After a five-year hiatus, the Country Roads concert series returned to Sri Lanka in October [398f58d9]. The concert, organized by the Country Music Foundation, has been running for 35 years and all proceeds from ticket sales go towards children's charities. International artists, the Mavericks from Germany and Astrid Brook from the UK, performed alongside local bands. In addition to the main show in Colombo, Country Roads has also performed at the MJF Foundation Centre in Moratuwa. The concert aims to build bridges and bring joy through music while contributing to an important cause.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka emphasized his commitment to positioning the country as a smart nation and outlined the timeline for upcoming elections. The United National Party held a Special General Convention to adopt a nation-centric approach and presented an amended party constitution to facilitate digital transformation. The President stressed the need to eradicate corruption and emphasized the party's role in economic development [398f58d9].
The International Monetary Fund has urged Sri Lanka to aim for state revenues of more than 12% of GDP and avoid revenue shortfalls next year. The IMF has recommended reforms to improve tax administration and increase revenues [398f58d9].
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka announced an 18% increase in electricity tariffs to offset costs incurred during periods of arid weather conditions [398f58d9].