Sri Lanka President warns Middle East conflict threatens energy supply

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed all Ministries to implement practical, data-driven fuel conservation plans and submit reports promptly to ensure minimal energy use.

Sri Lanka may face higher electricity costs and possible power cuts due to reduced generation and global diesel shortages, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa warned in Parliament today (March 17).

Former Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has left the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) after giving a statement regarding an ongoing investigation.

Public transport in Sri Lanka will be restricted on Wednesdays after the government declared every Wednesday a public holiday from March 17, 2026, due to a fuel shortage linked to the Middle East conflict, with travel limited to essential needs.

All government schools in Sri Lanka will remain closed every Wednesday due to the ongoing fuel supply crisis, as part of a wider move to reduce energy use and support essential services.

Sri Lanka has fixed technical issues in its QR-based fuel pass system, enabling smoother registration and vehicle transfers.

The Sri Lanka Government has decided to grant government employees leave every Wednesday starting from March 17, 2026, due to ongoing difficulties in obtaining fuel supplies.

Approximately 123 kilograms of heroin were found aboard a multi-day fishing trawler seized by the Sri Lanka Navy in seas south of Dondra, with the estimated street value of the haul exceeding Rs. 3 billion.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) says it has released 57,000 metric tons of diesel and 47,000 metric tons of petrol for public use through filling stations during the first 10 days since the start of the Middle East conflict.

Sri Lanka Police have ordered all police stations to maintain law and order during the rollout of the QR-based fuel distribution system, warning that legal action will be taken against anyone who tries to misuse or disrupt it.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (March 15) directed officials to prepare for any impact from the emerging war situation in the Middle East, with focus on fuel needs, essential services, remote working, and improving the digital QR code system.

A vessel carrying 35,000 metric tons of petrol and diesel is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka tomorrow (March 16), according to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO).

The QR Code system for vehicles came into effect for fuel distribution in Sri Lanka from 6:00 AM today (March 15), with authorities announcing that fuel will not be issued at any filling station without a registered QR code.

Sri Lanka’s drug problem must be treated as a national priority with real results at ground level, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said while reviewing a new national strategy to manage substance use disorders.

Sri Lanka’s government has revived long-abandoned rice warehouses in the Marandagahamula wholesale rice complex after nearly 13 years, filling them with rice stocks as part of a program aimed at strengthening national food security and stabilizing market prices.