http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:51:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/bitter-oil-hits-sugarcane-farmers-637115.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:55 pm lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-637116 quot; title= quot;H-04 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260329/uploads/2026/03/H-04.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;297 quot; / gt; 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 ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/as-lanka-seeks-fuel-from-india-modi-pushes-for-oil-tank-farm-and-joint-energy-projects-637113.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:54 pm lt;strong gt;By Damith Wickremasekera lt;/strong gt; 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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/agri-officials-and-fertiliser-suppliers-agree-on-stable-price-for-now-637111.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:54 pm lt;strong gt;By Kapila Bandara lt;/strong gt; 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 all stakeholders with sta... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/ranils-case-ags-dept-divided-on-wolverhampton-universitys-response-637109.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:53 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Two opinions have emerged within the Attorney General rsquo;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 o... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/anti-corruption-battle-to-the-next-level-ciaboc-to-open-district-offices-with-greater-powers-637107.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:52 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;By S. Rubatheesan lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; gt;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 a... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/no-permission-for-chinese-vessel-but-ailing-researcher-brought-to-colombo-for-treatment-637105.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:52 pm 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 rsquo;s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the vessel will not be allowed into the country rsquo;s territorial waters, a senior government source said. The Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6, which is 700 nautical miles off Sri Lanka, had sent a distress signal seeki... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/ex-lrc-director-admits-false-accusations-against-sjb-mp-were-made-under-intense-pressure-637094.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:33 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 also expre... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/sri-lanka-procures-refined-fuels-struggles-with-crude-637092.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:33 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt;The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has received ldquo;a couple of hundred rdquo; offers in response to an open call for proposals to supply fuel mdash; crude, heavy fuel, petroleum, diesel, Managing Director Mayura Neththikumarage told lt;em gt;the Sunday Times lt;/em gt;. lt;/p gt; Two committees are meeting ldquo;24/7... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/tisl-welcomes-sc-judgment-in-case-against-keheliya-rambukwella-and-former-health-officials-637087.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:32 pm Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has welcomed Friday rsquo;s Supreme Court rsquo;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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/bail-for-minister-jayakody-after-being-indicted-on-corruption-charges-637135.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:10 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 rsquo;s fingerprints be submitted to court. He gave the order when releasing th... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/motor-traffic-chief-remanded-over-alleged-registration-fraud-637133.html 28 March 2026 @ 11:09 pm 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 rsquo;s Court, which ordered that he be remanded until tomorrow. Mr Amerasinghe ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/justice-wickremasinghe-emphasises-ethics-and-solidarity-637006.html 28 March 2026 @ 10:11 pm A renewed call for integrity, excellence and solidarity within the legal profession took centre stage at a women lawyers rsquo; 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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/ca-details-on-epfs-market-transactions-confidential-commercial-information-under-rti-act-637003.html 28 March 2026 @ 10:10 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Appeal Court decides the lsquo;harm rsquo; that may result from release of lsquo;transaction level rsquo; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;information during 2015-2017 outweighs lsquo;public interest rsquo; lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Holds that existing disclosure requirements of investments together with scrutiny of EPF by Parliame... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/court-of-appeal-orders-retrial-of-raviraj-case-after-ag-contests-acquittal-637001.html 28 March 2026 @ 10:09 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Ranith Padmasiri lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; 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 He... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/challenges-hold-up-restoration-of-damaged-upcountry-rail-track-636993.html 28 March 2026 @ 10:07 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_636994 quot; align= quot;aligncenter quot; width= quot;500 quot; caption= quot;Polonnaruwa quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-636994 quot; title= quot;Polonnaruwa-01 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260329/uploads/2026/03/Polonnaruwa-01.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;375 quot; / gt;[/caption] lt;strong gt;Text and pix b... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/economy-resilient-enough-to-weather-war-while-costs-weigh-on-exporters-636989.html 28 March 2026 @ 10:03 pm lt;strong gt;By Niranjala Ariyawansha nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 the current 20-year poverty r... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/double-crossed-by-bigger-players-coconut-husk-traders-bemoan-636981.html 28 March 2026 @ 10:00 pm lt;strong gt;Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/new-ward-to-replace-landslide-risk-dimbulana-district-hospital-ward-636976.html 28 March 2026 @ 9:57 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;Pix and text by K R Rajamanthri nbsp; nbsp; lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; 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 of the Sri Lanka... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/more-trouble-over-tridents-coal-shipments-contract-still-not-terminated-636972.html 28 March 2026 @ 9:54 pm lt;p align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Third shipment fails nbsp;quality test nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;None so far has enabled the Lakvijaya coal power plant reach optimal nbsp; 900MW capacity nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Questions raised in power and energ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/sri-lanka-braces-for-more-hot-weather-as-experts-warn-of-el-nino-risk-636966.html 28 March 2026 @ 9:43 pm lt;strong gt;By Jayani Madawla lt;/strong gt; 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 Ni ntilde;o and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) after June. [caption id= quot;attachment_636967 quot; align= qu... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/maligawa-launches-project-to-digitise-tripitaka-636962.html 28 March 2026 @ 8:38 pm lt;strong gt;By L.B. Senaratne lt;/strong gt; 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. [cap... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/only-250-of-one-million-sri-lankans-in-west-asia-seek-repatriation-636957.html 28 March 2026 @ 8:36 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;em gt;Economic fears and trust in local safety measures keep migrant workers in conflict zones despite tensions lt;/em gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Ishu Bandara lt;/strong gt; 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 o... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/gag-on-war-info-worried-relatives-here-say-life-goes-on-for-loved-ones-in-war-zone-636955.html 28 March 2026 @ 8:34 pm lt;strong gt;By Wasantha Ramanayake nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Although the war in West Asia has not triggered the economically much‑feared exodus of Lankan migrant workers mdash; most of whom say they are carrying on as usual mdash; their families here remain worried about their safety. As the Gulf countries have banned the sharing of any information, videos, or images relating to the ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/police-crackdown-on-fuel-hoarding-hits-north-and-east-farmers-ahead-of-yala-season-636949.html 28 March 2026 @ 8:31 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Following discussions after several arrests, authorities assure farmers of 30 litres of diesel per acre lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By S. Rubatheesan nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Northern and Eastern farmers who are preparing for the upcoming Yala harvesting season are worried about the police crackdown on fuel hoarding. A farmer ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/calm-before-the-storm-rethinking-disaster-risk-reduction-in-sri-lanka-636946.html 28 March 2026 @ 8:22 pm lt;strong gt;By Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka, and Ronald Jackson, Head, Disaster Risk Reduction amp; Recovery for Building Resilience, UNDP nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 rsquo;s risk... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/uncertainties-higher-costs-deter-new-year-business-636932.html 28 March 2026 @ 8:15 pm lt;strong gt;By Kasun Warakapitiya lt;/strong gt; Two weeks ahead of the Sinhala-Tamil New Year, lt;em gt;the Sunday Times lt;/em gt; 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 o... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260329/news/retailers-drive-prices-of-some-essential-food-higher-middlemen-also-blamed-636929.html 28 March 2026 @ 8:09 pm lt;strong gt;By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe lt;/strong gt; 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 show that ...