El Niño may trigger drought until September: Met. Department warns

The Meteorology Department has warned that if El Niño conditions develop during the southwest monsoon, the country could face a prolonged drought lasting until September.

Russia’s Putin announces Orthodox Easter ceasefire, Ukraine’s Zelenskiy agrees

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a 32-hour ceasefire over a two-day period for Orthodox ‌Easter and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv would abide by the measure.

Public advised to take precautions during hot New Year period

Health authorities are urging the public to take necessary precautions when organizing and participating in Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities, citing the prevailing extreme hot weather conditions across the country.

Rise in NCDs raises health concerns ahead of festive season

Sri Lanka is witnessing a sharp rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), posing a growing public health concern across the country.

Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of IPL

Sri Lankan leg-break bowler Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled of the ongoing Indian Premier League due to injury, his franchise Lucknow Super Giants said on Thursday.

IMF watchful of NDB dealing with internal fraud

In the wake of an internal fraud rattling the National Development (NDB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said yesterday that it is closely watching the situation and is in touch with the Central Bank.

Middle East war poses significant challenges to Sri Lanka – IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that despite the gains, Sri Lanka continues to face significant challenges due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

First hand account of NDB fraud

Losing Rs.13.2 Billon because of fraud from a major Sri Lankan bank is hard to believe. It reminds us of a programme from the suspenseful ‘Money Heist’. But from that Rs. 13.2 Billion, the claim that customers’ monies have not been affected is even harder to believe.

Electricity bills in focus as IMF reforms, global costs drive tariff pressure

Electricity bills are set to remain in fresh focus as Sri Lanka pushes ahead with IMF-backed reforms, with rising global energy costs forcing further tariff pressure even as authorities try to protect struggling households.

Opposition backs protest against Power and Energy Minister

A group of protesters, together with opposition Members of Parliament, staged a demonstration near the Parliamentary premises today, calling for the resignation of Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody.

Firecracker demand remains strong despite cyclone impact: ACFMA

The All Ceylon Fireworks Manufacturers Association (ACFMA) says there is a satisfactory demand for firecrackers ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season, despite disruptions caused by the recent Ditwah cyclone.

Iran says it ‘would be dumb’ for US to let Netanyahu kill diplomacy

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that it would be “dumb” for the United States to allow Israel to jeopardise the regional ceasefire by continuing its intense attacks on Lebanon, which have killed hundreds of people since the truce came into effect.

Second term school holiday begins today

The second phase of the first school term in government and government-approved schools will conclude today (10), the The Education Ministry said.

Private university student clash at Homagama hotel leaves teen dead

Police have launched a detailed investigation following a fatal confrontation between two groups of students from a private university at a hotel in the Moragahahena area of Homagama, which left a 19-year-old dead.

NDB’s Rs.13.2bn fraud shock What the crisis revealed about controls, buffers, and banking resilience

The chronology explains the confidence shock. On 2 April 2026, NDB disclosed an internal fraud incident with an initial impact estimate of about Rs.380 million and

Special trains announced for New Year travel

Sri Lanka Railways Department (SLRD) has announced the operation of several special trains to facilitate passenger travel during the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year period.

Head of IMF says Iran war will permanently scar global economy even if peace is reached

The head of the International Monetary Fund has warned that the Iran war will permanently scar the global economy even if a durable peace deal in the Middle East can be reached.

Houthi leader hails US-Iran truce as ‘major victory’ for Tehran

The leader of Yemen’s Houthis, Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, has described the recently agreed ceasefire between the US and Iran as a “great victory” for Tehran and the so-called “axis of resistance”, a network of Iran-aligned groups across the Middle East.

US plans to automatically register men for military draft eligibility

Young American men could be automatically registered for eligibility for the military draft as soon as December, ending decades of self-registration.

Hormuz at near standstill as Iran warns ships to keep to its waters

Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz stood at well below 10% of normal volumes on Thursday ​despite a U.S.-Iran ceasefire as Tehran asserted its control by warning ships to keep to its territorial waters while doing so.Hundreds of tankers ‌and other ships have been stuck inside the Gulf since the Iran war began on Feb 28, cutting global oil supply by 20% in the world’s biggest-ever supply disruption.

Electric wheelchairs donated to war-disabled veterans

A special programme to donate modern electric wheelchairs to war-disabled veterans was held today at the Ranaviru Seva Authority (RSA) office.

Brazil’s Laura Cardoso makes T20I history with nine-wicket haul

Laura Cardoso etched her name into the record books, becoming the first player in either men’s or women’s T20I cricket to pick up nine wickets in a single innings.

New Year kevili table cost increases by 7% from 2025 to 2026

The cost of ingredients required to prepare a traditional “kevili” table for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has increased by 7.0% in 2026 compared to 2025, and by 2.5 times compared to 2019—prior to the pandemic and economic crisis.

Lebanon PM asks Pakistan to confirm country’s inclusion in truce talks

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has asked his Pakistani counterpart to confirm Lebanon’s inclusion in the Iran war ceasefire, a day after Israeli strikes on the country killed more than 200 people.

Excise seizes Rs.20Mn worth imported booze kept for Avurudu

A large stock of imported foreign liquor worth over Rs.20 million, kept ready for distribution during the Avurudu season, was seized by the Department of Excise from a location in Wellawatta this week.

Islamabad locks down for first US-Iran talks as Israeli attacks on Lebanon jeopardise truce

Israel bombed more targets in Lebanon on Thursday, putting the U.S.-Iran ​ceasefire into further jeopardy after the biggest Israeli attacks on its neighbour of the war killed more than 250 people and threatened to torpedo Donald Trump’s truce.

Market slides amid early selling pressure, partial recovery fails to lift indices

The Colombo Stock Exchange witnessed a subdued and cautious trading session on 09th March 2026, as early selling pressure weighed heavily on market performance despite a modest recovery later in the day. The ASPI declined sharply during the first hour of trading, reflecting weak investor sentiment at the open.

Government to modernize public transport for safety and convenience

The government’s objective is to transform public transportation into a safe, technologically advanced service that can be used with convenience by all citizens.

CAA launches action against overpricing in trains and canteens

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has launched strict legal action against traders engaging in overpricing and failing to display price information in trains and railway station canteens.

Record lottery prize to be awarded tomorrow

The Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development is preparing to award the largest lottery prize in its history, with a winning cheque exceeding Rs. 620 million.