November 25, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has posted its strongest export performance to date, with Customs data showing that total export earnings for the first ten months of 2025 reached US$ 14,433.82 million—well above the level recorded during the same period last year.
The Export Development Board (EDB) confirmed that this is the first time the country has crossed the US$ 14 billion threshold between January and October, marking a significant milestone for the national economy. Overall, exports expanded by 6 per cent during the period, a figure that includes provisional data from the Gems and Jewellery and Petroleum Products sectors.
One of the standout achievements was the performance of coconut-based industries, which topped US$ 1 billion in earnings for the first time within a ten-month span, signalling strong global demand and improved domestic processing capacity.
EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe said the results illustrated both the resilience and adaptability of Sri Lankan exporters. “This is the highest export total ever recorded for this ten-month period,” he noted, adding that renewed stability in key Western markets and consistent output from local producers have played crucial roles in the sector’s momentum. He further observed that the country has already realised 80 per cent of its US$ 18 billion export target for the year.
Export earnings in October 2025 alone amounted to US$ 1,474.38 million—covering goods and services—a 2.2 per cent rise compared with September. Year-on-year growth was modest at 0.16 per cent, but officials stressed that the steady performance reflects the continued strength of Sri Lanka’s export strategies, including efforts to broaden market access and enhance global competitiveness.
Services exports remain an increasingly important pillar of the sector. Provisional figures show that services generated US$ 316.14 million in October, while the cumulative total for the first ten months of 2025 reached US$ 3,060.21 million—a 4.01 per cent increase.
The services segment, driven by ICT/BPM, construction, financial services and transport and logistics, is not only diversifying the country’s export profile but also creating more high-value job opportunities across Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Exports Break Records as Sector Surges Past US$ 14 Bn
Ex-SLBFE Chief Arrested Over Alleged Misconduct in Overseas Job Scheme
November 25, Colombo (LNW): Mohammed Hilmi, the former head of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), has been taken into custody by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over suspected wrongdoing linked to a foreign job placement initiative.
CIABOC officers arrested Hilmi in connection with what investigators describe as a questionable procedure used during the recruitment of Sri Lankan workers for employment opportunities in Israel.
The alleged irregularities are said to have taken place under the previous administration, during a period when concerns were repeatedly raised about transparency in foreign employment programmes.
The matter had already drawn political attention earlier, when former Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara was arrested over the same episode and later released on bail pending further inquiries.
Cabinet Clears Revised Port City Bill for Gazette and Parliamentary Debate
November 25, Colombo (LNW): The Government has given the green light to publish a revised draft of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act in the official gazette, paving the way for its tabling in Parliament in the coming weeks.
According to Cabinet officials, the decision marks the culmination of a series of approvals granted earlier on 7 July and 13 October 2025, aimed at overhauling key sections of the original 2021 legislation.
The proposed amendments are designed to create a more competitive tax environment within the Port City zone, while also reinforcing regulatory oversight and streamlining institutional structures linked to the project.
Legal experts from the Attorney General’s Department have now endorsed the updated draft, which was prepared by the Legal Draftsman’s Office. Their clearance effectively removes the final procedural barrier to gazetting.
With these steps completed, the Cabinet has endorsed a proposal submitted by the President in his capacity as Finance Minister, authorising the publication of the bill and its subsequent submission to Parliament.
Government sources indicated that once tabled, the revised legislation is expected to undergo detailed committee scrutiny, with the administration confident that the changes will accelerate investment and improve governance standards within the Port City development.
Inland Revenue Hits Record Collections as Tax Base Expands
November 25, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department (IRD) says it has already generated more than Rs. 2 trillion in tax receipts for 2025, the highest annual return in its history and amounting to 92 per cent of this year’s target.
Officials hailed the achievement as evidence of renewed economic stability and more disciplined fiscal management. They noted that the pool of contributors continues to widen, with some 200,000 new individual taxpayers and 18,000 additional companies registering during the first part of the year.
At a media briefing held yesterday (24) at the Government Information Department, IRD Commissioner General Rukdevi Fernando said the Department had been given a considerably more ambitious target for 2025, reflecting stronger economic activity and ongoing reforms to tax administration.
Of the Rs. 2,195 billion assigned for the year, Rs. 2,080 billion has already been collected—placing the IRD in a position to meet, or possibly exceed, the full-year goal.
Commissioner Nandana Kumara underscored that broadening the tax net has been central to the Department’s success. With the latest registrations, Sri Lanka now has around 1.2 million individual taxpayers. VAT registrations have risen to 30,000, while the number of registered organisations has reached 118,000.
According to Kumara, VAT receipts have grown by 21 per cent compared with last year, and corporate income tax revenue has increased by 14 per cent. He also highlighted changes to the personal income tax threshold, which has been lifted from Rs. 1.2 million to Rs. 1.8 million for 2025.
Providing context on recent revenue patterns, Senior Commissioner Nafeel Abu Bakr explained that collections plummeted in 2020—from Rs. 1,025 billion in 2019 to just Rs. 523 billion—amid economic disruption. Revenues then began a gradual recovery, rising to Rs. 632 billion in 2021, Rs. 1,058 billion in 2022 and Rs. 1,842 billion in 2023. The upward trend continued into 2024, when receipts approached the Rs. 2 trillion mark.
Officials added that continued growth will depend on maintaining tax compliance, simplifying systems for new registrants, and ensuring that economic reforms translate into a more predictable revenue stream in the coming years.
Inquiry Launched into Vandalism of Heritage Signboards in Batticaloa
November 25, Colombo (LNW): Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament that an investigation is under way into the removal of several directional signboards marking archaeological sites in the Batticaloa district.
He assured MPs that anyone found responsible will be taken into custody and prosecuted in line with judicial directives.
Delivering a statement in Parliament yesterday (24), the Minister said that police in both Valachchenai and Kokkadicholai had received complaints alleging that a group of individuals had dismantled signboards pointing to notable heritage locations in the two areas.
According to the report lodged in Valachchenai, six signs vanished on November 22, with a formal complaint submitted the following day.
It was further alleged that among those implicated is the Chairman of the Valachchenai Pradeshiya Sabha. The Minister noted that the Inspector General of Police has directed local officers to conduct a thorough inquiry, report to the Valachchenai Court without delay, and present any arrested suspects along with the recovered signboards.
A separate complaint filed in Kokkadicholai on November 23 indicated that two signs had been removed several days earlier, on November 20.
Minister Wijepala stressed that the rule of law applies uniformly and that these signposts, maintained for years by the Archaeological Department, play an important role in safeguarding the country’s historical record.
He added that authorities have previously detected attempts by certain groups to manipulate such incidents to inflame communal tensions.
He reaffirmed that the Government would not permit anyone to generate ethnic discord by tampering with heritage markers and promised swift police action to retrieve the missing signs and bring the offenders before the courts.
Audit Flags Surge in Public Grievances Over Police Conduct
November 25, Colombo (LNW): A recent audit of the National Police Commission has uncovered a marked rise in public complaints levelled against the Sri Lanka Police over the past four years, raising fresh concerns about the service’s responsiveness and independence.
According to the review, which covers the period up to 31 December 2024, the volume of grievances has climbed steadily from 1,893 in 2021 to 2,863 in 2024. The intervening years reflect similar volatility: 1,676 complaints surfaced in 2022, followed by a sharp jump to 2,448 in 2023. Officials say the upward trend suggests growing public frustration with policing standards.
The 2024 figures reveal that nearly a third of the complaints centred on alleged inaction by officers, while more than a fifth related to the abuse of authority. The auditors remarked that reforms required under Article 155(g)(3) of the Constitution—intended to bolster the impartiality and effectiveness of the police—had not been meaningfully advanced.
A senior official at the Commission acknowledged that lengthy delays in processing cases were partly due to incomplete or vague submissions from complainants, slow delivery of internal investigation reports, a longstanding vacancy in a key investigative post, and the sheer volume of new cases last year. He added that the backlog had reached “a level that demands urgent structural attention.”
The audit also cast light on a troubling accumulation of unresolved matters: of 5,935 complaints received between 2016 and 2024, some 4,902—around 82 per cent—remained pending as of the end of last year. Notably, none of the files lodged directly at the Commission’s Head Office had moved beyond the initial stage of review.
Auditors urged the Commission to overhaul its investigative processes, warning that persistent inertia risks undermining accountability and weakening public trust in the country’s law enforcement apparatus.
Sri Lanka Presses Canada to Curb Overseas Support for Separatist Causes
November 25, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, met yesterday (24) with Canada’s High Commissioner in Colombo, Isabelle Catherine Martin, for what officials described as a “frank and constructive” exchange on matters affecting bilateral relations.
During the conversation, Minister Herath called on Canada to take firmer steps to prevent groups operating on Canadian soil from promoting separatist narratives linked to Sri Lanka’s past conflict.
He emphasised that the public display of LTTE-related symbols and activities that inflame ethnic tensions run counter to the government’s ongoing efforts to reinforce national cohesion.
Herath reportedly noted that certain diaspora factions in Canada continue to engage in campaigns that undermine reconciliation initiatives in Sri Lanka, adding that such conduct risks sowing discord both at home and abroad.
High Commissioner Martin, for her part, reiterated that the LTTE remains a proscribed organisation under Canadian law and that the federal government does not endorse any emblem, event, or rhetoric associated with separatist agendas.
She reaffirmed Canada’s support for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while expressing readiness to continue dialogue on issues affecting both nations, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Sri Lankan Government Moves to Ease Licence Access for Citizens in Italy
November 25, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has green-lighted a plan enabling Sri Lankan nationals living in Italy to obtain locally recognised driving licences, marking a significant step towards improving services for the island nation’s overseas community.
The initiative was put forward yesterday (24) by Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake. He confirmed that the proposal secured Cabinet backing immediately, reflecting what he described as a “clear and urgent need” voiced by expatriates.
Officials in Colombo will now notify the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Rome, paving the way for a formal agreement with the Italian authorities responsible for issuing driving permits. Government sources suggest that both sides are aiming to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding within the next couple of months, streamlining the administrative process and ensuring that applicants face fewer bureaucratic hurdles.
According to the Minister, the move follows years of appeals from Sri Lankans in Italy, many of whom have struggled with the complexities of securing valid documentation despite long-term residency. He added that the new arrangement is part of a broader effort to strengthen support services for citizens living abroad.
Prevailing showery conditions expect enhancement: Heavy falls above 100 mm may occur (Nov 25)
November 25, Colombo (LNW): Due to the low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, an enhancement of the prevailing showery conditions is expected over the Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces during the next few days from today, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (25).
Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces and in Hambantota and Matale districts.
Showers or thundershowers will occur in the other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m.
Heavy falls above 100 mm are likely at some places in Eastern, North-central, Uva and Southern provinces. Fairly heavy falls above 75 mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.
Fairly strong winds of about 40 kmph can be expected at times over Northern province and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
The low-pressure area over the South Andaman Sea is developing gradually and likely to move west-northwestwards.
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be North-easterly or Variable in direction and speed will be (25-35) kmph.
Wind speed can increase up to (50-55) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Batticaloa to Colombo via Trincomalee, Kankasanthurai, Mannar and Puttalam.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Batticaloa to Colombo via Trincomalee, Kankasanthurai, Mannar and Puttalam will be rough at times.
The other sea areas around the island may be fairly rough.
Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
China’s New Blueprint Deepens Sri Lanka Ties amid Global Tensions
By: Staff Writer
November 24, Colombo (LNW): China’s Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party Central Committee has unveiled a sweeping development blueprint estimated to reshape Beijing’s global economic posture—and Sri Lanka is once again at the centre of its outreach strategy.
At a news briefing in Colombo, China’s Ambassador highlighted the new 15th Five-Year Plan as a roadmap for high-quality growth, technological supremacy, green transition and improved living standards, while signalling a renewed push to strengthen development cooperation with strategic partners such as Sri Lanka.
Beijing’s message came with a clear geopolitical backdrop: competition with the United States is intensifying, global supply chains are reorganising, and China is seeking to secure greater influence across the Indo-Pacific. For Sri Lanka, which is emerging from an economic meltdown and still navigating a complex debt restructuring, China’s development agenda offers both opportunities and potential risks.
The Chinese envoy underscored China’s strong performance under the previous 14th Five-Year Plan annual growth averaging 5.5%, GDP expected to surpass USD 19 trillion by 2025, and nearly 30% contribution to global economic expansion. With more than 500,000 high-tech firms and rapid gains in renewable energy and innovation, Beijing believes its development trajectory can anchor the economic recovery of partner nations.
Given Sri Lanka’s need for investment, technology transfer, and export diversification, China’s offer appears attractive. Colombo’s acute infrastructure financing gaps, energy transition needs, and digitalisation ambitions align neatly with Beijing’s stated priorities. Projects in logistics, renewable power, manufacturing zones, and digital trade are likely to be aggressively promoted under the new cooperation framework.
However, the geopolitical implications are unavoidable. China’s increased engagement may deepen scrutiny from India, the U.S., Japan and the EU nations already concerned about Beijing’s strategic footprint in Sri Lanka’s ports and infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative. The introduction of a more expansive Chinese development model may revive debates about debt diplomacy, strategic dependence, and transparency of major projects.
Domestically, expanded Chinese involvement could reshape the political economy. More Chinese investment may accelerate growth, but it could also trigger backlash from local industries, unions, and communities worried about labour displacement, land use and environmental impact. Given Sri Lanka’s fragile economic landscape, the government will face pressure to balance foreign inflows with national interest safeguards.
Internationally, Sri Lanka risks becoming further entangled in great-power rivalry. Beijing’s new development blueprint signals that China intends to consolidate influence in the Indian Ocean, and Colombo struggling to stabilise its economy is particularly vulnerable to external pressure.
China’s promise to support Sri Lanka’s recovery is significant, but the long-term repercussions will depend on how Colombo manages economic necessity against geopolitical exposure. As China accelerates its global blueprint, Sri Lanka must carefully navigate between partnership and dependence—an increasingly difficult tightrope in a fractured world.