The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated further against the US Dollar today (18), compared to Monday. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 303.15 to Rs. 303.32. Meanwhile, the selling rate of the Sri Lankan Rupee has also increased from Rs. 310.85 to Rs. 311. However, the Sri Lankan Rupee has appreciated against a basket of foreign currencies, while it has depreciated against the Gulf currencies. (Newswire) The post Today’s CBSL official exchange rates appeared first on Newswire.
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Minister Ananda Wijepala has warned individuals to refrain from politicizing and creating racial or communal tensions using the recent incident in Trincomalee, involving the installation of a Buddha Statue. Addressing Parliament today, Minister Wijepala said that some people were attempting to create racial and communal tensions using this issue, assuring that the NPP government will never allow any citizen of this nation to face injustice. “We will not allow anyone to create racial and communal tensions in the country. The government has already intervened in the matter and taken necessary steps, and the area is peaceful,” he added. Providing further…
A pilot initiative introducing the digital payment facility, UPI One World, for Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims visiting India was launched on Monday (17). The initiative was launched by the SriLankan High Commission in India, in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). According to the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, this pioneering digital payment facility enables Sri Lankan travellers to make secure, real-time payments across India without the requirement of an Indian mobile number, offering a modern, convenient alternative to carrying cash. The launch event, held at the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi,…
The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to present the Parliamentary Pensions (Repeal) Bill to Parliament for its consent. Policy approval for repealing the Parliamentary Pensions Act No. 1 of 1971, which governs pensions for Members of Parliament, was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 16 June 2025. In line with the government’s policy vision of “A Prosperous Country – A Beautiful Life”, and the promise made to all Sri Lankans who supported that vision, a draft bill was prepared by the Legal Draftsman to abolish the pension entitlements granted to elected Members of Parliament and their spouses. According…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Panasian Power said its 5MW ground-mounted solar project at Uda Aparakke was connected to Matara Grid Substation on November 17. “This project operates through the subsidiary of PAP and starts revenue generation from today,” Panasian Power said in a stock exchange filing. The commissioning adds another 5MWac/6.76MWp to the national grid. This is the sixth 5MW ground-mounted solar power plant connected to the national grid of the 7 projects which the company entered into power purchase agreements with the Ceylon Electricity Board in the third quarter of 2024. “This project utilizes Longi Bi-facial, N type Solar…
Sri Lanka Cricket selectors have included leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth in the National Men’s Squad for the T20I Tri-Series in Pakistan. He will travel to Pakistan directly from Qatar, where he was part of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ Team competing in the ‘Asia Cup Rising Stars’ Tournament. Viyaskanth has been drafted into the squad as Wanindu Hasaranga is yet to fully recover from the hamstring tightness he suffered during the ODI series. (Newswire) The post Viyaskanth added to Sri Lanka T20I squad appeared first on Newswire.
The Chief Incumbent of the Mihintale Raja Maha Viharaya, Venerable Walawahengunawewe Dhammarathana Thera, has strongly criticized the government over the incident at the Bodhiraja Sambuddha Jayanthi Viharaya in Trincomalee, claiming that the warning signs were clear before the current administration came into power.
The Department of Meteorology has issued an advisory for severe lightning in the North-western, Western, Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces today. Per the advisory, effective until 11.30 pm today, red alerts have been issued to 10 districts and amber alerts have been issued to 13 districts. Warning that there may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers, the Met Department has requested the public to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by lightning activity. (Newswire) The post Severe lightning advisory issued for 04 provinces appeared first on Newswire.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers have approved publishing the Parliamentary Pensions Law (Repeal) bill in the government gazette and submitting it to parliament for approval, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “As promised, a draft bill has been prepared by the Legal Draftsman to repeal the Parliamentary Pensions Act with the aim of abolishing the pension entitlements granted to elected representatives to Parliament and their spouses,” Jayatissa told reporters. The Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the bill, he said, and the cabinet approved its submission to parliament. The National People’s Power (NPP) government promised to remove MP pensions…
A gazette notification has been issued announcing that the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025, will come into effect from 01 December 2025. The gazette has been issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, dated 16 November 2025. The Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill was passed with amendments following the Second Reading debate in Parliament on 19th August 2025, and comes into force as the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025. This Act is to provide for the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority; for the repeal of the Betting on Horse-Racing Ordinance (Chapter 44), Gaming Ordinance (Chapter…
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that measures are being taken to address issues related to the government’s outdated and non-functional official websites. According to Ada Derana, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thushara Rodrigo said the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and many Sri Lankan diplomatic missions are currently running on outdated technology due to longstanding technical limitations. Thushara Rodrigo revealed that a common website platform will be created for all Sri Lankan diplomatic missions and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as some websites may no longer be available if updates are carried out under…
Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala says the Police have uncovered links to certain politicians following the arrest of Ishara Sewwandi, the chief suspect in the murder of underworld figure ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ in February this year. The minister said that a deep investigation into those connections is necessary, and that the Police Department is actively pursuing this. Minister Wijepala further said that information related to the underworld has been revealed through the individuals linked to underworld activities who were arrested in Indonesia recently. He revealed that since August 30, investigations have led to the recovery of seven T-56 rifles, one…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers have approved awarding a contract to build a seven-storey building in Kandy to Maga Engineering (Private) Limited for 1.53 billion rupees, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “Bids were called for awarding the contract for the construction of the proposed 7-storey residential building in Kandy for the Sri Lanka Railways under the Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal Development Project,” Jayatissa told reporters. Five bids were received, he said, of which 4 bids were technically responsive bids. “The High-Level Standing Procurement Committee recommended the contract be awarded to Maga Engineering (Private) Limited for a sum of Rs.…
The government’s latest decision to raise the plantation workers’ wages has been made without any consultations with the industry personnel, a senior representative of the plantation sector said while asserting the move could impact the output.
The Sri Lankan Rupee has changed slightly against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (18), compared to Monday. At Seylan Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 303.75 to Rs. 304, while the selling rate has also increased from Rs. 309 to Rs. 309.25. People’s Bank reports that the buying rate of the US Dollar has reduced from Rs. 304.46 to Rs. 303.86, while the selling rate has also dropped from Rs. 311.17 to Rs. 310.56. At Commercial Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar have increased from…
ECONOMYNEXT – Profits at Sri Lanka based Teejay Lanka which also has factories in India, said global market conditions were “challenging” and demand was “subdued”, as revenues fell and profits plunged 80 percent to 149.8 million rupees amid Trump tariffs. Falling demand left capacity underutilized, amid pricing pressure, the firm said. “Looking ahead, the Group remains attentive to potential shifts in the global trade environment, including the United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) developments, which may have implications for both direct and indirect exports from Sri Lanka and India,” Teejay Lanka told shareholders in interim accounts. “Teejay Lanka PLC will…
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to continue with its ongoing trade union action, despite discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday. Following a discussion with the President yesterday, the GMOA said the President had informed them that their proposals would be discussed further and that he would look into the possibility of providing reasonable solutions. However, the GMOA announced today that it will continue with its trade union action due to the unsatisfactory solution to the concerns raised by the union. The union commenced a trade union action yesterday (17) in protest of the government’s lack of…
Former Chairman of the Nagoda Pradeshiya Sabha Ananda Lanerolle has issued a public apology to former Justice Minister Ali Sabry, after reaching a settlement over alleged defamatory statements made to the media in 2021. President’s Counsel Ali Sabry instituted legal proceedings before the District Court of Colombo against Ananda Lanerolle for making false and defamatory allegations during a press conference by the Citizens’ Organisation for Democracy held on or around 10th May 2021. During the press briefing, Lanerolle had claimed that, during his tenure as Minister of Justice, Ali Sabry had influenced the Balapitiya High Court Judge in a pending…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s LOLC Finance’ will issue 150 million debentures to raise 15 billion rupees, it said in a stock exchange filing. The listed, rated, senior, unsecured, redeemable debentures will be offered at 100 rupees each. The issue has been approved by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the company said. The company plans to list the debentures on the Colombo Stock Exchange. (Colombo/Nov18/2025)
A suitcase containing over Rs. 110 million worth of Kush cannabis has been discovered in a warehouse at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake. According to reports, the bag was found in a storage facility used to hold unclaimed or confiscated luggage and goods by airport customs officials. Investigations have revealed that the bag had been abandoned by a passenger who arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, on a SriLankan Airlines flight on March 17. The narcotics, weighing over 11 kilograms, had been concealed in polythene packages inside the bag. Ongoing investigations have confirmed the presence of a substantial quantity of Kush…