The Sri Lanka Navy has acknowledged the invaluable support of foreign warships, which had arrived to take part in the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2025, extending much-needed Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations during the recent weather disaster in Sri Lanka. The International Fleet Review 2025 was held off the Galle Face seas, marking the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Navy. Representing the Government of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya graced the event and received the traditional naval salute from onboard SLNS Gajabahu, as the participating foreign warships paid their honours. Eight foreign naval warships arrived in…
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Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera The obscenity of Jeffrey Epstein and the ongoing fallout from the investigation into his activities in the 1990s and 2000s is a portal into a parallel world, which adjoins and extends its impact on the everyday world in which most people live. Whatever his own socio-economic and psychological background was – and conspiracies regarding this abound – whatever his motives were for creating and running his networks of people, Epstein’s predatory and coercive actions over decades are now being testified to by hundreds of women, who were in their teens when they encountered him, often…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s construction sector increased in November, registering a value of 66.2, up from the previous month’s 64.3, on a Purchasing Managers Index compiled by the central bank. “Most firms reported improved construction activity during the month, despite the weather-related disruptions towards the end of the period,” the central bank said. The New Orders sub index expanded at a slower rate, registering 64.7 in November from 67.1 in October. The Employment sub index rose at a higher rate, registering 57.4 in November from 52.9 in October. This indicated optimism about the availability of construction projects, CBSL said. The…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee opened at 309.25/70 to the US dollar in the spot market Thursday, stronger from 309.50/60 the a day earlier, dealers said, while bond yields were broadly steady. The rupee has weakened from 293.25/75 to the US dollar last year, amid record current account surpluses and improvement in budget, denying the usual scapegoats macro-economists point to after depreciating currencies. The telegraphic transfer rates for the American dollar were 306.0000 buying, 313.0000 selling; the British pound was 411.3046 buying, and 422.6664 selling, and the euro was 357.1960 buying, 368.5592 selling. In the secondary bond market trading was…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lankans have a long journey ahead, President Anura Dissanayake said in his new year message, and urged citizens to join hands in the task of rebuilding the nation. “Understanding clearly the challenges that lie before us, I invite all of you to join hands in unity, determination and confidence in the task of rebuilding our nation,” the new year message read. “I firmly believe that with the unyielding resolve of our beloved citizens, we can collectively recreate a country far better than the one we inherited.” The message in full is reproduced below: New Year Message As…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s central bank announced the closure of the Public Debt Department (PDD) and the transfer of the LankaSecure Division of the PDD to the Payments and Settlements Department (PSD), effective 1 January 2026. “This transfer was effected in view of strengthening institutional accountability and enhancing the efficiency and transparency of Sri Lanka’s debt management framework,” CBSL said in a statement. The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) was established within the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoF) under the Public Debt Management Act No. 33 of 2024 (PDM Act) in December 2024. The PDMO became operational…
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit offshore near Japan’s eastern Noda region on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 19.3 km (nearly 12 miles), the agency reported.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has issued an Extraordinary Gazette establishing a Presidential Task Force for Rebuilding Sri Lanka to oversee rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction efforts in areas affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has announced revisions to taxes applicable to casino operators and betting and gaming businesses, with effect from January 1, 2026.
New Year Message from the Prime Minister As we move forward to the New Year of 2026, it is timely to reflect on the year 2025 that has passed. The year 2025 can be granted as a year having made a number of decisive and progressive steps with a people oriented government. I am confident that, within a new political culture, we were able to strengthen transparency in state governance and lay the foundation for an efficient and corruption free public service. We can be satisfied with the progress achieved in several key areas during 2025, including economic stability, the…
Sri Lanka’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRCSL) has blocked access to a website that was referenced in a Grade 6 English language module, following mounting public concern over its inclusion in printed school learning material.
New year message – Leader of the Opposition Let us face challenges and wisely overcome them ! There is no doubt that the New Year 2026 will be a challenging year for our motherland. From today onward, we must all resolve to recognize this reality clearly and to act by giving precedence to intellect over emotion. The economic, social, and political challenges we have faced in the aftermath of an unexpected and catastrophic situation have now expanded to a new dimension. It is evident that these challenges cannot be overcome through unilateral actions or isolated plans alone. Therefore, I wish…
New Year Message: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake As we step into the New Year 2026, we do so as a nation that has shouldered the greatest reform programme and reconstruction effort in our modern history. Despite numerous challenges, the year 2025 laid the foundation for sustainable development rooted in our national aspirations. Among the significant economic achievements of the past year were the recording of the lowest budget deficit since 1977, the highest government revenue since 2007, the first-ever primary account surplus in our history, an increase in export earnings from goods and services to nearly USD 17 billion, the…
The Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2021=100) based headline inflation (year-on-year, Y-o-Y) remained unchanged at 2.1% in December 2025. This was primarily supported by the favourable statistical base effect, despite a substantial month-on-month increase in prices in December due to Cyclone Ditwah. The post CCPI based headline inflation remained unchanged in December 2025 appeared first on Newswire.
Zimbabwe men’s cricket team’s T20I captain Sikandar Raza’s 13-year-old brother, Muhammad Mahdi, breathed his last on December 29, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) shared on Wednesday. In a brief statement, the ZC revealed that Mahdi was born with haemophilia – a medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing the sufferer to bleed severely from even a slight injury. The cricket board further shared that Mahdi tragically passed away on Monday and was laid to rest here the following day, while expressing solidarity with its national men’s team’s T20I captain Raza and his family at…
Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to dedicate the upcoming Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka to promoting the government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ program.
Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has accused the government of deliberately delaying the appointment of the Auditor General to cover up fraud and corruption. He pointed out that some ministers have recently criticized the Constitutional Council after the President’s attempt to appoint a close associate to the position was blocked.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has paid his respects to late former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia during an official visit to Bangladesh. The Foreign Minister met Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of the late Prime Minister, at the BNP Chairperson’s Office in Dhaka. During the meeting, Herath conveyed the deepest condolences of the Government and people of Sri Lanka to the bereaved family and the people of Bangladesh on the passing of the former Prime Minister. The Foreign Minister also signed the condolence book at the BNP Chairperson’s Office, paying…
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) closed the final trading session of 2025 on a strong note, supported by broad-based gains across both key indices and heightened trading volumes and turnover.
The island of Kiritimati is welcoming in the new year – the first place in the world do so.