Mar 3 (CT) Currently, there are no disruptions to ships scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka. However, several cargo vessels have requested certain facilities at the Ports of Colombo and Hambantota, and arrangements are being made to provide the necessary support, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilaka said. He also said, Maritime navigation in the Middle East and Gulf regions has been disrupted, which is expected to impact exports to these areas. more..

Mar 3 (NW) Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath met with Romania’s Minister of Economy, Digitization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Ambrose‑Irineu Darau, during his official visit to Romania. At the meeting, Minister Herath noted that bilateral trade between SL and Romania in 2025 amounted to only USD 42 million and emphasized the need to expand trade ties between the two countries. “I informed Minister Darau that SL recorded the highest tourist arrivals in 2025 more..

Mar 3 (NW) Govt of SL has invited businesses to register on its official e-procurement platform, promise.lk, offering free registration for a limited period and free training on the bidding process. According to a public notice issued by the Govt, the promise.lk portal now facilitates procurement of goods under the Shopping Method, covering procurements up to Rs. 25 million per procurement using local funds and up to Rs. 40 million more..

Mar 3 (Island) Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has called for the immediate establishment of a dedicated service category, titled the Sri Lanka Medical Service, to resolve the long-standing crisis within the country’s health sector. In a media release, following a crucial General Committee meeting, the Association emphasised that while strengthening the free health service is a primary responsibility of any govt, the current administration is deliberately evading this duty. more..

Mar 3 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa convened a meeting today at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament with party leaders and MPs representing the opposition to discuss the impacts of the ongoing Middle East conflict on SL. In a statement, Premadasa said that during the meeting, extensive discussions were held on the military crisis unfolding in the Middle East region. Special focus was placed on SL’s significant imports and exports linked to Iran more..

Mar 3 (AD) A total of 205 flights — 107 arrivals and 98 departures — have been cancelled due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Anura Karunathilaka stated. A special meeting was held today at the Ministry premises to assess the current impact on the aviation sector. According to the Minister, steps have been taken to extend visas for tourists stranded in SL, covering the duration of their stay. more..

Mar 3 (NW) JVP General Secretray Tilvin Silva met with Cuba’s newly appointed Ambassador to SL, Patricia Pego Guerra, this morning at the party’s head office. During the meeting, discussions focused on further strengthening the longstanding friendship between SL and Cuba, as well as enhancing ties between Cuban Communist Party and JVP. Ambassador Pego Guerra expressed Cuba’s willingness to explore cooperation in key sectors including health, education, sports & more..

Mar 3 (NW) The Sri Lanka Core Group on Tuesday called for the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and urged stronger action on accountability and human rights reforms, delivering a joint statement at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council. The statement, delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador Eleanor Sanders on behalf of Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia and the UK, extended condolences to Sri Lanka for lives lost in Cyclone Ditwah in November. more..

Mar 3 (DM) The govt is planning to present a motion in Parliament next week to extend the state of emergency, considering the prevailing situation in the country, such as fuel queues, following the outbreak of war in Iran and the Middle East region, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday. He told this while responding to a question at a special press briefing, whether the government will extend the state of emergency, considering the current situation in the country, more..

Mar 3 (NW) Sri Lanka’s upcoming white-ball series against Afghanistan in the UAE is in doubt following escalating tensions in the Middle East. The series, scheduled from March 13 to 25, comes after Iranian strikes across parts of the region following reports of the death of Iran’s supreme leader in U.S.-Israeli attacks. Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said the board is closely monitoring developments before making a final decision. “We are supposed to go to Dubai on March 10. more..

Mar 3 (BBC) Gas prices have spiked and stock markets indexes tumbled after an Iranian official said his country would set fire to anyone trying to pass through the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route. As the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel continued, the UK gas price surged by more than 46%, following sharp gains on Monday pushing it to it highest price for three years. Brent Crude Oil climbed by more than 5% more..

Mar 3 (NW) Norway’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Kravik held a special meeting Tuesday (3) with leaders of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) to discuss political developments in Sri Lanka. ITAK General Secretary M. A. Sumanthiran and MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam participated in the discussion. Rasamanickam said that the talks focused extensively on the need for meaningful political solutions in Sri Lanka and current political developments in the country. more..

Mar 3 (Island) The 13th Session of the Sri Lanka–Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) was successfully held recently in Colombo, reinforcing the strong and longstanding economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries. SL delegation was led by Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, while the Pakistani delegation was headed by Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the PM of Pakistan for Industries and Production. more..

Mar 3 (DM) In the wake of war raging in the Middle-East following the U.S. Israel attacks on Iran, Iranian Ambassador Dr. Alireza Delkhosh who offered to have an interview, discussed in what direction the situation will head in the coming days. Q: In Iran’s perspective, how long will this war continue? A: For giving the right answer to your question, we have to look at the ground for this escalation. Why did these attacks happen more..

Mar 3 (NW) High Commission of India in Colombo has announced the opening of applications for 200 fully‑funded scholarships exclusively for SL nationals for the 2026–2027 academic session. The High Commission of India said these scholarships, across various levels, are being offered for studies in prestigious Indian Institutes and Universities across subject domains, but not including Medical/ Paramedical and Law courses. The scholarships offered exclusively for SL nationals more..

Mar 3 (AM) Senior Attorney-at-Law S.K. Sangakkara has passed away, family sources confirmed. A respected legal practitioner based in Kandy, Sangakkara was well known within the legal fraternity and the wider community for his longstanding service to the profession. He was also the father of former SL cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara. He is survived by his wife, Kumarie & children Thusharie, Vemindra, Saranga, Kumar, along with his sons- & daughters-in-law more..

Mar 3 (NW) The Embassy of Iran in Colombo has announced that a book of condolence will be opened following the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a diplomatic note dated March 2, the Embassy informed SL’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited to SL of what it described as the “martyrdom” of the Supreme Leader during U.S. and Israeli attacks in Tehran on February 28. more..

Mar 3 (AD) The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing disruptions to the shipment of goods to various countries, Postmaster General S. R. W. M. R. P. Sathkumara stated. Speaking to media today, the Postmaster General noted that several consignments collected last Friday are still unable to be dispatched. The situation in the Middle East has led to restrictions in sending goods to certain regions, and some shipments may face delays or obstacles, he noted. more..

Mar 3 (EN) Colombo Stock Exchange saw its worst fall on Tuesday in terms of points after the market opened for trading for the first time following the Middle East conflict. ASPI plummeted 1,290.68 points to close at 22,443.38; a 5.44% fall. Colombo Stock Exchange temporarily halted trading in the morning after the S&P SL20 dropped more than 5%. The previous biggest drop in points was recorded on Dec 1, 2025, more..

Mar 3 (DM) Iran has called on Sri Lanka to clearly articulate its position on what it describes as violations of international law amid the escalating war in the Middle East. Iranian Ambassador Dr Alireza Delkhosh said Sri Lanka’s long-standing non-aligned foreign policy should not translate into silence in the face of civilian casualties and alleged breaches of international norms. “Sri Lanka is a neutral country. But neutrality does not mean silence,” he said. more..

Mar 3 (NW) Int'l cricket commentator and former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has praised Dasun Shanaka for his composure during a tense final over in a closely fought encounter. Raja commended Shanaka for not reacting to what appeared to be a wide delivery from Shaheen in the final over. He said those in the commentary box had read the ball as a wide, but Shanaka chose not to protest or show visible dissent. At the time, Shanaka was on 22 runs with 27 required off the last over for victory. more..

Mar 3 (DM) SL Police has implemented special security measures to safeguard foreign diplomatic missions in the capital and hotels accommodating tourists in the wake of tensions in the Middle East. A senior police officer said that IGP has instructed all relevant divisions, particularly the Tourist Police Division, to enhance security at hotels and key locations frequented by foreign visitors. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Nearly 35,000 new cancer cases and 19,145 cancer-related deaths are reported annually in Sri Lanka, placing cancer among the leading causes of mortality in the country, according to data published by the National Cancer Control Programme in 2022. President of the SLCS, Anoja Karunaratne, said cancer remains a major public health challenge globally as well as in Sri Lanka, with a significant impact on individuals, families and the national health system. more..

Mar 3 (AD) Colombo High Court has announced that the verdict in four cases filed by the CIABOC against former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena will be delivered on April 30. Gunawardena, who served as Chairman of the National Lotteries Board in 2006, was accused of causing a financial loss to the govt by purchasing vehicles on a lease basis during his tenure. Hearing for these cases was held today before HC Judge Mohamed Mihal, during which both parties concluded their oral submissions. more..

Mar 3 (FT) The Devil’s Alternative is the title of a thriller by bestselling author Frederic Forsyth published in 1979 which coined the phrase devil’s alternative that at one stage, you reach a state in which whatever you do, it will harm others. When I watched the recent non-conclusive between Central Bank officials and Parliament’s standing Committee On Public Finance or COPF, it appeared to me that the present Central Bank is caught up in a choice similar to a devil’s alternative more..

Mar 3 (FT) SL is not at war. Our hotels are operating. Our beaches are calm. There is no domestic instability. Yet within hours of hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran beginning on 28 February, SL’s tourism industry felt the impact. SL is stable. But in tourism, geographic distance from conflict does not mean insulation from its consequences. This is the illusion of safety in a globally connected industry. You can be far from the battlefield and still economically exposed to it. more..

Mar 3 (TM) In view of the unrest that has arisen in the Middle East and the Gulf region, the Govt launched a series of special operations to look into the safety and welfare of foreign tourists currently in SL, as well as to ensure the protection and well-being of SL migrant workers overseas. These decisions were taken at a special discussion held on 1 March at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Deputy Tourism Minister more..

Mar 3 (CT) SL Govt has expressed its condolences over the loss of all lives, including those of Heads of State, resulting from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday. He stated that a formal message of condolence would be issued shortly through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Responding to a question from a journalist as to why the Govt had not yet released an official statement despite the reported assassinations of Iran’s Supreme Leader more..

Mar 3 (DM) The Israel-Iran war has entered its third day with sustained air strikes, expanding missile exchanges, and rising casualties across the Middle East, transforming what began as joint United States–Israeli operations against Iran into a widening regional conflict. Explosions have continued across Iran, Israel, and several Gulf states since Saturday, when Washington and Tel Aviv launched coordinated attacks targeting Iranian military, leadership, and infrastructure sites. more..

Mar 3 (DM) SL’s external sector delivered a stronger-than-expected start to 2026, with January’s numbers pointing to a more broad-based foreign exchange cushion. The data showed that the external current account recorded a larger surplus of US $ 369.7 million in January 2026, compared with both recent months and Jan 2025 (US $ 99.8 million). The performance follows a provisional surplus of US$ 1.7 bil for 2025. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Nearly 18% of SL’s population is now aged 60 years and above, reflecting a clear trend of population ageing, Population Association of SL (PASL), President Prof. Manori Weeratunga, said. She made these remarks while addressing the annual Population Conference organised by the PASL at the BHICH in Colombo recently. The conference, held under the theme Population Dynamics: Challenges and Opportunities, brought together scholars, policymakers, more..

Mar 3 (NW) MP Rauff Hakeem, Leader of the SLMC, has expressed condolences over the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and strongly condemned what he described as a unilateral US-Israel military strike on Iran. In a statement, Hakeem said the reported killing of Khamenei and several senior Iranian defense officials amounted to a shocking violation of international law and an act of aggression against a sovereign state. more..