Two three-wheeler drivers have been arrested for defrauding two foreign tourists by charging excessive amounts for their travel during their holiday in Sri Lanka. According to the Police, two complaints have been filed with the Tourism Police, after which investigations were launched. The Police said a Brazilian tourist and a Belgian tourist had been charged Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 30,000 during their travels on 02nd and 05th October. The arrested three-wheeler drivers are aged 40 and 48 years, and are residents of Imbulgoda and Wellampitiya. The three-wheeler drivers have been handed over to the Cinnamon Gardens and Colpetty Police Stations…
The Sri Lankan Report
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s consumption loans, the largest credit segment in the banking sector totaling 2.3 trillion rupees, grew 11 percent in the year to the June 2025 quarter, driven by vehicle credits, the central bank said in a Financial Stability Report. Leasing and hire purchase facilities grew 140.5 percent by end 2Q, after import controls were relaxed in February 2025. Vehicle loans are considered ‘consumption’ though the asset have long lives, high second hand values, especially in Sri Lanka, when currencies are busted by macro-economists and may improve productivity by cutting down transport times and generate income. Personal loans…
The University of Colombo has warned the public about several misleading social media posts that misuse the university’s name in relation to research and development activities. Issuing a statement, the university said it will be compelled to take action against the spread of misleading information, considering the serious impact on the university’s reputation and patient safety. “The General public will be kept informed regarding the research and development activities of the university only through the official web page or social media page of the university. “Even though there are several research studies conducted by the University, investigating the medicinal properties…
The Philippines and some regions of Indonesia have issued a tsunami warning, urging coastal communities to evacuate after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck offshore in the southern Philippines The strong quake struck at a depth of 23 kilometres (14 miles) at 9:43am local time (01:43 GMT) on Friday, according to the US National Tsunami Warning Centre. The centre warned the earthquake could trigger waves of up to 1-3 metres above tide level along the coast of the Philippines, and waves of 0.3 to 1 metres above tide level in parts of Indonesia and Palau. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and…
Photo courtesy of ICRC Today is World Mental Health Day “You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to.” (Elizabeth Kübler-Ross & David Kessler). The literature on grief and loss is extensive and identifies different types of grief, ranging from normal grief, anticipatory grief (the impending loss of a loved one), complicated grief (more…
ECONOMYNEXT – A Sri Lanka Cabinet ‘reshuffle’ has seen Anura Karunathilaka appointed Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, and H M Susil Ranasinghe appointed Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply. Bimal Ratnayake is now Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, according to a government statement. He was Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation. Anil Jayantha Fernando is Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning. Karunathilaka was formerly Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, and Ranasinghe was Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation. T B Sarath – Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply (former Deputy…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee opened at 302.70/80 to the US dollar on Friday, slightly stronger from 302.75/83 the previous day, while bond yields were broadly steady, dealers said. A bond maturing on 15.03.2028 was quoted at 9.10/18 percent, up from 9.11/15 percent. A bond maturing on 01.09.2028 was quoted at 9.20/30 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2029 was quoted at 9.73/75 percent, up from 9.71/75 percent. A bond maturing on 15.12.2029 was quoted at 9.73/75 percent. A bond maturing on 01.07.2030 was quoted at 9.75/85 percent, from 9.77/81 percent. A bond maturing on 15.03.2031 was quoted at 10.05/18 percent.…
A Cabinet reshuffle took place today, with 03 new Ministers and 10 new Deputy Ministers taking oaths before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. The government has carried out the Cabinet reshuffle aimed at expediting and improving the efficiency of national development goals aligned with the 2026 Budget. The new Cabinet of Ministers is as follows; Ministers- Bimal Rathnayake – Transport, Highways, and Urban Development Anura Karunathilake – Ports and Civil Aviation Susil Ranasinghe – Housing, Construction, and Water Supply Deputy Ministers- Anil Jayantha Fernando – Finance and Planning T.B. Sarath – Housing Construction and Water…
The United States imposed new sanctions Thursday targeting nearly 100 individuals, entities and vessels connected to Iran’s oil and petrochemical trade, including companies that have facilitated shipments of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Sri Lanka. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Chinese-linked traders Slogal Energy DMCC and Markan White Trading were involved in supplying Iranian-origin LPG to Sri Lanka. The sanctions could disrupt those supply chains and increase costs or delays for Sri Lankan importers, as global firms seek to avoid dealings with designated entities. The broader sanctions package includes measures against Chinese refineries and shipping terminals accused of…
Gateway College Colombo Gateway College has once again set a new benchmark in school sports infrastructure in Sri Lanka with the unveiling of state-of-the-art basketball courts built to Olympic-grade specifications in Colombo and Kandy. This cutting-edge development exemplifies the school’s unwavering commitment to nurturing excellence in sports while prioritizing the safety, comfort, and performance of its athletes. The newly laid courts feature a shock-absorbent, rubberized surface integrated with an advanced air-cushion system. This innovative flooring significantly minimizes the strain on players’ joints, effectively reducing the risk of injuries and fatigue. The result is a playing experience that allows students to…
A Cabinet reshuffle took place today, with 03 new Ministers and 10 new Deputy Ministers taking oaths before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. The government has carried out the Cabinet reshuffle aimed at expediting and improving the efficiency of national development goals aligned with the 2026 Budget. The new Cabinet of Ministers is as follows; Ministers- Bimal Rathnayake – Transport, Highways, and Urban Development Anura Karunathilake – Ports and Civil Aviation Susil Ranasinghe – Housing, Construction, and Water Supply Deputy Ministers- Anil Jayantha Fernando – Finance and Planning T.B. Sarath – Housing Construction and Water…
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 10 OCTOBER 2025 Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 10 October 2025 Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Eastern, Central, Uva, Southern and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Polonnaruwa, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts after 1.00 p.m. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m. Showers may occur in Western and Southern provinces in the morning. Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the morning. The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages…
The U.S. imposed sanctions on about 100 individuals, entities and vessels, including a Chinese independent refinery and terminal, that helped Iran’s oil and petrochemicals trade, the administration of President Donald Trump said on Thursday. The Treasury Department sanctioned the Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, which it said is an independent teapot refinery in Shandong Province that has purchased millions of barrels of Iranian oil since 2023. As directed by @POTUS’ maximum pressure campaign, Treasury is dismantling key elements of Iran’s complex energy export machine. Treasury is targeting a network involved in moving hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian liquefied…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Hatton National Bank said it had participated in a billion dollar sustainability-linked syndicated term loan for Singapore-based Aster Chemicals & Energy Pte Ltd. DBS Bank and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC) served as mandated lead arrangers, underwriters, and bookrunners, and as sustainability coordinators, the bank said. “This transaction reflects HNB’s strategic ambition to drive high-impact, cross-border financing that supports global sustainability goals,” HNB, Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Banking, Manojith Weerasuriya said in a statement. “Partnering with leading international institutions strengthens our commitment to creating lasting value through responsible banking and innovative financial solutions.”…
The IMF hailed Sri Lanka’s stronger growth and rising reserves, yet cautioned that the country’s recovery depends on delivering tough reforms in energy, SOEs and debt restructuring.
Tesla is being investigated by the US government after reports the firm’s self-driving cars had broken traffic laws, including driving on the wrong side of the road and not stopping for red lights.
Pope Leo made an urgent plea for the world to help immigrants in his first major document, which was released on Thursday and invoked one of the late Pope Francis’ strongest criticisms of U.S. President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies.
The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) opened on a positive note, recovering from yesterday’s decline and providing fresh momentum to the market. The ASPI gained 76.75 points (+0.35%) to 22,174.74, driven by a robust turnover of LKR 13.30 Bn.
Health experts warn that cases of computer vision syndrome (CVS), also known as digital eye strain, are on the rise among adults aged 20 to 45. The increase is linked to more people working from home and studying online, a trend that expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in literature to Hungarian novelist and screenwriter Laszlo Krasznahorkai.