Sri Lanka President orders urgent safeguards over Middle East war impact

A businessman from Colombo 12 was arrested by the Bribery Commission yesterday morning (March 03) for allegedly soliciting and accepting a Rs. 5 million bribe to help secure bail for a remanded suspect and prevent the arrest of the suspect’s family members.

A U.S. military strike sank an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka’s coast, triggering a major rescue operation in which Sri Lanka’s Navy saved 32 sailors and recovered several bodies, according to U.S. and Sri Lankan officials.

At least 32 crew members were rescued after an Iranian Navy vessel, identified as IRIS Dena, sent a distress call early this morning while sinking about 40 nautical miles off Galle, triggering a rapid joint rescue operation by the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force.

A 36 year old man was arrested with 390 liters of illegally stockpiled diesel during a raid carried out by Pulmoddai Police in Pulmoddai town last night (March 03).

Sri Lanka has planned a special mechanism to repatriate its citizens from the Middle East if a high risk situation arises in the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Sri Lanka records 279,328 tourist arrivals in February 2026, marking a 16.2 percent increase from last year, according to official data.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament today (March 03) that no armed conflict benefits any community and warned that modern military technology makes the need for peace more urgent than ever.

A businessman has been arrested in Buthpitiya, Gampaha for stockpiling 400 liters of diesel, as special police teams launch islandwide operations against fuel hoarding.

Fuel distribution in Sri Lanka is continuing without interruption despite concerns over the Middle East conflict, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation said today (March 02).

The Inspector General of Police has instructed all police stations across Sri Lanka to provide necessary security at fuel stations, as authorities warn the public not to panic buy fuel due to tensions in the Middle East.

LAUGFS Gas PLC says 35,000 to 40,000 domestic LP gas cylinders will be released daily from today (March 1), as new gas shipments arrive in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka will not face any delay in fuel stocks ordered until April and May 2026, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) assured today (March 1) amid concerns over the Middle East conflict.

Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism says the safety of nearly one million Sri Lankans living and working in the Middle East is the Government’s highest priority as it closely monitors the evolving security situation in the region.