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28 departures, 29 arrivals cancelled over Middle East conflict
28 departures, 29 arrivals cancelled over Middle East conflict
A total of 57 flights operating between Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and destinations in the Middle East have been cancelled today (03) due to the escalating situation in the region. MORE..
Indian airlines to resume limited Middle East flights
Indian airlines to resume limited Middle East flights
Indian airlines said Tuesday (03) that they were resuming limited commercial services to the Middle East in a bid to collect thousands of passengers stranded by war. MORE..
US orders departure of non-emergency government personnel in Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait
US orders departure of non-emergency government personnel in Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait
The US State Department on Monday ordered the mandatory departure of non-emergency US government personnel and their family members in Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait due to security concerns. MORE..
President assures long-term solutions for gas storage issue
President assures long-term solutions for gas storage issue
A crisis has arisen in the country due to a sudden increase in demand for gas, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated. MORE..
| March 3, 2026 1:53 pm
Iran’s Golestan Palace sustains damage in US-Israeli strikes
Iran’s Golestan Palace sustains damage in US-Israeli strikes
Iran’s UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace in Tehran has sustained damage in US-Israeli air strikes, the country’s cultural heritage minister said. MORE..
MP Rasamanickam holds talks with Norwegian Deputy FM on reconciliation and political developments
MP Rasamanickam holds talks with Norwegian Deputy FM on reconciliation and political developments
Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) Member of Parliament Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam and ITAK General Secretary M. A. Sumanthiran have held discussions with Norwegian...MORE..
Magnitude 4.3 earthquake hits Iran’s Gerash amid escalating Israeli-US attacks
Magnitude 4.3 earthquake hits Iran’s Gerash amid escalating Israeli-US attacks
A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck the Gerash region in Iran on Tuesday, amid the ongoing escalating conflict involving Israeli and US military strikes against the Islamic Republic.
Israel says ground troops will ‘advance and seize additional strategic areas in Lebanon’
Israel says ground troops will ‘advance and seize additional strategic areas in Lebanon’
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have authorised the Israeli military to move forward and capture additional strategic locations in Lebanon to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities. MORE..
US has enough weapons stocked for ‘forever’ war, Trump says
US has enough weapons stocked for ‘forever’ war, Trump says
President Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to comment on US stocks of ‘‘medium and upper medium grade’’ munitions, adding that wars ‘‘can be fought ‘forever’... using just these supplies’’. MORE..
Netanyahu says US-Israel war on Iran ‘not going to take years’
Netanyahu says US-Israel war on Iran ‘not going to take years’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expected the war against Iran was ‘‘not going to take years’‘, as the conflict widened with Israel attacking Iran-backed Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Iran hitting Gulf states that host U.S. bases. MORE..
Foreign Ministry sets up Emergency Response Unit amid Middle East tensions
Foreign Ministry sets up Emergency Response Unit amid Middle East tensions
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism has established an Emergency Response Unit to coordinate matters arising from the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. MORE..
CBSL to release economic impact assessment tomorrow amid global tensions - President
CBSL to release economic impact assessment tomorrow amid global tensions - President
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake informed Parliament today that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has reviewed the current situation and will issue an assessment report tomorrow (04) evaluating the potential impact on the nation’s economy. MORE..
Petition filed by ex-Deputy Sec. Gen of Parliament fixed for consideration
Petition filed by ex-Deputy Sec. Gen of Parliament fixed for consideration
The Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka has ordered that the petition filed by former Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, Chaminda Kularatne, seeking the issuance of a writ order to nullify the decision to suspend him without conducting a fair investigation be taken up for consideration on March 18, 2026. MORE..
President urges swift settlement in Middle East amid worldwide economic concerns
President urges swift settlement in Middle East amid worldwide economic concerns
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged all parties involved in the ongoing Middle East conflict to commit to a swift and peaceful resolution, highlighting the conflict’s repercussions on the global economy, including Sri Lanka’s. MORE..
Airline ticket prices soar on Asia-Europe routes after Gulf airport closures
Airline ticket prices soar on Asia-Europe routes after Gulf airport closures
The price of flights between Asia and Europe has soared after the closure of key Middle Eastern hubs due to the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, with airline websites showing tickets on many popular routes booked out for days. MORE..
President arrives in Parliament
President arrives in Parliament
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived in Parliament, a short while ago. MORE..
Israeli says it is now attacking both in Iran and Lebanon
Israeli says it is now attacking both in Iran and Lebanon
The Israeli military has said it is now carrying out simultaneous strikes in both Tehran and Beirut. MORE..
US air base in Bahrain reportedly destroyed - Iran state media
US air base in Bahrain reportedly destroyed - Iran state media
Reports are emerging of an Iranian strike destroying a US air base in Bahrain. MORE..
Prof. G.L. Peiris urges govt to clarify stand on Middle East crisis
Prof. G.L. Peiris urges govt to clarify stand on Middle East crisis
Former Foreign Minister Professor G.L. Peiris, in a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has drawn attention to the gravity of consequences arising for Sri Lanka from the volatile situation in the Middle East. MORE..
Israel army issues new evacuation warnings in Lebanon
Israel army issues new evacuation warnings in Lebanon
The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for dozens of locations in Lebanon on Tuesday (March 3, 2026), including a warning for residents in two southern Beirut neighbourhoods to stay away from several buildings ahead of imminent military action. MORE..
Two women arrested with heroin and ‘Ice’ in Weliweriya
Two women arrested with heroin and ‘Ice’ in Weliweriya
Two female suspects have been arrested for possession of heroin and Crystal Methamphetamine (commonly known as ‘Ice’). MORE..
At least 10 injured in collision between two buses and tractor in Minneriya
At least 10 injured in collision between two buses and tractor in Minneriya
At least ten individuals have been injured following a bus accident in the Minneriya area on the Habarana–Polonnaruwa road. MORE..
Trading at CSE temporarily halted
Trading at CSE temporarily halted
Trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has been temporarily halted today after the S&P SL20 index declined by more than 5% from the previous close. MORE..
Trump suggests US could retaliate ‘soon’ over strike on embassy in Riyadh
Trump suggests US could retaliate ‘soon’ over strike on embassy in Riyadh
President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States would retaliate “soon” for the attack on its embassy in Riyadh and for the killing of six US military personnel in Iranian strikes. MORE..
Opposition party leaders to convene special meeting on Middle East conflict today
Opposition party leaders to convene special meeting on Middle East conflict today
A special discussion among opposition party leaders regarding the ongoing conflict situation in the Middle East region is scheduled to be held today (03) at the Parliamentary Complex. MORE..