Sri Lanka s new proposed counter-terrorism legislation does not go far enough to remedy the defects of the country s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), UN experts said today, urging the Government to ensure the new law meets international human rights standards.

Sri Lanka is close to reaching a vital staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund to get funding, while it s also assessing debt restructuring terms from foreign holders of its dollar bonds, according to State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), on Tuesday called for urgent actions toward sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in Sri Lanka.

Ex-COPE Chief questions executive decision on President’s House in KKS By Shamindra Ferdinando Prof. Charitha Herath yesterday (17) alleged in Parliament that leasing of the President’s House, situated at Kankesanthurai, to the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), was contrary to recommendations made by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) in 2021. The President’s […]

The agricultural policies of successive governments have rendered millions of Lankans insecure, Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) has said in a media statement. Historically, the major victims of these policies have been smallholder food producers and the members of the plantation community. However, during the past two years, due to the restrictions on […]

Let us set the record straight, officially Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera recently declared that in his capacity as Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security he would present to President Ranil Wickremesinghe a comprehensive report on how the war was conducted. The recent US denial of a visa to Adm. Weerasekera underlines […]

by Rex Clementine Dr. N.M. Perera, a former Finance Minister and a former President of the cricket board, had warned about the dangers of Executive Presidency in late 1970s. Too much power or influence ending up at one individual’s disposal is dangerous in any sphere of life. Whenever our cricket had faced challenging times, we […]

by Amal de Chickera At the very centre of the catastrophe, are the people of Gaza themselves, caged in, bombed out, starved, parched, killed. Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Palestinian diaspora, Israeli allies who are anti-occupation, anti-authoritarianism and pro-peace, citizens of the world with a conscience – all of us are […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar engaged in bilateral discussions this afternoon (17) on the side-lines of the ‘One Belt – One Road’ international conference in Beijing. The two leaders engaged in an extensive discourse concerning the economic crises that affected both Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with a particular focus on strategies […]

This week, China is throwing a huge party to celebrate one of its biggest experiments in engaging with the world: its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Officials and leaders from all over the globe are in Beijing to attend a high-level summit marking the BRI’s 10th anniversary. Participants expected to show up range from Vladimir […]

The half-a-billion USD global organic textile market1 is set to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 40% within the next five years and with eco-consumption on the rise, it is evident that apparel companies too, are gearing for the shift in consumer patterns. 2 Sri Lanka, known for its ability to produce high-end […]

Applications have been called for appointment of members of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Under the provisions of the Article 41B of the Constitution and provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, the Constitutional Council calls for applications from suitable individuals to be considered and to recommend for the […]

C4 allegations By Shamindra Ferdinando The Catholic Church yesterday (15) rejected the government move to appoint a Special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to inquire into the allegations made in the Channel 4 documentary as regards the complicity of some sections of the government in the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. Top spokesperson for the Catholic Church […]

Sri Lanka wants China to share with other creditors the terms of its recent $4.2 billion bilateral debt deal, a step needed to help the country speed up the process of restoring its finances over a year after it defaulted. Sharing the information would ensure transparency and assure other bilateral creditors that they’re getting a […]

by M. Rizwan Muzzammil According to an article in ‘The Diplomat’ (2nd Oct., 23), the Sri Lankan government has committed to supplying 70% of its domestic electricity, with renewable energy sources, by 2030, with the longer-term goal of achieving a fully renewable electricity supply by 2050. The government is incentivised by “debt-for-renewables swap”, which enables […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that Sri Lanka is benefiting from the fact that free trade has made it easier for the international movement of goods and the flow of capital.

Jackson Anthony, popular actor, singer and film and media personality died last Monday while under treatment for over 15 months at the ICU at Colombo National Hospital for injuries sustained in a collision with a wild elephant at Thalawa in the NCP on July 2, 2022.His remains were interred on Thursday at St. Peter’s and […]

ECONOMYNEXT –Sri Lanka has received a proposal from private bondholders and is assessing it, a senior government source said as efforts are underway to also restructure official debt. Bondholders have proposed ‘macro linked bonds’ where the coupon will adjust downwards if Sri Lanka’s growth is lower than forecasted, as well as regular bonds, Reuters, a news […]