The proposal to extend the State of Public Emergency was approved in the Parliament of Sri Lanka by a majority of 100 votes.

A total of 108 members voted in favour of the proposal, while eight opposition members voted against it on Friday evening.

Speaker Jagath Wickramanayake informed the House that the proposal submitted under Section 81 of the Public Security Act had been approved.

Meanwhile, the proposal under the Essential Public Services Act was also passed as presented.

Central Bank of Sri Lanka official reserve assets have surpassed the USD 7 billion mark for the first time since August 2020.

At the end of February 2026, total reserves stood at USD 7,284 million, a 6.6% increase from USD 6,832 million recorded in January.

Foreign exchange holdings accounted for the largest share of reserves, rising from USD 6,687 million in January to USD 7,057 million in February.

The Central Bank’s gold reserves also recorded a significant increase, rising 83.4% from USD 109 million to USD 200 million during the same period.

MullenLowe Group, Sri Lanka’s largest Brand Communications Company, once again reinforces its authority in creative effectiveness by retaining its position as Effie Agency of the Year for 2025, marking its third consecutive win at the Effie Awards ceremony held yesterday. Hosted at The Monarch Imperial on 3 March 2026, MullenLowe delivered a commanding performance, securing 21 accolades across multiple categories, including one Gold for Celcius, three Silver awards for Watawala Tea, Atlas Axillia and Asian Paints, and three Bronze awards for Fonterra’s Anlene, Unilever and Maliban, alongside 14 finalist recognitions, in a powerful showcase of creativity grounded in commercial impact, credibility and strategic discipline.

Reflecting on the achievement, Thayalan Bartlett, Executive Chairman of the Group, said, “To be named Agency of the Year for the eighth time in ten years is both humbling and deeply affirming, and while the accolade carries our name, it truly belongs to our extraordinary team. In an industry that moves at relentless speed, winning consistently demands courage, curiosity, resilience and an unwavering commitment to creative excellence. Sustained success over a decade is never accidental; it is built on shared ambition, disciplined thinking and a culture that refuses to stand still.

This recognition is equally a tribute to our clients who place immense trust in us with their brands, and to our valued partners who collaborate with us to craft compelling communication that solves real business challenges. The most meaningful awards are those rooted in effectiveness, where creativity is not merely decorative but the engine of transformation and growth.

We also acknowledge our industry community, whose work continues to challenge us and raise the bar each year. Seeing the calibre of work recognised on Tuesday night was a reminder that we cannot rest on our laurels, and that we must push ourselves even harder in the year ahead to remain competitive. My congratulations go out to all of them.”

Commenting on the win, Harendra Uyanage, Chief Creative Officer of MullenLowe Group Sri Lanka, said, “Creativity only matters when it moves something, whether that is market share, perception or behaviour. At MullenLowe, we push ourselves to create ideas that do more than capture attention; they are built to perform. Winning Agency of the Year repeatedly proves that effectiveness is not a limitation on creativity, it is what sharpens it.

The strongest work emerges when insight, craft and business ambition align, and that is the standard we hold ourselves to every day.

Consistency at this level is never accidental. It comes from disciplined thinking, fearless creativity and an uncompromising commitment to delivering impact where it counts.”This recognition follows a landmark year for the agency, having also been named Agency of the Year by Campaign Asia, further strengthening its standing on both regional and global platforms.