Sri Lanka is set to roll out a $74.87 million initiative in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to improve food systems, support vulnerable communities, and build resilience against economic and climate shocks.

The Cabinet of Ministers this week approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the WFP to implement its Sri Lanka Strategic Plan for 2023–2027.

The strategic plan provides a roadmap to address both immediate and long-term food and nutrition challenges. Developed in close consultation with the government and stakeholders, it aligns with Sri Lanka’s national development framework and the UN’s Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023–2027.

Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing, said the MoU will formalize the collaboration and ensure coordinated efforts to meet the program’s goals. The proposal was submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

The WFP’s four-year plan is designed to offer urgent food and nutritional support while building long-term resilience through a system-wide, nutrition-sensitive approach. It also aims to reduce vulnerability and strengthen national systems, with a strong focus on gender equality, sustainable development, and peacebuilding.

As part of the plan, vulnerable communities across the country will receive food, nutrition, and essential support during and after crises. At the same time, nutrition programs will be expanded to benefit targeted groups, especially young children, with a focus on improving health outcomes during the critical early years of life.

The initiative will also help communities better withstand natural disasters, climate change, and other risks by promoting more sustainable livelihoods. Additionally, national and local institutions will receive support to improve their capacity for managing resilient and adaptive food systems.

The strategic plan is underpinned by detailed gender and contextual analyses, including the 2021 United Nations Common Country Analysis. It adopts a humanitarian–development–peace nexus model, balancing immediate relief with long-term development goals.

The $75 million effort positions Sri Lanka to not only meet urgent food and nutritional needs but also build a more robust foundation to face future crises. With WFP’s expertise and the government’s commitment, the initiative is expected to deliver meaningful progress in food security, community resilience, and institutional strength over the next four years.

The Central Expressway project, a key infrastructure initiative in Sri Lanka, remains mired in delays, funding issues, and construction setbacks, with Phase 3 and the Port Access Elevated Highway now in focus.

Phase 3 of the Expressway, from Pothuhera to Galagedara, covering 32.45 km and including interchanges at Pothuhera, Polgahawela, Rambukkana, and Galagedara, is now scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. Local contractors are currently engaged in 17 construction packages for this stretch. The entire project is expected to be finalized by July 2026.

Meanwhile, construction of Phase 1, between Kadawatha and Mirigama (36.5 km), which began in 2020, is set to resume in August after being stalled due to financial constraints stemming from Sri Lanka’s economic crisis. A fresh allocation of Rs. 7.5 billion has been proposed to kickstart the work, and a cabinet paper has already been submitted.

Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament that tenders have been called for Phase 1, and construction will proceed either through a Chinese contractor or a local firm.

 Deputy Transport and Highways Minister Dr. Prasanna Gunasena noted that the government may terminate the existing contract due to cost escalations and delays, potentially incurring over US$ 40 million in compensation.

Talks are ongoing with China’s EXIM Bank over the stalled US$ 989 million loan, which was initially agreed upon in 2015–2016.

Despite intentions to complete the Kadawatha-Mirigama section under the existing contract, the project has seen estimated costs more than double, causing successive governments to stall execution.

Authorities are currently assessing compensation to the former project company, with a final decision expected within two weeks.

Further complications arise from an incident on the Kurunegala-Kandy stretch, where a 35-meter concrete beam collapsed, and raising concerns about structural integrity.

The Road Development Authority (RDA) confirmed that two additional beams are at risk, prompting quality tests along the 17-km section completed in 2021. The RDA also stated that the root cause of the collapse is under investigation and officials will be kept informed.

Additionally, Phase 3, initially backed by Mitsubishi Bank of Japan, faces uncertainty due to adverse contract terms, prompting the government to reassess the agreement.

The only operational segment remains the Mirigama-Kurunegala phase, while other portions continue to face delays. Construction efforts have also been temporarily halted due to commitments under the IMF agreement.

Despite the setbacks, officials reaffirm the government’s commitment to completing the Central Expressway, albeit under revised terms and possibly new project structures..

Leader of the House and Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake announced in Parliament that the Government will begin installing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-controlled safety equipment in long-distance Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and private buses to enhance passenger safety and reduce road accidents.

Speaking during the debate on the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill, the Minister said that AI systems designed to monitor driver attentiveness and prevent drowsiness will be installed in an initial batch of 40 buses within the next two months. This pilot initiative will include both state-owned and private buses.

“We are using AI-controlled devices to alert drivers in real time. Unlike CCTV cameras, which rely on human monitoring, AI systems can actively detect signs of driver fatigue or distraction and intervene immediately,” the Minister explained.

In addition to the AI initiative, the Government will implement 85 new transport safety guidelines from July 1, 2025, aimed at improving service standards and ensuring driver vigilance and passenger protection.

Minister Rathnayake admitted that Sri Lanka’s transport system requires major improvements, and said this was part of a broader strategy to modernise the sector and reduce road accidents.

Once the AI system’s effectiveness is confirmed, the Government intends to expand the programme to a larger fleet and other sectors of public transport. The use of AI represents a significant technological advancement in Sri Lanka’s public transportation safety infrastructure.

Speaker of Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne has announced plans to establish a Parliamentary Education and Research Centre aimed at supporting Members of Parliament, Provincial Council representatives, Local Government officials, and researchers. The proposal was shared during a recent meeting with UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Marc-André Franche and UN Peace and Development Resident Advisor Patrick McCarthy at the Parliament premises. Parliament Secretary General Kushani Rohanadeera was also in attendance.

The proposed centre would serve as a key platform to enhance legislative capacity, democratic understanding, and evidence-based policymaking. Speaker Wickramaratne emphasized the importance of not only empowering elected representatives with knowledge and research resources but also the need to establish a dedicated legal division within Parliament to strengthen its legislative and oversight functions.

The meeting included broader discussions on:

• The performance of the Tenth Parliament.
• A new programme to promote democracy and good governance.
• Enhanced cooperation between the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the United Nations.
• National strategies for combating bribery and corruption.
• Innovative approaches to promote national reconciliation.

UN Coordinator Franche also updated the Speaker on the forthcoming visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, reflecting continued international engagement in Sri Lanka’s democratic and human rights journey.

Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva and Eastern provinces and in Vavuniya and Mullaittivu districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Southern province.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers

June 05, Colombo (LNW): Duminda Dissanayake, a former cabinet minister and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s organiser for the Anuradhapura District, will remain in custody until June 19, following a ruling by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court.

Dissanayake was taken into custody on May 23 after authorities uncovered a gold-plated T-56 assault rifle at a residential property in Colombo’s Havelock Town. The weapon, which raised serious concerns due to its customised nature and potential symbolic significance, was discovered during a broader operation involving security services.

The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) is currently leading inquiries into the case, focusing on how the weapon came to be at the location and whether it is connected to any illicit or politically motivated activities.

Dissanayake was initially remanded a day after his arrest, with investigators citing the need for extended custody to probe deeper into the weapon’s provenance and any possible networks associated with it.

By: Staff Writer

June 05, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s foreign employment sector—vital for national income and family livelihoods—is facing a crisis of credibility amid revelations of large-scale financial mismanagement and fraud within the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).

Alarming findings unveiled by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) have cast a shadow over the Bureau’s operations, with unplanned expenditures and fraudulent practices threatening the integrity of overseas job opportunities for thousands of Sri Lankans.

At the centre of the controversy is the SLBFE’s unauthorized spending of more than Rs. 1.3 billion on two initiatives in 2024—the ‘Glocal Fair’ and ‘Vigamanika Harasara’—which were not included in its annual action plan and had no Cabinet approval prior to execution.

These findings came to light during a COPE meeting chaired by Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, where parliamentarians condemned the Bureau for diverting significant public funds away from essential services.

The ‘Vigamanika Harasara’ initiative, aimed at connecting with migrant worker communities in three provinces, cost Rs. 63 million.

However, it was dwarfed by the Rs. 1.259 billion price tag attached to the ‘Glocal Fair’, a programme that purported to bring Foreign Employment Ministry services to rural areas. Notably, the ‘Glocal Fair’ was launched without Cabinet clearance, with approval sought only after the programme was already underway.

COPE members sharply criticised the Bureau for these expenditures, pointing out that only Rs. 2 million had been typically allocated for such outreach programmes in previous years. Questions were also raised about inflated costs—such as trade stalls priced at Rs. 170,000 and Rs. 500,000—suggesting potential procurement irregularities.

“The Bureau has clearly deviated from its core responsibilities,” said COPE Chair Dr. Samaraweera, stressing that resources intended for sustainable development were being misdirected into poorly planned ventures.

Adding to the Bureau’s woes, COPE also flagged the failure of a housing loan initiative named ‘Rataviruwo,’ launched in 2013 in collaboration with the Samurdhi Authority. The Bureau has yet to recover Rs. 100 million from the programme, which never delivered on its objectives. Officials admitted they have no data on who benefitted and were ordered to produce a full report.

Parliamentarians further urged the SLBFE to use its Rs. 18 billion in fixed deposits more strategically. Likewise, the dormant Kuwait Compensation Fund—holding Rs. 5.1 billion as of end-2023—was cited as an untapped resource. Officials said the fund would be used for domestic worker training and to develop a pension scheme for migrant workers.

Most concerning, however, were COPE’s revelations of financial fraud involving employment agencies. Some agencies were reportedly misrepresenting independently migrating workers as agency-sponsored to fraudulently claim a 70% refund on registration fees. A sub-committee will be appointed to investigate these allegations.

By: Staff Writer

June 05, Colombo (LNW): State-owned SriLankan Airlines has taken a bold step towards expansion despite ongoing financial struggles, with the arrival of a new Airbus A330-200 aircraft from France. The wide-body aircraft, which flew low over Colombo and Katunayake before landing at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), marks the airline’s first addition under its renewed fleet expansion plan.

The A330-200, welcomed by large crowds in Colombo, is expected to enhance both long-haul and short-haul international operations. In a statement, SriLankan Airlines said the new aircraft will help improve connectivity between Sri Lanka and global destinations. The fly-past event was seen as a symbolic boost to the airline’s re-fleeting strategy.

Despite the celebration, the airline remains in a precarious financial position. According to Harsha de Silva, Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises, SriLankan Airlines has been incurring losses on 31 out of 45 routes, accumulating a loss of Rs. 3.4 billion by March 2025. Passenger revenue dropped by Rs. 40 billion, although fuel costs decreased by Rs. 23 billion. The airline also holds liabilities of $978 million and Rs. 51 billion in domestic debt, with a bond restructuring involving interest arrears of around $200 million.

The airline’s leadership is now pursuing what has been dubbed the ‘Hayleys Plan’ to expand the fleet to 25 aircraft by leasing five more planes across 2025 and 2026. Chairman Sarath Ganegoda said the company has scrapped previous plans approved by the former government to lease four wide-body aircraft and is currently negotiating new deals under more favorable terms.

Ganegoda noted that although a previous cabinet decision had approved leases with ORIX Aviation and Aergo Capital, those agreements have not progressed. Instead, SriLankan is now focused on acquiring aircraft to re-enter several profitable routes that have been left unserved due to capacity shortages—such as Beijing-Colombo and Nairobi-Colombo, which are considered strategic connections for passengers traveling to Australia.

The airline, which currently operates an all-Airbus fleet of 22 aircraft (nine A330s and 13 A320/A321s), aims to increase its global market share from 35% to 45% over the next five years. However, the financial restructuring process remains incomplete. The 2025 national budget allocated Rs. 20 billion to address the airline’s legacy debt following past losses and mismanagement, including a failed A350 re-fleeting deal.

As part of its recovery and growth strategy, SriLankan is expected to add at least two more aircraft by the end of 2025, positioning itself to compete more effectively on profitable international routes.