Mar 17 (AD) Secretary to Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewe, has announced that all govt schools will remain closed on Wednesdays due to the ongoing fuel supply crisis. He further stated that this decision was taken in line with the govt’s move to grant leave to public sector employees every Wednesday. Prez emphasized that, in light of the current challenges, measures are being implemented to manage energy efficiently more..

Mar 17 (DM) Minister Eranga Weeraratne has assured the public that all technical obstacles in the newly upgraded QR fuel system will be resolved by today, allowing citizens to obtain fuel without difficulty. He said the govt has introduced the QR code-based fuel distribution system to protect the country’s fuel reserves and ensure uninterrupted supply amid ongoing global political uncertainties. He highlighted that managing fuel consumption has become crucial due to volatile world markets more..

Mar 17 (TM) Some school activities are already affected due to ongoing fuel-related difficulties, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) President Priyantha Fernando said, warning the situation could disrupt both teachers’ and students’ school attendance if urgent solutions are not introduced. He said many teachers depend on private transport, particularly motorcycles, to travel to school, and the amount of fuel currently available to them is not sufficient for their weekly travel needs. more..

Mar 17 (TM) Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, reassuring concerned health trade unions (TUs), said that the fuel quota being issued per week with the quick response (QR) code-based system would be further amended by CPC to accommodate the requirement of various fields of work. Dr. Wijemuni said that a basic circular containing the various fuel quotas allocated under QR code had been issued for the moment. more..

Mar 17 (DM) Sri Lanka has turned to the US for domestic gas purchases instead of depending on the Middle East for supplies, and a shipment that has already been imported is currently stored at anchorage in the Maldives waters due to the lack of sufficient storage facilities in the country, an official said. In SL, the domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) market is dominated by two main retailers- Litro Gas Lanka Limited and LAUGFS Gas PLC. Litro Gas Chairman Channa Gunawardana more..

Mar 17 (DN) Sri Lankan women’s cricketer Harshitha Samarawickrama is among the three ICC Player of the Month nominees list which was released by ICC yesterday. The left hand top order batter Harshitha who successfully performed at the recently concluded Sri Lankan – West Indies women’s ODI series in West Indies has been shortlisted with Pakistan all rounder Fathima Sana and Indian bowler Arundhati Reddy for the ICC women’s Player of the Month award. more..

Mar 17 (Island) The CID has recorded statements from the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar of the University of Jaffna regarding ongoing investigation into Independence Day protests by students where the national flag was lowered and a black flag raised in its place. Officers from the CID visited the university recently to question and record their statements. Earlier, University Grants Commission (UGC) instructed the university administration to conduct an inquiry into the incident. more..

Mar 17 (FT) SL’s manufacturing and services sectors in February have expanded, as per the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), its compiler the Central Bank said. Manufacturing PMI registered an index value of 56.8 in February, reflecting an increase in manufacturing activities at a faster rate compared to 56.1 in Jan 2026. The CBSL said this increase was broad-based, with all sub-indices contributing positively to this expansion. The New Orders and Production sub-indices expanded in February, more..

Mar 17 (TM) Amidst lowering demand for tea from Iran due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Ceylon tea’s potential alternate Middle Eastern markets, such as Libya, are also increasingly difficult to reach due to the compromised state of the Red Sea’s Suez Canal, former SL Tea Board Chairperson Niraj de Mel said recently. “We know that 52% of tea exports go to the Middle East, and another 9% goes to Russia. To reach Russia, ships have to more..

Mar 17 (FT) Sri Lanka yesterday advocated for immediate de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East and West Asia, whilst calling for global peace. “SL is deeply concerned by the rapidly escalating situation in the Middle East and West Asia, which poses a direct threat to the civilian population. We are saddened by the tragic loss of civilian life and condemn any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Sri Lanka underscores that the protection of civilians on all sides more..

Mar 17 (FT) Motorists have reported continued difficulties with the National Fuel Pass system after the Govt reintroduced fuel distribution through QR code scanning, with long queues also observed at several filling stations. Users said they were unable to register for the National Fuel Pass when attempting to use a new mobile number instead of the one previously used during the 2022 fuel crisis. Some motorists also complained that they could not complete registration because more..

Mar 17 (FT) Former Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman Mohamed Uvais has urged the Govt to consider reducing fuel taxes to help stabilise prices as global oil markets face mounting uncertainty. Uvais warned that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could worsen if another key shipping route between Yemen and the African continent is also affected. He noted that Sri Lanka, which imports all of its petroleum requirements, remains highly exposed to global supply shocks. more..

Mar 17 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said that it has made several recommendations to the Govt to urgently address the economic risks from the escalating Middle East Crisis. Chamber said: The evolving global situation and the escalating conflict in the Middle East requires coordinated measures to safeguard economic stability. The Ceylon Chamber remains ready to work with the Government in addressing potential economic risks and has outlined detailed policy recommendations. more..

Mar 17 (DM) Sri Lanka is actively pivoting towards high-value, experiential travel by heavily promoting its untapped marine tourism sector, with a strategic focus on shipwreck diving. Recognising the growing global demand for immersive and sustainable underwater experiences, the local tourism authorities and SL Navy have partnered to showcase the island’s rich maritime heritage to the adventure seekers and more..

Mar 17 (FT) Consumer Sentiment Index, done by Prosoft Research and Insights, has declined slightly to 86 in Feb 2026, down from 89 in January. Despite the rapid recovery in consumer sentiment observed in Dec 2025 and Jan 2026 following Ditwah, the decline in February could indicate a renewed fluctuation in sentiment. After the strong recovery seen in Dec and Jan, consumer sentiment in February appears to have been negatively affected by remaining gaps in recovery efforts, more..

Mar 17 (DM) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa charged that instead of increasing fuel prices, the govt should reduce alleged commissions and inefficiencies if there is no corruption at present, and provide relief to the public. He said that in the past ministers were accused of earning large commissions from fuel transactions, and if such practices have stopped now, the benefit should be passed on to the people by lowering prices. He said the govt should have introduced the fuel QR system much earlier more..

Mar 17 (FT) Sri Lanka’s inbound tour operators yesterday said the tourism industry is experiencing noticeable cancellations due to the Mideast crisis and warned that the country must urgently pivot its strategy towards alternative regional markets. SLAITO said authorities should focus on strengthening connectivity with non-conflict regional destinations to sustain tourist arrivals during the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. more..

Mar 17 (Island) Sri Lanka’s globally acclaimed marine biologist Asha de Vos was honoured on the international stage when her portrait and words were featured at the opening of the UN General Assembly in conjunction with Int'l Women’s Day and the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women 70th session. Her powerful message — They told me I was not capable, so I made a discovery that changed the world — was showcased as a symbol of resilience, determination and more..

Mar 17 (FT) SL Association of Manufacturers and Exporters of Rubber Products (SLAMERP) recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary, marking four decades of contribution to the growth and global recognition of SL’s value-added rubber products industry. The commemorative event brought together key industry leaders, Govt officials, and stakeholders to reflect on the association’s journey since its establishment in 1986. Over the past four decades, SLAMERP has evolved from more..

Mar 17 (Island) Today marks the 30th anniversary of SL’s unforgettable World Cup triumph. Ask any Sri Lankan where they were on the 17th March 1996 and chances are they will recall it in vivid detail. It was a red-letter day for a small island nation that punched above its weight, became world champions and changed the course of its cricket forever. ‎‎It had been a crazy, turbulent month. Central Bank bombing had shaken the country to its core, crippling the economy and casting a shadow over more..

Mar 17 (ST) A foreign company has been contracted to tow the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Bushehr to Trincomalee, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said. The vessel was supposed to have been moved to Trincomalee harbour last week but has continued to remain at the outer anchorage of the Colombo port after having developed engine trouble. The IRIS Bushehr weighs over 5000 tonnes and also contains some 2000 tonnes of fuel, Minister Herath said, adding that due to engine problems, more..

Mar 17 (ST) Amid assurances of continuing fuel supplies and adequate stocks, public concern has grown over the price increase and the cost of living. CPC Chairman Janaka Rajakaruna and the govt have assured there are no fuel shortages and stocks are adequate for 40 days. Two price revisions came in quick succession. Govt defended the move, saying it was meant to prevent a large margin of increase the next time more..

Mar 17 (ST) Even before the annual March heat had begun to set in, Lankans felt the scorching heat of a distant war strike home with brutal effect on Tuesday when the govt dramatically raised oil prices sky-high despite assuring the public, only last week, that there would be no necessity to increase fuel prices since it had enough stocks to last two months. And, what’s more, to further bolster public confidence, they told the public: Rest assured, there will be no interruption to our oil supply flow, more..

Mar 17 (DM) The SL Govt is apparently preparing for the repercussions of the long-drawn-out war in the West Asia or a war covering other regions as well, as the belligerent parties - the US and Israel on the one hand and Iran on the other - are not showing signs restraints. Despite the leaders of the govt having assured that the country has oil stocks sufficient for the next six weeks, the authorities increased the price apparently to cover the future spiraling price hikes in the world market due to the main war more..

Mar 17 (Island) The escalating conflict in the Middle East is of such magnitude, with loss of life, destruction of cities, and global energy shortages, that it is diverting attention worldwide and in SL, from other serious problems. Barely four months ago SL experienced a cyclone of epic proportions that caused torrential rains, accompanied by floods and landslides. Immediate displacement exceeded one million people, though the number of deaths was about 640, with 200 others reported missing. more..

Mar 17 (TM) Over a week has passed since the sinking of the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena off the coast of Galle. While both the Sri Lankan and Indian authorities have been silent on the matter, in the past several days US President Donald Trump has commented on this incident. Speaking to reporters, Trump outlined that when he questioned his generals as to why they killed the sailors rather than capture them, the response was, Sir, it’s a lot more fun. more..

Mar 17 (TM) The ongoing military action against Iran by allies Israel and the United States came close to home in the first week of March, with a US Navy submarine torpedoing an Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, outside SL’s territorial waters on 4 March. The torpedo also sank SL’s laidback attitude to geopolitics, thrusting the Govt into its first serious foreign policy test, especially with another Iranian warship seeking refuge at the Colombo Port. more..

Mar 17 (GV) The current global energy landscape is shaped by two major geopolitical conflicts: Russia-Ukraine war, which began in 2022, and the Iran-Israel conflict that has recently escalated again in the Middle East. Both conflicts have significant implications for global energy systems, affecting supply routes, production & prices. Iran-Israel conflict threatens not only the Middle East but the entire global energy system. Days after the latest escalation, oil prices in SL began to rise more..

Mar 17 (DM) The US is well known for many things, among them is the under-17s indulging in violence, including murder and mass shootings. Children are increasingly ill-mannered, whiny, selfish, arrogant, rude, defiant and violent, according to Psychology Today. Such disgraceful behaviour in young children predicts serious problems later in life, psychologists Jacob Azerrad and Paul Chance say in that journal. “As adolescents, they are more likely to drop out of school, use drugs, engage in delinquency more..

Mar 17 (TM) Sri Lanka is once again attempting to revive offshore oil and gas exploration after several years of stalled progress, with the Govt now moving to hire a consultant to attract int'l investors to explore petroleum reserves believed to lie beneath its territorial waters. In recent months, lawmakers have begun laying the groundwork for a new licensing round centred on the Mannar Basin, including the appointment of more..

Mar 17 (TM) SL’s sudden decision to revive the QR-based fuel rationing system last Sunday has once again reminded the public of the fragile confidence that still surrounds the country’s fuel supply. What was introduced by the Govt as a precautionary measure to prevent panic buying and stockpiling quickly triggered the very anxiety it sought to control. The move came in response to the tensions in the ME, which immediately raised fears of possible disruptions to global energy supplies. more..

Mar 17 (Island) US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu prematurely claimed victory in their war on Iran immediately after killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and inflicting heavy damage on the Iranian military bases and economic nerve centres. Trump even snubbed UK PM Keir Starmer, when the latter decided to send a warship to the Gulf region belatedly; he said the US and Israel had already won the war and therefore he did not need British help. more..