Unlocking Sri Lanka’s Credit Markets The Case for a National Asset Management Company

Sri Lanka’s banking sector faces a paradox: despite ample liquidity, with banks’ liquid assets nearly doubling to 35.25% of total assets, credit growth remains stagnant due to high levels of non-performing loans (NPLs).

National security, more than a mere election promise -EDITORIAL

Sri Lankans were able to catch a glimpse of a real-life crime thriller following the attack on a notorious underworld figure alias ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ on Wednesday (February 19) morning at the Hulftsdorp Court Complex.

Ambitious Budget 2025 Proof of the pudding is in the eating

Since assuming power, the National People’s Power Government has tried to strike a delicate balance between fiscal consolidation guided by the IMF reform formula and NPP’s expansive campaign promises and election rhetorics. During the first four months in office, it played within the confines of the IMF programme, which was the mainstay of Sri Lanka’s quicker-than-expected economic recovery. That not only helped assuage investor fears, but also m

Rathugala adivasis struggle to preserve ‘bee honey harvesting’ amidst climate change

For Danigala Mahabandalage Suda Wannila Aththo, the incumbent leader of the Rathugala adivasi community, bee-honey harvesting is part of their traditional lifestyle. Rathugala is a scenic village in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, located bordering the Gal Oya region in Ampara District. Following a prayer dedicated to Kalu Bandara deiyo, a local deity whom they believe is a guardian of the thick jungles they live in, Suda Wannila Aththo and hi

Budget proposals, balancing the budget and IMF parameters

Two days ago President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had the somewhat daunting task of presenting his government’s first budget. AKD as the incumbent president, was voted into power by a population sick and tired of the corrupt rulers who promised much, but delivered only excuses for broken promises.

’’Richard Knew He Would Be Killed”

Today, February 18, 2025, marks the 35th year since the abduction and brutal killing of journalist, teacher, poet, playwright, actor and activist Richard de Zoysa.

The Great Bank Heist in Feb. 2015: Ten Years On - Part I

A national betrayal was orchestrated in 2015/16 under the guise of good governance, executed by the Yahapalana administration led by Maithripala Sirisena’s SLFP and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNP—with its present-day offshoot, the SJB, also bearing responsibility.

View the USAID controversy with an open mind - EDITORIAL

The US President Donald Trump’s announcement on a 90-day pause on foreign aid channeled through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in various countries under his “America First” foreign policy has sent shockwaves across the world,

Artificial Intelligence needs responsible users, or it will destroy us

We’ve already seen how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is widely used to fake anything from music to art. Researcher Sasha Luccione affirms that tech companies are violating copyright laws by plagiarising images and text by artists and authors.

NICD and the Co-operative Path of Education and Democracy

Sri Lanka mired in a deep economic depression requires mammoth efforts to lift itself out of the crisis.

A reserve rich in biodiversity and history, is burning - EDITORIAL

According to latest reports, the fire at the Ella Forest Reserve in the Uva province had been doused after two days.

An ill-wind seems to be blowing over Lanka‘

Truth, the idiom goes is often stranger than fiction. Our country seems to embody this truism. Days ago we were jolted when media reported the Attorney General -whose independent status has withstood numerous changes as per the Constitution- advised law enforcement authorities that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the three persons accused of abducting the driver of - Lasantha Wickrematunge- Editor of the now defunct ‘Sunday Leader’ n

Opposition fears the past, NPP fears the present

A bizarre situation has arisen in the country where Opposition parties fear to speak about the past while the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) fears to speak about the present. This is clearly evident during the talk-shows telecast in various television channels. The politicians of the Opposition parties during these talk-shows are very fond of discussing the current issues on the rice prices, coconut shortage and the island-wide power outag

Singing the National Anthem in Tamil is Being Sri Lankan and Being Tamil

The first part of this article published last week briefly outlined the history of Sri Lanka’s national anthem being sung in Tamil. In this second and final part, the focus would be on the regress and progress of the national anthem rendition in Tamil over the years. As stated earlier the Tamil national anthem issue is in a sense symptomatic of the escalating ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka.

Largest wind farm project puts Mannar Island in Danger

Every year, as winter arrives, thousands of migratory birds fly south in search of food and water. Many of them find a temporary home on Mannar Island, Sri Lanka’s largest island.

Arabs reject Trump’s plan; Gaza faces darkness at noon

President Donald Trump first thought he could bully and get whatever he wanted from Arab nations dependent on US economic largesse.

Let’s celebrate the culture of giving away books! - EDITORIAL

There were past governments which tried to introduce tabs to be used in school education. Some schools benefited through this method, but not all.

Despite ‘Clean SL’ campaign… UDA allows Garbage Dump in Kotte

Despite repeated complaints by local state authorities and residents at Mirihana in Kotte, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and its officials are turning a blind eye to the severe environmental devastation of UDA land due to the dumping of garbage and house waste.

On dilapidated roads do travel men with ambition

The government has approved the enhancement of rural roads in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The need to re-establish Sri Lanka’s legacy as a spectacular maritime destination - EDITORIAL

Emerging threats in maritime waters have posed significant challenges to the land-locked as well as littoral states such as Sri Lanka.

Monkeying around with truth and transparency

Late Sunday morning, the lights literally, all went out in Sri Lanka. During the regime of the good old Rajapaksa, the country would have been informed that it was the work of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). But all of that has now changed; instead, the Minister informed us it was the work of a monkey.

What would Donald Trump’s return to 19th-century power politics mean for Sri Lanka?

Students of realism, the dominant school of thought in international politics, consider the Melian Dialogue a good starting point for studying the discipline. In the conversation, as recorded by Thucydides in ‘The History of the Peloponnesian War,’ the Athenians demand that the neutral state of Melos submit to them. The Melians plead to reason and justice, arguing they have the right to neutrality and sovereignty. To which the Athenians reply, “R

“Sri Lanka Thaayae”: History of the National Anthem Being Sung In Tamil

Sri Lanka celebrated seventy-seven years of gaining independence from British rule last Tuesday (Feb 4).

Chaos and vandalism have become hallmarks post-Hasina Bangladesh

When the repressive 15-year regime of Sheikh Hasina was overthrown by a two-month-long violent mass movement led by university students,

Lasantha murder case and laws delays - EDITORIAL

The current controversy over the letter sent by Attorney General (AG) Parinda Ranasinghe to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director to release three suspects from a case related to the murder of former Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge raises many questions.

This year the day falls on March 13 Series of events planned to mark World Kidney Day

This year, The National Institute for Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation (NINDT) has planned a series of events to mark this significant day, aligning perfectly with the principles of awareness, education, and community engagement.

Protect AG’s autonomy: Justice must remain uncompromised

Last week’s events—AG’s advice to drop charges against three suspects in the Lasantha murder case, protests outside his office, and the President summoning him—raised critical questions about his autonomy and independence.

Government’s promises and the silence of the lambs - EDITORIAL

Our government is battling it out on many fronts in regard to the promises it made while campaigning for the presidential and general elections.

Academic Rigour and Rule of Law Determine the Future of a People and a Nation

In America, there is a raging debate going on today concerning issues of intelligence and the H-1B visa programme. The H-1B visa allows people with only a bachelor’s degree in a designated speciality area (often IT and engineering) to secure a non-immigrant visa to work for an employer for up to 6 years. It often leads to easy immigration when an employer applies for the visa that the US industry badly needs, and then to permanent residence.

Turning the ‘rules-based world order’ on its head

On 20 January this year, Donald Trump was inducted President of the US for a second term. Within hours of his taking Oaths of Office, the ‘new’ president was busy signing a raft of Executive Orders addressing concerns he raised during his presidential campaign.