Former State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, MP yesterday pointed out that a careful look at the Central Bank’s 2023 data revealed that the much-touted promise to build a thriving export-oriented economy under the current government was only a pipedream. Addressing the media at the Nidahasa office

The United States and Sri Lanka marked the fourteenth Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council Meeting in Colombo today (18), solidifying their commitment to enhancing trade and investment relations. The technical level meeting, co-chaired by  K.J. Weerasinghe of the Government of Sri Lanka and  Brendan Lynch, Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for South […]

Iran has released five American prisoners, moving them to Tehran’s airport for a flight to the Qatari capital, Doha, as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States. Four of the five were moved to house arrest last month as part of the deal. The fifth prisoner had been moved to house arrest earlier. […]

The country’s economy has contracted at the rate of 3.1% in the second quarter of 2023, according to recent data by the Census and Statistics Department. The Department in its estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2023, on Friday said that this economic downturn marked

Monday 18th September, 2023 Some henchmen of the Rajapaksa family, which is responsible for ruining the economy, have taken upon themselves the task of investigating the causes of the country’s bankruptcy! They are all out to absolve their political masters of wrongdoing in a bid to shore

By Jayantha Somasundaram When Dr Salvador Allende was elected President of Chile in 1970 at the head of a coalition that included the Socialist and Communist Parties, and with a mandate to nationalise foreign capital, carry out land reform and implement sweeping welfare measures, his government was targeted by Washington and opposed by Chile’s business […]

Friday 15th September, 2023 Nobody dared trifle with Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he was the Defence Secretary. It was jokingly said then that he exercised 50% of President Mahinda Rjapaksa’s executive powers! Many a true word is said to be spoken in jest. Even senior Cabinet ministers used to bow and scrape before him. Never did […]

While the progressive empowerment of people and their steady liberation from the forces of state repression could be regarded as being at the heart of democratic governance, it is imperative that the defenders of democracy everywhere ensure that these basic aims are achieved and protected by governments claiming loyalty to the fundamental ideals of democracy. […]

Former State Minister Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, MP, says that the ruling party politicians were labouring under the misconception that the very individuals responsible for the unprecedented economic crisis could be the architects of the economi recovery process. The Gampaha District MP said that unless that notion was challenged and publicly disapproved it could lead the […]

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Sunday called on the G20 members to lead by example and deliver on the promises of $100 billion per year for climate finance supported by strengthening the Multilateral Development Banks. Speaking at the conclusion of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, the IMF […]

by Jehan Perera The increase in the price of petrol and diesel has been accompanied by the removal of the QR Code quota system for the purchase of fuel.  The elimination of long lines of vehicles, and people, outside of the fuel stations that existed a year ago is one of the signs of normalisation […]

A proposal, set to take effect from October 1, 2023, stipulates rates of USD 130 for 5-star hotels, USD 100 for 4-star hotels, and USD 80 for 3-star hotels within the city of Colombo. While the authorities argue that this measure aims to counter underpricing by higher-tier hotels, this policy threatens to undermine the growth […]

People’s Bank today announced the results for its six months ended June 30, 2023 reporting total consolidated operating income and pre-tax profit amounting to LKR 48.2 billion and LKR 9.4 billion, respectively (1H -2022: LKR 80.7 billion and LKR 15.2 billion). Due to higher interest costs; stemming from the high interest rate environment which prevailed […]

By Shamindra Ferdinando Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, declared in Parliament that the winners of LPL (Lanka Premier League) 2023 B-Love Kandy had been sponsored by an enterprise that was banned in the country. The statement was made in Parliament on 24th August. The one-time President of the Bar Association found fault with SLC […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted Sri Lanka s efforts to overhaul its economy, aiming for competitiveness, seeking new markets and attracting foreign investments and capital following the path of countries like Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, the President s Media Division (PMD) reported.