Sri Lanka court suspends government’s tax hikes – media

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Monday temporarily suspended government tax hikes that came into effect on May 2 because they had not yet been approved by the parliament.



Namal Rajapaksa arrested

Hambantota District MP and former President’s son Namal Rajapaksa has been arrested by the Financial Investigation Division a short while ago on Monday (11), an official said.



President opens renovated Batticaloa Airport

By landing at the Sri Lanka Air Force station Batticaloa in a SLAF MA-60, President Maithripala Sirisena declared open the renovated Batticaloa runway yesterday (10th July).



On Special Duty Free permit Vehicles for 225 MPs to arrive

The vehicles of all 225 parliamentarians purchased using the special duty free permit provided to them is to arrive in the country within three to four months, Ministers Nimal Lansa and Thalatha Athukorale said.



Mahendran To Get Post In Ministry?

Former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran is to be given a post in the Economic Affairs Ministry.



COPE splits over TB issue

A clear divide among the members of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) was seen last week, with regard to the Treasury Bond (TB) scandal and former Central Bank (CB) Governor Arjuna Mahendran…



China promises to help Sri Lanka become a shipping hub

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday his country will align its maritime silk road project with Sri Lanka’s development plans to enable the island nation to become a shipping hub in the Indian Ocean.



Media responsibility is to provide balanced information – President

President Maithripala Sirisena made an inspection visit to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC), yesterday (07).



Cancel foreign tours

President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed Ministers to cancel all foreign tours for one month and stay in the country to respond to public demands, it is learnt.



President and PM get tough on VAT enforcement

Under fire from rapidly increasing prices, the President and Prime Minister plan to cut costs on essential goods through a combination of efforts including appointing a special ministerial committee, gazetting fresh price controls on 10 foods and deploying 1,500 officials to enforce controls countrywide.



Sri Lanka says it will create court to probe war abuses

Sri Lanka’s government plans to set up a special court by next year to hear allegations of abuses during the country’s decades-long civil war, the foreign minister said Wednesday.



Id-ul-Fithar, universal declaration of equality – President

President Maithripala Sirisena said the period of fasting practiced in Islam could be described as a noble quality of self-sacrifice.



Ramazan brings co-existence, sharing, and harmony for all – PM

Ramazan brings a message of peaceful co-existence, sharing and harmony to all, said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe.



Sri Lanka rupee edges down on dollar demand by importers

The Sri Lankan rupee ended weaker in one-week forwards on Tuesday as late importer dollar demand surpassed greenback sales by a foreign bank, while the market waited for a policy statement from the new central bank governor, dealers said.



Will adopt transparent tax scheme instead of hidden tax agenda – PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says that a decision was reached that the citizens of Sri Lanka should be involved in the country’s economy and decision making process by implementing a transparent tax scheme instead of a hidden tax agenda.



President promises fair solution to VAT issue

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday promised that an uncomplicated decision will be taken on the VAT system following further talks with all stakeholders.