An HR executive who went viral globally after being caught on a stadium screen cuddling her boss at a Coldplay concert has spoken out about the fallout, saying the online abuse has been relentless and life-altering. In an interview that first appeared in The Times, Kristin Cabot broke her silence months after footage from a July Coldplay show in Boston showed her embracing Andy Byron, then the chief executive of tech firm Astronomer. The pair were seen swaying to the music before abruptly ducking out of view when they realised they were on the big screen. The moment exploded online…
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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says steps are being taken to abolish the Executive Presidency, and the government intends to draft a new Constitution. PM Amarasuriya said that measures are underway to establish a parliamentary system of government, including the appointment of a President without executive powers. She further stated that steps are currently underway to hold the Provincial Council elections, which have been stalled due to provisions in the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act No. 17 dated 2017. PM Harini Amarasuriya made these remarks in Parliament today (19) while responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, under…
Violence broke out in Bangladesh’s capital early on Friday after a youth leader of the country’s 2024 pro-democracy uprising who was injured in an assassination attempt died in a hospital in Singapore. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka after the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was announced, to demand that his killers be arrested. Several buildings in the capital, including those housing the country’s two leading newspapers, were set on fire, according to authorities, with staff trapped inside. Hadi was a key figure in last year’s uprising that ended the autocratic rule of the prime minister,…
ECONOMYNEXT – The Official Credit Committee (OCC) which is involved with Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring has agreed to the island nation’s proposal for the state-owned Srilankan Airlines’ debt repayment, Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma said. SriLankan had issued a sovereign guaranteed 175 million dollar bond to raise cash as the firm made losses after the then President Mahinda Rajapasksa ousted Emirates as the managing shareholder. The Airlines last month informed the market that pending OCC approval, it had restructured the defaulted bonds with a 15 percent haircut which will exchange for cash and a 4.00 percent amortizing government bond. “We are…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka renewable energy firm WindForce said it has commissioned a 432.2kWp rooftop solar PV power project at Joy Island, in the Maldives, as an EPC contract. Windforce will provide engineering design, procurement, and commissioning at a project cost of 321,000 US dollars. “In line with the client’s revised requirements, the project capacity and consequently the total project cost was increased from the initial announcement.” “The 432.2 kWp Rooftop Solar PV Power Project at Joy Island, Maldives was successfully commissioned on 13th December 2025,” the company said in a stock exchange filing. The project is located on Joy…
Sri Lanka’s Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has carried out a raid on a private medical laboratory in Laggala after uncovering serious violations that posed a risk to patient safety. The raid was conducted by CAA investigation officers following information received regarding unsafe practices at the facility. During the inspection, officers discovered that blood collection tubes meant for single use were being washed and reused on multiple patients. Investigators also found a stock of expired blood testing tubes inside the laboratory, raising further concerns over hygiene standards and public health risks. CAA officials said such practices endanger patients’ lives and violate…
ECONOMYNEXT – UK tourists are among the highest spenders in Sri Lanka with a daily spend averaging 209 US dollars, data released by Tourism Minister Vjitha Herath shows. Tourists from the United Kingdom spent between 154.82 to 263.28 dollars a day, Minister Herath told parliament. German tourists spent between 142.27 to 222.82 dollars a day. Russian tourists spent between 163.84 to 201.95 dollars a day. Chinese tourists spent between 155.17 to 190.55 dollars. Tourists from India spent between 154.60 to 176.49 dollars. Sri Lanka recently revised down the daily spend after a detailed survery. RELATED : Sri Lanka daily tourist…
MP Archchuna Ramanathan raised a concern in Parliament claiming that the canteen had run out of food by mid-afternoon. “Madam, I went to the canteen to eat. There was only red rice and curry, there was nothing else to eat,” he said, addressing the Chair Ramanathan said that there was no food available at the canteen around 2:30 p.m., and urged that steps be taken to ensure adequate food availability for all members throughout the sitting day. (Newswire) The post “Only red rice and curry” Archchuna complains about Parliament food appeared first on Newswire.
ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Friday, data on its site showed. The ASPI was down 0.64 percent, or 143.48 points, at 22,149; while the S&P SL20 was down 0.06 percent, 3.85 points, at 6,062. Turnover was 3.45 billion rupees. The ASPI has fallen steadily over the week, from 22,508.26 last Friday. Top contributors to the index in the day were Commercial Bank (up 1.50 at 199.50 rupees), Lion Brewery (up 54.25 rupees at 1,650), Carson Cumberbatch (up 11.50 rupees at 775), Tokyo Cement (up 2 rupees at 113), and Ceylon Grain Elevators (up 7 rupees at…
Former Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon has filed a defamation case in the Colombo District Court seeking Rs. 100 million in damages for harm caused to his reputation and dignity by what he claims were false, defamatory, and hate‑filled statements made by Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyaratna. The Chairman of Independent Television Network (ITN) and the Independent Television Network have been named as the second defendants in the case. At a press conference held on 9 January 2025, Minister Vidyaratna alleged that the former Governor had forcibly acquired large tracts of land in the Haldummulla Bogahapelessa Reserve, and…
A Sri Lankan delegation led by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena has briefed Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha on their recent knowledge exchange programme in India, highlighting judicial cooperation and shared experiences. According to the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, the programme from 8-12 December 2025 for 10 Apex Court Judges of Sri Lanka was organized by the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi and National Judicial Academy (NJA), Bhopal. At a de-briefing session held at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka yesterday (18), the Justices shared their experiences and take-aways from the programme with Indian High Commissioner Santosh…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Browns Investments PLC said that its subsidiary, Browns Ari Resort (Private) Limited has sold a property it owned in the Maldives for 57,500,000 dollars. The assets and business of the Barceló Whale Lagoon Maldives Resort was sold to ASB Hotel Properties Maldives Private Limited. “The transaction was completed following the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set out in the Sale and Purchase Agreement, for a total consideration of USD 57,500,000,” the company said in a stock exchange filing. Browns Investments is the investment arm of LOLC Group. (Colombo/Dec19/2025)
ECONOMYNEXT – Several small tanks and anicuts have been damaged after Cyclone Ditwah, impacting Sri Lanka’s agriculture, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in Sri Lanka Namal Karunaratne told parliament. “We are still receiving information on the scale of the damage,” he told parliament 21 days after the cyclone hit. Around 1,277 small tanks, 1,271 anicuts, 3,229 irrigation waterways were also damaged, he said. “These numbers will change.” There was total destruction, moderate damage and slight damage in some cases, he said. “In some places, there is no bunt where there was one earlier. It has been washed away.” “Some…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has sold 10,000 million rupees of treasury bills offered on tap at an average rate of 7.91 percent, the public debt management office said, bringing the total of bills sold this week to 50.32 billion rupees. The debt office sold 6-month bills at 7.91 percent. On Wednesday (17) the debt office raised 40.62 billion rupees of 3, 6 and 12 month bills. Read more Sri Lanka sells Rs40.62bn Treasury bills; yields flat Settlement date is December 19. (Colombo/Nov28/2025)
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s central bank has bought 90 million US dollars in November 2025 creating new money and returned only 16.5 million dollars to importers who used the money, official data shows. The central bank bought 74.3 million US dollars on a net basis in November after collecting 45.5 million dollars in October, also depreciating the rupee. In October the rupee fell from 302 to 304 to the US dollar and in November from 304.40 to close to 307.80 to the US dollar in the spot market as the dollar were bought. Unlike any other party, when the central…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee was quoted at 309.30/50 to the US dollar in the spot market Friday, strengthening from 309.40/55 the previous day, after having depreciated over the week, dealers said, while bond yields moved up slightly. The rupee closed at 309.05/15 last Friday. Sri Lanka’s rupee has fallen from around 292 to the dollar in December 2024, amid record current account surpluses and narrowing budget deficits as the the central bank selectively denied convertibility to private importers after buying dollars and creating liquidity. RELATED : Sri Lanka’s exchange rate depreciation by ‘Political Ravishment’ A bond maturing on 15.12.2028…
Sri Lanka expects first Geogas LPG ship one Jan 05 : Minister ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is on track to get the first liquefied petroleum gas consignment from Swiss-based Geogas Trading, which had won an internally competitive bid, on January 05, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said. “There will be no shortage of LPG,” Minister Herath told parliament. “The agreements had been signed.” It has won a contract to supply 380,000 metric tonnes of LPG, plus or minus 20 percent, during 2026 to Litro Gas. Geogas won an international competitive tender by bidding 15 cents below the next bidder, he said.…
Sri Lanka Police have raised concerns over the misuse of the 119 emergency hotline, which is dedicated to reporting crimes, emergencies, and urgent public safety information.
The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) has warned that two structures at the historic Mihintale Viharaya are at risk of collapse and subsidence following recent heavy rains.
The CSE closed lower on Thursday, as the market traded sideways for most of the session amid subdued turnover and lower trading volumes. Investor sentiment remained cautious, with participants closely monitoring the economic impact of the recent cyclone and the pace of recovery across listed entities.