Sri Lanka

US sinking of Iranian warship off Sri Lankan coast piles pressure on India

The US sinking of Iran's frigate IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka brings the Middle East conflict closer to India's neighbourhood, complicating New Delhi's delicate diplomatic balancing

Sri Lanka lets 2nd Iranian ship dock at Trincomalee, evacuates 208 on board

Sri Lanka on Thursday allowed a second Iranian ship to dock at the eastern port of Trincomalee and evacuated all 208 personnel on board, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said, a day after another Iranian frigate was sunk near the island nation. In a televised address, Dissanayake said the vessel, IRINS Bushehr, had sought permission to enter Sri Lankan waters, citing an engine failure. "We wanted to remain neutral while dealing with a humanitarian response," he said, adding that Sri Lanka's role was limited to responding to a request from one party involved in the conflict. "No one deserves to die. Every life is precious," the President said. He also criticised opposition parties for attempting to politicise the situation. "We won't succumb to pressure. We will maintain our neutrality," Dissanayake said. According to the President, the ship had 208 personnel on board, comprising 53 officers, 84 cadets, 48 senior sailors and 23 seamen, all of whom were evacuated after the ship w

Sri Lanka deliberates appropriate action as 2nd Iranian ship awaits entry

Sri Lanka on Thursday said it is deliberating appropriate action after a second Iranian ship has sought entry to its territorial waters, a day after a frigate belonging to the Islamic country was attacked near the island nation. Sri Lanka on Wednesday said it had recovered over 80 bodies of Iranian sailors killed after a US submarine attack sank the Iranian frigate - IRIS Dena - off Galle, the island's southern coastal town. Government spokesman and minister Nalinda Jayathissa was on Thursday responding to a query by the main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa in parliament about the second Iranian ship. "We are aware of it and are contemplating action to safeguard all lives on board," Jayathissa said. "We are intervening to resolve this issue to safeguard regional peace." The ship, according to Jayathissa, awaits in Sri Lanka's Extended Economic Zone (EEZ) but is out of its territorial waters. Sources said the ship had requested emergency assistance. Meanwhile, in Galle, the cre

Iran promises to avenge US sinking of warship in Indian Ocean waters

The IRIS Dena was in India from February 15 to 25 to participate in the International Fleet Review, alongside vessels from 40 other countries, including the US and Russia

US submarine torpedoes Iranian naval ship off Sri Lanka, confirms Hegseth

A top Sri Lankan official says 32 people have been rescued from a sinking Iranian naval ship off Sri Lanka's southern coast and have been admitted to a hospital. Dr Anil Jasinghe, a top health ministry official, says one of them is in critical condition, seven are receiving emergency treatment, and others are treated for minor injuries. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that Sri Lanka's navy received information that the ship Iris Dena with 180 on board was in distress, and that the island nation sent ships and air force planes on a rescue mission. There were no immediate details as to how the sailors were wounded and how the ship was damaged.

Sri Lanka's ex-intel head arrested in connection with 2019 Easter attack

Sri Lanka's former state intelligence service chief Suresh Sally was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the 2019 Easter bombings, police sources said. Sally was arrested by police's Crime Investigation Department in the Colombo suburb of Peliyagoda while on his way to work in a non-governmental organisation, they said. The arrest is linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 270 people, including 11 Indians, at churches and five-star hotels in Colombo, according to the sources. Sallay was serving in a diplomatic position overseas when the attacks took place. A retired Major General, he had headed the state intelligence service under the Rajapaksa government before 2015. The coordinated attacks were carried out by a local militant group. There were allegations that the defence establishment had prior intelligence about the impending attacks, including warnings shared by India, but failed to act in time. The then government, led by president Maithripala Sirisena,

Sri Lanka's new law scrapping pensions for parliamentarians takes effect

The Sri Lankan government has gazetted the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Act after it was passed by parliament with an overwhelming majority on Tuesday, fulfilling a key campaign promise of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. In Sri Lanka, a member of parliament was entitled to a pension after serving a five-year term. On Tuesday, lawmakers passed the bill by 154 votes in the 225-member House, with only two against. The remaining legislators were not present during the vote. The gazette has been dated Friday. On February 6, the Supreme Court had determined that the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill can be passed in Parliament with a simple majority. The main aim of the bill was to repeal the Parliamentary Pensions Law No 1 of 1977 which had established a non-contributory life time pension to persons who have ceased to be members of parliament. The move caused outrage among former parliamentarians who sought the Supreme Court intervention without success to see it being ...

Sri Lankan President Disanayaka to arrive in India today for AI Summit

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Heads of State and Government are scheduled to attend the Summit

SriLankan Airlines adds 2 extra Mumbai flights for India-Pakistan match

Carrier schedules additional Mumbai services amid strong corporate bookings and near-full flights for India-Pakistan T20 clash in Colombo

Flight fares rise 50% as fans head to Colombo for India-Pakistan match

Airfares to Colombo surge up to 50 per cent ahead of India-Pakistan clash on February 15, with hotel tariffs also moving up amid strong cricket-driven travel demand

Russia turns to India, Sri Lanka to tackle labour shortage amid crisis

The total number of work permits given to foreigners rose to more than 240,000 in 2025, the highest since at least 2017, statistics from the Ministry of Internal Affairs show

'India, Sri Lanka share deep civilisational bonds': PM on relics exposition

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Sri Lanka are connected by "deep civilisational and spiritual bonds" as he thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for inaugurating the exposition of the holy Devnimori relics of Lord Buddha in Colombo. The first-ever international exposition of these sacred relics, which originate from the Devnimori archaeological site in Gujarat's Aravalli district, is taking place at Gangaramaya Temple from February 4-11. It was inaugurated by Sri Lankan President Dissanayaka along with Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and the state's Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi in the presence of Chief Incumbent Ven. Kirinde Assaji Thero at the Gangaramaya Temple, Colombo on Wednesday. "Respectfully welcome the Sacred Relics of the Buddha to Sri Lanka today for public veneration until the 11th at Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple. I deeply appreciate PM @narendramodi and the Government of India for honouring their promise and enabling this sacred ..

Sri Lanka's fund facility to continue despite Cyclone Ditwah impact: IMF

The IMF's current Sri Lanka bail out would continue with no changes despite the economic impact due to widespread devastation after Cyclone Ditwah, a delegation of the global lender told President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday. The representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who are in Sri Lanka to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah that left over 600 dead in late November, met with Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat, the President's Media Division (PMD) said here. The IMF conveyed that Sri Lanka is currently moving in the right economic direction despite facing a severe disaster situation, Dissanayake's office said, adding, "the IMF representatives stated that there would be no changes to the agreement relating to the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme being implemented with Sri Lanka." The discussions relating to the release of the sixth tranche under the programme would resume in March, it added. Sri Lanka is to receive around USD 330 .

7 Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka Navy for alleged poaching

The Sri Lanka Navy has arrested seven Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in the island nation's territorial waters. The fishermen were arrested and and their two trawlers seized on Tuesday off Kovilan, in the northern Jaffna peninsula, the Navy said in a statement. Those arrested will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna, for legal proceedings, it said. Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently for inadvertently trespassing into each other's waters. The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters. The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries. In 2025, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 346 Indian fishermen for alleged poaching and seized 4

Recognition in sight: Long-ignored IPKF may finally get official honour

Why are IPKF martyrs not being officially recognised and appropriately honoured and its veterans only allowed a silent felicitation? And is the government really changing its mind on this now?

First India-funded Bailey Bridge opens for traffic in cyclone-hit Sri Lanka

The first Bailey Bridge built with India's assistance package to Sri Lanka was opened for traffic in the cyclone-hit island nation on Sunday. The Indian mission here said that the 100-ft Bailey bridge was constructed by the Indian Army, restoring a vital road link between the Central Province and Uva Province. "Restoring connectivity - the first Bailey Bridge under Indian Assistance Package for Post-Ditwah Reconstruction opened for traffic," the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said in a post on X. The bridge was inaugurated by the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, along with Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena and Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Madhura Senevirathne. It was built under a USD 450 million reconstruction package by India to Sri Lanka, which was hit by Cyclone Ditwah in November, causing widespread flooding and landslides, resulting in over 600 deaths. The package was announced during External Affairs Minister S ...

COAS Gen Dwivedi meets Sri Lankan army commander, discusses defence ties

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi met Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), Deputy Minister of Defence & Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Secretary of Defence, Sri Lanka, on Thursday to discuss ways to advance bilateral defence cooperation and military-to-military relations.Their talks focused on enhancing strategic ties, expanding joint military training, and examining the current geostrategic landscape in the region.Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting regional peace and stability. "#GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS held discussions with Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), Deputy Minister of Defence & Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Secretary of Defence, Sri Lanka. The interaction focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, enhancing military-to-military engagement including cooperation for Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief and reinforcing collaboration in areas of mutual interest, ...

Sri Lankan car importers urge govt to waive 3% penalty on imported vehicles

Sri Lankan car importers, in the wake of the destruction caused by cyclone Ditwah, urged the government to waive the 3 per cent penalty on vehicles cleared after three months. Our buyers who placed orders for cars want refunds as the cyclone damage has left them in financial difficulties," Prasad Manage, the President of the Automobile Importers Association, told the media, adding that the buying power of the consumer has reduced. We are also victims of the Ditwah cyclone with customers asking for refunds of advance deposits made," Manage added. In Sri Lanka, imported cars are to be registered with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) within three months of the Customs Declaration date. Hefty monthly penalties of 3 per cent of the Cost-Insurance-Freight (CIF) value are imposed in case of non-compliance with the policy. He also requested the government to waive the 3 per cent penalty while increasing the registration period of the vehicles to six months. However, the import statis

From Air India crash to Hayli Gubbi volcano, 2025 was marked by calamities

From plane crashes and fires to stampedes, floods, and cyclones, 2025 drew attention to the steep human cost of systemic lapses, climate stress, and fragile disaster preparedness

PM Modi assures Colombo of support in aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah

Prime Minister Modi stated that India will stand with Sri Lanka for "rebuilding lives and ensuring resilience"