Shenali D. Waduge
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 - 28/03/26)
Dilrook Kannangara
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 - 28/03/26)
COURTESY: AI Overview
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 - 28/03/26)
Shenali D Waduge
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)
Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake
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)
Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake
PART 2 Beyond the Psy-Op: Saving the ‘Exorbitantly Privileged’ Petrodollar and Disaster Capitalism
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)
Sasanka De Silva Makumbura.
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)
සංගදාස අකුරුගොඩ
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)
AI Overview
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)
HistorywithShabnam
Lessons for Sri Lanka https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ftskJBeCIo0?feature=share... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 27/03/26)
Gamini Goonetilleke
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)
Sports Today
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)
Hiru News
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 - 27/03/26)
Sasanka De Silva Makumbura.
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 - 26/03/26)
Dr. Asoka Bandarage Courtesy: Inter Press Service
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 - 26/03/26)
By Ananda Wickramasinghe
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 - 26/03/26)
Ministry of Defence - Media Centre
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 - 26/03/26)
Source: AI Overview
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 - 26/03/26)
Prepared by: Sarath Obeysekera
1. Executive Summary
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 - 26/03/26)
Newsfirst English
https://youtu.be/xDYBmBYOFkM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 26/03/26)
National Development Bank PLC
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 - 26/03/26)
KELUM BANDARA Courtesy Daily mirror
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 - 26/03/26)
Shenali D Waduge
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 - 25/03/26)
Sampath Samarakoon (Convenor) Internet Media Action (IMA)
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 - 25/03/26)
Dr Sarath Obeysekera
Title: Implementation of High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane and Regulated Carpooling System in Sri Lanka 1. Background
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. 2. Objective
To: Reduce... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 25/03/26)
Courtesy AA.com
'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 - 25/03/26)
By bne IntelliNews
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 - 25/03/26)
Courtesy Hiru News
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 - 25/03/26)
e-Con e-News
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 - 24/03/26)
-Sri Lanka Jurists-
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 - 24/03/26)
Senaka Weeraratna
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 - 24/03/26)
Raj Gonsalkorale P O Box 4, Annandale NSW 2038
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 - 24/03/26)
Dr Sarath Obeysekera
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 - 24/03/26)
Source: AI Overview
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 - 24/03/26)
by A. Abdul Aziz
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 - 24/03/26)
Voice Tube
https://youtu.be/3OVTWTGvLys... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 24/03/26)
by Garvin Karunaratne
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 - 23/03/26)
Courtesy India Today
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 - 23/03/26)
Courtesy Hiru News
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 - 23/03/26)
Eddie Invests
https://youtu.be/kz8bRZPbvQc... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 23/03/26)
