Mar 30 (ST) Former Director General of the Land Reform Commission (LRC) Liyanage Padmasiri has acknowledged that a statement he made claiming MP Chamindrani Kiriella had illegally acquired 43 acres of land in Hantana, Kandy, was false. He has tendered an apology to the SJB MP over the false statement and also expressed his regret over the matter. Tendering his apology before Parliament’s Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Mr Padmasiri claimed that the statement was made when more..

Mar 30 (DM) SL’s tourism sector has crossed the 150,000 mark for March, but the industry is grappling with a sudden contraction that threatens the newly revised monthly target of 200,000 arrivals. 151,693 tourists arrived in the country between Mar 1 and Mar 25. On a cumulative basis, SL welcomed 708,348 international visitors during the year up to Mar 25. Despite a strong start to 2026, the current pace represents a stark drop compared to the 185,164 arrivals registered during more..

Mar 30 (ST) A third coal shipment from South Africa—bought via the Indian supplier Trident Chemphar—has failed quality testing by the independent accredited laboratory Cotecna, officials said this week. Trident has now been charged penalties totalling US$8.1mn for three shipments out of the 12 that have been unloaded at Norochcholai, officials from Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC) said. Its contract, however, more..

Mar 30 (Island) SL champion thrower Rumesh Tharanga created history with yet another worldleading effort when he shattered his own national record at the Champions Track and Field event held at Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium on Saturday. Tharanga produced a massive throw of 89.37 metres in his final attempt, a distance which, once ratified by World Athletics, is expected to stand as the fourth-longest throw ever recorded in Asia. The outstanding performance further more..

Mar 30 (FT) JAT Holdings said that following the successful market validation of its SEAFORM Perth joint venture, it has entered the Australian cabinetry manufacturing segment through securing a manufacturing facility in Perth. The company said that JAT’s initial entry into the market through SEAFORM Perth provided clear indicators of demand for premium cabinetry solutions. The business observed sustained traction at a premium price point, alongside an opportunity to more..

Mar 30 (FT) SL’s rupee has remained relatively stable in early 2026, with depreciation contained despite pressure from the Middle East conflict, while the Central Bank continued to build reserves through net foreign exchange purchases. CB Economic Research Director Dr. Lasitha Pathberiya said the rupee depreciated by 1.3% so far in 2026, with pressure emerging in recent weeks following the onset of the conflict. more..

Mar 30 (FT) The Customs House Agents (CHA) Traders Association and Wharf Representatives Union have expressed serious concern over delays in clearance of imports as well as rising costs. Their anguish follows a detailed and constructive discussion covering the entire Customs clearance workflow—from Long Room operations and container movement from port to examination yards to procedures at examination points. Concerns have been communicated to Treasury Secretary, more..

Mar 30 (FT) Colombo Port City Economic Commission and the Board of Investment (BOI) told the CoPF that the current Middle East crisis presents an opportunity to attract investment flows to SL, particularly from businesses seeking alternative locations in the region. Commission officials, who appeared before the CoPF earlier this month, said the initial outreach is being prepared, including engagement through Foreign Affairs Minstry and SL’s diplomatic missions in Gulf countries. more..

Mar 30 (FT) Suren Rajakarier has assumed duties as Managing Partner of KPMG’s member firm in SL and its practice in Maldives with effect from 1 April 2026. Rajakarier previously served as COO for KPMG SL and Maldives. He led the firm’s audit practice for nearly two decades. With over 38 years of experience in audit and assurance services, he has worked extensively with multinational corporations as well as leading SL organisations across a broad range of industries. more..

Mar 30 (FT) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), together with the Presidential Secretariat of SL and the World Bank, convened a seminar on Competition Policy and Law in Colombo. The event brought together over 70 Govt policymakers and regulators, private sector leaders, development partners, think tanks and Sri Lankan and international experts to discuss how stronger competition frameworks can support SL’s ongoing economic reforms and long-term growth. more..

Mar 30 (FT) SL’s export sector is being squeezed by a sharp spike in global freight costs and logistics disruptions, with the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) warning that a prolonged ME crisis could severely undermine trade flows, competitiveness, and broader economic stability. “The impact is already being felt across both sea and air cargo, with shipping rates surging and routes disrupted as vessels avoid conflict-hit zones,” more..

Mar 30 (Island) No sooner had Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody been indicted for corruption than he was released on bail last Friday. The CIABOC, which filed charges against him, has alleged that in 2016, while serving as the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company, he committed an act of corruption, causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the state; he influenced a procurement process related to the refurbishment of the company’s more..

Mar 30 (Island) Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm stands today as one of the most strategically significant yet historically underutilized energy assets in South Asia. Located off the deep natural harbour of Trincomalee, the facility embodies a convergence of history, geopolitics, and economic potential. In the current global context—marked by energy insecurity, shifting geopolitical alliances, and regional competition—the Trincomalee oil farm offers Sri Lanka a renewed opportunity to more..

Mar 30 (GV) The condition of youth in the North cannot be understood through a single narrative. I t is shaped by history, the long period of war, social change and the pressures of a globalised economy. What emerges is a complex picture. University students, particularly those at the Uni of Jaffna, have a strong sense of cultural and political custodianship. Many see themselves as protectors of Tamil identity in the post-war period. This has led to mobilisation around issues such as more..

Mar 30 (SO) On Feb 28, 2026, in response to US-Israeli military aggression, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz through which around a quarter of seaborne oil trade passes. Over 80% of the oil and gas that travels through Hormuz goes to economies in Asia. This bodes badly for the world economy, as it is Asia that has been propping up global growth rates – the IMF’s Jan 2026 World Economic Outlook had projected five percent growth in emerging and developing Asia compared to more..

Mar 30 (CT) What is being promoted as a major step towards renewable energy is rapidly turning into one of the most controversial environmental issues in the country. Large-scale solar power projects underway in Hambanthota are facing serious allegations of illegal forest destruction, regulatory violations, and escalating human-elephant conflict. At the heart of the issue lies the Hambanthota elephant management reserve more..

Mar 30 (SO) The ongoing Israel-USA war on Iran, doubled by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, is causing a global economic fallout with Asia being affected the hardest. Sri Lanka, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, depends mainly on imports to meet their energy demands, is already rationing its fuel consumption and even a weekly public holiday has been introduced to curb the demand. The Strait of Hormuz, which sees more than three quarter of Asia’s oil imports flow out of West Asia, more..

Mar 30 (ST) Sri Lanka presented an embarrassment, not of riches but of stinging pointers to the negation of the law and the Constitution during the past few weeks. The tone deaf nonchalance of the NPP Govt in shrugging off the indictment of its Energy Minister who continues in Cabinet office is truly astounding. Minister concerned was indicted for corruption in regard to procurements when he served as the Procurement Manager of the Lanka Fertiliser Company by the CIABOC. more..

Mar 30 (TM) Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture regarding power generation and continuous supply, amid concerns over current tensions in the Middle East following the conflict involving Iran and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The current energy crisis is driven by a critical shortage across multiple power generation sources, primarily affecting electricity supply. While hydropower typically accounts for a significant portion of more..

Mar 30 (DM) War has entered the second month. Donald Trump repeated his assertion that he is in talks with Iran to end the ongoing war, a claim Tehran denies. He went further, claiming that Iranian leaders had suggested he become their next Supreme Leader. The remark raised eyebrows and prompted widespread debate about his mental fitness. The world is in turmoil. From the bold claims of Donald Trump to the escalating U.S.–Israeli war on Iran, global politics is unpredictable. more..

Mar 30 (DM) Sri Lankans are used to talking about floods and heavy rains. When rivers overflow or roads go underwater, the danger is clear and immediate. But there is another threat building quietly, one that does not make as much noise but affects just as many people. The heat is rising and, with the possible return of El Niño in the coming months, the question we must ask is simple. Is SL ready? Over the past few weeks, the signs have already been there. more..

Mar 29 (ST) On the int'l front, NPP govt is trying hard to walk the tightrope of neutrality and avoid getting drawn into any fresh controversy over the fate of the Iranian ship IRIS Dena, which was sunk in a US submarine torpedo attack on March 4 in the seas off Galle. The govt has avoided commenting further on the matter, particularly after the Iranian ambassador Alireza Delkhosh, who addressed the media on more..

Mar 29 (DM) As dry weather continues across Sri Lanka, authorities say the country is still managing its water supply well. However, concerns are growing about whether this situation can continue if the dry conditions last longer. The Mahaweli Authority’s Water Management Secretariat Director, Nilantha Danapala, said there is currently no severe drought in the country. He also said that hydroelectric power generation is not facing any problems at the moment. more..

Mar 29 (ST) Transparency International SL (TISL) has welcomed Friday’s Supreme Court’s judgment which found that former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and several former health officials had violated the fundamental rights of the public by purchasing medical supplies from an unregistered Indian company through an unsolicited proposal in 2022, bypassing established legal and regulatory safeguards. Aside from Minister Rambukwella, the former Secretary to the Ministry of Health, more..

Mar 29 (TM) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) is set to announce its final determination on electricity tariff revisions tomorrow. The determination will be made following a review of a proposal submitted by the CEB, which has requested a uniform tariff increase of 13.56% across all consumer categories for the April-June quarter, PUCSL Chairman Prof. Lalith Chandralal said. CEB had justified the proposed increase by more..

Mar 29 (DM) A new report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy has sounded a sharp alarm for Sri Lanka, ranking it as one of the most vulnerable nations globally to a shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. Following the recent military escalations in the Persian Gulf and the subsequent de facto closure of the waterway on Feb 28, researchers warn that the island nation faces a seismic shock that could derail its delicate post-2022 economic recovery. The study highlights that while more..

Mar 29 (AD) It was decided at the committee appointed to oversee the distribution of essential goods to appoint five officials from the CPC to cover all ministries in order to examine fuel-related issues and undertake the necessary interventions. It was further discussed that the responsibility of these officials would be to examine fuel-related issues arising in institutions under each ministry and to intervene in providing solutions by maintaining coordination with the Corporation. more..

Mar 29 (EN) SL Customs exceeded its monthly target for a third consecutive month, achieving the March target before the end of the month, official data showed. Customs’ March revenue target was set at 180.4 billion rupees. However, the revenue collecting body had already collected 184.8 billion rupees in the first 26 days of the month, exceeding the target by 2.4%. Customs has been accelerating container clearance since January after the devastation in November hit usual activities. more..

Mar 29 (AD) The Chairman of the CPC, D.J. Rajakaruna has announced that there will be no revision in fuel prices on March 31. The monthly fuel price revision usually takes place at midnight on the final day of each month. However, CPC Chairman D. J. Rajakaruna disclosed that there would be no monthly fuel revision at the end of this month. He stated that any future decisions regarding price adjustments would be made by the Govt, taking into account fluctuations in global crude oil prices. more..

Mar 29 (TM) The emergency tender that was moved to procure coal stocks in response to quality concerns over the coal supplies procured under the previous term tender process has been officially awarded to Taranjot Resources of India following a Cabinet decision. Five shipments carrying a total of 300,000 MT of coal are expected to arrive in SL shortly, according to Energy Ministry Secretary Udayanga Hemapala. more..

Mar 29 (NW) Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on March 3, to participate in the 11th round of Bilateral Political Consultations between SL and the Russia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit is aimed at further strengthening longstanding diplomatic relations and enhancing cooperation between the two countries. During the consultations, officials are expected to discuss a wide range of areas including political engagement, more..

Mar 29 (ST) As shipments get cancelled and prices surge there is serious concern whether fertiliser stocks already ordered will ever make it in time for the Yala season. Already the Maha season has faced a 10% drop in yields and the country is running without a food security plan. “We don’t have a food security plan for Sri Lanka at the moment,” Peradeniya Uni Crop Science Prof. Buddhi Marambe said. In the midst of the current war the availability of fuel for farmers is crucial more..