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..

Feb 18 (DM) Today marks the 35th year since the abduction and brutal killing of journalist, teacher, poet, playwright, actor and activist Richard de Zoysa. On Feb 18, 1990, Richard was abducted by the state-sponsored death squad in the presence of his mother Dr. Manorani Saravanamuttu and inhumanely beaten him, shot him and his body was thrown in the sea. His lifeless body with broken jaws, shooting in the head and throat was a more..

Feb 18 (Island) The virtually overnight suspension of US govt’s multibillion dollar foreign aid programme channeled through USAID has been headline news in the U.S. and in other parts of the world where this aid has been very important. In the U.S. itself the suspension of USAID programmes has been accompanied by large scale loss of jobs in the aid sector without due notice. In areas of the world where U.S. aid was playing an important role, such as in mitigating conditions of famine or war, more..

Feb 18 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday presented the maiden Budget of the NPP Govt. He eyes 5% growth for SL in 2025. However, his expenditure plans soared beyond Rs 7.1 trillion. With a planned State income of Rs. 5 trillion and expenditure at Rs. 7.1 trillion, Govt should be cautious about overspending, as if they fail to effectively finance the Rs. 2 billion budget deficit, it risks building pressure on the rupee and which can create instability for the economy. more..

Feb 17 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that public transport systems – buses, highways and train services – will be developed and renovated both in urban and rural areas of the country, considering it a very timely situation. Delivering the 2025 budget speech, the President stated that as a preliminary step, measures will be taken to introduce a set of modern, comfortable buses with developed technology as a pilot project within Sri Lanka’s transport system. more..

Feb 17 (CI) SL have left out left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera and seam-bowling allrounder Ama Kanchana for their upcoming NZ tour comprising three ODIs and three T20Is. Apart from them, batter Hasini Perera and 16-year-old left-arm wristspinner Shashini Gambini are also missing from the squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, SL's last int'l assignment. There are several young additions to the squad. Manudi Nanayakkara and Rashmika Sewwandi, who turned out for SL in U-19 WC more..

Feb 17 (AD) SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has questioned the ideological shift of the JVP/NPP, claiming that the parties are now proposing the same neoliberal economic reforms they previously opposed. “They talked about a neoliberal program today. If they now say these reforms are good, what happened to the last 40 years of opposition? If they opposed these reforms for decades and now suddenly accept them, more..

Feb 17 (DM) Prez Dissayanake, in his budget speech today announced that the govt expects to achieve an export revenue of US$19 billion in 2025. The projection surpasses the target set by the EDB last month. In Jan 2025, EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe stated that the govt aimed for an export revenue of US $18.2 billion in 2025. Under a revised export strategy, he stated that the govt plans to increase merchandise exports from last year’s revenue of US$12.7 billion to US$14 billion. more..

Feb 17 (AD) Speaking regarding the budget proposals for the development of the railway services, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the govt will focus on manufacturing and renovation of railway compartments within the country itself. He said it will be considered crucial to be established as an industry in the country. Dissanayake said that accordingly, the govt expects to allocate Rs. 500 million as the first step, for the renovation of existing old train compartments. more..

Feb 17 (AFP) Sri Lanka's main elephant orphanage marked its 50th anniversary Sunday with a fruit feast for the 68 jumbos at the showpiece centre, reputedly the world's first care home for destitute pachyderms. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage lavished pineapples, bananas, melons and cucumbers on its residents to celebrate the anniversary of their home, which is a major tourist attraction. more..

Feb 17 (AD) Prez Anura Dissanayake proposed to revise the pensions of all pensioners who retired before 1 Jan 2020 in three phases, corresponding to the salary scales applicable to the year 2020 as per Public Administration Circular No. 03/2016. By considering salaries and benefits entitled to the pensioners, a monthly increase of Rs. 3,000 was implemented immediately after the Presidential election thus resolving the Pension Anomalies of Pensioners who retired before 1 Jan 2020. more..

Feb 17 (AD) Govt has announced a series of significant investments in the education sector under the 2025 Budget, focusing on infrastructure development, scholarships, modernization, and improved accessibility for students at all levels. To address the longstanding neglect of school infrastructure, the govt has allocated Rs. 10,000 million for renovations that have been pending since 2019. Rs. 135,000 million has been earmarked to enhance the quality of the uni system, more..

Feb 17 (CT) The fire that broke out on 13 Feb in the Ella Rock area of the Ella-Wellawaya Rawana Ella Reserve Forest has been fully extinguished as of 15 Feb. A senior officer from Ella Police stated that a joint effort by Army, Forest Dept & Police successfully brought the fire under control. Authorities estimate that around 600 acres of forest were destroyed in the blaze. Although Air Force helicopters are sometimes used in such operations, govt did not request their assistance this time. more..

Feb 17 (EN) Sri Lanka expects a budget deficit of 6.7% of the GDP or Rs.2.2 trillion in 2025, from a 6.8% last year, the 2025 budget document presented to the parliament showed. The tax revenue is expected to be increased to 15 percent of the GDP this year, in line with SL’s commitments agreed with the IMF’s broader targets for its $3 billion bailout package. Last year’s tax revenue was 13.4% of the GDP. The govt expects a 23% jump in tax revenue to 4.96 trillion rupees more..

Feb 17 (NW) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says today’s budget speech should be compared with the policies presented on the prez election stage, which promised a prosperous country and a beautiful life. MP Sajith Premadasa emphasized the need to examine how many of these promises have been fulfilled in the budget for 2025. He pointed out that while the policies presented under the Rata Anurata concept pledged to more..

Feb 17 (NW) Serendib Flour Mills, together with Prima, the leading flour manufacturers in Sri Lanka, have collaborated with the Ministry of Trade to support the govt’s cost of living reduction initiatives. Both companies have agreed to reduce bread flour prices by Rs. 10 per kg effective Feb 18th, specifically targeting the bakery industry to enable reductions in bread and bakery product prices. “During 2024, we implemented an initial reduction of Rs. 10 per kg in bread flour prices. more..

Feb 17 (EN) Sri Lanka will increase the duty free allowance given to expat workers, Prez Anura Disanayake said, presenting the budget in the parliament. “We are exploring how to provide incentives for this important community; as a first step we propose to increase the duty free allowance available to them at the airport,” Prez told parliament while presenting the budget in his capacity as finance minister. “After a study, we will publicize the criteria for this scheme.” more..

Feb 17 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake outlined a series of cost-cutting measures aimed at managing public expenditure as part of the 2025 budget proposals. Prez emphasized the govt’s commitment to financial discipline, particularly in reducing unnecessary spending by public representatives. Among the key reforms, the Prez assured a comprehensive review of allowances and benefits provided to the MPs. more..

Feb 17 (NW) According to the budget speech presented to Parliament by Prez follows are the amendments proposed to VAT. Value Added Tax (VAT) [Amendments to the VAT Act, No.14 of2002] 2.1: Import of packing materials for the use of packing of pharmaceuticals or ayurvedic medicines manufactured in Sri Lanka and which are imported by the manufacturer of such pharmaceuticals or ayurvedic medicines, so far as such packing materials are not manufactured in SL more..

Feb 17 (EN) State-run SriLankan Airlines will get 20,000 million rupees from tax payer funds to repay old debt and interest, Prez said. Attempts by previous administrations to sell the airline has failed due to no takers, he said. “Though funds are set aside to repay debt, there is will be no more funds for day-to-day operations,” Prez said. The govt will sign agreements with banks which have funded SriLankan and give 10 billion rupees for principle repayment and 10 billion for interest. more..

Feb 17 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake says that a National Tariff Policy and a new Customs Act will be introduced aimed at the development of SL’s Export Industry. Prez said that the govt will formulate a national export development plan for the period 2025 – 2029 in order to improve SL’s goods and services exports capacity in a large-scale. Further, he added that a simple, transparent and a predictable tariff framework will be formed based on a National Tariff Policy in order to more..

Feb 17 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara says that a Digital Economic Authority will be established, and a new legal framework for digital payments will be introduced in order to fasten the digital economy further. Prez assured that the laws and institutions related to the cyber-security, data privacy and data security will be strengthened. Citing the recently introduced GovPay digital payments platform, the Head of the State emphasized that SL needs to exit from the economy based on currency notes, more..

Feb 17 (DM) The govt has proposed a revision to the public sector salary structure as part of the 2025 Budget, improving the minimum wages and streamlining the allowances. Prez said that the minimum basic salary in the public sector will be increased by Rs. 15,750, raising it from Rs. 24,250 to Rs. 40,000. This adjustment will benefit employees across various sectors, including judicial services, state corporations, statutory boards, more..

Feb 17 (EN) Sri Lanka’s budget for 2025 have proposed changes to the Tax Appeal Commission law, requiring deposits before appealing and also raised fees. The measures are reproduced below: 6.1: The fee levied to state a case on a question of law for the opinion of the Court of Appeal will be increased to Rs.10,000/-. 6.2: The fee levied to make an appeal to the Commission will be increased to Rs.15,000/- by issuing a Gazette Notification under Section 8 of the TAC Act. more..

Feb 17 (EN) SL will charge an 18% levy on gross collection of casinos and increase the entrance fee to 100 dollars from 50 dollars per person, a budget for 2025 said. Corporate tax on tobacco and alcohol will be raised. A hike in the corporate tax to 45% has been proposed earlier. The stand duty on lease contract (other than hire purchase) will be raised to 2% from the current 1%. Container terminal operations included under Social Security Contribution Levy. more..

Feb 17 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, presented his maiden Budget Speech in the Parliament today (17). The 79th budget of the Independent Sri Lanka aimed at developing the country in a way that enables it to repay debt when repayment commences in 2028 today (17), encapsulated three main facets; more..

Feb 17 (EN) Sri Lanka’s 2025 budged has allocated funds to establish dedicated industrial zones for chemical manufacturing for domestic consumption and rubber products as well as automobile manufacturing for export markets, the official budget document showed. The document was presented to the parliament by Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake in his capacity as the Finance Minister. The industrial zone for chemical manufacturing is proposed in the Northern SL town of Paranthan, where more..

Feb 17 (FT) The recent excise tax-based price increase on cigarettes and alcohol, the third within a space of just two years, has pushed consumers, revellers, tipplers and even tourists to the brink, but despite that some vested quarters maintain there is more flesh to be got. This is becoming akin to a snowball’s chance in hell. The price of cigarettes and alcohol in Sri Lanka is exorbitant. For instance, a 1-litre bottle of a popular spirit is a mere GBP45 ($ 56) at supermarkets in the UK. more..