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President emphasises importance of fostering innovation for country’s economic progress

Published

11 months ago

2025/02/22

Anura Kumara Dissanayake

The 2025 Budget prioritises innovation aiming to transform Sri Lanka into a competitive player in the global innovation landscape, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Thursday (20). He emphasised that digitalisation will be a key driver in this transformation, enabling the country to catch up with other nations in the field.

Speaking at the Innovation Island Summit 2025 at the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel in Colombo, the President stated that fostering innovation is essential for Sri Lanka’s economic progress. Hosting this summit in Sri Lanka, he noted, reflects the country’s growing interest in entrepreneurship and the increasing recognition of innovation as a catalyst for development.

The President explained that human civilisation has evolved through different phases, each defined by innovation. While people’s fundamental needs remain unchanged, the ways in which these needs are met continue to evolve, creating new markets and opportunities. He highlighted that countries that have achieved economic success have done so by embracing innovation and adapting to changing global trends, citing neighbouring India as a prime example.

President Dissanayake stressed that Sri Lanka has immense potential in innovation and that the government aims to establish a strong digital infrastructure by 2030. He reaffirmed that the current Budget places innovation at its core, with a focus on commercialising new discoveries to drive economic growth.

The President projected USD 19 billion in export revenue for this year, emphasising that a major transformation in the innovation sector is necessary to achieve this target. He asserted that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that the benefits of innovation reach the entire population and that many of the administration’s long-term goals are directly linked to advancements in technology and digitalisation.

He acknowledged the challenges Sri Lanka faces in the global economic arena and underscored the need for greater digitalisation and innovation to remain competitive. Calling on international partners and investors, he invited new investments into the country, assuring that Sri Lanka has already built a positive business environment for innovation. He also highlighted the availability of a skilled workforce that can support this transformation, further strengthening the country’s position in the global innovation ecosystem.

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Showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and showers about 50-75 mm in other areas

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/8

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 08 JANUARY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 08 January 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

The depression over the Bay of Bengal, located to the southeast of Sri Lanka, was centered near latitude 5.3°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 490 km southeast of Pottuvil, at 11:30 p.m. yesterday (07). It is expected to move west-northwestwards and towards the eastern coast of the island during next 24 hours. This system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next 12 hours.

Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Uva, Central and Southern provinces. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places elsewhere in the Island after 1.00 p.m. Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Eastern and Uva provinces. Fairly Heavy showers about (50 – 75) mm are likely at some places in the other areas of the island.

Strong winds about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over the Eastern slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota, Gampaha, Colombo and Monaragala districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

News

Easter Sunday attacks: Govt. says wife of Katuwapitiya Church bomber alive

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sara Jasmine

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that information uncovered during ongoing investigations indicated that Pulasthini Mahendran, also known as Sara Jasmine, linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks, was not dead.

Responding to a question raised by Opposition MP Mujibur Rahuman, the Minister said there was no confirmation that Sara Jasmine was currently in India, despite speculation to that effect. He added that investigators suspected she may have fled the country and stressed that further inquiries were underway to establish her whereabouts.

“If necessary, the government will take steps to obtain a warrant,” Wijepala said, noting that legal action related to the Easter attacks had already been initiated, based on available evidence.

Minister Wijepala said the new government had launched an thorough probe to determine whether a political or other conspiracy had been behind the attacks that killed more than 270 people in 2019. However, he declined to disclose certain details in Parliament, citing the risk of hampering investigations.

Sara Jasmine, Mohammed Hashtun, who bombed St. Sebastian’s Church, in Katuwapitiya, in 2019, was long presumed to have died in a suicide blast in Sainthamaruthu, days after the attacks. Wijepala said attempts by previous administrations to establish her death had failed, with recent reports indicating that DNA tests conducted at the time were inconclusive.

During the debate, MP Rahuman recalled that senior figures, including then-Opposition MP Nalinda Jayatissa, had previously claimed Sara Jasmine was in India. He questioned why authorities had not sought an open warrant for her arrest whether the issue had been raised in talks with Indian officials.

Wijepala, responding on behalf of Deputy Minister of Defence Arun Jayasekara, said the government would not hesitate to pursue legal action, including warrants, if necessary.

By Saman Indrajith

News

Indian Army Chief here

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

BIA staff welcoming Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, who arrived here yesterday (07)

The Chief of the Indian Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (07). On arrival, the COAS was accorded a Guard of Honour by the Sri Lanka Army.

The Indian HC said that: “He will engage with senior military and civil leadership, including the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Deputy Minister of Defence and the Defence Secretary; and hold detailed discussions on matters of mutual interest, including training cooperation, capacity building and regional security.

During the visit, the COAS will address officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and interact with officers and trainees at the Army War College, Buttala, reflecting India’s strong commitment to defence education and professional military exchanges with Sri Lanka.

General Dwivedi will also pay homage at the IPKF War Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of Indian soldiers.”

General Dwivedi arrived here from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he attended several events during 05 to 06 January.