Sri Lanka and Sweden have convened the first round of bilateral political consultations virtually at a senior official level.

Budget highlights Following are the highlights of Budget proposals made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament yesterday: New economic and political system The President said in order not to fall back into a crisis, the economic and political system of Sri Lanka must be created anew.  He said that a new social consensus should be […]

* Tax revenue to be raised by 47.1% in 2024 * Rs 10,000 increase for public sector workers * Pensioners to get Rs 2,500 allowance * Rs. 450 bn reserved for bank recapitalization * Four new universities to be established * 20% of state banks to be given off by Saman Indrajith President Ranil Wickremesinghe, […]

By Shamindra Ferdinando Former Chairman of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Prof. Charitha Herath yesterday (13) said that undue delay on the part of a particular parliamentary watchdog committee to call certain state enterprises should be inquired into against the backdrop of some hidden facts and perhaps political interference. In the case of HDFC Bank, […]

Tuesday 14th November, 2023 President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that Budget 2024 was intended to “build the foundation of Sri Lanka’s recovery”. “We cannot continue as a people who depends on others,” he said. What he has chosen to leave unsaid is that the budget primarily seeks to keep the IMF bailout on track […]

As cricket in Sri Lanka is currently facing an institutional crisis and a shortage of talent Rs. 1.5 billion is to be allocated from the 2024 budget for the development of school cricket and for providing necessary facilities to cricket players at the provincial level. Schools and provinces with less facilities are to be given […]

The Sri Lankan Head of the State, delivering the 2024 budget proposal to the Parliament, stated that an additional allocation of Rs. 55 billion will be directed towards completing projects that were temporarily halted due to the economic crisis and to provide necessary provisions for other capital expenditure proposals.

Monday 13rd November, 2023 Anyone’s death diminishes us. However, with apologies to Donne, we are diminished beyond measure when the veterans of the fourth estate depart. On Saturday (11), former editor of The Island Gamini Weerakoon crossed the Great Divide. His funeral took place yesterday. Our readers may recall the pivotal role he played in […]

The National Peace Council (NPC) has expressed concerns about certain aspects of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) Bill. The NPC has in a media statement said that it is concerned about the role given to ONUR to be prescriptive vis a vis civil society by virtue of the power “to guide and facilitate peace […]

Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Diwali message said that the nation is gradually embarking on a path of illuminated development and called upon everyone to unite and steer Sri Lanka towards being a developed country by 2048. The full text of the Presidents message: Greetings to all Hindu devotees of Sri Lanka on this auspicious occasion […]

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva has warned that the country could lose out on hosting the men’s Under-19 World Cup in January and February if the ICC’s suspension of SLC was not lifted. He also said the ICC wanted to suspend Sri Lanka back in July, but he prevented it. However, ESPNcricinfo understands […]

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on Thursday approved $150 million in financing for Sri Lanka to strengthen the resilience of the financial sector. “Sri Lanka’s economic crisis highlights the need for strong safety nets to support the financial sector. Stable and reliable banking sector is essential for the economy, businesses and individuals, small […]

ECONOMYNEXT –Amid speculation of a widening rift within the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) over its political future, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has called the SLPP’s bluff, challenging it to defeat the upcoming budget if they want an election. Former SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman said the SLPP can defeat the upcoming […]

By Shamindra Ferdinando Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe yesterday (10) said that a unanimous decision taken by Parliament to ask the top management of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to vacate office was non-binding. Therefore, the SLC wouldn’t comply with the decision taken by Parliament, the Deputy Speaker said. The Hambantota District MP said so when The […]

There was an international conspiracy to ban cricket in Sri Lanka, Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament on Friday. “All MPs agreed that high officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) must go home. This is a symbolic gesture. We must take concrete steps to send this group of crooks home. What is the process of […]

Saturday 11th November, 2023 The incumbent office-bearers of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are facing a seemingly insurmountable obstacle in their path in the form of a resolution Parliament unanimously passed on Thursday, calling for their ouster. This is something unprecedented, and different interpretations of the resolution have been made. The SLC administrators have chosen to […]

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday said he did not support any faction vying for power of Sri Lanka Cricket. During a meeting with government MPs at parliament, the President added that his intention was to protect cricket in Sri Lanka. Laws governing the sport had to be overhauled he said, noting that the Chitrasiri Report […]