Mar 24 (FT) Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) has called for the implementation of a more sustainable electricity tariff framework and energy generation policy, citing the severe economic strain faced by the plantation sector and other export-oriented industries due to prohibitively high electricity tariffs. PA’s appeal comes at a critical juncture, with public consultations on the CEB most recent proposal to PUCSL more..

Mar 24 (DM) Ambewela, the name conjures images of misty hill tops, rolling green meadows, pedigreed cows, state of the art, sophisticated barns, and milking parlours, and the purest milk available in the South Asian region. To test the accuracy of these claims, there have been large groups of industrialists, agriculturalists, and dairy experts from various European countries visiting the farm. They inspected all aspects of company operations. The tour group leader Learning, mentioned that more..

Mar 24 (ST) An old tank in Sigriya has dried out following the construction of a tunnel system to carry water from Moragahakanda Tank to the North Central Province. The villagers of Ilukwewa in Sigiriya complained that the cultivation tanks, underground wells as well as the old tank had completely dried off, therefore the villagers who depend on that water had protested against the Mahaweli Authority and the Chinese construction company. Farmland near the village more..

Mar 24 (FT) Cenmetrix recently achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification, the world’s most widely recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). This significant milestone reflects the company’s strong commitment to quality assurance, continuous improvement, and operational excellence across its technology solutions and services. Following the successful completion of all certification requirements and full conformity with ISO 9001:2015 standards, more..

Mar 24 (FT) Recognising the rapidly expanding role of Chartered Accountants in governance, regulatory compliance, and corporate integrity, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL (CA SL) last week launched the Faculty of Business Law and Regulatory Compliance. The faculty was officially launched by CA SL President Tishan Subasinghe, in the presence of Vice President Anoji De Silva; Business Law and Regulatory Compliance Committee Chairman Laknath Jayawickrema, more..

Mar 24 (ST) SL’s reintroduction of the QR Code-based fuel purchase system had a rocky start earlier this week, as motorists and vehicle owners reported system glitches that prevented them from signing in. Over the past week in SL, the govt progressively tightened fuel rationing measures and brought back the 2022 rationing system in response to global disruptions in fuel imports stemming from the situation in West Asia, more..

Mar 24 (Island) Minister Bimal Rathnayake has urged all SL refugees in India to return to Sri Lanka, stating that provision has been made for their reintegration. He called on India to grant citizenship to those who wished to stay on in India, but added that the government would welcome them back with both hands if they chose Sri Lanka. He gave due credit to the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR), an NGO led by S. C. Chandrahasan, son of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam more..

Mar 24 (TM) SL is navigating a severe economic crisis driven by global energy challenges and crippling fuel shortages, following tensions in the Middle East after US-Israel attacks against Iran spilled over into the region. To drastically cut national energy consumption, the Govt has implemented a four-day work week for the State sector, declaring Wednesdays a holiday for the public sector. This sudden policy shift has sparked intense nationwide debate and disrupted vital sectors from more..

Mar 24 (Island) The global energy crisis has taken a turn for the worse due to the Middle East conflict. Int'l Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol has issued a dire warning. If the Iran war persists, the world will face a mega energy crisis, whose economic impact will be far worse than those of the two oil crises in the 1970s, taken together, he has said, noting that today the world economy is losing about 11 million barrels of oil a day whereas it lost only five million barrels of oil more..

Mar 24 (TM) As global tensions erupt in the Middle East and energy supply routes choke under conflict, SL is forced into rationing, uncertainty, and public anxiety. It is the direct result of a policy failure that has persisted for decades. We have built an economy that runs almost entirely on imported fossil fuel, and we are now paying the price. The latest global shock triggered by the US-Israel confrontation with Iran and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz should be a wake-up call that cannot be more..

Mar 24 (SO) Three weeks after journalists first documented burning scrub forests and active land clearing within the buffer zones of the Hambantota Managed Elephant Reserve, fresh concerns have emerged that controversial solar power projects in the area have resumed at an accelerated pace. The developments, residents and environmentalists said are intensifying ecological degradation and worsening the already more..

Mar 24 (DN) In the aftermath of its worst economic crisis since independence, Sri Lanka is attempting not just recovery, but reinvention. Under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the country is shaping a new national identity, one grounded in discipline, social justice and strategic independence. What is emerging is a deliberate effort to rebrand Sri Lanka: from a nation defined by crisis and mismanagement to one guided by accountability, inclusivity and balance. more..

Mar 24 (ST) Before I proceed, let me begin with one remarkable symmetry on this day. When I first took my oaths as an Attorney-at-Law before this Honourable Court, I did so before Hon. Chief Justice Parinda Ranasinghe. Today, as I bid farewell from this Court, I do so in the presence of his son, the Honourable Attorney General, Parinda Ranasinghe Jr. Public life rarely offers such full circles, and I do not pass over this one lightly. Before I say anything of myself, let me borrow from more..

Mar 24 (TM) Sri Lanka’s education system is once again under threat as global instability, fuel shortages, and transport disruptions directly affect the functioning of schools across the country. Having already endured prolonged closures during the pandemic and economic crisis, students now face the prospect of renewed learning disruptions – without a clear national contingency plan in place. more..

Mar 24 (GV) At the beginning of his book, The Killing Fields of Inequality Göran Therborn says, “Inequality is a violation of human dignity; it is a denial of the possibility for everybody’s human capabilities to develop. It takes many forms, and it has many effects: premature death, ill-health, humiliation, subjection, discrimination, exclusion from knowledge or from mainstream social life, poverty, powerlessness, stress, insecurity, anxiety, lack of self-confidence and of pride in oneself, more..

Mar 24 (CT) In relation to the ongoing American-Israeli and Iran war, the best option available for a small and weak state like Sri Lanka is to stay neutral. On 28 Feb, the US, in partnership with Israel, bombed Iran, starting a new phase of the Middle East war (Iran War, in short). Two main factors influenced the decision to attack Iran. First, Israel under PM Netanyahu targeted Iran for a relatively long time, as Iran and especially its nuclear program were viewed as an existential threat. more..

Mar 23 (DM) Even though assurance was given by the govt that no power cuts will be imposed soon, CPC chairman D.J Rajakaruna said that the refinery which produces furnace oil and naphtha for power generation, will have to be shut down by middle of April due to unavailability of crude oil. He said that the crude oil stocks in the country will be sufficient to run the refinery only till Mid April and that the next crude oil shipment is due on June 19 & 20 after the cancellation of two crude oil shipments of more..

Mar 23 (NW) Iran’s Ambassador to SL, Alireza Delkhosh, has claimed that Iranian warships were heading to Sri Lankan waters at the country’s invitation prior to the attack involving one of the vessels, while also confirming ongoing talks with Colombo to take the remaining sailors home. Speaking during a media interaction on the incident involving the Iranian vessel Dena, the envoy said the ships had been engaged in non-combat activities and were in the region for peaceful purposes. more..

Mar 23 (Reuters) US President Donald Trump said on Monday he had given orders to postpone ​any military strikes against Iranian power plants for five days, hours ahead of a deadline that threatened further escalation in the conflict now in its fourth week. Trump said in ‌a post on his Truth Social platform that the US and Iran had had very good and productive conversations over the past two days about a complete and total resolution of more..

Mar 23 (NW) Former Minister Arjuna Ranatunga and former Chairman of the CPC Dhammika Ranatunga were indicted before the Colombo High Court today on corruption charges. The court subsequently ordered their release on two personal bails of Rs. 5 million each. Case has been scheduled for a pre‑trial conference on May 15. According to the indictments, during a six‑month period in 2017–2018, three long‑term tenders arranged by the CPC to procure SL’s fuel requirements were cancelled. more..

Mar 23 (NW) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla welcomed a SL Parliamentary delegation led by Chairman of the Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Issues, MP S.M. Marikkar, at the Parliament of India. Speaker Birla said the interaction reflected the deep‑rooted civilizational ties, shared democratic values, and strong partnership between India and Sri Lanka. Discussions focused on strengthening parliamentary cooperation as a vital pillar of bilateral more..

Mar 23 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed the officials to take all possible measures to safeguard the country’s energy conservation by raising public awareness on the prudent use of energy during the peak consumption period between 6 pm to 10 pm, while ensuring the active participation of the public in these efforts. Prez emphasised that, in the face of the global challenge of maintaining uninterrupted energy supplies more..

Mar 23 (AD) The overall rate of inflation, as measured by National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), has decreased to 1.6% in Feb 2026, compared to 2.4% in Jan 2026. Meanwhile, food inflation has decreased to 1.1% in February compared to 3.4% in January while the Y-o-Y inflation of the non-food group increased to 1.9% in February from 1.6% in January. On a Year-on-Year, contribution of food commodities to inflation was 0.50% in Feb 2026 compared to Feb 2025. more..

Mar 23 (NW) Milk powder importers and wheat flour companies today assured Minister of Trade, Wasantha Samarasinghe, that the prices of imported milk powder and wheat flour in the country will not be increased. They further pledged that sufficient stocks of imported milk powder and wheat flour will be supplied for the next three months, and confirmed that no price hikes of any kind will be introduced until the end of the upcoming New Year season. The assurance was given during a meeting more..

ar 23 (DM) SL Bottled Water Association (SLBWA) has requested Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to revoke or temporarily suspend the gazette introducing maximum retail prices (MRPs) for bottled drinking water, considering the cost-related pressures faced by the industry. In a letter addressed to the Prez, Industries Minister and Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), SLBWA stated that many small and medium-scale producers are struggling to continue operations under more..

ar 23 (CI) Dasun Shanaka has replaced the injured Sam Curran at Rajasthan Royals (RR) for IPL 2026 and has informed his PSL team, Lahore Qalandars, of his decision. Shanaka will join RR for INR 2 crore (US$ 214,000). "Sam brings immense value with both bat and ball," Kumar Sangakkara, director of cricket and head coach, RR, said. "However, we are pleased to have found an ideal replacement in Dasun Shanaka, a finisher with the bat and a quality all-rounder who helps maintain more..

Mar 23 (Island) The ongoing controversy surrounding the importation of substandard coal to the Lakvijaya (Norochcholai) Coal Power Plant has spiralled into a full-blown national energy crisis, with severe technical disruptions, mounting financial losses, and growing fears of widespread power outages, a former General Manager of the CEB has warned. Speaking with authority shaped by decades of experience, more..

Mar 23 (EN) Dimuth Atapattu has been appointed as Director General of SL’s Data Protection Authority (DPA) with effect from March 5. “TBoard looks forward to working with Mr Atapattu as he leads the DPA in safeguarding the privacy rights of individuals and supporting responsible data-driven innovation,” DPA chairman Rajeeva Bandaranaike said. Appointment of a Permanent Director General to DPA strengthens the country’s personal data protection & enforcing the privacy framework more..

Mar 23 (DM) Nearly 50% of Sri Lanka’s adult population have never visited a dental clinic, health officials reveal. According to Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni, access to dental care remains unequal despite progress in the sector. Speaking at the national event marking World Oral Health Day held at Galle Face Green recently, he noted that many people only seek treatment after symptoms appear, highlighting weak public awareness and poor early detection. more..

Mar 23 (Island) SL is preparing to host a landmark global scientific gathering that will bring some of the world’s foremost experts on snakes to the island, placing the country firmly on the international map of reptile research, conservation science, and venom studies. World Congress on Snakes (WCS) 2026, first int'l conference dedicated exclusively to snake biology, conservation and human–snake interactions, will be held from Oct 1 to 4, more..

Mar 23 (NW) Three-wheeler fares in the Western Province have been increased by Rs. 10 with effect from today, Western Province Road Passenger Transport Authority announced. Accordingly, the starting fare for the first kilometre has been increased from Rs. 100 to Rs. 110. The fare for each additional km from the second kilometre onwards has also been revised from Rs. 80 to Rs. 90. Fare revision comes amid rising fuel costs, impacting public transport charges across the province. more..

Mar 23 (TM) Residents living near the Ambatale water treatment plant have reported a troubling phenomenon: thousands of fish have been dying in the Kelani river over the past several days. Local residents observed large numbers of dead fish floating on the surface of the river, raising concerns about environmental pollution and its potential impact on the water treatment process. They have stated that they immediately informed PS, CEA & NARA about the situation. more..