Mar 26 (NW) Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara is set to miss the Indian Premier League after SLC refused to grant a No Objection Certificate (NOC) following the introduction of a strict new fitness policy. SLC recently made it mandatory for players to pass newly introduced physical performance tests before being granted clearance to participate in franchise leagues such as the IPL and PSL. Thushara’s eligibility for the IPL was made subject to the outcome of this fitness test, with SLC confirming that more..

Mar 26 (EN) There could be significant changes to the conditions with regard to Sri Lanka’s reform programme with the IMF during the upcoming review due to the external shocks from the escalation in the Middle East, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. An IMF staff ream will be in Colombo from March 26-April 9 to hold discussions on the island nation’s fifth and sixth reviews of Sri Lanka’s reform programme. The reviews come after a Cyclone Ditwah hit natural disaster and more..

Mar 26 (AD) Colombo Fort Magistrate has ordered the CID to produce the former Head of the State Intelligence Service, Suresh Sallay, who is currently in CID custody under detention orders, before the court on April 22. The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththi Kumara when the case was taken up before court today. Magistrate informed the court that although the suspect is currently being detained & interrogated more..

Mar 26 (AD) A special discussion was held today in a bid to address the challenges faced by those in the tourism sector owing to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Presidential Task Force on the Implementation of the SL Tourism Development Programme met today at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of the Minister Vijitha Herath. Attention was drawn to the challenges faced by those engaged in the tourism industry in SL in the context of the prevailing global energy crisis, more..

Mar 26 (TM) Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni yesterday assured that the Health Ministry is not considering the increase of medicinal drug prices, despite the increase in the cost of raw materials (ingredients). Speaking to The Daily Morning in response to a question regarding the impact of the increased fuel costs globally on medicine costs, Dr. Wijemuni said there is a maximum ceiling price slapped on 600 medicinal drugs. “These prices cannot be breached”. more..

Mar 26 (NW) Export Development Board (EDB) says SL’s total exports, including both merchandise and services, reached US$ 1,401.78 million in Feb 2026, reflecting a notable year-on-year growth of 4.22% compared to Feb 2025. According to provisional data, along with estimated figures for Gems & Jewellery and Petroleum Products, merchandise exports for Feb 2026 increased by 1.32% to US$ 1,066.88 m. more..

Mar 26 (NW) India will host Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series in December, featuring three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The tour will begin with the ODI series, with the first match scheduled to be played in Delhi on December 13. The second ODI will take place in Bengaluru on Dec 16, followed by the third and final ODI in Ahmedabad on Dec 19. The teams will then move to the T20I series, beginning with the first match in Rajkot on Dec 22. more..

Mar 26 (EN) Sri Lanka was facing new challenges in combatting drugs entering the island through e-commerce platforms and from visitors arriving from Thailand, Director of Customs Chandana Punchihewa said. “Most often drugs come into the country through well-known e-commerce platforms,” Punchihewa said. “These sales that happen via internet transactions are a new challenge, because it’s very difficult to track. The companies operate on the basis of the data provided to them; more..

Mar 26 (DM) Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has called for Saturday to be declared an off day, as the ongoing fuel crisis is placing severe strain on them. AMS expressed deep concern over the impact of fuel shortages and rising costs on doctors, particularly those serving in outstation hospitals. It noted that many specialists are required to travel long distances to reach their workplaces, often multiple times a day, making transportation an essential yet increasingly unaffordable more..

Mar 26 (AD) Ministry of Digital Economy states that it has received more than 1,000 complaints regarding fraudulent activities involving the use of other individuals’ QR codes to obtain fuel. Secretary of the Ministry, Waruna Sri Dhanapala pointed out that investigations into these complaints have been initiated in collaboration with police. However, the Secretary also noted that some of these complaints involve incidents where individuals used someone else’s QR code due to lack of awareness. more..

Mar 26 (Island) A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo declared that the US and SL maintain a long-standing defence partnership, grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and shared interests. The official said so in response to The Island query regarding Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent bombshell disclosure, in Parliament, that his govt declined to allow US Air Force to use Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport, more..

Mar 26 (NW) The Ministry of Justice has announced that the initiative aimed at the speedy disposal of productions stored in court premises has yielded significant results, generating Rs. 952,896,911.74 in 2025 alone. According to the ministry, when combined with other judicial revenue sources, including copying fees, notary fees, fines, stamp duties, and bail bond confiscations, the total income generated through the courts amounted to Rs. 6,574,829,926.91. more..

Mar 26 (AD) A meeting has been held between former Prez Maithripala Sirisena and the Iranian Ambassador to SL, Dr. Alireza Delkhosh in Colombo. The meeting took place at the Embassy of Iran in Colombo yesterday. It is reported that discussions focused on strengthening the longstanding friendship between Iran and Sri Lanka, as well as the current military situation in the Middle East region. Meanwhile earlier this week, Iranian Ambassador reiterated Iran’s commitment to more..

Mar 26 (FT) In a landmark split decision, Justice Nawaz of the Supreme Court has recently ruled that the supply of bunker fuel to foreign vessels in SL waters is a domestic sale — not an export — closing a long-contested avenue for concessionary tax treatment and reshaping the legal landscape for the island’s bunkering industry. Eight consolidated appeals, brought by companies engaged in the supply of bunker fuel and more..

Mar 26 (AD) More than 6.2 million people have registered for the National Fuel Pass system and obtained new QR codes since March 15, when the govt re-introduced fuel distribution through QR codes to manage fuel usage. Advisor to Ministry of Digital Economy, Sumudu Rathnayake, made these remarks at a press conference held today to brief on the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on SL. He further commented: “The distribution of fuel through QR codes was started on March 14, more..

Mar 26 (TM) Turkish Airlines has announced an increase in flight frequency between Istanbul and Colombo, adding two more services per week to better support stranded tourists and enhance access to Sri Lanka. The decision follows positive diplomatic discussions between Sri Lanka and Türkiye, which were well received by both nations. The Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) responded promptly, granting the necessary approvals to facilitate the expanded schedule. more..

Mar 26 (TM) The national netball team head coach Somitha de Alwis says that she is optimistic that Sri Lanka will make an impact at the 14th Senior Asian Netball Championship to be held in Hong Kong China from 6-16 August this year. Sri Lanka is currently aiming for a top-two finish at the upcoming tournament in Hong Kong China, with it also doubling as the Asian Qualifying round for the Netball World Cup in Australia next year. According to World Netball (WN) stipulations more..

Mar 26 (Island) Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land & Irrigation, and Mahaweli Development, K.D. Lal Kantha, has requested the public to submit any grievances, or issues, related to his Ministries, via WhatsApp. Citizens can send their concerns as a WhatsApp Voice Message to the dedicated mobile number 071 2473104. The Minister shared this information through a recent post on his official Facebook account, aimed at streamlining communication between the public & Ministry. more..

Mar 26 (TM) Sri Lanka’s only GLOCAL supermarket chain - SPAR SL, continues its expansion across the island with the opening of its newest outlets in Kandy and Kurunegala. Kandy outlet, located at 27B, George E. De Silva Mawatha, will officially open its doors on Monday, March 30th at 10.00 am, marking a long-awaited milestone for shoppers in the Hill Capital. This expansion to 12 stores islandwide, reflects SPAR’s commitment to more..

Mar 26 (DM) As temperatures soar, veterinarians are warning that Sri Lanka’s animals are facing a silent heat crisis, with dehydration posing a serious threat to pets, farm animals and even birds. SL Veterinary Association Secretary Dr. Uditha Wijesinghe said animals, like humans, are vulnerable to heatstroke, rashes, sunburn, diseases and parasite attacks during extreme heat. “Dehydration is the main challenge that both farm animals and pets face this season. High temperatures increase more..

Mar 26 (NW) Court of Appeal today fixed July 2, 2026 for arguments in the Quo Warranto application filed against MP Archchuna Ramanathan, challenging his eligibility to continue holding office as a MP. The case was taken up before a Court of Appeal bench comprising Justice Mayadunne Corea and Justice Mahen Gopallawa. The application was filed by Oshala Herath, leader of the Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna, who claims that MP Ramanathan submitted his nomination for more..

Mar 26 (NF) Russia has agreed to supply fuel to Sri Lanka and is ready to immediately provide refined petroleum products, following successful talks between SL authorities and a visiting Russian delegation, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said. CPC Managing Director Mayura Nettikumarage said discussions with the Russian delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation more..

Mar 26 (NW) Three former officials of the Department of Motor Traffic have been arrested over the alleged fraudulent registration and transfer of vehicles, CIABOC said. The arrests were made between 9.05 a.m. and 9.25 a.m. today following an investigation into irregular vehicle registrations. According to CIABOC, the suspects include a former Development Assistant (Road Safety), a former Investigation Assistant, and a former Assistant Commissioner of the Dept of Motor Traffic. more..

Mar 26 (NW) Minister Bimal Rathnayake acknowledged that substandard coal had been imported to SL, revealing that the company responsible has paid fines up to US$ 2 million. He said that the laboratory tests on the imported coal had proven substandard quality, after which fines were imposed on the said company. He further said that coal tenders involve a complex tender process that must be handled carefully to maintain adequate stocks, adding that only fines could be more..

Mar 26 (FT) For years, the Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport has carried a label that has been hard to shake. It has been called the world’s emptiest airport, often cited globally as an example of infrastructure ambition running ahead of demand. But infrastructure stories are rarely static. Context changes. And when it does, so does value. In today’s world, defined by geopolitical instability, disrupted supply chains and shifting trade routes, assets once dismissed as underutilised more..

Mar 26 (FT) Wars and conflicts have always had serious negative effects on economies around the world. They often damage infrastructure, block key transport routes, or prompt countries to restrict exports, in general. The main commodity that gets disrupted is energy, resulting in uncertainty, driving sharp increases in fuel prices, and leading to shortages, especially in countries that depend heavily on imported energy. Since the 1973 oil crisis, many regional conflicts have caused more..

Mar 26 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe rejected the need for immediate import controls or capital flow restrictions to contain the economic challenges from the Middle East war. Striking a cautiously optimistic tone, he expressed confidence that SL’s resilience and improved macroeconomic buffers will help the country navigate the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their spillover effects on more..

Mar 26 (AD) IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya has issued guidelines to be followed when arresting suspects in relation to offences committed under Section 3 of the Int'l Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act. It is reported that the relevant notification has been communicated in writing to all police officers, including all Senior Deputy Inspectors General. According to the provisions of the Act, an individual may only be arrested after examining whether a statement or expression incites war, more..

Mar 26 (DN) A high-level Russian delegation led by Deputy Energy Minister Roman Marshavin will arrive here today to explore a Govt-to-Govt agreement aimed at securing petroleum supplies through a long-term co-operation framework. This marks the first time since 1974 that senior Russian officials have discussed a formal energy co-operation deal with SL. Last week, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met with Russian envoy in Colombo Levan S Dzhagryan at the Foreign Ministry, more..

Mar 26 (DM) Amidst disruption to global fuel supply, power generation is set to be a challenging task for Sri Lanka unless it rains sufficiently in the areas where the major hydropower reservoirs are located, an official said. Electricity is generated through a mix consisting of hydroelectric power, thermal power (coal and fuel), and non-conventional renewable energy such as wind, solar, biomass and mini-hydro. more..

Mar 26 (DM) SL has been identified as one of the countries to which the UK has transferred foreign national offenders under established Prisoner Transfer Agreements (PTAs), according to official UK Govt policy. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice Jake Richards informed UK Parliament that UK maintains that the removal of foreign offenders with no legal right to remain in the country is a long-standing policy, with such individuals eligible to serve their sentences in their more..

Mar 26 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said no official request has been made to grant a financial moratorium or suspend the implementation of the parate law for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), despite concerns raised by some sectors over rising costs. Responding to questions at a media briefing, the Governor said the CBSL does not see justification for such measures at this stage. “No, we don’t see any requests coming in. I think it’s too early to do that. more..