Mar 8 (ST) SL’s disappointing exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, marked by a string of underwhelming performances, and has laid bare several weaknesses within the national side. While shortcomings in batting, bowling and fielding were evident throughout the campaign, another worrying factor that surfaced was the team’s lack of optimal fitness. The issue became particularly glaring as a number of key players were sidelined due to hamstring injuries, more..

Mar 8 (ST) S. Thomas’ College will once again take on their arch-rivals Royal College in the 147th Battle of the Blues, scheduled to be held on March 12, 13 and 14 at the SSC, Colombo. Etched with rich traditions, passion and unparalleled history, this legendary encounter stands as the second-longest uninterrupted school cricket series in the world — a testament to the unwavering camaraderie and sporting spirit between two of SL’s leading educational institutions. more..

Mar 8 (ST) Following his match-bag of 12 wickets earlier, a spirited and match-winning knock by all-rounder Murali Thison helped Jaffna Central College make a fine comeback to record a 3-wicket win over traditional rivals St. John’s College, Jaffna in the 119th Battle of North big match concluded at the Jaffna Central ground yesterday. Murali, who claimed 5 for 39 in St. John’s first innings of 119 with his left-arm fast bowling, continued the perfect form to snatch 7 for 78 when more..

Mar 8 (ST) India face New Zealand on Sunday in Ahmedabad looking to become the first side to lift the T20 World Cup for a third time but under huge pressure with the weight of a nation on their shoulders. Standing in the way of Suryakumar Yadav’s side are a team who have already upset the odds with a thumping nine-wicket win over the previously unbeaten South Africa to reach the final. NZ believe, after Finn Allen’s record 33-ball century in the semi-final in Kolkata, more..

Mar 8 (TM) Colombo District Court Judge G.L. Kannangara on 18 Feb declined to impose an interim injunction on the SL Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (SLBFF) as sought by its now-suspended former National Consultant and one-time medal-winning bodybuilder Niranjan Kumara. The athlete was imposed a 10-year ban by the sport’s domestic governing body last June after finding him guilty of seven charges out of eight while violating provisions of the SLBFF Constitution and more..

Mar 8 (CT) SL Govt took control of the Iranian naval auxiliary vessel IRIS Bushehr on Thursday, preventing it from potentially suffering the same fate as IRIS Dena, another Iranian warship carrying about 180 sailors that was sunk by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean off SL’s Southern coast on 4 March, an incident that took both SL and the wider Indian Ocean region by surprise. Meanwhile, another Iranian naval vessel, IRINS Tonb, was believed to have gone missing, more..

Mar 8 (Island) It is fruitless analyzing US Prez Trump’s reasons for going to war with Iran or the conflicting outcomes he says he is looking to have in the end. It is quite possible that he may have made the decision to attack Iran after being cajoled by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. It is a good time to attack because Iran is at its weakest moment yet posing an imminent threat warranting a pre-emptive attack. Strange and circular reasoning is needed to justify unnecessary wars. more..

Mar 8 (Island) The SL Navy, on Thursday night, brought ashore 204 crew members of the IRIS Bushehr, another Iranian naval vessel facing the danger of a possible US torpedo attack. They were rushed to the Navy’s Welisara camp, and the ship was taken to the Trincomalee Harbour. The crew of the ship consists of 53 officers, 54 cadet officers, 48 senior ratings, and 23 junior sailors. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake hurriedly summoned a media briefing, on Thursday night itself, more..

Mar 8 (ST) My dear Anura sahodaraya, You must be very busy these days after suddenly becoming a leader on the world stage overnight and rather unexpectedly, but I thought I must still write to you. You ought to thank Donald for that, if not publicly at least privately. He is the reason why many are asking Anura who? and Sri where? This is because Donald decided to attack an Iranian ship off our coast and destroy it. You decided to help the survivors. Although it was obviously the right thing to do, more..

Mar 8 (ST) It was somebody else’s war. The 3-cornered fighting between USA-Israel and Iran that broke out last week began expanding to the rest of the West Asian region dragging not only Iran’s immediate pro-US neighbours, but also European nations – UK, France, Greece and Cyprus — and Azerbaijan – into a second war not of their choosing. And then, on Wednesday (4), SL also got sucked in when a torpedo fired from a US submarine sank an Iranian naval frigate off the southern seas of SL. more..

Mar 8 (ST) Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who served as India’s High Commissioner to SL (2017-2020), was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor for New Delhi this week. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi makes him the constitutional head of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Mr Sandhu called on Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake last month when the Lankan leader was in India attending the AI Impact Summit. “Delighted to have a warm and engaging interaction with President of SL, more..

Mar 8 (CT) As the world prepares to mark International Women’s Day today, on 8 March, celebrations of progress and empowerment are once again set to dominate public discourse. Yet, beyond the ceremonial tributes and symbolic gestures lies a more sobering reality: across the world, women continue to bear the heaviest burdens when conflict and disasters strike. From war-torn regions to climate-ravaged communities, the social, economic and psychological toll on women remains profound. more..

Mar 8 (TM) The torpedoing of an Iranian naval vessel in the waters off Sri Lanka has thrust the island into a geopolitical storm not of its own making. What began as a distant conflict in the Middle East has now rippled across the Indian Ocean, placing SL in the uncomfortable position of being both witness and reluctant participant in a widening confrontation. The sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena has not only triggered serious questions about international law and military conduct, more..

Mar 8 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his Govt have faced several large-scale hurdles since assuming office in 2024, but the events that unfolded last week undoubtedly posed one of the biggest challenges faced thus far. The extension of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East (ME) into the Indian Ocean and almost to SL’s doorstep was quite a test for AKD as well as his Govt. Until the US attacked and sank an Iranian vessel – IRIS Dena – in SL’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), more..

Mar 8 (CT) Across many political systems, conspiracy theories have become a recurring feature of political competition, elite strategy, and public discourse. Scholars increasingly argue that conspiracy theories should not be understood solely as psychological phenomena or irrational beliefs. Instead, they can function as strategic political tools, deployed by ambitious actors seeking to reshape political environments, mobilize supporters, or destabilize opponents. In this context, more..

Mar 8 (SO) Under the concepts of law and justice that we understand, everyone is equal under the law. But that is not often the case when it comes to women. Justice systems meant to uphold rights and the rule of law are failing women and girls everywhere. Women globally hold just 64% of the legal rights of men, exposing them to discrimination, violence, and exclusion at every stage of their lives. This is one of the findings of the new UN Secretary-General’s report, more..

Mar 7 (Reuters) US is pressing Sri Lanka's govt not to repatriate the survivors ​from the Iranian warship it sank this week, as well as the crew of a second Iranian ship ‌that is in SL custody, according to an internal State Dept cable seen by Reuters on Friday. A US submarine sank the IRIS Dena warship in the Indian Ocean about 19 nautical miles off Sri Lanka's southern port city of Galle on Wednesday, killing dozens of sailors and more..

Mar 7 (DM) The Israel–Iran conflict continues to ripple through Sri Lanka’s maritime, diplomatic and economic spheres, with the island now managing the aftermath of a naval disaster in its Exclusive Economic Zone and responding to the presence of another Iranian military vessel near its waters. On the seventh day of the crisis, Sri Lanka has taken new humanitarian and security decisions while domestic political debate, economic concerns and international diplomacy intensify. more..

Mar 7 (DM) The US–Israeli war against Iran entered its seventh day on Friday with explosions continuing across Iran, Israel and several Middle Eastern countries as both sides pressed ahead with missile strikes, drone attacks and air raids. Washington and Tel Aviv say their campaign — codenamed Operation Epic Fury — has significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities, while Tehran continues retaliatory attacks on US-linked targets across the region. more..

Mar 7 (Island) S.B.M.S.B. Sallay, wife of retired Major General Suresh Sallay, has raised serious concerns over the circumstances surrounding her husband’s detention by the CID under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. In a letter addressed to the CID Director, she said restrictions had been imposed on family visits and consultations with lawyers, while requests to provide food from home had also been refused. more..

Mar 7 (AD) Two individuals have died and another 2 persons are reported missing while another 23 were rescued after a boat capsized today (6) in Gurunagar Jetty in Jaffna, police said. Investigations revealed that the group involved in the accident was travelling in a trawler from the Gurunagar Jetty to attend a feast at a church located on Palaitivu Island. The boat had reportedly capsized approximately 50 metres into the journey, causing the passengers to fall into the water, more..

Mar 7 (Island) SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman told Parliament that the Iranian naval vessel that sank off SL’s southern coast had sought permission to dock at the Port of Galle, but the govt had failed to respond in time. Rahuman said the Iranian Navy ship had participated in a multinational naval training exercise in India along with representatives from 74 countries, including SL. He said the vessel had left India, after the exercise, but altered its course due to escalating Middle East tensions more..

Mar 7 (FT) The 15th Sri Lankan Edition of the Textile Series of Exhibitions officially opened at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre (SLECC) yesterday, bringing together global textile technology providers, apparel manufacturers and industry leaders to strengthen Sri Lanka’s textile and garment sector. The inauguration ribbon- cutting ceremony was attended by Minister Sunil Handunnetti and Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe who graced the occasion as chief guests. more..

Mar 7 (FT) SL’s national poverty line increased to Rs. 16,730 per person per month in Jan 2026, up from Rs. 16,334 a year earlier, according to official district-level estimates. Poverty line represents the minimum monthly expenditure required for an individual to meet basic food and non-food needs and is used as the benchmark for measuring poverty in the country. Data show a broadly similar pattern across districts, with most recording increases of roughly Rs380–Rs430 compared with Jan '25 more..

Mar 7 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the Central Bank of SL has presented the Govt with a scenario-based assessment of the possible economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including a worst-case outcome which authorities do not expect to materialise. Prez said CB had submitted its projections the previous day outlining potential responses of financial market under different developments in the conflict. more..

Mar 7 (FT) A SL-invented medical device designed for the non-invasive early detection of cardiovascular conditions using Artificial Intelligence was successfully piloted at the King Hamad American Mission Hospital in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The initiative was facilitated by the Embassy of SL in Bahrain, in collaboration with the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) under the Ministry of Digital Economy of SL. The device, marketed under the trademark JENDO, more..

Mar 7 (DN) India secured their place in the ICC mens T-20 world cup final after edging past England by sevens runs in a thrilling high scoring semi final in Mumbai. This fighting victory puts India on the brink of creating history as they prepare to face NZ in the final which will be played on Mach 8 Sunday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, commencing at 7pm. This is the first time India will play NZ in a T-20 final. The hosts are looking to become the first country to win three titles more..

Mar 7 (Island) TONIK, a new hospitality venture under Sri Lanka’s Acorn Group, has unveiled its vision to place culture, storytelling and design at the heart of island exploration, positioning itself as the next Sri Lanka hospitality brand to achieve global recognition. Built on the Acorn Group’s decades of expertise across aviation, travel, logistics and leisure in multiple Asian markets, TONIK aims to elevate Sri Lanka’s tourism by translating the soul of destinations into curated experiences. more..

Mar 7 (FT) Colombo stock market yesterday ended the four-day week in red, weighed down by index-heavy banking and diversified holdings stocks. This meant that the CSE failed to sustain a two-session rally following Tuesday’s record single-day plunge on panic selling induced by the Mideast conflict. During the week, ASPI declined 4.34% or 1,032.15 points and S&P SL20 was down 4.14% or 275.22 points. Foreign investors were net sellers in the week on a net outflow of Rs.791.2 million. more..

Mar 7 (FT) Sri Lanka Tourism yesterday hosted a special brunch for foreign tourists stranded in the country due to the ongoing Middle East crisis, as part of efforts to support visitors affected by widespread flight disruptions and airport closures in the region. The brunch was organised by SLTDA as a gesture of goodwill aimed at offering comfort, reassurance and hospitality to visitors who have had to extend their stay in SL until more..

Mar 7 (FT) The opening of the Harvest Centre, a technology incubation centre specifically established for the Southern Province at the Faculty of Agriculture, Uni of Ruhuna was held recently. It is expected to develop and nurture entrepreneurship, innovation, research commercialisation and start-ups in the Southern Province through this Harvest Centre. Centre is an outcome of a collaborative effort of the Science and Technology Ministry and the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna more..

Mar 7 (ST) The illegal squatters who had been living in unauthorised buildings (houses) alongside the banks of the estuary of the Deduru Oya were removed by the Coast Conservation Dept, according to a court order issued by the Chilaw Magistrate. The squatters had set up illegal buildings, violating the 14th clause mentioned in Section 28(1) of the Coast Conservation Act. As such the department had instructed the squatters to stop their unauthorised constructions and remove the buildings. more..