Mar 10 (ST) Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) firmly believes that instability in West Asia will cause job losses, but the SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is optimistic and says there will be no loss of jobs although departures of workers are being delayed. ALFEA Secretary M F M Arshad said that “roughly 80% to 90% of Sri Lanka's annual foreign recruitment is focused on West Asia. more..

Mar 10 (Island) There has been a rare consensus of opinion in the country that the govt’s humanitarian response to the sinking of Iran’s naval ship IRIS Dena was the correct one. The support has spanned the party political spectrum and different sections of society. Social media commentary, statements by political parties and discussion in mainstream media have all largely taken the position that Sri Lanka acted in accordance with humanitarian principles and international law. more..

Mar 10 (DM) Sri Lanka will host Invest in Sri Lanka Investment Forum 2026 on March 30, as the country seeks to convert its improving macroeconomic stability into fresh foreign investment and long-term growth opportunities. Organised by the Board of Investment of SL (BOI), in partnership with the European Union, Asian Development Bank and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the event will be held at Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka. more..

Mar 10 (DN) SL’s top-ranked junior golfer Reshan Algama produced a clinical performance to win the Gold and Silver Combined Division at the SL Junior Open Golf Championship, organised by SL Golf and sponsored by PRIMA, which concluded at the picturesque Nuwara Eliya Golf Club. Algama displayed class and consistency throughout the three-day tournament, carding rounds of 69, 78 and 70 to finish with an impressive total gross of 217. His steady play kept him firmly in control of more..

Mar 10 (FT) Nestlé Lanka Chairman Bernie Stefan was recognised at the CEO of the Year Awards 2025 organised by the Global CEO Forum. The recognition reflects Bernie’s outstanding leadership, long-term strategic focus, and commitment to building a resilient team, while staying true to Nestlé’s purpose of unlocking the power of food and beverages to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come. Bernie Stefan possesses over 24 years of global experience more..

Mar 10 (FT) SL’s hard-won fiscal stability could face its toughest test yet as the ongoing Middle East conflict pushed global oil prices above $ 100 per barrel, with economists warning that maintaining fiscal discipline will depend on preserving cost-reflective energy pricing and carefully managing price shocks. CEYPETCO and LIOC announced price revisions yesterday, but uncertainty remains as to the duration of more..

Mar 10 (DM) The luxury cruise liner Viking Sky called at the Port of Colombo yesterday, bringing around 700 int'l travellers to SL, as part of its voyage from Thailand to the Maldives, adding fresh momentum to the island’s cruise tourism segment. Handling the shore-side experience was Aitken Spence Travels, which curated a series of excursions designed to introduce the visitors to SL’s culture, city life and scenic attractions. The passengers are offered a range of more..

Mar 10 (DM) Although nuclear weapons are extremely destructive, as was proven when the US bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug 6 and 9, 1945, all rising powers want to have atomic and hydrogen bombs in their arsenal. Zhuldyz Kanapiyanova, of the Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan, goes into the security, geopolitical, technological, prestige and domestic reasons for States wanting to have the deadly weapon and that in large quantities. more..

Mar 10 (TM) SL’s response to the sinking of an Iranian warship within our Exclusive Economic Zone met with a lot of criticism from local opposition parties. However, once we take out the politically-tinted glasses, what is noteworthy is that at a time of intense international tension, the Govt did not overreact. We acted in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We fulfilled humanitarian obligations. We avoided emotional rhetoric. That was the right course. more..

Mar 10 (CT) Donald Trumps Epic Fury has unleashed some Epic Pussyfooting by Foreign Policy Brahmins in South Asia. In an international forum what matters is not superlative oratory. What matters is effective communication and not linguistic gymnastics. At the Raisina Dialog Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath did not take cover under Strategic Ambiguity. Pukka Sahibs are furious that our Minister responded with careful phrases though somewhat haltingly. more..

Mar 10 (CT) Domestic violence remains one of the most persistent yet often hidden forms of violence within societies across the world. In SL, the issue is particularly complex, it is intertwined with cultural norms, family expectations, and long-standing gender roles. While the home is traditionally perceived as a place of safety and protection, for many women, it can also become a space where abuse occurs in silence. more..

Mar 10 (CT) A political party is, as George Orwell famously said, the chief instrument for turning democracy into a farce. Orwell was a powerful observer of politics in his time. If he were alive today, he might even smile at how relevant that sentence still sounds. Ask ordinary people on the street, and many will quickly agree with him. They will nod. Some will laugh. Some may even add their own stories. But, I prefer to take a slightly different view. To me, a successful democracy more..

Mar 10 (DM) The war in West Asia between the US, Israel and Iran has practically dwarfed everything locally. International and local mainstream media as well as all social media platforms are obsessed with real, fake and AI-generated information on this war in a manner one can hardly understand what is really going on in the region. We are not going to argue that the obsession is unjustifiable. In the light of the possible repercussions of the war in every country and thereby in lives of more..

Mar 10 (TM) In a majority of Sri Lankan households, especially urban, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder is the primary and only energy source for cooking. SL is fully dependent on gas cylinders, which are imported and stored in limited quantities unlike pipe-borne LPG, the safest and most modern option worldwide. With increasing supply chain disruptions, energy market fluctuations, and current geopolitical conflicts, more..

Mar 10 (Island) US Prez Donald Trump’s Epic Fury has left the world gnashing, with a global fuel shortage looming large. Oil prices have already surged past USD 100 a barrel amidst rising tensions in the Middle East. They are set to climb higher. US-Israeli air strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks are not likely to end any time soon. Both sides are targeting oil fields and storage facilities, sending shockwaves across the world. Trump’s re-election led to euphoria in business circles, more..

Mar 10 (ST) How many days does it take for a visiting Iranian frigate to steam into the port of the hosting Government of India as an invited guest for an international naval gathering, to be welcomed with honour and glory by its host and then be torpedoed by the US sending human beings serving on that vessel screaming to the bottom of the sea? To answer that question, fourteen days, that is. In fact, many aspects of the current conflagration in the Middle East are callous at several levels. more..

Mar 9 (TM) SL women are hindered from achieving pay parity with their male counterparts, despite recent legislative amendments which have opened doors for women to work night shifts, Advocata Institute said. Despite the 2024 and 2026 liberalisations of the Shop and Office Employees Act (SOEA), which allowed women over 18 to work night shifts in IT, BPO, and hospitality sectors, women remain legally barred from maximising their income due to rigid overtime restrictions. more..

Mar 9 (FT) Govt will maintain cost-reflective pricing for fuel and electricity despite rising global oil prices triggered by tensions in the Middle East. Speaking during a panel discussion, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe said that the Govt will avoid returning to policies that burden State institutions and public finances. He acknowledged that global oil price spikes during geopolitical crises are largely unavoidable and will have to be absorbed by the economy in the short term. more..

Mar 9 (NW) Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the national men’s team, effective from 15 April. Kirsten, who enjoyed a distinguished international career representing South Africa, served as the head coach of the India men’s national team from 2008 to 2011 and the head coach of the South Africa men’s national team from 2011 to 2013. more..

Mar 9 (NW) The passage of the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill in Parliament on 4 March has sparked sharp criticism from grassroots organisations and activists. While the govt hails the new law as a step toward licensing and supervising SL’s under‑regulated microfinance and moneylending sector, groups such as the Yukthi Collective argue it will deepen the burden on rural women borrowers rather than provide relief. They warn that the Act, shaped by int'l loan more..

Mar 9 (AM) Former MP Hirunika Premachandra launched a sharp criticism of women representing the ruling party, accusing them of failing to stand up for the public during SL’s recent economic crisis. Speaking at an event held to mark International Women’s Day, Premachandra contrasted the role played by women from the SJB with those currently in Govt. She said that during the height of the crisis — when the country faced severe shortages of fuel and cooking gas & prolonged power cuts more..

Mar 9 (FT) SL’s rubber industry entered 2025 under mounting pressure from weakening global demand and policy uncertainty to persistent disease outbreaks, labour shortages, and rising production costs. By 2026, a further 15% wage increase intensified existing cost pressures, raising concerns about the long-term viability of rubber plantations. While the sector has long played a strategic role in export earnings and more..

Mar 9 (DM) Migrants will need to speak English to a higher standard if they wish to stay permanently in the UK, under landmark reforms introduced tomorrow. They are being given a full year’s notice to prepare – giving them the best opportunity to integrate into British life. The change marks the first delivery moment of the government’s Earned Settlement reforms – designed to reward those who contribute, integrate and play by the rules. Since January, applicants for most work visas more..

Mar 9 (DM) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya left for Manila, Philippines, at midnight yesterday on an official visit at the invitation of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to participate in events marking International Women’s Day. Upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, the PM was welcomed by SL’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Chanaka Thalpahewa, along with officials from the Government of the Philippines and representatives of Asian Development Bank more..

Mar 9 (DM) Several oil barrels and suspicious debris have washed ashore along SL’s southern coastline a few days after the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena was torpedoed and sunk by the US Navy submarine in seas off the coast of Galle. The debris was reported in the coastal areas of Hikkaduwa and Dodanduwa. Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), Samantha Gunasekara, confirmed that several oil barrels and other debris had washed ashore along the southern coast. more..

Mar 9 (DM) Steps have been taken to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans residing in Northern Israel, SL Ambassador in Israel said yesterday. The Ambassador said the following on the situation in his latest social media post. I would like to draw your attention to the security of Sri Lankans serving in the northern region of Israel due to the current conflict situation. It has been observed that the number of airstrikes by the Israeli Defense Forces on the southern region of Lebanon, more..

Mar 9 (AD) Around 25 trade unions attached to CEB have decided to withdraw from all services for 24 hours from 3 p.m. today. General Secretary of CEB’s SL Nidahas Sewaka Samgamaya, Prabath Priyantha stated that the strike action will be launched over several demands including the govt’s failure to provide a positive response to the requests of electricity workers. He also noted that employees will not report to more..

Mar 9 (DM) The preserved body of the famed elephant Nedungamuwe Raja will be opened for public viewing from March 11 and could remain intact for nearly 500 years if properly maintained. Retired leather craftsman of the National Museums Dept, Chamalka Kothalawala, said preserving and reconstructing an animal’s hide is a complex process that requires both scientific knowledge and artistic skill. She said that after conducting a detailed study of the elephant’s exact size and shape, more..

Mar 9 (Island) DIMO Academy, the vocational education arm of DIMO, has introduced a German Diploma in Warehouse Operations, Logistics and Transportation (WOLT) offering 100% guaranteed job opportunities in Germany upon successful completion. The programme is backed by a partnership with Mosecker GmbH & Co. KG, a leading German wholesale company specialising in energy-efficient building technology, which will absorb graduates into its logistics and more..

Mar 9 (FT) New private sector borrowing from SL’s banking sector slowed sharply to Rs. 82.6 billion in Jan 2026, the lowest level in 11 months, extending the credit slowdown that has emerged in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah even as the overall stock of private sector debt continued to expand. According to CB data released last Friday, new borrowings from domestic commercial banks fell to Rs. 108 bil in January, a 9-month low, more..

Mar 9 (AD) A discussion is scheduled to be held today between govt authorities and officials of the Iranian Embassy in SL regarding the next steps to be taken concerning the Iranian sailors currently in SL custody. Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara stated that a decision on how to proceed with the Iranian sailors will be made after the discussion with embassy officials. A total of 32 sailors rescued from the IRIS Dena vessel, which was attacked by the US in seas off Galle more..

Mar 9 (Island) The Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA) has issued a stark cautionary note to prospective vehicle buyers, warning that the initial price advantage of reconditioned imports often masks significant long-term financial risks. By highlighting a structural imbalance in the current duty valuation system – which allows near-identical vehicles to be imported under a 15% automatic depreciation bracket – the CMTA argues that the lack of manufacturer-backed warranties and more..