Nov 25 (FT) SLPP dissident MP Channa Jayasumana says a Private Member’s Bill will be presented to Parliament shortly, allowing for a presidential election to be held in the near future. Jayasumana said the bill will propose a constitutional amendment requiring a presidential election be held within a year’s time after a successive President is appointed by Parliament in the event of a Prez’s demise or resignation. Joining the debate on Ministry of Defence budget, more..

Nov 25 (FT) SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne called for a dedicated institution to facilitate the much needed e-Govt. Speaking in Parliament on the vote of Ministries of Defence & Technology, Wickramaratne said that the present ICT agency - ICTA was created when the Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe was the PM in 2002 when he headed a committee while working as a CEO in a private bank. “Even now, the problem is retaining the best people in the field in a typical Govt service more..

Nov 25 (FT) The banking regulator yesterday said it will only intervene if markets fail to respond, expressing that the liquidity position is also recuperating. “We expect liquidity position will also move in the same direction of inflation deceleration path,” CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said at the post-Monetary Policy Review Meeting yesterday. However, he said that in the event market will not react, more..

Nov 25 (Island) When former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga presented a constitutional amendment as a solution to the ethnic problem, the UNP led by Ranil Wickremesinghe had torn it into pieces and burnt it in Parliament, SLPP MP Chandima Weerakkody said in Parliament on Wednesday. “Now, he is saying he wants to find a solution to the ethnic problem. He can come here and make statements but people watching from their homes have a hard time believing his sincerity. more..

Nov 25 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa slammed the comments made by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on Wednesday, claiming he would not allow for yet another Aragalaya to raise its head. Premadasa, called the statement cowardly and barbaric and said he condemns it with deep disgust. “The statement made by the President who took over power from the Rajapaksas who fled after being defeated can be regarded as a reprehensible and autocratic more..

Nov 25 (CT) FSP Educational Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda refuted the statement made by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament that FSP’s Kumar Gunaratnam is a dual citizen and the party was behind the 9 May violence and 13 July unrest near Parliament. Prez claimed Gunaratnam has citizenship in Australia as well as in SL. Jayagoda, addressing the media on Prez’s allegations, claimed that Prez Wickremesinghe’s statements in Parliament on Wednesday and yesterday more..

Nov 25 (Island) TNA supported Budget 2023 because Prez Ranil had shown a desire to resolve the Tamil National Question, MP M. A. Sumanthiran told Parliament on Wednesday. “I wish to clarify what we did at the vote on Tuesday evening, I did explain right at the end of my speech, nevertheless, time was insufficient so therefore I’d like to say that right through the debate on the 2nd reading, all members of the TNA criticised the budget. Every one of us for various reasons, I don’t need to repeat that. more..

Nov 25 (Island) In the wake of Prez’s declaration in parliament that the armed forces would be deployed to quell fresh unauthorised anti-govt protests meant to oust his govt, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said that UN Resident Representative Hanna Singer-Hamdy was quite pleased with the way law enforcement authorities had controlled the recent Opposition protests. Minister said so when asked SLPP National more..

Nov 25 (DM) Subsequent to his revelation in the Parliament about forging the security sticker pasted on liquor bottles, Opposition MP Buddhika Pathirana yesterday said several hundred thousand liquor bottles with forged security stickers have already entered the market. SJB MP addressing a news conference at the Opposition Leader’s Office yesterday said certain liquor manufacturers and some senior Excise officials are behind the racket of printing fraudulent security stickers. more..

Nov 25 (DM) The Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe today rubbished the claims that he is receiving a salary of Rs.2.5 million along with a pension from the IMF. Responding to a query from a reporter during a press conference held today, Weerasinghe said such claims have no substance. "Those claims are completely untrue. I'm not getting any pension from the IMF. During the time I was with the IMF on behalf of the country, I was paid a certain amount. That’s all. more..

Nov 25 (TM) The general public, FSP, JVP, aragalaya activists, and many other parties have made critical comments regarding Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statement in Parliament on Wednesday, in which he said he would not allow another aragalaya to take place, and that he would take measures such as the declaration of Emergency Regulations and the deployment of the Army to prevent such. more..

Nov 25 (FT) Although the Govt has been able to deal with and recover from the economic collapse that occurred with the bankruptcy of SL to some extent, the goal of overcoming the situation fully still remains a difficult task that will invariably cause untold sufferings to the people. This crisis can be considered as the biggest crisis that Sri Lanka has faced since entering the modern era. Considering all the crises that SL has faced before, the present crisis is much bigger and more complex than more..

Nov 25 (FT) While the world is facing a soaring inflation and at the brink of global food crisis, what SL faces is more than an economic crisis – a Balance of Payment crisis where our forex reserves have dried up, a debt crisis where largest portion of foreign debt is held by commercial institutions rather than concessionary lending from World Bank or Asian Development Bank, a financial system crisis where high govt lending exposure by the SL financial system, a political crisis where more..

Nov 25 (FMA) Addressing the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the 23- member Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, underscored the significance and necessity of actively engaging with the countries of the Indian Ocean Rim to mutually advance economic and commercial interests of SL as well as to maintain peace and stability in the region of Indian Ocean. He further stressed that SL’s commitment for the matters that concern the Indian Ocean more..

Nov 25 (EN) Shares gained over 1% on Friday mainly pushed up by Expolanka counter after it announced it’s interest to acquire logistic companies in abroad, brokers said. “The market was mainly pushed up by Expolanka following its disclosure on acquisition, however the overall market is on muted sentiments,” top market analyst said. Expolanka shares rose 16.2% to close at 163.25 rupees a share. It also contributed 40% or 648 million rupees to the turnover. Investor confidence have more..

Nov 25 (EN) SL’s Tea Board has initiated mechanized tea harvesting as fear of labor scarcity in the industry with no quality or production loss is expected, E.A.J.K. Edirisinghe, Commissioner of the Tea Board said. He said the Tea Research Institute (TRI) has already carried out research collaborating with Japan, and identified that efficiency can be improved, while preserving the same production capacity in estates. more..

Nov 25 (AD) A private plaint filed against Colombo SSP Roshan Dias and ASP Nalin Dilruk, for allegedly blocking a peaceful protest on Oct 10, was dismissed by Colombo Fort Magistrate today. The complainant accused the two police officers of putting up barricades to block the demonstration. The private plaint, filed by media activist Tharindu Jayawardena, was called before Magistrate Thilina Gamage this morning. On Nov 08, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, State Counsel more..

Nov 25 (AD) Visa charges for several categories including the issuance of dual citizenship and issuance of visas for children of SL parents holding foreign passports have been raised, the Dept of Immigration & Emigration says. The increased rates will be effective from December 01. Accordingly, the fee to issue dual citizenship under the Citizenship Act has been raised to USD 2,000 from LKR 345,000. Meanwhile, the fee levied for the issuance of dual citizenship to a spouse/child under more..

Nov 25 (DM) Civil Aviation Authority has paid a bill of Rs.60,000 to Sri Lankan Airlines Catering Services for the refreshments served at the Gold Route Service during the arrival of former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa last Sunday, after the Daily Mirror exposed that Basil had not paid for the food or the VIP lounge service. The Daily Mirror learns that following the article titled, No payment made by Basil to use VIP arrival lounge more..

Nov 25 (DM) A one-and-half-year-old toddler died after he was thrown out from the window of the third floor of the Samagipura Flats in Grandpass. The child had been sleeping in his bed when the toddler’s uncle and mother’s sibling, had thrown him out of the window. The child was rushed to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital after the incident, however he had succumbed to injuries while being treated at the ICU. The suspect was arrested and is scheduled to be produced before the Aluthkade more..

Nov 25 (DM) Claiming that the CEB is incurring a loss of Rs. 423 billion even after the recent tariff revision, Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said today increasing eletricity tariffs will be inevitable for continuation of power supply. He told Parliament that the generation cost at present is Rs. 889 billion and that only Rs. 400 billion is being receiving even after the tariff increase in August. The Minister said the recent tariff increase was not what was requested by the CEB and added that more..

Nov 25 (EN) UK has given a one million dollars grant to help 5,000 families of low income fishermen, FAO said. The assistance will go as a cash grant to fishermen using traditional equipment in Tangalle, Negombo, Colombo, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Puttalam, Chilaw, and Mannar. Fishers will get US$ 47 per month for a period of 3 months for immediate food and livelihood requirements. “We recognize that the fisheries sector in SL has been going through a very difficult period. more..

Nov 25 (TM) Attorney General (AG) Sanjay Rajaratnam’s instructions with regard to granting bail to IUSF Convenor Wasantha Mudalige, who was being detained under the PTA and later placed in remand custody, are to be issued on 12 Dec. When IUBF Convenor Ven. Galwewa Siridhamma Thera, who was also being detained under the PTA, and later remanded, was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, a Senior Deputy Solicitor General from the AG’s Department had more..

Nov 25 (TM) A total of 3,991 dairy cows out of the 4,995 imported under credit have died, revealed Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne at the COPE meeting held yesterday with the NLDB. He further stated that $ 11.01 million had been paid four years prior, as an advance payment, to import 15,000 more dairy cows, but to no avail. “A total of 4,995 dairy cows were imported under the relevant credit line. more..

Nov 25 (CT) A rising trend is being witnessed in H1N1 influenza cases being detected among the adolescent and adult population in the country, Head of National Influenza Centre, MRI, Consultant Virologist, Dr. Jude Jayamaha said. Dr. Jayamaha, when contacted, said patients with the viral subtype – especially those in the high-risk category should seek immediate medical attention. High-risk groups include pregnant women, children below 2 years, elderly persons, those with chronic diseases. more..

Nov 25 (TM) Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) stressed that if a specific dress code for teachers is made mandatory through a circular, the teachers should be provided with an allowance to acquire said attire. CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin stated that the Govt is trying to arbitrarily modify the circular that has been issued for public sector employees to report to work in comfortable attire. If public employees are not allowed to use the opportunity to attend work in comfortable more..

Nov 25 (TM) TNA noted that whether or not Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s invitation to all parties to settle the national ethnic issue through the devolution of power is genuine will be seen in the future, but that TNA would engage constructively with the process, while the SLMC noted that the Prez is in favour of devolution. When noted by The Morning that there had been comments in the House on Wednesday more..

Nov 25 (Island) Everyone who had duped the people into voting for the SLPP administration into power must apologise to the people, SJB MP Lakshman Kirielle said in Parliament on Wednesday. “There were officials, professionals, artistes, etc, who duped the people. They must tender a public apology. The govt MPs can’t go to the village and that’s why they are delaying elections,” he said. Kiriella said that various govts had delayed elections. “However, this only made the govts more unpopular. more..

Nov 25 (TM) Trade unions affiliated with the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) and the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) have declared 5, 6, and 8 December as days of protest against the 2023 Budget, based on several issues including the privatisation of Govt institutions, the revision of labour laws, the increase in taxes, and moves to curtail the salaries and other benefits of public and private sector employees. NTUC Convenor Wasantha Samarasinghe said that more..

Nov 25 (FT) SL has been included among the 20 Best Countries in the World as per 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards conducted by the popular and influential magazine Condé Nast Traveller. Italy tops the list, while SL was ranked at number 17 ahead of Israel, Turkey and South Africa respectively. “As SL has worked in recent years to secure its spot as a global tourism contender, it has faced quite a few challenges, from the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings to the pandemic, and it’s looking to regain more..

Nov 25 (DM) The main prosecution witness in the Hejaaz Hizbullah trial, Mohomed Malik today admitted of taking contradictory stances before judges at different times. He told court today that he lied in his statement made before Magistrate in May 2020. He said that in relation to repeated questions by the defense on how he left the Al Zuhriya Arabic college . In his evidence in chief the witness said that he had jumped and run away from the school. However in his statement to the Magistrate . more..

Nov 25 (TM) Students of the SL Law College (SLLC) are seeking to reverse the decision taken by the Council of Legal Education (CLE) for the SLLC to hold its internal examinations in only the English medium, and accordingly, discussions concerning this demand are underway with the relevant stakeholders including leaders of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of Govt, as well as the private and unofficial bar, more..

Nov 25 (TM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday warned in Parliament that the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) should not interfere in the duties of the Police, adding that he had asked the Attorney General (AG) to look into this matter. “Now, they (the protestors) are trying to make the HRCSL hinder the Police. It is not that the Police do not violate human rights. Some people are taken to the Police for theft and they are beaten up. Some are treated differently. more..

Nov 25 (TM) Minister of Environment and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) MP Naseer Ahamed said in Parliament that a solution for the national ethnic issue should not only be confined to the Tamil people, but should also include the political grievances of the Muslim people. He also noted that the Muslim community is ready to initiate talks with the Tamil community to reach a lasting solution to the political issue. “Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has come forward to resolve the ethnic issue. more..

Nov 25 (EN) Sri Lanka’s Public Utilities Commission has failed to hike tariffs for nine years leading to financial crisis and a steep hike in 2022, raising questions about the role of a regulator, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. “The electricity price was revised after 2013,” he said. “It is after nine years that the prices were revised. In 2013 electricity bills were raised in 2014 the bill was cut by 25%. more..