By Jehan Perera The situation in the country, particularly with regard to the economy and politics, can be described as stable but stagnant.  The economy is stable in that it has not experienced further collapse in comparison to the kind witnessed last year when international bankruptcy was admitted.  But the economy still continues to contract, […]

Thuesday 22nd August, 2023 No sooner had the Indian government announced its decision to impose a 40% tax on onion exports to overcome a shortfall in the domestic supply than Sri Lankan traders jacked up onion prices exponentially. They would not have reacted so swiftly to a drop in onion prices in the international market. […]

A discourse on the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, under the theme ‘Reform and Social Justice,’ will be held at 4.00 p.m. on Thursday, 24 August 2023, at the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) Auditorium, 281, Deans Road, Colombo 10, under the auspices of the Socialist Study Circle. The speakers

By Hiran H.Senewiratne The speed at which young Chartered Accountants leave for other countries has increased during the last 18 months due to the prevailing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, president, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) Sanjaya Bandara said. “

Rebel group questions national security review By Shamindra Ferdinando Having elected UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President, in July last year, the SLPP couldn’t keep silent as the UNP leader took decisions that would have far reaching implications, Prof. G. L. Peiris warned yesterday (21). Addressing the media at the rebel SLPP group’s Nawala Office, Prof. […]

By Dr. Prasanna Cooray First, we should question whether the age-old notion of “Free Healthcare in Sri Lanka” is valid anymore. Going by the Total Health Expenditure statistics of the country, one would realise it is a misnomer.According to healthcare spending in Sri Lanka, from 1990 to 2019, published by the Institute for Health Policy, […]

The National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) led by former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has lauded the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) for recognising the responsibilities of Parliament and acting in the interest of the public. The NMSJ chief has appreciated the Acting Chairman COPF and all its members. “We are making this assessment taking into […]

Milinda Moragoda, who is scheduled to relinquish duties as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, has stressed the pivotal importance of the two countries developing the current relationship to a strategic level, on the basis of recently inked agreements. Moragoda said so addressing the students of the 63rd National Defence Course at the National Defence College (NDC) […]

Registered tax files 500,000, only 31,000 pay personal tax Proposed amendments to Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Act will serve to address purported under performance of Inland Revenue Department (IRD) officials in a bid to enhance income tax collection, Government MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage said, noting that there is only one person in the country who pays […]

Government authorities must consult vehicle importers when making decisions on relaxing an ongoing import ban, President of the Vehicle Importers’ Association Indika Sampath Merinchige said. Welcoming a recent announcement by the government that it will scrap an import ban on several types of commercial vehicles, Merinchige told reporters on Monday August 14 that the authorities […]

The Ministry of Education (MoE) and UNICEF spearhead a national initiative to help 1.6 million primary schoolchildren, impacted by prolonged school closures and sporadic disruptions to their education, over the past three years, due to Covid and the economic crisis, to catch up on their learning

Friday 18th August, 2023 President Ranil Wickremesinghe is going full tilt to grant more powers to the Provincial Councils (PCs) though the SLPP, which is propping him up, having elevated him to the presidency, has resisted his efforts to implement the 13th Amendment (13A) fully. Amidst the ongoing argy-bargy over 13A, the Finance Commission of […]

– former Foreign Secy. Ambassador Palihakkara Former Foreign Secretary, Ambassador H. M. G. S. Palihakkara, has said the overarching challenge that is faced by Sri Lanka in its foreign relations, is demonstrating that it is after tangible economic benefits and not “geopolitical mischief” in the Indian Ocean. He emphasized the need to harmonise domestic and […]