Mar 8 (CT) SL boasts free healthcare for all of its citizens but this invaluable service is mostly limited to the physical aspect of healthcare. Conversely, when it comes to mental health and wellbeing, the country severely lacks provisions, laws, education, facilities, and professionals. The matter has been discussed and debated many a time before but a definitive solution or a practical system is yet to be introduced. Recently, the dearth of mental health facilities in the country more..

Mar 8 (DM) Various financial irregularities taken place at several state institutions such as National Youth Services Council during the last govt are being exposed these days at the ongoing meetings of the COPE, one of the three watchdog committees of the Parliament. Some of the transactions revealed at the recent COPE meetings point how audacious and outrageous the authorities of those institutions had been in wastefully spending millions of rupees of public funds. more..

Mar 8 (CT) In a recent interview with Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera’s Head to Head, former SL Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe faced pointed questions regarding his administration’s actions during a tumultuous period in SL history. Among the many issues raised, the most prominent centred around his role in the aftermath of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, his involvement in handling allegations of war crimes from the civil war, and his relationship more..

Mar 8 (DM) Today we in Sri Lanka join humankind the world over in celebrating the positive role played by women in life’s different spheres. The date of March 8 has its roots in Russian history. On February 23, 1913, Russian women protested against World War I and Vladimir Lenin declared March 8 as Int'l Women’s Day (IWD) in 1922 to honour the Women’s role during the 1917 Russian Revolution. The day became a mainstream global holiday following its promotion by UN in 1977. more..

Mar 8 (CT) Yesterday marked another celebration of International Women’s Day. However, the festivities appeared fewer and more subdued compared to previous years. While Women’s Day has often been commemorated on various occasions, this year saw a distinct lack of enthusiasm. This shift serves as a clear reflection of the escalating crises in our lives, casting a shadow over such celebrations. The absence of USAID funding has played a significant role in this change. more..

Mar 8 (CT) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) remains a crucial gateway for those seeking overseas jobs. However, a persistent web of corruption continues to surface within the institution. Last week, the COPE exposed alarming irregularities, shedding light on a systematic exploitation of the country’s labour policies. Among the most disturbing revelations were allegations of 683 minors being sent as domestic workers more..

Mar 8 (TM) According to the Police, as of yesterday (6), law enforcement authorities have taken into their custody 13 Type-56 rifles and pistols used in recent criminal activities. With more than a dozen military-grade assault rifles taken into custody just over two months and a week since 2025 began, the volume of illegal firearms in circulation and the scale of the gun crime situation in SL has become more apparent. The details of reported gun crimes were released at a press conference held yesterday by more..

Mar 8 (Island) What is unfolding in SL’s law enforcement circles reminds us of Greek mythology, of all things. In Plato’s Symposium, we come across the story about how Zeus split humans in two and condemned them to search for their other halves. SL police find themselves in an even bigger predicament, so to speak; they have had to look for their own head, and their search has so far drawn a blank! Cops and spooks have been working day and night to trace head of the police, but in vain. more..

Mar 8 (FT) On 8 March 2025, individuals worldwide will come together to celebrate International Women’s Day, honouring women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. This year’s global campaign theme, Accelerate Action, emphasises the urgency of advancing gender equality. The UN has also declared a complementary theme: For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment. These themes highlight the necessity of swift and decisive measures to eliminate more..

Mar 8 (Island) Shyam Selvadurai, an acclaimed writer known for his deep and nuanced portrayals of social justice, identity, and historical narratives, continues to push literary boundaries with his latest work, Mansions of the Moon. His storytelling has long been defined by an immersive approach, bringing to life historical and cultural contexts with an authenticity that captivates readers. Selvadurai’s ability to weave historical accuracy with imaginative storytelling has cemented his place more..

Mar 8 (CT) The Govt has made a policy decision to recruit women as drivers for SL Railways and the SL Transport Board (SLTB), while also taking steps to make SL Railways more efficient, punctual, and attractive to the public within two years, stated Minister Bimal Rathnayake, in Parliament. He further explained that the Govt believes the SLTB school service should be fully staffed by female employees. more..

Mar 8 (FT) Israel, a major player in the global diamond and jewellery trade, has invited SL gem and jewellery businessmen and designers to collaborate with Israeli diamond traders. This partnership aims to enhance global demand for gem and jewellery by integrating SL’s expertise in gem cutting and jewellery production with Israel’s well-established diamond industry. The invitation was extended by Israel Diamond Exchange Ltd. Prez Nissim Zuaretz during a bilateral meeting more..

Mar 8 (FT) WSO2, has announced a free six-month training program in Linux System Administration and DevOps Engineering. This program aims to equip 200 participants with critical skills required to thrive in today’s evolving tech industry. With 20 years of expertise in open-source technology, WSO2 aims to bridge skills gaps in the industry by providing deeper knowledge of system administration and DevOps engineering to students, and additional training to IT professionals specialising in this field. more..

Mar 8 (TM) The country is currently experiencing a dry spell, with reservoir levels depleting due to minimal rainfall in the early months of the year. Such conditions are typical during the period of January to March, but the increasing frequency and intensity of droughts due to climate change have raised questions about the country’s preparedness. Addressing growing public concerns over water security in Sri Lanka, more..

Mar 8 (DN) As part of the nationwide Clean Sri Lanka programme, over 12,500 troops contributed to the renovation of 1,000 selected schools, significantly improving educational facilities across the country. Between Feb 20 and March 7, their efforts successfully completed the refurbishment of 380 schools. The troops carried out essential repairs on nearly 140 deteriorated school buildings, including roof restorations, painting, and general refurbishments. more..

Mar 8 (DM) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has advised the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos, misusing the image of the CBSL Governor to deceive individuals online. These fraudulent videos, which are widely circulating on social media, particularly on Facebook, falsely depict the CBSL Governor as endorsing investment schemes, promising extraordinarily high financial returns. The videos also direct viewers to an external link, which more..

Mar 8 (FT) Sri Lanka has won the prestigious Green Destinations Bronze Award for Sigiriya at the ITB travel fair in Germany. Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe expressing commendation on the win said it was a testament to Sri Lanka’s unwavering commitment to sustainable tourism. “Recognised globally, Sigiriya is not just a rock but a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its rich cultural and archaeological value. more..

Mar 8 (PMD) A meeting between Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake and members of the Clean Sri Lanka Task Force was held today (7) at the Presidential Secretariat. During the discussion, an in-depth review was conducted on the current progress of the Clean Sri Lanka initiative, along with plans for its future implementation. The Clean Sri Lanka Task Force has been entrusted with designing, overseeing and implementing the initiative to uplift society to a higher standard more..

Mar 8 (LP) Sri Lanka is home to stunning beaches, national parks full of elephants and leopards and some of the world’s most incredible train journeys. But if you really want to be wowed, spend time exploring its fascinating ancient sites. SL boasts some of the world’s oldest and most impressive Buddhist monuments, many dating back two millennia to just after the death of the Buddha. When constructed, stupas of Anuradhapura more..

Mar 8 (FT) Colombo stock market yesterday ended the first week of March with losses amidst lacklustre and bearish investor sentiments. During the week, ASPI lost 2.2% and the active S&P SL20 declined by 2.5%. Average daily turnover was Rs. 2.73 billion. Yesterday, ASPI declined by over seven points and the S&P SL20 by nine points. Turnover was Rs. 2.18 billion involving 67.6 million shares. First Capital said the Colombo bourse saw little change from Thursday with a slight dip in both ASPI & turnover. more..

Mar 8 (DM) Fajar was crowned as the Men’s Singles champion while Kleebyeesun emerged Women’s Singles winner as Japan topped the 5-day competition with two gold medals, followed by Thailand, who claimed a gold, two silver and two bronze medals. Malaysia claimed a gold, a silver and two bronze medals as Indonesia won a gold and two bronze medals. South Korea claimed a silver and three bronze medals, while Sri Lanka’s sole silver medal was clinched by Buwaneka, more..

Mar 8 (ST) National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has called consumers to conserve water as the ongoing dry weather conditions will have an impact on the water supplies. The dry weather conditions have affected the water levels of the Kelani River with the Castlereigh reservoir dropping to 8.4% of the storage capacity. However, the Maussakele capacity was still around 65%. NWSDB said that the daily water supply will be disrupted for an extended period due to more..

Mar 8 (Papare) Day two of the 146th Battle of the Blues ended with the game hanging in the balance. Dineth Goonewardene grabbed all the attention at the Singhalese Sports Club grounds with a magnificent hundred, being the first Thomian to score a big match century since 2016. Thomian openers Fernando and Amaraweera combined for a solid 69-run stand. Fernando, continuing in his merry way even after Amaraweera’s dismissal, went on to score his maiden Big Match half-century. more..

Mar 8 (DN) Minister Samantha Vidyarathna stated that 36,000 acres for new coconut cultivation have been planned for this year, with 16,000 acres allocated to the Northern Coconut Triangle and the remaining 20,000 acres designated for other regions. Minister made this statement during the Ministerial Consultative Committee meeting on Plantation and Community Infrastructure, held under his Chairmanship at Parliament more..

Mar 8 (ST) The failure to appoint a permanent official to one of most crucial position of the CEB, Additional General Manager (AGM)-transmission (non-wired), due to the business interests of few individuals allied to the govt, has created a critical predicament. Highly placed internal sources of CEB said that although the sudden power outage that occurred across the country on Feb 9 was due to technical reasons, the lack of a permanent official responsible for the AGM-transmission (non-wired) directly more..

Mar 8 (Island) General Secretary of the Lanka Teachers’ Union, Joseph Stalin, has called on the Ministry of Education to take strict action against teachers who continue to inconvenience parents by sending school homework via WhatsApp in the evenings and at night. He stated that parents had informed him about an incident at a school near Colombo, where a large volume of school assignments was sent to students via WhatsApp. Reports have also surfaced of students more..

Mar 8 (FT) Finance Ministry yesterday announced that the Govt has not yet made a policy decision regarding the Colombo Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, which was initially planned with Japanese support. Finance Ministry Director-General R.M.S.P.S. Bandara stated that fresh discussions would be required with the Govt of Japan before any decision on the LRT project could be made. The LRT project, originally initiated under the Yahapalana Govt, was abruptly cancelled in 2021 more..

Mar 8 (AD) As the world marks International Women’s Day, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has called for urgent and transformative action to address the deep-rooted inequalities that continue to shape the lives of women, particularly those from marginalized communities. In her speech, the PM emphasized that while progress has been made, structural barriers and misogynistic ideologies still hinder women’s rights and safety. more..

Mar 8 (FT) In a significant feat for SL’s tourism industry, total arrivals for the year have surpassed the half-a-million mark, fuelling optimism about achieving the ambitious target of 3 million visitors by the end of 2025. Year-to-date, the country welcomed a total of 530,746 tourists, reflecting a 15.1% YoY growth, which was supported by the 37,786 arrivals during the same period that also marked a 9.12% increase more..

Mar 8 (AD) On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayaka highlighted the historical significance of the global women’s movement and the vital role SL women have played in shaping the country’s political and economic future. Acknowledging the roots of Int'l Women’s Day in the labor rights struggles of New York in the early 1900s and the Russian women’s strike for Bread and Peace in 1917, Prez emphasized that the day stands as a direct more..

Mar 8 (Island) Investigators suspect that Ishara Sewwandi, one of the key suspects in the killing of underworld gang leader Ganemulle Sanjeewa, in the dock of a Magistrate’s Court at Hulftsdorp recently, may have fled to India by a boat. Authorities have searched nearly 200 locations where the suspect was reported to be hiding, but have so far been unable to find any trace of her. The police state that tracking Ishara Sewwandi has been difficult since she has stopped using her mobile phone, more..

Mar 8 (ST) It was revealed during the Parliamentary session, that in addition to the compensation provided by the govt, then MPs whose houses were gutted in fires during the Aragalaya protest movement have also been allocated houses from the Viyathpura housing complex. A total of 26 MPs had requested the then Speaker of Parliament to facilitate the provision of houses in Block 05 of the Viyathpura housing complex, located on more..

Mar 9 (TM) Global security concerns have been dominating international news headlines in the recent past following the advent of Donald Trump to the White House. His unorthodox style has, either by default or design, effectively turned the global order upside down. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka appears to be having its own share of concerns on the domestic security front, following a spate of incidents in the recent past – some of which are bringing back a sense of deja vu. more..

Mar 9 (GV) The statistics speak for themselves. Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) as well as child abuse have reached alarming proportions throughout the country; several cases are reported daily in the media. One in five women (20.4%) have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner. Nearly half (49.3%) of these women did not seek formal assistance. Over a third (35.7%) have contemplated suicide, underscoring the severe impact of such violence. more..

Mar 9 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his JVP-led NPP Govt seem to be continuing their tightrope walk in balancing the country’s economic recovery path and the promised relief to the general public while also trying to ensure it has everything, especially national security given the increase in incidents of shooting in the country, under control. The fact that the JVP/NPP Govt has adopted the hard path to economic recovery more..