http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:46:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/chaos-at-bia-as-war-erupts-in-west-asia-633242.html 1 March 2026 @ 1:28 am lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-633243 quot; title= quot;2-DSC_2185_P1 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260301/uploads/2026/03/2-DSC_2185_P1.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;332 quot; / gt; 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 In... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/lanka-braces-for-fallout-of-iran-war-633237.html 1 March 2026 @ 1:27 am lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Enough oil in storage, says CPC, but it fears rising prices; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;tea exports to take a heavy toll if conflict prolongs lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;As air travel to and from remains curtailed, Foreign Ministry says it is closely monitoring safety of Lankans in West Asia lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/amid-contingency-plans-lcc-enlists-second-lab-to-test-coal-633235.html 1 March 2026 @ 1:24 am 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 emergency tender to purchase 300,000 MT of coal mdash;t... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/energy-minister-faces-indictment-over-fertiliser-tender-633233.html 1 March 2026 @ 1:23 am 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 over and make submissions, but ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/rti-commission-directs-ag-to-disclose-information-on-abduction-of-lasanthas-driver-633231.html 1 March 2026 @ 1:22 am lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri lt;/strong gt; 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 lt;em gt;Sunday Leader lt;/em gt; Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge rs... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/basls-top-award-for-courageous-service-goes-to-upul-jayasuriya-633227.html 1 March 2026 @ 1:20 am The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will confer the distinguished title of Honoris Causa on Upul Jayasuriya, PC, in recognition of his ldquo;exceptional and courageous service rdquo; to the association and to the country rsquo;s legal system during some of its most turbulent years. The proposal, put forward by the incumbent president of the BASL, Rajeev Amarasuriya, received unanimous appr... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/easter-sunday-attacks-ag-orders-cid-to-probe-sirisena-ranil-top-officials-633224.html 1 March 2026 @ 1:16 am lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 rsquo;s recommendations and take action. Among those named by the commissio... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/easter-suspects-without-lawyers-make-their-own-submissions-633222.html 1 March 2026 @ 1:16 am lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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. nbsp; The lawyers withdrew, citing their inability to represent their clients due to the case being heard on nbsp... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/nelummala-village-still-picking-up-the-pieces-633167.html 28 February 2026 @ 11:18 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Enduring the horrors of Cyclone Ditwah, they still await promised relief lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Nadisha Athukorale and Dishani Jayamali Karunaratna lt;/strong gt; 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 re... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/grama-niladharis-pause-protest-for-promotions-daily-rs-2500-fee-guarantee-633158.html 28 February 2026 @ 11:13 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Ishu Bandara lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; 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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/remembering-those-who-died-during-cyclone-ditwah-633148.html 28 February 2026 @ 11:11 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;Story and pix by nbsp; K R Rajamanthri lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; 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 the incumbent of the temple, Venerable ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/focus-on-brain-health-and-brain-drain-633141.html 28 February 2026 @ 10:59 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;ASN President on integrated neurology for transformative outcomes lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Kumudini Hettiarachchi lt;/strong gt; 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 ex... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/thousands-attend-st-anthonys-feast-in-katchatheevu-633133.html 28 February 2026 @ 10:54 pm lt;strong gt;S. Rubathessan in Katchatheevu lt;/strong gt; An unprecedented 13,000 devotees, including 4,000 Indian pilgrims, took part in yesterday rsquo;s annual St Anthony rsquo;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 ho... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/vacancies-aplenty-but-public-sector-vets-expect-more-frills-and-private-sector-salaries-633116.html 28 February 2026 @ 10:39 pm lt;strong gt;By Kasun Warakapitiya nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 mu... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/state-owned-litro-steps-in-to-fill-gas-void-stemming-from-laugfs-lapses-633111.html 28 February 2026 @ 10:36 pm lt;strong gt;By Sajeniya Sathanandan nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 Terminal Lanka (P... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/police-apprehensions-of-criminals-continue-633104.html 28 February 2026 @ 10:34 pm lt;strong gt;By Ishu Bandara nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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. He was later taken into custody by I... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/thousands-of-containers-held-up-amid-customs-grievances-633080.html 28 February 2026 @ 10:19 pm lt;strong gt;By Dilushi Wijesinghe lt;/strong gt; 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 rsquo;s main maritime gateway. The sight of stationary trailers spilling onto adjoining roads fuelled speculatio... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/anuradhapura-diocese-welcomes-new-bishop-633074.html 28 February 2026 @ 10:17 pm 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 and Bishops from ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/pick-of-the-pix-2-633052.html 28 February 2026 @ 10:08 pm [gallery link= quot;file quot; columns= quot;4 quot; orderby= quot;rand quot;]... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/deficient-marketing-regulation-cited-over-lower-tourist-spend-633047.html 28 February 2026 @ 10:01 pm lt;strong gt;By Wasantha Ramanayake nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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. ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/conflicting-claims-compound-coal-crisis-633039.html 28 February 2026 @ 9:52 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Operational data continue to show below‑par gross calorific value; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;plant output drops from 810 MW to 750 MW lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Govt. appoints probe team, but questions remain over holding supplier to account lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/protesters-in-batticaloa-demand-end-to-anti-terror-laws-633027.html 28 February 2026 @ 9:37 pm 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 began at the Batticaloa Stone Bridge and proceeded to Gandhi Park... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/slas-exclusive-domain-in-public-service-dismantled-in-sc-ruling-633025.html 28 February 2026 @ 9:36 pm 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. Nawaz and Kumudini Wickremasinghe gave t... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/govt-gmoa-dig-in-refuse-to-yield-doctors-union-withdraws-from-arogya-633023.html 28 February 2026 @ 9:35 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Sajeniya Sathanandan lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; The government has challenged the Government Medical Officers rsquo; 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, inclu... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/mandaitivu-worst-site-for-jaffna-stadium-and-sports-city-633016.html 28 February 2026 @ 8:31 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Point-by-point, conservationists show why, as CEA halts Sri Lanka Cricket rsquo;s illegal activity sans EIA nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Kumudini Hettiarachchi lt;/strong gt; As illegal development activity on Mandaitivu linked to the Jaffna International Cricket Stadium of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was halted by the c... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260301/news/illegal-squatters-removed-from-deduru-oya-estuary-following-court-order-633010.html 28 February 2026 @ 8:23 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;Pix and text by nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; 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 cour...