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32 Iranians rescued from warship “IRIS Dena” admitted to Karapitiya Hospital

32 Iranians rescued from warship “IRIS Dena” admitted to Karapitiya Hospital

A total of 32 Iranians, rescued from the Iranian warship “IRIS Dena” by the Sri Lanka Navy and brought to Galle, have been admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital.

| March 4, 2026  12:43 pm
Iran to hold three-day ‘farewell ceremony’ for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran to hold three-day ‘farewell ceremony’ for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran will hold a three-day “farewell ceremony” for its late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday (1830 GMT) at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini prayer ground, according to state media. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  12:31 pm
Israel says whoever is chosen as Iran’s next supreme leader will be ‘a target for elimination’

Israel says whoever is chosen as Iran’s next supreme leader will be ‘a target for elimination’

Israel’s defense minister on Wednesday threatened whoever Iran picks to be the country’s next supreme leader, saying he will be “a target for elimination.” MORE..

| March 4, 2026  12:29 pm
SLTDA takes policy decision to refrain from LGBTQ-focused tourism in Sri Lanka, AG tells court

SLTDA takes policy decision to refrain from LGBTQ-focused tourism in Sri Lanka, AG tells court

The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal today (04) that the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has taken a policy decision to refrain from conducting tourism promotion programs specifically targeting the LGBTIQ community in Sri Lanka. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  12:15 pm
US State Department orders non-emergency staff and families in Pakistan’s Lahore and Karachi to leave

US State Department orders non-emergency staff and families in Pakistan’s Lahore and Karachi to leave

The U.S. State Department has ordered non-emergency staff and their families working in the consulates in Lahore and Karachi to leave the country due to safety concerns. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  12:11 pm
Around 180 sailors were onboard the distressed Iranian naval ship ‘IRIS Dena’ off Galle- FM

Around 180 sailors were onboard the distressed Iranian naval ship ‘IRIS Dena’ off Galle- FM

The Iranian naval ship “IRIS Dena”, which was in distress, had about 180 sailors on board.

| March 4, 2026  11:59 am
SriLankan Airlines announces resumption of limited Middle East operations

SriLankan Airlines announces resumption of limited Middle East operations

SriLankan Airlines informs passengers that it is resuming limited operations to the Middle East. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  11:40 am
35 persons rescued from distress Iranian vessel off Galle

35 persons rescued from distress Iranian vessel off Galle

The Sri Lanka Navy says 35 individuals have been rescued from an Iranian vessel in distress off Sri Lanka’s southern seas. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  11:19 am
Iran’s IRGC say they have ‘complete control’ over Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s IRGC say they have ‘complete control’ over Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps say they control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, and any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  11:13 am
Gold prices in Sri Lanka drop by Rs. 13,000

Gold prices in Sri Lanka drop by Rs. 13,000

Gold prices in Sri Lanka have recorded a sharp decline of Rs. 13,000, driven by a downward trend in the global gold market, according to latest market data. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  11:04 am
Trump orders oil tanker insurance support, says Navy could escort ships in Gulf

Trump orders oil tanker insurance support, says Navy could escort ships in Gulf

The U.S. Navy could begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, adding he had ordered the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  10:58 am
Navy deploys vessels to rescue distressed ship in Southern Seas

Navy deploys vessels to rescue distressed ship in Southern Seas

A rescue mission has been launched by the Sri Lanka Navy after a distress call was received from an Iranian ship approximately 40 nautical miles off the Galle Harbour. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  10:40 am
Oil prices rise 1% as Iran crisis disrupts Middle East supply

Oil prices rise 1% as Iran crisis disrupts Middle East supply

Oil prices rose 1% on Wednesday as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupted Middle East supplies, but the pace of gains slowed from past sessions after President Donald Trump raised the possibility of the U.S. Navy escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  10:39 am
Iran launches second wave of missiles toward Israel

Iran launches second wave of missiles toward Israel

Israel’s military said early Wednesday that Iran had launched missiles toward the country for the second time in less than two hours. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  10:38 am
Fire breaks out at transformer in front of Kalutara District Secretariat

Fire breaks out at transformer in front of Kalutara District Secretariat

A fire has broken out today in a transformer located in front of the Kalutara District Secretariat, said Ada Derana reporter. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  10:08 am
Final report on alleged sexual harassment incident in parliament tabled

Final report on alleged sexual harassment incident in parliament tabled

The final investigation report into the alleged sexual harassment incident involving a female officer of Parliament has been tabled. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  10:05 am
Trump’s national security team pushes war on Iran in Congress

Trump’s national security team pushes war on Iran in Congress

US President Donald Trump’s top national security advisers spent much of the day on Tuesday making the case to Congress for the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, describing a rapidly evolving operation and leaving open the possibility of sending in American troops, Democrats and Trump’s fellow Republicans said. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  9:55 am
PM Harini holds talks with ADB on education sector reforms

PM Harini holds talks with ADB on education sector reforms

A meeting between Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was held at the Ministry of Education to discuss the Human Resource Development for Education Project (HRDEP). MORE..

| March 4, 2026  9:47 am
PUCSL hands over report on substandard coal shipments to Sectoral Oversight Committee

PUCSL hands over report on substandard coal shipments to Sectoral Oversight Committee

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has handed over its report on investigations into the importation of nine coal shipments for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  9:34 am
Canadian PM Carney says he supports Iran strikes ‘with regret’

Canadian PM Carney says he supports Iran strikes ‘with regret’

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for parties involved in the war in Iran to de-escalate hostilities quickly - and said while he supports the strikes, it is a position he takes “with regret”. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  9:18 am
Suspect arrested for selling diesel at inflated prices in Pulmoddai

Suspect arrested for selling diesel at inflated prices in Pulmoddai

An individual has been apprehended for selling diesel at inflated prices without a valid license at a retail outlet in Pulmoddai. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  8:53 am
Heavy traffic on Colombo–Piliyandala road after lorry and school van crash

Heavy traffic on Colombo–Piliyandala road after lorry and school van crash

Heavy traffic congestion has been reported along the Colombo–Piliyandala Road due to an accident that occurred at Rattanapitiya this morning, police stated. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  8:23 am
Two more vessels attacked off UAE, Oman: UKMTO

Two more vessels attacked off UAE, Oman: UKMTO

Another two vessels appear to have come under attack in the Mideast Gulf, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said today. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  8:20 am
Sri Lankan woman arrested for using forged documents to obtain Indian passport

Sri Lankan woman arrested for using forged documents to obtain Indian passport

A 48-year-old Sri Lankan woman was arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the city police for allegedly using forged documents to obtain an Indian passport and attempting to travel to Sri Lanka. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  8:19 am
UK to stop issuing study visas for Myanmar, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Sudan

UK to stop issuing study visas for Myanmar, Afghanistan, Cameroon and Sudan

The British government announced on Tuesday (Mar 3) that it would stop issuing education visas to nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan and work visas for Afghans as part of its broader clampdown on asylum seekers. MORE..

| March 4, 2026  8:02 am