President meets Elon Musk, discuss implementation of ‘Starlink’ in Sri Lanka
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Elon Musk likely to visit Sri Lanka next month

Elon Musk is likely to arrive in Sri Lanka next month to launch his Starlink satellite-based internet service in Sri Lanka, an official said yesterday. The government, earlier, gave Starlink, the satellite unit of SpaceX, preliminary approval to provide internet services there. Afterwards, the government fast-tracked the process by even amending the Telecommunications Regulatory Act…

Togo flag
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Sri Lankan Businesses Expand Globally: Star Garments Secures $15M IFC Loan for New Togo Factory

Star Garments, a subsidiary of Charles Komar & Sons, has secured a $15 million loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to establish a new garment factory in Togo, marking their first venture into Africa. This factory, to be built in the Plateforme Industrielle d’Adétikopé near Lomé, will adhere to Leadership in Energy and Environmental…

cobalt
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Sri Lanka Objects to India’s Proposal to Explore Cobalt Deposits in the Indian Ocean

Chethana Gomis Sri Lanka has objected to India’s proposal to explore cobalt deposits in the Indian Ocean. Thus, our country had objected to India’s recent proposal to obtain the necessary right to explore a cobalt deposit that may belong to the jurisdiction of Sri Lanka. Colombo argues that the area India wants to explore for…

Will what happened in Kenya, happen in Sri Lanka
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Will what happened in Kenya, happen in Sri Lanka

Harsha Gunasena Ahilan Kadirgamar (hereinafter referred to as AK), whose colourful academic credentials i.e., bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, master’s in economics and a doctorate in anthropology would impress anyone,  has written an article titled “Kenya to Sri Lanka: Protests, IMF and High Ambition” to the Daily Mirror published on July 1, 2024 (https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/Kenya-to-Sri-Lanka-Protests-IMF-and-high-ambition/172-286106). I…

Sri Lanka Reaches Landmark Debt Restructuring Agreement
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Sri Lanka Reaches Landmark Debt Restructuring Agreement

Sri Lanka reached a groundbreaking agreement with its private creditors to restructure its debt, becoming the first country to utilize a Governance-Linked Bond (GLB). This innovative financial instrument was designed by Verité Research in Colombo. The Verité-GLB adjusts repayments based on the country’s achievement of mutually agreed governance benchmarks. If these benchmarks are met, Sri…

Triple E-Class container ship
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Ever Ace’s Historic Call at Colombo East Container Terminal

The maritime world is abuzz with the news that the Megamax container ship, Ever Ace, was scheduled to dock at the Colombo East Container Terminal (CECT) of Colombo Port yesterday. This event marks the second visit of the Ever Ace to Colombo, but notably, it will be the first time the ship calls at a…

India eyeing cobalt in disputed waters with Sri Lanka
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India eyeing cobalt in disputed waters with Sri Lanka

by Arundathie Abeysinghe Colombo (AsiaNews) – India is trying to secure exploration rights for a cobalt offshore deposit that could fall under Sri Lanka’s jurisdiction. New Delhi is driven by competition with Beijing, but Colombo also wants to extract minerals that are crucial for modern technologies, including for the energy transition. Cobalt is in fact…

plantation workers of Sri Lanka
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Boosting Female Labour Force Participation, Key for Sri Lanka to Progress

Key Statistics Female Labour Force Participation in Sri Lanka: 29.4% Male Labour Force Participation in Sri Lanka: 67.4% Comparison with Other Countries: Indonesia: 53% Malaysia: 52% Vietnam: 68% Singapore: 62% Sri Lanka’s labour force participation rate for women remains alarmingly low, highlighting a significant gender disparity in the country’s employment landscape. According to recent data,…

COPA Criticises Unused Funds for Labour Department Digitalisation
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COPA Criticises Unused Funds for Labour Department Digitalisation

The Parliamentary Committee on Government Accounts has emphasized the critical need for the Labour Department to establish a continuously updated data system, stressing its importance for public safety. This urgent recommendation emerged from a meeting chaired by State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, which reviewed the Auditor General’s reports for 2021 and 2022 and evaluated the current…

U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung
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The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce Sri Lanka’s USAID-funded

Sri Lanka Energy Project (SLEP) has received top honors at the 2024 annual conference for the Society for International Development, the premier U.S. event for international development professionals. The award was given in recognition of the innovative solar-powered electric vehicle battery swapping stations owned and operated by Sri Lanka’s Sling Mobility (Pvt.) Ltd., particularly highlighting…