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The rising fuel cost due to the West Asia war has affected the livelihoods of many, including sugarcane farmers who staged a protest demanding higher transport payments in line with the fuel price hike. The protesting farmers are seen outside the Hingurana sugar factory. Pic by Gnanasiri Hettiarachchige
As Lanka seeks fuel from India, Modi pushes for oil tank farm and joint energy projects
By Damith Wickremasekera Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a phone conversation this week to expedite the energy sector projects agreed upon between the two countries, particularly the work on the joint venture to develop the Trincomalee oil tank farm. The prodding came when President Dissanayake called Mr Modi to [...]
Agri-officials and fertiliser suppliers agree on stable price for now
By Kapila Bandara Fertiliser companies and agrochemical suppliers have agreed to abide by regulated prices days ahead of the Yala paddy planting season, in a coordinated policy response to mitigate risks, just as prices increased sharply in domestic and global markets due to the widening war in West Asia. Following a meeting this week of [...]
Ranil’s case: AG’s Dept divided on Wolverhampton University’s response
By Ranjith Padmasiri Two opinions have emerged within the Attorney General’s Department regarding the University of Wolverhampton’s response to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in relation to its probe into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Britain in 2023. The difference of opinion has resulted in a delay in the completion of the probe into [...]
Anti-corruption battle to the next level: CIABOC to open district offices with greater powers
By S. Rubatheesan The government is set to decentralise the Colombo‑based Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) by establishing regional offices at the district level with greater powers as the next step in its campaign to eradicate corruption. According to the Governance Action Plan-2026, released by the Presidential Secretariat this week, the [...]
No permission for Chinese vessel, but ailing researcher brought to Colombo for treatment
While the Sri Lanka Navy assisted in bringing to shore an ailing member of the crew of a Chinese research vessel anchored in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the vessel will not be allowed into the country’s territorial waters, a senior government source said. The Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6, which is 700 [...]
Ex-LRC director admits false accusations against SJB MP were made under “intense pressure”
By Ranjith Padmasiri Former Director General of the Land Reform Commission (LRC) Liyanage Padmasiri has acknowledged that a statement he made claiming Kandy District MP Chamindrani Kiriella had illegally acquired 43 acres of land in Hantana, Kandy, was false. He has tendered an apology to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP over the false statement and [...]
Sri Lanka procures refined fuels, struggles with crude
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has received “a couple of hundred” offers in response to an open call for proposals to supply fuel — crude, heavy fuel, petroleum, diesel, Managing Director Mayura Neththikumarage told the Sunday Times. Two committees are meeting “24/7” to evaluate the offers, Dr Neththikumarage said. However, the large number of bids [...]
TISL welcomes SC judgment in case against Keheliya Rambukwella and former health officials
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has welcomed Friday’s Supreme Court’s judgment which found that former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and several former health officials had violated the fundamental rights of the public by purchasing medical supplies from an unregistered Indian company through an unsolicited proposal in 2022, bypassing established legal and regulatory safeguards. Aside from [...]
Bail for Minister Jayakody after being indicted on corruption charges
By Ranjith Padmasiri Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, who was indicted on corruption charges, was released on bail by the Colombo High Court on Friday after having his fingerprints taken. Colombo High Court Judge Rashantha Godawela also ordered that a report on Mr Jayakody’s fingerprints be submitted to court. He gave the order when releasing the [...]
Motor Traffic Chief remanded over alleged registration fraud
Motor Traffic Commissioner General Kamal Amerasinghe, who was arrested on Friday over a fraudulent vehicle‑registration case, has been remanded until tomorrow. He was taken into custody by the Financial Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and produced before the Pilessa Magistrate’s Court, which ordered that he be remanded until tomorrow. Mr Amerasinghe was [...]
Justice Wickremasinghe emphasises ethics and solidarity
A renewed call for integrity, excellence and solidarity within the legal profession took centre stage at a women lawyers’ gathering held in Hulftsdorp last week, where Supreme Court Justice Kumuduni Wickremasinghe urged practitioners to measure success not by position, but by commitment to justice. Delivering her keynote address, Justice Wickremasinghe emphasised that the legal profession [...]
CA: Details on EPF’s ‘market transactions’ confidential commercial information Under RTI Act
Appeal Court decides the ‘harm’ that may result from release of ‘transaction level’ information during 2015-2017 outweighs ‘public interest’ Holds that existing disclosure requirements of investments together with scrutiny of EPF by Parliament/Auditor General sufficient to ensure ‘transparency’ of EPF by Parliament/Auditor General sufficient to ensure ‘transparency’ By Ranjith Padmasiri Setting aside a 2018 decision of [...]
Court of Appeal orders retrial of Raviraj case after AG contests acquittal
By Ranith Padmasiri The Court of Appeal has set aside the acquittal of all accused in the assassination case of former parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj, directing that a retrial be conducted before the High Court. The persons indicted in the case were then Navy intelligence officers Hettiarachchi Mudiyansekage Prasad Chandana Kumara, also known as Sampath; Daliwala [...]
Challenges hold up restoration of damaged upcountry rail track
Text and pix by Rekha Tharangani Fonseka Four months after the Ditwah cyclone triggered landslides and floods, the Sri Lanka railway, which suffered considerable damage, is still struggling to restore services. As a result, tens of thousands of commuters are facing severe inconveniences, the Railway Department is losing millions in daily revenue and most workers [...]
Economy resilient enough to weather war, while costs weigh on exporters
By Niranjala Ariyawansha Although the war in West Asia will have a significant impact on the Sri Lankan economy both in the short as well as long-term, Sri Lanka can control the economic consequences due to the financial stability, an economist says. In the long term, the productive economy may collapse to some extent and [...]
Double crossed by bigger players, coconut husk traders bemoan
Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Large scale coconut industrialists are using the crisis in West Asia to exploit cottage level coconut husk industry traders the latter claim. The cottage level coconut husk related industry traders said that the large scale industrialists deceived them claiming their products do not get sold overseas due to [...]
New ward to replace landslide-risk Dimbulana District Hospital ward
Pix and text by K R Rajamanthri A new ward is being constructed to serve communities in the Uva Paranagama area and parts of the Central Province, replacing the Dimbulana District Hospital ward that was closed in 2013 due to landslide risks. The estimated Rs 42 million project is being carried out with the support [...]
More trouble over Trident’s coal shipments; contract still not terminated
Third shipment fails quality test None so far has enabled the Lakvijaya coal power plant reach optimal 900MW capacity Questions raised in power and energy circles about whose interests the government is protecting By Namini Wijedasa A third coal shipment from South Africa—bought via the Indian supplier Trident Chemphar—has failed quality testing by the independent [...]
Sri Lanka braces for more hot weather as experts warn of El Niño risk
By Jayani Madawla The prevailing heatwave that Sri Lanka is experiencing is expected to continue through mid-May according to the Department of Meteorology. Experts warn that the situation could be further complicated by a possible onset of both El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) after June. According to the the department’s Additional [...]
Maligawa launches project to digitise Tripitaka
By L.B. Senaratne The Sri Dalada Maligawa library has launched a project to digitise the Tripitaka, the earliest and most authoritative collection of Buddhist scriptures. The Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters have endorsed the initiative, which also has the approval of Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, the custodian of the library. The Pali [...]
Only 250 of one million Sri Lankans in West Asia seek repatriation
Economic fears and trust in local safety measures keep migrant workers in conflict zones despite tensions By Ishu Bandara Despite over one million Sri Lankans working in West Asia, only 200 to 250 have officially requested repatriation amid the regional conflict According to official data as of March 25, the requests by country are as [...]
Gag on war info; worried relatives here say life goes on for loved ones in war zone
By Wasantha Ramanayake Although the war in West Asia has not triggered the economically much‑feared exodus of Lankan migrant workers — most of whom say they are carrying on as usual — their families here remain worried about their safety. As the Gulf countries have banned the sharing of any information, videos, or images relating [...]
Police crackdown on “fuel hoarding” hits North and East farmers ahead of Yala season
Following discussions after several arrests, authorities assure farmers of 30 litres of diesel per acre By S. Rubatheesan Northern and Eastern farmers who are preparing for the upcoming Yala harvesting season are worried about the police crackdown on fuel hoarding. A farmer in Murasumottai, Kilinochchi, was arrested for transporting 400 litres of diesel, in 20 [...]
Calm before the storm: Rethinking disaster risk reduction in Sri Lanka
By Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka, and Ronald Jackson, Head, Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery for Building Resilience, UNDP When Cyclone Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka in November 2025, affecting over 2 million people, it was the latest chapter in a pattern of intensifying climate-related hazards reshaping the island’s risk landscape. Rising [...]
Uncertainties, higher costs deter New Year business
By Kasun Warakapitiya Two weeks ahead of the Sinhala-Tamil New Year, the Sunday Times noticed a lack of trading and fewer people shopping for the festival. Traders said uncertainties have arisen from recent fuel price increases, mid-week state holidays, as well as fuel shortages and non-availability of certain fuels. People are more mindful of trips [...]
Retailers drive prices of some essential food higher; middlemen also blamed
By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe Prices of essential commodities, including dhal and sprats, have moved higher, with most traders using the rising fuel price as an excuse. When compared with wholesale prices three weeks ago, overall, prices of most items have increased, with a notable rise in dhal, red onion, and sprats. The average retail market prices [...]