Nov 29 (FT) MAS Intimates, the largest division of MAS Holdings, received three top accolades at the Presidential Export Awards, including the highly coveted Exporter of the Year Award for 2020/2021. MAS Intimates was also honoured as SL’s overall Best Exporter in Product diversification, while the company’s focus on ethical and sustainable manufacturing was recognised as the overall Contributor to Sustainable Development in Exports, making it a hat-trick of awards for SL’s more..

Nov 29 (FT) Hela Clothing is eyeing a record year in FY22 on the strength of growing revenues month-on-month during the recent few months. “We had our best month in June with $ 21.2 million revenue and the performance of subsequent months bettered previous achievements. In October we did our best to date with $ 26.3 million revenue,” Hela Clothing Group CFO Moiz Rehmanjee said. Hela Clothing, which is primed for a listing on the CSE shortly with an IPO to raise approximately $ 20 million more..

Nov 29 (FT) Following the aggressive promotions as well as participation in top-trade shows, the air traffic to Sri Lanka has risen sharply with multiple international airlines operating into Colombo. With five more new airlines starting from December, the total international airlines operating into SL will increase to 25. Flag carrier of Malaysia – Malaysian Airlines will commence operations from 1 Dec, Russia’s – Azur Airlines & Kazakhstan’s more..

Nov 29 (Island) Jobs of around 500,000 locals involved in the footwear and leather products industry were at stake owing to a decision by ministry officials to suspend imports of essential raw materials, warns SL Footwear and Leather Products Manufacturers Association. Association’s Vice President Neville Priyanka said that the country’s political leadership was keen to promote the industry but some officials were determined to ruin the industry and have the country flooded with more..

Nov 29 (FT) SL’s COVID-19 detections rose to 562,520 with 1,461 persons testing positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. Meanwhile, restrictions are being tightened across the globe following the detection of the Omicron variant, which the WHO has categorised as a Variant of Concern. According to SLMA President Dr. Padma Gunaratne, preventing the variant from entering SL is not entirely possible. “We can delay its arrival and we stress the importance of persons making more..

Nov 29 (AD) Bakery Owners’ Association says that the price of a 450g loaf of bread will be increased by Rs. 10 from midnight today (28). The association said that a decision was taken to increase bread prices in view of the increase in wheat flour prices. Bakery owners say that the price of Kottu and various short eats will also increase by Rs. 5 from midnight today. The price of wheat flour had been increased by relevant companies more..

Nov 29 (MFA) Chargé d'affaires of the UAE to SL called on Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris on 26 Nov 2021. In his opening remarks, the Chargé d'affaires extended greetings from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Al Nahyan and expressed the UAE govt's willingness to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations with the govt of SL. Further, he also recalled the recent bilateral meeting held between Minister G.L Peiris more..

Nov 29 (DM) While elucidating ways to keep the newly detected COVID-19 variant, Omicron at bay, Dr Chandima Jeewandara said receiving the booster shot was of utmost importance at this moment and invited people to stick to basic health practices. He said they were keeping a close eye on the situation and had also increased genetic sequencing. “The Omicron, which is the fifth COVID variant detected in the world has been upgraded as a variant of concern due to its higher transmissibility,” he said. more..

Nov 29 (TM) Ministry of Agriculture does not expect to introduce a fixed price for chemical fertilisers and other agrochemicals, including pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides/weedicides, which would be imported by the private sector, but will soon formulate a mechanism to regulate their prices. When contacted, Agriculture Ministry Secretary Prof. Udith Jayasinghe-Mudalige said that this mechanism would be formulated with more..

Nov 29 (TM) The death toll from the capsizing of a passenger ferry in the Kuringankerni Lagoon in Kinniya has increased to seven after another child injured in the accident succumbed to injuries. Kinniya Police said that a six-year-old girl who was being treated at the Trincomalee Hospital, after being injured in the ferry incident, had passed away Saturday night (27). Earlier, six people, including four schoolchildren, were reported dead after a ferry capsized in Kuringankerni Lagoon in Kinniya, more..

Nov 29 (DM) The entry of the newly detected COVID-19 variant, Omicron could be inevitable, Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) said today. SLMA President Dr. Padma Gunaratne said the authorities should take all precautionary measures as they had already taken, to ensure the new variant does not enter the country. “We are of the viewpoint that though the entry of the new variant could be delayed, there is no guarantee that it would never enter the country,” she highlighted. more..

Nov 29 (Island) SLPP heavyweight and Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has asked the SLFP to leave the govt as the SLPP could do without its support. Minister Ranatunga asked former President and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena, MP, and members of his parliamentary group to quit the government. Minister Ranatunga recalled how he urged the electorate in the run-up to the last parliamentary election in Aug 2020 more..

Nov 29 (FT) Aseni, whiz kid of economics, and her grandfather Sarath Mahatthaya who knows one or two things about economics, are in conversation on the latest hype in the money world known as cryptocurrencies, how they are mined and the technological innovation its pioneer, Bitcoin, has introduced to the global tech landscape called the Blockchain. They had found that Bitcoin was introduced in 2009 as a protest payment method to the traditional payments done through banks more..

Nov 29 (FT) Has science gone wrong? Are we not using it properly? Why does science matter in relation to data-driven decisions? Sri Lanka is baffling with many challenges in its socio-economic front and a scientific approach with needed pragmatism should provide answers. Yet are our egos ready to accept them? Today’s column reflects on such pertinent aspects with special reference to responsible science. It was heartening to be the co-chairperson of PIMARC 2021, more..

Nov 29 (DN) Govt has presented a new Personal Data Protection Bill to regulate the processing of personal data and to provide for the designation of a Data Protection Authority (DPA). The Bill states that it has been introduced to facilitate the growth and innovation in the digital economy of SL whilst protecting personal data rights. “It has become necessary to improve interoperability among personal data protection frameworks as well as to strengthen cross-border cooperation among more..

Nov 29 (DM) Adherence to health guidelines in the public transport system which was commendable in the beginning, has become very poor now, Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Union Head Upul Rohana said. He said both state and private public transport systems were taking the maximum number of passengers with more passengers standing than being seated. If this practice continues there will be a definite chance of COVID positive cases increasing in the country very soon. more..

Nov 29 (DM) The former Executive Director at the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), Thushan Gunawardena is preparing to make more startling revelations even as the heat remains over the garlic scam and gas cylinder issue. Speaking during a live discussion on social media, Gunawardena said that he resigned from the CAA to spill the beans over alleged illegal activities taking place at a number of Ministries. more..

Nov 29 (AD) The Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed against the Yugadanavi Power Plant deal have been fixed for consideration on December 16 by the Supreme Court. The petitions had been filed by several parties seeking a court order revoking the the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers to transfer shares in West Coast Power Limited (WCP) - the owner of the 310 MW Yugadanavi Power Plant to the US-based New Fortress Energy. The petitions were taken up before a bench more..

Nov 29 (AD) Sri Lanka’s telecommunications regulator on Monday said that it has initiated preliminary engagement with Elon Musk’s Starlink exploring possibility of introducing the satellite-based internet services in the island nation. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) said the first round of discussions focused on the regulatory aspects and prerequisites of initiating the service in the near future for Sri Lanka. more..

Nov 29 (DM) Four more explosions suspected to be from gas leaks have been reported from Padukka, Hanwella, Hatton and Ja-Ela areas today. A woman from Diddeniya has lodged a complaint this morning with the Hanwella Police claiming that a gas cylinder she had brought to her house had connected to the gas stove and exploded shortly afterwards. She claimed that she connected the recently brought gas cylinder more..

Nov 29 (TM) A report which was compiled by a private investigation company has revealed that since 2015, there has been 233 LP Gas cylinder related destructive incidents to date, revealed State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna. He made this statement while speaking in Parliament. “I am not trying to justify that we have had a few explosions in the last 6 years, and I have to admit that there has been an unusual amount of Gas cylinder relation explosions with a period of a few days. more..

Nov 29 (DM) Three unidentified bodies have washed ashore on the Valvettithurai and the Delft coasts in Jaffna during the past two days raising doubts whether there was a boat disaster, Police said. Two bodies had washed ashore on the Valvettithurai coast yesterday while another on the shore along the Delft isle coast today. The Delft police have initiated an investigation into the incident. Moreover, the Police suspect that a boat carrying illegal migrants which might have attempted more..

Nov 29 (Island) Minister Johnston Fernando says some Opposition politicians have misled the Catholic Church. “I call on all reverend fathers and other members of the clergy not to fall for the opposition conspirators’ tactics and thereby become their cat’s paws. We have seen that they capitalise on the summoning of Rev Fr Cyril Gamini to the CID to spread hate against this govt. Fr Cyril Gamini’s visit to CID was more..

Nov 29 (AD) Commercial Bank of Ceylon has been adjudged the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) Leading Partner Bank in Sri Lanka at the 2021 edition of its Trade and Supply Chain Finance Programme (TSCFP) Awards that recognise banks that support trade in Asia and the Pacific. The award was conferred upon Commercial Bank for recording the highest number of transactions in the trade and supply chain finance sphere between 1st July 2020 and 30th June 2021. more..

Nov 29 (DM) SL will not experience power cuts although there is a foreign exchange crisis, the govt assured today. Minister of Petroleum Udaya Gammanpila was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Ranil Wickremeisnghe in Parliament. He said the country is in for power cuts because of the foreign exchange shortage crisis as there are no dollars to make payments for coal and oil. “Nearly 55% of the country's electricity is generated through hydro power at the moment. more..

Nov 29 (FT) Tourist Hotel Association of SL (THASL) & SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) insisted that current health protocols should continue without any change even though a new Omicron variant of COVID has caused fresh concerns globally. “Any change to the current health protocols will be detrimental to the tourism industry and it will have a negative impact on the overall economy more..

Nov 29 (TM) SL does not have a gas cylinder testing facility or laboratory says Minister Lasantha Aligiyawanna. “Since the 1960’s when LP gas cylinders came into the market, we had no testing facility for the gas cylinders. We have received gas cylinder samples from various areas in SL, and these samples have been sent to the CEYPETCO and the Moratuwa Uni for testing. Moratuwa uni has reported back stating that they cannot guarantee the safety of the cylinders and cannot give a valid report on the samples,” more..

Nov 29 (DM) More than 100,000 tourists have visited the country from January up to date. Accordingly, 101,872 tourists arrived from Jan 1 to Nov 28 this year and 41,177 tourists have arrived in the country from Nov 1 to yesterday. Highest number of tourists have arrived from India this month. A total of 13,368 tourists have arrived in the country from India in November this year while the second highest number of tourist arrival of 3,449 reported from Russia in the last 28 days after India. more..

Nov 29 (EN) Sri Lanka bond market remain quiet on Monday (29) with only a handful of bonds quoted on muted trading with the ongoing treasury bond auction, dealer said. SL’s debt office has offered 30 billion in bonds to be sold in an auction held on Monday (29). Dealers said the market is quiet with the ongoing auction. Bonds maturing on 15.03.2024 was quoted at 9.18/22% on Monday, steady from 9.17/22% on Friday. A bond maturing on 01.12.2024 was quoted at 9.35/45, down from 9.38/45% more..

Nov 29 (TM) Several areas around the Island are currently facing a power outage. Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge says that the reason for the power outage was due to a breakdown in the supply line and transformer from Kotmale to Biyagama. “The supply will be given as soon as possible. Already the breakdown team has managed to supply electricity to a few areas, and within the next hour or two, all areas will have electricity again,” he confirmed. Areas such as Mount Lavinia, Dehiwala, more..

Nov 29 (DM) Former Minister Arjuna Ranatunga has resigned from the membership of the UNP. Sri Lanka’s former World Cup-winning cricket captain has reportedly tendered his resignation to UNP leader and former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. In his resignation letter to the UNP leader, Ranatunga gives reasons for his decision to quit the party and also expressed his gratitude to Mr. Wickremesinghe for the responsibilities more..

Nov 29 (TM) Two suspects wanted in connection with a recent murder in Weeraketiya have been arrested by police while they were in hiding. The two suspects were arrested by Weraketiya Police at Mahajjawa and Kumbakgoda-ara areas. They had been wanted in connection with an incident where an individual had been shot and hacked to death in the Weeraketiya police area on November 20. Following the interrogation of one of the arrested suspects, a 29-year-old from Debokkawa more..

Nov 29 (CT) SJB claimed that the Govt owes US$ 1.46 billion in loan repayments to State-owned banks in 2022. MP Dr. Harsha de Silva cautioned that failure to make such payments would result in a black mark against the entire local banking system. He asserted that 99% of the US$ 2.3 billion in SL Development Bonds were purchased by a private bank and a State bank, and that SL will be required to make bond payments totalling US$ 60 mil on 6 Nov, US$ 23 mil on 9 Nov, US$ 15 mil on more..

Nov 29 (CT) The Western Province Police Intelligence Division arrested a former Inspector of Police, who was in possession of automatic firearm used in the protection of VIPs. The arrestee had, at one stage of his career, been attached to Ministerial Security Division (MSD) and had been in charge of the weapons store of the MSD. He had also maintained a weapons store in a house at Welipenna. An organised gang of criminals more..

Nov 29 (CT) Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) urges all teacher unions not to hinder the process of declaring the teacher-principal service as a closed service. Expressing his views on his official Facebook page, CTSU General Secretary, Mahinda Jayasinghe said they are ready to resume their trade union struggle if it is thwarted again, by protesting against the declaration of a closed service. He further said there was an urgent need for a closed teacher-principal service to resolve more..

Nov 29 (EN) SL’s state-run BCC Lanka Ltd has been allowed to import desiccated coconut after paying 1 rupee special commodity levy from November 24, 2021 in a further addition to existing trade controls in the island. Minister Basil Rajapaksa has imposed a 300 rupee import tax per kilogram on desiccated coconut, HS Code 08.01 in the form of the special commodity levy for six months, starting from Nov 24. However from state-run BCC Lanka Ltd only 1 rupee per kilogram tax will be collected and more..

Nov 29 (CI) Pathum Nissanka breezed his way to a half-century, Dimuth Karunaratne fell eight short of a fifty that would have seen him equal a world record, and on a day in which rain washed out the first two sessions, SL gained a significant advantage, moving to 113 for 1 in the 33.4 overs that were possible. Before Roston Chase caught-and-bowled Karunaratne late in the day, SL's openers had put on 106 runs in 31 overs more..

Nov 29 (TM) UNP Leader MP Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the documentation which was due to be presented by the Govt to the IMF has been sent, but not yet presented in Parliament. He also stated that if in fact the same has been presented, he would like to see the documentation. “The reason as to why I am asking for this documentation is because I want to see what has been done in regards to the Foreign Exchange issue we are currently facing. In the Budget for 2022, it spoke about purchasing more..