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European airlines extend flight cancellations in the Middle East

European airlines extend flight cancellations in the Middle East

Several European airlines have extended their suspensions of flights to the Middle East, including destinations such as Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  8:48 pm
Electric vehicle owners urged to recharge their vehicles during daytime

Electric vehicle owners urged to recharge their vehicles during daytime

Electric vehicle owners have been urged to recharge their vehicles during the daytime to reduce the daily high electricity demand.

| March 17, 2026  8:17 pm
33,000 MT of Litro LP gas shipment due in Sri Lanka within two days

33,000 MT of Litro LP gas shipment due in Sri Lanka within two days

A stock of 38,000 MT of Litro LP gas has already arrived this month and another 33,000 MT are expected within two days, said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake while addressing a special media briefing. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  7:59 pm
Major impact on energy sector due to Middle East conflict – President

Major impact on energy sector due to Middle East conflict – President

Sri Lanka’s fuel, gas and coal supply will have a major bearing owing to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake noted. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  7:50 pm
US National Counterterrorism Center director resigns over war in Iran

US National Counterterrorism Center director resigns over war in Iran

The head of the National Counterterrorism Center resigned on Tuesday, becoming the first and most senior member of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to resign over the war in Iran, saying Tehran posed no imminent threat to the United States. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  7:36 pm
Sri Lanka will remain nonpartisan in US-Iran war: President

Sri Lanka will remain nonpartisan in US-Iran war: President

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reiterates Sri Lanka will not take any sides during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Iran and the United States and Israel. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  7:36 pm
Israel weakening Iran regime to give people chance to remove it: Israeli PM Netanyahu

Israel weakening Iran regime to give people chance to remove it: Israeli PM Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded Tuesday to the targeted killing of senior Iranian figures overnight – Ali Larijani, the head of the National Security Council, as well as the commander of Iran’s Basij forces, stating Israel is “undermining this regime in the hope of giving the Iranian people a chance to remove it.” MORE..

| March 17, 2026  7:32 pm
More than 400,000 QR codes issued under national fuel pass system: CPC

More than 400,000 QR codes issued under national fuel pass system: CPC

The majority of technical and registration-related issues associated with the fuel QR code system have now been successfully resolved, the Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Mayura Neththikumarage has announced. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  7:21 pm
Over Rs. 194.5 million recovered and refunded to foreign employment scam victims: SLBFE

Over Rs. 194.5 million recovered and refunded to foreign employment scam victims: SLBFE

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) states that during the five-month period from October 2025 to February 2026, legal action was initiated against individuals and unlicensed foreign employment agencies involved in fraudulent scams falsely promising overseas employment opportunities, with over Rs. 194.5 million recovered...MORE..

| March 17, 2026  7:16 pm
Middle East oil becomes most expensive in the world as war cuts supply

Middle East oil becomes most expensive in the world as war cuts supply

Middle East crude oil benchmarks soared to all-time highs, becoming the most expensive in the world, even as trade slumps due to the war in Iran, with some traders arguing that the benchmarks have lost relevance due to supply disruption. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  6:56 pm
Minister assures continuous fuel supply for industries

Minister assures continuous fuel supply for industries

The government is operating under a special system to ensure an uninterrupted fuel supply for the industrial sector, the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi has stated. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  6:30 pm
PUCSL’s Western Province public consultation on proposed electricity tariff revision tomorrow

PUCSL’s Western Province public consultation on proposed electricity tariff revision tomorrow

The final provincial public consultation session for verbal submissions on the proposal submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to revise electricity tariffs for the second quarter of 2026 will be held in Colombo tomorrow (18) by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). MORE..

| March 17, 2026  6:02 pm
President directs all Ministries and officials to conserve fuel

President directs all Ministries and officials to conserve fuel

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised that each Ministry must have a practical plan in place for fuel conservation, noting that it should be a sustainable, data-driven process that ensures minimal energy consumption. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  6:01 pm
Another fuel ship arrives in Colombo amid energy crisis

Another fuel ship arrives in Colombo amid energy crisis

Another fuel shipment ordered by Sri Lanka has arrived at the Colombo Port, amid the energy crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation have confirmed. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  5:40 pm
Iran war may push 45 million people into acute hunger by June, WFP says

Iran war may push 45 million people into acute hunger by June, WFP says

Tens of millions more people will face acute hunger if the Iran war continues through to June, according to analysis from the World Food Programme released on Tuesday. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  5:11 pm
Iran says it seized hundreds of Starlink terminals, state media reports

Iran says it seized hundreds of Starlink terminals, state media reports

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence claimed that it seized hundreds of Starlink satellite internet systems in a nationwide operation, according to Iranian state media on Tuesday. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  5:11 pm
Sri Lanka assures seamless travel experience for tourists

Sri Lanka assures seamless travel experience for tourists

Sri Lanka remains fully open and ready to welcome international visitors, ensuring a safe and seamless travel experience across the island, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has announced. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  5:08 pm
134 foreign nationals arrested following raid on Chinese-led online scam centres in Sri Lanka

134 foreign nationals arrested following raid on Chinese-led online scam centres in Sri Lanka

A total of 134 foreign nationals, including 126 Chinese nationals, four from Myanmar, and four Taiwanese, were arrested during a joint operation conducted by Sri Lanka Army intelligence units and the Department of Immigration and Emigration. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  4:53 pm
Warm weather advisory issued for several provinces for tomorrow

Warm weather advisory issued for several provinces for tomorrow

A warm weather advisory has been issued for residents of the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-Western provinces and in the Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya, and Anuradhapura districts. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  4:39 pm
President to hold special press conference tonight

President to hold special press conference tonight

Minister Bimal Rathnayake stated that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to hold a special press conference tonight (17) concerning the current situation in Sri Lanka. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  4:29 pm
Most issues with fuel QR system resolved, says Cabinet Spokesperson

Most issues with fuel QR system resolved, says Cabinet Spokesperson

Most of the issues related to the QR code system used for obtaining fuel have been resolved, the Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has stated. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  4:18 pm
‘Avurudu Nekath Seettuwa’ for Sinhala and Tamil New Year released

‘Avurudu Nekath Seettuwa’ for Sinhala and Tamil New Year released

The government has released the ‘Avurudu Nekath Seettuwa’ for this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

| March 17, 2026  3:30 pm
Israel says Iran’s key security chief Larijani has been killed in strike

Israel says Iran’s key security chief Larijani has been killed in strike

Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday the Israeli military had killed Iran’s security chief and the head of its Basij militia in airstrikes overnight. Larijani is a former nuclear negotiator and a close ally of slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  3:18 pm
Five Chinese nationals arrested at BIA with cigarettes and used phones worth Rs. 18 million

Five Chinese nationals arrested at BIA with cigarettes and used phones worth Rs. 18 million

Five Chinese nationals have been arrested by Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in the early hours today (17) for attempting to smuggle a consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes and used mobile phones valued at around Rs. 18 million into the country. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  3:11 pm
Israel targets Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Chief Ali Larijani

Israel targets Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Chief Ali Larijani

Israel targeted Ali Larijani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in a Tehran strike on Monday night, according to an Israeli Military spokesperson. MORE..

| March 17, 2026  3:09 pm