ECONOMYEXT – Sri Lanka’s Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a public warning over company called Blue Ocean Securities Ltd, saying it not licensed by the regulator in the island or in the United Kingdom. “Regulatory measures are currently being taken by the SEC and other law enforcement authorities against this entity,” the SEC said. “Investors are strongly advised not to engage in any transactions with the company, deposit money into its accounts, or join any WhatsApp groups or communication channels associated with it.” The SEC said the company’s chief analyst and assistant are not registered investment advisors. SCAM ALERT…
The Sri Lankan Report
In a groundbreaking step toward digital transformation, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka recently introduced the Digital Signature for the President’s Counsel Oath Ceremony marking the first-ever use of this technology in the history of Sri Lanka’s Judiciary. Traditionally, this process was carried out manually, making today’s achievement a historic milestone. This advancement reflects the Supreme Court’s firm commitment to modernizing Judicial operations. The Court has already launched a web-based Case Management System (CMS), establishing a strong digital foundation for a more efficient and technology driven Justice process. Beginning in 2026, the Supreme Court will initiate the phased rollout of…
A police constable attached to the Delwala Police Station has been seriously injured and admitted to hospital after being dragged by a car whose occupants attempted to evade a police inspection. The incident occurred when a team of police officers tried to inspect a vehicle following information that a suspect with outstanding warrants was inside. When officers ordered the driver to stop, the vehicle suddenly accelerated in defiance of police instructions. In an attempt to prevent the car from fleeing, one police constable jumped onto the bonnet and held on, but the driver continued to drive for approximately 1.5 kilometres…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s services exports rose 0.67 percent from a year ago to 316.14 million US dollars in October 2025, helped by ICT/BPM, and financial services the island’s Export Development Board said. ICT/BPM exports rose 26.71 percent to 154.50 million US dollars in October 2025 compared to October 2024. Financial services rose 47.60 percent to 3.81 million US dollars. Transport and logistics fell 13.44 percent to 144.50 million US dollars. Construction fell 40.98 percent to 13.33 million US dollars. RELATED Sri Lanka goods exports flat in Oct 2025, apparel, tea down Up to October total exports of goods and…
Sri Lanka’s export sector has continued its strong upward trajectory, recording a significant 6.0 % growth during the period from January to October 2025, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) reported. According to data released by Sri Lanka Customs, along with estimated figures for Gems & Jewellery and Petroleum Products, total exports reached US$ 14,433.82 million, surpassing the performance of the corresponding period in 2024. This also marks the first time that exports have exceeded the 14 billion Dollar mark within the first ten months of a year. A key highlight is that exports of coconut-based products surpassed the…
An external investigation ordered by Parliament has concluded that no sexual harassment occurred involving a female employee of the Department of Information Systems and Management, according to a statement issued by the Parliamentary administration. The final report, prepared by retired High Court Judge Ms. Sujatha Alahapperuma, was submitted to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne on November 24. The inquiry was initiated following a claim raised in the Chamber by MP Mujibur Rahman on January 7, 2025, alleging that the employee had been subjected to sexual harassment. An initial internal inquiry was conducted by Parliament, but the complainant expressed dissatisfaction with its…
The United Transport Trade Union Alliance has raised concerns over the government’s move to introduce card payments for bus fares, citing unfair bank commissions. The pilot project introducing card payments for bus fares was launched at the Makumbura Multimodal Centre yesterday. Commenting on the initiative, the United Transport Trade Union Alliance President, Sampath Ranasinghe, said that during discussions with the Transport Ministry on the project, it was assured that bank commission would remain under 1%. He said, however, it has now come to notice that the banks were charging card transaction commissions between 1.3 to 1.8%, in violation of what…
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Vijitha Herath has requested the Hotels Association of Sri Lanka to build hotels in destinations outside of Colombo. Addressing an event, Minister Herath pointed out that Colombo has sufficient hotels, but outside areas, such as Jaffna, have limited options. As such, the Tourism Minister urged hotel owners to invest and build hotels in other areas outside of Colombo to develop the tourism industry. Minister Vijitha Herath further said that the government was keen to provide the necessary land for this purpose, revealing that several land under Sri Lanka Tourism are currently available. “Outside destinations…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports grew only 0.02 percent to 1,158.24 million dollars in October 2025 from a year ago, with tea and apparel exports down, despite strong gains in coconut, data from the export promotion office showed. Last October’s numbers were also boosted by 14.60 million dollars in boat exports, which were down to 0.24 million dollars in October 2025, and petroleum exports which were down to 83 million dollars this October from 121.44 last October. Export earnings from apparel and textiles dropped 0.24 percent y-o-y to 429.17 million dollars. Earnings from tea fell 0.21 percent to 126.55…
The government has decided to construct a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art new hospital in Dambulla at an estimated cost of Rs. 12 billion, with construction scheduled to be completed within three years, Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. An allocation of Rs. 700 million has already been made for the first phase of the project, which will begin with 130 beds and later be expanded to a maximum capacity of 200 beds. The initial planning for the establishment of the new Dambulla Base Hospital was finalised at a special meeting held at the Walagamba Pirivena in Dambulla under the…
Several flights were cancelled, and Indian airlines and airports were issued an advisory to deal with possible disruptions due to an ash plume from the volcanic activity in Ethiopia on Monday. The ash cloud is now moving over northern India. The Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted on Sunday for the first time in nearly 12,000 years, sending thick ash plumes across the Red Sea toward Yemen and Oman. The cloud has now stretched over the northern Arabian Sea. The ash cloud’s dense, concentrated parts are transitioning over Delhi, Haryana and the adjoining Uttar Pradesh region. The plumes could plummet the air…
Photo courtesy of Human Rights Watch One year after its meteoric rise to power, the NPP risks losing critical momentum and squandering an unparalleled opportunity of using its political capital to build a just peace in the war torn country. Their historic victory on November 15, 2024 when they dissipated the old guard of parties that had monopolised politics since independence reflected the public’s demand for systemic change following the 2022 economic collapse and the aragalaya. Their vote share rose by some 20% in two months, from presidential elections to parliamentary ones largely on the back of minority Tamil and…
The Sri Lanka Army has organized a series of programmes under the Clean Sri Lanka initiative to maintain the Sri Pada sacred area as a zone free of polythene and plastics, in line with the Sri Pada pilgrimage season scheduled to commence on December 04. This initiative is being implemented in two phases, with the inaugural programme beginning in the Sri Pada Udamaluwa surrounding area today (25), with the participation of 50 members of the Sri Lanka Army. Under this initiative, arrangements have been made to obtain the support of government and non-government organisations as well as the civil community,…
More than 18,000 companies have newly registered for tax payments so far this year, Commissioner General of Inland Revenue Rukdevi Fernando said, highlighting a significant expansion of the country’s tax base in 2025. Speaking on the latest revenue performance, the Commissioner General also revealed that over 200,000 new individual taxpayers have been registered with the Inland Revenue Department during the same period for income tax purposes. She noted that the increase reflects intensified efforts by the department to improve compliance, expand the taxpayer network, and bring more businesses and individuals into the formal tax system. The Inland Revenue Department continues…
The Sri Lankan Rupee remains steady against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (25), compared to Monday. At Seylan Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar remains unchanged at Rs. 304.65, while the selling rate is also unchanged at Rs. 309.90. People’s Bank reports that the buying rate of the US Dollar has reduced from Rs. 304.46 to Rs. 304.31, while the selling rate has also dropped from Rs. 311.17 to Rs. 311.02. At Commercial Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar remains unchanged at Rs. 302.50, while the selling rate is also unchanged…
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa provided evidence in Parliament today proving his claims that obtaining a police report requires certification from the chairman of the Civil Security Committee. Addressing the House, Premadasa submitted recently received Police clearance letters of two individuals, which contained the authorization of the Civil Security Committee. Citing Standing Order 91 ‘U’, which prohibits Members of Parliament from making allegations against fellow MPs or referring to their private affairs, he argued that recent remarks made about him in Parliament violated his privileges. While he was accused of presenting falsehoods, Premadasa insisted that he had only presented facts. He…
The Department of Meteorology says the prevailing rainy conditions in Sri Lanka are expected to continue for the next few days due to the influence of the low-level atmospheric disturbance over the southwest Bay of Bengal and Sri Lanka. The low-level atmospheric disturbance over the southwest Bay of Bengal and Sri Lanka intensified into a low-pressure area today and is likely to intensify further during the next 24 hours. As such, heavy falls above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Southern provinces and in the Polonnaruwa district today. Fairly heavy falls above 75…
A judicial official of the Galle High Court has been arrested for soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs. 3500 has been arrested by the Bribery Commission. According to the Bribery Commission, the suspect had solicited the bribe to provide a notice postponing the hearing of a case being heard at the Galle Additional Magistrate’s Court. The suspect was arrested following a complaint filed by the complainant, a party to the case being deliberated at the Galle Additional Magistrate’s Court. The judicial official has been remanded until November 28 after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday. (Newswire)…
Photo courtesy of Roar Media Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women At the base of every act of violence is an act of objectification: as the evidence unfolds, it becomes clear to those investigating and prosecuting the crime that the perpetrator of the violence had ceased to think of the victim as a human being with worth, dignity and a destiny of their own. For the duration of the crime, the person who is subjected to the violence is deprived of their humanity before they lose their lives. The way acts of violence are…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka plans to call investors for a new container terminal next year to continue to add capacity as terminals under construction are completed, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said. The Adani-John Keells (West Container Terminal 1) and Sri Lanka Ports Authority controlled East Container Terminal is also expected to be completed in 2026. “But do we stop there?,” Deputy Minister Kodithuwakku said. “We have to continue this momentum if we are to take on the regional volume. “As soon as we came we started the detailed designs of WCT 2. We expect…