The Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport & Highways and key stakeholders in the transport sector, has implemented the Optional Compensation Scheme (OCS) to compensate for death or permanent disability of third-party victims due to motor vehicle accidents. This innovative scheme marks a significant milestone in the…
Economic optimism reaches a six month high amid heightened business activity There’s been a ground swell surrounding the economic outlook among businesspeople with the gauge of sentiment marking a six month high in March. PepperCube Consultants says this reflects robust sales volume projections and increased activity. “A significant portion of companies are maintaining a growth…
Sri Lanka Purchasing Managers’ Index for Manufacturing (PMI – Manufacturing) reached 63.9 in March 2025, recording its highest value in four years. All sub-indices posted month-on-month expansions, reflecting a notable improvement in manufacturing activities, driven by the strong seasonal demand. The sharp increases in the New Orders and Production sub-indices, particularly within the food and…
By Prof. Samitha Hettige The US electorate picked Donald Trump as their President for a 2nd term. Though some view that USA has a track record of de-establishing democratic processes of many countries including Sri Lanka (Ref 2022 July), those who respect democracy should respect the rights of the US citizens to elect the President…
Why USA is a critical Tea market and need to request full Tariff free access for the future of our Tea industry? USA is an important tea market and rank as the second largest buyer of tea in the world in terms of value of tea imports. As per available information it has imported over…
By Jithendra Antonio The recent conversation at Sri Lanka’s Committee on Public Finance (‘COPF’) meeting on 11 March is a topic hotter than the coils in the ‘vapes’ that so many remain misinformed about. The reported snippets of the meeting, however, highlight the confusion among some policymakers regarding the legality and regulation of these vapour…
Fitch Ratings: Sharp US tariff increases will disrupt corporate supply chains and affect economic growth and corporate earnings in APAC and globally, despite the 90-day pause on some of the larger tariff hikes announced on 2 April, says Fitch Ratings. However, few of our rated APAC corporates face a combination of high sector vulnerability, low…
Analysis finds cost of ingredients has more than doubled since 2019 The cost of preparing a traditional “kevili” table for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year has increased by 7% in 2025 compared to 2024, and stands more than twice as high as it was in 2019. This was revealed in the annual ‘New Year…
The Hambantota Sinopec Oil Refinery – A Strategic Bet on the Future In the evolving landscape of global energy trade, few moves are as audacious as Sri Lanka’s decision to greenlight a multi-billion-dollar oil refinery in Hambantota. More than an infrastructure project, this refinery signals Sri Lanka’s ambition to reposition itself at the centre of…
Chinese Poet Ma Zhiyuan (1250-1321AD) from the Yuan Dynasty wrote below lines describing an image of an old man traveling though an uninhabited landscape at sunset evoking the sorrow of loneliness. Withered vines, old trees, crows at dusk A small bridge, flowing water, cottages hushed. Ancient road, west wind, a lean horse plods The sun…
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