About our Sri Lanka news
Latest news on Sri Lanka: Colombo politics, economy, rupee, IMF and debt, tourism, Tamil and Sinhala communities, President Dissanayake, NPP and Ceylon.
Sri Lanka, the teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean off India's southern tip, is home to around 22 million people. Colombo is its commercial hub, while Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital. Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages, English is widely used, and the economy rests on tea, garments, remittances, agriculture and tourism.
Politics changed sharply when Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People's Power (NPP) won the presidency in 2024, after voters rejected long-established parties. The NPP then won a landslide in parliamentary elections, and Harini Amarasuriya became Prime Minister. The government has focused on anti-corruption measures, state reform, and debates over provincial councils and the electoral system.
The economy remains a central story. After the 2022 sovereign default, shortages and mass protests, Sri Lanka agreed an IMF programme, restructured its debt and began stabilising the Sri Lankan rupee and inflation. Critics point to the cost of austerity for ordinary households, while the authorities stress fiscal discipline. Cyclone Ditwah, which struck in late 2025, brought devastating floods and landslides, and rebuilding is an ongoing theme.
Culture and daily life are rich and varied. Sinhala Buddhist, Tamil Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities share the island, and festivals such as Vesak and Sinhala and Tamil New Year are widely celebrated. Visitors come for Sigiriya, Kandy, Galle Fort, the Ceylon tea country, wildlife parks and beaches, so tourism is a key earner and a frequent news topic.
The island's history shapes the present. Ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, Ceylon gained independence in 1948 and became Sri Lanka in 1972. A civil war between the government and Tamil separatists ended in 2009, leaving questions about accountability, reconciliation and the north and east, including Jaffna. The 2019 Easter attacks and the Rajapaksa era still influence debates on security and justice.
Staying informed matters for residents, the diaspora, investors and travellers. Our ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ feed on Sri Lanka brings together the latest headlines from reliable sources on politics, the economy, debt, the IMF, tourism and society, so you can follow every major development across the island.