Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia have officially established the Sri Lanka–Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council, marking a major step toward deepening bilateral economic cooperation. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath announced the launch, describing it as a “historic milestone” in strengthening economic ties between the two nations. The Council was formed…
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, met with senior executives of Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, a major healthcare provider in the Middle East. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Minister noted that he toured one of the group’s advanced medical facilities, which integrates cutting-edge…
Sri Lanka is launching a national initiative today (November 9) to distribute 500,000 coconut plants to households across the country, aiming to strengthen rural livelihoods and promote home-based coconut cultivation. The official ceremony will take place in Uhana, Ampara, under the patronage of Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyaratne, alongside Deputy Minister of…
Sri Lanka will issue its first digital identity cards in the third quarter of 2026, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced. He assured the public that personal data will be securely protected, despite concerns raised by some groups. The President highlighted several initiatives underway to support the country’s shift toward a digital economy, including the Sri…
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced during the 2026 Budget Speech that Sri Lanka has received USD 823 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as of September 2025. He noted that the government aims to attract further investment by introducing investor-friendly policies. In addition, a new State Enterprise Management Act is expected to be presented to…
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reaffirmed that the current government will remain in office through 2028 and will continue to honor the country’s foreign debt commitments. Presenting the 2026 Budget in Parliament, the President said the government is implementing a program aimed at securing long-term debt sustainability. He noted that Sri Lanka is…
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the government aims to maintain inflation below 5 percent as part of its broader economic stabilization plan. He noted that state revenue is expected to reach 16 percent of GDP by the end of the year, reflecting ongoing fiscal reforms. The President also said the country’s official reserve…
Sri Lanka plans to launch a wide-reaching housing development programme in 2026 aimed at supporting families from all social and economic backgrounds who are struggling with housing challenges. The initiative seeks to respond to a variety of growing pressures, including low incomes, limited access to land, rising construction costs, migration trends, informal urban expansion, displacement,…
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced plans to rebuild the country’s weakened state administrative system by launching a large-scale recruitment drive and introducing new welfare measures for public sector employees. The announcement was made during the presentation of the 2026 Budget in Parliament. President Dissanayake noted that the public service has faced long-term challenges…
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to expand investment ties and explore new port connectivity initiatives as part of efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation. The commitments were made during the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), held in Colombo on Thursday — the first such meeting in eight years. Co-chaired by the foreign secretaries…
