Category: Local News

Sri Lanka’s acting finance minister says positive progress in securing second IMF tranche

Negotiations to secure the second tranche of funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Sri Lanka are progressing positively, Acting Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe announced.



Sri Lanka Navy seizes Kerala cannabis worth over Rs. 33 million in Karainagar

A special search operation conducted by Sri Lanka Navy in the beach area of Pumattei on the Karainagar Island, Jaffna in the dark hours of Wednesday (September 27) has led to the seizure of a dinghy loaded with over 100 kg (wet weight) of Kerala cannabis.



Some Sri Lanka creditors seeking debt restructuring deal without China

Some members on the committee of Sri Lanka’s official creditors are pushing to reach a deal to restructure the nation’s debt without the participation of China, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday citing people familiar with the matter.



SriLankan Airlines partners with Virgin Australia

SriLankan Airlines has entered into a first-ever interline partnership with Virgin Australia that will strengthen the airline’s network in Australia and offer customers extensive connections across the land down under and beyond.



Sri Lanka to launch campaigns to attract 1.5 million tourists – proposal to create non-sleeping cities

Sri Lanka’s Minister of State for Tourism Diana Gamage announced plans to launch promotional campaigns aimed at attracting 1.5 million foreign tourists to Sri Lanka by the year’s end.



Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence announces updates to licensing conditions for private security agencies

In compliance with the provisions of the Private Security Agencies Regularization Act No. 45 of 1998, the Ministry of Defence has taken steps to update the licensing conditions for the regulation and registration of private security agencies currently registered under the Ministry of Defence.



Despite signs of stabilization, full economic recovery not yet assured – IMF Mission

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission team concluding its visit to Sri Lanka said that despite early signs of stabilization, full economic recovery is not yet assured.



Sri Lankan President leaves for Germany

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe left for Germany this morning (September 27) for a four-day state visit.



Trains delayed on coastal line due to derailment near Kollupitiya

A train derailed on the coastal line between Kollupitiya and Bambalapitiya this morning (September 27), causing a delay in operations on the coastal line, the Railways Department said.



Sri Lanka’s revenue shortfall concerns IMF team – sources

The International Monetary Fund is concerned about a shortfall in revenue collection by Sri Lanka’s government this year, though that is unlikely to derail a $2.9 billion loan programme for the crisis-hit country, two Sri Lankan sources told Reuters.



Airman killed, another injured in explosion at Kandakuliya Air Force Training Camp

An Airman has been killed and another injured following an explosion at the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Field Firing Range in Kandakuliya, Kalpitiya a short while ago (September 26), Sri Lanka Police said.



Permission not given to Chinese ship to dock, India’s concerns important: Sabry

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on Monday said that Colombo has not given permission to a Chinese vessel to dock, adding that Indian security concerns are “important” for Sri Lanka.



S&P raises Sri Lanka local currency ratings to ‘CCC+/C’, says outlook stable

S&P Global Ratings on Monday (Sept. 25) raised its long- and short-term local currency sovereign credit ratings on Sri Lanka to ‘CCC+/C’ from ‘SD/SD’ (selective default).



Sri Lanka President expresses dissatisfaction with country’s current education system

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for a fresh analysis of the life and character of King Sitawaka Rajasingha, a courageous and patriotic king of historical significance.



Chinese model breaks U.S. hegemony: former Sri Lankan diplomat

The reason why the United States sees China as an ever-bigger threat is not just because of its status as the world’s second-largest economy.



Former Senior DIG Lalith Jayasinghe sentenced to 5 years in prison

Former Senior DIG Lalith Jayasinghe was sentenced to five years in prison over interfering with the police investigations, by the Ratnapura High Court.