Category: Politics
IPS Publication: The Economic Stakes of the 2024 Presidential Election
As Sri Lanka gears up for elections, policymakers must avoid rash economic promises that risk a decade of lost growth and an era of relative decline. As too often in the past, Sri Lanka appears not to have broken its damaging tendency towards ‘competitive populism’ ahead of elections. Fiscally profligate promises ranging from wage increases […]
We will start renegotiation with IMF immediately after Sajith Premadasa becomes President: Eran
Soon after Sajith Premadasa becomes President, the Parliament will be dissolved after appointing a new cabinet of Ministers We will not wait till the end of general election, we will start maintaining macro economic fundamentals which is the main task of a government, emphasized SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne speaking among a representative gathering of bankers […]
Public Resource Misuse Sparks Over 750 Complaints to TISL
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has received 758 complaints concerning the misuse of public resources for election campaigning as of September 11, 2024. The largest category of complaints—343 in total—pertains to the misuse of public premises. These include the misuse of public grounds, government offices, buildings, and schools etc. for election campaigns. Complaints detail instances […]
Presidential election amid IMF Program: It is really for the people of SL to decide, says IMF spokesperson
The opportunity for electing a president is really for the Sri Lankans to decide, even though the current program performance remains strong, says IMF spokesperson. Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF Communications Department responding to questions about the implications of the presidential election highlighted that reform efforts are bearing fruit and sustaining reform momentum is […]
TISL urges CIABOC to reconsider the unwarranted redacting of asset declarations, to the public
The asset declarations of over 100 persons who are obligated to submit their asset and liabilities declarations, including top officials and the President, are now publicly accessible on the Asset Declarations webpage of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). This is an interim measure to make asset declarations public under the […]
Rampant Misuse of Public Resources Obstructs a Free and Fair Election: TISL
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) expresses deep concern over the rampant misuse of public resources reported during the ‘Presidential Election 2024’. With 580 complaints received as of Wednesday, September 4, TISL urges the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) to take immediate and decisive action to halt these violations and uphold the integrity of the […]
U.S. Embassy Announces Expected Arrival of Beechcraft King Air 360ER to Enhance SL’s Maritime Surveillance
The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that the Beechcraft King Air 360ER aircraft, donated by the United States to the Sri Lanka Air Force, will arrive in Sri Lanka next week. Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Building Partner Capacity program, this donation, which originated in 2019, is part of a long-term collaboration […]
Sri Lanka and France enter into an Agreement to establish a Regional Centre for Maritime Studies in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka and France signed a bilateral Agreement to establish a Regional Centre for Maritime Studies in Sri Lanka. The Agreement was signed by Secretary/ Ministry of Defence General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne and Chargé d’ Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of France in Colombo Marie-Noëlle Duris, at the Ministry of Defence in Colombo yesterday. The […]
Public Resource Misuse During Elections: 580 Complaints Reported to Transparency International Sri Lanka
As of Wednesday (September 4), Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) had received 580 complaints regarding the misuse of public resources during the election. The organisation further said that immediate actions have been taken on over 300 of them, while the rest are currently being processed.
Government Reaches Agreement with IMF to Revise PAYE tax Policy, says President
President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the government has reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revise the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, a significant concern for the public. He assured that following further discussions, relief measures would be implemented as soon as possible. “With the appreciation of the rupee, the cost […]
‘s pre-poll announcements of subsidies and pay hikes
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), in its role as an election watchdog that scrutinizes the misuse of public resources for election propaganda during the Presidential Election 2024, highlights that the Government’s recent pre-poll announcements on providing various subsidies and salary increments are a blatant and intentional violation of election laws. The Government last week announced that the […]
Claims of Large Outstanding Taxes Are an Illusion; Over Rs. 1Tn Tax Revenue Suspended Due to Court Cases: Officials
Commissioner General of the Excise Department M.J. Gunasiri dismissed claims of significant arrears in three major government revenue sources—namely the Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Customs, and the Excise Department—as myths. Speaking at the press briefing titled “Collective Path to a Stable Country” held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC), today (26), he clarified that […]