Mar 25 (ST) The public sector has scaled down operations after measures were put in place this week to cut down on energy use and fuel. While mentioning disruptions and increases in fuel prices, Prez said in Parliament on Friday that reserve stocks have been secured. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament that Octane 92 petrol is available until April 23, Octane 95 petrol until May 10, and diesel until April 12. more..

Mar 25 (ST) With a weekly quota of only 30 litres of kerosene, Northern fishermen say they are forced to restrict their activity to coastal waters, unable to reach the deep sea for better catches. While local fishermen remain unable to venture out, TN fishermen continue illegal bottom trawling in SL’s northern seas. Jaffna District Fishermen’s Federation committee member Pakiyanathan Regan said that the union has taken steps to distribute fuel, but supplies remain inadequate. more..

Mar 25 (DM) SL’s national payment network LankaPay officially launched cross-border QR payment acceptance via China’s Weixin Pay, widely known as WeChat Pay, at an event held in Colombo yesterday. The landmark integration allows inbound travellers to seamlessly scan and pay at over 400,000 LANKAQR merchants island-wide. With Weixin Pay currently boasting nearly 900 million monthly active users globally, the partnership is set to eliminate point-of-sale friction for Chinese more..

Mar 25 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the Agriculture Ministry and private sector fertiliser suppliers to jointly formulate a program to maintain sufficient fertiliser stocks in the market, so as to ensure an uninterrupted supply to farmers during the forthcoming Yala season. These instructions were issued during a discussion held this morning yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat with officials of the Agriculture Ministry and CEOs of fertiliser importing companies. more..

Mar 25 (FT) Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced a financial support package to help its developing member countries (DMCs) mitigate the economic and financial impacts resulting from the conflict in the ME. “ADB will deliver rapid, flexible, and scalable assistance to help countries manage immediate pressures and strengthen long-term resilience, notably fast-disbursing budget support and trade and supply chain finance to secure the import of essential goods, now including oil,” more..

Mar 25 (FT) Uni of Peradeniya Senior Prof. Buddhi Marambe called for a fundamental shift in how Sri Lanka calculates and manages agricultural costs, warning that existing frameworks are inadequate to deal with the uncertainty and volatility triggered by the Middle East war. Speaking at a recent CMA SL forum on the impact of the Middle East crisis on SL, he said pricing and cost structures must be redesigned to reflect more..

Mar 25 (Island) The unfolding tensions and diplomatic manoeuvres around the Strait of Hormuz offer more than a snapshot of regional instability. They reveal a deeper transformation in global statecraft, one where influence is exercised through calibrated engagement rather than outright confrontation. This is strategic diplomacy in its modern form: restrained, calculated, and layered with competing interests. At first glance, the current developments may appear as routine more..

Mar 25 (Island) JVP-NPP govt is slow on the draw whenever it responds to emergencies. Its long response time stood in the way of disaster mitigation in the immediate aftermath of the landfall of Cyclone Ditwah, which triggered a series of adverse weather events, claiming 638 lives and destroying more than 6,100 houses. Its delayed response also prevented the country from adopting emergency measures to manage its meagre fuel reserves immediately after the eruption of the latest Middle East conflict. more..

Mar 25 (DN) SL offers an interesting case where the public as well as the authorities tend to sit up and take notice of an issue only after something goes haywire. It is only then that full attention is directed to the very area that contributed to the tragedy. It should not be this way. We ought to keep our eyes on the ball when it comes to everyday safety. This is precisely why the proliferation of hoardings installed across the island by various parties for diverse purposes deserves closer scrutiny. more..

Mar 25 (ST) Storms do not strike everyone the same way. For a strong and healthy person, a sudden downpour may be little more than an inconvenience—a sprint through the rain, wet cloths, and a story to tell. But for a feeble and sick person, the same storm can be exhausting, even dangerous, leaving the person shaken long after the clouds have passed. It is quite possible that this person will have lots of health complications thereafter. The severity of the storm matters, but more..

Mar 25 (TM) As SL readjusts to the reintroduction of fuel rationing under a QR-based distribution system, essential public services like healthcare are facing concerns about sustaining operations with restricted mobility. Since 15 March, a weekly fuel quota has been imposed islandwide based on vehicle types: motorcycles are limited to 5 litres, cars and three-wheelers to 15 litres, vans & special purpose vehicles to 40 litres, lorries to 200 l more..

Mar 25 (TM) When International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warns the world has already lost 11 million barrels of oil per day, surpassing the combined shocks of the 1970s, it is not a technical observation. It is an indictment. His most damning line should not be ignored. “The depth of the problem was not well appreciated by the decision makers around the world.” That is not a throwaway remark. It is a blunt admission that those in charge failed to read the signals, more..

Mar 25 (GV) With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, SL finds itself at a particularly vulnerable juncture as it carefully navigates a fragile economic recovery. Labour migration offers jobs to counteract the lack of opportunities within the economy. Related micro-level remittances prevent households from dipping back into poverty. Similarly, on a macro level these remittances, of which about 50% come from Middle East countries, help build foreign reserves, stabilise the economy and pay for more..

Mar 25 (SO) SL is currently facing its second major crisis within four months following Cyclone Ditwah, amid the ongoing US–Israel war on Iran. While crises are not new to the country, successive Govts have often faced criticism from Opposition parties over their handling of emergency situations. SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, a vocal critic of the Govt, has alleged that NPP administration lacks a clear more..

Mar 25 (DM) The shockwaves of the Middle East war that was started by the US and Israel by launching unprovoked attacks on Iran on Feb 28 ripple through almost every country in the world. Going by statements made by the leaders, SL is going to face a dire situation due to the very short time gap the country was left with to prepare for this shock. The changing stances on the part of American Prez Donald Trump on the conclusion of the war seem to make it difficult leaders more..

Mar 25 (DM) High-flown diplomatic verbosity and larger-than-life personal egos are not necessarily prerequisites for striking a principled foreign policy position and being recognised for it, though most leaders and policy pundits in this part of the world tend to think otherwise. Last week, as the chattering classes in Colombo were assessing the eloquence of Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath’s English, SL proved yet again that a small nation, navigating a geopolitical tsunami, more..

Mar 24 (NW) Cabinet has approved the award of a contract to upgrade passenger facilities at the Colombo Fort Railway Station to MAGA Engineering (Pvt) Ltd. The project includes the removal of existing footbridges at the Maradana and Bambalapitiya ends and the construction of new bridges with access for persons with special needs. It also covers the development of new ticket counters integrated with the bridges and the construction of a 3-storey service building, more..

Mar 24 (EN) Cabinet has approved the setting up of yet another committee, this time for the development of the energy economy as there has been a slowdown in investment in that sector, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “The energy economy has been identified as a priority sector, but there has been a slowdown in investment in that sector due to the weaknesses in integration between the main economic sectors,” Jayatissa said. “The Govt has recognized the importance of exploring more..

Mar 24 (AD) Formal govt-level talks have already begun to secure fuel supplies from Russia, according to Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. He said that the govt is currently focusing on the possibility of obtaining fuel through intergovernmental agreements, and that the relevant govt-level discussions have already commenced. He also mentioned that the Russian Deputy Energy Minister is scheduled to visit SL soon, and more..

Mar 24 (DM) The Colombo Commercial High Court has issued several interim injunctions against Blue Ocean Legand Pvt Ltd, Blue Ocean Waves and Link Engineering, which are companies affiliated to the property developer Blue Ocean Group. In an action filed by Horton Realty Pvt Ltd, it was alleged that the Blue Ocean Group of Companies had agreed to transfer 13 apartment units of a condominium development situated at 19th Lane, Kolllupitiya pursuant to a master agreement signed more..

Mar 24 (AD) Commissioner-General of Essential Services, Prabhath Chandrakeerthi, has issued comprehensive guidelines aimed at optimising fuel consumption across state-owned vehicles. According to the Commissioner-General, public sector currently maintains a fleet of approximately 92,000 operational vehicles. The guidelines note that if each vehicle conserves at least one litre of fuel per day, the total daily saving would amount to 92,000 litres. This could translate into a more..

Mar 24 (DM) Govt has decided to continue the concessional loan scheme introduced to create new entrepreneurs, with Rs. 750 million allocated in the 2026 Budget to further implement the programme. Steps are to be taken to create 50,000 entrepreneurs within five years by providing financial facilities and guidance to youth. As part of this initiative, Rs. 500 million was allocated under the 2025 Budget to introduce a concessional more..

Mar 24 (NW) The Cabinet has approved the continuation of a program to provide sanitary napkins to schoolgirls in 2026, aimed at ensuring uninterrupted education. The initiative will cover about 1.05 million adolescent girls studying in Grades 6 and above in all govt schools, as well as in govt-approved special schools. Under the program, each student will receive vouchers worth Rs. 1,440, issued as two vouchers of Rs. 720 each, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. more..

Mar 24 (NW) Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved a major project to develop playgrounds in govt schools across the country, aiming to boost student participation in sports and promote physical, social, and mental well‑being. Officials noted that the exam-centred education system and lack of adequate facilities have limited student involvement in sports, while also hindering the identification of talented athletes capable of performing at national and international levels. more..

Mar 24 (AD) Colombo High Court has ordered that the case filed by the CIABOC against MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake be taken up on April 30, 2026. The case was taken up today before Colombo High Court Judge Ravindra Premaratne. After considering the facts presented, High Court Judge ordered that the case be called on April 30 for a pre-trial conference. The case has been filed against MP Chamara Sampath over allegations that, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Uva Province more..

Mar 24 (AFP) SL ordered street lights, neon signs and billboard lighting to be switched off from Tuesday as part of measures to cut energy consumption by 25% to tackle supply shortages. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said all state institutions had been asked to reduce the use of air conditioning as the Middle East war entered its fourth week, driving up oil and gas prices. SL has already raised fuel prices by a third since the bombing in Iran started, triggering retaliatory attacks more..

Mar 24 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval for a proposal aimed at promoting QR code-based digital payments by ensuring that no additional charges are levied on either the sender or the receiver for transactions valued below Rs. 5,000. The govt has identified the promotion of a digital economy as a national priority, with a view to enhancing economic efficiency, financial inclusion, and transparency. more..

Mar 24 (NW) Presidential Suite at the Sri J'pura General Hospital, which until now had been reserved exclusively for the use of the Executive President, was opened today for medical treatment of the general public. Following instructions given by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Ministry of Health, together with the hospital administration, made this decision. Sri J'pura General Hospital was built in 1984 as a major aid project of the Japanese govt, with a capacity of 1,000 beds. more..

Mar 24 (UCAN) Buddhists and Christians across SL have paid tribute to Jesuit scholar Father Aloysius Pieris, widely known as Father Aloy, remembering him as a bridge-builder in interreligious dialogue who dedicated his life to unity, justice and understanding. He died at 91 after a long illness. His funeral was scheduled for March 24. Pieris, founder of the Tulana Research Centre, promoted dialogue on faith, culture and social change. He also co-founded a center for hearing-impaired education more..

Mar 24 (AD) Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to increase the allocation approved for Sri Lanka for this year from USD 380 million to USD 480 million and to promptly release USD 200 million in view of the prevailing situation. This was conveyed during a meeting held this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat between Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and a delegation led by President of the ADB, Masato Kanda, who is currently more..

Mar 24 (DM) The Director General of Civil Aviation of the Bhutan Civil Aviation Authority, Kinley Wangchuk, paid a courtesy visit to Capt. Daminda Rambukwella, Director General of Civil Aviation and CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), to discuss opportunities for aviation development and training collaboration. During the meeting, Mr. Wangchuk shared suggestions and proposed operational plans aimed at strengthening international scheduled passenger services. more..

Mar 24 (TM) A group of activists visited the Presidential Secretariat Colombo today seeking to hand over a petition calling for the resignation of Shammi Silva, Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Organisers said the petition, which has gathered thousands of online signatures, urges the Chairman to step down immediately in the interest of the sport, citing recent concerns over the administration of the board. The group stated that the petition was addressed to the Prez and more..