Mar 16 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered that the complaint filed against former MP Hirunika Premachandra and 14 others, over allegations that the suspects caused public inconvenience, be taken up again on August 17, 2026. The complaint was filed over allegations that the suspects caused public inconvenience by staging an unauthorized street drama near Independence Square in 2022. The case was taken up before Chief Magistrate Asanga S. more..

Mar 16 (DM) Education Ministry has not taken any decision to suspend school activities or introduce distance learning programs due to the fuel queues that emerged following the reimplementation of the QR code system. Several sources from the ministry said that no such decision has been taken so far and schools are expected to continue their normal operations. However, the Education Ministry Secretary, Nalaka Kaluwewa, along with several other ministry secretaries and heads of more..

Mar 16 (AD) Managing Director of the CPC, Mayura Neththikumara stated that a fuel tanker arrived in SL this morning, and arrangements have been made to commence unloading of its cargo within the day. Vessel carries 18,000 metric tons of diesel, 17,000 metric tons of petrol, and 3,000 metric tons of super diesel, Managing Director confirmed. He noted that all currently ordered vessels are arriving as scheduled and more..

Mar 16 (Island) PM Harini Amarasuriya stated that the weakening of public trust in information disseminated through the media is extremely dangerous for a society, and emphasized that people must be mindful of the truthfulness of information before sharing it on social media. PM made these remarks while addressing the Sandeshaya Media Awards Ceremony held on 14 March at the Kularathne Hall of Ananda College, Colombo. The event was organized with the aim of more..

Mar 16 (AD) The leader of the PHU Udaya Gammanpila, stated that his party is ready to reveal the mastermind behind the Easter attacks to the country on March 31. He made this announcement today (16). Gammanpila further stated that after conducting an investigation for over a year, he has prepared a book titled Uncovering the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks. The book will be officially present on March 31 at 3.30 p.m. at the Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanti Mandiraya, he said. more..

Mar 16 (FT) SL’s electricity generation mix showed a modest shift towards oil-based power in the week ending 12 March compared with the final week of February. This broadly follows a cyclical pattern for this time of year but is more concerning now as global energy markets remain volatile amid the ongoing Middle East conflict and rising oil prices. Thermal fuel-based generation accounted for 23.1% of total output in the week ending 12 March, more..

Mar 16 (AD) Minister Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, stated that both parties have reached an agreement to publish a unified set of auspicious times (Avurudu Nekath Seettuwa) for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Minister noted that the final consensus was reached during discussions with the author of the Epa Panchanga Litha, Indika Epa Seneviratne; the author of the Thirasara Panchanga Litha, Chamath Kothalawala; and members of the alternative astrology group. more..

Mar 16 (NW) Today, the management of MAS announced to employees at the Thurulie facility the decision to relocate manufacturing operations of the plant to nearby facilities following the severe damage caused to the plant by Cyclone Ditwah in late 2025. Thurulie is one of the multiple factories operated by MAS and its partners within the MAS Fabric Park (MFP) in Thulhiriya. Despite significant efforts to restore operations, technical assessments indicate that the long-term viability of more..

Mar 16 (FT) The on-going attacks on Iran and the ensuing counter attacks on US allied Arab oil infrastructure and selected traffic in the Straits of Hormuz, is now more than 2 weeks old. And there’s nary any indication, or indeed any real reason to be optimistic of the sudden emergence of silver linings. Much like flotsam in these turbulent seas, our 2 countries, SL and Maldives, need to first acknowledge our relative inability to affect the outcome. Instead, we will need to trim our more..

Mar 16 (FT) A new generation Sinhala song, written for defending those who had participated in the Aragalaya of 2022 and now going viral on YouTube, has two lines which offer stark advice to SL leaders. A rough English rendering of these two lines goes as follows: “What a pity, it’s hilarious that those educated elite, clad in ties and coats, standing in a queue with a begging bowl in the scorching heat of the Sun”. Two other lines in the same song mocking those who had been in power since more..

Mar 16 (TM) Govt’s sudden decision to reintroduce the economic crisis-era QR-based fuel rationing system plunged the country into confusion yesterday, as the public scrambled to register for the new quotas while long queues began forming once again at filling stations. Thousands rushed to access the online portal to register or update their fuel quota details, but the system soon buckled under the heavy traffic, with the website crashing more..

Mar 16 (DM) Ride-hailing platform PickMe yesterday called on policymakers to revisit fuel allocation policies and prioritise app-based taxis should fuel rationing return, arguing that shared mobility services move more people with less fuel and play a critical role in sustaining daily economic activity. The company said that while SL is not facing a crisis similar to the severe shortages experienced during the economic meltdown, the current global uncertainty around energy supplies more..

Mar 16 (TM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake directed officials to study the possibility of work-from-home option for certain categories of public servants in view of the Middle East tension-related issues, as the SL Govt Officers' Trade Union Association (SLGOTUA) suggested the Govt should either increase the fuel quota allocated to them or introduce a hybrid work system. Prez issued these instructions during a discussion with Ministry Secretaries and heads of State institutions more..

Mar 16 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday instructed senior Govt officials to strengthen contingency planning to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential services as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East raise concerns over potential economic and supply disruptions. The high-level meeting between the Prez, Ministry Secretaries, and Heads of key institutions reviewed preparedness measures more..

Mar 16 (FT) Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has called on the Govt to urgently resolve fuel and transport difficulties faced by doctors, cautioning that the current fuel quota system could affect the functioning of public health services. In a statement issued yesterday, the GMOA said the State hospital system operates around the clock throughout the year and requires doctors and other healthcare workers to travel frequently across the country to deliver medical services. more..

Mar 16 (NW) The launch of the QR code app on Sunday morning overwhelmingly, in the comments studied, resulted in frustrated resignation. Govt started to ration fuel on Sunday morning. On Twitter alone, this resulted in considerable chatter around both the need for such a system, and very serious problems associated with the re-launch of a platform that was first developed, and deployed in August 2022. In order to get a sense of public sentiment at a greater scale, I studied 4,000+ comments more..

Mar 16 (ST) The govt has decided to remove the surcharge of 50% imposed on the import duty on used and modified vehicles from April 1 onwards, which is set to see a reduction in these types of vehicles, officials said. Govt has rescinded a gazette notification issued by Prez Anura Kumara to extend a surcharge extended till Dec 31. The gazette notification on surcharge was initially introduced in Jan 2025, effective until the end of last year, and then extended until the end of this year. more..

Mar 16 (TM) In the wake of controversy following the release of two different sets of auspicious times for the Sinhala-Tamil New Year, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs stated that it plans to convene a meeting today (16) with astrologers from across the country in an effort to arrive at a single auspicious time schedule. When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday, Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake said the ministry was attempting to introduce one set of auspicious times, more..

Mar 16 (AD) Fuel will only be distributed through the QR code system at filling stations from now on, with the assistance and supervision of police, CPC has announced. These assertions were made by CPC Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna during a special media briefing. Chairman Rajakaruna said that Sri Lanka is currently receiving fuel shipments as scheduled, and therefore there is no immediate shortage expected more..

Mar 16 (DM) Vehicle registrations eased in February after the strong momentum seen at the start of the year, with declines across several passenger vehicle segments even as overall activity remained relatively high following the reopening of vehicle imports. Total vehicle registrations fell to 51,682 units in Feb, down from 55,365 units in January. The moderation was visible across motor cars, SUVs, vans and several commercial vehicle categories, although two-wheelers continued to dominate the market. more..

Mar 16 (FT) SL’s tourism sector recorded its highest-ever February arrivals this year, but foreign exchange earnings from the industry declined, underscoring mounting concerns about falling per-capita tourist spending even as the country pursues an aggressive recovery strategy. Tourism earnings fell 4.4% YoY to $ 352 million in Feb despite a sharp increase in arrivals during the same period. On a month-on-month basis, February revenue also declined by 7.5% compared with January. more..

Mar 16 (SO) Despite South Asian nations sharing deep historical ties, geographic proximity and similar social traditions, regional cooperation in South Asia has yet to realise its full potential, former Chief of Defence Staff General (Rtd) Shavendra Silva said. He was speaking at the 10th edition of the Synergia Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on Friday. Silva outlined the importance of strengthening collaboration among countries in the region through enhanced military diplomacy and strategic engagement. more..

Mar 16 (ST) NDB Investment Bank has aggressive growth plans for the next three years, to extend its business from onshore to offshore, offshore to onshore, and to conduct offshore transactions in other markets. “We intend to grow our market share locally and follow our clients into the overseas market. Most of our large institutional clients have grown overseas as well. We will be offering them cross-border transaction services. We are trying to garner more investment banking partners more..

Mar 16 (DM) Air ticket prices in SL are expected to see an increase in the near future, driven by the rising costs of aviation fuel in the global market. Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, said that while authorities are making every effort to manage and minimise fuel costs for airlines, a hike in passenger ticket prices is inevitable. He said that this issue is not limited to SL but is currently affecting the entire global more..

Mar 16 (FT) In a historic achievement that places Sri Lanka on the global banking map, Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has been recognised as the only Sri Lankan bank ranked among the World’s Top 500 Banking Brands in 2026 by the internationally renowned brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance. This landmark recognition marks the first time in history that a Sri Lankan bank has secured a place in this prestigious global ranking, positioning BOC among the world banking brands. more..

Mar 16 (NW) Three-wheeler drivers have raised concerns that the fuel quota allocated under the QR code-based fuel management system is insufficient to sustain their operations, warning that they may launch protests if the allocation is not increased. Drivers noted that three-wheelers are currently allocated 15 litres of fuel per week under the system, but said this amount is inadequate for those who rely on the vehicle as their primary source of income. Representatives of 3-wheeler associations more..

Mar 16 (ST) The price bids of four companies competing to sell 300,000MT of emergency coal for the Lakvijaya power plant were examined this week, but the tender went unawarded, official sources said. Meanwhile, problematic coal supplier Trident Chemphar—which won the ongoing 2025-26 term tender—has again submitted an updated schedule to Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC). The company has undertaken to more..

Mar 16 (Island) SL’s latest economic indicators point to a curious numerical puzzle as industrial production is rising while labour force participation has not moved in tandem. Data for Jan 2026 show that the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) rose 4.4% year-on-year to 99.3, signalling a modest improvement in manufacturing activity compared with Jan 2025. The expansion was led mainly by food products, which grew 10.6%, wearing apparel which increased 12.5%, and other more..

Mar 16 (FT) Demonstrating its commitment to thought leadership and national progress, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL (CA Sri Lanka) recently organised a pivotal forum to examine the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and their profound implications for the nation’s fragile economic recovery. The session, titled Risk Amid the Middle East Crisis: Economic Shockwaves and SL’s Strategic Response, brought together leading experts to evaluate more..

Mar 16 (FT) The Bar Association of SL (BASL) will host the 2026 National Labour Law Symposium on 23 March at Cinnamon Life, bringing together legal practitioners, policymakers, employers, human resource professionals and industry stakeholders for a full-day forum on the evolving landscape of labour law and employment relations in Sri Lanka. The program is structured around several thematic sessions addressing key issues shaping the future of employment and labour regulation. more..

Mar 16 (FT) Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) successfully concluded its annual research conference PIMARC 2026 on 19 Feb, convening academics, business leaders, policymakers, and emerging scholars for a day of critical reflection and forward-thinking dialogue. Held under the theme Inclusive and Responsible Management: Research for the New World, this year’s conference addressed a question that resonates deeply in today’s climate: How can research move beyond more..