Decodes

Sri Lanka’s food security is under pressure amid rising global fertiliser prices. Global fertiliser prices are 30–40% above pre-conflict levels, driving up costs for local farmers and threatening domestic yields. 57% of Sri Lanka's fertiliser comes from China and 22% is from suppliers in the Middle East. China has halted exports of its fertiliser to preserve its own domestic food production. Rising fertiliser costs in India have resulted in food price increases and export res

Exports of Sri Lankan goods to the Middle East Region amounted to $1,215 million in 2025 – approximately 11% of the country's total revenue from goods exports. The United Arab Emirates is Sri Lanka’s largest Middle Eastern goods export market, worth $334 million in 2025. 57% of exports to the Middle East are tea, coffee and spices. Global shipping rates will rise due to the on-going conflict. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz affects supply and demand into the region. This

The government has begun phasing out para-tariffs. The 2026 budget announced this. The phased removal of cess will happen from 2026 to 2029. The 2026 budget expects to collect Rs 87.6 billion from import cess. This will increase to Rs 94 billion in 2027 and Rs 100.5 billion in 2028. This shows a gap between the para-tariff phase-out plan and revenue predictions. Para-tariffs are taxes on imports that are beyond the standard customs duty. Para-tariffs make imports like raw mat

The para-tariff phase out proposed in Budget 2026 is set to go ahead this year despite discrepancies in revenue targets which forecasts growing revenue collections from Cess, Ports and Aviation Levy (PAL) and Special Commodity Levy (SCL) Para-tariffs are tariffs on imports which are in addition to the standard Customs Duty and have been identified as a major blocker of export growth. According to budget 2026 revenue estim ates, the government hopes to collect 67% of all taxes

Sri Lanka has relaxed long-standing restrictions on night work for women. The ban under the Shop and Office Employees Act of 1954 reflected social assumptions about women’s safety and family roles. It contributes to limiting female labour force participation, which remains around 31.6%. The Ministry of Labour has emphasised t hat Employers must ensure safety, healthcare, and welfare of women working night shifts. Night work requires premium pay. These reforms could fill work

GoSL has reached an 'agreement in principle' with creditors to restructure a USD 175 million bond issued by Sri Lankan Airlines (SLA).