Mar 20 (AD) CIABOC informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today that it has concluded investigations into corruption allegations involving former Minister Manusha Nanayakkara. The commission officials informed this when the case was taken up today before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama. During the proceedings, CIABOC officials stated that the investigative phase of the case has now been completed. They further noted that more..

Mar 20 (NW) The inaugural meeting of the Cabinet Committee appointed to ensure the systematic functioning of the public service has held discussions on maintaining the uninterrupted operation of the public service while effectively managing energy resources, in light of the challenges that have arisen due to the prevailing conflict situation in the Middle East. According to the President’s Office, the first meeting of the Cabinet Committee was held on Thursday more..

Mar 20 (EN) Soon after the US and Israel started bombing Iran on Feb 28, SL’s booming stock market took a hit. The bourse has plunged 12.7% so far through March 20, erasing 1.07 trillion rupee worth capital in just 14 days. It plunged over 5% with a temporary trading halt when it opened for trading for the first time on March 3 after the attack. The market has been waiting for some good news from both local and external fronts. more..

Mar 20 (AD) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa says that the govt’s primary objective is to provide uninterrupted power supply and that all necessary measures for this are being taken by the govt. He noted that prices of all commodities in the world market have increased, including coal. Minister further said: "Our main goal is to provide continuous electricity. We are following all the necessary measures for that. There are variations in electricity consumption from month to month." more..

Mar 20 (DM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) siad that fuel distribution to dealers will continue uninterrupted tomorrow and the day after, despite circulating rumors of a potential shutdown. The Managing Director of the CPC, Mayura Neththikumara clarified today that no decision has been made to close filling stations over the weekend. He addressed ongoing speculation regarding a Saturday closure, explaining that such rumors likely stem from the corporation's more..

Mar 20 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has strongly criticized Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent statements in Parliament, accusing him of failing to condemn violations of international law during wartime. Addressing Parliament, Premadasa said that while the Prez claimed to have acted neutrally, he ignored breaches of the UN Charter, specifically Articles 2.4 and 2.7, and other int'l conventions. more..

Mar 20 (AD) PM Harini Amarasuriya, stated in Parliament that the govt aims to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of essential services, public services, and industries even during the current crisis. She also called on the opposition to support the fulfillment of promises made for public welfare. Responding to a question raised by MP V. Radhakrishnan, PM pointed out that there are numerous issues within the education sector of the estate community, with teacher shortages more..

Mar 20 (AD) Supreme Court, which concluded the hearing of a petition filed by MP Sujeewa Senasinghe seeking a ruling that his fundamental rights were violated through a CID probe over an allegedly illegally assembled vehicle, has reserved its judgment indefinitely. The petition was heard today by a 3-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Janak de Silva, Arjuna Obeyesekere, and Menaka Wijesundara. President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, representing the petitioner more..

Mar 20 (FT) SL’s drive for energy security is not happening in a vacuum; it is propelled by seismic shifts in the international arena. The stakes have been raised by immediate geopolitical crises that threaten the very arteries of global trade. The Straits of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for a significant portion of the world’s oil supply, is currently engulfed in tension. Attacks on shipping vessels and energy terminals in oil-producing nations have introduced severe uncertainty, more..

Mar 20 (FT) Amid global disruption, Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery will depend less on demand generation and more on how effectively the country secures and manages its air connectivity and operational stability. Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which entered 2026 with strong momentum and renewed confidence, is once again facing an external shock—this time driven not by domestic instability, but by global geopolitical disruption. The ongoing Middle East conflict, combined with more..

Mar 20 (TM) In a bid to quell mounting public concern over fuel supplies, the CPC yesterday assured that shipments have now been secured to meet demand through April, while firmly denying that recent price hikes are linked to any outstanding debt. CPC Managing Director Dr. Mayura Neththikumara said that five fuel shipments for next month were confirmed on Wednesday (18), ensuring uninterrupted availability. more..

Mar 20 (Island) Peradeniya uni administration has advised the university community to remain vigilant after several cattle reared at the livestock farm of its Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, were killed and eaten by leopards. When inquired about the matter, Vice Chancellor of the Uni, Prof. Terrence Madhujith, said advisory notices have been issued to the university community following several incidents where leopards from the Hanthana area entered the cattle sheds at night and more..

Mar 20 (FT) A high-level discussion on the economic fallout from the escalating conflict in the Middle East was held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with a focus on safeguarding energy supplies and protecting the country’s export sector. Officials examined the widening global energy crisis triggered by disruptions to international supply networks and assessed possible fuel market trends in the months ahead. more..

Mar 20 (AD) An IMF team is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from March 26 to April 9 to hold policy discussions and aims to complete the combined Fifth and Sixth reviews under SL’s EFF Arrangement. This was announced by the Director of the Communications Dept of the IMF, Julie Kozack. “The debt restructuring is nearly complete, and gross international reserves have been increasing significantly. more..

Mar 20 (NW) An anti-war exhibition and conference highlighting the humanitarian, political, and economic impacts of the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran was held in Colombo today. The event, titled The Story Within Blood and Tears, was organised by the National Freedom Front at the SL Foundation Institute. Organisers said the exhibition aimed to present an analytical perspective on the crises triggered by the war, with a focus on its human cost. more..

Mar 20 (FT) SL Shippers’ Council yesterday urged the Govt to look into the increasingly deteriorating conditions for both exports and importers from the impacts of the Middle East war. Issuing a statement, the Council said it wished to draw the Govt’s urgent attention to the growing challenges faced by exporters and importers due to the ongoing fuel shortage in the country. The current situation is beginning to significantly disrupt manufacturing operations, logistics movements, more..

Mar 20 (NW) Supreme Court has ruled that the arrest and detention of student activist Wasantha Mudalige under the PTA violated his fundamental rights. Ruling was delivered by SC Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna, with the concurrence of Justices Arjuna Obeyesekere and Priyantha Fernando, following a petition filed on behalf of Mudalige by Attorney-at-Law Manjula Balasuriya. Mudalige, the former convener of the IUSF, was arrested after a protest held on Aug 18, 2022, during the Aragalaya more..

Mar 20 (TM) Yesterday (19) saw two of Lanka’s iconic big matches kick start in Colombo and the south coast. In Galle – Mahinda College won the toss and elected to bowl first against Richmond College in the 121st Lovers' Quarrel at the iconic Galle International Stadium. At the end day-1 yesterday (19) Richmond scored 203/4 in 88 overs. The lads from Richmond Hill missed out on two valuable big match centuries. Ravindu Randinu shined with the bat scoring a well composed more..

Mar 20 (TM) Restaurants and eateries are urging the Govt to allow local businesses to open letters of credit (LCs) to import liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), warning that worsening shortages are already disrupting operations and could severely impact both households and the food industry. The call was made by All Ceylon Restaurant and Eatery Owners Association President Harshana Rukshan, who said more..

Mar 20 (NW) Norway has expressed willingness to support Sri Lanka in developing renewable energy through wind, solar and ocean wave power, officials said. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Minister K.D. Lal Kantha and Norwegian Honorary Consul Sturle Harald Pedersen at the Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday (18). Pedersen said Sri Lanka could utilise multiple renewable energy sources, including wind, solar and tidal energy, to strengthen its energy production. more..

Mar 20 (NW) A student from a boys’ school in Malabe has been praised for his honesty after returning a bag containing a large sum of cash that he had mistakenly picked up. According to the school principal, the boy reported the matter along with the vice principal, stating that he had gotten off a bus carrying the wrong bag, which contained bundles of cash. Upon inspection, the school authorities found the money and a bank passbook inside, after which the bag was sealed. more..

Mar 20 (DM) National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) brought together some of the country’s leading voices in digital and social media marketing at its pinnacle forum Business Conversion and Global Reach through Social Media Platforms, held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo. These experts in optimising social media strategy, discussed the full spectrum of how SL exporters can use conversion marketing to win international customers. The session was moderated by LINERasia more..

Mar 20 (DM) A 23-year-old female student from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Colombo was miraculously rescued today, after falling down the precipice at World’s End in Horton Plains National Park. The student reportedly slipped and fell nearly 50 feet while attempting to take a selfie at the edge of the famous viewpoint. The incident occurred during the morning hours when the student was visiting the national park with a group of fellow undergraduates. more..

Mar 20 (TM) A new feature introduced yesterday aims to resolve difficulties faced by the public in obtaining fuel QR codes, particularly where the mobile number used for the original vehicle registration is no longer in use. Many users, especially those who had purchased vehicles or changed phone numbers, were unable to reset or override existing registrations and re-register under new numbers. more..

Mar 20 (FT) National Savings Bank Group (NSB) said its operating profit (before all taxes) surged by 55% to reach Rs. 59 billion as of end-2025, while Profit After Tax (PAT) recorded a corresponding increase of 61% to Rs. 28.2 billion. The detailed financial information that follows pertains to the performance of the bank, which accounts for the predominant share of NSB Group’s operations. PAT of the bank surged by 69% reflecting sustained momentum in net interest income, more..

Mar 20 (ST) Ambewela Dairy Farms, recently welcomed Minister K.D. Lalkantha and also the Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Senevirathne to its farm. This special visit was made with the objective of reviewing the comprehensive development drive at Ambewela, propelling the farm towards significant advancements. During the visit, the management committee took the opportunity to highlight the transformation of Ambewela Farm since its establishment in 1943 & privatisation in 2001. more..

Mar 20 (ST) Are they children of a lesser god, is the devastating concern of numerous parents scattered across Sri Lanka who are struggling to bring up their precious sons and daughters affected by Inherited Metabolic Disorders. The combined incidence of Inherited Metabolic Disorders worldwide is 1 in 784 or 1 in 1000. Therefore, with the total number of births in Sri Lanka in 2024 being 228,091, the estimated more..

Mar 20 (Island) Sri Lanka’s apparel industry has earned its place in the global market through consistency, trust, and a strong reputation for ethical manufacturing. Over many years, we have shown that SL can deliver quality, compliance, and reliability at a level that global brands value. That foundation remains one of our greatest strengths. But the next chapter for this industry cannot be built on reputation alone. It has to be built on growth that is measurable, broader in base, and more..

Mar 20 (FT) SriLankan Airlines and the Govt have effectively concluded the restructuring of the airline’s $ 175 million International Sovereign Bond (ISB) with near-unanimous investor participation and an agreed 16% haircut, marking a decisive step in resolving one of the remaining external debt obligations linked to the State. The transaction, which exchanges defaulted airline debt for new Govt-issued Bonds alongside a cash component, reduces the outstanding claim while extending maturities. more..

Mar 20 (Island) SL’s already fragile economic recovery—still reeling from the aftermath of the 2019 SL Easter Bombings, the pandemic, and the 2022 financial collapse—is now under renewed strain as the ongoing Iran war sends shockwaves through global energy, trade, and financial systems, experts warn Chartered Interior Architect and economic commentator Prof. Rohan de Silva cautioned that the Iran conflict is not an isolated external shock but a multiplier crisis that could severely more..

Mar 20 (FT) Forbes Marshall Lanka, has won the Gold Flame in the Energy Efficiency Improvement category of the Best Energy Services Company Award at the SL National Energy Efficiency Awards 2025. The awards ceremony was held on 24 Feb 2026 at BMICH, organised by SL Sustainable Energy Authority. PM Harini Amarasuriya, the chief guest, noted that reducing energy waste is a national economic priority, not merely a matter of limiting consumption. more..

Mar 20 (FT) The unfolding disruptions caused by the Middle East crisis are impacting industries differently, business leaders weighed in yesterday. SL’s tourism sector is losing between $ 80-100 million a month due to cancellations triggered by the Middle East conflict, Hotels Association of SL (THASL) President Asoka Hettigoda said, as private sector leaders across apparel, tea, and rubber industries outlined more..