US Pushes Ukraine to Trade Rare Earth Minerals for Support
In a major development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he has discussed the prospect of Ukraine supplying rare earth minerals to the United States with U.S. President Donald Trump. The talks, which began months ago, focus on Ukraine potentially offering these critical minerals in exchange for future U.S. support. Trump reiterated on Monday that […]
EU Offers to Lower US Tariffs to Avoid Trade War
The European Union is prepared to reduce its 10% car import tariff to align closer with the US rate of 2.5%, as part of efforts to de-escalate trade tensions with Washington, according to Bernd Lange, head of the European Parliament’s trade committee. In an interview with the Financial Times, Lange stated, “We can try to […]
Electronic Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates Launched for Sri Lankans Abroad
Sri Lankans living abroad will now be able to obtain certified copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates electronically, thanks to the new Electronic Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates (EBMD) facility. The service, set to launch tomorrow (07), will be available through Sri Lankan diplomatic missions worldwide. M.K. Padmanadan, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, […]
President’s Services Expand to Divisional Secretariat Level In Sri Lanka
In a major move to improve accessibility, the President’s Fund will expand its services to 341 regional secretariat offices across Sri Lanka, starting tomorrow (07). Previously, applications were only accepted at the main office in Colombo. Roshan Gamage, Secretary of the President’s Fund and Senior Additional Secretary to the President, stated that trained staff at divisional secretariats […]
GovPay: Sri Lanka’s New Digital Platform for Government Payments
Sri Lanka is set to launch GovPay, a revolutionary digital platform designed to streamline all government payments, starting today. The initiative, introduced under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Disanayake, aims to eliminate inefficiencies and fraud associated with cash-based transactions. Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Engineer Eranga Weeraratne, highlighted the platform’s potential to provide secure, transparent, […]
Fire in Colombo’s Krrish Building
A fire has erupted in the 60-storey Krrish Building in Colombo Fort. Meanwhile, MP Namal Rajapaksa faces an indictment for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 70 million linked to the building’s project. The legal proceedings started on January 28 in the Colombo High Court.
El Salvador Government Covers People’s Electricity and Water Bills for January
El Salvador’s government has covered electricity and water bills for all citizens for January, a move led by President Nayib Bukele that has been met with both praise and scrutiny. A Relief for Citizens The Ministry of Finance announced that the initiative aims to ease financial burdens, particularly after recent global economic challenges. “This is […]
Trump Considers Outsourcing U.S. Prisoners to El Salvador
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a proposal from El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to outsource U.S. prisoners to the Central American nation. The offer, which includes housing deported criminals and even American citizens, has been described as “unprecedented and extraordinary” by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Bukele’s Proposal President Bukele has […]
USAID-Funded Media Program Has Promoted LBGTQ In Sri Lanka
Fox News reported that a U.S. taxpayer-funded program aimed at improving media ethics in Sri Lanka promoted gender-inclusive language among journalists. The Media Empowerment for a Democratic Sri Lanka (MEND) project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched an initiative encouraging journalists to state their gender pronouns, avoid assuming others’ gender identities, and eliminate […]
Sri Lankan President Discusses IMF Loan Program Progress
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today (06) at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss the progress of Sri Lanka’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program. The government has reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF for the third review of the $3 billion loan program. The details of this […]
