Category: Special Reports
GALLE CONCERTO 2024: 6 Festivals In Art, Food, Literature & Music; Call for Extended Stays on SL’s South Coast
During the South Coast peak season of January through March of 2024, the ‘Galle Concerto’ series gives impetus to a symphony of heritage and contemporary festivals in art, food, literature, and music. Leading Lankan and international culture makers will be headlining the events – speaking, presenting and creating on topics pertinent and inspiring to Sri […]
Government Initiates VAT Exemption for Ayurvedic Products & Medicines to Lower Healthcare Costs: Minister
State Minister of Indigenous Medicine Sisira Jayakody announced a significant step toward reducing healthcare costs by exempting Ayurvedic products, medicines and industries related to indigenous medicine from Value Added Tax (VAT). The decision aims to make traditional medicine more accessible to the public. Additionally, the State Minister mentioned that the cabinet has granted approval for […]
CA Sri Lanka expands its presence in the United Kingdom with new overseas chapter
Embracing its role as a world-class professional body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) continued to expand its global footprint by establishing a new chapter in the United Kingdom. The CA Sri Lanka United Kingdom Chapter was formally unveiled at a special event in Greater London, in the presence of […]
Hirdaramani Apparel, Lacoste Foundation, and UNDP Collaborate to Empower 100 Families
Hirdaramani Apparel and the Lacoste Foundation have come together through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka’s facility for Private Sector Giving to promote socio-economic recovery and food security and address its multidimensional vulnerabilities. To signify the partnership, Vinod Hirdaramani – Chairman, Hirdaramani Apparel, and Azusa Kubota – Resident Representative of UNDP in […]
Sri Lanka and Thailand to Sign Free Trade Agreement in February 2024
The 8th round of negotiations for the Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) concluded successfully on November 29th, paving the way for a historic deal to be signed in February 2024. The negotiations, co-chaired by the Chief Negotiators of both countries, Auramon Supthaweethum (Thailand) and K. J. Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka), saw both sides agree to […]
Suvasarya Pioneers Mixed Reality in Asian Ambulance Service with Pilot Projects in Colombo & Jaffna
Today marks a significant step forward for 1990 Suvasarya, as the ambulance service becomes the first in Asia to adopt mixed reality and AI technology for real-time doctor-paramedic communication. This innovative partnership with Wavenet and Microsoft marks a major advancement in emergency medical care for the region. Previously limited to phone calls, communication between paramedics […]
U.S. Department of Agriculture Commits USD32.5 Mn to Fund McGovern-Dole School Feeding Program
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo is pleased to announce a new $32.5 million award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to Sri Lanka for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, a food assistance initiative that reduces hunger and improves literacy and primary education.By providing school meals, teacher training and related […]
Sri Lanka elected to the Executive Board of the UNESCO
Sri Lanka was elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the term 2023-2027, during the 42nd General Conference of the inter-governmental organization, on 15 November 2023 in Paris. Sri Lanka obtained 144 votes out of 188 member states voting at the said election, co-securing the 3rd highest vote […]
Government urged to crack down on tax evaders instead of taxpayers: Harsha
In a press conference held yesterday, MP Harsha de Silva, Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, shed light on the government’s tax collection efforts, revealing significant shortfalls in expected revenue. His comments have ignited a debate on the fairness of the current tax collection system and whether the government should prioritize collecting taxes from […]
Borders and Budget: Visa reform will boost tourism and reverse brain drain
By Daniel Alphonsus Three million tourists are set to visit our shores next year. We will issue nearly as many online visas – millions too many. ETAs are a tourist’s bane: rather than dreamy sun, sea and sand, the weary salaryman’s getaway begins with the tedium of forms. The tourist’s ayubowan to Sri Lanka begins […]
Harsha proposes tax reforms to relieve burden on middle class and professionals
MP Harsha de Silva’s Tax Reform Proposal: Simplify PAYE tax structure and introduce surcharge.Surprising Revenue Figures: PAYE collection surpasses expectations, while PIT falls short.Inequality in Tax Burden: Current system disproportionately impacts middle-class professionals.MP’s Evidence-Based Approach: Proposed reforms aim to balance government revenue and reduce the tax burden.Combatting Tax Fraud: Efforts to address LKR 60 billion […]
UN HR Commissioner says, Call for historic transformation is far from being realised in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka suffers from a continuing accountability deficit – be it for war crime atrocities, more recent human rights violations, corruption, or abuse of power – which must be addressed for the country to move forward, according to a UN Human Rights Office report published on Wednesday. “More than a year ago mass protests demanded better governance […]