Business & Economics

IFC Commits US$166 Million to Sri Lanka to Boost SME Lending and Trade Finance

Asian TribuneJanuary 26, 2026

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) — part of the World Bank Group — has pledged a US$166 million financing package to strengthen Sri Lanka’s private sector and expand access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The announcement on January 26, 2026 underscores renewed confidence in the island nation’s economic recovery as it transitions...

Sri Lanka Woos Middle East Investors as Reforms Shift Focus to Rebuilding and Growth

Asian TribuneJanuary 26, 2026

Sri Lanka intensified its efforts this month to attract Middle Eastern investment as the country seeks to convert its recent economic stabilisation into sustained foreign capital inflows. Senior government officials and market regulators led investment forums in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, pitching Sri Lanka’s recovery story and the potential opportunities for Gulf...

Sri Lanka Central Bank Buys US$1.76 Billion in Dollars in 2025 as Reserves Rebound

Asian TribuneJanuary 26, 2026

Sri Lanka’s Central Bank continued its active foreign exchange market interventions in 2025, purchasing a net US$1.7582 billion in foreign currency over the year. The move aimed to stabilize the Sri Lankan rupee and rebuild foreign exchange reserves, which have been a major policy focus since the country’s economic crisis. According to data released, the...

New US TikTok Deal Secures App’s Future, Brings Changes for Users

Indika SuriarachchiJanuary 23, 2026

Washington / New York — A new agreement reached between the United States government and TikTok will allow the popular short-video platform to continue operating in the US, ending years of uncertainty over a possible nationwide ban. Under the deal, TikTok’s US operations will be placed under a newly established American-based entity, with stricter oversight...

EU Parliament Set to Suspend Approval of US Trade Deal as Markets Slide

Indika SuriarachchiJanuary 21, 2026

STRASBOURG — The European Parliament is preparing to suspend approval of the US–EU trade deal reached in July, sources close to the European Parliament’s international trade committee said, amid escalating tensions between the two economic powers. The decision is expected to be announced in Strasbourg on Wednesday, marking a major setback for the deal that...

PM Harini Holds Discussions with ADB President in Davos

Indika SuriarachchiJanuary 21, 2026

DAVOS, Switzerland — Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held discussions with Masato Kanda, President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on the sidelines of the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. The meeting took place at the WEF Congress Centre in Davos-Klosters and focused on Sri Lanka’s...

OpenAI Rolls Out Age Prediction on ChatGPT to Protect Minors

Indika SuriarachchiJanuary 21, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO — OpenAI is rolling out a new age prediction feature on ChatGPT that estimates whether an account likely belongs to someone under 18, a move aimed at increasing safety for younger users as the company prepares to allow mature content on the popular AI chatbot. The technology uses behavioural and account-level signals —...

India Proposes Linking BRICS Digital Currencies to Ease Cross-Border Trade

Indika SuriarachchiJanuary 21, 2026

NEW DELHI — India’s central bank has proposed that BRICS countries link their official digital currencies to simplify cross-border trade and tourism payments, Reuters reported, a move that could reduce reliance on the US dollar amid rising geopolitical tensions. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recommended to the government that a proposal connecting the...

Iran’s Protests Explained: Internal Crisis and Global Geopolitical Impact

Indika SuriarachchiJanuary 21, 2026

Alphabet Surpasses $4 Trillion Market Value, Overtakes Apple

Asian TribuneJanuary 13, 2026

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has crossed a $4 trillion market capitalization as of January 12, reaching the highest level in the technology sector, according to international media reports. The milestone was achieved after the company’s stock rose 6% so far this year, reflecting renewed investor confidence. Alphabet now becomes the fourth company...