Category: Featured
Local oil palm industry ready to support govt. domestic agriculture drive: POIA
May 04, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s oil palm cultivators can provide tangible support to the government’s efforts to promote local agriculture and import substitution as a response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the national economy, the sector’s apex industry association has said. In a statement, the Palm Oil Industry Association (POIA) […]
Resumption of civilian life and office work begins from May 11
May 04, 2020 (LBO) – While the curfew is in force in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam, the resumption of civilian life and state and private sector activities will begin from Monday, 11th May, the Presidents office said. In order to ensure return to normalcy in civilian life and to revive the […]
Mangala asks President to re- summon Parliament to approve public expenditure
Apr 29, 2020 (LBO) – Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera in a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has urged him to exercise his powers as the Head of State at this critical time and to summon the Parliament as soon as possible with the support of all parties represented in Parliament. He said that this […]
MAS: Engagement to fight COVID-19 crisis through our manufacturing
Apr 29, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s MAS joins in the global efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, protect the healthcare givers at the frontlines and give hope through the expertise of manufacturing apparel and performance wear. Committed as always, to do the right thing, to protect and provide for our people and the […]
Clearing of vehicles from Hambantota port slow
Apr 28, 2020 (LBO) – The clearance of cars at the Hambantota Port is slow, and the port is concerned that they would not meet the April 30th deadline for clearing imported vehicles. “No vehicles were cleared over the weekend, and the number cleared on Monday was 203 while port dues have been paid for […]
No decision should be taken outside the Constitution – Maha Sangha emphasise
Apr 27, 2020 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa enlightened the Maha Sangha on the measures taken by the Government to control the spread of COVID – 19 virus and their progress during a meeting held recently. President explained about the control of the spread, quarantine process, reliefs granted to people and future measures to revive […]
Sri Lanka COVID cases cross 500 : Island-wide curfew imposed today
Apr 27, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 cases rose to 523 as the Government yesterday cancelled leave of all armed forces personnel and extended countrywide curfew. Meanwhile, issung a statement the Presidents office said the curfew is in order to facilitate officers of the security forces who are on leave to report back to […]
Advocata commends increase in testing: Calls on Govt to review purchasing tests
Apr 27, 2020 (LBO) – The Advocata Institute has previously highlighted the importance of expanding testing capacity with the engagement of the private sector. The government’s decision to increase the country’s testing capacity to 1000 tests a day, by utilising the capacity that exists in private hospitals is commendable. On the 22nd of April, the […]
SL appoints Presidential task force on economic revival and poverty eradication
Apr 23, 2020 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a Presidential Task Force in charge of Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication. It has been established under the powers vested in the President by the Constitution. The Task Force is responsible for reviving the economy and eradication of poverty while paying special attention to the […]
‘s three-wheelers
Thisali de Silva and Nisha Arunatilake Sri Lanka has been under curfew since mid-March to contain the spread of COVID-19. As a result, economic activities throughout the country have stalled. A recent IPS blog identified that non-agricultural, informal workers were highly affected by this pandemic. This blog illustrates how the ongoing curfew is impacting three […]
SriLankan Airlines special flights to bring back stranded in India, Pakistan and Nepal
Apr 21, 2020 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines will operate special flights from India’s Amritsar, Coimbatore, Pakistan’s Karachi, Lahore and Nepal’s Kathmandu to bring home 433 Sri Lankan students who have been stranded overseas due to the prevailing travel restrictions imposed in view of the COVID 19 pandemic. These special flights are being operated as part […]
Opinion: COVID-19 and foreign exchange woes: Can Sri Lanka find a way out?
Bilesha Weeraratne Growing pressure on Sri Lanka’s scarce foreign exchange resources, due to the wide spread of COVID-19 across the globe, is now more real than ever before. To ease this pressure, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has taken many measures to attract as well as retain more foreign exchange in Sri Lanka. […]