Moody’s Investors Service said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka are among the South Asian countries that are most vulnerable to balance of payments (BoP) crises.
The international credit ratings agency issued the report citing low exports and the lack of foreign direct investment.
Moody’s said India was the least vulnerable country to BoP crises due to its larger and more diversified export sector, adding that New Delhi also had better macroeconomic policy management in place.
In its latest report, Moody’s said, “Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have much weaker infrastructure compared with India, contributing to high costs to trade,” adding that the South Asian nations’ market access to other countries is limited on account of them having fewer trade agreements.
The Meteorology Department says that several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, and North-western provinces and in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Galle, and Matara districts today (July 05).
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.
Fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over the western slopes of the central hills and in the Northern, North-central, and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
The Hunnasgiriya-Meemure road has been temporarily closed near the Kaikawala bridge.
Authorities say that vehicle movement over the bridge has been suspended due to a sudden structural issue that arose during renovation work being carried out by the Road Development Authority.
In this backdrop, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatte has urged the public to refrain from visiting Meemure for recreational trips or other purposes until further notice.
The General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) proudly announces the 18th edition of its prestigious International Research Conference (KDU IRC-2025), set to take place on the 30th of September and 1st of October 2025 at the university premises.
Themed “Bridging Frontiers: Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Progress,” this flagship academic event has established itself as a premier platform that unites researchers, academics, professionals, and policymakers across diverse disciplines. The conference aims to foster meaningful dialogue and present cutting-edge research addressing pressing global challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
The KDU IRC 2025 welcomes submissions across a broad spectrum of fields, including Defence and Strategic Studies, Management, Social Sciences and Humanities, Law, Built Environment and Spatial Sciences, Computing, Engineering, Medicine, Basic and Applied Sciences, and Allied Health Science.
Researchers are invited to submit extended abstracts or full papers that align with the designated conference tracks, contributing to the vibrant academic discourse.
Academic staff and researchers from universities and institutions are encouraged to participate actively in this forum by submitting their papers by the deadline of 7th July 2025.
Participation from universities and research institutions will play a pivotal role in the success of the conference, strengthening ties between academia and professional sectors. KDU looks forward to welcoming scholars and professionals from Sri Lanka and around the world to engage in this collaborative effort toward sustainable development.
For more information and submission guidelines, interested researchers are encouraged to visit the official KDU website, www.kdu.ac.lk.