Aug 5 (ST) “The universities taught in three languages: Sinhalese to the majority, Tamil to the Jaffna Tamils, and English to the Burghers. At the university in Kandy, I had asked the Vice Chancellor how three different engineers educated in three languages collaborated in building one bridge.” The above is a remark made by the late Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, some 60 years ago about the economic outcome of Sri Lanka’s language policy. more..

Aug 5 (Island) The UNP is reported to have said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to make a special statement in Parliament next week on the 13th Amendment (13A) to the Constitution. It has said a divergence of views among the Tamil political parties on devolution has stood in the way of the full implementation of 13A. Its statement has come two weeks after the conclusion of an all-party conference (APC) summoned by President Wickremesinghe more..

Aug 5 (Island) Cassandra in her Friday Cry-s has often noted with deep gratitude that nature has been benevolent to suffering, down and almost out Sri Lanka. Forest fires due to intemperate temperature in usually cool climes; sudden floods due to torrential rains; erupting volcanoes and earthquakes have all assiduously avoided troubling poor little SL struggling against economic woes and continuing corruption. Sadly, not so any longer; meaning climate-changed Nature has struck us, more..

Aug 5 (ST) The disparity in the SL project loan disbursement and utilisation has been uncovered in recent govt audit findings raising the credibility of state accounting procedures. SL has been borrowing billions of dollars (running up to trillions of rupees) from donor countries and multilateral agencies to finance infrastructure and development projects in the country for the past two decades. But these assets which have economic value and the potential to generate future benefits more..

Aug 5 (ST) Railway Trade Union Alliance (RTUA) is objecting to the Govt’s decision to convert Sri Lanka Railways from a department into an authority, but authorities believe that a restructuring process would be one solution to improve services. A string of strikes, train delays, derailments, and poor service have been among the issues affecting train services. Latest strike was last Monday. It forced cancellation of some 30 train trips more..

Aug 5 (FT) Singer SL is delighted to announce its partnership with vivo, a prominent global smartphone manufacturer, as their official National Distributor. This collaboration marks a significant step towards enhancing the smartphone landscape in Sri Lanka, providing consumers with access to innovative and high-quality vivo smartphones. Speaking about the partnership, Singer Group of Companies CEO Mahesh Wijewardene said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with vivo, more..

Aug 5 (FT) The iconic Miracle Dome welcomed a delegation of over 100 Japanese visitors on a spiritual tour of SL. The inaugural Japanese Lily’s Spiritual Tour visited the Miracle Dome as the starting point of their spiritual journey around the island. The delegation was welcomed by The Glorious Church Chairman Pastor Harin Perera, prior to the group meeting with the SL congregation of the church. The delegation comprises Japanese nationals from all walks of life, bound by more..

Aug 5 (FT) Cricket sensation, Sachin Tendulkar will be in Sri Lanka as part of his role as the UNICEF’s Regional Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia. Next week he will share his reflections from his recent visit to Sri Lanka after observing UNICEF programs and meeting children and their families. UNCIEF Sri Lanka said COVID, the economic crisis, and its knock-on effects impacted the lives of children across the country. “As the country moves towards economic recovery, it is critical to prioritise more..

Aug 5 (FT) The author of the Prisoner #1056- A Survivor’s Story Roy Ratnavel, a SL Tamil Canadian, was detained, questioned and deported by the Singaporean immigration on 31 July. Ratnavel, who was the Executive Vice-President at CI Financial and the Head of Distribution for CI Global Asset Management, has authored Prisoner #1056 based on his life story about his detention in Boosa prison in SL, where he was tortured, and fled to Canada with only $ 50 at the age of 18 more..

Aug 5 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated the primacy of Parliament in matters of fiscal responsibility, asserting that only the legislative body holds the authority to make decisions regarding debt optimisation measures. Speaking at the 29th AGM of the Coconut Growers Association, Prez Wickremesinghe underscored the Govt’s commitment to adhering solely to Parliament’s directives, highlighting significance of unity more..

Aug 5 (ST) SL Govt intends to restructure the CEB by September 2023, instead of running all the related entities under one institution and will unbundle all related institutions separately, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera disclosed. “Under the CEB restructuring process, management structure of the CEB will be undergoing reforms and this would also enable renewable energy generation to be promoted in the country with the support of govt and private and public partnerships,” he said. more..

Aug 5 (AD) Supreme Court, after holding a hearing on the constitutionality of the bill on contempt of a court, a tribunal or an institution which was tabled in parliament by the govt, has forwarded its confidential determination to the Speaker of Parliament. Petitions that had been filed by five parties including journalist Tharindu Jayawardena, Colombo Bar Association and SL Bar Association (BASL) challenging the relevant bill, were taken up before the three-member SC bench more..

Aug 5 (TM) State-run CEB is at odds with the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA), claiming that the authority has issued licences to Renewable Energy (RE) developers without consulting the CEB and obtaining its technical recommendations. A senior CEB official said that SEA had issued licences to renewable energy developers without consulting the CEB on the technical capabilities of the projects to supply energy to the national grid through more..

Aug 5 (DM) MP Namal Rajapaksa has demanded a clarification from the CEB in relation to an alleged unpaid electricity bill by him being circulated on social media under the letterhead of the CEB. In a letter to the CEB, the MP has requested the CEB to provide him with accurate details of the electricity bill being circulated on social media so that he could respond accordingly if it is an authentic document. The CEB, in response to an RTI filed by JVP Provincial Council member Nalin Hewage, more..

Aug 5 (ST) The number of unregistered Homes for the Aged in the Western Province alone is almost thrice the number of the 96 registered Homes, Director of the Social Services Dept of the Western Province, Sewwandi Hettiarachchi said this week. Speaking at the 102nd AGM of the Mallika Niwasa Samithiya (Society) Ltd., she said the quality of service at these unregistered Homes was a matter of concern to the Dept, and complimented the ladies of the Mallika Niwasa for the voluntary service more..

Aug 5 (CT) Govt has decided to appoint a committee to resolve the issue of not being able to provide electricity to the entire Southern Province through the main transmission line of the CEB due to a crisis of having to pull power cables over a privately owned tea estate. This decision was reached at a discussion chaired by Prez’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake. It has been proposed to lay a cable that could carry 220 MW from Bopitiya to Hambantota to connect the Southern Province to more..

Aug 5 (CT) During a meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development in Parliament, it was revealed that the Govt is facing a loss in expected tax revenue due to illegal purchases of local gemstones by Chinese and Thai nationals at significantly undervalued prices in the market. This practice has caused injustice to law-abiding gem businessmen who dutifully pay their taxes to govt, authorities told the committee. more..

Aug 5 (DN) SL netball team led by Gayanjali Amarawansa once again failed to impress at the World cup when they lost to Singapore 46-49 in their last game of the tournament played at Cape town South Africa yesterday. It was a disappointing performance by SL lasses when they lost to Singapore for the second time within four days and Singapore the defending runners up of Asia Cup were in good form after their Asia Cup more..

Aug 5 (DN) Hundreds of thousands of fish in Mullaitivu Mallavi Tank have died due to exposure to the extreme hot sun and many people have started collecting and selling this fish. Health authorities have requested the police to immediately intervene in the matter and not allow the fish to be sold as the residents of Mallavi have started collecting dead fish and selling them in piles, at a very low price. Police and Public Health Inspectors have taken measures to arrest people selling dead fish more..

Aug 5 (DM) A committee, headed by Deshabandu Tennakoon, SDIG of the Western Province, has been appointed by the IGP to investigate into and report on measures that can be implemented to combat narcotic drugs and underworld activities. The committee was appointed under the guidance of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles. The committee comprises Senior DIG K.P.M. Gunaratne from the Northern Province, SDIG Sajeewa Medawatta from the Southern Province, more..

Aug 5 (Island) After two defeats in Colombo, B-Love Kandy got their campaign in the LPL 2023 underway with a comprehensive seven wicket win over Dambulla Aura at Pallekele yesterday. Set a target of 147, B-Love Kandy got there with nine balls to spare. It was an easy run chase on a good batting track as Dinesh Chandimal and Fakhar Zaman added 69 runs for the first wicket off just 48 balls. Chandimal outscored the usually aggressive Zaman and the excellent start more..

Aug 5 (CT) Govt's decision to provide Samurdhi to individuals not eligible for Aswesuma welfare benefits has led to a rift between the political authority and public officials. Recently, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the continuation of the Samurdhi allowance for families that were receiving the benefit but were not selected for the Aswesuma welfare benefits scheme. This decision covers 393,097 individuals who presently enjoy Samurdhi benefits and have applied for benefits more..

Aug 5 (FT) The Small Hydro Power Developers Association (SHPDA) says the industry recently received Rs. 30 billion in outstanding payments from the CEB, and dues have now come down to 10 months from 14. However, the industry is faced with severe challenges, especially as vested parties are funding NGOs to disrupt Small Hydro Power Developers to achieve their business ends. The CEB must pay up to Rs. 250m daily more..

Aug 5 (DN) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that two well-known companies from India have submitted requests to invest money to commence business activities to produce chicken and eggs in the country. He said that they are currently looking into the possibility of giving these investors the opportunity to produce eggs and poultry in SL. He also said that rather than importing eggs and poultry from foreign countries, it is more effective to give foreign investors the opportunity more..

Aug 5 (Island) All Ceylon Nurses’ Union (ACNU) alleged that the govt is trying to privatize nursing and that the first step is to reduce the qualifications of those who can enter the service. “Prez said he will recruit to the service from among people who have studied Arts for the GCE A/L. Minister of Health echoed the Prez a few days ago,” ACNU General Secretary said. He said that a SL nurse trained by state-owned nursing schools is second to none in knowledge & professionalism. more..

Aug 5 (Island) Decisions in the health sector, since COVID-19, are being taken by politicians and senior bureaucrats that are allied with these politicians, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Chairman of the Professional Forum of Physicians on Medical and Civil Rights, said at a forum in Colombo on Thursday (03). Preventing unions and other whistleblowers from revealing the truth regarding the health sector is akin to encouraging murder, he said. more..

Aug 6 (CT) There are only two political options (for want of a better word, though trepidation highlights another side of the matter) worth taking seriously – Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) led outfit and the National Peoples’ Power (NPP) public face of the JVP. The RW-outfit may manifest itself in many forms such as a UNP-Sajith (SJB) alliance under some tactical leadership plan that may or may not include a Rajapaksa rascally rump. Whatever be their specific expositions, more..

Aug 6 (SO) Henley and Partners recently released their annual Passport Index, which analyses the strength of passports of various countries on the basis of the availability of a visa-free or Visa On Arrival (VOA) facility in other countries. The Henley Passport Index is the authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports and is based on extensive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the largest, most accurate travel information database. more..

Aug 6 (SO) Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, delves into the intricacies of SL’s efforts to ensure the well-being and rights of its migrant workers, propel its international engagement, and pave the way for a promising future through the visionary 2048 plan. As a stalwart advocate for labour dignity and equitable opportunities, Minister sheds light on the Govt’s comprehensive strategies to uplift informal workers, more..

Aug 6 (TM) The current administration appears to be running out of ideas and clutching at straws to prop up the image that it is on the ball in turning things around on the economic front. Two recent events – visits of French Prez and Japanese Foreign Minister and how these visits were portrayed by the Govt media outlets – point to such a conclusion. For all intents and purposes, the so-called visit of the French Prez had more to do with a flight requirement where his aircraft needed refuelling more..

Aug 6 (CT) The mass exodus of university lecturers from Sri Lanka, in recent times, is a cause for concern and has the potential to severely threaten the country’s higher education system. Ceylon Today, quoting President of the Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA), Prof. Barana Jayawardana, who sounded the alarm, reported the serious challenges that universities like Rajarata, Ruhuna, Jaffna, and Eastern are facing due to the mass departure of academic staff. more..

Aug 6 (TM) Ranil Wickremesinghe Govt continues with its balancing act – attempting to balance the economy and politics. Whether the Govt will pass in its balancing act or not will depend on how it manoeuvres through several difficult challenges. The score card includes meeting the IMF conditions, finalising the debt restructuring programme, holding the delayed LG as well as PC Elections, and the devolution of powers in line with 13th Amd more..

Aug 6 (GV) The last few weeks have seen increased media coverage in a relation to a govt proposal to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for SL. At face value, this seems a bold move by the government to address long-standing issues that continue to directly impact the lives of citizens in different parts of the country. Across July we saw at least four different statements by civil society organizations and activists primarily based in the North and East on this proposed mechanism. more..

Aug 6 (Island) The historic achievement of track and field athletes at the recently held Asian Athletics Championships is still causing ripples across the sporting arena. From Tharushi Karunaratne’s record-breaking 800 metres triumph to men’s 4×400 metres relay team’s heroics are being appreciated by all and sundry. Medal winners have been rightly rewarded with the support of the cooperate sector. However the untiring efforts of the true heroes, the medal-producing coaches have gone unrewarded. more..

Aug 6 (Island) Has there ever been a more memorable debut in cricket than that of Mohammad Azharuddin’s? Debuting against England in 1984 as a 21-year-old youngster Azhar completed three Test hundreds in his first three Test matches. They were not just hundreds but elegance all over. As Matthew Engel, the Editor of Wisden wondered, Azhar is the Michelangelo in the midst of housepainters. Three hundreds in the first three Tests has been a feat that has never been matched before or after. more..