Feb 26 (Island) Sri Lanka’s recent govt budget has sparked both hope and concern. While some see it as a positive step toward improving the country’s economy, others worry about whether the govt’s proposals can be successfully implemented. This analysis explores the budget’s approach and what it could mean for the country’s financial future. Fitch Ratings recently upgraded Sri Lanka’s credit rating, moving it from a risky Restricted Default (RD) to a CCC+ rating. more..

Feb 26 (CT) Eagles don’t fly with Pigeons, Lions don’t eat grass, “Che Guevara said to rebel ~ from slogans painted on three-wheelers doing business in Colombo. Many SL three-wheelers sport words of appreciation, slogans or mottos on the rear body of the vehicle, oftentimes in English. Many a statement on the driver’s parents; a son paying homage to the wise guidance of a devout mother or the breadwinner father. Sometimes they are statements of a political nature; Che Guevara said to more..

Feb 26 (ST) Little does underworld figure Ganemulle Sanjeewa realise, as he steps down from the prison’s Black Maria at the entrance of Hulftsdorp’s Chief Magistrate Court to walk with prison guards toward Court No. 5, that they will be the last mortal steps he will be taking on earth. As blindfolded Justicia takes her due place on the judicial bench in courtroom 5, little does she foresee that the hallowed sanctity pervading the air where justice resides to sit on judgement will soon become more..

Feb 26 (Island) NPP govt’s maiden budget was passed with a two-thirds majority at the second reading vote yesterday. It will now go into committee stage for further review. That the ayes would have it was a foregone conclusion. However, the events that unfolded in the run-up to yesterday’s budget vote were oddly interesting. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented Budget 2025 in Parliament on 17 Feb. Thereafter, a debate thereon got underway. more..

Feb 26 (TM) SL’s meeting of budgetary targets in 2025 highly depends on the island nation’s performance in the export sector as a weak external demand would create a fiscal gap, COPF said. Report of the COPF presented yesterday at Parliament on the appropriation bill for the financial year 2025 said that the 2025 budget assumes a strong export performance to drive economic growth and generate tax revenue. more..

Feb 26 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called on Sri Lankans to tear down the barriers that have kept everyone apart for generations and unite as one, casting aside discord and embracing togetherness. In his Maha Shivaratri message, the President noted that this is a moment to nurture interfaith harmony, celebrate diversity and move forward with love and mutual respect, dedicating to the progress of our beloved motherland. President’s full Maha Shivaratri message; more..

Feb 26 (FT) Seylan bank yesterday announced the achievement of a Profit before Income Tax (PBT) of Rs. 16.04 billion for the period under review with a 59% growth over the previous year, while recording a Profit after Tax (PAT) of Rs. 10.05 billion for the year with a 61% growth over the previous year, demonstrating a robust performance despite challenging macro-economic conditions. The reported PAT of Rs. 10 billion is the highest performance in the bank’s 36 year history. more..

Feb 26 (DM) Shivratri, also known as Maha Shivratri or Maha Shivarathri (Tamil), is a Hindu festival that is celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva, one of the main deities in Hinduism. The festival is observed by fasting, praying and offering devotion to Lord Shiva. Fasting on Shivratri is considered to be extremely auspicious and is believed to bring blessings and fulfillment of desires. This Hindu festival celebrates the power of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva protects his devotees from more..

Feb 26 (FT) Sri Lanka has risen one spot to rank 97th globally among 193 nations, with a score of 33.6 out of 100 in the Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index 2025, according to a new report from Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. The rise can be attributed to the nation’s ongoing development and growing influence on the global stage, where it has demonstrated gradual improvements in lifestyle appeal, sustainability, and inclusivity. SL ranks 79th more..

Feb 26 (ST) The man and woman responsible for the killing of alleged organised criminal and drug trafficker Ganemulla Sanjeewa had carried out surveillance inside the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court complex, even conducting a dry run inside the complex a few days prior to the shooting, investigators say. The dry run had been conducted to identify details such as the layout of the complex, entry and exit points, and the level of security. more..

Feb 26 (FT) Port City Colombo, SL’s first multi-service Special Economic Zone, recently hosted Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) Deputy Chairman Lord Swire, to an exclusive session on the project’s attractive investment opportunities and economic potential within the South Asian regional sphere. He was accompanied by CWEIC officials including CWEIC Country Chair – SL, and The Capital Maharaja Organisation Group Director Niro Cooke, more..

Feb 26 (DN) We are ready to face the challenge against New Zealand and we had good preparation before this tour said SL women’s cricket head coach Rumesh Ratnayake. New Zealand women’s team is very talented like Australia and they were one time World Champions and we have to give a good fight with them said coach Ratnayake. The head coach also said I am happy to see two young players Manudi Nanayakkara and Rashmika Sewwandi included in this tour with the seniors. more..

Feb 26 (AD) Govt says it is firmly and sincerely committed to working towards a unified SL that respects and celebrates the diversity of its people with no division or discrimination based on race, religion, class and caste. “We will not leave room for a resurgence of divisive racism or religious extremism in our country,” Minister Vijitha Herath said on Tuesday. Minister made these comments while delivered a statement at the UNHRC more..

Feb 26 (Island) St. John’s College Jaffna and their arch rivals Central College Jaffna have a success story to celebrate when they meet in the annual Battle of the North Big Match at Central College ground on Thursday. For the first time in the historic match, two schools have in their ranks players who have represented the national youth team. Ranjithkumar Newton who captains Central team and St. John’s Kugadas Mathulan were among SL’s top speedsters selected to represent more..

Feb 26 (Island) The Hundred SL Int'l Challenge 2025, where over 650 international shuttlers representing 28 countries including SL, commenced at the St. Joseph’s College Indoor Complex, Darley Road on Tuesday. Rev. Fr. Ranjith Andradi, the Rector of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, the hosting venue, graced the opening ceremony as chief guest, with Rohan de Silva, President of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB), Dinesh Jayawardene, Vice President of SLB and Chairman of more..

Feb 26 (AD) Despite the constraints of a limited financial framework, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that it is the duty of govt officials to allocate and utilize the funds efficiently and equitably, in accordance with the development priorities and the needs of the people as outlined in the recent budget. This matter was underscored during a meeting held today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat, where the Prez engaged in discussions with the Secretaries of Ministries, more..

Feb 26 (AD) Colombo High Court Registrar has reported to the court regarding two posts posted on social media against Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne, who is hearing the money laundering case filed against SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa in connection with the controversial Krrish project. It was reported to the court that these posts were posted on Facebook on the Feb 21 on two accounts under the names Poddala Jayantha and Sanath Balasuriya. more..

Feb 26 (FT) Govt reaffirmed its commitment to bringing back former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran to face trial over the infamous Bond scam. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa acknowledged ongoing legal challenges in extraditing Mahendran but assured that all necessary measures were being taken to facilitate his return. Dr. Jayatissa also noted that legal proceedings against Mahendran would continue, regardless of whether more..

Feb 26 (DM) The Finance Ministry this week invited Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from consultancy firms to conduct a needs assessment to initiate a Trade National Single Window (TNSW) system to interconnect several govt agencies engaged in international trade proceedings. The EOIs were called to assess the current status of 18 public institutions set to be covered under the system. “The selected firm will be responsible for providing practical guidelines and recommendations to more..

Feb 26 (Island) Deputy Minister Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma told Parliament yesterday that SriLankan Airlines was in debt due to political interference under previous govts. Answering a question raised by Anuradhapura District SJB MP Rohana Bandara, Dr. Suriyapperuma said that such interference had resulted in an ongoing case in international courts. Dr. Suriyapperuma stated that SriLankan Airlines had earned notoriety for corruption not only here but also abroad. more..

Feb 26 (EN) SL’s 2025 budget is a true budget where the parliament has been given the full disclosure of spending and without a large reserve to be spent at the discretion of the executive, Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha said. Large volumes of money were set aside as contingent or allocations by macro-economists who ran budgets under the Rajapaksa regimes which could be spent with total discretion without first getting permission from parliament. more..

Feb 26 (AD) While Cabinet approval has been granted to offer foreign employment opportunities in South Korea under the E-8 visa category, these opportunities will be managed exclusively by the SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), says its Chairman, Kosala Wickramasinghe. He further emphasized that no other individual or foreign employment agency is authorized to offer employment opportunities under the E-8 visa category and therefore urged the public to more..

Feb 26 (DM) Sri Lanka’s export sector kicked off 2025 on a positive note, with total exports crossing US$ 1.3 billion in January, marking a 7.5% year-on-year (YoY) increase, data from the EDB showed. Merchandise exports rose 3.5% to US$ 1 billion, led by a 15% surge in agricultural shipments to US$ 258.9 million, while industrial exports remained largely flat, inching up 0.08% to US$ 745.9 million. more..

Feb 26 (FT) Leading business magazine says that business confidence has nudged up to match its all-time high amid multiple sensitivities. LMD notes, in its forthcoming March edition: “LMD Business Confidence Index (BCI) reached its all-time high in February, by climbing six basis points to 204, from 198 in the previous month.” “This is its highest level since Sept 2015 when the index recorded the same score – in the aftermath of a General Election and the formation of a coalition govt,” more..

Feb 26 (DM) With the Director post of the Colombo National Hospital falling vacant after the incumbent was assigned to the Health Ministry as an Additional Secretary, unrest has emerged at the hospital regarding the appointment of a new director. The tension stems from a controversy surrounding the eligibility of two most senior officials, either of whom is likely to be appointed as the new director. Given the context, the medical fraternity has voiced deep apprehension over the possible appointment more..

Feb 26 (DM) As the first shipment of vehicles is expected to arrive in SL today since the govt relaxed import restrictions on Feb 2, almost all the new vehicles have been booked by customers and a waiting list is also now in progress. With a high demand for bookings despite the current exorbitant prices, importers are encouraging people to register their vehicle preferences in order to make their purchase in future shipments. more..

Feb 27 (DM) When the thirty year ethnic conflict ended in 2009, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ample opportunities to address the grievances of the Tamil minority. But President Rajapaksa refused to acknowledge, let alone address their legitimate grievances against the state. Even though 16 years have elapsed since the end of the war, thousands of mothers and loved ones of individuals disappeared during and in the aftermath of the war are still seeking justice. more..

Feb 27 (DM) Sri Lanka has always tried to showcase its rich culture for possessing elephants. From the elephants in the wild to the jumbos in domesticated set-ups, what Sri Lankans have tried to do over the years is associate this animal and the islander with pride. Very little has been done in terms of protecting the elephant from man-made accidents and disasters. It is in this backdrop that the Peradeniya University has come with the idea of making a camera, which when fitted to the train, more..

Feb 27 (CT) In 1979, Professor Patrick Wakely, a leading figure in development planning and later the Director of the Development Planning Unit at University College London, offered a candid assessment of Colombo during his teaching assignment at Moratuwa Uni. While he acknowledged the city’s appeal, he also pointed out that it was not reaching its full potential. With his expertise in planning and housing, more..

Feb 27 (TM) NPP Govt’s maiden Budget 2025 introduces an extensive social welfare package aimed at supporting vulnerable populations while navigating economic challenges. The increase in welfare spending, while much appreciated, continues to raise concerns about fiscal sustainability, economic dependency, and SL’s commitments to the IMF. With the budget allocations spanning poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and housing, the Govt aims to provide relief more..

Feb 27 (CT) SL Govt is taking decisive steps to streamline public sector expenditure, a much-needed intervention given the country’s financial constraints. The proposed relocation of Govt Offices to State-owned buildings and the auctioning of high-maintenance ministerial vehicles are among the measures aimed at reducing the public sector’s high operational costs. These efforts reflect a growing recognition of the urgent need to restructure govt spending and improve efficiency. more..

Feb 27 (SO) Last week The Sunday Observer reported on the forest fire that devastated 20 acres in a nature reserve close to Ella. Forest fires are frequent at this time of the year due to dry weather following the end of the monsoon, a spokesman for DMC said that it reported eleven incidents of forest fires in protected areas in 2025. According to the DMC, forest fires are mostly as a result of human activity such as poaching and encroachment. more..

Feb 27 (ST) It was a rather chilly late spring night in 1971 in Chicago as I walked down Division Street, one of the city’s most notorious streets where gangsterism seemed to be the prevailing occupation. Gang warfare was not dead even then, though many people were. Just over five years earlier, riots and clashes broke out between the city’s Puerto Rican community and the police and went on for three nights with widespread destruction, damage, and injury to people. more..

Feb 27 (Island) The proposed 15% services export tax exemplifies Sri Lanka’s deceptive taxation policy. The NPP govt’s Budget 2025 has listed it as a corporate tax, but according to a Bill seeking to amend the Inland Revenue Act, the new tax will apply to all individuals who provide services to external parties and earn foreign exchange. Not even freelancers will be spared. The tax in question will apply to money brought back to Sri Lanka through the banking system. more..

Feb 27 (Island) The Clean Sri Lanka (CSL) is a project for the true renaissance the NPP govt launched, the success of which would gain world recognition. It is about more than just cleaning up places. Its broader objectives are to make places attractive and happy for people who visit or use services in the country, focusing more on the services in public institutions and organisations like the SLTB. Unfortunately, these broader objectives are not apparent in its theme, Clean SL, more..