The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is looking for a strong budget and narrower deficit from Sri Lanka as it seeks funding to bridge the gap between government revenue and expenditure, the IMF mission chief for the country said on Friday.

China is willing to offer assistance to Sri Lanka without political conditions and buy more of its exports, President Xi Jinping told his Sri Lankan counterpart on Friday in Beijing, state media said.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has granted approval for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to increase electricity tariffs by 18% with effect from today (October 20).

Sri Lanka and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the first review of US $ 3 billion, 48-month, Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

Chinese Finance Minister, Liu Kun, has reaffirmed China’s commitment to extend comprehensive support for the implementation of a medium-term and long-term program that is mutually beneficial to both parties and aimed at optimizing Sri Lanka’s debt.

Former Parliamentarian Vijayakala Maheswaran was released by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court from a case relating to a controversial statement she had made in 2018.

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Ajith Mannapperuma was suspended from Parliament for four weeks as per Standing Order 77(3) for grabbing the mace in Parliament.

A dedicated investment zone will be established for the fishing industry in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, Minister of State for Fisheries Piyal Nishantha announced.

Sri Lanka’s new proposed counter-terrorism legislation does not go far enough to remedy the defects of the country’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), UN experts said today (October 18), urging the Government to ensure the new law meets international human rights standards.

Sri Lanka is close to reaching a vital staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund to get funding, while it’s also assessing debt restructuring terms from foreign holders of its dollar bonds, according to junior Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe.

Sri Lanka’s president on Wednesday said debt relief for low-income countries should be part of the green transition and inaction on debt could pose an existential threat to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed the Sri Lanka Parliament this morning (October 18) that the Supreme Court has received 45 petitions against the Online Safety Bill.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to grant service extension of 03 weeks to Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne, despite the rejection of the Constitutional Council.

Chinese tech giant Huawei technologies has expressed its willingness to support an annual study programme aimed at nurturing software and hardware engineers in Sri Lanka.