No problem in forex debt repayments by 2028-Governor View(s):Central Bank Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe this week allayed fears in Sri Lanka, which he blamed on the media, about the foreign debt repayment schedule being affected. “There is no repayment problem as projected in the media. In his annual interaction with senior editors, Dr. Weerasinghe said the authorities plan to renegotiate the targets set in the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, in the context of the cyclone and set new targets. “The problem is that because its cheap credit, businesses borrow for unnecessary purchases like vehicles and then default in payment. We have seen this happening in the past when small tourist businesses collapsed.

SLIC hosts General Insurance Pinnacle Achiever Awards in Indonesia View(s):Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Ltd. (SLICGL), recently hosted the 2nd Annual General Insurance Pinnacle Achiever (GIPA) Awards Ceremony in Indonesia, honouring the Top 33 Sri Lankan and 10 Indonesian General Insurance sales professionals. GIPA is the world’s first dedicated recognition platform exclusively for General Insurance sales professionals. Life Insurance has established aspirational international benchmarks such as the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) and the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA). MDRT is a global association recognizing the highest-performing life insurance and financial services professionals for their excellence, ethics, and client service. Recognition levels include GIPA Achiever, GIPA Star, and GIPA Legend.

Parliament committee discusses recruitments in Sri Lanka Principal Service View(s):The Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Manpower and Human Capital discussed the Universities (Amendment) Bill and matters pertaining to the recruitments of the Sri Lanka Principal Service. This was taken into discussion when the committee met recently (6) at parliament under the chairmanship of Hesha Withanage. The committee discussed matters pertaining to the recruitments of the Sri Lanka Principal Service at length. It was stated that principals are recruited for the Sri Lanka Principal Service through a competitive exam held for teachers in service, which was held in 2019 for 1918 vacancies. Moreover, it was observed that a few remaining from the 2019 batch are yet to be absorbed into the Principal Service.

China provides expert help and grant to digitalise Sri Lanka education View(s):The National Education Digitalisation Grant Initiative launched this week with support from China is a major milestone in the country’s journey to modernise education and build a digitally empowered nation, Deputy Minister of Education Madhura Senevirathna said. The design also reflects lessons learned from China’s own education digitalisation journey, where digital platforms and artificial intelligence are used in general education. Under this government-to-government grant framework, world-leading education technologies from China are being deployed, with leading technology giants serving as the technology provider. Officials noted that the focus remains firmly on the grant, national ownership, and long-term public benefit. Dr Senevirathna said that the initiative represents Phase 1 of a broader national education digitalisation programme.

Muhurath for ‘Mala Magulai’ View(s):The cameras are set to roll on a laughter-filled journey as the new comedy ‘Mala Magulai’ marked the start of production with its Muhurath ceremony, held last week at the Water’s Edge Hotel, attended by the film’s cast, crew and well-wishers from the industry. Directed by Chris Anthony, best known for his earlier films ‘Ape Principal’ and ‘Passport’, ‘Mala Magulai’ marks his fourth cinematic venture. Makeup is by Priyantha Dissanayake, with art direction by Manjula Ayagama, while costume design is handled by Jeewanthi Perera. The filming of ‘Mala Magulai’ is to be completed within January 2026 and the film is to be ready for screening soon. (SRF)Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS

SriLankan flies Nawam Perahera to the world View(s):SriLankan Airlines has launched an international branding initiative to promote the Nawam Maha Perahera 2026. Accordingly, an Airbus A320neo was redesigned promoting the Nawam Perahera to be held on January 31 and February 1. “SriLankan Airlines now carries the prestige spirituality, and cultural identity of the Nawam Maha Perahera across its international route network,” the airline said in a statement. Share This Post FacebookTwitterEmail × Send Email to FriendSend Please enter valid email WhatsappDeliciousDiggGoogleStumbleuponRedditTechnoratiYahooBloggerMyspaceRSS

Jaswar welcomes IOC order for Sri Lanka NOC elections View(s):A group of national sports associations that viewed the delay in holding elections for the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC) as a serious breach of ‘Olympism principles’ has welcomed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) directive for Sri Lanka to complete the election process by April 30. The official tenure of the NOC Executive Committee ended on December 27, 2025. The absence of an election process had agitated several affiliated associations, reportedly more than 20 of the 30-plus members. With the NOC elections now scheduled to take place on or before April 30, Umar and his colleagues are satisfied that a clear roadmap has been established. A Special General Meeting will be convened to appoint an election committee to initiate the process, ensuring the overdue elections are conducted properly and transparently.

Rodney honoured in Karnataka, India View(s):By Susitha R. FernandoFilmmaker, writer and senior journalist Rodney Widanapathirana was recently honoured for his outstanding contribution to cinema, arts and journalism at the ‘Chinnaswamy Hindustan Gagan Festival’, organised by the ‘Open University of Karnataka State’. The honorary award was presented at the Mysore Open University in recognition of Widanapathirana’s long-standing and multifaceted contribution to Sri Lanka’s arts landscape, spanning cinema, teledrama, documentary filmmaking, travel literature and media reportage. A respected name in Sri Lankan teledrama, Rodney Widanapathirana began his directorial journey with ‘Udawediya Mal’ and has since directed six teledramas, including ‘Sapa Nokaraw Dharuwane’, ‘Wanapasa Mal’, ‘Hathe Wasama’, ‘Hemanthaye Wasanthayak’, ‘Ridi Tharaka’ and ‘Hima Piyali’. His early exposure to cinema saw him working as an assistant director on Sena Samarasinghe’s ‘Chanchala Rekha’ and Shirley P. Wijeratne’s ‘Welle Thenu Maliga’. Rodney Widanapathirana is currently working on his latest film project, ‘Hemantha Sihinayak’, continuing a creative journey that has left an indelible mark on Sri Lanka’s cultural and artistic narrative.

Asia Siyaka Warehouse first ZeroCarbon® certified tea logistics company View(s):Asia Siyaka Warehousing (Pvt) Ltd, the largest auction logistics provider in Sri Lanka’s tea sector, has secured a global benchmark in sustainability, becoming the world’s first and only ZeroCarbon® certified company in tea auction logistics. The achievement was awarded by the Sustainable Future Group (SFG), Sri Lanka’s premier sustainability certification body. It highlights the company’s leadership in environmental stewardship and positions Sri Lanka’s tea industry at the forefront of sustainable value chains worldwide, the company said in a media release. Anil Cooke, Managing Director, Asia Siyaka Warehousing (Pvt) Ltd., said, “Tea is one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic exports, and Sri Lankan tea is already recognised as the world’s first and only Ozone Friendly Tea. Achieving ZeroCarbon® certification is a promise to our clients, growers, shareholders, and future generations that we will continue to operate responsibly and sustainably.

CB ramps up fight against money laundering and terrorism financing View(s):By Damith WickremasekaraThe Central Bank will strengthen inter-agency frameworks for cooperation and coordination to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in line with the international standards recommended by the international intergovernmental body, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a senior government official said. There are no formal arrangements to coordinate activities related to money laundering. “There will be closer scrutiny of entities that are suspected to be engaged in money laundering, even in instances where they pay taxes. The FATF sets standards and promotes effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation, and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF recommendations set out a comprehensive and consistent framework of measures which countries should implement to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Holistic and inclusive path to development – Book Review View(s):By Dr Minna ThaheerYhe idea of discussing a book by an economist acknowledged as a masterly scholar and practitioner by his peers is quite unnerving for a non-economist. Yet, the appealing promise of the title of the book, Development: Not by Economics Alone, Non-Economic Factors in Development, was a reassuring invitation. The civil conflict of the last three decades serves as a case in point, showing how the country endured debilitating economic development. His strong message here is unequivocal: “Peaceful conditions contribute to growth in several ways… Societal and attitudinal changes are fundamental to economic development. Dr Sanderatne, as such, offers learned, patient propositions that supply new answers to old questions.

The system Sri Lanka needs to prevent future disasters View(s):By Dr Muhammadhn KhalidCyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka with a scale of destruction that overwhelmed the country. What unfolded was the result of long-standing weaknesses in how Sri Lanka plans for, manages, and responds to floods and related hazards. What should Sri Lanka do now? Sri Lanka needs a holistic system grounded in science, law, and accountability. If Sri Lanka acts now, decisively and systematically, Cyclone Ditwah can become the moment we learned, adapted, and acted.

Northern railway line to be closed for two months for repairs View(s):By Rekha Tharangani FonsekaThe Northern railway line section from Mahawa to Omanthai is to be closed down for two months for repairs, Northern Provincial Chief Engineer R. F. Alexander said. Accordingly, five bridges on the northern railway line which have been severely damaged due to adverse weather conditions experienced will be rebuilt during the period. The northern line is set to be open by April in time to be used during Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebrations. The northern railway line renovation project was earlier done resulting the closure of the line for eight months and was reopened on October 28, 2024. This railway line which is 339 km long is the longest railway line in Sri Lanka and is also the highest revenue-generating route of the Department of Railways in the country.

Opposition gains financial muscle in NPP-controlled CMC View(s):In yet another example of just how unpredictable the situation at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) can be, the National People’s Power (NPP) on Wednesday failed to win control of the all-powerful Finance Committee, with all five positions that are chosen by election being won by the so-called ‘combined opposition’. Wednesday saw members being elected to 23 standing committees of the CMC. A total of 114 councillors were present and voted during the elections, with three others being absent on the day. There are six members on the CMC’s Finance Committee, with the Mayor being appointed as chairperson in an ex-officio capacity. Accordingly, a secret ballot was held among the 114 members who were present to elect members for the remaining five positions.

They believe that God performed a miracle through the skilled hands of Dr. Mugunthan. Serious trouble struck again with the repaired heart valves getting infected and ruptured, with an echo suggesting infective endocarditis. However, a subsequent severe infection of both the left and right AV valves placed the surgical team in a dilemma. “While the less-damaged right AV valve could be repaired, the left valve was irreparable. Shanaya is alive and passed her first birthday due to this exceptional innovation and surgical skill of Dr. Mugunthan.