Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved the 2026 national budget, which will be presented to Parliament this afternoon (07) by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his role as Minister of Finance. The President will deliver the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, also known as the Budget Speech, at 1:30 p.m. today. This marks…
Sri Lankan President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake will present the national budget on Friday, prioritising economic reforms aimed at meeting International Monetary Fund (IMF) targets that are key for securing additional financial support and boosting investor confidence. Dissanayake came to power late last year promising to tackle corruption and rebuild the economy, which…
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Digital Economy has announced a major milestone in the nation’s digital transformation efforts, as GovPay—the government’s unified digital payment platform—has surpassed Rs. 1 billion (approximately USD 3.3 million) in transactions and onboarded more than 200 government institutions across the country. Launched in February 2025, GovPay was developed by LankaPay in collaboration…
The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) surpassed the 23,000-point mark for the first time in history, during this morning’s (04) trading session. At around 09.37 a.m. today, the index stood at 23,000.54 points.
In line with the island-wide anti-drug operation being conducted under the theme “Nation United – National Drive” to eradicate narcotics, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) has introduced a new 24-hour hotline. The ‘1818’ hotline, established at the request of the national anti-drug initiative, enables the public to provide accurate and timely information…
Sri Lanka has officially signed the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime (UNCC) in Hanoi, Viet Nam—joining the global community’s collective effort to combat cybercrime and promote a safer digital environment. The signing, approved by Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers, followed a joint proposal from the Ministry of Digital Economy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of…
Sri Lanka’s total government revenue, excluding grants, recorded a substantial increase during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to a new report released by the Ministry of Finance. The report reveals that total revenue rose by 24.8%, reaching Rs. 2,321.7 billion in the first half of 2025, up…
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment has announced the launch of a new hotline — 1995 — which will become operational from tomorrow. The hotline enables the public to report any incidents of environmental damage or harm to the country’s forest systems. The initiative aims to strengthen the effectiveness of forest and wildlife conservation efforts…
LONDON, United Kingdom – A high-level delegation from the Parliament of Sri Lanka is on a four-day official visit to the United Kingdom this week under the theme “Partners through Parliament” Governance Exchange, aimed at strengthening parliamentary collaboration and advancing good governance. The delegation, led by Hon. (Dr) Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker of Parliament, includes Hon….
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, announced that the government is taking steps to grant voting rights to Sri Lankans working overseas. Speaking at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment on October 27, Minister Herath stated that the Ministry of Public…
