India has delivered the first batch of medium-range, supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles – that can be launched from land, sea and air – to the Philippines. Brahmos is one of the most lethal weapons in its category. They will be deployed in the South China Sea to resist Beijing’s unrelenting and unilateral aggression in violation […]

Tuesday 7th May, 2024 The BIA (Bandaranaike International Airport) visa controversy has taken a dramatic turn with the Opposition accusing Public Security Minister Tiran Alles of having misled Parliament. The outsourcing of on-arrival visa processing to a foreign company has provoked a public outcry. The company reportedly charges about USD 20 or more as visa […]

by Jehan Perera The visit of Japan’s foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa to Sri Lanka is an indication that the relationship between the two countries is on the mend.  The manner in which Japan was ousted from the special status it had once held by the previous government headed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would have caused […]

by Dr Upul Wijayawardhana “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This is very sound advice to be followed at this time of distress in Sri Lanka, as there are many things that are broken and need fixing urgently. Some may say our ruling politicians are not smart enough to grasp the validity of such […]

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to retain the existing USD 50 fee per person for a 30-day visa for foreign visitors entering Sri Lanka.

Israel’s government has moved to shut down the operations of the Al Jazeera television network in the country, branding it a mouthpiece for Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cabinet agreed to the closure while the war in Gaza is ongoing. Police raided the Qatari broadcaster’s office at the Ambassador hotel in Jerusalem on […]

Sri Lanka Director of the National Mine Action Centre (NMAC) and the Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing W. S. Sathyananda has assured the international community that the ongoing mine clearing operations will reach a successful conclusion within three years. The assurance has been given at the recently concluded 27th International Meeting […]

The second meeting of the strategic dialogue between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom is scheduled to be held in Colombo tomorrow (07), at the senior officials’ level, the Foreign Ministry said. A senior Ministry official said: “The meeting will review developments in foreign and security policies, as well as progress in the areas of […]

by Jayasri Priyalal Jayasripriyalal59@gmail.com The greatest challenges confronting the nation-states in the current era revolve around; deplorable debt, depleted natural resources, and degraded environment. Economic growth and future prosperity for all living beings are stalled due to the varying degrees of the 3D problems emerging out of ill-conceived policy divergences propelling the linear eco...

Monday 6th May, 2024 Fear is being expressed in some quarters that the upcoming elections may bring the country under a pall of political uncertainty again, adversely impacting the ongoing economic recovery efforts in the event of a regime change and/or an unstable government. The SJB and the NPP have declared their intention to renegotiate […]

… reminds the need for anti-corruption measures in line with agreement with IMF Sri Lanka will take delivery of a vessel equipped with a sonar (echo sounder) to be used in the compiling of maritime charts.Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko made this announcement at a joint media briefing held with her counterpart Ali Sabry, PC, […]

In the face of a deteriorating Chinese economy, a shift in spending habits is becoming increasingly evident, particularly among the nation’s youth. These young individuals, navigating through economic turmoil, have adopted a more frugal approach to their expenditures. They exercise caution with each penny spent, meticulously comparing prices across various platforms and seeking out additional [...

A foreign company that has secured the exclusive right to process applications for Sri Lankan visas stands to earn at least 12.76 billion rupees ($42.5 million) for the same service that a local company had offered virtually free. Chaos broke out at the Bandaranaike International Airport on May Day when VFS Global set up an […]

by Rex Clementine Excitement among cricket enthusiasts is high with the T-20 World Cup less than a month away. After years of disappointing performances and underachievement, the team’s fortunes are back on track thanks to meticulous planning. A semi-final finish in the 20-team competition will be highly appreciated. The national selection panel under Upul Tharanga […]

Kahawatte Plantations PLC, a member of the Merrill J. Fernando group, has emerged as the country’s biggest cinnamon grower with 830 acres (336.05 ha.) of the spice, unique to this country, already established in several estates within its portfolio. Ekerella, a Kahawatte plantation boasts the largest contiguous cinnamon plantation (90 ha.) in the country, Dilhan, […]

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa met with Japanese Foreign Minister Y #333;ko Kamikawa this afternoon for a bilateral discussion on Sri Lanka s current situation.

Japan Foreign Minister, Ms. Yōko Kamikawa, called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe this afternoon (4) at the Presidential Secretariat. Foreign Minister Kamikawa praised the President’s efforts to overcome the economic crisis, as well as pursuing an ambitious economic reforms agenda. During the discussions with President Wickremesinghe, Minister Yōko Kamikawa, stated her Government’s intention to ...