Nov 9 (TM) Presenting the second budget of the JVP-led NPP Govt on Friday, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) firmly stated that the country would not face another economic crisis come 2028, as predicted by Opposition parties. He said the Govt would not allow the country to slide back into a crisis. The 2026 Budget seemed focused mostly on development and increasing investments, while the provision of relief to the masses, more..

Nov 9 (CT) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Budget 2026, presented on November 7, 2025, signals a clear shift from crisis management to strategic economic transformation. The main message is that fiscal consolidation and inclusive development are not opposing priorities but essential, interconnected elements for long-term national resilience. The budget successfully navigates the challenging dual mandate of meeting international fiscal requirements (IMF targets) more..

Nov 9 (CT) SL’s 2026 Budget arrives with the air of cautious optimism, though perhaps a little too cautious for a nation still struggling to regain its economic footing. After years of hardship and painful adjustment, the public might have expected a more decisive vision, one that goes beyond stabilising spreadsheets and speaks directly to people’s lived realities. Instead, what we see is a document that talks of balance and recovery but often feels more like a holding operation; more..

Nov 9 (CT) In unveiling his maiden Budget, Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake did more than read out a set of fiscal projections. He delivered a political statement, draped in restraint and conviction — a declaration that the NPP govt could marry compassion with competence, and equity with efficiency. The Budget, therefore, is not just an economic document but a test of political credibility. For a country still bearing the scars of the more..

Nov 9 (TM) While Budget 2026 will go down as a masterclass in political performance, it failed where it matters most: policy. Fifteen months later and into its second budget, the NPP Govt stands accused not of breaking the old political mould, but of perfecting it: replacing policy with performance, promises with posturing, and governance with grandstanding. The past 15 months have revealed one undeniable truth, the NPP’s leadership is blessed with extraordinary performance skills. more..

Nov 9 (SO) As President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in his Budget 2026 speech on Friday, Sri Lanka has spent US$ 1.3 billion on vehicle imports since the personal car import ban was lifted in February this year. In terms of the number of vehicles imported, this is equivalent to around 60,000 cars and other vehicles (including three wheelers) and more than 100,000 motorcycles and scooters. While this seems to be a high volume for a small island like Sri Lanka, more..

Nov 8 (FT) President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday in Parliament presented a Budget for 2026 and beyond delivering broadly beneficial measures to the people, public and private sectors, all of whom are key stakeholders. In tandem with the President’s 2026 Budget presentation in Parliament which lasted four hours, Treasury also released a public-friendly version titled Citizens Budget. more..

Nov 8 (FT) Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday accused the Govt of betraying public trust through a Budget that offers no tangible relief to the people, claiming it appears to have been scripted by a top official of the IMF. Speaking to journalists following the presentation of Budget 2026 in Parliament, he said the Govt had failed to deliver on its promises and had instead abandoned citizens struggling with the cost of living. “This is a two-tongued Govt. more..

Nov 8 (FT) The 2026 Budget presented yesterday by President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Disanayake has given a big boost for Sri Lanka’s aspiration of becoming a digital economy. The Govt will invest Rs. 35.6 billion to advance digitisation across the country with Disanayake expecting these measures to promote inclusive digital access. The President said Sri Lanka has a high potential to emerge as a regional hub for setting up data centres. “There are many crucial steps that more..

Nov 8 (FT) President Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday wooed foreign investors with the 2026 Budget presented in Parliament. An investor is an asset to us, President said during his speech and added Sri Lanka will continue to attract foreign investment through a transparent and rules-based mechanism. He said that the NPP Govt has changed the way Sri Lanka looks at foreign investors and their attitude. more..

Nov 8 (EN) Sri Lanka’s debt service in 2025 amounts to US$ 2,435 million of which 1,948 million dollars has been paid by September, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. “Another US$ 487 million is to be paid by Dec 31 of this year,” Prez said. In 2024, SL serviced debt of 1,674 million dollars, he said. There is a narrative that SL’s debt repayment will begin in 2028. SL’s Treasury at the moment uses new loans from multilaterals and reserves from the central bank to repay debt. more..

Nov 8 (FT) The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) yesterday welcomed the Govt’s 2026 Budget, recognising its emphasis on export-led growth, investment facilitation, and continued macroeconomic stability. It said the industry body commended the clear direction towards strengthening SL’s external sector and building investor confidence, while also urging consistent implementation of reforms to sustain momentum. The apparel industry, SL’s largest industrial more..

Nov 8 (EN) Sri Lanka will reduce the threshold for VAT to 36 million rupees a year from the current 60 million rupees, effective April next year, according to a budget for 2026. Some businesses which were splitting their businesses in two avoid paying VAT will be brought in to the VAT by reducing the threshold, he said. The maximum import duty rate will be raised from 20% to 30%, though para tariffs will be phased out. SL has high protectionist taxes made up of import duties, CES and PAL, more..

Nov 8 (FT) The Colombo stock market ended the week on a positive note yesterday, with both key indices rising sharply as investors reacted favourably to the Budget presented by Prez and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Disanayake. The benchmark ASPI gained by 0.98% or 225 points and the active S&P SL20 by 1.13%. During the week, the ASPI and the S&P SL20 gained 2.3% and 2.7% respectively. Turnover yesterday was Rs. 6.7 billion whilst the average for the week was Rs. 5.73 billion. more..

Nov 8 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Krishan Balendra last night hailed Budget 2026 as a continuation of the country’s post-crisis fiscal discipline and stability, describing it as a key turning point that could usher in a new era of sustained low inflation, stable interest rates and renewed investor confidence. Speaking at a post-Budget panel discussion organised by EY SL for the 25th consecutive year, more..

Nov 8 (FT) Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) has appointed Riyaaz Rasheed as its new CEO. In a professional career spanning over 34 years, Rasheed counts 29 years in the field of telecommunications, working for subsidiaries of multinational corporations like Millicom International Cellular SA of Luxemburg (Millicom), Emirates Telecommunication Group Company PJSC (Etisalat) and CK Hutchison Group (Hutchison). Rasheed started his professional career at Ernst & Young. more..

Nov 8 (AD) The Ape Janabala Party (Our Power of People Party) has decided to extend its support to the current govt. This was announced in a statement issued by the party’s General Secretary, Chinthaka Weerakoon. According to the statement, the supreme council of the party has decided to offer its full cooperation to the current govt led by the National People’s Power (NPP). It further noted that the party has also decided to support the NPP in the upcoming elections. more..

Nov 8 (FT) Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s transforming how industries operate, innovate, and grow. The SLASSCOM AI Asia Summit 2025, themed AI in Action, scheduled for 12 Nov at Cinnamon Grand will spotlight how AI is driving measurable transformation across sectors. Bringing together global pioneers and local changemakers,it will explore how Sri Lanka can lead in responsible, scalable AI innovation. SLASSCOM Board Director Arjuna Sirinanda more..

Nov 8 (NW) SL Police have introduced two hotlines to obtain assistance from the Police Official Canine Division for drug inspections and searches conducted at the school level. National program A United Nation (Ratama Ekata) is being implemented across all state institutions for the eradication of the drug menace that has spread throughout the country. As part of this national program, a special operation to uproot drug networks is being carried out across all provinces more..

Nov 8 (FT) Prez and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday wooed foreign investors with the 2026 Budget presented in Parliament. “An investor is an asset to us,” the President said during his speech and added SL will continue to attract foreign investment through a transparent and rules-based mechanism. He said that NPP Govt has changed the way SL looks at foreign investors and their attitude. more..

Nov 8 (FT) The 3-day INFOTEL 2025, organised by the Federation of Information Technology Industry SL (FITIS) opened yesterday at the BMICH. This year’s theme, Fuelling the Digital Economy, captures the essence of the moment. It is both a rallying call and a roadmap, urging every sector of the economy to embrace digitalization as the engine of national progress. Over the years, INFOTEL has evolved from a technology exhibition into a strategic platform for policy dialogue, industry innovation, more..

Nov 8 (DN) Sri Lanka led by Lahiru Madushanka lost their both matches against Hong Kong and Bangladesh in Hong Kong sixes cricket tournament played at Tin Kwong Road Recreation ground yesterday. The defending champion SL played in the Pool ‘D’ first match against host Hong Kong but SL batsman failed to make challenging total and scored 79 in their six overs with opener Thanuka Dabare being the only successful batter scoring 26 in 10 balls with 4 sixes added 42 runs opening more..

Nov 8 (CBC) A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty to murdering four children, their mother and a close family friend in a mass stabbing in Ottawa last year. Febrio De Zoysa has also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder for his attack on the father of the family, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, who was seriously injured. At the time of the stabbings on March 6, 2024, De Zoysa was a 19-year-old int'l student living with more..

Nov 8 (ST) Ambassador (Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha, former Foreign Secretary of SL, has been appointed Executive Director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS). As a career member of the SL Foreign Service, he previously served as SL’s Ambassador to the US; Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva; and Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union. He holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the Uni of Peradeniya; a MA in Int'l Relations more..

Nov 8 (NW) The Sri Lankan Embassy in Israel has confirmed that three Sri Lankan migrant workers have been attacked in a series of reported chemical-laced water assaults targeting foreign workers in Israel. In a statement issued from Tel Aviv, the Embassy said it had been alerted to videos and reports circulating on social media over the past few days, which claimed that foreign migrant workers were being sprayed with chemically mixed water by small groups in isolated areas. more..

Nov 8 (DN) Opener Vimoksha Balasuriya hit her third half century scoring unbeaten 50 balls 53 while off spinner Aseni Thalagune once again among the wickets taking 4 for 14 as SL U-19 women’ continued their superb display to record an easy 9 wicket win over Malaysia women’s in their fourth T -20 fixture played at NCC grounds yesterday. This was their fourth consecutive win. Led by Manudi Nanayakkara, they dominated all four games to defeat visiting Malaysia team in great style more..

Nov 8 (Island) What was mainly reflected in Budget 2026, presented by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, yesterday, in Parliament, was his govt’s commitment to keeping the IMF bailout on track. Prez spelt out how his govt intended to boost investment and carry out reforms essential for economic growth. Salary/wage hikes have been proposed but the govt would surely have gone out of its way to do much more for the state and more..

Nov 8 (ST) The fight against narcotics has shifted to a national emergency, integrating the armed forces and civilian efforts through different mechanisms to eliminate the threats of drug trafficking and addiction under a unified national mission. Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) under SSP H.M.C.P. Herath has drawn plans to support the programme with elaborate plans. Among its plans to support this project, will be the newly more..

Nov 8 (ST) The fight against narcotics has shifted to a national emergency, integrating the armed forces and civilian efforts through different mechanisms to eliminate the threats of , both local and international, will gather in Colombo next Thursday and Friday (Nov 6 and 7). Robust discussions, knowledge-sharing and addressing of region-specific challenges in combating NCDs – the bringer of illness and death – will take centre-stage at the 4th South Asia Forum (SAF) for Clinical Development. It is co-hosted by more..

Nov 8 (ST) The CIABOC has opened an investigation on the misuse of Mahapola scholarship funds. The alleged misuse of funds is reported to have taken place during the period of former Trade Minister Nalin Fernando who is currently in jail after being convicted for corruption charges. The Bribery Commission plans to record a statement from the former minister, however he had told the Commission officials that he would make a statement only after consulting his lawyers. more..

Nov 8 (DM) The group of Opposition political parties which call themselves Joint Opposition seems to have changed the theme of their rally that is scheduled to be held on Nov 21 at Nugegoda. Earlier they announced that the rally would be held to protest against NPP govt’s suppressive moves against dissenting groups including the Opposition parties. They called some of the govt’s actions Constitutional dictatorship accusing that the NPP was up to establish more..

Nov 8 (DM) Sri Lanka has come a long way since the end of armed conflict. Even though reconciliation is an immediate goal in the aftermath of a war, successive govts have taken snail-paced efforts to achieve this goal. But apart from dead and injured civilians and soldiers who are often publicised as victims of war, destroyed cities, livelihoods and the environment remains unpublicised victims of war. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) over the last 60 years, more..