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To curb corruption and deliver more efficient, transparent public services, the National People’s Power-led government of Sri Lanka unveiled an ambitious digitalization plan earlier this year. Spearheaded by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the program introduced three key digital services GovPay for government payments, extending the Presidential Fund to divisional secretariats, and issuing birth, marriage, and death certificates through diplomatic offices as part of its roadmap toward a digitally empowered society. The Company Registrar’s Department was celebrated as a pioneer of this initiative, having launched its digital platform back in April 2018 in partnership with KPMG’s IT division. The system allowed companies to be registered entirelyRead More →

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In a significant move to strengthen its capabilities in combating money laundering and terrorist financing, Sri Lanka’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-Sri Lanka) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Center for Financial Information in the Sultanate of Oman (NCFI-Oman). The agreement was formalized on July 9, 2025, during the 31st Plenary of the Egmont Group held in Luxembourg, marking another milestone in Sri Lanka’s growing network of international intelligence cooperation. The MoU facilitates the exchange of financial intelligence on money laundering (ML), associated predicate offences, and terrorist financing (TF) between the two countries, under the legal framework of Sri Lanka’s Financial Transactions ReportingRead More →

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Sri Lanka to Launch Biometric Passport Services at Overseas Missions

In a major digital upgrade to its consular services, the Sri Lankan government has approved a project to facilitate faster, secure passport issuance for Sri Lankans living abroad through the use of biometric technology. The initiative will be implemented across 20 diplomatic missions worldwide, significantly easing the passport application process for the diaspora. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal jointly submitted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, and the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs. Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the system will allow Sri Lankans residing overseas to apply for passports digitally via Sri Lankan missions,Read More →

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The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has announced the resumption of eight previously stalled housing projects, with a renewed focus on transparency and accountability following widespread allegations of corruption in past developments. According to UDA Director M.H.V.R. Kumara, construction will recommence immediately on two key apartment complexes in Narahenpita and Torrington, designed to provide 750 housing units for low-income families. These developments were halted midway due to funding and administrative issues but are now being revived under new oversight. Additionally, the UDA has secured fresh investors to restart four middle-income housing projects—two in Peliyagoda, two in Orugodawatta—and another in Stadiumgama. A housing project in Anuradhapura, initiallyRead More →

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Amid rising discontent from consumers and small-scale importers, Sri Lanka’s e-commerce sector has come under increasing strain due to a mix of stringent tax policies, customs delays, and the absence of a supportive regulatory framework. The boom in cross-border online purchases has been met with government-imposed restrictions and burdensome clearance procedures, creating bottlenecks in the supply chain. These issues have stifled growth in a sector that once held promise as a post-pandemic economic driver, especially for entrepreneurs and SMEs relying on global platforms like Amazon, AliExpress, and eBay. In response to the growing crisis, the Cabinet of Ministers this week approved the formation of aRead More →