Mar 19 (FT) SL’s economy achieved a complete turnaround in 2024 posting a 5.4% growth as against a contraction of 2.3% in 2023. Turnaround was driven by Industry and Services sectors which grew by 11% and 2.4% as opposed to contraction of 9.2% and 0.2% in 2023. Agriculture sector managed to grow by only 1.2% in comparison to 2.6% in the previous year. Agriculture, Industry & Services contributed their share to the GDP more..

Mar 19 (Island) Though Sri Lanka has a new government, its first budget for 2025 remains within the conditions and targets of the ongoing IMF programme (which will continue until the end of 2027). A major shortfall in the budget is the lack of a developmental thrust, which is essential for the country to grow out of the current crisis. Rather than discussing the minutiae of the budget, it is worth looking at how Sri Lanka got into this situation by making the same mistakes over and over again. more..

Mar 19 (ST) It was the day after the Ides. The Ides of March, that is, the one that got Julius the Genius straight in the solar plexus. But this was long, long after. Actually, it was the Year of our Lord Monkey Two Thousand and Twenty Five. It was the year when the governing high and mighty and their intellectual busybodies started counting coconuts instead of dollars, and the presiding marvels from the International Monkey Survivalist Fund (IMF for short, but certainly not for long, more..

Mar 19 (Island) Some health sector trade unions launched a 24-hour strike yesterday, aggravating the suffering of the sick who visited the state-run hospitals seeking treatment. The protesting workers have said they were left with no alternative but to resort to trade union action as the Health Ministry had not heeded their grievances, the main being that their take-home salaries will decrease despite the government’s claim that it has granted them pay hikes. more..

Mar 19 (TM) SL motorists and pedestrians often face challenges when navigating SL’s complex road networks after dark as many invariably have to move through patches where street lights are not functioning. This predicament, although common, has now become a norm for road users despite the safety and security issues it creates. How long do we, as taxpayers, have to face these challenges? A majority of private vehicles on the road have already paid their dues in taxes, which ought to see more..

Mar 19 (TM) In recent years, SL has made significant strides in incorporating Renewable Energy (RE) into its national grid, with rooftop solar playing a crucial role. However, concerns about grid instability, exacerbated by power blackouts and variable energy generation, have raised questions about the future of rooftop solar in the country. These challenges have sparked speculation that Govt may take measures more..

Mar 19 (DM) My tenure of office as Vice Chancellor of the Uni of Colombo coincided with the most turbulent period in the history of the university system in our country. There was a near-total collapse of all systems, and the cost in terms of the loss of life, destruction of public and private property and disruption of all sectors of national life, was exorbitant. As this time of upheaval drew to a close, the Govt, in Oct 1989, appointed a Presidential Commission to examine, more..

Mar 19 (DM) The history of Presidential Commissions in Ssri Lanka is one of brazen political opportunism and travesty of justice. They were the oft-deployed tools in the govt’s arsenal before local and international outcry, as an eyewash and distraction from its grim human rights record. As a general rule, they are toothless and devoid of powers to take legal action against perpetrators. Very presidents who established presidential commissions had rarely followed up with more..

Mar 19 (CT) If evidence emerges that the death of a three-year-old boy following a kidney-related surgery at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children was caused by the negligence of the hospital staff, perpetrators should be arrested and produced in Court. This was the directive given by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela on 11 March, while issuing a magisterial order regarding the child’s death. more..

Mar 19 (GV) NPP outlined its vision for strengthening the local dairy industry in its policy statement, A Prosperous Country, A Beautiful Life. However, four months after the new govt took office, it has yet to provide a solution to the ongoing crisis faced by dairy farmers in Mylathamadu in Batticaloa. The primary issue confronting dairy farmers is the acquisition of traditional grazing lands by external crop cultivators. For centuries these grasslands have served as vital feeding grounds for cattle. more..

Mar 19 (CT) The recent statement of Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi paints a picture of a nation finally waking up to the dire state of its environment. After years of laws, bans, and policies that have done little beyond filling govt reports, SL now seems to be making its most ambitious attempt yet to turn things around. But does a bigger Budget and new legal frameworks guarantee a greener future, or are we once again standing at the edge of empty promises and bureaucratic delays? more..

Mar 18 (EN) Sri Lanka is preparing a tariff for state-run CEB for solar power with battery, where electricity will be supplied during the night peak, as part of efforts to boost renewables, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody said. “It is likely to be a promotional tariff,” Minister Jayakody told parliament. “We would like investors to come for that. We will make it profitable for them. “They can charge the battery during the day and supply to our grid during the night.” more..

Mar 18 (AD) Cabinet has greenlighted the amendments to Aswesuma welfare benefit scheme. The Aswesuma welfare benefit scheme, which was implemented from July 01, 2023, was amended for the last time by the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2415/66 dated 2024.12.21, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. He also noted that according to the provisions allocated in the 2025 Budget, Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the President in his capacity as more..

Mar 18 (CT) During the budget Committee Stage debate on the environment sector and related topics, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa presented several key proposals in Parliament aimed at advancing the environmental and wildlife sectors. He emphasised the need for a national environmental system assessment to raise public awareness about the value of biodiversity within the country’s ecosystem. more..

Mar 18 (NW) Uruwarige Wannila Aththo, the leader of the Indigenous population known as Veddas, says he plans to take legal action against comedians Blok & Dino over a YouTube program he claims misrepresented the Indigenous Vedda community. He said the program was made for commercial purposes at the expense of his community’s heritage, distorting their language and traditions. He said his attempts to contact the creators and request the removal of the video were unsuccessful. more..

Mar 18 (CT) Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendi stated in Parliament that despite the existence of more than a hundred environmental laws in the country, SL has failed to become environmentally friendly. He highlighted that the current govt has allocated the largest budget in history to the Ministry of Environment and is planning to amend the Environment Act very soon. Furthermore, he mentioned that regulations would be amended accordingly, with plans to more..

Mar 18 (DM) While dismissing the writ petition filed by IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, the Court of Appeal yesterday observed that it is regrettable that the head of the police department, who possesses extensive knowledge of the law, hid for several days to prevent his arrest and this would not only undermine the judiciary but also tarnishes the reputation of the police department. Court of Appeal’s two-judge bench, comprising more..

Mar 18 (CT) UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena claimed that the third chapter of the Batalanda Commission report indicated that a total of 1,960 UNP members were murdered by the JVP during the 1987 and 1988 insurgency. Abeywardena stated that the report highlighted the alarming extent of damage caused to State properties by the JVP. He also pointed out that the commission report noted the significant threat posed to the lives of politicians and the severe and continuous deterioration of more..

Mar 18 (DM) While issuing an island-wide incident summary, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) today reported that four persons from the Moneragala, Anuradhapura and Hambantota districts were killed in elephant attacks between March 10 and 13. A total of seven persons have been killed, and 214 individuals from 60 families in ten districts have been affected by natural disasters. The remaining deaths occurred in Galle (2) & Puttalam (1) due to drowning & falling trees. more..

Mar 18 (MB) Monkeys were expected to be among the chief culprits identified as Sri Lanka carried out a nationwide survey on March 15 of crop-raiding animals. But in a small village near the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an unusual population of langurs has captured attention, becoming a local tourist attraction. Purple-faced langurs (Semnopithecus vetulus) are found only in SL and typically have a black coat with distinctive facial markings. more..

Mar 18 (FT) SL’s tourism industry is gaining momentum, with the Govt unveiling an ambitious vision to position the country as a top global destination. Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe recently outlined a strategy that combines inclusive development, int'l collaboration, and strategic branding to transform the industry, whilst preserving SL’s rich cultural heritage. He said the series of global accolades in early 2025 has reaffirmed SL’s growing stature on the world travel map. more..

Mar 18 (NW) SJB Chairperson and former MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar has resigned from his position as SJB Chairman. He has stepped down from the chairmanship while remaining a member of the party. The exact reason for his resignation is not yet known. In December, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar called on the party leadership to initiate a comprehensive reorganization of the SJB. He said the party needed to strengthen its connection more..

Mar 18 (DM) Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) marks its 12th anniversary today but the under-utilised facility continues to struggle with financial losses and minimal airline traffic, renewing calls for a strategic overhaul. Opened on March 18, 2013, MRIA was intended to be the country’s second international gateway. However, despite its modern infrastructure, it has failed to attract sustained airline operations, with major carriers pulling out, due to low passenger demand. more..

Mar 18 (FT) SL Export Development Board (EDB) has taken a significant step towards fostering the growth of SL’s boat building and boating industry by taking initiatives to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework. This framework aims to enhance the sector’s potential, driving it forward with greater int'l competitiveness. To ensure effective understanding and collaboration, the EDB organised awareness creation sessions for both public and private sector stakeholders more..

Mar 18 (NW) Writ petition filed by the two national cricket captains taken up for support before the Court of Appeal challenging arbitrary classification. The Petitioners, Charith Asalanka and Dhanajaya De Silva as the respective captains of the One Day International and Twenty20 cricket teams and the Test Cricket Team, had their petition taken up before the Acting President of the Court of Appeal Justice M.T.M. Lafar more..

Mar 18 (DM) Nawaloka Hospitals today commissioned South Asia’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Canon Vantage Orian MRI scanner. This state-of-the-art system reinforces Nawaloka Hospitals’ reputation as a pioneer in medical innovation and advanced patient care. This strategic investment, along with a complete upgrade of the radiology diagnostic system, amounts to USD 4.5 million—underscoring Nawaloka’s commitment to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge more..

Mar 18 (DM) Five Fundamental Rights petitions, which were filed seeking an order to prevent the authorities from issuing any permits to Adani Green Energy Sri Lanka Limited for operating a wind power plant in Mannar, were withdrawn today before the Supreme Court. The Attorney General’s Department informed the Supreme Court that the Adani Company had notified the Chairman of the Board of Investment about its withdrawal from the Wind Power Project in Mannar. more..

Mar 18 (CI) Dunedin rain has washed away hopes of a series result between NZ and SL after only 14.1 overs were possible in the third T20I on Tuesday. Several lengthy rain delays ended any hopes of a result after NZ had made a bright start with the bat, having been sent in by Chamari Athapaththu. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer shared a 60-run stand in eight overs before the first rain delay halted play. Shortly after returning Bates fell to Athapaththu for 31 off 28 before rain returned again. more..

Mar 18 (EN) A Japanese grant of 300 million yen will fund new fire fighting units and the improvement of existing equipment in SL’s export processing zones, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “The establishment of internal fire fighting units with modern fire fighting equipment in the Export Processing Zones operating under the SL Board of Investment can build confidence in investors and minimize damage by protecting workers and industrial property through immediate responses,” more..

Mar 18 (AD) The Office of the former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a statement today denying the claims that the former Head of State and his spouse Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe travelled to London for a private visit in 2023 using state funds. The statement noted that Wickremesinghe visited London three times in 2023. The first visit was on May 9, 2023, to attend the coronation of King Charles III. more..

Mar 18 (NW) SL Police has released a video of a senior Police Officer outlining the rules for joining the Police Force. In his speech, the Police officer is seen stating that individuals with tattoos will not be recruited by the Police Dept or the Tri-Forces. “You may have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. But if you have a tattoo you will not be recruited by SL Police or for any of the tri-forces. The skin is the biggest organ of the body. Destroying your skin is not a good thing,” more..

Mar 18 (NW) Minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage today clapped back at former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, stating that Sri Lanka was still paying a large fine imposed by World Rugby due to an incident during the latter’s rugby playing days. Addressing Parliament today, Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage revealed that the Sports Ministry was paying a fine of 5000 Sterling pounds per year due to the involvement of Fijian players during a Rugby match in 2014. more..