News
Local councils won by political parties and Ind. groups
Colombo District
NPP:
Colombo MC, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia MC, Sri Jayewardenepura MC, Moratuwa MC, Kaduwela MC, Kolonnawa UC, Seethawakapura UC, Maharagama UC, Kesbewa UC, Boralesgamuwa UC, Kotikawatte PS, Seethawaka PS and Homagama PS.
Gampaha District
NPP:
Negombo MC. Gampaha MC, Wattala-Mabola UC (both NPP and SJB obtained six seats each), Katunayaka-Seeduwa UC, Minuwangoda UC, Ja-ela UC, Peliyagoda UC, Wattala PS, Katana PS, Divulapitiya PS, Mirigama PS, Minuwangoda PS, Attanagalle PS, Gampaha PS, Mahara PS, Dompe PS, Biyagama PS and Kelaniya PS.
Kalutara District
NPP:
Panadura UC, Horana UC, Kalutara MC, Panadura PS, Bandaragama PS, Horana PS, Madurawala PS, Bulathsinhala PS, Matugama PS, Dodangoda PS, Kalutara PS, Beruwala PS, Agalawatta PS (both NPP and SJB obtained six seats each), Millaniya PS and Walallawita PS
Kandy District
NPP:
Kandy MC, Wattegama UC, Kadugannawa UC, Nawalapitiya UC, Thumpane PS, Harispattuwa PS, Poojapitiya PS, Pathadumbara PS, Udadumbara PS (both NPP and SJB obtained six seats each), Minipe PS, Medadumbara PS, Kundasale PS, Pathahewaheta PS, Kandy Four Gravets and Gangawatta Korale PS, Yatinuwara PS, Udunuwara PS, Udapalatha PS, Ganga Ihala Korale PS and Pasbage Korale PS.
Matale District
NPP:
Dambulla MC, Matale MC, Pallepola PS, Galewela PS, Dambulla PS, Naula PS, Laggala-Pallegama PS (both NPP and SJB obtained six seats each), Wilgamuwa PS, Matale PS, Yatawatta PS, Ukuwela PS, Rattota PS.
Nuwara Eliya District
NPP
Nuwara Eliya MC, Hatton-Dikoya UC, Thalawakale-Lindula UC, Maskeliya PS, Norwood PS (NPP and Ceylon Workers’ Congress ‘P’ wing won six seats each), Ambagamuwa PS, Agarapathana PS (NPP and Ceylon Workers’ Congress ‘P’ wing won four seats each), Kotagala PS ((NPP and Ceylon Workers’ Congress ‘P’ wing won five seats each), Nuwara Eliya PS, Kothmale PS, Hanguranketha PS and Walapone PS.
Galle District
NPP:
Galle MC, Ambalangoda UC, Hikkaduwa UC, Balapitiya PS, Ambalangoda PS, Welivitiya Divithura PS, Karandeniya PS, Bentota PS, Neluwa PS, Thawalama PS, Nagoda PS, Niyagama PS, Baddegama PS, Yakkalamulla PS, Rajagama PS, Akmeemana PS, Bope Poddala PS, Imaduwa PS and Habaraduwa PS.
Matara District
NPP:
Matara MC, Weligama UC, Pitabeddara PS, Kotapola PS, Kirinda Puhulwella PS, Mulatiyana PS, Pasgoda PS, Athureliya PS, Akuressa PS, Malimbada PS, Hakmana PS, Kamburupitiya PS, Thihagoda PS, Devinuwara PS, Dikwella PS, Matara PS and Weligama PS.
Hambantota District
NPP:
Hambantota MC, Tangalle UC, Weeraketiya PS, Katuwana PS, Beliatta PS, Tangalle PS, Angunakolapelessa PS, Ambalantota PS, Tissamaharama PS, Sooriyawewa PS, Hambantota PS and Lunugamwehera PS.
Jaffna District
ITAK:
Jaffna MC, Chavakachcheri UC (ITAK and ACTC won six seats each), Delft PS, Velanai PS, Walikamam west PS, Walikamam north PS, Walikamam south-west PS, Walikamam south PS, Walikamam east PS, Vadamaratchchy South West PS, PPD PS, Chavakachcheri PS and Nallur PS.
ACTC
VVT UC, PPD UC, Karainagar PS ( ACTC, UNP, NPP , TMK and Ind group ii won two seats each), Kayts PS (EPDP),
Kilinochchi District
ITAK:
Pachchilaippalli PS, Karachchi PS and Poonakary PS
Mannar District
ITAK:
Mannar UC, Mannar PS, Manthai West
NPP:
Nanattan PS
SJB:
Musali PS
Vavuniya District
Vavuniya MC (DTNA, NPP and Sri Lanka Labour Party won four seats each)
NPP:
Vavuniya north PS, Vavuniya south (Tamil) PS and Vavuniya South (Sinhala) PS
SJB:
Vengalasettikulam PS
Mullaitivu District
ITAK:
Manthai East PS, Thunukai PS
ITAK:
Puthukudirippu PS and Maritimepattu PS
SJB:
Kalutara District
Palindanuwara PS
Kandy district
SJB:
Gampola UC
Akurana PS
Panwila PS
Matale
Ambanganga Korale PS
Kalutara District
Ind. Group 1 Beruwela UC
Batticaloa district
ITAK:
Batticaloa MC, Eravurpattu PS, Koralaipattu PS, Manmunai South and Eluvil Pattu, Manmunai Pattu PS, Manmunai West and Porathivu Pattu PS.
SLMC:
Eravur UC, Kathankudi UC,
TMVP:
Koralai Pattu North, Manmunai South West PS (ITAK and TMVP won six seats each)
Ampara district
National Congress:
Akkaraipattu MC, Akkaraipattu PS
NPP:
Ampara UC, Dehiattakandiya PS, Damana PS, Uhana PS, Mahaoya PS, Namaloya PS, Padiyatalawa PS, Lahugala PS,
ITAK:
Navithanveli PS, Alayadiwembu (ITAK and NPP won seven seats each), Karaitheevu PS
ACMC:
Sammanthurai PS, Ninthavur PS
SLMC:
Irakkamam PS, Addalachenai PS,
Independent Group 4
Pottuvil PS
Independent Group 1
Thirukkovil PS
Trincomalee District
ITAK:
Trincomalee MC, Verugal PS, Trincomalee town and Gravets PS, Muttur PS,
ACMC:
Kinniya UC (SJB and ACMC won four seats each) and Kinniya PS
NPP:
Seruwila PS, Kantale PS, Morawewa PS, Gomarankadawela PS, Padavisripura PS, Thambalagamuwa PS (NPP and SJB won three seats each)
SLMC:
Kuchchuveli PS,
Kurunegala District
NPP:
Kurunegala MC, Kuliyapitiya UC, Giribawa PS, Galgamuwa PS, Polpithigama PS, Nikaweratiya PS, Kobeigane PS, Mahawewa PS, Ibbagamuwa PS, Wariyapola PS,Panduwasnuwara PS, Bingiriya PS, Udubaddawa PS, Pannala PS, Kuliyapitiya PS, Alawwa PS, Narammala PS, Polgahawela PS, Kurunegala PS, Mawathagama PS and Rideegama PS.
Puttalam District
NPP:
Puttalam MC, Chilaw UC, Kalpitiya PS (NPP and SJB won 10 seats each), Puttalam PS, Wanathawilluwa PS, Karuwalagaswewa PS,Nawagaththegama PS, Anamaduwa PS, Arachchikattuwa PS, Chilaw PS, Nattandiya PS and Wennappuwa PS.
Anuradhapura District
NPP:
Anuradhapura MC, Medawachchiya PS, Rambawewa PS, Kebitigollewa PS, Padaviya, Kahatagasdigiliya PS, Horowpothana PS, Galenbindunuwewa PS, Thalawa PS, Nuwaragampalatha Central PS, Nuwaragampalatha east PS, Nochchiyagama PS, Rajanganaya PS, Galnewa PS, Ipologama PA, Mihintale PS, Thirappane PS, Kekirawa PS and Palagala PS.
Polonnaruwa District
NPP:
Polonnaruwa MC. Elahera PS, Hingurakgoda PS, Medirigiriya PS, Lankapura PS, Welikanda PS, Dimbulagala PS and Polonnaruwa PS.
Badulla District
NPP:
Badulla MC, Bandarawela MC, Mahiyanganaya PS, Ridimaliyadde PS, Soranthota PS,Meegahakivula PS, Kankaketiya PS, Passara PS, Lunugala PS, Badulla PS, Hali ela PS, Uva Paranagama PS, Welimada PS, Bandarawela PS, Ellpa PS,Haputale PS and Haldamulla PS.
Independent Group:
Haputale UC
Moneragala District
NPP:
Bibile PS, Medagama PS, Madulla PS, Siyambalanduwa PS, Monaragala PS, Badalkumbura PS, Buttala PS, Kataragama PS, Wellawaya PS and Thanamalwila PS
NPP also won all LG authorities in Ratnapura and Kegalle districts.
News
Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee departs island
The Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee which arrived in Sri Lanka for replenishment purposes, departed the island on 04 Mar 26.
In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo
News
‘IRIS Dena was Indian Navy guest, hit without warning’, Iran warns US of bitter regret
A day after a US submarine sunk an Iranian Navy warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Sayed Abbas Araghchi, has warned that the US would “pay bitterly” for targeting a ship in international waters, The Tribune has reported.
Araghchi posted on social media platform X on Thursday saying, “The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores.”
The frigate IRIS Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning, said the Iran Foreign Minister, adding, “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”
US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, on Wednesday confirmed that a US submarine fired a torpedo and sank the Iranian Navy vessel IRIS Dena west of Sri Lanka.
In a way, the Iran and US-Israel conflict has reached close to the Indian coast. The strike today at sea was almost 4,000 kms away from Iran, significantly expanding the radius of war. Already, fearing Iranian missile strikes, several US warships have moved eastward towards India.
These ships are in international waters. India has denied that any US Navy assets were using Indian ports. The Iranian ship, hit on Wednesday, was returning after participating in the international fleet review and exercise Milan hosted by India at Visakhapatnam.
The Iranian ship went down with almost 130 sailors on board missing. The Sri Lankan Navy, acting on a distress call, rescued 32 of the Iranian sailors. Hegseth confirmed the act by the US forces, saying the ship was hit in the Indian Ocean, stating, “an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. .. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo”.
Hegseth did not name the Iranian ship that was attacked. But earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy reported the distress call from IRIS Dena when it was some 40 kms west of Galle, located on the south-western part of the island country. On February 16, the Iranian ship had sailed into the port of Visakhapatnam, where seventy-four nations participated.
Warships from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and dozens of others were anchored alongside the now-sunk Iranian vessel. Iran’s Navy Commander, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, held talks with India’s Chief of Naval Staff on strengthening maritime security cooperation.
The theme was “United through Oceans.” Notably, the US Navy was supposed to send the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney to the exercise Milan; however, the ship was diverted to Singapore on February 15. The US did not field its warship in Milan, which had ships from Russia and Iran.
The exercise ended on February 25. Three days later, on February 28, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury. The IRIS Dena was transiting home. This morning at 5:08 a.m. local time, the IRIS Dena issued a distress call. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, informed parliament that two navy vessels and an aircraft were deployed. Thirty crew members were rescued and admitted to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle.
The Straits Times reported 32 critically wounded survivors. Reuters reported 101 missing and 78 wounded. The Sri Lankan Navy spokesman said the operation was conducted in line with the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue.
News
Risk of power cuts due to use of low-quality coal,PUCSL warns
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has warned of a possible risk of power cuts due to the use of inferior quality coal affecting generation capacity at the Lakvijaya Power Plant, according to a recent commission report.
The commission said the risk to the continuous electricity supply was assessed based on the peak demand forecast submitted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for 2026.
According to the report, the analysis assumed that hydropower plants could contribute up to 1,300 MW to meet the night peak demand, while the Lakvijaya Power Plant (LVPS) would be able to contribute only up to 690 MW due to a capacity shortfall, assuming a 40 MW generation capacity reduction from each unit.
The PUCSL said the assessment was carried out taking into account the planned maintenance schedule submitted by the CEB. Under the schedule, Unit 1 of the Lakvijaya plant is due to undergo maintenance checks and repairs in June for a period of 25 days, while Unit 2 is scheduled for maintenance in July for another 25 days.
The report also noted that the 270 MW West Coast Power Plant is scheduled to undergo maintenance in April for 10 days, while the 150 MW Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant (KCCP 2) is expected to undergo maintenance during May, June and July.
Under normal conditions, the report said, there is a potential risk of a generation capacity shortage if electricity demand reaches 3,030 MW in April, 3,070 MW in June and 3,000 MW in July.
The highest recorded night peak demand so far in 2026 was 2,949 MW on February 25.
The PUCSL further warned that if one coal unit or any major power plant becomes unavailable from the existing generation mix, there would be a significant risk of a generation capacity shortage to meet the night peak demand, particularly during April, June and July.
Energy sector analysts said the use of substandard coal could further aggravate operational challenges at the Norochcholai plant, potentially affecting generation efficiency and reliability if corrective measures are not taken promptly.
By Ifham Nizam
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