Mar 24 (DM) Govt has decided to continue the concessional loan scheme introduced to create new entrepreneurs, with Rs. 750 million allocated in the 2026 Budget to further implement the programme. Steps are to be taken to create 50,000 entrepreneurs within five years by providing financial facilities and guidance to youth. As part of this initiative, Rs. 500 million was allocated under the 2025 Budget to introduce a concessional more..

Mar 24 (NW) The Cabinet has approved the continuation of a program to provide sanitary napkins to schoolgirls in 2026, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted education. The initiative will cover about 1.05 million adolescent girls studying in Grades 6 and above in all govt schools, as well as in govt-approved special schools. Under the program, each student will receive vouchers worth Rs. 1,440, issued as two vouchers of Rs. 720 each, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. more..

Mar 24 (NW) Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved a major project to develop playgrounds in govt schools across the country, aiming to boost student participation in sports and promote physical, social, and mental well‑being. Officials noted that the exam-centred education system and lack of adequate facilities have limited student involvement in sports, while also hindering the identification of talented athletes capable of performing at national and international levels. more..

Mar 24 (AD) Colombo High Court has ordered that the case filed by the CIABOC against MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake be taken up on April 30, 2026. The case was taken up today before Colombo High Court Judge Ravindra Premaratne. After considering the facts presented, High Court Judge ordered that the case be called on April 30 for a pre-trial conference. The case has been filed against MP Chamara Sampath over allegations that, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Uva Province more..

Mar 24 (AFP) SL ordered street lights, neon signs and billboard lighting to be switched off from Tuesday as part of measures to cut energy consumption by 25% to tackle supply shortages. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said all state institutions had been asked to reduce the use of air conditioning as the Middle East war entered its fourth week, driving up oil and gas prices. SL has already raised fuel prices by a third since the bombing in Iran started, triggering retaliatory attacks more..

Mar 24 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval for a proposal aimed at promoting QR code-based digital payments by ensuring that no additional charges are levied on either the sender or the receiver for transactions valued below Rs. 5,000. The govt has identified the promotion of a digital economy as a national priority, with a view to enhancing economic efficiency, financial inclusion, and transparency. more..

Mar 24 (NW) Presidential Suite at the Sri J'pura General Hospital, which until now had been reserved exclusively for the use of the Executive President, was opened today for medical treatment of the general public. Following instructions given by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Ministry of Health, together with the hospital administration, made this decision. Sri J'pura General Hospital was built in 1984 as a major aid project of the Japanese govt, with a capacity of 1,000 beds. more..

Mar 24 (UCAN) Buddhists and Christians across SL have paid tribute to Jesuit scholar Father Aloysius Pieris, widely known as Father Aloy, remembering him as a bridge-builder in interreligious dialogue who dedicated his life to unity, justice and understanding. He died at 91 after a long illness. His funeral was scheduled for March 24. Pieris, founder of the Tulana Research Centre, promoted dialogue on faith, culture and social change. He also co-founded a center for hearing-impaired education more..

Mar 24 (AD) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to increase the allocation approved for Sri Lanka for this year from USD 380 million to USD 480 million and to promptly release USD 200 million in view of the prevailing situation. This was conveyed during a meeting held this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and a delegation led by President of the ADB, Masato Kanda, who is currently more..

Mar 24 (DM) The Director General of Civil Aviation of the Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority, Kinley Wangchuk, paid a courtesy visit to Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Director General of Civil Aviation and CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), to discuss opportunities for aviation development and training collaboration. During the meeting, Mr. Wangchuk shared suggestions and proposed operational plans aimed at strengthening international scheduled passenger services. more..

Mar 24 (TM) A group of activists visited the Presidential Secretariat Colombo today seeking to hand over a petition calling for the resignation of Shammi Silva, Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Organisers said the petition, which has gathered thousands of online signatures, urges the Chairman to step down immediately in the interest of the sport, citing recent concerns over the administration of the board. The group stated that the petition was addressed to the Prez and more..

Mar 24 (NW) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa declined to respond to remarks by Iranian Ambassador to SL, Alireza Delkhosh, who said the warship IRIS Dena had visited the island at the invitation of SL authorities. Jayatissa was responding to questions from journalists on the envoy’s comments, which come amid heightened tensions involving Iran, US and Israel. “We will continue as a neutral nation. Protecting our neutrality, we will do all that we can. I am not prepared to respond to his comments. more..

Mar 24 (DM) The Illegal Assets Investigation Division has frozen properties and financial assets worth over Rs. 30 million linked to suspected drug trafficking activities. The assets were frozen following an investigation conducted into a female suspect residing in the Colombo 14 area, who is believed to have accumulated significant wealth through illegal narcotics operations. Acting on a complaint, investigators carried out a detailed probe into her financial transactions, more..

Mar 24 (DM) Sri Lanka is ranked 79th out of 193 countries in the world in 2026 for ease of doing business due to growing confidence in its regulatory environment, signalling a positive growth in business confidence. SL also ranked 100 in the world for global power and influence in the world according to Global Soft Power Index (GSPI) by Brand Finance. SL was ranked in 2026 with a score of 33.8/100 in global soft power, more..

Mar 24 (DM) A writ application filed by SriLankan Airlines, challenging the determination of the Assistant Commissioner of Labour relating to salary reductions implemented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including those affecting pilots, has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. In its judgment, the Court of Appeal held that the Labour Officer had acted within his jurisdiction. SriLankan Airline Pilots’ Guild lodged a complaint with the Commissioner of Labour on March 2, 2021, more..

Mar 24 (NW) SL Police has issued a public advisory warning citizens about methods used by criminals to rob money, gold, and other valuables through theft, abduction, and force. The advisory emphasizes vigilance to prevent falling victim to such crimes. Police noted that despite continuous efforts to maintain public safety, negligence or lack of awareness has led to serious incidents, including recent cases in Kokkadichcholai, where two women were abducted, drugged, robbed of jewellery more..

Mar 24 (EN) Sri Lanka has recorded a surplus in the current account of the budget after 38 years in 2025, central bank data showed as tax revenues surged and current spending was kept in check. The central bank strongly by to keep spending down by keeping inflation low despite some depreciation of the currency, especially in the latter part of the year. Tax revenues surged 36% to 5,049 billion rupees in 2025 partly helped by more..

Mar 24 (NW) The govt says liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies will remain sufficient in the coming months, based on scheduled shipments by both state and private suppliers. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said Litro Gas is expecting a 22,000 metric tonne shipment on March 28, followed by another 22,000 metric tonne shipment in April. Private supplier Laugfs Gas has informed the govt of two shipments—8,000 metric tonnes on March 30 and 31, and 21,000 metric tonnes on Apr 25-27, more..

Mar 24 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release on bail of former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines Nishantha Wickramasinghe, who was arrested by the CIABOC on charges of corruption. Wickramasinghe, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission earlier today, was presented before Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama. According to officials from the Bribery Commission, between 2012 and 2014, while Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne was allocated fuel more..

Mar 24 (FT) Some conversations arrive at exactly the right moment. Last week's workshop on SL's electric bus transition was one of them. Convened by the UK as part of our Green Cities Infrastructure and Energy Program and delivered in close partnership with the Ministry of Transport and the United Nations Development Program, it brought together the full range of voices needed to turn ambition into action: policymakers, bus operators, regulators and development partners. more..

Mar 24 (FT) When we were studying Economics at the Uni of Ceylon, Prof. Buddhadasa Hewavitharana told us When America sneezes, SL catches a cold. Sixty years later on 2 April 2025, American President Trump announced a broad package of import duties across the world. Trump sneezed. SL caught Bronchitis. Now, Trump together with Netanyahu waged war against Iran. America sneezed; SL caught Pneumonia. We have been sneezing, shivering running from one economic doctor more..

Mar 24 (AD) The bus fares will be increased by 12.19% from midnight today (23), Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has stated. Following the price revision, the minimum bus fare will be increased from Rs. 27 to Rs. 30. Meanwhile, the maximum fare which was Rs. 2,159 has risen by Rs. 263 to Rs. 2,422. The proposal to increase bus fares was presented to the Cabinet of Ministers today (23). Earlier, National Transport Commission more..

Mar 24 (NW) Five suspects, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was found in a well in the Kokkadicholai Police Division and the attempted murder of another woman who survived a similar incident, police said. Investigations were launched by officers from the Kokkadicholai Police Station and the Eastern Provincial Crime Division following the incidents reported from the Nellikadu, Kuluvinamadu area on March 20, 2026. more..

Mar 24 (EN) Sri Lanka extended an official invitation to Iranian ships, including the ill-fated IRIS Dena which was sunk by a US submarine torpedo without any warning, Iran’s Ambassador to Colombo said. The attack on IRIS Dena killed 104 sailors including 20 missing in action while Sri Lanka rescued 32 who are now in the island nation after treatment. IRIS Dena was in India for MILAN 2026, an international naval exercise before sailing toward Sri Lanka. “During the exercise in India, more..

Mar 24 (TM) Fuel prices could rise further in the coming weeks, with the Govt warning it may be left with no choice but to pass on subsidy costs to consumers if it fails to secure IMF approval to continue the current pricing arrangement. Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala said the Govt will, for now, continue to absorb part of the fuel cost, amounting to Rs. 100 per litre of diesel and Rs. 20 per litre of petrol, until 1 May. more..

Mar 24 (Island) The Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (CoPE) has said the allegation that SJB Kandy District MP Chamindrani Kiriella acquired a 43-acre land in Hantana is false. CoPE Chairman Dr Nishantha Samaraweera, addressing the Committee at its most recent sitting, read out a communication from the Chair of the Parliamentary Ethics and Privileges Committee, Prof Krishantha Abeysena, detailing the findings of an inquiry into the matter. According to the letter, more..

Mar 24 (FT) Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda arrived in SL yesterday for a three-day official visit aimed at deepening economic cooperation, reviewing development priorities, and assessing Cyclone Ditwah-related damage in affected districts. ADB Chief and the visiting delegation, including South Asia Regional Department Director General Sona Shrestha, Chief Adviser in the Office of the President Keiichiro Inui, and other senior ADB officials, were received more..

Mar 24 (NW) A special discussion was held at the Ministry of Education, Isurupaya, between PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, and Professor Luke Harding, Chairman of the Committee reviewing the evaluation and assessment process. Professor Harding, a world-renowned expert in language research and educational assessment, is in Sri Lanka from March 20 to 25, to participate in key meetings regarding the proposed framework. more..

Mar 24 (TM) SLC has moved to placate the visible anger of fans by effecting some eye-popping changes to its various coaching setups within the High-Performance Centre (HPC), as the fallout from the national team’s humongous failure to impress during last month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup gathers steam. The sudden changes to the coaching setups coming under the purview of SLC Director of Cricket Jerome Jayaratne, is aimed at reinvigorating the structures with the fervent hope that more..

Mar 24 (Island) China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) and Indian Oil Corporation Lanka (LIOC) have increased the prices of certain products significantly more than Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). However, the fourth player in the market R.M. Parks, a US company in collaboration with Shell that launched operations here in late February last year, has increased its prices in line with Ceypetco. more..

Mar 24 (FT) High Commission of Pakistan and the Pakistani community based in Sri Lanka celebrated the 86th National Day of Pakistan yesterday in Colombo. Acting HC of Pakistan, Zunaira Latif unfurled the flag to the tune of the national anthem in a ceremony held at the Pakistan HC on 23 March. National Day of Pakistan is celebrated on 23 March every year in remembrance of the historic 1940 resolution passed in Lahore, calling for a separate homeland for Muslims of the subcontinent more..

Mar 24 (DN) Avishka Gunawardena, a highly regarded local coach, has been moved from his role as ‘A’ Team Head Coach to take charge of the SL Under-19 side. His replacement at the helm of the ‘A’ team is Ashan Priyanjan, a 36-year-old Colombo Cricket Club cricketer, who only retired from first-class cricket last year. The decision comes as part of SLC’s efforts to strengthen the youth development programme and prepare the next generation of players for international competition. more..