Sri Lanka Financial News

By Uditha Jayasinghe

China on Monday for a six-day official visit during which he will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on ways to further deepen bilateral ties. Gunawardena was received on his arrival by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and former Ambassador to India Sun Weidong, Chinese official media reported. This will be the first visit by a Sri Lankan leader to Beijing after Colombo put a moratorium on recurring visits by Chinese research ships to Hambantota port, reportedly due to India's security concerns.

By Uditha Jayasinghe

Skywatchers around the world are gearing up for the first lunar eclipse of 2024, set to grace the skies on March 25th. This penumbral lunar eclipse offers a unique viewing experience, coinciding with the festival of Holi in India. Here's all you need to know about this celestial event and how to make the most of it. What is a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse? Unlike a total lunar eclipse, where the Moon is fully shadowed by the Earth, a penumbral eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's faint outer shadow. This results in a subtle dimming of the Moon's surface, which may be challenging to observe without keen attention.

stores across Sri Lanka shut Sunday after the US fast-food giant launched a legal battle with its local franchise holder over allegations of poor hygiene, court officials said. The Commercial High Court of Colombo ordered the closures until April 4, after the parent company accused the local franchise holder of failing to meet international hygiene standards.

The International Monetary Fund says the economic situation in debt-stricken Sri Lanka is improving gradually from the country's worst economic crisis two years ago

Lord Buddha, along with those of his disciples Arahant Sariputta and Arahant Maha Moggallana, after 26 -days returned to the National Museum in Delhi on March 19 and was open to brief exposition to the New Delhi based diplomatic corps on March 20. Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi participated in the ceremony of prayers and chanting in the presence of representatives of the diplomatic corps from 15 countries. Those present on the occasion were Kshenuka Dhireni Senewiratne, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka; Pattarat Hongtong Ambassador, Thailand; Yasiel Alines Burillo Rivera, Ambassador of Panama; Vahagn Afyan, Ambassador of Armenia; Kenneth da Nobrega, Ambassador of Brazil; Guillermo Rubio Funes, Ambassador of El Salvador; Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador of Myanmar; Colin Kao, Deputy Director of the Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India and senior diplomats from Indonesia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Romania, Peru and Serbia.

Vinay Dube, Founder, MD & CEO, Akasa Air, says: “We are part of India's growth story. We can help underpin the economic growth as is required with strong transportation links. We are India's most on-time airline and so we have a real sort of approach to service excellence that we hope is not seen so far. For me, it is just excitement in the future and to top it all off, we are starting our first international flight and so we get to plant the orange Akasa flag in Doha, Qatar just in a few days and we have broken all records with it. We are the first airline to fly internationally within 19 months of launch when most others have taken about six years and that is the reason why I am so excited.” Dube further said: «Flight to Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah will come on the heels of Doha, perhaps later this summer. I cannot give you a definitive timeline because we are working with these foreign governments to get the appropriate approvals before we can launch it. But that is just the start. We will (eventually) fly to other parts of the Indian subcontinent, whether it is Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kathmandu, etc, or Southeast Asia, other parts of the Middle East.» What is happening in the Indian skies right now? There is competition. There is a news flow, a lot of issues we keep hearing about with regards to Boeing. We are going to address that in greater detail, but set the roadmap for us. Vinay Dube: For me, Indian aviation is growth, excitement and a future of connected cities.

List of Purple Cap winners yearwise 2008-2023: Purple Cap is awarded to the highest wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League (IPL), every season. Only a couple of bowlers have won it twice so far. Let’s take a look at who all have won it over the years.

Sri Lanka has said it will allow foreign offshore research ships for replenishments at its ports despite a one-year ban on such vessels, a senior official has said after China protested to Colombo for allowing a German survey ship but turning down Beijing's similar request. This is the first time Sri Lanka has officially admitted that foreign research vessels will be allowed for replenishments since President Ranil Wickremesinghe's government imposed a one-year ban on offshore research vessels in December last year after strong security concerns raised by India and the US following the visit of two Chinese high-tech research vessels in 14 months. «The ban on foreign ships is for research purposes, not on replenishment,» the Economy Next portal quoted Niluka Kadurugamuwa, Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, as saying. «There was a German research vessel recently for replenishment and Sri Lanka allowed it,» he said.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu—one of the most experienced Indian diplomats on US affairs—on Tuesday, March 19, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the national capital city, Delhi. The former ambassador joined the saffron party at its headquarters in New Delhi's Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg in the presence of party general secretaries Vinod Tawde and Tarun Chugh. The Saffron party may field Sandhu against Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal of the Aam Aadmi Party AAP from the Amritsar constituency in Punjab in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024, newswire PTI reported.

ALSO READ: Mob assaults foreign students for offering namaz inside Gujarat University hostel | Video "An incidence of violence took place at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad yesterday. State government is taking strict action against the perpetrators. Two foreign students were injured in the clash.

Narendra Modi on Friday alleged that the INDIA bloc wanted to assume power only to engage in 'loot and corruption.' He attacked the Congress in Kerala over the solar case of 2013 and the DMK-Congress alliance in Tamil Nadu. Addressing a BJP rally in Kanyakumari, Modi alleged DMK-Congress have 'history of scams' and the aim behind their efforts to come to power is to 'loot the people.' He underlined that while the Centre has launched several infrastructure development projects in Tamil Nadu and the people benefited from a slew of welfare schemes, the DMK government was 'steeped in corruption.' Referring to the consecration of Ram temple at Ayodhya on January 22, Modi said the DMK government boycotted it and tried to 'prevent telecast' of the event. Modi said this showed the DMK government had 'no respect' for traditions and culture of India. He said in the run-up to the main event, he had visited several historical temples of Tamil Nadu. Modi also tried to take credit for restarting Jallikattu, though it was done by cultural organisations after the Supreme Court lifted the ban. He alleged that while the DMK-Congress dispensation was 'caught napping' when Sri Lankan authorities arrested some Tamil Nadu fishermen recently, he used diplomatic clout to bring them back safe, overlooking the point that the Centre oversaw external affairs. Referring to the attack on AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa in the Tamil Nadu assembly several decades ago, Modi said it showed DMK 'did not respect' women.

DMK-Congress' INDIA bloc can never make Tamil Nadu a developed state as it has a «history of scams and corruption.» Addressing a rally in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari, the Prime Minister said that today the wave that has emerged from India's southern shore, in Kanyakumari, will reach far-off places. «In 1991, I began 'Ekta Yatra' from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. This time, I travelled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected the people who want to divide India. I am certain that the people of Tamil Nadu will also do the same,» PM Modi said.

Ambani pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar have made headlines in more ways than one. The array of premium handcrafted jewellery worn by the guests has stoked enormous interest, especially on social media, prompting top jewellers to focus on such ornaments studded with emeralds, sapphires, rubies and diamonds. “We have just launched a new line with platinum, crafted in a pattern with emeralds and diamonds,” said Rajiv Popley, director of Mumbai-based Popley & Sons that sells high-end jewellery. “Demand has picked up for this kind of jewellery after the pre-wedding bash. Indian customers can relate to what had been worn… It’s all over social media.” Prices typically start from `5 lakh and go up to `1 crore, Popley said. “A pair of earrings from our new line of jewellery studded with emerald and diamonds costs `7 lakh,” he said. Chairman Joy Alukkas said his eponymous chain will be launching a gemstone-studded premium line — spurred by the Ambani celebrations — by the end of next month. “We are working on the designs,” he said. This is a shift for Joyalukkas, which typically has a range dominated by gold and diamonds, although the retail chain does sell affordable, gemstudded ornaments in its north India stores.

Sources indicate that 27 properties owned by Krishn Buildtech Pvt Ltd, headquartered in Haryana, are currently under investigation in Delhi, Gurugram, and Sonipat under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The company's founders are Amit Katyal and Rajesh Katyal.The investigation concerns the suspected transfer of ₹400 crore from homebuyers' funds by the company's promoters, who allegedly sent the funds abroad for storage.

cricket series in India. England began with a win, showcasing an aggressive style known as “Bazball". Yet, they faced defeat in the next four matches.

British pound is beating more than 90% of the world’s currencies this year on signs the nation’s economy is holding up better than expected, keeping interest rates higher for longer. Only 11 currencies — including those of Kenya, Zambia and Sri Lanka — have outperformed sterling in 2024, according to a universe of more than 140 global foreign-exchange rates tracked by Bloomberg.

Febrio De-Zoysa murdered Ekanayake, her four children and a family acquaintance.The father, Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.De-Zoysa, who had been boarding with the Wickramasinghe family, is facing six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Ottawa confirmed to Global News that the two adult victims are Sri Lankan nationals.Neighbours and friends gathered in reflection and fellowship at a community park Saturday afternoon, just a block away from the home where the Wickramasinghe family were building their new life in Canada.On and around benches, community members laid heartfelt notes, teddy bears, bouquets of flowers and balloons among other items to pay their respects.Naradha Kodituwakku from the Buddhist Congress of Canada, spoke to the crowd.“Ottawa Sri Lankan community, I know you’re hurting and we are hurting with you,” he said as his voice cracked with emotion.A number of attendees at the vigil knew the mother, Dharshani, and her four children personally. Some brought photos and shared memories with others in the community.Neighbours of the family struggled with the senseless violence, including Rochelle LaChance, who lives just a few houses down from where the homicides occurred.“It’s been weighing heavy on a lot of us… it’s nice to see everyone together and have this space to grieve.

Sri Lanka have reignited the row over the 2023 World Cup timed-out dismissal of Angelo Mathews after celebrating their Twenty20 series win in Bangladesh by pointing to their wrists. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto told Sri Lanka's players to put the November controversy behind them and urged them to focus on the rest of the tour, which includes three one-day internationals and two Tests. «They haven't moved on from the timed-out incident,» Shanto said of the visitors' celebration following their T20 series win in Sylhet on Saturday.

Rohit Sharma to retire from limited overs cricket? Indian skipper says ‘I will retire straightaway but..’ To recap, Ashwin was instrumental in troubling the English batting in both innings of the Dharamshala Test, taking 4 wickets in the first innings and a fifer in the second. Ashwin completed his 36th 5-wicket haul with the wicket of Ben Foakes, who had his middle and leg stumps dismantled. Ashwin's stellar performance in his 100th Test meant that he overtook Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev and equalled Muttiah Muralidharnan for the best figures in a 100th Test match.