Oct 16 (EN) UberEats has completed one year in Sri Lanka expanding restaurant sales with more than million deliveries and expanding work opportunities for women and making the more independent, an official said. “One of our biggest achievements in the last year would be the Uber DiviyataDiriya initiative where we work with a number of female partners as well as partners in other marginalized communities,” Bhavna Dadlani, head of UberEats Sri Lanka told EconomyNext News. more..

Oct 16 (CT) Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into Sri Lanka during the first six months of this year declined 65% to US$ 501 million from US$ 1.42 billion recorded during the same period of last year, according to data released by the CB. Ministry of Development Strategies and Int'l Trade and the self-proclaimed one-stop-shop, Board of Investment (BoI), aimed to attract more than US$ 3 billion in investments this year. more..

Oct 16 (DN) Sri Lanka Soccerites went down to Lebanon by three goals to nil in the FIFA World Cup 2022 & AFC Asia Cup Preliminary Joint Qualification round two game played at the Race Course ground under lights yesterday. the Lebanese went ahead in the eighth minute of the game when their captain Livu Cribotarive made no mistake with the penalty awarded to them. The game which was scheduled to kick off 7.00 p.m. got off the mark only at 7.30.p.m. Sri Lankakns made few inroads to more..

Oct 16 (ST) For the 19th occasion, the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka is organising the internationally famed Culinary Art Food Expo 2019 on October 21, 22 and 23 at the BMICH, Colombo. Gerard Mendis, Chairman, Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka (CCSL) said that this Culinary Expo is South East Asia’s biggest Food and Hospitality Show and culinary challenge organised by CCSL together with the World Association of Chefs Societies and CDC Events and Travels, professional exhibition organisers. more..

Oct 16 (FT) IMF yesterday downgraded global growth in 2019 to 3%, the lowest in a decade, although it sounded cautiously optimistic about a pickup in 2020. Forecast global growth is 0.3% lower than the estimate IMF released in April and the 3.4% growth for 2020 is a 0.2% downgrade. Releasing the World Economic Outlook (WEO) during the IMF World Bank Annual Meetings 2019 in Washington DC, more..

Oct 16 (DM) Kekirawa UNP organiser and MP Chandima Gamage said that whoever bakes the cake, it would be PM Ranil Wickremesinghe who had the icing. He said the Premier would address meetings in the South after addressing the election propaganda rallies in the North and East. The media briefing was held to make people aware of a series of meetings to be held with the participation of prez candidate Sajith Premadasa on Oct 17 in the Anuradhapura District. more..

Oct 16 (SLN) The internationally acclaimed Carbon Neutral Operations certificate which was granted to SL Navy General Hospital (Colombo) through an assessment conducted by Carbon Consulting Company (Pvt) Ltd., was awarded to the Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva at a ceremony held in Navy Headquarters, Colombo, today (15). Director Naval Health Services (Diagnosis and Prevention), Surgeon Commodore Janaka Marambe, more..

Oct 16 (Island) The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) yesterday summoned PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to appear before it, on Oct 18, to be questioned on the decision to store paddy at the Mattala Airport, in 2015. This follows a revelation by former head of the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB), Bandara Dissanayake that the PM personally instructed him to store paddy at the Mattala Airport. more..

Oct 16 (DN) All physical development activities in Sri Lanka will be based upon the National Physical Plan (NPP) 2050, prepared by the Urban Development Authority (UDA), said Chairman Dr. Jagath Munasinghe. “We’re in the process of implementing all development plans within the framework of National Physical Plan or in other words, this will be the future policy plan for the next 30 years in Sri Lanka until 2050. Moreover, Sri Lanka aspires to become a developed nation by 2030. more..

Oct 16 (Island) Water levels in reservoirs are rising rapidly and flood warnings have been issued in some parts of the country. Dept Meteorology said thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning were likely to occur in most areas. Showers are expected in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara and Mannar districts this evening or tonight. Heavy rainfall above 100mm can be expected at some places in Western, more..

Oct 16 (Island) FCID had dragged its feet on several complaints against the losses incurred by the Lanka Sathosa due to its dealings with Liverpool Navigation Ltd in 2015, the PCoI, observed yesterday. Former Chairman of Lanka Sathosa, Kiran Atapattu, told the PCoI, earlier this month that Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and his public relations officer, M. Abdullah had exerted pressure on him to make an illegal payment of Rs. 549 million to more..

Oct 16 (FT) LankaClear Ltd. (LankaClear), the operator of LankaPay, together with JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI), the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., has announced the commercial roll-out of National Card Scheme (NCS) program of Sri Lanka. The roll-out was done after successfully completing the pilot stage since the announcement of the strategic partnership in June 2017. With the commercial roll-out of the NCS program, more..

Oct 16 (FT) A Private Members Bill by TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran to repeal the Provincial Councils Elections (Amd) Act No. 17 of 2017 has been published in the Gazette. Bill seeks to repeal the 2017 Act and bring into force the provisions of PC Elections Act, No. 2 of 1988. Bill comes at a time when, despite the terms of all nine PCs having elapsed, no elections have been held due to the deadlock caused through the introduction of the 2017 Bill, which sought to introduce a new more..

Oct 16 (FT) Cabinet approved a proposal for Prez Sirisena to retain his official residence, which he now occupies at Mahagama Sekara Mawatha (formerly Pajet Road), Col 7, following the end of his term of office. Cabinet proposal was made by Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Former Presidents are entitled to an official residence and security detail as well as a pension. Prez Sirisena has occupied the residence since 2015 more..

Oct 16 (TM) Constitutional Council (CC) has appointed Elections Secretariat Director General Saman Sri Rathnayake as the new Elections Commissioner General with effect from today. Rathnayake was serving as the Acting Elections Commissioner General to fill the void of a designated individual. The decision was taken at a meeting held today by the CC. A list of names were sent to the CC by the Election Commission to fill the vacancy inline with forthcoming prez election. more..

Oct 16 (CT) Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka yesterday, allowed the CID to name former Navy Commander, Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, as the 16th suspect in the case where 11 children from Kotahena were alleged to have been abducted and made to disappear and the subsequent demand for ransom money for their release. Magistrate gave this decision following a request made to him through a motion by the OIC of the Organised Crimes Division of the CID, more..

Oct 16 (FT) DNF prez candidate Sajith Premadasa said that he would establish a new framework to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Sri Lanka to assist in economic development. Premadasa, addressing a rally in Eheliyagoda on Monday, also outlined plans to assist small and medium industries to expand their activities and widen their production facilities to provinces to provide jobs to the masses. more..

Oct 16 (DM) Cabinet at its meeting headed by Prez Sirisena is reported to have yesterday scrapped the National Economic Council (NEC) set up by Prez Sirisena. NEC headed by Prof. Lalith Samarakoon was set up by the Prez after he faulted the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) headed by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and set out to abolish it in March. NEC which was under the supervision of the Prez was meant to have played a role in economic policy making. more..

Oct 16 (Island) A number of doctors have been given transfers during the prez election period, the GMOA complained. That had been done on the instructions of Minister Rajitha Senarathne, it said. Secretary of the GMOA, Haritha Aluthge said: "Since this is a violation of election laws, we have asked the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Wasantha Perera to cancel the transfers. Election Commission (EC), too, has asked Perera to cancel the transfers. If this is not done within the next two days, more..

Oct 16 (FT) SLPP prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday that he did not recognise the UNHRC resolution co-sponsored by the Sri Lanka Govt on Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka as a legal document and reiterated his public undertaking to release soldiers held in remand custody. Addressing his maiden press conference since being named a prez candidate, flanked by more..

Oct 16 (DM) For the past few decades of the globalised capitalist market economic system most of us have chosen to follow the western models in areas ranging from fashion to food. Now most highly qualified nutritionists agree that western food models have failed because at least 40% of the people are suffering from obesity mainly because of the excessive quantities of fatty and fast food they regularly consume in addition to drinking various brands of coke. As a result of this obesity, more..

Oct 16 (DM) Situated in Colombo’s northern border, Modara is today a neglected land. Infrastructural decay in this once-prestigious harbour city resembles more underdeveloped areas in SL. Important trunk roads experience unending construction as major underground oil, sewerage and waste-water pipelines connect to the sea via this area. Further, constant electricity, sewerage, water or oil pipeline maintenance work submerges roads. These excavations overwhelm more..

Oct 16 (DM) Oct 17 is the scheduled date for Sri Lanka to re-open the Palaly Airport as its third int'l aerodrome. There will be many who would applaud and praise the refurbishment and upgrading of the new airport; and there will be others who would criticise and curse the very thought of another int'l airport. I have no side to take, I just want to share with readers some historical facts of Palaly and express my thoughts on more..

Oct 16 (TM) It is not easy to come to terms with a person’s death. What’s even more difficult to come to terms with is the disappearance of a person, especially if the family is anxiously waiting for their return even for years. We spoke to a mother who is waiting for her son’s return, even 21 years since he was reported missing in action (MIA), to understand how she has been able to cope with the void that has been created. more..

Oct 16 (ST) Adivasi (Vedda) community leader Uruwarige Wannilaththo’s has warned about the Right to Information Act being abused to settle personal grievances. His warning was included in a statement the Right to Information Commission issued to mark International Day for the Universal Access to Information. The Adivasi leader warning came when he addressed a meeting of senior public officials in Badulla. more..

Oct 16 (Island) A large number of elected representatives of the SLFP would soon pledge support to Minister Sajith Premadasa, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said on Monday taking part in a series of rallies in Balangoda, Pelmadulla and Eheliyagoda. "SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that he doesn’t eat meat. The most evil leader the world has ever seen, Hitler, too was a vegetarian. He didn’t eat meat but more..

Oct 16 (FT) The SLPP said that contrary to popular speculation, ethnic minority communities were willing to support the party’s prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, insisting that minority support would seal their candidate’s victory at the upcoming Prez Election. SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said minorities had pledged their support to Rajapaksa and asserted that their votes were crucial for getting past 50% vote threshold more..

Oct 16 (FT) SLFP MP Gamini Vijithamuni Soysa yesterday claimed that a number of SLFP organisers, PC members and supporters have crossed over to extend their support to DNF prez candidate Sajith Premadasa. The veteran SLFP politician said this at a press conference organised by the UNP, where several dozen SLFP politicians including veteran politician Victor Appuhami and three Local Govt members crossed over and more..

Oct 16 (Island) One-time UPFA Minister A.L.M. Athaulla explained as to how the Muslim community was used by powerful external and internal powers to destabilize post-war SL. Athaulla also faulted the NGO community for the present crisis caused by the change of govt in Jan 2015. Former Digamadulla District MP asserted that the same lot was pursuing a destabilizing agenda in the run-up to the prez election on Nov. 16. more..

Oct 16 (RN) In his first-ever press conference, amid increasingly awkward allegations of evading the media, prez hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa fielded questions today on his vision for the country as well as his performance and track record as Defence Ministry Secretary. Flanked by his former president brother Mahinda Rajapaksa and leaders of the alliance led by the SLPP, Rajapaksa took questions on, among other things, more..

Oct 16 (AD) Two agreements were signed between the Govt of Sri Lanka and Rabo bank of the Netherlands amounting to EUR 70.7 million (Rs. 14.1 billion) for construction of rural bridges and Establishment of National Vocational Training Institute at Hingurakgoda, Polonnaruwa. Financing agreement was signed by Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga and Director- Rabo bank, Han Bartelds, more..

Oct 16 (CT) Five Tamil political Parties have signed a MoU, initiated by Northern and Eastern University students, putting forward seven demands to the Prez candidates yesterday (15). The key demands included in the document are: 1) Reject a Unitary State in the new Constitution and establish a Federal State for Tamils. 2) Refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or to a specially- created International Criminal Tribunal for SL more..

Oct 16 (CT) A short scan through the weekend papers would suggest that Sri Lanka is verily poised on a keg that in its collectivity underscores the utter mess in which politics, and absolutely nothing else, has driven this nation into over the past several decades. The media is suffused with news of how this or that political party has done numerous things to hand on to us a life worth living. Bull dust. Sri Lanka's political society per se has singularly stood out as being completely responsible for more..

Oct 16 (FT) This series is based on business leader Dhammika Perera’s recently revealed Economic Growth Strategy and Action Plan to increase GDP Per Capita from $ 4,000 to $ 12,000. The document outlines goals and action plans for 23 ministries and today’s column focuses on the Ministry of Higher Education. GOALS: Increase the number of graduates from Govt universities from 25,200 to 60,000 and graduates from local private universities from 15,000 to 105,228. more..

Oct 16 (AD) A Brazilian national, who was arrested for smuggling in and being in possession of 600g of cocaine while in Sri Lanka, has been sentenced to death. He was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the Customs officers on the 16th of February 2018. He was later handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB). Following a lengthy trial, the Negombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday (15) sentenced the suspect to death. more..

Oct 16 (DM) Colombo Municipal Council has received about 60,000 complaints regarding alleged unfair charges made by parking meters installed in certain areas in the Colombo city limits, Colombo Municipal Councillor Sumith Passaperuma said. He said this system of automatic charging was implemented along the Galle Road and by-roads in 2015 but since it was met with many complaints related to unfair fines imposed, those fines were abolished in 2018 by the Colombo Mayor. more..

Oct 16 (RN) A potential political firestorm is brewing over the current Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva appearing in an advertisement carried in the weekend newspapers endorsing the candidacy of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Chief Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya told reporters today Oct 16 that it is wrong for the Army Commander to appear in an advertisement for a candidate. more..

Oct 16 (AD) Mattakkuliya Police Station has launched an investigation into a tip-off received by them regarding a suspicious vehicle parked near a church and a school in Mattakkuliya. Upon inspection, the police have discovered a luxury vehicle parked in the mentioned area, stated the Police Media Spokesperson. However, further inspection has revealed that the owner of the vehicle had left the vehicle there over a technical malfunction experienced last night (15). more..

Oct 16 (TL) The NFF led by Wimal Weerawansa is said to be disgruntled by Pohottuwa organiser Basil Rajapaksa's comment to The Hindu in which he claimed that he will strive to ensure the decentralization of powers. The party, reporting on the matter on their website Lanka Lead News, is attempting to shape public opinion against Basil Rajapaksa's stance by presenting the opinion held by veteran author Gunadasa Amarasekara. "We must talk about what Basil Rajapaksa told more..