‘Forty MPs skipping DDO vote inexcusable’ By Shamindra Ferdinando Former Director, Administration of Parliament Lacille de Silva said that both Parliament and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) should reveal whether they were satisfied with the progress in the ongoing project funded by the latter to improve the parliamentary system. De Silva said that parliamentary […]

CP Chairman DEW G says lawmakers here should be aware of what is going on in the world. The Parliament cannot turn a blind eye to global developments, the former MP said, pointing out that the ongoing Ukrainian crisis underscored the need for greater understanding of international affairs

Parliament disregarded COPE recommendation for PSC By Shamindra Ferdinando Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) leader and SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, MP, has called for the setting up of a special commission to investigate those who bankrupted the economy.  Ranawaka said that those who had served as Finance Ministers, Governors of the Central Bank and members of the […]

By Shamala Kumar I began thinking about this article when the Kuppi Collective began studying the government’s plans to enact labour reforms. We had initiated discussions with others, including academics, to understand the situation and quickly realised the highly controversial nature of these reforms and their potentially serious repercussions. Yet, hardly any debate regarding these […]

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong says that many nations in the world, including China and Sri Lanka, are still suffering under the yoke of neo-colonialism and hegemonism. Speaking during a visit to the Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya, AmbassadorQi said China firmly upholds international fair play and justice, advocates the practice of true multilateralism, takes […]

United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung hosted an event in Colombo recently to mark the 247th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence. Ambassador Chung highlighted the anniversary of 75 years of a strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry attended the celebration as […]

By Rathindra Kuruwita Sri Lanka’s successful vaccination programmes will be undermined if the government continues to import low quality drugs, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Pubudu Jagoda told The Island. “Sri Lanka is a role model for successful vaccination because people have no fear about vaccinating their kids. This is why the […]

Sri Lankan state can’t allow even a small bank to collapse because that will trigger a bank run with a devastating impact on the economy. Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said, on Thursday night, taking part in a televised discussion. Dr. Weerasinghe said that Domestic Debt Restructuring (DDR) […]

With significant improvement in key parameters of energy equity & security, and environmental sustainability, India jumped 20 places to the 67th position among 120 countries in the ‘Energy Transition Index’ (ETI), according to a report released by the World Economic Forum Wednesday. ETI benchmarks the countries on the performance of their energy systems, and also their readiness […]

Crisis-hit Pakistan has reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over $3bn (£2.4bn) of funding. The deal, which still needs to be approved by the global lender’s board, comes after an eight-month delay. The South Asian nation is facing its worst economic

Banks, which pay taxes over 50%, least affected By Sanath Nanayakkare If the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and other pension funds did not wish to participate in the proposed domestic debt restructuring process, there will be an application of higher annual income tax of 30%, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday. The EPF […]

The World Bank yesterday (28) approved USD 700 million in budgetary and welfare support for Sri Lanka.This is the biggest funding infusion into the country since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package approved in March. Through this funding, the World Bank said it aims to help Sri Lanka implement foundational reforms that restore macroeconomic stability and sustainability, mitigate ...

The World Bank approved $700 million in budgetary and welfare support for Sri Lanka on Thursday, the biggest funding tranche for the crisis-hit island nation since an International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal in March.

By Shamindra Ferdinando SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that the all-party Committee on Public Finance (COPF) would have to examine the proposals presented by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and the Treasury as regards the proposed domestic debt restructuring. COPF Chairman de Silva said that the CBSL and Treasury representatives appeared […]

The first morning of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s was briefly disrupted by two climate change protesters from the activist group Just Stop Oil, who invaded the pitch carrying orange powder paint but were prevented from reaching the strip by players and security staff. Before the start of the second over, the two men […]

By DR. DAYAN JAYATILLEKA For a country with a deep crisis, galloping poverty and a very significant Left (JVP-NPP and FSP), there is a paradoxically thin contribution by the leftwing intelligentsia. This can be contrasted by a cursory glance at the volumes of back issues of the Lanka Guardian

Actually LKI owed public an explanation as to why it never addressed the accountability issue and related matters in spite of it being the toughest foreign affairs challenge faced in post-independence era. There is no harm in addressing a variety of issues of interest but the failure on the part of the LKI to examine […]

Sri Lanka will enter into an agreement with the World Bank for $500 million in budgetary support after the cabinet approved it on Tuesday, the biggest funding tranche for the crisis-hit nation since an International Monetary Fund deal in March.