The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) announced today that Foreign Direct Investment inflows including foreign commercial loans for investments to BOI-approved enterprises have reached USD 827 million during the period January to September 2025, marking a remarkable 138 percent increase compared to the corresponding value during the period in 2024. This Investment inflow came from four sources: Equity capital – USD 133 million, Reinvested retained earnings – USD 132 million, Intra-company foreign borrowings for investments – USD 231 million, long term foreign Commercial loans for investments– USD 331 million. Of the total inflows, USD 124 million was secured…
The Sri Lankan Report
Two youths were seriously injured after being run over by a speeding lorry while lighting firecrackers in the centre of Talawakelle town early on Sunday (20), police said.
The All Ceylon Hajj Tour Operators Association (ACHTOA), the national body representing 28 licensed Hajj tour operators, elected its new Executive Committee for 2025/2026 at the Annual General Meeting held on Monday at the Mandarina Hotel, Colombo 03. Authorized on 24 February 1997 by the Minister of Trade under Section 3(b) of the Societies Ordinance (Chapter 123), ACHTOA is empowered to serve as the legally recognized representative body of Sri Lanka’s Hajj and Umrah operators. New Office Bearers: President: MSH. Mohamed (Deshamanya) – NM Travels & Tours General Secretary: Subail M. Noordeen (LL.B, Naleemi) – Haadhee Travels (Pvt) Ltd Vice…
The All Ceylon Hajj Tour Operators Association (ACHTOA), the national body representing 28 licensed Hajj tour operators, elected its new Executive Committee for 2025/2026 at the Annual General Meeting held on Monday at the Mandarina Hotel, Colombo 03. Authorized on 24 February 1997 by the Minister of Trade under Section 3(b) of the Societies Ordinance (Chapter 123), ACHTOA is empowered to serve as the legally recognized representative body of Sri Lanka’s Hajj and Umrah operators. New Office Bearers: President: MSH. Mohamed (Deshamanya) – NM Travels & Tours General Secretary: Subail M. Noordeen (LL.B, Naleemi) – Haadhee Travels (Pvt) Ltd Vice…
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rohana Bandara said today that he has decided to keep away from party activities due to an internal issue.
The Irrigation Department has warned of a possible flood situation in several low-lying areas along the Deduru Oya valley, following considerable rainfall in the upper and middle catchment areas as of 5.00 a.m. today.
Spot fining for traffic offences in the Southern Province will be implemented through the GovPay digital payment platform starting today, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) W.P.J. Senadeera said.
Bolivians have elected Rodrigo Paz of the centre-right Christian Democratic Party (PDC) as their new president, ending almost 20 years of governance by the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party.
Despite the offer of over US $ 62 million grant by India, the government has not yet firmed up its decision on the development of the Kankesanthurai Port, an official said yesterday.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has announced a 30-hour water cut affecting several areas in the Galle District from 8:00 a.m. today (20).
Rains coming down in torrents has destroyed vegetable plantations in the Badulla District, it was reported yesterday.
The Orionid meteor shower, caused by debris from Halley’s Comet, will be visible in Sri Lanka tonight (Oct. 20) and into the early hours of tomorrow. This annual event peaks around the third week of October, with the 2025 peak occurring on October 21. The best time to view the meteors will be during the predawn hours, especially between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., when the constellation Orion is highest in the south-southeastern sky. The lack of moonlight this year (new moon) will provide ideal conditions for stargazing. Named for the point from which they appear to radiate—just above Betelgeuse,…
A major outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Monday disrupted access to dozens of websites and applications across multiple countries, affecting millions of users and businesses that rely on Amazon’s cloud infrastructure. The disruption began early Monday in AWS’s U.S.-East-1 region — one of its largest data hubs — and quickly spread, impacting global services connected through the same network. Users reported problems accessing Amazon.com, Prime Video, and Alexa, along with third-party platforms such as Perplexity AI, Canva, Robinhood, Venmo, and Snapchat. Downdetector, an independent outage tracker, showed spikes in problem reports from the United States, Canada, the United…
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader and Attorney Udaya Gammanpila today criticised the government’s handling of MP allowances, saying that public funds provided for official purposes cannot legally be donated to political party funds. Responding to MP Dayasiri Jayasekara’s proposal to ban MPs from contributing their allowances to party coffers, Gammanpila said there is a clear difference between spending one’s salary and misusing public allowances. He explained that while MPs are free to use their personal income as they wish, allowances such as those for offices, fuel, communications, and transport must be spent strictly for the intended public purpose. “Funds given to…
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) members have lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), alleging an organized campaign of false propaganda aimed at discrediting the party and its leadership, including MP Namal Rajapaksa. SLPP National List MP Pasan Kasturi Fernando speaking to media said that the complaint had been lodged today, citing a sustained online smear campaign targeting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other senior members. He claimed the misinformation is primarily spread through social media and has intensified alongside recent police operations that led to the arrests of individuals linked to narcotics activities. Fernando alleged that certain…
The Sri Lanka Police today (20) officially inaugurated the Proceeds of Crime Investigation Division (PCID), established under the Proceeds of Crime Act No. 05 of 2025. The division, located at the old Police Headquarters building, was opened under the patronage of Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala. The PCID has been created to investigate assets, property, and funds obtained through illegal means. The Act empowers the new division to coordinate with 34 state institutions and to probe both criminal and non-criminal acquisitions of assets. It can also initiate civil cases in instances of unlawfully acquired property. Officials said the division will…
Former Human Rights Commissioner Prof. Prathiba Mahanamahewa has recommended that the government consider introducing the death penalty or a comparable alternative, on a short-term basis for large-scale drug traffickers, Lankadeepa newspaper reported. Mahanamahewa cited international precedents where countries such as Singapore, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Vietnam and India have temporarily enforced the death penalty to curb serious drug-related crimes during peak periods of narcotics trade. He further warned of a potential legal gap following the government’s recent decision to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). He noted that many organized criminals and drug traffickers currently detained under the…
A senior lawyer has strongly criticised the Sri Lanka Police after a video recorded inside the Panadura Police Station showing a doctor and an engineer being questioned was widely circulated on social media. Senior Lawyer Thishya Weragoda said on Facebook that the video, apparently recorded without the couple’s consent, amounted to “a ghost-like interrogation” and a clear violation of privacy. “This video shows, at the very least, an inquiry conducted without obtaining the permission or consent of the citizens concerned,” he wrote. Weragoda recalled that during a recent webinar with Police Senior DIG Ajith Rohana, officials had pledged that all…
Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has been recognized with the prestigious “A Grade” award by Global Finance magazine at the 2025 World’s Best Central Bank Governors awards, held alongside the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington. The recognition celebrates Dr. Weerasinghe’s prudent monetary policies, his leadership in stabilizing Sri Lanka’s financial system, and his strategic management amid challenging global conditions. Global Finance annually rates central bank governors based on policy credibility, inflation control, currency stability, and economic growth outcomes. Under Dr. Weerasinghe’s stewardship, Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has implemented critical reforms to ensure monetary stability, strengthen the banking sector,…
A Sri Lankan delegation led by Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe actively participated in a series of high-level bilateral and multilateral discussions during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group held from October 13 to 18 in Washington D.C. During the sessions, Governor Weerasinghe met with the Managing Director of the IMF, the President of the World Bank Group, senior officials of both institutions, and representatives from the U.S. Treasury Department. The discussions centered on Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic reforms, fiscal discipline, and social safety measures, which received wide recognition for…