Cyclone Ditwah’s Impact on Sri Lanka’s Economy: Fiscal Resilience Tested Amid Recovery Challenges
Sri Lanka’s path to economic recovery faced a severe setback with the devastating Cyclone Ditwah in late November 2025. This catastrophic event, one of the deadliest natural disasters since the 2004 tsunami, inflicted widespread damage across all 25 districts, affecting nearly 2 million people and over 500,000 families. As the nation grapples with reconstruction, recent […]
AI Image Editing Tools and Non-Consensual Deepfakes: A Growing Threat to Public Safety and Privacy
In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) drives innovation, the misuse of AI image editing tools has emerged as a significant concern for public safety and individual privacy. Recent reports highlight how advanced features in platforms from leading tech companies allow users to create non-consensual manipulated images, often targeting women without their knowledge or permission. […]
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet Approves Targeted Tariff Reforms: A Strategic Boost for Deep-Sea Fishing and Tuna Exports in 2026
Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector, a cornerstone of the nation’s economy and food security, has received a timely policy intervention with the Cabinet’s recent approval of tariff reforms aimed at easing bait fish imports for the deep-sea fishing industry. Announced on December 23, 2025, these measures address a longstanding shortage of bait fish critical for long-line […]
Gold Prices in Sri Lanka on December 23, 2025: Latest Rates Amid Global Record Rally
As of December 23, 2025, gold prices in Sri Lanka remain elevated, reflecting the ongoing global surge that has pushed the precious metal to unprecedented highs. According to reliable local sources like IdeaBeam, today’s gold rates show significant levels for both investment and jewelry purposes. This comes as international spot gold trades around $4,400+ per […]
World Bank’s $50 Million Digital Services Project: Why Sri Lanka Must Strengthen Digital Communication for Growth and Resilience
Sri Lanka has entered a new phase of recovery and modernization. Following years of economic turbulence and climate‑related disasters, the country is now receiving $50 million project support from the World Bank to improve digital services and strengthen the economy. This project is not just about technology upgrades, it is about building resilience, improving governance, […]
Why Sri Lanka Must Embrace Sustainable Energy: Opportunities, Risks, and the Path to Responsible Investment in 2026
A Critical Juncture for Sri Lanka’s Energy Future Sri Lanka stands at a decisive moment in its development journey. The country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels has left its economy vulnerable to global price shocks, foreign exchange shortages, and environmental degradation. At the same time, climate change is intensifying floods, droughts, and cyclones, placing immense […]
World Bank’s $120 Million Emergency Support: What It Means for Sri Lanka’s Recovery and Public Confidence
A Timely Lifeline for a Country in Crisis On December 15, 2025, the World Bank confirmed up to USD $120 million in emergency support to Sri Lanka, repurposed from ongoing projects. This announcement comes in direct response to the Government’s request following Cyclone Ditwah, the worst natural disaster to hit the country in two decades. […]
Sri Lanka’s Kithul Tapping Wins UNESCO Recognition: How This Ancient Practice Will Transform Rural Livelihoods
A Historic Moment for Rural Sri Lanka On December 11, 2025, Sri Lanka achieved a remarkable milestone when Kithul Madeema, the centuries-old practice of tapping the Kithul palm tree, was officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 20th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee in New Delhi, India. […]
Sri Lanka’s Main Railway and the Limits of a Colonial Alignment
Sri Lanka’s repeated railway disruptions following extreme weather events have renewed scrutiny of a long-standing structural issue: the continued reliance on a railway corridor designed in the 19th century for a colonial economy, rather than a modern, climate-resilient transport system. Cyclone Ditwah did not introduce a new failure into the system. Instead, it highlighted vulnerabilities […]
Sri Lanka Cannot Grow by Looking Inwards: Why an Export-Driven, Green Investment Brand Is No Longer Optional
Sri Lanka stands at a familiar crossroads. The country has emerged from its most severe economic crisis in decades with macro-stability slowly returning, yet the deeper structural question remains unresolved: what kind of economy does Sri Lanka want to be? Speaking at the Sri Lanka Economic Summit, International Finance Corporation (IFC) South Asia Regional Director […]