Sri Lanka is struggling to prevent a repeat of its spectacular economic collapse four years ago, as the prolonged Middle East war compounds the fallout from a deadly cyclone in November. Source link
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says request made on February 26, two days before US and Israel launched war on Iran. Published On 20 Mar 202620 Mar 2026 Sri Lanka’s president says his government turned down a request from the United States to land two US combat aircraft at a civilian airport earlier this month. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Sri Lanka’s parliament on Friday that Washington had requested permission for the aircraft to land at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in southern Sri Lanka from March 4 to 8. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The request was made on February 26, two days before the US and Israel launched their military offensive against Iran. “They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight antiship missiles from a base in Djibouti”, Dissanayake told lawmakers. “We turned down the request to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality”, he added to applause. The US-Israeli war on Iran has sparked widespread concern globally, as Iranian missile and drone attacks across the wider Middle East have sent energy prices soaring …
As oil prices continue to rise and supply is disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East, the Sri Lankan government has announced fuel-rationing measures, effective immediately. Thailand has seen a rush to the pumps causing shortages, as people try to fuel up before price control measures expire. Keywords for this article Source link
COLOMBO, March 11 (Reuters) – A Sri Lankan court has ordered that the bodies of 84 sailors killed in an attack on an Iranian warship off the island nation’s coast last week be handed over to the embassy of Iran, local media reported on Wednesday. The warship, IRIS Dena, was hit by a torpedo from a U.S. submarine while it was returning from a naval exercise organised by India, amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that has wreaked havoc on global markets, sent oil prices soaring, and disrupted trade and travel. The court order was issued on Wednesday following a request from the Galle Harbour Police in the southern port city of Galle, the media reports said. The bodies are currently at the morgue in Galle’s National Hospital. Sri Lanka has also granted 30-day entry visas to 208 crew members from a second Iranian vessel who were taken in by the South Asian country after the vessel experienced engine problems in the same region, Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera told Reuters. The Sri Lankan foreign …
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka discharged 22 Iranian crew members from hospital who were plucked from life rafts after their warship was sunk by a US submarine, officials said Sunday (Mar 8). The crew had been treated at Karapitiya Hospital in the southern port city of Galle since Wednesday, after the IRIS Dena was torpedoed just outside Sri Lanka’s territorial waters. The attack on Dena was the first military strike far outside the Middle East since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran a week ago. Those discharged overnight had been taken to a beach resort in the same district, as Sri Lanka’s navy ended its search on Sunday for survivors from the vessel. Just over 60 people remain missing, according to an official Sri Lankan estimate. “Another 10 are still undergoing treatment,” a medical officer at the hospital told AFP. He said the bodies of 84 Iranians retrieved from the Indian Ocean were also at the hospital. Sri Lanka has denied claims that it was under pressure from Washington to stop the Iranians …
Two Iranian sailors, center, who were rescued from IRIS Dena warship by Sri Lanka’s navy are escorted to a Judicial Medical Officer from the National Hospital, in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Eranga Jayawardene/AP/AP hide caption toggle caption Eranga Jayawardene/AP/AP COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka transferred more than 200 sailors from an Iranian naval vessel to shore Friday after it sought assistance while anchored outside the country’s waters, as tensions mounted in the Indian Ocean following the sinking of an Iranian warship by a U.S. submarine. Sri Lankan navy spokesperson Cmdr. Buddhika Sampath said 204 sailors of the IRIS Bushehr were brought to Welisara Naval Base near the capital, Colombo. They underwent border control procedures and medical tests, but none were found to have health issues. About 15 others have been left aboard the ship with Sri Lankan naval personnel for assistance because they had reported a fault with the ship. The Iranian sailors are interpreting operational instructions, manuals and logs for their Sri Lankan counterparts. He said the …
Listen to this article | 5 mins info Sri Lanka has evacuated more than 200 crew members from a second Iranian naval vessel off its coast, a day after a US submarine sank an Iranian frigate in the same waters, leaving 87 sailors dead. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced on Thursday that his navy would take custody of the second ship and move it to the northeastern port of Trincomalee for safekeeping, amid fears it could be targeted. He said his government held discussions with Iranian officials and the captain of the ship. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Sri Lankan officials say 87 bodies were recovered and 32 people rescued from the roughly 180 people believed to have been on board IRIS Dena sunk on Wednesday. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday confirmed that a US submarine sank the vessel amid US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Cabinet spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa told parliament the vessel was positioned near Colombo, inside Sri Lanka’s exclusive economic zone but beyond its territorial waters, adding that authorities were doing “their …
GALLE, Sri Lanka, March 5 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka is trying to “safeguard lives” on another Iranian ship off its coast, the country’s cabinet spokesperson said on Thursday, adding that the vessel was in the economic zone beyond the South Asian island nation’s territorial waters. “We are doing our utmost to safeguard lives,” spokesperson Nalinda Jayatissa said. (Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe, writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by YP Rajesh) Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters. Source link
Who: Pakistan vs Sri LankaWhat: ICC 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup Super EightsWhere: Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Pallekele in Sri LankaWhen: Saturday, February 28, at 7pm (13:30 GMT)How to follow: We’ll have all the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 10:30 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream. Pakistan face a make-or-break finale to the Super Eights stage at the 2026 T20 World Cup when they must overcome already-eliminated Sri Lanka by a significant margin if they are to reach the semifinals. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list New Zealand currently hold second spot in the four-team group, but their defeat by England on Friday has opened the door to Pakistan to climb into second spot. Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the match and what Pakistan must do if they are to progress to the knockout stage. How have Pakistan fared at the T20 World Cup? Pakistan’s campaign started on a nervy note with a three-wicket win in a thrilling last-over finish against the Netherlands before overcoming the United States and …
New Zealand win by 61 runs, ejecting Sri Lanka at the Super Eights stage. Listen to this article | 3 mins info Published On 25 Feb 202625 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share plus2googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo New Zealand have recovered from a poor start to crush Sri Lanka by 61 runs in the Twenty20 World Cup Super Eights and eliminate the cohosts from the tournament. Mitchell Santner led New Zealand’s recovery on Wednesday with a captain’s knock of 47 off 26 balls after coming in with his side in huge trouble at 84-5 to power them to a competitive 168-7 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Sri Lanka managed 107-8 in reply, never recovering from a top-order collapse and succumbing to their second defeat in the Super Eight stage of the 20-team tournament. Rachin Ravindra (4-27) and Matt Henry (2-3) impressed with the ball for New Zealand. “It’s embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd. They’ve been very supportive,” Sri Lanka captain …
