Category: Local News

Sri Lanka’s official unemployment rate climbed, raising serious concerns for the policymakers, as the economic crisis is taking a severe toll on jobs, with many small and medium-sized businesses are either closing down or pushed to the brink amid elevated input costs, interest rates and decline in demand.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has reached a decision as to which Local Government institutions it will contest under the party’s “Hand” symbol and those it will contest under the “Helicopter” symbol of the Freedom People’s Alliance.

The Cabinet paper presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the provision of 10 kg of rice per month for two million low income families, including Samurdhi beneficiaries for a period of two months, has been approved.

The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has issued an order prohibiting a group of protesters from entering the Galle Face green in Colombo from Lipton’s Circus via Union Place today (January 16).

The 43rd Brigade led by Parliamentarian Patali Champika Ranawaka, and the Nawa Lanka Freedom Party led by Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama entered into an agreement to contest together in the upcoming Local Government Election.

A severe fragmentation of the global economy after decades of increasing economic integration could reduce global economic output by up to 7%, but the losses could reach 8-12% in some countries, if technology is also decoupled, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a new staff report.

External Affairs Minister of India, S. Jaishankar’s visit to Colombo on Thursday will focus on “supporting Sri Lanka” in its current economic crisis, government sources said, adding that talks are ongoing in the field of energy security, food security, currency swap arrangements as well as talks about restructuring Sri Lanka’s debt. The two-day visit is expected to see some announcements.

Former Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said today (January 16) that he will collect and pay the compensation to the victims of Easter Sunday attacks, as ordered by the Supreme Court, with the help of his close friends.

Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha says that he has tendered his resignation from the party and the positions he holds within the party.

Sri Lanka has decided to postpone the implementation of new COVID-19 protocols for tourists arriving in the island.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that this year’s ‘Thai Pongal’ is a celebration with added significance, considering the bumper harvest of the current ‘Maha’ Season, from which the entire nation will benefit.

46 Sri Lankans who were arrested by the authorities of the Réunion Island of France were repatriated to Sri Lanka by air yesterday evening (January 13).

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasised the need of working within one policy framework by all while facing the economic difficulties the country is confronted with, President’s Media Division (PMD) said.

Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena instructed the Motor Traffic Commissioner to take the necessary action to use online technology to submit the photos for driving licences and vehicle registration.

COVID-19 Vaccination Card is mandatory for all tourists entering Sri Lanka with effect from Saturday (January 14), the Ministry of Health said.

Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church urged the country Friday to criminally prosecute its former leader for negligence, a day after the top court ordered him to pay compensation to the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks that killed nearly 270 people.