COLOMBO (News 1st); The United States Embassy in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the House Democracy Partnership (HDP) and the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO), is supporting Sri Lanka’s Parliament in enhancing its capacity to independently analyse government spending, economic policies, and ...

COLOMBO (News 1st); The 2026 budget of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) was finally approved today after a tense re-vote, securing 58 votes in favor and 56 against.The budget, presented by Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar on December 22, initially faced defeat when 60 councillors voted against it, co...

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has secured immediate access to about US$206 million in emergency financing from the International Monetary Fund under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI)—a move the IMF says is designed to quickly bridge a financing gap created by an urgent balance-of-payments shock, ...

COLOMBO (News 1st); The debate to pass the Supplementary Estimate of Rs. 500 billion to restore normalcy to lives disrupted by recent natural disasters will be held today.Accordingly, parliament will meet at 9.30 am led by the Speaker.The debate to pass the supplementary estimate will be held from 1...

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Third Reading of the 2026 Appropriation Bill was passed in Parliament with an emphatic majority.The final vote recorded 158 in favor and just 1 against....