By Rohana R. Wasala
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)
Sasanka De Silva (Makumbura)
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)
Sasanka De Silva Makumbura
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)
Dr. Alon Ben-Meir
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)
by Neville Ladduwahetty
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)
Professor Nishan C Wijesinha
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)
by A. Abdul Aziz. Source: Ahmadiyyat nazm
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)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
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 - 29/03/26)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
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 - 29/03/26)
Courtesy The Indian Express
“…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 - 29/03/26)
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)
