Apr 13 (DM) Prisons Dept has prepared a special opportunity for the inmates to meet visitors during the three days in view of the 2023 Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Additional Prisons Commissioner General and Prisons spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said. He said the three-day opportunity has been granted as of today (13). Relatives visiting the prisoners on these days will be given the opportunity to provide a food parcel equal to one person and sweets to the extent required by one person. more..

Apr 13 (TM) The Sunday Morning reported that nearly 700 doctors, including some medical consultants, had left SL and migrated overseas, based on estimates by the Ministry of Health. Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena, commenting on the recent issues faced by specialist paediatricians at the A'pura Teaching Hospital in that article, indicated that staff shortage suffered by more..

Apr 13 (TM) The Australian law firm, which is assisting the Attorney General’s (AG) Dept with the civil suit to claim compensation for the environmental damage caused by the maritime disaster and the shipwreck of the MV X-Press Pearl, has advised that carrying out the litigation process in Singapore is favourable to the Island nation, the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) says. This was disclosed during a meeting held at the Justice Ministry with the participation of the AG, more..

Apr 13 (CT) The IMF, in a document titled Fiscal Monitor and released on Tuesday said, Govt of SL's gross debt which was a low 82.6% of GDP in 2019, had since been gradually seen rising to hit a record high of 117.7% of GDP by last year (2022). It further said SL’s revenue which hit a recent high of 13.2% of GDP in 2016 has been gradually falling to suffer a recent trough of 8.3% of GDP in 2021, before marginally recovering to 8.5% of GDP last year. IMF also said GoSL expenditure more..

Apr 13 (AFP) The IMF slightly lowered its outlook for the global economy on Tuesday, while predicting that most countries will avoid a recession this year despite economic and geopolitical concerns. The IMF predicted the global economy will grow by 2.8% this year and three percent in 2024, a decline of 0.1% point from its previous forecasts in January. The American economy is expected to grow by 1.6% in 2023, up 0.2 percentage point on the IMF's previous forecast. more..

Apr 13 (TM) The Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) stated that the Ministry of Education should take steps to maintain the activities of schools that have undergone changes for various reasons in the past few years as normal, and to conduct the examinations within the relevant period. Given the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the prevailing economic crisis, the activities of schools underwent various changes over the past few years. more..

Apr 13 (TM) A complaint has been lodged with the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) over an incident of Mohamed Abdul Cader Azeem, who is the brother-in-law of the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019, Mohamed Cassim Zahran alias Zahran Hashim, and the former's wife Mohamed Ziham Fathima, being arrested by the Police, allegedly without a proper charge. The arrestees including Azeem and more..

Apr 13 (Island) Frontline Socialist Party says that they had been warning that the Central Bank is the most vulnerable institution under a govt headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe since he assumed duties as the President. Party’s Propaganda Secretary Duminda Nagamuwa said that his party had warned that the Central Bank was losing its security and safety under incumbent govt. “There is news that a sum of five million rupees has gone missing from the Central Bank’s vaults. more..

Apr 13 (AD) Sri Lankans celebrate the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year tomorrow (14). The New Year, known as Aluth Avurudda in Sinhala, and Puththandu in Tamil, is celebrated by both communities by observing various rituals and customs. According to traditional astrological belief, Sun completes its movement across the twelve segments of the Zodiac in the course of a year taking one month to travel each constellation. Transition of the Sun from the House of more..

Apr 13 (Island) The inordinate delay in initiating legal action against X-Press Feeders, the owners of container carrier X-Press Pearl, which sank off Colombo in early June, 2021 causing a maritime disaster, has taken a new turn with Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, asking IGP C.D. Wickramaratne to probe an allegation that a certain party involved in the ongoing deliberations received USD 250 mn and more..

Apr 17 (CT) IMF’s Global Financial Stability Report was released a few days ago, which referred to a perilous combination of vulnerabilities that have been lurking under the surface of a global financial system for years, and Tobias Adrian the Financial Counsellor and Director of Monetary and Capital Markets Department of IMF added that “the emergence of stress in financial markets complicates the task of central banks as they seek to maintain towards higher interest rates more..

Apr 17 (GV) The impact of the economic crisis on the working class poor of Colombo over the past year cannot be overstated. Many of these households were already affected by the pandemic due to a loss of daily wage work following the imposition of COVID-19 lockdowns and were struggling to make ends meet when the economic crisis hit last year. As of February 2023, CCPI based headline inflation was 50.6%, while food inflation (Y-o-Y) was at 54.4% in the same month. more..

Apr 17 (TM) Sinhala and Tamil New Year last year was shrouded in clouds, people’s protests or aragalaya (public movement to overthrow the then Govt under former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa) were just kicking off, gaining much traction just a few weeks later. Rajapaksa seemed to be scrambling to do the right thing though failing miserably, until forced to leave the country on the heels of several months of protests, more..

Apr 17 (TM) A salary slip said to be of an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) official was recently seen circulating on social media. The salary slip, which appears to be recent, had no tax deductions shown, even though the salary on the slip qualified to be eligible for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax/Personal Income Tax (PIT). This led to outrage amongst netizens, as the public sector continues to absorb taxpayer money without contributing to tax revenue, even as the private sector, more..

Apr 17 (Island) That fantastic lady, a reputed persona grata of eminence, as well as teacher of repute who lit up the field of paediatric healthcare, Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics, Deshamanya Priyani Elizabeth Soysa MBBS(Cey), DCH(Eng), MD(Cey), DSc (Ruhuna) Honoris causa, FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Lond), FRCPCH(UK), FCCP(SL), FSLCPaed, and Fellow of the SL Association for the Advancement of Science, most peacefully bid adieu to this mortal world more..

Apr 17 (TM) Leading legal experts and environmentalists last week urged the Govt to reconsider the decision taken by the Attorney General’s (AG) Dept to file legal action in Singapore against the P&I Club, the insurer of the controversial Singaporean-flagged MV X-Press Pearl vessel, demanding approximately $ 6.4 billion as environmental damages caused to the marine environment when the ship caught fire more..

Apr 17 (TM) Prevailing socio-economic crisis and the Covid pandemic before it, impacted almost every demography in SL. While many are slowly recovering, moving towards stabilising gradually, the education sector which was seriously affected, appears to be struggling to find its feet. Instead of making progress, there is concern that students are being held hostage as education authorities and education sector trade unions continue to lock horns over exam marking and the fees allocated more..

Apr 17 (TM) Even as several metrics that heralded SL’s economic crisis show signs of easing, the general public nor businesses appear to have felt the effects just yet. For instance, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera last month announced that fuel prices would be reduced as a result of falling international oil prices and the recent IMF loan approval, coupled with an appreciating SL Rupee. Accordingly, the price of a litre of 92 octane petrol has been reduced by Rs. 60 to become Rs. 340 more..

Apr 17 (FT) Expolanka Holdings says the global freight markets have shown signs of bottoming out and the recent strategic acquisitions worth $ 110 million will come handy giving it a greater foothold in the US and North American market, its major revenue source. Last month Expolanka, via fully owned subsidiary EFL Global Logistics (EFL Singapore), acquired 100% equity interest of LEI Group for a purchase consideration of CA$ 90 million ($ 66.5 mil or around Rs. 22 bil) more..

Apr 17 (FT) IMF Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Peter Breuer for Sri Lanka in a statement said recently the IMF Executive Board approved a 48-month extended arrangement under the extended Fund facility of 2.286 billion SDR, Special Drawing Rights, and that corresponds to about $ 3 billion to support Sri Lanka's economic policies and reforms. He went on to say, Sri Lanka, as you know, has been facing a severe crisis as a result of past policy missteps and economic shocks. more..

Apr 17 (CI) Kusal Mendis has a theory: Test batting is becoming more and more like ODI batting. This came at the end of a day in which SL scored at 4.38 an over on a supremely flat surface at Galle. But still, in the Bazball era, perhaps everyone else is ramping up scoring rates too. On day one, against Ireland, Mendis made 140 at a strike rate of 73. But he was the slower of SL's two centurions - Dimuth hit 179 at a strike rate of 76. more..

Apr 17 (Island) Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe govt has chosen to bite off more than it can chew. Now, it is planning to present its controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) to Parliament on 25 April. Why it is in a mighty hurry to rush such a bad law through defies comprehension. It has left room for its critics to argue that it is driven by a desire to suppress democratic dissent and bulldoze its way through amidst fierce resistance the Opposition and trade unions are offering to the implementation of more..

Apr 17 (CT) This time last year, Sri Lanka announced its first sovereign debt default. By then, hundreds of thousands of people, young and old, drawn from Colombo and its suburbs, but constituting a rather representative, diverse crowd, walked and drove defiantly and set up camp at Galle Face Green. They intended on building a community for themselves, but had yet to name it. In the next few weeks, they would call it Gotagogama, or Gota-Go-Village. more..

Apr 17 (Island) The answer to the question in the title of this article is in the affirmative. I explained in The Island of Jan 2023 the correct method of costing electricity supply. In January, PUCSL announced the costs submitted by the two distributors CEB and LECO for 2023, and the proposed prices. PUC’s proposed prices did not match the costs submitted. The govt, which traditionally would not allow electricity prices to be increased, went to the extent of appointing new commissioners to PUCSL, more..

Apr 17 (DN) Sri Lankas promising opener Pathum Nissanka is out from the first test against Ireland which started yesterday at Galle cricket Stadium. Nissanka the 24 year right hander already played nine tests scoring 537 runs at an average of 38.35. He has scored a century and five fifties and has scored 713 runs with 6 fifties in 23 ODI’ s and played 42 T20’s having 1098 runs with nine fifties. His started with confidence in all three formats but later during the last Indian series had a back injury more..

Apr 17 (CI) Dimuth Karunaratne struck an assured 179, Kusal Mendis amassed 140, and Sri Lanka took firm grip of the Test, as that pair's 281-run partnership for the second wicket formed the centrepiece of the hosts' dominant day one. Not only were Karunaratne and Mendis largely untroubled by the Ireland bowlers on a flat Galle deck, they also ensured that their progress was brisk, hitting 33 fours & a six between them. more..

Apr 17 (FT) Digital payment technology specialist Visa tips tourism in SL to grow as a major economic category expressing confidence that the sector can be a pivot to the country’s recovery. Visa’s optimism is amidst pick up in tourist arrivals in recent months. This year so far has seen monthly arrivals top 100,000 and year to date up to 7 April, the cumulative figure is 362,591. Visa India and South Asia Group Country Manager Sandeep Ghosh who was in SL recently welcomed the revival more..

Apr 17 (FT) Sri Lanka Tourism will today kick off its first series of roadshows post-COVID pandemic in select cities of China, to woo more visitors and fast-track revival of the industry battered by multiple crises since 2019. The roadshows will be held from 17 to 21 April targeting three key cities including Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou. The main purpose of hosting these roadshows is to promote SL as an attractive tourism destination across China, as it is one of SL’s key source markets. more..

Apr 17 (Island) Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith called on all Sri Lankans to sink their differences and support the Church’s quest for justice for the Easter Sunday victims. Cardinal said that a campaign would be launched under the theme Until justice is done, we are watching on 21 April. Church has organised a human chain protest and asked the public to line up on the road at 8am next Friday & remain there til 8.45 am. more..

Apr 17 (AD) The SJB has informed MP Rajitha Senaratne to immediately issue a statement regarding the statements published on the media that he will support the current govt and the President. However, the National Organizer of the SJB, MP Tissa Attanayake stated that MP Rajitha Senaratne has rejected all media reports which mentioned that he will join the current govt. Meanwhile, the SJB appointed a committee to look into a statement said to have been made by more..

Apr 17 (AD) The vehicle in which State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siambalapitiya was travelling in, has reportedly been involved in an accident in the Karawanella area of Ruwanwella on the Kegalle - Avissawella main road. A total of 05 people were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the accident. State Minister’s security officer has been hospitalized, owing to injuries sustained in the accident. Meanwhile, State Minister is also undergoing treatment for minor injuries more..

Apr 17 (SLN) Navy intercepted an Indian dhow carrying over 62kg of Kerala cannabis and apprehended 03 suspects, during a special operation conducted in the SL waters west of the Delft Island, Jaffna in the dark hours of 15th April. SL Navy conducts regular patrols and search operations in the coastal and sea areas around the island, with a view to preventing the influx of drugs into the island. As an extension of these efforts, Fast Attack Craft P 411 of 4th Fast Attack Flotilla, more..

Apr 17 (AD) This year’s first solar eclipse will take place on April 20 from 7:04 a.m. to 12:29 p.m. IST, an event which is visible only to 8.77% of the world’s population, according to Prof. Chandana Jayaratne. The rare solar eclipse is commonly known as a hybrid eclipse since it will shift from a total eclipse to an annular solar eclipse as the moon’s shadow moves over earth. For some locations in the solar eclipse’s path on the world, viewers will witness a total solar eclipse, more..

Apr 17 (EN) Supreme Court has found several clauses in a planned controversial draft monetary law to be capricious and arbitrary and against the country’s constitution. The supreme court has suggested remedies to resolve legal conflicts with the constitution as well as some other laws in the country, including a foreign exchange act. The law is to be passed as part of an IMF’s latest program. Critics however have warned that more..

Apr 17 (DM) Election Commission (EC) is still awaiting an indication from the Finance Ministry on a time frame in which necessary funds would be released to the EC to conduct the twice postponed LG polls, chairman Nimal G Punchihewa said. He said that PM Dinesh Gunawardana who is also the Minister of PCs and LG has told the EC that he would discuss the financial issue of the EC with Prez Wickremesinghe and inform the EC when the funds are available during the discussion held on more..

Apr 17 (EN) Outspoken Chairman of PUCSL Janaka Ratnayake says he is ready to enter politics under certain conditions, provided and opportunity is given. “If I am given an opportunity to bring forward a good proposal where every citizen is empowered, embraced, encouraged, and entrusted to make this a better place, I’m always open to do that,” Ratnayake said. Members of the public is seeking a “good administration, unbiased individuals who can deliver”, he said. more..