Mar 9 (AD) Around 25 trade unions attached to CEB have decided to withdraw from all services for 24 hours from 3 p.m. today. General Secretary of CEB’s SL Nidahas Sewaka Samgamaya, Prabath Priyantha stated that the strike action will be launched over several demands including the govt’s failure to provide a positive response to the requests of electricity workers. He also noted that employees will not report to more..

Mar 9 (DM) The preserved body of the famed elephant Nedungamuwe Raja will be opened for public viewing from March 11 and could remain intact for nearly 500 years if properly maintained. Retired leather craftsman of the National Museums Dept, Chamalka Kothalawala, said preserving and reconstructing an animal’s hide is a complex process that requires both scientific knowledge and artistic skill. She said that after conducting a detailed study of the elephant’s exact size and shape, more..

Mar 9 (Island) DIMO Academy, the vocational education arm of DIMO, has introduced a German Diploma in Warehouse Operations, Logistics and Transportation (WOLT) offering 100% guaranteed job opportunities in Germany upon successful completion. The programme is backed by a partnership with Mosecker GmbH & Co. KG, a leading German wholesale company specialising in energy-efficient building technology, which will absorb graduates into its logistics and more..

Mar 9 (FT) New private sector borrowing from SL’s banking sector slowed sharply to Rs. 82.6 billion in Jan 2026, the lowest level in 11 months, extending the credit slowdown that has emerged in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah even as the overall stock of private sector debt continued to expand. According to CB data released last Friday, new borrowings from domestic commercial banks fell to Rs. 108 bil in January, a 9-month low, more..

Mar 9 (AD) A discussion is scheduled to be held today between govt authorities and officials of the Iranian Embassy in SL regarding the next steps to be taken concerning the Iranian sailors currently in SL custody. Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara stated that a decision on how to proceed with the Iranian sailors will be made after the discussion with embassy officials. A total of 32 sailors rescued from the IRIS Dena vessel, which was attacked by the US in seas off Galle more..

Mar 9 (Island) The Ceylon Motor Traders’ Association (CMTA) has issued a stark cautionary note to prospective vehicle buyers, warning that the initial price advantage of reconditioned imports often masks significant long-term financial risks. By highlighting a structural imbalance in the current duty valuation system – which allows near-identical vehicles to be imported under a 15% automatic depreciation bracket – the CMTA argues that the lack of manufacturer-backed warranties and more..

Mar 9 (FT) Organising committee of the ONE LOVE Reggae Music Festival 2026 has announced the postponement of the festival originally scheduled to be held at the end of March in Bentota. One In A Million Company Ltd, on behalf of the ONE LOVE organising committee, said that following a comprehensive evaluation and acting in the best interests of all stakeholders, including artists, partners, patrons, and host destinations, the festival has been rescheduled for Aug 2026, more..

Mar 9 (AD) The Supreme Court has ordered that the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, be called on March 18. The petition challenges his arrest and detention by the CID under the PTA, which he claims was carried out without reasonable grounds. When the petition was taken up today, the three-judge bench considered the facts presented and directed that the matter be called for examination on March 18, more..

Mar 9 (DM) Concerns are mounting in SL over a potential fuel shortage after April, despite govt assurances of adequate reserves. Ananda Palitha, Convener of Samagi Joint Trade Union Alliance, said that recent remarks by Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe regarding fuel sufficiency have instead fueled public anxiety. Palitha said that before the NPP govt, daily petrol sales reached 4,000 metric tons & diesel 4,500–5,000 metric tons, more..

Mar 9 (AD) A warm weather advisory has been issued for residents of the Western, North-western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and the Monaragala district. The heat index, the temperature felt on the human body, is likely to increase up to Caution Level in several areas tomorrow, according to the Dept of Meteorology. “Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body”, said the Met Dept in a statement. more..

Mar 9 (EN) Colombo Stock Exchange dropped 797.77 points to close below the 22,000 mark on Monday as global oil prices surged more than 20 percent due to a critical supply shock amidst the conflict in West Asia. Following the US-Israeli attack on Iran and its retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries hosting American bases, refineries and energy infrastructure across multiple countries in the region have been hit, and the Strait of Hormuz, the key sea passage, remains effectively closed. more..

Mar 9 (AD) Former MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena, who was arrested by officials of the CIABOC earlier today has been remanded. He was remanded until 24 March by the Colombo Chief Magistrate, Asanga S Bodaragama. Sajin Vass Gunawardena was arrested by the Bribery Commission over allegations of earning illegal assets worth Rs. 243.8 million. The former MP was arrested when he arrived at the BC more..

Mar 9 (FT) In recent times, Sri Lanka has witnessed a rather curious spectacle in its public discourse. A subject as grave and consequential as national defence has found its way into the realm of political banter and casual ridicule. Statements made during election campaigns, and later echoed in parliamentary exchanges, have sometimes treated defence policy as though it were a matter that could be explained with the simplicity of a classroom demonstration. more..

Mar 9 (EN) SriLankan Airlines said it was resuming daily services to Riyadh on Monday night and Dubai on Tuesday, while continuing to monitor the situation in West Asia. The following flights are scheduled to operate: Flight UL265 on the Colombo–Riyadh route is scheduled to depart at 18:15 hours local time (IST). Flight UL266 on the Riyadh–Colombo route is scheduled to depart at 22:35. Flight UL231 on the Colombo–Dubai route is scheduled to depart at 12:40. more..

Mar 9 (NW) The Sri Lanka Police have reported that a 29‑year‑old suspect from Kalutara was arrested on Sunday morning after attempting to snatch a gold necklace worth approximately Rs. 250,000 from an 18‑year‑old woman in Wennappuwa. The incident occurred on St. Anthony’s Street while the victim was travelling on a scooter from her residence to the supermarket. Hearing her cries for help, a nearby youth chased down the suspect, apprehended him, and handed him over to police officers. more..

Mar 9 (FT) In the last four years, SL was hit by three devastating economic shocks – two external shocks and one internal man-made shock. The external shocks in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic and cyclone Ditwah were delivered from outside the country, while the internal shock in the form of an unprecedented economic crisis was the country’s own making. I have written about all the three shocks in this series previously and interested readers can log into the link given in the more..

Mar 9 (DM) In a historic shake-up of SL’s power sector, the CEB has been officially dissolved and replaced with six separate state-owned companies from midnight yesterday, marking the beginning of a major restructuring of the country’s electricity industry. An Extraordinary Gazette Notification had been issued to establish six successor companies by transferring the functions and responsibilities previously handled by the CEB. more..

Mar 9 (Island) US Department of State has said that Washington respects Sri Lanka’s sovereignty in handling matters relating to the Iranian warship IRIS Bushehr and its crew, according to agency reports, quoting a State Department Spokesperson. He has said the final decision regarding the vessel, its crew and the rescued Iranian sailors rests with SL in accordance with its domestic laws and international legal obligations. The statement follows comments by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath that more..

Mar 9 (DM) Explosions have continued to be heard across Iran, Israel and several Middle Eastern countries as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its ninth day. The conflict began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets. Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel and US military bases across Middle East, warning that any country hosting US forces could become part of the battlefield. more..

Mar 9 (ST) Lanka Coal Company (LCC) has extended its bid closing date for the emergency procurement of 300,000MT of coal, as an emergency hasn’t yet arisen, authoritative sources said. The tender was floated on Feb 25, with a closing date of March 6. This has now been extended till March 11. There is also reportedly low interest in the tender. Bidders were told, “In the event that no emergency situation arises more..

Mar 9 (TM) Three Chief Executive Officers have been appointed to three of the six companies established to replace the CEB, which is currently being dissolved as part of the restructuring of the power sector. Saliya Panditharatne has been appointed CEO of Lanka Electricity Generation Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, while Engineer N.S. Wettasinghe has been appointed CEO of National Transmission Network Service Providers (Pvt) Ltd. Appointments were made on 6 Feb. more..

Mar 9 (Reuters) The dollar took another leg higher on Monday, jumping to a three-month peak on the euro as oil surged past $100 a barrel, stocks slid and investors headed for safety as protracted war in the Middle ​East threatened to disrupt global energy supplies. The dollar was up 0.8% to $1.1525 on the euro , its ‌highest since November, and rose almost 0.4% to 158.48 yen early in the Asia session. Sterling and the Australian and NZ dollars fell by more than 0.6% on the dollar, more..

Mar 9 (Reuters) Iran on Monday named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father ​Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old US-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel. Mojtaba, a cleric with influence inside Iran's security forces and vast business networks ‌under his father, had been viewed as a frontrunner in the lead-up to Sunday's vote by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics tasked with choosing Khamenei's successor. more..

Mar 9 (DM) SL’s banking sector is currently confronting a medium-high money laundering risk, compounded by emerging threats from financial fraud and tax evasion. These findings were recently published in the SL National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Proliferation Financing 2024/25, a comprehensive evaluation coordinated by CB's Financial Intelligence Unit. Overarching national money laundering risk for the country has been evaluated as medium, more..

Mar 9 (FT) Sri Lanka has told International Sovereign Bond (ISB) investors that the Govt expects economic growth to stabilise at an average of 3.1% annually between 2027 and 2030 while maintaining a long-term real interest rate anchor of 2.5-2.6%, according to presentation documents released by the Finance Ministry last Friday. The projections were outlined as part of the Govt’s engagement with ISB holders more..

Mar 9 (FT) Govt and leading private sector executives have begun shaping a new strategy to steer the country’s export sector, with a high-level forum bringing together business leaders and State officials to chart priorities for the coming years. National Export Roadmap: CEO Forum was held last week, bringing together Chairmen and CEOs from across SL’s private sector to review export performance in 2025 and agree on strategic goals for 2026 and beyond. more..

Mar 9 (ST) Colombo High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela has been assigned to hear the corruption case against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody. The case, the first against a ruling JVP-NPP minister, is due to come up for hearing next week. CIABOC this week indicted Minister Jayakody before the Colombo High Court on the charge of corruption, accusing him of causing a loss of over Rs 8.8 million to the state by allowing a contracted private company to make undue financial profits. more..

Mar 9 (FT) Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (SLCSMI) is launching an initiative to support the backbone of Sri Lanka’s economy, the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector, which is currently facing one of the most challenging periods in recent history. Over the past few years, SMEs have endured a series of major shocks that have disrupted businesses, weakened financial stability, and threatened thousands of livelihoods across the country. more..

Mar 9 (CI) It was a sea of blue at the Narendra Modi Stadium, and a black-and-blue beating for the luckless nearly-men of world cricket, as India - the hosts and pre-tournament favourites - delivered their third T20 World Cup title, and second in a row, with a ruthless 96-run victory over New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Just as had been the case in their epic semi-final over England, India were asked to bat first but responded to the challenge with a fast-forwarded display of power-hitting. more..

Mar 9 (TM) SL has granted one-month relief visas to Iranian sailors rescued from two vessels currently in its waters, with authorities confirming they will remain in the country temporarily until arrangements are made for their departure. Minister Ananda Wijepala said the decision was taken strictly in line with international maritime conventions and humanitarian principles, despite mounting geopolitical tension surrounding the sinking of more..

Mar 9 (Island) Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Pubudu Jayagoda says the Indian company which secured a tender to supply coal for electricity generation this year has delivered only 13 of the 25 shipments required and no vessel has arrived in Sri Lanka for the last 10 days or so. Jayagoda said the Indian company Trident Chemphar, which secured the tender to supply 25 coal shipments for 2026, had placed the country’s coal stocks at risk. more..

Mar 9 (DN) Two impressive half centuries by Nemindu Akmeemana (79) and Ranmith Dinuwara (78) followed by a superb bowling spell of 3 for 19 by Osanda Pamuditha helped Nalanda College record a 53 run win over arch rivals Ananda College in their 49 th limited over cricket encounter which was played for the first time under lights at the SSC grounds on Saturday . Nalanda Skipper Osanda Pamuditha elected to bat first and they made a challenging total of 261 all out in 50 overs more..