By Shamindra Ferdinando The economy was in such a precarious situation that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government couldn’t further delay the restoration of the relevant provisions of the 1953 Foreign Exchange Act to compel the private sector to bring back export proceeds, rebel SLPP MP Prof. G.L

Controversy over change of Cabinet portfolios continues: Ex-minister responds to accusations, Sevanagala and Pelwatte brought under Dilum By Shamindra Ferdinando Minister Mahinda Amaraweera was given the plantation industries portfolio as Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, who previously held it, declined to present a Cabinet paper to hand over the loss-making Sevanagala Sugar Industries to former Minister Day...

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.

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 […]

Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang has died at 68, state media has reported. He was the second most powerful man in the ruling Chinese Communist Party until he retired last year. State media said had been “resting” in Shanghai when he suffered a sudden heart attack on Thursday.He passed away ten minutes past midnight on […]

SLPP MP Nimal Lanza yesterday dared MPs Namal Rajapaksa and Sagara Kariyawasam to vote against the 2024 budget if they were appalled by the actions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Speaking to journalists in Colombo, Lanza said Kariyawasam and Rajapaksa had said they were disappointed with the decisions taken by the government. “However, it’s the SLPP […]

Thursday 26th October, 2023 Some SLPP MPs are shedding copious tears for the public who are struggling to keep their heads above water. Prominent among them is former Minister Namal Rajapaksa, who is trying to absolve the SLPP of the blame for exponential increases in taxes and tariffs. Attributing the people’s economic woes to the […]

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 […]

Tens of thousands of women in Iceland, including Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, will refuse to work on Tuesday. The “kvennafri”, or women’s day off, has been called in protest at the gender pay gap and gender-based violence. Fields in which women form the majority of workers, such as healthcare and education, will be especially affected. […]

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 […]