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Sri Lanka

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Sri Lanka. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Colombo

Head of State

President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Head of Government

President Ranil Wickremesinghe

last updated:

29 November, 2024

India

India’s bet on AI-enabled warships needs boost to counter China, experts say

While India’s first AI-enabled warship enhances its capabilities in the Indian Ocean, experts warn that more vessels are needed to counter China’s growing presence.

23 Jan 2025 - 10:54PM

Diplomacy

Sri Lanka’s ex-leaders told to vacate luxury government homes

22 Jan 2025 - 8:24AM

India

Should India be worried about Sri Lanka and China’s growing cooperation?

20 Jan 2025 - 7:30PMvideocam

Climate change

Sri Lanka’s children suffer amid climate change-fuelled floods and disease

Turbocharged monsoon floods are intensifying the spread of waterborne diseases in the Indian Ocean island nation.

13 Jan 2025 - 3:06PM

A Sri Lankan woman carries a child as she wades through a flooded street north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2021. Photo: AP

India

With eyes on China and India, Sri Lanka lifts ban on foreign research vessels

The decision reflects Colombo’s efforts to stay non-aligned as it juggles India’s security concerns with China’s growing influence.

8 Jan 2025 - 3:12PM

Asia travel

8 Asian surfing spots to ride the waves, from Phuket to Sri Lanka

Surfing is banned in Hong Kong, but the rest of Asia offers great alternatives for everyone – from Phuket’s beginner waves to Indonesia’s challenging barrels.

3 Jan 2025 - 6:15AM

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

My Take | South Asia needs to get its political house in order to turn around its economy

Political violence and social unrest have dented support for South Asian countries from investors and multilateral institutions.

27 Dec 2024 - 10:30AM

A protest in Multan on Monday against US sanctions on some Pakistani companies allegedly involved in long-range missile technology. Photo: EPA-EFE

Myanmar

Sri Lanka rescues 102 refugees adrift on fishing boat

Fishermen spotted the group, believed to be Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and including 25 children, off Sri Lanka’s northern coast.

20 Dec 2024 - 5:19PMvideocam

Hong Kong property

Hong Kong outshines Singapore as demand for flexible office space grows: report

Bengaluru and Makati are the hottest spots as demand surged by 107 and 47 per cent, respectively, according to a study.

19 Dec 2024 - 9:22AM

India

Sri Lanka’s Dissanayake makes first overseas trip to India – is China a factor?

The visit by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to New Delhi is seen as a move by Colombo to seek India’s support for debt-laden Sri Lanka.

11 Jan 2025 - 11:09AMvideocam

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: Reuters

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Sri Lanka’s new government faces backlash over IMF debt repayment plan

President Dissanayake has chosen to continue with the current IMF programme, raising concerns about its impact on economic growth and relief for the population.

30 Nov 2024 - 7:53AMvideocam

Sri Lanka’s new leftist government faces criticism for its decision to follow the IMF’s debt repayment plan. Photo: AFP

India

Adani projects in Sri Lanka face probe after US bribery charges

The move by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government comes after the US indicted Gautam Adani for bribery and Kenya cancelled deals with the group.

26 Nov 2024 - 6:06PM

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Sri Lanka’s new leftist government sticks within IMF ‘guard rails’

The IMF reached an agreement with the administration of President Dissanayake to continue the four-year loan negotiation last year.

23 Nov 2024 - 6:09PM

China-Sri Lanka relations

Opinion | In Sri Lanka, China and India have a chance to join hands

The island nation could benefit from the expertise of Beijing and New Delhi, which would do well to help Colombo resist Western influence.

20 Nov 2024 - 5:30AMvideocam

A vendor displays newspapers for sale at a stall in Kandy on November 16, 2024. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s leftist coalition won a majority in snap parliamentary polls, provisional results showed on November 15. Photo: AFP

Asia elections

Landslide win in Sri Lanka for Dissanayake’s leftist coalition

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose coalition took at least 159 seats in the 225-member assembly, said thanks ‘to all who voted for a renaissance’.

15 Nov 2024 - 5:07PMvideocam

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake leaves a polling station after casting his vote in Colombo on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua

Asia elections

Women candidates signal potential shift in Sri Lanka’s male-dominated politics

While analysts welcome the increase, they caution that more women in politics alone won’t challenge patriarchal norms and achieve true gender equality.

13 Nov 2024 - 9:43PM

Digital Transformation

What China is doing to make ports ‘smart’ and not prone to work stoppages

A unit of state-owned China Merchants Group is pushing a range of automation and digital technologies to make ports smarter.

10 Nov 2024 - 12:44PM

US presidential election 2024

Outside In | Does Trump’s election signal a crisis of legitimacy for democracy?

If the US is a bellwether for what is to become of democratic governance worldwide, then grounds for alarm are well founded.

9 Nov 2024 - 9:30AMvideocam

A family watches election results at the 2024 Arizona Democratic Party Election Night Watch Party in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 5. Photo: EPA-EFE

Israel

Israelis remain in Sri Lanka surfing town despite terrorism warning

Israel’s national security council called on Israelis to get out of tourist areas in Sri Lanka’s south, claiming a terrorist threat.

26 Oct 2024 - 6:00PM

United States

US warns of attack threat in Sri Lanka surf haven popular with Israelis

Police have boosted security measures in Arugam Bay, a famous surfing destination frequented by Israeli travellers.

23 Oct 2024 - 4:15PMvideocam

Bangladesh

As China’s navy docks in Bangladesh, India watches with ‘growing concern’

Beijing is keen to cement ties with the new interim government in Dhaka – but analysts say all India sees is ‘continuous Chinese build-up’.

20 Oct 2024 - 3:00PM

Chinese naval training ship Qi Jiguang docks in Chittagong, Bangladesh, on October 12. Photo: Xinhua

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Sri Lanka’s Dissanayake seeks strong win in election to advance crucial reforms

Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power, which holds only three seats currently, is aiming to win a parliamentary majority.

18 Oct 2024 - 12:00PMvideocam

Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Photo: Sri Lanka’s President Office / AFP

Crime

Hundreds of Chinese men arrested over online scams in Sri Lanka

Cybercrime raids also uncovered two suspects from Vietnam, as well as one each from Thailand and the Philippines.

16 Oct 2024 - 11:24AM

China’s military

Sri Lanka allows Chinese navy ship to dock despite ban

The Chinese crew will stay until Friday, offering ‘briefings’ to Sri Lankan sailors and visiting tourist attractions, Colombo’s navy said.

9 Oct 2024 - 12:02PM

India

India gains ‘advantage’ over China as new Sri Lanka leader seeks to balance ties

New leader Dissanayake is a ‘practical nationalist’ who is likely to factor India’s security concerns into his foreign policy, analysts say.

2 Oct 2024 - 2:00PMvideocam

Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addresses the nation on September 25. Photo: Sri Lanka’s President Office/AFP

China-Sri Lanka relations

Sri Lanka’s new leader to seek ‘maximum support’ from China: analysts

Beijing expects ‘new progress’ between the two countries as left-leaning president-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake takes the helm.

25 Sep 2024 - 2:35PMvideocam

Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s election campaign promised tough anti-corruption measures and policies to help the poor. Photo: AP

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Sri Lanka’s new president sparks optimism, doubts over IMF loan revamp persist

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake promises Sri Lankans that his coalition government aims to end the country’s economic and debt crisis.

25 Sep 2024 - 1:51AMvideocam

Asia elections

Sri Lanka elects leftist leader in rejection of political elite

23 Sep 2024 - 6:31PM

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