News
CB Governor: SL ahead of target to achieve debt sustainability
Sri Lanka is aiming at a medium-to-long-term GDP growth of 4–5%, surpassing the baseline 3% requirement set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for achieving debt sustainability, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has said.
Dr. Weerasinghe has emphasised that Sri Lanka has ` consistently outperformed expectations through structural reforms implemented since the economic crisis of 2022. Speaking to, the US-based news channel, CNBC, the Governor outlined the country’s ambitious plans to reach the
IMF’s debt sustainability target well ahead of the 2032 deadline.
“The economic recovery is on track,” Dr. Weerasinghe said, highlighting the current 7.7% policy interest rate and the robust policy buffer in place. “Our focus has now shifted from crisis stabilisation to achieving 4-5% growth, and we are committed to accelerating our debt sustainability efforts, aiming for a full recovery to pre-crisis levels within the next few years.”
He also pointed out that uncertainty in the international trade environment had decreased, as US tariffs on Sri Lankan exports had been reduced to 20%, down from the initial 44% imposed during the peak of the crisis.Given the tariff rates imposed on Sri Lanka’s competitors, the Governor said he believed the impact on Sri Lankan businesses had been far less severe than initially expected.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to broaden the Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, which was launched last year. Unlike the inaugural edition held in November 2025 that featured eight Associate teams, the second edition will comprise 10 teams, including five Test-playing nations. The tournament is scheduled to be held in November this year.
Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
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Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
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