Hot News

All SriLankan Airlines flights to Middle East cancelled today

All SriLankan Airlines flights to Middle East cancelled today

SriLankan Airlines has announced that all flights to the Middle East scheduled for today (01) have been cancelled in response to the ongoing situation in the region.

| March 1, 2026  10:35 am
CPC assures adequate fuel supply; urges motorists to avoid panic buying

CPC assures adequate fuel supply; urges motorists to avoid panic buying

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has confirmed that the country has adequate fuel stocks to last for more than a month. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  10:23 am
Homeowner overpowers gunman in attempted shooting

Homeowner overpowers gunman in attempted shooting

An unidentified gunman who broke into a house, and attempted to shoot the homeowner has been overpowered by the homeowner, who attacked him with a chair and a sharp weapon. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  10:16 am
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief and Guardian Council Jurist to temporarily lead Iran

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief and Guardian Council Jurist to temporarily lead Iran

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, head of judiciary, and one jurist of the Guardian Council to temporarily assume duties of leadership in Iran after Supreme Leader Khamenei’s death, Iran media said. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  9:48 am
All flights between Sri Lanka and Middle East temporarily suspended until 5 pm

All flights between Sri Lanka and Middle East temporarily suspended until 5 pm

Due to the closure of airspace across Middle Eastern countries, all flights scheduled to depart from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to destinations in the Middle East have been temporarily suspended until 5.00 p.m. today (01). MORE..

| March 1, 2026  9:17 am
National Drug Prevention Week commences today

National Drug Prevention Week commences today

The “National Drug Prevention Week”, implemented in parallel with the “A Nation United” national campaign, is scheduled to commence today (01). MORE..

| March 1, 2026  8:47 am
Oil and gas majors and traders suspend shipments via Hormuz, sources say

Oil and gas majors and traders suspend shipments via Hormuz, sources say

Several tanker owners, oil majors and trading houses have suspended crude oil, fuel and liquefied natural gas shipments via the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran said it had closed navigation, trading sources said on Saturday. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  8:30 am
Committee to be appointed to formulate national medical education policy – PM Harini

Committee to be appointed to formulate national medical education policy – PM Harini

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has stated that a committee will be appointed to formulate a national policy on medical education, following requests by student unions emphasizing the need for such a policy. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  8:10 am
Who is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader who ruled for 36 years?

Who is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader who ruled for 36 years?

When targeted by nationwide protests early this year, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei unleashed the bloodiest crackdown of his nearly four decades in power. But now a U.S. or Israeli military strike may have ended his rule. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  7:47 am
Iran confirms supreme leader Khamenei is dead after US, Israeli attacks

Iran confirms supreme leader Khamenei is dead after US, Israeli attacks

Iran’s supreme leader has been killed in Israeli and US strikes, Iranian state media said. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  7:10 am
Dubai says drone debris causes fire at Burj Al Arab Hotel

Dubai says drone debris causes fire at Burj Al Arab Hotel

Dubai authorities said debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire at the city’s famed luxury hotel the Burj Al Arab, according to a statement Sunday, following a wave of Iranian strikes launched at Gulf states. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  7:04 am
Dedicated emergency contact numbers introduced for inquiries on Sri Lankans in Middle East

Dedicated emergency contact numbers introduced for inquiries on Sri Lankans in Middle East

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka has announced that it is closely monitoring the evolving security situation in the Middle East, emphasizing that the safety and well-being of approximately one million Sri Lankan nationals living and working in the region remain the Government’s highest priority. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  6:51 am
Mainly fair weather expected to prevail today

Mainly fair weather expected to prevail today

Mainly fair weather will prevail over the most parts of the island, today (01), the Department of Meteorology said. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  6:48 am
Daughter and grandchild of Iran’s Khamenei killed in US-Israeli strikes, state media says

Daughter and grandchild of Iran’s Khamenei killed in US-Israeli strikes, state media says

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law were killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iranian state media reported on Sunday. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  6:28 am
Trump claims Iran’s Supreme Leader killed in joint US Israeli strikes, Iran denies reports

Trump claims Iran’s Supreme Leader killed in joint US Israeli strikes, Iran denies reports

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed in a joint American and Israeli strike, according to US president Donald Trump. MORE..

| March 1, 2026  5:18 am
Sri Lanka offers temporary visa extension amid Middle East–bound flight cancellations

Sri Lanka offers temporary visa extension amid Middle East–bound flight cancellations

In view of the cancellation of Middle East–bound flights effective from 28 February 2026, passengers who are unable to depart Sri Lanka within the validity period of their visas may encounter difficulties, the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration stated. MORE..

| February 28, 2026  10:22 pm
Foreign Ministry sets up 24-hour emergency operations centre amid Middle East tensions

Foreign Ministry sets up 24-hour emergency operations centre amid Middle East tensions

In view of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism says it is closely monitoring the situation of Sri Lankan nationals residing in the affected countries. MORE..

| February 28, 2026  9:52 pm
Iranian FM dismisses reports saying Supreme Leader Khamenei killed

Iranian FM dismisses reports saying Supreme Leader Khamenei killed

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is still alive “as far as I know,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an exclusive live interview with NBC News from Tehran, following joint strikes by the United States and Israel. MORE..

| February 28, 2026  9:36 pm
Fuel prices increased

Fuel prices increased

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) has announced a revision of fuel prices effective from midnight today (28). MORE..

| February 28, 2026  9:19 pm
Sri Lanka calls for utmost restraint and immediate de-escalation in Middle East

Sri Lanka calls for utmost restraint and immediate de-escalation in Middle East

The Government of Sri Lanka today expressed deep concern over the rapid escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, which it said poses a serious threat to regional stability as well as to international peace and security. MORE..

| February 28, 2026  9:00 pm
Israeli strikes reportedly kill senior Iranian leaders, sources say

Israeli strikes reportedly kill senior Iranian leaders, sources say

Two senior Iranian officials are believed to have been killed in Israeli attacks, sources have told the Reuters news agency. MORE..

| February 28, 2026  8:04 pm
Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi issues travel advisory over Middle East tensions

Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi issues travel advisory over Middle East tensions

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi has issued an official notice to all Sri Lankan nationals residing in or visiting the United Arab Emirates, advising them to exercise heightened caution in light of the prevailing tensions across the Middle East. MORE..

| February 28, 2026  8:01 pm
US-Israeli airstrike kills 51 students at Iranian school

US-Israeli airstrike kills 51 students at Iranian school

At least 51 have been killed in an Israel-US airstrike on a girls’ elementary school in Minab, near Bandar Abbas in the Hormozgan province in southern Iran, state news agency IRNA and other media reported. MORE..

| February 28, 2026  7:26 pm
SriLankan Airlines announcement on cancelled flights

SriLankan Airlines announcement on cancelled flights

SriLankan Airlines announced that all flights departing to the Middle East from Colombo have been cancelled until 12.00 noon on March 01 (Sunday) due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. MORE..

| February 28, 2026  6:02 pm
Foreign Ministry issues security guidelines for Sri Lankans in Middle East

Foreign Ministry issues security guidelines for Sri Lankans in Middle East

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism of Sri Lanka says it is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving security situation in the Middle East. MORE..

| February 28, 2026  5:34 pm