Nov 7 (FT) A group of SL Opposition parties – self-styled as the joint Opposition – have announced that they would be launching a prolonged joint Opposition campaign of protest against the JVP, JVP-led NPP Govt of President Anura Kumara Disanayake. The main Opposition parties involved in this exercise are the UNP, SLPP and PHU. The Chief Opposition SJB and other Opposition parties such as SB & TPA will not participate more..

Nov 7 (EN) Sri Lanka will introduce housing loans and a contributory pension scheme for locals who are employed in foreign countries, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in his 2026 budget speech. “Our highest net source of foreign exchange is the remittances made by Sri Lankans abroad. In appreciation of the contribution made by this group to the development of our country, we are introducing a housing loan scheme at concessional interest for migrant workers,” Prez said more..

Nov 7 (FT) Every delay at the Port of Colombo now comes at a heavy price. For Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, time is not just money it’s trust. The recent reports of ships failing to call at Colombo because of potential delays in the Port of Colombo, are a major concern for exporters who depend on reliability to stay competitive in global markets. Over the past few months, several shipping lines have started bypassing Colombo, sometimes just a day or two before arrival. more..

Nov 7 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the issuance of vehicle permits for MPs will not be issued in future. The President stated that he is of the view that the scheme of issuing vehicle permits should not be taken forward. Prez Dissanayake said however the govt’s current fleet of vehicles and machinery is inadequate and a significant portion of the existing vehicles and machinery are obsolete, resulting in substantial expenditures on repairs and maintenance. more..

Nov 7 (FT) SL’s trade volume is virtually invisible when compared with the global scale or even the giants of Asia. In 2023, our total trade value was roughly $ 32 billion, of which exports were around $ 13.6 billion while imports were $ 17.6 billion, leaving the country with a deficit of about $ 4 billion. Our main exports were tea, rubber, apparels and spices. The commercial plantations introduced during the colonial era remain vital for the economy, while the apparel industry more..

Nov 7 (FT) President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Disanayake will today afternoon unveil his Govt’s first fully fledged Budget amidst pressure to reignite economic growth and incomes via higher investments and exports which will also generate new jobs. Analysts opined that the phase of natural growth after two years of contraction and stability was over and the country needs a fresh round of stimulus. more..

Nov 7 (CT) Nutrition data compiled by the Family Health Bureau (FHB) has revealed an increase in the percentage of underweight children under five years, which rose to 17% in 2024. According to FHB statistics, the rate stood at 17.1% in 2023, while in 2021 and 2022 it had been 12.2% and 15.3% respectively. A gradual decline had been observed between 2016 and 2021, with the figure dropping from 15.6% in 2016 to 13.1% in 2020, and further to 12.2% in 2021, the Bureau noted. more..

Nov 7 (DM) Govt will implement a pilot project to provide quality, locally manufactured school shoes to replace the vouchers currently given to schools with fewer than 250 students, Minister Sunil Handunnetti said. Minister said the project will cover 145,723 students across 1,266 schools in the Western and Southern Provinces. “Under this initiative, local footwear manufacturers have agreed to supply quality shoes with a one-year warranty, charging only Rs. 2,100 per pair. more..

Nov 7 (TM) The Ministry of Education stated that although there is no barrier to discuss the Govt’s decision to extend school hours with the sectoral trade unions (TU), there is no possibility of changing the decision to implement the new schedule from January of next year. Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said that while TUs are free to express their views and engage in discussions, decision to extend school hours more..

Nov 7 (NW) Verité Research, says SL could lose the Governance-Linked Bond offer of USD 70 million in debt relief due to a fiscal planning oversight. In a post on social media, Verité Research states that SL will receive USD 70 million in debt relief from its Governance-Linked Bond (GLB) upon meeting two revenue targets. The think tank points out that, however, the issue lies with the SL govt’s revenue expectations in the fiscal strategy statement, which are lower than the GLB targets. more..

Nov 7 (FT) As Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake delivers his 2026 Budget speech, a recent report by the Advocata Institute highlights a pressing reform yet to be attempted: the elimination of para-tariffs that have long insulated local industries from global competition. In its policy recommendations for the 2026 Budget, Advocata argues that decades of protectionist policies, from the produce or perish era of the 1950s to the post-2005 high-tariff regime, have left SL’s manufacturing sector stagnant. more..

Nov 7 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has crossed the 1.9 million visitor milestone so far in 2025, with over 32,000 tourists arriving in the first five days of November, signalling a robust lead-up to the winter travel season and renewed confidence in the island’s recovery as a premier destination. A total of 32,815 tourists arrived in the country between 1 and 5 Nov 2025, reflecting a 7.2% year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to the same period last year. During the corresponding period in 2024, more..

Nov 7 (FT) The fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations between SL and Bangladesh, led by the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries, successfully concluded in Colombo yesterday. Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ministry Secretary Aruni Ranaraja co-chaired the consultations with Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam. This round of consultations marked a continuation of Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries, with the third round more..

Nov 7 (EN) Customers have started to shop more often in 2025, a top retail chain said, as the country continues to recover from a currency crisis and external default triggered by rate cuts in 2020. “The Supermarket business recorded a growth in performance, with same store sales recording an encouraging growth of 14% driven by customer footfall growth of 19%,” John Keells, which runs the Keells supermarket chain told shareholders. more..

Nov 7 (DM) 1,169 hit-and-run accidents were reported in Sri Lanka over the past five years, only 247 compensation applications were submitted during that period. The report revealed that a lack of public awareness about the available compensation scheme has left many affected victims and families without financial support, despite being eligible. In response, the Council said that while financial assistance is offered in such cases, not all victims are aware or choose to apply. more..

Nov 7 (TM) Govt has directed the Central Bank to remain as the custodian of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), going back on the direction by the Governance Diagnostic by the IMF to remove the CB’s function in the EPF, according to CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. Speaking before the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), he said that the CB received a letter from the Presidential Secretariat stating that the Govt has decided to retain the CB's custodianship of the EPF. more..

Nov 7 (DM) Despite SL’s decision to import crude oil from the US, its WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude has not qualified to enter the SL market because it is not price -competitive this time, an official said. However, the CPC remains hopeful that WTI crude would become competitive for SL to import in the near future. As part of SL’s decision to reduce the trade gap with the US, SL govt decided to include WTI crude when calling for tenders periodically for imports. more..

Nov 7 (DM) National Heritage Division of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has initiated the process of identifying and listing Sri Lanka’s national heritage sites, along with drafting new legislation to protect them. An expert committee has been appointed to oversee the initiative, according to Additional Secretary of the Division, Ms. Sujeewa Palliyaguruge. She noted that while the country’s national heritage has been previously gazetted under the Archaeology Act, more..

Nov 7 (DM) Sri Lanka continues to spend trillions of rupees importing products that could easily be cultivated or produced locally, a costly trend that has persisted for over a decade despite the country’s rich agricultural potential. The country spent Rs. 577.6 billion on food and beverage imports in 2024 alone. This marks a sharp rise from Rs. 173 billion in 2011 — more than a threefold increase over 13 years. more..

Nov 7 (DN) Two SL bowlers, Wanindu Hasaranga and Nuwan Thushara, are among the top ten in the latest ICC T20 Bowling Rankings, while skipper Charith Asalanka is among the top ten in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings issued by the ICC. Opener Pathum Nissanka has secured the fourth position in the T20 Batting Rankings. The consistent right-handed opener continues to be Sri Lanka’s most successful batter across all three formats. Hasaranga, the team’s key leg-spinner, more..

Nov 7 (ST) Smuggling of narcotics, pharmaceuticals, agro chemicals, and consumer goods by sea through the north western coastal belt is increasing, local authorities and residents have said, noting that security is failing. There is a decades-long history of criminal activity along the coastal belt involving fishermen and fishing vessels. But it has now been confirmed with evidence that smugglers are operating without fear. Local authorities have noted that not only narcotics like more..

Nov 7 (ST) 2024 National Census by the DCS, reveals a rapidly ageing population and notable ethnic shifts. While the country continues to grow numerically, these structural changes present challenges for economic planning, social policy, and regional development. SL’s population has grown from 20.359 million in 2012 to 21.781m in 2024, but behind this growth rate of 0.5% lies a set of profound demographic changes. more..

Nov 7 (FT) JAT Holdings declared that its Rs. 800 million worth acquisition of globally respected coatings brand Mirotone (NZ) Ltd, holds significant upside for higher earnings growth in tandem with greater market access. Established in 1935, Mirotone (NZ) Ltd, is the market leader in industrial wood coatings across NZ. The total transaction, comprising the purchase consideration and committed reinvestment for growth, represents a strategic investment exceeding 4 mil AUD more..

Nov 7 (FT) In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Month 2025, nVentures and TiE Colombo Chapter are joining forces to launch Founder’s Table, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to create authentic one-on-one connections between emerging entrepreneurs and seasoned business leaders. Through this program, 20 high-potential founders will each be paired with an experienced mentor for an in-person meal and deep conversation during November — turning traditional event format more..

Nov 7 (ST) The infrastructure projects at the National Eye Hospital (NEH) have been further delayed due to technical issues and the need to comply with laws and regulations, causing increased inconvenience to elderly patients who visit the hospital daily from all parts of the country. Last week, concerns were raised about overcrowding and the shortage of lenses for patients scheduled for surgery at the NEH. This issue was also highlighted in a research report published in the International more..

Nov 7 (TM) SL’s Appropriation Bill/Budget for next year (2026), slated to be tabled in the Parliament today, comes at a time when the country is in the midst of a series of crucial economic undertakings. They range from anti-corruption efforts to restructuring State-owned enterprises (SOEs), improving exports and tax revenues, and cutting down on public expenditure, and the Budget will therefore not just be a financial document but also a test of how well SL can balance its obligations more..

Nov 7 (DM) A man who had spent 8 years in prison under a death sentence for drug trafficking was acquitted by the Court of Appeal, which found that the raid and recovery of productions in the case had not met the test of probability. Court of Appeal two-judge bench comprising Justice P. Kumararatnam and Justice Pradeep Hettiarachchi set aside the conviction and death sentence imposed by Colombo HC more..

Nov 7 (DN) Host nation SL produced a spirited performance to overpower formidable Kyrgyzstan 3-0 in their final first-round match of the CAVA Women’s U-19 Volleyball Championship, organized by the SL Volleyball Federation, at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium yesterday. SL, cheered on by a lively home crowd, won in straight sets 25-19, 27-25, 25-22 after a series of tense rallies and determined comebacks. With this victory, the young Lankans secured the second spot in the first-round more..

Nov 7 (Island) Partisan politics has spared hardly anything in this country, with politicians striving to gain political mileage out of everything. It is therefore not surprising at all that the so-called national programmes end up being mere political campaigns and run out of steam with the passage of time. Operation Yukthiya, launched by the previous govt with the ambitious goal of neutralising the underworld, is a case in point. Rajapaksa govt branded its political opponents as traitors, more..

Nov 7 (Island) Women & Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj recently proudly declared that the national election wins, secured by the NPP last year, transformed the country for the better by elevating all citizens, irrespective of race or religion, as equals before the law enforcers?. The first Tamil MP, elected from the Matara District ever, Paulraj said that the Tamil community greatly feared whether justice would be done if members of the community visited police stations. more..

Nov 7 (ST) POSCO Holdings Inc. stands among the world’s largest steel producers. Over the years, it has evolved into a diversified industrial conglomerate, expanding its portfolio beyond steel into battery materials, energy, lithium, nickel, hydrogen, and construction. In 2024, POSCO reported annual revenue of US$53 billion—more than half of Sri Lanka’s GDP. With a workforce of approximately 45,000 employees operating across more than 50 countries, more..