Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath met with a group of Muslim civil society leaders today to discuss issues faced by the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.

During the meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions focused on concerns regarding the cultural attire of Muslim nurses employed in government hospitals and delays in burial procedures for deceased persons due to outdated COVID-19–era guidelines.

Minister Herath clarified that no legal restrictions exist preventing Muslim nurses from wearing attire that reflects their religious and cultural identity, provided it remains consistent with existing regulations governing official duties.

He further noted that a circular reinstating pre-pandemic burial procedures has already been issued, ensuring that burial practices can now be conducted under the same guidelines that existed prior to the COVID-19 period.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker Rizvi Sally, Minister Sunil Senewiratne, State Ministers Muneer Mulaffar and Arkam Illyas, and MP Fasmim Sherif.

Representatives from 15 Muslim civil society organizations, including religious leaders and members of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), also took part in the discussions, engaging in a constructive dialogue on strengthening mutual understanding and addressing longstanding community concerns.

A high-level meeting was held yesterday (23) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, jointly chaired by Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation Janith Ruwan Kodituwakku and Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sampath Thuyacontha, to review and strengthen overall security at the country’s main international gateway.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the meeting focused on key issues related to enhancing airport security, curbing illegal activities, and improving inter-agency coordination and response mechanisms to potential threats.

Addressing the participants, Defence Secretary Thuyacontha highlighted the critical importance of maintaining the highest standards of security at the BIA, emphasizing its central role in national security, economic development, and international connectivity. He underscored the need to ensure the safety of passengers, airline crews, airport staff, and all individuals involved in airport operations.

He commended the dedication of all stakeholders and stressed the importance of continuous coordination and vigilance to safeguard the facility and uphold international aviation security standards.

During the discussions, participants shared practical observations and challenges faced in their respective areas, proposing solutions to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of existing security measures. It was unanimously agreed to establish a comprehensive mechanism to streamline the efforts of all relevant institutions, fostering closer collaboration and a more unified approach to airport security management.

Following the meeting, the Deputy Minister, Defence Secretary, and other senior officials conducted an inspection visit of the BIA premises to assess the current security arrangements.

The session was attended by top officials from key state institutions, including the Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Aviation, Chief of National Intelligence, Inspector General of Police, Director General of Sri Lanka Customs, Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka), Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, Controller General (Actg.) of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Director of the Border Risk Assessment Centre, Director General of Military Intelligence, Director of Air Intelligence (SLAF), Senior DIG Western Province, DIG Colombo North, DIGs of the Police Narcotics Bureau and Special Branch, Director of Quarantine Services, and senior Tri-Forces, Police, and State officials.

The National Awards Ceremony for Excellence in Agricultural Research for the years 2023 and 2025 was held yesterday afternoon (23) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Organized biennially by the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP), the awards aim to encourage and motivate agricultural researchers to achieve excellence in their fields, foster professional growth, and recognize their valuable contributions to the advancement of the national agricultural sector, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

This year’s awards honoured outstanding achievements across three main categories:

• Forest plantation cultivation
• Export-oriented agricultural crops
• Non-crop cultivation such as floriculture, livestock, fisheries, and aquatic resources

Awards were presented for both 2023 and 2025.

Addressing the gathering, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha highlighted that Sri Lanka’s dependence on food imports continues to place a heavy financial burden on consumers, underscoring one of the sector’s main challenges. He stressed that researchers have a vital responsibility to help identify strategies for agricultural modernization, foster young agri-entrepreneurs, enhance value addition, and promote export-oriented growth.

The Minister further urged that research findings be effectively communicated to policymakers and relevant stakeholders to ensure practical implementation at ground level.

Minister Lalkantha also commended the SLCARP for its dedicated efforts in advancing agricultural research and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing an agriculture model that ensures food security, reduces import dependency, uplifts farmer livelihoods, and promotes environmental sustainability.

Also in attendance were Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Viddyarathna, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation Aravinda Senarath Witharana, and Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe, along with senior government officials, SLCARP Chairman Prof. R.S. Dharmakeerthi, university vice-chancellors, researchers, academics, and private sector representatives.

Red tape within the bureaucracy contributes to the physical aggravations. Importers of perishables and agri-products often experience clearance delays because local authorities refuse to accept international lab certifications, forcing retesting at local facilities such as Sri Lanka Standards Institute, already operating at maximum capacity.

The result: higher demurrage charges, congestion, and rotting foodstuffs. Industry experts argue that accepting internationally recognized certifications would tilt safety and efficiency.

Terminal performance differences persist as well. State-owned terminals such as SAGT and CICT consistently lag behind privately owned terminals such as SAGT and CICT in productivity. The new West Container Terminal, with computerised handling systems, holds promise but is underused due to a lack of operational integration.

Industry leaders warned that Colombo Port is currently at a crossroads. Despite its prime location and expanding facilities, bureaucratic complacency and outdated rituals threaten to unravel its regional dominance.

Simply increasing capacity will not solve the crisis. Exporters underline the need for predictability timely vessel scheduling, fast clearance, and transparent regulation.

Experts call for across the board reform, from harmonised berth allocation, digital pre-clearing, and simplified customs to total operating system overhaul. With much delay, Sri Lanka may turn its prized maritime gateway into a costly chokepoint losing trade and investment to faster, better-manag olombo Port Struggles Threaten Sri Lanka’s Export Competitiveness

Sri Lanka’s exporters are once again facing mounting challenges as long-standing congestion and procedural bottlenecks at the Port of Colombo disrupt trade flows, forcing major global shipping lines to reroute around the nation’s key maritime gateway. The disruptions have exposed structural weaknesses in port administration and customs coordination, highlighting obstacles to Sri Lanka’s long-held goal of becoming South Asia’s premier transshipment and logistics hub.

For sectors such as garments, rubber, and electronics, which rely on precise delivery schedules, the impact has been severe. Ships bypassing Colombo or arriving weeks late are driving up costs, triggering contract penalties, and eroding customer confidence. At the heart of the crisis are terminal congestion, inefficient inter-terminal transfers, and coordination gaps. Exporters note that transshipment containers still require manual movement between terminals using prime movers—a time-consuming method ill-suited for modern logistics.

In comparison, India’s newly commissioned Vizhinjam Port, with its single-basin design, enables faster vessel turnaround and smoother internal container movement, drawing shipping traffic away from Colombo. While the port handled 4.7 million TEUs from January to July 2025a 4% increase over last year—industry participants warn that these numbers mask growing operational strain.

The financial burden on Sri Lankan exporters is significant. Container shunting costs between Rs. 100,000 and Rs. 300,000 per shipment for haulage, demurrage, and labor, heavily impacting small-scale exporters with narrow margins. Official estimates project total container handling at 7.76 million TEUs in 2025, of which 6.2 million are transshipments. Yet berth waits of 48–72 hours persist due to congestion, incomplete infrastructure integration, and weak terminal coordination.

Bureaucratic red tape further aggravates delays. Importers of perishables and agricultural products often face clearance problems as local authorities reject internationally recognized laboratory certifications, forcing costly retesting at the overburdened Sri Lanka Standards Institute. The result is rising demurrage charges, increased congestion, and wasted produce.

Terminal performance varies sharply. State-owned terminals consistently lag behind private operators, while the newly built West Container Terminal, equipped with computerized handling systems, remains underutilized due to integration issues.Industry leaders warn that Colombo Port stands at a critical crossroads. Despite its strategic location and expanding capacity, outdated procedures and bureaucratic inertia risk eroding its regional dominance. Expert’s stress that increasing capacity alone will not resolve the crisis. Instead, Sri Lanka requires harmonized berth allocation, digital pre-clearance, streamlined customs, and a comprehensive operational overhaul. Without decisive reform, the nation risks turning its prized maritime gateway into a costly chokepoint, losing trade and investment to faster, better-managed regional competitors

Hambantota International Port (HIP) has recorded an extraordinary 151% year-on-year surge in cargo throughput, reaching 6.03 million metric tons by the end of September 2025 compared to 2.39 million tons in the same period last year. The growth comes despite logistical challenges triggered by the lifting of Sri Lanka’s vehicle import ban earlier this year.

The removal of import restrictions led to increased congestion and clearance delays, testing the port’s storage and operational capacities. To address these pressures, HIP’s Operations Department implemented a comprehensive optimisation plan—reconfiguring yard allocation, balancing container flows, and enhancing stacking strategies to maintain efficiency. Additional manpower was deployed, with an expanded team of stevedores and extended yard space ensuring uninterrupted vessel operations.

According to internal financial data, the port’s revenue for the first nine months of 2025 is estimated at over US$ 132 million, marking a 48% rise from the same period in 2024. Expenditure climbed to around US$ 84 million due to infrastructure expansion, higher energy costs, and increased staffing, though net operating profit improved significantly, highlighting the port’s growing operational strength.

HIP’s expansion momentum continues on several fronts. In late 2024, the port commissioned US$ 41 million worth of cranes, lifting its container handling capacity to 1 million TEUs annually. The port’s bunkering and energy services have also advanced sharply, with LPG throughput up by 38% and bunker fuel volumes rising 21% year-on-year. Vehicle transshipment, one of HIP’s key revenue drivers, grew 26% this year, reflecting its strengthening role as a regional automotive logistics hub.

HIPG CEO Wilson Qu stated, “As we approach the close of 2025, Hambantota Port remains firmly focused on reliability and resilience under rising demand. Our investments in technology, capacity, and workforce development underscore our long-term commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s logistics and energy ambitions.”

The port’s performance places it among the fastest-growing maritime facilities in South Asia. With strategic expansion projects and sustained revenue growth, Hambantota International Port is evolving into a fully integrated multipurpose logistics center, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s position on key global shipping routes.

Sri Lanka is set to introduce a competitive and rules-based tax framework for large-scale investors, following discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Arjuna Herath confirmed that the new regime will target projects exceeding 50 million US dollars.

The move comes after the government suspended long-standing tax holidays of up to 20 years under the Strategic Development Project (SDP) Act. These holidays were criticized for allowing arbitrary, negotiated taxes that lacked transparency. The IMF-backed reforms aim to restore confidence among investors by establishing clear and predictable tax policies.

“We have worked closely with the IMF to implement SDP project concessions,” Herath said. “Projects over 50 million dollars will benefit from attractive concessions based on thresholds, making Sri Lanka more competitive.” The reforms will also end the practice of tax-free salaries for senior executives in SDP companies.

Currently, Sri Lanka imposes a 30 percent corporate tax rate, higher than the 20 percent rates in East Asian nations such as Vietnam and Cambodia. Herath highlighted that countries with monetary stability, including Singapore and Cambodia, maintain competitive environments with stable inflation and minimal currency crises, enabling them to offer investor-friendly regimes without arbitrary tax interventions.

 Sri Lanka has historically experienced balance of payments crises that often led to ad hoc tax hikes. The first major crisis occurred in 1952/53, prompting income and import tax increases. Tax holidays were previously suggested by the Central Bank to offset uncompetitive taxes. Presently, global trends, including US pressure on countries with low corporate taxes, are influencing Sri Lanka’s new strategy, aiming for fiscal stability and international alignment.

Latest SDP and Mega Project Investments: In the first half of 2025, Sri Lanka approved over 12 projects qualifying as SDPs, totaling investments exceeding 800 million US dollars. Major sectors attracting investment include renewable energy, port infrastructure, IT parks, and manufacturing hubs. The government’s intention is to provide streamlined concessions to encourage further foreign investment, ensuring that large-scale projects benefit from a transparent and competitive tax framework.