Dec 14 (DN) Kamindu Mendis stroked a fine knock of 58 in 40 balls with 9 fours as Kandy Falcons registered an easy 77-run win over Dambulla Aura in their LPL cricket fixture played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Kandy Falcons led by all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, made a superb batting display as they scored a challenging total of 193 for 3 wickets in 20 overs. Dambulla Aura led by Dasun Shanaka ended with a disappointing performance and were shot out more..

Dec 14 (DN) Dinesh Chandimal opened the batting and scored a superb knock of 63 in 33 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes as Colombo Stars achieved an outstanding run-chase to beat Galle Gladiators by 2 wickets in a thriller in their LPL cricket fixture played at the Pallekele yesterday. Galle Gladiators scored 193 for 5 wickets in 20 overs with opener Kusal Mendis playing an anchor role to hit 72 while Ashif Safiq scored 58. Ravi Bopara led Colombo to a great finish as scored 31 in 14 balls. more..

Dec 14 (CI) With four wins out of five in this year's Lanka Premier League, reigning champions Jaffna Kings are once again shaping up as the team to beat. For Thisara Perera his time with the Jaffna outfit has been among the most successful periods of his career, with the side winning back-to-back LPL titles under his leadership. Thisara the player too seems to be enjoying his cricket at the moment, despite moving on more..

Dec 14 (ST) To achieve 70% electricity generation in the country by 2030 it is necessary to add 5,766 MW (megawatts) of renewable power capacities, according to a recent report on the way forward of integration of renewable energy resources to the national grid from 2023 to 2026 of appropriate business models prepared by a committee affiliated to Ministry of Power & Energy. Report, which was submitted to the cabinet recently, says that this can be achieved through, 151 MW from hydro, more..

Dec 14 (ST) SLC’s embarrassing stay that eclipsed their T20 World Cup show in Australia, and the betting company, which sponsored the national team during the Asia Cup and a team from the LPL, will be looked by the same committee, Dr. Amal Harsha de Silva, the Secretary to the Sports Ministry, said. Only last week, a six-member committee, led by a Retired SC Judge Sarojani Weerawardena, launched investigations into incidents that rocked the team’s stay down under. more..

Dec 14 (DN) I always wanted to play for my team and country and I hope to return to the National side to focus on next year’s World Cup said former National Skipper Angelo Mathews who is presently leading the Colombo Stars team in the LPL cricket tournament. Mathews the most senior SL player in this LPL is a regular member of the National Test team. Mathews began his international career with ambitions of becoming a genuine allrounder, but gave priority to his batting, more..

Dec 14 (EN) Shares slipped on Tuesday on dull sentiments ahead of the holidays, brokers said. Bourse reversed to red during today’s session as investors settled to book profits, on Capital Goods and treasury counters following the sizeable gains witnessed over the past week. ASPI closed 0.34% or 30.53 points lower at 8,832.14. Analyst previously said although the market is traded in green, the overall market was flat as it was waiting for more news on key catalysts such as the IMF. more..

Dec 14 (FT) Sri Lanka has successfully concluded its debt restructuring negotiations with China, India, and Japan, Minister Bandula Gunawardane revealed. “As I know, the CB Governor has informed President that the negotiations with China, India, and Japan over debt restructuring were successfully concluded. Therefore I believe we can go to IMF by January. I saw the announcement comprised statement” he said more..

Dec 14 (DN) SL won four gold medals at the Commonwealth Chess Championship organized by the Chess Federation of SL and held from Nov 14 to 22 at the Citrus Hotel, Waskaduwa, Kalutara. Accordingly, Oshini Gunawardena (under 10 girls), Newansa Esandi (under 14 girls), Ranindu Liyanage (under 20 men) and Sayuni Gihansa Jayaweera, (Best Female Chess Player) won gold medals while K.G.T.S.D. Kiriella (u 18 first runner up), Rashmika Thenuwara (u 18 second runner up), more..

Dec 14 (FT) Embassy of SL in Brussels hosted an event on 22 Nov to felicitate Monique De Decker-Deprez who completed 25 years of service as SL’s Honorary Consul in Antwerp, Belgium. Ambassador of SL in Belgium Grace Asirwatham presented the letter of appreciation issued by Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry to Monique De Decker-Deprez during the event. Ambassador Asirwatham, in her remarks, congratulated the Honorary Consul Monique on her 25 years of dedicated service to SL and expressed hope to continue more..

Dec 14 (DM) Charitha Marcus, a SL lecturer pursuing her doctoral studies in Ireland, has been awarded with the Eda Sagarra Medal of Excellence at the annual Irish Research Council Researcher of the Year awards 2022. The Eda Sagarra Medal of Excellence is one of the country’s most prestigious academic awards presented to the highest-ranked Govt of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship recipient in the Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences domain. Charitha’s doctoral research more..

Dec 14 (ST) Making a special announcement in Parliament on Monday, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that the report in the Sunday Times of Dec 4, 2022 under the headline Committee rejects move to increase retirement age of Parliament Secretary General was incorrect. Speaker stated that there was no discussion regarding the retirement of the Secretary General of Parliament in the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Committee meeting chaired by him more..

Dec 14 (TM) Following IUSF Convenor Wasantha Mudalige being further remanded until 17 Jan 2023, after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court yesterday, several parties including the IUSF and “aragalaya” (people’s struggle) activists have raised concerns regarding the actions of TID, and AG's Dept. Mudalige, who was in remand custody under the PTA, was produced before Colombo Addl. Magistrate more..

Dec 14 (Island) SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that many professionals from various fields, from the health sector to IT, had written to them seeking their intervention to halt the proposed draconian tax burden on them, especially during these economic hard times. Higher taxes, as much as 36%, is actually contributing to the brain drain of this country, Dr. de Silva said. As part of the COPF, Dr. De Silva said they had refused to approve the proposed personal income tax amendment until more..

Dec 14 (DN) Chairman Export Development Board (EDB) Suresh De Mel said that exports to Japan are very low and local companies should look at more organic food exports. Since Japan is a quality conscious country Sri Lankan companies should look at having more Joint ventures with them to enhance local quality of production. Director General BOI, Renuka Weerakone said that in the past 15 years FDI from Japan has amounted to USD 420 million. more..

Dec 14 (Island) Sri Lanka recently received a stock of rabies vaccines from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, on Dec. 12, received stocks worth Rs 81 mn, symbolically, from Nicolas Lamade, who heads the Sri Lanka project, funded by Germany. Informed sources said that SL sought rabies vaccines, about six months ago, as the Health Ministry ran out of stocks, but was able to manage with a stock received from India. more..

Dec 14 (FT) PM Dinesh Gunawardena called on the UN to declare a Humanity Day under UN calendar. Speaking at the Int'l Convention of Peacemakers for Universal Harmony held in Colombo he urged the participants to examine his proposal and take up following action as the rapid deterioration of human values is a very dangerous threat to mankind. A declaration of a Humanity Day will emphasise the imperative need for promoting human values to the global community, especially to world leaders, more..

Dec 14 (TM) TPA Leader and SJB MP Mano Ganesan, speaking during the all-party conference on reconciliation held yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, expressed that the 13th Amendment and the devolution of power through the system of Provincial Councils (PCs) should be both the starting point and the way forward with regard to resolving the national ethnic issue, which, more..

Dec 14 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar said the party will defeat both the UNP and the NPP at an upcoming election. “Prez has called for a party leaders meeting claiming he wants to discuss possible solutions for the country and its future. But in reality, he merely wants to discuss the possibility of postponing elections. We displayed our strength as a party recently. We can bring hundreds and thousands out onto the streets but we are not doing that out of concern for the country and more..

Dec 14 (CT) Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project is expected to be connected to the National Grid by June 2023, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said. In a tweet, Wijesekera said a meeting was held on the Uma Oya Project which will add 120 MW of hydropower to the National Grid. Minister added that they can also assure that the Uma Oya Project will be connected to the National Grid by June 2023. “Officials of Farab Energy and Water Projects of Iran and more..

Dec 14 (Reuters) The executive board of the IMF is not expected to formally approve SL's US$2.9 billion bailout before year-end, a key step required for the embattled country to receive funding, two sources familiar with the matter said. Seeking a way out of its worst economic crisis in decades, SL reached an IMF staff-level agreement in June with the deal subject to approval and contingent on SL authorities following through more..

Dec 14 (FT) The first part of this article published last week narrated certain aspects of the life of Sivashankar alias Pottu Ammaan the much-dreaded intelligence chief of the LTTE. Although my original intention was to write a two-part article, I have been compelled to make it a three-part article in order to do justice to the information that I have been able to gather about Pottu Ammaan. Sivashankar known as Pottu and Pottu Ammaan joined the LTTE in 1981. He obtained Indian arms training more..

Dec 14 (FT) Air pollution is widely recognised as a significant threat to human health and the environment. According to the WHO, particulate matter (PM), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and lead are recognised as six significant types of air pollutants. Approximately 4 million people die a year due to exposure to fine particulate air pollution. According to UN Environment Programme, exposure to particulate PM 2.5 µm reduced global life more..

Dec 14 (EN) A SL State Minister wants to reduce the number of provincial members to cut down costs and increase youth participation. Janaka Wakkumbura, the State Minister for Provincial Councils and Local Government said there are 8,000 Provincial members and they could be reduced by nearly 50% to 4,000 ministers. “The country would benefit if the number of (provincial) members reduced, no matter what kind of minister they are”, Wakkumbura told the parliament more..

Dec 14 (AD) The Court of Appeal has issued an interim order suspending the inclusion of doctors and specialist doctors in the gazette notification on the compulsory retirement of govt sector employees. Accordingly, the compulsory retirement age of 60 will not be enforced on doctors and specialist doctors until Jan 25, 2023. The interim order was issued after taking into consideration a writ application filed by 176 specialist doctors. PM Dinesh Gunawardena, in his capacity as the Minister more..

Dec 14 (EN) Emesha Perera, a 26-year old executive at a private university in Colombo has stopped her monthly spending on face treatment and hair styles as she is unable to afford the cost anymore. It was a big part of her lifestyle but now her personal make up and beauty has slid down her priority list as expenditure skyrocketed as a dollar shortage led the country into a financial crisis. Perera spent up to 5,000 rupees more..

Dec 14 (CT) Minister Bandula Gunawardana said a long discussion was held in Cabinet regarding the attack on former Vice Chancellor of Uni of Peradeniya, Prof. Atula Senaratne and his family by a group of students from the same university. He said the President informed to conduct an impartial investigation and submit a report expeditiously. He added that academic freedom should be guaranteed in universities. “It is a problem if university professors cannot teach without fear & doubt. more..

Dec 14 (AD) World Food Program (WFP) Executive Board has approved SL’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP), valued at USD 74.87 million, for the period between 2023 and Dec 2027. Accordingly, the project will be effective from Jan 2023, and is aligned with both, the national policy framework and UN Sustainable Development Corporation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027. The CSP is designed to support the country in achieving food security and improved nutrition by 2030 more..

Dec 14 (Reuters) Sri Lanka is expecting as much as $5 billion in loans next year from multilateral agencies besides an IMF deal, while the govt is aiming to raise up to $3 billion via restructuring of state assets, its foreign minister told Reuters on Wednesday. The island nation's worst economic crisis in more than seven decades has resulted in widespread unrest due to shortages of food and fuel. Its then-prez Rajapaksa was ousted in July. more..

Dec 14 (FT) Delays in the implementation of key regulations are hampering investors from coming into Port City Colombo, a top official said. Responding to a question posed at the recently concluded Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2022, CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd, Deputy Managing Director Thulci Aluwihare made some hard-hitting and insightful remarks. When asked why nothing is presently happening at Port City Colombo, Aluwihare explained that the project more..

Dec 14 (EN) Workers and directors of state-run CEB have decided forego salary bonuses for 2022, following a directive of the regulator, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said. “As directed by PUCSL, CEB Board of Directors & Trade Unions have agreed to forego bonus for the year 2022 saving billions of rupees,” Ratnayake said. It is not clear how loss-making state enterprises get bonuses but it takes place in several state enterprises. The CEB however is forced to run losses partly more..

Dec 14 (MK) The third edition of the Lanka Premier League is near halfway stage and have already witnessed some enthralling actions throughout the tournament so far. Kandy Falcons currently top the table with 8 points courtesy of a better net run rate than Jaffna Kings, who are on the same points after playing 5 games each. Galle Gladiators are sitting 3rd with 4 points, and their captain Kusal Mendis recently spoke about the impact of LPL on the youths of the country. more..

Dec 14 (AD) Colombo Crimes Division has arrested 4 persons in connection to the recent murder of a suspect who was previously arrested and released over the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019. Accordingly, four suspects, aged between 25 and 34 and identified as residents of Borella and Wellampitiya, were arrested for the murder of businessman Mohammed Badurdeen Mohammad Farhan. Farhan was murdered in Mattakkuliya on 28 Nov, when three individuals had followed his car home more..

Dec 14 (EN) SL’s building contractors are looking outward for new business as a currency crisis hit the sector hard, Namal Peiris Chief Executive Officer of Int'l Construction Consortium, one of SL’s largest construction engineering firms said. SL’s construction firms had been operating in the Maldives and the Middle East during a 30-year war but had focused more domestically as the business picked up at home. more..

Dec 14 (DM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that all political parties should come to a common agreement to provide a solution to the ethnic problem by the upcoming 75th Independence Celebration. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe revealed this while attending the All-Party Conference held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday afternoon, PMD said. The Prez convened this conference with the aim of finding a solution to ethnic problem through national reconciliation. more..