by Eng Parakrama Jayasinghe parajayasinghe@gmail.com  Electricity consumers reeling from the massive increase in tariff in February (adjusted somewhat in July 2023) were naturally appalled by the request for a further increase by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).  A public consultation was held on 18 October 2023 by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) […]

by Rajan Philips The first part of the title needs no elaboration. The second part is an unfolding question that has many answers to it, and which one of them will eventually prevail also depends on multiple factors. Objective circumstances, agency roles and subjective leadership moves are all at play. The simplest way to exit […]

By Shamindra Ferdinando Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, MP, has stressed the pivotal importance of public protests against waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement.Alleging that those who had been entrusted with the task of governing the country have instead ruined it, Chairman of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Fonseka, on Thursday, said that every citizen should bear […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has urged all politicians and citizens to set their sights on a new vision for the nation, emphasizing the need to build a new country, a fresh economy and a reinvigorated political system, united for the common good.

At an event held at  Royal College, Colombo to mark ‘A century of educational excellence at Reid Avenue‘,  President Ranil Wickremesinghe,  acknowledging the inherent political differences in a multi-party democracy and  made a solemn call to all politicians and citizens alike urging  them to set their sights on a new vision for the nation, emphasizing […]

By Sirimantha Rathnasekera Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, and General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers Congress, Jeevan Thondaman during a meeting with the Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo raised concerns pertaining to the Lankan migrant workers, ministry sources said. Minister Thondaman and his delegation embarked o...

A special World Bank delegation led by Ms. Cecile Fruman – Director, South Asia Regional Integration and Engagement and Ms. Mandakini Kaul – Regional Coordinator, South Asia Regional Integration and Engagement visited the Port of Colombo recently for a policy dialogue meeting on regional cooperation in South Asia. The World Bank had organised this field […]

By Lynn Ockersz Japan has identified South Asia as a key region for the extension of its cooperation in disaster prevention. As a matter of policy, Japan is in the process of strengthening the disaster prevention and response capabilities of countries vulnerable to natural disasters all over the world, Komura Masahiro, Parliamentary Vice Minister for […]

Confusion confounded: By Jehan Perera President Wickremesinghe’s appointment of a commission of inquiry to investigate existing election laws and regulations and recommend changes has come without prior discussion or warning.  It was a carefully kept secret until brought to the notice of the general public by the president’s appointment of the commission. The commission has […]

Addressing the Special General Convention of the United National Party (UNP) held at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo on Saturday (21)., President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized his commitment to bolstering the country’s economy by positioning Sri Lanka as a smart nation. The President

Sri Lanka should aim to get state revenues more than 12 percent of gross domestic product and avoid revenue shortfalls next year, International Monetary Fund Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer said. Sri Lanka projected revenues (including non-tax) of 3,408 billion rupee (11.3 -pct of GDP) and the IMF 3,286 billion rupees (about 10.9-pct).Up to July […]

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has congratulated the Government of Sri Lanka for reaching a staff-level agreement on the first review of Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility Arrangement (EFF) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “This agreement is set to grant Sri Lanka access to the second tranche, approximately US$330 million in financing, pending […]

The staff level agreement on the first review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme will enable multilateral agencies to disburse remaining installments and help fast-track debt restructuring, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said. “This was much needed to strengthen economic stability, and after the IMF’s executive board approves [it], Sri Lanka will receive […...