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Driving sustainable investment: The crucial role of sustainable finance and private capital for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka stands at a critical juncture, seeking avenues for sustainable development while positioning itself as a responsible global player. In this pursuit, sustainable finance and private capital have emerged as a transformative force, offering a unique opportunity to address pressing environmental and social challenges while driving economic growth. By integrating sustainability principles into its financial systems and attracting private investments, Sri Lanka can unlock new avenues of investment, attract international capital, and create a resilient and inclusive economy.
The Sri Lanka SDG Investor Map, developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the strong collaboration of the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka and the Board of Investment (BOI), provides tangible market intelligence on 15 investment opportunity areas across 5 key sectors that support Sri Lanka’s advancement towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 5 sectors – Healthcare, Renewable Energy, Food & Beverages, Consumer Goods, and Infrastructure – can attract private sector investment and mobilize global private capital towards SDG-aligned investments.
As a follow-up to the launch of the SDG Investor Map, a series of collaborative sector deep dive workshops were convened, aligned to the key Investment Opportunity Areas identified through the Map, engaging a broad group of private sector representatives, investors, policy makers and development partners.
Based on these consultations, a report highlighting ‘Sector insights, challenges and opportunities for mobilizing private capital towards SDG aligned investment opportunity areas’ was launched recently, with the participation of the State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe; the Director Generals of the Sustainable Development Council and BOI; other Government officials and development partner representatives.
Highlighting the ambition and Plans of the Government of Sri Lanka on relevant policy reforms, Minister Shehan Semasinghe, State Minister of Finance stated that “We are committed to creating a favorable investment climate through regulatory reforms, and attract foreign, and local investments, and facilitate investment opportunities that will generate, positive, social, and environmental impacts, to ensure financial returns. We will improve fiscal transparency, public financial management, introduce a stronger anti-corruption legal framework, and our anti-corruption reform will align Sri Lanka’s legal framework with international standards.”
The role of private capital and investment is more important, now more than ever, to support recovery, prevent regression and help re- accelerate towards a sustainable development trajectory for the country.
Setting the Stage for SDG based Investments in Sri Lanka, Chamindry Saparamadu, Director General, Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka stated “We must remain steadfast in our ambition to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but we must also act swiftly, employ intelligent strategies, make wise investments, strengthen global partnerships, and build upon our collective commitment to the SDGs. In this regard, the SDG Investor Platform plays a crucial role by providing investors with critical data, insights, and tools necessary to channel increased capital towards the SDGs. By doing so, it will assist Sri Lanka in unlocking vital financing required to overcome economic challenges and ultimately advance the well-being of both our people and the planet.”
In her remarks at the event, Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka highlighted “Any investment will bring resources to the country, but we want them to be SDG-aligned to ensure sustainable, inclusive, and green growth for Sri Lanka. We want quality investments that create employment with dignity. Given that the Sri Lanka SDG Investor Map focuses on SDGs to bring in a strong impact narrative alongside commercial returns, there should be a strong emphasis on sustainability at the core underpinning all investment choices.”
Also speaking at the event, Renuka Weerakone, Director General, Sri Lanka Board of Investment noted, “It is our intention to explore and accept green funding opportunities to accelerate sustainable development projects in Sri Lanka. We firmly believe that by harnessing green finance mechanisms and capitalizing on sustainable investment opportunities, we can maximize the positive impact of our endeavors and we request the support and collaboration of UNDP in this regard. We firmly believe that investment and sustainable development are intimately linked, and by embracing this interconnection, we can unlock unprecedented opportunities for growth, innovation, and shared prosperity.”
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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.
The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.
According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.
Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.
The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.
In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.
The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.
The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.
Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.
By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️
Ondansetron controversy
Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has sent a letter of demand for Rs. 1 billion in damages from YouTube content creator Dharmasri Kariyawasam, accusing him of disseminating false and defamatory material linking the Minister to the importation of Ondansetron and inciting public unrest.
The notice, sent through the Minister’s lawyers, states that investigations are currently under way into 10 medicines, including Ondansetron Injection, manufactured by India-based Maan Pharmaceutical Limited.
Ondansetron Injection was among nine injectable drugs recently suspended by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) following reports of patients administered with the drug suffering adverse complications.
Despite the ongoing investigations, Kariyawasam allegedly aired a widely viewed programme on his YouTube channel titled “The hidden story of the Indian drug that claimed lives, Mayor Balthazaar’s relative, and Minister Nalinda’s cover-up.”
According to the letter of demand, the programme falsely portrayed Minister Jayatissa as being directly responsible for importing the drug, colluding with the supplier, and attempting to conceal the issue, while depicting him as indifferent to public suffering.
The Minister’s lawyers maintain that these allegations are entirely false and defamatory, citing passages in which Kariyawasam allegedly accused Jayatissa of lying about the supplier, concealing facts related to PTC Medicals (Pvt) Ltd., the actual importer, and showing a lack of concern over deaths purportedly linked to the drug.
The programme also claimed links between the directors of PTC Medicals and family members of Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, implying political favouritism.
Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
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Showes about 75 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya and Polonnaruwa districts.
CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter
Health Minister sends letter of demand for one billion rupees in damages
One killed, two injured in shooting at Kaduwela
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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