Jan 6 (FT) Dear Governor, We write to you as co-organisers of the statement endorsed by 121 economists and academics from around the world. The signatories include Joseph Stiglitz, who is a Nobel laureate and former chief economist of the World Bank, former finance ministers of their countries (Martin Guzman, Yanis Varoufakis), former employees or advisers to high-level UN bodies and other govts. Many of the signatories have direct knowledge and/or experience of the harmful more..

Jan 6 (FT) Cyclone Ditwah has imposed a severe humanitarian and economic shock on SL. With World Bank estimates placing direct physical damage at around US$4.1 billion (around 4% of GDP), the need for rapid public action is undeniable. Emergency shelter, rehabilitation of agriculture, and the repair of damaged infrastructure require fiscal space and foreign exchange at a moment when SL’s macroeconomic position remains extremely fragile. It is within this context that Verité Research more..

Jan 6 (TM) A Food and Beverages Department has been launched for the first time at a Govt hospital, a senior spokesperson for the Health Ministry announced. It was to be launched as a pilot project where in-ward patients in Govt hospitals would be provided with high-quality, nutritious and tasty meals — served on a special plate with rice, fish, curry and accompaniments kept separately for each patient. Project is to be launched today more..

Jan 6 (AD) Parliament is scheduled to convene today for the first time this year. Parliament will meet at 9.30 a.m. under the patronage of Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. During today’s sitting, regulations under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act and regulations under Fishermen’s Pension and Social Security Benefit Scheme Act, are scheduled to be taken up for debate. In addition, a resolution related to the proclamation issued under more..

Jan 6 (Island) All Ceylon Multi-day Trawler Owners’ Association has urged relevant international organisations and the government to probe the recent destruction of a multi-day fishing trawler and the arrest of six fishermen by the Seychelles security authorities. Secretary of the Association, Ruwan Fernando, said the trawler that left Wellamankara harbour, in Wennappuwa, with six men on board, had been seized by the Seychelles security forces on December 30. more..

Jan 6 (TM) In the wake of calls by Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) for a comprehensive review of the newly prepared school modules, the Education Ministry stated that the matter has come to their attention, and that possible options would be studied. Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said the Ministry is paying attention to the matter and accepts there could be issues in modules that need to be addressed. more..

Jan 6 (EN) Sri Lanka will implement its already announced visa free scheme from the first quarter of this year, Minister Vijith Herath said. The scheme was announced last year, but it is yet to be implemented. “It will be implemented from the first quarter of this year,” Minister said. In July last year, Sri Lanka announced that it will add another 33 countries to the list of countries exempted from paying ETA visa fees in a bid to facilitate recovery in its tourism sector. more..

Jan 6 (FT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said, within the prevailing financial constraints, Budgetary allocations for 2026 have been made by identifying national priorities, and emphasised that it is the responsibility of all Ministry Secretaries and public officials to utilise these funds with maximum efficiency for the benefit of the people. Dissanayake made these remarks during a discussion with Ministry Secretaries held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat, more..

Jan 6 (CT) Mallakam Magistrate’s Court heard the controversial case concerning protests at the Thaiyiddy Tissa Vihara yesterday involving around 30 individuals, including members of Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils and local residents, who had protested against the established Vihara. Police filed the case in connection with the protests. Among those involved, Velan Swami and five previously detained individuals, along with others who had received summons, appeared in court. more..

Jan 6 (FT) Industry & Entrepreneurship Development Ministry said business registration for export, manufacturing, and other enterprises affected by Cyclone Ditwah has resumed under a second phase and will be extended until 16 January. Ministry said the registration was restarted following requests from manufacturing and small-scale industrial operators. It also said a disaster relief grant of Rs. 200,000 will be extended to small and medium-scale factories that have yet to more..

Jan 6 (ST) A loan sought by the SL govt from the Exim Bank of China as part-funding for Stage 1 of the Central Expressway Project (CEP 1) has still not come through despite protracted negotiations, official sources said. The govt has allocated Rs. 66.15bn through the 2026 budget to resume work on CEP 1, which runs 37.1 km from Kadawatha to Mirigama, and work continues amidst the long lag in obtaining a new loan from more..

Jan 6 (AD) CPC has announced a revision of fuel prices effective from midnight today (5). Accordingly, the price of Petrol 95 Octane has been increased by Rs. 5 to Rs. 340 per litre, while the price of Kerosene has been increased by Rs. 2 to Rs. 180 per litre. The price of Auto Diesel has also been increased by Rs. 2 to Rs. 279 while the price of Super Diesel has been increased by Rs. 5, bringing it to Rs. 323 per litre. Meanwhile, there will be no change in the price of Petrol 92 Octane. more..

Jan 6 (DN) All rounders Dhanajaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka have been recalled for the SL T-20 squad while 21 year old Traveen Mathew is the only uncapped player in the 18 member squad for the Pakistan T-20 match series which will commence tomorrow at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium. The selection committee headed by Promodya Wickramasinghe has selected 18 players from their previously named 25 member preliminary squad and they are expected to name a 15 member more..

Jan 6 (ST) Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament has requested the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera to clarify whether it is constitutional for the COPE and COPA to hold meetings when the post of Auditor General is vacant. The Opposition Leader’s Office in Parliament has sought the clarification after COPA Chairman Kabir Hashim informed it about having concerns about the presence of the representative from the AG’s Dept at the recent COPA meeting more..

Jan 6 (FT) Insurance Regulatory Commission of SL (IRCSL), in collaboration with the Insurance Association of SL (IASL), will officially launch SL’s Digital Motor Insurance Card, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation journey. The official launch ceremony will be held tomorrow, under the patronage of Minister Ananda Wijepala, at the Public Security Ministry Auditorium, Suhurupaya, Battaramulla, with the participation of senior officials of Police Department, more..

Jan 6 (DM) SL’s equity market concluded 2025 on a robust trajectory, securing its position as the third-best performing market in the region, according to the data released by CT Smith Securities. All Share Price Index recorded a significant year-on-year (YoY) growth of 41.9%, closing the year at 22,624 points. This impressive rally placed the Colombo Stock Exchange just behind South Korea, which led the region with a staggering more..

Jan 6 (FT) Building on the resounding success of its first two editions, Gem Sri Lanka 2026 is poised to mark a defining moment in the country’s gem and jewellery industry when it takes place on 7, 8 and 9 Jan, at the iconic Shangri-La Colombo. Gem SL is organised by the Ceylon Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA), largest trade body in the gem and jewellery industry in SL with over 2,000 members. Move to Shangri-La Colombo reflects the remarkable growth of the exhibition. more..

Jan 6 (Island) Patriotic National Movement (PNM) and Bolivarian Solidarity of Sri Lanka, in a joint letter to UN Secretary General António Guterres, has warned that the failure on the part of the UN to decisively act may set a dangerous precedent, encourage unilateral actions and weaken the collective security framework upon which global stability depends. The following is the text of the statement issued by Dr. Wasantha Bandara and Jeewantha Jayatissa, respectively, more..

Jan 6 (DM) While SL has managed to push its Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) slightly atop the billion dollar mark in 2025, the IMF policies have put the country in a bind in having polices, particularly when it comes to taxation in making the country an attractive destination for international investors. SL is estimated to have attracted FDIs of around US $ 1.1 billion for 2025, little under twice as much as the US 614 mil more..

Jan 6 (DM) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has lodged a complaint with the CID after a fraudulent company defrauded depositors of more than Rs. 17 million by misusing the CSE’s name and logo. Scammers posed as a legitimate financial company registered with the CSE, promising stock market investments and financial advisory services, CSE Senior Vice Prez Niroshan Wijesundara said. Fraud was reportedly conducted through a fake mobile application and is believed to have been more..

Jan 6 (DM) SL would overhaul its foreign employment framework within months, stepping up efforts to curb illegal migration after a growing number of citizens were rescued from cybercrime camps in Myanmar and conflict zones in Russia. Minister Vijitha Herath issued a stark warning that organised trafficking networks are increasingly exploiting the economic pressures and social media to lure Sri Lankans abroad through illegal channels, often disguising jobs as short-term travel more..

Jan 6 (FT) Siam City Cement (Lanka) Ltd, has announced the appointment of Thusith Gunawarnasuriya as its new CEO, effective 1 January 2026. He succeeds Nandana Ekanayake, who will continue to serve as Chairman, ensuring leadership continuity and strategic stability for the organisation. A long-standing contributor to INSEE’s journey, Thusith has worked with the company through its evolution under Holcim (Lanka) Ltd, LafargeHolcim & INSEE, playing pivotal roles more..

Jan 6 (Island) The scourge of narcotics has eaten into the vitals of many institutions. Among those arrested and prosecuted for drug-related offences are some state employees including police officers. The proliferation of dangerous drugs has therefore come as no surprise. Juvenal’s famous rhetorical question comes to mind: Who guards the guards? Thankfully, the police officers involved in the drug trade run the risk of having to face the full force of the law in case of being found out. more..

Jan 6 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry closed 2025 on a historic high, recording its highest-ever annual arrivals with over 2.36 million visitors, signalling a strong recovery after six years marked by crises and disruptions. Minister Vijitha Herath said the final tally surpassed the previous record set in 2018 by 1.23%, whilst posting a robust 15.1% year-on-year (YoY) growth. Performance marks a critical milestone for an industry more..

Jan 6 (Island) Looking back at the past year, the anxiety among influential sections of the population that the NPP govt would destabilise the country has been dispelled. There was concern that the new govt with its strong JVP leadership might not be respectful of private property in the Marxist tradition. These fears have not materialised. The govt has made a smooth transition, with no upheavals and no breakdown of governance. This continuity deserves recognition. more..

Jan 6 (TM) As climate change accelerates and populations grow, the frequency and severity of natural disasters, such as floods, landslides, and storms, are increasing globally. If anyone in SL had doubts about climate change, what has occurred in the last decade and what the island has witnessed recently should be adequate to convince the most ardent disbelievers. Following each natural or man-made disaster, Sri Lankans often question national preparedness, only to find out there is much more..

Jan 6 (ST) Oh dear! Ms Harini Amarasuriya’s ambitious plans for educational reforms with same-sex on the school menu for 10- or 11-year-old kids suddenly seem to have come a cropper after it was revealed that the English module for students in Grade 6 contains a weblink that leads to an adult gay chat room. The revelation made by a prominent Buddhist monk at a media conference has led to such a cyclonic storm of public outrage that it left Harini, in the early hours of the newly more..

Jan 6 (GV) World Braille Day is a moment to reflect on the power of tactile literacy and its role in the lives of blind and visually impaired individuals. Jan 4 marks the birth of Louis Braille, the French educator, whose tactile writing system developed nearly two centuries ago, transformed access to written communication. Officially recognised by UNGA in 2018, World Braille Day underscores Braille’s continuing relevance as a tool for literacy, independence and equal opportunity. more..

Jan 6 (CT) Education reforms are among the most consequential policy decisions a nation can undertake. They shape not only the intellectual capacity of future generations, but also the economic resilience, social cohesion, democratic culture, and long-term sovereignty of a country. In Sri Lanka, education has historically functioned as a powerful engine of social mobility, equity, and national integration. From the mid-twentieth century more..

Jan 6 (SLG) The year 2025 will be remembered in SL for Cyclone Ditwah, which struck the SL coast towards the end of November. The heavy rain and landslides during the cyclone presents a grim picture: 644 people losing their lives, 18 injured, while 183 people were missing. World Bank has estimated initial damage from the disaster at around $4.1 billion. During the years 2023-24, the nation was preoccupied with recovering from economic bankruptcy and it coloured political narrative more..

Jan 6 (DM) US’ invasion of Venezuela in early Jan 2026, culminating in the overthrow of Prez Nicolás Maduro’s left-wing govt, was driven by four interlocking objectives: (1) Installing a compliant regime in Caracas; (2) Forcefully reasserting American primacy in the Western Hemisphere under a revived Monroe Doctrine; (3) Preventing Venezuela from abandoning the US dollar in favour of the Chinese yuan and other currencies for international trade; (4) Securing strategic more..