Mar 1 (ST) Those in the ruling JVP-led NPP have been talking of finding the spectral mastermind (maha molakaru) behind the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks for many months now. It began during the election trail in 2024 with the promises made in its election manifesto to ‘expose all information related to murders, including the Easter Sunday attacks, to take appropriate legal action against the politicians and public more..

Mar 1 (SO) CPC Chairperson D.J.S. Rajakaruna allayed public fears of a possible fuel shortage following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, saying SL has sufficient stocks. He said reports had reached the CPC that residents in Northern and Eastern Provinces were panicking amid concerns that the escalating Middle East crisis could disrupt fuel supplies. “There is no reason for the public to panic,” Chairman said. “We currently have adequate stocks, and several fuel shipments are more..

Mar 1 (TM) No significant decline has been observed in vehicle imports thus far this year, as the total annual value of Letters of Credit (LCs) opened for vehicle imports is expected to reach levels close to those recorded in 2025, the Deputy Minister of Trade reveals. Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security R.M. Jayawardana stated that, unlike last year, no specific target had been set for the volume of LCs to be opened for the purpose of importing vehicles into the country. more..

Mar 1 (TM) The GMOA yesterday threatened to expand its trade union action by withdrawing from ‘Arogya’ clinics from tomorrow (2), citing a lack of response from the Govt to its demands. The unanimous decision to withdraw from the ‘Arogya’ project had been taken by the GMOA’s Central Committee last Wednesday (25). The GMOA said that it had repeatedly called for solutions to issues affecting medical officers and clarity on more..

Mar 1 (TM) Following discussions held yesterday among CEB trade unions on the Govt’s response to eight specific demands concerning the restructuring process of the board, the CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) has announced that further union action will be launched on Tuesday (3). With the date for the CEB’s proposed liquidation having been deferred due to the postponement of its restructuring process, a discussion held on 16 Feb between trade union representatives and the CEB Chairman more..

Mar 1 (TM) The Govt’s newly launched ‘Himikama’ (ownership) freehold land deed programme, aimed at converting long-standing permit and grant lands into absolute ownership, has received 76,000 applications through the eState Land Information and Management System (eSLIM), with authorities expecting between 40,000 and 45,000 to qualify during the initial six-month phase. The programme was formally inaugurated on Friday in Anuradhapura under patronage of Prez Anura Kumara more..

Mar 1 (NF) Nimal Bandara, SL’s Ambassador to Israel, says all Sri Lankans in the country are safe. Ambassador stated that Sri Lankans residing in Israel have been provided with the necessary safety instructions amid the current situation. He further noted that in case of an emergency, Sri Lankans can contact the Embassy of SL in Israel on 00972 9305731. Director General of the ministry of foreign affairs Thushara Rodrigo said that Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in close contact with more..

Mar 1 (DM) A monk from Pilimatalawa, alleged to have fraudulently obtained money by falsely posing as the Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship and claiming that relief would be provided to entrepreneurs affected by the Ditwah cyclone, was arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau and produced before court. It is alleged that the suspect falsely represented himself as the Deputy Minister and promised relief assistance to businesspersons affected by more..

Mar 1 (ST) SL’s senior citizen interest scheme’s landscape has shifted from direct government-funded high-interest subsidies toward a model of targeted social welfare and the settlement of past financial obligations. The specialised 3% extra interest scheme for senior citizens, which was one of the cornerstones of the 2025 Budget, has closed its enrollment period on Dec 31, 2025 and being discounted in 2026. If a senior citizen more..

Mar 1 (ST) The govt has accelerated the structured disbursement of reconstruction capital and oversight of large-scale infrastructure projects making use of the money raised by the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund on the directions and the supervision of the 7-member Management Committee The committee operates as a statutory body under the Presidential Secretariat. It is a collaborative group featuring both high-level govt officials and prominent business figures. more..

Mar 1 (IANS) The arrest of SL’s former Intelligence chief, Retired Major-General Suresh Sallay is a turning point in the investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 279 people. The move was a bold one taken by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who won the presidency in 2024. He had promised that all persons involved in the attack would be brought to justice. Sallay was made State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief in 2019 after Gotabaya Rajapaksa became President. more..

Mar 1 (EN) SL’s construction sector activity spiked in Jan 2026, registering a value of 75.0, up from the previous month’s 67.1, on a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank. This was the index’ second-highest reading on record after the peak of 75.7 in July 2020, CBSL said. Firms reported increased project activity during the month, driven by the commencement of new projects in the new year, the central bank said. SL has also commenced reconstruction work after more..

Mar 1 (AD) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) has announced a revision of fuel prices effective from midnight today (28). Accordingly, the price of Auto Diesel has been increased by Rs. 4 to Rs. 281 per litre, and the price of Super Diesel has been increased by Rs. 6 to Rs. 329 per litre. Meanwhile, the price of Petrol 92 Octane has also been increased by Rs. 1 to Rs. 293 per litre. However, there will be no change in the prices of Kerosene and Petrol 95 Octane, the CPC said. more..

Mar 1 (TM) The Govt has activated emergency response mechanisms and suspended outbound flights to the Middle East following a sharp escalation of military hostilities in the region, as nearly one million Sri Lankans living and working there face growing uncertainty. The Govt’s emergency measures follow a major escalation in regional conflict after the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran in an operation named Operation Epic Fury yesterday. more..

Mar 1 (DM) Department of Immigration and Emigration has announced a special concession for foreign nationals stranded in Sri Lanka following the cancellation of Middle East–bound flights effective from February 28, 2026. The Controller General of Immigration and Emigration stated that passengers who are unable to depart the country within the validity period of their visas due to the flight suspensions may face legal and administrative difficulties. To mitigate these challenges, more..

Mar 1 (SO) Nemindu Akmeemana hit a solid century and Osanda Pamuditha hammered a fighting half century as Nalanda College made a strong reply on the second day of their 96th Battle of the Maroons Inter-School Big Match against traditional rivals Ananda College, which continued at the SSC Grounds in Maitland Place yesterday. The pair came together at a vital stage of the innings when the Nalandians were in a spot of bother and were under some kind of pressure after having lost 3 wickets for 62 runs more..

Mar 1 (ST) With Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya expected to step down from his position, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has begun discussions with several foreign candidates to fill the impending vacancy. SLC confirmed that formal negotiations are currently underway and that an official announcement will be made once the process is completed. “We have been negotiating with a few foreign coaches,” confirmed SLC CEO Ashley de Silva. “We cannot reveal their identities at this stage, but more..

Mar 1 (TM) SL Customs has moved to temper expectations of a quick turnaround in the operationalisation of the proposed Customs examination yard in Kerawalapitiya, pointing to the need to develop the land and surrounding infrastructure. SL Customs Director Chandana Punchihewa stated that there were serious doubts as to whether the proposed examination yard in Kerawalapitiya could be operationalised as quickly as reported. He opined that the commencement of operations at the Kerawalapitiya more..

Mar 1 (CI) As SL were tanking their must-win Super Eights match of the men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Khettarama, fans in a packed Khettarama stadium began ironically chanting for New Zealand. Irony tends to come naturally to SL fans, like sarcasm, and self-deprecation, as well as supporting other teams now, because for 12 years no senior national side from Sri Lanka has made a global tournament final, and if you like watching cricket you have no choice but to find another outlet for your hopes. more..

Mar 1 (Island) Those of us who have earned our bread and butter from this grand old game have a duty to guard its gates. Cricket has been our benefactor; we cannot now let the grass grow under our feet and drift into mediocrity. Wednesday night’s painful exit from the T20 World Cup left 35,000 fans at the ground shell-shocked, while millions more switched off their televisions hoping it was all a bad dream. SL are better than this. When Pramodya Wickramasinghe and Dasun Shanaka were brought back to spearhead more..

Mar 1 (ST) SL cricket is in disarray. We are facing a serious decline in the sport that we all love, and the slide appears to be continuing. I say this with responsibility and concern, certainly not with anger. I have seen SL cricket at its strongest and at its most vulnerable, and what worries me most today is the gradual disappearance of standards and cricketing identity. The recent defeats to Zimbabwe, England and NZ show that we did not lose because they were better opponents, but more..

Mar 1 (CI) Sahibzada Farhan's record-breaking hundred and Fakhar Zaman's blazing 84 off 42 balls gave Pakistan a five-run win over Sri Lanka in Pallekele but it wasn't enough to put them in the T20 World Cup semi-finals. It was New Zealand who became the second team from Group 2 to qualify for the knockouts. After being sent in, Pakistan needed to win by about 65 runs to qualify, and for a large part of their innings, they were in business. Having made three changes more..

Mar 1 (Island) Excerpts from the speech of the Chairman of the Communist Party of SL, D.E.W. Gunasekera, at the 23rd Convention of the Party. This is not merely a routine gathering. Our annual congress has always been a decisive moment in SL’s political history. For 83 years, since the formation of our Party in 1943, we have held 22 conventions. Each one reflected the political turning points of our time. Today, as we assemble for the 23rd Congress, we do so at another historic crossroads more..

Mar 1 (Island) Janith Madushanka de Silva alias Podi Lassi, a dangerous underworld character, who was arrested in India, was brought back to SL yesterday. On watching his arrival at the BIA, Citizen Perera must have uttered the same words as Mr. Bumble in Oliver Twist: The law is an ass. Criminals are caught, released and caught again. Arresting an underworld figure is no walk in the park. It takes months of meticulous planning to nab powerful criminals protected by private armies. more..

Mar 1 (FT) Contents of this article are excerpts from an address delivered by the undersigned on 31 Jan 2026 at the SL Student Association of Japan at the Embassy of SL under the auspices of the Conference Chair, Sr. Prof. N.S. Cooray of Int'l University of Japan and graced by the Chief Guest, Ambassador of SL to Japan, Prof. Janak Kumarasinghe as well as other distinguished speakers. “Sustainable Development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising more..

Mar 1 (SO) Why are Perodua and Proton the preferred cars in Malaysia? It is a rich country and here are the comparisons. Malaysia’s GDP per capita is US $ 12,000 in contrast to ours which stands at US $ 4,500. But yet, 60% of cars used in that country are made locally. In a rich country, why don’t people prefer imported cars? Costs, and protectionism are two of the key factors, and that’s for starters. Consumers have to pay far less for a car made in Malaysia, sometimes less than half of more..

Mar 1 (ST) Following SL’s disastrous exit from the Super Eight round of the World T20, social media has exploded with criticism and mockery of the country’s cricket team. The humiliating exit hurts all the more given that SL is co-hosting the tournament with India, and had they qualified for the semi-final, they would have had the added advantage of playing that game on home soil as well. However, after two horrendous defeats against England and NZ, SL was left with playing more..

Mar 1 (ST) My dear Dasun and the cricket team, I am writing to you when cricket fans are shocked with your performance at the T20 World Cup. In a tournament where all our games are being played on home soil, we have been booted out already. What has happened to the game 30 years after we won a World Cup is the talk of the town. I am not at all surprised. The way in which the game was being run in the country, it would be a miracle if we made it to the semi-finals. We lost three T20 games in a row to more..

Mar 1 (ST) War was what everyone expected during the charade of diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran on the latter’s nuclear programme. When was the only question, and it came yesterday while the diplomats were still at the table. Dogged at home by the Epstein files; a Supreme Court decision against his global tariffs war; besieged by fellow citizens opposing his immigration policies; and dipping in the opinion polls, the US President has taken up the common strategy adopted by more..

Mar 1 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his JVP-led NPP Govt are continuing their rollercoaster ride of governing the country, with the Opposition parties also gradually gathering steam in their attacks against the Govt. While Prez AKD will mark one-and-a-half years in office this month, there has been an increase in Opposition attacks on the Govt, especially in holding those in high offices accountable to the pledges made to the people. more..

Mar 1 (TM) In moments of national tragedy, language matters. Words like rebuilding, solidarity, and national effort carry emotional weight. They appeal to collective memory, shared suffering, and the instinct to help. Yet in SL’s long and painful history of disasters, both natural and man-made alike, such language has too often been weaponised to obscure uncomfortable truths. Given this backdrop, the controversy surrounding the so-called Rebuilding Sri Lanka initiative, more..

Mar 1 (SO) Just when the world thought that South Asia had become relatively stable, war has flared up between former allies Pakistan and Afghanistan. For several months, the two countries have traded allegations of cross-border terrorism and witnessed tit-for-tat clashes. Islamabad’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the two neighbours, who share a long, porous border were waging open war, while the Afghan Government called for dialogue to resolve the conflict. more..