Mar 7 (FT) In a landmark judgment on the scope of the Right to Information Act, Court of Appeal has held that a private television broadcaster can be considered a public authority under certain circumstances and is therefore subject to the provisions of the RTI law. Ruling arose from a dispute between Asia Broadcasting Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, which operates Hiru TV, and the mother of a murder suspect who sought information more..

Mar 7 (FT) SL Shippers’ Council (SLSC) has warned that escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are beginning to disrupt global shipping routes, raising concerns over potential impacts on SL’s trade and supply chains. Council said some shipping lines have already begun adjusting schedules, suspending routes and imposing risk-related surcharges following the recent escalation involving US, Israel & Iran, developments that could lead to higher freight costs & delays for SL exporters more..

Mar 7 (FT) A crew member of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessel JS Onami, a Takanami-class destroyer operating in the western waters off Colombo, has been brought ashore due to the need for urgent medical attention, the SL Navy said. The evacuation was coordinated by the Colombo Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center, with assistance from the SL Navy. The crew member was subsequently transferred to Colombo National Hospital for further treatment, more..

Mar 7 (Island) Bombay cannot quite match Colombo when it comes to Test venues. Colombo boasts four Test grounds, while Bombay has three. India’s first ever Test match in 1933 was staged at the historic Bombay Gymkhana, but international cricket soon shifted down the road to the Cricket Club of India, a stone’s throw away, before finally settling along the sweeping Marine Drive at the Wankhede Stadium, which now hosts all men’s international fixtures. Gymkhana and the CCI, meanwhile, more..

Mar 7 (FT) A high-level business promotion program held on 27 Feb in Bremen brought together major trade chambers, business associations, and prominent German companies, providing an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations between SL and Germany, explore prospects in the German market, and promote SL Expo 2026 as a key international trade event. At the invitation of OAV Bremen and the Bremen Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Minister Vijitha Herath and more..

Mar 7 (FT) SL’s tea industry is facing severe disruptions as the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East has effectively halted shipments to one of its largest export markets, with exporters estimating revenue losses of between $ 10 million and $ 15 million per week. Tea Exporters Association said exporters currently hold confirmed orders from buyers across the region, but are unable to fulfil them due to logistical challenges, more..

Mar 7 (FT) In the latest escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz. SL imports nearly all of its oil and gas, relying heavily on the Middle East, with major suppliers being Oman, Iraq, UAE & Bahrain. The country relies on imported crude for its single, aging refinery and imports refined products (diesel) via the spot market. A significant portion of these supplies must pass through the Strait of Hormuz making the country’s energy security highly vulnerable more..

Mar 7 (FT) If geography were any sort of destiny in the revolving atlas of geopolitics, Sri Lanka’s would be a curious one. We sit astride some of the busiest maritime highways like a genial innkeeper on a global trade route: smiling, neutral, and hoping that the caravans keep coming on the silk roads. But sometimes, hosting those very caravans could court trouble for this legendary stopover on the Maritime Silk Route: Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, IRIS Dena and those Iranian dead more..

Mar 7 (Island) Parliament yesterday voted to extend the State of Emergency, with 108 ayes and eight nays. Most of the Opposition MPs were not present in the House, as usual. Such is their dedication to the discharge of their legislative duties. The same goes for the govt MPs who were absent. The govt and the Opposition are making a strong case, albeit unwittingly, for doing away with the MPs’ attendance allowance. The Opposition has rightly decried the extension of the State of Emergency, more..

Mar 7 (CT) Did the Ceylonese Govt at the time of the Independence Act agree to have the Standard (a flag used as the symbol of a person, group, or organisation) of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe on the flag when our national flag was finalised? This was keeping with the proposal made by Sinna Lebbe, the MP of Batticaloa. MP Lebbe rose in parliament and said: “This house is of the opinion that the Royal Standard of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinhe which depicts a yellow lion holding a sword in more..

Mar 7 (SO) SL Navy said last week that, after bringing On Board Security Team (OBST) facilitation under full State control, it completed 404 operations between Oct 3, 2025 and Feb 25, 2026, earning more than USD 598,000 in foreign exchange credited to the Govt’s Consolidated Fund. The Navy said the service includes the supervised storage and transfer of weapons used by these teams on merchant vessels. more..

Mar 7 (FT) In moments of geopolitical tension, the conduct of states is often measured not merely by their declarations, but by the calmness and clarity of their actions under pressure. SL’s decision to disembark the crew of the Iranian vessel Bushehr at Colombo Port while transferring the vessel to Trincomalee reflects precisely such a moment of strategic maturity. At first glance, the move appears humanitarian. At a deeper level, however, it represents a carefully calibrated decision more..

Mar 7 (DM) Two weeks ago, hundreds of Buddhist monks descended on Colombo to protest against the alleged govt disrespect of the religion and the clergy. There are three ways to view the Maha Sanga Convention– the first salvo of the Buddhist clergy, or at least an influential section within it, against the govt. The first, and most convenient, approach is to term it an effort by a section of monks to revive the declining fortunes of the Rajapaksa dynasty. In many ways, it sounds convincing, more..

Mar 7 (TM) SL’s long-standing promise of free education is once again under scrutiny, as parents across the country complain of increasing financial demands from Govt schools, despite repeated assurances from authorities that such collections are not permitted. From annual school development fees of nearly Rs. 10,000 per student to Rs. 15,000 collections for smart boards and digital classrooms, parents say more..

Mar 7 (DM) SL Govt facing multiple issues that have stemmed from the missile attack by US and Israeli forces on Iran on Feb 28 and the latter’s retaliation targeting Israel and the US bases in nine countries in the Middle East that has now grown into a regional war. It was the US and Israel that started the attacks while the negotiations between the US and Iranian representatives in Oman on the Iranian nuclear programme were ongoing. The two countries did the same in June last year as well while more..

Mar 7 (CT) Second anniversaries of the Prez and Parliamentary polls are fast approaching. A major promise by NPP was the eradication of corruption and waste. The opposition has set about taunting the Govt for its failure to rope in the major perpetrators, and has only trapped some sprats, while the major sharks are romping around. This is not fair and the Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has plausibly explained that 75* years of laxity and nurture of criminals cannot be cleared in just 2 years. more..

Mar 6 (AD) The proposal for the extension of the State of Public Emergency has been approved by the Parliament, by a majority of 100 votes. A total of 108 members voted in favor of the proposal and 8 opposition members voted against it, this evening. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramanayake informed Parliament that the proposal under Section 81 of the Public Security Act was approved. Meanwhile, the proposal under the Essential Public Services Act was also passed as presented. more..

Mar 6 (NW) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa has welcomed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s decision to allow the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr to enter local waters and dock at Trincomalee Port, while bringing its 208 crew members to Colombo on humanitarian grounds. “This is a timely move that reflects Sri Lanka’s commitment to humanitarian obligations under international law,” Rajapaksa said, stressing the importance of maintaining neutrality in the ongoing conflict. more..

Mar 6 (TM) Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) organisation said that it is planning to lodge a complaint with the CID alleging bias in court proceedings involving the Police, following a series of incidents where individuals allegedly died from shootings while in Police custody. Committee Convenor Sudesh Silva alleged that the Police are attempting to suppress the investigation into the murder of more..

Mar 6 (TM) High Commissioner Yasoja Gunasekera officially handed over the Commission of Appointment to Dimuthu Samaranayake, who has been appointed as the Honorary Consul for SL in Adelaide, with jurisdiction covering South Australia. The ceremony was held at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra. According to the HC, Samaranayake is a seasoned project management professional in the mining sector and has been actively involved in various SL community more..

Mar 6 (DM) In the backdrop of an Iranian warship sinking off in SL’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) after a U.S. submarine attack, former Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha said it was thankfully that Sri Lanka had not signed the Status of Force Agreement with the U.S. despite many people advocating for it at that time. A SOFA is an international treaty that defines the legal rights, privileges, and obligations of foreign military personnel operating in a host country. more..

Mar 6 (TM) Deputy Minister Anton Jayakody said the Govt is considering de-designating areas within gazetted forest reserves in the N&E Provinces where hospitals, schools and other public institutions are located, in a move aimed at resolving long-standing land disputes. He said the move would not affect overall forest density, as new forest areas are being gazetted under govt’s Wanaspathi programme. more..

Mar 6 (NW) Minister Ramaligam Chandrasekar has ordered an immediate investigation into the boat accident reported in Jaffna, directing the SL Navy and all relevant agencies to determine the causes of the tragedy. Minister extended condolences to the families of the victims and assured them that the govt will provide relief and support. He also requested a comprehensive report on whether the vessel was seaworthy, if passenger limits were exceeded, and whether maritime safety more..

Mar 6 (DM) A recent survey has revealed that the retirement of police officers due to the burden of work has been increasing and that it affected the police service. DIG Renuka Jayasundara said the retirement of officers at the age of 55 has increased and that it created a shortage of officers. Addressing the District Coordinating Committee, the DIG pointed out that several officers have been recommended for light duty on medical grounds and that they should be subject to further medical examinations. more..

Mar 6 (AD) Colombo High Court has ordered the case filed against former Minister Johnston Fernando and two others, over deploying of Sathosa employees for political activities, be called again for further examination of evidence on March 18, 2026. The case was taken up today before Colombo High Court Judge Mohamed Mihal, Ada Derana reported. Former Minister Johnston Fernando and former Operational Director of Sathosa, Mohamed Shakir, who are currently in remand custody more..

Mar 6 (NW) SL Police have instructed all police stations to monitor businesses involved in the import, sale and repair of drones and their spare parts amid concerns over potential threats to national security. Police Headquarters said the move comes amid concerns that drones or unmanned aerial vehicles could be used to gather sensitive information related to national security or to carry out possible terrorist attacks. olice noted that the import, trade and operation of drones in SL more..

Mar 6 (TM) Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, announced that the appointment of Justices of the Peace (JPs) will no longer be based on political considerations. He explained that a new mechanism has been established to handle complaints regarding JPs, and a system is being developed to compile data on all JPs across the country. This database will enable verification of an individual’s status as a Justice of the Peace more..

Mar 6 (NW) U.S. Embassy in Colombo has clarified that a recent social media post regarding U.S. citizens in SL was not a travel alert or advisory, after several media outlets reported it as such. The embassy said the post was a routine message intended to remind U.S. citizen travelers in SL that the government had issued visa extensions and to provide information on how the embassy could assist Americans facing issues such as visa expirations or flight cancellations. more..

Mar 6 (DM) Global shipping costs have started to rise following the Israel-US conflict in Iran as the Strait of Hormuz being closed by the Iranian authorities for passing ships containing all sorts of trade to Asia. Sri Lanka’s import and export sector will also bear the brunt of rising shipping costs as insurance for ships increase and route changes incur more delays, an official from the Essential Food Commodities Importers and Traders Association said. more..

Mar 6 (Island) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has warned of a possible risk of power cuts due to the use of inferior quality coal affecting generation capacity at the Lakvijaya Power Plant, according to a recent commission report. PUCSL said the risk to the continuous electricity supply was assessed based on the peak demand forecast submitted by the CEB for 2026. Analysis assumed that hydropower plants more..

Mar 6 (Island) Library facilities at Uni of Peradeniya have been suspended, with main libraries across seven faculties remaining closed, disrupting academic activities of students. Libraries in the Faculties of Medicine, Science, Agriculture, and several other faculties are among those affected by the closure, leaving students preparing for examinations in a state of distress. Many students have reportedly been forced to continue their academic work outdoors, including under more..

Mar 6 (DM) The Sri Lankan Meteorology Department has issued an official advisory warning of a significant rise in the heat index today (6), particularly affecting Sabaragamuwa Province and several nearby districts. The advisory includes a colour-coded map and table outlining potential health risks, ranging from fatigue and dehydration to more severe conditions such as heat stroke. Officials are urging residents to take precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses. more..