Scheme to provide free visas to 40 countries coming through
Scheme to provide free visas to 40 countries coming throughNewsThe Government has decided to expedite its plans to provide free visas for citizens from 40 counties amidst indications of a drop in tourist arrivals. Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath told the Sunday Times that the scheme to provide free visas will be finalized and submitted to be cabinet on Monday. However Minister Herath said that Sri Lanka has recorded a 15 per cent drop in tourist arrivals due to the prevailing war in West Asia and therefore the government has decided to expedite the free visa scheme. He said that the objective was to attract more tourists into the country at a time when there was a drop in arrivals. The Minister said that they hope to attract tourists from China, India, Russia and European counties.
Source:Sunday Times
March 30, 2026 05:56 UTC
Bangladesh National Day celebrated
The 55th anniversary of the Independence and national Day of Bangladesh was marked by a special event held on March 26, at the kingsbury Hotel, Colombo. High Commissioner for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Andalib Elias hosted several dignitaries at the reception.
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 17:21 UTC
Why Colombo’s Wetlands Matter More Than You Think
Why Colombo’s Wetlands Matter More Than You ThinkToL ExclusiveColombo’s wetlands are more than just green spaces—they’re living ecosystems teeming with biodiversity, natural shields that absorb floodwaters, and powerful carbon sinks quietly fighting climate change. In all their vast glory, these extraordinary urban ecosystems keep Colombo resilient and liveable. A Sunday Times report by Tharushi Weerasinghe for #EarthShorts with support from Earth Journalism Network. You can share this post!
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 08:54 UTC
Youth player Viran Chamuditha breaks into Sri Lanka ‘A’ setup
Youth player Viran Chamuditha breaks into Sri Lanka ‘A’ setup cricket View(s): View(s):Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketer Viran Chamuditha is among 29 players in line to feature in the forthcoming Sri Lanka ‘A’ series against New Zealand ‘A’ next month, as selectors cast a wide net in a tour designed to blend youth with experience. The series will consist of three 50-over matches followed by two four-day unofficial Test fixtures, offering opportunities across formats. Sri Lanka Under-19 cricketer Viran Chamuditha is among 29 players in line to feature in the forthcoming Sri Lanka ‘A’ series against New Zealand ‘A’ next month, as selectors cast a wide net in a tour designed to blend youth with experience. The series will consist of three 50-over matches followed by two four-day unofficial Test fixtures, offering opportunities across formats. Match Schedule April 5: First One Day at Galle ICSApril 8: Second One Day at Sooriyawewa, HambantotaApril 11: Third One Day at Sooriyawewa, HambantotaApril 16 to 19: First Unofficial Test at Sooriyawewa, HambantotaApril 23 to 26: Second Unofficial Test Galle ICS
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 06:57 UTC
Law and literature come together as delightful tales for children
Law and literature come together as delightful tales for children View(s):Rukshani Weerasooriya Wijemanne’s Legal Tales series transforms legal history into playful, lyrical tales for children and families. In Rukshani’s retelling, the facts of the case are reimagined in verse, inviting children to explore themes of responsibility and kindness. “Having enjoyed the storytelling aspect of legal academics much more than the actual practice of law, this series came naturally to me when I became a mother,” Rukshani says, reflecting on how she came to form the Legal Tales concept. In 2024, she collaborated with her father, former Army Commander and Ambassador, Gen. C. S. Weerasooriya, to write his memoirs. His tradition of blending law and literature is now carried forward by Rukshani.
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 06:57 UTC
Forbes & Walker’s tea tasting rooms
Forbes & Walker’s tea tasting rooms View(s):Forbes & Walker, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most influential tea brokers and a custodian of Ceylon Tea since 1881, has opened its private tasting rooms in Colombo to the public for the first time in its 140-year history. Yshan Fernando, Managing Director of Forbes & Walker, said: “Forbes remains the largest tea broking house with the most diversified catalogue of teas. This carefully curated experience allows guests to engage with the industry at a level previously unseen.”Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 06:01 UTC
Retailers drive prices of some essential food higher; middlemen also blamed
Retailers drive prices of some essential food higher; middlemen also blamed View(s):By Nidarshani WickramasinghePrices of essential commodities, including dhal and sprats, have moved higher, with most traders using the rising fuel price as an excuse. The Essential Food Commodities Importers and Traders Association and the Consumer Affairs Authority had mixed reactions on the price increases. The Essential Food Commodities Importers and Traders Association said that due to the war in West Asia, intermediaries are artificially creating shortages. Anyway, by the first week of April, dhal prices will drop to around Rs 265-Rs 270. He also said that 90% of the stocks of essential commodities for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year have already been procured.
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 04:30 UTC
Only 250 of one million Sri Lankans in West Asia seek repatriation
The Sunday Times however has noted discrepancies between data provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) regarding the Sri Lankan population in West Asia. When the conflict first started, there were many inquiries, but now it has reduced to around 10 to 15 calls per day, mostly from family members in Sri Lanka asking about their relatives,” he said. The Sri Lankan Mission in Israel has coordinated the departure of nationals via Egypt, working in coordination with the embassy in Cairo. One Sri Lankan crew member of the vessel MT Valiant Roar, who was held in Iranian custody, was released and sent to Armenia on March 26. Sri Lanka recorded its highest ever annual foreign remittances in 2025, reaching $8.1 billion, which stands as an all-time record.
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 04:30 UTC
Economy resilient enough to weather war, while costs weigh on exporters
Economy resilient enough to weather war, while costs weigh on exporters View(s):By Niranjala AriyawanshaAlthough the war in West Asia will have a significant impact on the Sri Lankan economy both in the short as well as long-term, Sri Lanka can control the economic consequences due to the financial stability, an economist says. He said despite the Ditwah cyclone impact Sri Lanka can expect to maintain a similar growth rate of around five per cent gained in 2024 and 2025. At the moment exports of Sri Lanka are quite restricted due to global shipping routes, trade expenses, insurance costs, and certain logistical delays. Sri Lanka mainly relies on apparel, tea, and rubber, which are significantly impacted by transport costs. According to him, Sri Lanka exports tea to around 150 countries.
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 04:30 UTC
Agri-officials and fertiliser suppliers agree on stable price for now
Agri-officials and fertiliser suppliers agree on stable price for nowNewsBy Kapila BandaraFertiliser companies and agrochemical suppliers have agreed to abide by regulated prices days ahead of the Yala paddy planting season, in a coordinated policy response to mitigate risks, just as prices increased sharply in domestic and global markets due to the widening war in West Asia. Following a meeting this week of all stakeholders with state agriculture authorities, suppliers settled for a cash-only Rs 9,650 for a 50 kilo bag of urea and a further lower offer at Rs 9,500. The price is comparable to levels in previous years. But this could be temporary considering global fertiliser price volatility and the market’s links to energy. Read more in today's Sunday Times edition hereYou can share this post!
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 01:55 UTC
SEC, CSE strengthen role of Auditors of Watchlist Cos.
SEC, CSE strengthen role of Auditors of Watchlist Cos. View(s):The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) jointly organised an awareness session recently, for auditors of companies which are currently on the CSE Watchlist. The session focused on enhancing awareness of enforcement actions and timelines, reducing prolonged Watchlist durations, and fostering a more coordinated regulatory approach among regulators, auditors, and listed companies, the SEC said in a media release. In that sense, auditors are not just ticking a regulatory box, they are the ones holding the line on transparency. Head of Listed Entity Compliance at the CSE, Kassapa Weerasekara delivered a presentation focused on enforcement actions that can lead to securities being transferred to the watchlist. The panel recommended that companies engage their auditors well in advance and establish clear timelines to avoid non submission becoming an enforcement trigger.
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 01:10 UTC
Learning experience
Learning experience View(s):School students view a photo exhibition organised by the cultural section of the Iranian Embassy in Colombo. On display at the exhibition were the photographs of the students killed in the US-Israeli attack on the Minab school in southern Iran. Pic by Indika handuwalaHitAd.lk is the best and biggest mobile phone market in Sri Lanka, and we guarantee you will find what you need here from our extensive listing of mobile phones for sale in Sri Lanka. Whether it’s a budget-priced smartphone for communication, or higher end features with advanced connectivity, there are many different options from which to choose from on our site!
Source:Sunday Times
March 29, 2026 01:05 UTC
Hemas Holdings ‘Future-Proofing’ Global Domination
Hemas Holdings ‘Future-Proofing’ Global Domination By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s):Hemas Holdings Group is focused on becoming a truly global Sri Lankan player, and the company is future-proofing its business verticals to be ready for this goal. In its African entry, Hemas has plans to buy a 75 per cent stake in a Kenyan firm, Twiga Stationers and Printers Ltd. Raw material supply, fuel, energy availability are impacted due to the war in Iran, he said but Hemas is well prepared for this in the short run. Therefore raw material that we use in some of our products are byproducts of petrochemicals. With regard to energy availability, he said that fuel is a critical component of Hemas’ business.
Source:Sunday Times
March 28, 2026 18:58 UTC
Sri Lanka braces for more hot weather as experts warn of El Niño risk
Sri Lanka braces for more hot weather as experts warn of El Niño risk View(s):By Jayani MadawlaThe prevailing heatwave that Sri Lanka is experiencing is expected to continue through mid-May according to the Department of Meteorology. Experts warn that the situation could be further complicated by a possible onset of both El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) after June. Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe warned of the impact of the hot weather on public health. If the prevailing weather conditions get worse the water supply may have to be restricted,” he said. The upcoming festive season appears also to be impacted by the prevailing heat with shopping areas such as Pettah and Maharagama seeing less crowds.
Source:Sunday Times
March 28, 2026 18:58 UTC
Calm before the storm: Rethinking disaster risk reduction in Sri Lanka
Calm before the storm: Rethinking disaster risk reduction in Sri Lanka View(s):By Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka, and Ronald Jackson, Head, Disaster Risk Reduction & Recovery for Building Resilience, UNDPWhen Cyclone Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka in November 2025, affecting over 2 million people, it was the latest chapter in a pattern of intensifying climate-related hazards reshaping the island’s risk landscape. Over the past 40 years, Sri Lanka has experienced flood-related damage every year, ranging from localised events to nationwide disasters. The recently launched National Climate Finance Strategy by the Government of Sri Lanka identifies disaster risk insurance among key financial instruments. A systemic approach to disaster risk reductionAs disaster risks intensify, preparedness must become systemic rather than reactive. Established mechanisms such as the National Disaster Management Coordination Committee (NDMCC) in Sri Lanka has a key role to play.
Source:Sunday Times
March 28, 2026 18:58 UTC