Mar 16 (TM) Govt’s sudden decision to reintroduce the economic crisis-era QR-based fuel rationing system plunged the country into confusion yesterday, as the public scrambled to register for the new quotas while long queues began forming once again at filling stations. Thousands rushed to access the online portal to register or update their fuel quota details, but the system soon buckled under the heavy traffic, with the website crashing more..

Mar 16 (DM) Ride-hailing platform PickMe yesterday called on policymakers to revisit fuel allocation policies and prioritise app-based taxis should fuel rationing return, arguing that shared mobility services move more people with less fuel and play a critical role in sustaining daily economic activity. The company said that while SL is not facing a crisis similar to the severe shortages experienced during the economic meltdown, the current global uncertainty around energy supplies more..

Mar 16 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake directed officials to study the possibility of work-from-home option for certain categories of public servants in view of the Middle East tension-related issues, as the SL Govt Officers' Trade Union Association (SLGOTUA) suggested the Govt should either increase the fuel quota allocated to them or introduce a hybrid work system. Prez issued these instructions during a discussion with Ministry Secretaries and heads of State institutions more..

Mar 16 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday instructed senior Govt officials to strengthen contingency planning to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential services as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East raise concerns over potential economic and supply disruptions. The high-level meeting between the Prez, Ministry Secretaries, and Heads of key institutions reviewed preparedness measures more..

Mar 16 (FT) Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has called on the Govt to urgently resolve fuel and transport difficulties faced by doctors, cautioning that the current fuel quota system could affect the functioning of public health services. In a statement issued yesterday, the GMOA said the State hospital system operates around the clock throughout the year and requires doctors and other healthcare workers to travel frequently across the country to deliver medical services. more..

Mar 16 (NW) The launch of the QR code app on Sunday morning overwhelmingly, in the comments studied, resulted in frustrated resignation. Govt started to ration fuel on Sunday morning. On Twitter alone, this resulted in considerable chatter around both the need for such a system, and very serious problems associated with the re-launch of a platform that was first developed, and deployed in August 2022. In order to get a sense of public sentiment at a greater scale, I studied 4,000+ comments more..

Mar 16 (ST) The govt has decided to remove the surcharge of 50% imposed on the import duty on used and modified vehicles from April 1 onwards, which is set to see a reduction in these types of vehicles, officials said. Govt has rescinded a gazette notification issued by Prez Anura Kumara to extend a surcharge extended till Dec 31. The gazette notification on surcharge was initially introduced in Jan 2025, effective until the end of last year, and then extended until the end of this year. more..

Mar 16 (TM) In the wake of controversy following the release of two different sets of auspicious times for the Sinhala-Tamil New Year, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs stated that it plans to convene a meeting today (16) with astrologers from across the country in an effort to arrive at a single auspicious time schedule. When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday, Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said the ministry was attempting to introduce one set of auspicious times, more..

Mar 16 (AD) Fuel will only be distributed through the QR code system at filling stations from now on, with the assistance and supervision of police, CPC has announced. These assertions were made by CPC Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna during a special media briefing. Chairman Rajakaruna said that Sri Lanka is currently receiving fuel shipments as scheduled, and therefore there is no immediate shortage expected more..

Mar 16 (DM) Vehicle registrations eased in February after the strong momentum seen at the start of the year, with declines across several passenger vehicle segments even as overall activity remained relatively high following the reopening of vehicle imports. Total vehicle registrations fell to 51,682 units in Feb, down from 55,365 units in January. The moderation was visible across motor cars, SUVs, vans and several commercial vehicle categories, although two-wheelers continued to dominate the market. more..

Mar 16 (FT) SL’s tourism sector recorded its highest-ever February arrivals this year, but foreign exchange earnings from the industry declined, underscoring mounting concerns about falling per-capita tourist spending even as the country pursues an aggressive recovery strategy. Tourism earnings fell 4.4% YoY to $ 352 million in Feb despite a sharp increase in arrivals during the same period. On a month-on-month basis, February revenue also declined by 7.5% compared with January. more..

Mar 16 (SO) Despite South Asian nations sharing deep historical ties, geographic proximity and similar social traditions, regional cooperation in South Asia has yet to realise its full potential, former Chief of Defence Staff General (Rtd) Shavendra Silva said. He was speaking at the 10th edition of the Synergia Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on Friday. Silva outlined the importance of strengthening collaboration among countries in the region through enhanced military diplomacy and strategic engagement. more..

Mar 16 (ST) NDB Investment Bank has aggressive growth plans for the next three years, to extend its business from onshore to offshore, offshore to onshore, and to conduct offshore transactions in other markets. “We intend to grow our market share locally and follow our clients into the overseas market. Most of our large institutional clients have grown overseas as well. We will be offering them cross-border transaction services. We are trying to garner more investment banking partners more..

Mar 16 (DM) Air ticket prices in SL are expected to see an increase in the near future, driven by the rising costs of aviation fuel in the global market. Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, said that while authorities are making every effort to manage and minimise fuel costs for airlines, a hike in passenger ticket prices is inevitable. He said that this issue is not limited to SL but is currently affecting the entire global more..

Mar 16 (FT) In a historic achievement that places Sri Lanka on the global banking map, Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has been recognised as the only Sri Lankan bank ranked among the World’s Top 500 Banking Brands in 2026 by the internationally renowned brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance. This landmark recognition marks the first time in history that a Sri Lankan bank has secured a place in this prestigious global ranking, positioning BOC among the world banking brands. more..

Mar 16 (NW) Three-wheeler drivers have raised concerns that the fuel quota allocated under the QR code-based fuel management system is insufficient to sustain their operations, warning that they may launch protests if the allocation is not increased. Drivers noted that three-wheelers are currently allocated 15 litres of fuel per week under the system, but said this amount is inadequate for those who rely on the vehicle as their primary source of income. Representatives of 3-wheeler associations more..

Mar 16 (ST) The price bids of four companies competing to sell 300,000MT of emergency coal for the Lakvijaya power plant were examined this week, but the tender went unawarded, official sources said. Meanwhile, problematic coal supplier Trident Chemphar—which won the ongoing 2025-26 term tender—has again submitted an updated schedule to Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC). The company has undertaken to more..

Mar 16 (Island) SL’s latest economic indicators point to a curious numerical puzzle as industrial production is rising while labour force participation has not moved in tandem. Data for Jan 2026 show that the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose 4.4% year-on-year to 99.3, signalling a modest improvement in manufacturing activity compared with Jan 2025. The expansion was led mainly by food products, which grew 10.6%, wearing apparel which increased 12.5%, and other more..

Mar 16 (FT) Demonstrating its commitment to thought leadership and national progress, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL (CA Sri Lanka) recently organised a pivotal forum to examine the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their profound implications for the nation’s fragile economic recovery. The session, titled Risk Amid the Middle East Crisis: Economic Shockwaves and SL’s Strategic Response, brought together leading experts to evaluate more..

Mar 16 (FT) The Bar Association of SL (BASL) will host the 2026 National Labour Law Symposium on 23 March at Cinnamon Life, bringing together legal practitioners, policymakers, employers, human resource professionals and industry stakeholders for a full-day forum on the evolving landscape of labour law and employment relations in Sri Lanka. The program is structured around several thematic sessions addressing key issues shaping the future of employment and labour regulation. more..

Mar 16 (FT) Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) successfully concluded its annual research conference PIMARC 2026 on 19 Feb, convening academics, business leaders, policymakers, and emerging scholars for a day of critical reflection and forward-thinking dialogue. Held under the theme Inclusive and Responsible Management: Research for the New World, this year’s conference addressed a question that resonates deeply in today’s climate: How can research move beyond more..

Mar 16 (FT) The Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has approved a notification published in Extraordinary Gazette No. 2469/02 under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, No. 11 of 2021, paving the way for amendments to development control regulations governing Colombo Port City. The approval was granted following a lengthy discussion at a CoPF meeting held in Parliament last week more..

Mar 16 (Island) As a clinician whose journey in medicine began from the lecture halls of the Colombo Medical Faculty, in 1965, and then matured through securing the coveted MBBS (Ceylon) degree in 1970, followed by a further kaleidoscopic journey down the specialist corridors, from 1978 onwards, I have witnessed the remarkable evolution of healthcare in Sri Lanka. I have seen the admirable resolve of a nation that managed to offer free healthcare, at the point of delivery, more..

Mar 16 (Island) The JVP-NPP govt has finally brought itself to swallow its pride and introduce the QR-based fuel rationing system to face the current global oil crisis. It is notoriously slow on the draw and arrogantly dismissive of sound counsel. About three and a half months ago, its delayed response stood in the way of effective disaster management in the immediate aftermath of the landfall of Cyclone Ditwah. The govt mismanaged the current fuel crisis for two weeks. more..

Mar 16 (SO) For decades, the world operated under the comfortable, if flawed, assumption that the US was the ultimate guarantor of global stability. That illusion evaporated the moment the first Tomahawk missiles crossed the Iranian border on Feb 28. Today, the rules-based order is a smoking ruin. By launching an unfocused, high-casualty war (more than 1,000 dead in Iran) that has fundamentally misread the pulse of Global South, Washington has not only jeopardised its own Superpower more..

Mar 16 (TM) The release of the latest monitoring report by the PAFFREL and the 12 March Movement offers a useful and necessary moment of reflection for the Govt. One year after taking office on the strength of an ambitious election manifesto, the administration finds itself in a familiar position in Sri Lankan politics. The policy framework appears sound and the intentions are clearly articulated. Yet the translation of promises into concrete outcomes remains uneven. more..

Mar 16 (TM) An unprecedented military strike by a US submarine on an Iranian naval vessel within SL’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has placed the island nation at the centre of a complex diplomatic and humanitarian situation. The incident, which occurred off the southern coast, has intersected with ongoing domestic debates surrounding the housing of refugees. Govt is now managing the immediate aftermath of more..

Mar 16 (CT) Sri Lanka’s young generation is at a critical crossroads when it comes to the job market. It is getting difficult to find preferred jobs for them due to the lack of job opportunities in the market. Also, even if there are job opportunities, most of the time those jobs do not match their educational qualifications and their other expectations. This kind of situation tends to poor performance, Lack of teamwork, higher absenteeism rates and lack of commitment in working environment. more..

Mar 16 (ST) For Asia, Africa and other corners of the globe that do not share the sacred histories of Western civilisation at which white supremacist shrine, US President Donald Trump and his bully-lieutenants, Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio worship, misapplying and misunderstanding the core underpinnings of current American strategy in the Middle East conflict is deadly. For many of us, war initiated by US & Israel against Iran, aggravated (as if more aggravation was needed), more..

Mar 16 (CT) Admiral Jayanath Colombage, a retired Admiral of the SL Navy, former Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador, is a leading maritime security analyst. Known for his expertise in naval strategy and regional geopolitics, he highlighted that the Indian Ocean—once envisioned as a peace zone in 1971—is now heavily militarised. He warned that submarines from countries including US, UK, more..

Mar 16 (DM) The Indian Ocean has been declared a zone of peace on successive occasions. It is time the world’s major powers started acting like they believe it. For smaller nations like SL, still climbing out of the worst economic crisis in its modern history, this is not an abstract geopolitical development. In the waters around the Strait of Hormuz, a large number of commercial ships have come under attack in recent days. Iranian commanders announced that they were in full control of more..

Mar 16 (DM) Farmers in the Welimada plateau maintain that cultivating potatoes requires a very high investment, and when the harvest they produce reaches the market, imported potatoes are sold at lower prices during the same period. As a result, the prices of the harvest obtained from the 2025/26 Maha Season have already dropped, causing severe economic as well as mental distress to farmers, making those in the Welimada plateau fear that potato cultivation may disappear from more..