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Technology 1 min read

Digital IDs, Data, and Trust: Sri Lanka's New Social Contract

Sri Lanka's $50 million digital public infrastructure rollout introduces unified IDs, data-sharing platforms, and citizen portals serving 22 million, but success pivots on building ironclad trust through privacy safeguards. "Lanka Digital" enables instant welfare access, license renewals, tax e-fil...

Dec 24, 2025 5

Business & Economy 1 min read

Emergency Finance and Trade: Shielding Sri Lanka's Export Engine

Cyclone Ditwah threatened Sri Lanka's $12 billion export engine—40% apparel, 15% tea/rubber—but swift multilateral emergency finance preserved vital foreign exchange and 2 million jobs. ADB's $40 million trade guarantees enabled 500 exporters to secure working capital despite $200 million cyclone d...

Dec 24, 2025 8

Technology 2 min read

Homegrown Tech at 30: Scienter and Sri Lanka's IT Champions

Scienter Technologies celebrated its 30th anniversary on December 23, 2025, embodying Sri Lanka's homegrown IT evolution from early 1990s software exports to anchoring national digital infrastructure. Starting with Y2K compliance for banks, Scienter now powers e-governance platforms, cloud migratio...

Dec 24, 2025 5

Business & Economy 2 min read

From Stability to Growth: Is Sri Lanka Back on Global Investors' Radar?

International investor sentiment toward Sri Lanka has warmed significantly, with foreign direct investment (FDI) surging 15% to $507 million in January-October 2025, signaling confidence in post-crisis stability and President Dissanayake's reform trajectory. Apparel captured 40% ($200M) via Indian/...

Dec 24, 2025 8

Business & Economy 1 min read

Sri Lanka's Recovery "Still Incomplete": What That Means for Ordinary People

The World Bank characterizes Sri Lanka's post-crisis trajectory as "strong but incomplete," with poverty rates 10% above 2019 levels and 25% of households grappling with food insecurity despite 5.4% Q3 growth. Macro indicators shine—reserves $5.2B, inflation 5.8%, debt stabilizing—but micro-level s...

Dec 24, 2025 8

Startups 2 min read

Can Sri Lanka's Digital Economy Become a Real Jobs Engine?

The World Bank's $50 million initiative catalyzes Sri Lanka's digital economy by attracting $10 million in private investment for accelerators, skill hubs, and mid-sized tech firm expansion targeting international markets. Platforms like StartupSL connect 50,000 freelancers with global clients, whi...

Dec 24, 2025 10

Technology 2 min read

World Bank $50M for Sri Lanka Digital ID and Services: Benefits and Risks

The World Bank's $50 million digital transformation project, greenlit on December 19, 2025, positions Sri Lanka at the forefront of South Asian e-governance, delivering digital public infrastructure for 10 million citizens through unified IDs, service portals, and a secure government cloud. The fla...

Dec 24, 2025 5

Business & Economy 3 min read

Cyclone Ditwah's $2B Damage to Sri Lanka: Economic Toll and Recovery Path

Cyclone Ditwah struck in early December 2025 with devastating force, inflicting an estimated $2 billion in damages across Sri Lanka's Eastern and Northern Provinces, contracting GDP growth by 0.5-0.7% and displacing over 500,000 people from their homes. The storm's torrential rains flooded 150,000...

Dec 24, 2025 8

Business & Economy 3 min read

Sri Lanka Budget 2026: 16% Revenue Target to Slash Debt – Family Impacts

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake unveiled Budget 2026 with an ambitious projection of government revenue reaching 16% of GDP, equivalent to Rs3.2 trillion, a significant leap from 14.5% in 2024 and a cornerstone for reducing public debt below 97% of GDP. This fiscal roadmap, presented amid 5.4% q...

Dec 24, 2025 7

Business & Economy 4 min read

Sri Lanka's 5.4% Growth: Recovery or Mirage?

Sri Lanka's economy surged 5.4% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, delivering its most vigorous expansion since the devastating 2022 financial crisis that triggered sovereign default and widespread hardship. According to the Department of Census and Statistics, this impressive growth was pr...

Dec 24, 2025 5

Technology 1 min read

US SPEED Act: AI Infrastructure Race vs China

The United States has passed the "SPEED Act," a massive legislative push to accelerate AI infrastructure development and counter China's tech dominance. The act streamlines permitting for chip fabs and data centers. For neutral nations like Sri Lanka, this intensifies the competition for hosting...

Dec 23, 2025 5

Technology 1 min read

Ford Halts F-150 EV Production: Supply Chain Lessons

Ford Motor Company has temporarily halted production of its electric F-150 Lightning, citing battery supply chain bottlenecks and shifting demand. This development serves as a critical case study for global EV markets, including Sri Lanka. Local experts argue this underscores the need for vertic...

Dec 23, 2025 5