The case related to the deaths of 11 inmates during the Mahara Prison riot in November 2020 has been officially closed. The Attorney General confirmed today (17) before the Welisara Magistrate’s Court that there were no changes to the earlier decision to terminate legal proceedings. Magistrate Thusitha Dhammika Uduwawidana ruled that the case cannot proceed…
A writ petition filed by M.G. Lasanthi, the wife of one of the 11 inmates killed in the Mahara Prison incident, was taken up before the Court of Appeal today. During the hearing, the Additional Solicitor General, representing the Attorney General, stated before the Court of Appeal that the Mahara incident was a riot, making…
In recent years, South Asia has experienced notable shifts in female labour force participation (FLFP), with significant variations across countries. India, for instance, has seen a remarkable increase in women’s workforce participation, rising from 22% to 40.3% over six years. This growth has been driven by policies promoting diversity and inclusion, alongside economic developments that…
Sri Lanka is advancing its debt restructuring process by issuing new bonds to replace $12.55 billion of defaulted sovereign bonds. This marks a critical step in addressing its $43 billion foreign debt crisis. As announced by the Ministry of Finance, bondholders can swap their holdings for new securities until December 12, 2024. President Anura Kumara…
Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLFEB) has raised strong objections to the E-8 visa system, introduced for seasonal employment in South Korea, alleging irregularities and significant risks to Sri Lankan workers. SLFEB Chairman Kosala Wickramasinghe disclosed that the E-8 visa agreement was unlawfully signed by a former minister without Cabinet…
Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurship rate stands at just 3% of the working population, significantly trailing regional counterparts, according to Dhanuka Liyanagamage, Director of the National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA). He addressed the issue at the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2024 launch event held at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. “Only about 3% of the working population…
Mastercard Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Sandun Hapugoda, emphasized the critical role of digital transformation for micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) in Sri Lanka, which make up 19% of the country’s establishments. Speaking at the launch event of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2024, organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Hapugoda underlined…
The National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA) has announced plans to consolidate over 50 ICT-related government institutions under a single umbrella to enhance efficiency and eliminate redundancy. Speaking at the launch event of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2024 at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce yesterday, NEDA Director Dhanuka Liyanagamage highlighted the challenges within the sector. “In…
On 19th November, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $200 million policy-based loan to further help the Government of Sri Lanka strengthen its financial sector. This second subprogram of ADB’s Financial Sector Stability and Reforms Program builds on the stabilization and crisis management measures put in place under the first subprogram approved in 2023. “Sri…
The newly sworn-in Cabinet of the National People’s Power (NPP) comprises 22 ministers, including the President. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Education is a woman and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has also been assigned to a woman. Six ministers were appointed from the National List, while Gampaha district received three…
