Mar 23 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged the govt to ensure that fuel subsidies are directed to ordinary citizens rather than the ultra‑rich, stressing that relief must reach the middle and lower income groups. He said that while the govt has raised fuel prices by the highest percentage, it must now honour its election promise to reduce prices. Premadasa accused the govt of leading a corrupt coal deal that has reduced electricity generation at the Norochcholai power plant by more..

Mar 23 (FT) McLarens Group of Companies Managing Director Shehara De Silva has been named to the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurial Winning Women (EWW) Class of 2026 announced by Ernst & Young (EY), which recognises 23 women entrepreneurs leading some of the region’s fast-growing businesses. EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women is a bespoke executive program designed to support high-potential, women-led businesses as they scale internationally. more..

Mar 23 (EN) SL has seen a 5% growth in GDP for 2025, surpassing US$ 106.8 billion, according to DCS provisional GDP estimates. The services sector made the biggest contribution to GDP in 2025, at 54.6%, with industries second at 25.4%. Agriculture and taxes less Subsidies on products were at 8.4% and 11.6% respectively. GDP growth in 2025 was a continuation of that from 2024, which was the first year of GDP growth more..

Mar 23 (DM) Bakery product prices across the country are set to increase by Rs. 10 from midnight today, following rising production and distribution costs triggered by the recent fuel price hike, the Bakery Owners’ Association said. Accordingly, the price of a 450g loaf of bread will increase to Rs. 130, while other bakery items will also see a similar price adjustment. The association noted that higher fuel costs have significantly impacted expenses related to transportation and production, more..

Mar 23 (NW) Police have arrested the daughter and son‑in‑law of a University of Jaffna lecturer in connection with her murder. According to police, the victim’s son lodged a complaint on Thursday, reporting his mother missing. The complainant had voiced suspicion about his sister and her husband, after which the Police apprehended the couple in Trincomalee. Investigations into the arrest led to the two suspects confessing to killing the 54‑year‑old lecturer at her residence. more..

Mar 23 (AD) At a press conference held at the Embassy of Iran in Colombo, Iranian Ambassador Dr. Alireza Delkhosh reiterated Iran’s commitment to its bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka and emphasized continued cooperation between the two countries. Addressing the media, Ambassador Delkhosh described SL as a friendly nation and stated that Iran maintains an open and supportive stance toward its partners. more..

Mar 23 (EN) The US Embassy in Colombo has urged US citizens in Sri Lanka to exercise increased caution and follow security alerts it issues. “Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate,” it said sharing a caution issued by the Department of State, which advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution. “U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted." more..

Mar 23 (ANI) BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said on Monday that the Congress and DMK surrendered India's maritime rights by giving Katchatheevu island to SL. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, he also celebrated PM Narendra Modi's record tenure days in public office as a Chief Minister and PM, describing it as a historic milestone for Indian democracy. "I have provided the documents; I have provided a copy of the agreement. The agreement copy states that the entire maritime area more..

Mar 23 (FT) Since the publication of the previous article in this series titled Mideast war, emerging external shocks and Sri Lanka’s choices, the geopolitical picture looming over Sri Lanka and other nations has become scarier. Here is a quick shot of the situation. The United States, the country regarded as having the most modern and equipped military, is unbelievably stuck in the war with Iran, a relatively less-sophisticated nation in military terms. At the outset, President Trump, more..

Mar 23 (TM) Sri Lanka is being asked, once again, to live within limits. The Govt’s call for mindful consumption of fuel is not a gentle appeal. It is a stark reminder that the country remains dangerously exposed to global shocks. But if this moment feels familiar, it is because it is. We have been here before. And the real question is whether those in charge, and those on the ground, have learned anything at all. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa is right to warn the public. more..

Mar 23 (FT) Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday said the Govt is absorbing Rs. 20 billion a month to cushion the impact of sharply higher fuel prices, even after raising pump rates to levels last seen during the 2022 economic crisis, to shield consumers while preventing renewed pressure on currency and foreign reserves. He said the State continues to subsidise Rs. 100 per litre of diesel and Rs. 20 per litre of petrol despite this week’s more..

Mar 23 (TM) In the wake of a proposed increase of over 10% in bus fares being scheduled for consideration by the Cabinet today, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) stated that its members island-wide would refrain from operating buses due to inadequate fuel supplies. National Transport Commission (NTC) announced yesterday that a bus fare increase of more than 10% was assessed following the recent fuel price hike, and the proposal was scheduled to be submitted more..

Mar 23 (TM) Following Prez Dissanayake announcing that temporary permits would be issued to US dollar-dominated businesses to import fuel for sale to the tourism and export sectors, five companies have so far applied for such permits, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. He said that the Govt was currently reviewing the applications submitted by the five companies. He added that the fuel imported under this mechanism would be issued specifically for industrial requirements. more..

Mar 23 (TM) The recent fuel price hike announced by the CPC has sent shockwaves through multiple industries across the country, intensifying pressure on sectors already grappling with rising costs. The price revision, which came into effect from yesterday has compounded existing economic challenges, leaving fishing boat owners, vegetable farmers, bus operators, and bakery owners struggling to manage escalating more..

Mar 23 (AD) Dept of Posts has decided to limit mail transportation to an alternate-day basis in response to the fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Co-Convenor of the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front, Chinthaka Bandara, stated that this decision was taken as a strategic measure to manage the current fuel quotas allocated to the department and to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices. Accordingly, he stated that postal administration has decided to conduct more..

Mar 23 (TM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna yesterday (22) warned that the country could face a significant fuel-related challenge affecting power generation in the coming days. He said that if a crude oil shipment does not arrive on 24 or 25 March, refinery operations could continue only until around 25 March. “As a result, stocks of fuel oil and naphtha, both used for electricity generation, are expected to run out, posing a serious issue,” he said. more..

Mar 23 (AD) Lanka IOC PLC (LIOC) has announced an increase in the prices of several fuel categories, effective from today (22). According to the company, the price of Lanka Auto Diesel has been increased by Rs. 79, bringing the new retail price to Rs. 382 per litre. Concurrently, the price of Lanka Super Diesel has been raised to Rs. 572 per litre. In the petrol category, Octane 95 Petrol is now priced at Rs. 487 per litre, while Octane 92 Petrol has been increased to Rs. 398 per litre. more..

Mar 23 (SO) Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector is expected to remain insulated from immediate geopolitical shocks following the closure of the Hormuz Strait, Agriculture, Livestock, Land & Irrigation Ministry officials said. Fertiliser stocks, preemptive imports, and robust paddy reserves are helping safeguard supplies and stabilise prices amid rising concerns over Middle East tensions, they said. NFS Director Chandana Lokuhewage said that the Govt had preemptively imported more..

Mar 23 (TM) Govt is exploring mechanisms to enable Sri Lankans living overseas to cast their votes, with initial discussions currently underway among key institutions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had initiated a round of stakeholder consultations with line ministries, focusing on a comparative analysis of overseas voting models. However, it is learnt that large-scale models used in some foreign countries are reportedly more..

Mar 23 (DM) SL’s logistics sector has begun absorbing the first clear pass-through from the global oil price shock, with container transport operators raising charges by 20% from Monday as fuel costs surge following disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Container Transport Owners’ Association (CTOA) said the revision was driven sharply by higher operating expenses linked to rising global crude prices and tighter shipping conditions amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. more..

Mar 23 (NW) Opposition MP Harsha de Silva has raised concerns over the govt’s fuel pricing formula, alleging a lack of transparency in how current prices are being calculated. de Silva said his back calculations suggest that the govt is using assumed global oil prices of USD 130 per barrel for Petrol 92 and USD 180 per barrel for auto diesel when determining fuel prices at CPC filling stations. He further claimed that authorities are factoring in subsidies of around Rs. 20 for petrol more..

Mar 23 (FT) Uber and PickMe, have urged the Govt for support to keep Sri Lanka moving in light of the latest fuel constraints. Highlighting the critical role played by ride-hailing and delivery platforms in helping people access transport, food and essential services, the platforms have jointly asked for higher fuel quotas for their most engaged driver and delivery partners. Uber and PickMe said, “We welcome the Govt’s decision to increase regular fuel quotas from 21st March onwards more..

Mar 23 (AD) CMC has decided to resume the collection of vehicle parking fees across its jurisdiction starting today. The decision was reached during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance. Consequently, parking management and fee collection operations will return to their regular schedule from 6 a.m. Collection of parking fees had been temporarily suspended since March 18 due to severe traffic congestion and long vehicle queues observed near fuel stations across the city. more..

Mar 23 (FT) Advocata Institute CEO Dhananath Fernando said SL’s fuel consumption is heavily skewed, with the top 30% income cohort consuming 70% of fuel, pointing to the need for price-based adjustments rather than relying solely on rationing. At a CMA SL webinar on the economic impact of the Middle East war, Fernando said fuel prices, despite recent increases, remain below levels required to reflect actual costs. more..

Mar 23 (ST) At least six fraudulent websites posing as National Fuel Pass platforms have been taken down after being flagged for stealing personal and vehicle registration data to obtain QR codes, according to the national cybersecurity agency. Nirosh Ananda, Chief Information Security Engineer at the SLCERT, said that these deceptive links were circulated widely on social media and messaging apps to harvest personal information and vehicle details for fuel QR codes. more..

Mar 23 (FT) In a landmark step towards strengthening national safety standards and advancing engineering research, Uni of Sri J'pura has established the Centre for Fire Safety Engineering (CFSE), SL’s first dedicated facility for fire testing and structural fire research. Formally established in Aug 2022, the Centre represents a major milestone in SL’s higher education and public safety landscape. It was developed as a result of a significant research grant more..

Mar 23 (ST) The fuel crisis has far-reaching consequences for a range of sectors, varying from industries to individuals engaged in various businesses. These sectors called on the govt to respond fast so they can maintain services. They complained that although the politicians make bold statements in Parliament and explain mechanisms, solutions have not been implemented. Bakeries expressed concern over the non-availability more..

Mar 23 (FT) Strategic planning and capable leadership are essential to mitigate the adverse effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East while capitalising on emerging opportunities. These views were shared at a seminar titled The War in the Gulf Region: Its Implications and the Way Forward for SL, recently held at the Organisation of Professional Associations of SL (OPA). The event featured Y. N. Jayaratne and Advocata Institute CEO Dhananath Fernando as guest speakers. more..

Mar 23 (Island) St. Servatius’ College ended more than five decades of frustration when they defeated arch rivals St. Thomas’ College by five wickets in the annual Battle of the Blues encounter concluded at the Uyanwatta Stadium on Sunday. The victory marked a historic moment for the Servatians as they recorded their first big match win in 55 years, the previous triumph coming in 1971 under the captaincy of Nimal Munaweera. SL U-19 player Viran Chamuditha played a decisive role more..

Mar 23 (FT) Board of Investment (BOI) of SL has postponed the Sri Lanka Investment Forum 2026 due to ongoing global developments. BOI said: “We wish to inform our valued registered participants and all stakeholders that the Sri Lanka Investment Forum 2026, scheduled for 30 March 2026, in collaboration with its partners—the European Union (EU), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) has been postponed. more..

Mar 23 (Island) Today is a red-letter day for Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium. Exactly 25 years ago, to this very day, the venue hosted its maiden international, Sri Lanka locking horns with England and in the quarter-century since, the ground has grown from a bold gamble into one of the country’s prized cricketing possessions. From Sachin Tendulkar’s silken drives to Dale Steyn’s thunderbolts, the game’s greats have left their imprint here. Dambulla has seen it all, more..