Sri Lanka s spike in inflation is expected to be short-lived and will return to the targeted 5% in the medium term, a monetary policy report released by the central bank said on Thursday as the island nation s economy stabilises from a crippling financial crisis.

Friday 16th February, 2024 Much is being spoken about educational reforms, these days. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has stressed the need to gear the education system to the much-needed economic transformation the country is seeking to achieve. A former Minister of Education, the President is au fait with global trends in the field of education, and […]

By Nimali Liyanage B.Sc. Accountancy (Sp.), FCA The broadening of the tax net and the removal of the Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions have had a positive impact on the economy, but the government will not earn the expected tax revenue if some basic reconciliations cannot be done by the Inland

By Shamindra Ferdinando National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa says the proposed Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) with India should be examined in the context of India’s geopolitical strategy in respect of Sri Lanka. Referring to a recent declaration by SLPP MP Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera that the government parliamentary group hadn’t […]

Japan has pledged USD 931,000 for a UNDP-led project meant to improve good governance by tackling corruption. A statement issued by the Japanese Embassy on behalf of the Sri Lankan government and the UNDP declared that in terms of the latest initiative ‘a Project for Promoting Economic Governance through Anti-corruption Policy Support’ they intended to […]

USAID Administrator Samantha Power on Tuesday had spoken with President Ranil Wickemesinghe on concerns pertaining to the Online Safety Act, the US Embassy in Colombo said yesterday. The US Embassy, in a media statement, said Powers had requested the President to address the concerns about the potential impact of the new law and status of […]

By appointing a committee to review the compliance of the MoUs signed with other countries has demonstrated that it has no experience in international relations, says SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne. President Wickremesinghe has visited 14 countries since 2022 and signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) purportedly to boost trade and investment. Addressing the media at […]

“The struggle for freedom for the people of Sri Lanka was not over with the country gaining independence in 1948. The freedom struggle must continue until every Sri Lankan believes and feels that he is an equal citizen of the country of his birth. This was stated by Director of the Walpola Rahula Institute of […]

In 2007, my late friend, Jackson Anthony, and his younger son visited us in Auckland during their trip to New Zealand, I recall that he talked about the Aba script during that period. We organised a small gathering for our friends who admire his talents. Amidst casual conversations, Jackson, well-versed in both Catholicism and Sinhala […]

by Eng. L.V. Talagala C Eng., B Sc. Eng (Cey), M Sc (Southampton), MIE. MASCE former Director (System B&C), Mahaweli Engineering and Construction Agency of Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka. The Mahaweli Multi-Purpose Development Project is based on the Master Plan for maximum utilisation of water resources of the Mahaweli Ganga, prepared in 1965/68. The […]

“We all know when the president signals right, he often turns left” The president waxes eloquent about how he has turned the economy around, but all those are hollow words despite the semblance of normality achieved thanks to the moratorium on debt repayment, TNA MP MA Sumanthiran told

President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his address at the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth, focusing on the theme “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean, ” emphasized the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, noting the Indian Ocean’s vulnerability to warming and rising sea levels. He proposed initiatives such as the Tropical Belt Initiative and […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliamenty yesterday he was aware that Value Added Tax (VAT) was a burden on the public. He said it would be possible to reduce VAT with the passage of time. Delivering the government policy statement at the commencement of the new session of Parliament, the President said: “The prior scarcity […]

By DR. C. S. WEERARATNA A trade deficit typically occurs when a country does not produce enough goods for its citizens. When production cannot meet demand as in Sri Lanka, there is a need to import thereby widening the trade deficit.  A persistent trade deficit is detrimental to a country’s economy

Urges unity over deep political divisions for effective crisis management Says ‘intricate’ foreign debt restructuring will take up to six months Invites Opposition to confer with institutions that foster international financial stability by Sanath Nanayakkare As government revenue increases, measures will be taken to increase benefits for the people accordingly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said...