwater source in SL thus far during tube well drilling carried out near the Pitabeddara Police Station. Indrajith Gamage, Geologist in charge of the Southern Province, stated that this is the first instance in which a water source with a continuous flow of 10,000 litres (10 cubic metres) per minute has been identified in the country. He noted that the previous largest groundwater source was discovered in the Madhu area, more..

Mar 13 (AD) An individual has stolen a box containing several rubies from a gem merchant at E.L. Senanayake Veediya in Kandy this afternoon. The robbery had been carried out after the suspect incapacitated an individual on the premises by spraying an unidentified chemical liquid on his face. According to the Police, the establishment functions as a centre for the sale, testing, and certification of gemstones. The suspect reportedly entered the premises under the guise of a potential buyer more..

Mar 13 (FT) The recent Financial Times column proposing a Northern Gateway Initiative presents an ambitious vision for transforming SL’s Northern Province into a strategic economic bridge between SL and Southern India. For such a vision to succeed sustainably, however, large-scale infrastructure investment must first be integrated with the systematic development of local enterprise and workforce capability. Long-term progress ultimately depends not only on infrastructure more..

Mar 13 (FT) Crossroads such as The Silk Route have their own legends about countries, characters and caravans. But it is chessboards that may have some elements that are far more relevant to the state of play in the Middle Eastern game that is going on today. On a chessboard, every move looks deliberate, strategic and calculated – sometimes, even elegant. Pawns advance with a purpose that can terrify kings. Knights leap in elaborate corkscrews – often two at a time (ahem!) more..

Mar 13 (TM) One of the largest narcotics hauls in SL this year was uncovered after the Navy intercepted two suspicious multi-day fishing trawlers in international waters south of the country, with the seized stock of drugs estimated to be worth around Rs. 10 billion. The two vessels suspected of transporting narcotics and weapons were brought to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour yesterday after being seized during a special Naval operation more..

Mar 13 (NW) Gary Kirsten says he is excited about the challenge of leading SL as the national team’s new head coach, while stressing the need to build confidence and consistency within the squad. Kirsten said coaching int'l teams has been among the most fulfilling experiences of his career, noting that he enjoyed his time with India and South Africa more than franchise leagues. He explained that franchise coaching had allowed him to spend more time with his family when his children were more..

Mar 13 (FT) The Russian Embassy in Colombo has issued the following statement in response to the story ‘Dutch Embassy condemns Russian pressure to remove Ukraine war photos from exhibition’ published in yesterday’s Daily FT: “Due to the controversial article in the Daily FT Dutch Embassy condemns Russian pressure to remove Ukraine war photos from exhibition published on 22 March 2026, the Russian Embassy would like to provide the following message. more..

Mar 13 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured that all rights currently enjoyed by employees of the now-liquidated CEB will be protected under the newly established successor companies. The assurance was given during a meeting held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat between Prez and representatives of engineers’ trade unions of the former CEB. Discussions focused on the ongoing more..

Mar 13 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines today (11), and held a bilateral discussion with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the field of rice research and sustainable agricultural development. During the meeting, discussions centered on rice cultivation in Sri Lanka, including the key challenges faced by SL paddy farmers, more..

Mar 13 (FT) Economic policy think tank Advocata Institute in a statement yesterday praised the Govt’s mid-month fuel price revision as a decisive move that prevented hoarding and shortages during a global energy shock, while calling for cost-reflective pricing to protect scarce foreign exchange and maintain fiscal discipline, and for greater transparency in CPC pricing formula. Statement: We commend govt’s decisive move to revise fuel prices mid-month without prior notice. more..