Mar 26 (AD) The CID has arrested a suspect in Nittambuwa for allegedly obtaining fuel by overriding a QR code linked to a vehicle belonging to another person. According to investigations, the suspect had overridden the QR code of a car belonging to a woman and generated a new QR code using the vehicle’s data to fraudulently obtain fuel. The investigation was initiated following a complaint lodged by the Ministry of Digital Economy based on information received via the 1919 hotline. more..

Mar 26 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the immediate suspension of the parate law and a comprehensive relief package for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs), warning that rising fuel prices and high borrowing costs are pushing the sector towards collapse. Speaking at a meeting with small- and medium-scale businessmen and entrepreneurs at the Opposition Leader’s Office, Premadasa said MSMEs, which contribute around 52% to more..

Mar 26 (DM) SL is banking heavily on the Asian region, particularly China, to buffer a massive hit to the European tourist arrivals stemming from the ongoing geopolitical crisis in the Middle East. SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam expects the shifting dynamics to trigger a 30 to 40 percent drop in European travellers. However, a targeted strategy to attract 300,000 Chinese visitors this year is expected to help the island nation more..

Mar 26 (DM) Central Bank left its key policy rate, the Overnight Policy Rate, unchanged at 7.75% yesterday, at its second policy meeting for the year. The stance was delivered although there were some expectations for the Monetary Policy Board to deliver an increase in the interest rates to lean against the rising prices, which are now set to reach its desired level much faster than before the war in Iran. The Central Bank, the primary mandate of which is to ensure price stability, more..

Mar 26 (Island) Last week, the scorebooks of school cricket needed a fresh rewrite as Kingswood College, Kandy broke a 68-year hoodoo to clinch their Big Match against Dharmaraja College in the hill capital. Almost in tandem, down south, another long wait ended when St. Servatius’ College, Matara turned the tables on arch-rivals St. Thomas’ College, Matara, sealing a famous win after 55 years. St. Servatius’ rise has not been a flash in the pan. For the better part of 15 years, more..

Mar 26 (Island) Cargills Food and Beverage Ltd. through its brands KIST and Knuckles, has signed a MoU with Clean Ocean Force Lanka (COF) to adopt Crow Island Beach for one year, reinforcing its commitment to long-term coastal conservation in Sri Lanka. This pioneering initiative is designed to protect and preserve the coastal environment through several key measures, including the removal of plastic and other pollutants from the beach and surrounding coastal area. more..

Mar 26 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce proudly marks its 187th anniversary today (25) reflecting a long-standing commitment to supporting SL’s businesses and contributing to the country’s progress. Commenting on this milestone, Chairman Krishan Balendra said: “For 187 years, the Chamber has been guided by a simple principle, putting SL first. In today’s evolving global landscape, shaped by shifting geopolitical dynamics and economic uncertainty, this means supporting more..

Mar 26 (ST) The tourism sector’s fuel QR system introduced by the SLTDA was not fully functional, and tour operators alleged they were in a quandary. Some operators said the QR codes were not functional as of Friday evening. The matter had been reported to the SLTDA. The QR code was issued to SLTDA-licensed tourist providers such as tour operators, hotels and guides from March 17 to get fuel without lining up. more..

Mar 26 (FT) Dialog Television has announced the latest upgrade to its smart entertainment lineup with the Dialog Play Mini, featuring seamless access to global streaming platforms including Netflix, Apple TV and YouTube, alongside the Dialog Play entertainment ecosystem for a unified viewing experience. Previously known as the ViU Mini, the device has now been reintroduced as the Dialog Play Mini, reflecting the evolution of Dialog’s digital entertainment platform under Dialog Play more..

Mar 26 (FT) SL Export Development Board (EDB), through the SheTrades SL Hub, successfully conducted a Training Program on branding and digital marketing for women entrepreneurs in Anuradhapura, with the participation of over 50 women led businesses. The program was organised under EDB’s Export-oriented Women Entrepreneurship Development in Regions initiative, aiming to strengthen the capacities of women entrepreneurs, enhance their competitiveness, and encourage them to explore more..

Mar 26 (AD) Chairman of National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB), Chandana Bandara, states that water consumption has increased significantly due to the prevailing dry weather. He urged the public to use water sparingly whenever possible and warned that if the current dry weather conditions persists, water distribution may have to be limited. “With the dry weather, consumer water usage has increased. more..

Mar 26 (Island) A fresh wave of concern has gripped conservationists following the reported deaths of migratory flamingos within the Vankalai Sanctuary—a globally recognised bird habitat—raising urgent questions about the ecological cost of large-scale renewable energy projects in the region. The incident comes at a time when a fundamental rights petition, challenging the proposed wind power project, linked to India’s Adani Group, remains under examination before the Supreme Court, more..

Mar 26 (DM) World is facing multiple crises due to the Middle East conflict; one in terms of fuel price hikes and other essential items. Another unseen crisis that the conflict is contributing to is global warming. Statistics indicate that the US has launched more than 8,000 combat flights since Operation Epic Fury – the coordinated US-Israeli attack on Iran from late February. It has been estimated that the war has generated more than half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide during the first 120 days. more..

Mar 26 (Island) Coal is not an agricultural output, as is public knowledge, and therefore how on earth it can bring tears to farmers’ eyes, one may ask. But in SL dirty coal has not only worsened air pollution in areas surrounding the Norochcholai power plant but also caused untold hardships to farmers across the country, especially in rice-growing areas, besides causing huge losses to the state coffers. The govt has managed to break the back of the fuel-queue problem for all intents and purposes, more..

Mar 26 (CT) Recent unrest in the Middle East has raised concerns that SL may face a shortage of oil supply. Because oil plays such a central role in the economy—powering transportation, construction, electricity generation, and many other activities—many observers expect that such a shortage will inevitably lead to inflation. This expectation is commonly explained through the idea of cost-push inflation, where rising production costs—such as higher oil prices—are believed to push up more..

Mar 26 (CT) For decades, labour migration has been a lifeline for many SL families. Thousands of women, particularly from rural areas, travel to Middle East every year to work as domestic workers, hoping to secure a stable income for their households. Yet, the promise of financial security is often shadowed by uncertainty, particularly during periods of political tension and conflict in the region. Today, as geopolitical tensions continue to more..

Mar 26 (DN) The world is shape-shifting. Creating a digital economy, AI readiness, and shaping a globally competitive SL takes place at a pivotal moment, where global supply chains are being rewired, traditional work methods are being contested, global political turmoil is taking place, and the race for AI adoption is faster than ever. In such a backdrop, being digitally exposed matters in creating jobs for the digital age. As outlined in last week’s article, the more digitally exposed a country is, more..

Mar 26 (DN) Unlike in earlier times, undergraduates in state universities across various disciplines are now required to complete internships in private companies. A decade or two ago, students would generally take up part-time work mainly to earn some extra pocket money. This happens without the knowledge of university authorities. In some cases, they were even employed in the public sector unofficially. Today, however, internships have become the part and parcel of many more..

Mar 26 (SO) When the crescent moon of Shawwal appears in the skies above, it marks the end of Ramadan and the arrival of Eid ul-Fitr. For many, Eid may bring to mind plates of biryani or the rich sweetness of Watalappam, but the meaning of this day runs far deeper. For Muslims, Eid is a reflection of faith, gratitude, compassion and a renewed connection with others. Known locally as Nombu Perunal, Eid comes after more..

Mar 26 (ST) Uncertainty! That is the frightening scenario SL and many countries are facing, this time unlike SL’s 2022 economic meltdown, as no one can predict – apart from US Prez Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu – when the war in West Asia will end. In 2022, SL’s economy was shattered by mismanagement and delayed decisions which resulted in a shortage of dollars. There was enough fuel in the world but fuel ships were stationed outside the Colombo Port as more..

Mar 26 (TM) A Govt’s manifesto is not a campaign pamphlet to be discarded after victory. It is a public contract. In Sri Lanka today, that contract has, for the first time, been formally elevated into the national development framework. That is a significant shift. It moves politics from rhetoric to policy. But that shift will mean little if the monitoring of that manifesto is not continuous, transparent, and credible. This process, in fact, is the backbone of democratic accountability. more..

Mar 25 (DM) Against the backdrop of disruptions to global oil supply, Sri Lanka expects to finalize an oil purchase deal with Russia next week, an official said. Earlier, Minister Vijitha Herath held discussions with Russian Ambassador Levan S. Dzhagaryan, on the possibility of purchasing Russian fuel to navigate the current energy crisis. After that, the Russian Embassy in Colombo forwarded Sri Lanka’s request to Moscow for consideration by the Russian authorities. more..

Mar 25 (TM) Bus fares could be revised once again under the national bus fare policy scheduled to be implemented in July, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. He said that any future revision would depend on developments linked to the ongoing conflict in the ME. Responding to a query on whether fares could be increased again, he noted that certain decisions may have to be taken depending on how the situation evolves, and that such decisions would be made at the appropriate time. more..

Mar 25 (AD) CID has apprehended 29 major drug suppliers responsible for trafficking narcotics into SL, according to the Deputy Minister of Public Security, Sunil Watagala. He made these remarks while participating in the Ratama Ekata – National Operation programme held in Trincomalee. He explained that the illegal trade consists of two primary components: the supply chain and consumer demand. more..

Mar 25 (TM) SL Tea Board reports a surge in demand for Ceylon Tea from Middle Eastern countries amid ongoing regional tensions. Chairman Raj Obeyesekere said increased stockpiling of food in the region has driven demand, while prices have stabilized after an initial dip. The average auction price last week stood at Rs. 1,153 per kilogram, with unsold volumes remaining within normal levels. Exports to countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran have faced disruptions due to more..

Mar 25 (Island) The landmark Supreme Court verdict finding that the fundamental rights of Mohamed Rifai Suhail have been violated has once again exposed the dark reality surrounding Sri Lanka’s law enforcement machinery and freedom of expression, Internet Media Action (IMA) said It said as an Internet Media Action (IMA) group standing for rights in the internet and social media space, we are deeply concerned about the serious democratic crisis emerging through this incident. more..

Mar 25 (AD) SL’s workers’ remittances have not seen a reduction despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Governor of the CB, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe stated. He said based on currently available data, they have not seen a decline in remittances. According to Governor they have in fact observed a slight increase in remittances in the past few days. He added that he has not seen any inquiries or more..

Mar 25 (Island) Former Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday said that Sri Lanka’s response to US sinking of the unarmed Iranian frigate, just outside the country’s territorial waters, on 04 March, should now be re-examined against the backdrop of Iranian declaration that the NPP govt invited the ill-fated IRIS Dena and two other vessels to visit Colombo. Prof. Peiris was responding to Iranian Ambassador Dr. Alireza Delkhosh statement made at his Colombo residence on Monday. more..

Mar 25 (AD) Around 60% of children admitted to grade one classes in schools across Nuwara Eliya have been found to have poor oral health, according to Maskeliya Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr. M.H A.M. Irshan. He made these remarks while participating in an oral health awareness exhibition held at the Maskeliya MOH office premises in conjunction with World Oral Health Day. Dr. Irshan noted that the situation was identified through a clinical survey, describing it as more..

Mar 25 (FT) Integrated financial services conglomerate Janashakthi Ltd, (JXG) yesterday unveiled its next growth wave to be powered by the Rs. 5 billion Initial Public Offering (IPO). The IPO, which opens on 9 April offers 500 million shares or a 21.74% stake in the family owned entity at Rs. 10 per share. JXG comprises four listed companies including First Capital Holdings PLC, Janashakthi Insurance and Janashakthi Finance. The Company intends to utilise nearly Rs. 4 billion from IPO more..

Mar 25 (DM) Zonal Education Office in Tangalle has instructed all school principals in the Tangalle Education Zone to submit reports explaining the non-participation of teachers at a special meeting held on March 15, 2026, at the Tangalle Town Hall under the patronage of PM Harini Amarasuriya. In a circular issued by the Zonal Education Director W.A.S.D Kalyani on Monday, principals were informed that the meeting had been organized for teachers in the Tangalle Education Zone and more..