Mar 6 (ST) As illegal development activity on Mandaitivu linked to the Jaffna International Cricket Stadium of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was halted by the country’s environmental watchdog, a powerful call went out from conservationists to cancel the project forthwith, as it was the worst site, with a disastrous fallout economically, environmentally and on the livelihoods of people living there. “Find an alternative area more..

Mar 6 (EN) SL has officially set March 9, 2026, as the date for the full implementation of the SL Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024, paving the way for the structural unbundling of the state-run CEB. In an Extraordinary Gazette issued on Thursday, Minister of Energy Punya Sri Kumara Jayakodi announced that the provisions of the new act will come into operation next Monday (9). The move follows the completion of several key milestones required for the power sector transition, including more..

Mar 6 (NW) Presidential Task Force for Rebuilding Sri Lanka convened yesterday (at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of PM Harini Amarasuriya, during which extensive discussions were held on nationwide recovery and reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. Task Force, established to coordinate relief, rehabilitation, and long-term development, reviewed the progress of the Rebuilding Sri Lanka initiative and foreign assistance received for the dedicated fund. more..

Mar 6 (RT) Sri Lanka sees potential BRICS membership as strategically appealing, PM Harini Amarasuriya has told RT India in an exclusive interview. The island nation, which is recovering from an economic and humanitarian crisis that plunged the nation into chaos in 2022, sees the bloc as a platform to spur its economic growth, Amarasuriya said. “We are a small country. If we want to meet the targets we have set for ourselves in terms more..

Mar 6 (EN) Sri Lanka’s debt is on a sustainable trajectory, the finance ministry secretary told an investor call regarding several series of international bonds issued by the govt. “The completion of the debt restructuring has placed Sri Lanka’s debt on a sustainable trajectory, below the targets set by the IMF DSA,” Harshana Suriyapperuma was quoted as saying in the presentation. Sri Lanka scheduled the investor call to present the Debt Report and relevant fiscal and other developments. more..

Mar 6 (NW) A mobile cold storage unit valued at Rs. 2.2 million has been donated by the Galle business community to the National Hospital in Galle to assist in storing the bodies of victims recovered from the Iranian vessel incident off SL. The donation was made after authorities faced difficulties storing the large number of bodies recovered following the maritime tragedy, as the hospital’s existing mortuary capacity was insufficient. Iranian authorities are expected to repatriate the bodies to Iran. more..

Mar 6 (FT) Assessing the rights and wrongs of war or making prognostications on the outcome may entertain. But an analysis of SL’s strengths and position in the world will make it evident that SL cannot influence or shape the events unleashed by Netanyahu-Trump. We can only try to understand them, develop scenarios, and work to minimise the negative impacts on our citizens. The last time Sri Lanka had to evacuate citizens from a conflict zone, we had to rely on the kindness of India. more..

Mar 6 (FT) On 22 July 2025, the SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) gave an undertaking before the Supreme Court of SL to recruit and operationalise a Special Enforcement Unit within three months to act against unregistered, unlicenced tour guides and operators. The commitment was clear: existing law would be enforced. SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam, thereafter reiterated in an article published in the Daily Mirror on 19 Oct 2025 that SLTDA more..

Mar 6 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today announced the stance of the Govt of SL pertaining to the ongoing Middle East conflict. President said Sri Lanka will remain neutral during the conflict between the US and Iran in the Middle Eastern region. The Prez, however noted, the govt will continue to fulfill its international obligations and take necessary steps on humanitarian grounds. He said that the commitment of all parties more..

Mar 6 (DM) Israel–Iran conflict has now directly reached Sri Lanka’s maritime region, forcing the country to deal with complex diplomatic, humanitarian and security challenges as fighting in the Middle East spills into the Indian Ocean. On the sixth day of the crisis, Sri Lanka is simultaneously managing the aftermath of the sinking of an Iranian warship within its Exclusive Economic Zone, responding to the presence of another Iranian naval vessel near its waters, more..

Mar 6 (DM) US-Israeli war against Iran entered its sixth day with fighting spreading across multiple fronts in the Middle East and beyond, as Tehran continued launching missile and drone attacks while Washington and its allies expanded military operations. Inside Iran, the humanitarian toll continued to climb while political uncertainty deepened following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state media said the death toll from the conflict had risen to 1,230 more..

Mar 6 (Island) Sri Lanka’s parliament became a secondary battleground yesterday as the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena ignited a fierce debate over national sovereignty, regional maritime priciples, and the govt’s perceived strategic paralysis. While the Navy’s rescue of 32 sailors was initially painted in shades of heroism, Opposition MPs have now unfurled a narrative of missed warnings and geopolitical betrayal. more..

Mar 6 (TM) Freezer facilities at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in Galle are insufficient to store the bodies of Iranian sailors recovered after a naval vessel sank in waters south of SL, Chief Govt Whip Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament. He confirmed that 87 bodies recovered by SL Navy personnel have been brought ashore and placed at the hospital, creating an urgent need for additional cold storage facilities. Jayatissa said the Govt does not possess large-capacity freezer units more..

Mar 6 (FT) Central Depository Systems Ltd, (CDS), a subsidiary of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), has reached a milestone as total registered accounts surpassed the 1 million mark. This achievement coincides with the approach of the organisation’s 35th anniversary in September, marking three and a half decades of providing depository infrastructure for the SL capital market. Since its inception in 1991, CDS has held the distinction of being the first depository in the South Asian region. more..

Mar 6 (FT) Govt is also exploring alternative short-term sources for crude oil and refined petroleum products, against the backdrop of escalating unrest in the Middle East, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. “Potential procurement options under consideration include suppliers from Africa and the US,” he said at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday. At present, Sri Lanka sources most of its fuel supplies from India, Singapore, Malaysia & South Korea. more..

Mar 6 (DM) SL’s recent regulatory measures to introduce Domestic Dollar Bonds and widen investor participation represent two coordinated phases of a domestic foreign currency funding strategy aimed at strengthening liquidity and supporting sovereign debt management after the country’s restructuring, according to the Lanka Rating Agency (LRA). The agency said regulatory actions taken in Oct 2025 and Jan 2026 together form a structured mechanism to mobilise foreign currency already more..

Mar 6 (island) Operations at Sri Lanka’s main coal-fired power facility, the Lakvijaya coal power plant, suffered a significant disruption soon after a new shipment of coal was introduced, raising concerns over generation stability and environmental emissions. Energy analyst Dr. Vidura Ralapanawa said that the plant began using coal from Ship 11 on Wednesday, following confirmation from officials of the CEB. more..

Mar 6 (EN) Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Thursday, with diversified financials leading turnover. ASPI closed up 1.13 percent, or 256.12, at 22,833.53. The S&P SL20 closed up 1.00 percent, or 63.80 points at 6,421.46. The market “has been broadly volatile due to global uncertainty created, so we’re seeing the market movement in a massive decline,” Dimantha Matthew, Chief Research and Strategy Officer at First Capital Holdings said. John Keells Holdings (up 2.37% at Rs.21.60), more..

Mar 6 (FT) A report by Himal Southasian has revealed that Ukraine-compiled data show the number of Sri Lankans killed fighting for Russia in the ongoing Russo-Ukraine war is at least 275 – the highest death toll for any South Asian country. The figure is far higher than that of 59 reported by the SL Govt in Feb 2025. The data comes from Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POW), a Govt body responsible for handling POWs & tracking foreign fighters. more..

Mar 6 (FT) Insurance companies have paid Rs. 13,344.9 million in claims related to Cyclone Ditwah, settling about 23% of the estimated insured losses reported so far, according to data released by Insurance Regulatory Commission of SL (IRCSL). As of 3 March, insurers had received 24,630 claims linked to the cyclone, with the estimated insured loss reaching Rs. 57,186.7 million. Motor insurance accounts for the majority of claims reported, with 15,935 cases filed, while non-motor more..

Mar 6 (NW) Authorities on Thursday carried out drug tests on bus drivers and conductors operating from the Bastian Mawatha long-distance bus terminal in Colombo as part of efforts to improve passenger safety and service quality in public transport. The program is being implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development in line with the govt’s National Drug Prevention Week campaign. Officials used a mobile testing unit from the National Transport Medical Institute more..

Mar 6 (FT) Govt has embarked on a major 3-year initiative to expand its fuel storage capacity and strengthen petroleum infrastructure, allocating Rs. 46.7 billion between 2025 and 2028 for new oil tanks, pipeline upgrades, and related facilities. Announcing the initiative Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said investment is aimed at improving the country’s energy security and increasing storage capacity to cushion against global supply disruptions. more..

Mar 6 (DN) Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory Commission of SL (IRCSL) Dr. Ajith De Mel said that moves will be taken promptly to streamline the motor insurance sector since it has been identified that a considerable amount of vehicles are running on roads without having a proper insurance policy. He was revealing this at the IRCSL, which has marked a significant milestone, celebrating 25 years of regulating and transforming SL’s insurance industry while outlining an ambitious roadmap more..

Mar 6 (NW) Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj warned that the misuse of images on social media to harass, blackmail and extort money from women and children is a growing concern. Paulraj said the unauthorized use of photographs and personal images to threaten victims for financial gain has become a global challenge. She said discussions have been held with the Ministry of Digital Economy to strengthen cybersecurity laws and improve measures to address such online abuse. more..

Mar 6 (FT) Janith Madushanka, also known as Podi Lassie, a notorious underworld figure and drug trafficker accused of multiple murders, was brought back to SL from India on Friday. Police said he left the island in 2024 after being released on bail, even though a court had imposed a travel ban on him. He was later taken into custody by Indian authorities in Mumbai on Jan 16, for entering the country illegally. more..

Mar 6 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been investing his political capital in going to the public to explain some of the most politically sensitive and controversial issues. At a time when easier political choices are available, Prez is choosing the harder path of confronting ethnic suspicion and communal fears. There are three issues in particular on which the Prez’s words have generated strong reactions. These are first with regard to Buddhist pilgrims going to the North more..

Mar 6 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stated that establishing a National Care policy is essential in achieving a fair society where it values women’s labour and a care economy. PM made these remarks in Parliament on March 5, expressing her views on the proposal submitted by the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus advocating for the development of a National Care Policy. Elaborating further, PM stated: “On this International Women’s Day, I am truly pleased to have more..

Mar 6 (FT) Ericsson has signed an agreement with Dialog Axiata to deploy its 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) across Sri Lanka. Announced at the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this week, Ericsson will supply products and solutions from its 5G RAN portfolio, such as Massive MIMO antenna-integrated radio AIR 3219 for the 3.5 GHz band deployment, and high-performing 5G RAN software, such as the Ericsson 5G advanced solution real-time AI powered automation. more..

Mar 6 (FT) Transparency International SL (TISL) expressed serious concern following the passage in Parliament on Wednesday of the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill. The law, which was anticipated to correct serious regulatory failures and protect vulnerable borrowers, falls significantly short of that objective, TISL claimed in a statement. In response to the 2024 Bill Challenge filed by TISL and others, the Supreme Court (SC) determined that all entities conducting more..

Mar 6 (FT) SL’s fiscal position strengthened markedly in 2025, with the Govt recording a primary surplus of Rs. 1,776.3 billion, more than 2.7 times the Rs. 649.6 billion surplus reported in 2024, as stronger revenue collection and restrained expenditure significantly reduced the Budget deficit. Overall Budget deficit narrowed sharply to Rs. 724.4 billion in 2025, a 64.5% year-on-year (YoY) contraction from Rs. 2,039.9 billion in 2024, more..

Mar 6 (TM) The incident where an Iranian warship sank off SL’s southern coast after what the US later acknowledged was a submarine torpedo strike, should force us to confront an uncomfortable truth. The Indian Ocean has never been the peaceful maritime commons that diplomatic language would like to suggest. It has always been a theatre where global powers project influence and compete for control. Sri Lanka has long tried to resist that reality. In 1971, under PM Sirimavo Bandaranaike, more..

Mar 6 (Island) Only about 35 crew members of an Iranian frigate survived a torpedo attack by the US, off Galle, on Wednesday. More than 100 Iranians are believed to be dead. SL Navy and Air Force rescued the survivors and brought ashore about 85 bodies of the victims of the US attack. Sinking of the Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Dena, which was on a non-combat mission, and the brutal act of killing so many naval personnel, thousands of km away from the conflict zone, must be condemned more..