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.
Inquiry Launched into Vandalism of Heritage Signboards in Batticaloa
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.
Sri Lanka’s Economy Strains as Experts Urge Policy Shift
By: Staff Writer
November 24, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s economic recovery remains fragile despite pockets of improvement, with new expert commentary warning that policy missteps especially on interest rates risk prolonging the country’s crisis. Three years after the 2022 sovereign default, the country is still grappling with deep structural vulnerabilities, slow growth, and continuing social distress, even as official indicators point to stabilising external balances.
Sri Lanka continues to face its most severe economic downturn since independence in 1948. The fiscal tightening and austerity measures introduced as part of the IMF programme have helped reduce inflation and rebuild reserves, but they have also pushed large sections of the population into hardship.
Poverty has surged to 24.5% in 2024, more than double the 2019 level of 11.3%, while malnutrition, youth unemployment and rising school dropout rates suggest long-term, intergenerational consequences. Real per capita GDP is not expected to regain its 2018 levels until at least 2026, underscoring the slow pace of recovery.
The central tension within the economy today stems from contradictory conditions: sharply reduced inflation alongside some of the highest real interest rates in the region. According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s August 2025 Monetary Policy Report, headline inflation has stayed below the 5% target for three consecutive quarters, moving only slightly above zero in the third quarter after dipping into negative territory earlier in the year. Yet the benchmark interest rate remains elevated at 7.75%.
This policy stance is now drawing major criticism. Professor Arjun Jayadev, Director at the Center for the Study of the Indian Economy at Azim Premji University, argues that maintaining such high real interest rates—despite low inflation and weak employment is “fiscal self-harm, not prudence.” He notes that Sri Lanka’s employment-to-population ratio has fallen by four percentage points since 2017, a clear sign that the economy is operating far below its potential.
Jayadev further warns that high interest rates threaten the country’s debt sustainability. With debt levels near 100% of GDP, even small increases in interest costs can widen the debt burden. Drawing a comparison to Greece’s post-2010 experience, he highlights how austerity can backfire when economic contraction outpaces debt reduction pushing economies deeper into crisis rather than stabilising them.
He also points out that Sri Lanka’s inflation is driven largely by food prices—which account for 35% of household expenditure—and are influenced more by global markets and supply disruptions than by domestic demand. This weakens the argument for keeping interest rates high to manage inflation.
Importantly, Sri Lanka’s external position has strengthened. The central bank projects a current-account surplus in 2025, official reserves have surpassed USD 6 billion, the rupee has been stable since the 2022 devaluation, and money markets show excess liquidity conditions that typically support monetary easing rather than tight policy.
Jayadev argues that maintaining a 7.75% policy rate benefits external actors at the expense of domestic recovery and warns that if tight monetary policy triggers another downturn, even foreign creditors stand to lose. With the economy returning to 4.9% growth in the second quarter of 2025, he believes the window for policy correction is open.
“Economies escape debt traps through growth, not endless austerity,” he stresses calling on the central bank to cut interest rates and support a more balanced, growth-oriented recovery.
Maldives–Sri Lanka Talks Set to Reset Economic Partnership
By: Staff Writer
November 24, Colombo (LNW): Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is scheduled to arrive in Colombo in the second week of December on an official invitation extended by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in a visit that is expected to significantly reshape economic cooperation, investment flows, and regional political alignment between the two Indian Ocean neighbours.
According to diplomatic sources, at least six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering trade, investment promotion, tourism collaboration, and information sharing are set to be signed during the three-day visit.
The visit comes just four months after President Dissanayake travelled to Malé and signed two important agreements: a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and a diplomatic training MoU between the Maldivian Foreign Service Institute (FOSIM) and Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI).
This renewed exchange of high-level visits after several years of geopolitical turbulence in Malé signals a deliberate effort to stabilise and expand bilateral ties.
Sri Lanka and the Maldives have long maintained a cordial but understated relationship grounded in shared membership in the Commonwealth, SAARC, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. Economic engagement, however, has historically remained modest.
Annual trade averages around USD 40 million, dominated by Sri Lankan exports of apparel, ceramics, processed food, and construction materials. The Maldives, heavily reliant on imports, represents a niche but stable market for Sri Lankan manufacturers.
Tourism and health travel form another critical pillar. While Sri Lankan tourists frequently visit Maldivian resorts, thousands of Maldivians travel to Colombo each year for medical treatment, education, shopping, and business. Strengthening these sectors through new MoUs could boost revenue for Sri Lankan hospitals, education institutions, airlines, and SMEs if implemented effectively.
However, analysts note that the real strategic significance of Muizzu’s visit lies in economic diplomacy and investment. With the Maldives aggressively seeking foreign capital for infrastructure and housing projects, Sri Lankan construction companies, energy firms, and logistics operators could position themselves to capture new contracts.
Conversely, Sri Lanka, now stabilising after years of economic crisis, hopes to attract Maldivian investors to its hospitality, real estate, and port-related ventures.
Politically, the visit is being closely watched given President Muizzu’s 2023 election campaign, which emphasised an “India-Out” stance and a renewed tilt towards China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Since taking office, some of the anti-India rhetoric has softened, but the Maldives’ shifting geopolitical alignment still affects regional dynamics. Strengthening ties with Sri Lankatraditionally a neutral and pragmatic partne offers Malé a way to diversify its diplomatic footprint and reduce overdependence on any single major power.
For Sri Lanka, reinforcing relations with the Maldives is equally important. Colombo seeks to project stability and economic recovery, and deeper engagement with a wealthy tourism-driven neighbour can support foreign exchange inflows, create investment confidence, and enhance its role as a regional hub for education, healthcare, and aviation.
As both countries confront economic uncertainty and geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean, President Muizzu’s December visit has the potential to transform a historically quiet partnership into a more strategic and mutually beneficial alliance if the promised MoUs translate into tangible results.
Audit Exposes Massive Revenue Leakages at Sri Lanka Customs
By: Staff Writer
November 24, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Customs tasked with ensuring efficient import and export operations while securing government revenue has been found to be mired in administrative lapses, opaque financial practices, and weak internal controls, according to 2024 National Audit Office report released in 2025.
The report focuses on Customs’ complex network of internal funds, including the Reward Fund, Management & Compensation Fund, and the Overtime & Cargo Examination Fund, along with several sub-funds. While these were intended to support operational efficiency, auditors discovered minimal oversight and policy guidance, creating incentives for personal gain over national interest.
One alarming finding relates to penalty sharing: only 30% of net penalties reach the Consolidated Fund, often less than the customs duty owed. Between 2012 and 2023, Rs. 14.53 billion reached the Treasury, while Rs. 24.22 billion was paid to officers and informants.
Reward practices also fail legal requirements: for 35 years, payouts were made without Finance Minister approval, and routine operational detections were categorized as “offence detections” to justify bonuses. Attendance tracking remains outdated, relying on handwritten registers despite 2017 biometric mandates, while 90% of overtime payments go to officers, leaving only 10% for the state.
Major penalties between 2017 and 2023 were arbitrarily reduced, causing revenue losses of Rs. 181.5 million. The report highlights systemic weaknesses that undermine the integrity of one of the country’s most important revenue-generating institutions. The NAO stresses the need for immediate reforms to prevent further financial leakage
BYD Hosts Media Tour in China Amid Local EV Controversy
November 24, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan journalists from leading newspapers and prominent social media influencers were recently invited on an extensive tour of BYD’s operations in China, sources disclosed.
Insiders suggest that BYD is planning to organise a second delegation once the current group returns to Sri Lanka.
The initiative appears aimed at providing first-hand insight into the company’s operations and innovations, following recent debates over electric vehicle imports managed by BYD’s local distributor, John Keells.
Observers note that such tours are increasingly being used by corporations to engage directly with media and social platforms, potentially shaping public perception in response to controversies surrounding import practices and product quality.