Economy

Anudi makes history for Sri Lanka in Miss World Multimedia Challenge

Published

12 months ago

May 30, 2025

Anudi Gunasekara has made history for Sri Lanka by clinching the title of First Runner-Up from Asia in the Miss World Multimedia Challenge, marking a proud and unprecedented achievement for the nation at the 72nd Miss World Festival held in Telangana, India.

Anudi’s outstanding performance placed her among the Top 20 global finalists in the prestigious challenge, and she is the first Sri Lankan contestant ever to reach this milestone in the Multimedia Challenge category.

With this achievement, she also secures a prestigious spot among the Top 8 global winners of the Multimedia Challenge, selected from 108 participants.

Notably, her accomplishment also secures Sri Lanka’s place in the Top 20 of three fast-track events — Talent, Head-to-Head Challenge, and Multimedia — for the first time in Miss World history.

In the Asia and Oceania region, the Top 5 Multimedia finalists featured representatives from New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, reflecting a highly competitive field.

Thailand ultimately claimed the top spot, with warm congratulations extended for their well-deserved win.

The Multimedia Challenge highlights contestants’ influence and ability to drive meaningful narratives through digital platforms. From sharing stories of advocacy and social change to offering behind-the-scenes glimpses into their Miss World journeys, these young women have leveraged social media with creativity, authenticity, and consistency.

Contestants were evaluated on their digital engagement across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and the official Miss World app. Judges reviewed their content, which documented their preparations at home and their experiences during the festival in Telangana.

Economy

Sri Lanka’s official reserves fall below US$ 7 billion

Published

3 hours ago

May 10, 2026

admin

Sri Lanka’s official reserve assets fell below the US$ 7 billion mark again in April 2026, according to the latest data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

The country’s total official reserve assets declined from US$ 7.026 billion recorded at the end of March 2026 to US$ 6.759 billion by the end of April.

Data also showed that foreign exchange reserves — the main component of official reserves — dropped from US$ 6.8 billion to US$ 6.505 billion during the month.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s gold reserves declined slightly from US$ 222 million to US$ 219 million.

Economy

PayPal to launch in Sri Lanka from May 15

Published

2 days ago

May 8, 2026

admin

PayPal is set to launch in Sri Lanka on 15 May, in a move expected to expand formal digital payment channels, initially starting with business-to-business (B2B) payments to exporters.

According to sources, the initial rollout will focus on enabling inward payments to exporters, with several local banks already appointed as agents for the service.

While an official announcement is yet to be made, sources said the launch is currently scheduled for 15 May, with the Presidential Secretariat likely to host the event.

Banking sector officials have already participated in familiarisation sessions relating to PayPal’s entry into Sri Lanka, while PayPal representatives are understood to have visited the country last month for discussions with local stakeholders and financial institutions regarding the rollout framework.

The move follows months of engagement between the Government, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), and the private sector, aimed at enabling regulated inward remittance functionality through the global online payments platform.

In February, Digital Economy Ministry Secretary Waruna Sri Dhanapala said Sri Lanka had entered the final stage of enabling inward remittances through PayPal, describing it as a key milestone in modernising the country’s digital payments ecosystem.

Economy

Sri Lanka tests online ticket booking platform or intercity bus travel

Published

5 days ago

May 5, 2026

admin

Sri Lanka has launched a pilot programme to enable online seat reservations for long-distance bus travel, Transport and Highways Minister Bimal Rathnayake announced today.

Speaking at a media briefing, the Minister said buses remain the most widely used mode of daily transport in the country, even surpassing trains in popularity.

However, he noted that passengers currently face inconvenience as they must physically visit bus terminals to reserve seats, making travel planning difficult.

“This new system will allow passengers to reserve seats in advance and plan their journeys more efficiently. Our aim is to make daily life easier,” he said.

The initiative will initially be implemented through private bus operators, with plans to expand the service to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) at a later stage.

Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Mothilal De Silva stated that the platform was introduced ahead of the New Year holiday period in collaboration with several private sector partners.