News
Home » NewsChaos at BIA as war erupts in West Asia
With US and Israeli missiles fired into Iran, and Iran directing missile attacks on Israel and US bases across West Asia, chaos reigned at Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday as flights to and from West Asian countries were cancelled or delayed, while airline officials struggled to find alternate arrangements and accommodations for stranded passengers. Pix by [...]
Lanka braces for fallout of Iran war
Enough oil in storage, says CPC, but it fears rising prices; tea exports to take a heavy toll if conflict prolongs As air travel to and from remains curtailed, Foreign Ministry says it is closely monitoring safety of Lankans in West Asia Sri Lanka is bracing for impacts on multiple fronts as yesterday’s joint military attacks [...]
Amid contingency plans, LCC enlists second lab to test coal
Amidst persistent questions regarding the quality of South African coal imported via Trident Chemphar for the Lakvijaya plant, Lanka Coal Company (Pvt.) Ltd (LCC) has enlisted a second laboratory in South Africa to test the 13th and 14th coal shipments at the load port, Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RCBT). Meanwhile, LCC this week floated an [...]
Energy Minister faces indictment over fertiliser tender
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has directed its officials to prepare the indictment papers to be filed on allegations against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody on the misappropriation of funds while he was serving at the Fertiliser Corporation in 2015. Earlier the minister had requested permission for his counsel to call [...]
RTI Commission directs AG to disclose information on abduction of Lasantha’s driver
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Right to Information Commission (RTI Commission) has directed the Attorney General to release certified copies of letters dated January 27, 2025, and February 12, 2025 (Department File Reference CR1/40/2020), relating to advice given in case No. B 92/2009 on the abduction of Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s driver and the destruction [...]
BASL’s top award for courageous service goes to Upul Jayasuriya
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will confer the distinguished title of Honoris Causa on Upul Jayasuriya, PC, in recognition of his “exceptional and courageous service” to the association and to the country’s legal system during some of its most turbulent years. The proposal, put forward by the incumbent president of the BASL, Rajeev [...]
Easter Sunday attacks: AG orders CID to probe Sirisena, Ranil, top officials
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Attorney General has directed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to open investigations against persons held responsible by the Presidential Commission for the Easter Sunday attacks. Accordingly, the CID has been directed to study the commission’s recommendations and take action. Among those named by the commission are the then-president Maithripala Sirisena, the [...]
Easter suspects without lawyers make their own submissions
By Ranjith Padmasiri Twenty-two of the 24 suspects facing the High Court trial-at-bar on allegations of conspiring and aiding and abetting to carry out the Easter Sunday attack have started making their own submissions after their lawyers withdrew. The lawyers withdrew, citing their inability to represent their clients due to the case being heard on [...]
Nelummala village still picking up the pieces
Enduring the horrors of Cyclone Ditwah, they still await promised relief By Nadisha Athukorale and Dishani Jayamali Karunaratna Nelummala, Minipe: Last Friday, religious events were held to mark the three-month remembrance of some 31 people who died in the landslides in this village as a result of Cyclone Ditwah. Villagers who remained are struggling to [...]
Grama Niladharis pause protest for promotions, daily Rs. 2,500 fee guarantee
By Ishu Bandara The Grama Niladhari (GN) officers have officially paused their planned picketing and street protests after the Ministry of Public Administration intervened and promised to resolve long-standing benefits, allowances and other issues. However, the unions made it clear that they will refrain from Ditwah disaster services and any future disaster duties until the [...]
Remembering those who died during Cyclone Ditwah
Story and pix by K R Rajamanthri A memorial service was held on Friday in the Hagili Ella area of Welimada with the participation of over 50 monks to pay homage to those who died in disasters including landslides caused by heavy rains in the last few days of November. The festival was organized by [...]
Focus on brain health and brain drain
ASN President on integrated neurology for transformative outcomes By Kumudini Hettiarachchi It was not only brain health but also humanity to the fore as the 19th Annual Congress of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists (ASN) was inaugurated in Colombo on Friday evening with eminent experts in attendance. “We gather not only as professionals in [...]
Thousands attend St Anthony’s Feast in Katchatheevu
S. Rubathessan in Katchatheevu An unprecedented 13,000 devotees, including 4,000 Indian pilgrims, took part in yesterday’s annual St Anthony’s Feast on the Katchatheevu islet. For the first time in decades, over 8,000 Sri Lankan devotees visited from across the country, including Negombo, Thalai Mannar, Kalpitiya, and the North. Hundreds waited for hours to board the [...]
Vacancies aplenty, but public sector vets expect more frills and private sector salaries
By Kasun Warakapitiya Veterinary services of several state bodies have been badly affected, and vacancies remain unfilled because new graduates are not drawn to jobs. The Department of Animal Production and Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the National Zoological Gardens, as well as municipal councils, [...]
State-owned Litro steps in to fill gas void stemming from Laugfs lapses
By Sajeniya Sathanandan Litro Gas Terminal Lanka has moved to stabilise cooking gas supplies amid panic stemming from a shortage of gas from privately held Laugfs Gas. State-owned Litro confirmed that 38,000 metric tonnes of LP gas have been secured to ensure supply throughout March. The Chairman of Litro Gas Lanka Limited and Litro Gas [...]
Police apprehensions of criminals continue
By Ishu Bandara Janith Madushanka, also known as ‘Podi Lassie’, a notorious underworld figure and drug trafficker accused of multiple murders, was brought back to Sri Lanka from India on Friday. Police said he left the island in 2024 after being released on bail, even though a court had imposed a travel ban on him. [...]
Thousands of containers held up amid Customs grievances
By Dilushi Wijesinghe Long lines of container trucks stretched along the approach roads to the Port of Colombo this week, as clearing agents and drivers waited for consignments to be released, raising concerns over possible disruptions at the country’s main maritime gateway. The sight of stationary trailers spilling onto adjoining roads fuelled speculation that industrial [...]
Anuradhapura Diocese welcomes new Bishop
The Catholic Diocese of Anuradhapura on Saturday installed Most Rev. Dr. Nishantha Sagara Jayamanne as the new Bishop. The Episcopal Ordination took place at 9 a.m. yesterday at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Anuradhapura, with clergy, religious and lay faithful in attendance. The ceremony formally entrusted him with the pastoral leadership of the Diocese. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith [...]
Deficient marketing, regulation cited over lower tourist spend
By Wasantha Ramanayake Sri Lanka’s tourism sector saw tourist arrivals rise in 2025, but average spending per tourist dropped, according to official data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. This dilemma demands scrutiny of marketing strategies, strengthening regulatory mechanisms and introducing new products while ensuring sustainability, experts say. Tourist arrivals increased to more [...]
Conflicting claims compound coal crisis
Operational data continue to show below‑par gross calorific value; plant output drops from 810 MW to 750 MW Govt. appoints probe team, but questions remain over holding supplier to account By Namini Wijedasa Operational data from Lakvijaya in Norochcholai continued to show this week that South African coal imported under the ongoing 2025-26 tender does not [...]
Protesters in Batticaloa demand end to anti-terror laws
A public protest was held across the North and East of Batticaloa yesterday (Saturday 28) under the auspices of public organisations, demanding the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the suspension of the Act to Protect the State from Terrorism, which is set to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The protest march [...]
SLAS exclusive domain in public service dismantled in SC ruling
The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgement this week, has ruled in favour of personnel from the All-Island Services being selected for public sector positions that were till now in the exclusive domain of officers from the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS). The three-judge bench headed by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda PC and including Justices A.H.M.D. [...]
Govt, GMOA dig in, refuse to yield; doctors’ union withdraws from Arogya
By Sajeniya Sathanandan The government has challenged the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) to intensify its trade union action, claiming that the union’s orders are not followed at the ground level. GMOA Secretary Dr Prabath Sugathadasa said that GMOA members, including more than 23,000 doctors and specialists, will not participate in the Arogya project from [...]
Mandaitivu, worst site for Jaffna stadium and sports city
Point-by-point, conservationists show why, as CEA halts Sri Lanka Cricket’s illegal activity sans EIA By Kumudini Hettiarachchi As illegal development activity on Mandaitivu linked to the Jaffna International Cricket Stadium of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was halted by the country’s environmental watchdog, a powerful call went out from conservationists to cancel the project forthwith, as [...]
Illegal squatters removed from Deduru Oya estuary following court order
Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe The illegal squatters who had been living in unauthorised buildings (houses) alongside the banks of the estuary of the Deduru Oya were removed by the Coast Conservation Department, according to a court order issued by the Chilaw Magistrate. The squatters had set up illegal buildings, violating the 14th clause [...]