Mar 23 (DM) Our country’s finances are in a parlous position. The country is indebted to the tune of several billion dollars and reserves are, to put it mildly, inadequate. Our country is facing a debt default situation. Every govt has accused its predecessor of having pillaged the national coffers, and so it is, we find ourselves facing mountains of debt and no way to bridge the gap. So bad is the situation that national assets of the country have been handed over to foreign countries more..

Mar 23 (TM) Bringing to light disturbing statistics and information about the ragging situation in state universities, a study report issued by the UGC Centre for Gender Equity and Equality (CGEE) on ragging and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in state universities revealed that 16.6% of the surveyed students had been subjected to sexual harassment as a result of ragging. Alarmingly, 21% of the surveyed students had faced verbal sexual violence, 1.5% had been forced into sex. more..

Mar 23 (TM) Bringing a long-discussed matter to attention again, Justice Minister Ali Sabry, earlier this month, told the Parliament that he believes that reforms should be made concerning the laws pertaining to abortion in SL, while pointing out the practical issues faced by women who give birth to children as a result of abuse. He made this statement in response to a question by fellow SLPP MP Shantha Bandara, more..

Mar 23 (GV) Each World Water Day brings with it a new theme and a new resurgence of interest, although momentary, in that most critical source of support for human lives and ecosystems – water. Each global theme highlights a specific aspect of water, always to be viewed within the looming threat of global climate change. This year’s theme for World Water Day is Groundwater: Making the Invisible, Visible. With that, the average water conscious environment savvy citizen is faced more..

Mar 23 (CT) On Monday, the Ceylon Today website carried a story under the heading President calls for all-party conference. It said, to quote excerpts, “President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of the SLPP has called for an all-party conference (APC) on Wednesday (today, 23 March). The meeting, scheduled to be held at Temple Trees with all party leaders and relevant representatives present, is expected to focus on the current economic and foreign exchange crisis in Sri Lanka.” more..

Mar 23 (TM) SL’s business community is bracing for the impacts of the floated rupee, increased prices of goods and services, power cuts, shortage of commodities, and impending electricity tariff hike on their manufacturing businesses, threatening SL’s competitiveness in the global market. Local developments that took place within the past few weeks, including the freshly-imposed non-essential import ban, floating of rupee, more..

Mar 23 (SO) The first commercial flight to the Mattala Rajapaksa Int'l Airport (MRIA) which was opened for commercial operations nine years ago on Mar 18, 2013 arrived from the USA with 108 passengers. The significance about the flight was that it carried SL/American dual citizens from various parts of the USA including, professionals, businessman and diplomats on board an A340-200 aircraft. Necessity of having another int'l airport emerged at the beginning of the 21st century more..

Mar 23 (CT) Shortages of petrol, diesel, kerosene, cooking gas, milk foods and skyrocketing prices are reminiscent of the situation that once prevailed in the war zones of the north and east. The people in those parts tell visitors that they are able to cope with the shortages as they learnt to do so during the war. They ran their vehicles on kerosene, could not provide their children with chocolates and paid Rs 800 a kilo for sugar. In a twist of fate, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who gave leadership more..

Mar 23 (Island) Former Afghan Finance Minister in exile, Khalid Payenda, has become a social media sensation. The story of his new life as a cab driver in the US is doing the rounds on the Internet across the globe. He says he has burnt through all his savings from Afghanistan and is now struggling to provide for his family. Has Washington let him down? He was obviously in the good books of the US when he was the Finance Minister in the pro-American Afghan govt. more..

Mar 23 (Island) Prez Rajapaksa referred to lawmaker Champika Ranawaka’s public statements, during a recent private meeting with some of his supporters. Prez queried whether the former minister’s declarations shouldn’t be examined, taking into consideration his record as a minister (continuously from Feb 2007 to Nov 2019 under different Presidents). Prez Rajapaksa questioned whether SJB MP Ranawaka could absolve himself of the responsibility for the current crisis more..

Mar 23 (ST) The country’s situation is dire, warned the Govt Medical Professionals’ Association (GMPA) this week, urging the health sector to take stock and set out a contingency plan to meet the looming crisis of lack of medicines, consumables and even electricity and fuel to run emergency services, especially in a pandemic situation. “When a country is drowning in an economic crisis like the one SL is experiencing, the first to get hit more..

Mar 23 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 16,578 persons on Monday and 77.51% of the total population has received at least one vaccine dose to date. Second dose coverage in the country is 65.58% and third dose coverage is 35.11%. In total, the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to 16,994,196 persons and the second dose has been administered to 14,381,844 persons. The third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to 7,711,860 persons. more..

Mar 23 (FT) Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 case count rose to 659,859 following the detection of 281 COVID-19 patients and the addition of over 1,000 delayed cases added to the total yesterday. 1,085 COVID-19 cases between 16 February and 28 February were added to the total after verification. On Tuesday, 281 COVID-19 patients were detected and the previous day, 296 COVID-19 patients were detected. 3,229 PCR tests and 1,613 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Monday. more..

Mar 23 (Island) SLPP MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, has called for the transferring of executive powers of the Prez to Cabinet of Ministers by way of an urgent constitutional reform to make the Prez answerable to Parliament and the people. Former Justice Minister, Wijeyadasa who once served as the Prez of the Bar Association, has appealed to party leaders, Ministers, State Ministers and MPs to back his proposal to introduce more..

Mar 23 (Island) SL U-19 players including skipper Dunith Wellalage, Raveen de Silva, and Vinuja Ranpul excelled for their respective schools as St. Joseph’s and Nalanda concluded the league stage as group champions of the Under 19 Division I cricket tournament Tier ‘A’ competition on Tuesday. At the match played at Hambantota, Raveen de Silva produced one of the best all-round performances of the tournament when he picked up four wickets after top-scoring with 104 runs more..

Mar 23 (FT) A meeting between Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and Malaysian High Commissioner Tan Yong Thai was held yesterday at the Sethsiripaya Stage II office premises in Battaramulla. The Ambassador recalled the long-standing relations between SL and Malaysia and spoke on the further strengthening of the friendship between the two countries. He also recalled the official visit of former Malaysian PM Mohammad Abdul Razak to Sri Lanka in Dec 2017, more..

Mar 23 (FT) Leader of the Opposition and SJB Sajith Premadasa yesterday said that the provisions relating to the amendments made to the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill by the govt will not address the weaknesses of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa reiterated his party’s consistent stance that the PTA is Draconian, outdated and must not only be repealed but also replaced. Execution of PTA leads to the denial of basic human rights more..

Mar 23 (CT) The SL National Women’s Baseball pool, for the Upcoming 2022 season, was selected yesterday at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Baseball Stadium in Homagama. The 30-player pool was selected out of a total of 60 participants who participated from five Baseball clubs. This is the first time in history that a Women’s National pool was selected. The team will now prepare for the Invitational tournament which is set to be hosted by Pakistan Baseball in the coming months. more..

Mar 23 (CT) Football Sri Lanka (FSL) has initiated discussions with relevant authorities to build a fully fledged Football Stadium in the Port City with the assistance of FIFA, FSL President Jaswar Umar revealed. According to the President, Ministry of Sports is also keen on the project and has given the greenlight. “We are in talks to build a fully equipped stadium in the Port City and discussions are currently being held. more..

Mar 23 (FT) A business networking event organised recently by Sri Lanka – Greater Mekong Business Council (SLGMBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce facilitated opportunities to enhance trade between Sri Lanka and Thailand. Attended by Thai Ambassador Poj Harnpol, the networking event explored opportunities for increasing the volume of Sri Lankan exports to Thailand as well as developing trade, tourism and economic cooperation between the two countries. more..

Mar 23 (Island) Pan Asia Bank joins hands with Ideal Motors PVT Limited, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Ideal Group, in extending an opportunity for Sri Lankan customers to own 100% SL assembled motor vehicles. Pan Asia Bank is extending the banking solutions for all Mahindra vehicles at very attractive terms, accommodating up to 70% of the asset value on locally assembled KUV 100 (Both Diesel and Petrol versions). Pan Asia Bank is known for its Fast, Flexible and Tailor-made more..

Mar 23 (EN) SL’s new import licensing wave will worsen an economic crisis, promote corruption and will not solve the foreign exchange problems, Advocata Institute, a Colombo based think tank has said. Forex shortages are a problem associated with pegged exchange rates which do not allow short term rates to float, but prints money to enforce a fixed policy rate. Import controls enforced from 2020, more..

Mar 23 (CT) Former SL women’s cricketer, Deepika Rasangika, broke the world record for the highest individual score yesterday. The 38-year-old batter, who represents Bahrain, scored a mammoth 161 off just 66 balls with 31 fours in the extraordinary innings. Rasangika was playing for the Bahrain Women’s team against Saudi Arabia. Bahrain Women’s team achieved another record, reaching the highest T20I total score in the history of women’s cricket at 318 for the loss of just one wicket more..

Mar 23 (CT) State Minister Nimal Lanza, submitting a letter of resignation to the President, said his conscience does not permit him to remain deaf and blind to the struggles faced by the public, while continuing to remain as a State Minister. The former State Minister, in his letter to the President dated 22 March, had reiterated that posts, perks and privileges mean nothing to him if his conscience isn’t clear. Lanza had further informed the President that issues faced by him when performing more..

Mar 23 (DN) SL men’s Kabaddi team played a hard-fought game against Bangladesh before finally losing 38-40 at the Bangabandu Cup International Kabaddi tournament which is now in progress at the Shaheed Noor Hossain National Volleyball Stadium Dhaka, Bangladesh. At halftime, Bangladesh were leading 18-17. However, both SL and defending champion Bangladesh are already qualified for the semi-final from Group ‘A’. Earlier SL defeated Malaysia by 53-26 while e they beat England more..

Mar 23 (EN) Power cuts of 5 hours for some areas in SL and 2 hours and 40 minutes for other areas were approved in two blocks for March 23 Wednesday, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said as a forex crisis creates power shortages in the dry season. Areas ABCDEFGHIJKL will have power cuts of 3 hours and 20 minutes from 800am to 600pm and 1 hour and 40 minutes from 600pm to 1100pm. Areas PQRSTUVW will have power cuts of one hour from 1030am to 0430pm and more..

Mar 23 (DN) The much awaited International Financial Centre (CIFC) is scheduled to be inaugurated by the middle of the year at the Colombo Port City, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong said. The strategic investment arm of the LOLC Group, Browns Investments and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) are the investors of the CIFC project. more..

Mar 23 (Island) The CSE began yesterday on a positive note amid moderate activity. But investors were worried that macro- economic issues, such as the energy crisis, high inflation and the rupee devaluation, were likely to affect market activities, stock analysts said. The Department of Census and Statistics said that the month of February reported the highest inflation and investors anticipate that this month inflation would be higher than in February, which was 17.5%, stock analysts added. more..

Mar 23 (DN) Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin Jeong met BOI Chairman, Raja Edirisuriya to discuss ways to attract more Korean investments to SL at the Board of Investment premises. BOI Chairman emphasised the importance of boosting foreign investment to overcome SL’s current economic challenges. Attracting more foreign direct investments from Korea and the facilitation of an environment conducive for smooth operations for existing Korean investors were prioritised more..

Mar 23 (DM) The use of US $ 1 billion Indian credit line for the release of around 1500 containers of essential food commodities already imported from India and stuck at the port has been hampered since some of the shippers are not ready to accept payment in Indian rupees. The govt signed an agreement with India to secure the credit line to import food items and medicines from India. more..

Mar 23 (Island) Julie Chung, the U.S. Ambassador to SL met with UNP Leader and former PM Ranil Wickremasinghe (RW) on Monday, March 21 at the latter’s private residence in Colombo. The meeting took place two weeks following her talks with Denis Chaibi, the EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka on potential areas for collaboration in Sri Lanka and the Indo Pacific. The official Twitter account of Ambassador Julie Chung said, “A vibrant political opposition is vital in any healthy democracy. more..

Mar 23 (DM) Due to rapidly dwindling water levels in the reservoirs associated with the CEB Hydro Power Plant, hydropower generation will be further hampered, the Power Ministry said. They said the present low water levels in the reservoirs are due to the severe drought that is being experienced in the country. Accordingly, the water level at the Castlereagh Reservoir has dropped to 13.41 metres from the spill level and the maximum water level could go down to 19 metres from spill level. more..

Mar 23 (TM) Despite scathing criticism from the TNA, SLMC, SJB, JVP yesterday that the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) (Amd) Bill is a cosmetic legislation meant to deceive the int'l community, the Govt managed to pass the Bill with 86 votes for and 35 votes against. During the debate about the Bill, which was tabled in Parliament by Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that more..

Mar 23 (FT) The world is facing a major oil and gas crisis. When corona infections affected the entire world, oil, gas and coal consumption and demand went down, lowering prices. In April 2020, with an unprecedented global energy glut, American oil producers paid buyers to remove produced oil stocks as they were unable to stop production. If our Trincomalee oil tanks were able to store oil, the country would have made lots of Dollars by storing cheap oil. more..

Mar 23 (DM) The Korean govt has taken measures to expand labour cooperation and Official Development Assistance (ODA) collaboration between the two countries and assist in resuscitating the SL economy, Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin Jeong said. He said the decision was taken following a discussion with Foreign Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris last week about promoting bilateral relations between Korea and SL. The discussions were focused on expanding labour more..

Mar 23 (AD) Sri Lanka Customs has detected 350 kilograms of cocaine concealed among scrap iron in a transshipment container originating from Panama and bound for India. According to Sri Lanka Customs, the shipment had originated from Panama and was destined for India. A total of four containers declared as scrap iron had been shipped from the origin country of Panama to Belgium and then to Dubai before arriving in Sri Lanka, while they were then expected to be shipped to India. more..