Sri Lanka signs for 25-yr. US$100mn budget support loan

Published

8 months ago

August 6, 2024

editor

Sri Lanka has signed an agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to borrow a 100 million US dollar budget support loan, linked to power sector policy reforms, the Finance Ministry said.

The loan has an interest rate of 2.0 percent and will be repaid over 25 years including a 5 year grace period.

Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana and ADB Sri Lanka Country Director Takafumi Kadono signed the agreement.

The loan is Subprogram 01 of a 300 million dollar policy based loan program linked to power sector reforms.

The reforms support independent and financially sustainable electricity utilities, and “streamlined and accelerated development” of renewable energy.

(economynext.com)

“Reports of Wijepala – Nissanka meeting, fake”

Published

4 minutes ago

April 18, 2025

editor

The Public Security Ministry has denied media reports claiming that the Public Security minister – Ananda Wijepala had met Nissanka Senadhipathi.

The Minister’s media secretary had clarified this in a letter to Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya.
Adding that the neither the Minister or a representative had ever met Senadhipathi as claimed, the letter calls for proper investigations into the fake news and legal action against those responsible.

News

Special allowance for policemen on duty at ‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’

Published

5 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

A special transport allowance and a combined allowance will be provided to police personnel assigned to ensure the safety of devotees attending the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Siri Dalada Vandanawa) in Kandy, the police said.

The measure has been taken over the instructions of the Acting IGP, in consideration of the fact that these police personnel will be on continuous day and night duty for over 10 days, away from their regular stations and incurring additional personal expenses.

News

Ravi K’s Bill to repeal Online Safety Act, gazetted

Published

5 hours ago

April 18, 2025

editor

The Bill to repeal the Online Safety Act, No. 9 of 2024, and other regulations concerning the Act, has been gazetted.

The Online Safety Bill was passed by a majority vote in Parliament on Jan. 24, 2024.

The Bill that has been gazetted was submitted by opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake.

On Feb. 28, 2025, MP Karunanayake submitted a private member’s Bill to the Parliament Secretary-General, aiming to repeal the controversial Online Safety Act.