By MEERA SRINIVASAN As Sri Lanka tries to rebuild its battered economy after last year’s devastating crisis, the country’s political scene is gradually heating up, in the run up to two national elections scheduled next year — parliamentary and presidential — that will give citizens

The main opposition has voiced concerns about the imminent transfer of the burdens arising from corruption, fraud, financial misappropriations, and flawed politics of the Rajapaksas onto the general public, effective January 1 next year. During a press conference at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo on Thursday, SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake asserted that the recently […]

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has died at 86. “With great sadness and sorrow, we – the Kuwaiti people, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the friendly peoples of the world – mourn the late His Highness the emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, who passed away to his Lord […]

… explains how Parliament enacted harmful laws By Shamindra Ferdinando Veteran lawyer Kalyananda Thiranagama said that the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peremuna (SLPP) should be held responsible for backing President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic strategy meant to privatise the remaining state enterprises. Addressing a public gathering in Colombo, the liberal civil society activist emphasised that ...

By Rathindra Kuruwita  IMF’s second review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement for Sri Lanka is expected to be completed by the end of the first half of 2024, IMF Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Peter Breuer, told journalists Wednesday morning. Addressing the IMF’s Virtual Press Briefing on the First Review of […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that Sri Lanka was set to come out of bankruptcy by securing of the second tranche of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Extended Fund Facility. “We will now focus on securing the foreign aid that was suspended after we declared bankruptcy,” the President said, making a special statement to Parliament […]

Celebrating diplomacy through development Celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Sri Lanka, the U.S. Embassy has unveiled a special video chronicling the remarkable journey of development, with an emphasis on the pivotal role played by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  Whether it’s rebuilding after disasters and conflic...

In a special statement to Parliament today (13), President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the critical role of the government’s program, backed by assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and debt restructuring, in rebuilding the collapsed Sri Lankan economy. The President warned

President Ranil Wickremesinghe states that the conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Sri Lanka, can only be removed by continuing along the same path and strengthening the country s economy.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says increasing state revenue is of paramount importance for Sri Lanka as the South Asian island nation continues to be an economy with exceptionally low tax revenues.

By Shamindra Ferdinando One-time Foreign Secretary Kshenuka Senewiratne and Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne (Rtd.) on Dec 04, 2023 assumed duties at the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi and Islamabad, respectively. It would be pertinent to mention that Wijegunaratne previously served as the First Secretary/Defence Advisor of Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi […]

The ‘Civil Society Initiative on Anti-Corruption Reform for Economic Recovery,’ led by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) and comprising Verité Research, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), and National Peace Council (NPC) yesterday said that there was an urgent need for political will and genuine [...

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI) recently published a position paper titled ‘Sri Lanka’s Blue Economy’, which emphasises the importance of a sustainable approach to the marine-based economy

by Harim Peiris As we approach the end of 2023 and with about a year to go for the next presidential election due before end 2024, President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s frequent refrain and indeed the rationale for his administration is the revival of the national economy after it was spectacularly