Apr 3 (Island) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday met a group of petroleum sector trade union representatives against the backdrop of Minister Kanchana Wijesekera sending several trade unionists on compulsory leave. The meeting lasted nearly two hours. Alleging that they had disrupted fuel supplies, minister Wijesekera ordered disciplinary action against them regardless of their party affiliations. CPC workers sought the former Prez’s intervention to thwart Minister more..

Apr 3 (DM) Former national cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed as the Chairman of a Technical Consultative Committee for Sri Lanka Cricket by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe. Joining Jayasuriya as members of the committee will be Farveez Maharoof, Charith Senanayake, Asantha de Mel and Kapila Wijegunawardhana. Former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa had a similar committee in place, led by Mahela Jayawardena, but that was disbanded after Rajapaksa resigned more..

Apr 3 (TN) While SL cricket continues to rebuild in the post-Mahela Jayawardene-Kumar Sangakkara era, their U-19 team tour of Abu Dhabi did not provide much evidence that the nation's prospects are heading in the right direction. They were in the UAE for an U19 tri-series against Afghanistan and Bangladesh that was followed by two games against the Afghans. The islanders started the tri-series in promising fashion more..

Apr 3 (DM) The five-member Committee appointed to look into administrative and financial issues of the Football Federation of SL (FFSL) is to hand over its report to the Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe tomorrow. Minister Ranasinghe has appointed a special committee headed by former High Court Judge Kusala Sarojani through a gazette notification September last year. Sports Ministry said that the Committee had investigated and prepared the report regarding the delay more..

Apr 3 (EN) Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment will launch a new mobile app from May 1 to facilitate foreign remittances with an aim to boost foreign inflows from migrants. The new app Lanka Remit will see some duty concessions at the main airport for SL migrant workers as incentives. “This relief is implemented under five categories and workers who have sent an amount between $2,400 and 4,799 dollars can get an additional duty relief of $600” Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said. more..

Apr 3 (Island) Amidst ongoing protests against the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa govt’s controversial tax regime, which is expected to meet revenue targets set by the IMF, Parliament has revealed that the Inland Revenue Dept, Customs and Excise Dept disregarded a specific directive issued by parliamentary watchdog COPA way back in 2016 to enhance revenue collection. more..

Apr 3 (CT) State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya assured that State sector salaries, pensions and Samurdhi allowances would be paid by 10 April. He said Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe confirmed in the Budget 2023 speech that there will be a special allowance for the State sector in the fourth quarter of 2023. He said settling salaries, pensions, and allowances was a huge burden on the Govt’s cash flow, but the President has directed that all these must be paid. more..

Apr 3 (Island) An Extraordinary Gazette has been issued amending the rules on the attire of Judges and Attorneys-at-Law as follows: “(1) The attire of women Attorneys-at-Law shall be as follows: (a) Saree and jacket in white, black, off-white, grey or mauve; or (b) Black trousers with white blouse and black coat and shoes; or (c) Black skirt with white blouse and black coat and shoes. (2) (a) The length of the trousers, referred to in paragraph (b) of sub-rule (1) shall be to the ankle. more..

Apr 3 (Xinhua) SL's tourism industry is aiming to attract 2 million visitors in 2023, an increase from the previous target of 1.5 million. SLTDA Chairman Priantha Fernando said that the SLTDA amended the estimates due to a positive trend in the first quarter of the year. SL has already exceeded its target for March 2023, with over 112,000 tourists arriving in the first 28 days of the month, marking the first time since 2019 that SL has welcomed over 100,000 tourists for 3 consecutive months. more..

Apr 3 (JICA) On March 29, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Record of Discussions with the Govt of SL for the Project for Strengthening Plastic Management Capacity, a technical cooperation project. With plastic management a pressing global issue, in 2021, Govt of Sri Lanka developed the National Plastic Waste Management Action Plan (2021–2030) with assistance from UNEP, IGES-CCET, and Japanese Ministry of Environment. In line with this plan, more..

Apr 3 (EN) SL’s main airport is moving to tackle congestion by increasing service counters as tourist arrivals pick up in 2023, and construction of a Japanese funded second terminal is suspended after the country defaulted external debt. “With the dawn tourist season, the number of tourists arriving in SL is increasing, creating possible passenger congestion, especially at the arrival terminal of the Katunayake airport,” more..

Apr 3 (FT) Priyanka Jayatilake has taken the reins of KPMG SL with effect from 1 April with his appointment as the Managing Partner. Priyanka Jayatilake has been with KPMG SL for 35 years, of which, he has been a Partner for the last 30 years. He is known for his leadership skills and his ability to drive positive changes in the firm. His contribution to both Advisory and Technology functions in the firm have been phenomenal. He has been instrumental in setting up the firm’s technology practice, more..

Apr 3 (FT) Well-known marketer and management specialist Dr. Kingsley Bernard has been appointed as the new Chairman of SL Export Development Board (EDB). The appointment is akin to a homecoming as Dr. Bernard once served the EDB as its Director of Marketing. Dr. Kingsley Bernard counts over 40 years of experience in the Corporate Sector in SL. He has held senior and top management positions in organisations both in the public and Insurance Corporation more..

Apr 3 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the agreement with the IMF would be presented to Parliament for a vote on whether to support it. Following this, the key points of the agreement would be enacted into law. Prez also indicated that Prevention of Terrorism Bill, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Anti-Corruption Bill would be submitted to Parliament by June. He shared these updates with uni professors more..

Apr 3 (AD) The Attorney General has informed the Court of Appeal that the incumbent Minister of Sports has decided to withdraw the gazette notification issued by former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, suspending the activities of Sri Lanka Rugby. Then Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa had issued a gazette notification on April 01, 2022, suspending the registration of the Sports Association for Sri Lanka Rugby – the official governing body of the sport in Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 3 (CT) Govt plans to import 30 million eggs per month, with the eggs imported through the SL State Trading (General) Corporation being sold only to bakery manufacturers and hotels, Minister Nalin Fernando said. He said the imported eggs will not be distributed throughout the country and that the eggs are brought in subject to approvals and Cabinet approval as well. “I need not say that the egg producer has exploited the consumer because the customer already knows. more..

Apr 4 (DM) Leaders of the govt since lately have been claiming that SL would be an education hub with plans to establish new universities and to upgrade existing universities in a manner that they can attract foreign students. Former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa and incumbent Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe are in the forefront of them with the former even having included a promise during his Presidential election campaign in 2019 that he would position the country as an education hub in the region. more..

Apr 4 (DM) The headline of this article is not mine; rather, it echoes the collective wish of the majority of Sri Lankans who took the brunt of the economic freefall and who now see, with a sense of relief, that their country is picking itself up from the abyss of the self-inflicted economic destruction. But a microscopic minority, who deep down in their hearts wish the further economic misery so that their political masters could win the next election, and they could, in turn, land a plum govt job, more..

Apr 4 (DM) The govt has introduced different income brackets under the Pay As You Earn Tax (PAYE) system. If you earn between 100,000 to 141,667 rupees per month, you’ll be charged6% in taxes for what’s earned above Rs 100,000. In the same manner if you earn between 141,667 to 183,333 rupees per month, you’ll be charged 12%. And the tax rate goes up as you earn more - 18% for those earning between 183,333 to 225,000 rupees, 24% for those earning between 225,000 to 226,267 rupees, more..

Apr 4 (CT) Israel is having its own version of aragalaya with nearly a three-quarter million people storming the streets of Tel Aviv last Sunday to protest against PM Netanyahu’s political scheming to subordinate the country’s judiciary to its legislature. Pretext theory for Netanyahu in Israel, as with others of his ilk elsewhere, is that unelected judges should not be allowed to frustrate the so called will of the people that is conveniently expressed through the governing majority of more..

Apr 4 (ST) Hardly had the two-handed applause for Prez Wickremesinghe’s deal with the IMF for its much-awaited gift subsided and the celebratory kiributh in some lucky people’s stomachs had already been digested, a dark cloud emerged over the horizon. That was the new Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) which lay beyond the horizon for a few days before the presidential announcement was made to parliament as though Sri Lanka had just discovered the original copy of the Mahavamsa. more..

Apr 4 (TM) A new player in the domestic solar energy industry has won a multi-billion rupee project, which calls for the establishment of photovoltaic solar power generation panels on the rooftops of over 700 hospitals and allied services buildings, under the purview of the Health Ministry and provincial councils. It is learnt that Power Loop (Pvt) Ltd. together with a Chinese renewable energy engineering firm had submitted an unsolicited more..

Apr 4 (TM) As SL is in the process of implementing a number of reforms, including long drawn-out legal reforms, the recently announced Anti-Corruption Bill has attracted attention, since corruption has in recent years emerged as a pressing issue to not only the public, but also to the entire economy. While various opinions have been expressed about the Bill, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe recently stated that if the provisions contained in the proposed Bill are not sufficient to eliminate corruption more..

Apr 4 (GV) The Anti-Terrorism Bill gazetted by the government in March highlights a critical issue: the interconnectedness of oppressive laws. As the Anti-Terrorism Bill refers to rehabilitation is the Bill in any way connected to the Bureau of Rehabilitation Act? The Bureau of Rehabilitation Act, which, when it was presented, was subject to much criticism and challenged in the Supreme Court, has received no attention since it was enacted and came into force on 24 January 2023. more..

Apr 4 (CT) Established in 1953, the Family Planning Association of SL (FPA SL) has served as a NGO that explores innovative and challenging processes of family planning in Sri Lanka for the past 70 years. The FPA proudly celebrates its 70th Anniversary in 2023, being one of the most expansive and well-known NGOs in the country that focuses on family planning, sexual and reproductive health, human rights and welfare. more..

Apr 4 (CT) In Sri Lanka, vocational training is crucial since it aids in the development of the skills individuals need to succeed in the workforce and contribute to the economy. For those seeking employment or want to launch their businesses as well as for SL’s economic growth, vocational training is an important instrument. Ceylon Today yesterday carried a news item citing the COPE claiming that just one-fourth of GCE O/L and GCE A/L dropouts have access to vocational training. more..

Apr 4 (Island) Sri Lanka Telecom workers downed tools yesterday in protest against the proposed divestiture of their institution. Their counterparts in other state-owned enterprises (SOEs), earmarked for privatisation under the guise of restructuring, are also up in arms. Their industrial action is fraught with the danger of snowballing into a general strike unless their grievances are redressed urgently. The govt is apparently labouring under the delusion that it will be able to intimidate more..

Apr 4 (TM) Community based alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms play a vital role in resolving disputes and in preventing the escalation of conflicts into overt violence. In SL, where social tensions along different fault-lines exist, community based ADR initiatives provide effective pathways to access justice. Further, in SL, such community based ADR mechanisms comprise inter faith committees and multiple types of other initiatives established by civil society organisations. more..

Apr 4 (Island) Despite terrorism being a worldwide phenomenon, the international community is yet to agree on a definition of terrorism. Ben Saul, Professor of International Law at the Uni of Sydney, who has written extensively on the subject, says: The ordinary meaning of terrorism is simple: extreme fear. While Sir Jeremy Greenstock, British Ambassador to the United Nations, said in a post-9/11 speech that what looks, smells and kills like terrorism is terrorism, Boaz Ganor, more..

Apr 4 (FT) SL Tourism is upwardly revising the tourist arrivals forecast for 2023 from 1.55 million to an ambitious goal of luring 2 million – a move influenced by the remarkable record rise in March arrivals. SL recorded the highest post-COVID arrivals figure of 125,495 in March, propelling the cumulative figure to 335,679 in the first quarter, continuing the growth momentum of over 100,000 tourist arrivals in three consecutive months more..

Apr 4 (FT) Chandi Dharmaratne, a globally renowned human resource professional, was appointed as the Chief People Officer of Axiata Digital Labs for its operations in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia. Chandi is a HR professional who specialises in transforming organisations through integrating HR into its core business and using technology to deliver best practices in order to build a talent pool that is geared to compete in any global landscape. more..

Apr 4 (ST) While football in SL is in further disarray, a new debate has sparked among the fraternity itself with regard to voting rights at election of the Football Federation of SL (FFSL). Currently Football Leagues are in possession of voting rights, but the heads of top football playing teams have recently met the Minister of Sports to discuss the possibility of changing the existing system. The representatives of 24 Super League and Champions League clubs have met Sports Minister more..

Apr 4 (FT) Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board launched the country’s first-ever spice-related official website – www.spicelk.com, pioneering the national initiative to spice up the SME’s contribution to access the international market. Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana launched the website yesterday. Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board, operating under the Plantation Industries Ministry has developed the website with the aim of taking the quality products of SL’s small and more..

Apr 4 (Island) The launch of a book titled, The Peace Process in Sri Lanka after the Ceasefire Agreement from 2002-2008: Systemic Conflict Transformation and its Application to the Peace Process in Sri Lanka, authored by Dr. Joe William took place at Mirage Hotel, Colombo recently. The book analyses the successes and the failures of the peace process and lessons learnt. Prof Jayadeva Uyangoda, speaking on the occasion, maintained that the book had been carefully researched. more..

Apr 4 (TM) Opposition MP, Prof. G.L. Peiris claimed yesterday that the Govt has drafted the new Anti-Terrorism Bill in order to completely breach the Fundamental Rights of the citizens. He said this at a press conference organised by the FPA to make the public aware of the proposed Bill. He noted that the provisions of the Bill went so far as to treat people enjoying their democratic rights as terrorists and to confiscate their properties. more..

Apr 4 (FT) Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court recently issued an order to destroy counterfeit Polo Ralph Lauren T-shirts seized by the Special Crimes Investigation Bureau (SCIB) of Mirihana from Niromi Trade Centre, Nugegoda. Court also imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 against a Director of the said clothing shop when he pleaded guilty to engaging in the sale of such counterfeit apparel. Ralph Lauren Corporation is a globally recognised leader in luxury lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories. more..