Mar 28 (EN) Top Gulf airlines have not responded to Sri Lanka’s call to use the island nation’s Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), Deputy Civil Aviation Minister said. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said the state-run Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has informed Gulf airlines to use the airport. “We have informed them to use the airport, but so far, no one has expressed any willingness to do so,” Deputy Minister said. more..

Mar 28 (FT) Amid mounting fuel pressures linked to the Middle East crisis, the Govt has begun facilitating supplies for manufacturing firms, with over 2,500 requests already recommended through a structured distribution system. Industry Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara said 2,551 requests from manufacturing companies had been forwarded to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) as of Thursday, following a data collection drive to assess energy needs across the sector. more..

Mar 28 (NW) Fuel transportation will resume as normal from Saturday (28) after the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) agreed to a 25% increase in inter-provincial transport charges, the Lanka Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association said. The decision follows discussions on Friday (27) between tanker owners and senior CPC officials. Association Chairman A.M.H. Adhikari said tanker owners had requested the 25% hike, which was approved during the meeting. more..

Mar 28 (Island) SL Red Cross Society (SLRCS) said that it was stepping in to help Sri Lankans reconnect with loved ones affected by the recent escalation of hostilities in Iran and other parts of West Asia. An SLRCS statement said: In response to the recent escalation of hostilities in Iran and other countries, SLRCS is providing support to people in Sri Lanka who are unable to contact their loved ones in affected regions, through its more..

Mar 28 (NW) Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested Commissioner General of Motor Traffic Kamal Amarasinghe over an alleged vehicle registration irregularity, police said. According to sources, the arrest was made following an investigation into suspected irregularities linked to the registration of a vehicle at the Department of Motor Traffic. Kamal Amarasinghe is expected to be produced before court following questioning, while further investigations are ongoing. more..

Mar 28 (DM) Claiming that the El Niño phenomenon and positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) phenomenon are likely after June, Additional Director General of the Dept of Meteorology Ajith Wijemanne warned that SL could face a drought situation in July and August if El Niño and IOD phenomenon got activated. El Niño phenomenon is neutral at present and that El Niño phenomenon is likely in SL after June. "There is a 10-20% possibility of El Niño phenomenon after June. more..

Mar 28 (AD) The water levels in several reservoirs across the Nuwara Eliya District have dropped rapidly due to the prevailing dry weather conditions. The water levels at the Upper Kotmale Reservoir, as well as at Devon Falls and St. Clair’s Falls, have declined noticeably in recent days. The sharp drop in water levels at the Upper Kotmale Reservoir has also disrupted electricity generation. Meanwhile, due to the high temperature, the water levels in tanks, rivers, waterfalls and reservoirs i more..

Mar 28 (CT) Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) has announced the appointment of Mahela Jayawardena as Captain for the 2026–2027 term, with the decision formally confirmed at its AGM held yesterday (26). Jayawardena, widely regarded as one of SL’s greatest sportsmen, brings extensive leadership experience to the role. As a former captain of the SL Cricket Team, he earned global recognition for his tactical acumen, composure under pressure, and exemplary sportsmanship. more..

Mar 28 (ST) Sri Lanka’s labour market in the fourth quarter of 2025 recorded lower unemployment even as labour force participation declined, with employment increasing during the period. Participation eased to 48.8% in 4Q from 49.9% in 3Q, while total employment increased to 8,465,808 from 8,097,879, reducing the number of people unemployed and bringing the rate down to 3.8%. more..

Mar 28 (ST) Govt has taken significant steps to regulate crypto currency, primarily to address money laundering and financial crimes ahead of a 2026 international mutual evaluation by the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) on money laundering, Finance Ministry sources confirmed. A specialised integrated data system is to be developed linking the Central Bank, SL Police, and the Department for Registration of Persons. This system aims to detect and take legal action against more..

Mar 28 (CT) Australia will host England and SL in a nine-match U19 Women’s Tri-Series from April 6–18, with fixtures to be played in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The series will feature both 50-over and T20 matches, forming part of Australia’s commitment to developing the next generation of women cricketers. Western Australia’s Tegan Williamson will captain the Australia U19 Women’s side, supported by Emily Powell (NSW) and Ayaka Stafford (QLD) in the leadership group. more..

Mar 28 (NW) An employee attached to the Dambulla Divisional Secretariat has handed over Rs. 213,780 found in an unidentified bag to its rightful owner, following a police-assisted inquiry. The officer, Thushara Jayawardhana, had discovered the cash inside two unfamiliar bags among items he had purchased from shops in Dambulla town on Wednesday. Jayawardhana promptly reported the matter to the Dambulla Police Station after finding the money, as he had no knowledge of more..

Mar 28 (FT) Indigo yesterday said it is further strengthening its connectivity to SL, with the launch of new, direct flights between Delhi and Colombo. Commencing 29 March, the airline will operate six flights every week on this route using its A320 aircraft, offering seamless and convenient travel options for customers. India and SL share deep historical, cultural, and economic ties; improved connectivity will significantly strengthen these relations by boosting trade and tourism more..

Mar 28 (FT) Sri Lanka’s apparel sector came under intensified pressure in Feb 2026, as exports fell by 11.46% YoY to $ 361.2 million with broad-based contraction amid weakening global demand. As per provisional data of Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), the steepest drop was registered in the European Union (EU), where exports declined by 19.48%, while shipments to the US fell by 3.53% and the UK by 5.67%. more..

Mar 28 (ST) Chamika Heenatigala, an 18-year-old allrounder from Mahanama College, with a decent wealth of first class experience and an impressive National Youth player, has indicated his potential of becoming a future star for Sri Lanka. With 109 runs including a half century, at an average of 109, and with three wickets with his leg-spins, Heenatigala showed what he is capable of at the recent ICC Under-19 World Cup, a height he climbed after years of commitment. more..

Mar 28 (FT) Colombo stocks yesterday failed to sustain a strong rebound in early trading to end the volatile week in red. Both indices ended on the up compared to a week earlier with the ASPI gaining 3.56% or 736 points during the week while the active S&P SL20 gained 4.3% or 247 points. Foreign investors were net sellers on a net outflow of over Rs. 1.2 billion. Yesterday, ASPI ended down 0.21% or 44.21 points to 21,375.73 and the S&P SL20 was down 0.59% or 35.53 points to 5,999.99. more..

Mar 28 (FT) Industry Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara yesterday said the cess tax on imports will not be fully removed from 1 April, with the Govt opting for a slower phase-out for vulnerable sectors. Addressing the media, she said the broader plan for phased reduction will begin with a 50% cut in cess rates from 1 April 2026, followed by a further 25% reduction in April 2027 and the remaining 25% will be deducted in 2029. more..

Mar 28 (ST) Fertiliser companies and agro chemicals suppliers have agreed to abide by regulated prices days ahead of the Yala paddy planting season, in a coordinated policy response to mitigate risks, just as prices increased sharply in domestic and global markets due to the widening war in West Asia. Following a meeting this week of all stakeholders with state agriculture authorities, suppliers settled at a cash-only Rs 9,650 for a 50 kilo bag of urea, and a further lower offer more..

Mar 28 (FT) Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the Central Bank of SL, setting aside a decision of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission that had directed the disclosure of detailed transaction level information relating to Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). Case arose from an RTI request submitted by Verité Research seeking information on EPF investments, including detailed information of Govt securities transactions such as purchase dates, yields, prices, and counterparties. more..

Mar 28 (FT) SL’s National Payment Network, operating under the guidance of the CB – LankaPay, has partnered with Bar Association of SL (BASL) as a Corporate Partner. LankaPay also operates the LankaSign digital certification service, only commercially operating Certification Service Provider (CSP) authorised by the National Certification Authority of SL. Welcoming LankaPay on board, BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya said: “We are happy to welcome LankaPay more..

Mar 28 (FT) A 25-member delegation from the SL Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) visited India from 2 Feb to 13 March, to participate in a specialised Training and Capacity-Building Program. The delegation comprised founders, owners and co-owners of SL Start-ups. The program was organised pursuant to the announcement made by India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to SL in April 2025, under which India committed to offering more..

Mar 28 (ST) Govt has so far not provided a favourable response to the budget proposal and requests submitted by the SL Book Publishers’ Association (SLBPA) to remove the tax imposed on books. President of the Association, Dinesh Kulathunga said that although they had made written representations to the IMF's Resident Representative in SL too regarding this issue, no response has been received so far. more..

Mar 28 (Island) It was 35 years ago, on March 28, 1991, that Venerable Rahula Thera, then a young monk, embarked on a journey to the Na forest in Ulpathagama, Palagama, in the A'pura District. Today, three and a half decades later, this mission stands as living proof of the enduring bond between Buddhist philosophy and the natural world. Marking the 35th year of this green mission, Rahula Thera’s relentless dedication has transformed the National Namal Uyana into an environmental landmark more..

Mar 28 (CT) Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is no novice. He is the current Union Minister of External Affairs of India. Schooled in the much accredited Indian foreign service, prior to his present position as Union Minister, his ascent to being Minster has not been meteoric but rather gradual. Sri Lankans would remember that he once served as Special Assistant to Gopalaswami Parathasarathi who was Indira Gandhi’s emissary to Colombo during the Tamil riots in the country. more..

Mar 28 (Island) US Prez Donald Trump has postponed his much-advertised plan to attack Iran’s national grid and critical energy infrastructure for 10 more days as part of his efforts to find an offramp with Tehran. He has asked Tehran to declare a ceasefire and come for talks on his own terms or face a series of attacks of unprecedented ferocity. One of his main conditions for negotiations has left the world puzzled; he wants Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, while insisting that more..

Mar 28 (GV) In Konniyan Kudiyirippu, women’s lives are written in palmyrah and soil. A wind farm arrived without their consent, flooded their land and poisoned their water. Now a mining company is quietly circling the same village. Vashingtina is 32 years old, a kindergarten teacher, a mother of two daughters and has lived in Konniyan Kudiyirippu for nearly 20 years, long enough to know when the palmyrah is ready, what the soil needs and which way the water moves after rain. more..

Mar 28 (SO) As the U.S. – Israeli war on Iran enters its fourth week, its repercussions are rippling far beyond the Middle East, unsettling global energy markets, trade routes, and the fragile balance of international power. For smaller States such as SL, the conflict is more than a distant crisis. It is a stark reminder of their vulnerability in an increasingly volatile and multipolar world. In this context, questions of strategic alignment, more..

Mar 28 (FT) SL drugs and medical supplies requirements are met through three sources. The State hospital system is supplied by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), and the private sector is supplied by the SPC as well as private importers, and statistics show that the private importer share of total imports is around 60% of the total spend on drugs and medical supplies. Regarding quality assessments of imports, the SPC has a long-established process to check more..

Mar 28 (DM) The official launch of the book Maa Akamathiwa siti J.R. (The J.R. I Disliked), based on the J.R. Jayewardene Memorial Lecture delivered by former MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, along with its Tamil and English translations, will be held on March 30 (Monday) at 4:15 PM at the J.R. Jayewardene Centre (191, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 07). Speakers in the likes of Dr. Ranga Kalansooriya (Regional Advisor (Asia), International Media Support, Dr. Rayes Musthafa – President, more..

Mar 28 (DM) As the Inland Revenue Department celebrates 94 years of service, taxation remains the bedrock of Sri Lanka’s fiscal stability and social progress. In an era of rapid globalisation, the department is pivoting toward a digital-first, taxpayer-friendly culture to foster public trust and voluntary compliance. By integrating virtual assistants and AI-driven solutions, we are streamlining the tax experience, ensuring more..

Mar 28 (DM) According to multiple sources Israel blackmailed US President Trump into entering its war with Iran. A war which the president’s advisors had warned him to back away from. Unfortunately without any warning to Iran and not heeding advice from his own advisors, Trump carried out a sneak attack against Iranian civilian targets which included taking out Iran’s spiritual leader, targeting an elementary girls’ school which killed over 160 school girls as well as some military targets. more..

Mar 28 (DM) The war of aggression waged by the US and Israel against Iran seems very likely to intensify in the next few days. Washington has threatened to escalate and expand the war further if Iran does not comply with US demands. The unreasonable demands are unacceptable to Iran. President Donald Trump’s modus operandi of pretending to negotiate peace with an outstretched hand while preparing to punch forcefully with the other hand fools very few people now. more..