The government has appointed 37 advisors to assist the President, the Prime Minister, and seven Cabinet ministers.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed 10 advisors for the Ministry of Digital Economy and 14 for the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education. Advisors for the President and Prime Minister serve voluntarily and do not receive government salaries or allowances, with all of the Prime Minister’s advisors being specialists in the field of education.

Other appointments include three advisors for Minister of Industries Sunil Handunnetti, three for Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake, and two for Science and Technology Minister Prof. Krishantha Abeysena. Single advisors have been appointed for Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, Agriculture Minister K. D. Lalkantha, Environment Minister Dhammika Patabendige, Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Vasantha Samarasinha, and Provincial Councils Minister Prof. Chandana Abeyratne.

While most advisors work without pay, three—serving Ministers Samarasinha, Patabendige, and Aberathna—receive salaries, allowances, and vehicles. The advisor to Minister Samarasinha earns Rs. 227,695 a month and is entitled to a fuel allowance of Rs 46,695.

Minister Patabendige’s advisor receives Rs 213,635 monthly, a vehicle, and Rs 47,685 for diesel. Minister Abeyratne’s advisor, former Ministry Secretary Ashoka Peiris, earns Rs 117,150, a living allowance of Rs 17,800, and Rs 46,695 for fuel.

The details were submitted to Parliament in writing in response to a question from Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara.

by Akitha Perera ✍️

The United States and Sri Lanka on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalising the defence partnership between the Montana National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard District 13, and the Sri Lanka Armed Forces under the Department of War’s State Partnership Program (SPP).

The agreement was signed at the Ministry of Defence, Battaramulla.

U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung, Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard Brigadier General Trenton Gibson, and the Secretary of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, signed the MOU marking a historic milestone in U.S.–Sri Lanka defense relations, underscoring both nations’ shared commitment to regional stability, maritime security, and professional military collaboration in the Indo-Pacific to advance our common goal of peace through partnership.

U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung highlighted the significance of the new chapter in U.S.–Sri Lanka defense cooperation: “From wildfire response and flood relief in Montana to peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts overseas, the Montana National Guard has a proud record of service and professionalism. This partnership with Sri Lanka, reaffirmed through today’s MOU, strengthens our shared resolve for a secure Indo-Pacific—building trust, readiness, and lasting peace through partnership.”

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) said, “This agreement represents a progressive initiative that will further enhance Sri Lanka’s defense capabilities and reinforce the enduring partnership with the United States. Over the years, our two nations have long cooperated in areas such as military training, disaster relief, and defense exchanges, fostering mutual understanding and trust. This framework will open new avenues for collaboration, promote capacity-building, and contribute to ensuring peace, security, and stability across the region.”

Brigadier General Trenton Gibson, Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard, said: “We are honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Sri Lankan counterparts. Together, we’ll build strength, trust, and lasting bonds that enhance the security of both our nations.”

Established in 2021, the Montana–Sri Lanka partnership takes a major step forward today as the MOU formalizes a framework for deeper collaboration, strengthening professional ties and advancing joint security cooperation between the two nations. Through the State Partnership Program, the Montana National Guard, the citizen-soldier component of the U.S. Armed Forces from the State of Montana, brings extensive expertise in disaster response, homeland defense, and global partnerships. Since 2021, the Montana National Guard and Sri Lanka’s armed forces have deepened their partnership through joint training, expert exchanges, and reciprocal visits that have built trust and strengthened defense cooperation. Notable recent engagements include ATLAS ANGEL 2024 and PACIFIC ANGEL 2025, where U.S. and Sri Lankan personnel worked side by side to enhance humanitarian assistance and disaster response capabilities. Under the State Partnership Program, the U.S. Coast Guard District 13 also welcomed Sri Lanka Coast Guard officers to Seattle in August 2025 for joint training on oil spill response, including hazardous waste operations, shoreline recovery, and on-water cleanup—sharing expertise to safeguard sea lanes and protect the marine environment.

With this MOU, Sri Lanka joins a global network of 115 nations partnered with U.S. state National Guards under the State Partnership Program (SPP). The first series of joint activities under this MOU is planned for summer of 2026, focusing on disaster response, maritime domain awareness, and professional military education.

The Montana-Sri Lanka National Guard partnership will focus on:

Joint training and professional exchanges to enhance interoperability and readiness.

Maritime Domain Awareness cooperation, addressing trafficking, migration, and narcotics interdiction.

Crisis response and humanitarian assistance, leveraging the Guard’s dual military–civilian capabilities, to include military medical and engineer activities.

Aviation operations, supporting mission success through skill and excellence.

Military and civil disaster readiness and response, military-civilian coordination for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Background: The State Partnership Program (SPP) was created in 1993 by the U.S. Department of Defense—now the Department of War—after the end of the Cold War to foster enduring relationships between U.S. state National Guards and partner nations. The SPP pairs the U.S. National Guard with foreign military counterparts to support defense security goals such as civil-military preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, and defense modernization.  Through exchange programs and joint capacity-building exercises, partners strengthen interoperability. Today, through the SPP, the National Guard of every state, three U.S. territories and the District of Columbia is partnered with over 100 partner countries — nations on every continent but Antarctica —promoting peace, stability, and mutual readiness through training, humanitarian assistance, and expertise exchange.

The Montana National Guard, headquartered in Helena, Montana, is composed of highly trained soldiers and airmen who serve both their state and the nation.  Its participation in the SPP reflects the Guard’s dual mission: defending the United States while advancing global peace and security through trusted international partnerships.

Eighteen out of 52 major state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have incurred losses in the first six months of 2025, worsening fiscal pressures on the government and taxpayers, according to the Mid-Year Fiscal Report released by the Ministry of Finance.

The report has revealed a significant contraction in the profitability of the SOE sector. During the first half of 2024, the 52 entities collectively posted profits of Rs. 280.7 billion. In contrast, their combined profit for the corresponding period in 2025 has dropped to Rs. 227.8 billion—a decline of more than Rs. 52 billion.

Among the largest loss-makers are the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), SriLankan Airlines and the Lanka Sugar Company, all of which have recorded steep reversals compared to previous years. The CEB has posted a pre-tax loss of Rs. 13.2 billion as at 30 June 2025, a dramatic fall from profits of Rs. 144 billion in 2024 and Rs. 57.6 billion in 2023.

SriLankan Airlines has also suffered a sharp downturn, recording a pre-tax loss of Rs. 12 billion between April and June alone. The airline’s cumulative losses now stand at a staggering Rs. 628 billion. Its equity position has deteriorated to a negative Rs. 415 billion, while total liabilities have risen to Rs. 606.7 billion.

A BBC report cited by the Finance Ministry attributes the airline’s continuing losses to inadequate revenue diversification and heavy debt-servicing obligations.

The Cabinet has already approved restructuring of long-overdue debt amounting to USD 210 million and Rs. 31.4 billion, to be serviced with Treasury involvement.

Meanwhile, Lanka Sugar Company Limited has recorded a pre-tax loss of Rs. 2.6 billion as at 30 June, compared to a loss of Rs. 1.9 billion in 2024 and a profit of Rs. 2.8 billion in 2023, reflecting further deterioration in performance.

Presenting the 2026 Budget, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said political interference, weak financial discipline and patronage-based recruitment had turned several state entities into “a heavy burden on the economy.” He noted that a number of institutions had failed to pay bank loans, taxes or employee EPF/ETF contributions. The government has already allocated Rs. 11 billion to settle overdue employee benefits and outstanding taxes.

The President said the government would shut down institutions with no commercial, regulatory or administrative value, merge agencies performing overlapping functions and reorganise those that have diverged from their core mandates.

SOEs currently in the red include the CEB, SriLankan Airlines, Lanka Sugar Company, State Engineering Corporation, Lanka Sathosa, Hotel Developers (Lanka) Ltd, State Development and Construction Corporation, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, State Timber Corporation, ITN, SLBC, State Printing Corporation, Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Corporation, National Livestock Development Board, Janatha Estate Development Board, Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation and the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation.

A number of institutions—among them Lanka Sugar Pvt Ltd, the Janatha Estate Development Board, SLSPC, SLRC, Ceylon Fisheries Corporation, NLDB, Elkaduwa Plantations Ltd, SLBC, North Sea Ltd and Lanka Ceramics JV Corporation—have been unable to meet EPF/ETF and tax obligations and now require direct Treasury support.

Despite the pressures, the Finance Ministry notes that several major SOEs have posted stronger results. State banks have reported a combined profitability increase of Rs. 65.5 billion in the first half of the year, while the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, National Water Supply and Drainage Board and Employees’ Trust Fund Board have also improved their performance.

The government has already begun the process of closing 33 inactive institutions by 2026 and restructuring others in line with new efficiency and governance targets.