The government has approved the implementation of the Suraksha Student Insurance Programme for the year 2025/2026, following a review of issues identified during its previous rollout. Circular instructions will be issued to guide the programme’s execution with key amendments.
The Sri Lankan Report
Cabinet approval has been granted to minimize the use of plastics and polythene during the Sri Paada pilgrimage season, effective from 2025, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.
YouTube has shut down two high-profile channels accused of spreading misleading AI-generated movie trailers, marking one of the platform’s strongest enforcement actions so far against deceptive AI content. The channels, Screen Culture, based in India, and KH Studio, based in the United States, together had more than two million subscribers and accumulated over one billion views before being removed from the platform. According to a report by Deadline, the creators behind the channels used artificial intelligence to generate fake movie trailers, often blending AI-created visuals with copyrighted footage from existing films. The videos were presented in a way that led…
A Chinese delegation led by Wang Junzheng, Member of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Secretary of the CPC Committee of Xizang Autonomous Region, arrived in Sri Lanka today.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, reaffirming India’s commitment to support Sri Lanka’s relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. The letter confirms that External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has been sent as Special Envoy to discuss continued cooperation and a comprehensive assistance package. The Special Letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake by Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi H.E. Anura Kumara Disanayaka President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Excellency, At a time when your nation is recovering from the damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah, I am…
London police on Tuesday arrested Swedish activist Greta Thunberg at a demonstration in support of pro-Palestinian hunger strikers, Palestinian activist groups said. “Greta Thunberg was arrested under the Terrorism Act at the Prisoners for Palestine lock-on protest,” Prisoners for Palestine said in a statement. The prisoners are being held on charges of supporting the banned Palestine Action group, among other charges, and Thunberg was holding a sign reading ‘I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide’,” it added. City of London police said it has arrested a woman under the Terrorism Act for displaying an item in support of…
Video footage has emerged showing England cricketer Ben Duckett apparently struggling to locate his hotel following a night of heavy drinking during the team’s mid-series break in Noosa, Australia. The 31-year-old opening batsman, who has managed an average of only 16 runs this Ashes series, was captured on camera by supporters outside a shopping centre in the Queensland resort town last week. When asked by fans whether he knew how to get home, Duckett replied: “No.” One supporter taunted the player about his batting struggles, suggesting: “Do you want me to get you an Uber to the nets, bro? Probably…
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a fresh call for investment proposals for a prime land parcel on Chatham Street in Colombo Fort after an earlier attempt failed to attract investors. The Urban Development Authority (UDA) had invited proposals in 2024 for a mixed development project on a 99-year lease basis for a 2-rood, 14.7-perch portion of land owned by the authority. However, no suitable investor came forward under the initial call, according to Cabinet papers. In response, the Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to re-invite development proposals from the…
The National People’s Power has been accused of irregular conduct in the passage of the Horana Urban Council budget, with an opposition lawmaker alleging that the council clock was deliberately adjusted to rush through the vote. Opposition MP Ajith P. Perera said the budget of the Horana Urban Council was passed in a “fraudulent and disgraceful manner” on Tuesday, despite the ruling party lacking a majority. Perera alleged that the clock inside the council chamber had been advanced by five minutes, allowing the budget to be declared unanimously approved at 9:55 a.m., even though the council meeting was officially scheduled…
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with political leaders and Members of Parliament representing the Malaiyaham community, Sri Lanka’s Indian-origin plantation population, at India House on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan said the delegation expressed gratitude to the Indian minister for announcing a USD 450 million aid package for Sri Lanka amid post-disaster recovery efforts. Ganesan said the meeting focused on the severe impact of the Ditwah disaster on plantation communities, particularly the loss of housing and land insecurity faced by residents in affected areas. He emphasized the urgent need for…
The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development has released Rs. 106.2 million in financial aid as part of the first phase of relief for industries impacted by Cyclone Ditwah. Under the program, 531 registered industrialists confirmed by divisional secretariats will each receive a one-time grant of Rs. 200,000, the Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Industry said. The funds have been allocated to district secretariats in Gampaha, Colombo, Mannar, Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, Kegalle, Monaragala, Badulla, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura, and Anuradhapura for immediate disbursement. The Ministry launched the initiative following the identification of nearly 10,000 industrialists who suffered total or partial losses…
ECONOMYNEXT – Foreign investors bought around 2.4 million US dollars worth Sri Lanka government securities in the week ending December 18, reversing the outflow in the previous week, Central Bank data showed. It was the 12th week foreigners have bought rupee bonds in the last 16. The foreign holding in government securities are near two-year high. Foreigners bought 747 million rupees (USD 2.44 million at 1$=305 rupees) in the week after selling 1,222 million rupee worth of bonds in the previous week. The buying comes despite gradual fall in the rupee in the recent past amid higher imports from strong…
England cricket officials said they will review reports concerning players’ drinking habits during the ongoing Ashes tour in Australia, following media claims of excessive alcohol consumption during a mid-series break. England’s managing director of men’s cricket, Rob Key, said the issue would be looked into after reports emerged about players socialising during time off in Noosa between Tests. Key said he had no issue with players having a drink during scheduled breaks but added that it would be “a fault not to look into” claims of excess if they proved to be accurate. He noted that the break had been…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Treasury bill yields rose across maturing at Tuesday’s auction, with the 12-month yield rising 16 basis points to 8.19 percent, data from the Public Debt Management Office shows. The 3-month weighted average yield rose 4 basis points to 7.55 percent. After offering 35 billion rupees, 20.1 billion rupees, was sold. The 6-month weighted average rose 4 basis points to 7.95 percent. After offering 70 billion rupees of bills, 40 billion was sold. The 12-month yield rose 16 basis points to 8.19 percent. Sri Lanka short bill yields were at times below the overnight rate interbank rate,…
Avenra Hotels officially ushered in the festive season with its annual cake mixing ceremony, a key internal milestone on the group’s calendar that symbolises unity, goodwill and the spirit of Christmas. This year’s celebration was hosted at Avenra Beach Hikkaduwa, bringing together the group’s management, teams and invited partners in a vibrant and festive setting. As the festive momentum builds, Avenra Gardens Hotel in Negombo, situated in Sri Lanka’s renowned Christmas capital, is set to take centre stage in national celebrations. For the 8th consecutive year Avenra Gardens will serve as the official hospitality partner for “Hiruth Ekka Naththal” the…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 309.65/75 to the US dollar in the spot market Tuesday, weaker from 309.50/65 the previous day, having depreciated in recent weeks, dealers said, while bond yields closed up. A bond maturing on 15.12.2028 closed at 9.20/30 percent, up from 9.05/15 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2029 closed at 9.58/68 percent, up from 9.53/58 percent. A bond maturing on 01.07.2030 closed at 9.68/78 percent. A bond maturing on 15.10.2032 closed at 10.35/48 percent, up from 10.28/35 percent. A bond maturing on 01.11.2033 closed at 10.44/58 percent, up from 10.40/50 percent. (Colombo/Dec23/2025)
Sri Lanka’s Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC has donated Rs. 110 million to the government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ fund established to support recovery efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. The donation was handed over by Commercial Bank Chairman Sharhan Muhseen to Secretary to the President Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (Dec. 22). The ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ fund was launched to restore livelihoods and rebuild infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Ditwah, which affected several parts of the country. Contributions to the fund continue to be received from local and international institutions as well as individual donors. Representing Commercial Bank at…
ECONOMYNEXT – Colombo Dockyard regained a bit of positive momentum pushing the Colombo Stock Exchange All Share Price Index (ASPI) to close 0.13 percent higher on Tuesday, data on its site showed. The broader ASPI rose 28.80 points to close at 21,927.00 while the more liquid S&P SL20 was marginally down by 0.05 percent, or 3.05 points from Monday at 6,011.31. Besides Colombo Dockyard (up 20 rupees at 127.00 rupees), Richard Pieris & Company (up 1.40 rupees at 40 rupees), Sampath Bank (up 75 cents at 141.75 rupees), John Keells (up 10 cents at 21 rupees), and Cargills (Ceylon) (up…
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved the awarding of cylinder procurement contract for state-owned Litro Gas Lanka Limited to Thailand-based manufacturer Sahamitr Metal Pressure Containers (SMPC) Public Co. Ltd for the period of 2025-2027, a government document showed. International competitive bids have been called from registered suppliers of Sri Lanka Standards Institution to procure four types of LPG cylinders without valves for the period 2025 – 2027 for Litro Gas Lanka Limited. Out of the six (06) bids received, the Cabinet of Ministers after evaluating those bids, granted approval to award the procurement of 120,000 of 2.3 kg cylinders, 185,000 of 5…
Photo courtesy of Tyla “Every cloud has a silver lining,” wrote English poet-philosopher and leading 17th century civil servant John Milton in one of his lesser known plays. While Milton is best known for his theological-allegorical epic poem Paradise Lost, this phrase about silver lining has become part of commonly used idiom adopted by many cultures across the world. This Christmas do the hundreds of millions of victims of a currently rampant Western geopolitical hegemonism worldwide see any hint of a let up of this hegemonism – a hegemonism that engenders devastating wars and even genocide from Palestine and most…