Colombo Gazette

07/08/2025

At the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Governor-General of Australia, Samantha Joy Mostyn, arrived in Sri Lanka on a three-day official visit.

The delegation headed by the Governor - General was welcomed at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath.

During her visit, Governor-General Mostyn is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The discussions will focus on further strengthening bilateral cooperation between Australia and Sri Lanka and exploring new opportunities to expand partnerships for the mutual benefit of both countries.

During her stay in Sri Lanka Governor-General Mostyn is also expected to tour several parts of the country, including visits to Bandaragama, Mirissa and Weligama, where she will observe several projects supported by the Australian Government.

Following the formation of Australia’s new government, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, previously visited Sri Lanka. In addition, a meeting was held between Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath in Malaysia.

05/08/2025

US based SpaceX has appointed Singer Sri Lanka, the nation’s leading consumer electronics and home appliances retailer, as the authorized retailer of Starlink in Sri Lanka.

This announcement marks a significant step in revolutionizing internet accessibility across the country, especially in regions historically underserved by traditional connectivity solutions.

Starlink, developed by global aerospace innovator SpaceX, is a high-performance satellite internet system designed to deliver fast, reliable and truly unlimited internet access to users anywhere in the world. By utilizing a vast constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, Starlink bypasses the limitations of ground-based infrastructure and provides a seamless digital experience even in remote locations. The availability of this technology in Sri Lanka brings with it a transformative opportunity to close the connectivity gap that has long hindered economic progress, access to education, and digital inclusion in rural and hard-to-reach communities.

Through this strategic partnership, Singer reinforces its leadership as the country’s foremost enabler of technological advancement bringing global innovation closer to everyday consumers. Customers can purchase and activate Starlink devices through Singer’s extensive retail and online network, bringing unprecedented control and independence to their internet experience. Whether for home users with heavy data needs, remote workers, businesses, schools, farms, emergency services, entrepreneurs or travelers, Starlink delivers reliable high-speed internet.

Commenting on the announcement, Mahesh Wijewardene, Group Managing Director of Singer Sri Lanka PLC, stated, “Our partnership with Starlink marks a pivotal moment as the first company in Sri Lanka to get formally approved by SpaceX. We are proud to be enabling access to one of the world’s most advanced satellite internet systems, connecting Sri Lankans along the northern and southern coasts with reliable and borderless internet access.”

Chairman of Singer Sri Lanka, Mohan Pandithage stated "This partnership marks a significant milestone for Singer and for Sri Lanka. By joining hands with USA’s SpaceX to introduce Starlink, we are advancing the nation’s digital connectivity and strengthening the foundations for inclusive, technology-driven progress. As part of the Hayleys Group, we are proud to support national digitalization efforts through bold, future-focused solutions."

Users can now activate their Starlink service independently via the Starlink mobile app. The monthly subscription is unlimited and provides customers with the freedom to manage their internet usage on their own terms.

Each Starlink hardware package includes the Starlink dish, Wi-Fi router, cables and power adapter. Singer will offer variations to suit residential, mobile, and business-grade applications, with device price ranging from LKR 69,000 onwards. All devices come with the assurance of Singer’s trusted after-sales service and warranty.

Starlink hardware is available for preorder at Singer and Singer Mega outlets across the country, and also online at www.singer.lk. Island wide delivery is offered at no additional cost. Flexible payment options are available through credit cards making this groundbreaking connectivity solution accessible to a broad cross-section of Sri Lankan consumers.

03/08/2025

City of Dreams, Sri Lanka’s largest investment and South Asia’s first integrated resort opened its doors in Colombo in grand style.

Positioned at the crossroads of modern luxury and local artistry, City of Dreams Sri Lanka (COD SL), is a living showcase of Sri Lankan ambition, creativity and global vision.

City of Dreams, Sri Lanka’s largest investment and South Asia’s first integrated resort opened its doors in Colombo in grand style. Positioned at the crossroads of modern luxury and local artistry, City of Dreams Sri Lanka (COD SL), is a living showcase of Sri Lankan ambition, creativity and glo...

02/08/2025

Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan arrived in Sri Lanka for the much anticipated launch event of City of Dreams Sri Lanka.

The star arrived in Sri Lanka in a private jet and was driven to Colombo under tight security.

Roshan told reporters he was excited to be in Sri Lanka once again.

28/07/2025

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa.

The warrant was issued by the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court after Rajapaksa failed to appear in court over an ongoing case.

Rajapaksa was in the Maldives at the time the warrant was issued.

28/07/2025

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya noted the importance of tourism and hospitality in Sri Lanka.

She also noted that since 2011, when Sri Lanka first sent its culinary ambassadors to the global stage, the journey has been marked by dedication, vision, and a strong belief in the country's potential.

Amarasuriya made these remarks while addressing the Sirha Bocuse d'Or Sri Lanka 2025 awarding ceremony, held at the Cinnamon Life Hotel, Colombo.

"For Sri Lanka, our participation in this global journey is about more than culinary prestige. It is about placing ourselves at the heart of an international conversation. A conversation about creativity, craft, and cultural expression. Since 2011, when we first sent our culinary ambassadors to the global stage, our journey has been marked by dedication, vision, and a strong belief in our potential," she said.

The Prime Minister said that Sri Lanka's presence on this platform is not incidental but it reflects the progress of Sri Lanka hospitality industry, culinary education, and national ambition.

"Tourism and hospitality in Sri Lanka are not only important economic sectors. They are also powerful expressions of who we are. Each memorable dining experience, whether served in a luxury hotel or a humble local eatery, represents our identity, builds global reputation, and creates meaningful connections between people and cultures," she added.

For Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister said, Bocuse d'Or is both a reflection and a guide and shows how far Sri Lanka has come and helps shape the path ahead.

"Our participation has raised standards, promoted global ambition, and encouraged a spirit of excellence among a new generation of Sri Lankan hospitality professionals," she added.

The Prime Minister was especially pleased to see so many women chefs participating in a field that has traditionally been male dominated.

"It is encouraging to witness strong female leadership emerging in Sri Lanka's culinary sector."

During the ceremony, the Gold Award was presented to Cinnamon Life Hotel, the Silver Medal was awarded to Shangri-La Hotel, and the Bronze Medal went to Sheraton Hotel Colombo.

The event was attended by members of the culinary community and other distinguished guests.

28/07/2025

Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Disanayaka arrived in the Maldives, Monday, on a state visit at the invitation of Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

President Disanayaka and his delegation were received upon arrival at Velana International Airport by President Dr Muizzu.

During the visit, President Disanayaka is scheduled to hold official talks with President Dr Muizzu, focusing on further strengthening bilateral relations between the two neighbouring nations.

The two leaders are also scheduled to deliver joint press statements outlining the outcomes of their discussions.

This is President Disanayaka’s first state visit to the Maldives since assuming office in September 2024. The Maldives and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations on 26 July 1965, and this year is the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

24/07/2025

Legendary wrestler and WWE icon Hulk Hogan has died at 71-years-old, according to multiple reports.

TMZ reported that a cardiac arrest call was placed and medics were sent to Hogan’s home in Clearwater, Florida, and he was carried on a stretcher into an ambulance.

This follows news last month where Hogan’s wife, Sky, denied rumors that he was in a coma and said that his heart was “strong” after he recovered from a neck surgery.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1953. He went on to become a pop-culture phenomenon, transforming the WWE. After defeating the Iron Sheik for the World Heavyweight Championship in 1984, he coined the term “Hulkamania.” His most memorable performances include a matchup with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson at WrestleMania X8 in 2002, as well as a face-off with Andre the Giant.

In 2005, Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, though he was removed in 2015 following a scandal over alleged racist comments during a sexual encounter. The clip was posted by Gawker, and Hogan sued the publication, winning the lawsuit. He was re-inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020 as a member of New world Order (NWO).

He last appeared on WWE during RAW’s Netflix debut on January 6. (Ticket News)

17/07/2025

Bollywood king Shah Rukh Khan will not be attending the City of Dreams Sri Lanka launch owing to personal reasons.

Issuing a statement the organisers said that in the lead-up to the landmark launch of City of Dreams Sri Lanka – South Asia’s first integrated resort – the appearance of Shah Rukh Khan was a key highlight of the celebrations. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen personal reasons beyond his control, Mr. Khan is no longer able to attend.

“The launch event will continue as a landmark celebration, featuring an extraordinary lineup of local and international talent to be unveiled in the coming days. We are committed to making this moment a defining milestone in Sri Lanka’s journey to becoming a globally recognised destination for world-class entertainment.

We understand that many were looking forward to welcoming Mr. Shah Rukh Khan to Sri Lanka, and we share in your disappointment. We are sincerely grateful for his continued support and goodwill, and we look forward to welcoming him to City of Dreams Sri Lanka in the near future”, said a spokesperson from City of Dreams Sri Lanka.

The following statement was issued by the Talent Agency, WizCraft:

“We would like to share that Mr. Shah Rukh Khan will unfortunately not be able to attend the opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka as originally planned, due to unforeseen and unavoidable personal reasons beyond his control.

Sri Lanka and its wonderful people hold a special place in Mr. Khan’s heart, and he was genuinely excited to be part of this celebration. He regrets his inability to attend and extends his heartfelt gratitude to the management of City of Dreams Sri Lanka and well-wishers for their overwhelming enthusiasm and support.

We look forward to future opportunities where Mr. Khan can visit Sri Lanka.”

11/07/2025

The UK government unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries like Sri Lanka.

Upgrades to the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) make it easier for businesses to trade with the UK and help lower prices on the UK high street.

The changes, announced as part of the UK’s wider Trade for Development offer, aim to support economic growth in partner countries including Sri Lanka while helping UK businesses and consumers access high-quality, affordable goods. This announcement builds on the UK’s Trade Strategy published last month.

New measures include simplifying rules of origin enabling more goods from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and the Philippines can enter the UK tariff-free — even when using components from across Asia and Africa.

The announcement follows engagement with UK businesses and international partners, major importers and trade associations. This included the Sri Lankan government and the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF).

The most significant positive change for Sri Lanka is that the rules of origin for the garments sector specifically will be liberalised. The changes will ensure that DCTS countries can now source their materials from a wider range of nations and will give manufacturers from countries such as Sri Lanka the opportunity to take advantage of 0% tariffs on garments. These changes are expected to be in place by early 2026.

The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick said:

“This is a win for the Sri Lankan garment sector, and for UK consumers. With the UK being the second largest export market and garments making up over 60% of that trade, we know manufacturers here will welcome this announcement. We want Sri Lanka to improve the utilisation of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme for a wider range of goods, not just garments. With the Sri Lankan government’s ambition to grow exports, and with the simplification of rules of origin for other sectors too, we strongly encourage more exporters to explore how they can benefit from the preferences offered by the DCTS. The UK remains committed to working towards creating shared prosperity
for both our countries.”

Responding to the announcement Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Yohan Lawrence said: “We warmly welcome the UK’s Trade Strategy. JAAF has worked very closely with the UK Government to work on solutions to improve utilisation of the Scheme. We are delighted that, for garments, it will now be possible to source more raw material regionally and continue to qualify for duty free export to the UK. This will be a game-changer for our trade with the UK under the DCTS. We believe that the changes will also deliver significant improvements against the objectives of the Scheme. At around USD 675m in value, the UK is the second largest market for Sri Lanka Apparel, accounting for close to 15% of apparel exports, while the industry supports a million livelihoods across the country. This announcement will help secure employment opportunities and ensure sustainable growth in Sri Lanka by allowing us to compete on equal terms with our major competitors, and we expect exports to increase significantly when the new rules come into effect.”

Launched in 2023, following the UK’s exit from the EU, DCTS is the UK’s flagship trade preference scheme, covering 65 countries (including Sri Lanka) and offers reduced or zero tariffs on thousands of products. It is one of the most generous schemes of its kind in the world. The recent changes further improve this offer. This will open up new commercial opportunities for UK businesses to build resilient supply chains, invest in emerging markets, and tap into fast-growing economies.

In addition to the DCTS changes, the UK will continue to provide targeted support to help exporters in Sri Lanka to access the UK market and meet import standards particularly focused on agri-foods and apparel sectors. This is through programmes being delivered by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the Sri Lanka Export Development Board:

• The UK Trade Partnerships programme will continue to support on-going work on strengthening and rolling out Sri Lanka’s national organic standards, alongside completing certification audits of existing beneficiaries, and delivering training on digital marketing.

• Following the work on establishing the SheTrades Commonwealth+ hub in Sri Lanka earlier this year, the UK will continue to support in building policy capacity to mainstream gender into trade policy

11/07/2025

Softlogic Life Insurance PLC has successfully completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Allianz Life Insurance Lanka Limited (Life Business), following the receipt of regulatory approval from the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL).

The transaction marks a significant milestone, following the initial announcement on 26th March 2025.

Softlogic Life recorded Gross Written Premiums (GWP) of Rs. 31,574 billion as at Dec 2024 with a market share of 17.2% and continued the robust tone with growth of 25% in the 1st quarter of 2025. As Sri Lanka’s second-largest life insurer, protecting over 1.3 million lives, this strategic acquisition enables the company to expand its footprint, strengthen its market position, whilst delivering unparalleled value to its policyholders.

Following the completion of the acquisition, Allianz Life Insurance Lanka Limited will become a fully owned subsidiary of Softlogic Life Insurance PLC and will soon change its name and operate as SL Insurance Lanka Ltd, a subsidiary of Softlogic Life Insurance PLC.

Commenting on the acquisition, Softlogic Life Chairman Ashok Pathirage said, “This acquisition reflects our long-term vision to build a resilient, future-ready insurance business that delivers unmatched value to Sri Lankans. As we welcome this new subsidiary into our portfolio, we reaffirm our commitment to driving industry leadership through innovation, operational excellence, and an unwavering focus on customer wellbeing”.

Softlogic Life has consistently led the Sri Lankan insurance industry’s transformation, pioneering the use of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation to enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, improve distribution, and improve risk management. From AI-powered underwriting and predictive health analytics to one-day claim settlements and fully digitized onboarding, the company has embedded innovation across its value chain. Backed by a strong capital base, disciplined financial management, and a track record of unparalleled growth, Softlogic Life combines technological agility with financial resilience, positioning it as the most future-ready life insurer in the country.

Softlogic Life Managing Director Iftikar Ahamed said, “We are excited to embark on this new chapter, bringing together the strengths of our teams to build a more customer-centric insurance provider for Sri Lanka. As we welcome the policyholders and team from Allianz Life Insurance Lanka Limited, we look forward to combining the dynamic brand of Softlogic Life and towards scaling the pinnacle of insurance in Sri Lanka.”

Allianz Life Insurance Lanka Ltd has been a part of Allianz Lanka since 2008, contributing significantly to the Allianz Group’s presence in the local life insurance sector. Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd., the General Insurance business of the Allianz in Sri Lanka remains a fully-owned subsidiary of Allianz SE, one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers, headquartered in Munich, Germany.

Commenting on the acquisition, Prashant Grover, CEO and Country Manager of Allianz Insurance Lanka Limited, stated "We extend our best wishes to Softlogic Life on the successful acquisition of our life business. Allianz Insurance Lanka Limited, the General Insurance arm of Allianz Lanka remains fully committed to the Sri Lankan market. With over 20 years of experience in the country, Allianz Lanka continues to build on its legacy of trust, innovation, and resilience in delivering world-class insurance solutions to our customers."

11/07/2025

Russia reiterated support for Sri Lanka in BRICS, an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Hon. Vijitha Herath met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of ministerial events under the auspices of ASEAN in Kuala Lumpur.

During the conversation, the parties discussed pressing issues on Lankan–Russian relations and collaboration on international platforms.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov expressed his gratitude for Sri Lanka’s communication sent in October of last year, which articulated Sri Lanka’s interest in closer alignment with BRICS. Russia welcomes this step and stands ready to support a consensus on the matter unequivocally.

Further, Minister Lavrov noted that Sri Lanka has long been a trusted partner of Russia in South Asia. He acknowledged the deep and positive historical trajectory of bilateral relations and expressed a commitment to advance the relationship further as a model for future collaboration.

Minister Vijitha Herath thanked the Russian Federation for its longstanding friendship and consistent support for Sri Lanka, especially during critical times of need. He appreciated Russia’s historical ties with Sri Lanka and affirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.