Oct 24 (CT) Prez candidate M.K. Shivajilingam noted that he is not in support of either the SLPP Prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa or the NDF Presidential candidate, Minister Sajith Premadasa. Shivajilingam said he is not in support of Rajapaksa or his political Party because the latter refused to cooperate with regard to the 13 demands brought by the 5 political parties representing the North. more..

Oct 24 (AD) Sri Lanka has removed an exemption from the National Building Tax (NBT) on cigarettes, while implementing an exempting from the NBT on projects more than US$ 50 million, or of equivalent foreign currency value. These include, Hotels with foreign currency transactions, palm oil, sea vessels and equipment used for sea sports. The Changes were announced by finance minister to parliament on October 23. The changes are as below. more..

Oct 24 (RW) In response to an invitation by the Election Commission, the European Union has deployed an EU Election Observation Mission to Sri Lanka to observe the presidential election, scheduled for 16 Nov 2019. The EU has a long history of accompanying the electoral process in Sri Lanka and has deployed EOMs on five previous occasions, the last in 2015, which reflects EU's long-term commitment more..

Oct 24 (TM) Sri Lanka has come up one spot from 100th to 99th from among 190 countries on the influential World Bank Doing Business Index for 2020 released today. SL’s Doing Business score has improved from 61.22 last year to 61.80 in the new index and it is now sandwiched between Samoa at 98 with a score of 62.10 and Seychelles at 100 with a score of 61.70. This is the highest ranking SL has achieved since 2015. more..

Oct 24 (CT) Officials of the newly formed Confederation of Micro, Small and Medium Industries (COSMI) speaking to the press in Colombo last week emphasised the need for the country to have an industrial policy. COSMI's Founder President Nawaz Rajabdeen speaking at this occasion claimed that 30% of 'known' micro, small and medium industries (MSMIs) have closed down, exacerbated after 2010, due to a flood of imports from a single country (Ceylon Today Friday's edition). more..

Oct 24 (FT) A funny thing happened on the way to the forum. Where once we had a paucity of prez candidates, we now have a superfluity of them. You would think that from this panoply of contenders who’ve thrown their hat in the ring, we’d be spoilt for choice. On closer inspection however, it transpires that perhaps plethora simply means extreme excess. With that being said, if you asked me to wager a bet or stake my life on it – and one can only hope it doesn’t come to that – more..

Oct 24 (AD) One person has died while 42 others were injured in a head-on collision between two buses near Minneriya area. The accident took place at around 11.30 last night on the Colombo-Batticaloa main road as an SLTB bus and a private bus collided head-on. The driver of the SLTB bus succumbed to injuries after being admitted to the Polonnaruwa General Hospital. The driver of the other bus is currently receiving treatment. An officer of the Traffic Division of Minneriya Police said more..

Oct 24 (GDI) In a first effort of its nature, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Colombo is collaboratively unveiling a Forum on Bamboo for Energy and Industrial Sustainability on 25 October.The forum, organised by UNIDO in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers of SL (IESL), takes place on Friday (25) at the Institution of Engineers SL (IESL), Colombo. The speakers and the audience are among professionals and investors from different sectors more..

Oct 24 (CT) Two high ranking suspects in the gruesome kidnapping for ransom racket run by the Sri Lanka are heavily involved in election activity in the Eastern Province and campaigning for the SLPP while being in active service. Commander Sumith Ranasinghe and Commodore D.K.P Dassanayake, both officers who were based in Trincomalee during the time the abducted boys were being illegally detained in the Gun Side Prison more..

Oct 24 (NR) SriLankan Airlines Flight UL192 arriving from Delhi to Colombo has been diverted to the Mattala International Airport due to adverse weather conditions in Colombo. SriLankan Airlines requested passengers to contact respective travel agents or the SriLankan Airlines 24 Hour Contact Center on 011-777-1979 for more information. The national carrier expressed its sincere regret for the inconvenience caused, adding the safety and comfort of customers remain first priority. more..

Oct 24 (EN) Sri Lanka now has almost US$ 10 billion in committed investments, including in two oil refineries, but to get land released for one has taken two years, the head of the investment promotion agency said. BoI chairman Mangala Yapa said foreign investments have picked up in recent years with 451 approved projects of which agreements have been signed for 360. An oil refinery with an investment of almost four billion dollars is at the approval stage, with an agreement partly signed, more..

Oct 24 (RN) The Kurunegala district is one place in Sri Lanka where the SLPP Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa can expect a good chunk of votes and a clear majority. After all, his elder brother, Opposition Leader Mahinda is the local MP. There is also another demographic factor that applies to this region. Women’s activist Sumika Perera points out that a large percentage of the population have connections to the Security Forces and Police. more..

Oct 24 (DM) Thirteen individuals, including two women, had been arrested yesterday at a guesthouse in Suduwella in Chilaw on suspicion that they intended to illegally migrate to Australia by boats, the Chilaw police said. The police said the guesthouse was raided following a tip-off. The suspects are aged between 21 and 44 and are residents of Jaffna, Palali, Mankulam and Batticaloa. The police said that the suspects did not know each other personally. “They gave varying statements, more..

Oct 24 (DM) A man, a woman and a child had been killed while another eight were injured after a van veered off the road and crashed into a tree at the 4th Mile Post on the Puttalam - Anuradhapura Road this afternoon, the police said. They said the man, woman and the child succumbed to their injuries on admission to the Puttalam Hospital. The police said the driver lost control of the vehicle due to excess speed. The injured are currently receiving treatments at the Puttalam Hospital more..

Oct 24 (CI) A sublime 79 from South Australia youngster Harry Nielsen and some last-over heroics from Fawad Ahmed has seen the Prime Minister's XI squeeze home by one wicket with a ball to spare against a rusty Sri Lankan side in the T20 tour match in Canberra. Kasun Rajitha looked as though he had stolen the game when he dismissed Nielsen off the second ball of the final over with nine still needed for victory. Nielsen had batted magnificently to hold the chase of 132 together more..

Oct 24 (EN) Sri Lanka has cut a value added tax on condominiums to 6 percent and has exempted small apartments priced below 25 million rupees. The input credit for condominiums will be deemed to be 5%. VAT will not be charged if the unit price is below 25 million rupees. VAT will also not be charged where the agreement to sell was executed under the Notaries Ordinance before the VAT Amendment Act became effective, or where certificates of conformity was obtained before the effective date. more..

Oct 24 (FT) Tax cuts proposed by SLPP prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa to reduce VAT to 8% from the current 15% received heavy criticism yesterday in Parliament, with Govt lawmakers arguing that such statements were tantamount to misleading the public. Highlighting the possible revenue loss of Rs. 450 billion if VAT is reduced from 15% to 8%, Non-Cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Dr. Harsha de Silva said: “These false promises mislead the public. more..

Oct 24 (AD) Chairman of the Election Commission says that they will try their best to release the results of Prez Election 2019 by the evening on Nov 17. Inquiring the Chairman’s opinion on the matter, Ada Derana journalist pointed out that, recently, it is widely discussed that it is not suitable for the clergy to engage in politics. In reply, Chairman Deshapriya said that there is no obstacle for the clergy to express their opinion on a political stage or at a press conference. more..

Oct 24 (TM) Board of Investment of SL signed an agreement with Sanken Construction (Pvt) Ltd to construct and operate a 112 room hotel with an investment value of US$ 9.28 million, which will create 60 new employment opportunities. The agreement was signed by Mangala Yapa, Chairman of the BoI and Rohana Wannigama, Executive Director of Sanken Construction (Pvt) Ltd., Rohana Wannigama stated with reference to his project “We will be building a 112 room business hotel in the one star category but more..

Oct 24 (FT) Committee on Public Enterprises (CoPE) Chairman MP Sunil Handunnetti has proposed that Parliament allow representatives from the Attorney General’s Department to take part in CoPE hearings as observers. According to Handunnetti, these observers will be eyewitnesses to ongoing investigations, and their observations will help cut down time wasted in taking legal action. Moving the third report of CoPE, from 1 March 2018 till 26 Oct 2018, yesterday in Parliament, MP Handunnetti said: more..

Oct 24 (CT) The latest report by the COPE stated that the People's Leasing Property Development, a subsidiary established by the People's Bank through the People's Leasing Finance Company has been awarded 13 contracts worth Rs 1,964 million without following procurement procedure and preparing quantity bills. It had also failed to report the present situation and progress to COPE thus far. This report covers the time period from 1 March 2018 to 26 October 2018. more..

Oct 24 (DM) Archaeological officers in Vavuniya have complained to the Omanthai police on October to carry out an inquiry about the building of a Kovil in Maligai area in Omanthai, in Vavuniya by a certain group of people by bulldozing a place with archaeological memorials and ruins that belonged to Anuradhapura period. All archaeological memorials including ancient ‘stupa’ bases, Sri Pada (Feet), bases of buildings, stone pillars, bricks and tiles had been bulldozed by this unidentified group more..

Oct 24 (RN) UNP MP State Minister Ajith Mannapperuma says NDF prez candidate Sajith Premadasa was invited 71 times to take the PM position before the Constitutional crisis that happened last year. He also said that Premadasa could have been the PM and taken the party leadership at that point but he refused it as he said clearly said he will only use the democratic path to gain those positions. He said Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa was able to creep into that position only because Premadasa refused. more..

Oct 24 (AD) Twenty-six students of the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) have been arrested for violating election laws including disrupting law and order. Acting Police Media Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana when contacted said the students were arrested for holding a protest march violating election laws, obstructing vehicular movement among several other charges. The IUSF was protesting demanding an increase in the Mahapola Scholarship scheme. more..

Oct 24 (DM) NPP prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake said laws would be introduced to ban politicians who had looted public funds, committed crimes and had cases against them, from contesting elections under their govt. Addressing a rally in Wellawaya, he said a police report should be furnished by anyone entering govt service but those with cases against them are able to become politicians in Sri Lanka. “There are cases in the Magistrate’s Court against one candidate of the main camp. more..

Oct 24 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage was yesterday informed, by Police Special Investigation Unit, that the Attorney General had instructed them that there wasn't sufficient evidence to maintain a criminal charge against former President's Chief-of- Staff Gamini Senarath and five others, in the incident where they are said to have committed an offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, No. 5 of 2006, by placing over Rs 12.5 billion in more..

Oct 24 (RN) In order to successfully address minority grievances, a president should have the backing of a majority of the majority community, the SLPP said. Addressing the media today, SLPP spokesmen said the party’s presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, supposedly enjoying widespread support in the Sinhalese community and being able to speak to their hearts, will be able to resolve various issues faced by minority communities. more..

Oct 25 (DN) As the countdown to the presidential elections continues, with precisely twenty-four days more for the polls, the battle lines between the two principal contenders - Sajith Premadasa running from the NDF and the swan symbol and Gotabaya Rajapaksa contesting from the SLPP and the lotus bud symbol - are becoming clearer. For some time, the tussle between the two major contestants appeared to be a clash of personalities rather than a debate about policies, with Rajapaksa camp more..

Oct 25 (CT) Ajith Nivard Cabraal on behalf of SLPP has proposed a twelve-point methodology to boost the economy of Sri Lanka. The political movement represented by Cabraal promotes authoritarianism and chauvinism and the same represented by the present govt promotes democracy. Both political movements promote market-based economy. Based on the accepted political thinking, the first movement represents the far right. Therefore, it is pertinent to examine these proposals carefully. more..

Oct 25 (Roar) When people talk about Sri Lanka, the prime focus revolves around either tea, cricket, beaches, or our biodiversity. We are most certainly proud of all of these, but there’s an aspect of our country that many often skim over—our architecture. For years and years, both pre- and post-Independence, Sri Lanka has gifted the world with some of the most beautifully unique structures—created by our fellow Sri Lankans, more..

Oct 25 (Island) Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which probed the Easter Sunday terror attacks, has concluded that serious lapses on the part of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) led to the carnage. It has also apportioned the blame to the IGP, the then Defence Secretary, Prez, PM, et al. The PSC has made no revelations and, in fact, nobody expected it to do so. It was the govt’s answer to the Malalgoda committee appointed by Prez to investigate Easter Sunday attacks. more..

Oct 25 (CT) "As a Nation, we must wake up from this eternal slumber with hallucinatory dreams. If we dream, we must have objective-oriented dreams, and all these should be based on the realities which cannot be shrugged off. All our planning will have to be concentrated on the mobilisation of resources at the 'micro' level and with the governing principle of empowering rural economies. That will open up avenues for production in all the economically possible sectors, with the capacity more..

Oct 25 (CT) The failure in confining elephants to their protected areas, while implementing effective measures to deter them from eating crops grown in home gardens, has been cited as the main reasons for the human-elephant conflict. This has resulted in the death of over 250 elephants and 70 humans annually. Suggestions put forward by several specialists towards minimising such occurrences have not yielded desired results. more..

Oct 25 (CT) NPP Prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayaka says change did not come about by people being in deep slumber in the face of numerous crises. He asserted that the world had witnessed rapid-fire change and development due primarily to brave and courageous leaders who had joined forces with the masses to overcome various crises and challenges. JVP leader therefore urged people who value the future of this nation above all else to join forces with him to develop SL. more..

Oct 25 (CT) SLPP Prez candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that due to the ineptitude and lack of foresight by the present Govt, the country's economy had totally collapsed. He said under a future regime led by him a strong and solid economy will be established. The former Defence Secretary made these remarks addressing a SLPP public rally held in Nawalapitiya targeting the 16 Nov Prez Poll, recently. Speaking further he said, "I first and foremost would like to commend you all for more..

Oct 25 (CT) The JVP candidate, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, supported by the National People’s Power (NPP), undoubtedly is well ahead of all other candidates in terms of ideas, principles and policies presented before the people at this election. Those are not just election promises or bogus gestures like what the other two main candidates have competitively put forward. It would be completely unfortunate, in that context, if AKD receives just the third place in this competition. more..

Oct 25 (CT) NDF Prez candidate, Sajith Premadasa, says once he becomes President, he will provide fertilizer to farmers free of charge. He said he will also return the money that had been obtained from war heroes, to construct houses at Ipalogama War Heroes' Village. The NDF candidate made these remarks, while addressing public rallies in Kekirawa, Mihintale, and Anuradhapura West, ahead of the 16 November Prez Poll. Addressing the public rally held in Kekirawa on 17 Oct, Premadasa stated: more..

Oct 25 (FT) Emirates President Tim Clark on Wednesday shared his checklist for the next renaissance of tourism in Sri Lanka with some frank views, useful suggestions, and constructive criticism, citing global examples and lessons. In his keynote at The Hotels Association of SL (THASL) AGM, at which PM was the Chief Guest, Clark said smoothening the visa process, developing the right tourism products, supporting local operators, more..