A total of 19 shooting incidents have been reported this year, with 12 linked to organized crime and 7 resulting from personal disputes, raising concerns over public safety and security.

The Cabinet decided to table the Batalanda Commission report in Parliament within this week, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today. He told the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that the Cabinet discussed the measures to be taken with regard to the report.

The doctors of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital launched an idefinite strike against the sexual assault of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital.

The suspect who sexually assaulted a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching hospital is found to be an army deserter, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today.

Considering requests from various departments and affiliated bodies of the Ministries to fill vacant posts, the Cabinet has granted approval for the relevant Ministries and institutions to proceed with 5,882 recruitments, as recommended by the committee.

Claiming that the stance of the government on the Adani Wind Power project has not changed, Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today the Adani group can decide to pull out of the project if they are not ready to revise the tariff rates.

Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa was careful not to mention former Minister Tiran Alles' name despite numerous questions from journalists about potential links between former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon and former Minister Alles.

Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon, through his lawyer, has filed a writ petition before the Court of Appeal seeking an order to revoke the arrest warrant issued by the Matara Magistrate's Court. A two-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Mohamed Laffar and Sarath Dissanayake, has fixed the petition for support on March 12.

New education reforms will be launched in 2026 and the process of preparing for it will take place in 2025, Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said.

The Department of Meteorology has issued a weather advisory predicting showers across multiple regions of the country, with fairly heavy rainfall exceeding 75mm expected in several provinces.

Mark Carney has won the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada's prime minister, vowing to win the trade war against US President Donald Trump as he takes charge of the country at a time of deep instability.

Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has announced his candidacy for the upcoming Local Government Elections under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) from the Hambantota District.

A Canadian woman was arrested by Sri Lanka Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle over 17 kilograms of hashish, valued at more than Rs. 170 million, Customs said.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala said that if Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon continues to evade court proceedings, his movable and immovable assets will be freezed in accordance with legal provisions.

Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka alleged that a deal between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and former Minister Tiran Alles has prevented the arrest of former IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon.

Sri Lankan cricketer Ashen Bandara was arrested for trespassing and attempting to assault a person at a house in Kolamunna, Piliyandala. According to police, Bandara was arrested on Saturday following a complaint lodged at the Piliyandala Police Station.

Fifteen Indian nationals, who entered Sri Lanka under tourist visas, have been deported for violating the country’s immigration laws. These individuals had been involved in various activities, including working as carvers and participating in a propaganda campaign for a religious group in the Jaffna area.

National People’s Power (NPP) Executive Committee member Vraie Cally Balthazar has been named as the Mayoral Candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council in the upcoming Local Government elections. JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva revealed this while speaking at a public meeting.

A total of 57 independent groups and 18 political parties have paid their deposits for the upcoming local government elections, according to the Election Commission.

A dozen people have been injured in a shooting at a Toronto pub and three suspects are still at large, police in the Canadian city say. The shooting took place at 22:39 on Friday local time (03:39 GMT Saturday) near Scarborough city centre in eastern Toronto. Authorities said 12 people were injured, including six with gunshot wounds. The injuries were non-life-threatening. The victims ranged in age from 20s to mid-50s.

A new law to ban corporal punishment will be introduced soon, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament today. Speaking during the committee stage debate on the budget, the Minister said every kind of physical punishment will be banned by this law. "Norms such as listening to children and welcoming their views on issues concerning them will also be introduced soon," he added.

Former Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, (Rtd) Major General Nanda Mallawaarachchi, has been released on bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate following an application to effect that there was a possibility of his arrest by the CID in connection with the procurement of sports equipment for the Ministry of Sports in 2014.

IndiGo, India's largest and most preferred low cost airline announced the launch of daily direct flights between Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka from March 30. Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) said the new route has been introduced to meet the growing demand for travel between the two countries and provides more options for business, leisure and religious travellers.

Disciplinary action will be taken against the male teacher who had assaulted a female teacher at a school in Embilipitiya, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament today.

Opposition MP Rohini Kaviratne revealed in Parliament today that 216 girls under the age of 16 became pregnant in Sri Lanka last year. "The most alarming part of this issue is that among these minors, there was a ten-year-old girl who became pregnant at such a tender age," the MP said.

Former Sri Lankan President and six-time Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe denied shielding ousted president Gotabaya Rajapaksa from prosecution, during an interview for Al Jazeera English’s ‘Head to Head’ that will air tomorrow (6).

Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera said that he knows the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks and will inform the President and top security officials.

Sri Lanka has been ranked 91st in the latest rankings of the world passports by Henley and Partners International Index for Passports 2025, thus gaining visa free access to 42 countries worldwide.

The Government hopes to engage women to man trains and buses in two years time, Minister of Transport Bimal Ratnayke told Parliament today. "You will see women guards, train engine drivers. We hope to allow women to run school buses. This programme will begin from tomorrow in line with the Universal Women's Day," he said.

Since December 2024, the market prices of 92 Octane petrol and auto diesel have remained steady at LKR 309 and LKR 286 per litre respectively, despite fluctuations in the formula prices between January and March 2025.

The Government is looking towards converting the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport into an aircraft repair centre, Minister Bimal Ratnayake told Parliament today.