Category: Local News

Dutch museums will return art and artifacts that were looted from Sri Lanka and Indonesia

Two Dutch museums are handing hundreds of cultural artifacts back to Indonesia and Sri Lanka from a richly decorated cannon to precious metals and jewelry that were taken, often by force, in the colonial era.



Prices of cement manufactured in Sri Lanka to be reduced from today (July 06)

Prices of 50 kg cement bags manufactured in Sri Lanka will be reduced from Rs. 2,600 to Rs. 2,300 with effect from today (July 06).



Laugfs Gas reduces domestic gas cylinder prices from tonight (July 06)

Laugfs Gas PLC has decided to reduce the prices of domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders with effect from midnight today (July 06).



Fitch Downgrades Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Local-Currency IDR to ‘C’

Fitch Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Local-Currency (LTLC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘C’ from ‘CC’. The issue ratings on local-currency bonds have also been downgraded to ‘C’ from ‘CC’.



Sri Lankan Rupee appreciates against U.S. Dollar on July 06, 2023

The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) has appreciated against the US dollar (USD) today (July 06), according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).



Ceylon Electricity Board restructuring by September – Power sector entities to be run separately

The Sri Lankan Government intends to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) by September 2023, instead of running all the related entities under one institution and will run all related entities separately, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said.



Analysis: A year later, Sri Lanka’s tentative economic recovery eludes the poor

A year after angry Sri Lankans stormed the president’s residence and forced his ouster during a meltdown of the economy, the island’s streets are calm, there are no serpentine queues at fuel stations and hours-long power cuts have ended.



Sri Lanka’s Central Bank further reduces policy interest rates

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has decided to reduce the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank by 200 basis points (bps) to 11.00 per cent and 12.00 per cent, respectively.



Nathasha Edirisooriya released on bail

Nathasha Edirisooriya, who was arrested over her remarks on Buddhism, was released on bail today (July 05).



Sri Lanka Cabinet approved proposal to decide timeframe to reactivate Light Railway Transit project

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday (July 04) approved the proposal to decide on a time frame to enter into an agreement with the Japanese mission in Colombo on reactivating the discussions on the proposed Light Railway Transit (LRT) project.



Fried rice and Kottu prices in Sri Lanka dropped by 10% from July 05

Fried rice and Kottu prices in Sri Lanka will be reduced by 10% with effect from today (July 05).



Global Peace Index 2023: Sri Lanka ranked 107 and Iceland ranked 1

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) has published the 2023 Global Peace Index (GPI), compiling the annual ranking of the most peaceful countries in the world.



Sri Lanka’s domestic debt plan a significant step for resolving bank uncertainty – Fitch

The Sri Lankan government’s proposal for treatment of domestic debt marks a significant step towards resolving uncertainties around the impact of the sovereign’s debt restructuring on the local banking sector, but complications may arise from a number of factors, says Fitch Ratings.



Sri Lankan Rupee appreciates against U.S. Dollar

The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) has appreciated against the US dollar (USD) today (July 04), according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).



Sri Lanka receives 1st disbursement of US$ 250 million from World Bank

Sri Lanka has received the 1st disbursement of US$ 250 million out of US$ 500 million for budget support from the World Bank, State Minister of Finance Sehan Semasinghe said today (July 04).



Litro gas prices reduced from tonight (July 04)

Litro Gas Lanka has reduced the prices of domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders with effect from midnight today (July 04).