Category: Local News

Nine new Cabinet Ministers have been sworn in before Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this morning (May 20).

An International Monetary Fund virtual mission to Sri Lanka is expected to conclude technical talks on a potential IMF loan program to the crisis-wracked South Asian country on May 24, Fund spokesman Gerry Rice said on Thursday.

Sri Lanka will lower the maximum amount of foreign currency that individuals can possess to $10,000 from $15,000 and penalize anyone who holds it for more than three months, the central bank announced Thursday

Sri Lanka’s Education Ministry has decided to close all government and government-approved private schools tomorrow (May 20) owing to the current fuel crisis.

Sri Lanka fell into default for the first time in its history as the government struggles to halt an economic meltdown that prompted mass protests and a political crisis.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) protesters near the World Trade Centre at the Galle Face Green.

Some parliamentarians requested from the Speaker to make arrangements for them to stay at a hotel during the parliamentary week unless arrangements were made for them to obtain fuel to attend Parliament sessions, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene said today (May 19).

Price of a loaf of 450g bread will be increased by Rs.30 with effect from midnight today (May 19), the Association of Bakery Owners.

Sri Lankan authorities have decided to suspend the issuing of fuel from the filling station of Narahenpita Police Transport Division to vehicles of parliamentarians following public outcry.

Prima Ceylon (Pvt) Limited has increased the price of wheat flour by Rs. 40 per kilogram.

Sri lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that non-essential public sector employees should not report for duty tomorrow (May 20) to mitigate the fuel crisis.

Jagath Samarawickrama was sworn in as a Member of Parliament today (May 19) before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Sri Lankans, whose real incomes are getting hammered on a daily basis from soaring inflation, have turned to their credit cards, as there was a significant jump in the outstanding balance of credit cards in March from a month ago, when the financial and economic misery became more pronounced.

The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at the current levels of 13.50 percent and 14.50 percent, respectively.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has recorded statements from MPs Rohitha Abeygunawardena, C.B. Ratnayake and Sanjeewa Edirimanne regarding the incidents that took place outside Temple Trees (Maina Go Gama) and in Galle Face (Gota Go Gama) on May 09.

The Office of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister to slash its expenses by 50 percent under the directive issued by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.