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Naval escorts could make tankers a target for Iran, warns UN maritime chief
Naval escorts could make tankers a target for Iran, warns UN maritime chief
Naval escorts will not guarantee safe passage for oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz and could even present a target for Iran as it attempts to leverage control of the vital shipping lane, the head of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has warned. MORE..
Minister assures uninterrupted fuel supply to operators in tourism industry
Minister assures uninterrupted fuel supply to operators in tourism industry
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe has assured that the tourism industry will remain safeguarded against any potential fuel disruptions affecting other sectors of the country. MORE..
Two LP gas ships arrive in Sri Lanka
Two LP gas ships arrive in Sri Lanka
Two liquefied petroleum gas carriers docked this morning (18) at the Thaldiyawatta gas unloading jetty in Uswetakeiyawa. MORE..
| March 18, 2026 10:33 am
Duo arrested with over 10kg of ‘Kush’ at BIA
Duo arrested with over 10kg of ‘Kush’ at BIA
Two Sri Lankans have been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning while attempting to smuggle a stock of ‘Kush’ cannabis worth Rs. 105 million into the country. MORE..
INTERPOL: 45,000 malicious IP addresses taken down in international cyber operation
INTERPOL: 45,000 malicious IP addresses taken down in international cyber operation
An international cybercrime operation targeting phishing, malware and ransomware has seen the INTERPOL take down more than 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers, the organisation has announced. MORE..
Australia announces temporary travel ban for specified group of visitors
Australia announces temporary travel ban for specified group of visitors
Australia has introduced a new legislation under the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Act 2026, allowing a temporary ban for a specified group of travellers to travel to the country during international crises. MORE..
Oil prices drop as Iraqi and Kurdish authorities agree to export deal
Oil prices drop as Iraqi and Kurdish authorities agree to export deal
Oil prices eased on Wednesday to pare back some of Tuesday’s sharp gains after the Iraqi government and Kurdish authorities reached a deal to resume oil exports via Turkey’s Ceyhan port, providing modest relief to concerns about Middle East supplies. MORE..
Iran’s army chief threatens ‘decisive’ retaliation for killing of Larijani
Iran’s army chief threatens ‘decisive’ retaliation for killing of Larijani
Iranian army chief Amir Hatami has threatened to launch a “decisive” retaliation for the killing of security chief Ali Larijani in an Israeli air strike. MORE..
Australian facilities damaged in Iranian attack on Middle East air base
Australian facilities damaged in Iranian attack on Middle East air base
Iran has launched an attack on an air base in the Middle East where Australian soldiers are stationed, starting a fire that damaged Australian medical and accommodation facilities. MORE..
Israel extends re-entry visas for Sri Lankans and overseas workers
Israel extends re-entry visas for Sri Lankans and overseas workers
Visas of workers who have left Israel for vacation or other purposes have been extended until April 30, 2026, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara stated. MORE..
British Airways to resume flights to Colombo
British Airways to resume flights to Colombo
British Airways has announced that it will resume flights to Colombo in October. MORE..
Two killed in Iranian strike on Tel Aviv
Two killed in Iranian strike on Tel Aviv
Two people have been killed during an Iranian missile attack that struck “several” sites around Tel Aviv, local police said. MORE..
Batch of US-donated TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters leaves for Sri Lanka
Batch of US-donated TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters leaves for Sri Lanka
The United States Government has commenced transferring a total of 10 TH-57 Sea Ranger helicopters to the Sri Lanka Air Force, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington D.C. stated. MORE..
Projectile hit Iranian nuclear power plant, UN agency says
Projectile hit Iranian nuclear power plant, UN agency says
The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has reported that a projectile hit a nuclear power in the southwest of the country. MORE..
Drone attack targets US embassy in Baghdad
Drone attack targets US embassy in Baghdad
A drone attack targeted the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and an explosion was heard in the area, security sources said early on Wednesday, a day after a series of strikes. MORE..
Public sector, schools and courts closed today, limited bus and train services
Public sector, schools and courts closed today, limited bus and train services
A vast majority of the public offices, all schools, universities and courts will remain closed today (18). MORE..
Tehran confirms top security official Ali Larijani has been killed
Tehran confirms top security official Ali Larijani has been killed
Tehran has confirmed that its top security official Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has been killed. MORE..
Emergency talks held to maintain airline operations during fuel shortage
Emergency talks held to maintain airline operations during fuel shortage
A special discussion has been held to examine measures required to ensure the uninterrupted operation of airline services amid the ongoing fuel crisis triggered by the prevailing conflict in the Middle East. MORE..
Showers or thundershowers in parts of the island after 2pm
Showers or thundershowers in parts of the island after 2pm
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in most parts of the island after 2.00 p.m. today (18), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..
Train services to operate on Saturday’s schedule tomorrow – SLR
Train services to operate on Saturday’s schedule tomorrow – SLR
Railway services will be operated tomorrow (Wednesday) as on a Saturday, as it is a government declared holiday, according to Sri Lanka Railways. MORE..
Trump says US should rethink NATO membership and rebukes allies for not helping in Iran
Trump says US should rethink NATO membership and rebukes allies for not helping in Iran
President Donald Trump said the United States should rethink its membership in NATO as he criticized US allies for not helping in the war in Iran. MORE..
Sri Lanka records 5% GDP growth in 2025
Sri Lanka records 5% GDP growth in 2025
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of Sri Lanka for the year 2025 is estimated as 5 percent, the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) said in a statement. MORE..
Our objective is to ensure Bribery Commission operates as an independent institution: PM Harini
Our objective is to ensure Bribery Commission operates as an independent institution: PM Harini
The government’s objective is to ensure the environment for the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption to function as an independent body, without influence from anyone, including Members of Parliament and Ministers, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated. MORE..
Dedicated WhatsApp hotline introduced to report crime in Western Province
Dedicated WhatsApp hotline introduced to report crime in Western Province
A new 24-hour WhatsApp hotline has been introduced by police for the general public to share information with the aim of preventing and controlling crime within the Western Province. MORE..
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..