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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns over rising energy prices and disruptions to global trade following the escalating conflict in the Middle East, warning that the situation could intensify uncertainties in the global economy.

In a statement published on its website on Tuesday, the Washington-based global financial institution said it is closely monitoring developments in the region as tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran continue to escalate.

The IMF’s remarks came as the ongoing military confrontation entered its fourth day, raising concerns among policymakers and investors about potential spillover effects on global energy markets, trade flows and financial stability.

According to the Fund, early indications suggest that the crisis is already affecting economic activity, particularly through rising energy prices and increased volatility in financial markets.

“We are closely monitoring developments in the Middle East. So far, we have observed disruptions to trade and economic activity, surges in energy prices, and volatility in financial markets,” the IMF said.

The institution noted that the evolving situation could worsen the already fragile global economic outlook, which has been grappling with persistent inflationary pressures, slowing growth in major economies and geopolitical tensions across several regions.

“The situation remains highly fluid and adds to an already uncertain global economic environment,” the Fund stated, adding that it is still premature to determine the full economic consequences of the conflict.

According to the IMF, the scale of the economic impact will largely depend on how long the conflict lasts and the extent to which it disrupts critical trade routes and global energy supply chains.

The Middle East remains a strategic hub for global oil and gas supplies, and any prolonged conflict involving major regional actors has the potential to trigger significant volatility in international energy markets and increase transportation and insurance costs for global trade.

Analysts have also warned that an extended conflict could push crude oil prices higher, intensify inflationary pressures across many economies and complicate monetary policy decisions for central banks worldwide.

The IMF said a more comprehensive assessment of the potential economic implications of the conflict would be presented in its upcoming edition of the World Economic Outlook scheduled for release in April.

The report is expected to provide updated projections on global growth, inflation and financial stability, taking into account the evolving geopolitical tensions and their potential impact on the world economy.

(Source:adaderana.lk)

The State Department urged Monday that all U.S. citizens leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries due to safety risks with the ongoing escalations that have slipped the region into significant chaos.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar posted on the social media site X that Americans in countries, including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel, should ‘‘DEPART NOW’’ using any available commercial transportation.

The guidance comes as some major airlines have canceled flights to and from the region as the war that began when U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday.

The attacks have since grown into a wider regional conflict, touching nearly every country nearby.

Source:adaderana.lk

Sri Lanka has taken a major step toward a cleaner energy future with Cabinet approval of the Renewable Energy Resources Development Plan 2025–2030, a roadmap designed to supply 70 per cent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and support the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

The plan aligns with the National Policy on Renewable Energy and fulfils a legal requirement under the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority Act No. 35 of 2007, which calls for a systematic approach to developing and using renewable energy resources.

Developed by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) in consultation with key stakeholders, the strategy centres on three main pillars. These are the identification and ranking of suitable land for renewable projects, the creation of a detailed renewable energy map with a phased timeline for developing energy parks, and the introduction of floating solar power initiatives.

Submitted by the Minister of Energy, the plan’s approval is expected to fast-track and streamline the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, strengthening Sri Lanka’s transition to sustainable power while advancing its long-term climate and energy commitments.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US military would step up its attacks against Iran, a stark warning after two days of strikes across the country that the Trump administration says took out its leadership and targeted its ballistic-missile programme. 

‘‘I’m not going to give away the details of our tactical efforts, but the hardest hits are yet to come from the US military,’’ he told reporters on Capitol Hill. ‘‘The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now.’’

Mr Rubio was on the Hill to brief members of Congress on President Donald Trump’s campaign along with Israel to target Iran. 

He offered more clarity on the US objectives, saying the focus was to destroy the country’s ballistic missile programme, which he argued it was using as a shield to fuel its nuclear ambitions, as well as its naval fleet and attack drones.

Mr Rubio reiterated to reporters Mr Trump’s claim that Iran posed an ‘‘imminent threat’’ to the US and Mr Trump did not need authorisation from Congress to launch the campaign. Democrats have disputed that characterisation. 

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said after the briefing that administration officials provided a rationale to justify the attack but did not share substantive support for that rationale.

Other Democrats said the briefing spurred more questions than answers.

‘‘What is the objective? What is the exit plan? What obligation do we have now to the Iranian people, if they do rise up based upon his call for them to go to the streets,’’ asked Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, referring to Mr Trump’s comments after the initial strikes. ‘‘And what is the imminent threat to the United States interest that causes conflict?’’

Mr Rubio defended the administration’s communication with Congress and said he personally called congressional leaders the night before the operation. 

‘‘We complied with the law 100 per cent,’’ he told reporters.

Iran has long insisted that it didn’t want to build a nuclear bomb. While its ballistic missiles are capable of hitting US forces in the region as well as American allies, it didn’t have the capability to target the US directly.

Mr Rubio denied regime change is the goal, even though the US-Israeli strikes have taken out Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other top leaders. 

He said there were currently no diplomatic exchanges happening with Iran.

‘‘While we would love to see a new regime, the bottom line is – no matter who governs that country a year from now, they’re not going to have these ballistic missiles and they’re not going to have these drones to threaten us,’’ MR Rubio said. 

He didn’t rule out deploying ground troops but said the US wasn’t currently postured for a ground invasion and played down the possibility of that happening anytime soon.

Source: adaderana.lk

The US State Department on Monday ordered the mandatory departure of non-emergency US government personnel and their family members in Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait due to security concerns.

The State Department noted personnel in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait face an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran, as well as significant disruptions to commercial flights. The department also warns of a risk of terrorist attacks in Jordan and Bahrain, and it notes high risks of violence and kidnapping in Iraq.

The mandatory departure of non-emergency personnel from the three embassies is the first since the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran. They speak to the heightened level of security risks throughout the region as Iran retaliates – with a specific focus on US military and diplomatic facilities.

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia was struck with two suspected Iranian drones overnight Tuesday, and an additional two hit “at or near” the Riyadh compound. The US Embassy in Kuwait was also hit. Multiple US embassies throughout the region have issued shelter in place orders for personnel in the days since the war began – and have urged US citizens to do the same.

The ordered departures do not mean that the embassies are shuttering, although the US Embassy in Kuwait announced Tuesday it is closing until further notice.

The other embassies will leave only a group of key staff in place in each of the diplomatic compounds as the State Department urges US citizens throughout the Middle East to “depart now” via commercial means. It is unlikely that the majority will be able to depart quickly, as many airlines have suspended their flights in the region. The US government has not begun evacuation flights for American citizens.

Source:adadeerana.lk

A commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said Monday that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed and warned that any vessel attempting to pass could be targeted, Iranian ⁠media reported.

The move comes after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed ⁠in an Israeli strike, which would threaten to choke a fifth ⁠of global oil flows ⁠and send crude prices sharply ⁠higher.

The strait ⁠is the world’s most vital oil export route, connecting the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Earlier, the Revolutionary Guards said a fuel tanker, identified as the Honduran-flagged Athe Nova, was ⁠burning in the ⁠Strait of Hormuz after being hit by two drones, Iranian news agencies reported.

A Guards statement said the vessel was acting in “unison with America” ⁠and ⁠identified it as Athen Nova. VesselFinder and other tracking data providers showed the Athe Nova, a 96-meter tanker, was in the area shortly before the attack.

An Iranian military spokesman did not explicitly state that the ship was ⁠hit by Iranian drones but named the incident in a report he gave on state TV about the Guards’ military operations in the Gulf area.

Iranian media reports suggested that the vessel was providing fuel ⁠for U.S. Navy ships. Reuters was not immediately ⁠able to contact Athe Nova’s registered owner. The ship’s manager did not immediately comment.

Source:adaderana.lk

Indian airlines said Tuesday (03) that they were resuming limited commercial services to the Middle East in a bid to collect thousands of passengers stranded by war.

Millions of South Asian citizens live and work across the Middle East.

IndiGo said it would operate four return flights to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to “progressively normalise” operations between the countries.

Air India Express said it would resume flights to and from the Omani capital Muscat from Tuesday.

But services to and from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates remain suspended, the airlines said in a statement.

Budget carrier Akasa Air said it would operate select flights to Jeddah.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to multiple Middle East leaders, including the leaders of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, in which he thanked them for “taking care of the Indian community”, in posts on social media.

Several South Asian citizens have been killed in the strikes, including at least one Nepali in Abu Dhabi and two Bangladeshis in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Indian media reported one citizen killed on a vessel off Oman.

Modi said Monday he had also spoken to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he “conveyed India’s concerns over recent developments and emphasised the safety of civilians as a priority”.

Source:adaderana.lk

Leaders of opposition parties are scheduled to hold a special meeting today (03) at the Parliamentary Complex to deliberate on the ongoing conflict situation in the Middle East.

The discussion will take place this morning under the leadership of Sajith Premadasa, according to Mano Ganesan, leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance and an opposition Member of Parliament.

In parallel, parliamentary sittings for the first week of March are set to commence today at 9.30 a.m., marking the start of the month’s legislative agenda.

The Secretary General’s Office of Parliament also announced that an adjournment debate to commemorate International Women’s Day has been scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Before taking a call on military strikes against Iran, US President Donald Trump had already delivered the same message at least 74 times: Tehran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

The White House said Monday that Trump has been “unequivocal and consistent for decades” that Iran will never be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon. It released a compilation of his statements spanning 15 years, beginning in November 2011.

The language rarely changed. The emphasis never did.

On February 24, 2026, Trump said: “After Midnight Hammer, they were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons programme, and in particular nuclear weapons, yet they continue. They’re starting it all over… One thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon.”

Five days earlier, on February 19, 2026, he said: “They can’t have nuclear weapons. It’s very simple. You can’t have peace in the Middle East if they have a nuclear weapon. And they can’t have a nuclear weapon, and they’ve been told that very strongly.”

On February 13, 2026, he rejected enrichment outright: “We don’t want any enrichment. We don’t want enrichment.”

Sometimes the remarks were brief, almost clipped.

On February 9, 2026: “No nuclear weapons...”

On February 6, 2026: “The one thing, and right up front — no nuclear weapons.”

On January 29, 2026: “Number one, no nuclear.”

On June 25, 2025, Trump said: “I’ve said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon — I’ve said that for 15 years, long before I decided to do the political thing.”

The message stretches back well before his presidency.

On November 3, 2024, he warned: “Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon. Nuclear weapons are the greatest single threat to our country, but to the entire world.”

On October 7, 2024, he said: “I only wanted one thing. You can’t have a nuclear weapon. You cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.”

On August 27, 2024, he added a regional warning: “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. We just can’t let them have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say this. If they do have a nuclear weapon, Israel is gone. It’ll be gone.”

Further back, on January 6, 2020, Trump declared in capital letters: “IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!”

On June 22, 2019, he said: “Iran cannot have Nuclear Weapons!”

And on November 4, 2011, years before entering the White House, he stated: “We can’t allow Iran to go nuclear.”

Across rallies, interviews and official statements, the phrasing shifted. The core demand did not. The White House described the position as rooted in longstanding American policy to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.

Iran’s nuclear programme has dominated US policy in West Asia for more than a decade. Disputes over uranium enrichment, sanctions and inspections have triggered diplomatic standoffs and periodic escalations.

(Source: adaderana.lk)

The Department of Meteorology has forecast predominantly dry conditions across much of Sri Lanka for today.

However, early morning mist is likely in parts of the Western Province, Sabaragamuwa Province, Central Province, Southern Province and North Central Province, as well as in the Vavuniya District. Visibility may be temporarily reduced in affected areas during the morning hours.

In maritime zones surrounding the island, weather conditions are expected to remain generally fair. Winds over the sea will be variable in direction, with speeds ranging between 20 and 30 kilometres per hour.

Sea conditions are predicted to be slight, offering relatively calm waters around the country’s coastline.

In Oman, a fuel tank at the Port of Duqm has been targeted in a drone attack, according to the country’s state news agency.

‘‘The resulting damage was brought under control without any human casualties being recorded,’’ an unnamed security source is cited as saying.

The same port was targeted by drones over the weekend. One worker was injured, according to reports.

In nearby Qatar, production of liquefied ⁠natural gas was halted on Monday - about a fifth of global supply - after Iranian attacks on some of its facilities. Saudi Arabia also suspended production at its largest domestic refinery.

Oman has been a key mediator for years in US-Iran talks - the most recent of which took place in the country last month, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi describing the mediated discussions as a ‘‘good beginning’’.

Source:adaderana.lk

Qatar has halted liquefied natural gas (LNG) production following strikes on its energy facilities, according to international reports.

The Gulf nation, which accounts for around 20 percent of global LNG exports, suspended output at key industrial sites amid escalating regional tensions.

The disruption has triggered concerns in global energy markets, with gas prices reacting to fears of supply shortages.

Shortly after the announcement, benchmark Dutch and British wholesale gas prices soared by almost 50 percent, while benchmark Asian LNG prices jumped almost 39 percent.

Qatari authorities have not yet announced a timeline for the resumption of operations.

(Soure:Newswire)