Economy

Most businesses involving Israelis are Sri Lankan owned – Authorities

Published

6 months ago

August 7, 2025

Amidst growing concern of foreigners illegally engaged in businesses in Sri Lanka, majority of businesses involving Israelis are owned by Sri Lankans, authorities revealed.
According to acting director of the Police Tourist Division, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Prabath Vidanagama, while some of these ventures are solely run by foreigners, many are fronted by locals.

“In certain cases, the businesses are registered under Sri Lankans, but in reality, the operations are handled by foreigners. This is a concerning issue. However, we have already taken steps in cases where the businesses are completely owned and operated by foreign nationals,” ASP Vidanagama stated.

He said that police, in coordination with other enforcement agencies, have begun identifying foreigners involved in business activities, particularly in tourism hotspots such as Arugam Bay and Weligama.

These individuals, often operating under tourist visas, are violating conditions that strictly prohibit commercial engagement.

“We are currently gathering intelligence and verifying the details of foreign nationals who are engaged in business ventures while staying in the country on tourist visas,” he said. “This is especially prevalent in tourist-heavy areas like Arugam Bay and Weligama.”
The move comes in the wake of growing public concern, following reports that several Israeli nationals had been operating businesses while in Sri Lanka on tourist visas.

Source – Dailymirror

Economy

Galle ranks fifth among top 10 honeymoon destinations for 2026

Published

6 days ago

January 20, 2026

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Galle has been placed fifth among the world’s top 10 honeymoon destinations for 2026 in the latest rankings released by Tripadvisor.

The ranking forms part of Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best 2026 and is based solely on the volume and quality of traveller reviews submitted over a 12-month period.

Tripadvisor said the list reflects destinations that consistently received strong feedback from honeymoon travellers worldwide.

Beach and island destinations dominate the upper end of the 2026 rankings. Bali secured the top position, followed by Mauritius and the Maldives, with St. Lucia ranked fourth. Galle placed fifth, ahead of several established long-haul honeymoon favourites.

Tripadvisor noted that Galle’s appeal lies in its blend of heritage and coastal experiences. Founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Galle Fort remains a key attraction, with preserved ramparts, historic buildings, and walkable streets.

Economy

Sri Lanka Postal Service achieves record revenue

Published

2 weeks ago

January 12, 2026

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Sri Lanka’s postal service has recorded a remarkable turnaround in 2025, surpassing revenue targets set by the Treasury and signalling a major revival after years of stagnation.

Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said the Department of Posts generated Rs. 13.1 billion last year, exceeding the revenue target assigned for 2025.

He highlighted that the past year also saw wide-ranging reforms, including large-scale recruitments, confirmations of long-serving staff, infrastructure upgrades, and investments in technology and transport to improve efficiency and service delivery.

According to Sathkumara, 378 Sub-Postmasters received permanent appointments in June 2025—the first confirmations for the category since 2020. In September, the appointments of 1,000 Postal Assistants were regularised, marking the first such confirmations since 2022.

The Postmaster General added that recruitment is underway to hire 600 Postal Service Officers through open competition, with appointments expected in February 2026.

Economy

Sri Lanka ranked most affordable place to live or retire in 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

January 11, 2026

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International Living magazine has identified the five most affordable places to live or retire in 2026, which scored the highest in the cost-of-living category of its 2026 Global Retirement Index.

It evaluated retirement destinations across climate, healthcare, visa and lifestyle, along with cost.

Sri Lanka ranked top of the list due to affordable local transportation and easy-to-obtain retirement visas. A couple can live extravagantly on $2,200 (£1,637) a month, or on $1,000 (£744) with some budgeting.

In second place is Vietnam, with the average cost of living in Hanoi sitting at under $1,800 (£1,339) per month. Rent is low and healthcare is affordable.

Thailand was ranked third, because a couple can live comfortably for around $2,000 (£1,488) a month in cities such as Chiang Mai or coastal towns such as Hua Hin. These both have affordable housing, and accessible services and transportation.

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