News Room : Coal giant awakes, but uncertainty prevails – The Island
The Norochcholai coal-fired power plant, which came to a standstill on Sunday due to an emergency grid shutdown across the country, shuddered back into life yesterday, feeding the starved grid. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) announced that there would be no more power cuts. The public, troubled by planned power outages, which are as problematic as unplanned ones, must...
News Room : Foreign investors’ exit from SL a serious matter, Premadasa tells Parliament
By Saman Indrajith Following Adani Group’s withdrawal from a controversial wind energy project in Sri Lanka, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday (14) raised concerns over the exit of foreign investors, warning that it was a serious situation. Addressing Parliament, Premadasa said that all transactions had to be conducted in a transparent manner and the exit of foreign investors was a matter...
News Room : ADB allocates USD 900 mn for Sri Lanka’s development in 2025 – The Island
The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has earmarked an indicative envelope of US$900 million for Sri Lanka’s development in 2025. Subject to government approval, the funding will support macroeconomic stability, power, agriculture, finance, tourism, and skills development. The assistance will be provided through policy-based loans, results-based lending, investment projects, and technical assistance initiatives, according to senior representatives of the ADB...
News Room : Trump’s assault on USAID leaves China soft power opening in Southeast Asia
As the United States winds back humanitarian assistance in Southeast Asia, its rival China may see an opportunity to expand its influence in a region where it has directed billions of dollars in investment and aid, analysts say. In a little over three weeks since US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Washington has frozen nearly all foreign aid and moved to...
News Room : Trump announces India energy deal after Modi talks – The Island
As the United States winds back humanitarian assistance in Southeast Asia, its rival China may see an opportunity to expand its influence in a region where it has directed billions of dollars in investment and aid, analysts say. In a little over three weeks since US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Washington has frozen nearly all foreign aid and moved to...
News Room : Opp. asks EC to hold LG polls in late April; budget debate, O/L exam cited as reasons
Several Opposition parties have urged the Election Commission (EC) to postpone the local government (LG) polls until late April 2025 in view of the upcoming budget debate and the Sinhala and Tamil New year. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), among others, have formally submitted a written request to the EC, citing multiple concerns. Speaking...
News Room : Mini polls finally within sight!
Friday 14th February, 2025 Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne is scheduled to announce the Supreme Court (SC) determination on the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill in Parliament, today. He was expected to do so last week, but he stated that he had not received any communication from the apex court, by that time, regarding its determination in question. The Opposition...
News Room : It is crucial to uphold respect for the diverse cultural traditions across the world as we strive to build a global community founded on sustainable values-...
President Anura Kumara Disanayake addressing the World Governments Summit 2025 in UAE on 12th February 2025 said that it was, crucial to uphold respect for the diverse cultural traditions across the world as we strive to build a global community founded on sustainable values. Full text of the President’s speech: “Esteemed state leaders, distinguished delegates representing various organisations, honoured guests, members...
News Room : Open verdicts returned on deaths of two foreigners
Post-mortem examinations on 24-year-old British national Ebony McIntosh and 26-year-old German tourist Nadine Raguse were conducted on Monday (10). They died while staying at the Miracle Colombo City hostel in Colombo on 01 February. According to the police, the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) returned an open verdict, and forensic samples were sent to the Government Analyst’s Department for further analysis...
News Room : How USAID influenced Sri Lanka – The Island
While the country was rapidly heading for an unprecedented political, economic and social crisis, then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in the first week of June 2021, received Director of the USAID Sri Lanka Office, Reed J. Aeschliman, at the Presidential Secretariat. Among those present were Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy Martin Kelly, USAID Programme Director Chistopher Foley,...