The Finance Ministry and the Department of Inland Revenue have agreed to implement the Public Finance Committee’s recommendation to establish a Gambling Regulatory Authority by June 30, 2026, to formally regulate the casino industry in Sri Lanka. The decision was discussed during a meeting of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) held in Parliament, chaired by MP Dr. Harsha de Silva. During the meeting, it was revealed that 60% to 70% of casino users in Sri Lanka now engage with online casinos, while only 30% to 40% frequent physical casinos. Officials also disclosed that no system currently exists to collect…
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The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory advising its citizens to exercise increased caution when travelling to Sri Lanka due to unrest, terrorism, and landmines.
Three police teams have been deployed to arrest attorney-at-law Gunaratne Wanninayake, who was involved in a confrontation with a police constable at the Mount Lavinia Court premises, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) F.U. Wootler said today.
The Cabinet has granted approval for importers to bring in up to 520 metric tonnes of Ponni Samba rice per importer without the need for import permits.
ECONOMYNEXT – The Asia Pacific Chapter meeting of Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) held in Colombo will focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Climate change and their impacts on value-based banking which is mostly targeting small and medium enterprises. Top CEOs and senior leaders of GABV members in 20 countries will gather from October 15-16 to discuss on the topic centered on ‘Value-Based Banking’ and it will explore how ethical, inclusive, and sustainable financial practices can drive long-term impact across communities and economies. Sarvodaya Development Finance Plc (SDF), one of the two GABV members, will host the meeting…
Google’s parent company Alphabet will invest $15bn (£11.29bn) to build an AI data hub in southern India’s Andhra Pradesh state.
A writ petition filed seeking an order to conduct a credible investigation and take appropriate action against Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardane for his alleged omission and serious dereliction of duty that led to the Easter Sunday bombings in 2019 was fixed for support by the Court of Appeal.
The Department of Motor Traffic announced that all services are proceeding normally without any disruptions, dismissing recent media reports of a technical glitch halting the services of several government institutions.
Police Media Spokesperson ASP F.U.K. Wootler said that assets valued at Rs. 3,902 million belonging to organized criminals have been confiscated following investigations carried out between 2021 and 2024.
The Meteorology Department warned of a high possibility of increased rainfall in the coming days as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is currently influencing the weather over the island.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today lauded the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) for blocking the 6.8 per cent power tariff hike proposed by the government.
Google on Tuesday announced that it will invest $15 billion to build a giant data center and artificial intelligence base in India. “This investment of approximately $15 billion (USD) over five years (2026-2030) is Google’s largest investment in India to date,” the Google statement said. “It is the largest AI hub that we are investing in anywhere outside of the US,” Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said at a ceremony in New Delhi. “It is a part of a global network of AI centers in 12 different countries.” The data center and AI hub will be built in the port…
Former Navy Commander Nishantha Ulugetenne, who was in remand custody in connection with the disappearance of a youth from Pothuhera, was granted bail by the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court today.
A new QR code system to distribute fertilizer subsidies to small- and medium-scale tea estate owners was launched Tuesday in Pitabeddara, Matara. The initiative, spearheaded by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, aims to support national efforts to increase annual tea production to 400 million kilograms by 2030. A budget allocation of Rs. 2 billion has been set for 2025 to facilitate fertilizer distribution through this digital method. More than 150 tea growers participated in the inaugural event. Approved fertilizer companies also took part in the distribution, which uses QR codes to ensure access to the subsidized supplies. Under the program,…
Lalith Kannangara, widely known as “Bus Lalith,” a member of a criminal gang, has been arrested in Dubai.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called on state officials to fulfill their role as the intermediary mechanism responsible for ensuring that the benefits of government development projects effectively reach the people. The President made these remarks while chairing the Special District Coordination Committee (DCC) meeting held at the Ratnapura District Secretariat. The session reviewed the 2025 progress of development programmes across the district and addressed challenges in their implementation. Emphasizing efficient use of allocated funds, President Dissanayake warned that returning unutilized budgets to the Treasury not only stalls development but also leads to resource wastage. He stressed that funds repeatedly earmarked…
The People’s Struggle Alliance has written to the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), demanding fair access to political discussion broadcasts of the state-run channel. In a letter addressed to the SLRC Chairperson, the Alliance’s National Executive Committee stated that it had not been invited to participate in any recent political programmes aired by the state broadcaster. “We find that we are being unfairly targeted as this exclusion appears to be politically motivated,” the letter read, adding that prior to the election of the National People’s Power government the party had been extended invitations to such discussions. The Alliance reminded SLRC…
The World Health Organization on Monday issued a health advisory warning about three contaminated cough syrups identified in India, urging authorities to report any detection of these medicines in their countries to the health agency.
A 58-year-old man has been arrested by the Special Investigation Unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) for allegedly sending elderly women to Dubai on tourist visas under the guise of providing foreign employment. The suspect, who operated an agency called Methsara Housemaid Services on Baddagana Road in Kotte, is accused of collecting money from women aged between 58 and 60 by promising them domestic helper jobs in Dubai. Two complaints had been lodged with the SLBFE, including one from a woman who was sent to Dubai on a tourist visa but returned after failing to secure…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s cabinet has approved the sale of foreign currency denominated bonds to local market, spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said. A survey had found that there was an appetite for around 100 million US dollars of bonds of less than 1 year to 3 years, he said. Sri Lanka should structure longer term syndicated loans after appointing lead managers who will negotiate with other to structure a long term instrument to help settle some of the maturing debt, and make use to dollar savings in banks, analysts have said. The appointment of a mandated lead manager in other markets,…