CEB Restructuring: A Turning Point for Sri Lanka’s Power Sector
Sri Lanka has embarked on a significant reform journey to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). The intention is clear: to transform electricity generation, transmission, and distribution into a system that is efficient, financially sustainable, and capable of supporting the country’s renewable energy ambitions. What is Being Proposed Unbundling of functionsThe CEB will be divided […]
AI in Sri Lanka’s Financial Sector: What the Central Bank’s Signal Means
On 17 September 2025, Central Bank Governor Dr P. Nandalal Weerasinghe argued that artificial intelligence is no longer optional for Sri Lanka’s financial sector. He called AI a “strategic imperative” for banks and finance companies, highlighting gains in efficiency, fraud prevention, inclusion, and sustainable finance while warning about privacy, bias, and governance risks that demand […]
Sri Lanka’s SOEs: Restructure or Risk Recovery
Sri Lanka’s loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are a persistent drain on public finances and a major obstacle to fiscal stability. Their continued losses add to national debt, crowd out spending on health, education and infrastructure, and slow the country’s economic recovery. Scale of the Losses Government and IMF data show that in 2024 the fifty-two […]
Tax Digitisation in Sri Lanka: Progress or Pitfall?
Tax Digitisation in Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka is entering a crucial phase in its economic reform journey. Among the many measures rolled out to increase state revenue, the digitisation of the tax system is one of the most ambitious. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has pushed forward with online filing, e-payments, and digital platforms […]
Balancing Development and Conservation: The Future of Sri Lanka’s Coastal Ecosystems
Sri Lanka’s 1,340 km coastline is both a source of immense economic potential and a delicate ecological treasure. From pristine beaches and mangroves to coral reefs and estuaries, these ecosystems sustain fisheries, tourism, and coastal livelihoods(Coastal Ecosystems). At the same time, they provide vital natural defences against erosion, storm surges, and climate change impacts. However, […]
The Cost of Care: How Sri Lanka’s Ageing Population is Quietly Reshaping the Economy
Introduction Sri Lanka is on the cusp of a demographic transformation. With one of the fastest-ageing populations in South Asia, the nation faces a future where one in four citizens will be over 60 by 2040. While this trend reflects improved life expectancy and healthcare, it also brings a looming socio-economic challenge: the rising cost […]
A Nation at a Crossroads 2025 – Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is in the midst of a fragile economic recovery. While headlines focus on debt restructuring and IMF negotiations, a quieter crisis continues to erode the nation’s potential—the mass migration of skilled professionals. From doctors and engineers to university graduates and IT talent, thousands are leaving in search of stability, opportunity, and a future […]
Sri Lanka Moves to Reassure Public on Data Privacy in India-Funded e-NIC Project- 2025
Sri Lanka’s government is seeking to calm public anxiety over its planned electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) system, which is being funded by a grant from India. Amid a heated debate over data privacy and national sovereignty, authorities insist that robust legal and technical safeguards will ensure sensitive personal data remains under Sri Lankan control. […]
Unemployment in Sri Lanka: A Closer Look at 2025
Unemployment is more than a statistic. It’s a deeply personal struggle for families, a challenge for policymakers, and a signal of broader economic health. As Sri Lanka works to recover from crisis, understanding its unemployment problem is critical. Current Unemployment Levels As of early 2025, the Department of Census and Statistics estimates Sri Lanka’s national […]
The Real Cost of Corruption: How Transparency Can Rescue Sri Lanka’s Economy
Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis has forced the nation to confront uncomfortable truths about its financial management, debt policies, and governance. Amidst calls for fiscal discipline, reforms, and international assistance, one issue remains both deeply entrenched and critically important: corruption. For decades, corruption has quietly siphoned off public funds, undermined trust in institutions, inflated the […]
