The Mannar Wind Energy Controversy Ifham Nizam of The Island interviews Conservationist Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda  The government must have an open and transparent bidding process, says foremost Biodiversity Expert cum Electrical Engineer Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda.Speaking to The Island about the proposed wind power project in Mannar by Adani Wind Energy (Sri Lanka) Limited, he stressed: […]

By Rathindra Kuruwita Sri Lankan environmental groups are intensifying their campaign against the proposed Adani wind farm in Mannar. They have accused the Sri Lankan political parties of having ignored the the disastrous environmental, social and economic implications of the Adani wind farm to be established in Mannar. Prominent among the senior environmentalists and scientists […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed the need to expand the tourism industry beyond coastal areas to strengthen the country’s economy. He highlighted the significance of the South in driving tourism promotion within the country, particularly outlining plans to develop Galle into a major tourist city. President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks while handing over “Serin River […]

Peter Breuer, Chief of IMF Mission to Sri Lanka has claimed that the Sri Lankan economy is showing signs of progress. The monetary and fiscal measures like tax increases and particularly the debt moratorium may have resulted in giving some breathing space for the country to recover from the period of extreme hardship caused by […]

By Neville Ladduwahetty During President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s India visit in July 2023, five Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) were signed by India and Sri Lanka to establish physical connections between the two countries. This was followed more recently by the launch of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) – a mechanism that claims to reduce the cost […]

Sri Lanka has recorded an over 16 percent increase in workers remittances while tourism earnings has increased by nearly 114 percent in February 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

…USD 6 mn provided in support of the project South Korea has funded the preparation of a master plan for Tertiary and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). It has been developed by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Project Management Consultant experts from UBION, and professionals in the TVET sector. On behalf of the Sri Lankan […]

A Sri Lankan Minister on Sunday (03 March) said the country s external sector performance has seen a marked improvement year on year, with tourism fetching $342 million in January 2024, an impressive 122% jump from last year.

Sri Lanka s earnings from tourism were estimated at USD 342 million in January 2024, the Central Bank s latest report on external sector performance revealed.

Romanian Ambassador Doamna Arhire has informed Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena that Romania would sign an agreement with Sri Lanka to avoid double taxation to boost the bilateral trade between the two countries. Ambassador Arhire called on Prime Minister Gunawardena at Temple Trees on Monday (26). PM Gunawardena and the Romanian envoy discussed the long-standing bilateral […]

India’s interim budget focus on poor, youth, farmers and women will not only uplift more than 60 percent of the population in India but also have a spillover effect in South Asia. It sets an example for the developing countries to uplift the downtrodden, facilitate the youth, farmers and empower the women. Overall, it will […]

Monday 26th February, 2024 Sri Lanka is a nation in the hara-kiri mode. It needs no enemies; it has become its worst enemy. It continues to maintain a bunch of failed, corrupt politicians and their bureaucratic lackeys responsible for ruining the economy and hell-bent on degrading vital national assets which they are planning to dispose […]

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya spoke to WION’s diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal on the sidelines of Raisina Dialogue 2024 in New Delhi.Balasuriya weighed in on several issues ranging from the India-Lanka relationship, Colombo’s ties with China, tourism, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and more. While speaking on China, Balasuriya said that “both countries [&...

By Rathindra Kuruwita Until Sri Lanka has access to international money markets, which will allow it to ensure there are no short-term dollar shortages, relaxing the restrictions on vehicle imports is out of the question, Professor in Economics at the Department of Economics at Colombo University, Dr. Priyanga Dunusinghe, said. Even then, relaxing vehicle imports […]