Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Arun Hemachandra says that Sri Lanka’s consular services attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued to serve the public efficiently in 2025 while generating significant revenue for the country. In a Facebook post, the Deputy Minister said that from 1 January to 31 December 2025, the Consular Division and Regional Consular Offices processed 516,006 documents for 233,484 applicants through authentication services, earning USD 1.58 million. During the same period, the Consular Division also recovered USD 1.58 million in compensation, a move aimed at strengthening accountability and safeguarding the rights of Sri…
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ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange revenue from tourism in December 2025 fell 14.8 percent from a year ago to US$308.6 million, the central bank said, quoting tourism promotion authority data. The island nation’s tourism revenue has been lower since August last year compared to arrival after the relevant authority revising down per day tourism spending, officials have said. The monthly revenue showed a fall for the fourth time in the last six months. It has been falling in July and August before rising marginally in the next two months. The December revenue from tourism, which accounts for nearly 3…
A man travelling in a high-end luxury jeep was arrested in the early hours of January 9 near the Periyamulla–Eththukala railway crossing in Negombo, after police found a large quantity of narcotics in his possession. Officers of the Negombo Divisional Crimes Investigation Bureau, who stopped the vehicle on suspicion while it was in motion, recovered 10 grams of cannabis, one gram of cocaine and 100 narcotic pills from the suspect during an initial search. Further investigations led police to search the hotel room where the suspect had been staying, during which 29.240 grams of kush and 2.230 grams of an…
The launch of Sri Lanka Expo 2026, a flagship international trade exhibition aimed at promoting Sri Lankan products and services to global buyers and investors, was held recently at the Cinnamon Life Hotel in Colombo. The event is being organised by the Export Development Board, under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, marking the return of the national expo after a gap of 14 years. Sri Lanka Expo 2026 is scheduled to be held from June 18 to 21, 2026. The exhibition aims to introduce Sri Lankan products and services to international markets, facilitate new trade partnerships through B2B…
A foreign tourist child was rescued after falling from a steep cliff at Little Adam’s Peak today, authorities said. The child reportedly fell nearly 100 feet while attempting to take a selfie at the popular tourist attraction. Following the incident, the First Responder Rope Rescue Team from Flying Ravana Adventure Park rushed to the location and carried out an emergency rescue operation. Rescuers successfully reached the child and brought her to safety amid challenging terrain. Witnesses said the child’s mother was visibly emotional after the rescue, expressing relief as her daughter was safely recovered. Authorities have urged visitors to exercise…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s official remittances rose 43.2 percent to a record monthly high of US$879.1 million in December 2025, while the total in the last year also reached an all time peak of US$ 8,076.2 million from a year ago, central bank data showed. Last month’s remittances surpassed the island nation’s previous monthly peak remittances of US$812.7 million hit in December 2020. The country’s previous annual record high remittances were US$7,164 million hit in 2017. The record worker remittances come after a higher number of the island nation’s labour force left the country searching for foreign jobs amid Sri…
Sri Lanka is set to receive an additional USD 6 million from the Saudi Fund for Development for the rehabilitation of roads damaged by Cyclone Ditwa, following discussions held at Parliament, the Ministry of Transport said. The meeting took place between Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake and senior officials of the Saudi Fund for Development. The Saudi delegation included Senior Specialist (Loan Operations) Mohammed Al-Masoud, Senior Loan Specialist Abdulrahman M. Al-Sogheir and Project Analyst Faisal Al-Mulith. Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. Kapila Perera, was also present at the discussions. During the meeting, Minister Rathnayake briefed the…
The Asian Legends League (ALL) has announced the dates for its second season, with the tournament scheduled to be held from January 19 to February 1, 2026. The organisers confirmed that Season 2 will feature several teams made up of former international stars from across the region, including the Sri Lankan Lions. The Sri Lankan squad includes a number of well-known former national players, bringing together experience from different eras of Sri Lankan cricket. While the dates and participating teams have been confirmed, the organisers said the venues for the tournament have not yet been announced. Details regarding match locations…
A new cellphone video showing the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent has been released and widely shared online. The footage, believed to be shot from the phone of the ICE officer involved, shows him approaching Good’s SUV as she sits in the middle of a Minneapolis street during a large federal immigration operation. In the clip, Good speaks calmly with the agent and is seen attempting to reverse and then drive forward before three gunshots are heard and the vehicle speeds away and crashes.…
Journalist Darshana Handunhoda, 55, of the popular YouTube channel SL Deshaya has died, according to family sources. He had been receiving treatment for an illness and died Saturday morning, Jan. 10, at the National Hospital Colombo. Handunhoda was widely known for his hard-hitting political vlogs, which drew a large following for their direct and critical commentary on national issues. Details of the funeral arrangements will be announced later. (Newswire) The post Political vlogger Darshana Handungoda passed away appeared first on Newswire.
The depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal was located about 60 km North of Trincomalee at 7:00 a.m. on 10 January 2026. It is likely to weaken and cross the Sri Lanka coast between Trincomalee and Jaffna around noon. The post Weather Forecast : What to expect today ? appeared first on Newswire.
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s central bank has bought 250.8 million US dollars from the people in December 2025 creating new money and sold only 28.3 million dollars back to them, official data shows, depreciating the rupee by close to three unit to the dollar in the process. The rupee ended the year a tad shy of 310 to the US dollar in the spot market with some moral suasion being used. RELATED : Sri Lanka rupee ends 2025 depreciated to 309.50/60 to US dollar amid moral suasion There has been a narrative spread in the island by macro-economists that the…
The owner of a hotel on Marine Drive in Dehiwala has died after being shot earlier this evening, police said.
Rain played spoilsport in the Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka as the second Twenty20 International at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium was abandoned due to persistent downpours on Friday evening.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) extended its rally on Friday, recording its fifth consecutive session of gains as improving investor sentiment and encouraging macroeconomic signals continued to support market momentum.
A shooting incident was reported a short while ago in the Beach Road area of Dehiwala, leaving one person injured, police said.
One lane of the Colombo–Kandy main road will be temporarily closed near Kadawatha owing to ongoing construction work, police said.
US forces have seized another tanker in the Caribbean Sea, officials said, as Washington continues its efforts to control exports of Venezuelan oil.
The Ministry of Environment has directed the Central Environment Authority (CEA) to immediately suspend all construction activities within the Ambuluwawa Environmental Zone until a comprehensive risk assessment is carried out.
Major airlines have canceled dozens of flights to and from Iranian cities as a result of widespread protests throughout Iran, fueled by economic hardship.