Mar 3 (BBC) Gas prices have spiked and stock markets indexes tumbled after an Iranian official said his country would set fire to anyone trying to pass through the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route. As the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel continued, the UK gas price surged by more than 46%, following sharp gains on Monday pushing it to it highest price for three years. Brent Crude Oil climbed by more than 5% more..

Mar 3 (NW) Norway’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Kravik held a special meeting Tuesday (3) with leaders of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) to discuss political developments in Sri Lanka. ITAK General Secretary M. A. Sumanthiran and MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam participated in the discussion. Rasamanickam said that the talks focused extensively on the need for meaningful political solutions in Sri Lanka and current political developments in the country. more..

Mar 3 (Island) The 13th Session of the Sri Lanka–Pakistan Joint Economic Commission (JEC) was successfully held recently in Colombo, reinforcing the strong and longstanding economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries. SL delegation was led by Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, while the Pakistani delegation was headed by Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the PM of Pakistan for Industries and Production. more..

Mar 3 (DM) In the wake of war raging in the Middle-East following the U.S. Israel attacks on Iran, Iranian Ambassador Dr. Alireza Delkhosh who offered to have an interview, discussed in what direction the situation will head in the coming days. Q: In Iran’s perspective, how long will this war continue? A: For giving the right answer to your question, we have to look at the ground for this escalation. Why did these attacks happen more..

Mar 3 (NW) High Commission of India in Colombo has announced the opening of applications for 200 fully‑funded scholarships exclusively for SL nationals for the 2026–2027 academic session. The High Commission of India said these scholarships, across various levels, are being offered for studies in prestigious Indian Institutes and Universities across subject domains, but not including Medical/ Paramedical and Law courses. The scholarships offered exclusively for SL nationals more..

Mar 3 (AM) Senior Attorney-at-Law S.K. Sangakkara has passed away, family sources confirmed. A respected legal practitioner based in Kandy, Sangakkara was well known within the legal fraternity and the wider community for his longstanding service to the profession. He was also the father of former SL cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara. He is survived by his wife, Kumarie & children Thusharie, Vemindra, Saranga, Kumar, along with his sons- & daughters-in-law more..

Mar 3 (NW) The Embassy of Iran in Colombo has announced that a book of condolence will be opened following the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a diplomatic note dated March 2, the Embassy informed SL’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited to SL of what it described as the “martyrdom” of the Supreme Leader during U.S. and Israeli attacks in Tehran on February 28. more..

Mar 3 (AD) The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing disruptions to the shipment of goods to various countries, Postmaster General S. R. W. M. R. P. Sathkumara stated. Speaking to media today, the Postmaster General noted that several consignments collected last Friday are still unable to be dispatched. The situation in the Middle East has led to restrictions in sending goods to certain regions, and some shipments may face delays or obstacles, he noted. more..

Mar 3 (EN) Colombo Stock Exchange saw its worst fall on Tuesday in terms of points after the market opened for trading for the first time following the Middle East conflict. ASPI plummeted 1,290.68 points to close at 22,443.38; a 5.44% fall. Colombo Stock Exchange temporarily halted trading in the morning after the S&P SL20 dropped more than 5%. The previous biggest drop in points was recorded on Dec 1, 2025, more..

Mar 3 (DM) Iran has called on Sri Lanka to clearly articulate its position on what it describes as violations of international law amid the escalating war in the Middle East. Iranian Ambassador Dr Alireza Delkhosh said Sri Lanka’s long-standing non-aligned foreign policy should not translate into silence in the face of civilian casualties and alleged breaches of international norms. “Sri Lanka is a neutral country. But neutrality does not mean silence,” he said. more..

Mar 3 (NW) Int'l cricket commentator and former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has praised Dasun Shanaka for his composure during a tense final over in a closely fought encounter. Raja commended Shanaka for not reacting to what appeared to be a wide delivery from Shaheen in the final over. He said those in the commentary box had read the ball as a wide, but Shanaka chose not to protest or show visible dissent. At the time, Shanaka was on 22 runs with 27 required off the last over for victory. more..

Mar 3 (DM) SL Police has implemented special security measures to safeguard foreign diplomatic missions in the capital and hotels accommodating tourists in the wake of tensions in the Middle East. A senior police officer said that IGP has instructed all relevant divisions, particularly the Tourist Police Division, to enhance security at hotels and key locations frequented by foreign visitors. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Nearly 35,000 new cancer cases and 19,145 cancer-related deaths are reported annually in Sri Lanka, placing cancer among the leading causes of mortality in the country, according to data published by the National Cancer Control Programme in 2022. President of the SLCS, Anoja Karunaratne, said cancer remains a major public health challenge globally as well as in Sri Lanka, with a significant impact on individuals, families and the national health system. more..

Mar 3 (AD) Colombo High Court has announced that the verdict in four cases filed by the CIABOC against former Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena will be delivered on April 30. Gunawardena, who served as Chairman of the National Lotteries Board in 2006, was accused of causing a financial loss to the govt by purchasing vehicles on a lease basis during his tenure. Hearing for these cases was held today before HC Judge Mohamed Mihal, during which both parties concluded their oral submissions. more..

Mar 3 (FT) The Devil’s Alternative is the title of a thriller by bestselling author Frederic Forsyth published in 1979 which coined the phrase devil’s alternative that at one stage, you reach a state in which whatever you do, it will harm others. When I watched the recent non-conclusive between Central Bank officials and Parliament’s standing Committee On Public Finance or COPF, it appeared to me that the present Central Bank is caught up in a choice similar to a devil’s alternative more..

Mar 3 (FT) SL is not at war. Our hotels are operating. Our beaches are calm. There is no domestic instability. Yet within hours of hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran beginning on 28 February, SL’s tourism industry felt the impact. SL is stable. But in tourism, geographic distance from conflict does not mean insulation from its consequences. This is the illusion of safety in a globally connected industry. You can be far from the battlefield and still economically exposed to it. more..

Mar 3 (TM) In view of the unrest that has arisen in the Middle East and the Gulf region, the Govt launched a series of special operations to look into the safety and welfare of foreign tourists currently in SL, as well as to ensure the protection and well-being of SL migrant workers overseas. These decisions were taken at a special discussion held on 1 March at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Deputy Tourism Minister more..

Mar 3 (CT) SL Govt has expressed its condolences over the loss of all lives, including those of Heads of State, resulting from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday. He stated that a formal message of condolence would be issued shortly through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Responding to a question from a journalist as to why the Govt had not yet released an official statement despite the reported assassinations of Iran’s Supreme Leader more..

Mar 3 (DM) The Israel-Iran war has entered its third day with sustained air strikes, expanding missile exchanges, and rising casualties across the Middle East, transforming what began as joint United States–Israeli operations against Iran into a widening regional conflict. Explosions have continued across Iran, Israel, and several Gulf states since Saturday, when Washington and Tel Aviv launched coordinated attacks targeting Iranian military, leadership, and infrastructure sites. more..

Mar 3 (DM) SL’s external sector delivered a stronger-than-expected start to 2026, with January’s numbers pointing to a more broad-based foreign exchange cushion. The data showed that the external current account recorded a larger surplus of US $ 369.7 million in January 2026, compared with both recent months and Jan 2025 (US $ 99.8 million). The performance follows a provisional surplus of US$ 1.7 bil for 2025. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Nearly 18% of SL’s population is now aged 60 years and above, reflecting a clear trend of population ageing, Population Association of SL (PASL), President Prof. Manori Weeratunga, said. She made these remarks while addressing the annual Population Conference organised by the PASL at the BHICH in Colombo recently. The conference, held under the theme Population Dynamics: Challenges and Opportunities, brought together scholars, policymakers, more..

Mar 3 (NW) MP Rauff Hakeem, Leader of the SLMC, has expressed condolences over the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and strongly condemned what he described as a unilateral US-Israel military strike on Iran. In a statement, Hakeem said the reported killing of Khamenei and several senior Iranian defense officials amounted to a shocking violation of international law and an act of aggression against a sovereign state. more..

Mar 3 (FT) Over 3,400 flights have been cancelled in the first few days of the Middle East conflict according to flight-tracking data. Major regional airports – including Dubai International, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Hamad Int'l Airport in Doha – have suspended operations. In total, six or seven major airports across the region were shut down. Airspace over much of the region remains closed. This has had a major knock-on effect on global air travel, as Middle Eastern hubs serve as critical more..

Mar 3 (ST) An unprecedented 13,000 devotees, including 4,000 Indian pilgrims, took part in annual St Anthony’s Feast on the Katchatheevu islet. For the first time in decades, over 8,000 SL devotees visited from across the country, including Negombo, Thalai Mannar, Kalpitiya, and the North. Hundreds waited for hours to board the limited commercial ferries, prompting the Navy to step in to transport the remaining devotees. A few, however, had to return home from Kurikkaatuvan jetty due to more..

Mar 3 (ST) Grama Niladhari (GN) officers have officially paused their planned picketing and street protests after the Ministry of Public Admin. intervened and promised to resolve long-standing benefits, allowances and other issues. However, the unions made it clear that they will refrain from Ditwah disaster services and any future disaster duties until the govt provides a permanent and legally binding solution. more..

Mar 3 (Island) Sri Lanka beat India 3-0 at the BNP Paribas World Team Cup Asian qualifyig Wheelchair Tennis tournament commenced at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts. ‎In the men’s category India, Pakistan, Koria, Chinese Taipei and hosts Sri Lanka are the countries taking part. ‎In the first singles match, Sri Lanka’s ‎Lasantha Ranaweera beat Shekar Veeraswamy 6-2, 6-0. ‎Suresh Darmasena beat Basavaraj Kundargi 6-0, 6-0 in the second singles. ‎In the doubles match, more..

Mar 3 (DN) Skipper Chamari Athapaththu gave a fine all round performance as SL women recorded a four wicket win against West Indies women with 11 balls to spare in their second T -20 game played at National Cricket Stadium St George’s Grenada on Sunday. The first match of the three T-20 series washed out and with this second game victory Sri Lanka lasses leading the series 1-0 with one more match to be played today at the same venue. Chasing a target of 102 skipper more..

Mar 3 (FT) SL’s outstanding Govt external debt rose to $ 37,663 million as at 31 December 2025, up by $ 425 million from $ 37,238 million recorded at end-September. This is according to the Quarterly Debt Bulletin – Dec 2025 released by the Treasury recently, Total outstanding public debt (gross), which includes central Govt debt, Govt-guaranteed SOE debt and Provincial Council and Local Govt debt, amounted to $ 103. 6 billion at end-2025, compared to $ 106.8 billion in the September quarter. more..

Mar 3 (DN) Vijitha Herath met with Oana Toiu during his official visit to Romania, holding discussions on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. During the meeting, the two ministers recalled that diplomatic relations between SL and Romania were established in 1957, noting that the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties will be marked next year. Discussions focused on further expanding what both sides described as excellent bilateral relations into new areas of cooperation. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Besieged coach Sanath Jayasuriya has found himself trapped or poised to backtrack after telling the media he will throw in the towel after the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan last Saturday and then deciding to stay on for talks with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) that has become the fiefdom of a chosen few headed by Shammi Silva who is now into his seventh year at the helm, years longer than the term of the Head of State. more..

Mar 3 (ST) An unprecedented 13,000 devotees, including 4,000 Indian pilgrims, took part in annual St Anthony’s Feast on the Katchatheevu islet. For the first time in decades, over 8,000 SL devotees visited from across the country, including Negombo, Thalai Mannar, Kalpitiya, and the North. Hundreds waar 3 (ST) Bar Association of SL (BASL) will confer the distinguished title of Honoris Causa on Upul Jayasuriya, PC, in recognition of his exceptional and courageous service to the association and to the country’s legal system during some of its most turbulent years. The proposal, put forward by the incumbent president of the BASL, Rajeev Amarasuriya, received unanimous approval. Mr Jayasuriya’s presidency coincided with one of the most contentious constitutional episodes more..

Mar 3 (SO) A by-law passed by the Point Pedro PS concerning military-run businesses in its jurisdiction has sparked controversy on social media in recent days, with claims circulating that the local authority had imposed a ban on the public from patronising Army-operated establishments. However, a member of the Point Pedro PS has rejected those claims as misleading. Social media posts say that the Council had passed a new law prohibiting the public from engaging in any business activities more..