Mar 25 (TM) Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) yesterday issued conflicting statements on whether the latest fuel price revision was based on the fuel pricing formula. Responding to questions at the weekly Cabinet media briefing, Dr. Jayatissa stated the recent price increase was not determined using the pricing formula, citing the unprecedented surge in global oil prices. more..

Mar 25 (DM) The public has been urged to use electricity sparingly as Sri Lanka grapples with record-high power demand driven by prevailing dry weather conditions, Chairman of the National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd, Pradeep Perera said. Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever electricity demand last Monday (16), with peak demand reaching 3,089 megawatts. Since then, daily demand has remained around 3,000 megawatts, indicating sustained pressure on the national grid. more..

Mar 25 (EN) Sri Lanka expressed gratitude for Iran’s offer to supply oil in the event of Colombo requests, but said the country has no ship to explore the offer. Iran’s Ambassador to SL said on Monday that the oil rich nation was ready to provide fuel and other necessary goods to Sri Lanka if it requests them as the island nation grapples with fuel shortages and expensive essential goods. Already the country has implemented fuel rationing. Nalinda Jayatissa, the Cabinet Spokesman and more..

Mar 25 (TM) Opposition parties have written to international professional organisations to alert the latter with regard to the alleged grave situation of threats to the life and safety of professionals in Sri Lanka, specifically relating to the security of lawyers and the public. The letter signed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, and addressed to the International Bar Association, more..

Mar 25 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has emphasised the importance of expeditiously destroying seized drug stocks in order to build public confidence in the govt’s programme to eradicate the drug menace and underlined the need to establish a formal and efficient process to achieve this objective. A meeting was held today (24) between Prez Dissanayake and the committee appointed to amend legislation to remove legal obstacles to the swift destruction of seized narcotics. more..

Mar 25 (AD) Jaffna Municipal Council has submitted a report to the Court of Appeal outlining the measures taken and those planned to reduce air pollution in the Jaffna Peninsula. The report was presented when a petition filed by Dr. Uma Sukhi Nadarajah, a medical practitioner in Jaffna was taken up, requesting that a proper program be implemented to minimize air pollution in Jaffna. The petition was taken up today (24) before a bench comprising Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya, more..

Mar 25 (AD) The PM, Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest in the international conference on Transforming TVET Systems for climate resilience and green jobs organized by Colombo Plan Staff Collage, Philippines together with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education SL on 24 March at Courtyard by Marriott Colombo. The Conference serves as the flagship event of the five-day Regional Programme on more..

Mar 25 (NW) Indian PM Narendra Modi said he held discussions with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the evolving situation in West Asia, particularly focusing on disruptions affecting global energy security. PM Modi said the two leaders also reviewed progress on key initiatives aimed at strengthening India–SL energy cooperation and enhancing regional security. “As close and trusted partners, we reaffirmed our commitment to work closely together in addressing shared challenges,” Modi said. more..

Mar 25 (Island) Japanese Ambassador to Colombo, Akio Isomata, on 24 March, handed over the newly established dental unit and 4D Angio CT suite at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital. Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa and other senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the hospital attended the event. Highlighting the strong partnership between Japan and Sri Lanka in the health sector, the Embassy issued more..

Mar 25 (DN) All rounder Sahan Arachchige and middle order batter Pasindu Sooriyabanadara are tipped to be appointed captains of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ ODI team and four-day team against New Zealand ‘A’ in their series which will commence on April 5. The 26-year-old Sahan Arachchige the NCC left handed batsman and useful off spinner has played five one dayers and a T-20 game for National side once again gets a chance to play for Sri Lanka 'A' side with additional responsibility. more..

Mar 25 (DN) SL continued their impressive run with a convincing 3-0 victory over Saudi Arabia at the 2026 Junior Davis Cup – Asia/Oceania Pre-Qualifying Event held at the SL Tennis Association (SLTA) courts in Colombo yesterday. Competing among 15 nations — Macau, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Oman, Turkmenistan, Myanmar, Malaysia, Guam, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, Mongolia, Pacific Oceania and hosts SL — the home team delivered another clinical performance more..

Mar 25 (Island) The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) jointly organized an awareness session recently, for auditors of companies which are currently on the CSE Watchlist. The session focused on enhancing awareness of enforcement actions and timelines, reducing prolonged Watchlist durations, and fostering a more coordinated regulatory approach among regulators, auditors, listed companies. more..

Mar 25 (TM) The Families of the Disappeared organisation is set to submit a report compiled from its recent women’s conference to the relevant authorities, while calling for the establishment of an accountability mechanism to strengthen the search for missing and disappeared persons in Sri Lanka. Families of Missing Persons President Brito Fernando said that the report will be handed over at several locations in Colombo tomorrow (26) and on 27 March. more..

Mar 25 (FT) The Colombo stock market reported a sharp rebound yesterday posting the highest ever single-day points increase and recovering Rs. 244 billion in value on news of a possible de-escalation in the Middle East. Since the bombings in Iran began on 28 Feb, ASPI had lost Rs. 1.1 trillion in value, and 22% of that was recovered yesterday. However, high net-worth investors remained in the sidelines, more..

Mar 25 (DN) SL’s Under-20 national football team recorded a historic 3-2 victory over Maldives in the SAFF U-20 Championship under floodlights on Monday night at the Galolhu National Stadium in Male, after trailing 2-0 at half-time. The victory ended a 24-year winless run against their regional rivals and marked a major turning point for Sri Lanka’s football. The win is Sri Lanka’s first victory over Maldives since April 4, 2002, when they won 1-0 at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. more..

Mar 25 (DN) Sri Lanka volleyball Federation entered a new phase today with the arrival of Greek coach Petroglou Petros, who took up duties as the Head Coach of the National Volleyball Team. The experienced international coach was warmly received at the airport by Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation Vice President Mahesh Kariyawasam. Petros, a highly qualified Level 3 coach, comes with a strong coaching background built across Europe, the Gulf region and South Asia. more..

Mar 25 (ST) The public sector has scaled down operations after measures were put in place this week to cut down on energy use and fuel. While mentioning disruptions and increases in fuel prices, Prez said in Parliament on Friday that reserve stocks have been secured. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament that Octane 92 petrol is available until April 23, Octane 95 petrol until May 10, and diesel until April 12. more..

Mar 25 (ST) With a weekly quota of only 30 litres of kerosene, Northern fishermen say they are forced to restrict their activity to coastal waters, unable to reach the deep sea for better catches. While local fishermen remain unable to venture out, TN fishermen continue illegal bottom trawling in SL’s northern seas. Jaffna District Fishermen’s Federation committee member Pakiyanathan Regan said that the union has taken steps to distribute fuel, but supplies remain inadequate. more..

Mar 25 (DM) SL’s national payment network LankaPay officially launched cross-border QR payment acceptance via China’s Weixin Pay, widely known as WeChat Pay, at an event held in Colombo yesterday. The landmark integration allows inbound travellers to seamlessly scan and pay at over 400,000 LANKAQR merchants island-wide. With Weixin Pay currently boasting nearly 900 million monthly active users globally, the partnership is set to eliminate point-of-sale friction for Chinese more..

Mar 25 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the Agriculture Ministry and private sector fertiliser suppliers to jointly formulate a program to maintain sufficient fertiliser stocks in the market, so as to ensure an uninterrupted supply to farmers during the forthcoming Yala season. These instructions were issued during a discussion held this morning yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat with officials of the Agriculture Ministry and CEOs of fertiliser importing companies. more..

Mar 25 (FT) Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced a financial support package to help its developing member countries (DMCs) mitigate the economic and financial impacts resulting from the conflict in the ME. “ADB will deliver rapid, flexible, and scalable assistance to help countries manage immediate pressures and strengthen long-term resilience, notably fast-disbursing budget support and trade and supply chain finance to secure the import of essential goods, now including oil,” more..

Mar 25 (FT) Uni of Peradeniya Senior Prof. Buddhi Marambe called for a fundamental shift in how Sri Lanka calculates and manages agricultural costs, warning that existing frameworks are inadequate to deal with the uncertainty and volatility triggered by the Middle East war. Speaking at a recent CMA SL forum on the impact of the Middle East crisis on SL, he said pricing and cost structures must be redesigned to reflect more..

Mar 25 (Island) The unfolding tensions and diplomatic manoeuvres around the Strait of Hormuz offer more than a snapshot of regional instability. They reveal a deeper transformation in global statecraft, one where influence is exercised through calibrated engagement rather than outright confrontation. This is strategic diplomacy in its modern form: restrained, calculated, and layered with competing interests. At first glance, the current developments may appear as routine more..

Mar 25 (Island) JVP-NPP govt is slow on the draw whenever it responds to emergencies. Its long response time stood in the way of disaster mitigation in the immediate aftermath of the landfall of Cyclone Ditwah, which triggered a series of adverse weather events, claiming 638 lives and destroying more than 6,100 houses. Its delayed response also prevented the country from adopting emergency measures to manage its meagre fuel reserves immediately after the eruption of the latest Middle East conflict. more..

Mar 25 (DN) SL offers an interesting case where the public as well as the authorities tend to sit up and take notice of an issue only after something goes haywire. It is only then that full attention is directed to the very area that contributed to the tragedy. It should not be this way. We ought to keep our eyes on the ball when it comes to everyday safety. This is precisely why the proliferation of hoardings installed across the island by various parties for diverse purposes deserves closer scrutiny. more..

Mar 25 (ST) Storms do not strike everyone the same way. For a strong and healthy person, a sudden downpour may be little more than an inconvenience—a sprint through the rain, wet cloths, and a story to tell. But for a feeble and sick person, the same storm can be exhausting, even dangerous, leaving the person shaken long after the clouds have passed. It is quite possible that this person will have lots of health complications thereafter. The severity of the storm matters, but more..

Mar 25 (TM) As SL readjusts to the reintroduction of fuel rationing under a QR-based distribution system, essential public services like healthcare are facing concerns about sustaining operations with restricted mobility. Since 15 March, a weekly fuel quota has been imposed islandwide based on vehicle types: motorcycles are limited to 5 litres, cars and three-wheelers to 15 litres, vans & special purpose vehicles to 40 litres, lorries to 200 l more..

Mar 25 (TM) When International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warns the world has already lost 11 million barrels of oil per day, surpassing the combined shocks of the 1970s, it is not a technical observation. It is an indictment. His most damning line should not be ignored. “The depth of the problem was not well appreciated by the decision makers around the world.” That is not a throwaway remark. It is a blunt admission that those in charge failed to read the signals, more..

Mar 25 (GV) With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, SL finds itself at a particularly vulnerable juncture as it carefully navigates a fragile economic recovery. Labour migration offers jobs to counteract the lack of opportunities within the economy. Related micro-level remittances prevent households from dipping back into poverty. Similarly, on a macro level these remittances, of which about 50% come from Middle East countries, help build foreign reserves, stabilise the economy and pay for more..

Mar 25 (SO) SL is currently facing its second major crisis within four months following Cyclone Ditwah, amid the ongoing US–Israel war on Iran. While crises are not new to the country, successive Govts have often faced criticism from Opposition parties over their handling of emergency situations. SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, a vocal critic of the Govt, has alleged that NPP administration lacks a clear more..

Mar 25 (DM) The shockwaves of the Middle East war that was started by the US and Israel by launching unprovoked attacks on Iran on Feb 28 ripple through almost every country in the world. Going by statements made by the leaders, SL is going to face a dire situation due to the very short time gap the country was left with to prepare for this shock. The changing stances on the part of American Prez Donald Trump on the conclusion of the war seem to make it difficult leaders more..

Mar 25 (DM) High-flown diplomatic verbosity and larger-than-life personal egos are not necessarily prerequisites for striking a principled foreign policy position and being recognised for it, though most leaders and policy pundits in this part of the world tend to think otherwise. Last week, as the chattering classes in Colombo were assessing the eloquence of Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath’s English, SL proved yet again that a small nation, navigating a geopolitical tsunami, more..