Author: Buzzer Editorial

The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has crossed the 12,000 mark today (04).The CSE’s ASPI crossed this milestone for the first time since 03 July 2024 increasing by 123.50 points to close at 12,053.49. Meanwhile, the market turnover was recorded at Rs. 2.8 billion today.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) team visiting the island says it will continue its close engagement with Sri Lanka’s economic team to set a date for the third review of the IMF-supported program. “We are encouraged by the authorities’ commitment to continue the reform efforts,” the global lender’s Director for the Asia Pacific Department, said in a statement at the end of the visit to Sri Lanka.He further stated that the IMF remains a steadfast partner in supporting Sri Lanka and its people and stands ready to assist the country achieve its economic reform goals.An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led…

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) states that Sri Lanka has seen a significant increase in the number of Sri Lankans departing for overseas employments in September 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.The SLBFE highlighted that accordingly, there has been a 10% increase in Sri Lankans departing for foreign employments as 28,344 individuals have been expatriated in the in the month of September alone in 2024. The figure was recorded as 25,716 in September 2023, according to the SLBFE.Meanwhile, over 240,000 Sri Lankans have left for overseas employment within the first 09 months of 2024, it…

During a one-day official visit to Sri Lanka, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar extended an invitation on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to undertake an official visit to India. The invitation was extended during a courtesy call with President Dissanayake earlier today.This visit marks Dr. Jaishankar’s first trip to Sri Lanka following the new government’s inauguration, led by President Dissanayake on 22 September. The key objective of the Indian Minister’s visit was to congratulate the new administration and emphasize India’s commitment to deepening its longstanding partnership with Sri Lanka.In bilateral…

The Ministry of Defence has announced that all firearms and ammunition provided to civilians for self-defence will be acquired by the government and that they must be handed over to the relevant authorities before 07 November. Furthermore, the Defence Ministry stated that they will be returned pending a review and consideration of the need to possess such firearms.

In separate operations by the Sri Lanka Navy, Police and Police STF, 02 suspects (a man and a woman) were arrested with 1500 foreign cigarettes prepared for sale. The raids took place in Hettiyawaththa, Colombo and Pesalai, Talaimannar on 03rdOctober 2024. Based on information received by SLNS Rangalla of the Western Naval Command, a search operation was carried out in collaboration with the Foreshore Police in the Hettiyawaththaarea. The operation resulted in the arrest of a suspect at Hettiyawaththa Junction, found in possession of 1,200 foreign cigarettes.Upon receiving information, SLNS Gajaba of the North Central Naval Command launched a coordinated search operation with the Police STF in Mannar. During the operation in Pesalai, a…

The accepting of nominations for the 2024 General Election commenced this morning (04).The activities related to the accepting of nominations commenced at the district secretaries in 22 electoral districts today.On September 24, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification fixing November 14, 2024 as the date for the election of the new Members of Parliament.The Gazette notification further specified the period beginning on October 04 and ending at 12 noon October 11, 2024 as the nomination period, during which nomination papers shall be received by the Returning Officers. The Parliament of Sri Lanka comprises 225 members, with 196 elected…

India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday (October 04) on an official visit.Upon arriving in the island, the foreign minister was welcomed by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane and Indian High Commissioner to Colombo Santosh Jha at the BIA airport. “Good to be in Colombo again. Look forward to my engagements with the Sri Lankan leadership today,” Jaishankar post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) after arriving in the country.During this visit, the Indian External Affairs Minister is scheduled to pay courtesy calls on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The visiting…

Mr. Chanditha Samaranayake, independent consultant of the Gates Foundation, met with the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (03) and engaged in a discussion.The Gates Foundation’s projects related to upliftment of agriculture in Sri Lanka, improvement of children’s nutrition including provision of school lunch, development of human resources in the public and private sectors, livestock, climate change etc. were discussed at length, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.Mr. Chanditha Samaranayake, who pointed out the importance of digitization for the implementation of the new government’s anti-corruption policy, also said that the Gates Foundation…

Pakistan staged a determined fightback to beat Sri Lanka by 31 runs in their opening game of the Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in Sharjah on Thursday.Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal claimed three wickets with Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail and Fatima Sana all taking two each for Pakistan as Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka fell comfortably short of their target of 117.Pakistan needed a crucial lower-order knock from their captain Sana to post a competitive total, having slumped to 84-8 after winning the toss and choosing to bat.Sugandika Kumari had both Pakistan openers caught behind off her left-arm spin and the…