Fitch Ratings – Fitch Ratings believes the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL) reintroduction of a consolidation framework for the banking sector is broadly positive for sector credit profiles. Consolidation should strengthen franchises, create better-capitalised banks and support compliance with tightening single-borrower limits, particularly as higher post-merger capital can enable banks to take larger exposures…
Sri Lanka’s export sector began 2026 on a strong momentum, recording a robust year-on-year growth of 13.71%, signaling renewed momentum in external trade performance. According to statistics released by Sri Lanka Customs, together with estimated export figures for gems and jewellery, petroleum products, and services, total export earnings reached US$ 1,532.6 Mn. The encouraging performance…
Fitch Ratings – The U.S. Supreme Court ruling on February 20 invalidating the Trump administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to levy broad-based tariffs on imports from most countries slashes the U.S. effective tariff rate (ETR) by more than half, from 13% to around 5% to 6%, says Fitch Ratings. However,…
By Prof. Samitha Hettige Prime Minister D.S. Senanayaka, a master horseman sphere headed the combined efforts of many patriots including Anagarika Dharmapala & Edward Henry Pedris etc. to gain dominion status from the British on 4th February 1948. Celebrating the 78th independence anniversary President AKD stressed below points to his people (Ref. Media). A firm…
The approval rating of the government polled at 65% in early-February 2026, in the latest round of the Gallup style “Mood of the Nation” poll by Verité Research. With a ±3 percentage point error margin, the approval rating has remained statistically stable from the 62% polled a year ago. The polling partner was Vanguard Survey (Pvt)…
By Ajay Banga The world moves on different wavelengths. Some are high-frequency shocks — wars, emerging technologies, market panics — that spike quickly and dominate our attention. Others are low-frequency forces that move slowly but relentlessly: demographics, globalization, water and food scarcity. The high-frequency waves feel urgent. The low-frequency waves reshape the system. That is…
Three months on (February 2026) By Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Three months after Cyclone Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka in late November 2025, the headlines have moved on. In many places, the floodwaters have receded, emergency support has reached affected communities, and farmers are doing what they always do,…
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…
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