Mar 11 (ST) As Iranian missiles and drones targeted military and infrastructure facilities in the UAE, fear-stricken Sri Lankans shared their horrifying experiences with the Sunday Times. They recounted their stories hours before Iran’s Prez Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring states, saying Tehran would not attack them unless attacked first. UAE-based SL expats noted that although a sense of normalcy had returned more..

Mar 11 (FT) Nestlé Lanka is set to invest Rs. 9 billion over the next four years to expand its manufacturing operations in Sri Lanka, signalling renewed confidence in the country’s domestic market and export potential even amid recent economic challenges. Speaking at the celebration marking 120 years of Nestlé’s operations in SL, Chairman and Managing Director Bernie Stefan said the investment will largely focus on strengthening the company’s manufacturing base in Pannala, more..

Mar 11 (FT) SL Export Development Board (EDB) has called on export community to apply for the Sri Lanka Expo 2026 int'l trade exhibition, which is scheduled to be held from 18-21 June at the BMICH in Colombo. EDB noted that Sri Lanka Expo 2026 is organised with the primary objective of connecting local businesses with international buyers and investors. “Sri Lankan exporters, export-oriented businesses and companies with export potential are eligible to apply,” it added. more..

Mar 11 (TM) Govt’s assurances that SL is not solely dependent on the Gulf markets for fuel supplies and that a steady supply can be secured from India, Malaysia, and Singapore, should be approached with a degree of scepticism. Although it is a sensible message, it is also only half the story. In moments of geopolitical tension, particularly when instability threatens the Strait of Hormuz, oil markets react long before tankers stop moving. Prices surge on risk perception. Insurance costs climb. more..

Mar 11 (FT) DCSL Breweries Lanka Ltd., has announced the international launch of Aliya Beer, the latest beer brand to emerge from Sri Lanka. Following its successful reception in local markets, Aliya Beer is now set to make its mark in export markets, introducing the world to the true taste of Sri Lanka. Available in both Strong and Lager variants, Aliya has been meticulously crafted to appeal to a wide range of palates globally, while retaining its authentic Sri Lankan identity. more..

Mar 11 (FT) Sri Lanka’s hard-won macroeconomic stabilisation marks only the beginning of its recovery and will not by itself bring the long-term capital needed to drive sustained growth, AIA Group Chairman Sir Mark Tucker said, warning that the country must now move decisively from crisis management to building the capabilities required for expansion. “Sri Lanka has done the hard work that has led to stabilisation. more..

Mar 11 (ST) President Trump told accompanying newsmen aboard an Air Force One flight to Texas last Friday, I’m not happy with the ongoing talks with Iran. It was the cue that was waiting for the beginning of a new international order to unfold upon the world that had until then lived in a phoney 75-year peace, naively believing with religious zeal that the UN Charter – hastily drawn up by the victorious Allied powers after World War II in 1945 – enshrined the sovereignty of all nation more..

Mar 11 (Island) US Navy’s torpedo attack on the Iranian frigate, IRIS Dena, on 4th March, just outside SL’s territorial waters, killed over 80 Iranian sailors. SL Navy rescued over 30 sailors and provided medical assistance for them in Galle while also recovering the floating corpses of the victims. Thereafter, a second Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Bushehr, which also requested permission to dock, was permitted into Trincomalee by SL Navy, after separating its crew from the ship and more..

Mar 11 (FT) Preparation often matters more than planning in governance and business, especially in critical situations and highly interdependent environments. Sri Lanka should have recognised the possibility of a full-scale Gulf conflict if it had carefully considered the broader implications of the recent tariff hikes under the Trump administration. Today, geopolitics is a powerful force that even shapes the direction and dominance of technological advancement. more..

Mar 11 (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 more..

Mar 11 (SO) When women thrive, humanity thrives. Equality is not a women’s issue alone. It is a social, economic and human rights imperative that benefits everyone. The progress of any country depends on how fully its women are able to participate in public life. The origin of International Women’s Day can be traced back to 1911, when women first mobilised for fair wages, safer working conditions and the right to vote. more..

Mar 11 (Island) There can be no bigger affront to Karl Marx’s legacy than the JVP’s claim that it espouses Marxism. Marx envisioned the creation of a future society free from exploitation. The latest fuel price hikes announced by JVP-led NPP run counter to the Marxist principle of freedom from exploitation. The sudden fuel price hikes, which have come close on the heels of the monthly fuel price revision announced on 28 Feb, cannot be considered legal, for they are not consistent with more..

Mar 11 (DM) The history of warfare is littered with the hubris of technologically superior powers who underestimated the resilience of a civilization state. On Feb 28, 2026, the world watched as a decapitation strike, intended to trigger a regime change in Tehran instead ignited a firestorm that threatens to consume the global economy. As an infantry officer who spent two decades in the trenches of the SL civil war, I have seen firsthand that while technology wins battles, more..

Mar 11 (SO) The need for an independent media institution to replace the SL Press Council has been emphasized by several media organisations for many years. The SL Press Institute (SLPI), the Press Complaints Commission of SL (PCCSL), and the SL College of Journalism, which were established and operated by media organisations without State intervention, can be identified as independent media institutions. more..

Mar 11 (TM) In an era of renewed geopolitical competition and Indo-Pacific reordering, SL –US relations are entering a new phase. No longer confined to development assistance, the partnership is evolving into a multidimensional relationship shaped by maritime security, economic cooperation, technology, and resilience. Since Independence in 1948, SL has followed a policy of non-alignment rooted in sovereignty and strategic autonomy. This enabled engagement with multiple powers more..

Mar 11 (GV) Three hundred years ago, a highly placed public person made an indecent proposal. He suggested that, in order to prevent the poor people in Ireland becoming a burden to the public, that they should sell their infant children to the rich as food for their tables. This public minded person was the great satirist Jonathan Swift and his suggestion was A Modest Proposal. Its aim was to expose the entrenched social inequity that existed in his time, in his part of the world, and more..

Mar 10 (AD) A number of electricity trade unions have announced that they will continue their strike action over several demands. The announcement has been made after discussions with the management of the new entities established following the restructuring of the CEB failed, a trade union representative noted. Around 25 trade unions yesterday decided to withdraw from all services for 24 hours. General Secretary of the CEB’s SL Nidahas Sewaka Samgamaya, more..

Mar 10 (AFP) Sri Lanka have indefinitely postponed a six-match limited-overs cricket series against Afghanistan that was due to start in the UAE this week due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “We had to cancel because of the flight situation… and the ongoing fighting in the region,” a SLC official said on Monday. The teams were scheduled to play three T20 internationals in Sharjah on March 13, 15 and 17, and three one-day internationals in Dubai on March 20, 22 and 25. more..

Mar 10 (TG) Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara has dismissed reports that the govt plans to remove the SL military headquarters in Jaffna, stating that the claims are entirely false. Jayasekara made the remarks in Parliament yesterday during a debate on the extension of emergency regulations. He rejected speculation that Colombo had decided to relocate or remove military headquarters in Jaffna, more..

Mar 10 (NW) Sri Lanka reported just 14 rabies-related deaths last year, the lowest annual figure recorded in the country, according to Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana. He said of the fatalities, 12 were caused by animal bites, especially pet dogs. Meanwhile one death had been reported due to an animal scratch, and one from an unknown cause. Victims included youths aged 31–40, middle-aged individuals between 41–50, and elderly persons aged 71–80 without underlying illnesses, more..

Mar 10 (TM) National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has assured that both immediate and long-term strategies are being implemented to protect the identified vulnerable schools in the Kandy District, clarifying that the majority of schools in the area have not been classified as being in red zone hazardous areas. NBRO Director General (DG), Dr. Asiri Karunawardena explained that most schools in the region are primarily threatened by rockfalls. more..

Mar 10 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval to the proposal to appoint a Committee on Economic Surveillance to review potential economic impacts on Sri Lanka from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The proposal to establish the committee was presented by the President and received Cabinet approval. The committee will be chaired by Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, who serves as the Deputy Minister of Finance and more..

Mar 10 (NF) Cabinet has approved an emergency measure to extend visas for tourists who have been unable to leave the country due to widespread flight cancellations across the Middle East since Feb 28. According to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, several travellers who were scheduled to depart before the expiry of their visas were stranded after airlines suspended services to the Middle East because of the ongoing regional conflict. more..

Mar 10 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal to raise the financial assistance provided to families relocated from high‑risk landslide zones under the resettlement program. According to the govt, currently, each beneficiary family receives up to Rs. 1.6 million to construct a new house. With the latest decision, this amount will be increased to Rs. 2.5 million per house. The proposal was presented by the Prez in his capacity as Minister of Defence, highlighting the need to strengthen support more..

Feb 10 (NW) CIABOC has arrested former DIG of CID Prasad Ranasinghe, in connection with an inquiry into the theft of a valuable archaeological artefact. According to the Commission, investigation concerns the disappearance of a historic moonstone located near the entrance gate of the palace of King Sri Vira Parakrama Narendra Sinha, the last monarch of the Kandyan Kingdom, at the Udawatta archaeological site in Kundasale. Ranasinghe is accused of exerting undue influence to more..

Feb 10 (EN) Cabinet has approved a relief package to support the re-cultivation of export crops — tea, rubber, and coconut — following weather damage in late 2025, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Under the new relief scheme, the govt will provide financial assistance to farmers based on the extent of their damaged land. The maximum relief amounts a hectare are as follows: Coconut: Up to 750,000 rupees a hectare; Tea: Up to 500,000 rupees a hectare; Rubber: Up to 400,000 rupees more..

Feb 10 (FT) Tourism sector has crossed the 600,000 visitor mark for 2026, maintaining overall growth momentum despite a sudden slowdown in early March caused by the escalating conflict in the Middle East and widespread disruptions to global aviation routes. During the first eight days of March, SL welcomed 47,646 visitors, reflecting a 30.5% decline compared to the same period in 2025 as flight cancellations, more..

Feb 10 (AD) A group of astrologers has questioned the govt as to why information and data related auspicious times was obtained from them if the Avurudu Nekath Seettuwa, the table of auspicious times for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year, is not to be published. Astrologer Ravishanka Senanayake, addressing the media, claimed that this situation had arisen due to an arbitrary decision made by the Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. more..

Feb 10 (NW) National Transport Commission (NTC) states that although diesel prices have increased, there will be no revision of bus fares. Director General of NTC, Nilan Miranda, said that although diesel prices were increased from midnight yesterday, it will not have any impact on bus fare revisions. Therefore, the existing fares will continue as they are, he further noted. CPC increased the price of auto diesel by Rs. 22 per litre and Lanka super diesel by Rs. 24 per litre. more..

Feb 10 (AD) Chairman of the CPC, D.J. Rajakaruna, has requested the public to reduce non-essential travel and use fuel sparingly in order to manage the energy crisis arising from the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. “This is not a normal situation; it is a very grave condition,” he warned. CPC chairman urged the public to act collectively by reducing non-essential travel, limiting fuel purchases to essential needs, and more..

Feb 10 (Island) Embassy of SL in Bangkok participated in the 59th Red Cross Charity Bazaar, one of Thailand’s major annual fundraising events organised by the Thai Red Cross Society, held from February 26 to March 1 at Siam Paragon in Bangkok. The event was presided over by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and attended by members of the diplomatic corps, govt officials, private sector representatives and the public. The charity bazaar serves as a key platform to raise funds more..

Feb 10 (CT) Sprinter Isuru Lakshan has been banned until 30 Oct 2027 for Failure to Submit to Sample Collection, SL Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) announced. “Former national champion and South Asian junior medallist in the 400m event, Isuru Lakshan, has been sanctioned until 30 Oct 2027 for Failure to Submit to Sample Collection, in accordance with anti-doping regulations. During the period of ineligibility, the athlete is prohibited from participating in any sport related activities, more..