By Prof. Samitha Hettige. One might say Basil Rajapaksa & Ranil Wickremasinghe are unique in political gambling. Gambling is believed to be one of mankind’s oldest activities. The Greek word for justice (dike) comes from a word meaning “to throw,” in the sense of throwing dice. Gambling was regulated in; ancient China, Rome, the Jewish Talmud,…
Sri Lanka’s export sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and steady momentum during the first seven months of 2025, with total exports reaching US$ 9,992.53 Mn, marking a robust 7.79 % growth compared to the corresponding period in 2024. In July 2025 alone, total exports, comprising both merchandise and services reached to US$ 1,641.11 Mn, recording…
Sri Lanka’s labor market showed significant signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2025, with the unemployment rate dropping to a historic low of 3.8%, according to the latest Quarterly Report from the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS). This marks a notable improvement from 4.5% in the same period last year and reflects…
At a time when China is getting ready for the 15th five year plan which will take China towards its 2nd Centenary goal (the Xiaokang), the leader of the 2nd largest economy of the world Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed his fundamental vision of putting his people first & not capital. During 2024, 70%…
Concerns raised by the business community in June appear to have been short-lived with sentiment shifting once again in July. THE ECONOMY The latest LMD-PEPPERCUBE Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey, conducted in the first week of July, reveals a notable surge in optimism about the economy. A substantial 70 percent of respondents believe the economy will…
A $2.5 Billion Dice Roll Attracting the Subcontinent’s Ultra-Rich to the Vegas of South Asia By Jithendra Antonio In a transformative declaration that reverberates through South Asia’s economic corridors, gaming tycoon Lawrence Ho’s recent bold proclamation at the August 2025 launch of the US $1.2 billion City of Dreams Sri Lanka has crystallized what many…
The barometer of business confidence free falls after a temporary stint at the summit July has been a month of both optimism and mounting uncertainty for Sri Lanka. On a positive note, the IMF approved its fourth review under the country’s 48 month Extended Fund Facility (EFF), unlocking a disbursement of US$ 350 million to…
By Prof. Samitha Hettige Former Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena recently published the Parliamentary debate on the Rubber Rice Pact (RRP) as a book. It is believed to be the 1st Sri Lankan Parliamentary debate to be published in Sinhala, English & Chinese. Dudley Senanayake was the Prime Minister when the RRP was signed. With the…
An initiative that promises secure digital identities, minimum cost to Sri Lankan taxpayers, and total data control In a major push towards digital transformation, the Government of Sri Lanka announced that it will launch its national Digital ID system by April 2026, a move that promises to revolutionize access to public services while ensuring strong…
In 2024, the global approach to measuring business climate saw a major transformation. The World Bank Group introduced the Business Ready (B-READY) Index, its new flagship report aimed at assessing the business and investment environment across countries. This index replaces the discontinued Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) report and brings with it a more robust,…
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