Jan 6 (TM) Secretary to the Prez has issued a new circular – Circular No. PS/SB/Circular/1/2025 – providing updated guidelines for Govt ministries and institutions regarding their interactions with foreign states, int'l organisations, diplomatic missions accredited to SL, and SL missions abroad. This circular amends the previous guidelines issued under Circular No. PS/EAD/Circular/16/2022 on 9 Jan 2023 more..

Jan 6 (DM) In line with the Clean Sri Lanka project, SL Police has launched two traffic initiatives aimed at reducing accidents and easing congestion. The first initiative targets vehicles equipped with altered ringtones, flashing lights of various colors, illegal modifications, loud horns, noisy silencers and additional parts that increase accident risk. The second initiative involves deploying plainclothes officers to identify traffic violations by public transport bus drivers and enforce the law accordingly. more..

Jan 6 (ST) While restrictions on the import of vehicles for private use are to be lifted from next month, the govt will be keeping a close eye on its impact on foreign exchange outflow. While the govt’s target in lifting the vehicle import ban is to boost the economy and increase tax revenue, there is still a risk when allowing vehicle imports, as “we don’t know how exactly it will affect foreign exchange outflow and fluctuation of the rupee,” a senior Treasury official said. more..

Jan 6 (TM) Govt is planning to launch cleaning programmes under the Clean Sri Lanka initiative targeting urban areas on 20 Jan, according to Clean Sri Lanka programme member Chaminda Jayasuriya. He said that these efforts would address both physical cleanliness to create visible changes and moral reforms aimed at improving public behaviour. The first phase of the Clean Sri Lanka programme, launched on 1 January, more..

Jan 6 (AD) The board of duty (Rajakari Mandalaya) of the Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devalaya has launched a strike by withdrawing from sacred pooja and rituals of the devalaya today (5), citing their objection to the appointment of an acting Basnayake Nilame, which they allege violates long-standing traditions and was influenced by political considerations. Strike followed the appointment of S.V. Chandrasinghe as acting Basnayake Nilame by the Commissioner for Buddhist Affairs. more..

Jan 6 (TM) SL Govt Officers’ Trade Union Association (SLGOTUA), representing around 200,000 public-sector employees, has requested the Govt to raise the Rs. 10,000 festival advance given to public servants for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year to Rs. 40,000. SLGOTUA National Organiser B.A.P. Basnayake said that the public servants are usually provided with an advance of Rs. 10,000 for the Sinhala and Hindu New Year. However, he said that it should be raised to at least Rs. 40,000 more..

Jan 6 (EN) Central Bank has bought US$ 2,841 million from banks on a net basis in 2024, as the agency operated largely deflationary policy at an appropriate interest rate. CB bought US$ 3,137.7 million to prevent the exchange rate from going up as a result of deflationary policy (strong side convertibility) and sold US$ 183 million (weak side convertibility) to prevent a fall in the exchange rate. The IMF has classified SL’s soft-peg or flexible exchange rate as other, managed. more..

Jan 6 (FT) The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has called on the Govt to investigate an incident involving the alleged obstruction of academic freedom at the Uni of Peradeniya (UoP). The FUTA condemned the actions of the University’s Vice Chancellor Terrence Madhujith, who reportedly intervened to prevent a seminar on the IMF impact on Sri Lanka from taking place as scheduled. The seminar, organised by the Political Science Students’ Union more..

Jan 6 (EN) SL’s state sugar company can produce a lower cost alcohol for the people using ethanol made as a by product, and wean the people away from illegal tipples, Industries Minister Sunil Handunetti said. Lanka Sugar, a state firm built a Rajapaksa regime by expropriating private citizens, have ended up with large stocks of unsold ethanol after tax hikes in the wake of an economic collapse led to a fall in sales of for legal arrack. more..

Jan 6 (CT) Wildlife Department has decided to use GPS technology for operations to drive away wild elephants in several areas of Anuradhapura up to Wilpattu. Accordingly, the Wildlife Dept stated that an operation to attach GPS collars on wild elephants was launched from Oyamaduwa. It is reported that wildlife officials, SL Navy and local residents participated in this operation. Wildlife Dept said that the aim was to identify the locations of wild elephants and study their travel routes. more..

Jan 6 (NW) When you travel through a country, you want to be as close to the local population as possible, in order to benefit the local communities and the environment. With this in mind, and seeing as that we are seasoned campaigners on the roads of Goa, we decided to get some wheels (3 of them) from @tuktukrental Sri Lanka, and get ourselves to the varolious surf breaks in Ahangama. I not only love the independence of having our own transport, especially with 5 surfboards to load every trip, more..

Jan 6 (FT) Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath announced this week that Sri Lanka is focusing on enhancing the quality of its tourism offerings to woo high-end travellers this year. Speaking at an inauguration of a new ayurvedic resort in Bentara, he stressed the need for a balanced approach that prioritises both quality and quantity of tourist arrivals. “Tourism is not only an industry, it also reflects our history, culture, and heritage,” he said, describing ayurvedic treatments under more..

Jan 6 (FT) Colombo continues to strengthen its position as a leading destination in South Asia, offering notable accessibility and liveability by ranking 33rd globally for easy to get visa. The introduction of visa-free entry for nationals from 35 countries may have significantly boosted the city’s appeal, making it one of the easiest South Asian cities to visit. The Brand Finance Global City Index results are based on insights from over 15,000 respondents across 20 countries, more..

Jan 6 (FT) The Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has directed all licenced banks to establish a Relief Banking Unit to meaningfully help troubled Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Entrepreneurs (MSMEs), in addition to previous requirement of Business Revival Units. The latest direction was via Circular No. 01 of 2025 dated 1 Jan 2025. It also serves as an addendum to the previously issued Circular No. 04 of 2024 more..

Jan 6 (FT) University of Sri Jayewardenepura Immunology, Allergy and Molecular Medicine Department Director Prof. Chandima Jeewandara confirmed that the new wave of respiratory infection – human metapneumovirus (HMPV) – spreading in China is not a cause for alarm. While foreign media warning of another health crisis with China facing a rapid spread of HMPV and hospitals overwhelmed with patients, Prof. Jeewandara claimed it as a winter occurrence. more..

Jan 6 (TM) SL is confident that it can drive the debt-to-GDP ratio well below 95% by 2032 with GDP and currency overperformance, as the debt has already fallen below the required level. Finance Ministry said that various critiques have been made of the IMF debt sustainability analysis (DSA) target, with the view that the debt-to-GDP target of 95% by 2032 is too high. “However, 95% is just the target, there is nothing to prevent the govt from achieving a debt to GDP well below that target,” more..

Jan 6 (FT) The key stakeholders in the vehicle industry expressed cautious optimism on the decision to lift the country’s five-year ban on imports next month, whilst highlighting challenges and opportunities. Convening a media briefing recently, the Automobile Exporters and Importers Joint Committee, comprising representation from major industry groups, including the SL Business Council of Japan (SLBCJ), more..

Jan 6 (CT) Sri Lanka Under-19 Women’s Team dominated Bangladesh by 5 wickets in the first T20I of their four-match series, taking a 1-0 lead. Opting to bat first in Thurstan College Ground, Bangladesh’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure, with the team bowled out for just 109 runs. Despite a strong fifth-wicket partnership of 62 runs between Jannatul Maoua (34) and skipper Sumaiya Akter (29), Bangladesh’s other batters struggled to make any significant contribution. more..

Jan 6 (DN) The Boxing Association of SL (BASL) will conduct the 97th National Boxing Championship for men and women, at the Galle Face Green from January 23 to 26, 2025. This championship will make history as the first-ever Nationals to take place outdoors, a bold move by BASL to bring the sport closer to the public. After the success of past outdoor events in Negombo Beach and Sahas Uyana Kandy, this year’s venue promises to offer a thrilling experience for both fighters & fans. more..

Jan 6 (FT) The Port City, Colombo on Friday will break ground for its Marina development, which is tipped to be a key value proposition boosting business and attractiveness. The Marina, Port City Colombo is a joint initiative between China Harbour and Engineering Corporation/CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd., Browns Investments PLC, and LOLC Holdings PLC. Minister Vijitha Herath will be the Chief Guest at the groundbreaking ceremony. The Marina is set to create a state-of-the-art more..

Jan 6 (FT) Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development says it is at the forefront of driving industrialisation and fostering entrepreneurship in the country and has updated some of the measures taken thus far and announced future plans. Following is the notice issued by Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe listing its objectives, spanning key areas to support and grow industries and businesses. Core objectives: Policy Development; Industrial Support; more..

Jan 6 (CI) NZ's fast bowlers tore through SL's top order to set up a big win, before their own top three clinched it, Will Young hitting 90 not out off 86 balls in a nine-wicket victory. On a grassy Basin Reserve pitch, on a cold day beset by biting southerlies, NZ had had SL 23 for 4 by the end of the powerplay. There were resurgent innings from the likes of Avishka Fernando especially, but SL never seemed headed to a healthy total. more..

Jan 6 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s ambitious, catch-all project, Clean Sri Lanka, is in the same perilous situation as pedestrians in this country—it runs the risk of being knocked down by private buses and trishaws, in a manner of speaking. As part of the Clean Sri Lanka initiative, the police have been in overdrive during the past few days to nab errant private bus and trishaw drivers and strip their contraptions of unauthorised accessories, deafening horns, blinding lights and more..

Jan 1 (DM) Readers of a certain vintage may recall the iconic sketch that adorned the cover of the Upper Kindergarten Sinhala textbook Kumarodaya—a vivid depiction of five elephants fused into a chaotic, tangled block of confusion labelled, Eth-Poraya, [engaged in a frenzied wrestling match]. Today, the imagery of the Eth-Poraya feels almost prophetic as a modern-day tragedy unfolds—scripted and performed by five key players: wildlife enthusiasts, politicians, state authorities, more..

Jan 1 (ST) Quite apart from chuckling over quaintly outdated British titles of Esquire suffixed to names of various individuals and officials appointed to a Task Force to Clean Sri Lanka by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in a gazette notification of December 19th 2024, several aspects of this exercise perturbingly echo Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s widely derided rule by Task Force era (2019-2022). Those who are veritably cursed to possess long memories among us may recall more..

Jan 6 (Island) The dawn of the New Year 2025 last week, with a new president and a new govt enjoying what is being called a super majority in parliament raises the inevitable question of whether the country can be made to take a new direction ensuring the promised better life for all its people. System change has been the buzzword since the aragalaya in 2022 compelled first the resignation of then PM Mahinda Rajapaksa followed by that of his brother, Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa more..

Jan 1 (TM) Despite Govt attempts at imposing price controls on the market with the ostensible goal of providing relief to consumers, it has often led to supply and demand issues, with consumers bearing the brunt of the impact. When price controls are imposed, price signals are distorted and no longer valid for that good or service, causing the market to imbalance as excess demand or supply occurs. more..

Jan 1 (TM) China is currently struggling with a surge in infections of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus causing widespread concern globally. Foreign media reports indicate that the surge has led to overcrowded hospitals, emergency measures, and growing public anxiety in China and also in the world about a potential outbreak. While Chinese authorities have downplayed the situation calling it a typical seasonal occurrence and global experts have assured that HMPV is not as more..

Jan 1 (DM) Why do politicians make grandiose promises they cannot possibly keep? After all making and keeping promises should be a matter of self-esteem. So why do our politicians -whether they be self-styled socialists or outright crony capitalists- promise the long-suffering electorate the sun, moon and stars? Our newly elected rulers promised us A thriving nation, a beautiful life. Last month we spoke of some of the positive moves of the govt since it was elected to office. more..

Jan 1 (SO) Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando shared his views on the outcome of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent visit to India, Fitch Ratings upgrading SL’s foreign currency rating and the Govt’s ongoing negotiations with the IMF. He said that before the NPP Govt was set up, the Opposition said that it would be a real calamity and country would be in a chaotic situation. more..

Jan 1 (DM) Sri Lanka over the last three years has been hit by tremendous price hikes and shortages of essential services and goods. What does the New Year hold for the working people, pummelled by the rising cost of living and stagnant incomes, whose lives have become unbearable? Even as the public awaits the national budget next month, to address the ongoing economic crisis, the Govt should announce a firm New Year resolution to address people’s suffering. more..

Jan 1 (CT) The revelation by the Auditor General’s Dept that 35 academics owe Rs 1.6 billion to the Uni of Colombo exposes a profound systemic failure. These individuals, having breached their bond agreements, have left debts unresolved for as long as 34 years. Thirty-four years of inaction—what does this say about the university’s management? Is this incompetence, lack of accountability, or deliberate neglect? Despite recommendations from the Auditor General to recover these funds, more..