Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Sri Lanka Court Orders $1 Billion for 2021 X-Press Pearl Fire
Ship & Bunker
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August 18, 2025
X-Press Feeders says it has already spent over $150 million in clean-up activities and compensation for fishermen. File Image / Pixabay The Sri Lankan Supreme Court has ordered an initial $1 billion payment within a year over the 2021 X-Press...
Sri Lanka manufacturing expands sharply in July, PMI at 62.2
Fibre 2 Fashion
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Sri Lanka’s manufacturing sector expanded sharply in July 2025, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI – Manufacturing) rising to 62.2 from 51.9 in June, signalling a higher rate of growth across all key indicators. Sri Lanka's manufacturing PMI...
Ather Energy launches 2025 Ather 450X in Sri Lanka, expands retail footprint
ETAuto
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August 18, 2025
Ather 450X Launch in Sri LankaIndia’s leading electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has launched the 2025 Ather 450X in Sri Lanka, marking a milestone in its international expansion strategy. The company, which entered Sri Lanka in December 2024...
Healthcare gains boost Sri Lankan shares
Business Recorder
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August 18, 2025
Sri Lankan shares closed higher on Monday, as gains in healthcare and utilities stocks countered real estate losses. The CSE All Share index settled up 1.25% at 20,470.52, rising for the second straight session. SMB Finance PLC and Standard...
Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka exceed 1.5 million so far in 2025
Xinhua News Agency
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COLOMBO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have exceeded 1.5 million so far this year, a minister said on Monday. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath said in a post on social media that the...
Ather Energy launches 2025 Ather 450X in Sri Lanka
India Blooms
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August 18, 2025
Ather Energy Limited, India’s leading electric two-wheeler manufacturer, recently announced the launch of the 2025 Ather 450X in Sri Lanka. This marks a milestone in Ather’s international growth strategy, aimed at strengthening its presence in...
WFP Representative and Country Director presents credentials to the Foreign Minister in Sri Lanka
World Food Programme
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COLOMBO – The newly-appointed Representative and Country Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Sri Lanka, Philip Ward, has formally presented his letter of credentials to Hon. Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs,...
Sri Lanka’s Vidullanka commissions 2MW power plant
EconomyNext
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August 18, 2025
ECONOMYNEXT – Fitch Ratings has affirmed its National Long-Term Rating at ‘BB+(lka)’ on Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank of Sri Lanka, and revised the outlook to negative from stable due to the potential for the state bank’s credit...
Sri Lanka deposit rates move up, overnight money market working
EconomyNext
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August 18, 2025
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s deposit rates have edged up over June after a controversial rate cut in May 2025 while overnight rates have also moved up from the fall, in a scarce reserve regime up to last week, official data show. Call money rates,...
Sri Lanka launches teacher training for education reforms
On Lanka
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August 18, 2025
Posted by Editor on August 18, 2025 - 10:25 am The Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka has planned to complete the teacher training program before the end of the third school term, with the aim of successfully implementing education reforms. It has...
Fitch lowers Sri Lanka’s HDFC Bank outlook to negative, retains ‘BB+(lka)’ rating
EconomyNext
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August 18, 2025
ECONOMYNEXT – Fitch Ratings has affirmed its National Long-Term Rating at ‘BB+(lka)’ on Housing Development Finance Corporation Bank of Sri Lanka, and revised the outlook to negative from stable due to the potential for the state bank’s credit...
Purpose Is To Protect Infiltrators, Carve A New Vote Bank: BJP Blasts Oppn
MENAFN
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August 18, 2025
(MENAFN- IANS) New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a blistering attack at the Opposition on Monday, claiming that the Congress and other parties of the INDIA bloc want to spread anarchy and chaos in the country with...
The Hidden Exploitation of Sri Lanka’s Gem Industry by Chinese Smuggling Rings
NewsDay Zimbabwe
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Sri Lanka’s renowned gem industry, famous for its top-tier gemstones, is facing rampant exploitation, primarily fueled by Chinese involvement. Sri Lanka’s renowned gem industry, famous for its top-tier gemstones, is facing rampant exploitation,...
As fast-spreading mussel sweeps across Asia, Sri Lanka faces new invasive threat
Mongabay
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August 18, 2025
The black mussel (Mytella strigata), a fast-spreading mollusk of South American origin was recently discovered in shrimp farms along Sri Lanka’s western coast, closer to Anawilundawa, an important Ramsar wetland in the Indian Ocean island. Native...
Sri Lanka Postal services disrupted by nationwide strike
On Lanka
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August 18, 2025
Posted by Editor on August 18, 2025 - 8:40 am All postal workers in Sri Lanka have launched a strike from midnight yesterday (August 17). The strike was initiated based on 19 demands, including the proper payment of overtime allowances and...
Interest rates edge higher as Sri Lanka grapples with fragile monetary conditions
Lanka News Web
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August 18, 2025
August 17, Colombo (LNW): Interest rates in Sri Lanka have begun to rise again in June 2025, following a controversial rate reduction the previous month, as the country’s financial system shifts under the weight of conflicting pressures. Official...
Postal services paralysed for second day as union strike escalates across Sri Lanka
Lanka News Web
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August 18, 2025
August 18, Colombo (LNW): Postal operations across Sri Lanka face a second consecutive day of complete disruption as trade union action by the Postal and Telecommunications Officers’ Union and the United Postal Trade Unions’ Front (UPTUF)...
UAE Central Bank suspends licence of insurance company Yas Takaful
The National News
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The UAE Central Bank has suspended the licence of insurance company Yas Takaful for non-compliance with the country's regulatory framework, it said on Monday. "Yas Takaful remains liable for all rights and obligations arising from insurance...
Strike by TN fishermen against frequent arrests by Sri Lankan Navy enters 8th day
Madhyamam
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August 18, 2025
Chennai: The strike by fishermen in Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram against the frequent arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy entered its eighth day on Monday. The strike has caused a loss of over Rs 7 crore so far. The continuing arrests of Tamil Nadu...
Neon & Shadows: Sri Lanka’s Grey Economy, Casino for India’s Rich
South Asia Journal
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August 18, 2025
“Sri Lanka can be to India what Macau is to China,” Melco CEO Lawrence Ho said on the night the lights came on. It was August 2 in Colombo. The ballroom glowed like a promise. South Asia’s largest casino was open. I was there at the opening,...