Mar 1 (CI) Sahibzada Farhan's record-breaking hundred and Fakhar Zaman's blazing 84 off 42 balls gave Pakistan a five-run win over Sri Lanka in Pallekele but it wasn't enough to put them in the T20 World Cup semi-finals. It was New Zealand who became the second team from Group 2 to qualify for the knockouts. After being sent in, Pakistan needed to win by about 65 runs to qualify, and for a large part of their innings, they were in business. Having made three changes more..

Mar 1 (Island) Excerpts from the speech of the Chairman of the Communist Party of SL, D.E.W. Gunasekera, at the 23rd Convention of the Party. This is not merely a routine gathering. Our annual congress has always been a decisive moment in SL’s political history. For 83 years, since the formation of our Party in 1943, we have held 22 conventions. Each one reflected the political turning points of our time. Today, as we assemble for the 23rd Congress, we do so at another historic crossroads more..

Mar 1 (Island) Janith Madushanka de Silva alias Podi Lassi, a dangerous underworld character, who was arrested in India, was brought back to SL yesterday. On watching his arrival at the BIA, Citizen Perera must have uttered the same words as Mr. Bumble in Oliver Twist: The law is an ass. Criminals are caught, released and caught again. Arresting an underworld figure is no walk in the park. It takes months of meticulous planning to nab powerful criminals protected by private armies. more..

Mar 1 (FT) Contents of this article are excerpts from an address delivered by the undersigned on 31 Jan 2026 at the SL Student Association of Japan at the Embassy of SL under the auspices of the Conference Chair, Sr. Prof. N.S. Cooray of Int'l University of Japan and graced by the Chief Guest, Ambassador of SL to Japan, Prof. Janak Kumarasinghe as well as other distinguished speakers. “Sustainable Development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising more..

Mar 1 (SO) Why are Perodua and Proton the preferred cars in Malaysia? It is a rich country and here are the comparisons. Malaysia’s GDP per capita is US $ 12,000 in contrast to ours which stands at US $ 4,500. But yet, 60% of cars used in that country are made locally. In a rich country, why don’t people prefer imported cars? Costs, and protectionism are two of the key factors, and that’s for starters. Consumers have to pay far less for a car made in Malaysia, sometimes less than half of more..

Mar 1 (ST) Following SL’s disastrous exit from the Super Eight round of the World T20, social media has exploded with criticism and mockery of the country’s cricket team. The humiliating exit hurts all the more given that SL is co-hosting the tournament with India, and had they qualified for the semi-final, they would have had the added advantage of playing that game on home soil as well. However, after two horrendous defeats against England and NZ, SL was left with playing more..

Mar 1 (ST) My dear Dasun and the cricket team, I am writing to you when cricket fans are shocked with your performance at the T20 World Cup. In a tournament where all our games are being played on home soil, we have been booted out already. What has happened to the game 30 years after we won a World Cup is the talk of the town. I am not at all surprised. The way in which the game was being run in the country, it would be a miracle if we made it to the semi-finals. We lost three T20 games in a row to more..

Mar 1 (ST) War was what everyone expected during the charade of diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran on the latter’s nuclear programme. When was the only question, and it came yesterday while the diplomats were still at the table. Dogged at home by the Epstein files; a Supreme Court decision against his global tariffs war; besieged by fellow citizens opposing his immigration policies; and dipping in the opinion polls, the US President has taken up the common strategy adopted by more..

Mar 1 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his JVP-led NPP Govt are continuing their rollercoaster ride of governing the country, with the Opposition parties also gradually gathering steam in their attacks against the Govt. While Prez AKD will mark one-and-a-half years in office this month, there has been an increase in Opposition attacks on the Govt, especially in holding those in high offices accountable to the pledges made to the people. more..

Mar 1 (TM) In moments of national tragedy, language matters. Words like rebuilding, solidarity, and national effort carry emotional weight. They appeal to collective memory, shared suffering, and the instinct to help. Yet in SL’s long and painful history of disasters, both natural and man-made alike, such language has too often been weaponised to obscure uncomfortable truths. Given this backdrop, the controversy surrounding the so-called Rebuilding Sri Lanka initiative, more..

Mar 1 (SO) Just when the world thought that South Asia had become relatively stable, war has flared up between former allies Pakistan and Afghanistan. For several months, the two countries have traded allegations of cross-border terrorism and witnessed tit-for-tat clashes. Islamabad’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the two neighbours, who share a long, porous border were waging open war, while the Afghan Government called for dialogue to resolve the conflict. more..

Feb 28 (Island) SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa raised serious concerns over the Govt’s importation of substandard coal, warning that its use has resulted in inefficient electricity generation, increased equipment damage and significant financial losses to the State and consumers. He said the SJB had exposed details regarding the importation of inferior-quality coal, prompting what he described as an admission by Govt more..

Feb 28 (AD) CID has obtained a 90-day detention order to question former state intelligence chief Major General (Retd) Suresh Sallay, the police said. Former Head of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay was arrested on Wednesday by CID officers in connection with the investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks. Police said he was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) based on evidence related to the 2019 Easter Attacks Bombings. more..

Feb 28 (AD) The Gampaha High Court has formally served indictments on a group of defendants, including former Minister Mervyn Silva and former state minister Prasanna Ranaweera, in connection with an alleged land fraud case. The case relates to the alleged illegal sale of state-owned property through the use of forged deeds. The two former parliamentarians, who had previously been released on High Court bail, appeared before the court today to be served the indictments. more..

Feb 28 (DM) SL exporters could soon experience a measure of relief following a recent US Supreme Court ruling that struck down the reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Although the US administration swiftly invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, to maintain the elevated duties, the transition is expected to lower SL’s overall effective tariff rate in the US market from more..

Feb 28 (FT) Second Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between SL and Finland was held on 25 Feb in Helsinki, marking an important step in further strengthening the longstanding and cordial relations between the two countries and reflecting the enduring friendship that has characterised bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1954. A key highlight of the consultations was the signing of a MoU on the Establishment of a Political Consultation Mechanism more..

Feb 28 (CT) SL faces a mounting public health challenge as rabies continues to claim lives, with health authorities calling on the public to act without hesitation following any animal exposure. Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana from the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Unit issued a stark warning, saying the disease leaves absolutely no margin for delay once a person has been exposed. He made clear that once a patient begins showing clinical symptoms, survival becomes impossible. more..

Feb 28 (AD) A three-month memorial almsgiving ceremony was held today (27) at Pamunupura, Batamulla, in remembrance of those who lost their lives due to the landslide that affected over five kilometres in Nelummala village, Minipe Divisional Secretariat Division in the Kandy District. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also participated in the event. The landslide, triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, claimed the lives of 31 individuals from 13 families in Nelummala village. more..

Feb 28 (CT) Customs officers on Friday launched a trade union action over promotions and salary increments that have remained pending for six years. However, the work-to-rule campaign was later suspended following intervention from the President’s Office. Officers reported for duty wearing black armbands and vacated office premises from 12 noon onwards. By 12.30 pm, Customs offices were completely deserted, with no staff remaining on duty. Trade union representatives held a meeting more..

Feb 28 (FT) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya this week reaffirmed SL’s commitment to deepening ties with India, stating that as the country moves towards sustainable growth, it welcomes investors and tourists who contribute to strengthening economic and cultural relations. She made the remarks while addressing a special celebration and dinner reception organised by the SL India Society to mark 77th Republic Day more..

Feb 28 (Island) JVP-NPP govt is practising the very antithesis of what it promised workers during its election campaigns. Pledging to look after workers’ interests, the JVP/NPP leaders said there would be no need for labour struggles under an NPP govt. But they are now emulating their predecessors who mismanaged labour issues and suppressed trade unions. The govt has locked horns with the GMOA. They are engaged in a contest of attrition, which is not likely to end any time soon, more..

Feb 28 (FT) SL marked a milestone in its tourism and digital economy journey on Thursday with the ceremonial issuance of its first Digital Nomad Visa (DNV), officially welcoming Ukrainian national Darya Gordiyenko and her spouse Yaroslav Kovalchuk to the island. The event, organised by the SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), was held at the Silk Route Arrival Lounge at the BIA. Officials described the issuance of the first visa as more than the launch of a new entry category, more..

Feb 28 (Island) Long jumper Madushani Herath and former national javelin record holder Sumedha Ranasinghe were among half a dozen athletes to have reached qualifying standads to make the national pool on day one of the Athletic Trials held at Diyagama today. ‎Former Nannapurawa MV, Bibila athlete Herath cleared a distance of 6.32 metres to win the long jump contest, some 18 centimeters clear of the target set for the first trial. ‎Distance runner Rasara Wijesuriya was more than more..

Feb 28 (DN) Opener Nethula Edirimanne played a superb unbeaten innings of 150 as Ananda College closed the first day at 325 for 5 wickets in their 96th Battle of the Maroons against Nalanda College at the SSC Grounds yesterday. Edirimanne anchored the innings throughout the day, setting a new record for the highest individual score in the series, surpassing the 149* made by Nalanda’s Shantha Kalawitigoda in 1997. Ananda won the toss and elected to bat first. more..

Feb 28 (ST) Electricity consumers, including industrialists, bakers, merchants, and homes, have expressed concern over the possible increase of electricity tariffs. CEB made a proposal to the PUCSL to increase tariffs on Monday, seeking a 13.56% increase in electricity tariffs for the second quarter from April 1 to June 30. The govt at the moment is in a dilemma, as the cost-reflective tariffs are an IMF condition. more..

Feb 28 (DM) Emirates, the world’s largest international and most profitable airline, is continuing its global search for top-tier aircraft technical talent, with SL confirmed as its next destination. The airline will host information sessions in Colombo on March 10, 2026, for skilled and aspiring workshop technicians interested in joining its engineering workforce based at its hub in Dubai. The roadshow forms part of the Emirates group’s global recruitment drive to onboard 17,300 professionals more..

Feb 28 (Island) Sri Lanka’s digital payments revolution is gathering unprecedented momentum, with more than 260 govt institutions now integrated into the national digital payments ecosystem, marking a decisive shift toward financial transparency, efficiency and inclusion, officials said at a press briefing held at the Hilton Colombo Residences. The announcement coincided with the launch of the eighth edition of the LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2026 by LankaPay, more..

Feb 28 (DM) The Colombo district consumer prices eased in February, as the prices of most food items fell while the non-food prices didn’t budge either way as the prices of petrol were cut. Consumer prices, measured according to the Colombo Consumer Price Index, came at 1.6% in the 12 months to Feb 2026, down from 2.3% through January. Prices measured on a monthly basis fell 0.9% in Feb 2026, after rising 0.6% in Jan more..

Feb 28 (ST) The 2026 amendments1 to the Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) Act are aimed at improving governance, streamlining oversight, and providing the regulatory certainty required for large-scale international investment. These amendments introduce a clearer, more predictable statutory framework for identifying, approving, and monitoring BSI, providing investors with greater certainty and transparency for large-scale and strategic capital investments. more..

Feb 28 (FT) European Union said yesterday it has allocated an additional €1 million (over Rs 370 million) to address the continuing humanitarian impact of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka. With this additional funding, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to supporting affected communities and strengthening ongoing relief operations across the country. Delivered through humanitarian partner organisations, this funding will support the provision of basic services. more..

Feb 28 (FT) Swedish Trading Company (STC), one of SL’s most established industrial engineering solutions providers, successfully hosted STC TechSphere 2026 on 3 Feb at the Shangri-La Colombo, bringing together industry leaders, engineers, business owners, and international principals for an evening of technical knowledge-sharing and industry dialogue. Held under the theme Legacy of Excellence – Building on Decades of Trust, the event marked over 40 years more..

Feb 28 (FT) A customised capacity-building program for 10 aquaculturists from the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) under the Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ministry of Sri Lanka, was organizsed from 2 to 13 February 2026 at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneshwar, India - the premier research institute for freshwater aquaculture in India under the aegeis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. more..