Columnist

Sri Lanka at $ 200 b: Big dream, broken foundations and private sector to blame?

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:06

El Niño 2026: From climate risk to economic risk

Friday, 4 September 2026 00:50

Minimum wage rankings can create the wrong picture

Friday, 4 September 2026 00:46

Why Sri Lanka’s National Business Facilitation Centre must rewrite rules of FX generation

Friday, 4 September 2026 00:39

What produces economic growth — and what does economic growth produce?

Friday, 4 September 2026 00:25

Sri Lanka cannot worship mothers in public while men trade women’s bodies in private

Friday, 4 September 2026 00:18

What one small clinic tells us about Sri Lanka’s future

Friday, 4 September 2026 00:14

Substance abuse and mental health in Sri Lanka

Friday, 4 September 2026 00:08

Exiting elections, diminishing legitimacy, imbalanced rule and cruel choice

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:29

Budget 2027: It is time to fix the forgotten finances of Local Government

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:28

Sri Lanka’s Constitutional test: Judicial independence beyond immediate political moment

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:24

After IMF?

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:23

Sri Lanka’s real test is not its Debt-to-GDP ratio

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:22

Uncertainty and indecision clouds over Sri Lanka’s economy

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:21

SL’s paradox: Exports its finest intellect and imports expertise

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:20

Lineage of elite power

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:22

Can Mannar’s Gas Basin change Sri Lanka’s story?

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:21

Sri Lanka, beyond 22

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:20

The terms of control: Territorial gatekeeping and stagnation of Sri Lankan creative capital

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:20

Why Sri Lanka should not rush to change inflation target

Tuesday, 1 September 2026 04:16

President says Govt. will not hesitate to amend Constitution to fight crime

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said that his Government would not hesitate to introduce Constitutional amendments it considers necessary ..

NCW aims to liberate women from traditional domestic roles

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:31

The National Commission on Women (NCW) is preparing policy reforms aimed at liberating women from unpaid domestic and care responsibilities, so they c ..

Sri Lanka eyes king coconut to tap into $ 10 b global market

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:28

Sri Lanka is positioning its iconic king coconut industry for a major export expansion, with the Government launching a national program to establish ..

SEC defends roadshows, says Singapore investor buying triples after Invest Sri Lanka Forum

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:25

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) yesterday defended co-hosted roadshows saying foreign purchases of Sri Lankan equities from ..

DFCC Bank gets CSE nod for Rs. 12.5 b debenture issue

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:24

DFCC Bank has announced that the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has approved in principle the listing of up to 125 million Basel III compliant, listed, ..

SC reserves 22A determination for Speaker

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:28

The Supreme Court yesterday concluded the oral hearing of petitions challenging the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, with its determinatio ..

Govt. disputes Rs. 190 b debt surge claim, points to sharp decline in debt stock

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:26

Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando yesterday rejected claims that Government debt had increased by over Rs. 190 billion, ..

Vidullanka’s Rs. 1.8 b Ranna solar project ready, awaits grid connection

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:23

Vidullanka PLC yesterday announced that construction of its 10 MW Ranna Solar Power Project has been completed, with the plant now awaiting energisati ..

CSE net foreign outflow hits record in Aug., YTD tops Rs. 55.7 b

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:21

Net foreign outflows from the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) more than doubled year-on-year (YoY) to Rs. 55.7 billion during the first eight months of 2 ..

Public debt tops Rs. 32.98 t in 2Q despite fall in dollar terms

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:30

Sri Lanka’s gross public debt increased by Rs. 744 billion during the second quarter of 2026 to Rs. 32.98 trillion, even as its dollar value decline ..

Cabinet approves Strategic Status for 68 businesses operating in Colombo Port City

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:26

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to submit to Parliament regulations designating 68 businesses operating within the Colombo Port City ..

Cabinet clears agreement to establish BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:24

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the signing of an agreement with the BIMSTEC Secretariat to establish the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility i ..

August tourist arrivals fall 3.3% despite boost from Esala Perahera

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:22

Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery continued to lose momentum in August, with international arrivals declining 3.29% year-on-year (YoY) to 191,704, leavin ..

Union Bank plans Rs. 708.4 m Rights Issue to bolster Tier 1 capital

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:20

Union Bank of Colombo PLC has proposed a Rs. 708.4 million Rights Issue to strengthen its Tier 1 capital adequacy and support expansion of its loan bo ..

Sri Lankan-founded AI platform argues region’s ads shouldn’t be judged by Western data

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:04

Three months after being named the only Sri Lankan Entrepreneur among Southeast Asia’s Top 20 Rising AI Leaders, Gerald Sathiyasiva’s company has ..

Another year’s wait for Sri Lanka’s global tourism campaign

Tuesday, 1 September 2026 03:09

Sri Lanka’s long-awaited global destination marketing campaign is set to face a further delay of nearly one year, Tourism Deputy Minister Prof. Ruwa ..

President’s Secretary calls for urgent relief on PAYE tax burden

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:29

Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has called for immediate measures to ease the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax burden on the public ..

Sri Lanka needs 5,000 qualified solar technicians annually to meet renewable energy targets

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:26

Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Prof. K.P.L. Chandralal yesterday said Sri Lanka will need to produce around 5,000 qualified ..

BASL protests SC actions, withholds post-hearing written submissions

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:24

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), by filing a motion before the Supreme Court yesterday, informed that it will not be tendering the post-hearin ..

Fresh Tourism Entrepreneurship Fund to boost visitor experiences

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:30

The World Bank is backing the creation of a Tourism Entrepreneurship Fund to channel investment into the businesses, events and creative experiences n ..

Siyapatha Finance records exceptional financial performance for 1H 2026, crossing Rs. 104 b in total assets

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:27

Siyapatha Finance PLC, the largest fully-owned finance company of the Sampath Bank Group, delivered an exceptional financial performance for the six m ..

El Niño could add fresh risk to export performance: EDB

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:25

Sri Lanka’s export sector could face additional pressure in the coming months from dry weather conditions due to El Niño, particularly across agric ..

August National Sales Average for tea eases

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:22

The National Sales Average (NSA) of tea edged lower in August from the previous month and remained below its year-ago level, although the cumulative a ..

India’s GDP growth accelerates to 7.8% in 1Q FY27

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:20

India’s GDP grew 7.8% in the first quarter of FY27 to INR 81.36 trillion, compared with a revised 6.9% in the same quarter last fiscal, despite disr ..

Sri Lanka outlines ambitious plans for Promise.lk as deals near Rs.42 b

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:28

Sri Lanka’s largest procurer, the Government, is preparing a major expansion of electronic public procurement in 2027, as the cumulative value of e- ..

Final road links to Homagama Tech City get Cabinet nod

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:25

The Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved the completion of two unfinished road links aimed at providing direct access to the Homagam ..

TISL challenges Anti-Corruption Act Amendment Bill 2026

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:23

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the proposed “Anti-Corruption (Amendment)” Bill ..

Former Minister Piyankara Jayaratne jailed for 7 years over corruption case

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:21

Former Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratne was yesterday sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of a corru ..

AI Academy and Tomorrow University partner to launch SL’s future-ready AI education hub

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:08

Sri Lanka’s AI Academy has entered a strategic partnership with Berlin-based Tomorrow University of Applied Sciences to launch challenge-based AI de ..

Summer Salt: New address for trends, vibes and unforgettable nights

Tuesday, 1 September 2026 03:51

Beyond its refreshed spaces and stunning beachfront setting, Citrus Hikkaduwa is embracing a new identity as one of the South Coast’s most exciting ..

Over 250-strong Japanese delegation arrives in Sri Lanka

Tuesday, 1 September 2026 03:08

Sri Lanka yesterday welcomed its largest-ever privately organised Japanese visitor delegation, as over 250 travellers arrived in Colombo through the L ..

NCW aims to liberate women from traditional domestic roles

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:31

The National Commission on Women (NCW) is preparing policy reforms aimed at liberating women from unpaid domestic and care responsibilities, so they c ..

President’s Secretary calls for urgent relief on PAYE tax burden

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:29

Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has called for immediate measures to ease the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax burden on the public ..

Sri Lanka eyes king coconut to tap into $ 10 b global market

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:28

Sri Lanka is positioning its iconic king coconut industry for a major export expansion, with the Government launching a national program to establish ..

Sri Lanka needs 5,000 qualified solar technicians annually to meet renewable energy targets

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:26

Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Prof. K.P.L. Chandralal yesterday said Sri Lanka will need to produce around 5,000 qualified ..

SEC defends roadshows, says Singapore investor buying triples after Invest Sri Lanka Forum

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:25

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) yesterday defended co-hosted roadshows saying foreign purchases of Sri Lankan equities from ..

BASL protests SC actions, withholds post-hearing written submissions

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:24

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), by filing a motion before the Supreme Court yesterday, informed that it will not be tendering the post-hearin ..

DFCC Bank gets CSE nod for Rs. 12.5 b debenture issue

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:24

DFCC Bank has announced that the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) has approved in principle the listing of up to 125 million Basel III compliant, listed, ..

Fresh Tourism Entrepreneurship Fund to boost visitor experiences

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:30

The World Bank is backing the creation of a Tourism Entrepreneurship Fund to channel investment into the businesses, events and creative experiences n ..

SC reserves 22A determination for Speaker

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:28

The Supreme Court yesterday concluded the oral hearing of petitions challenging the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, with its determinatio ..

Siyapatha Finance records exceptional financial performance for 1H 2026, crossing Rs. 104 b in total assets

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:27

Siyapatha Finance PLC, the largest fully-owned finance company of the Sampath Bank Group, delivered an exceptional financial performance for the six m ..

Govt. disputes Rs. 190 b debt surge claim, points to sharp decline in debt stock

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:26

Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando yesterday rejected claims that Government debt had increased by over Rs. 190 billion, ..

El Niño could add fresh risk to export performance: EDB

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:25

Sri Lanka’s export sector could face additional pressure in the coming months from dry weather conditions due to El Niño, particularly across agric ..

Vidullanka’s Rs. 1.8 b Ranna solar project ready, awaits grid connection

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:23

Vidullanka PLC yesterday announced that construction of its 10 MW Ranna Solar Power Project has been completed, with the plant now awaiting energisati ..

August National Sales Average for tea eases

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:22

The National Sales Average (NSA) of tea edged lower in August from the previous month and remained below its year-ago level, although the cumulative a ..

FT FUNTOON

Cartoon 03.09.2026

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:00

Cartoon 02.09.2026

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:00

Cartoon 22.08.2026

Saturday, 22 August 2026 00:43

Cartoon 20.08.2026

Thursday, 20 August 2026 00:00

Cartoon 08.08.2026

Saturday, 8 August 2026 01:00

FT TV

Colombo Fort to be developed as major tourist destination

Sunday, 30 August 2026 07:26

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reviewed plans to develop Colombo’s historic Fort area into an internationally recognised tourist destination ..

Port of Colombo Rises to 20th Among World’s Top Container Ports

Sunday, 30 August 2026 06:26

Sarasavi Dhiriya Abhiman scholarship programme held in Jaffna

Sunday, 30 August 2026 05:31

Eppawala Lanka Phosphate invests Rs. 110m in new machinery

Sunday, 30 August 2026 04:41

Sri Lanka takes tourism to the skies with passenger drones

Saturday, 29 August 2026 08:25

President witnesses final Randoli Perahera in Kandy

Friday, 28 August 2026 06:09

FT Click

Celebration of 80th Independence Day of India in Sri Lanka

Wednesday, 19 August 2026 03:20

ITC Ratnadipa honours the spirit of India on its 80th Independence Day

Wednesday, 19 August 2026 03:16

FT Click Digital

Celebrity and entertainment spotlight at FT-Interbrand IWD gala

Tuesday, 11 April 2023 16:59

Daily FT-Interbrand International Women’s Day gala

Monday, 10 April 2023 15:57

IT / Telecom / Tech

Industry experts at FT-CICRA Data Protection Summit warn DPIA is only defence against disaster

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:00

AI Academy and Tomorrow University partner to launch SL’s future-ready AI education hub

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:08

Xapi launches Sri Lanka’s first practical PDPA Compliance Playbook

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:04

FT Lite

KARANDA launches with first original production, UBU

Saturday, 22 August 2026 04:30

KARANDA, a new Sri Lankan creative company, will present its first production, UBU, in Colombo from 5 to 8 November 2026. ..

Soundarie David and Band MAYA to present ‘Andrum Indrum - Then and Now’ on 13 Sept.

Saturday, 22 August 2026 04:24

Eric Goh headlines ‘Jewels Beneath the Waves’

Saturday, 22 August 2026 04:16

Opinion and Issues

Sri Lanka at $ 200 b: Big dream, broken foundations and private sector to blame?

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:06

Sri Lanka can be an over $200 billion economy by 2029. The math works. We crossed $ 100 billion in 2025 after crashing to $ 74 billion in 2022. Histor ..

El Niño 2026: From climate risk to economic risk

Friday, 4 September 2026 00:50

Minimum wage rankings can create the wrong picture

Friday, 4 September 2026 00:46

FT View - Editorial

An estimate, not a verdict

Friday, 4 September 2026 06:04

New Delhi these days is consumed by a number. India’s Statistics Ministry puts first-quarter real GDP growth at 7.8%, and the reaction has been extr ..

Three-wheelers and neglected youth

Thursday, 3 September 2026 00:00

Competitiveness when SMEs are lenders

Wednesday, 2 September 2026 00:00

Not forgetting the victims of enforced disappearances

Tuesday, 1 September 2026 00:05

Learning before disaster strikes

Monday, 31 August 2026 00:00

Policy inconsistency or national psyche

Wednesday, 26 August 2026 00:00

Special Report

Investing in Sri Lanka’s upper watersheds: Unlocking natural capital for resilient future

Monday, 31 August 2026 00:00

By Safna Malik The Asian Development Bank (ADB) hosted a knowledge-sharing session titled “Investing in Sri Lanka’s Upper Watersheds: Unlocking ..

Breaking barriers: Sri Lanka–India integration needs political will, institutional muscle

Tuesday, 18 August 2026 11:32

Boards must move beyond compliance to strategic foresight to drive Sri Lanka’s next growth chapter

Thursday, 6 August 2026 04:47

Business News

Harini to headline SLEIS 2026 session on Sri Lanka’s digital future

SLID INED Forum and EY host ‘Resilient Boards amidst rising risks: Are Boards ready for what comes next?’

FCCISL President meets with Royal Thai Embassy to explore expanded trade and business cooperation

Ceylon Investment and Ceylon Guardian push back combined Rs. 1 b share repurchases to 22 Sept.

EY GDS Sri Lanka expands Colombo footprint with new office at WTC

AI disruption puts Sri Lanka’s IT export model under pressure

Creative Sri Lanka 2030 turns heritage, design and entrepreneurship into a new export engine

Hayleys Fentons named Best Managed Project Organisation of the Year and Overall Winner at NPMEA 2026

Pradeep Kahawalage re- elected CNCI Chairman

Minister Herath calls for greater value addition in gem industry

ProFood ProPack and AgBiz 2026 concludes successfully

National Biotechnology Industry Association holds first AGM

DCSL recognised as ‘Sri Lanka’s Most Valuable Spirits Brand’

Hayleys Fentons delivers new manufacturing facility for Shield Restraint Systems on schedule

Hunas Holdings and Japan’s CCH enter strategic collaborative partnership

Arctek Innovations achieves International Standards Certification, strengthening commitment to quality and food safety

Economist Anushka Wijesinha joins Hayleys Fibre Board

Sri Lanka – Japan Business Council holds AGM

LAUGFS Supermarkets opens 45th outlet in Ekala

Touli launches in Sri Lanka, turning social impact into authentic local experiences

Sri Lanka–Hong Kong trade and investment opportunities strengthened through strategic collaboration

Sri Lanka sets sights on global FinTech map

Columnist

Sri Lanka at $ 200 b: Big dream, broken foundations and private sector to blame?

El Niño 2026: From climate risk to economic risk

Minimum wage rankings can create the wrong picture

Why Sri Lanka’s National Business Facilitation Centre must rewrite rules of FX generation

What produces economic growth — and what does economic growth produce?

Sri Lanka cannot worship mothers in public while men trade women’s bodies in private

What one small clinic tells us about Sri Lanka’s future

Substance abuse and mental health in Sri Lanka

Exiting elections, diminishing legitimacy, imbalanced rule and cruel choice

Budget 2027: It is time to fix the forgotten finances of Local Government

Sri Lanka’s Constitutional test: Judicial independence beyond immediate political moment

After IMF?

Sri Lanka’s real test is not its Debt-to-GDP ratio

Uncertainty and indecision clouds over Sri Lanka’s economy

SL’s paradox: Exports its finest intellect and imports expertise

Lineage of elite power

Can Mannar’s Gas Basin change Sri Lanka’s story?

Sri Lanka, beyond 22

The terms of control: Territorial gatekeeping and stagnation of Sri Lankan creative capital

Why Sri Lanka should not rush to change inflation target

Trending

Central Bank’s dilemma: 5% or 2%?

Shashi Kandambi joins Commercial Bank Board

Standard Chartered Sri Lanka CEO moots IMF stand-by deal after EFF

De Soysa and Company strengthens partnership with Lion Brewery through delivery of nine TCM forklifts

Hayleys Fentons delivers new manufacturing facility for Shield Restraint Systems on schedule

Priyanthini McNair joins Digital Mobility Solutions Board

World Bank bets on Colombo as tourism destination, not a gateway

Hunas Holdings and Japan’s CCH enter strategic collaborative partnership

Cabinet approves Strategic Status for 68 businesses operating in Colombo Port City

SC reserves 22A determination for Speaker

Business News

Harini to headline SLEIS 2026 session on Sri Lanka’s digital future

SLID INED Forum and EY host ‘Resilient Boards amidst rising risks: Are Boards ready for what comes next?’

FCCISL President meets with Royal Thai Embassy to explore expanded trade and business cooperation

Ceylon Investment and Ceylon Guardian push back combined Rs. 1 b share repurchases to 22 Sept.

EY GDS Sri Lanka expands Colombo footprint with new office at WTC

AI disruption puts Sri Lanka’s IT export model under pressure

Creative Sri Lanka 2030 turns heritage, design and entrepreneurship into a new export engine

Hayleys Fentons named Best Managed Project Organisation of the Year and Overall Winner at NPMEA 2026

Pradeep Kahawalage re- elected CNCI Chairman

Minister Herath calls for greater value addition in gem industry

ProFood ProPack and AgBiz 2026 concludes successfully

National Biotechnology Industry Association holds first AGM

DCSL recognised as ‘Sri Lanka’s Most Valuable Spirits Brand’

Hayleys Fentons delivers new manufacturing facility for Shield Restraint Systems on schedule

Hunas Holdings and Japan’s CCH enter strategic collaborative partnership

Arctek Innovations achieves International Standards Certification, strengthening commitment to quality and food safety

Economist Anushka Wijesinha joins Hayleys Fibre Board

Sri Lanka – Japan Business Council holds AGM

LAUGFS Supermarkets opens 45th outlet in Ekala

Touli launches in Sri Lanka, turning social impact into authentic local experiences

Sri Lanka–Hong Kong trade and investment opportunities strengthened through strategic collaboration

Sri Lanka sets sights on global FinTech map

FT NEWS

SJB stages Colombo Fort protest against 22nd Amendment