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…
Sri Lanka is set to introduce a series of tax changes by next month aimed at increasing government revenue, according to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The report, which follows the IMF’s review of its program with Sri Lanka, outlines several key tax reforms. One of the major changes includes the…
At the 56th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Sri Lanka Core Group, represented by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador Rita French, delivered a statement on June 19, 2024, in Geneva. The statement, issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Ambassador French, reflects the concerns of the Core Group nations—Canada,…
In a controversial turn of events, Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court has been accused of “judicial cannibalism” by President Ranil Wickremesinghe following its ruling that the enactment of the ‘Gender Equality’ Bill is inconsistent with Article 12 of the Constitution. This landmark judgment has sparked intense debate within the Parliament. President Wickremesinghe, addressing Parliament on Tuesday,…
While Sri Lanka’s macro-economic situation has improved, the impacts of the economic crisis together with associated austerity measures are affecting the poorest and already marginalized groups the most, said Volker Türk, the current High Commissioner for Human Rights. In his opening comments at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, the UN Human Rights…
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in an address to the parliament on Tuesday (18) announced a new wealth tax initiative aimed at addressing rental income while ensuring the vast majority of homeowners remain unaffected. Emphasizing the high threshold for the tax, the President reassured citizens that around 90 percent of homes would be exempt. “I…
Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Mr. M. N. Ranasinghe, stated that the period from 2022 to 2024 will be historically significant for the highest number of law reforms in Sri Lanka. He highlighted that since 2022, 59 legal reforms have been passed in Parliament, with an additional 07 drafts…
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…
The Doing Good Index (DGI) 2024 evaluates the environment for social investment in Sri Lanka across four sub-indexes: Regulations, Tax and Fiscal Policy, Procurement, and Ecosystem. Here’s a summary of Sri Lanka’s performance compared to the Asia average: 1. Regulations: Number of Clearances Required to Register: Sri Lanka requires only one clearance to register a…
In the Asian social service sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sri Lanka have made significant strides by the year 2024, overcoming challenges that were present in 2022. For the year 2024, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam have been categorized as “Doing Okay.” The 2022 index placed Sri Lanka in the…
