Traders operating five major economic centres have strongly opposed a Government proposal to transfer their administration to a newly established company, warning of resistance if the move proceeds without consultation.
Continue Reading
Sri Lanka must adopt far-reaching economic reforms to convert its post-crisis stabilisation into long-term, investment-led growth, ODI Senior Fellow Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja said at the Asia Securities Investor Conference 2026.
Continue Reading
Sri Lanka is grappling with a severe shortage of raw cashew nuts as prolonged bureaucratic delays disrupt imports and strain local supply chains. Industry stakeholders warn that restrictive import licensing often valid for only three months—has rendered timely procurement nearly impossible. Repeated postponements in issuing licenses during the 2025 off-season have left factories without raw materials, despite rising consumer and …
Continue Reading
The Sri Lanka–United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce in London, together with the Sri Lanka High Commission in the UK, hosted a panel discussion on strengthening bilateral trade relations at the High Commission in London on 27 January 2026.
Continue Reading
Sri Lanka’s failure to appoint a permanent Auditor General since April 2025 has led to severe disruptions in national audit operations and parliamentary oversight, raising concerns over governance and donor-funded reforms. Following the retirement of Auditor General Chulantha Wickramaratne, the National Audit Office has functioned under acting arrangements for over nine months, weakening its authority and delaying audit reports.
Continue Reading
Part 2 Beyond governance failures, the economic picture remained deeply troubling as 2025 drew to a close. Poverty levels hovered stubbornly around twenty-five percent. It meant one in every four households faced food insecurity. Parents struggled to feed their children. Families made impossible choices between medicine and meals. The promise of economic relief that helped propel the NPP to power …
Continue Reading
Community savings and credit organisations have raised strong objections to the proposed Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill, warning that it could undermine long-standing grassroots financial systems.
Continue Reading
Board of Investment Chairman Arjuna Herath said Sri Lanka must push ahead with structural reforms to attract between $2 billion and $2.3 billion in foreign direct investment, stressing that the country cannot compete with larger economies on fiscal concessions.
Continue Reading
The Government’s assistance programmes for MSMEs affected by Cyclone Ditwah came under scrutiny at a recent parliamentary seminar, amid criticism that recovery support has been slow to reach affected businesses.
Continue Reading
The former Chairperson of Lanka Coal (Private) Limited is to be summoned before the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development over concerns regarding low-quality coal imports used for electricity generation.
Continue Reading