The Inland Revenue Department yesterday (21) issued the list of goods and services that would be exempted from the enhanced Value Added Tax (VAT) regime that comes into effect from 01 January 2024. The list of items included Wheat and wheat flour; infant milk powder; Pharmaceutical Products and Drugs (other than cosmetics) whose end use […]

Zionism plus impunity: By Bishop Duleep de Chickera When the Secretary General of the UN, condemned the Hamas attack of 7/10 and cautioned the world to see it in context, he came under harsh criticism from Israel. But he was right. It is misleading to enter a conflict in the middle of the story. The […]

products and fuel, have been declared essential services.

[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 […]

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 their first chance to vote, after they dislodged the Rajapaksas […]

The Cop28 global climate summit has reached a historic deal hailed by the United Nations as Âthe beginning of the end for the fossil fuel eraÂ.

By Shamindra Ferdinando Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means Patali Champika Ranawaka on Tuesday (12) alleged that the Finance Ministry had allowed the operation of a distillery in spite of that company failing to pay taxes. The former minister said that the country lost millions for want of political will to recover what that company owed […]

Dialog Axiata PLC, announced its partners of the Dialog Innovation Challenge, an initiative to develop scalable, innovative digital solutions. The recent partner induction marks a significant milestone in this national endeavour, fostering collaboration across various sectors. The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) assumes the role of National Technology Partner, anchoring the ...

How come royalty on foreign players replaced with additional Rs 50 charge on a litre of fuel? by Shamindra Ferdinando Convenor of the Samagi Joint Trade Union Alliance Ananda Palitha yesterday (12) said that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government was planning to impose VAT on fuel

A methane-powered rocket developed by a private Chinese company has launched three satellites into orbit, a milestone in its mission to test whether the vehicle is ready for commercial liftoffs. The success could boost investor confidence in methane as a potential rocket fuel, which is deemed able

By Ifham Nizam The global technology powerhouse, Lenovo, has seen tremendous growth in Sri Lanka during the last three to four years, said Naveen Kejriwal, General Manager- Overseas Business, Consumer, Commercial & Tablets of Lenovo. Lenovo is a USD 62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people […]

By Rathindra Kuruwita Dissident Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP, Dayasiri Jayasekera, has expressed concern over a potential 50% drop in the revenue of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) due to the entry of foreign companies into the petroleum market. Jayasekera highlighted the adverse impact of the policies of successive governments on the CPC. “The […]

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 destroyed by his predecessor’s administration, ironically […]

By Shamindra Ferdinando Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security, Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday (05) said that over a year after the killing of eight persons, including SLPP MP Amarakeerthi Atukorale and his police bodyguard and destruction of approximately 150 private properties the government was yet to conduct a proper […]

Tuesday 5th December, 2023 The government is going hell for leather to boost its revenue at the behest of the IMF, and the public is desperate for economic relief. Taxes and tariffs have gone through the roof. Fuel prices are jacked up by copious amounts, but price decreases come in dribs and drabs

By Rathindra Kuruwita The petroleum sector unions warn that fuel prices will rise by around 11 percent from 01 January 2014 due to 18% VAT. Dr. Ashoka Ranwala, President of the General Employees’ Union of Petroleum Corporation, said previously petrol, diesel and coal had been exempted from VAT

By Rathindra Kuruwita The government has to reduce diesel price at least by another Rs. 20 if bus fares are to be lowered, private bus owners’ associations have said. They have claimed they can’t reduce bus fares although the price of a litre of diesel has been reduced by Rs 27. General Secretary of the All Ceylon Private Bus Owners’ […]

What has been widely described as the “historic” Supreme Court judgment which by a majority 4-1 decision of a five-judge bench held the Rajapaksa brothers, Mahinda, Gotabaya and Basil and other unelected officials including two past Governors of the Central Bank, a former Secretary to the President, a former Treasury Secretary and some members of […]

Heavy fighting has broken out across the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli military resumed combat operations against Hamas after efforts to extend the truce failed. The resumption of hostilities came at about 7am local time (05:00 GMT) on Friday, as the deadline for the end of the week-long pause passed. Israeli air strikes have been […]