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Explosion reported near tanker off Kuwait, crew safe, UKMTO says
Explosion reported near tanker off Kuwait, crew safe, UKMTO says
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations says it received a report of an incident 30 nautical miles southeast of Kuwait’s Mubarak Al Kabeer. MORE..
Oil price up nearly 2% in early Asian trade
Oil price up nearly 2% in early Asian trade
Oil prices rose nearly 2 per cent in early Asian trade on Thursday (Mar 5), off the back of persistent worries about supplies because of the Middle East conflict.
Qatar evacuating residents “in vicinity” of US Embassy
Qatar evacuating residents “in vicinity” of US Embassy
Authorities in Qatar are evacuating residents living “in the vicinity” of the US Embassy as a “temporary precautionary measure,” the interior ministry said.
Showers expected in several areas after 2pm today
Showers expected in several areas after 2pm today
Showers or thundershowers are expected at a few places in the Uva and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Hambantota, Nuwara-Eliya and Ampara districts after 2.00 p.m. today (05), the Department of Meteorology stated. MORE..
US will have “complete and total dominance” over Iranian airspace soon, White House says
US will have “complete and total dominance” over Iranian airspace soon, White House says
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the United States will have “complete and total dominance” over Iranian airspace in the next few hours. MORE..
Group of 200 Indian tourists home-bound after evacuating UAE
Group of 200 Indian tourists home-bound after evacuating UAE
A group of 200 Indian tourists has managed to evacuate the United Arab Emirates after a trip to visit the country’s Hindu temples left them stranded as the war broke out. MORE..
US Senate blocks effort to force Donald Trump to end Iran strikes
US Senate blocks effort to force Donald Trump to end Iran strikes
A majority of U.S. senators have voted against a bipartisan war powers resolution seeking to halt the military campaign against Iran. MORE..
FM discusses Middle East conflict with regional Ministers
FM discusses Middle East conflict with regional Ministers
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Hearth has held discussions with several foreign ministers of gulf countries pertaining to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. MORE..
Middle East Conflict: No serious injuries to any Sri Lankans residing in affected countries – Officials
Middle East Conflict: No serious injuries to any Sri Lankans residing in affected countries – Officials
A meeting to review the measures currently in place to ensure the safety and welfare of the tourists and Sri Lankan migrant workers, as well as the next steps to be taken in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, was held this afternoon (04) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
NATO destroys Iranian missile heading for Turkey, frontrunner for supreme leader emerges
NATO destroys Iranian missile heading for Turkey, frontrunner for supreme leader emerges
The powerful son of Iran’s slain supreme leader emerged on Wednesday as a frontrunner to succeed him as the U.S. stepped up its military campaign against Tehran and NATO air defences destroyed a missile heading from Iran into Turkish airspace. MORE..
US says Iran firing fewer missiles, US strikes to expand inland
US says Iran firing fewer missiles, US strikes to expand inland
Iran is firing fewer missiles than it did at the start of the war on Feb 28, the top US general said on March 4, as he argued Iran’s military capabilities were greatly diminished as the United States expands its strikes inside Iran. MORE..
Around 80 bodies recovered after US submarine sunk Iranian warship
Around 80 bodies recovered after US submarine sunk Iranian warship
About 80 bodies have been recovered so far from the Iranian naval ship IRIS Dena, which sank off the coast of Sri Lanka following an attack by a U.S. military submarine, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra told Ada Derana. MORE..
| March 4, 2026 7:31 pm
US confirms submarine sank Iranian warship in Indian Ocean with torpedo
US confirms submarine sank Iranian warship in Indian Ocean with torpedo
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says that in the Indian Ocean, the US sank “an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters”. MORE..
| March 4, 2026 6:55 pm
Sri Lanka-Iran ties broadened significantly under Khamenei’s tenure: FM Vijitha Herath
Sri Lanka-Iran ties broadened significantly under Khamenei’s tenure: FM Vijitha Herath
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Heath today visited the Iranian Embassy in Colombo to offer his condolences to the Islamic Republic of Iran on the recent passing of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. MORE..
Sri Lanka Navy reveals more information after Iranian ship sinks off southern coast
Sri Lanka Navy reveals more information after Iranian ship sinks off southern coast
The Sri Lanka Navy has provided further details regarding the Iranian ship which reportedly sank off Sri Lanka’s southern coast. MORE..
| March 4, 2026 6:08 pm
Spain’s PM says ‘no to the war’ in Iran despite Trump’s trade threat
Spain’s PM says ‘no to the war’ in Iran despite Trump’s trade threat
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez again criticized the US and Israel’s military actions in Iran, standing firm on Wednesday against trade threats from Washington and warning that the war in the Middle East risked “playing Russian roulette” with millions of lives. MORE..
Iran postpones state funeral for Khamenei
Iran postpones state funeral for Khamenei
Iran announced that a state funeral for supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which had been planned for Wednesday evening in Tehran, was postponed “in anticipation of unprecedented turnout,” state television reported. MORE..
President reviews economic impact of Middle East conflict on Sri Lanka, directs urgent preventive measures
President reviews economic impact of Middle East conflict on Sri Lanka, directs urgent preventive measures
A high-level discussion was held today (04) at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to examine the potential impact of the current war situation in the Middle East on Sri Lanka’s economy and to identify the urgent measures required to manage it effectively. MORE..
Cabinet approves fertilizer subsidies for 2026 ‘Yala’ season
Cabinet approves fertilizer subsidies for 2026 ‘Yala’ season
The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to provide financial assistance to farmers cultivating paddy fields for the 2026 Yala season to purchase fertilizers. MORE..
Cabinet nod to gazette bill seeking to abolish ‘Chief of Defence Staff’ post
Cabinet nod to gazette bill seeking to abolish ‘Chief of Defence Staff’ post
The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to publish in the Government Gazette the draft bill seeking to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009. MORE..
Sri Lanka President condemns violence, assures support in phone call with UAE President
Sri Lanka President condemns violence, assures support in phone call with UAE President
President of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that he held a phone call with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to express his sadness over the recent attacks suffered by the Emirates. MORE..
‘Geography is permanent, but peace is a choice’: Ali Sabry on Middle East crisis
‘Geography is permanent, but peace is a choice’: Ali Sabry on Middle East crisis
Sri Lanka’s former Justice Minister Ali Sabry has expressed concern over rising tensions in the Middle East, urging restraint and dialogue amid escalating regional instability. MORE..
Govt to remove CESS levy on over 2,600 HS codes
Govt to remove CESS levy on over 2,600 HS codes
The government has decided to remove the CESS levy on goods and material imported under 2,600 identified HS codes over a four-year period. MORE..
Israel says it has begun a new wave of strikes on Tehran
Israel says it has begun a new wave of strikes on Tehran
A large explosion has been reported in eastern Tehran, according to Iranian state media and an AFP news agency reporter in the city. MORE..
China calls for immediate stop to military operations in Middle East
China calls for immediate stop to military operations in Middle East
Regarding the Iran situation, a Chinese spokesperson said on Wednesday that China calls for an immediate stop to military operations, preventing further escalation of tensions, and resuming dialogue and negotiations to uphold peace and stability in the Middle East. MORE..