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U.S. to send 1,000 soldiers to Middle East to be available for Iran operations

U.S. to send 1,000 soldiers to Middle East to be available for Iran operations

Approximately 1,000 US soldiers with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are expecting to deploy in coming days to the Middle East, according to two sources familiar with the matter, adding to the growing military firepower in the region as the Trump administration says it is in talks with Iran to end the conflict.

| March 25, 2026  6:10 am
Education must go beyond knowledge dissemination to empower individuals: PM Harini

Education must go beyond knowledge dissemination to empower individuals: PM Harini

The Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest in the international conference on ‘Transforming TVET Systems for climate resilience and green jobs’.

| March 25, 2026  5:40 am
Showers expected in several areas after 2pm today

Showers expected in several areas after 2pm today

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 pm.

| March 25, 2026  5:37 am
Donald Trump cites progress with Iran, US proposes plan to end war

Donald Trump cites progress with Iran, US proposes plan to end war

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Mar 24) the US was making progress in its efforts to negotiate an end to war with Iran, including winning an important concession from Tehran, while a source confirmed that Washington had sent Iran a 15-point settlement proposal.

| March 25, 2026  5:35 am
Iran war starts to hit global economy, business surveys show

Iran war starts to hit global economy, business surveys show

The Iran war is already taking a toll on major economies around the world, according to business surveys on Tuesday which showed how a surge in energy prices and rising uncertainty were dampening activity and pushing inflation expectations higher. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  10:26 pm
Over 690,000 senior citizens to receive March Aswesuma benefits

Over 690,000 senior citizens to receive March Aswesuma benefits

The Welfare Benefits Board has issued a notice regarding the March allowance for senior citizens over 70 years of age under the first phase of the Aswesuma welfare benefit scheme. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  9:58 pm
81,000 sites including hospitals damaged since Iran war began: Red Crescent

81,000 sites including hospitals damaged since Iran war began: Red Crescent

Pirhossein Kolivand, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society has detailed extensive damage to civilian infrastructure caused by recent attacks, describing them as “alarming acts and war crimes” by Israeli and U.S. forces. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  9:38 pm
President AKD and Indian PM Modi reaffirm commitment to work closely amidst conflict in Middle East

President AKD and Indian PM Modi reaffirm commitment to work closely amidst conflict in Middle East

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have discussed the evolving situation in the Middle East during a phone conversation, with particular focus on disruptions affecting global energy security. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  9:17 pm
Jaffna MC submits report on air pollution control measures

Jaffna MC submits report on air pollution control measures

The Jaffna Municipal Council has submitted a report to the Court of Appeal outlining the measures taken and those planned to reduce air pollution in the Jaffna Peninsula. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  9:04 pm
Court freezes properties and accounts worth Rs. 30 mln of suspected drug trafficker

Court freezes properties and accounts worth Rs. 30 mln of suspected drug trafficker

Assets worth over Rs. 30 million purchased using illegally earned money by a drug trafficker have been frozen by court. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  8:26 pm
QatarEnergy declares force majeure on LNG contracts after missile attacks damage facilities

QatarEnergy declares force majeure on LNG contracts after missile attacks damage facilities

QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on liquefied natural gas contracts with Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China following missile attacks on its Ras Laffan production hub last week. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  8:08 pm
President pushes for prompt destruction of seized drugs to boost public confidence

President pushes for prompt destruction of seized drugs to boost public confidence

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has emphasised the importance of expeditiously destroying seized drug stocks in order to build public confidence in the government’s programme to eradicate the drug menace and underlined the need to establish a formal and efficient process to achieve this objective. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  7:49 pm
Pakistan offers to host peace talks to end US-Israeli war on Iran

Pakistan offers to host peace talks to end US-Israeli war on Iran

Pakistan’s prime minister said on Tuesday he was willing to host talks between the United States and Iran on ending the war, a day after President Donald Trump postponed threats to bomb Iranian power plants after what he called “productive” talks. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  7:29 pm
No power cuts despite record demand, officials call for energy savings

No power cuts despite record demand, officials call for energy savings

Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever electricity demand last Monday (16) as the prevailing dry weather continues to strain the national power system, according to Dr. B.L. Pradeep Priyadarshana Perera, Chairman of the National System operator (Pvt.) Ltd. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  7:03 pm
Philippines declares energy emergency over Middle East conflict risks

Philippines declares energy emergency over Middle East conflict risks

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Tuesday declared a state of national energy emergency in response to the Middle East conflict and what he called an “imminent danger” posed to the country’s energy supply. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  6:25 pm
ADB increases Sri Lanka’s allocation to $480 Mn; $200 Mn to be released promptly

ADB increases Sri Lanka’s allocation to $480 Mn; $200 Mn to be released promptly

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to increase the allocation approved for Sri Lanka for this year from USD 380 million to USD 480 million and to promptly release USD 200 million in view of the prevailing situation. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  6:24 pm
Individual arrested for allegedly hoarding 6,600 litres of diesel in Gonapola

Individual arrested for allegedly hoarding 6,600 litres of diesel in Gonapola

An individual has been arrested for allegedly hoarding large quantities of fuel using a bowser truck by the Walana Anti-Vice Squad in Gonapola. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  6:05 pm
Lebanon declares Iranian ambassador persona non grata amid Israeli attacks

Lebanon declares Iranian ambassador persona non grata amid Israeli attacks

Lebanon ⁠has ⁠withdrawn accreditation from the Iranian ambassador ⁠and declared him ⁠persona non grata, demanding his departure from Lebanon by Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  5:40 pm
Ex-SriLankan Airlines Chief Nishantha Wickramasinghe granted bail following arrest

Ex-SriLankan Airlines Chief Nishantha Wickramasinghe granted bail following arrest

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the release on bail of former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines Nishantha Wickramasinghe, who was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on charges of corruption. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  5:08 pm
Recent fuel price hike based on fuel pricing formula, says CPC

Recent fuel price hike based on fuel pricing formula, says CPC

The recent increase in fuel prices in Sri Lanka has been implemented strictly according to the official fuel pricing formula, Dr. Mayura Neththikumarage, the Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) emphasized.

| March 24, 2026  5:02 pm
Iran names new Supreme National Security Council secretary

Iran names new Supreme National Security Council secretary

Iran has named a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander as the new secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, replacing Ali Larijani, who was killed in an airstrike. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  4:39 pm
Food security a top priority, President directs action on fertiliser stocks

Food security a top priority, President directs action on fertiliser stocks

Ensuring food security in the country and people remains a top priority of the government, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has emphasised. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  4:30 pm
Presidential Suite at Jayewardenepura Hospital opened to public

Presidential Suite at Jayewardenepura Hospital opened to public

The special ward at the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, which had until now been reserved exclusively for the use of the Executive President, has been opened for the general public for medical treatment from today (24), the President’s Media Division stated. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  4:24 pm
Guidelines issued to optimise fuel use in state-owned vehicles

Guidelines issued to optimise fuel use in state-owned vehicles

The Commissioner-General of Essential Services, B.K. Prabhath Chandrakeerthi, has issued comprehensive guidelines aimed at optimising fuel consumption across state-owned vehicles. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  4:14 pm
Sri Lanka begins talks with Russian Govt. to secure fuel supplies

Sri Lanka begins talks with Russian Govt. to secure fuel supplies

Formal government-level talks have already begun to secure fuel supplies from Russia, according to Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. MORE..

| March 24, 2026  4:00 pm