Mar 18 (TM) Railways Department said the reconstruction of the Peradeniya Railway Bridge, better known as the Yaka Palama (Devil’s Bridge), will be completed in time for the reopening of the Upcountry Railway line. Responding to recent allegations by the Railway Station Masters’ Association regarding significant delays in the project, the Dept’s General Manager Ravindra Pathmapriya said that while efforts are being more..

Mar 18 (AD) At least four individuals have been killed in a head-on collision involving two buses along the Ambalantota–Kataragama road in Weerawila, police stated. Around 40 persons have also sustained injuries in the accident involving the two Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses. The injured are currently being taken to hospitals for treatment. The accident occurred when a Colombo–Kataragama bus collided head-on with another SLTB bus traveling from Tissa to Karapitiya. more..

Mar 18 (AD) A 240-foot Bailey Bridge on the Chilaw–Thoduwawa Road, connecting the coastal villages of Thoduwawa and Iranawila, was inaugurated today under India’s post-Ditwah reconstruction assistance programme. The bridge was jointly declared open by Minister of Public Admin, PCs and LG, Prof. A.H.M.H. Abayarathna, and Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to SL, and MP W. Ajith Gihan was also present at the occasion, according to the High Commission of India in Colombo. more..

Mar 18 (DM) SL is expanding its emergency response to the economic and logistical fallout from the Middle East conflict, as fuel rationing, supply chain disruptions and energy security concerns continue to shape daily life across the country. 19 days into the crisis, the govt has tightened fuel distribution controls, introduced sector-specific relief measures, created new crisis-management committees and stepped up efforts to maintain stable supplies of fuel, gas, coal & essential goods. more..

Mar 18 (SLN) Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) ship OONAMI arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill and replenishment visit on 9 Mar 26. The visit concluded on 11 March, as the ship departed the island, receiving a formal farewell from the SL Navy, in keeping with naval traditions at the Port of Colombo. 150.5m long JMSDF OONAMI is commanded by Commander IIO Hiromasa. Commanding Officer of the ship also called on the Commander Western Naval Area at more..

Mar 18 (FT) The economy achieved a 5% annual growth rate for the second consecutive year in 2025 since contracting by 2.3% in 2023. However, growth had slowed down in the fourth quarter of 2025 at 4.8% down from 5.4% in the third quarter, 4.9% in the second and equal to the 4.8% first quarter growth rate. DCS states that the GDP growth rate for the year 2025 has been estimated at 5.0% positive growth. more..

Mar 18 (NW) Opposition MP Namal Rajapaksa has highlighted the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, calling for balanced foreign policy and stronger regional cooperation, particularly with Narendra Modi’s India, to navigate a rapidly changing global order. Addressing the WION Global Summit, Rajapaksa said the global system is undergoing a major transformation, with shifting power dynamics, disruptions to trade routes, technological competition, and ongoing more..

Mar 18 (DM) Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody hinted out power interruptions as such a scenario could become unavoidable in the future despite the govt’s efforts to maintain a continuous electricity supply. Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the House this morning, the Minister said the govt had so far managed to avoid power cuts despite challenges caused by conflicts in the Middle East, which have affected the energy sector. more..

Mar 18 (AD) China has reaffirmed its strong commitment to cracking down on telecommunications and online fraud, while pledging to further strengthen law enforcement cooperation with SL. In a statement, China noted that it is closely monitoring recent reports of SL law enforcement authorities arresting a number of foreign suspects involved in online fraud, including Chinese nationals. It emphasized that such crimes cause more..

Mar 18 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal to declare Namal Uyana, the country’s largest ironwood forest, as a national heritage site. ‎Site, which spans about 602 hectares and has already been designated a protected forest, is considered one of the most significant locations of environmental and archaeological value. ‎Proposal was based on recommendations by an expert subcommittee on identifying national heritage sites, which cited the area’s unique combination of geological, more..

Mar 18 (DM) SL is on the perfect path toward increasing the storage capacity of oil tanks in Trincomalee as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen the country’s energy security, Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said. He revealed that expanding the storage capacity in Trincomalee remains a key long-term solution under the govt’s energy development agenda. He noted that several tanks have already been renovated by CPC, with an allocation of Rs. 32 b made for the initiative. more..

Mar 18 (AD) A motion of no-confidence against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, signed by opposition MPs, will be handed over to the Speaker of Parliament tomorrow (19). So far, 17 opposition MPs, including Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, have signed the motion of no-confidence. The motion claims the Minister of Energy has failed to discharge his primary duty to ensure the procurement of sufficient and quality coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai, more..

Mar 18 (DM) A special programme to restore vision to 1,000 patients suffering from cataracts will be carried out on March 21 and 22, National Eye Hospital Director Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara said. He said the programme aims to perform cataract surgeries on 1,000 patients who are currently on the waiting list and have lost their vision due to the condition. The project is being implemented by the National Eye Hospital in collaboration with the SL Institute of Ophthalmologists. more..

Mar 18 (AD) Owners of vehicles will be allowed to purchase fuel under an odd–even number plate system from today, according to the Managing Director of the CPC, Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage. He noted that from tomorrow, fuel sales for vehicles will be carried out strictly on a rotating system based on odd and even numbers. Under the system, the last digit of the vehicles with zero and even-numbered number plates will be allowed to more..

Mar 18 (NW) Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said he had lodged a complaint with the Bribery Commission on Feb 18 over alleged irregularities in coal procurement, despite yesterday’s remarks by the President on the matter. Ranawaka said that the Prez appears to be ill-informed on the matter. Referring to a 2022 procurement process, Ranawaka cited Auditor General recommendations stating that procurement guidelines should not be changed arbitrarily. more..

Mar 18 (AD) A warm weather advisory has been issued for residents of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Central, Southern, North-Western provinces and Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya, and Mullaitivu districts. Accordingly, the heat index, the temperature felt by the human body, is likely to increase up to the ‘Caution Level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-Central, Southern, North-Western provinces and Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya & Mullaitivu districts tomorrow. more..

Mar 18 (DM) Declassified documents from Israel’s Foreign Ministry have revealed that former Prez J.R Jayewardene had requested $1 million from Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad to finance his election campaign in 1987. According to cables dated Aug 6 and Aug 14, 1987, request was made during a meeting with a Mossad representative, at a time when the SL govt was facing mounting pressure from Arab states more..

Mar 18 (AD) Deputy President of the National Chamber of Commerce of SL (NCCSL), Dr. Lakmal Fernando, stated that imposing the burden from the losses caused by inferior quality coal on the general public is an illegal act. He made these remarks while participating in the final provincial public consultation session conducted by the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) in Colombo on Wednesday, held to obtain verbal submissions from the public on the proposed revision of more..

Mar 18 (NW) SL faces serious economic risks from the ongoing Middle East conflict, former Minister Harin Fernando said, warning of potential impacts on exports, tourism, and foreign exchange inflows. Fernando said rising global oil prices, disrupted shipping routes, and increasing inflation could affect the country’s fragile economic recovery. He noted that Brent crude prices have surged, while global supply chain disruptions are expected to drive up the cost of transport, food & essential services. more..

Mar 18 (FT) The United States finds itself ensnared in a perfect storm of its own making: a debilitating war in Iran, a transatlantic alliance on life support, and the quiet unravelling of the financial mechanism that has underpinned its global dominance for fifty years. The root cause, argue a growing chorus of strategic thinkers, is not incompetence, but a fundamental capture of foreign policy by interests that are profoundly at odds with American national security and economic stability. more..

Mar 18 (FT) Sri Lanka’s latest tender for importing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in 2026 has delivered a timely lesson in energy security. The contract ultimately secured supplies from the US, helping the country avoid a looming shortage at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension. Yet the outcome owed less to careful planning than to circumstance: the winning bid came from Geo Gas of Switzerland, a firm sourcing LPG from American refineries, which simply offered the lowest price. more..

Mar 18 (FT) Global shipping disruptions, rather than fuel availability or foreign exchange, have emerged as the primary risk to SL’s energy security despite stocks being sufficient into May, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament yesterday, underscoring the constraints posed by the escalating Middle East conflict. Making a special statement, Minister said inventories and confirmed shipments remain adequate under more..

Mar 18 (AD) The govt has decided to grant a weekly holiday to public sector employees every Wednesday starting today, until further notice, in response to ongoing fuel supply challenges. The Commissioner General of Essential Services, Prabath Chandrakeerthi stated that the holiday will also apply to schools, universities, and the judicial sector. In addition, govt has requested that both state-approved schools and private tuition classes suspend activities for the day. more..

Mar 18 (DM) Investigations into the recent seizure of over 123kg of heroin in international waters south of SL have uncovered a direct link to the notorious overseas-based drug trafficker and organised criminal, Paravi Suda. The multi-day fishing trawler, carrying a narcotics consignment valued at over Rs. 3 billion was intercepted by the Sri Lanka Navy during a special operation. The vessel and its five-member crew were brought to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour on Monday more..

Mar 18 (TM) Chairperson of the CPC, D.J. Rajakaruna announced the weekly fuel quota issued to the public under the QR code–based system will remain valid until 12 midnight on Saturday every week and will be refreshed every Sunday. He stated the CPC expects the QR code–based fuel quota system to reduce the country’s fuel consumption by 20%. The daily diesel consumption in the country currently stands at more..

Mar 18 (Island) Parliamentary Business Committee yesterday decided that Parliament would not convene today, in line with the govt’s directive declaring Wednesday a holiday for the public service. According to the parliamentary calendar, sittings had initially been scheduled for today, but the decision was revised following the policy announcement made earlier this week. The govt on Monday declared that all Wednesdays would be observed as a public holiday for state sector. more..

Mar 18 (DM) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has invited the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) for an urgent meeting next week, extending the invitation to TPA Leader Mano Ganesan, MP, during a phone conversation. According to Barath Arullsamy, Vice President of the Democratic People’s Front (DPF–TPA), the return of queues highlights a growing gap between govt assurances and ground realities. “The Prez told Parliament there is sufficient fuel stock and no need to panic. more..

Mar 18 (NW) Dr. Nishan de Mel, Executive Director of Verité Research, has proposed 3 practical measures to reduce fuel queues and save time, while maintaining the current total fuel allocation. Presenting the recommendations, Dr. de Mel said the focus should be on improving efficiency in distribution rather than increasing fuel quotas. First proposal is to introduce a timing restriction system, where access to fuel stations is staggered based on the last digit of a vehicle’s number plate more..

Mar 18 (DN) The inaugural ceremony of the A Village That Raises the Nation Community Productivity Model Village Project, organized by the National Productivity Secretariat under the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development, was held this morning at the Sivdevgama Community Hall, Kalutara. Inaugural event was held under the patronage of the Minister Sunil Handunnetti, and the Sivdevgama village belonging to the Maharekma Grama Niladhari Division more..

Mar 18 (DM) Fearing a possible fuel shortage stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, the govt has introduced a national fuel quota for vehicles. However, in a decisive move to protect the country’s hospitality sector, tourism officials have rolled out a dedicated priority fuel system and assured an uninterrupted supply of LP gas, in an effort to guarantee a comfortable and seamless travel experience for international visitors. more..

Mar 18 (Island) CIABOC yesterday recorded a statement from former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the allocation of a house for a maid working at the residence of the then Chief Justice Mohan Peiris, PC. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Secretary to the Ministry Defence and Urban Development, allegedly authorised the allocation of the house on the recommendation of the CJ during Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term. Rajapaksa govt brought in Peiris as the Chief Justice more..

Mar 18 (FT) In a bid to curb the misuse of digital money transfer platforms for illegal activities, the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the establishment of a consolidated data-sharing system integrating the Central Bank, SL Police and the Department of Registration of Persons. The move follows recommendations submitted by a Special Committee appointed earlier with Cabinet approval and Chaired by the Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Secretary. more..