Category: Local News

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved plans to waive visa fees for tourists visiting Sri Lanka from seven countries.

A senior U.S. Treasury official on Monday said there were signs of “potential improvement” in sovereign debt restructuring cases and more vulnerable countries were expected to seek help, but further work was needed to accelerate the process.

Ministerial portfolios of several ministers were changed during a Cabinet reshuffle that took place this morning (October 23).

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the policy of the present government is to treat every religion equally and provide equal rights to every citizen.

China is trying to expand global military footprints, with a latest Pentagon report naming 18 countries, besides Djibouti and Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, to insist that Beijing has “probably” “considered” them as “locations for PLA (People’s Liberation Army) military logistics facilities”.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed that a Presidential Election is set to take place in 2024 in accordance with the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan businessman Lalith Kotelawala passed away at the age of 84 this morning (October 21).

The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Eheliyagoda Police station, Priyanka Silva, was found dead with gunshot injuries.

Sri Lankan traditional dancer Kalasuri, Vishwakala Keerthi Rajini Selvanayagam passed away on Friday (October 20).

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is looking for a strong budget and narrower deficit from Sri Lanka as it seeks funding to bridge the gap between government revenue and expenditure, the IMF mission chief for the country said on Friday.

China is willing to offer assistance to Sri Lanka without political conditions and buy more of its exports, President Xi Jinping told his Sri Lankan counterpart on Friday in Beijing, state media said.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has granted approval for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to increase electricity tariffs by 18% with effect from today (October 20).

Sri Lanka and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the first review of US $ 3 billion, 48-month, Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

Chinese Finance Minister, Liu Kun, has reaffirmed China’s commitment to extend comprehensive support for the implementation of a medium-term and long-term program that is mutually beneficial to both parties and aimed at optimizing Sri Lanka’s debt.

Former Parliamentarian Vijayakala Maheswaran was released by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court from a case relating to a controversial statement she had made in 2018.

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Ajith Mannapperuma was suspended from Parliament for four weeks as per Standing Order 77(3) for grabbing the mace in Parliament.