Mar 20 (FT) As SL’s debt crisis intensified in late 2021, increasingly urgent calls were made for the Govt to seek assistance from the IMF. Even among the protesters who had taken to the streets to express their opposition to Govt policies, some could be seen holding pro-IMF placards. The prevailing sentiment was that only the IMF could prevent the country from descending into total economic and political chaos and, perhaps more importantly, restore it to a sustainable external debt path. more..

Mar 20 (NW) Colombo High Court has rejected a request to lift the order freezing former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s bank account in the parliamentary branch. The request made by the lawyers of former Minister was rejected by Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendi today. In June 2024, Bribery Commission issued an order to freeze 16 fixed deposit accounts and 3 life insurance policies belonging to the family members of Keheliya Rambukwella for seven days over more..

Mar 20 (MoD) Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Admiral Samuel Paparo, called on the Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) at the Defence Ministry in Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte today. Defence Secretary warmly received the U.S. delegation led by Admiral Paparo and had a cordial discussion. The USINDOPACOM was accompanied by the Defence Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka, Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Nelson. more..

Mar 20 (NW) India’s Adani Group has categorically refuted rumours circulating about claimed changes to its renewable energy agreement in Sri Lanka. Adani Green Energy SL Ltd said claims suggesting that the company has offered to revise the pricing to 7 cents per kilowatt-hour are entirely false and without foundation. “We remain fully committed to the original terms of the agreement as established with the relevant SL authorities. more..

Mar 20 (AD) The former IGP, Deshabandu Tennakoon has been ordered to be further remanded until April 03 by the Matara Magistrate’s Court. Tennakoon, who was subject to an arrest warrant in connection with a shooting incident near a hotel in the Pelena area of Weligama in 2023, surrendered to the court by submitting a motion yesterday (19), after evading arrest nearly 20 days. Following his surrender, the Matara Magistrate ordered that he be remanded until today (20). more..

Mar 20 (NW) The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has decided to release former minister Lohan Ratwatte from the case regarding a traffic accident in Colpetty. Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura issued the order today after taking into consideration a request made by the lawyers of Ratwatte, who is on bail in connection to the incident. The court was informed that both parties had agreed to a settlement of Rs. 01 million to the defendants. Lohan Ratwatte was arrested in Colpetty for more..

Mar 20 (AD) Hambantota International Port (HIP) has successfully discharged its second batch of vehicles for the domestic market last week, continuing to strengthen its role as a key hub for automotive shipments. A total of 1,159 vehicles were handled during the ship’s call, which included 462 BYD vehicles designated for the SL market. The operation involved the discharge of 490 vehicles & transshipment of 669 vehicles, more..

Mar 20 (NF) The World Happiness Report 2025 has been released, revealing that Sri Lanka has dropped to the 133rd position, down from 128th in the 2024 report. A total of 147 countries are ranked in the World Happiness Report. World Happiness Report is the world’s foremost publication on global wellbeing and how to improve it. The World Happiness Report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, UN Sustainable Dev. Solutions Network more..

Mar 20 (SLN) SL Navy conducted a successful shipwreck expedition from 10 to 17 Mar 25, focusing on historically significant shipwrecks located in the sea area off the coast of Colombo. The expedition was carried out to document the current state of numerous shipwrecks lying beneath the waves, off Colombo. The survey included the Coal Wreck, Chief Dragon Car Carrier, MV Astoria, MT Nilgiri, Thermopylae Sierra, MV Pecheur Breton, Taprobane East Wreck, SS Worcestershire, Toilet Barge, more..

Mar 20 (EN) Sri Lanka’s delayed Local Govt election will be held on May 6, Election Commission said after accepting nominations from political parties and independent groups. The polls which were scheduled to be held in January 2023 were delayed after then President Ranil Wickremesinghe declared there were no funds to hold the elections after the country faced an unprecedented economic crisis in 2022. The Election Commission declared the date on Thursday (20). more..

Mar 20 (AD) More than 1,500 deserters from the Tri-Forces have been arrested for failing to report for duty without being legally discharged. Following an order from the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Sampath Thuyacontha, operations to arrest tri-service personnel who absconded from service without legally resigning were launched on Feb 22. As of yesterday, 1,604 deserters have been arrested. It is reported that 1,444 were apprehended in operations carried out by the Tri-Forces, more..

Mar 20 (TM) SL will lose out about 200,000 tax payers from its tax net due to the increase of Personal Income Tax (PIT) threshold to Rs. 150,000 per month, the Finance Ministry said. Speaking before the CoPF on Tuesday (18), Treasury officials revealed that it will lose Rs. 60 billion of tax revenue per annum from the proposed amendment to the PIT. “Rs. 60 billion loss (per annum) is expected from PIT relief, which is 0.2% of GDP- more..

Mar 20 (AD) A Gazette Extraordinary has been issued amending multiple import and export regulations, including a key change allowing Bureau Veritas inspection certificates for vehicles imported from all countries. The gazette notification, issued yesterday, bears the signature of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning & Economic Development. Under the new regulations, SL Customs is required to verify the authenticity of documents online more..

Mar 20 (DM) A heated argument broke out between registered and non-registered safari jeep owners in front of the Yala National Park, as the Wildlife Department continues its annual practice of registering new jeep batches, the Yala Safari Jeep Owners' Association (YSJOA) said. An official from the association told the Daily Mirror that a total of 551 safari jeeps have been registered with the department. An additional 40 new safari jeeps are awaiting registration, further increasing more..

Mar 20 (Island) The MEP that contested the last general election under the Swan symbol of the NDF, together with friendly allies, has fielded independent groups in Colombo and several other areas at the forthcoming LG elections for 336 local bodies. Having unsuccessfully contested the prez election as an independent candidate last September, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe gave the leadership to the NDF at the parliamentary election. more..

Mar 20 (DM) SL must accelerate the adoption of sustainable financing frameworks to attract the global investors and strengthen its long-term economic resilience, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said. With the global investors increasingly seeking socially impactful financing mechanisms such as green and sustainability-linked bonds to strengthen resilience in their investment ventures, ADB officials noted that SL should focus on improving its sustainable finance ecosystem more..

Mar 20 (NF) A renewed discussion has emerged regarding the infamous Batalanda torture chamber, where thousands of young people were illegally abducted, tortured, killed, or disappeared during the 1988/90 period. This discussion was sparked by comments made by Ranil Wickremesinghe during an interview with Al Jazeera. A report on the Batalanda torture chamber, prepared by a Prez Commission, has now been submitted to Parliament and is scheduled for debate on April 10. more..

Mar 20 (DM) Perpetual Treasuries owned by Arjuna Aloysius had paid cheques worth Rs. 1.08 billion to 108 persons, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe told Parliament. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Harshana Sooriyapperuma said Perpetual Treasuries had paid funds to MPs Sujeewa Senasinghe, Dayasiri Jayasekara and Harshana Rajakaruna. "MP Harsha de Silva should not engage in selective disclosures," the Deputy Minister said referring to a comment made by MP Harsha de Silva that more..

Mar 20 (Island) Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala informed Parliament that two iPhones taken into custody from the residence IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon on Tuesday evening were expected to provide fresh information about the Police Chief’s activities. Minister confirmed that Tennakoon had surrendered to the Matara Magistrate Court yesterday morning. Minister also stated that a team from the CID had inspected Tennakoon’s residence at more..

Mar 20 (TM) Minister Bimal Rathnayake said that the Govt has taken measures to increase the number of members in all Parliamentary committees where the Opposition has requested such an increase. He said that it is the Govt’s policy to appoint members to Parliamentary committees as specified in the relevant Standing Orders of the Parliament, but that the number of members in all committees was increased following more..

Mar 20 (DM) Claiming that suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon’s wife who is a legal officer at the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) had gone on leave, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the govt will not allow any hindrance to the medicine supply as a result. He told the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that an acting legal officer has been appointed to oversee duties in the position and that there has been no obstacle to the medicine supply. more..

Mar 20 (FT) Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana on Tuesday emphasised the urgent need to shift to an evidence-based, data-driven policy mechanism, as a means of addressing financial inequality in women-led businesses. Speaking at the National Adoption of Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code (WE Finance Code) organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in partnership with the Department of Development Finance and Ministry of Finance, Planning more..

Mar 20 (UCAN) Catholic nuns in Sri Lanka are upset over a recent order from Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith banning girls from being altar servers, but have not protested as they did during a public stir against their country's president in 2022. The cardinal, the church leader of the island nation, issued the circular last October, saying serving at the altar is reserved for boys as it is one of the the main sources for priesthood vocations. more..

Mar 20 (DM) SJB MP Mujibur Rahman made a startling revelation about irregularities and malpractices at Lanka Sathosa, and charged that a tender for system audit had been offered to a company that belongs to Duminda Hulangamuwa who now serves as the advisor to Prez. Delivering his remarks in Parliament, he said the previous tender for system audit which was opened on Feb 28, 2025 was scrapped since Hulangamuwa’s company had not been selected. more..

Mar 20 (DM) Condemning Israel’s alleged violation of ceasefire with airstrikes, SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem yesterday urged the SL govt to speak against its violation of international law. MP Hakeem said the following in a statement. We vehemently condemn the Israeli Zionist regime’s blatant violation of the ceasefire with yesterday’s shocking airstrikes. Israel’s flagrant resumption of bombings have claimed more than 400 lives in Gaza amidst Ramadan, shattering 2-month long ceasefire. more..

Mar 21 (TM) Controversial IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon was remanded until 3 April by the Matara Magistrate’s Court, yesterday. This, despite pleas by his legal team to grant him bail, raised concerns about his safety and security while in remand custody. Tennakoon, who was subject to an arrest warrant in connection with a shooting incident near a hotel in Pelena, Weligama in 2023, surrendered to the Court by submitting a motion yesterday (19), after evading arrest for nearly 20 days. more..

Mar 21 (ST) Many people in Sri Lanka look at the price and quality of medicine suspiciously. They doubt about the price they pay for medicines even if it is reasonable. They too doubt about the quality of medicines even if it is the right kind with right standards. In spite of all that, however, they are left with almost no choice but must buy them anyway. The customers in the pharmaceutical market are a special category – the people who are unwell or their near ones have to buy medicine. more..

Mar 21 (TM) SL’s once-rapid expressway expansion has hit a dead end with every major highway project, except for the Central Expressway Project (CEP), having been put on hold indefinitely, with no clear roadmap for resumption. Amid a deep financial crisis and strict fiscal controls backed by the IMF, infrastructure spending has taken a backseat, leaving commuters, businesses, and investors wondering when – or if – more..

Mar 21 (CT) In a new Policy Brief from Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA)’s Shahane de Silva outlines a governance-directed approach to addressing Sri Lanka’s continuing economic challenges. Ever since SL’s 2022 economic meltdown, it has been popular – if not the mainstream consensus – to argue that the country’s travails were chiefly the result of poor economic decision-making and policy. Absent swinging tax cuts and a decision to go organic in agricultural more..

Mar 21 (DM) A good number of Sri Lankans have a problem in understanding the word perspective. After 77 years of celebrating independence, most Sri Lankans complain that all past regimes collectively put this country in a financial mess. We can also opine that for the past 77 years, ambitious and destructive individuals channeled all their energies and time in toppling govts rather than enhancing productivity. This nature of destroying the other and then realising goals has been passed on from more..

Mar 21 (CT) “Both the husband and wife are part of the underworld. They are at odds. The husband is abroad. But their child was under the care of his parents in Sri Lanka, who had admitted the child to the hospital. One day, the mother, armed with a firearm, stormed into the ward with a group of accomplices. The entire ward was terrified. They forcibly took the child away, leaving the hospital staff helpless.” This is the account of a doctor more..

Mar 21 (TM) Presidential Commissions of Inquiry (PCoIs) in SL have long been a tool used by successive Govts to investigate matters of public concern. These commissions, appointed under Commissions of Inquiry Act, No. 17 of 1948 as amended, are meant to uncover the truth, provide recommendations, and hold wrongdoers accountable. In theory, they serve as mechanisms for transparency, justice, and institutional reform. However, in practice, they have often been more..

Mar 21 (Island) There has been a sharp increase in fatal accidents on Sri Lanka’s expressways during the past several years. On Tuesday night, a university lecturer lost his life and his family members sustained serious injuries in a mishap on the Kurunegala-Mirigama stretch of the Central Expressway. Road accidents cause about 2,500 deaths a year in SL. Most of these accidents are preventable, according to road safety experts. Public focus is typically on bereavement caused by more..

Mar 21 (CT) The parliamentary privilege, as defined by the Parliament of SL (Powers and Privileges Act), grants MPs and the Parliament itself legal immunities and protections to ensure freedom of speech, freedom from arrest on civil matters, and the publication of parliamentary proceedings without undue interference. As such, the MPs are protected from prosecution for statements made in Parliament, they are generally immune from arrest on civil matters, while Parliament is in session, more..

Mar 21 (Island) Govt has permitted, after several years, the import of motor cars. Imports, including cars, were cut off because the govt then wisely prioritised importing other commodities vital to the everyday life of the general public. It is fair to expect that some pent-up demand for motor vehicles has developed. But at what prices? Govt seems to have expected that consumers would pay much higher prices than had prevailed earlier. The rupee price of foreign exchange had risen by more..