Mar 31 (PMD) In a significant diplomatic development, Senior Advisor to the President Sagala Ratnayaka, led a high-level delegation in discussions to assess bilateral economic connectivity projects between SL and India. These discussions were held in New Delhi on March 28, at the invitation of Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. Foreign Secretary Kwatra extended a warm welcome to Mr. Sagala Ratnayaka, acknowledging positive momentum in SL’s economic growth. more..

Mar 31 (ST) SL is seeking a loan repayment moratorium for its US$ 12 billion bilateral debts until 2028 during the ongoing talks in London with bondholders on debt restructuring as the country still grapples to emerge from the economic crisis, a Finance Ministry top official divulged. A bondholders steering committee is expected to reach an agreement or sign a memorandum of understanding considering a proposal from the govt to rework the overseas debt that has been in default more..

Mar 31 (ST) Cabinet has decided to repeal a 17-year-old tax law which was at the centre of the sugar scam that cost the govt nearly Rs. 16 billion in foregone revenue from 2020 to 2021. The Special Commodity Levy (SCL) will be scrapped from January next year, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. This tax was introduced in 2007 to replace several other tariffs applied to specified imported foods, including customs duty, VAT, and PAL. more..

Mar 31 (AD) SLFP has removed Duminda Dissanayake, Lasantha Alagiyawanna and Mahinda Amaraweera from their respective positions in the party. Accordingly, Dissanayake was stripped of his post as the National Organiser, Alagiyawanna as the Treasurer and Amaraweera as the Senior Vice President. Chairman of SLFP, former Prez Maithripala Sirisena summoned all members of the party to Colombo for a pivotal meeting today (30). On Monday (25), political sources revealed more..

Mar 31 (DM) A Singaporean authority has made a serious accusation against Colombo Port over the X- Press Pearl disaster saying that to assist was deemed limited and there was no follow-up after a team of firemen had assessed the situation onboard XP. The report which has been released to the public domain has been compiled by the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) which is the air, marine and rail accidents and incidents investigation authority in Singapore. more..

Mar 31 (ST) Pallewatte Gamaralage Maithripala Sirisena served as Sri Lanka’s seventh President from January 8, 2015 to Nov 18, 2019. By virtue of his office, he was also the Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The worst crisis during his tenure was on Easter Sunday five years ago—the church and hotel bombings that left 247 innocent men, women, and children dead. Nearly 500 more were injured more..