Category: Local News

The International Monetary Fund said its approval for a $2.9 billion loan to bail out crisis-riddled Sri Lanka will depend on the island nation securing assurances on debt relief from its bilateral creditors.

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that the main reason for the current electricity crisis is the non-construction of power plants as per the National Power Generation Plan after the construction of Norochcholai Coal Power Plant in 2014.

SriLankan Airlines is to renew its commercial operations to China in the first week of April 2023, with a thrice weekly service each to Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou as China reopens its borders.

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa revealed that the money found by the protesters in the President’s House in Colombo on July 09, 2022 was his personal money and that it was due to be distributed among the people.

Only the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) can solve the issues faced by the people, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday (February 08) addressing a rally at Gelioya.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate has informed the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) that there is no need for a warrant to arrest State Minister Diana Gamage if she has violated the Immigration and Emigration Act.

A.H.M. Fowzie was sworn in as a Member of the Parliament of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) when the parliamentary session commenced this morning (February 09).

Sri Lanka Government has issued a circular exempting employees from paying PAYE tax on non-cash benefits such as for vehicles, fuel allowances, housing and medical benefits which have been provided to employees at their places of employment.

Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to grow again from the end of this year and the government hopes the country will emerge from an economic crisis by 2026, the president said on Wednesday, as hundreds protested a recent rise in taxes amid high inflation.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe ceremonially declared open the fourth session of the ninth Parliament and delivered the Government Policy Statement today (February 08).

Several trade unions in Sri Lanka have decided to go on strike today (February 08), in protest of the government’s new tax policy and its failure to address the shortage of medicines in the country.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe spoke to Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday (February 07) and extended his support for the people of Turkey and offered assistance to the country.

The Paris Club Creditors have provided the required financing assurances to support the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) approval for the Extended Fund Facility for Sri Lanka.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has accepted the letter of resignation tendered by Member of the Election Commission P.S.M. Charles, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Two Emergency telephone numbers have been set up by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara to inquire about or provide information on the Sri Lankans living in Turkey where two powerful earthquakes and a multitude of aftershocks killed more than 4,300 people.

Sri Lanka had about 750 schools, where only about two children each entered Grade One classes each year, JVP-lead NPP leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, said in Matale yesterday (February 06).