Mar 27 (NW) Court of Appeal has ordered a retrial in the assassination case of former TNA MP Nadarajah Raviraj, setting aside the earlier acquittal of the accused, including three Navy intelligence officers. The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Sasi Mahendran and Amal Ranaraja on March 26, 2026, following an appeal filed by the Attorney General challenging the High Court verdict. more..

Mar 27 (NW) Global gold prices continued to slide on Tuesday, extending a sharp downturn that has persisted for days as markets grapple with a strong U.S. dollar and fading hopes for near‑term interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Spot gold in international markets fell again, with prices dipping around 1.5% and remaining under pressure from a firm dollar and investors favouring interest‑bearing assets over non‑yielding bullion. Other precious metals silver & platinum also weakened, more..

Mar 27 (DM) SL’s shift to a market-linked fuel pricing mechanism has fundamentally altered how global oil shocks feed into domestic inflation, with the latest surge in crude prices expected to transmit more rapidly and broadly across the economy, a new analysis by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) shows. Crude oil prices have climbed sharply from around US$ 65 per barrel before the onset of the current conflict to about US$ 102, a 59% increase, raising fresh concerns over more..

Mar 27 (FT) Home Lands has officially begun development of Canterbury Crest Resort Apartments following the ceremonial groundbreaking and foundation stone laying. This occasion marks the launch of one of four brand-new resort apartment developments by Home Lands in Greater Colombo. Canterbury Crest is the last stage of development at Canterbury Golf City - Piliyandala Kahaththuduwa, the largest residential development project in Sri Lanka comprising 1,200 units already. more..

Mar 27 (FT) Healthguard Distribution has significantly strengthened the pharmaceutical logistics landscape in Sri Lanka following a major upgrade to its Western Regional Distribution Centre (WRDC). The facility, located in Colombo 15, now serves as the primary hub for an integrated port to pharmacy network designed to enhance the availability and safety of essential medicines across the island. While widely recognised as a premier pharmacy retail chain, more..

Mar 27 (FT) EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe warned that SL’s exports are likely to contract by between 5% and 8% in March, as escalating geopolitical tensions in the ME disrupt trade flows and logistics. He said the region remains a critical export destination, accounting for around 8% of SL’s total exports. Of that, UAE absorbs 32%, followed by Iraq with 18% and Saudi Arabia with 12%, collectively making up nearly 80% of exports to ME. more..

Mar 27 (Island) Vegetable prices have plummeted at the special economic centres, which serve as collection hubs in predominantly agricultural areas, such as Dambulla, because most trucks cannot operate for want of diesel. Farmers are unable to dispose of their produce due to transport problems. Usually, it is in February, March and early April that farmers save some money for the traditional New Year. However, vegetable prices have increased elsewhere due to high transport costs and more..

Mar 27 (Island) The long standing foreign policy of Sri Lanka was Non-Alignment. However, in the context of emerging geopolitical rivalries, there was a need to question the adequacy of Non-Alignment as a policy to meet developing challenges. Neutrality as being a more effective Policy was first presented in an article titled Independence: its meaning and a direction for the future (The Island, Feb 14, 2019). The switch over from Non-Alignment to Neutrality was first adopted by more..

Mar 27 (TM) SL’s prisons are running at nearly 280 per cent overcapacity, with women making up around 6-8% of the inmate population. Many of them are jailed for poverty-driven petty crimes or drug-related offences. In the first in the series of the Kaleidoscope Women’s Month Special, Prison Observation Committee (POC) member and Infinite Grace Foundation founder Chairperson Stephanie Siriwardhana discusses the realities of life in prison for women in Sri Lanka. more..

Mar 27 (TM) As the ongoing conflict in the Middle East sends ripples across the Indian Ocean, most notably with the attack on the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, fresh geopolitical concerns are emerging for the region. Against this backdrop of rising tensions and shifting global dynamics, The Daily Morning spoke with geopolitical analyst Asanga Abeyagoonasekera on the wider implications for South Asia and SL. Abeyagoonasekera is a SL geopolitics and international security analyst, more..

Mar 27 (TM) SL’s legal landscape will undergo a fundamental transformation in the coming months, with the Govt having outlined specific timelines for the introduction of new national security and public order legislation. Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara said that Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTB) was currently undergoing its final revisions. Drafting committee is targeting completion of more..

Mar 27 (TM) The geopolitical landscape of March 2026 is no longer shaped by cautious diplomacy, but by hard-edged ultimatums that resemble terms of capitulation more than negotiated settlement. In the aftermath of the recent escalation between the US and Iran, Washington presented a sweeping 15-point framework to Tehran through intermediaries, while Iran has responded with a sharply condensed 5-point counter. What has emerged is not a conventional negotiation, but a confrontation more..

Mar 27 (DN) The Philippines earlier this week became the first country to declare an Energy Emergency in the wake of hostilities between Iran and Israel/US. Philippine Prez Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared the national energy emergency in response to what he called the imminent danger posed to the country’s energy supply. “The declaration of a state of national energy emergency will enable the Govt to implement ‌responsive and coordinated measures under existing laws to address more..

Mar 27 (SO) Across the world, women are bearing the heaviest cost of a crisis they did the least to create. The numbers are hard to ignore. Women make up 80% of people displaced by climate-related disasters. They are more likely to die in extreme weather events. As the world marks World Meteorological Day 2026 tomorrow (23) under the theme Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow, data we gather on climate change reveals more..

Mar 27 (CT) Political trajectories across nations are often influenced less by ideology than by the weight of global crises and their farreaching consequences. For SL, a small island nation situated at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean, this reality is particularly pronounced. The challenge ahead is whether its political leadership will remain reactive—responding only when crises erupt—or whether it can cultivate foresight to anticipate risks 7 seize opportunities before they become urgent. more..

Mar 27 (DM) The world is still witnessing a dangerous escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The confrontation involving major global powers and regional actors has pushed the int'l system into a phase of deep uncertainty. Oil prices have surged, global shipping routes face disruption, and financial markets are reacting nervously. For countries like Sri Lanka—still recovering from an unprecedented economic crisis—the implications are far from abstract. They are immediate and tangible. more..

Mar 26 (NW) Fast bowler Nuwan Thushara is set to miss the Indian Premier League after SLC refused to grant a No Objection Certificate (NOC) following the introduction of a strict new fitness policy. SLC recently made it mandatory for players to pass newly introduced physical performance tests before being granted clearance to participate in franchise leagues such as the IPL and PSL. Thushara’s eligibility for the IPL was made subject to the outcome of this fitness test, with SLC confirming that more..

Mar 26 (EN) There could be significant changes to the conditions with regard to Sri Lanka’s reform programme with the IMF during the upcoming review due to the external shocks from the escalation in the Middle East, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. An IMF staff ream will be in Colombo from March 26-April 9 to hold discussions on the island nation’s fifth and sixth reviews of Sri Lanka’s reform programme. The reviews come after a Cyclone Ditwah hit natural disaster and more..

Mar 26 (AD) Colombo Fort Magistrate has ordered the CID to produce the former Head of the State Intelligence Service, Suresh Sallay, who is currently in CID custody under detention orders, before the court on April 22. The order was issued by Colombo Fort Magistrate Isuru Neththi Kumara when the case was taken up before court today. Magistrate informed the court that although the suspect is currently being detained & interrogated more..

Mar 26 (AD) A special discussion was held today in a bid to address the challenges faced by those in the tourism sector owing to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Presidential Task Force on the Implementation of the SL Tourism Development Programme met today at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of the Minister Vijitha Herath. Attention was drawn to the challenges faced by those engaged in the tourism industry in SL in the context of the prevailing global energy crisis, more..

Mar 26 (TM) Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni yesterday assured that the Health Ministry is not considering the increase of medicinal drug prices, despite the increase in the cost of raw materials (ingredients). Speaking to The Daily Morning in response to a question regarding the impact of the increased fuel costs globally on medicine costs, Dr. Wijemuni said there is a maximum ceiling price slapped on 600 medicinal drugs. “These prices cannot be breached”. more..

Mar 26 (NW) Export Development Board (EDB) says SL’s total exports, including both merchandise and services, reached US$ 1,401.78 million in Feb 2026, reflecting a notable year-on-year growth of 4.22% compared to Feb 2025. According to provisional data, along with estimated figures for Gems & Jewellery and Petroleum Products, merchandise exports for Feb 2026 increased by 1.32% to US$ 1,066.88 m. more..

Mar 26 (NW) India will host Sri Lanka for a limited-overs series in December, featuring three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The tour will begin with the ODI series, with the first match scheduled to be played in Delhi on December 13. The second ODI will take place in Bengaluru on Dec 16, followed by the third and final ODI in Ahmedabad on Dec 19. The teams will then move to the T20I series, beginning with the first match in Rajkot on Dec 22. more..

Mar 26 (EN) Sri Lanka was facing new challenges in combatting drugs entering the island through e-commerce platforms and from visitors arriving from Thailand, Director of Customs Chandana Punchihewa said. “Most often drugs come into the country through well-known e-commerce platforms,” Punchihewa said. “These sales that happen via internet transactions are a new challenge, because it’s very difficult to track. The companies operate on the basis of the data provided to them; more..

Mar 26 (DM) Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has called for Saturday to be declared an off day, as the ongoing fuel crisis is placing severe strain on them. AMS expressed deep concern over the impact of fuel shortages and rising costs on doctors, particularly those serving in outstation hospitals. It noted that many specialists are required to travel long distances to reach their workplaces, often multiple times a day, making transportation an essential yet increasingly unaffordable more..

Mar 26 (AD) Ministry of Digital Economy states that it has received more than 1,000 complaints regarding fraudulent activities involving the use of other individuals’ QR codes to obtain fuel. Secretary of the Ministry, Waruna Sri Dhanapala pointed out that investigations into these complaints have been initiated in collaboration with police. However, the Secretary also noted that some of these complaints involve incidents where individuals used someone else’s QR code due to lack of awareness. more..

Mar 26 (Island) A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Colombo declared that the US and SL maintain a long-standing defence partnership, grounded in transparency, mutual respect, and shared interests. The official said so in response to The Island query regarding Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent bombshell disclosure, in Parliament, that his govt declined to allow US Air Force to use Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport, more..

Mar 26 (NW) The Ministry of Justice has announced that the initiative aimed at the speedy disposal of productions stored in court premises has yielded significant results, generating Rs. 952,896,911.74 in 2025 alone. According to the ministry, when combined with other judicial revenue sources, including copying fees, notary fees, fines, stamp duties, and bail bond confiscations, the total income generated through the courts amounted to Rs. 6,574,829,926.91. more..

Mar 26 (AD) A meeting has been held between former Prez Maithripala Sirisena and the Iranian Ambassador to SL, Dr. Alireza Delkhosh in Colombo. The meeting took place at the Embassy of Iran in Colombo yesterday. It is reported that discussions focused on strengthening the longstanding friendship between Iran and Sri Lanka, as well as the current military situation in the Middle East region. Meanwhile earlier this week, Iranian Ambassador reiterated Iran’s commitment to more..

Mar 26 (FT) In a landmark split decision, Justice Nawaz of the Supreme Court has recently ruled that the supply of bunker fuel to foreign vessels in SL waters is a domestic sale — not an export — closing a long-contested avenue for concessionary tax treatment and reshaping the legal landscape for the island’s bunkering industry. Eight consolidated appeals, brought by companies engaged in the supply of bunker fuel and more..

Mar 26 (AD) More than 6.2 million people have registered for the National Fuel Pass system and obtained new QR codes since March 15, when the govt re-introduced fuel distribution through QR codes to manage fuel usage. Advisor to Ministry of Digital Economy, Sumudu Rathnayake, made these remarks at a press conference held today to brief on the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on SL. He further commented: “The distribution of fuel through QR codes was started on March 14, more..

Mar 26 (TM) Turkish Airlines has announced an increase in flight frequency between Istanbul and Colombo, adding two more services per week to better support stranded tourists and enhance access to Sri Lanka. The decision follows positive diplomatic discussions between Sri Lanka and Türkiye, which were well received by both nations. The Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) responded promptly, granting the necessary approvals to facilitate the expanded schedule. more..