Aug 22 (DM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe met Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa together with SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara today where they discussed the proposed all party govt. Mr. Madduma Bandara said that they informed the Prez that SJB is ready to act as a responsible opposition and support all effective steps taken for the betterment of the nation. “We told the Prez that we will act as a responsible opposition and will support all effective measures taken more..

Aug 22 (AD) U.S. Ambassador to SL Julie Chung says that using laws that do not conform with international human rights standards like the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) erodes democracy in SL. She said the US encourages the govt of SL to uphold the rights of the people to express their views. “Using laws that don’t conform with int'l human rights standards – like the PTA – erodes democracy in Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 22 (DM) The main cause of unemployment in the country is a lack of enrollment in technology faculties, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said. During a speech at the ministry, he stated that 75% of university students used to apply for arts and commerce faculties, while 25% enroll in science and technology faculties, which has caused unemployment in the country. "The main cause of unemployment in the country is a lack of enrollment in technology faculties." more..

Aug 22 (TM) The Diaspora Office first announced by President Ranil Wickremesinghe last week will encompass all diaspora units across the globe and focus mainly on attracting investments and tourism, but discussions on its establishment are still in the preliminary stages. Senior Advisor to the Prez on National Security Sagala Ratnayaka said that the diaspora office will act as a central point of co-ordination. “The diaspora office is essentially to co-ordinate with diaspora units more..

Aug 22 (TM) A faction of the SLPP, led by MP Dullas Alahapperuma and comprising approximately 10 others, are yet to decide on their stance regarding the 22nd Amendment, which has been tabled in Parliament, according to former Minister and SLPP MP Nalaka Godahewa. Godahewa stated: “We definitely have a team of more than 10 taking this joint decision, which will include MPs Dullas Alahapperuma, Charitha Herath, Channa Jayasumana, and several other MPs. more..

Aug 22 (ANI) Ten Indian fishermen have been arrested by the SL Navy for allegedly engaging in illegal fishing in SL waters, the Sri Lankan fishermen association said. The fishermen from Tamil Nadu who left from Thoothukudi were arrested on Monday while they were engaged in cross-border fishing in Mullaitivu waters of Sri Lanka. The 10 arrested fishermen and their boat are being taken to Trincomalee port. Now, they will appear before the Trincomalee court judge Tuesday morning. more..

Aug 22 (OI) A high-tech Chinese research ship docked at the strategically important Hambantota port departed from SL waters on Monday after a controversial six-day visit. The ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship Yuan Wang 5 ship was originally scheduled to arrive at the Chinese-run port on Aug 11 but it was delayed in absence of permission by SL authorities following security concerns raised by India. more..

Aug 22 (CT) Investigations into former Prez Maithripala Sirisena’s statement, that a group of MPs were offered financial bribes during the Constitutional Crisis in 2018, have been suspended by the CIABOC. The CIABOC said there was not enough evidence to continue the investigation further. The CIABOC revealed this following an inquiry by Transparency International SL, which made the complaint, more than three years ago, based on the above statement made by more..

Aug 22 (USE) Thank you for the invitation to speak with you this afternoon. I understand this is the first time in some years that you’ve been able to hold convocation in person – and how wonderful it is to see you all in person and not on a screen! What a joy. It is truly an honor to join you today. I have immense respect for the Bandaranaike Center for Int'l Relations, for Ambassador Sumith Nakandala, for Prez Chadrika Kumaratunga, for your professors and officers, and for each of you. more..

Aug 22 (PTI) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has reached out to his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa to finalise arrangements and facilitate his return to the crisis-hit country, a media report said on Monday. Rajapaksa, 73, fled the country and resigned last month in the face of a popular uprising against his govt for mismanaging the island nation's economy. He is currently staying in a hotel in Bangkok with his wife Anoma Rajapaksa. more..

Aug 22 (ANI) India on Monday handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertilizer to the crisis-ridden neighbour SL. "Adding to the fragrance of friendship and cooperation. High Commissioner formally handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertilizer supplied under India's special support to the people of SL," tweeted the HC of India in SL. "This follows 44,000 tonnes supplied last month under Indian support totalling about USD 4 bil in 2022. Fertilizer will contribute to food security and support the farmers. more..

Aug 22 (TM) Noting that it is essential for the Govt to reach a consensus with other political and civil society groups to overcome the prevailing crisis in the country, National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) stated that the Govt’s attempts to suppress the political and social groups that have different views will close the doors for such a consensus. NMSJ Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said that the NMSJ considers the Police attack on the peaceful protest march organised by IUSF on 18 Aug, more..

Aug 22 (AI) Responding to reports that Wasantha Mudalige, the convener of IUSF, Galwewa Siridhamma Thero, the convener of Inter University Bhikku Federation, and Hashantha Jawantha Gunathilake, member of the Kelaniya Uni Students’ Union, who were arrested on 18 and 19 August, are being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Yamini Mishra, more..

Aug 22 (TM) Kayleigh Fraser, Scottish lady who had been actively involved in the Aragalaya has no intention to marry a Sri Lankan to evade her deportation order, says Fraser’s counsel Nagananda Kodithuwakku. “People are now making baseless accusations towards Ms Fraser. At one point, people told me that Ms Fraser was a drug addict and that she shouldn’t be defended. Whereas, in my opinion, she seems mentally stable and talks sensibly. more..

Aug 22 (AD) Eight including a Buddhist monk have been arrested with regard to the incidents of forcible entry to Temple Trees and Prez’s Office, stealing properties including the incidents of setting fire to the ministers’ houses. The police stated that three including a Buddhist monk who were wanted in connection with forcible entry to the Prez Secretariat and damaging its properties on July 09, were arrested at the Colombo Port City workspace and also within areas of Pothuhera & Nugegoda. more..

Aug 23 (DM) Police Dept had sought assistance from the public to identify a group of people whom the police said had forcibly entered Prez’s House, Temple Trees and PM’s official residence. This raises the questions whether the authorities are planning to arrest all those who stormed these two state buildings as well as the offices of the Prez and the Prime Minister on July 9. No doubt, the hundreds of thousands of people who entered these premises would not be able to prove more..

Aug 23 (DM) If anyone is looking for a crash course as to how hard it is to push for genuine democratic reforms from the bottom up, the recent SL experience offers one. It is an even more poignant lesson for it once looked like a fairy tale success. Spontaneous night-time vigils held by the citizens, enraged by the rising cost of living and shortage of basic supplies, evolved into a nationwide struggle. Thousands heeded calls on social media to gather in the Galle Face to demand the resignation of more..

Aug 23 (TM) Industry experts allege that Sri Lanka is gradually losing its maritime positioning in the Asian region as the Colombo Port infrastructure development projects have faced delays due to the ongoing foreign exchange crisis. They claimed that the port’s infrastructure projects had already been delayed by more than five years and would face further delays due to the current economic crisis. more..

Aug 23 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, as a matter of priority, should appoint a Presidential Commission to investigate whether there was any ‘misuse and abuse’ of power relating to the construction of the Chinese funded 300X3, 900 MW Norochcholai Coal Fired Power Plant (NCFPP) that has resulted in consumer electricity costs increasing by over one billion rupees in a mere seven days and also enhancing the ongoing record daily power cuts. The further breakdown of 900 MW NCFPP more..

Aug 23 (ST) When govt spokesmen open their mouths, it is not enough to pick the pearls that drop from them. Watch their feet. In bygone days some doctors with a penchant for wit called it the foot-in-the-mouth disease. Since then, some spokesmen have graduated into putting both their feet in it. But unlike true contortionists, they take a day or two to retrieve their feet. By that time, generally speaking, the damage has been done. Cabinet spokespersons, who are expected to brief more..

Aug 23 (CT) Over the years many opted to travel in three-wheelers as they found it a convenient mode of travelling for a reasonable price as opposed to having to travel squashed in public transportation. However, with fares going beyond what wallets can bear, many think more than twice before hopping into a tuk-tuk. There were many proposals to regulate the three-wheeler industry under one law throughout the country. more..

Aug 23 (ST) It’s not difficult to fathom why the economy has been reeling in the first half of 2022 with many adverse economic developments. Commercial banks, in particular, have seen their profits drop – a significant development given that banks have had a good run in recent years with high profits – and the change is largely due to high impairment provisioning (for bad debt) as industries struggle to survive. With moratoriums on loans being continued due to sluggish economic more..

Aug 23 (Island) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has read public workers the riot act. People are happy when govt servants get an earful from someone. Addressing a district development review meeting in Anuradhapura, during the weekend, the Prez asked the state workers to earn their keep or go home. He also told some home truths; SL had been left fending for itself, and other countries had already done what was possible to help it; the economy was contracting; the biggest challenge before more..

Aug 23 (CT) The watchdog of global health is yet to award approval and licensure to the assortment of vaccines researched and produced to battle the Coronavirus, which ruptured the health system in 2019 and has continued to assail the globe at regular intervals with wave after wave of many of its offshoots since. It was only in Dec 2021 that the WHO listed the 10 Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use. According to the WHO it had given Emergency Approval to the below mentioned vaccines more..

Aug 23 (Island) Sometimes, we can learn important lessons from the humblest people. That is what I did when I met Neelasiri, a few days ago. Actually, I didn’t meet him, physically. I only saw him on TV. Yet, I managed to learn an important lesson from him. He is one of those people who collect waste, in his case plastic waste, for a living. And, last month, he handed over 600 kilograms of plastic waste, to a recycling company, and earned 42,000 rupees. Even with a highly depreciated rupee, more..

Aug 23 (Island) The SJB alleges that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s govt is bent on suppressing political dissent in a bid to prevent a large-scale public protest campaign similar to the one that forced his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to flee the country, last month. SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman said yesterday the entire Opposition was opposed to the continuing crackdown on the protest movement, especially the use of dreaded PTA more..

Aug 23 (ST) The Commonwealth Games (CWG) just concluded, once again brought to the surface the pungent aura of a bloated contingent of 161 athletes from the different disciplines and of course the plethora of officials who make it their business to join the bandwagon. From the net results, Yupun Abeykoon earned a bronze medal on the back of sustained Italy based training, while our champion para athlete Palitha Bandara, a seasoned campaigner, took the silver. more..

Aug 23 (CT) Buenos Aires was rocked again last week by massive protests against austerity measures imposed by the IMF. Structural reforms with austerity have resulted in soaring inflation, currency depreciation, poverty and inequality that is eroding Argentine society and economy, while enabling bail out of private lenders and vulture funds like BlackRock. Argentina is now on its 21st IMF agreement! SL negotiating a 17th IMF agreement at this time may be doing marginally bit better more..

Aug 23 (ST) Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has convinced supermarkets to provide rice at revised prices, but it has not been successful in getting some retail shops to follow instructions, its chairman Shanta Niriella said–but farmers leaders allege there is a conspiracy to hand over the rice market to private business companies. CAA chairman said they have taken measures to fix the prices, despite many traders saying more..

Aug 23 (CT) UK-based start-up Kavida collaborated with American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in SL to launch Resilient SL, a new industry forum aimed at facilitating supply chain resilience in the manufacturing sector. The forum had its first in-person workshop under the theme De-risking SL Apparel on 18 August. It navigated the numerous supply chain risks within the apparel industry characterized by post-COVID-19 realities, growing uncertainties in global geopolitical landscape, more..

Aug 23 (Island) SL Masters over 40 hockey team recorded its second win in the Masters World Cup history when they beat Italy 4-3 in the ranking games at the sport’s prestigious veteran tournament held in Nottingham, England. SL’s over 40 team, which lost all six round-robin matches against the World’s top European veteran hockey teams by big margins in Group A, put its house in order to win the crucial match in the 14-nation tournament. Italy also lost all 6 group matches by margins less than more..

Aug 23 (FT) The Govt has launched an International Competitive Bidding (ICB) to develop the renewable energy sector and expand transmission facilities. It is the first call for ICB post-pandemic amidst the ongoing economic crisis, sources said. The State-run CEB has called for a fresh round of Request for Proposals (RFPs) from global firms to develop a 100 MW alternating-current solar photovoltaic power plant on a Build, Own, and Operate (BOO) basis in Siyambalanduwa for three years. more..

Aug 23 (Island) Sri Lanka Under-19 staged a superb fightback in the first unofficial Test match against their English counterparts at Chelmsford yesterday. The hosts were on a rollercoaster ride on day one having reached 249 for two in the afternoon session scoring more than five runs an over. Sri Lanka’s bowlers showed some discipline after lunch to bowl out the opposition for 387. Mahanama’s Duvindu Ranatunga was the pick of the bowlers finishing with four wickets. more..

Aug 23 (CT) The further breakdown of the 900 MW (3X300 MW) Norochcholai Coal Fired Power Plant (NCFPP) since last Monday (15), saw electricity bills being inflated by Rs 1.21 billion in the seven consecutive days to Sunday (21) alone. All costs are based on the CB’s electricity estimates as at last year. This additional cost to the taxpayers is despite increased power cuts effective from last Tuesday (16) due to the further breakdown more..

Aug 23 (Island) A daring innovator in the local packaging industry with over 25 years of experience, Chairman of ALFT Packaging Company Lakshman De Fonseka headed the launch of the 2nd phase of ALFT Packaging – a brand new, state-of-the-art production facility at Ekala. The new plant primarily consists of European machinery including world renowned W&H Miraflex II printing machinery and other technologies, offering local and global businesses with highest quality packaging more..

Aug 23 (DM) The Sri Lanka tourism authorities, led by Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, are actively contemplating on setting up what is called a ‘bad bank’ to restructure the debt of the crisis-hit tourism sector. The idea of establishing a bad bank was spawned mid-last year when the tourism sector stakeholders were negotiating the extension of the moratorium extended to the industry loans. “It (bad bank) is an option that we are very much looking into. more..