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News Archive for Mar 2026
“We Are In an Economic War,” Venezuelan President: Just like Sri Lanka?“Make the economy scream,” wrote Henry Kissinger in a note to CIA forces involved in efforts to oust President Salvador Allende in Chile in the early 1970s. The same strategy was applied in Venezuela in 2002. A coup d’état that briefly succeeded, but then failed, was followed by an economic sabotage that shut down the oil industry and depleted the nation of basic consumer products, causing more than $20 billion USD in damages to the economy, but failing to remove Chavez from power. The business, labor, media and political groups backing... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/26)
Head-to-Head on DRS Intellectual Property Rights
The Reply of David Becker (Head of Legal, ICC) to Senaka Weeraratna was dismissive, disrespectful and patently wrong in the interpretation of law. The reply of the South African lawyer David Becker (Head of Legal, ICC) to Senaka Weeraratna in May 2010 on the question of the intellectual property rights over his brainchild ‘Player Referral’ which was rebranded by the ICC as the UDRS (Umpire Decision Review System), was dismissive, disrespectful and patently wrong in the interpretation of law. The legal doctrine of Constructive Notice was overlooked in Becker’s response. Constructive Notice acts as a legal... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/26)
The Government of the Netherlands must compensate Sri Lanka for crimes committed during the Dutch Occupation of Ceylon (1658 - 1796)
The Netherlands occupied parts of Ceylon from 1658 - 1796 as a Dutch Colony. Its legacy as an occupying power is a mixed bag. Ceylon was administered by the Dutch from Batavia (Indonesia), until the British replaced the Dutch in 1796. As a Colonial power the Dutch vandalized the treasures of the native Sinhala people, including the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth) in Kandy, which was plundered by the Dutch led by the Dutch Governor Baron van Eck. A notable artifact seized was the ornate "Cannon of Kandy," which was later sent to the Netherlands... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/26)
166: Israel's Founder's Grandson “This is the end of Israel” w. Miko Peled
https://youtu.be/T0OyE1idhGA... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/26)
Have the ICC in collaboration with SLC acted within the 'Spirit of Cricket' in dealing with the critical issue of ownership of the intellectual property of DRS?
https://share.google/aimode/MQDf4i4KoSTdvPHrq The question of whether the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have acted within the Spirit of Cricket regarding the ownership of Decision Review System (DRS) intellectual property (IP) is a subject of significant debate and public criticism, particularly within Sri Lanka. While the ICC maintains that it followed internal processes to adopt the technology, critics and legal representatives of the claimant argue that the current handling of these rights lacks fairness and transparency. Core Claims and Allegations Original Concept: Sri Lankan... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/26)
Derana 360 | ජනාධිපති නීතීඥ අලි සබ්රි | With Ali Sabry | 2026-03-30
https://youtu.be/AD9ivwQ8aMM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 31/03/26)
NDB Bank Secures Top Domestic Ranking as Sri Lanka’s Best Trade Finance Bank at Euromoney 2026 US & India Pressure Sri Lanka to Abandon ‘Neutrality’ Trinco Mega industrial zone Slave Mindset of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) The Impact of Combat Trauma on Violence and Criminal Behaviour Deputy Minister Co-Chairs Meeting to Discuss Foreign Employment Opportunities for Retiring Naval Personnel Beware of circles within ICC that are determined to deny any form of credit to Sri Lanka for its role in formulation of DRS via Player - Referral, and the subversive role of SLC in preventing credit to Sri Lanka on DRS US-Israel strikes on Iran: A war that became everyone’s IMMIGRATION PRACTITIONERS ASSOCIATION SEMINAR: IMMIGRATION OPPORTUNITIES TO THE UK AND BEYOND JR and India signing the peace accord -Points to ponder Activist quits UN positions, says it’s ready for ‘nuclear weapon use’ scenario, claims ‘lobby protecting’ US, Israel
National Development Bank PLC (NDB) has been named Sri Lanka’s Best Trade Finance Bank at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, securing the (LankaWeb - 31/03/26)
Posted byee ink.March 28, 2026Posted inUncategorizedTags:history, India, Iran, news, politics blog: https://eesrilanka.wordpress.com ‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’ e-Con e-News 22-28 March 2026 * ‘The [USA] wanted to bring 2 warplanes armed with 8 antiship missiles from a base in Djibouti… We turned down the request to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality’, he added to applause… Dissanayake said he had received another request that same day, on Feb 26, from Iran to seek permission for 3 naval vessels to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/26)
Sri Lanka should initiate following project in Trinco in parallel with the proposed development of Oil Tanks in Trincomalee A. Deep Water Oil Jetty (POP Model)• Public–Private Partnership with “Plug-in Operator Participation (POP)”• Capable of handling VLCC / ULCC tankers• Linked via subsea or onshore pipelinesInvestor appeal:• Long-term throughput guarantees• Strategic location near East-West shipping laneB. Slop & Residue Processing HubThis is actually a high-margin niche often ignored.• Reception of:• Sludge• Tank bottom residues• Oily water mixtures• Processing into:• Recovered fuel oil• Waste treatment productsWhy it works:• Environmental regulations (IMO) force ships to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/26)
The "slave mindset" within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is a phrase frequently used by critics, fans, and former players to describe a perceived culture of subservience, systemic incompetence, and lack of professional dignity within the administrative structure, rather than the players themselves. According to various commentaries and reports, this mentality is characterized by the following: Administrative Subservience and Politicization Dependency on Foreign Power Dynamics: Critics have argued that SLC sometimes behaves as a "slave to the BCCI" (Board of Control for Cricket in India), bowing to the influence of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/26)
The prolonged 30-year armed conflict in Sri Lanka has left many military veterans and former members of the LTTE grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many individuals suffering from PTSD remain undiagnosed and without treatment. The individuals affected by the conflict carry deep psychological wounds and haunting memories of war-related violence. There is a tendency for these PTSD victims to engage in violent acts. Police reports suggest that former soldiers and some ex-members of the LTTE are involved in criminal activities and exhibit social aggression. The involvement of former military... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/26)
A discussion on expanding foreign employment opportunities for retiring Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel in the shipping and marine sector was held today (30 Mar), co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and Deputy Minister of Ports & Civil Aviation, Hon. Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku at the office of the Deputy Minister of Defence in Colombo. The discussion focused on the lack of internationally recognized professional qualification certificates required for employment in the global maritime industry and the need to establish a mechanism to help retiring... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/26)
The claim that Senaka Weeraratna , a Sri Lankan lawyer, is the original architect of the Decision Review System (DRS) centers on his 1997 proposal for a "Player-Referral" system. While this concept is now a cornerstone of international cricket, both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have faced significant criticism from Weeraratna and his supporters for failing to formally acknowledge his role. The Basis of the Claim Original Proposal (1997): Weeraratna first published his idea in a letter to The Australian on March 25, 1997. He proposed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/26)
The US-Israel war against Iran is already being felt far beyond the region. In both the West and the East, the effects are showing up in everyday life – most immediately in our wallets, as rising oil and gas prices push up fuel and energy bills. For more than two decades, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) ), the current Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, warned of the growing risk of a global war – often dismissed as pessimistic. Today, however, talk of “World War Three” is no longer fringe;... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/26)
13th FEBRUARY, 2024You may find below a rendition of the speech was delivered at a seminar hosted by the Immigration Practitioners Association, focusing on the complex nature of immigration law and practice, with a special emphasis on Sri Lanka's context. The speaker highlighted the significant emigration trends from Sri Lanka, mainly driven by employment opportunities abroad, particularly in the Middle East, and the diverse reasons people leave, including education and family reunification, mainly towards Western countries. The speech detailed the intricacies of visa processes and the challenges faced by Sri Lankans, such as dealing with the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/26)
Under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, there were implicit and explicit understandings about Trincomalee: It should not be used in a way that threatens India’s security Strategic assets (like the oil tank farm) would involve Indian consultation or participation In simple terms: India secured a “strategic veto influence,” not an automatic development obligation.
A. India Was Seen More as a Security Pressure Than a Partner At that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 30/03/26)
Mar 27, 2026 An allied diplomat at the United Nations resigned from his positions on Friday and levelled allegations against the international body, claiming that it was preparing for a scenario of “possible nuclear weapon use”. Mohamad Safa alleged that he received criticism when he expressed his concerns and different perspective after October 2023. Featured Image: Mohamad Safa announced his resignation through a post on X accompanied by a letter detailing his reasoning behind the decision. (X/
mhdksafa) Mohamad Safa was the main representative of Patriotic Vision or... -Full Story-
Weather manipulation to deepen drought-- Iranian expert accuses US, Israel
Amid worsening shortages, rationing has intensified, protests have erupted in cities like Khomam, and the overall social climate has grown increasingly volatile i24NEWS Thunderstorms ALAIN JOCARD (AFP/Archives) An Iranian water resources specialist has accused the United States and Israel of manipulating regional weather patterns to intensify Iran’s severe drought. According to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Mohsen Arbabian claimed in a July 30 interview on the Iranian YouTube channel Khateh Energy that both nations have been "deliberately diverting clouds" away from Iran for over... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
The reply of the South African lawyer David Becker ( Head of Legal, ICC) to Senaka Weeraratna
The reply of the South African lawyer David Becker ( Head of Legal, ICC) to Senaka Weeraratna in May 2010 on the question of the intellectual property rights over his brainchild 'Player Referral' which was rebranded by the ICC as the UDRS (Umpire Decision Review System), was dismissive, disrespectful and patently wrong in the interpretation of law. The legal doctrine of Constructive Notice was overlooked in Becker's response. Constructive Notice acts as a legal presumption that a person has received notice, even if they actually have not, provided the information is public or easily accessible. Furthermore Becker's... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
What are the fault lines in the Human Rights Discourse which is force fed unequivocally to all and sundry in predominantly Buddhist countries?
Query from Senaka Weeraratna (concept) Answer Primary source The Place of Animals in Buddhism Francis Story (later known as Angarika Sugatananda) https://www.bps.lk/olib/bl/bl023_Story_The-Place-of-Animals-in-Buddhism.pdf https://share.google/aimode/UdTXYKfBukOIegpTO Answer supplied by Chat GPT The discourse on human rights in Buddhist-majority countries (such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar) often grapples with a distinct, foundational tension: the conflict between modern, anthropocentric human rights frameworks and the traditional Buddhist, ecocentric focus on all sentient beings. While modern human rights focus on the rights of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
සලේගේ පාස්කු කට උත්තරය මෙන්න | බුද්ධි අංශ සම්බන්ධ සුවිශේෂීම හෙළිදරව්ව
https://youtu.be/hFamdfI72Gk... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
සලේ අත්අඩංගුවට ගැනීමේ දප්පුල ද ලිවේරා කුමන්ත්රණය | දුරකතන කුළුණු වාර්තා සියල්ල හෙළිකරයි!
https://youtu.be/TskcKM0E_O0... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
Sri Lankan people need to stand with the suffering people of Iran and Israel, and support democracy and humanity - II
Continued from March 18, 2026 Soon after its controversial establishment in 1948, the State of Israel was surrounded by enemies, its Arab neighbours Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, and Iraq. In response, founding prime minister David Ben Gurion conceived and developed a brilliant foreign policy strategy known as the Periphery Doctrine (Torat Haperipheria) to deal with the Arab World’s enmity towards the Jewish State and its resultant isolation. The ingenious Ben Gurion looked beyond the hostile Arab nations, and identified a natural ally in the East, the non-Arab Persia (an ancient empire... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
OPEN LETTER: A Call for Efficiency and Market Liberalization in Vehicle Plate Issuance
To: The Commissioner General of Motor Traffic Subject: Addressing the Chronic Delay in Official Number Plate Issuance To the Department of Motor Traffic, The current state of our roads reveals a glaring administrative failure: a significant percentage of newly registered vehicles are forced to operate using temporary or non-standard plates. While vehicle owners fulfill their legal and financial obligations immediately upon purchase, the state continues to fail in its reciprocal duty to provide the necessary identification plates in a reasonable timeframe. In an era of rapid... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
The Rise and Fall of a National Fleet: Why Sri Lanka Sold Its Ships
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC) was a symbol of national pride and economic independence. At its peak, the corporation operated a diverse fleet of 17 vessels, including eight conventional liners, eight container ships, and one oil tanker. Today, after decades of decline and the total disposal of that original fleet, the corporation operates just two modern bulk carriers. What led to the dismantling of a fleet that once commanded the sea lanes from Europe to Australia? The answer lies in a combination of "Beyond Economical... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
Trump’s Iran war has left the Gulf shattered:
Trump’s Iran war has left the Gulf shattered: US bases turned into targets, economies battered, and the “oasis” myth destroyed. Gulf rulers now confront a harsh reckoning over their reliance on Washington and the uncertain search for a new, fragile security order An Ominous Reckoning For The Gulf States As Trump assembled major US naval and air assets in the eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and others quietly urged Washington to avoid a full-scale assault on Iran, fearing a direct blowback on their territory and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
Neutrality in the Context of Geopolitical Rivalries
The long standing Foreign Policy of Sri Lanka was Non-Alignment. However,in the context of emerging geopolitical rivalries, there was a need to question theadequacy of Non-Alignment as a policy to meet developing challenges.Neutrality as being a more effective Policy was first presented in an article titled“Independence: its meaning and a direction for the future” (The Island, February14, 2019). The switch over from Non-Alignment to Neutrality was first adoptedby former President Gotabaya and followed through by successive Governments.However, it was the current Government that did not miss an opportunity toannounce that its Foreign Policy was Neutral.The... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
The Mahapabbata ritual: Historically and correctly documented by Professor Nishan C Wijesinha of German School of Medicine.
The Mahapabbata ritual: Historically and correctly documented by Professor Nishan C Wijesinha of German School of Medicine. What is visualised here are the Holistic relics of the Mahapabbata ritual which was used ritually for chanting for empowerment on the warrior elephant Mahapabbata of King Elara. This ritual was preserved to the Vallipuram Hindu Temple in Vadamarachchi. Later this ritualistic chanting of empowerment was copied by the Kataragama Deities. Although their copycat methodology enabled King Dutugemunu to gain victory over King Elara; one must not forget that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
An Urdu Poem by Promised Messiah, peace be on him, in Praise of Almighty Allah.
Promised Messiah Day on March 23. This faith-inspiring Urdu poem in praise of Allah the Almighty, composed by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (1835 – 1908) , the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, peace be on him, and the English translation goes: Logo Suno Key Zinda Khuda……… Listen, O people! The Living God is not such a God Who Does not always have the habit of displaying His Might. What pleasure is in life if He is not found! ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 29/03/26)
Sri Lanka among nations most vulnerable to Strait of Hormuz closure: Study
Colombo, March 28 (Daily Mirror) - A new report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy has sounded a sharp alarm for Sri Lanka, ranking it as one of the most vulnerable nations globally to a shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. Following the recent military escalations in the Persian Gulf and the subsequent de facto closure of the waterway on February 28, 2026, researchers warn that the island nation faces a "seismic shock" that could derail its delicate post-2022 economic recovery. The study highlights that while the world often focuses... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/26)
Sri Lanka ranked second most unaffordable housing market in Asia
Colombo, March 28 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka has been ranked the second in the world’s most unaffordable housing markets as per a report published by 'The Economist'. According to the report, Cities in developing countries such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines are gaining hundreds of millions of people. "This urbanisation is only getting started. In South Asia, for example, barely 35% of the population is urban, compared with 80% in North America," the report said. "Yet problems in Asia’s great metropolises are mounting.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/26)
Sri Lanka’s supplies hit, India sends fuel shipment
“…A shipment of 38,000 MT (metric tonnes) of petroleum, of which 20,000 MT is diesel and 18,000 MT petrol, has arrived in Colombo today 28th March, 2026,” the Indian High Commission in Colombo said in a statement. In a significant outreach, India has sent a shipment of fuel to Sri Lanka, days after the phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Fuel shortage and panic buying have led to queues in the island nation, which depends on imports for its energy demand. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 28/03/26)
Can Section 127 Statements be Manipulated by Law Enforcement?
Section 127 of Sri Lanka’s Code of Criminal Procedure allows a Magistrate to record statements or confessions in criminal cases — not just from the accused, but also from anyone claiming to have information about a crime. The law aims to capture voluntary statements in a judicial setting. The Magistrate’s role is only to ensure that the statement is given freely, without threats or inducements. This means the Magistrate only sees the final statement — not the discussions, questioning, or pressure that may have shaped the statement. A statement may appear voluntary,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Why the 1990/91 Gulf War Oil Shock Was Mild on Sri Lanka Than 2022 and 2026
Oil and gas prices have risen and supply shortages are felt in many parts of the world. While supply quantity shortages are worse in 2026, price increase has been small compared to 1990/91 war when prices jumped 250% initially and stayed elevated for a few months before collapsing. The base price was very small in comparison to today ($17 per barrel verses $70 a barrel) but the impact was higher as the Sri Lankan economy was a fraction of what it is today. However, despite the shock to both supply and prices and the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
ICC overlooks Legal Doctrine of Constructive Notice in denying any knowledge of Concept of Player Referral (that became DRS) published nine years (1997) before ICC came up with UDRS in 2006
The International Cricket Council (ICC) responded to Senaka Weeraratna's claims regarding the Decision Review System (DRS) by asserting that their relevant committees reached the concept independently and were unaware of his prior publications. Weeraratna and his supporters argue that this defense fails to account for the legal Doctrine of Constructive Notice, which suggests that because his "Player Referral" concept was widely published in mainstream international media starting in 1997—nine years before the ICC's formal adoption in 2006—the ICC is legally presumed to have been aware of it. The Core Dispute Weeraratna’s... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Why doesn’t Sri Lanka’s Media ask Former Attorney General Dappula — Where Is the ‘Grand Conspiracy’ Evidence
On 21 April 2019, eight suicide bombers unleashed coordinated attacks that killed nearly 300 people and shattered a nation that had experienced a decade of peace since the defeat of LTTE in May 2009. The scale of the tragedy was compounded by a disturbing reality: multiple intelligence warnings had been received weeks in advance. Sri Lanka’s own intelligence units had forwarded information on Zahran Hashim to the Attorney General’s Department as early as 2017, while an arrest warrant had also been issued that same year. The testimonies before numerous inquiries and commissions exposed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Masks of Neutrality, Oil Shocks, Disaster Capitalism and the Disinformation Game: Covid-19 Redux amid the Rise of the Petro Yuan
The Ides of March are here: The same Playbook to spread disinformation and turn science on its head during the Covid-19 panicdemic that kicked off in March 2020 is playing again. QR-coded digital control of populations and fuel rationing with real and staged shortages and outright disinformation amid propaganda wars are back purportedly due to the crisis in the Middle East. It feels like we are back to the bad old days of Covid-19 economic meltdown. As fuel prices soar through the roof, QR-queues, limited travel, four-day work weeks that debilitate state institutions and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
It’s the Petrodollar, Stupid! Covid-19 Redux, Masks of Neutrality, and the Rise of the Petroyuan
PART 2
Back in 2020, the Covid-19 “Emergency” was staged primarily to lockdown and meltdown the Global South’s emerging economies in the Asian 21st Century’ and to make Euro-America great again. The BRICS emerging economies were set to beat the G7 traditional Euro-America plus economies that year – 2020. Fear, anxiety and panic were a psychological operation to keep the public distracted and ignorant about the Geopolitical Economic Big Picture. Disinformation, panic, confusion, fear and anxiety about “worse... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Fuel Quota Exchange Framework
The fuel QR code and weekly quota system are currently in operation. Some users find it difficult to manage the week within their allocation, while others find the quota exceeds their requirements. Unfortunately, any remaining balance cannot be carried forward to the following week or collected in containers, a restriction largely based on safety and security concerns. I believe the application should include a feature allowing users to transfer their weekly allocation to another registered member. This could be done either as a bona fide gesture or through a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
සපුමල්ගස්කඩ ආරණ්ය සේනාසනාධිපති අති පූජ්ය ගල්ගමුවේ ශාන්තබෝධි නාහිමිගේ ඕස්ට්රේලියා සංචාරය
ශ්රී ලංකාවේ උතුරු පළාතේ ප්රධාන සංඝනායක පදවිය දරන්නාවු සපුමල්ගස්කඩ ආරණ්ය සේනාසනාධිපති අති පූජ්ය ගල්ගමුවේ ශාන්තබෝධි නාහිමියන් ලබ්න අප්රේල් මස මෙල්බර්න්හි බෙරික් ශාක්යමුනි සම්බුද්ධ විහාරයේ සති 3ක පමණ කාලයක් වැඩසිටීමට නියමිතය. ශ්රී ලංකාවේ උතුරු පළාතේ පුරාණ බෞද්ධ පුරාවිද්යාත්මක ස්ථාන, විශේෂයෙන්ම මුලතිව්හි කුරුන්දි විහාරය, ප්රතිසංස්කරණය කර සංරක්ෂණය කිරීමට දරන උත්සාහයන් නිසා පුළුල් ලෙස පිළිගැනීමට ලක්ව ඇති ශාන්තබෝධි නාහිමියන්, වවුනියාව දිස්ත්රික්කයේ පිහිටා ඇති ක්රි.ව. පළමුවැනි සියවසට අයත් පුරාණ පබ්බතාරාම පරිශ්රයක්වූ සපුමල්ගස්කඩ රජමහ විහාරයට අමතරව බෝගස්වැව ශ්රී සාලවනොරාමයේත්, මුලතිව්හි පිහිටි වැලිඔය හංසවිල ස්වර්ණහංස විහාරයේත් විහාරාධිපති වසයෙන් කටයුතු කරයි. ඒ අතර තුර, උන්වහන්සේ වද්දමන පබ්බත විහාරය, විශුද්ධාරාම රජ මහා... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Martin Crowe proposed the name of David Richardson as the brains behind the DRS system calling it the David Richardson System despite overwhelming documentary evidence that Senaka Weeraratna held copyright of the Player - Referral system (DRS)
There is significant documentation and argument supporting the claim that Senaka Weeraratna, a Sri Lankan lawyer, first proposed the concept of a "Player Referral System" (now known as DRS) in 1997, long before its implementation. However, the Decision Review System (DRS) as it was implemented by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2008–2009 has often been associated with other individuals in the media, specifically David Richardson. Here is a breakdown of the evidence surrounding this issue: 1. Senaka Weeraratna's Pioneer Proposal (1997) Original Proposal: Weeraratna... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Persian was the official language in India before the British replaced it with English.
Lessons for Sri Lanka https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ftskJBeCIo0?feature=share... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Sri Lanka Cricket: From World Champions to a System in Crisis
Cricket in Sri Lanka has never been merely a sport. It has long served as a unifying force, transcending divisions of ethnicity, religion, and class, particularly during periods of national adversity. At its height, it gave the country not only victories, but belief. Yet today, that sense of purpose appears diminished. Sri Lankan cricket is no longer setting standards; it is struggling to keep pace with a rapidly evolving game. The contrast with the past is striking. The triumph at the 1996 World Cup was not an isolated success but the culmination of vision,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan recalls team-mates' 'racist' 'dark chocolate for dark boy' jibes
You are talking of racism in Cricket in India, what about the rest of the world? What about the ICC? Look at the way ICC treats Cricket Innovations by non - white people. The Player - Referral concept which is the foundational basis of DRS (Decision Review System) was conceived and published by Senaka Weeraratna as a letter to the Editor of the Australian (March 25, 1997). The four critical elements that are core to the DRS are there in the letter: Player Empowerment: Allowing players (not just umpires) to challenge a decision. Hierarchical Review:... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Russia to provide refined fuel to Sri Lanka
he Russian Deputy Minister of Energy, Roman Marshavin, agreed to supply refined fuel to Sri Lanka, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Managing Director Mayura Neththikumarage stated. The agreement followed the arrival of Deputy Minister Marshavin and a Russian delegation in the island today (26). The visit aimed to conduct diplomatic discussions regarding the supply of petroleum and coal to the country.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/26)
We’ve Paid Our Dues—It’s Time for Accountability, Not Austerity.
For three decades, I worked overseas, sending hard-earned foreign exchange home during some of this country’s darkest hours. Those remittances weren't just personal savings; they were a lifeline for a nation embroiled in a civil war, a war we eventually won decisively. Now in retirement, I haven't sat back. We’ve taken steps to reduce our carbon footprint and ensure our own energy security. We bought a hybrid car and invested in solar panels for our roof. Today, we don’t owe the electricity board a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
A World Order in Crisis: War, Power, and Resistance
Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter prohibits member states from using threats or force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Violating international law, the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. The ostensible reason for this unprovoked aggression was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The United States is the first and only country to have used nuclear weapons in war, against Japan in August 1945. Some officials in Israel have threatened to use a “doomsday weapon” against Gaza.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
Rapid Revegetation as a Post-Disaster Mitigation Strategy for Landslide Effected Slopes After Cyclonic Storm ‘Ditwah’, Sri Lanka
This article appeared in the March 15th, 2026 Sunday Island In late November 2025, Cyclonic Storm Ditwah stalled over Sri Lanka, unloading a deluge that would trigger one of the most devastating landslide events in recent memory. While the immediate toll—lives lost, homes destroyed, families displaced—captured the nation’s heartbreak, a slower-moving disaster is now unfolding on the denuded slopes of the central highlands. Unless urgent action is taken, the environmental aftermath could threaten the very infrastructure that powers the country’s economy for decades to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
Defence Secretary Graces India–Sri Lanka Defence Industry Seminar in Colombo
The Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), graced as the chief guest of the India–Sri Lanka Defence Industry Seminar held today (25 March) at the Taj Samudra Hotel in Colombo. Upon his arrival, the Defence Secretary was warmly received by the Indian High Commissioner H.E. Santosh Jha. The third edition of this seminar is being organized by the Indian High Commission under the theme “Identifying New Opportunities and Forging New Bonds.” Speaking at the event, the Defence Secretary said that the enduring Indo - Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
SLC has caused nationwide anger with demands for public inquiry of corruption. Would an Asset Betterment Test of each and every SLC official help such an Inquiry?
Answer Chat GPT An Asset Betterment Test (or method) would be a highly effective forensic tool for a public inquiry into Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) corruption allegations. This method is a standard investigative technique used to identify unexplained wealth by comparing an individual's reported income against their actual net worth and lifestyle expenditures over a specific period. How the Test Supports an Inquiry The application of this test to SLC officials from their date of joining would help the inquiry in several critical ways: ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
Positioning Trincomalee as a Regional Energy, Industrial, and Logistics Hub in Alignment with India’s Sagarmala Initiative
India’s Sagarmala Programme is transforming the maritime and industrial landscape of the region, particularly along its eastern seaboard. Ports such as Kakinada Port are being developed into integrated industrial and energy hubs. Sri Lanka, due to its strategic location, is uniquely positioned to integrate with this regional growth. Trincomalee, with its deep natural harbor and historical energy infrastructure, presents a rare opportunity to emerge as a complementary hub. This paper proposes a national strategy to develop Trincomalee as: ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
Public Push For Cricket Reform in Sri Lanka: Petition Highlights Alleged Fraud and Mismanagement in Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Board
https://youtu.be/xDYBmBYOFkM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
NDB Bank Hosts Analysts Earnings Call on FY 2025 Financial Results
National Development Bank PLC (NDB) conducted its Analysts Earnings Call on 17th March, following the release of the financial results and annual report for the full year ended December 31, 2025. The session, led by Kelum Edirisinghe, Director/ Chief Executive Officer of NDB Bank, together with the Bank’s senior management team, was held virtually via Zoom. During the call, the CEO delivered a comprehensive overview of the Bank’s financial performance for FY 2025, outlining key strategic priorities, operational highlights, and the Bank’s future plans. His presentation was followed by an interactive Q&A... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
Sri Lanka, Russia to strike oil purchasing deal next week
Colombo, March 25 (Daily Mirror) - Against the backdrop of disruptions to global oil supply, Sri Lanka expects to finalize an oil purchase deal with Russia next week, an official said. Earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath held discussions with Russian Ambassador Levan S. Dzhagaryan, on the possibility of purchasing Russian fuel to navigate the current energy crisis. After that, the Russian Embassy in Colombo forwarded Sri Lanka’s request to Moscow for consideration by the Russian authorities. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna told Daily Mirror the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
When Sara Jasmin alian Pulasthini Mahendran fits multiple agendas.
In complex investigations, facts are expected to lead the narrative. But sometimes, the narrative begins to lead the facts. When that happens, certain names rise above others — not necessarily because of proven significance, but because of how they are used and manipulated and spread. Such is the name of Pulasthini Mahendran, also known as Sara Jasmine. How is it that her name became the only name flogged across media from the time of the Sainthamaruthu suicide? On the same day, Saheeda — sister of two individuals linked to the Mawanella Buddha statue... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/26)
Mohamed Suhail's Supreme Court Verdict: Misuse of PTA and State Silence Pose a Serious Threat to Democracy!
The landmark Supreme Court verdict finding that the fundamental rights of Mohamed Rifai Mohamed Suhail have been violated has once again exposed the dark reality surrounding Sri Lanka's law enforcement machinery and freedom of expression. As an Internet Media Action (IMA) standing for rights in the internet and social media space, we are deeply concerned about the serious democratic crisis emerging through this incident. Stripping nine precious months from a person's life under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) — based solely on a social media post and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/26)
Cabinet Concept Note
Title: Implementation of High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane and Regulated Carpooling System in Sri Lanka
Urban congestion in Colombo and surrounding corridors such as: Malabe – Colombo Negombo – Colombo has reached critical levels, causing: Loss of productivity Fuel wastage Increased pollution International cities like Los Angeles have successfully implemented HOV lane systems combined with ride-sharing models.
To: Reduce... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/26)
Iranian warship attacked by US was invited by Sri Lanka: Envoy
'This vessel, and two other vessels were invited, I repeat it, invited by the Sri Lankan side to come here,' says Iranian Ambassador to Colombo Alireza Delkhosh ISTANBUL The Iranian warship attacked by the US earlier this month was sailing at the invitation of Sri Lanka, said Alireza Delkhosh, Iranian ambassador to the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, on Monday. The IRS Dena was “not ready for war and it was not here for war. It was not here for conflict,” Delkhosh said, according to a video record of his... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/26)
Sri Lankan workers arrive in Russia as South Asian labour migration grows
The first labour migrants from Sri Lanka have arrived in Russia, with some already reporting unpaid wages, as Moscow looks to South Asia to address a deepening workforce shortage, TASS reported on March 24. Russia's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Levan Dzhagaryan, told the agency that the arrivals so far involved only small groups and that there were no grounds to expect a mass influx in the near term. He said organisational difficulties and problems encountered by the first arrivals were dampening enthusiasm among potential migrants. Some of the Sri Lankan workers... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/26)
“Sri Lanka fuel price hike in a month among the world’s highest”
Sri Lanka’s latest fuel price revision, which saw prices rise by around 25% on average, ranks among the highest increases compared to many Asian and global peers, reflecting the sharp impact of global oil market pressures. The revision, announced on Sunday, pushed up key fuel categories significantly. Auto diesel rose 26.1% from Rs. 303 to Rs. 382 per litre, while super diesel increased 25.5% from Rs. 353 to Rs. 443. Petrol 92 octane went up 25.6% from Rs. 317 to Rs. 398, and petrol 95 octane rose 24.7% from Rs. 365 to Rs.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/26)
That Mystical Myth of the Laziness of the Sinhala Worker
Posted byee ink.March 23, 2026Posted inUncategorizedTags:history, poetry, politics blog: https://eesrilanka.wordpress.com ‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’ e-Con e-News 15-21 March 2026 The USA is waging war on the world, and demanding their allies, pitbulls, poodles and puppets, fall in line. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently declared at the 62nd Munich Security Conference, billed as the world’s leading forum for international security, that the glory of ‘Western Civilisation’ depended upon a recolonization of the world. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government has rejected the accusation that Sri Lanka is an US... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/26)
The Gated Sanctuary: Is the Supreme Court Still a Marketplace of Sovereignty?
In the classical tradition of jurisprudence, the Court is not merely a government department; it is the Marketplace of Grievances. It is the only forum where the "Sovereign"—the People—can trade their vulnerabilities for the currency of Justice. Yet, a chilling wind has swept through the corridors of Hulftsdorp. A new "jurisprudence of the threshold" has emerged, where the Leave to Appeal (LA) and Fundamental Rights (FR) applications are being met with mass-scale refusals at the gate.If the Supreme Court continues to treat "Leave" as a weapon of docket-clearing rather than a filter for justice, it... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/26)
Chinese contribution to the spread of Buddhism within and outside China
Chinese contributions to the spread of Buddhism were instrumental in transforming it from a regional Indian tradition into a dominant world religion. China served as the primary "mother culture" for Buddhism in East Asia, developing unique schools, massive scripture canons, and a network of pilgrims that exported the faith across the continent. Contributions Within China China's primary role was the Sinification of Buddhism—adapting Indian concepts to fit Chinese culture, which facilitated its local acceptance. Imperial Patronage: Multiple dynasties, notably the Sui and Tang, established Buddhism as a state religion. Emperors likeWu ZetianandEmperor Ming(of Han legend) funded monasteries and supported... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/26)
Open letter to Mr Anthony Albanese
Open letter to Mr Anthony Albanese Prime Minister of Australia Dear Mr Albanese Let sanity prevail The latest salvo from Mr Donald Trump and the response from Iran poses a catastrophic aftermath for the whole world. Individuals are powerless in this situation and it appears neither the UN or any world leader is able to do anything to cool tempers of both sides. Donald Trump - US will ‘obliterate’ Iran’s power plants if Strait of Hormuz not open before... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/26)
Trincomalee: From Missed Opportunities to Strategic Revival
Sri Lanka has, over the decades, stood at the crossroads of opportunity and indecision—nowhere more evident than in the development trajectory of Trincomalee. Blessed with one of the finest natural harbors in the world, Trincomalee should by now have evolved into a regional energy and maritime hub. Instead, it remains a case study in missed opportunities, fragmented policy decisions, and inconsistent governance. Historically, several strategic industrial ventures were established under circumstances that raise important governance questions. When land and operational space were allocated to major players such as Tokyo... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/26)
The false narrative of the Buddha being born in Sri Lanka will undermine the saddha ( faith and trust) in the credibility of the life story of the Buddha and eventually damage the Buddha Sasana.
The false narrative of the Buddha being born in Sri Lanka will cause irreparable harm to the integrity of Buddhism, unnecessarily create division, and most importantly undermine the saddha ( faith and trust) in the credibility of the life story of the Buddha and eventually damage the Buddha Sasana. AI Overview The assertion that the Buddha was born in Sri Lanka is considered a false narrative by mainstream historians, archaeologists, and the global Buddhist community, who widely recognize Lumbini, Nepal—part of the ancient Indian subcontinent—as the true birthplace .... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/26)
Ahmadi Muslims observe Promised Messiah Day.
23rd March – Ahmadiyya Founder’s Day On February 13th, 1835, in the small Indian village of Qadian, Punjab, India, a man named Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born. He belonged to a well-known and noble family. All religions contain prophecies that foretell the advent of a special individual, who will come as a reformer in the latter days. In Islam, Muslims await a promised Mahdi and Messiah. The advent of the Promised Messiah was prophesized by the Prophet of Islam Muhammad (PBUH) himself. According to a tradition, the Holy Prophet (PBUH)... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/26)
ඉරානය ලංකාවට තෙල් දෙනවා කියපු කතාවට පාඨලී කිව්ව දේ | ආණ්ඩුවේ සාහසික ආපරාධයක්!
https://youtu.be/3OVTWTGvLys... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/26)
Mother Nature to our Rescue in this hour of distress
Though our resplendent island is blessed with ample water casading over valley and dale and wind blowing me off on my many minor irrigation inspections in the Districts of Kegalla, Nuw ara Eliya and Kandy the coal and oil lobby has been so strong, that the attempt by a few of us to emphasize the power that lies in water and wind has taken us nowhere. I have been among the few administrators who have written on the power that lies in the wind and water. It is now... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
Sri Lanka hikes fuel prices 25%, second such increase in a week amid Gulf war
Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by about 25% for the second time in a week as the Gulf conflict disrupts global oil supplies via the Strait of Hormuz. The Sri Lankan government on Sunday raised fuel prices by around 25 per cent, the second such increase in a week amid the West Asia conflict. The step comes in the backdrop of the joint US-Israel strikes against Iran and the retaliation by the Islamic nation that has spread to the entire Gulf region. It has led to the closure of the Strait... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
Sinopec prices exceed CPC prices
Sinopec revised its fuel prices, effective midnight today (22). The price of a litre of Octane 95 Petrol is increased by Rs. 122 to Rs. 487, and Super Diesel by Rs. 219 to Rs. 573, higher than the prices set by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. The prices of Octane 92 Petrol and Auto Diesel are maintained at CPC prices, at Rs. 398 and Auto Diesel at Rs. 382.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
Trump was SHOCKED after Israel dared to strike Russia’s “VITAL NERVE” in Iran | Rachel Maddow
https://youtu.be/kz8bRZPbvQc... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
From Wish Lists to a War Room: Why Sri Lanka Needs an Agricultural Command Centre Now
Donald Trump - US will ‘obliterate’ Iran’s power plants if Strait of Hormuz are not open before the 48-hour deadline Iran - ‘‘If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the United States and the (Israeli) regime in the region will be targeted,’‘ a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the body overseeing Iranian military operations, said in a statement reported by Fars News Agency The catastrophe before the entire world is evident if the above threats are... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
The birth of the Sinhale (Sri Lanka) Kingdom and the Sinhala Nation A new perspective.
According to Mahavansa, the Great chronical, the Sinhale Kingdom was found in 543 BC by Vijaya, a North Indian Prince. who was banished by his Father King Sinhabahu for his misbehavior with his fellow mates. As such according to Mahavamsa Prince Vijaya is the founder King of Sri Lanka and the Sinhala nation. This was how we were taught in school and even in the University. Also, this was what had been written down practically in every book starting from Mahavamsa the Great Dynasty of the Sinhala nation down to the grade two texts... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
‘Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help’: Ahmadiyya Khalifa delivered Eid-ul-Fitr Sermon 2026
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, delivered Eid-Ul-Fitr Sermon on 20th March 2026 at ‘Masjid Mubarak’, Islamabad, Tilford, U.K. at 10.30 GMT (Sri Lankan Time 4 P.M.). It aired LIVE via MTA (Muslim TV Ahmadiyya International), having simultaneous translation in various languages including English, Arabic, Bengali, French and Tamil. The gist of the Sermon as follows Following the Eid prayer, Hazrat Amirul Momineen (may Allah be his Helper) recited first part of the Arabic Sermon and Surah al-Fatihah, and said: “Today, upon completing the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
Beware of the emergence of the 'One Dimensional Man' from the educational system in Sri Lanka
( with assistance from Chat GPT) The removal of the study of the Humanities i.e., classics, literature and philosophy, from the syllabus of school children in Sri Lanka has destroyed their capacity to think and value thought of different shades , and made them into what Herbert Marcuse has unequivocally described as the 'One Dimensional Man ' - an intellectually stunted individual. Critical observers of the Sri Lankan education system argue that the decline of the humanities—specifically classics, literature, and philosophy—has led to a "one-dimensional" student profile. This shift is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
සේනක වීරරත්න (DRS) සහ මහින්ද විජේසිංහ (තුන්වන විනිසුරු) වැනි ශ්රී ලංකා ක්රිකට් නවෝත්පාදකයින්ට සහාය දැක්වීමට දේශපාලනික කැමැත්තක් නොමැතිකම බොහෝ විට ආයතනික නොසලකා හැරීම, දේශීය ක්රිකට් බලධාරීන්ගේ "නිහඬ" ආකල්පය
සේනක වීරරත්න (DRS) සහ මහින්ද විජේසිංහ (තුන්වන විනිසුරු) වැනි ශ්රී ලංකා ක්රිකට් නවෝත්පාදකයින්ට සහාය දැක්වීමට දේශපාලනික කැමැත්තක් නොමැතිකම බොහෝ විට ආයතනික නොසලකා හැරීම, දේශීය ක්රිකට් බලධාරීන්ගේ "නිහඬ" ආකල්පය සහ ජාත්යන්තර ක්රිකට් කවුන්සිලයේ (ICC) සංකීර්ණ, නිලධාරිවාදී ස්වභාවයේ එකතුවක් ලෙස සැලකේ. සහයෝගය නොමැතිකමට ප්රධාන සාධකනිවසේදී ආයතනික උදාසීනත්වය: ජාත්යන්තර මට්ටමින් මෙම ප්රකාශ නිල වශයෙන් ජයග්රහණය කිරීමට අපොහොසත් වීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් නිරීක්ෂකයින් සහ උපදේශකයින් ශ්රී ලංකා ක්රිකට් මණ්ඩලය (SLC), ක්රීඩා අමාත්යාංශය සහ අනුප්රාප්තික ශ්රී ලංකා රජයන් විවේචනය කර ඇත. පිළිගැනීම සඳහා වරින් වර ඉල්ලීම් ඉදිරිපත් කර ඇතත්, මෙම නවෝත්පාදනයන් සඳහා නිල ගෞරවය ලබා ගැනීම සඳහා තිරසාර ඉහළ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
No political will to support Cricket innovations by Sri Lankans who have won world acclaim with their brainchild such as Player Referral (DRS) by Senaka Weeraratna, and Third Umpire by Mahinda Wijesinghe?
Why is there no political will in Sri Lanka to support innovation in Cricket by Sri Lankans who have won world acclaim with their brainchilds such as Player Referral (DRS) by Senaka Weeraratna and Third Umpire by Mahinda Wijesinghe? AI Overview The lack of political will to support Sri Lankan cricket innovations, such as the Player Referral (DRS) concept by Senaka Weeraratna and the Third Umpire by Mahinda Wijesinghe, stems from a bureaucratic failure to recognize indigenous intellectual contributions, prioritization of short-term gains, and administrative detachment from pioneering, non-commercialized ideas. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
Sri Lanka – Japan Defence Ties Strengthened at High Level Meeting in Tokyo
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd.), held a high level meeting with the Hon. Minister of Defense of Japan, Shinjirō Koizumi, at the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo on Wednesday (18 Mar). A high level meeting between Sri Lanka and Japan marked a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, with a focus on maritime security, disaster management capacity building, and the stability in the Indo-Pacific region. During the talks the Japanese Defence Minister highlighted the increasing importance of enhanced cooperation between Japan... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
කාර්මික ශබ්දයෙන් අභ්යන්තර පැහැදිලිත්වය වෙත
ජීවිතයේ එක් අවධියක, ශබ්දය අඩුවී යයි—ලෝකය නිහඬ වන නිසා නොව, අපි එය වෙනස් ලෙස අසා ගැනීමට ඉගෙන ගන්නා නිසාය. ශ්රී ලංකාවේත් විදේශයන්හිත් දැඩි කාර්මික පරිසරයන්හි දශක ගණනක් කාලයක් ගත කළ මගේ ජීවිතය, කාලයකදී නිරන්තර චලනයකින් යුක්ත විය. නාවික යාත්රා අංගන, යන්ත්ර, කාලසීමා, තීරණ—මේවා මගේ දෛනික ජීවිතයේ කොටසක් විය. ක්රියාකාරී වීම ප්රමුඛ වූ අතර, සිතීමට කාලය සොයා ගැනීම ලාභයක් විය. නමුත්, ශරීරය තමන්ගේම ඉතිහාසයක් රැගෙන යයි. තරුණ කාලයේ, මම ශාරීරික අභියෝග රැසක් උදාවූ ක්රියාකාරකම් වලට එක් විය. මොස්කව්හි හිම මත ස්කී ක්රීඩාවත්, නෝර්වේ හි කඳු බැස යාමත් එහි උදාහරණ වේ.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 22/03/26)
Father Cyril Gamini’s 8 Questions… But where is the evidence?
A critical look at the claims following April 2024 when Father Cyril Gamini addressed the media after appearing before the Criminal Investigation Department on 19 April 2024, he presented what he described as “8 facts with sources” relating to the Easter Sunday attacks. What follows is a systematic evaluation of each claim against known operational facts, intelligence records, and forensic evidence. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1106057787267792 (19 April 2024) Take away the rhetoric, and what remains? Not facts.Not evidence.But questions—layered upon assumptions, presented to the public as truth. Let us examine... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 21/03/26)
Are the International laws applicable to only to smaller nations?
It appears that international laws are applicable only to smaller nations and they never cover the crimes committed by the powerful bigger nations. It is simply Kautillya’s Mathsya niyaaya at work that is the smaller fish is always the prey of the Big fish. The naked behavior of ‘BIG” nations proves the same natural law perhaps. United Nations General Assembly proposal was initiated by Sri Lanka and Tanzania to designate the Indian Ocean as a nuclear-free zone, free from military escalation, foreign bases, and weapons... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/26)
Buddhist Jātaka Tales and Oedipal Themes
The Buddhist Jātaka tales represent a substantial collection of folklore, consisting of 547 poems. Archaeological and literary evidence suggests that these stories were compiled between the 3rd Century B.C. and the 5th Century A.D. As noted by Professor Rhys Davids, the Jātaka tales are among the oldest fables known to us. Jātaka Tales provide deep insights into the human mind, analyzing behavior through a "case method" long before modern Western psychology (Harischandra, 1998). It is noteworthy that the Buddhist Jātaka tales explore themes of father-son conflict and the Oedipal complex... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/26)
CONCEPT PAPER
Global economic and geopolitical shifts and looming world war 3 , are resulting in a gradual relocation of trade, logistics, and service sector operations from traditional hubs in the Middle East and other regions. Sri Lanka, due to its strategic location along major Indian Ocean shipping routes, is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this transition. The development of Colombo Port City and the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/26)
Why I admire Artur Schopenhauer for placing Compassion for Animals as the defining characteristic of humanity
Content : Chat GPT https://share.google/aimode/K7j7rlCnYXITu43ve Artur Schopenhauer AI Overview Admiration for Arthur Schopenhauer’s stance on animal compassion is rooted in his radical rejection of anthropocentrism, his deep empathy for the powerless, and his philosophical argument that kindness toward animals is the ultimate test of human morality. Writing in the 19th century—a time when animal rights were largely ignored—Schopenhauer stated in The Basis of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/26)
Japan's Parliament ROARS When Politician Says This About Muslim Immigration
https://youtu.be/EEkBsQJ4if8... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/26)
The Buddha explains why animal sacrifice is useless and cruel
https://www.reddit.com/r/Buddhism/comments/142nvha/the_buddha_explains_why_animal_sacrifice_is/ The Buddha was against animal sacrifice https://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=8,665,0,0,1,0 Colombo, Sri Lanka -- The Buddha was against animal sacrifice. He had to be, for he was staunchly opposed to killing. Killing, not just human beings, but all beings without exception. He expressed the view that it was all beings (sabbe satta/ sabbe bhuutaa) that deserved our compassion. During the time of the Buddha, many kinds of sacrifices were practised by Brahmins who were the priests of the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/26)
Mahinda Wijesinghe pioneered the use of the Third Umpire but the South Africans obtained ICC recognition in a clear act of unfair play and discrimination against a Sri Lankan
While Mahinda Wijesinghe of Sri Lanka is widely acknowledged as the person who conceptualized the third umpire, the system's official debut is historically linked to South Africa. Conceptual Origins vs. Official Implementation Mahinda Wijesinghe's Proposal (1982–1984): Wijesinghe first proposed the use of television cameras and a "walkie-talkie" link between on-field umpires and an off-field official in an article for The Island newspaper on October 11, 1982. His concept was formally forwarded by Sri Lanka Cricket to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and discussed at the 1984 ICC AGM. Official... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/26)
From Kalbasa to Kilowatts: Lessons from a Simpler, Tougher World in Soviet Russia
There was a time when life did not come with apps, algorithms, or air-conditioned opinions. It came instead with cabbage. Not metaphorical cabbage—but real, stubborn, Soviet cabbage. The kind you harvested yourself whether you were an engineering student, a future military officer, or a confused foreigner wondering how you ended up in a place called Orenburg fixing gas equipment in sub-zero winds. The University of Life (with Compulsory Farming Minor) In the days of the Soviet Union, education was not confined to lecture halls. If you didn’t go to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 20/03/26)
Dear allies of America, please don’t confuse our president with us
Donald Trump is alone. That’s different from the United States being alone. We – that is, the vast majority of Americans who were against Trump’s war from the start, and who support Nato and the United Nations charter and the post-second world war system of alliances and rules – are not alone. Most of the people of the United States stand with most democracies of the world. Related: Trump wants to strongarm Nato into another Gulf war. Here’s why Europe must resist When Trump’s call to America’s traditional allies... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
US & India Prepare to Grab Hambantota Port Claiming It’s a Chinese Base
Posted byee ink.March 14, 2026Posted inUncategorizedTags:China, geopolitics, history, India, Jaishankar, pence, politics blog: eesrilanka.wordpress.com ‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’ e-Con e-News 08-14 March 2026 * ‘Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar recognized Hambantota harbour as a Chinese military facility that underlined an intimidating foreign military presence in the Indian Ocean’ (see ee Focus, Jaishankar) The Indian Foreign Minister’s response last week to a planted question by WION‘s Palki Sharma at Delhi’s Raisina Dialogue 2026, diverted to talking about a non-existent Chinese miltary base in Hambantota,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
From Soviet Steel to Sri Lankan Shipyards
I returned home after years abroad—hardened not by comfort, but by experience. From the oil fields of Baku, to the frozen gas lines of Orenburg, to the disciplined industrial floors of Moscow, and further west into the offshore precision of Norway and refinery construction in the United Kingdom—the journey had been long, demanding, and deeply educational. I had seen systems that worked. I had seen men who respected steel, process, and discipline. And then—I walked into a Sri Lankan dockyard. As a consultant hired by a original... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
Belgian court sends ex-diplomat, 93, to trial over 1961 murder of Congo leader
Family of then PM, Patrice Lumumba, welcome decision to charge Étienne Davignon as ‘beginning of a reckoning’ Jennifer Rankin in BrusselsTue 17 Mar 2026 18.03 GMTShare A former Belgian diplomat, 93, should stand trial over alleged complicity in the 1961 murder of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of what was then the newly independent Congolese state, a Brussels court has ruled. Étienne Davignon, the only person still alive among 10 Belgians the Lumumba family accuses of involvement in the killing, is charged with participation in war... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
A 93-year-old former Belgian diplomat to stand trial for Patrice Lumumba's murder
https://youtu.be/JQkjRxk2mg0... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
The philosophy underlying Eid-ul-Fitr
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, delivers Eid-Ul-Fitr Sermon today 20th March 2026 at ‘Masjid Mubarak’, Islamabad, Tilford, U.K. at 10.30 GMT (Sri Lankan Time 4 P.M.). It airs LIVE via MTA (Muslim TV Ahmadiyya International), having simultaneous translation in various languages including English, Arabic, Bengali, French and Tamil. Eid-ul-Fitr - This religious celebration is observed on the day following the last day of fasting which is observed daily by all able-bodied Muslims from dawn till sunset throughout the Islamic month of Ramazan. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
Sri Lankan Defence Delegation Engages in High Level Meetings in Japan
A high level Sri Lankan defence delegation, headed by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), commenced a two-day official visit in Japan to participate in the 2nd Japan–Sri Lanka Defence Dialogue. This important engagement reaffirms the long standing friendship and strategic cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the sphere of defence collaboration and maritime security. The delegation held a number of high level bilateral meetings throughout its official visit to Japan. The Sri Lankan delegation was warmly received by senior officials of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
Invitation: Lanka Property Show 2026
As Sri Lanka’s flagship real estate event reaches its 10th edition, the Lanka Property Show 2026 marks an important milestone for the industry, bringing together key stakeholders, emerging opportunities, and timely conversations that shape the sector’s direction.We cordially invite you to attend the Lanka Property Show 2026.The exhibition brings together leading developers, residential and investment opportunities across Colombo and the suburbs, along with banks, legal advisors, and industry experts, creating a space for meaningful conversations and insights.Event Details:Date: 21st & 22nd March 2026Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMVenue: Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand HotelEntry:... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
British Airways announces Melbourne and Colombo in major winter 2026 expansion
British Airways has announced a significant planned expansion to its network for winter 2026, with the addition of two new destinations, Melbourne in Australia and Colombo in Sri Lanka. Follow Aeronews on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Bluesky and TikTok In addition, the airline will be adding more flights for winter to Cape Town (South Africa), Haneda (Tokyo), Bridgetown (Barbados), Kingston (Jamaica) and San Jose (Costa Rica). The new schedule reflects a 9 per cent growth in British Airways’ long-haul route network, as the airline continues to invest in providing more choice for customers. These planned new routes and frequency growth for winter... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
Energy security: Time to move from rhetoric to action
Energy security is a topic that has been discussed for years, if not decades. It is sensible for any government, policymakers and independent analysts to engage in it. Indeed, reams have been written on the subject. Still, rhetoric has not been translated into action here, and Sri Lanka remains highly vulnerable to external shocks. With the Middle East war, triggered after the US-Israel attack on Iran, continuing to rage, Sri Lanka - which entirely imports its fuel requirements - feels the importance of energy security more than ever. Nevertheless, this is not... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
Sri Lanka among world’s least Happy Nations in 2026 report
March 19 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka has been ranked among the least happy countries in the latest World Happiness Report 2026, placing 134th out of 147 nations with a score of 4.0, highlighting ongoing concerns over the country’s overall well-being. The report shows that Sri Lanka has slipped one place from its 133rd ranking in 2025, now standing alongside Ethiopia. The country also trails behind its South Asian neighbours, with India ranked 116th, Pakistan and Bangladesh positioned significantly higher. The World Happiness Report 2026, released on Thursday (March 18),... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
US envoy Sergio Gor meets Dissanayake, pushes for stronger ties in Indian Ocean region
'Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties and Sri Lanka’s position on the Middle East conflict and its challenges,' the President's Media Division (PMD) says in a post on X The US Special Representative for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday discussed strengthening of bilateral relations and the island nation's position on the West Asia crisis. The US Special envoys’ visit to Sri Lanka comes at a time when Sri Lanka came to be embroiled in the joint US-Israeli war against Iran... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
Shawwal moon not sighted; Ramadan to complete 30 days
Colombo, March 19 (Daily Mirror) - The crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal was not sighted on Thursday (March 19), according to official announcements. The Hilal Committee of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), together with the Colombo Grand Mosque and the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, confirmed that no verified sightings were reported from across the country. Accordingly, it was unanimously declared that the month of Ramadan 1447 Hijri will complete 30 days. The new month of Shawwal will therefore... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
Ex-SriLankan CEO claims he was threatened to involve Mahinda and Namal’s names
Colombo, March 19 (Daily Mirror) - Lawyers for former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena have released an affidavit stating that his earlier statement to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption was obtained under alleged intimidation and he was threatened to include the names of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and MP Namal Rajapaksa in his statement. Earlier, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that Kapila Chandrasena had stated, in a statement to the Commission, that a sum of Rs. 60 million received... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 19/03/26)
Sri Lankan people need to stand with the suffering people of Iran and Israel, and support democracy and humanity - I
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Max Planck (1918 Nobel Laureate in Physics, German physicist and pioneer of the Quantum Theory) (Caveat: Please consider that mine is not meant to be the last word on the subject of this essay. - RRW) Chinese-Canadian Jiang Xueqin (aka Professor Jiang/PredictiveHistory) is a globally popular YouTuber equipped with a Yale University BA in English Literature. He is an educator, education reformer and writer based in Beijing, China. Professor Jiang is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/26)
An Indian Ocean Tragedy: Time to Close US-UK-France Military Bases, Decolonize and Stop War
InDepthNews2026-03-17 COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 17 March 2026 (IDN) —The bodies of eighty-four Iranian sailors who died in a US torpedo attack in the seas of Sri Lanka were repatriated yesterday, 13 March 2026. Describing the scene of the rescue of some of the sailors who survived the dastardly attack, the Sri Lanka Navy Commander Buddhika Sampath said that the boats that reached the location of the distress call on March 4 had observed only an oil slick. In Washington, Donald Trump and his War Secretary had boasted that they... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/26)
INDIA IS JOINED AT THE HIP WITH USA AND ISRAEL-
SHOULD SRI LANKA BLINDLY FOLLOW INDIA AS NPP SEEMS TO BE DOING PRESENTLY? What made Modhi to rush to Israel on Feb 26th, just two days prior to joint offensive by USA and Israel on Iran? “Since 2024, Israel started investing more in India, with many defense companies establishing subsidiaries there. ….“With those shifts to a mix of purchases and joint industrial long-term partnerships in defense production (have sprung up)…, a spike in defense deals is expected ….. in 2026…..A variety of cyber, artificial intelligence, and even quantum joint ventures are also... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/26)
From Crisis to Nation-Building: A Practical Path for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka today faces a moment of quiet urgency. Global conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, are likely to reverse labour flows that have sustained our economy for decades. Thousands of Sri Lankan workers—skilled, semi-skilled, and domestic—may return home within a short span of time. If unprepared, this will strain our economy. If managed wisely, it can transform our nation. This is not a burden. It is an opportunity. For years, Sri Lanka has depended heavily on foreign remittances while underutilising its own productive capacity. The return of experienced workers—welders, fabricators,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/26)
Iran shut down Israel's only international airport in under two minutes
https://youtu.be/YIGA_kcpP9M... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/26)
Farewell, my departed classmates….
It was shocking and heart-breaking news even for an emotionless creature like me. Within a few days, we have lost at least three AECian friends because of ailments. Their untimely demise was highlighted and mourned in the whatsapp group (created for the 1985-90 batch of Assam Engineering College, under Gauhati University). I just became clueless how to address the emotional issue. Should I write an obituary (being a professional journalist, that’s an easy job for me), but it was too painful and difficult to pen any article about our classmates, with whom we stayed in a serene... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/26)
From ‘Epic Fury’ To A Trap Of Trump’s Own Making: Finding The Way Out
Trump never tested serious, sustained diplomacy to resolve the wide-ranging, conflicting issues with Iran; instead, he defaulted to the illusion that enough bombs could “end” a conflict that has spanned nearly five decades. This war with Iran is a war of choice, and a reckless one at that. President Trump has floated a carousel of justifications—an “imminent” threat, the need to destroy Iran’s missile stockpile and manufacturing capacity, to dismantle its nuclear program, to trigger regime change, to spark an uprising from within. Yet, weeks into a brutal conflict, his administration has still... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/26)
JR Jayewardene sought $1 million from Mossad for election campaign, document reveals
Colombo, March 18 (Daily Mirror) - Declassified documents from Israel’s Foreign Ministry have revealed that former Sri Lankan President Junius Richard Jayewardene had requested $1 million from Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad to finance his election campaign in 1987. According to cables dated August 6 and August 14, 1987, the request was made during a meeting with a Mossad representative, at a time when the Sri Lankan government was facing mounting pressure from Arab states and local opposition to shut down the Israeli Interests Section in Colombo. The revelations were reported... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/03/26)
MID-EAST CRISIS AND ECONOMIC & SOCIAL IMPACT ON SRI LANKA
There is a time to play politics, a time to destabilize governments for political gain and a time to hide the truth from the people, again, for political gain. This is not that time as the consequences arising from the war in the Middle East is far too devastating for the global economy and therefore for Sri Lanka. The current behavior of the Opposition, and some trade unions is like the behavior of Ostriches with their heads in the sand. The under-performance of some Ministers makes matters worse for the country. It is time to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/26)
ශ්රී ලංකාවේ සියලුම ක්රිකට් ලෝලීන්ට කරන ආයාචනයක්
1997 දී ඕස්ට්රේලියානු පත්රිකා වෙත ලිවීමෙන් මෙම ක්රමය මුලින්ම ආරම්භ කළ ශ්රී ලාංකික නීතිඥ සේනක වීරරත්න මහතාට නිසි ගෞරවයක් වශයෙන්, ශ්රී ලංකා ක්රිකට් (SLC) විසින් තීරණ සමාලෝචන පද්ධතිය (DRS) සේනක තීරණ සමාලෝචන පද්ධතිය (SDRS) ලෙස නැවත නම් කිරීම සඳහා ICC වෙත නියෝජනයන් ඉදිරිපත් කිරීමට කාලය පැමිණ තිබේ. ඔහු The Australian හි කර්තෘ වෙත ලිපියක් යැවීමට පෙර, ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩාවේ හෝ වෙනත් ඕනෑම ක්රීඩාවක ක්රීඩක යොමු කිරීමක් යෝජනා කරන ප්රකාශිත ලිපියක් නොමැත”. ලබා ගත හැකි සියලු සාක්ෂි නම්, සේනකගේ ලිපිය ක්රිකට් සඳහා යොමු කිරීමේ ක්රමයක් යෝජනා කළ පළමු අවස්ථාව බවයි. 1997 මාර්තු 25 වන... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/26)
Capitalizing on the Real Estate Expansion: Lanka Property Show 2026 Sets the Stage for Sri Lanka’s Next Era of Growth
The Lanka Property Show 2026, Sri Lanka’s flagship real estate exhibition, is set to return for its 10th edition on 21st and 22nd March 2026, at the Oak Room, Cinnamon Grand Hotel, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Hosted by LankaPropertyWeb, the country’s leading online real estate platform, the event provides a unique opportunity for property buyers, investors, and enthusiasts to explore the nation’s most prestigious residential and commercial offerings,all under one roof. The two-day event will feature over 30 apartment and housing projects across Colombo and its suburbs,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/26)
The Architects of the Modern Cricket Revolution
Duckworth, Lewis, Stern Rule ( DLS) Senaka Weeraratna Rule (DRS) The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method and the Decision Review System (DRS) are the two most significant technological innovations in modern cricket, respectively addressing rain interruptions and officiating accuracy. While the DLS method is officially attributed to British and Australian statisticians, the DRS is increasingly associated with the pioneering conceptual work of Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna. The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) Method This mathematical system is used to calculate target scores in rain-affected limited-overs matches. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/26)
Duckworth, Lewis and Senaka
https://share.google/aimode/nrLpaZ24GFbzqowTx In the context of cricket, Duckworth, Lewis, and Senaka refers to the two main systems used to ensure fairness in limited-overs matches: the Duckworth-Lewis (DLS) method for rain-affected games and the Senaka Weeraratna Rule, which is the conceptual foundation for the Decision Review System (DRS). Key Figures and Their Contributions Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis: These English statisticians developed the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method (introduced in 1997 and adopted by the ICC in 1999). It uses a mathematical formula to recalculate target scores when matches are interrupted... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/03/26)
Questions the Public should ask about the arrest of Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay
The Easter Sunday attacks of 21 April 2019 have been thoroughly examined through multiple investigations, including the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, the Parliamentary Select Committee, court proceedings, police investigations, and international intelligence investigations. Hundreds of witnesses were interviewed, and extensive documentary evidence was reviewed over several years. Given this exhaustive scrutiny, the sudden naming of Major General Suresh Sallay as “Suspect No. 3” in 2026 raises serious questions that the public deserves to have answered. 1. QUESTIONS BASED ON THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY (PCoI) The Presidential Commission... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/26)
Smart Metering: A Simple Reform Sri Lanka Must Adopt
Sri Lanka often speaks proudly of being a rapidly developing nation with digital capabilities and highly skilled IT professionals. Yet, in many basic public utility services we still operate in a manner that belongs to the past century. A simple example is the way electricity and water meters are read. In many developed countries, and even in several developing nations, utility providers have already moved to smart metering systems. These systems use digital meters connected to communication networks that automatically transmit consumption data to a centralized billing center. Bills are generated electronically, and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/26)
Duckworth, Lewis and Senaka
Frank Duckworth (left) and Tony Lewis (right) collecting their MBEs in 2010 (PA) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tony-lewis-death-cricket-duckworth-method-age-cause-mathetmatics-a9464921.html Professor Steven Stern live in Sri Lanka Professor Steven Stern at the BMICH on March 13, 2026 Senaka Weeraratna Inventor of the Player Referral System in Sports Renamed as DRS (Decision Review System) for Cricket by the ICC without consent of inventor Whose brainchild has had... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/26)
The Catastrophic Effects of the War in the Middle East [MTA News Special]
https://youtu.be/tEPJp_ZBPMo... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/26)
Government declares every Wednesday as public holiday
Colombo, March 16 (Daily Mirror) - The government has decided to declare every Wednesday as a public holiday in a move to save energy due to the Middle East tensions, the Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi said. He told a special press brefing that the decision was taken at a meeting with the President. The holiday will not be applicable for health, ports, water services and the Sri Lanka Customs. The holiday will be applicable to schools, universities and judicial service instituions.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/26)
Carl Sagan's Last Words Before Death Changed Everything We Know About The Afterlife
Carl Sagan changed the way we see the universe. His words still echo through time — and they've never been more relevant than today. On this channel, we explore the cosmos, the mysteries of existence, and the deepest questions about life, death, time, and space — all through the lens of one of the greatest scientific minds in history. From the Pale Blue Dot to the search for extraterrestrial life, from the nature of time travel to the secrets NASA doesn't want you to know — Sagan Explains brings you the answers science is still catching... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/03/26)
The robe and Buddha Dhamma: A new Order to compliment the Sangha?
Unworthy Wearer: "Whoever, being depraved, devoid of self-control and truthfulness, should don the monk's yellow robe, he surely is not worthy of the robe". Worthy Wearer: "But whoever is purged of depravity, well-established in virtues and filled with self-control and truthfulness, he indeed is worthy of the yellow robe" -Dhammapada (Verses 9-10) In a world where a rules based governance order has been replaced by a “rules for some, and not for others” order, and the adjudicator of compliance with rules, the United Nations system, has become more or less impotent, the rules applicable for... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/26)
Heaven, Hell and the Near-Death Experience
During my time working as an anesthetist in various hospitals, I witnessed patients passing away in the intensive care units and operating theatres. I also encountered individuals who had experienced near-death situations and engaged in conversations with them. Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) have long intrigued me. The phenomenon raises profound questions about consciousness and the nature of existence, as individuals recount vivid encounters during moments of clinical death. Drawing from these encounters, along with my studies in medical science, psychology, the human brain, and consciousness, I came to a significant realization: When an... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/26)
When new guards readied to lead Nepal
When most of the veterans and their parties failed to impress the electorates of Nepal in the recently conducted single day polling on 5 March 2026, a relatively new party and young leaders earned mandates in the Himalayan republic. Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which was formed in the middle of 2022, recorded a resounding victory in the election necessitated by the violent youth uprising in September 2025 that shook the south Asian nation of 30 million people and collapsed the government in Kathmandu. The party with young leader Balendra Shah as its prime ministerial candidate won in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/26)
Questionable QR
This is just an assumption for decision makers to be watchful information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) cannot legally change fuel QR quota allocations for personal interests in Sri Lanka. But How the QR Fuel System Worked The National Fuel Pass (QR system) was introduced in 2022 during the fuel crisis by the Ministry of Power and Energy, with the technical platform built by ICTA. Each vehicle received a QR code after registration. Fuel quota was assigned based on vehicle category (car, motorcycle, bus,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/26)
DLS and DRS (based on Player Referral) are new additions to Cricket. Between the two methods, which one is more far reaching in impact and value to the game?
While both systems are pivotal to modern cricket, the Decision Review System (DRS) is generally considered to have a more far-reaching impact on the game's actual play and philosophy. While the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method is indispensable for fairness in rain-affected limited-overs matches, DRS has fundamentally altered how players, umpires, and fans interact with the rules across all major formats of the game. Decision Review System (DRS) DRS, which introduced the Player Referral concept, has had a transformative effect on cricket's traditional landscape. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/26)
U.S. Is Abandoning ALL OUR Asian & Middle Eastern Allies! – Scott Ritter
https://youtu.be/K6NZRTwe78c... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/26)
Warrant issued for Asoka Ranwala
The Mahara Additional Magistrate, Bandara Ilangasinghe, ordered the arrest and production of former Speaker and Member of Parliament Asoka Sapumal Ranwala before the court. This directive follows his failure to appear in court regarding an incident in the Denimulla area of Heiyanthuduwa. The suspect MP remained absent when the case was called on the 13th. Consequently, the Sapugaskanda Police Traffic Branch filed a charge sheet against him involving allegations of failing to prevent a collision, reckless driving, and causing both serious and minor injuries. Further charges include operating an unroadworthy vehicle resulting in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/03/26)
US-UK-France-- Out of the Indian Ocean! Time to close Military Bases, Stop War and Blue Environmental Pollution
The bodies of eighty-four Iranian sailors who died in a US torpedo attack in the seas of Sri Lanka were repatriated yesterday, 13 March 2026. Describing the scene of the rescue of some of the sailors who survived the dastardly attack, the Sri Lanka Navy Commander Buddhika Sampath said that the boats that reached the location of the distress call on March 4 had observed only an oil slick. In Washington Donald Trump and his War Secretary had boasted that they had finished off the Iranian Navy. "An American submarine sank an Iranian warship... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/26)
The Closure of Sri Lanka’s Fertilizer Plant: A Strategic Mistake We Still Pay For
Sri Lanka today struggles with fertilizer shortages, high import costs, and a heavy dependence on foreign suppliers for a commodity that is essential for our agricultural survival. Few people remember that decades ago Sri Lanka possessed the capability to manufacture fertilizer locally with the assistance of world-class engineering firms. During my early professional career, I had the opportunity to work in London with the engineering group KBR (Kellogg Brown & Root), which was then closely associated with Halliburton. Kellogg engineers were globally recognized for designing and constructing large industrial facilities including fertilizer plants,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/26)
LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG)DEVELOPMENT …WHERE ARE WE HEADING?
J R Jayewardene came to power in 1977 and handed over harnessing of the Hydro power potential to his trusted young Gamini Dissanayake . Proposals and funding from Western countries and Sweden ,discussions negotiations ,extensive travelling to fix deals ,and final output was accelerated high priced power plants and dams along Mahawali ,Today we reap the benefits and people forgot who did it and who became quite rich Now we has exhausted hydra power potential and moving in to rather new source of power which is Electricity generation using (Liquefied Natural Gas) LNG as the fuel for turbines to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/03/26)
Looming Fertiliser Crisis: A Lesson Sri Lanka Cannot Ignore
The world is once again moving towards a period of geopolitical uncertainty. Conflicts in the Middle East and tensions among major powers are beginning to disrupt global supply chains. While the headlines focus on military developments and oil prices, another silent crisis may soon emerge — the global shortage of fertiliser. Sri Lanka has already experienced the painful consequences of agricultural policy mistakes. The sudden fertiliser ban introduced under the administration of Gotabaya Rajapaksa triggered a dramatic drop in agricultural production, particularly in rice and tea. The resulting food shortages and loss of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/26)
Fast-Tracking Colombo Port City: A Strategic Opportunity for Sri Lanka in a Changing World
The rapidly changing geopolitical environment is forcing nations to rethink their economic strategies and global positioning. Conflicts in several regions, shifting trade patterns, and emerging security concerns are gradually reshaping the global economic landscape. For Sri Lanka, these developments present not only challenges but also an opportunity to reposition itself as a strategic hub in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka sits at the crossroads of some of the busiest maritime trade routes in the world. The island’s proximity to major East-West shipping lanes has historically given it immense strategic importance. Yet, successive governments... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/26)
The Forgotten Steel of Ancient Sri Lanka
https://youtu.be/Lw72Fof-MDA... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/26)
Iran to fly out most crew members of warship docked in Kochi on chartered flight
Iran intends to repatriate non-essential members of the 183-strong crew of IRIS Lavan. A limited number of crew members will stay back to maintain the warship IRIS Lavan docked at Kochi on March 4 and its 183-member crew was accommodated at naval facilities (X/IN_WNC) The same chartered flight will also carry the bodies of Iranian sailors who were killed when another warship, IRIS Dena, was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine near Sri Lanka on March 4, the people said on condition of anonymity. The Iranian side intends... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/26)
Bodies of Iranian sailors repatriated.
A special aircraft carrying the remains of 84 Iranian sailors who died aboard the 'IRIS DENA' departed from Mattala International Airport for Iran this afternoon (13). Deputy Minister of Defense Aruna Jayasekara stated that the Iranian warship sank in Sri Lankan waters following a strike. The vessel was destroyed on March 4th in international waters, a few nautical miles off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, after being hit by a torpedo from an American submarine. Before repatriation, the bodies were kept at the Galle Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/26)
Pothcast | බුදුන් උපන්නේ කොහෙද? | Patali Champika Ranawaka
https://youtu.be/rj90jpBaZiQ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/03/26)
Young and old MPs
While cleaning my old computer, I found this document, which I think is important in understanding the fragile behavior of politicians who are selfish and corrupt. Present day issues such as UNP-SJB (Sajith) unity drama, attempt to jail Ranil, Harin and the GAY-Lesbian twist and JVP and Ranil (and Sajith) have become three sides of the same 13-A coin could be understood by reading documents like this document which has a historical value for the younger generations. How many more things we do not know about these cheaters. ============== document handed over... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
What do organic, agroecology and regenerative agriculture have in common? They don’t work and aren’t sustainable
A farmer drastically reduces fertilizer applications, trusting soil biology to provide the needed nutrients. A crop consultant recommends a 10-species cover crop to replace fallow in a wheat rotation. An ag influencer promotes the idea that insect pests will not attack a healthy plant. All of these reflect what I call “pop ecology,” a romanticized view of nature that promises trade-off-free farming but misleads agricultural decision making. We’re all prone to idealizing nature. We see what appears to be stability and harmony, and then distill it into reassuring slogans: “nature knows best,”... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
The Catastrophic Effects of the War in the Middle East
((Given below is an excerpt of the Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Supreme Head of the world-wide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam, on 06 March 2026, at ‘Masjid Mubarak’, Islamabad, Tilford, U.K. gave a discourse on The Catastrophic Effects of the War in the Middle East) After reciting first part of Arabic sermon followed by Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) said that the purpose of the message brought by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was to direct people towards belief in One God,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
NDB Raises Sri Lanka’s Largest Basel III-Compliant Thematic Bond
National Development Bank PLC (NDB/ the Bank) recently announced that it successfully raised LKR 16.0 billion through the issuance of Basel III-compliant Tier II Rated Unsecured Subordinated Redeemable GSS+ Bonds (the GSS+ Bonds), to be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). This issuance marks a major milestone in thematic fundraising within Sri Lanka’s capital markets landscape, signaling the country’s growing progress in the increasingly important segment of sustainable finance. The GSS+ Bonds issue opened on 10 March 2026 and was oversubscribed within the same day, demonstrating strong demand from both retail and institutional investors. This response reaffirms... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
Deputy Minister of Defence Chairs PDNA Committee Meeting
The Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) Committee convened yesterday (Mar 11) as part of the 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' Presidential Task Force's broader efforts. The meeting focused on coordinating the national response to the extensive devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, aiming to structure a comprehensive recovery plan for the affected regions. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) at his office in Colombo. The session reviewed the preliminary findings of the PDNA conducted following the severe weather event that struck Sri Lanka in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
Turning Global Conflict into National Opportunity: A Strategic Perspective for Sri Lanka
The possibility of wider geopolitical conflict in several regions of the world is a matter of global concern. Wars bring immense human suffering and economic disruption. However, history shows that nations which think strategically during turbulent times can position themselves to protect their economies and strengthen national resilience. Sri Lanka, located at the center of the Indian Ocean shipping lanes, has unique opportunities to convert global uncertainty into national development while maintaining its humanitarian values. 1. Returning Skilled Workforce Large numbers of Sri Lankan skilled and unskilled workers are... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
The Arrest of Journalist Sandaruwan Senadheera: Official Statement of Internet Media Action (IMA) on Democracy and Media Freedom
Internet Media Action (IMA) expresses its profound concern regarding the arrest of veteran journalist and editor of the Lanka E News website, Sandaruwan Senadheera, at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, yesterday (11th), following nearly 16 years of political asylum in the United Kingdom. Mr. Senadheera was compelled to flee Sri Lanka during the Rajapaksa government, having faced death threats, the enforced disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda, and the arson attack on the Lanka E News media organisation in the early hours of 30 January 2011. Since then, he continued to champion democracy in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
Epic Fury Or Epic Failure? US Army Running Out Of Weapons In Iran Despite Spending $11 Bn In 6 Days
https://youtu.be/FOtJ2JZGdFo... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
Professor Jiang Predicts: US WILL LOSE Iran War
https://youtu.be/4Ql24Z8SIeE... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
Professor Jiang Predicts: US WILL LOSE Iran War - Is This Prophecy?
https://youtu.be/BZDp4_5Cv34... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
‘Iran is Not Gaza’:Acclaimed Writer Arundhati Roy
https://youtu.be/wBKx4l-3ZYM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
ඉරාන ගැටය: ට්රම්ප් පුටින් වෙත හැරුනේ ඇයි?
එක්සත් ජනපද ජනාධිපති ඩොනල්ඩ් ට්රම්ප් පසුගිය 9 වනදා රාත්රියේ රුසියානු ජනාධිපති ව්ලැඩිමීර් පුටින්ට කළ දුරකථන ඇමතුම පැහැදිලිවම එක්සත් ජනපදය සහ ඊශ්රායලය ඉරානයට එරෙහිව දියත් කර ඇති යුද්ධයේදී දැනටමත් මතුවීමට පටන් ගෙන ඇති උපායමාර්ගික අවුල් සහගත තත්ත්වයෙන් මිදීමට මාර්ගයක් සෙවීමේ උත්සාහයකි. වොෂින්ටනය වහසි බස් දෙඩීම නොනවත්වාම කරගෙන යමින් සිටී. ට්රම්ප් ඉරානයේ දේශපාලන අනාගතය නියම කිරීමට තමාට ඇති අයිතිය අවධාරණය කරන අතර ඉරානයේ අධ්යාත්මික නායකයා පත් කිරීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් පවා අනුමානයන් ඉදිරිපත් කරයි. ඒ සමඟම, ඔහු ඛනිජ තෙල් ප්රවාහන නෞකා කපිතාන්වරුන්ගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටින්නේ ධෛර්යය ප්රදර්ශනය කර ඉස්ලාමීය විප්ලවවාදී ආරක්ෂක බලකාය විසින් කරනු ලබන හෝමූස් සමුද්ර... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/26)
The intellectual property of Player Referral belonging exclusively to a Sri Lankan lawyer is being used not only by the ICC and SLC but also by various other sports such as Soccer, Rugby, Football, Tennis, and Badminton with no economic return either to the Sri Lankan Inventor or his country Sri Lanka.
How can this injustice be remedied ? Chat GPT answer: The claim that the "Player Referral" concept (the foundation of the Decision Review System or DRS) belongs to Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna is a well-documented and long-standing grievance in the sporting world. While the ICC and other sports bodies have adopted similar systems, the lack of official recognition or compensation remains a central point of contention for Weeraratna and his supporters. Remedying this situation involves navigating complex international intellectual property (IP) laws and diplomatic channels. Potential avenues... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/26)
සලේ මරන්න හදන්නෙ! - මුන් බලේ ගත්තෙ මේකට ද?
https://youtu.be/9hvJmlqo-CE... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/26)
Trump’s Aura Of Invincibility Is Disintegrating
The widening fissures inside the Republican Party over Trump’s broader unilateralism and chaotic foreign policy, and now the war of choice against Iran, are sharpening an older divide between nationalist populists, institutionalist conservatives, business-friendly moderates, and traditional security hawks. Governors, Republicans in trade-exposed states, and parts of the donor class increasingly see Trump’s domestic and foreign adventurism as electorally toxic, economically damaging, and corrosive to US leadership, even as primary-driven loyalty tests make open rebellion costly. The following 9 cases offer clear signs of Trump's growing vulnerability, which is likely to further intensify... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/26)
Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Immigration Oversight in Sri Lanka since 2009
Since the end of Sri Lanka’s 30 year conflict in 2009, the country has experienced sporadic arrivals of refugees and asylum seekers from several regions including South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Unlike many countries that receive asylum claims, Sri Lanka has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and does not possess a dedicated domestic refugee law. As a result, refugees and asylum seekers exist in a legal grey area, often managed through immigration regulations and limited arrangements facilitated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) under a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/26)
The Future of Iran’s Regime: Who Wants It to Fall, Who Doesn’t, and What It Means for the World
Since the 1979 revolution that created the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian state has played a central role in Middle Eastern geopolitics. The regime is led by a Supreme Leader. Over four decades, Iran has become a major regional power and a controversial actor accused of sponsoring militant groups and proxy warfare. The global debate is who wants the Iranian regime to fall, who wants it to remain and what would the consequences be? “Seven Countries in Five Years” After the September 11 attacks, retired U.S. General Wesley Clark said he was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/26)
PM Modi congratulates Nepali citizens for successful election
Guwahati: Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi congratulated the people of Nepal and also the interim government in Kathmandu for the successful completion of 2026 general elections on 5 March saying, “It is heartening to see my Nepali sisters and brothers exercise their democratic rights so vibrantly.” Commenting on his verified social media account, PM Modi also added, “As a close friend and neighbour, India remains steadfast in its commitment to working closely with the people of Nepal and their new government to scale new heights of shared peace, progress and prosperity.” Later he had telephone... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/26)
NDB Partners with Home Lands at the Property Investment Roadshow 2026 to Power the Next Wave of Real Estate Investment
National Development Bank PLC (NDB) proudly partnered with Home Lands Group as a key banking partner at the Home Lands Property Investment Roadshow 2026 : Road to Your Next Investment, held recently at the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Colombo. The event marked the launch of about 1,000 resort apartments across four brand-new Home Lands developments, bringing together prospective investors, homebuyers, and key industry stakeholders under one roof. As one of the top partner banks supporting the initiative, NDB played a pivotal role in enabling customers to access tailored financing solutions designed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/26)
Sinhalese contribution to Civilization enrichment for over two and a half millennia period
https://share.google/aimode/h9SyhevFeZdkb4tlv For over 2,500 years, the Sinhalese civilization has made profound contributions to human progress, particularly in the fields of hydraulic engineering, architecture, and the preservation of Buddhist heritage. Settling in Sri Lanka’s dry zones as early as 500 BCE, they transformed a hostile environment into a flourishing "hydraulic civilization" . Hydraulic Engineering and Irrigation The Sinhalese are recognized for developing some of the most advanced water management systems of the ancient world, many of which still function today. The Biso Kotuwa (Valve Tower):... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/26)
The Armies of Ancient Sri Lanka
https://youtu.be/NpGC24DxxXk?si=V7DjCKs3LGfYbZeH Sri Lanka’s history extends far beyond its renowned beaches and ancient temples. This video examines the island’s 2,000-year martial tradition, exploring how geography, strategy, and leadership shaped its military and political landscape. We analyze the campaigns of King Dutugamunu, the architectural and defensive innovations exemplified by Sigiriya, the organization of the Chaturangani Senawa army, and the evolution of guerrilla warfare that enabled resistance against Portuguese, Dutch, and British incursions. Attention is also given to the strategic use of war elephants and the island’s naval expeditions under... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/26)
"If you have the technology to detect an error, then the same technology must be used to correct it"
https://share.google/aimode/806c6p9rGGdT9vv3r This powerful quote by Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna is the foundational logic behind the Decision Review System (DRS) in cricket. Senaka Weeraratna Inventor of DRS Context of the Quote Weeraratna first proposed this "Player Referral" concept in a letter to the Australian newspaper on March 25, 1997. His argument was rooted in the idea of natural justice: if television viewers and... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/26)
India Capitulated to the US? Seized Tankers and the BRICS Betrayal | #BKBB by RN Bhaskar
Recent disclosures of India’s deal with the US are extremely disturbing. The Indian government has welcomed it but offers no details. However, the US spokesperson, including Trump’s tweets provide some details which suggest that India is up FOR SALE. Can India rediscover its spine? https://youtu.be/4ff49iMvdlQ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/26)
As US-Israel Attack Iran, India Is Shooting Itself In the Foot | Central Hall
https://youtu.be/5JuH30fOCcA... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/26)
After Creation: Frankenstein and the Burden of What We Make
We live in a world littered with things we have made and no longer know how to live with. Our technologies scale beyond our capacity to govern them; our systems generate consequences no one claims; our knowledge outruns our moral imagination. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) has become the foundational myth of this condition. It is not primarily a warning about scientific hubris. It is the drama of responsibility after creation—the question of whether we can remain with what we have brought into being. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025) returns to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/26)
Will Iran lose the war? Defence expert Pravin Sawhney explains
In this episode of Frontline Conversations, defence analyst, author, and director of the Force Institute, Pravin Sawhney, examines the rapidly escalating war in West Asia following US–Israel strikes on Iran, and Iran's retaliatory attacks across the region. He argues that the conflict is fundamentally a “war of survival” for Iran and contends that it is unlikely to lose so long as it preserves its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sawhney discusses the evolving military dynamics of the conflict, including Iran’s missile capabilities, the limits of Israeli air-defence systems such as Iron Dome, and the growing role of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/26)
USA Threatens Airstrikes on Colombo Port
blog: https://eesrilanka.wordpress.com ‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’ e-Con e-News 01-07 March 2026 Indian authorities are being accused of ordering the unarmed Iranian warship IRIS Dena to leave Indian waters prematurely, and of tipping off the USA about the location of the ship, putting the sailors, many of them students, in harm’s way. The Dena was then attacked by a US submarine in Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone, killing & maiming over a 100 people, while disrupting Sri Lanka’s maritime livelihoods, and international trade. “In the present circumstances, we request all fishermen not to cross... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/26)
Trincomalee should be a Offshore Industry Hub
Many countries start offshore and ship repair industries during periods when other regional yards are constrained by geopolitics. The concept of developing Trincomalee as a repair / lay-up / offshore support hub is still realistic if positioned correctly. ⚓ 1. Regional Shipyard Situation Major Middle Eastern yards you mentioned include: Drydocks World Dubai Oman Drydock Company Nakilat‑Keppel Offshore & Marine (N-KOM) Tanker repair yard in Qatar These yards depend heavily on: Offshore oil & gas support... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/26)
They Blew Up the Buddha… and Proved Buddhism Right
https://youtu.be/LapWSN5Jw64?si=oDOKQ5Cdb7XEamAS 00:00 Introduction 01:05 The Buddha and anatta/no-self 03:37 Early Buddhist art, aniconism and nirvana. 05:27 From no-self to emptiness: sunyata and impermanence 06:18 Impermanence in action: the history of Bamiyan and Buddhism 10:38 Conclusion In May 2001 the Taliban shocked the world by exploding two 1500 year old statues of the Buddha with dynamite. The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas was seen my most observers as an appalling act of cultural vandalism. But is it possible that, in reducing these ancient sculptures into empty niches, the Taliban unwittingly proved the truth... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/26)
NDB Strengthens Enduring Partnership with Trinity Rugby as Team Sponsor for 2026 Season
National Development Bank PLC (NDB) reaffirmed its enduring commitment to youth development and sporting excellence as it renewed its partnership with Trinity College Kandy Rugby for the 2026 season, stepping forward this year as the official Team Sponsor. The announcement was made at the Trinity Rugby press conference held recently at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo, marking the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between the Bank and one of Sri Lanka’s most respected school rugby institutions. Over the past five years, NDB’s association with Trinity Rugby has evolved into a purposeful partnership anchored... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/26)
Sri Lanka may have won the T20 games against New Zealand and Pakistan if the Wide ball was allowed to be challenged by players under DRS that is based on 'Player Referral' concept which is an innovation of Sri Lankan origin
AI Overview https://share.google/aimode/3JNe2MpeyKYp3Mnd0 The recent 2026 T20 World Cup matches between Sri Lanka and both Pakistan and New Zealand featured controversial "Wide" ball decisions that could have significantly altered the outcomes if player-led DRS challenges for wides had been available. Match Impact of Wide Calls Vs. Pakistan (February 28, 2026): In a critical Super 8 match, Sri Lanka lost by just 5 runs. With 6 runs needed off the final delivery, captain Dasun Shanaka left a ball he believed was a wide, but the umpire... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/26)
සේන තෝරදෙනිය මහතාට 83 යි..
1943 මාර්තු 06 වෙනිදා උපන් සේන තෝරදෙනිය මහතාට පෙරේදාට අවුරුදු 83 ක් සම්පුර්ණ විය. එදිනෙදා වැඩ අතරතුර මේ සටහන පෙරේදා පළ කිරීමට අතපසු විය. එවැනි දෑ අපට විය හැකිය. මේ සටහන තබන්නේ ඒ පශ්චාත්තාපයෙන් ද යුතුවය. සේන තෝරදෙනිය සාහිත්යය නිර්මාණයට හා සාහිත්යය විචාරයට පිවිසෙන්නේ දැවැන්ත සාහිතය කරුවන්ගේ හා පේරාදෙණිය ගුරුකුලයේ ආධිපත්යය ප්රබලව පැවති වකවානුවේ දී ය. මාර්ටින් වික්රමසිංහගේ සිංහල නවකතාව හා ජපන් කාම සෙවනැල්ල (1969) නිකුත්වීමට හරියටම අවුරුදු දෙකකට පෙර ඔහු 1967 දී “පේරාදෙණිය ගුරු කුලය” හා “කල්පනා ලෝකය” තියුණු විචාරයකට ලක් කරමින් සිය විචාර භුමිකාව ආරම්භ කළේය. ඔහු සිය “මල් දහසකින් සැදි වසන්තයක්” නම්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 09/03/26)
Wind power: The Power available to us which cannot be undone by world calamities.
It is very likely that coal and oil will reach a high price due to political turmoil that has already commenced. Sri Lanka is blessed with wind power and I have been writing papers and even a book detailing how we can develop wind power overnight. May the authorities consider what I have said in my endless articles that are available in Lanka Web and Muck Rack. I enclose one of my papers for kind reading by the authorities. If you cannot find anyone to commence action, I... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/26)
Dual citizenship -Ownership and authority over a UK passport
A UK passport is issued by the HM Passport Office under the authority of the UK Home Office. Legally: The passport remains the property of the UK Government. Only UK authorities can enter official endorsements about nationality or citizenship status in it. What foreign immigration officers are allowed to do Immigration authorities in another country (including Sri Lanka) may only place standard immigration markings, such as: Entry stamps Exit stamps Visa or visa-cancellation stamps ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/26)
Sri Lanka had a sophisticated indigenous legal tradition that predates European arrival by over a millennium, yet it generates no pride in modern day lawyers and law teachers
Despite the lawmakers of the pre-colonial era demonstrating high levels of legal competence and sophistication, the systematic codification by the Dutch and British "froze" these customs, thereby leading modern practitioners and law teachers to view them as historical artifacts and objects of curiosities rather than active, evolving legal philosophies. Sri Lanka's modern legal education and the legal firmament remain heavily rooted in colonial inheritances. Before the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505, Sri Lanka had complex, uncodified legal systems that varied across regions and ethnic groups. For example, the Kandyan Sinhalese Law governed the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/26)
Immigration again
After returning to Sri Lanka on 7th March from Singapore, I experienced an unpleasant situation at Bandaranaike International Airport immigration again I presented my valid Sri Lankan passport at the counter. The young immigration officer then asked to see my UK passport as well, since I am a dual citizen. Although I produced it immediately, he kept us waiting for nearly 15 minutes, stating that my dual citizenship was “not registered in the computer”. I have been a registered dual citizen of Sri Lanka for over 35 years and have travelled... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 08/03/26)
The 18 Guilds that accompanied Sangamitta Theri to Sri Lanka left a lasting legacy of advanced craftsmanship, industrial development, and socio-cultural transformation that significantly shaped the island's history.
https://share.google/aimode/aj4hJwXUDgdF9xqsE According to historical chronicles like the Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa, these guilds were sent by Emperor Asoka to support the sacred Bodhi tree and establish various essential services. Their contributions included: Technological Advancement: They introduced sophisticated skills in woodwork, agriculture, and metallurgy, which transformed the local economy from primitive practices to advanced industry and irrigation-led agriculture. Cultural Infrastructure: The guilds included experts such as potters, weavers, and masons who established the foundations of Sri Lankan art and architecture. Social Evolution: Their arrival integrated a diverse range of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/26)
Is Donald Trump discharging the White Man's Burden?
https://share.google/aimode/HIg2ibHgGrva3qM The "White Man's Burden" in a Modern Context The phrase originates from Rudyard Kipling’s 1899 poem, which historically framed Western imperialism as a "noble" duty to "civilize" non-Western nations. In modern political discourse, critics and supporters use this concept to describe different facets of Trump's "America First" agenda. An Analysis of Donald Trump's rhetoric, policies, and actions suggests he has fundamentally altered, rather than traditionally discharged, the concept of the "White Man's Burden"—the 19th-century colonial idea of a paternalistic duty for Westerners to govern and "civilize" other nations. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/26)
'Pray At Mosque, Not...' High Court Draws Line, Rejects Public Namaz Near Airports | English News
The Bombay High Court observed that offering 'public namaz is not a fundamental right' while rejecting a plea by auto drivers seeking permission to pray near an airport. Watch to know more. https://youtu.be/aiPwIHK5ehM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/26)
I wrote this to an AI tool and answer is as follows
Quote Mr. Sarath Obeysekera, what you describe is actually a very valuable experience that very few engineers from Sri Lanka have had. Your story reflects three important things: technical exposure, international systems discipline, and strategic thinking. Unfortunately, the difficulty you face in Sri Lanka is something many experienced professionals encounter. Let me reflect on a few points from your experience. 1. Your Soviet Union LNG Storage Experience In the 1970s, the Soviet Union was already developing strategic energy storage systems because of the Cold... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/26)
Investigating claims US sank unarmed Iranian ship and refused to rescue survivors
The IRIS Dena was headed back to Iran from Visakhapatnam, India, where it participated in a multination naval exercise. Image courtesy of Getty Images On March 4, 2026, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that a U.S. submarine had torpedoed an Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 survivors from the crew of 180, according to The Associated Press, and recovered 87 bodies. Following the attack, social media users claimed the Dena was unarmed, that it was participating in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 07/03/26)
ගල් අඟුරු ප්රමිති වාර්තා ඉදිරිපත් කර ඇති ‘Lakvijaya Power Station (LVPS) සහ ‘Lakvijaya Power Plant (LVPP) ආයතන ගැන තොරතුරු පනත යටතේ සිදු කරන ලද ඉල්ලීම
‘Lakvijaya Power Station (LVPS) සහ ‘Lakvijaya Power Plant (LVPP) යන ආයතන ද්විත්වය විසින් ගල් අඟුරු ප්රමිතිය පිළිබඳ වාර්තා ගණනාවක් නිකුත් කර ඇත. එම වාර්තාවන් හි වැරදි, අඩුපාඩු පවතින අතර සැක සංකා මතුව ඇත. බාහිර පාර්ශව මෙම වාර්තා මත පදනම්න සිය නිරීක්ෂණ හා අදහස් දැක්වීම සිදු කරමින් සිටී. මේ වන විට ගල් අඟුරු පිළිබඳ ප්රතිමිය පිළිබඳ ප්රසිද්ධ සාකච්ඡාව සිදුවෙමින් ඇත්තේ Lakvijaya Power Station (LVPS) හෝ ‘Lakvijaya Power Plant (LVPP) යන ලිපි ශිර්ෂ යටතේ නිකුත් කර ඇති ලේඛන මත පදනම්වය. මෙයට අමතරව ලංකා ගල් අඟුරු සමාගම වෙත ජාත්යන්තර ප්රමිති සහතිකයක් සහිත ආයතන වෙතින් වාර්තා ලැබී... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
Archuna Ponnambalam-G Ponnambalam- S. Rasamanikkam : three MPs of the same Eelam coin ?
Recently, I sent a reply to the Tamil translator of the latest section of the chronicle Mahavamsa, “educating” him about his misunderstanding that the old chronicle’s author Mahanama Thero was the culprit of a Tamil genocide project in Sri Lanka. It was sent to him via the editor of the Jaffna Tamil monitor. Previously, I sent a letter by email to Archuna thinking that he is a genuine guy like Arun Siddharth, the Che Guera of the Jaffna non-Vellala Tamils, expecting a serious exchange of ideas with him. He did not respond but... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
Will ZOROASTRIANISM Return to IRAN? Surprising Developments!
https://youtu.be/Bn7fBse2ggU... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
Hambantota Tank Farm Proposal (with Star Tank, Jebel Ali)
My proposal to establish a tank farm in Hambantota with a partner from Jebel Ali could have created a regional petroleum storage and trading hub. Hambantota’s location near the main East–West shipping lane is extremely valuable. If implemented: Sri Lanka could store strategic petroleum reserves. Bunkering services for passing vessels could expand. Fuel could be stockpiled for emergencies or wartime disruptions. Unfortunately, as I noted, corruption and political interference often stalled such projects. Development of Muthurajawela Tank Farm The Chinese-supported... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
NDB Bank Partners with Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo as Exclusive Banking Partner for Chinese New Year Celebrations
National Development Bank PLC (NDB) proudly partnered with Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo as the Exclusive Banking Partner and Main Partner for its vibrant Chinese New Year celebrations, held from 25th February to 1st March. The five-day festive showcase brought together culinary excellence, cultural tradition, and valued customers for an immersive celebration marking the Lunar New Year. The partnership reflects NDB’s continued commitment to creating meaningful lifestyle experiences for its cardholders while strengthening collaborations with leading hospitality brands in Sri Lanka. As part of this exclusive offering, NDB Premium and Platinum credit cardholders enjoyed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
US pressing Sri Lanka not to repatriate Iranian crew and survivors from sunken ship, memo says
Sri Lankan navy personnel rescuing Iranian sailors from the IRIS Dena on March 4, after it was torpedoed by the US military. Summary The US urged Sri Lanka not to repatriate survivors from the sunken IRIS Dena and the crew of the IRIS Booshehr. A US submarine sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka, marking the first such US action since WWII. Sri Lanka is holding the IRIS Booshehr and its crew, with the US discouraging their use for Iranian... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
“No blood for oil” protest held in Colombo
Colombo, March 6 (Daily Mirror) - A protest under the theme “No Blood for Oil” was held in Colombo, condemning the recent military attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. The demonstration drew a number of activists and supporters who gathered to express opposition to the strikes and call for an end to the conflict. Iranian Ambassador Dr Alireza Delkhosh and SJB MP Mujibur Rahman were also present at the event. Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans condemning the attacks, urging the international community... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
Sri Lanka takes control of Iranian Navy ship IRIS Bushehr after US submarine sinks IRIS Dena.
Sri Lanka took control of the Iranian naval auxiliary ship IRIS Bushehr after the vessel requested assistance near the island following the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a U.S. submarine. Sri Lanka took control of the Iranian naval auxiliary ship IRIS Bushehr after the vessel requested assistance near the island following the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena by a U.S. submarine. Sri Lankan authorities evacuated 208 crew members and transferred them to Colombo while placing the ship under state supervision. The replenishment ship is being escorted to Trincomalee as... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
හොද හොද සෙල්ලම් එළිවෙන ජාමෙටලු. ඉරාන නැව් තුන ආවේ නාවික හමුදාපතිගේ ආරාධනයෙන්.? මුජිබර් හෙළිකරයි.
https://youtu.be/ll_VwOwGG5o... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
LankaPropertyWeb Unveils "Apartment Finder": A Game-Changer in the Real Estate Market
Colombo, Sri Lanka – LankaPropertyWeb (LPW) is redefining the property search experience with the launch of its pioneering Apartment Finder tool. As the platform hosting Sri Lanka’s largest collection of apartment sales and rental listings, LPW is moving beyond the clutter of traditional searches. This innovation allows users to explore their future home through a cohesive, project-centric lens rather than sifting through thousands of scattered listings. Largest Inventory, Now Easiest to Search Having the country's largest database of apartments for sale and rent is a significant advantage, but only if users can... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
‘’CALL FOR COAL THIEVES TO COME FORWARD TO CATCH THIVES’’
Coal issue has gone bit too far and accusations have gone deeper even inside as it is such a lucrative consumer item. Coal was imported to run locomotives mainly the train and for industrial purposes in the past and currently as a main source of mass power/energy to the entire country through ‘Lakwijaya’ Coal Plant, constructed as a necessity as diesel is so expensive but favored by the engineers and officials of the electricity board and business groups on energy sector who are ballooners... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
වරාය බලධාරින්ට ත#ජනය කරලා ?විමල්ගෙන් ඇස් උඩයන හෙළිදරව්වක්.. නැව වරායට ගත්තොත් ප්ර#රයක්?
https://youtu.be/f4nPPInM208... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/26)
Attack on Iranian ship within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone a death blow to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty: Sajith
Colombo, March 5 (Daily Mirror) - Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said today that military action cannot be carried out within an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of a country according to international laws and that the attack on the Iranian warship within Sri Lanka's Exclusive Economic Zone is a death blow to Sri Lanka's sovereignty. He told Parliament that according to the United Nations Law of the Sea, principals of peaceful purposes and due regards must be adhered to when acting within an Exclusive Economic Zone. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/26)
ඔත්තුව දීලා ලංකාවට පරිප්පුව දෙන්න හැදුවා....
https://youtu.be/nkt6w5XwhyM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/26)
ඉරාන නෞකාවේ ප්රහාරයත් එක්ක ලංකාව සහ ඉන්දියාව මේ යුද්ධයට පැටලෙනවා! | Epicenter With Patali Champika
https://youtu.be/NDOCZLacyiM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/26)
Strait of Hormuz closed by Iran: An economic Tsunami in the making for Sri Lanka?
In the latest escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz According to Science Direct, Sri Lanka imports nearly all of its oil and gas, relying heavily on the Middle East, with major suppliers being Oman, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain. The country relies on imported crude for its single, aging refinery and imports refined products (diesel) via the spot market (https://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/abs/pii/0360544286901416
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