China’s grandiose global connectivity initiative — One Belt One Road (OBOR) or Belt& Road Initiative (linking China with Europe via SE Asia & C Asia through land & sea links) — which is set to receive a formal endorsement at the May 14-15

Sri Lanka’s navy intercepted a boat carrying 30 Rohingya refugees who had been living in India and two suspected Indian traffickers after they tried to enter the country illegally, police said on Monday.

Two supporters who attended the Labour Day rally of the Joint Opposition in Galle Face Green today (May 01) passed away after being rushed to hospital due to suddenly falling ill during the event.

The UNP and the SLFP will hold their May Day rallies at Campbell Park, Colombo and Getambe, Kandy, respectively as the latter contemplated disciplinary action against its dissidents in the Joint Opposition (JO) holding a separate rally.

The Sri Lanka Government claimed victory on Friday after an unexpected resolution before the European Parliament objecting to the resumption of GSP+ concessions was defeated but issues loom ahead when eventually concessions are secured.

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the country only to take part in the UN ‘Vesak Day’ celebrations and no bilateral agreements will be signed during the trip.

Sri Lanka has been a major transshipment point for Indian cargo. Trying to become a base for Chinese manufacturing and re-exporting as well could be seen as a geopolitical move by India.

The European Parliament in Brussels voted in favour of Sri Lanka by a huge margin yesterday, paving the way for restoration of GSP Plus tariff concessions.

Sri Lanka has appointed seven lead managers for a sovereign bond worth up to $1.5 billion and could tap the capital market as soon as next month, a source close to the deal said on Thursday.

Respected former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Dr. W. A. Wijaewardena yesterday said that the Treasury bond scam had caused a 10 billion-rupee loss to the government coffers alone.

Sri Lanka on Wednesday said it was confident of regaining key EU trade concessions known as the GSP plus despite concerns raised by a few members of the European Parliament.

Ceylon Electricity Board Chairman Eng. Anura Wijapala has tendered his resignation today, Power and Energy Ministry sources said.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe is expected to meet his counterpart Narendra Modi in the national capital on Wednesday

President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have proposed a special subcommittee headed by Minister Sarath Fonseka to make recommendations on how best to deal with emergency situations triggered by incidents such as disruption of the power supply, port activities and fuel distribution.

President Maithripala Sirisena’s drive to appoint new electoral organizers, replacing those with Rajapaksa loyalties, yesterday led to the sacking of former Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, MP Lohan Ratwatte and MP Anura Vidanagama.