Doctors Warn of Strike Amid Political Disputes; US-Iran Tensions Rattle Global Markets

Political tensions are high with the GMOA issuing a strong strike warning to the Health Minister over alleged political interference in doctor transfers

. Protests led by the SJB in Kurunegala demand action on the substandard coal fraud, adding to pressure on the Energy Minister

. Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila launched a book naming Zahran Hashim the sole mastermind of the Easter Attacks, drawing criticism for attempting to "whitewash the Rajapaksas"

. On the international front, US President Trump's anti-NATO rhetoric and new missile strikes in Iran have escalated regional conflict, prompting protests across the US

and leading the UAE to impose travel restrictions on Iranian nationals

. Bilateral ties were strengthened as Sri Lankan and Russian officials met in both Moscow and Colombo to discuss transport and energy cooperation

. Domestically, the government launched two digital initiatives—a Justice Ministry MIS and the Digisavi Project—to improve efficiency

. In key legal decisions, the Supreme Court ruled that Colombo and Kolonnawa councils violated rights in the Meethotamulla waste dumping case

and overturned an Appeal Court order quashing an indictment against former minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon

. Separately, former MP Sajin Vass Gunawardena was granted bail in his illicit assets case

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Regional instability surged as Iran reportedly launched attacks on a Kuwaiti fuel tanker off Dubai and a Qatari tanker near Doha, escalating maritime risks

. In Sri Lanka, the CPC urged the public to use fuel sparingly despite a special provision allowing all vehicles to refuel on April 1st, citing logistical delays in securing new shipments

. On a positive note, the Central Bank reported a 32% increase in foreign remittances and reserves of USD 7.3 billion

. However, Colombo's inflation rate rose to 2.2% in March, driven by non-food price increases

. The implementation of a new VAT invoice format has been deferred again, now to July 1, 2026

. Meanwhile, India has commenced its first-ever digital census, a massive year-long exercise involving over 3 million officials

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Investigations into a recent deep-sea drug bust revealed the narcotics were transferred from an Iranian vessel to a local fishing boat, with the six fishermen arrested having been promised Rs. 10 million each

. In a separate development, six Sri Lankan fishermen held in Bangladesh for 8 months have been released and are set to return home

. Police arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of a 61-year-old gem businessman in Kahawatta, whose body was found in a pit after he went missing

. Meanwhile, cricketers Chamika Karunaratne and Bhanuka Rajapaksa are facing separate legal issues; Karunaratne is involved in a paternity case, while Rajapaksa has sent a Letter of Demand to an actress over alleged false accusations

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The Department of Meteorology has issued a warm weather advisory for April 1, warning that the heat index will reach 'Caution Level' in 21 districts across seven provinces and Monaragala. While dry conditions are expected to change from April 2, with isolated thundershowers forecast for some southern and western areas, the public is urged to take precautions against strong winds and lightning

. In response to the dry spell, both the Irrigation Department and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) have called for public cooperation in conserving water. The NWSDB has deployed bowser trucks to affected areas and encourages reporting issues via hotline 1939

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Adverse weather conditions on the night of March 31 caused disruptions at Katunayake's Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). A China Eastern Airlines flight was diverted to Mattala (MIA) due to heavy rain and poor visibility, while several other international flights were delayed

. In a separate incident, a Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed over the Crimean Peninsula, killing all 29 people on board. The crash is preliminarily being attributed to a technical malfunction

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Buddhists across Sri Lanka observed Bak Full Moon Poya on April 1st, a day commemorating the Buddha's second visit to the island to settle a dispute between two Naga kings in Nagadeepa. Temples island-wide held special religious programs to mark the occasion

. In a separate incident, a fire broke out in two decommissioned train compartments near the Galle Railway Station on the evening of March 31. Firefighting units extinguished the blaze, and no injuries were reported, with the cause of the fire currently under investigation

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The results of the GCE Advanced Level 2025 examination have been released. The Commissioner General of Examinations clarified that 66% of candidates, totaling over 176,000 students, have qualified for university admission. The island's first-place rankings for the Physical Science, Commerce, and Engineering Technology streams were also announced

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Former Sri Lanka cricketer Avishka Gunawardena has resigned from his coaching position at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). His resignation comes after being reassigned from his successful role as the Sri Lanka 'A' team head coach to coach the Under-19 team. Gunawardena stated he would provide more details on his decision later

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