People’s Bank, BoC, NSB heads reveal: Ravi asked state banks to bid at lower interest rates

Chairmen and senior officials of three major state banks––the Bank of Ceylon, the People’s Bank and the National Savings Bank–– testifying before the presidential commission of inquiry probing the bond scams yesterday said that on two occasions in 2016, the then Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake had instructed them to make bids at the treasury bond auctions at lower interest (yield) rates



Exclusive: Sri Lanka rejects Chinese request for local fuel sales

Sri Lanka has blocked a proposal by Chinese firms bidding to build the island’s biggest oil refinery to sell fuel locally, fearing a threat to domestic firms that dominate the small but growing market.



US 2019 Diversity Visa Lottery opens for Sri Lankans

The US Embassy in Colombo announced the start of the 2019 Diversity Visa Lottery Program, also known as the “Green Card” Lottery.



Local and International community lauds govt actions to protect Rohingya refugees

Minister of Ports and Shipping Mahinda Samarasinghe stated that the government has been praised by local and international bodies for the manner in which it responded to the mistreatment of the Rohingya refugees by radical groups in the nation.



Alleged misappropriation of Rs. 21 million of Brian Shaddick

The indictments filed against Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila and another accused for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 21 million following their alleged fraudulent share transaction that took place in 2000 were read out at the Colombo High Court yesterday.



President at Suraksha scheme launch : “Education a long term investment”

Suraksha, the launch of the health insurance scheme for students was seen as a historic occasion by President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday, as he hoped that it would help the 4.5 million school going children in the country.



Sri Lanka arrests Buddhist monk after protest against Rohingya Muslims

A Sri Lankan court remanded a Buddhist monk in custody on Monday after charging him with leading hardline nationalists in a protest against 31 Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers last week, forcing the refugees to flee a U.N. safe house, police said.



New Constitution will not dilute country’s unitary status: PM

The proposed new Constitution will not dilute the unitary status of Sri Lanka in any way. It will seek maximum devolution of power under a unitary state, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.



Docs threaten all-out strike if solution favours SAITM

The Secretary of the GMOA Dr Haritha Aluthge said that his organisation would go for a countrywide indefinite strike if the government tried to legalise SAITM.



PM’s World Children’s and Elders’ Day message

Children whose future lies in the world of tomorrow and the elderly who are spending the evening of their lives today, are the focus of the UN Day for Children & Elders.



President’s World Children’s and Elders’ Day messages

World Elders’ Day message: Elders are the most experienced senior community of a country. They are the persons who bestow their years of experience, knowledge and good sense to the contemporary generations, stated President Maithripala Sirisena sending a message to mark World Elders’ Day.



LIOC says fuel price hike in the offing

Due to mounting losses in the backdrop of a surge in international fuel prices, Lanka IOC said an increase in the prices of petrol and diesel is on the cards.



Army to stay in North & East – Commander Shuns claim by Wigneswaran

Army Commander Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake said that expediting the removal of Army Camps in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, is not suitable under the present circumstances.



IMF UPBEAT ON SRI LANKA’S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Sri Lanka was given a positive outlook to its economic reform program by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday.



Sri Lanka imposes tougher visa sanctions on North Koreans

Sri Lanka recently imposed enhanced visa restrictions for North Koreans entering the country in compliance with the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions against North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.



Sri Lanka’s tourism earnings pass 2 billion USD in 2017

Sri Lanka has earned over 2 billion U.S. dollars from tourism this year with steady growth in numbers, the country’s Central Bank said here on Thursday.