Proposed CEB Tariff Hike: Smart Reform or Unnecessary Shock?
Sri Lanka’s electricity pricing debate heats up again. Here’s what the 6.8% proposal means for households, the grid, and the economy. In October 2025, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) proposed a 6.8% increase in electricity tariffs for the final quarter of the year, citing rising operational costs, debt burdens, and the need for cost-reflective pricing. […]
Port City Colombo Now: Rules Tightened, Utilities Live, Proof Point is Speed
Port City Colombo is closer to “investment-ready” than at any time since 2021. The rulebook has been clarified, phase-one utilities are complete, and Cabinet has green-lit amendments to sharpen the regime. The next question is simple: can the zone deliver fast, predictable approvals and real operating tenants over the next 12 months? Governance: same backbone, […]
Targeting Social Protection: Cut leakage, cut exclusion, protect the vulnerable
Sri Lanka cannot afford waste in social protection. Transfers must reach poor and near-poor households on time, with minimal leakage to the non-poor and minimal exclusion of eligible families. The goal is simple: pay the right people, quickly and predictably, while preserving dignity and privacy. The problem, stated plainly Two errors dominate weak systems. Leakage: […]
Rightsizing the Public Sector: World Bank’s Roadmap for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s fiscal crisis has forced a difficult debate: how to balance essential public services with the need to cut spending and stabilise debt. In its Public Finance Review 2025, the World Bank urges the government to “trim” the public sector, not through sudden layoffs, but through a careful process of rightsizing and efficiency reforms. […]
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 Bolsters Anti-Corruption Arsenal with World Bank Backing
World Bank is backing Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Sri Lanka has taken a decisive step forward in combating corruption. Justice Neil Iddawala, Chairman of CIABOC, held high-level talks with World Bank representatives at the UN Secretariat in Vienna. The meeting occurred during the Second Resumed Sixteenth Session of the […]
The Future of Work: Reid Hoffman’s Prediction and the Rise of AI
Introduction Reid Hoffman’s Prediction and the Rise of AI | The world of work is shifting rapidly. Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and one of the most influential voices in Silicon Valley, has predicted that by 2034 the traditional 9-to-5 job will be extinct. His forecast is not mere speculation but grounded in decades of […]
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 […]