Sri Lankan students pursuing postgraduate study in the United Kingdom saw a significant year-on-year decline in enrollments for the 2024/25 academic year, according to newly released data on international postgraduate student trends published by ApplyBoard Insights on February 6, 2026. The report, drawing from the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data, shows that international…
Dr Bilesha Weeraratne, Research Fellow and Head of Migration and Urbanisation Policy Research, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) Worker remittances to Sri Lanka have set a new all-time high record with USD 8.076 billion in 2025. This 22.8% growth, compared to the USD 6.6 billion received in 2024, is shaped by the…
AIA Group Limited (“AIA” or the “Group”) today releases new research revealing that deeply entrenched physical, mental and financial health stereotypes shape attitudes and behaviours around wellbeing across Asia. The study(1) was conducted across Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(2), Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, analysing more than 100 million social media posts and online content, alongside a survey…
Asia Securities: Sri Lanka has just passed two years in which Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) have seen a meaningful resurgence. In 2024 and 2025, a steady stream of companies migrated to the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), as it emerged as one of Asia’s best-performing stock markets. In 2026, this momentum is set to accelerate. At…
In the recent years Sri Lankans saw some conflicting inside Cybercrime centres while seeking greener pastures in the jungles of Myanmar. Chinese nationals were largely blamed for running these centres. Eleven such gangsters were executed following a ruling by the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) of China for crimes including intentional homicide, intentional injury, illegal detention,…
New Brand Finance data shows Sri Lanka gaining ground globally as a recommended destination to invest in, work in, and visit, while retaining its distinctive strength in tourism and culture • ‘Ease of doing business in and with’: Sri Lanka ranks 79th globally, signaling growing confidence in its regulatory environment • Tourism perceptions strengthen: Sri Lanka rises…
By Priyanka Jayawardena, Research Economist, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for nearly 75% of all deaths, have emerged as a major health challenge in Sri Lanka over the past few decades. Unhealthy dietary patterns – including excessive intake of sugar, salt, and fats – continue to play a…
The Sri Lankan land market maintained solid growth in 2025, with Colombo suburbs and Western Province districts emerging as key drivers, according to the latest Land Price Index (LPI) 2025 (updated), published by LankaPropertyWeb (LPW). The 2025 index shows that Colombo 1–15 recorded a 4% year-on-year increase in average land prices per perch, reaching LKR…
Sri Lanka’s labour force participation rate climbed to 49.9% in the third quarter of 2025 (July–September), according to the latest quarterly bulletin released by the Department of Census and Statistics under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. This marks a notable recovery from 46.9% in the corresponding quarter of 2024 and 49.3% in…
Nearly all communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka suffered damage to homes, roads and other critical infrastructure, according to a new United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assessment released on Wednesday, underscoring the scale of recovery needs and the urgency of accessible financing for the most vulnerable. The qualitative assessment, based on key informant…
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