Oct 31 (ST) SL’s precariously low foreign reserves suffered another blow this week after Bangladesh’s Central Bank, Bangladesh Bank, directed all banks in that country to only resort to cash deals and no credit with SL banks under an international payment settlement gateway. The move, according to local bankers, may have been prompted by SL’s low forex reserves and SL’s CB seeking more time to make payments more..

Oct 31 (Island) Catholic bishops have urged devotees to provide medicines and dry rations for the needy at a time when Sri Lankan is mired in crises. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of SL (CBCSL), in a statement released, urged people to be sensitive to those who are suffering in the country. “All expenses should be reserved for providing dry rations, milk powder for children, and medicines to the poor and needy people,” said the statement issued by CBCSL President, more..

Oct 31 (ST) Amateur Rowing Association of SL (ARASL) will conduct its annual Senior National Rowing Championship from Nov 3 to 5 at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre (DRC), but the national governing body of the most glamorous watersport are facing a setback of a different sort. The ARASL is in a twilight zone raising funds, which in turn has impacted heavily in keeping their Consultant Advisor, Pedro Sanz from Spain on board. ARASL had the backing from the Ministry of Sports when more..

Oct 31 (TM) The ongoing drug shortage in Sri Lanka is expected to worsen as pharmaceutical importers are struggling to source rupees needed to open Letters of Credit (LCs), while banks strain to source dollars to meet the requirements, The Sunday Morning learns. The depreciation of the rupee, inability to open LCs, high interest rates, and unpaid dues owed by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) has already impacted more..

Oct 31 (Island) Acting on complaints that some persons are unlawfully occupying many of the MPs’ quarters at Madiwela, Speaker has ordered a special probe. He has called for a report urgently. It has been alleged that some of the MPs houses, numbering 120, are occupied by outsiders, including security guards. Besides, there are complaints that some former MPs have not left the official residences despite repeated reminders, and therefore some of the sitting MPs more..

Oct 31 (TM) Representatives of European Union (EU), at a recent meeting with the TNA, had expressed that they would assess the country’s human rights situation, political situation, and take into account the Govt’s promise to abolish the PTA when considering providing the GSP+ concession to SL. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that EU representatives met himself and TNA Leader MP R. Sampanthan late last week, during which they were told that when SL requests for a further more..

Oct 31 (ST) The intended price revision for rooftop solar tariff will further push away investments in this sector, solar industry officials say. Cabinet approval was granted to revise rooftop solar tariff rates replacing the current two-tier tariff rate of Rs. 22 and Rs. 15.50 to a flat rate of Rs. 37 for less than 500KW and Rs. 34.50 for above 500KW Rooftop Solar for 20 years. Tariffs will be adjusted annually based on a formula, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told the media on Tuesday. more..

Oct 31 (Island) SL had everything going for them on their march towards the semi-finals of the ICC T-20 World Cup in Australia. With their games against NZ and England slotted at SCG, a venue they had done exceptionally well over the years, many fans hoped that the team will reach the last four stage. Although the side had been shaken up by a series of injuries, when the Kiwis were reduced to 15 for three, SL were eyeing a big win that would not only give them two points but boost their Net Run Rate too. more..

Oct 31 (AD) The govt will appoint a committee to seek how best to integrate the Tamils of Hill Country Origin further into the SL society, said Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. He said further that although some of the Tamils of Hill Country Origin had integrated successfully into the SL society, some have failed, and measures would be taken to assist them to do so. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe made these observations more..

Oct 31 (AD) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera’s nephew, who was arrested over his alleged involvement in the reckless driving incident inside the Yala National Park, has been granted bail by the court. The youth, who is reportedly the son of Minister’s elder brother, was ordered released on two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each by the Tissamaharama Magistrate’s Court. So far 10 suspects have been released on bail over the incident where several persons drove SUVs more..

Oct 31 (TM) State Minister of Women and Child Affairs Geetha Kumarasinghe said that a separate High Court must be established to examine children- and women-related cases and thereby expedite the relevant processes. Kumarasinghe said that she would request Prez Wickremesinghe to take necessary steps to establish a separate High Court for the above purpose in Colombo, following which she would ensure such courts be set up separately for the remaining 24 districts. more..

Oct 31 (FT) SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said his party is demanding a Parliamentary Election be held as the current Govt is well past its expiry date. Kiriella pointed out that various parties to the Govt have left their fold now to sit with the Opposition instead. “The Govt has split into several factions. At least three or four groups are now sitting with the Opposition. Therefore, the Govt must understand that its time is up. Seek the opinion of the people through an election,” he said more..

Oct 31 (CT) Plans are afoot to increase legislators’ medical insurance by 500% as per a decision reached at the House Committee meeting held recently. Speaker decided to forward a proposal to Cabinet, requesting to increase MPs’ medical insurance by 500%. The proposal to Cabinet is to increase the value of a ’s medical insurance from Rs 200,000 to Rs 1 million. Many MPs have informed Speaker that insurance amount is insufficient, as all medical expenses have increased more..

Oct 31 (FT) SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva expressed serious concern over the fact that proposals from the IMF were not shared with the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Public Finance (COPF) which he chairs but made available to various others. He said that despite multiple requests, the IMF Staff-Level Agreement with annexes on specific tax changes have not been shared or discussed with the COPF. more..

Oct 31 (AD) A SL male is among those who died in a crush as huge Halloween crowds surged into a narrow street in South Korea’s capital, Seoul yesterday (29), according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabri. Further, he has been identified as a 27-year-old from the Kandy area. SL mission in Seoul is reportedly in touch with the police and the hospital authorities in Seoul for further details. At least 151 people had died and more than 82 were injured in the crowd crush in Itaewon, more..

Oct 31 (TM) Dept of Immigration and Emigration is awaiting approval from its Controller General to provide details regarding the citizenship status of the 225 MPs, following two personal Right to Information (RTI) requests made to its office. Dept of Immigration and Emigration Media Spokesman Piyumi Bandara said that following two personal requests made through RTI Act, dept is now awaiting approval from the Controller General to provide details of the citizenship status of all MPs. more..

Oct 31 (DM) The latest Mood of the Nation poll by Verité Research reveals that govt approval has moved up, yet still at an extremely low level of 10%. This is the same as it was in Jan 2022. The poll carried out in October found that 7% more of the sample population said they approved the way in which the govt is working when compared with the results of the June 2022 poll. In June, only 3% said they approved the ways of the govt. more..

Oct 31 (FT) Aseni: Grandpa, I have just finished reading the SOE22. I find it containing valuable analysis of the current economic issues faced by the country. But I recall you telling me that in the past none of the govts paid the due attention to its recommendations. Will the present report too have the same fate? Sarath: IPS has been issuing this report every year since 1992. All reports have been written on a theme of importance to SL at time of the issue. Hence, they were current all the time. more..

Oct 31 (FT) Very few of us have a hole in the heart issue, but most of us have the hole in the pocket issue. The proposed tax increases will make it more acute for many Lankans. I read a book with a difference with much interest, which highlights the memories of money in tracing its origins. Interestingly, it was a gift I received on Teachers’ Day 2022, from one of my most competent MBA learning partners who is now a visiting faculty of PIM. Today’s column is on the contents of more..

Oct 31 (CT) President’s Media Division (PMD) joined the Community Kitchen programme, to support the people affected by the food shortage. The PMD staff and the Community Kitchen programme run the Rajagiriya Community Service Centre. On 28 Oct, they provided a meal to the needy. More than 400 needy people attended the event. The Welfare Association of the PMD provided financial assistance. The intention is to spread the Community Kitchen Concept at public and more..

Oct 31 (AD) Two persons travelling on a motorcycle were shot dead in the Thiranagama area of Hikkaduwa this morning. The shooting had taken place in front of a tourist hotel in the Thiranagama area of Hikkaduwa at around 9.30 a.m. today. The two victims in the shooting have been identified to be connected with a murder case, according to police. Police stated that the shooting was carried out by two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle and that they had fled on the same motorcycle more..

Oct 31 (AD) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today endorsed the certificate on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill passed by a special majority in Parliament recently. 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill was presented to the Parliament on Aug 10. Then, according to the Supreme Court determination related to the petitions against the bill, amendments were made at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on more..

Oct 31 (FT) For the global cloud enterprise software company IFS, SL is key, prompting continuous investments and doubling of staff in the past five years, a top official revealed. “SL is very important to IFS. The country is a little gem with amazing talent and the employees are our family,” IFS’ Chief Digital and Information Officer and Executive Vice President Global Procurement and Facilities Saleh (Sal) Laher said on the side-lines of the Company’s global gathering in Miami, Florida recently. more..

Oct 31 (TM) Claiming that the Govt is preparing to privatise the free healthcare service that should be expanded amidst the prevailing economic crisis, the ACNU stated that it will engage in a massive struggle to defeat any such move. ACNU President S.B. Mediwatthe said: “We saw Minister Keheliya Rambukwella saying that there are plans to implement a programme to provide paid treatment in selected hospitals. Hearing that statement, we feel that the Govt is planning to privatise more..

Oct 31 (TM) Contrary to the statement made by the Society of Govt Pharmacists (SGP) that certain officials of the Health Ministry were working to purchase a new data system for the supply and distribution of medicines at a cost of Rs. 1 billion, former State Minister and incumbent MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that the relevant data system costs only Rs. 100 million, and its implementation will prove to be a paradigm more..

Oct 31 (DM) The Department of Immigration and Emigration is to finalise its investigations launched to identify members of parliament who have dual citizenship. The Dept launched a special investigation last week following a request made under the Right to Information Act. A spokesman of the department said that the relevant investigation was conducted based on a document containing the date of birth, name and national identity number of the MPs referred by the Parliament. more..

Oct 31 (FT) Croplife SL on Friday disclosed that agriculture production cost rose 67% during the last quarter of 2021 whilst production slumped by 54% due to the Govt’s decision to ban imports of chemical fertiliser. “As a result, prices of agricultural produce increased by much as 45% adding to the cost-of-living crisis impacting the country,” the company said at a forum it hosted focusing on the Role of Agric-Inputs in Food Security featuring several leading private and public sector more..

Oct 31 (Island) SL’s worst post-war economic crisis represents a major blow to the country’s progress towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), efforts that were already hobbled by the COVID pandemic. However, the situation is also providing impetus to the work of academics that are using their knowledge to tackle the immediate fallout from the crisis, in addition to longer-term sustainability goals, says a report published by the University World News, more..

Oct 31 (TM) While Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) consumers have been complaining of an LPG shortage and many dealers within Colombo District have been claiming that they have not received stocks of LPG from distributors, Litro Gas Lanka clarified that sufficient stocks were available, and that distributors may be hesitant in procuring stocks in anticipation of a price reduction this week. Several dealers within the Colombo district said that they had not been receiving stocks of Litro LPG more..

Oct 31 (EN) Police arrested three more locals suspected to have involved in the cryptocurrency scam that was run by a Chinese couple, Police Media Spokesman said. CID arrested the Chinese couple and a local on early this month for committing an estimated 14 billion rupee crypto currency fraud. The local arrested early this month has been later released on bail after produced to the court. scam has been continuing since 2020 more..

Oct 31 (TM) Ministry of Public Security stated that National Budget Dept has approved the recruitment of a reasonable number of Police officers in the year 2023 to fill the vacancies of the Police service, and will arise due to the retirement of a large number of Police officers on 31 Dec 2022. Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security S. Hettiarachchi said: “There is a shortage of Police officers to be deployed for normal duties due to several reasons such as the existing vacancies in the Police service, more..

Oct 31 (ANI) Pakistan's economy is like a ticking time bomb. Factors that contributed to Sri Lanka's economic crisis have also had a significant impact on Pakistan, whose economy faces similar challenges. Muhammad Hamza Qamar, writing in Daily Parliament Times said that Pakistan has a large amount of debt, high inflation, a spike in unemployment and a lot of other macroeconomic problems which clearly show the multiple challenges faced by the country. more..

Oct 31 (TM) SriLankan Airlines (SLA) plans to earn $ 600 million from the sale of stakes of SriLankan Catering Ltd. and the airline’s ground handling unit, thereby reducing SLA’s overall debt of $ 1.046 billion by half, said SLA Chairman Ashok Pathirage. He said that SLA could get $ 200 million and $ 400 million, respectively, through the sale of a 49% stake in SLA catering and ground handling units, and use that money to reduce its debt by $ 600 m, more..

Oct 31 (EN) SL has hiked company registration fees from October 2022 after the worst currency collapse of the island’s soft-pegged central bank amid a rise in other govt charges. Registered companies bring businesses into the formal economy and make it easier for rulers to tax them. Modern start-ups also incorporate themselves as private limited companies. The fee to register a public limited company would be 23,000 rupees, a private limited company 4,600 rupees and an unlimited more..

Oct 31 (CT) There is a high risk of schoolgirls obtaining Methamphetamine Crystals (ICE) from beauty parlours, according to National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB). NDDCB Assistant Counsellor Lakmee Nilanka said, statistics show that ICE is widely used in the Kurunegala District. She revealed this while participating in an awareness programme, to prevent schoolchildren from becoming drug addicts. According to investigations, drug addicts obtained their drugs from beauty more..