An Echelon Media Company
Tuesday October 20th, 2026
World

Afghanistan at the crossroads: Is it ready to move away from its security blackhole?

Since taking power in August 2021, the Taliban government has not been a welcome guest at most forums.

April 21, 2025 5 min read

Pope Francis dies at 88, a day after Easter

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta,

April 21, 2025 2 min read

The challenge of establishing a politically self-reliant Tibet

Whatever happens in Tibet, impacts neighbouring countries

April 9, 2025 4 min read

Sri Lanka could seek stricter border controls, Australian help to deter refugee inflow: IPS

Rohingya fleeing Myanmar arriving in Sri Lanka, while Sri Lankan migrants trafficked to online crime camps in Myanmar

January 22, 2025 6 min read
A whole civilization will die tonight, Trump says

"47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end.

ADB launches new fund to accelerate progress on ASEAN power grid

Regional Connectivity Fund for Energy in Southeast Asia (RCF) will advance the development of the ASEAN Power Grid

World's largest iceberg breaks off from Antarctica: reports

The break-off is part of the natural cycle and since it’s a floating ice shelf it will not cause sea levels to rise.

Mahadiya Hamza
May 20, 2021 2 min read

Myanmar military coup slams economy, to shrink 8.9-pct in 2021: IMF

Myanmar's economy could shrink 8.9 percent in 2021, as a military coup has descended on the country though most other A...

April 14, 2021 1 min read

Prince Philip dead at 99

April 9, 2021 1 min read

Maldives dollar Sukuk Islamic bond rated 'B3' by Moody's

Moody's has rated a planned US dollar Sukuk (Shariah law compliant bond) at 'B3' same as the government which will be us...

March 27, 2021 2 min read

Aruba rating downgraded to BBB by S&P, outlook stable

Standard and Poor's has downgraded Aruba's sovereign rating from to BBB from BBB+, with a stable outlook as tourism was ...

March 27, 2021 1 min read

Restarting South Asia: The Tea industry faces up to its challenges

The coronavirus pandemic wrought havoc on almost all walks of life, and the various industries ranging from commodities,...

Kshama Ranawana
March 23, 2021 6 min read

Sri Lanka lobbying Muslim countries ahead of crucial Geneva vote

Sri Lanka has ramped up contacts with Islamic countries as the vote on the Resolution against the island nation at the U...

March 22, 2021 2 min read

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka pledge mutual assistance on a range of issues

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have signed 6 memoranda of understanding after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed a...

March 20, 2021 1 min read

Indian becomes the second woman to swim across the Palk Straits

A 47-year old Indian, Syamala Goli, became the second woman and 13th person to swim across the Palk Strait when she reac...

March 20, 2021 2 min read

Mahinda pledges to stand with Bangladesh

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed the possibilities of achieving closer cooperation in maritime, shipping, t...

March 20, 2021 2 min read
Morning Briefing Gain clarity on the biggest stories of the day with our daily newsletter, Morning Briefing
Latest Last
US Dollar 330.8514 330.9617
UK Pound 438.3450 438.2595
Euro 371.0168 371.5045
Yen 2.0916 2.0943
Aus Dollar 231.1659 230.8789
Source: Central Bank/Indicative
Latest Last
Indian Rupee 3.4202 3.4195
Korean Won 0.2479 0.2467
Oman Rial 859.3320 859.6185
Saudi Riyal 88.0955 88.1577
UAE Dirham 90.0766 90.1066
Source: Central Bank/Indicative
pts %
S&P SL20 5,783.03 -0.10%
CSE All Share 20,260.06 -0.28%
Turnover Rs 1193.67 million 1050.46 million
Source: CSE
Latest Last
3-m bill 7.61 7.84
6-m bill 7.91 8.26
12-m bill 8.23 8.3
3-yr bond 9.24 9.25
5-yr bond 9.82 9.56
8-yr bond 10.50 10.48
Source: Central Bank/Indicative
today yesterday
Overnight Money 7.70 7.69
Gilt Repo 7.74 7.72
I-m SLIBOR - -
Source: Central Bank/Indicative

MR arrives in Dhaka, welcomed by Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the guest of honour at a ceremony to mark the birth centenary of the founder of...

March 19, 2021 2 min read

Prime Minister in Bangladesh on two-day visit

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is in Bangladesh today to join celebrations connected to the hundredth birth anniversar...

March 19, 2021 1 min read

FMM calls Myanmar coup a deathblow to democracy

Sri Lanka’s Free Media Movement (FMM) is strongly condemning the military coup in Myanmar calling it an “outrageous ...

February 5, 2021 2 min read

South Asia forging ahead towards renewable energy

Land-locked Nepal and the island nation of Sri Lanka are both rich in renewable resources that could be utilised for pow...

Kshama Ranawana
February 4, 2021 7 min read

Myanmar military takes over in apparent coup, detains Aung San Suu Kyi

In an apparent coup d'état, Myanmar’s military has handed over power to army chief Min Aung Hlaing, hours after detai...

February 1, 2021 2 min read

Major impact on education by Covid on South Asian kids

Neighbours India and Pakistan are experiencing the impact Covid 19 has had on their education systems very differently.

Kshama Ranawana
January 28, 2021 6 min read

First Sri Lankans to be vaccinated against Covid 19 will be MPs probably on Feb 4

India’s Serum Institute’s version of the Astro-Zeneca Oxford Vaccine is being shipped free to us by India as part of...

January 19, 2021 3 min read
5

Sri Lanka, Maldives youth to get new skills to counter hate speech in social media

Social media influencers in Sri Lanka and the Maldives who are countering online hate could sharpen their skills in a pr...

January 13, 2021 2 min read

India will hold Sri Lanka to its commitments on reconciliation

Indian External Affairs Minister tells Virakesari that Sri Lanka has promised to work towards realizing the expectations...

January 12, 2021 4 min read

Trump concedes election after Congress certifies Biden’s win

United States President Donald Trump is stepping down and has pledged to an orderly transfer of power to President-elect...

January 7, 2021 2 min read