Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) emerges as world’s second best performing equity market in 2021.

The main index of the Colombo Stock Exchange, the All Share Price Index (ASPI) has been ranked as the second best performing stock index in the world as of 13 January 2021, with a positive price return of 9.88%, according to Bloomberg data. In a Twitter message, State Minist…

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Port City Colombo attracts world’s top investor Nathaniel Rothschild.

World renowned financier and a member of Rothschild family, Nathaniel Rothschild who is in Sri Lanka for a brief business tour, paid a visit to Port City Colombo yesterday (14). He was accompanied by prominent Sri Lankan born British politician and former EU parliamentarian …

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Record-breaking day (15th Jan) for Colombo Stock Exchange.

The All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange gained 291.34 points today (15), marking the highest daily points gain in its history. The ASPI closed at 7,734.57 points - the highest since February 28, 2011 - gaining 3.91% from the previous day of trading.  Th…

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South Asia’s Largest Tyre Manufacturing Plant Now in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s largest manufacturing facility for tyres and radials, Ferentino Tyre Corporation (Pvt) Limited, was declared open by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday (14). The occasion was also joined by Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa and Minister of Ports and S…

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Astronomers Have Discovered an Alien Planet with Three Suns.

Astronomers think they've spotted an alien planet with three suns on its horizon — but that still isn't the most interesting thing about the strange new world's sky. Scientists found the world, which they've dubbed LTT 1445Ab, in data gathered by NASA's T…

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Biden lays out $1.9 trillion Covid relief package with $1,400 stimulus checks.

President-elect Joe Biden laid out his $1.9 trillion relief package in a prime-time address Thursday 14 January 2020 — focusing on a new round of stimulus checks to struggling Americans and an ambitious vaccine distribution plan to control the deadly pandemic. Biden will ask…

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U.S. declares Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism.

The Trump administration declared Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism, the latest in a series of actions aimed at undoing the Obama-era legacy of opening U.S. relations with the island nation just weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Cuba was placed on the list…

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NASA plans to ignite the most powerful rocket it's ever built on January 17.

It will be the first firing of the Space Launch System (SLS), the long-awaited (and delayed) rocket ship that NASA plans to use for non-commercial human space flight. However, during this first ignition, only the liquid fuel engines at the core of the rocket will be tested, …

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Tesla sets up India subsidiary in Bengaluru.

Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle (EV) company Tesla has registered a fully-owned subsidiary in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Tesla, the world’s most valued carmaker has incorporated a fully owned subsidiary ahead as a first step to set up an R&D unit and a manufacturing plant f…

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Sadyr Japarov wins the presidential election in Kyrgyzstan.

The frontrunner in Kyrgyzstan's presidential election, Sadyr Japarov, has won by a landslide, official results show. The Central Election Commission said Mr Japarov had won 79% of votes cast. Mr Japarov, who served time in jail for taking a rival hostage, will also have s…

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Ethiopian army kills ex-Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin

Ethiopia says its forces have killed three members of the conflict-hit Tigray region’s former ruling party, including ex-Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin. The three Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) officials were killed after they refused to surrender to the m…

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France hosts 4th One Planet Summit.

World leaders met for an online One Planet Summit to discuss climate change and the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. The Summit was organised in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Bank. The theme of the Summit was “Let’s act together for nature!” Th…

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Estonian Prime Minister resigns.

Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas resigned on Wednesday 13 January 2021 amid corruption allegations against his political party. His ruling Center Party came under investigation as part of a corruption probe. The 42-year-old insisted that he had not made "any malicious…

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EU grant Rs. 8.26 bn to support SL justice sector, food safety, climate change mitigation.

The European Union (EU) announced the signing of three grants worth EUR 35.75 million (LKR 8.26 billion) which will support Sri Lanka’s justice sector, help improve food safety, and strengthen efforts to mitigate climate change.  The grants were signed on behalf of the Gover…

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World Logic Day - 14 January.

Every year on January 14th, World Logic Day brings the intellectual history and practical implications of logic to interdisciplinary science communities’ attention. The day also celebrates the idea that logic, as reasoning, is a central feature of human beings. Logic is defi…

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Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) records highest market cap ever and number of trades within a day.

The Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recorded two significant milestones today with the market capitalization reaching an all-time high value of Rs. 3.25 trillion and recording 52,559 trades which is the highest number of trades recorded within a market day. The number of trade…

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Sri Lankan rupee under pressure again. Selling rate of US $ recorded at Rs.194.07.

The Sri Lankan rupee has come once again under pressure. According to the daily exchange report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), the current buying rate of the US Dollar today (13) stands at Rs.190.33 and selling rate of the US dollar stands at Rs.194.07. This is the …

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Henley Passport Index - 2021

The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which mainta…

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Malaysia declares state of emergency.

The king of Malaysia, Al-Sultan Abdullah, has declared a months-long state of emergency across the country to combat a rise in current pandemic cases. The move was requested by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and allows Mr Muhyiddin to suspend parliament at a time when his …

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Biden nominates veteran diplomat William Burns as CIA director.

US President-elect Joe Biden has chosen William Burns, who served for three decades as a diplomat, to be his CIA director. Mr Burns led the Obama administration's negotiations with Iran to reach a landmark nuclear deal in 2015. Before that he served as ambassador to Russ…

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Oldest living Olympic champion Agnes Keleti turns age 100.

The remarkable Hungarian former gymnast, who survived the Nazis and went on to win 10 Olympic medals, 5 of them gold, turns 100 today (12th). The oldest surviving Olympic champion, Ágnes Keleti, celebrates her 100th birthday. She is one of her country’s most successful Olymp…

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Saudi Arabia, World's Top Oil Producer, Launches City With No Cars.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled his latest vision for Saudi Arabia's future beyond oil: a city with no cars, roads or carbon emissions. The 170 kilometer-long (106 mile-long) development called "The Line" will be part of the $500 billion project calle…

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India's arm wrestling champion Rahul Panicker defeats 'world's strongest bodybuilder'.

Rahul Panicker, the current 70kgs Indian National Arm Wrestling Champion, defeated 'world's strongest bodybuilder' Larry Wheels in a super match. The super match took place in Dubai with excited onlookers cheering for them. Panicker's father was a powerlifter …

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Cristiano Ronaldo becomes joint-highest goalscorer in football history.

Cristiano Ronaldo is now the joint-highest goalscorer in professional football history following his latest strike for Juventus on Sunday 10 January 2021 evening. The Portugal international netted late on to seal a 3-1 victory over Sassuolo, taking his goals tally for club a…

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Bangladesh ready to expand educational opportunities for Sri Lanka.

Newly-appointed High Commissioner of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Tareq Md. Ariful Islam has presented his credentials to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s House yesterday (January 11). During the ensuing discussion, explaining the current e…

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Cabinet approval to purchase 200 low-floor buses for SLTB.

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to procure 200 low-floor buses for Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), says the Government Information Department. Plans are afoot by the State Ministry of Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Carriages and Automotive Ind…

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Sri Lanka to sign MoU with China to market Pure Ceylon Tea both online and offline.

The Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Plantation for entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sri Lanka Tea Board and Fujian Star China International Trade Company Limited for marketing Pure Ceylon Tea both online and offline utiliz…

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Flexible working hours for public sector

The government has reportedly focused its attention on introducing flexible working hours for the public sector. Cabinet Spokesperson Udaya Gammanpila mentioned this at a press conference held to inform cabinet decisions today (January 12). “If you have to work 40 hours a wee…

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Cabinet nod to import frozen coconut kernels

As a result of local coconut production supply being insufficient for industries related to coconut kernel, Cabinet had approved the import of coconut kernel in 2017. Accordingly, 2,542 metric tons of coconut kernels were imported to Sri Lanka during a period of 08 months. Me…

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Maximum compensation limit for employment termination to be doubled.

The Cabinet of Ministers has given the nod to amend the Maximum Compensation Limit of the Compensation Formula in effect under the Termination of Employment (Special Provisions) Act, No 45 of 1971. Termination of Employment Act, as amended by Act No. 12 of 2003, was enacted …

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