Sri Lanka expects significant benefits from co-hosting the 2026 ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup alongside India, including enhanced international visibility and an increase in foreign tourist arrivals, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD). A planning meeting was held at the Presidential Secretariat with officials from Sri Lanka Cricket and the Secretary to the President,…
Sri Lankan lawmakers have underscored the urgent need to establish a Higher Education Commission to oversee and regulate private universities and other degree-awarding institutions in the country. The position was emphasized during a meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital, chaired by Member of Parliament Hesha Withanage. Senior Professor K….
Sri Lanka’s latest defence cooperation move with the United States has entered the public domain after the Ministry of Defence’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Montana National Guard was formally tabled in Parliament by Deputy Defence Minister Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara. The agreement, signed on November 14 at the Ministry of Defence, establishes…
Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD) reports that 200,000 new taxpayers have been added so far this year, alongside the registration of 18,000 new companies. Speaking at a media briefing, IRD Commissioner General Rukdevi Fernando said the department was assigned a revenue target 18% higher than last year — and has already surpassed expectations. “Last…
Sri Lanka has recorded its highest-ever export earnings for the January–October period, with total exports reaching USD 14,433.82 million in the first ten months of 2025, according to Sri Lanka Customs. The Export Development Board (EDB) confirmed that this is the first time the country has surpassed the USD 14 billion mark during this timeframe….
The Sri Lankan Department of Examinations has asked the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate claims that this year’s GCE Advanced Level Economics question paper was leaked ahead of the exam. The complaint was filed last week by the Deputy Commissioner of Examinations following social media reports alleging a leak.The department said it carried out…
Sri Lanka welcomed 132,783 tourists in November, according to new data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).India remained the largest source market with 31,554 visitors, accounting for 23.8% of total arrivals. Significant numbers of tourists also came from Russia (16,603), Germany (10,196), the United Kingdom (10,099) and France (5,689). With the latest November…
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Sri Lankan Parliament to review ongoing bilateral cooperation in education and cultural exchange. According to the Prime Minister’s Media Division, Ambassador Chung highlighted the progress of Peace Corps initiatives and other joint programmes that support educational development and cultural engagement…
Sri Lanka will require all school vans to install CCTV systems as part of a new safety initiative, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake announced in Parliament. The Minister said reports of harassment in public transport have risen, particularly affecting women and children, and emphasized that the government is taking steps to…
Sri Lanka has officially launched bank-issued credit and debit card payments for bus fares, marking a major step toward modernizing public transport. The system was introduced this morning (24) at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Center under the patronage of Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake. The rollout includes expressway routes connecting Makumbura with Matara, Galle, Badulla, and…
