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President Anura Kumara Disanayaka to undertake a State Visit to China
President Anura Kumara Disanayaka will undertake a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China from 14-17 January 2025 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. During the visit, President Disanayaka will hold bilateral discussions with President Xi Jinping on a range of areas of mutual interest and will also meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang […]
CFA Qualification: A Career-Changing Journey – Insights from Chanakya Dissanayake
CFA Society Sri Lanka recently hosted an inspiring fireside chat and networking event titled “The CFA Program Advantage: Pathways to Career Excellence.” The event highlighted the transformative power of the CFA qualification in advancing careers in the finance industry. Chanakya Dissanayake, CFA, Managing Director and Head of Delivery Strategic Initiatives at Acuity Knowledge Partners, delivered […]
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Fitch Ratings has upgraded Bank of Ceylon’s (BOC) Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘CCC+’ from ‘CCC-‘. The ratings do not have an Outlook because of the high volatility at this rating level, in line with Fitch’s rating definitions. Fitch has also upgraded BOC’s Viability Rating (VR) to ‘ccc+’ from ‘ccc-‘, affirmed […]
Hambantota International Port Hits 22-pct Growth in 2024, Bolsters Infrastructure for Future Expansion
Hambantota International Port (HIP) achieved an impressive growth rate of 22% in 2024, matching its performance from the previous year. With its sights set on even higher numbers in 2025, the port is implementing upgrades to its infrastructure, including the introduction of gantry and yard cranes in the container yard. These enhancements are part of […]
Sri Lanka Reports Full-Year Tourist Surge of 38-pct in 2024, December Arrivals up by 18-pct
Foreign tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka increased by 18.18% year-on-year to 248,592 in December 2024, following a 21.6% rise in the previous month, according to data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. Among key markets, India (21.3%) remained the top tourist source market, followed by Russia (14.2%), the UK (7.5%), Germany (5.9%), Australia (5.3%), […]
Sri Lanka’s Economy, Hare or Tortoise?
By Jekhan Aruliah I was listening to a very eloquent speaker on YouTube. He commented, as our public speakers often do, that we in Sri Lanka are a blessed nation. Blessed with abundant natural assets, our forests and beaches etc, and copious human talents. And yet this blessed nation is chronically poor and in 2022 […]
“NSBM Edu Fair” this weekend at Havelock City Mall and KCC
Following the success of last weekend’s NSBM Open Day for the January 2025 Intake, NSBM Green University is bringing higher education opportunities closer to you with the “NSBM Edu Fair”. Event Details: 10th & 11th January at Havelock City Mall, Colombo 10th January at Kandy City Centre (Level 2 Lobby), Kandy Prospective students can visit […]
Real GDP projected to have grown by 5-pct in 2024; gross official reserves at USD 6.1bn by end 2024: CBSL
Sri Lanka’s real GDP is projected to have grown by around 5.0% in 2024, registering the highest annual growth since 2017, the Central Bank said launching its Policy Agenda for 2025. This higher-than-expected growth also provides evidence that deflation in recent months was not due to demand factors but mainly due to supply-side factors, including […]
Leaf Lanka Takes on Maldivian Investment, Unfolds USD 6M Retreat in Riverstone
Leaf Lanka International (Pvt) Ltd, a company led by the young entrepreneur Hashan Gunathilaka, is set to redefine luxury hospitality in Sri Lanka. The company has recently acquired a 17-acre property in Matale and has embarked on an ambitious $6 million USD project to develop an eco-luxury chalet retreat. This strategic move, backed by Maldivian […]
IRD Publishes Procedure for Withholding Tax on Nonresident Payments in Gazette
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) announced that a notification specifying the procedure for withholding tax on any payment to a nonresident person, under Section 86 (7) of the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, has been published in the official gazette. This notification outlines the detailed steps and requirements for withholding tax on payments […]