Dr. Elias Joseph Jeyarajah, represented the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) at the recent launch of district level workshops for ‘National Conversation’ based on the Himalaya Declaration. The first inter-religious coordination committee promoting conversations on the merits of the Himalaya Declaration was held in Kurunegala on February 09. In spite of opposition from various quarters, particularly [̷...

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has announced the appointment of two new members to its Governing Board (GB).

Businesses can easily obtain QR codes by contacting their respective financial institutions and reaching a trade agreement, while all banks and financial institutions registered with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) are mandated to issue these codes, says CBSL s Director of Payments and Settlements.

At a media briefing  held at the Presidential Media Center(PMC) after the virtual launch of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) today (12),  it was revealed that only three (03) transactions per active LankaQR merchant code had taken place in 2023. Director Payments and Settlements, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Wasantha  Alwis, said that LankaQR was […]

The Philippines, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has approved a major military upgrade including its first submarine, aiming to bolster its maritime defenses in the disputed South China Sea, according to a report published in South China Morning Post on February 01. This shift towards external defense reflects growing tensions with China, which recently claimed […]

Of the several instruments deployed by the Pakistan Army to engineer the outcome of the February 8 elections, the most potent one is Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a rabidly anti-minority Barelvi militant group which has been thriving on blasphemy. During the last elections in 2018, the group played a key role for the army by winning […]

Rex Clementine at Pallekele Sri Lankan cricket has been ahead of times compared to some of our Asian neighbours over the years. In our formative years, Gamini Dissanayake was convinced that the team needed a foreign coach and quite a few of them were hired including Sir Garry Sobers to help the team in early […]

By Saman Indrajith Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa speaking in Parliament yesterday lambasted the government for not taking action to ensure education rights of hundreds of students who had applied for interest free loans to enter two private universities. Premadasa said that the students who had applied for interest free loans to study at […]

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 […]

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) says it has decided to relax the restrictions imposed on the standing facilities to Licensed Commercial Banks (LCBs) under the Open Market Operations (OMOs).

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...

Inaugurating the 5th session of the 9th Parliament of Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe called upon all lawmakers to collaborate in nation building  even though they would be contesting elections separately. “From ancient times to the present day, our world has encountered a myriad of crises, spanning nations and personal lives alike. While some crises […]

A special Monetary Policy Board (MPB) Meeting is due to be held today (07 Feb.), the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) stated.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) says Sri Lanka s official reserve assets have recorded an increase of 2.3% in the month of January 2024.

As the Maldives approaches a critical juncture in its economic trajectory, the decisions made by President Mohamed Muizzu are coming under intense scrutiny. The nation, composed of around 550,000 people stands at a crossroads, grappling with economic challenges exacerbated by a series of decisions that have raised eyebrows and sparked concerns. The recent reports indicating […]