The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) reports that in 2024, the number of Sri Lankans migrant workers going abroad for work surpassed 300,000, reaching 300,162 as of December 13. This marks the second time in the past decade that such numbers have been recorded, with a previous high of 310,948 workers in 2022.

Secretary General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Anne-Marie DESCÔTES undertook an official visit to Sri Lanka from 10-11 December 2024 to attend the inauguration of the Regional Centre for Maritime Studies at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) recently.

Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka, Prof. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi together with the Deputy Minister of National Integration of Sri Lanka, Muneer Mulaffar recently visited the holy city of Madinah as a part of their recent visit to Saudi Arabia to sign the Hajj Agreement.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the People’s Bank of China, in December 2024, successfully renewed the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement signed in 2021, for a period of another three (03) years, under the terms and conditions stipulated in the original agreement. The CNY 10 billion (approximately USD 1.4 billion) currency swap facility reflects the financial cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.

The book Economic Policy Lessons for New Sri Lanka, written by Dr. H. N. Thenuwara, was presented to the Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Professor Anil Jayantha Fernando, and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, at the Ministry of Finance recently (14).

Port City Colombo celebrated the groundbreaking of the Marina Development at Port City Colombo with a special ceremony held on 10^th January 2025.

To ensure efficient facilitation of services required by the exporters and importers of raw material for local industries, the Government has recognized the importance of the Single Window facilitation.

The 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sri Lanka – Germany Business Council (SLGBC) was held recently at Hilton Colombo Residences, Colombo 2.

The Sri Lanka Economic Summit organized by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will be inaugurated on January 28^th at the Shangri La Hotel Colombo, under the theme Shaping Sri Lanka’s Future: Transformational Growth Rooted in Sound Economic Policies. On day 2 of the Summit on January 29^th, one of the key sessions will examine ‘The Right Reforms for Transformational Growth’.

His Excellency Ruben Gauci, High Commissioner of the Republic of Malta to India and Sri Lanka, met with Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman and CEO of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), at the EDB premises recently  to discuss ways to enhance bilateral trade relations between Malta and Sri Lanka. Mr. Shano Sabar, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Malta to Sri Lanka, and senior EDB officials also attended the meeting.

A delegation from CEAT, an RPG India company, led by Managing Director and CEO Mr. Arnab Banerjee, met with Mr. Mangala Wijesinghe, Chairman and CEO of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), recently at the EDB Head Office in Colombo.