News Archive for Mar 2026 C. Wijeyawickrema 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) Andrew McGuire Courtesy geneticliteracyproject.org 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)
by A. Abdul Aziz. ((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)
National Development Bank PLC 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)
Ministry of Defence - Media Centre 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)
By Sarath Obeysekera 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)
Internet Media Action (IMA) 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)
Hindustan Times https://youtu.be/FOtJ2JZGdFo... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
Breaking Points https://youtu.be/4Ql24Z8SIeE... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
Grace Digital Network https://youtu.be/BZDp4_5Cv34... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
The Wire https://youtu.be/wBKx4l-3ZYM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/03/26)
උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා ලීඩර් 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)
Courtesy: AI Overview 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)
Wimal Weerawansa https://youtu.be/9hvJmlqo-CE... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 11/03/26)
Dr. Alon Ben-Meir 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)
Shenali D Waduge 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)
Shenali D Waduge 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)
Nava Thakuria 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)
National Development Bank PLC 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)
Source: AI Overview 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)
Courtesy: History Undug 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)
Senaka Weeraratna 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)
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)
The Wire https://youtu.be/5JuH30fOCcA... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 10/03/26)
Sam Ben-Meir - March 10, 2024 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)
Frontline Magazine 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)
e-Con e-News 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)
Dr Sarath Obeysekera 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)
The Liberator 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)
National Development Bank PLC 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)
Senaka Weeraratna 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)
Courtesy Lanka Leader 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)
Garvin Karunaratne 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)
Dr Sarath Obeysekera 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)
Senaka Weeraratna 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)
Dr Sarath Obeysekera 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)
Senaka Weeraratna 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)
Senaka Weeraratna 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)
Times Now 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)
Dr Sarath Obeysekera 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)
Courtesy Snopes 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)
රජිත් කීර්ති තෙන්නකෝන් ‘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)
C. Wijeyawickrema, LL.B.,Ph.D. 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)
Abhijit Chavda Clips https://youtu.be/Bn7fBse2ggU... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
Dr Sarath Obeysekera 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)
National Development Bank PLC 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)
Courtesy The Straits Times 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)
Courtesy Daily Mirror 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)
Naval News Navy 2026 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)
Borella Handiya https://youtu.be/ll_VwOwGG5o... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 06/03/26)
LankaPropertyWeb (LPW) 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)
Sarath Wijesinghe former Chair Consumer Affairs Authority, PC, Solicitor and President Ambassador’s Forum UK 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)
Dasatha News https://youtu.be/f4nPPInM208... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/26)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror 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)
Gagana https://youtu.be/nkt6w5XwhyM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/26)
AsianMirror https://youtu.be/NDOCZLacyiM... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 05/03/26)
By Raj Gonsalkorale 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 :~:text= The%20country's% 20single%20refinery%20operates, sources%20of%20oil%20or%20gas). https://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/abs/pii/0360544286901416 :~:text= The%20country's% 20single%20refinery%20operates, sources%20of%20oil%20or%20gas) A significant portion of these... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 04/03/26) KAMALIKA PIERIS The Eelam wars (1983-2009) between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), arose over the issue of self-determination for Sri Lankan Tamils and the separation of the Northern and Eastern provinces from the rest of the country. The goal was a separate state. The Eelam war was not a guerilla or terrorist war, it was a Civil War. Civil War takes place when a group of citizens take up arms against the government to obtain exclusive control of a part of the land. The fighting takes place inside... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/26)
KAMALIKA PIERIS The Eelam war was never a terrorist war. LTTE engaged in regular military warfare using modern weapons. It had a trained army, dressed in uniform. It attacked the state army where ever it could and concentrated on taking territory. Dayan Jayatilleke observed that LTTE was not a terrorist cell, or a branch of an international terrorist network, It was a secessionist army. [1] In his Heroes Day speech of November 2002, Prabhakaran said If self-determination is denied and the demand for self-rule is rejected, the Tamil people will have no alternative other than to... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/26)
KAMALIKA PIERIS The Eelam wars were defeated by the government of Sri Lanka in May 2009. Nirmala Chandrahasan said that the Tamils must start all over again. I do not think that Tamil nationalism with secessionist aspirations, will die a natural death. Even if the LTTE is destroyed , it is possible that a new guerrilla war could emerge in a few years time, she said. [1] A.K. Ragavan, a Tamil activist now in UK stated in an interview in 2009 , we need to look at this differently. This nationalist framework will only alienate people... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/26)
by Garvin Karunaratne Our external debt has reached $ 33.2 billion by the end of December 2025. The increase in foreign debt denotes that we are on the wrong path. My earlier Papers in Lanka Web indicate the measures that have to be done if the authorities are interested to build up our economy. Garvin Karunaratne former GA Matara... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/26)
Defend Democracy Press March 2, 2026 Spain’s government on Monday said the US has neither used nor will use Spanish military bases to conduct attacks against Iran, insisting Madrid maintains full control over its sovereign facilities, Anadolu reports. According to Spanish news outlet El Diario, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in a television interview that the bases at Rota and Moron de la Frontera “are not being used” for operations linked to the Middle East conflict and that Spain will not authorize any such deployment. “The bases of Spanish sovereignty will not be... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/26)
Israel Shamir, courtesy The Unz Review The US, UK, France and Germany are flattered to call themselves “the West”, but it is more realistic to call them the Jewish-State-in-progress, or “Epsteinia”. We have just learned that President Trump had already made up his mind to go to war against Iran weeks ago, and that the pretence of diplomacy carried out by two Jewish real estate dealers (Witkoff and Kushner) on his behalf was little more than a nothingburger to keep Iran busy until the Chosen moment. So what exactly was the purpose behind Trump’s diplomatic pause before commencing... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/26)
Chamuditha News Brief https://youtu.be/NJDa6UnY1Gc... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/26)
උපුටා ගැන්ම ලංකා සී නිව්ස් පාස්කු ඉරිදා ප්රහාරයේ මහමොළකරු ලෙස සැලකෙන සහරාන් හෂීම්ගේ නඩුව වෙනුවෙන් පෙනී සිටි නීතිඥයා අද මෙරට අධිකරණ ඇමති ධුරය හොබවන බව ජාතික නිදහස් පෙරමුණේ නායක, පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්රී විමල් වීරවංශ මහතා පවසයි. රත්නපුර පැවති ජන හමුවකදී අදහස් දක්වමින් ඒ මහතා මේ බව සඳහන් කළේය. එහිදී වැඩිදුරටත් අදහස් දැක්වූ වීරවංශ මහතා කියා සිටියේ වත්මන් අධිකරණ ඇමති හර්ෂණ නානායක්කාර මහතා එදා මඩකලපුවට ගොස් සහරාන්ගේ නඩුව වෙනුවෙන් පෙනී සිටි නීතිඥයා බවයි. රටේ ආරක්ෂාව වෙනුවෙන් කැපී පෙනෙන මෙහෙවරක් කළ විශ්රාමික මේජර් ජෙනරාල් සුරේෂ් සලේ වැනි බුද්ධි අංශ ප්රධානීන් සිරගත කර පීඩාවට පත් කරමින්, සහරාන් වෙනුවෙන් පෙනී සිටි නීතිඥයින්ට... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/26)
Courtesy Hiru News The Sri Lankan government, led by the President, failed to issue a single word condemning or protesting the invasion of Iran and the killing of its spiritual leader by the US and Israel, despite opposition from global bodies like the US Congress and British Parliament, SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahman stated in Parliament today (03). The MP pointed out his expectation that the President would present and unanimously pass a resolution against the invasion as the Head of State, yet no such action occurred today. Mujibur Rahman... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 03/03/26)
Professor Muditha Vidanapathirana & Dr. Ruwaan M Jayatunge Serial homicide is defined as the unlawful killing of two or more individuals in separate events, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, 2005). Hickey (2016) explains that serial killers engage in a series of murders, often driven by psychological motives and identifiable patterns or methods. These individuals frequently feel an irresistible urge to kill, influenced by various factors such as a quest for power, control, or the need to satisfy profound psychological impulses (Hare, 1999). According to Hickey (2016) Serial murders are characterized by a series... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/03/26)
Sarath Wijesinghe (President’s Counsel, LLM International Law London UCL, Solicitor in England and Wales former Ambassador to UAE and Israel and former Secretary Bar Association of Sri Lanka, President Ambassador’s Forum) Justice Delayed is Justice denied Justice delays is justice denied is the famous quotation by ‘’Lord William Gladstone’’ said on legal system – indicating that this old and worldwide issue that needs attention still in the main agenda in the modern society still prevails, timely and current. Laws delays retards development, affects law and order, encourages crime while discouraging foreign investments and good will that... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/03/26)
Sarath Wijesinghe- a former Secretary of the Bar Association – former Ambassador to UAE and Israel (Not by passing arbitrary judgments does a man become wise? A wise man is one who investigates both right and the wrong. He who does not judge others arbitrarily according to the truth, that sagacious man is a guardian of law and is called just. One is not wise because one speaks much. He who is peaceful, friendly and fearless is called wise. A man is not versed in Dhamma because he speaks much. He who, after hearing a little Dhamma, realizes... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 02/03/26)
e-Con e-News blog: https://eesrilanka.wordpress.com ‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’ * e-Con e-News 22-28 February 2026 * ‘Seize assets, expel spies, expose lies, change the narrative’ – Simon Tisdall, Guardian (see ee Sovereignty, ‘Lunatic Voice of The Day’) The arrest this week of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief Suresh Sallay preludes the possible arrest of former President Gotabaya Rajapakse, as demanded by the US, England & Europe – prescient analysts surmise. This follows recent revelations that the CIA was behind the popularly elected Rajapakse’s forcible expulsion... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/26)
Sasanka De Silva Rating: ⭐☆☆☆☆ I am writing this to alert the traveling public about the unprofessional and, in my view, premeditated "delay tactics" employed by the management at North Gate Jaffna—specifically a manager named Manoj. The Incident On February 28, 2026, I contacted the hotel via telephone and WhatsApp at 18:22 local time to address an urgent cancellation request for an upcoming stay (March 6th–8th). The cancellation was necessitated by the volatile security situation in the Middle East. Despite providing what should have been more than sufficient notice for a professional... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/26)
Janta Ka Reporter https://youtu.be/KlczpxFnq0w... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/26)
By Palitha Ariyarathna (Source: All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Facebook Page ) 2026-2-21 Synopsis Sri Lanka is a civilizational state — consecrated to the Buddha Sasana for over 2,570 years. From King Pandukabhaya to King Dutugemunu, from Mahiyangana to Anuradhapura, this island was offered to the Buddha. The four Buddhas — Kakusandha, Konagamana, Kassapa, and Gautama — link Lanka to sacred continuity. Colonial powers called it Ceylon, but its true name is Lanka: one, indivisible, eternal. Article 2 declares unity, Article 9 gives Buddhism the foremost place, and the Sixth Amendment rejects separatism. Together, they... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/26)
Dilrook Kannangara Unfortunately, almost all Muslim communities in the world are suffering physical harm for various reasons. Yet there is an oasis for Muslims in Sri Lanka. The land where the first man, Prophet Adam descended, and descended well, according to local Muslims’ beliefs, has nurtured Muslims and awarded them with peace and prosperity when the rest of the world turned hostile. What happens in the Middle East for the past 70 years is sad. Never-ending wars have plagued the middle east, and their wars will not end anytime soon. Palestine, Yemen, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/26)
Bamo Nouri Courtesy Counterpunch.org Facebook Twitter Reddit Bluesky Email US and Iranian negotiators met in Geneva earlier this week in what mediators described as the most serious and constructive talks in years. Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, spoke publicly of “unprecedented openness,” signalling that both sides were exploring creative formulations rather than repeating entrenched positions. Discussions showed flexibility on nuclear limits and sanctions relief, and mediators indicated that a principles agreement could have been reached within days, with detailed verification mechanisms to follow within months. These were not hollow gestures. Real diplomatic capital... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/26)
Courtesy: LNW Sri Lanka’s Parliament has become the latest arena in a growing international conversation on colonial reparations, as the government signals it may seek compensation from Britain for damages inflicted during the colonial era. Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed that the issue is under consideration, following calls from Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to emulate African nations that have formally demanded reparations from former colonial rulers. The move reflects a broader reassessment of colonial history, as nations reassess the long-term economic and human costs of imperialism. British colonial rule in Sri Lanka reshaped... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/26)
MeidasTouch https://youtu.be/80rPtMG8-jA... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/03/26)
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