Mar 2 (ST) The shooting of an accused kingpin from the narco business inside a courtroom last week shot into focus the nexus between crime, the narco business, the underworld and national security. While one group in the Govt downplayed the incident as an isolated incident not to be exaggerated into the realm of national security, on the other hand, it was overplaying the incident, saying the Govt cannot be toppled by this recent crime wave. None can argue that the matter, more..

Mar 2 (ST) During Friday’s parliamentary committee stage debate on the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, NDF MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake found himself speaking immediately after Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara. In his speech, the deputy minister stated that the govt cannot joke around (vihilu karanna bahe) with the mandate given more..

Mar 2 (ST) My dear Tilvin sahodaraya, I thought of writing to you now, though I know you are very much a behind-the-scenes person who was content to stay away from the limelight even when the rathu sahodarayas finally came to power after nearly six decades of struggling against the Greens and Blues who were in charge until then. You are not in Parliament and only the general secretary of the rathu sahodarayas, and a nobody in the maalimaawa which is, theoretically at least, more..

Mar 2 (CT) If someone up Tamil-North/East or from among their Diaspora groups had thought that the just-commenced 58th session of the UNHRC at Geneva would remain their forum to hurt and embarrass the SL Govt, it’s not to be. Or, so it seems. Barring a brief reference that Sri Lanka’s accountability issues, customary report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) did not have anything that the Tamil activists in the country and more..

Mar 2 (Island) The Committee stage of Budget 2025 began in the House on Thursday with cartloads of mud – if mud it really was – thrown at past leaders of this country by the present incumbents. It can be credibly argued that what was on display was not plain mud slinging but an expose of the scandalous profligacy of past presidents of this country, chief among them Prez Mahinda (born Percy Mahendra) Rajapaksa, and Ranil Wickremesinghe upon whom the presidency of this country was more..

Mar 2 (Island) On Dec 3, 2021, then MP, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, today the Prez of SL, made an impassioned speech in the House, against the killing of suspects in police custody, allegedly on the grounds of self-defence. He compared the spate of such incidents to the repeated enactment of the same brutal theatre (Natakaya), word being used with a grim irony. The following writing is framed in the above context, and, also, in the expectation of what Prez AKD will soon be compelled to more..

Mar 2 (TM) Sri Lanka’s crippling power crisis is not merely an infrastructure failure – it is a direct result of leadership negligence, mismanagement, and political interference. The Sunday Morning has uncovered shocking details that reveal how repeated warnings were ignored, critical decisions delayed, and a key leadership role remained vacant for over two years, leaving the country’s power grid vulnerable to collapse. more..

Mar 2 (TM) On his birthday, Dinada Athalage etched his name in Battle of the Maroons history as he scored the fourth highest individual score in the big match series since 1924. The versatile batsman went back to the pavilion with a brilliant score of 131 off 287 deliveries. Rain played spoilsport on both Days 1 and 2 in the historic 95th Battle of the Maroons, with this year seeing its first-ever three-day encounter being played at the SSC. Punsara Rajakaruna and Osanda Pamuditha more..

Mar 2 (ST) St. Sebastian’s College spin duo—left-arm spinner Ryan Dissanayake and right-arm spinner Shenas Hashein, ran riot in the morning session of day two, dismantling Prince of Wales College’s batting lineup in their 75th Battle of the Golds encounter at De Zoysa Stadium, Moratuwa yesterday. Resuming from their overnight score of 111 for 4, the Cambrians crumbled under relentless spin pressure, folding up for just 161. Dissanayake led the charge with a four-wicket haul, more..

Mar 2 (NW) Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne says that the govt will conduct a census on crop-damaging animals, including toque monkeys, giant squirrels, and peacocks. The census is set for March 15, during which farmers will have five minutes to count these animals on their properties. “16% of SL’s total land area belongs to wildlife. We must understand why these animals leave their natural habitats and encroach on farmlands. Without addressing this, we cannot resolve the issue” more..

Mar 2 (EN) Fuel dealers from all companies in Sri Lanka including Ceylon Petroleum Corporation have placed 2,924 orders by Saturday, Charman D J Rajakaruna said after a group of dealers said have halted fuel distribution in a protest over reducing margins. By Saturday morning 1,696 orders have come from CPC dealers, 471 from LIOC network, 391 by Sinopec dealers and 366 by RM Park Shell dealers, he said. Rajakaruna said not all dealers were involved in the process. more..

Mar 2 (ST) Following the uncompromising demand from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the wheels within the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOC) are slowly but surely coming off, as two Executive Board members with dubious histories resigned this week. After Maxwell de Silva was suspended from his role as Secretary General of the NOC, due to severe governance failures and allegations of financial misconduct, more..

Mar 2 (AD) PM of India Shri Narendra Modi has met the former President of SL, Ranil Wickremesinghe at the NXT Conclave in New Delhi today (01). In a post on X, Modi wrote: “At the NXT Conclave, met my friend Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. I have always looked forward to our interactions and have admired his perspective on various issues.” The NXT Conclave 2025 aims to shape the next decade of global governance, technology, and economic transformation and takes place from Feb 28 more..

Mar 2 (TM) The Govt Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) warned of potential union action if the Govt failed to address concerns related to doctors’ salaries, allowances, and the challenges medical professionals faced in performing their duties, as outlined in the current Budget proposals. GMOA Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said that the association had recently met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, but that no agreement had been reached during the meeting. more..

Mar 2 (TM) Long queues at fuel stations have been reported across the country since last Friday night, as a growing dispute between fuel distributors and the Govt intensifies. The situation is expected to worsen over the next few days, with fuel distributors warning of a complete fuel shortage by tomorrow due to their ongoing protests. Petroleum Dealers’ Association has vowed to halt new fuel orders following govt’s decision to abolish more..

Mar 2 (SO) “There is renewed interest shown by investors to set up operations in SL and we are confident of reaching the FDI target this year,” said Director General of BOI, Renuka Weerakone. Seven investment zones; three in the North, 1 in the East, 1 in the North Western province and two technology parks one in Galle and the other in Kurunegala are in the pipeline this year, the BOI Director General said. BOI already has 15 export processing zones, a fabric park in Eravur in Batticaloa and more..

Mar 2 (Xinhua) At the end of 2024, Chinese scientist Wei Yuansong received an extraordinary honor: a set of commemorative stamps issued by SL featuring his portrait. This rare tribute recognized his decade-long commitment to providing communities with safe drinking water and fostering scientific collaboration between China and SL. The connection of Wei, a leading expert in water pollution control, with SL began in 2013 when S.K. Weragoda, a SL researcher trained in China's water and more..

Mar 2 (ST) Motor vehicles, since the lifting of a near 4-year ban last month, have begun rolling in with two shipments so far from Japan but analysts said while there is initial demand this is likely to taper by the end of the year. Bankers said so far up to US$100 million in letters of credit (LCs) have been opened for an initial booking of around 3,000 cars and other motor vehicles but the amount set aside for imports hasn’t put pressure on the US dollar. Motor vehicle importers expect the demand to rise to more..

Mar 2 (ST) The SL govt is accelerating the much-delayed move to a digital National Identity Card (e-NIC) on a full-fledged basis in the next 18 months, a top official confirmed. Even though it has been under development for more than a decade, the project has been delayed several times owing to issues of data privacy, security concerns, and procedural delays. Department of Registration of Persons (DRP) has reported that the implementation of e-NICs will be initiated in mid-next year. more..

Mar 2 (AD) The Matara Magistrate’s Court has imposed an overseas travel ban on former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon. This directive was issued today following a request made by the CID. The request comes following reports that although the investigating officers had searched the residences of Deshabandu Tennakoon located at Hokandara and Giriulla, they had failed to find him at those homes. more..

Mar 2 (EN) SL’s foreign exchange earnings made up of exports, gross services including tourism and worker remittances totaled US$ 2,331 million in Jan 2025, exceeding imports by US$ 546 million. In Dec 2024, gross foreign exchange earnings were US$ 2,413 mil with exports of US$ 1,101 mil and remittances of US$ 613 mil. Exports were US$ 1,052 mil in Jan 2025, remittances were US$ 573 mil, gross services were US$ 705.7 mil including estimated tourism earnings of US$ 400.7 mil. more..

Mar 2 (Island) Court of Appeal on Thursday postponed the hearing of the case against former SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena to 12 June. The case was deferred due to the absence of the Deputy Solicitor General representing the Attorney General, who is currently overseas, and because certain objections filed by the AG’s Dept had not yet been received by the court. The petition, filed by Father Rohan Silva, Executive Director of the Centre for Society and Peace, and Suraj Nilanga, more..

Mar 2 (AD) The auction for 14 luxury vehicles belonged to the President’s Office, six decommissioned vehicles and various spare parts was held on Friday (28). This decision was made with the objective of reducing government expenditure and promoting financial accountability, Accordingly, 15 vehicles were auctioned yesterday, including nine Defender Jeeps, one Volvo Jeep, a Chrysler car, a Mahindra Bolero, a Rosa bus, a Land Rover Discovery, and a Toyota car. more..

Mar 2 (ST) The budget of SL for 2025 has unveiled some indirect tax proposals that target increasing the revenue of the govt and providing economic stability. These taxes have no direct bearing on the income of people, but it would increase the prices of goods and services, which eventually affects the public. Some of the notable tax revisions in the budget included the imposition of an 18% VAT on digital services extended by non-resident enterprises to SL consumers with effect from April, more..

Mar 2 (ST) Fuel distributors yesterday decided to stop issuing fuel to govt institutions, including hospitals, on a credit basis until a dispute over revised commission rates is resolved while queues built up at fuel stations. Fuel Distributors Association Vice President Kusum Sandanayaka said nearly 500 shed owners stopped selling fuel on credit to state institutions yesterday in keeping with decision taken by association. more..

Mar 2 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has sent the names of three senior High Court judges proposed by Chief Justice Murdhu Fernando to the Constitutional Council to fill the vacancies in the Court of Appeal. The names recommended by Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe have not been nominated. Kandy HC judge Sumudu Premachandra, Commercial HC judge Priyantha Fernando, and Trincomalee HC judge A. Premashankar have been nominated to fill more..

Mar 2 (DM) The Fuel Distributors' Association said that existing fuel stocks at filling stations would last until Monday (3) morning, following the suspension of fuel ordering activities last night. No new orders have been placed with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) since then for tomorrow’s fuel distribution. However, the association’s central committee has scheduled a discussion this evening and plans to gather at the Presidential Secretariat for a protest. more..

Mar 2 (ST) After nearly three decades of relentless bloodshed, Sri Lankan troops achieved a historic military victory over Tiger guerrillas in May 2009, ending the country’s bloodiest separatist war. This conflict not only drained the economy but also brought an end to a battle against a group notorious worldwide for its ruthless tactics. In retrospect, several significant aspects have emerged in the aftermath. more..

Mar 3 (DM) Corruption has permeated all levels of Lankan society. Corrupt practice rules from top political leaders to the lowly peons in govt departments. Officials and politicians who have been involved in corruption have been either given presidential pardons or have escaped to foreign lands. In a particular instance an individual from the SLPP was convicted of killing an opposition political activist. Courts handed down a death sentence. Then his party won the election and more..

Mar 3 (DM) We forget very easily. Even the terrors and travails of the recent pandemic are being forgotten. When it comes to Sri Lanka’s civil war, which lasted three decades and ended only in 2009, so much is now forgotten. Flipping through the pages of Nirupama Subramanian’s 2005 book, Sri Lanka, Voices From A War Zone, is to relive those terrible times. These are not the best of memories to rekindle, but there is a danger of collective amnesia as events press upon us. more..

Mar 3 (SO) Once again, the corrupt Airbus deal has surfaced in local media. This time, it is after the CID questioned former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa’s legislator son, Namal Rajapaksa, over receiving commission from the Airbus deal when his father was in power. The latest allegation is different. Junior Rajapaksa was questioned for over four hours on a statement given by a State witness. The witness, a well-known close ally of Rajapaksa more..

Mar 3 (CT) Education is the cornerstone of any nation’s progress. In SL, free education has been a proud tradition, offering every child the chance to learn and grow. However, a severe shortage of teachers now threatens this foundation, especially in rural areas. Recent reports reveal a troubling scenario. PM and Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, stated that there are 43,273 teacher vacancies nationwide. Specifically, schools under Provincial Councils lack 40,621 teachers, more..

Mar 3 (TM) Today, the Police Department is scrambling to locate the controversial IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, who was barred from travelling overseas. Despite an arrest warrant being issued by the Matara Magistrate’s Court in connection with a shooting incident outside a hotel in Weligama on 31 Dec 2023, Tennakoon remains at large. Tennakoon, who has been a controversial figure within the Police Department over the last decade, faces multiple allegations. more..

Mar 3 (TM) In Budget 2025, Rs. 3 billion was allocated towards modernising the country’s transport infrastructure, a longstanding issue that shackles productivity, stifles economic growth, and frustrates daily commuters. From outdated public transport systems to inefficient road networks, decades of underinvestment have left the nation fighting congested streets, packed buses and trains, and unreliable transit options. more..

Mar 3 (CT) SL’s 2025 budget, presented by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to drive economic recovery and fiscal consolidation following a severe financial crisis. The budget targets a deficit of 6.7% of GDP, slightly above the IMF's preferred 5.2% for 2025. To achieve this, the govt plans to increase revenue to 15.1% of GDP, up from 11.4% in 2023, through measures such as raising the corporate income tax rate for cigarette, liquor, and gaming businesses from 40% to 45%, and more..

Mar 3 (Island) Recent prohibitive prices of rice and its unavailability caused untold hardships and inconveniences to the people of the country. The problem was so severe that it posed a serious constraint even on celebrating the new year and Thai Pongal this year, which was unprecedented in living memory. Given the complex, intractable multi-faceted and multi-dimensional nature of the problem, there are no quick fixes. The value chain of rice encompasses entire process of production, more..