The price of aviation fuel in Sri Lanka has been increased to reflect the sharp rise in global fuel prices, caused by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.&nbsp; Mayura Netthikumara, Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, explained that this adjustment was essential due to the current military situation in the region.&nbsp; He stated that the price of a barrel of aviation fuel, which was $93.57 on the 27th, has now surged to $209, marking a significant increase. In response to this development, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, announced that steps will be taken to raise air ticket prices in Sri Lanka to offset the increased costs of aviation fuel.&nbsp; He emphasized that the rise in ticket prices would be implemented in line with the escalation in fuel prices, ensuring that airlines can sustain operations amid the current economic pressures.

Aviation fuel price surge may push up airfares

Wasantha Samarasinghe, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, stated on Thursday (12) that work-from-home arrangements are not currently necessary in Sri Lanka, despite the ongoing global crisis triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. The minister emphasized that the government is actively monitoring the situation and will consider implementing work-from-home policies for both public and private sector employees if the circumstances deteriorate further. Addressing the impact of the conflict, Samarasinghe explained that it has disrupted global supply chains, leading to increased shipping costs and higher prices for essential goods in international markets.&nbsp; He also highlighted that global oil and gas prices have risen, warning that although local fuel prices have been adjusted accordingly, further increases could occur by April when new shipments, at higher costs, are expected to arrive. The minister noted that some private gas suppliers have attempted to raise prices, but assured the public that the Government is closely monitoring these developments and taking steps to stabilize prices. Samarasinghe urged citizens to remain calm, avoid panic-buying, and use resources responsibly. He also mentioned that long queues at fuel stations often appear immediately after news of global conflicts breaks, urging the public to exercise patience and caution during such times.

Work from home not necessary yet despite Middle East crisis

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday issued a veiled threat to kill Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei even as he acknowledged that Israel’s joint air war with the U.S. may not lead to a collapse of Tehran’s clerical government. Holding his first press conference since the start of the war, the Israeli leader said that Iran was “no longer the same” after nearly two weeks of bombardment and that Tehran had suffered blows to its elite Revolutionary Guards Corps and Basij paramilitary force. He vowed to keep hitting Lebanon’s Hezbollah after the Iran-backed ⁠group opened fire on March 2 to avenge Israel’s killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei - Mojtaba Khamenei’s father - at the start of the war. Standing between two Israeli flags and taking questions over video link, Netanyahu was asked what actions Israel might take against Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem: “I wouldn’t issue life insurance policies on any of the leaders of the terrorist organization ... I don’t intend to provide an exact report here about what we are planning or what we are going to do.” As Netanyahu spoke, sirens warning of incoming missile fire from Iran blared across much of central Israel. Israel has ⁠said the aim of its assault on Iran is to eliminate what it views as the existential threat posed by Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. It also says it wants to cause a collapse of government by encouraging Iranians to rise up. While many Iranians want change and some openly celebrated the death of Ali Khamenei, ⁠whose security forces killed thousands of anti-government protesters just weeks ago, there has been no sign of protest since the war began. Asked whether Israel was arming opponents of Iran’s rulers and whether it might fail to achieve a collapse ⁠of government, Netanyahu said that even if the government did not fall, it would remain weak. “I will not detail the actions we are taking. We are creating the optimal conditions for toppling the ⁠regime but I won’t deny that I can’t tell you with all certainty that the people of Iran will topple the regime - a regime is toppled from the inside,” Netanyahu said. “But we can definitely help and we are helping.” Source: Reuters

Netanyahu threatens Iran new leader, says government collapse uncertain

Sri Lanka may face significant challenges in agriculture and energy as a prolonged dry spell continues, potentially impacting paddy cultivation and reducing hydro power generation, warned Director General of the Department of Meteorology, Athula Karunanayake. In a media statement yesterday(12), Mr. Karunanayake explained that Sri Lanka's rice farming heavily depends on rainfall, and the ongoing dry conditions could jeopardize harvests. Additionally, the reduction in rainfall may lead to decreased hydroelectric power production, affecting the country's energy supply. He noted that the dry spell could persist until October, coinciding with the first phase of the inter-monsoon period.&nbsp; Currently, the formation of clouds is minimal, leading to reduced rainfall. The development of El Nino in the Pacific Ocean is also contributing to the dry conditions, although some thundershowers are expected around mid-April as part of the usual seasonal pattern. Heavy rains are anticipated in October and November. Karunanayake advised the public to avoid exerting themselves during these hot days, as the heat could lead to health issues.&nbsp; Forecasts predict rainfall exceeding 50mm in districts such as Uva, Batticaloa, Ampara, Hambantota, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Galle, and Matara. As of yesterday afternoon, the highest recorded rainfall was 77mm in Dehiowita, Kegalle District, with other districts receiving between 18mm and 29mm of rain.

Dry spell threatens paddy cultivation and hydropower, says Met Dept

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has won a landslide in Nepal’s election - the first held since last year’s youth-led protests toppled the then government. The RSP received 182 votes in the final tally - falling short of achieving a two-thirds supermajority in the parliament’s lower house by two seats. Nevertheless, it is the biggest win for a single party in Nepal in decades. The Nepali Congress came in second with 38 seats, while the Communist Party of Nepal UML (CPN-UML) was third on 25. Voter turnout was around 60% of the nearly 19 million eligible voters. The result puts the RSP’s Balendra Shah - a rapper-turned-politician - on track to become the country’s next leader. It is expected to take at least a week for the new government to be formed. The result is an amazing turn in fortune for the RSP, which was only founded in 2022 and came fourth in the election held that same year. Shah, like the party he only recently joined, is largely untested - his only political experience so far has been as the mayor of the capital, Kathmandu. The landslide is all the more significant because the country’s mixed political system - which uses a combination of first past the post and proportional representation - is mathematically designed to prevent such domination by a single party. The outcome of the election reflects a desire for change that was seen during the election campaign, with parties courting Nepal’s key youth bloc with promises of addressing issues including unemployment, economic stagnation and inequality. These were the same problems that saw youth-led protests that broke out last year, initially against a social media ban, escalate. Demonstrators criticised Nepal’s political system and the symbolism of class inequality, “nepo babies” - children of the country’s politicians. A total of 77 were killed during the protests, and a BBC investigation revealed the country’s police chief issued an order allowing the use of lethal force against thousands of unarmed protesters. The demonstrations eventually saw the then leader, KP Sharma Oli, ousted - only for him to stand again as a prime ministerial candidate, expressing confidence he would be re-elected. Not only did his party, the CPN-UML, come third in the election, Oli was beaten decisively by Shah in the Jhapa 5 constituency - a former stronghold for the 74-year-old. Gagan Thapa, the new leader of the Nepali Congress - the country’s oldest democratic party - also lost his seat to an RSP candidate. Source: BBC

Rapper-politician Balendra Shah’s party wins Nepal election

As the festive season approaches, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SL CERT) has issued a public advisory urging caution when engaging with online advertisements and offers. Senior Information Security Engineer at SL CERT, Charuka Damunupola, highlighted that several online scam incidents have already been reported during the first two months of the year.&nbsp; He emphasised that upcoming celebrations, such as the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, increase the risk of encountering fraudulent advertisements and malicious links masquerading as discounts, cash prizes, or special promotional offers. Damunupola explained that these malicious links often redirect users to fake websites designed to steal personal and sensitive information.&nbsp; He also warned that during other festive periods like Vesak and Poson, scammers may exploit schemes titled “Poson Maha Data Dansala” to deceive the public and harvest user data. SL CERT has urged everyone to remain vigilant and exercise caution when clicking on unsolicited links or advertisements seen online, especially during the holiday season, to protect themselves from potential cyber threats.

SLCERT warns public to be vigilant during festive season amid rise in online scams

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Northwestern provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 2.00 pm today (13), the Department of Meteorology said. Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm can be expected at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts. A few showers may occur in the Uva and Eastern provinces, the Met. Department noted.

Showers expected in parts of the island today

<ul><li>Over 600 kg of suspected narcotics seized</li><li>Eight pistols, two T-56 rifles, an M16 recovered</li><li>Second trawler acted as surveillance</li><li>10 suspects arrested as Navy exposes highly organised network</li><li>Satellite phones, weapons signal major security threat at sea</li></ul> One of the largest narcotics hauls in Sri Lanka this year was uncovered after the Navy intercepted two suspicious multi-day fishing trawlers in international waters south of the country, with the seized stock of drugs estimated to be worth around Rs. 10 billion.The two vessels suspected of transporting narcotics and weapons were brought to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour yesterday (12) after being seized during a special Naval operation carried out in the deep seas off the Southern coast. A total of 10 suspects who were on board the vessels were also arrested.Deputy Defence Minister Major General (Retired) Aruna Jayasekara confirmed the value of the narcotics haul while inspecting the seized trawlers.Addressing the media, he said the interception was the outcome of a carefully planned operation carried out after several days of observation at sea.“This was not something done overnight. What you are seeing here is the result of a very well-planned operation that involved several days of monitoring. The mission was carried out with the assistance of both local and foreign institutions,” he said.Jayasekara further noted that the discovery pointed to a highly organised operation aimed at destabilising the country and posing a threat to national security.“The two vessels were equipped with narcotics, firearms and satellite phones, which clearly indicate that this was a highly organised operation,” he said.The suspicious vessels had been detected during a special Naval operation conducted using long-range Naval vessels in international waters south of Sri Lanka.During the search of one trawler, Naval personnel discovered a large number of sacks suspected to contain narcotics weighing more than 600 kilograms, according to reports.In addition to the drugs, the Navy also recovered eight pistols with magazines, two Type-56 rifles and one M16 rifle from the same vessel.The M16 rifle is reportedly a weapon typically used only by specialised members of the security forces.The second multi-day fishing trawler taken into custody is suspected to have been providing surveillance and logistical support for the other vessel that was transporting the drugs.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Navy Media Spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath said that following the arrest of the second boat that was assisting the vessel carrying narcotics, the Navy had intensified surveillance of the surrounding seas.He noted that the Navy is continuously monitoring the entire area under suspicion for any other vessels that may have been involved in providing assistance to the operation.The fishermen taken into custody are residents of the Southern Province.Both fishing vessels and the arrested suspects were brought to the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour yesterday following the interception.According to the Navy, this seizure represents the largest quantity of narcotics recovered so far in 2026.Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said that authorities are intensifying efforts to dismantle the drug trafficking networks operating in and around the country.Speaking during an event held on Tuesday (10), he noted that multiple security agencies are now working together to combat the growing narcotics trade.“The Police, the Special Task Force, the Tri-Forces and other security forces are jointly working to end this network. This supply network is intertwined with organised crime,” he said.Wijepala also stressed the need for broader social efforts to address the drug problem.

Rs. 10 b Sea Drug Bust

<ul><li>Focus on quality, procurement processes, environmental impact&nbsp;</li></ul> Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody said the Government is planning to conduct a forensic audit into coal imports to Sri Lanka over the years, with particular attention to the environmental impact and procurement practices surrounding the shipments.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (12), he noted that Sri Lanka has relied on coal imports for power generation for many years and that the proposed forensic audit will examine shipments imported over a long period.&nbsp;“This will be a large and complex undertaking as it would require reviewing shipments imported over many years. The audit will look into aspects such as the coal quality, procurement practices and the environmental impact,” he said.He added that in previous years too, coal containing high levels of sulphur and fly ash had been imported, and that those procurements had been carried out by companies based on Cabinet of Ministers approvals. “Most of those imports have been done by companies selected based on political affiliations. When we try to carry out the process in a transparent manner, they make various allegations." Jayakody's comments come in the wake of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) pointing to a range of operational concerns linked to the recently imported coal used at the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant, Norochcholai.&nbsp;In its report on the coal supplied to the Plant, the Commission stated that the use of the recently imported coal resulted in a lower generation capacity, higher coal consumption, increased emissions and other operational issues. The PUCSL also raised concerns about compliance with the Environmental Protection Licence Condition Number Eight, which requires a clearly defined coal rejection protocol and states that no consignment should be used until all the required quality checks are completed and verified.&nbsp;The Commission noted the protocol submitted does not clearly outline rejection scenarios and observed that feeding coal into the system before completing the necessary quality verification could create a risk of non-compliance.

Aviation fuel price surge may push up airfares

Work from home not necessary yet despite Middle East crisis

Work from home not necessary y ...

Netanyahu threatens Iran new leader, says government collapse uncertai ...

Netanyahu threatens Iran new l ...

Dry spell threatens paddy cultivation and hydropower, says Met Dept

Dry spell threatens paddy cult ...

Rapper-politician Balendra Shah’s party wins Nepal election

Rapper-politician Balendra Sha ...

SLCERT warns public to be vigilant during festive season amid rise in ...

SLCERT warns public to be vigi ...

Showers expected in parts of the island today

Showers expected in parts of t ...

Rs. 10 b Sea Drug Bust

Rs. 10 b Sea Drug Bust

Forensic probe into coal imports

Forensic probe into coal impor ...

Work from home not necessary yet despite Middle East crisis

Work from home not necessary y ...

Netanyahu threatens Iran new leader, says government collapse uncertai ...

Netanyahu threatens Iran new l ...

Dry spell threatens paddy cultivation and hydropower, says Met Dept

Dry spell threatens paddy cult ...

Rapper-politician Balendra Shah’s party wins Nepal election

Rapper-politician Balendra Sha ...

SLCERT warns public to be vigilant during festive season amid rise in ...

SLCERT warns public to be vigi ...

Showers expected in parts of the island today

Showers expected in parts of t ...

Rs. 10 b Sea Drug Bust

Rs. 10 b Sea Drug Bust

Forensic probe into coal imports

Forensic probe into coal impor ...

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Work from home not necessary yet despite Middle East crisis

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Netanyahu threatens Iran new leader, says government collapse uncertai ...

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Dry spell threatens paddy cultivation and hydropower, says Met Dept

Dry spell threatens paddy cult ...

Rapper-politician Balendra Shah’s party wins Nepal election

Rapper-politician Balendra Sha ...

SLCERT warns public to be vigilant during festive season amid rise in ...

SLCERT warns public to be vigi ...

Showers expected in parts of the island today

Showers expected in parts of t ...