February 02, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s head coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, has stated that the team’s disappointing loss to Australia in the first Test was primarily due to a lacklustre batting performance.
Addressing the media at a press conference in Galle following the defeat, the former Sri Lankan cricket legend emphasised that there was no justification for the poor showing and no excuses to be made for the result.
Jayasuriya was candid in his assessment of the match, acknowledging that the conditions were not overly challenging.
“This wicket is not particularly difficult to play on. The players must learn how to cope with pressure and know when to bat with confidence,” he said. “Test cricket presents a range of situations, and it’s important to manage those situations effectively.“
He further stressed that Sri Lanka boasts a strong batting line-up and that the team needs to take responsibility for its performance.
“We should have done better, and it’s clear that we didn’t perform to our potential. The batsmen must learn how to convert starts into big centuries. If the wicket had been challenging, I would have acknowledged that, but that’s not the case here,” Jayasuriya explained.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Test, the head coach expressed hope for a strong recovery from the team. “I expect to see a much better performance in the next match,” he added.
In response to a query about potential changes to the team for the second Test, Jayasuriya confirmed that discussions would be held with the selectors to assess the possibility of adjustments.
February 02, Colombo (LNW): Health officials have raised concerns over a notable increase in chikungunya cases across Sri Lanka, particularly in the wake of the monsoon season.
Dr. Deepal Perera, a paediatrician at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, explained that the surge in cases can be largely attributed to the rising number of mosquitoes during the wet season, which creates ideal breeding conditions for the Aedes mosquito responsible for transmitting the virus.
Chikungunya shares many symptoms with dengue fever, including high fever, joint pain, and rash, making it difficult for the public to distinguish between the two illnesses.
As the number of affected individuals rises, Dr. Perera has emphasised the importance of taking preventative measures to minimise exposure to mosquitoes, which thrive in stagnant water during the rainy months.
The Ministry of Health has urged the public to adopt proactive measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, such as ensuring containers are emptied of stagnant water, using mosquito repellents, and installing netting or screens in living spaces.
Public health campaigns have been rolled out to raise awareness about the disease and the steps individuals can take to protect themselves and their families.
Whilst chikungunya is generally not fatal, the symptoms can be severe, especially for young children and the elderly, and can cause long-term joint pain that may persist for months.
February 02, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Cabinet has established two new committees to conduct a comprehensive review of the Adani Group’s proposed wind power project, amidst ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the initiative.
Legal counsel has been sought regarding the operation of these committees to ensure that all necessary procedures are followed during the review process.
The Ministry of Power has outlined that these committees will focus on evaluating several key aspects of the project, including the projected costs, legal compliance, and the environmental impact assessments associated with the wind power development.
The aim is to ensure that the project aligns with national interests and regulations, and to address any concerns raised during the legal proceedings.
The Adani Group is planning a significant investment of US$ 1 billion into the project, which includes the construction of a 484 MW wind power facility in the regions of Mannar and Pooneryn.
However, with the legal challenges currently in motion, the government has opted to reassess the project’s feasibility and potential long-term impact before proceeding further.
February 02, Colombo (LNW): Director General of the Power Sector Reforms Secretariat Pubudu Niroshan Hedigallage has announced an extension for the submission of written consultations on the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act No. 36 of 2024.
The new deadline for stakeholders to provide their feedback is now set for February 14, 2025.
The government has called for input from various stakeholders, including industry experts, businesses, and the public, to ensure that the proposed amendments are comprehensive and consider all perspectives.
Interested parties can submit their views through the official Ministry of Power website at http://powermin.gov.lk/, or send their written submissions directly to the Ministry of Energy at its office located at 437, Galle Road, Colombo 00300. Alternatively, consultations can also be emailed to [email protected].
This extension offers additional time for all relevant parties to engage with the proposed changes, which are intended to improve and modernise the country’s electricity regulations.
February 02, Colombo (LNW): Trade and Commerce Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe has confirmed that recent adjustments to fuel prices in Sri Lanka are in line with the country’s established pricing formula, which reflects the volatile nature of global market fluctuations.
Speaking in Anuradhapura, the Minister reiterated that the government is committed to adhering to this pricing structure, which necessitates monthly adjustments to fuel costs based on international market conditions.
Minister Samarasinghe emphasised that fuel prices are not fixed but fluctuate in accordance with a transparent formula that aligns with global trends.
He acknowledged the challenges this creates for the public, stating, “Whether we are in favour of these changes or not, we must follow this system. The price revisions—whether they are increases or decreases—are determined by the global market, and we have no option but to adjust accordingly.“
Beyond fuel price adjustments, the Minister also touched on other measures the government is taking to alleviate the economic pressures faced by the public.
One such initiative includes a 30 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs for factories, which the Minister argued would have a positive ripple effect across the economy, ultimately benefiting the wider population by lowering production costs.
“As a government, our priority is to reduce the financial strain on the people,” Minister Samarasinghe added. “We are working diligently across various sectors to ensure that the country is heading in the right direction towards economic stability and growth. Strengthening institutions and safeguarding the well-being of citizens remain at the forefront of our efforts.“
February 02, Colombo (LNW): India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced a revised budget allocation of INR 54,830 million for foreign aid in 2025-26, marking a slight increase from last year’s budget estimate of INR 48,830 million.
However, this is lower than the INR 58,060 million allocated in the previous year’s revised estimate.
Sri Lanka’s allocation for aid has seen an increase, with INR 3,000 million earmarked for the country, up from INR 2,450 million in the previous year’s budget.
This boost reflects India’s continued support for Sri Lanka amidst its ongoing economic challenges.
The overall budget for the Ministry of External Affairs stands at INR 20,516 crore, a reduction from the original estimate of INR 22,154 crore and last year’s revised estimate of INR 25,277 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Despite this reduction, the budget still represents a 15.45 per cent increase compared to the previous year, excluding provisions for the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank, which, as of now, has not received any specific allocation but may be considered later if needed.
In line with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, India has allocated a significant portion of the MEA’s budget to neighbouring countries. A total of INR 4,320 crore, or 64 per cent of the foreign aid scheme, is earmarked for infrastructure development projects in neighbouring nations.
These projects include large-scale initiatives such as hydroelectric plants, power transmission lines, housing, roads, bridges, and integrated check-posts.
Bhutan continues to be the largest recipient of India’s foreign aid, with an allocation of INR 2,150 crore for 2025-26, an increase from last year’s budgeted INR 2,068 crore, although slightly lower than the revised estimate of INR 2,543 crore from the previous year.
In contrast, India has increased its aid to the Maldives, with the allocation rising to INR 600 crore, up from both the original INR 400 crore estimate and the INR 470 crore revised allocation from last year.
Afghanistan, however, has seen a decrease in its aid allocation, with a budgeted INR 100 crore for 2025-26, down from INR 200 crore in last year’s initial budget but an improvement on the INR 50 crore allocated in the revised estimate.
Myanmar has seen its aid rise slightly to INR 350 crore, from INR 250 crore in the previous year’s budget, although it is still lower than the INR 400 crore allocated in the revised estimate.
India has maintained its aid to Nepal at INR 700 crore, and the allocation for Sri Lanka has been raised to INR 300 crore, a marked increase from the INR 245 crore set aside in the previous budget.
Bangladesh’s aid allocation remains unchanged at INR 120 crore, while the allocation for African nations has risen to INR 225 crore, up from INR 200 crore last year.
Latin America’s allocation, however, has seen a decrease, dropping from INR 90 crore in the previous year to INR 60 crore for 2025-26, though the initial budget estimate had been set at INR 30 crore.
Similarly, the allocation for Chabahar Port in Iran remains at INR 100 crore.
Overall, India’s foreign aid strategy appears to prioritise its immediate neighbourhood, with substantial investments in infrastructure aimed at fostering deeper regional ties, while also maintaining a commitment to broader international partnerships.
February 02, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s trade deficit has grown significantly in 2024, reaching US$ 6 billion, up from US$ 4.9 billion in the previous year, according to the latest external sector report released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
Despite achieving the second-highest export earnings in the nation’s history, a substantial increase in import expenditure outpaced the growth in exports, resulting in a widening trade gap.
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports saw a notable increase of 7.2 per cent year-on-year, amounting to US$ 12.8 billion in 2024.
This performance marks the second-largest annual export earnings ever recorded by the country. However, the positive trend in exports was not sufficient to offset the rise in import costs, which surged by 12.1 per cent to reach US$ 18.9 billion.
The growth in import expenditure was driven by an increase in all major categories, highlighting the country’s ongoing reliance on foreign goods and services.
The report also highlighted a net outflow of foreign investment in the government securities market, which amounted to US$ 179 million for the year.
Nevertheless, a recovery was observed towards the end of 2024, with a net inflow of US$ 18 million in December alone, suggesting a potential shift in investor sentiment.
In terms of foreign reserves, Sri Lanka saw a significant improvement in its gross official reserves (GOR), which increased to US$ 6.1 billion by the end of 2024, compared to US$ 4.4 billion at the close of 2023.
This rise in reserves was largely attributed to the Central Bank’s aggressive purchases of foreign currency from the domestic market, as well as funds received from international financial institutions.
The GOR also includes a US$ 1.4 billion currency swap facility with the People’s Bank of China, which was extended for another three years in December 2024.
Whilst Sri Lanka’s export sector showed resilience, the persistent trade imbalance and fluctuations in foreign investment remain challenges that the government and central bank will need to address in the coming year.
February 02, Colombo (LNW): Showery conditions over the island is expected to be reduced from today (02), according to the Department of Meteorology.
A few showers may occur in Batticaloa, Ampara and Mullaittivu districts.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Rathnapura and Galle districts in the evening or night.
Mainly fair weather will prevail over the other areas of the island.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Uva and Southern provinces during the morning.
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:
Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at a few places in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Kankasanthurai to Trincomalee via Mullaittivu and from Galle to Hambantota via Matara. Mainly fair weather will prevail over other sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to (40-50) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Negombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending fromNegombo to Kankasanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be fairly rough at times.
After shelving plans to sell the debt-ridden national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, the Government has announced a five-year corporate plan to rejuvenate the airline.
Under this, three new aircraft have been added and the fleet size increased to 25 by early this year, the airline’s new chairman Sarath Ganegoda has said.
He was also confident of the airline’s future under the five-year corporate plan, with the focus on operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and customer satisfaction.
President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, emphasised that the airline should be an institution of national pride and remain in the hands of the people. “SriLankan Airlines should reflect the spirit of our people,” he said.
According to the latest report from the Auditor General, the airline required 27 aircraft to meet operational requirements, although it currently operates a fleet of 22 aircraft. Of these, only 18 were operational even as of August 12, 2024.
The inefficiency was reflected in the report, where it had been indicated that three aircraft had been grounded from October 2023 to August 2024, which incurred Rs. 2,808.96 million as lease rentals during the period.
The Senior Manager of Aircraft Engineering, Sanjeewa Dissanayake, said the fleet comprises nine Airbus A330s and thirteen Airbus A320/321s. He added that the expansion to 25 aircraft in 2025 would increase the airline’s capacity for regional and international routes, in line with its growth strategy.
SriLankan Airlines has been placed under the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development as per a Gazette notification issued on November 25, 2025. The notification outlined the responsibilities of ministries under the new government led by President Dissanayake.
The previous regime had intended to sell the shares of the airline to get it out of the financial crisis, but it met with opposition and was consequently dropped. The former government instead searched for other ways of developing it but never succeeded in materialising any plans.
The new government decided to nationalise the airline after coming into power in the presidential election held in September 2024. It was a reflection of the policy of this administration to revitalise public institutions.
The Ministry of Finance, in its fiscal performance report, noted that financial constraints have disrupted the operations of the airline over recent years. It admitted that the limited fiscal capacity of the government has ruled out further equity injections into the airline.
Under the previous administration, the IFC was mandated to advice on the divestiture of the airline. In October 2023, RFQs were put out to attract investors, but the process dragged slowly and was later abandoned.
The then government had also sought to help ease the airline’s debt by transferring US $310 million in local loans guaranteed by the Treasury to the government.
It has decided to help the airliner overcome cash flow problems in the first four months of 2024 with a Rs. 5-billion equity contribution.
The Auditor General’s report for the fiscal year 2023/24 pointed at financial improvements.
Though SriLankan Airlines is facing many external and internal challenges, it has recorded a profit after tax of Rs. 7,925.01 million for the year ended 31st March 2024, against a loss of Rs. 71,306.66 million in 2022/23.
According to the report, this was due to an exchange gain of Rs. 0.5 billion in 2023/24 against a Rs. 25.6 billion exchange loss in the previous year.
Nevertheless, the airline has continued to struggle with accumulated losses that stood at Rs. 592.63 billion as of March 31, 2024, down from Rs. 599.61 billion the previous year. Total revenue for 2023/24 was Rs. 333.6 billion, a decline of 8.6 percent from Rs. 365.2 billion in 2022/23.
The first Colombo Tea Auction of 2025 took place on Friday, January 31, marking a historic return to the traditional auction room at the Chamber of Commerce. This comes four years after the auction transitioned to a digital platform in response to the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Established in 1883, the Colombo Tea Auction is the world’s oldest tea auction and continues to operate twice weekly, trading approximately 6.5 million kilograms of various tea grades. I
n an effort to preserve this heritage, the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association has committed to conducting live outcry auctions once a quarter, ensuring that the art of auctioning is not lost.
The association’s Chairman and Committee emphasize the importance of maintaining industry traditions while fostering engagement among brokers, buyers, and sellers—just as they have for over 135 years.
The recent outcry auction featured 948 lots, totaling nearly 1 million kilograms of Ex-Estate teas. Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC initiated the auction, sparking lively bidding.
The return to in-person sales created an atmosphere of excitement as seasoned traders and a new generation of participants engaged in face-to-face negotiations.
The fast-paced sale, averaging over four lots per minute, was accompanied by animated exchanges and competitive bargaining, reviving the energy of pre-pandemic auctions.
While the traditional format made a strong comeback, the digital auction platform remained active, with the majority of tea offerings sold online.
This hybrid approach ensured a smooth transition while catering to a broader market. At this auction, a total of 6.4 million kilograms of tea was successfully sold, reflecting strong global demand.
Sri Lankan tea, globally recognized as Ceylon Tea, has an extraordinary legacy. What began as an experimental crop on a 19-acre plantation in 1867 has grown into an industry that satisfies 19% of global demand. Known for its distinctive taste and aroma,
Sri Lanka has become the world’s third-largest tea exporter. The industry also plays a crucial economic role, being the nation’s largest employer and supplying tea to prestigious events such as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Ceylon Tea is distinguished not only for its quality but also for its environmental and ethical credentials.
It is recognized as the world’s cleanest tea in terms of pesticide residues, a status confirmed by the ISO Technical Committee. Sri Lanka also pioneered the “Ozone Friendly Tea” label under the Montreal Protocol Treaty and holds the title of the world’s first Ethical Tea Brand, endorsed by the United Nations Global Compact.
Beyond its economic significance, Sri Lanka’s tea industry thrives amidst breathtaking landscapes. The country produces a diverse range of teas, shaped by unique geographical and climatic conditions.
Low-grown teas, cultivated below 2,000 feet, are known for their rich color and strength, making them ideal with milk. Mid-grown teas (2,000–4,000 feet) offer a balanced flavor, while high-grown teas (above 4,000 feet) are prized for their delicate golden liquor and intense aroma. Some estates also produce rare silver tips, yielding a light straw-colored infusion best enjoyed plain.
With centuries of expertise and continuous innovation, Sri Lanka remains a dominant force in the global tea market. The revival of outcry auctions serves as a tribute to tradition while ensuring the industry remains adaptable to modern trade demands.
