Indonesia and Sri Lanka s foreign ministers called on the European Union to be consistent in its approach to the conflict in Gaza as it has with Ukraine, as ministers from Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered for meetings in Brussels on Friday.

Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministry Mahinda Siriwardana has said that even if Sri Lanka achieves the goal of zero corruption, tax revenue will still have to be increased to bridge the budget deficit and lessen the country’s debt burden. Referring to the Supreme Court ruling pertaining to economic management delivered on Nov 14, […]

Over 300 oil and gas cargo vessels have visited the Hambantota international Port (HIP) in 2023, recording a 132 percent increase in vessel calls compared to 2022, Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) said in a press release on Wednesday (31). A key reason for this is the port’s bunkering partner Sinopec actively operating in the […]

In the global political landscape of 2024, Reuters provides a comprehensive overview of key elections shaping the economic and geopolitical landscape across diverse regions. From Europe, where the rise of Eurosceptic far-right parties poses challenges to the European Union’s integration, to Russia, where Vladimir Putin is set for another term amid heightened tensions with the […]

Tuesday 23rd January, 2024 Sri Lankan ministers are never short of lame excuses, which they are adept at fabricating. Never do they own up to their blunders, which have landed the country in the current predicament. When the economy went into a tailspin, they promptly blamed the war in Ukraine

Pakistan’s election body has rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s nomination to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections, with Khan’s Pakistan Tahreek-e Insaf (PTI) party accusing authorities of stopping most of its candidates from participating in the elections due in February. The 71-year-old former cricket star, who is serving a three-year prison sentence for corruption, was […]

Monday 25th December, 2023 Christmas has dawned with the message of peace, love and hope while the world is embroiled in multiple crises which have not spared even the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Bethlehem, under the shadow of war, is devoid of customary Christmas celebrations this year, according to media reports. Nothing will however diminish […]

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been granted bail in a case alleging he leaked state secrets, but he remains in jail on other charges ahead of the general election due in February. The Supreme Court on Friday granted Khan bail in the case, but it was not clear how he could be released […]

[An article based on the Keynote Address delivered by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, recently at the Annual Research Symposium 2023 of the University of Colombo] Introduction Inflation affects every aspect of our lives; it is a force that shapes our purchasing power, influences our financial decisions, and […]

With Christmas less than a week away, we highlight what some of our popular figures have to say about Christmas 2023…yes, their Wishes for Christmas 2023. *  Merlina Fernando (Singer): My Christmas wish this year is a little different to any other year as our people went through a lot throughout the past few years. […]

By Uditha Devapriya On Tuesday, December 12, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution demanding a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The United States was one of 10 countries to oppose, the others including Guatemala, Nauru, and Paraguay, and of course Israel. New Zealand, Canada, and Australia were among the 153 countries to vote in favour, […]

Contrary to various local and foreign reports about the death of three Sri Lankan ex-military personnel in Ukraine last week, the Army said that one of the deceased identified as Captain Ranish Hewage of 1st Commando Regiment had been a Second Lieutenant of the Light Infantry, cashiered in 2012

Lankan mercenaries in Ukraine: By Shamindra Ferdinando Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, yesterday (08) said that recruitment of foreign personnel for military forces of a particular country was the prerogative of the government concerned. Dr. Rajapakshe said so when The Island

Russian embassy in Colombo declines to comment By Shamindra Ferdinando Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, yesterday (07) said that the government could not do anything about the activities of ex-military officers overseas.Minister Sabry said so in response to The Island query whether the Sri Lankan law prohibited Sri Lankans from joining the armed forces of […]

The body of one of the three Sri Lankans, who were killed on the battlefield in a Russian artillery attack on Ukraine, has been recovered.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe presented the Climate Justice Forum (CJF) at COP28, in Dubai, UAE today (02) emphasizing the critical importance of addressing climate issues with a sense of justice and equity. Addressing the launch, President Wickremesinghe conveyed that the resolution of the Climate Justice Forum will be formally presented at the United Nations. He described […]