China will continue to expand its support for Sri Lanka’s human resource development and deepen bilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong said at the 2025 China Aid Training Alumni Reception held on November 20. Addressing government officials, training participants and guests, Ambassador Qi said China had invited nearly 1,000 Sri Lankans to participate in more than 100 Chinese Aid-funded training programmes by 2025, including 19 programmes specifically tailored to Sri Lanka’s needs. He said the training covered sectors such as public administration, trade, agriculture, education, health, environment and disaster management, with participants drawn from…
The Sri Lankan Report
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is planning to invite bids from investors to build 434 MegaWatts of wind power plants in the North of the island, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody said with bids for two 50 MW plants already opened. “We have already got approval for a 234 MW wind project in Pooneryn,” Minister Jayakody told parliament Thursday. “There is also 204 MegaWatts in Veravil (Kilonochchi). We will call tenders and proceed with the projects next year.” Evaluations are underway of two 50MW wind plants in Mannar where the lowest bidder was 3.77 US cents per unit, he said. A 20MW…
The Department of Meteorology has issued an advisory for severe lightning in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, North-western provinces and the Galle and Matara districts today. According to the advisory, effective until 11.30 pm, red alerts have been issued to the 14 districts, while amber alerts have been issued to 09 districts. Warning that there may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers, the department has urged the public to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by lightning activity. (Newswire) The post Lightning advisory : Red alert issued to 14 districts appeared first on Newswire.
China is studying an aid project to provide Sri Lanka with a fleet of electric buses, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, said yesterday. He noted that this marks a new phase of cooperation between the two countries.
ECONOMYNEXT – Fitch Ratings has placed Sri Lanka’s Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank’s national rating of ‘BB+(lka)’ and State Mortgage & Investment Bank’s (SMIB) national rating of ‘BB(lka)’ on Rating Watch Positive. This follows the government’s announcement last week that the cabinet of ministers approved the proposal to transfer all the state-owned shares of HDFC and SMIB to Bank of Ceylon and People’s Bank respectively. “The RWP reflects Fitch’s view that the acquisitions of HDFC and SMIB by BOC and PB, respectively, would result in HDFC and SMIB benefitting from a very high likelihood of support from their new owners,”…
The Ministry of Transport and Highways has announced that the payment of bus fares through bank cards will commence from next Monday (24). According to the Ministry, the card payment method will be launched at the Makumbura Multimodal Centre in Kottawa. As such, the public can make card payments for bus fares for buses plying to Galle, Matara, and Badulla. The Transport Ministry further said that 05 banks, including state and private, have joined the initiative. (Newswire) The post Card payments for bus fares to launch from Monday appeared first on Newswire.
SriLankan Airlines and the Government of Sri Lanka have announced that they have reached an agreement in principle with the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders on the financial parameters of the restructuring of its USD 175 million in Guaranteed Bonds due June 2024. Issuing a joint statement, the two parties said that the agreement was reached with six members of the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders following restricted discussions during the restricted period, between 23 October and 19 November 2025. SriLankan Airlines was joined by its financial and legal advisors, Lazard and Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, respectively, while the Ad…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s parliament is offering Sinhala and Tamil language training programs for legislators, it said in a statement. 21 members of parliament have applied to follow the Sinhala language course, and 63 MPs have applied for the Tamil language course. “Many ethnic and religious conflicts arise when people are unable to communicate properly in a particular language,” Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne said at the program’s inauguration. The program is conducted under the coordination of the Members’ Service Office of Parliament and with the support and resources of the Department of Official Languages. (Colombo/Nov21/2025)
Viana Cosmetics, Sri Lanka’s leading clean and conscious beauty brand, made a remarkable mark at Beautyworld Middle East 2025, held from October 27 to 29 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event attracted over 75,000 visitors and 2,400 exhibitors, making it one of the world’s largest beauty trade shows. Showcasing Sri Lankan Excellence Viana proudly represented Sri Lanka, presenting its vegan, cruelty free and dermatologically tested range of cosmetics, skincare, and haircare products. The brand’s participation reflected Sri Lanka’s growing influence in the global beauty market and its ability to meet international standards with homegrown cutting edge innovation. “We…
Bunches of grass have been spotted on utility poles at key junctions in the vicinity of Nugegoda, ahead of the joint opposition rally planned for today. According to a video by NewsFirst, the bunches of grass have either been hung on utility poles or placed by key junctions in the area. (Newswire) The post Bunches of grass kept on roads near Opposition Rally (Video) appeared first on Newswire.
The Sri Lankan Rupee has changed slightly against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (21), compared to Thursday. At Seylan Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar remains unchanged at Rs. 305, while the selling rate is also unchanged at Rs. 310.25. People’s Bank reports that the buying rate of the US Dollar has reduced from Rs. 304.95 to Rs. 304.46, while the selling rate has also dropped from Rs. 311.67 to Rs. 311.17. At Commercial Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 302.01 to Rs. 302.75, while the selling…
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra met with the Member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and President of the Belgium–Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group, Franky Demon, on Thursday (20). During the meeting, Deputy Minister Hemachandra outlined Sri Lanka’s ongoing engagements with Belgium and the European Union. Both sides also discussed strengthening parliamentary cooperation and expanding bilateral ties in friendship, trade, investment, and tourism. (Newswire) The post Sri Lanka, Belgium discuss expanding bilateral cooperation appeared first on Newswire.
Loudspeakers prepared for the Joint Opposition Rally in Nugegoda have been taken down after the Sri Lankan Police issued special conditions, citing the ongoing GCE Advanced Level Examinations. United National Party’s (UNP) Deputy Secretary General of Political Mobilization, Harin Fernando, said the speakers were taken down a short while ago. Organizers have questioned the double standards of the Police, pointing out that loudspeakers were allowed for the National People’s Power (NPP) rally that was held in Tangalle yesterday, also during the A/Level exams, while the opposition has been made to take down the speakers for the rally today. The Joint…
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck near Bangladesh’s capital on Friday morning, briefly halting the Bangladesh-Ireland cricket match at Sher E Bangla National Stadium. ([Reuters][1]) The tremor occurred at approximately 10:38 a.m. local time with the epicentre located in the Madhabdi area of Narsingdi district, around 40 kilometres from Dhaka. The quake struck at a shallow depth of about 10 km. Buildings in Dhaka swayed and residents rushed outdoors as a precaution, though official sources say no major damage or casualties have been reported so far. Play was stopped for a few minutes while stadium officials assessed conditions; the match resumed shortly once…
Sri Lanka’s dramatic decline in interest rates has triggered a massive migration of capital from safe bank deposits to the stock market, prompting regulators and analysts to advise caution as new entrants navigate
Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe marked his first year in office by highlighting major progress in Sri Lanka’s post-crisis industrial recovery, citing renewed confidence, SME revival, and accelerated reforms across the sector. In a Facebook post, the Deputy Minister listed achievements of his ministry during his tenure, noting that more than 16,000 SMEs were in non-performing status at the start of the year. “We inherited a country emerging from one of the most severe economic crises in its history. Our first responsibility in 2025 was clear: restore hope, rebuild confidence, and restart growth,” Abeysinghe said. Achievements…
Photo courtesy of EFE “Labels are distancing phenomena. They push us away from each other,” wrote Leo Buscaglia in his seminal 1972 book based on the world’s first university course on love. Labels are containers. They are meant to define you but in doing so they also limit you. For decades, one community that has lived under the weight of such labels is the LGBTIQ+ community. In Sri Lanka, the situation is uniquely complicated. Same-sex marriage is not legally recognized. While the law technically allows a person to change their gender on official documents, the process is long, invasive and…
Construction of a new regional postal exchange centre equipped with modern facilities is set to begin in Dambulla, with the project estimated to cost Rs. 129 million, officials said. The foundation stone for the proposed Dambulla Regional Postal Exchange Centre will be laid on Sunday (23) under the patronage of Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. Construction is scheduled to commence on the same day and is expected to be completed within nine months, with the target set for completion before the end of August 2026. The project will be implemented based on a modern architectural design…
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have left for India, ahead of the joint opposition rally planned in Sri Lanka today. According to reports, the United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe departed from Katunayake Airport to Chennai, India, this morning (21). It is reported that he was accompanied by his wife, Maithri Wickremesinghe, and had departed via a SriLankan Airlines flight at 08.40 am. (Newswire) The post Ranil leaves for India ahead of opposition rally appeared first on Newswire.
Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa says the party has initiated action against a local council candidate who was arrested in connection with the large haul of narcotics that was found on a fishing vessel intercepted in the Southern seas. Taking to ‘X’, MP Premadasa said the SJB membership of the person accused of narcotics-related arrest yesterday has been suspended with immediate effect. He further said that a separate inquiry will be initiated to take further relevant action in this regard. “The SJB as a party is vehemently opposed to the narco trade, which is a cancer…