Category: Featured
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka explore new investments and Blue economy potential
High Commissioner Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne drew home the importance of the tremendous potential both countries hold to work jointly towards a win-win situation on multiple areas of investments and be joint stakeholders in the blue economy having a shared interest in the Bay of Bengal. These ideas were discussed at a meeting held with the President […]
17 new Cabinet Ministers sworn in before President
17 new Cabinet Ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s House in Colombo, today (18). They are: Dinesh Gunawardena – Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Douglas Devananda – Fisheries Dr. Ramesh Pathirana – Education, Plantation Industries Prasanna Ranatunga – Public Security, Tourism Dilum Amunugama – Transport, Industries […]
How is an economic crisis affecting people?
People across Sri Lanka are struggling to get hold of daily essentials as the country faces its worst economic crisis in decades. Sri Lanka is mired in public debt after revenue from tourism evaporated in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With the country’s foreign currency reserves dwindling and foreign debt payments around the corner, […]
MP should declare assets, have age limits: Tharaka Balasuriya tells Paliament
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Parliamentarian and State Minister of Regional Co-operation Tharaka Balasuriya says all parliamentarians should declare their assets and also be held accountable through the Attorney General. “This will help to refute widespread public allegations of corruption,” he told Parliament yesterday. “I have a few suggestions to make, which I feel would […]
Ready to join interim government on condition of rebuilding economy: SJB tells government
Samagi Jana Balawege MP Eran Wickremaratne stated in Parliament today that if the Prime Minister agrees to the proposal to abolish the executive Presidency, as intimated in Parliament, the main opposition is ready to join an interim government at the invitation of the government and take up the responsibility of reviving the economy tomorrow. The […]
Bangladesh corporate sector ready to expand economic cooperation with Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Bangladesh said that profound historical and cultural relations have lasted between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and it is time to deepen the economic cooperation between the two countries. High Commissioner Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne highlighted the idea at a meeting held with the President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of […]
ADB forecasts SL’s economic growth to dip to 2.4-pct in 2022
The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) annual flagship economic publication forecasts a muted recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID19) pandemic as Sri Lanka’s economy grapples with macroeconomic challenges arising from high debt, low foreign reserves, and inflationary pressures. ADB forecasts Sri Lanka’s economic growth to dip to 2.4% in 2022 and improve marginally to 2.5% in […]
President invites all political parties to accept ministerial portfolios
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invited all political parties to come together to find solutions to the ongoing national crisis.The current crisis is a result of several economic factors and global developments. As one of the leading democratic countries in Asia, solutions should be found to this within a democratic framework.Considering this a national need, the time […]
SLIBTEC, USAID to establish SL’s first ‘Biotechnology Innovation Park’
The Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBTEC) will collaborate with the U. S. Government’s development arm, the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to promote innovation in the biotechnology sector by establishing Sri Lanka’s first Biotechnology Innovation Park. The SLIBTEC Biotechnology Innovation Park will be a 13.2-acre facility in Pitipana, Homogama that will house […]
Indian External Affairs Minister calls on President
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar who is on a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Monday.Dr. Jaishankar is in Sri Lanka to attend the 5th BIMSTEC Summit which begins today in Colombo. Expressing pleasure over the visit of Dr. Jaishankar, the President thanked India for providing a Credit […]
From crisis to inclusive economic growth in Sri Lanka
By FARIS HADAD-ZERVOS, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka & HANS TIMMER , Chief Economist, South Asia, World Bank Sri Lanka has managed the health and safety aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic in a commendable way . The nation has been and continues to be swift in safeguarding the health of its population, including vaccinating […]
Opinion: Introducing import licenses will worsen Sri Lanka’s economic crisis
Advocata Extraordinary Gazette No 2270/18 of March 2022, imposes import restrictions on 367 goods determined as “non-essential” by the Ministry of Finance. These can now only be imported under a license issued by the controller general of imports and exports control. This move tightens already existing import restrictions on a series of imported goods ranging […]