Mar 26 (NW) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism takes note of the Press Release dated 24th March, issued by the UK, Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) entitled “UK Sanctions for Human Rights Violations and Abuses during the Sri Lankan Civil War”. As stated in the press release, the UK government has imposed sanctions on four individuals, three of whom are former more..

Mar 26 (NF) SL Life Saving Association has reported renewed crocodile threats in the coastal areas of Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Ratmalana, Panadura, and Wellawatte. Fishermen have observed crocodiles roaming these coastal regions, raising concerns among locals and tourists. Recently, a crocodile was spotted in these areas, highlighting the ongoing threat. Yesterday, a group of fishermen captured a crocodile and handed it over to officials at the Bellanwila-Attidiya Wildlife Office. more..

Mar 26 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accused the govt of being influenced by a fuel cartel alleging that renewable energy projects are being deliberately obstructed. In a post on X Premadasa criticized the recent reduction in solar feed-in tariffs, calling it an act of absolute corruption with no economic logic. “I’ve never said this before. But it’s time we call it, the fuel cartel runs this government. Every renewable project is blocked or buried. Now they’ve cut solar tariffs. more..

Mar 26 (FT) The Export Development Board (EDB) is targeting an ambitious $ 45 billion in export revenue by 2030, our country’s economic resilience hinges on its ability to transform these export earnings for the long-term. The synergy between the IT sector and climate initiatives offers a unique opportunity to cultivate new industries which can hold a comparative advantage on the global stage. Sri Lanka has a unique opportunity to become a leader in sustainability services. more..

Mar 26 (FT) Sri Lanka’s economy has turned around from a contraction of 7.8% in 2022 to a +5.2% growth in 2024 which is the resilience of the country. An important point to note is that this comes at a backdrop of the IMF and World Bank projecting a growth of 3-3.3%. This is the power of brand SL that the world needs to comprehend. The export community contributed $ 16.7 billion whilst the tourism sector crossed a $ 3.1 billion performance which is a +53% growth over last year. more..

Mar 26 (AD) The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL) has dismissed media reports claiming it has decided to suspend the Starlink satellite broadband service, which has been planned to be implemented in the country. According to the Director General of TRCSL Bandula Herath, a dashboard system is required to carry out the necessary regulations for providing this service. more..

Mar 26 (Island) SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam asked Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reveal his stand on UK sanctions on Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, retired Generals Shavendra Silva and Jagath Jayasuriya and ex-LTTE Ampara-Batticaloa commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, alias Karuna Amman. Former MP demanded that Prez Dissanayake, who is also the Defence Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, more..

Mar 26 (AD) Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Rajamaha Viharaya, Ven. Dr. Walawahengunawewa Dhammarathana Thero, claims that a situation has arisen where the Prez’s advice and directives are not being carried out due to certain politically-affiliated groups from previous governments that are continuing to haunt the country’s state institutions. Thero further charged that certain officials are attempting to inconvenience the govt without implementing the instructions issued by Prez more..

Mar 26 (TM) SJB is to support the Bills to abolish pension for MPs, and amend Presidents Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently said that the Bills to abolish the pension for MPs and to amend the said Act would be presented to the Parliament soon. When queried as to whether the SJB would support the move, SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that they would extend their support. more..

Mar 26 (AD) The circular pertaining to the revision of salaries for the public sector employees has been issued in accordance with the 2025 Budget proposals. The relevant circular was issued today (25) to the Ministry Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries, and Heads of Departments, with the signature of the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, S. Aloka Bandara. See the relevant circular below: more..

Mar 26 (FT) The ongoing debate over aviation safety and regulatory oversight has intensified with industry stakeholders and the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) at odds over critical issues, particularly the boundary wall at Colombo International Airport in Ratmalana. Upon inquiry into the latest update on the issue, CAASL CEO Sagara Kotakadeniya confirmed to the Daily FT that a comprehensive report on the removal of the boundary wall has been submitted to Civil Aviation Ministry more..

Mar 26 (SLA) The 16th contingent of the SL Force Protection Company (SLFPC) is set to embark on its peacekeeping mission under the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). They presented a ceremonial salute to Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Army, at the parade ground of the Gajaba Regiment (GR) on 22nd March. The Chief Guest was warmly welcomed by Major General M.G.W.W.W.M.C.B Wickramasinghe, Chief of Staff. The Army Chief was then invited to receive more..

Mar 26 (AD) A 69-year-old Buddhist monk has been found brutally murdered at a monastery in Kiralogama, within the Eppawala Police Division. According to police, a complaint was received at the Eppawala Police Station on the afternoon of March 25, 2025, reporting that the monk had been found murdered inside the monastery. The discovery was made by a visitor to the monastery and another monk from a different temple. Upon finding the slain monk, they immediately alerted the police. more..

Mar 26 (TM) Referring to the ongoing discussions on renegotiating agreements with foreign investors, including those in the energy sector, former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe warned that such actions could make investors perceive Sri Lanka as an unreliable country to invest in. He warned that SL must do its best to protect investments and should not undo agreements reached, since it paints Sri Lanka as more..

Mar 26 (Island) CEB has announced an international call for proposals to develop two 50 MW wind farm facilities in Mullikulam on a Build, Own & Operate (BOO) basis. The initiative aims to bolster SL’s renewable energy capacity, aligning with the govt’s strategy to increase the share of clean energy in the national grid. The bidding process, launched on behalf of the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee, invites local and international project proponents to finance, design construct more..

Mar 26 (Island) With less than 50 days to go for the ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships in May, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Tharanga Perera expressed his enthusiasm and confidence about Sri Lanka hosting this landmark event, marking the first major boxing championship since the Asian C'ships held in Colombo in 1967. “We have everything in place to ensure SL delivers a world-class tournament from May 12 to 23 at Sugathadasa Stadium,” more..

Mar 26 (AD) Human rights activist, professor, and lawyer Prathibha Mahanamahewa emphasized the need for an investigation committee to review the proposal seeking the removal of IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is currently in remand custody and suspended from his duties. Explaining the constitutional process for removing an IGP, Prof. Mahanamahewa stated, “When a proposal to remove the IGP is submitted, an investigation committee has to be appointed. more..

Mar 26 (FT) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, yesterday joined an event hosted by the Australian High Commissioner Paul Stephens, to officially launch THRIVE – Together for Her: Resilience-building, Inclusivity, and Voices for Equality in SL. THRIVE is a five-year project implemented by UN Women and Chrysalis and funded by the Govt of Australia to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in SL. The project will strengthen the economic and social resilience of women more..

Mar 26 (EN) Investment bankers Lazard, is on track to be appointed to restructure Srilankan Airlines defaulted bonds, advisor to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Susantha Hulangamuwa said. Investment bankers Lazard, is on track to be appointed to restructure Srilankan Airlines defaulted bonds, he said. “Very soon the cabinet is expected to take a decision to appoint Lazard to restructure the int'l bond,” more..

Mar 26 (DN) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has brought a few changes to the National Super League (NSL) four day cricket tournament this time which made it more attractive and competitive. After two weeks of this tournament Galle team led by Pasindu Sooriayabandara came on top with 27.951 points. Galle beat Dambulla by 145 runs in their game on Sunday while Galle scored highest team total so far, 602 for 9 wickets declared in their first drawn game against Kandy. more..

Mar 26 (DM) Deputy Minister of Housing T.B. Sarath refuted media reports that he had declared open a toilet. Ministry said in a statement that it was reported in some newspapers and social media that Deputy Minister T.B. Sarath had declared open a toilet. The statement said that there is no truth in the news reports and that the photos shared on social media is related to an incident where the Deputy Minister together with youth activists had built a toilet to a needy family some five years ago. more..

Mar 26 (TM) Govt Radiological Technologists’ Association claimed that the CT scan machine imported for the Kalutara Teaching Hospital has been stuck at the Colombo Port for six weeks due to Customs clearance delays. Association’s President Chanaka Dharmawickrama claimed that the CT scan machine, worth Rs. 150 million, arrived at the Colombo Port on 14 Feb. However, he alleged that officials from the Ministry of Health more..

Mar 26 (FT) Ant International’s cross-border mobile payment and digitalisation solution Alipay+ yesterday went live in SL in a landmark partnership with LankaPay – SL’s national payment network giving a boost to leisure and business tourism in the country. Under the partnership over 400,000 LANKAQR merchants across Sri Lanka will be able to accept cross-border mobile payments from tourists and business travellers via 14 international e-wallets connected to Alipay+ during the first phase. more..

Mar 26 (FT) Global giant, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) is to divest its wealth and retail business in SL and focus more on corporate and institutional clients. The move is part of the Group’s strategy to concentrate resources and sharpen focus on markets that provide a distinctive proposition and necessary scale. SCB SL recently updated its colleagues and customers of its intention to explore the sale of the wealth & retail banking business in SL, subject to regulatory approvals. more..

Mar 26 (FT) Cyber Cinema Corporation Ltd, is set to redefine the digital entertainment landscape in Sri Lanka with the launch of Kaputa Cinema, the country’s first-ever completely free OTT platform. The grand unveiling will take place on 27 March at the Ramada Hotel at 4 p.m. Unlike any other platform in the region, Kaputa Cinema will offer 100% free access to a diverse range of content, including movies, short films, web series, cinematic documentaries, musical short films, more..

Mar 26 (FT) A new era of upscale dining has arrived in the heart of Port City Colombo with the grand opening of Chill Colombo. Located at The Mall at Port City Colombo, this two-storey restaurant, bar, and café brings an elevated culinary and nightlife experience, blending local and international flavours in an atmosphere of contemporary elegance. With a carefully curated menu and a sophisticated yet inviting ambience, Chill Colombo caters to various dining preferences, from casual brunches more..

Mar 26 (ST) Though it has now been more than six weeks since a committee was appointed by the Finance Ministry to investigate the incident of 323 containers of imported items being released without Customs inspection, the committee is yet to complete its probe and submit a report. A Customs source said that the probe was “not even halfway through” but insisted any talk of a delay in completing the inquiry was unfair since more..

Mar 26 (Island) There is a vast and increasingly interesting body of literature on the ways in which small and militarily and economically not so powerful countries, such as Sri Lanka, could deal with more powerful countries such as India and China, the US and Canada and much of Western Europe, with whom SL has trade and political links. In general, small state diplomacy is understood in the context of and in opposition to great power diplomacy. Until the Cold War came to an end, more..

Mar 26 (Island) The Opposition has taken umbrage at President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s talkathon, as it were, in Parliament last Friday, when the final vote on Budget 2025 was held. Some SJB MPs have claimed that the Chair had their microphones switched off so that the President could hold forth uninterrupted, and he used the budget as an excuse for haranguing the House. The govt MPs have sought to counter this argument. They insist that Prez Dissanayake, as Minister of Finance, more..

Mar 26 (CT) Sri Lanka’s schoolchildren are battling an invisible crisis—one that thrives in silence and festers in neglect. Suicidal tendencies among students are on the rise, yet the response remains woefully inadequate. Recent studies paint a grim picture: 3.7% of students reported having suicidal thoughts, and nearly 10% admitted to seriously considering suicide within the past year. Add to that the fact that a staggering 30.8% experience loneliness and 20.2% suffer from anxiety, more..

Mar 26 (TM) Sri Lanka has suffered from many shades of extremism over the years, and their impact has left the social fabric torn, contributing to the weak national identity crisis many feel. While Islamic extremism is linked with the most recent violent extremist outburst that culminated in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, the island has seen its fair share of religious extremists from all forms of religion and race. The thing about extremism, and linked violent extremism, more..