News
Highways Minister wants those who dig up roads to meet cost of repairs
Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday said that he would introduce new laws to compel the Water Board, Ceylon Electricity Board and private telecom companies to bear the cost of repairing the roads that were damaged by them.
Addressing a meeting at the Ministry in Battaramulla, the minister said that he had received a large number of complaints from the general public that the CEB, the Water Board and telecom companies damaged roads for their service needs and not even the newly carpeted roads had been spared. “They dig up the roads to lay underground cables, water lines and power supply lines. Thereafter, they patch up the roads and leave. After a rain or two those places become puddles and the roads become impassable and causing great inconvenience to the people. The funds spent by the ministry to renovate roads go down the drain as a result. This practice has to be stopped. We intend to bring new laws to make those companies to pay for the cost of repairs, which should be carried out under the inspection of the Road Development Authority officials.”
The Minister instructed Director Maintenance and Management Mangala Marasinghe to prepare a set of guidelines to be given to the private companies which intended to cut and dig roads for their service needs.
News
Financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces – PM
Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya stated that the necessary financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces. She emphasized that these funds must be utilized effectively for school development and requested that relevant authorities submit proposals to address existing shortcomings in school infrastructure.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during a cordial meeting with Muslim women in the Wellawaya area on 1st of March.
Subsequently, the Prime Minister met with the Chief Sanghanayake of the Uva Wellassa region and the Chief Incumbent of Yudaganawa Rajamaha Viharaya, Venerable Rajakeeya Panditha Most Venerable Galtemwatte Nandarathana Nayaka Thero, and briefed him on the current progress of the new education reforms.
She further stated that, while ensuring due recognition for vocational education, steps are being taken to develop 50 vocational training centers equipped with modern courses, covering all 25 districts of the country. She also noted that new education reforms will be introduced for Grade 6 starting in 2027, and that the printing of new textbooks will be entrusted to the Educational Publications Department of the Ministry of Education.
The occasion was attended by Uva Province Governor Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security R.M. Jayawardhana, Member of Parliament Ruwan Wijewardene, local government representatives, the Buttala Divisional Secretary and the District Secretary.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Department of Immigration and Emmigration has decided effective from 28th February 2026, to grant a free fourteen (14) day visa extension to all tourists who are unable to leave Sri Lanka due to flight cancellations. 
The Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee arrived at the Port of Colombo for replenishment purposes on 02 Mar 26. The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in compliance with time-honoured naval traditions.
The ship is a 48.9m long Offshore Patrol Vessel which is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Nafiu Mohamed.
Meanwhile, the ship’s crew is scheduled to visit several tourist attractions in the city of Colombo, during their stay in the island.
Australian girl, 8, killed in snowmobile accident in Japan
Russia, China raise diplomatic voices against US-Israeli attacks on Iran
Financial allocations for the development of infrastructure in provincial schools have been provided to all provinces – PM
Free 14 day visa extension for visitors unable to depart Sri Lanka
US embassy in Dubai hit; Israel pounds Tehran, Beirut
Perera, Sugandika, Ranaweera take Sri Lanka to T20I series win over West Indies
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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