A press release issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka states that the  Monetary Policy Board of the CBSL, at its meeting held on 22 January 2024, decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 9.00 per […]

Tuesday 23rd January, 2024 Sri Lankan ministers are never short of lame excuses, which they are adept at fabricating. Never do they own up to their blunders, which have landed the country in the current predicament. When the economy went into a tailspin, they promptly blamed the war in Ukraine

President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the 3rd South Summit of the Group of 77 and China on Sunday (21) in Kampala, Uganda, highlighted the numerous challenges the world faces, such as conflicts, pandemic repercussions, climate disasters and financial market uncertainties. The President also emphasized the disproportionate impact on vulnerable G77 economies. He stressed the urgency of […]

By Prof. Amarasiri de Silva Sri Lanka, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes, is grappling with an unprecedented macroeconomic crisis. This crisis has given rise to acute shortages and sharp increases in the prices of essential products, creating a complex web of challenges. At the heart of this multifaceted crisis lies a […]

ECONOMYNEXT –Sri Lanka’s economy is starting to recover under a stabilization program, and further progress has to be made on debt restructuring while monetary policy decisions have to be prudent to keep inflation down, an International Monetary Fund official has said. “A swift completion

Although Sri Lanka s macro economy is gradually stabilizing, the country s economic recovery process is still in the infancy level and has yet to reach the broader population, says Peter Breuer, the Senior Mission Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Sri Lanka.

by Dr Amali Wedagedara In Sri Lanka, public policy lost in the neoliberal haze treats the market as a cure for all ills. Not only is the market omnipresent, but it is also omniscient and omnipotent. The charm of the ‘market’ that research and advocacy lobbyists are creating is so alluring that only a few […]

At a discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) stakeholder dialogue titled ‘Pulling back from the brink,’ held in Kurpark Village, Aspen, President Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined short-term strategies aimed at revitalizing Sri Lanka’s economy. Emphasizing tourism promotion, agricultural

Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar met President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum summit in Davos. A news story published by the Arab News said: Kakar arrived in Switzerland on Sunday to attend the 54th WEF summit, where he is scheduled to attend three thematic events and also […]

, but nothing will help revive the ailing economy and prevent […]

Sajith says govt.’s impending electoral defeat cannot be reversed through constitutional means By Shamindra Ferdinando The National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) has urged the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government to put off the two-day debate on the proposed Online Safety Bill scheduled for January 23 and 24th. The NMSJ, led by former Yahapalana speaker Karu Jayasuriya, has […]

Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has explained the ongoing ‘Yukthiya’ operation to members of the Colombo-based diplomatic community. The Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Commission has jumped to question the government operation. The Foreign Ministry said that Minister Alles provided an update on the progress made by the special operation against drug menace and underworld […]

By M. Rodwan Abouharb Associate Professor in International Relations, UCL and Bernhard Reinsberg Reader in Politics, University of Glasgow Sri Lanka received a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March amid soaring inflation, debt and a sovereign default. In exchange for US$3 billion (£2.4 billion), the government committed to spending cuts and tax […]

by Susantha Hewa A Shramadana (collaborative work) in a village is a good example of participatory democracy in action, where it is “of the villagers, by the villagers, for the villagers”. Of course, a few would organize and lead but they don’t stand to benefit more than the others. The coordinators would get their due praise for […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Thai Pongal day messaged urged everyone to come together with determination, akin to the unity of siblings, to realize new hopes for the country’s future. The full text of the President’s Thai Pongal message: Thai Pongal, a vibrant Hindu harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil Community worldwide, beckons us into […]