United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to call off a mutual escalation in their countries’ trade war, lowering the temperature in a heated confrontation that has threatened to upend the global economy. Trump and Xi sealed a one-year trade truce on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea, where the two leaders met face-to-face for the first time since 2019. But while Trump and Xi’s agreement offered a reprieve to businesses unsettled by months of back-and-forth trade salvoes, it did little to roll back existing trade barriers…
The Sri Lankan Report
The SriLankan Airlines E-commerce team, whose consistent efforts led to the achievement of the Silver Award for ‘Best Sales Growth Strategy’ at the Asia eCommerce Awards 2025. SriLankan Airlines has brought home the Silver Award for ‘Best Sales Growth Strategy’ at the prestigious Asia eCommerce Awards 2025, held recently in Singapore, firmly positioning the airline at the forefront of digital commerce in Asia alongside top global brands. The Asia eCommerce Awards recognise excellence in digital strategy and innovation, and winners are adjudged by a distinguished panel of industry leaders representing some of the world’s leading organisations across multiple categories. Gayan…
A team of 11 officers from the Police Special Task Force (STF) Organized Crimes Prevention Unit has seized 5,700 narcotic pills during a raid conducted in Hewagama, Kaduwela. The operation was carried out on October 29, 2025, following a tip-off received by the authorities. During the search of a residence in the area, officers uncovered the stock of illicit pills concealed inside the premises. A 23-year-old suspect was taken into custody in connection with the discovery. He has been handed over to the Kaduwela Police Station for further investigations. Police said the raid is part of ongoing operations to curb…
A senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk has been found guilty of historical sex offences against six girls at a Melbourne temple. A County Court jury on Thursday ruled Naotunne Vijitha, the head monk at the Dhamma Sarana temple in Keysborough, committed the offences between 1994 and 2002. The 70-year-old monk was found guilty of eight charges of sexual penetration of a child under 16 and nine charges of committing an indecent act with a child under 16. The monk was cleared of one indecent act charge. The jury is continuing to deliberate on another charge of indecent act with a…
ECONOMYNEXT – 25 Sri Lankan export SMEs were given a training on branding, quality compliance and export documentation, in a session organized by the export development board, International Finance Corporation and European Union. The ExpoScaleUp Knowledge Sharing Session for Batch 2 SMEs was organized by the EDB with the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the EU under its regional initiative ‘Accelerating Climate Smart and Inclusive Infrastructure in South Asia (ACSIIS)’. The session sought to improve the export readiness and competitiveness of 25 SMEs currently developing export marketing plans under the ExpoScaleUp programme with the guidance of…
The trial against former State Minister Diana Gamage, filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), began today (30) before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. She is accused of submitting false information to the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to obtain a passport and of residing in Sri Lanka without a valid visa. The case was heard before Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanka S. Bodaragama. During the proceedings, the charges were read out to former minister Gamage, where she declared herself not guilty. Under the direction of State Counsel Akila Dharmadath, testimony was recorded from Hansika Kumarasiri, a former officer of the Department…
The National Transport Commission has announced that a decision has been made to regulate three-wheelers, school transport services, and other hired vehicle operations. The move was announced by the NTC Chairman, P.A. Chandrapala, during a press briefing held today (30). The NTC Chairman said that the first phase of the programme will involve data collection related to these transport services, and that the programme will commence on November 1st. “This initiative by the National Transport Commission aims to regulate three-wheelers, school and office transport services, hired vehicles, and special tour services. As part of this, we are working to establish…
A group of environmental activists has filed a fundamental rights petition with the Supreme Court, requesting legal action against the 67-year-old train driver involved in the incident where seven elephants were killed by the Meenagaya train in the Habarana area last February. The petitioners have urged that the General Manager of Railways and other authorities be ordered to take disciplinary measures, pointing out that no disciplinary action has yet been taken against the train driver involved in the incident, and that he continues to remain in service. The petition calls for a formal investigation into the elephant deaths caused by…
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The D.S. Senanayake College Media Unit will mark the 20th anniversary of its flagship inter-school trilingual media festival “Ninnada” with a special ceremony on November 7 at Temple Trees. Organised annually by the school’s Media Unit, “Ninnada” has, over the past two decades, become a prominent national platform for discovering and nurturing young media talent. Conducted in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, the festival fosters unity and inclusivity among students while encouraging creative and responsible media engagement. Over the years, “Ninnada” has played a significant role in inspiring future journalists, broadcasters, and content creators who now contribute to Sri Lanka’s mainstream…
David Pieris Automobiles (Private) Limited (DPA), the four-wheeler arm of the David Pieris Group, has partnered with global auto manufacturer GWM to introduce hybrid and new energy vehicles (NEVs) to Sri Lanka. The partnership was announced at a press conference held at the DPA Head Office, attended by Group Chairman and Managing Director Rohana Dissanayake, Executive Director Mahesh Gunathilake, and Head of Sales and Marketing Yasantha Abeykoone. The collaboration will see the introduction of GWM’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid models including the Haval H6, Haval GT, Tank 300, and Tank 500, along with the fully electric ORA range. Speaking at…
A Chinese gym has recently launched a controversial weight-loss challenge, offering a luxury car as a reward to anyone who successfully loses 50kg in three months. While the promotion has garnered significant online interest, it has also raised serious concerns among health experts regarding the dangers of extreme weight loss in a short time frame. On October 23, a fitness training centre in Binzhou, Shandong province, northern China, announced the bold weight-loss challenge online, which quickly attracted major attention. According to the promotional poster, the gym promised a luxury Porsche Panamera as a prize to anyone who can lose 50kg…
Wingtech alleged to have transferred production techniques from Stockport plant A Chinese technology company took trade secrets from Britain as part of plans to move microchip production out of the country, it has been claimed. Wingtech transferred production techniques from a semiconductor plant in Stockport, Greater Manchester, owned by Dutch subsidiary Nexperia, according to reports in the Dutch media. The Dutch government last month seized control of Nexperia from Wingtech using Cold War national security laws and relieved its chief executive, Xuezheng Zhang, of his duties. China has, in return, blocked Nexperia’s Chinese operations from exporting chips, leading to a…
A fatal accident involving a falling part from Dhaka’s Metro Rail has reignited concerns over the safety of Bangladesh’s most expensive infrastructure project — just two years after it was launched to fanfare as a symbol of modern urban progress. While metro systems worldwide have occasionally seen technical mishaps, experts say the kind of accident that occurred in Dhaka on Sunday — when a heavy bearing pad detached from the elevated structure and killed a pedestrian below — is exceedingly rare. The incident has shaken public confidence in the billion-dollar project and raised disturbing questions about oversight, design integrity, and…
The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against the US Dollar today (30), compared to Wednesday. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 300.45 to Rs. 300.69. Meanwhile, the selling rate of the Sri Lankan Rupee has also increased from Rs. 307.94 to Rs. 308.20. However, the Sri Lankan Rupee has appreciated slightly against a basket of foreign currencies, while it has depreciated against Gulf currencies. (Newswire) The post Today’s CBSL official exchange rates appeared first on Newswire.
Despite government promises to turn Pakistan into a modern digital economy, cash continues to dominate financial transactions, highlighting the gap between vision and reality. Over Rs 9.5 trillion remains in circulation, reflecting Pakistan’s slow transition toward a cashless system, as reported by The Express Tribune. According to The Express Tribune, Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) Senior Vice Chairman Muddasir Masood Chaudhry said that the authorities have failed to resolve the practical challenges faced by traders and consumers. He pointed out that weak internet access, limited financial literacy, and poor awareness in both cities and villages continue to block…
A recent investigation into the Ministry of Health has revealed that 705 government medical officers who vacated their posts owe the State a total of Rs. 1,156 million, while another 116 officers owe Rs. 119 million, bringing the total outstanding amount to over Rs. 1.27 billion. The figures were revealed in a special audit report into the medical officers who had vacated posts and attachments of foreign-trained specialist medical officers. Foreign-trained specialist doctors have failed to fulfill their service obligations under government bonds, with recovery of dues progressing slowly, the report said. Some officers have not returned to serve after…
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today warned Police officers involved in the drug network to immediately leave the ring or face being removed by the authorities. “Leave immediately! Otherwise, we will remove you,” President Dissanayake said. He issued the warning while addressing the event to launch the government’s new initiative to eradicate the threat of narcotics, titled “United as a Nation – National Drive” (“රටම එකට – ජාතික මෙහෙයුම”). The President pointed out that there is an opinion that the drug menace could be eradicated if the Police Department is cleansed, adding, “This is true”. “Some villages believe that once information…
The Mahatma Gandhi Model Village housing project in Ampara was inaugurated and handed over to the 24 beneficiary families on Wednesday (29). The housing project was jointly inaugurated by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha and the Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply, Susil Ranasinghe. The Model Village Housing Project is being implemented in all 25 districts of the island jointly with the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Water Supply of Sri Lanka, with grant support from the Government of India. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of India and the Government of Sri…
The Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated slightly against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (30), compared to Wednesday. At Seylan Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 300.90 to Rs. 301.15, while the selling rate has also increased from Rs. 306.40 to Rs. 306.65. According to NDB Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar have increased from Rs. 300.90 to Rs. 301.25 and from Rs. 307.40 to Rs. 307.75, respectively. People’s Bank reports that the buying rate of the US Dollar has increased from Rs. 300.70 to Rs.…