World Bank Group President Meets with President Disanayake

President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga met with President Anura Kumara Disanayake this afternoon (07) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. This visit marks a milestone, as it is the first time in nearly two decades that a World Bank Group President has visited Sri Lanka.During the meeting, discussions centred on strengthening collaboration to support Sri Lanka’s future …

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President Invites Vietnam’s Vingroup to Invest in Sri Lanka

At the invitation of His Excellency Luong Cuong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, President Anura Kumara Disanayake, who is currently on a state visit to Vietnam, extended an open invitation to Vietnam’s leading conglomerate, Vingroup, to explore investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s real estate and tourism sectors. While congratulating the Vingroup for their achievements and for building a …

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CCPI in April 2025 signals a further easing of deflationary conditions

The easing of deflationary conditions that commenced in March 2025 continued into April 2025, in line with the Central Bank’s near-term projections. Accordingly, headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI, 2021=100),  recorded a slower pace of deflation at 2.0% in April 2025 compared to the deflation of 2.6% recorded in March …

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Positively considering the GSP+ review – Head of South Asia Division of the EU

The Head of South Asia Division, European External Action Service of the European Union Mr. Charles Whiteley stated that the European Union has a favorable perspective on the current GSP+ review process. He made these remarks during a meeting held today (30) at the Presidential Secretariat with President Anura Kumara Disanayake, as part of an official visit by a European …

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Sri Lanka Development Update 2025

The Sri Lanka Development Update (SLDU) has two main aims. First, it reports on key developments over the past 12 months in Sri Lanka’s economy, places these in longer term and global contexts, and updates the outlook for Sri Lanka’s economy. Second, the SLDU provides a more in-depth examination of selected economic and policy issues. It is intended for a …

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Five cards China holds in a trade war with the US

A trade war between the world’s two biggest economies is now in full swing. Chinese exports to the US face up to 245% tariffs, and Beijing has hit back with a 125% levy on American imports. Consumers, businesses and markets are braced for more uncertainty as fears of a global recession have heightened. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government has repeatedly …

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President Meets with Senior Officials of Sri Lankan Airlines

A meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and senior officials of SriLankan Airlines was held yesterday afternoon (April 8) at the Presidential Secretariat. The discussions mainly focused on proposals to transform SriLankan Airlines into a more profitable state-owned enterprise. Special attention was also given to possible short-term and long-term solutions for the airline’s debt management. The talks further explored new …

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Central Bank Presents Annual Economic Review 2024 to President

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka today (07) presented its flagship publication, the Annual Economic Review for 2024 (AER 2024), to President and Minister of Finance, Anura Kumara Disanayake, highlighting the steady progress of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery following the country’s most severe downturn in recent history. The report was officially handed over by Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Governor of …

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Trump’s new tariffs: Will they pose a threat to global growth? Here’s what IMF chief says

The world economy was jolted on Thursday as United States President Donald Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on foreign imports sent shockwaves through governments, investors, and industries worldwide. The sudden move prompted threats of retaliation from several countries and urgent calls for negotiations while markets struggled to absorb the impact of the aggressive policy shift. US financial markets endured their worst …

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