Jan 9 (FT) Sri Lankan garment manufacturers have now gained unprecedented access to UK markets under liberalised trade rules. The changes allow manufacturers to source up to 100% of inputs for garments from any country worldwide whilst maintaining tariff-free access to the UK market. Fewer processing requirements now apply, removing the previous rule that two significant manufacturing processes must take place in Sri Lanka. The liberalised rules also include more..

Jan 9 (FT) Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, a distinguished maritime, logistics, and corporate leader, has been appointed Adviser to the President on Maritime, Ports and Logistics with immediate effect. Dr. Dissanayake is currently Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Aitken Spence and holds several senior leadership roles within the Group. He previously served as Secretary to Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Southern Development and has twice held the position of Chairman of the SLPA. more..

Jan 9 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday said SL’s Gross Official Reserves (GOR) climbed to over $ 6.8 billion by end-2025, marking the highest reserve level registered since the country’s economic crisis, despite continued external pressures. He noted that reserves hovered between $ 6 billion and $ 6.3 billion for most of the year, even as SL faced challenging conditions including the need to service external Govt debt without matching inflows and a sharp increase in foreign exchange more..

Jan 9 (TM) Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has rejected allegations that its officers deliberately fail to respond to incidents of wild elephants entering villages, saying practical limitations and staffing shortages often prevent officers from attending to multiple locations at the same time. Responding to allegations made by the Minister Chandana Abeyrathna, Director General of the DWC, Ranjan Marasinghe said that an investigation could not be initiated based on a general statement alone. more..

Jan 9 (FT) CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe yesterday said its efforts to build a more resilient and stable financial sector will continue under the Master Plan for the consolidation of banks and finance companies, with a strong focus on long-term sustainability and systemic stability. Delivering the annual policy address, he said the CB has commenced enhanced monitoring of finance companies based on scores achieved under the revised Phase II assessment framework. more..

Jan 9 (FT) CH17 Loyalty has announced the launch of a comprehensive Human Resource Management (HRM) suite with a fully embedded rewards and loyalty module—a first-of-its-kind Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution developed for the modern enterprise. Unlike conventional HR systems that focus primarily on administration, CH17’s newly introduced platform brings together HR operations, employee engagement, appreciation, recognition, attendance & rewards within a single, seamlessly connected digital environment. more..

Jan 9 (FT) Agribusiness solutions provider Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd. Has been appointed as the exclusive distributor for Evonik Industries AG’s globally recognised specialty nutrient portfolio, marking the first-ever introduction of these advanced animal nutrition solutions to the SL poultry industry. Headquartered in Germany and active in over 110 countries, Evonik is among the world’s top five animal nutrition companies and one of the largest specialty chemicals manufacturers globally. more..

Jan 9 (FT) SL exports to Saudi Arabia recorded a 19% increase from Jan to Sept 2025, compared to the corresponding period in 2024. Ambassador of SL to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad, stated that this double-digit growth represents an outstanding accomplishment in 2025, achieved through sustained and well-coordinated efforts undertaken by the Embassy of SL in Riyadh in close collaboration with the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry, Dept of Commerce, more..

Jan 9 (FT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) yesterday outlined an ambitious and wide-ranging policy agenda for 2026 and beyond, placing price stability, financial system resilience, climate risk management, and institutional modernisation at the centre of the country’s transition from post-crisis recovery to durable, inclusive growth. Delivering the annual policy address, CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said SL enters 2026 with stabilised macroeconomic conditions, stronger buffers, more..

Jan 9 (Island) The year 2025 began with grim news. On 1st January, a baby elephant was struck and killed by a train in Habarana, marking the start of a tragic series of elephant–train collisions that continued throughout the year. In addition to these incidents, the nation mourned the deaths of well-known elephants such as Bathiya and Kandalame Hedakaraya, among many others. As the year drew on, further distressing reports emerged, including the case of an injured elephant that was burnt with fire, more..

Jan 9 (Island) SJB-led Opposition is in overdrive to move a no-confidence motion against PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is also the Minister of Education, for numerous shortcomings in the govt’s education reforms, including content deemed unsuitable for children, flaws in modules, etc. Opposition’s move is bound to fail in Parliament, where the govt commands a two-thirds majority. But a debate on the no-confidence motion will provide the Opposition with an opportunity to gain some propaganda mileage more..

Jan 9 (ST) Come sun or rain, Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya, will come down the lane on any January 1st of the year, hoping for some calendars and diaries from customers. But wait a minute! In recent years, diaries are few and far between with corporates and public institutions focusing more on calendars and notebooks. Is this because of Google diary where you can schedule events, appointments etc, and you get an alert on that day? So on this Thursday morning, Aldoris comes to our gate more..

Jan 9 (TM) A growing reliance on illicit liquor amongst some segments of our society is not merely a law enforcement problem. It is a clear symptom of a policy imbalance that has ignored economic reality, public health consequences and social behaviour. While successive Govts have justified steep excise hikes on alcohol as a means of raising revenue and discouraging consumption, unintended result has been the steady expansion of an unregulated, dangerous and deeply entrenched illicit liquor market. more..

Jan 9 (SO) Latha Walpola was a name that resonated with the timeless melody in SL music. She rendered yeoman service to the nation’s musical heritage for decades, lending her voice to songs that blended classical purity with emotional strength. At a time when SL music was evolving, she set high standards in vocal training, performance and artistic integrity. This iconic songstress passed away on Dec 27, at the age of 91, while receiving treatment more..

Jan 9 (CT) Dear Harini, Although I am writing this letter in the form of an article intended for public dissemination, there is a possibility you may never see or read it. Nonetheless, I believe it is my responsibility to address this matter with you. As the PM and the Minister of Education of our country, it is crucial to consider whether you have truly and thoroughly defined your responsibilities in these roles. Given that you hold a PhD, I trust you are well-versed in your areas of expertise as more..

Jan 9 (CT) Govt is mulling over making the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) a pension scheme rather than a one-off payment at retirement. These sentiments were recently shared by Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe, who went on to elaborate that the move is being considered because the social security of private-sector employees is at risk when they receive the EPF in a single instalment. Hence, the Govt has paid attention to introducing a system similar to a pension scheme more..

Jan 9 (DM) SL’s decision to reopen motor vehicle imports after a prolonged suspension has been framed largely as an economic and fiscal recalibration. The new framework, introduced through updated import control regulations, seeks to manage foreign exchange exposure while restoring access to private transport. Yet as imports resume, questions are emerging within the industry over whether the regulatory system adequately addresses more..

Jan 9 (DM) On Jan 3, under the cover of darkness, US invaded Venezuela and kidnapped its democratically elected leader, Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife. In doing so, it destroyed an edifice that, since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, has symbolised the inviolability of state sovereignty. Following the West’s victory over Communism in 1991, Francis Fukuyama advanced his End of History theory, arguing that liberal democracy has reached the final form of govt—the zenith of political evolution. more..

Jan 9 (DM) The prolonged delay in appointing a permanent Auditor General has quietly, but dangerously exposed a fault line in the govt’s accountability. The issue, in fact, strikes at the very heart of public accountability and governance - topics touted much by the govt made in the pre-election era as a force in the opposition. Ridding the country of corruption was the key campaign slogan of the current govt. Investigations into past crimes and incarceration of political opponents more..

Jan 8 (FT) Asia’s third best performer, Colombo stock market, yesterday suffered the worst humiliation in its 130-year history with trades and orders up to the first 24 minutes cancelled after questionable maiden transactions of shares of a new listing. In a statement, Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) said it observed unusually high prices of certain transactions of Wealth Trust Securities Ltd, due to market orders being more..

Jan 8 (AD) The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of SL, was centered about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday, Dept of Meteorology has announced. It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of SL during the next 24 hours. The system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours, Met Dept noted. Accordingly, cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island today. more..

Jan 8 (DM) A CCD officer requested the Chief Magistrate to issue an order referring the 15th suspect, Ishara Sewwandi, to a forensic examiner for a facial examination. However, the Magistrate rejected the request, stating that the court cannot issue orders concerning a suspect who had not been produced before it, as Ishara Sewwandi was still in detention. Today, Colombo Crimes Court also produced two suspects accused of aiding and abetting murder of Ganemulla’s Sanjeewa. more..

Jan 8 (EN) Sri Lanka has passed new law for Colombo Port City, limiting tax holidays to 15 years for billion dollar investments and progressively reduced rates for smaller investments, based on pre-determined rules, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando said. “Earlier very long tax holidays up to 25 years were given without pre-set criteria,” Minister told parliament. “We have introduced criteria based on investment volume and more..

Jan 8 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday instructed officials to encourage small and medium businesses (SMEs) to register their enterprises while accelerating access to a 3% interest credit scheme for Ditwah-hit businesses. Prez Dissanayake hosted the second meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development of the 10th Parliament, where discussions focused on the implementation of relief & recovery measures more..

Jan 8 (TM) National Institute of Education (NIE) has approved the removal of the questionable lesson from the Grade Six English module which created huge controversy after it was confirmed that the material contained a reference to an inappropriate website, PM and Education Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has confirmed. PM made this revelation in response to a question raised in the Parliament yesterday. Meanwhile, steps have been taken to prepare a code of guidelines on more..

Jan 8 (CT) A Chinese national who allegedly stole USD 10,000 from the hand luggage of a Thai Buddhist monk arriving in Sri Lanka was arrested following a coordinated operation by the Katunayake Airport Police and the Tourist Police on Tuesday (6). The stolen cash, valued at approximately Rs 3.08 million, belonged to a 78-year-old Buddhist monk who serves as a responsible official at the Thai Embassy in SL. He had arrived at BIA from Bangkok at 11:07 a.m. on flight UL 403. more..

Jan 8 (ST) A racket involving the illegal sale of dead chicken meat was busted in the Pallama area following a raid by Public Health Inspectors (PHIs), leading to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of a large stock of meat that had been distributed to several other areas. The suspects were accused of collecting chickens that had died due to various illnesses from poultry farms in Pallama and surrounding regions under the guise of transporting them for animal feed. Instead, more..

Jan 8 (FT) The third edition of Gem Sri Lanka, a major showcase of the country’s high-quality stones and craftsmanship, kicked off yesterday in Colombo, bringing together top exhibitors, designers, and buyers from across the world. Organised by the Ceylon Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA), international event, themed The Source. The Production. The Selection, will take place from 7-9 January more..

Jan 8 (TM) SL Govt is to present its progress on trade negotiations with the US Trade Representative in two weeks time, Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce R.M. Jayawardena informed parliament yesterday, responding to a question posed by MP Ravi Karunanayake.. “What is the current status of the trade negotiations with the United States, and have any timelines, draft frameworks or commitments being agreed upon with the target of March 2026?,” Karunanayake had queried more..

Jan 8 (FT) Govt acknowledged a steady decline in foreign employment opportunities in Korea over the past three years, citing policy shifts, employer concerns and illegal overstays as key factors, while outlining ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure relief for more than 10,000 SL job seekers awaiting placement. Minister Vijitha Herath provided a detailed breakdown of bilateral employment arrangements, job categories, trends and challenges facing SL workers seeking overseas more..

Jan 8 (FT) The SL rupee continued its depreciating trend against the US dollar yesterday, with the currency weakening to the Rs. 310 level against the greenback for the first time since February 2024, based on the indicative spot rate published by the Central Bank of SL (CBSL). The CBSL reported the USD/LKR spot rate at Rs. 310.02. The buying rate of the US dollar was recorded at Rs. 306.28, while the selling rate stood at Rs. 313.81. The rupee depreciated by 5.6% in 2025, more..

Jan 8 (NW) Former Minister Ali Sabry has criticised the govt’s decision to cancel pension entitlements for former MPs, describing it as a symbolic move driven by political optics rather than economic necessity. Sabry said the amounts involved in MP pensions are negligible and would not meaningfully contribute to fixing the economy, reducing the budget deficit, or improving public services. “The decision serves no real economic purpose. It is designed to satisfy short-term political optics and more..