Dec 24 (SO) Peace is the very message of Jesus Christ and Christmas. Jesus Christ is known as the Prince of Peace, because that is the antidote he advocated for a world torn apart by conflict. But more than 2,000 years later, wars and conflicts still ravage the world, in spite of the pleas for peace made by all the great masters of religions. In fact, the very birthplace of Jesus Christ – Bethlehem – has been engulfed by the fires of conflict for over two months, as a result of Israel’s war more..

Dec 24 (TM) With a 3% increase in VAT for coal starting from 1 January, CEB will be paying an additional sum of around Rs. 70 million per shipment as VAT to the Govt, according to statistics available with the Lanka Coal Company (LCC). Currently, the CEB pays a total sum of Rs. 420 million per shipment as VAT, and it is expected that the 3% increase will cause the board to increase the payment to around Rs. 490 million. more..

Dec 24 (Island) Neither friend nor foe can have any quarrel with Public Security Minister Tiran Alles for launching the ongoing offensive against the narcotics business. It is much more than a trade nowadays with drug lords, big and small, running not only just fiefdoms but also their own empires. There’s hardly anybody in this country of ours unaware of the dangerous proportions to which the drug menace has grown today. Parents are terrified of their children being exposed to drugs more..

Dec 24 (Island) Christmas is a joyful holiday season packed with activities. It is a time to share gifts and create memories. Families, friends, and organizations come together for a time of joy, love and togetherness. However, with the economic crunch and the ongoing natural disasters affecting our country, this season continues to be a challenging time for the majority of Lankans. Although it may be difficult to find the holiday spirit in extravagant celebrations and materialism, more..

Dec 24 (TM) Bar Association of SL (BASL) raised concerns regarding the manner in which the Yukthiya (Justice) programme was being carried out. BASL President Kaushalya Nawaratne said that the manner in which Yukthiya was currently operating would result in immediate seizures of property and suspects being taken into custody. He said: “They must display the same level of enthusiasm throughout; it cannot come up all of a sudden when an Acting IGP is appointed.” more..

Dec 24 (SO) Israel has turned to India and Sri Lanka to urgently fill around 30,000 vacancies in its construction industry, after the country deported thousands of Palestinian workers following the October 7 Hamas attack, Israeli officials and the media said. The Israel Builders’ Association (IBA) said that its representatives will be in India and Sri Lanka next week to screen applicants for various roles such as plastering, ceramic tiling, building work and iron bending. more..

Dec 24 (Island) There is a difference between taking unpopular decisions and making dumb decisions. Taking the wicketkeeping gloves from Kumar Sangakkara in 2006 in Test match cricket was an unpopular decision. Backing Sanath Jayasuriya despite having scored one half-century in his first 50 ODIs was another unpopular decision. Handing the vice-captaincy of the national team to more..

Dec 24 (EN) Ahead of SL’s long weekend, which included a Christian and Buddhist holiday, Power and Energy Minister issued instructions warning against power cuts. “Instructions have been issued to CEB to suspend all planned power interruptions for non-essential maintenance work on weekends and during the holiday season maintaining an uninterrupted supply of power,” Kanchana Wijesekera said on X (twitter). “New guidelines will be issued by GM CEB, in par with more..

Dec 24 (EN) The Essential Drugs Company Limited, the state owned pharmaceuticals company in Bangladesh, gifted a stock of 24 essential drugs sufficient for 3 months of Sri Lanka’s requirements, a statement by the government information department said. Bangladesh High Commissioner Tareq Md Ariful Islam handed over the medicines worth 1 million dollars to Minister of Health and Industry Ramesh Pathirana at the Ministry of Health, on Thursday (21). more..

Dec 24 (Island) On Oct 2019, SL in partnership with the UN Environment Programme embraced the Colombo Declaration under the title Nitrogen for Life, adopted by 15-member states, to create roadmaps that will halve nitrogen waste by 2030. This was further reaffirmed when Sri Lanka with the support of the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) proposed the Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management at the fifth UN Environment Assembly last year, to champion more..

Dec 24 (AD) Operation Yukthiya, launched last weekend in a bid to crack down on narcotics distribution and organized crimes in the country, will be stopped briefly in view of the upcoming holidays. SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the island-wide special operation would thus be temporarily halted on Dec 24, 25 and 26. Thalduwa explained that the decision was taken as the police officers have to be deployed to other specific duties on Christmas Day (25) and Poya Day (26). more..

Dec 24 (TM) The wind power project initiated by India’s Adani Group appears to be veering off course, missing its initial deadline scheduled for the end of next December. Sources close to the subject revealed that the anticipated launch was facing delays due to the inability of Sri Lanka and India to finalise crucial agreements on the project’s initial steps. The investment is still in the early stages of discussion and there has been no more..

Dec 24 (TM) The Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) is demanding an increase in bus fares in the face of the impending VAT rise, given that VAT is applicable to spare parts and lubricants as well as fuel. LPBOA Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said that the increase in bus fares could not be finalised yet but noted that there definitely had to be an increase in fares. As stated in Budget 2024, the current VAT rate, set at 15%, is to be increased to 18% from Jan 2024. more..

Dec 24 (SO) Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) and the SL Transport Board (SLTB) will commence special train and bus services for the Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak) pilgrimage season from Dec 26 (Unduvap full moon Poya day). SLR has lined up its services under several sectors for pilgrims travelling to Sri Pada. A special train service will run today from Colombo Fort to Badulla and from Badulla to Colombo Fort and from Kandy to Badulla and Badulla to Kandy to facilitate regular train services more..

Dec 24 (TM) A complaint was lodged last week with the CIABOC by Voice Against Corruption Convener Wasantha Samarasinghe against the former head of the FCID. According to the complaint, Retd. Senior DIG Ravi Waidyalankara has allegedly acted in a manner that prejudices the ongoing judicial proceedings against the ongoing court case related to the leasing of 43 acres at Transworks Square, Colombo Fort. In the complaint lodged by Samarasinghe, it is stated that more..

Dec 24 (TM) The much-anticipated Sheraton Colombo Hotel, part of the world’s largest hotel chain Marriott International, is expected to be officially opened on 30 Dec. Lanka Hotels and Residencies (Pvt) Ltd. (LHR) Chairman Don Gamini Gunaratne revealed that following years of delay owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and SL’s economic woes, the Sheraton Colombo Hotel, which was developed by LHR, would finally officially launch on 30 Dec. He stated that LHR had invested nearly $ 100 million more..

Dec 24 (Island) In a pivotal meeting last week, SL’s High Commissioner in London, Rohitha Bogollagama, appealed for critical assistance from the UK’s Office of Lord Davies to bolster the aviation industry, enhance trade ties, and advance renewable energy initiatives between the two nations. The meeting, which took place between High Commissioner Bogollagama and UK PM’s Trade Envoy for SL, Lord Davies of Abersoch CBE, primarily centred on reviving British Airways operations in Sri Lanka more..

Dec 24 (ST) Tomorrow is Christmas, but there are no Christmas lights in the little town of Bethlehem this year. There will be no festive décor or towering Christmas tree in Manger Square, where throngs of tourists usually gather tonight on Christmas Eve. No processions will wend their way to the Church of the Nativity to join the Midnight Mass. Even as the rest of the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in a lowly manger two millennia ago, it will be a sad and sombre Christmas in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. more..

Dec 24 (SO) Analysts and sports watchers have branded the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the most valuable sporting league in the world second only to the NFL, the National Football League of America. It has made the Cricket World Cup a minor matter in terms of value and player earnings and on Tuesday in the sizzling city of Dubai, all records were broken by way of player marketing at the IPL that made Australia’s fast bowling duo of Mitchell Starc & Pat Cummins the highest earning more..

Dec 24 (ST) Authorities insist that a week-long island-wide police operation to crack down on narcotics trafficking and underworld activities has brought significant results, particularly with the seizure of assets worth millions of rupees allegedly earned through drug dealing. Nevertheless, questions have arisen over heavy handed police tactics, mass arrests of persons and the low quantity of drugs recovered. more..

Dec 24 (ST) Supreme Court ruling to initiate disciplinary action against Acting Police Chief Deshabandu Tennakoon over a fundametnal rights violation is to be referred back to the Court for a decision in view of a legal impediment that the National Police Commission (NPC) has run into in taking action against him. Mr. Tennakoon was recently named by a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court as one of four officers who violated the fundamental rights of a citizen by more..

Dec 24 (ST) More than 12,000 suspects have been arrested by police up to yesterday as part of the Yukthiya (Justice) operation launched countrywide targeting narcotics traffickers and their distribution networks. The vast majority of those arrested, however, have been released on bail, police confirmed. Exact figures were unavailable as to how many remained in custody as of last evening. Police said 12,132 suspects had been arrested in 12,247 raids from Dec 17 to 22. more..

Dec 24 (ST) Sanath Jayasuriya, the fulltime cricket consultant overseeing the High Performance Centre (HPC) at Khettarama, believes specialised training incorporating various skills and match-like scenarios are crucial to enhancing the skill levels of white-ball cricketers. This recommendation was made by former national selectors led by Pramodya Wickremasinghe in early 2022. They had recognised the need to enhance skills to compete with global players. more..

Dec 24 (ST) Exporters in SL are currently facing another crisis as they are hit with increased freight rates with terrorist attacks on ships via the Red Sea since shipping companies insist on charging more when some vessels re-route and insurance premiums are also set to rise that could impact buying patterns in future. SL exporters like all others globally are forced to increase the prices and this comes hot on the heels of the recently added 18 per cent VAT on exports (effective January 1); more..

Dec 24 (ST) Govt has granted generous 15-year exemptions on corporate income tax and tax on dividends to the proposed Chinese-led logistics centre in the Colombo Port. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as Investment Promotion Minister, on Friday gazetted the initiative under the 2008 Strategic Development Projects Act (SDPA), stating that the aim was to turn the Colombo Port into a logistics hub for South Asia. more..

Dec 24 (CT) A Sri Lankan commercial pilot who served overseas asserted that the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) declined his request for an A320 aircraft type rating, despite holding an American licence with an A320 type rating and having flown commercial aircraft in the Far East. When Ceylon Today contacted the CAASL, Director General P.A. Jayakantha clarified that any foreign pilot must undergo exams and a simulator test to comply with international standards. more..

Dec 24 (TM) Skyrocketing vegetable prices are driving traders to adapt their business strategies by displaying prices for lower quantities of vegetables. Dambulla Economic Centre Trade Association Secretary I.G. Wijenanda noted that traders were choosing to display prices for lower quantities in order to sell their wares. “Traders are now displaying the price of 100 g of vegetables,” he noted, adding that given the increased prices, many traders were displaying vegetable quantities as more..

Dec 24 (ST) Last week’s annual convention of the SLPP, seemingly a routine event, had many takeaways of political significance. Most importantly, it delivered a clear message that Ranil Wickremesinghe will not be the SLPP’s official candidate in next year’s presidential elections. Why a man whom they chose in desperation on July 20, last year, to head a nation, pull it away from bankruptcy and restore law and order more..

Dec 25 (CT) Prez Rani Wickremesinghe (RW) and his policy makers have decided to lead the economy along the IMF path come what may. But unlike in the previous sixteen times whether they would go all the way to the end with the hope of utilizing the promised $2.9 billion EFF fund is doubtful. There are three reasons for this pessimism. Firstly, the availability of the full amount hinges on implementation of certain vital reforms recommended by IMF, like structural changes more..

Dec 25 (DM) As the casualties in Gaza from bombing, massacres and starvation rise, it is becoming clear that Israel is instigating “America’s genocide.” Several war crimes have been and continue to be committed by Israel ignoring all existing legislations on War. They are carrying out unlawful indiscriminate attacks harming civilians. As reported in the World Socialist Web on 22/12/23, in a TV interview, Miri Golan, Israel’s Women’s Advancement Minister, said, more..

Dec 25 (CT) Natural disasters, warfare, internal conflicts and the effects of climate change frequently force people to flee their home countries in search of safety. As defined by UN Int'l Organization for Migration (IOM), a migrant is, Any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a State away from his/her habitual place of residence. This definition is applicable regardless of the duration of more..

Dec 25 (FT) When the UN Secretary General condemned the Hamas attack of 7 October and cautioned the world to see it in context, he came under harsh criticism from Israel. But he was right. It is misleading to enter a conflict in the middle of the story. The story of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict begins around the close of the 19th C-CE when organised groups of diaspora Jews descended on Palestine. They claimed the land was promised to them by God. more..

Dec 25 (CT) The Parliament of Sri Lanka approved the VAT Amendment Bill on 11 Dec 2023. This will result in an increase in the present VAT rate from 15% to 18% starting 1 Jan 2024. Additionally, a significant number of items that were previously exempt from VAT will become VAT-liable on 1 Jan 2024. The VAT threshold was also reduced to Rs 60 million from the present Rs 80 million. This VAT policy revision will significantly impact all socioeconomic segments of the economy. more..

Dec 25 (TM) The existing system of school and State university education is outdated and has ceased to be inspiring or capable of firing the imagination of students, asserted Education Forum SL Co-Founder and a former Secretary to the Ministry of Education Dr. Tara de Mel. “The system doesn’t adequately prepare students for newer jobs of the emerging decades of the 21st century. Nor does the system prepare young people to more..

Dec 25 (ST) My dear Dhammika, I thought of writing to you this week since you seem to be the focus of attention everywhere, ever since you made an appearance at the ill-fated convention of the pohottuwa party last week. Seeing you there, seated in the front row appears to have set off a flurry of rumours and speculation. We can understand why seniors in the pohottuwa party are jealous and angry. They toiled long and hard, singing the praises and defending actions of ‘R’ clan for many years. more..

Dec 25 (DM) Everywhere in the world today children have become unbelievably vulnerable. How could we become more sensitive and committed to their plight? What does the birth of Christ, who was a child once upon a time, tell us about our children and their future? Amongst other things, Christmas is not only about a certain child who was born a long time ago, but also about children from all places and all times. Jesus’s birth was the birth which had no economic or social stability. more..