France Commends Sri Lanka’s treatment of IRIS Dena - French envoy

18 Mar 2026

1

The Middle East war is flaring up, with the world economy reeling under its impact in terms of surging fuel prices, disruption to navigation and air travel, etc. Sri Lanka, a country still with a fragile economy, has taken a major hit, with tourism revenue amounting to US$ 500,000 at risk. The spike in global fuel prices has resulted in the reintroduction of QR codes for the rationalisation of retail sales.

Half a million USD tourism revenue at risk due to war in Middle East

17 Mar 2026

1

In the midst of escalating conflict in the Gulf, Sri Lanka’s daily tourism revenue at risk has been estimated at half million US dollars, according to a top official from the Sri Lanka Tourism, Development Authority.

Sri Lanka turns to American gas for cooking

17 Mar 2026

5

Sri Lanka has turned to the United States for domestic gas purchases instead of depending on the Middle East for supplies, and a shipment that has already been imported is currently stored at anchorage in the Maldives waters due to the lack of sufficient storage facilities in the country, an official said.

Sri Lanka should create fair, transparent, open, stable environment for FDI attractions- Chinese envoy

16 Mar 2026

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Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong emphasised that Sri Lanka should think about creating a fair, transparent, open, and stable environment for the attraction of foreign investment.

Uncertainty over Global Fuel Supply

QR code to continue indefinitely

16 Mar 2026

15

The National Fuel Authorization System (QR Code), introduced by the government in the midst of uncertainty in the global economy following the Middle East, is to continue for an indefinite period with the government planning to link it to a digital payment mode in the future, an official said.

Chinese Ambassador proposes trilateral cooperation involving China, India, Sri Lanka

16 Mar 2026

2

At a time when there is a thawing of China- India relations, Chinese Ambassador in Colombo Qi Zhenhong recalled how he, at the beginning of his stint in Colombo, proposed a trilateral cooperation involving Sri Lanka, China and India.

Coal crisis:

Middle East crisis adds fuel to fire

13 Mar 2026

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The widening conflict in the Gulf which is having multiple impacts on Sri Lanka is now hampering the delivery of coal shipments required for power generation at the moment, an official said yesterday.

Sri Lanka in talks with India, China for emergency oil purchases amid Gulf crisis

12 Mar 2026

5

In a bid to ward off a possible fuel-related crisis due to the widening conflict in the Gulf, the government, through the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), is in talks with India and China for oil purchases, an official said.

IRIS Dena incident Keep big power rivalry out of region : Dr Kohona

11 Mar 2026

11

In the wake of widening conflict in the Gulf and an Iranian ship being attacked close to Sri Lankan waters, former Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona, in an interview with Daily Mirror, takes questions regarding its implications for Sri Lanka and what it should do.

Middle Eastern airspace closure

National carrier takes new route via Afghanistan, Azerbaijan for European destinations

10 Mar 2026

13

Following the closure of Middle Eastern airspace, SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier, has adopted an alternative route through Afghanistan and Azerbaijan for its European destinations, an official said.

U.S. Pacific Command recognizes Sri Lanka acted according to international law

09 Mar 2026

7

The US Indo-Pacific Command has recognized that Sri Lanka provided life-saving support to survivors of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict or the International Humanitarian Law.

Sri Lanka braces for food, energy supply shocks amid widening Middle East conflict

09 Mar 2026

1

Amid the widening conflict in the Middle East, the Sri Lankan government is bracing for possible disruptions to energy and essential food supplies and potential price spikes in the months ahead, though there is no immediate major threat.

It is thankful Sri Lanka did not sign SOFA with U.S. - former Foreign Secretary

06 Mar 2026

4

In the backdrop of an Iranian warship sinking off in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) after a U.S. submarine attack, former Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha said it was ‘ thankfully’ that Sri Lanka had not signed the Status of Force Agreement with the U.S. despite many people advocating for it at that time.

Norway seeks enhanced ties with Sri Lanka, tackling corruption essential for economic growth - Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik

06 Mar 2026

8

Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, who was in Sri Lanka, discussed the latest dynamics of bilateral relations with Sri Lanka. In an interview with Daily Mirror, he said Norway looks to enhance ties with Sri Lanka. He was here on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Excerpts:

Sri Lanka deliberates on Iranian vessel near territorial waters

05 Mar 2026

15

Sri Lankan authorities are currently discussing the steps to be taken regarding another Iranian vessel lingering near the country’s territorial waters, a source said.

Middle East war spills over to Indian Ocean, adjacent to Sri Lanka

05 Mar 2026

6

Indian Ocean security appears to be in jeopardy after an Iranian warship sank just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters in the midst of war flaring up in the Middle East following the United States and Israel attack on Iran, which launched retaliatory strikes.

Sri Lanka to lose US $ 15 million tourism revenue per week due to airspace closures in Middle East

04 Mar 2026

9

One-week closure of Middle East airspace will deny Sri Lanka US$ 15 million in tourism revenue, as around 30 percent of arrivals take place through that region, an official said.

Middle-East War: Sri Lanka should tell its stand clearly on the breach of international law -Iranian Ambassador

03 Mar 2026

7

In the wake of war raging in the Middle-East following the U.S. Israel attacks on Iran, Iranian Ambassador Dr. Alireza Delkhosh who offered to have an interview with Daily Mirror, discussed in what direction the situation will head in the coming days.

Any impact on fuel prices will be reflected locally after April : Official

02 Mar 2026

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Any impact of the current crisis in the global fuel supply will be reflected in local pricing only after April, an official said yesterday.

Energy crisis if coal tender cancelled, Govt weighs options

28 Feb 2026

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The country is slated to face an energy crisis if the current coal tender is cancelled over the low quality supplies, an official said.