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Government Expedites House Arrest Legislation to Address Prison Overcrowding
At its meeting on August 3, 2026, the Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to instruct the Legal Draftsman to promptly finalize a draft bill introducing house arrest as an alternative to remand and imprisonment. The initiative follows a comprehensive review of earlier drafts—initially sanctioned under a June […]
Cabinet Approves Gazetting and Submission to Parliament of Key Judicial Reform Bills
Following initial Cabinet approval on July 27, 2026, approval has been granted to publish the Twenty-second Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Judiciary (Amendment) Bill in the Government Gazette and subsequently submit them to Parliament. Drafted by the Legal Draftsman and granted constitutional clearance by the Attorney General, the proposed legislation submitted by the Minister of […]
Cabinet Approves Amendments to Modernize Sri Lanka’s EPF Act
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft legislation amending the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act No. 15 of 1958. The proposed revision aims to modernize the original framework in response to contemporary social, economic, and technological changes, reducing operational bottlenecks and delivering a more efficient service […]
Sri Lanka Electricity Tariffs to Remain Unchanged for Q3 2026
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) announced today that electricity tariffs will remain unchanged for the third quarter of 2026, maintaining the existing rates established in the second quarter. The decision follows a comprehensive review of cost estimates submitted by the National System Operating Company (NSO). According to the regulator, the projected increase […]
EDB expects to reach record-breaking $19 bn export revenue by end 2026, says Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe
The 47th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) fell on August 1st. In a commemorative ceremony held today, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the EDB, Mangala Wijesinghe, addressed the media, outlining the progress and future targets of the national export sector. Established under Act No. 4 of 1979, the EDB […]
Facebook still rules Sri Lanka’s social media, but TikTok is closing in
Facebook remains the most used social media platform among Sri Lankan internet users, holding an 81% share according to the newly released Digital Outlook Sri Lanka 2026 report. YouTube follows at 72%, while TikTok has climbed to 48%, up 6 percentage points from last year. Instagram rounds out the top four at 42%. The bigger […]
Sri Lanka’s inflation climbs to 7.3% in July, highest since early 2025
Sri Lanka’s headline inflation picked up pace in July, with the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) rising to 7.3% year-on-year, up from 6.8% in June, according to Central Bank data released this week. The uptick was driven largely by a jump in housing rents, which pushed non-food inflation contributions higher for the month, along with […]
ADB pumps in USD 200mn to shield Sri Lanka from Middle East shock
Sri Lanka is set to receive a $200 million boost from the Asian Development Bank, part of a wider $450 million regional package aimed at cushioning Asia-Pacific economies from the fallout of the Middle East conflict. The loan comes under ADB’s Trade, Investment, and Industry Development Program, and includes $100 million in fresh financing specifically […]
US Effective Tariff Rate Falls to 7.4% on Latest Tariffs and Changing Trade Flows: Fitch Ratings
The U.S. effective tariff rate (ETR) has declined to 7.4% from 9.4% after the U.S. replaced the temporary Section 122 surcharge with new Section 301 tariffs on imports from 60 economies, including the EU. The revised estimate also reflects Fitch Ratings’ use of annualized January-May 2026 trade flows instead of the 2024 import data used […]
BASL Unanimously Passes Resolution Against Proposed Judges’ Retirement Age Amendment
A Special General Meeting of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) today unanimously passed a resolution strongly opposing proposed constitutional and statutory amendments to increase the retirement age of judges. The resolution follows the Cabinet of Ministers’ conditional approval on July 27, 2026, of a proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National […]
John Keells Holdings Q1 earnings surge 26% to Rs. 16.35bn, Turns profitable on Port and consumer strength
John Keells Holdings’ first-quarter results for FY2026/27 point to a conglomerate whose recovery is now being driven by genuine operating strength rather than one-off gains, though the numbers also expose which parts of the group are still working through headwinds. Recurring EBITDA rose 26% year-on-year to Rs. 16.35 billion, and the swing from a Rs. […]
Cabinet Approves Move to Raise Judges’ Retirement Age as Part of Judicial Reform Package
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to raise the statutory retirement age of judges, as part of a broader package of draft amendments to the Constitution and the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978. The decision was made at the Cabinet meeting held on July 27, 2026, and remains subject to final approval […]