Feb 18 (AD) Former Puttalam District MP Shantha Abeysekara and his son have been arrested by the Police Illegal Assets Investigations Division. The arrest was made when they arrived to give a statement regarding an illegally assembled vehicle, Police said. The arrested suspects are expected to be produce before the Mahara Magistrate’s Court tomorrow. On Feb 6, an illegally assembled luxury vehicle which was allegedly used by former MP and SJB member Abeysekara, was found more..

Feb 18 (FT) With the appointment of the new head of state and the Govt that followed last year, Sri Lanka has unleashed a new attitude to the world – Prosperous country with smiling faces. My mind went to the words of nation brand building expert Simon Anholt, who said: “If a country doesn’t like its image – and most countries don’t – then the only way to change that image is through the things the country does, not by the things it says.” It was a very powerful statement that more..

Feb 18 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday delivered a collective Rs. 345 billion bonanza for public servants via the 2025 Budget. He proposed to increase the minimum monthly basic salary by Rs. 15,750 or from Rs. 24,250 to Rs. 40,000. The current ad-hoc interim allowance and special allowance will be integrated into the basic salary, giving a net increase of Rs. 8,250 in the minimum salary. more..

Feb 18 (EN) Sri Lanka plans to hire 30,000 unemployed graduates into the public service, a budget for 2025 said with 10,000 billion rupees of taxes being allocated to give to those hired this year. “Due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic downturn, and political instability, there is a large number of unemployed graduates and youth,” the budget said. “We will implement a strategic recruitment plan to hire 30,000 individuals in essential public service roles, more..

Feb 18 (FT) The Budget 2025 presented by Prez and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday announced relief for senior citizens. “We propose to implement a special interest scheme for senior citizens. Under this scheme, individuals above 60 years of age will be eligible for one-year fixed deposits of up to Rs. 1 million with an annual additional interest rate of 3%, above the prevailing interest rates in the market for ensuring their financial stability,” Prez said. more..

Feb 18 (TM) Prez and Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, presenting NPP Govt's maiden Budget for this financial year 2025, yesterday, emphasised that this was a Budget prepared under significant fiscal constraints but with a philosophy of greater economic democratisation. However, despite previous promises to reduce state expenditure, according to the budget, more..

Feb 18 (CT) Local Govt Elections Bill was passed unanimously in Parliament, with both Govt and Opposition MPs present voting in favour of the Bill. Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, at the conclusion of the vote taken at 7 p.m., announced that the Bill had passed its 2nd Reading, with 187 MPs voting in favour, and no votes against, nor any absentees. The Bill was passed in its original form. When the Bill moved to the committee stage, Opposition MPs were not present in the House. more..

Feb 18 (CT) NPP Govt’s budgetary allocation for health for 2025 has been significantly increased to Rs 604,000 million. Delivering budget proposals for 2025 Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake said that 2025 Budget had made an allocation of Rs. 185,000 million to ensure the supply of medicines and medical supplies. He said that the Govt, through the Health Ministry was taking necessary measures to ensure a smooth procurement and distribution of quality medicinal drugs and medical supplies. more..

Feb 18 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will participate as the Chief Guest at the popular and high-profile post-Budget forum organised by Daily FT in partnership with the Uni of Colombo MBA Alumni Association and sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank tomorrow at 8:45 a.m. at the Cinnamon Life, Colombo. This is also Prez Dissanayake’s first in-person public forum since presenting the 2025 Budget, where he will engage in an open, in-depth discussion on more..

Feb 18 (DM) SL is setting the stage for faster and inclusive tourism growth, as it is shifting its focus from mere arrival numbers to maximising visitor spending and experience. Govt has earmarked Rs.500 million for tourism promotion and city branding in key destinations, aiming to elevate the sector’s income potential. Delivering the 2025 budget speech in Parliament, Prez emphasised that developing and promoting new tourist destinations is a key govt priority to expand tourist mobility. more..

Feb 18 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake proposed to increase the minimum public sector basic salary by Rs. 15,750 – from Rs. 24,250 to Rs. 40,000. Prez said that the current ad-hoc interim allowance and special allowance would be integrated into the basic salary, giving a net increase of Rs. 8,250 in the minimum salary. Prez was delivering his maiden budget speech. He said that the proposed minimum monthly basic more..

Feb 18 (TM) 2025 Budget was presented to the Parliament yesterday, marking the first Budget to be presented by Prez and Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake since assuming office. On 9 Jan, PM Harini Amarasuriya presented the Appropriation Bill to allocate funds for Govt expenditure for this financial year (2025). Second Reading (Budget Speech) of the Appropriation Bill took place yesterday, with the debate on 2nd Reading more..

Feb 18 (ST) Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe has instructed Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya to investigate how the letter he sent to the CID was leaked before it was submitted to court. The letter in question ordered the CID to suspend implementing his earlier instructions to discharge three suspects arrested on charges of abducting slain Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge’s driver and destroying evidence. Probe has been ordered due to suspicions that the letter had been leaked more..

Feb 18 (EN) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake said Indian Adani Group’s expensive tariff for renewable wind power cannot be justified while local competitors have offered it at much lower price. Former SL govt agreed with Adani to buy each kilowatt-hour wind power at 8.26 US$ cents. However, NPP govt has cancelled the deal and said it would want the price to be reduced below 6 US$ cents. Prez’s comment comes days after Adani Group withdrew from 484 MW renewable more..

Feb 18 (DN) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage said that the main objective of the Schools Cricket Development project in the Northern Province is to involve schoolchildren in rural areas to play cricket, and that sports can be used to promote co-existence. Therefore, the Minister also said that it was decided to start this project from the Northern Province. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has initiated a Schools Cricket Development project in the Northern Provinces more..

Feb 18 (TM) Though the SL govt did not stray from the IMF’s target expectations in its budget for 2025, by committing to a 2.3% primary balance surplus, it raises concerns over the long-term impact of increased public sector wages and the challenges of balancing welfare spending with fiscal discipline, experts said. Frontier Research Macroeconomist Thilina Panduwawala commended govt for maintaining fiscal prudence. more..

Feb 18 (FT) Advocata Institute Chairman Murtaza Jafferjee yesterday termed the 2025 Budget as pro-business, but implementation was key. “There is a misperception of the Government ideology given its roots. This is a market-oriented pro-business Budget. But the devil is in the details. If the Govt can get implementation right, then in one year Sri Lanka will be in a better place,” Jafferjee said, delivering the keynote at the KPMG 2025 Budget Forum last night. Using an economist’s lens more..

Feb 18 (DM) Sri Lanka yesterday introduced a national budget aimed at balancing fiscal discipline with economic revival, while addressing the gap between the struggling households and long-term growth ambitions. Calling it a historic budget, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake delivered a two-and-a-half-hour speech, outlining proposals largely aligned with the expectations of the IMF, which will be looking at the document before approving the third review next month. more..

Feb 18 (TM) Following the NPP Govt's presentation of its first Budget, Parliamentary Opposition parties expressed concerns about its practical implementation and deviation from the NPP's original political ideologies. Former Finance and Foreign Affairs & Justice Minister, Ali Sabry stated that he had yet to see concrete measures to improve the country's economic trajectory. He however appreciated the govt's commitment more..

Feb 18 (TM) The Govt has announced plans to increase the number of locomotive engines in operation daily to minimise train delays and cancellations. Following a visit to Ella, Deputy Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena stated that this initiative aims to enhance the quality of railway services. “Before electric trains are introduced, train cancellations must stop. There are about 217 to 220 trains running daily. In the past, about 17 to 20 of them were cancelled. more..

Feb 18 (DN) SL’s junior squash teams finished seventh in the Girls’ category and 11th in the Boys’ category at the 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships 2025, concluded at the Hong Kong Squash Centre on Monday. The boys’ team, led by Matheesha Wijesekara from Royal College, also featured Tharul Pinwatte (Royal College), Vishan Ranatunga (Gateway College), and Mohomad Rilwan (St. Joseph’s College). The girls’ team was captained by Ranliya Wood, more..

Feb 18 (FT) Prez and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented what many described as a pro-people Budget for 2025, packed with relief whilst incentivising the private sector and continuing the reforms process in line with the IMF program. In a speech laden with optimism and nationalistic fervour, he framed the Budget as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to propel SL into a new era of prosperity, calling on all Sri Lankans – at home and abroad – to contribute and unite more..

Feb 18 (FT) SVAT to be replaced by risk-based refund system. Personal Income Tax: The monthly tax-free threshold will be increased from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000, increasing the annual tax-free allowance to Rs. 1.8 million. The first band of Personal Income Tax (PIT) taxed at 6% will be expanded to Rs. 1 million. The AIT rate on interest income of 5% will be increased to 10% on those with monthly interest income exceeding Rs. 150,000. Corporate Income Tax: more..

Feb 18 (TM) Budget for the year 2025 which was presented to the Parliament by Prez Dissanayake has attracted criticism from various sectors, with trade unions (TUs) and industry leaders expressing disappointment over its lack of proposals to address their issues. Many claim that the Budget fails to address key concerns affecting public servants, health workers, private sector employees, private transport operators, and consumers. more..

Feb 18 (Island) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, presented his govt’s maiden budget in Parliament. He said the goal of Budget 2025 was to fulfil the aspirations of the people who had voted the NPP into power, hoping for sustainable growth and development. NPP govt’s efforts to present an election-oriented budget have partially succeeded and borne mixed results. However painful the IMF bailout conditions may be, they have made more..

Feb 18 (DM) Sri Lanka mired in a deep economic depression requires mammoth efforts to lift itself out of the crisis. The Govt has many economic policy challenges, including immediate relief to the people, rejuvenating production of the contracted economy, and sustainable financing for longer-term development. The Budget for 2025 to be announced this week should at least provide some direction if not the allocations for arresting the decline. In this column, I address more..

Feb 18 (ST) My dear Monkey in Panadura, This is the first time I am writing to someone who is not a human, but I thought I must, even if I am not sure whether you are dead or alive. You have gained international fame, with news headlines all over the world describing how you managed to plunge an entire nation into darkness in an instant. I am not sure why everyone is so surprised, though. Legend has it that your ancestor Hanuman did exactly the opposite. He is said to have set the entire more..

Feb 18 (CT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake presented the first-ever Budget of the NPP Govt for the year 2025 in Parliament, in his capacity as the Finance Minister. The occasion marks a significant moment, as it lays the very foundation to fulfil the promises Prez Dissanayake made during his election campaign. Having the people’s mandate, NPP’s Budget will set the economic foundation for their roadmap to steer the country in a new direction. For those who have voted for the NPP, more..

Feb 18 (DM) A national betrayal was orchestrated in 2015/16 under the guise of good governance, executed by the Yahapalana administration led by Maithripala Sirisena’s SLFP and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNP—with its present-day offshoot, the SJB, also bearing responsibility. This was not merely an act of financial misconduct but a deliberate and systematic scheme that inflicted long-term damage on the country’s economy. more..

Feb 18 (DM) US Prez Donald Trump’s announcement on a 90-day pause on foreign aid channeled through the USAID in various countries under his America First foreign policy has sent shockwaves across the world, especially the developing countries which received funding from the US agencies for various projects in those countries. Apart from the deprivation of funding, political issues have also cropped up in countries such as SL due to the US Prez’s remarks more..

Feb 18 (CT) Prior to the Prez Election I was at a seminar and I was questioned about what will happen after the elections. I said if Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) wins he will continue with the IMF programme irrespective of the claims that NPP will seek to alter the Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA). However, I said their problem would be the failure of implementing the capitalist economic reforms such as shrinking of the state sector and as a result the govt would face difficulties more..