‘2017 Foreign Exchange Act must be repealed’ By Shamindra Ferdinando President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Director General on Trade unions Saman Ratnapriya yesterday (08) denied what he called the Opposition’s unsubstantiated claim that sugar importers had benefited from the latest increase in the Special Commodity Levy from 25 cents per kg of sugar to Rs 50 per […]

The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) yesterday announced it had committed more than half a billion dollars to support the development of a deep water shipping container terminal in the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, that will provide critical infrastructure for the South Asian region. The new terminal reflects DFC’s commitment to financing high-quality […]

The report by a Committee headed by Justice K.T. Chitrasiri to introduce a new Constitution to Sri Lanka Cricket through a parliamentary act was formally handed over to the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to resolve Sri Lanka Cricket issues, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry by President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake today (09) on […]

State Minister of Social Empowerment Anupa Pasqual attending a press conference held at the Presidential Media Center today (08), said that promoting accessible travel and creating an inclusive environment will be the theme for this year’s  International Day of Persons with disabilities. The United Nations has declared December 3 as the  International Day of Persons […]

By Shamindra Ferdinando The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) yesterday (07) denied accusations that the premier marine research institute continued to cause massive loss of revenue to the government due to its failure to achieve key responsibility in preparing Electronic Navigation Charts (ENC)/hydrographic maps to be sold to foreign vessels passing through […...

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva recently received an assurance from Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Khalid Hamoud Nasser Alkahtani, that KSA would support ongoing economic recovery efforts. They met on Nov 6. During the meeting, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador expressed appreciation for the rapid progress achieved by Sri Lanka’s […]

The Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) participated in the 16th Global Textile and Apparel Supply Chain Conference held in Shanghai, China recently with a focus on innovation and the development of national high-end textile advanced manufacturing clusters. Representing Sri Lanka at the annual conference, President of SLAEA Indika Liyanahewage spoke on ‘Green dynamics and […]

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara questioned how sugar importers had received information about an impending increase in the import duty on sugar before it was even presented to the Cabinet. Minister Nanayakkara said that only Sri Lanka Customs officials had been aware of the impending duty revision. The Minister emphasised the need to […]

By Jehan Perera With presidential elections due in less than a year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has embarked upon a course of electoral reforms of major proportions, for which he has appointed a presidential commission of inquiry. He appears to have done so without consultations with opposition parties or civil society. Both these groups were caught […]

MMBL- Pathfinder Joint Venture Intertek Lanka, the MMBL-Pathfinder joint venture with Intertek Caleb Brett (UK) is known for its expertise in qualitative and quantitative analytical assessment services to the oil and gas, chemical, and other commodities markets. In early 2021 Intertek Lanka invested in the Hambantota International Port, establishing an on-site state-of-the-art petroleum testing la...

Diana’s citizenship issue : petitioner questions UK’s response to CID’s request for assistance Civil society activist Oshala Herath yesterday (05) said he would move the Supreme Court soon against the dismissal of a case seeking disqualification of SJB MP Diana Gamage over a citizenship issue.The Court of Appeal dismissed the case filed by the defeated Colombo […]

Eleven newly-appointed Sri Lankan envoys visited Jaffna on a field trip on Saturday (04) where they met religious and political party leaders, members of the civil society organizations and members of the families affected by the war. Foreign Ministry officials accompanied the following nominated for diplomatic postings: Sathyajith Rodrigo (Italy) Madhurika Wenninger (Egypt), Dharmapala Weerakkody...

Monday 06th November, 2023 President Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Friday (03), flayed the western bloc for its double standards on human rights. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the opening of a new court complex in Welimada, he said that all nations had to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He pointed out the […]

Owner of two companies in a tax haven The name of a top Sri Lankan politician has emerged in the latest release of Pandora Papers two years after the first leak of financial secrets of shell companies in overseas tax shelters.The individual, a minister in President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s cabinet, has been identified as the beneficial […]