Mar 13 (AD) The bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in the torpedo attack on the warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka’s coast are scheduled to be repatriated to Iran today on a special flight departing from Mattala International Airport, the Defence Ministry said. On March 11, the bodies of the 84 Iranian sailors, stored in two mobile cold storage units at the Galle National Hospital, were ordered to be handed over to officials of the Embassy of Iran in SL. more..

Mar 13 (AD) NWSDB says it has discovered the largest groundwater source in SL thus far during tube well drilling carried out near the Pitabeddara Police Station. Indrajith Gamage, Geologist in charge of the Southern Province, stated that this is the first instance in which a water source with a continuous flow of 10,000 litres (10 cubic metres) per minute has been identified in the country. He noted that the previous largest groundwater source was discovered in the Madhu area, more..

Mar 13 (AD) An individual has stolen a box containing several rubies from a gem merchant at E.L. Senanayake Veediya in Kandy this afternoon. The robbery had been carried out after the suspect incapacitated an individual on the premises by spraying an unidentified chemical liquid on his face. According to the Police, the establishment functions as a centre for the sale, testing, and certification of gemstones. The suspect reportedly entered the premises under the guise of a potential buyer more..

Mar 13 (FT) The recent Financial Times column proposing a Northern Gateway Initiative presents an ambitious vision for transforming SL’s Northern Province into a strategic economic bridge between SL and Southern India. For such a vision to succeed sustainably, however, large-scale infrastructure investment must first be integrated with the systematic development of local enterprise and workforce capability. Long-term progress ultimately depends not only on infrastructure more..

Mar 13 (FT) Crossroads such as The Silk Route have their own legends about countries, characters and caravans. But it is chessboards that may have some elements that are far more relevant to the state of play in the Middle Eastern game that is going on today. On a chessboard, every move looks deliberate, strategic and calculated – sometimes, even elegant. Pawns advance with a purpose that can terrify kings. Knights leap in elaborate corkscrews – often two at a time (ahem!) more..

Mar 13 (TM) One of the largest narcotics hauls in SL this year was uncovered after the Navy intercepted two suspicious multi-day fishing trawlers in international waters south of the country, with the seized stock of drugs estimated to be worth around Rs. 10 billion. The two vessels suspected of transporting narcotics and weapons were brought to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour yesterday after being seized during a special Naval operation more..

Mar 13 (NW) Gary Kirsten says he is excited about the challenge of leading SL as the national team’s new head coach, while stressing the need to build confidence and consistency within the squad. Kirsten said coaching int'l teams has been among the most fulfilling experiences of his career, noting that he enjoyed his time with India and South Africa more than franchise leagues. He explained that franchise coaching had allowed him to spend more time with his family when his children were more..

Mar 13 (FT) The Russian Embassy in Colombo has issued the following statement in response to the story ‘Dutch Embassy condemns Russian pressure to remove Ukraine war photos from exhibition’ published in yesterday’s Daily FT: “Due to the controversial article in the Daily FT Dutch Embassy condemns Russian pressure to remove Ukraine war photos from exhibition published on 22 March 2026, the Russian Embassy would like to provide the following message. more..

Mar 13 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured that all rights currently enjoyed by employees of the now-liquidated CEB will be protected under the newly established successor companies. The assurance was given during a meeting held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat between Prez and representatives of engineers’ trade unions of the former CEB. Discussions focused on the ongoing more..

Mar 13 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines today (11), and held a bilateral discussion with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the field of rice research and sustainable agricultural development. During the meeting, discussions centered on rice cultivation in Sri Lanka, including the key challenges faced by SL paddy farmers, more..

Mar 13 (FT) Economic policy think tank Advocata Institute in a statement yesterday praised the Govt’s mid-month fuel price revision as a decisive move that prevented hoarding and shortages during a global energy shock, while calling for cost-reflective pricing to protect scarce foreign exchange and maintain fiscal discipline, and for greater transparency in CPC pricing formula. Statement: We commend govt’s decisive move to revise fuel prices mid-month without prior notice. more..

Mar 13 (NW) SL says India has responded positively to a request for assistance in securing fuel supplies if the ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue. The request was made by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath during an official meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his visit to India on March 6. During the discussion, Minister Herath raised concerns over the possible impact on SL’s energy supply if the war-like situation in the Middle East persists, and sought India’s support more..

Mar 13 (AD) Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for stronger political, economic and security cooperation among countries in the Indian Ocean region, warning that the absence of regional integration has left the area vulnerable at a time of escalating geopolitical tensions. Wickremesinghe pointed to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, noting that it highlights the region’s lack of coordinated response mechanisms. more..

Mar 13 (FT) Govt’s drive to accelerate tourism investment through large-scale land leasing risks repeating the failures of earlier development efforts unless structural weaknesses in planning, infrastructure, and governance are addressed. This is according to a Policy Brief by the Centre for a Smart Future, authored by researchers Ashanee Kottage and Tehani Perera. The brief says the current framework for tourism land more..

Mar 13 (TM) The Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA), in a letter addressed to the Public Security Minister and copied to the President and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has called on the authorities to ensure the safety of journalists and to protect media freedom. The letter comes in connection with the arrest of the Editor of the Lanka E News website, Sandaruwan Senadheera, and the intimidation and obstruction of Ceylon Today Deputy Editor, Sulochana Ramiah Mohan. more..

Mar 13 (DM) SL Police are stepping up their crackdown on reckless driving by enforcing stringent legal measures, including attempted murder charges, against severe traffic violators. DIG in charge of the Traffic Control and Road Safety Division, W.P.J. Senadheera, said that law enforcement is now actively utilizing social media footage and dashcam recordings provided by the public to track down and arrest offenders. DIG Senadheera highlighted several recent more..

Mar 13 (TM) Experienced business administrator Bimal Wijayasinghe yesterday won the election to the top post of Sri Lanka Athletics. This was when he got the better of his rival candidate and former athlete and head of (SLA) Sunil Gunawatdana by 61 votes to 38. Thus Wijayasinghe won by an additional 23 votes. Wijayasinghe, a first-time entrant to the local athletics administration thus takes over from previous president Palitha Fernando who could not contest after having served an 8-year tenure more..

Mar 13 (DN) Openers Jaden Amaraweera (52) and Avinash Fernando (50) struck half-centuries as S. Thomas’ College reached 203 for 4 at stumps on the opening day of the 147th Battle of the Blues against Royal College, played at the SSC Grounds yesterday. After being invited to bat first, the Thomians adopted a patient and measured approach. Openers Jaden Amaraweera and captain Avinash Fernando laid a solid foundation with a 110-run opening partnership, which stood out more..

Mar 13 (TM) National Agrarian Union warned of a looming fertiliser crisis, accusing the Govt of failing to prepare adequately and cautioning that SL’s agriculture sector, food security and economy could face severe consequences if urgent action is not taken. The Union’s President, Anuradha Tennakoon, rejected Govt claims that the country has sufficient fertiliser stocks for the next two years, saying information from reliable sources more..

Mar 13 (FT) John Keells Hotels said it has entered into a binding agreement with Lavendish Leisure, the hospitality arm of the Dedigama Group, to divest its majority stake in Kandy Walk Inn Ltd, (KWIL), the owning company of the Cinnamon Citadel hotel in Kandy. Company said the transaction involves the sale of its entire shareholding in KWIL, representing 98.39% of the issued share capital of the company, for a consideration of Rs. 2.777 billion. KWIL owns the Cinnamon Citadel property, more..

Mar 13 (FT) EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe has said the upcoming National Export Development Plan (NEDP), expected to be launched next month, aims to drive sustained export growth, enhance global competitiveness, and diversify both products and markets. Developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders, Govt agencies, and int'l partners, including Asian Development Bank (ADB), NEDP outlines a roadmap to achieve over 10% annual export growth, more..

Mar 13 (SO) On her retirement day, emeritus professor Savitri Gunatilleke recalled how, coming from a conservative family background, she had to overcome several barriers as a woman to become one of SL’s pioneers in rainforest ecology. After graduating in 1969 from the Uni of Ceylon (now Uni of Peradeniya), she travelled to Aberdeen in Scotland for postgraduate studies. One of the first challenges she encountered was her dress more..

Mar 13 (DM) Colombo Commercial High Court has issued an enjoining order preventing Friends of Manipay Hospital and several other defendants from using in SL the name Ride for Ceylon or a similar name without the consent of the plaintiff company, Ride For Ceylon (Guarantee) Ltd. Judge Amali Ranaweera made this order pursuant to a plaint filed by David Rasiah, Chairman of Ride For Ceylon (Guarantee) Ltd, against Friends of Manipay Hospital and several other defendants. more..

Mar 13 (TM) Though 71% of SL’s railways system have been restored post-cyclone Ditwah, a lack of sufficient financing keeps the national transport agencies from fully implementing a climate-resilient infrastructure transportation system, Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena said. He said: “So up to now, we have 71% operable railway lines after two months. Two months back, 78% were inoperable. Now it’s 71% operable, but there are so many things to be done in the road network as well. more..

Mar 13 (Island) The launch of SL’s first locally manufactured self-dialysis solution bags by Kelun Lifesciences has coincided with the World Kidney Day. The company said the new supply bags, designed for home-based self-dialysis treatment, would benefit thousands of Sri Lankans suffering from chronic kidney disease by allowing them to undergo treatment in the comfort of their homes. The launch represents a significant development in the country’s healthcare sector as more..

Mar 13 (DN) During the past week we witnessed how the three-wheel fuel mafia operated freely for the second time in history and did their best to create an artificial fuel shortage in the country. We need to halt all types of mafias in order to walk forward smoothly in the middle of various challenges posed to us by local and foreign issues. Ending the three-wheel fuel mafia is one of the key measures that need to be taken by the relevant authorities. During Sri Lanka’s 2022 fuel crisis, more..

Mar 13 (FT) Advocata Institute Chairman Murtaza Jafferjee said SL’s ability to withstand the economic shock from the escalating Middle East conflict will depend not only on immediate policy responses, such as fuel price adjustments, but also on addressing deeper structural problems of State capture and weak capacity. He said the Govt’s decision to raise fuel prices soon after global crude prices crossed $ 100 a barrel was more..

Mar 13 (DM) John Keells Properties yesterday unveiled a 60-storey residential development, Vauxhall DSTRCT, in central Colombo, marking the group’s first major real estate launch since SL’s economic crisis, with more than 100 apartments sold on the opening day amid signs of renewed demand for city-centre housing. The project will rise along Vauxhall Street in Col 2, occupying one of the city’s most connected urban corridors with views across Colombo’s skyline and the Beira Lake. more..

Mar 13 (GV) On March 8, 1908 about 15,000 working women gathered in New York demanding shorter working hours (less than a 12 hour workday), better pay and the right to vote. Following year, Socialist Party of America declared March 8 as National Women’s Day. The idea later became International Women’s Day after being proposed by German socialist leader Clara Zetkin. In 1910, she presented the proposal to 100 women delegates from 17 countries at the Int'l Congress of more..

Mar 13 (DM) As the unprovoked and illegal war on Iran continues for the 14th day, one thing is certain: the US and Israel—the aggressors in this case—are not winning, nor is Iran losing. Yet in Washington and Tel Aviv, there is no shortage of arrogant rhetoric. US Prez Donald Trump and the dimwitted members of his administration keep saying, “We won the war, but we will stay in the fight to finish the job.” If that is so, why waste your fast-depleting, costly ammunition, Mr Trump? more..

Mar 13 (DM) The controversy surrounding the English proficiency of SL’s Foreign Minister has sparked a debate that, while understandable in a country with a colonial legacy and global diplomatic engagements, risks missing the larger point. In diplomacy, language is undoubtedly an important tool. Yet, what ultimately matters is the substance of policy, the ability to foster dialogue, and the clarity of the strategic direction a country seeks to pursue the real questions that Sri Lanka must confront more..