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No-confidence motion against Energy Minister to be submitted to Speaker today
No-confidence motion against Energy Minister to be submitted to Speaker today
A motion of no-confidence against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, signed by opposition Members of Parliament, will be handed over to the Speaker of Parliament today (19). MORE..
Saudi Arabia says reserves right to respond after Iran attacks Riyadh, east
Saudi Arabia says reserves right to respond after Iran attacks Riyadh, east
Saudi Arabia reiterated that its immediate priority in the ongoing Iran conflict is to halt attacks targeting Gulf countries, with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stressing that the Kingdom is focused on protecting regional stability, Al Jazeera reported. MORE..
Pentagon is seeking more than $200bn for Iran war – report
Pentagon is seeking more than $200bn for Iran war – report
The Pentagon has asked the White house to approve more than $200bn (£151bn) in order to fund the war in Iran, a senior administration official has told the Washington Post. MORE..
Fuel distribution to follow ‘odd-even’ number plate system starting today
Fuel distribution to follow ‘odd-even’ number plate system starting today
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has announced that, starting today (19), fuel quotas issued through the QR system will be distributed based on the last digit of the vehicle number plate. MORE..
Macron calls for halt to strikes on civilian infrastructure
Macron calls for halt to strikes on civilian infrastructure
French President Emmanuel Macron says that there must be ‘‘a moratorium’‘ on strikes that target civilian infrastructure, following the attacks on areas that produce gas in Iran and Qatar. MORE..
Fairly heavy showers expected in parts of the island today
Fairly heavy showers expected in parts of the island today
Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 pm, today (19), the Department of Meteorology said. MORE..
TV Derana’s Chathura Alwis wins ‘People’s TV Presenter of the Year Award’ for 8th consecutive year
TV Derana’s Chathura Alwis wins ‘People’s TV Presenter of the Year Award’ for 8th consecutive year
TV Derana’s Chathura Alwis has been once again honoured as the People’s Television Presenter of the Year at the 2026 SLIM-KANTAR People’s Awards. MORE..
| March 19, 2026 6:46 am
Oil nears $110 a barrel after gas field strike
Oil nears $110 a barrel after gas field strike
Oil prices leapt to nearly $110 a barrel after Iranian media reported an airstrike hitting a facility on the world’s largest natural gas field. MORE..
Qatar says Iran attacked LNG hub; UAE shuts gas facilities
Qatar says Iran attacked LNG hub; UAE shuts gas facilities
Qatar’s state oil giant QatarEnergy said on Wednesday that Iranian missile attacks on Ras Laffan, the site of the country’s core LNG processing operations, caused “extensive damage”, while the UAE shut gas facilities after intercepting missiles early on Thursday. MORE..
Govt vows strict action against illegal fuel distribution
Govt vows strict action against illegal fuel distribution
The Department of Government Information stated that legal action has been initiated against fuel station owners who operate in violation of prescribed fuel distribution guidelines. MORE..
White House says China agreed to postpone Trump’s Beijing trip
White House says China agreed to postpone Trump’s Beijing trip
The White House said on Wednesday that China had agreed to postpone U.S. President Donald Trump’svisit to Beijing, originally scheduled in just two weeks. MORE..
Over 124,000 arrests made under ‘A Nation United’ programme since October 2025
Over 124,000 arrests made under ‘A Nation United’ programme since October 2025
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the quantitative increase in arrests of drugs and drug-related individuals is a positive development, while emphasising that ensuring public confidence, as well as that of operational teams, in the destruction of seized drug stocks is a priority. MORE..
Iran confirms intelligence minister killed in Israeli strike
Iran confirms intelligence minister killed in Israeli strike
Iran has confirmed that Intelligence minister Esmail Khatib was killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday. Taking to X, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the “cowardly assassination” and offered his condolences. MORE..
Iran’s huge Gulf gas field is struck in major escalation
Iran’s huge Gulf gas field is struck in major escalation
Iran’s huge Pars gas field was hit on Wednesday in the first reported strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure in the Gulf during the U.S.-Israeli war, a major escalation that prompted Tehran to warn its neighbours to evacuate their energy installations. MORE..
Notice on documents accepted to verify vehicle registration numbers
Notice on documents accepted to verify vehicle registration numbers
The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has issued a statement regarding the accepted forms of documents that can be produced to verify the identification of a vehicle if required to do so when obtaining fuel under the National Fuel Pass system. MORE..
Iranian footballers return home after dropping Australian asylum bids
Iranian footballers return home after dropping Australian asylum bids
Five members of Iran’s national women’s football team who dropped their bids for Australian asylum have returned to the country with the rest of the squad. MORE..
Longest extra-wide Bailey Bridge installed by India in Sri Lanka inaugurated
Longest extra-wide Bailey Bridge installed by India in Sri Lanka inaugurated
A 240-foot Bailey Bridge on the Chilaw–Thoduwawa Road, connecting the coastal villages of Thoduwawa and Iranawila, was inaugurated today (18) under India’s post-Ditwah reconstruction assistance programme. MORE..
No-confidence motion against Energy Minister to be submitted to Speaker tomorrow
No-confidence motion against Energy Minister to be submitted to Speaker tomorrow
A motion of no-confidence against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody, signed by opposition Members of Parliament, will be handed over to the Speaker of Parliament tomorrow (19). MORE..
China vows stronger law enforcement cooperation with Sri Lanka to curb online fraud
China vows stronger law enforcement cooperation with Sri Lanka to curb online fraud
China has reaffirmed its strong commitment to cracking down on telecommunications and online fraud, while pledging to further strengthen law enforcement cooperation with Sri Lanka. MORE..
Ministry issues directive on fuel allocation registration for tourism sector
Ministry issues directive on fuel allocation registration for tourism sector
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism has issued an official announcement outlining the registration process for obtaining fuel allocations for the tourism industry. MORE..
Concerns raised over placing burden of inferior coal costs on the public
Concerns raised over placing burden of inferior coal costs on the public
The Deputy President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), Dr. Lakmal Fernando, stated that imposing the burden from the losses caused by inferior quality coal on the general public is an illegal act. MORE..
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, North-Central, Southern, North-Western provinces and Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya, and Mullaitivu districts. MORE..
‘War upon our shores’: Namal calls Indian Ocean the new global ‘economic highway,’ warns of global system collapse
‘War upon our shores’: Namal calls Indian Ocean the new global ‘economic highway,’ warns of global system collapse
Sri Lankan MP Namal Rajapaksa, speaking at WION’s World Pulse summit on Wednesday (Mar 18), said the global system is undergoing a major transformation, adding that “global institutions are being tested like never before.” MORE..
Iranian intelligence minister killed, Israel says
Iranian intelligence minister killed, Israel says
Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmaeil Khatib, has been killed overnight, according to the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz. MORE..
Actions underway to launch Grade 6 educational reforms in 2027
Actions underway to launch Grade 6 educational reforms in 2027
Steps have been taken to monitor the progress of the new education reform process introduced for Grade One, according to the Prime Minister’s Media Division. MORE..