Parents and schools should pay closer attention to children participating in sports activities amid the prevailing hot weather, pediatric respiratory specialist Dr. Channa de Silva said.

Dr. Channa de Silva of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children warned that precautions are particularly important during school sports events, as high temperatures could pose health risks to students.

He made the remarks at a media briefing held at the Ministry of Health auditorium on Friday (13) to raise awareness on minimizing health risks associated with hot weather.

Dr. De Silva said schools should consider reducing sports activities during periods of intense heat and ensure that students are given regular breaks.

“Particularly during school sports activities, events held between **10 a.m. and 1 p.m., when the heat is most intense, should be minimized as much as possible,” he said.

He stressed that children should be given frequent rest intervals, moved to shaded or cool areas, and encouraged to drink water or beverages containing salts.

“Children like to play continuously, but that should not be allowed under these conditions. Regular breaks are essential,” he said.

The doctor warned that prolonged exposure to high temperatures without proper rest and hydration could lead to complications including fatigue, dizziness and muscle cramps.

“If a child shows symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, dizziness or confusion, they should be immediately moved away from the heat to a cool place and given water. If the condition persists, they should be taken to the nearest government hospital as soon as possible,” he added.

He also cautioned that severe heat exposure could lead to heatstroke, which can become life-threatening if not treated promptly.

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya says promoting the local industrial sector is one of the key priorities of the Government.

She made these remarks while attending the official opening ceremony of the INCO 2026 Industrial Exhibition on Friday (13) at the BMICH Exhibition Centre, according to the Prime Minister’s Media Division.

The INCO 2026 Industrial Exhibition, organised by the Institution of Incorporated Engineers, Sri Lanka (IIESL), is being held for the 20th consecutive year and will run from March 13 to 15.

Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said the engineering sector plays a vital role in addressing practical challenges faced by a country while improving efficiency and safety.

She also noted that exhibitions of this nature encourage students to engage in innovation and technological development.

Dr. Amarasuriya said the Government has implemented several measures to accelerate industrial development, including the establishment of the National Industry Information System (NIIS), a centralized digital platform designed to collect and manage data related to the country’s economic and industrial activities.

She added that steps are also being taken to provide financial support to industrialists through revolving funds.

The Prime Minister further noted that this year’s exhibition has attracted international participation, creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs to explore new markets and gain exposure to global technologies.

“With the participation of engineers, students and entrepreneurs, this exhibition marks an important step toward the country’s industrial future,” she said.

The event was attended by Chairman of the Export Development Board Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman of the National Paper Company Limited Upali Rathnayake, President of IIESL Engineer Ananda Gunawardena, as well as local and foreign investors, entrepreneurs and industrialists.

The United States has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information about senior Iranian military and intelligence officials, including the country’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

According to the U.S. State Department’s reward programme website, the offer targets 10 officials linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The force, established after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, is tasked with protecting the country’s clerical leadership and is loyal to the supreme leader.

Mojtaba Khamenei recently succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Iran’s supreme leader after the elder leader was killed along with several senior officials in joint U.S. and Israeli strikes launched on February 28.

The younger Khamenei is believed to have been injured during the strikes and has not appeared in public since, although he issued his first statement on Thursday.

In addition to Khamenei, the U.S. is seeking information on several other senior Iranian officials, including security chief Ali Larijani, Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, and two officials working in the Supreme Leader’s office.

However, videos verified by Reuters on Friday showed Larijani attending a rally in Tehran alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, despite earlier remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethsuggesting Iran’s leadership was hiding underground.

The reward programme also lists four additional officials, including the IRGC commander and the secretary of the defence council, though their names and photographs were not disclosed.

“These individuals command and direct various elements of the IRGC, which plans, organises and executes terrorism around the world,” the State Department said.

The United States has previously designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organisation, accusing it of involvement in attacks that have killed U.S. citizens and alleging that Iran has plotted assassinations against President Donald Trump and other American officials in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.

Iran has repeatedly denied such allegations, stating that the accusations are politically motivated and used by Washington to justify sanctions and pressure campaigns.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara, Mannar and Anuradhapura districts after 2.00 pm. Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts.

Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere over the island.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the early hours of the morning.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Sri Lanka is seeking to strengthen its financial crime defences after a new national review highlighted emerging threats from terrorist financing, digital financial channels and global proliferation risks.

The latest National Risk Assessment, completed by the Financial Intelligence Unit, examined the country’s vulnerabilities to money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.

The assessment, which involved 86 institutions and nearly 200 experts, represents the most extensive national review yet of Sri Lanka’s financial crime landscape.

Officials say the initiative was conducted under the guidance of the National Coordinating Committee on Anti‑Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism and analysed risks across 15 core sectors.

For the first time, the review included a national assessment of proliferation financing the funding of activities linked to weapons proliferation reflecting growing international concern over such financial networks.

The report concluded that Sri Lanka’s proliferation financing risk currently stands at a medium level, shaped by a challenging global environment and domestic regulatory vulnerabilities.

Terrorist financing risks were assessed as medium-high, marking an increase from the previous medium rating.

Investigators attribute this shift to evolving extremist and separatist networks, as well as the potential influence of diaspora funding, online radicalisation and cross-border financial flows.

Emerging financial technologies are also becoming part of the risk equation.The assessment identified vulnerabilities linked to virtual assets and virtual asset service providers an area receiving growing attention from financial regulators worldwide.

Although the risk associated with these platforms was rated between low and medium, authorities say monitoring digital financial channels will become increasingly important as technology reshapes financial transactions.

The study also examined risks associated with legal entities and ownership structures.

Money laundering risks related to legal persons were rated medium-high, highlighting the importance of transparency around beneficial ownership to prevent shell companies being used to conceal illicit financial flows.

In contrast, risks associated with non-profit organisations, financial inclusion products and certain financial services were rated between low and medium.

Experts say these findings illustrate the delicate balance policymakers face between expanding financial inclusion and preventing financial systems from being exploited by criminal networks.

The report recommends stronger institutional coordination and more targeted regulatory oversight to address these challenges.

Authorities have already outlined plans to update Sri Lanka’s national anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing strategy for the 2026–2030 period.

Financial institutions and other organisations governed by the Financial Transactions Reporting Act No. 6 of 2006 have also been advised to integrate the report’s findings into their internal risk assessments.

Analysts say the next phase of reforms will determine how effectively Sri Lanka can align its regulatory framework with global standards while safeguarding financial stability.

With financial crimes becoming more sophisticated and increasingly digital, maintaining strong monitoring systems and international cooperation will remain central to protecting the country’s financial sector.

Sri Lanka’s export sector is navigating a complex mix of global and domestic pressures, with rising geopolitical tensions linked to the Gulf War threatening to compound longstanding weaknesses in the country’s trade ecosystem.

Industry data compiled by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce suggests that exporters are increasingly concerned about the country’s ability to compete with regional rivals in attracting investment and sustaining export growth.

The chamber’s Export Barometer Survey 2026 reveals that a majority of exporters believe Sri Lanka’s investment environment is slightly or significantly worse than that of competing economies.

Conducted between November 2025 and January 2026, the survey included responses from 90 export-oriented firms comprising both small and medium enterprises and larger corporations—and was supported by key interviews with industry stakeholders.

Respondents pointed to several structural challenges affecting export competitiveness, including high labour costs, rising energy prices, regulatory hurdles and inefficiencies in logistics and infrastructure.

These domestic issues are now intersecting with global risks.With tensions in the Gulf region threatening shipping routes and increasing fuel costs, exporters fear further strain on supply chains and freight costs factors that could weaken Sri Lanka’s price competitiveness in international markets.

Yet the survey suggests that many companies are adopting survival strategies rather than retreating from global markets.

Market diversification appears to be a key tactic. Around 55% of exporters reported identifying new markets for their products and services, signalling a strategic shift aimed at reducing dependence on traditional destinations.

Product innovation is another approach. Approximately 28% of respondents said they were exporting new products to existing markets, while another 27% reported launching new products in entirely new markets. Meanwhile, about 28% are selling existing products in new international destinations.

A smaller share about 15% are also exploring domestic opportunities by introducing new products locally.

The findings highlight a broader trend within Sri Lanka’s export community: businesses are attempting to adapt through innovation and diversification even while operating within a challenging policy environment.

Exporters say policy reforms will be critical to sustaining this momentum.

Among the most frequently proposed measures is the establishment of a National Single Window system to simplify export and import procedures. Such a digital platform could streamline regulatory approvals by integrating customs authorities, ports, tax agencies and other government institutions.

Businesses also stress the importance of digital trade tools including e-payments, digital identity verification systems and supply chain traceability infrastructure to help exporters comply with international regulations and maintain access to global markets.

Additionally, companies are calling for expanded training programs, concessional financing and tax incentives to support innovation, particularly among small and medium-sized exporters.

Greater collaboration among government institutions, industry chambers, development agencies and startups is also seen as vital to improving market research and fostering new business partnerships.

As global trade uncertainty intensifies, the survey underscores a central challenge: Sri Lanka’s exporters may be ready to innovate and diversify but their success will depend heavily on whether policy reforms keep pace with a rapidly changing global trade environment.

A major financing commitment from the Asian Development Bank is poised to influence Sri Lanka’s economic trajectory over the next several years, but analysts say the success of the initiative will depend heavily on policy execution and structural reforms.

The development lender announced it is prepared to provide more than $1 billion annually to Sri Lanka between 2026 and 2029 following high-level discussions between ADB President Masato Kanda and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Manila.

The funding package is designed to support macroeconomic stability, expand private sector activity, and strengthen human capital through education and skills development. It also aims to improve the country’s infrastructure resilience an increasingly urgent priority following the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

One of the most ambitious components of the ADB’s support involves a large-scale digital transformation initiative. The program is intended to modernise Sri Lanka’s digital ecosystem, encourage innovation, and unlock new opportunities within the country’s technology-driven sectors.

Economists say digitalisation could boost productivity and improve government service delivery, but warn that such initiatives require consistent regulatory reforms and investment in digital infrastructure.

The ADB is also backing Sri Lanka’s potential entry into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Membership in the Asia-Pacific trade agreement could significantly expand the country’s access to regional markets and strengthen its position within global supply chains.

However, trade analysts point out that deeper integration into the RCEP framework will require Sri Lanka to upgrade its competitiveness, streamline trade regulations, and align standards with regional partners.

The meeting between the two leaders also emphasised inclusive economic development. During discussions linked to the ADB’s International Women’s Day program, both sides highlighted women’s economic empowerment as a key development priority.

The bank has long served as an implementing partner of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, which supports women-led businesses by improving access to finance, strengthening entrepreneurial skills, and promoting policy reforms.

Sri Lanka has already taken steps in this direction. In March 2025, the country became one of the first to adopt the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code at a national level, a framework designed to improve financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Amarasuriya also participated in discussions facilitated by the ADB on strengthening the country’s workforce skills. These talks explored collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to align skills and qualification frameworks, as well as potential cooperation with the Philippines on technical and vocational education and training.

While the funding commitment signals strong international backing, economists caution that its long-term benefits will depend on how effectively Sri Lanka translates development financing into sustained economic reforms and productive growth.

Nearly four months after the destructive landfall of Cyclone Ditwah, questions are emerging about whether Sri Lanka’s manufacturing sector is receiving adequate support to recover from the disaster’s economic shock.

The cyclone, which struck the country in late November 2025, caused widespread flooding across industrial zones and inflicted estimated losses of Rs. 33.96 billion on the manufacturing sector, according to preliminary assessments by the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry.

The most severe losses stemmed from destroyed raw materials and inventory valued at approximately Rs. 10.2 billion. But the damage extended far beyond stock losses. Floodwaters entered factories, disabling machinery, halting production lines and disrupting supply chains that many companies depend on to maintain operations.

Several manufacturers say the flooding left critical equipment unusable for extended periods, forcing them to temporarily shut down operations and incur heavy revenue losses.

While the damage represents less than two percent of the sector’s economic contribution, the disruption has still raised concerns within an industry that contributes significantly to the national economy.

Data from the Department of Census and Statistics shows industrial activities accounted for 27.7% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product in the third quarter of 2025, amounting to more than Rs. 2.3 billion at current prices.

Despite the sector’s importance, critics argue that recovery efforts so far appear limited in scope.

In December 2025, the Government introduced the Industry Revival Facilitation Program (IRFP) through a partnership between the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry and the Industrial Development Board.

The initiative was designed as a public–private partnership to support industries affected by the cyclone. However, the program’s first phase has only assisted 43 industries, raising questions about whether the support reaches the wider manufacturing base affected by the disaster.

The first phase of the initiative concluded this week at a ceremony attended by Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe.

During the event, the ministry acknowledged private sector partners who contributed to recovery efforts. Officials also recognised individuals who helped establish the Industry Disaster Support Centre (IDSC), which created a digital system to collect and analyse data on the impact of the cyclone on industries.

The platform enabled authorities to build a centralised database of affected companies and damage assessments, a step officials say will improve disaster response planning in the future.

However for many businesses, the key issue remains financial recovery. With machinery damaged and supply chains disrupted, some companies face the costly challenge of restoring operations without significant state assistance.

The ministry has announced plans to introduce the Industry Development Foster Program (IDFP), which aims to provide longer-term support for industries identified in post-disaster assessments.

Nevertheless, industry observers say the effectiveness of that program will determine whether the manufacturing sector can fully rebound from the cyclone’s impact.

For now, the sector continues to navigate a fragile recovery—balancing limited relief support against the urgent need to rebuild production capacity and restore supply chains disrupted by one of the most damaging weather events to hit Sri Lanka’s industrial landscape in recent years.

The University of Peradeniya has urged students, staff and nearby residents to remain vigilant following several sightings of Sri Lankan leopards within the university premises.

University officials said the areas around the Veterinary Teaching Farm and the Staff Development Centre in the Hanthana region have been identified as locations where the animals have been frequently spotted.

Dhammika Perera, Head of the Department of Farm Animal Production and Health at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, said research is being conducted with the assistance of the Department of Wildlife Conservation to monitor leopard activity in the area.

Based on available data, he said around eight leopards are believed to be living in the area, including a female leopard with a cub.

Perera explained that female leopards with cubs often move closer to human settlements while searching for food, which may explain the increased sightings around the university premises.

Following discussions with relevant departments, several precautionary measures have been introduced to protect animals kept at the university farm. These include installing safety fences around vulnerable areas and implementing an alarm system with motion sensors and sirens to alert staff if leopards approach the farm.

University sources said the situation has temporarily subsided, with no new incidents reported recently, although a cow and a dog were found dead near Uda Peradeniya.

Last week, several leopard sightings were reported on campus along with attacks on livestock at the Veterinary Teaching Farm.

The university has advised members of the campus community to avoid walking alone, especially during early morning, late evening or night hours, and to immediately report any leopard sightings to university security.

Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe says there is no need at present to introduce work-from-home arrangements in Sri Lanka despite the global crisis triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Speaking on Thursday (12), the Minister said the government is closely monitoring the evolving situation and would consider implementing work-from-home arrangements for both public and private sector employees if conditions worsen.

Samarasinghe noted that the conflict has disrupted global supply chains, leading to increased shipping costs and higher prices for essential goods in international markets.

He also said global oil and gas prices have risen, warning that although fuel prices have already been adjusted locally, further increases could occur by April when new shipments arrive at higher costs.

The Minister added that some private gas suppliers have attempted to raise prices, but the government is keeping a close watch and taking steps to maintain price stability.

Samarasinghe also urged the public not to engage in panic buying and to use resources responsibly.

He noted that long queues often form at fuel stations immediately after news of global conflicts, stressing that such behaviour is unnecessary and can create avoidable pressure on supplies.