Dec 14 (BN) Sri Lanka gained extensive support from private creditors to restructure its international bonds, a key step for the country to exit an extended default. Investors representing close to 98% of the country’s $12.6 billion in dollar bonds are expected to agree to swap their securities for new notes, the govt said, citing preliminary results of its consent solicitation for the exchange. more..

Dec 14 (LP) There are train rides, and then there are Sri Lankan train rides. The teardrop island in the Indian Ocean may be small, but it packs in some of the world’s most thrilling rail journeys. You could find yourself rattling past suburbs with a fellow commuter dozing on your shoulder, or perhaps weaving in and out of emerald-green tea gardens and thickets of tropical rainforest while tucking into a packed-to-go meal of curry and rice – and sometimes both in the same trip. more..

Dec 14 (Island) Over 300,000 Sri Lankans have gone abroad for employment this year by Dec 13. About 300,162 Sri Lankans have left for foreign employment and among them are 177,804 males and 122,358 females. Kuwait is the leading destination for SL workers, with 73,995 individuals seeking employment there, followed by the UAE, which received 49,499 workers, 7,002 have gone to South Korea, 9,211 to Israel, 10,274 to Romania, and 8,251 to Japan for employment in 2024. more..

Dec 14 (EN) Sri Lanka’s one-month old new govt with more than a two-third parliamentary majority is facing credibility and integrity tests after people started questioning the educational qualifications of its top leaders. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Marxist-leaning JVP-led NPP came to power promising to replace academically and professionally under qualified legislators with highly qualified leaders. more..

Dec 14 (CT) All Ceylon Restaurant and Canteen Owners’ Association (ACRCOA) warned that the prices of food items would have to be increased if solutions were not given to the issues created by the rice and egg mafia, as well as the coconut issue. ACRCOA Chairman, Harshana Rukshan said that with the Opposition only having 40 seats in Parliament, the NPP Govt should keep their spine straight and make steadfast decisions regarding the price of rice, eggs, and coconuts. more..

Dec 14 (DM) The high temperatures experienced during the first 3 months of this year have worsened SL’s ongoing coconut shortage, alongside the increasing population of toque macaques, Head of the Dept of Crop Science at the Ruhuna Uni and Senior Lecturer Professor K.K.I.U. Arunakumara said. He revealed that the number of coconut plants cultivated annually in SL has dropped to just seven million. Globally, 92 countries produce coconuts, with Sri Lanka ranking fourth. more..

Dec 14 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake last week during his policy statement at the inauguration of the 10th Parliament promised to create a satisfactory public service. He recalled that the 2024 Election marked a historical milestone in SL as the one where the highest number of public servants voted in favour of a single Govt. The assurance comes when SL has one of the biggest public sectors in Asia. The previous regime under President Ranil Wickremesinghe was reluctant to more..

Dec 14 (DM) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa urged govt MPs to resign if they fail to provide evidence of their educational qualifications, echoing the recent resignation of Speaker Ashoka Ranwala. Rajapaksa praised Ranwala's decision to step down amid questions about his credentials, describing it as a commendable move in the interest of transparency. However, he criticised other govt MPs, particularly from the NPP party, who have yet to address allegations about misleading the public more..

Dec 14 (DM) In the wake of the decision to reduce the number of security personnel assigned to former Presidents, including Mahinda Rajapaksa, police said that the committee appointed to review security will meet periodically and assess reports to determine whether the number of personnel should be further reduced or increased. In response to reports regarding the reduction of security for former Presidents, more..

Dec 14 (DN) The current SL tax policies have an anti-business nature and these should be changed to create a better business environment, said Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe at the Western Province Entrepreneur Awards 2024 held at BMICH on Wednesday. “The new govt is determined to change this irregularity. A country also needs a shared vision to develop sustainably. We must focus on benchmarking and grooming entrepreneurs to become ones who cater to global markets. more..

Dec 14 (Island) The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) renewed its MoU with the University of Jaffna, strengthening its commitment to developing the next generation of capital market professionals. The partnership with the University of Jaffna began in 2009, as part of the SEC’s broader initiative to collaborate with national universities in 2008. This has been instrumental in bridging academia and the capital markets industry. The latest renewal reinforces more..

Dec 14 (FT) The bull run at the Colombo stock market persisted yesterday and ended the week a 4% gain amidst high turnover. During the week, the ASPI gained by 4.3% and the S&P SL 20 by 4.5%. Turnover averaged Rs. 5.66 billion. ASPI gained by 1.2% and the S&P SL20 by 1.7%. Turnover was Rs. 6.15 billion involving 188 million shares. Turnover was dominated by Hemas (Rs. 427.4 mil), HNB (Rs. 416 mil), LMF (Rs. 394 mil), JKH (Rs. 231.6 mil) and Alumex (Rs. 230 mil). more..

Dec 14 (ST) The annual buzz of the vibrant Christmas season at Pettah’s shops selling décor, seems to have quietened down this year. While some still wander through the narrow lanes eyeing Christmas trees, festive ornaments, and strings of colourful lights, the festive atmosphere feels notably subdued. The Sunday Times observed a drop in crowds as well as supplies. Shopkeepers said customers appear less eager to purchase holiday décor with just two weeks to Christmas. more..

Dec 14 (FT) Finance Ministry yesterday announced the expiration of its Consent Solicitation and Exchange Offer related to its International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs), with preliminary results indicating a very high participation from market participants. On 25 Nov, SL launched an official Invitation to holders of its ISBs to exchange their bonds against new debt instruments, pursuant to the agreement in principle reached on 19 Sept more..

Dec 14 (EN) Sri Lanka has received acceptances on an offer to exchange defaulted 2022 bonds of only 73%, in which Hamilton Reserve, a holdout investor has a stake, according to preliminary data. An offer to exchange 1.25 billion April 2023 bond has had acceptances of 98%. An offer to exchange 1.0 billion March 2024 bonds have acceptances of 97%. An offer to exchange 500 million in June 2024 bonds have acceptances of 99%. Other bonds have acceptances ranging from 96 to 99%. more..

Dec 14 (FT) The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed to expanding its initiatives in Sri Lanka. It said as part of this commitment, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has agreed to provide the financial and technical assistance needed to implement nutrition projects, school meal programs for children, agriculture sector modernisation project, digitalisation efforts, and livestock development programs in SL. This commitment was affirmed during a meeting more..

Dec 14 (GV) According to the Institute for Health Policy’s (IHP) SLOTS polling conducted in November, 25% of SL adults believed the country was heading in the right direction while 16% expressed uncertainty about its trajectory. However the majority, 59%, still thinks the country is heading in the wrong direction. There was a temporary boost in optimism in the days immediately after the presidential election but since then this has subsided. more..

Dec 14 (DM) The private sector of SL plays a prominent role in enabling corruption within the public sector of the country, a recent study conducted on corruption by Transparency International SL (TISL) found. The research identified the private sector as the supply side of corruption in SL, noting that the highest probability of corruption within the private sector occurs when the private entities engage with the public entities. The private companies often resort to offering more..

Dec 14 (ST) A 500-page Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) report says SLPA’s proposed Galle Port Development Project will adversely affect the coral reefs in Rumassala Marine Sanctuary (RMS). The project aims to create a fully fledged tourist port with 44.97 hectares of reclaimed land for recreational and tourism real estate investments. Colombo Port City-style reclamation project includes a 150-metre berth for passenger cruise ships and superyachts more..

Dec 14 (DN) Today marks Unduvap Poya, the final full moon of the year, celebrated in the month of December—a time that also commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. This sacred day reminds us of the shared spiritual essence across traditions, as both Buddhism and Christianity emphasize love, compassion, and the value of life. Princess Sanghamitta was a charming and accomplished young woman, only sixteen years old when she married Prince Aggribrahama. more..

Dec 14 (DN) Charith Asalanka smashed an explosive 56 off 24 balls, with 5 fours and 5 sixes, as Jaffna Titans cruised to a comfortable 40-run win over Colombo Jaguars in the Lanka T-10 Super League on Thursday. The match, held at Pallekele, was the only game played on the second day (12). Asalanka was named Player of the Match for his match-winning knock. This was Jaffna Titans’ second consecutive win, during which they registered the highest team total so far in the tournament, more..

Dec 14 (ST) The high number of rejected votes in the recently concluded parliamentary elections has drawn the attention of EC. “The community and political party members showed great interest in understanding why votes were rejected in the last parliamentary elections, so I requested that the sealed document containing the report be opened to examine the exact reasons behind the rejection of ballot papers,” more..

Dec 14 (DM) Less than four months ago,, the results of this country’s Presidential election brought a smile to Lankan faces. The relatively young leader of the NPP, popularly known as AKD, was elected President. Until this time AKD had commanded just three MPs. At the General elections which followed in November, the NPP won a two-thirds majority. It left the political opposition in disarray. Under a parliamentary electoral system, one does not expect system change. more..

Dec 14 (Island) Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar has sought to address an issue that is expected to figure in talks between Prez Anura Dissanayake and Indian PM Narendra Modi shortly. Dissanayake is scheduled to leave for India tomorrow on a state visit. Minister Chandrasekar is reported to have said the longstanding fisheries dispute between SL and India could be resolved only if the Indian fishers stop bottom-trawling. A prerequisite for solving any problem is to more..

Dec 14 (ST) One of the Twitter messages posted by the US Prez Donald Trump caught the international media attention this week. The message reads as follows: “The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER. We require a commitment from these countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100 per cent tariffs, and should expect to more..

Dec 14 (ST) Deflation? The only word I understand is deflating a cycle tyre, laughed Kalabala Silva, the often-agitated academic. During a Thursday morning phone conversation, we were discussing the latest economic term to describe the country’s economy. Last week, the Central Bank said Sri Lanka had entered an era of deflation. There are three terms that govern rising or falling prices via the Cost of Living (COL) – inflation (when prices rise), deflation (short definition – when prices fall) more..

Dec 14 (ST) In September 2008, UPFA Kegalle District MP Anuruddha Polgampola tendered his resignation following allegations of trafficking a person to Japan by disguising his assistant. He had also been interrogated by Japanese Immigration and Emigration officials at Narita International Airport. The MP resigned in accordance with a decision by the JVP Central Committee. He was instructed to vacate his seat due to his alleged more..

Dec 14 (CT) Effective communication plays a vital role in governance. If communication is clear and effective, it contributes to promoting transparency and building trust between those holding power and the people who are being served. It helps citizens to better understand the policies and decisions of govts, thus fostering a sense of accountability. For any govt to function smoothly and efficiently and make decisions so that everyone benefits, the trust of its citizens is essential. more..

Dec 14 (CT) The Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has announced public consultations on electricity tariffs for January to June 2025. Starting on 17 Dec, this process gives people a chance to share their views on the CEB's proposal to keep tariffs at current levels. This consultation is not just a bureaucratic step but an opportunity for citizens to weigh in on decisions that directly affect their lives. For many, the CEB’s proposal to keep rates unchanged is disappointing. more..

Dec 14 (DM) The current controversy surrounding Speaker Ashoka Ranwala’s higher educational qualifications evoke memories of an earlier controversy of a similar nature concerning a prominent person associated with the LTTE. The rumpus then was about the LTTE political strategist Anton Stanislaus Balasingham who was frequently referred to as Dr. Balasingham in the media. This was widely disputed by members of more..

Dec 14 (Island) As I have said with great relief before this, news in our land is good and actually excellent when compared with what spurts forth from other countries. The new government seems to be going seriously about its business of looking to the welfare of you, me, and more so our poorer brethren. Recent news of int'l gatherings had foreign VIPs voice their satisfaction in the way the country’s new leaders are settling down to their governing. What’s with the world then? more..

Dec 14 (DM) The moral high ground occupied by NPP govt has been threatened by the issues surrounding the title Dr. used by Speaker Asoka Sapumal Ranwala after many people started questioning and challenging the authenticity of it. The sudden eruption of this controversy seems to have left the NPP at a loss and even an otherwise witty Minister Nalinda Jayatissa who is also holding the same title but in the medical field, evaded the questions posed by the journalists on more..