Public sector, schools and courts closed today, limited bus and train services
The government has decided to grant a weekly holiday to public sector employees every Wednesday starting today (18), until further notice, in response to ongoing fuel supply challenges. MORE..
- Projectile hit Iranian nuclear power plant, UN agency says
- Batch of US-donated TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters leaves for Sri Lanka
- Two killed in Iranian strike on Tel Aviv
- British Airways to resume flights to Colombo
- Israel extends re-entry visas for Sri Lankans and overseas workers
- Australian facilities damaged in Iranian attack on Middle East air base
- Iran’s army chief threatens ‘decisive’ retaliation for killing of Larijani
- Oil prices drop as Iraqi and Kurdish authorities agree to export deal
- Australia announces temporary travel ban for specified group of visitors
- INTERPOL: 45,000 malicious IP addresses taken down in international cyber operation
Hot News
INTERPOL: 45,000 malicious IP addresses taken down in international cyber operation
An international cybercrime operation targeting phishing, malware and ransomware has seen the INTERPOL take down more than 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers, the organisation has announced. MORE..
Australia announces temporary travel ban for specified group of visitors
Australia has introduced a new legislation under the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Act 2026, allowing a temporary ban for a specified group of travellers to travel to the country during international crises. MORE..
Oil prices drop as Iraqi and Kurdish authorities agree to export deal
Oil prices eased on Wednesday to pare back some of Tuesday’s sharp gains after the Iraqi government and Kurdish authorities reached a deal to resume oil exports via Turkey’s Ceyhan port, providing modest relief to concerns about Middle East supplies. MORE..
Iran’s army chief threatens ‘decisive’ retaliation for killing of Larijani
Iranian army chief Amir Hatami has threatened to launch a “decisive” retaliation for the killing of security chief Ali Larijani in an Israeli air strike. MORE..
Australian facilities damaged in Iranian attack on Middle East air base
Iran has launched an attack on an air base in the Middle East where Australian soldiers are stationed, starting a fire that damaged Australian medical and accommodation facilities. MORE..
Israel extends re-entry visas for Sri Lankans and overseas workers
Visas of workers who have left Israel for vacation or other purposes have been extended until April 30, 2026, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara stated. MORE..
British Airways to resume flights to Colombo
British Airways has announced that it will resume flights to Colombo in October. MORE..
Two killed in Iranian strike on Tel Aviv
Two people have been killed during an Iranian missile attack that struck “several” sites around Tel Aviv, local police said. MORE..
Batch of US-donated TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters leaves for Sri Lanka
The United States Government has commenced transferring 10 TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters to the Sri Lanka Air Force. MORE..
Projectile hit Iranian nuclear power plant, UN agency says
The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has reported that a projectile hit a nuclear power in the southwest of the country. MORE..
Rocket and drone attacks resume on US embassy and diplomatic facility in Baghdad
Rocket and drone attacks on the U.S. embassy and a diplomatic facility in Iraq resumed on Tuesday after a series of earlier strikes the same day, security sources said.
Tehran confirms top security official Ali Larijani has been killed
Tehran has confirmed that its top security official Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has been killed. MORE..
Emergency talks held to maintain airline operations during fuel shortage
A special discussion has been held to examine measures required to ensure the uninterrupted operation of airline services amid the ongoing fuel crisis triggered by the prevailing conflict in the Middle East. MORE..
Showers or thundershowers in parts of the island after 2pm
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in most parts of the island after 2.00 p.m. today (18), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..
Train services to operate on Saturday’s schedule tomorrow – SLR
Railway services will be operated tomorrow (Wednesday) as on a Saturday, as it is a government declared holiday, according to Sri Lanka Railways. MORE..
Australia announces temporary travel ban for specified group of visitors
Australia has introduced a new legislation under the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Act 2026, allowing a temporary ban for a specified group of travellers to travel to the country during international crises. MORE..
Oil prices drop as Iraqi and Kurdish authorities agree to export deal
Oil prices eased on Wednesday to pare back some of Tuesday’s sharp gains after the Iraqi government and Kurdish authorities reached a deal to resume oil exports via Turkey’s Ceyhan port, providing modest relief to concerns about Middle East supplies. MORE..
Iran’s army chief threatens ‘decisive’ retaliation for killing of Larijani
Iranian army chief Amir Hatami has threatened to launch a “decisive” retaliation for the killing of security chief Ali Larijani in an Israeli air strike. MORE..
Australian facilities damaged in Iranian attack on Middle East air base
Iran has launched an attack on an air base in the Middle East where Australian soldiers are stationed, starting a fire that damaged Australian medical and accommodation facilities. MORE..
Israel extends re-entry visas for Sri Lankans and overseas workers
Visas of workers who have left Israel for vacation or other purposes have been extended until April 30, 2026, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara stated. MORE..
British Airways to resume flights to Colombo
British Airways has announced that it will resume flights to Colombo in October. MORE..
Two killed in Iranian strike on Tel Aviv
Two people have been killed during an Iranian missile attack that struck “several” sites around Tel Aviv, local police said. MORE..
Batch of US-donated TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters leaves for Sri Lanka
The United States Government has commenced transferring 10 TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters to the Sri Lanka Air Force. MORE..
Projectile hit Iranian nuclear power plant, UN agency says
The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has reported that a projectile hit a nuclear power in the southwest of the country. MORE..
Latest TV News Bulletin
Video of the Day
Ada Derana Prime Time News Bulletin
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Ada Derana Prime Time News Bulletin
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Long queues at filling stations across Sri Lanka; Several sectors demand hike in weekly fuel quota (English)
Technology
Amazon launches 1-hour shipping in US cities to challenge Walmart
Amazon is ramping up its speedy delivery service by offering 1-hour and 3-hour shipping in markets across the U.S., including Los Angeles and Chicago, in its latest efforts to stave off e-commerce competition from its biggest rival Walmart. MORE..
Google Maps reinvents navigation with AI-powered ‘Ask Maps’
Google Maps reinvents navigation with AI-powered ‘Ask Maps’
Google Maps just got a major upgrade that could make the world’s most popular navigation app even better. MORE..
Russia fines Telegram app for failing to remove banned content
Russia fines Telegram app for failing to remove banned content
Russia has fined the Telegram messaging app 35 million roubles ($432,366) for failing to remove banned content, Russia’s Interfax news agency reported on Monday. MORE..
Meta planning sweeping layoffs as AI costs mount
Meta planning sweeping layoffs as AI costs mount
Meta is planning sweeping layoffs that could affect 20% or more of the company, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Meta seeks to offset costly artificial intelligence infrastructure bets and prepare for greater efficiency brought about by AI-assisted workers. MORE..
Entertainment
Oscars 2026: Winners list in full
Hollywood’s best and brightest have been honoured with the most coveted awards in the movie industry, the Oscars. MORE..
‘One Battle After Another’ wins six Oscars, including best picture
‘One Battle After Another’ wins six Oscars, including best picture
Paul Thomas Anderson’s darkly comic action thriller One Battle After Another has claimed the Academy Award for Best Picture, capping a dominant night that saw the film secure six Oscars in total. MORE..
Kpop Demon Hunters wins Oscars for best original song and best animated film
Kpop Demon Hunters wins Oscars for best original song and best animated film
Kpop Demon Hunters, the viral movie about supernatural K-pop stars, has won Oscars for best animated feature film and best original song. MORE..
Michael B. Jordan wins best actor Oscar for dual role in ‘Sinners’
Michael B. Jordan wins best actor Oscar for dual role in ‘Sinners’
First-time nominee Michael B. Jordan won the best actor Oscar on Sunday for playing twin brothers in the genre-bending vampire tale ‘‘Sinners." MORE..
Exchange Rates
Country |
Buying |
Selling |
|---|---|---|
USA
U.S.Dollar |
307.7302 | 315.3022 |
UK
Sterling Pound |
408.2381 | 421.0555 |
Europe
Euro |
352.4655 | 363.9632 |
Switzerland
Swiss Franc |
387.4654 | 403.0722 |
Canada
Canadian Dollar |
223.5687 | 231.7247 |
Australia
Australian Dollar |
215.7508 | 225.2354 |
Singapore
Singapore Dollar |
239.0500 | 248.4171 |
Japan
Japanese Yen |
1.9239 | 1.9894 |
Country |
Currency |
Rate |
|---|---|---|
Bahrain
|
Dinar | 824.2100 |
Kuwait
|
Dinar | 1,014.5259 |
Oman
|
Rial | 808.8168 |
Qatar
|
Riyal | 85.4121 |
Saudi Arabia
|
Riyal | 82.9745 |
UAE
|
Dirham | 84.7726 |
Sports
AFCON: Senegal stripped of title, Morocco crowned champions
Morocco have been declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result of the final following Senegal’s controversial walk-off. MORE..
Iran negotiating with FIFA to move World Cup games to Mexico from US
Iran’s football federation is in discussions with FIFA about moving their World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico due to concerns about the safety of their players, Iranian football president Mehdi Taj said on Monday. MORE..
Spain v Argentina ‘Finalissima’ match cancelled due to Middle East conflict
The ‘Finalissima’ clash between Euro 2024 winners Spain and world champions Argentina set to take place on March 27 in Qatar has been cancelled, UEFA said on Sunday. MORE..
F1 cancels Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to war in Middle East
Formula One has confirmed next month’s races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not take place as FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the sport ‘‘will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first." MORE..
147th ‘Battle of the Blues’ ends in draw
The 147th ‘Battle of the Blues’ between Royal College Colombo and S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia ended in a draw at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Colombo this evening (14). MORE..
