Sri Lanka News : InfoLanka News Room

Dec 30 (DM) If there are any instances of property damages during the island-wide special operation Yukthiya, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, responsible for Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, urged the public to lodge complaints at the police relief station, reach out to the Human Rights Commission or seek assistance from the court. He informed the media that the police do not engage in search operations without prior information. more..

හිරු ටීවී පත්තරේ විස්තරේ

Only certified, trained safari jeep drivers allowed into Yala National Park from Jan.1

Dec 30 (DM) To maintain SL’s wildlife tourism, starting Jan 1, 2024, only trained and certified safari jeep drivers would be permitted to enter the Yala Block. Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya, Chairman of the committee appointed to improve the quality of wildlife tourism in the Yala National Park, confirmed that park authorities have been instructed to check the ID issued by Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) of all drivers and those without the necessary documents would not be permitted to enter. more..

Treasury releases funds for all approved payments in 2023

Dec 30 (DN) Ministry of Finance has announced that, in accordance with the 2023 budget provisions approved by Parliament, Treasury has disbursed the required funds for all invoices certified by government agencies until Dec 15, 2023. This marks a unique occurrence, as 2023 stands out as the only year in the past 25 years where all approved payments have been settled within the financial year. Treasury has ensured the proper disbursement of funds for the retirement gratuities of officers more..

AMS explains primary reason for exodus of medical specialists

Dec 30 (Island) One of the key factors that contributed to the exodus of medical specialists from the state sector is the disparity of the total remuneration received by the state medical specialists when compared to parallel grades in the govt sector, Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) says. There was always a shortage of medical specialists in the system but that gap increased rapidly due to economic crisis, more..

Indian Govt will further assist development of the North: New Indian HC

Dec 30 (DN) The new Indian High Commissioner to SL, Santosh Jha, affirmed the Indian Govt’s unwavering support for the advancement of the maritime and aviation sectors, as well as the development of the northern region of SL. He made these observations during a meeting held on Dec 28, 2023, with Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The discussions at the Ministry also focused on the progress of Palali airport, along with the ports in Kankesanthurai, Talaimannar, and Trinco. more..

IMF agreement must be continued under any govt: CBSL Governor

Dec 30 (AD) Governor of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) Dr. Nandala Weerasinghe has emphasised the importance of the continuity of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement with the IMF. Dr. Weerasinghe explained that the EFF programme should continue for the next four years, under any govt, in order to get the debt relief and international financial support required. He warned that unilateral withdrawal from the IMF-EFF agreement will result in severe implications. more..

Fisheries Corporation drains Rs.100 million monthly due to corruption

Dec 30 (DM) Sri Lanka Fisheries Corporation is losing as much as Rs.100 million monthly due to fish purchases through private traders, rather than striking direct deals with fishermen, inside sources said. It appears to be a practice which is allegedly backed by key bureaucrats and lining the pockets of middlemen who maintain a stranglehold on the trade between fishermen and the Corporation. more..

State of the Nation in 2024

Dec 31 (ST) A New Year in the Gregorian calendar always brings fresh hope for a better year than the last just fading away. And so, the citizens will be looking forward to a happy New Year from tomorrow. Even the bitterest critic of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe will give him his due for stepping into the shoes of a job that everyone else clamours for in ordinary times but shunned in those extraordinary times of 2022. With the support of a new CB Governor, inevitable recourse to IMF more..

2024: Fresh start or reboot?

Dec 31 (TM) As the world welcomes 2024 amidst unprecedented and dramatically-contrasting circumstances depending on where you happen to be on the planet, for most Sri Lankans the new year is being welcomed with a palpable sense of apprehension and foreboding for the simple reason that most citizens are aware of the reality that the year ahead will define their future as well as that of this country. Already fatigued by a seemingly-unending litany of economic woes, more..

Another challenging year ahead for people while battles for supremacy take over...

Dec 31 (TM) As 2023 comes to an end with a new year set to dawn tomorrow, Sri Lankans, one and all, have one wish – for better times and lesser economic hardships in 2024. Given that 2024 is an election year, Prez and his Govt will have to pull up their socks and deliver to the people if they want to sit back at the House by the Diyawanna. A recent report by the DCS revealed the real plight of a majority of the people in the country, more..

Najeeb Abdul Majeed; Lanka’s first Muslim chief minister

Dec 31 (FT) Mohammed Najeeb Abdul Majeed created history 11 years ago when he was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province on 18 September 2012 by the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Najeeb Abdul Majeed known popularly as Najeeb achieved two significant firsts then. Not only did he become the first Muslim chief minister of the Eastern Province but more importantly Najeeb also gained the honour of being Sri Lanka’s first ever Muslim chief minister. more..

Economic prescription no remedy for social chaos

Dec 31 (FT) Greetings to all for a New Year, though little to celebrate. The year seems to begin with Prez Wickremesinghe making major changes in the top bureaucracy effective from 1 Jan 2024, according to news reports. Ten Secretaries to important Ministries would be shuffled the report said. While such changes would not have any worthy impact on Ministry work, it does say the Prez is not happy about work in these Ministries. The problem with ministries, departments, authorities, more..

Health sector: Hospitals still grappling with med shortages

Dec 31 (TM) The Medical Supplies Division (MSD) is currently grappling with the unavailability of around 150 essential medicines, while stocks of around 100 more are on the brink of depletion, providing only a short-term reprieve. The gravity of the situation is highlighted by the projection that, if the current trend continues, Sri Lanka will face a shortage of approximately 250 medicines by the onset of 2024. more..

2024: A leap of attitude

Dec 31 (SO) Another New Year will dawn on the world tomorrow. This happens to be a leap year (when February has 29 days), so we have a whole 24 hours more to do whatever we like to do. For many people, a new year means an opportunity to try out new things. These are called New Year Resolutions – in other words, goals that we resolve to accomplish within a given year. These resolutions can be determined at individual, collective or national levels. The next year, 2024, more..

Editorial: What will the New Year bring?

Dec 31 (Island) This being the last issue for 2023, we take the opportunity of wishing all our readers a very Happy New Year. But not even the most optimistic among us would say that all SL’s troubles have been packed up in the old kit-bag and there is reason to smile, smile, smile as the New Year beckons. Aragalaya-fuelled trauma of previous year that loaded the worst ever travails in our contemporary history on the backs of the people had, no doubt, tailed off in the year now more..

ලොක්කාගේ පාරේ යන පොඩ්ඩෝ

Boxing Day Test memories

Dec 31 (Island) The Boxing Day Test match has become an integral part of the game of cricket as during the festive season people are hooked onto their televisions from morning to evening watching the proceedings at MCG before switching their channel to find out what’s happening at Centurion. The Boxing Day Tests are well attended too. Most people are on leave in the week between Christmas and New Year and they make it a point to attend the Test match with families. more..

UAE grants royal pardon to 44 SL prisoners

Dec 31 (AD) A total of 44 Sri Lankans who were detained in different prisons across the UAE have been pardoned by a Royal order. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally conveyed to Embassy of SL in Abu Dhabi that these Sri Lankan prisoners received pardon by the Royal order on the occasion of the 52nd National Day of the UAE that fell on Dec 2. The pardoning of the SL prisoners comes in the wake of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent visit to the UAE to attend COP28 and more..

Fuel prices to see 10% hike

Dec 31 (TM) SL is gearing up for a dramatic spike in fuel prices, expected to reach around 10% next month with the introduction of a new VAT on commonly-used petroleum products, namely petrol and diesel. Accordingly, the cost per litre of petrol is projected to rise to approximately Rs. 372, with diesel following suit at around Rs. 359. As announced by the Govt last week, the PAL, currently embedded in fuel and gas prices, more..

Sri Lanka announces ODI, T20 squads; Mathews, Bhanuka included

Dec 31 (DM) Sri Lanka Cricket announced its final squads for both the ODI and T20I for the upcoming ODI and T20 series against Zimbabwe. Angelo Mathews, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Binura Fernando have been selected for the SL preliminary squad for the upcoming 3-match T20 series against Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean team is set to tour SL in early January for an ODI and T20I series. 22-member SL squad for the T20 tournament has been finalized and has received approval from more..

Spoilt brat Kusal Mendis retains leadership after violent door smash

Dec 31 (SO) Captain of the SL World Cup team Kusal Mendis displayed his sporting pedigree on yet another occasion as he smashed a glass door at the home of rival team Bloomfield while playing for the Sinhalese Sports Club following his dismissal for a duck at an inter club match on Friday that brought into question the morality among players. But with a history of reckless behaviour, Mendis given the absence of values and integrity among cricket officials running the administration at more..

Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Siyambalapitiya announces delay in tax changes

Dec 31 (FT) State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya revealed a one-month postponement in implementing tax changes related to vehicle registration, revenue licenses and property purchases. Originally, scheduled for 1 January, individuals now have time till February to initiate these processes without dealing with the newly proposed tax adjustments. Opening a tax file online is a straightforward process and clarified that registering does not automatically subject more..

Asian Games medals cap remarkable year in track and field sports

Dec 31 (Island) Ending a decades long medal drought at the Asian Games was the most remarkable accomplishment by the track and field athletes during 2023. From schoolgirl Tharushi Karunaratne’s triumphant entry into track and field folklore to the men’s 4×400 metres team’s record-breaking feat at the Asian Athletics Championships breathed life into otherwise forgotten disciplines in the country’s sporting landscape. The Ratnayake Central Walala prodigy had already more..

2024 elections: Treasury assures financial readiness

Dec 31 (TM) The Treasury confirmed that the Govt was well-equipped with ample funds to conduct the upcoming elections scheduled for next year. Treasury Deputy Secretary R.M.P. Rathnayake highlighted the substantial accumulation of taxes resulting from recent tax revisions as a key factor contributing to the robust financial position. He highlighted that there had been a significant surge in govt revenue collection. more..

Cake sales drops to 25%: Bakery owners

Dec 31 (DM) Cake sales in the local market have dropped to 25% during the festive season due to a lack of eggs for making cakes, All Ceylon Bakery Owners' Association (ACBOA) chairman, N.K. Jayawardana said. He said that though they had hoped for at least 50% of the usual sale of cakes it had dropped to 25%. "We did not receive the eggs on time to make cakes. The eggs imported from India are still at the yards safe and sound, but none of the eggs were distributed in local market," more..

Public cautioned against entering rivers

Dec 31 (SO) Officials of the Mahaweli Authority yesterday cautioned the public against entering rivers due to strong currents resulting from overflowing reservoirs. The recent heavy rains in the central hills of the country have led to eight reservoirs, including the Victoria, Rantambe and Randenigala reservoirs, reaching full capacity. As a precautionary measure, all sluice gates across various reservoirs, including 6 at Lunugamvehera reservoir, have been opened. more..

Power supply: Hydropower reservoirs almost at full capacity

Dec 31 (TM) With SL’s hydropower reservoirs fully capable of handling its present energy requirements, consumers can expect a downward revision of electricity tariffs in the first quarter of the new year. As of Friday, total storage capacity of hydropower reservoirs stood at 97.8%, with the capacities of Victoria and Randenigala Reservoirs at 100%. Storage capacities of Castlereigh, Maussakele, Kotmale & Samanalawewa more..

2024: A year of rising prices and shrinking wallets

Dec 31 (ST) The looming fear of taxes has forced people to reconsider their plans for the upcoming year. Despite celebrations and gatherings held this year, people were uncertain how they would manage to survive financially in 2024. And while public sector employees received a boost in income via the last budget, they, too, were unhappy as taxes have skyrocketed. The street lamps were burning throughout the festive season, and the roads of Colombo were lit up with Christmas more..

NWSDB paid Rs 269 Million in incentives despite Rs 3 Billion loss

Dec 31 (CT) Despite incurring a loss of Rs 3 billion, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) approved the payment of Rs 269 million as incentives, instead of bonuses for the previous year, 2022, a senior officer at the NWSDB revealed. He pointed out that, as per the operational manual issued by the Department of Public Enterprises on 17 Nov 2021, bonuses and incentives should be disbursed after channeling profits to a consolidated fund. However, NWSDB deviated from this more..

විදුලි මාෆියාවේ ගෝඩ්ෆාදර්ලගේ නම්

FDG shortage: PET scanners at Apeksha and NHSL go offline

Dec 31 (TM) Two PET scanners at the National Hospital of SL (NHSL) and at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama are currently out of operation due to a shortage of the necessary Fludeoxyglucose (FDG) substance. It is also learnt that a number of patients, including those in critical condition, are waiting in line to get the scans done in the absence of the required chemical to operate the machine. As confirmed by Health Ministry Secretary, the machines had gone out of operation two days ago. more..

Buses, school vans, three-wheelers expected to increase fares from January

Dec 31 (DM) Inter-Provincial Private Bus Association (IPPBA), All Island School Van Operators Association (AISVOA), and All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Union (AITWDU) determined that their taxi fares would have to increase in January following the imposing of the new value-added tax (VAT) at a rate of 18%. IPPBA Secretary Anjana Priyanjith said after imposing the new VAT, the diesel price would increase by Rs. 50, and therefore the minimum bus fare should also be increased. more..

Sri Lanka import containers surge ahead of VAT hike: Minister

Dec 31 (EN) SL has seen a surge of containers being cleared ahead of a value added tax hike on imports, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said, but made no mention of protected domestic businesses which have been engaged in the practice for decades. Containers being cleared each day has risen from around 700 to 1,000, he said. Importers were trying to beat the January deadline when many imports would more..

Saudi Arabia employs highest number of Sri Lankan workers in 2023

Dec 31 (AD) Saudi Arabia has ranked first in providing work opportunities to Sri Lankan expats in 2023, as more than 63,000 of them found employment in the Kingdom. Every year, more than 200,000 migrant workers leave Sri Lanka to work abroad. They are a main source of foreign exchange for the country, which since last year was gripped by its worst ever financial crisis. P.M. Amza, SL’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, estimated that in 2023 remittances amounted to over $7 billion, more..

SLSRFR Prez in hot seat over alleged fund transfers

Dec 31 (TM) SL Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) President Dinka Peiris has been questioned over several alleged fund transfers which had taken place this year. In his third year at the helm after being elected in 2020, Peiris is all set to re-run for presidency for another year at the AGM, which is scheduled to be held on 13 Jan. A fixed deposit of Rs. 12 million at the HNB under the SLSRFR has allegedly been withdrawn and divided into three separate banks during this year. more..

හිරු ටීවී පත්තරේ විස්තරේ

Sri Lankan-origin tracking tech pioneer recognized in King’s Honour List

Dec 31 (BBC) A pioneer of location-tracking technology has been appointed OBE in the King's New Year Honours. Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan, who founded Cambridge company PervasID, devised a real-time location tracking system used by NHS trusts, hospitals, aircraft manufacturers and retailers. He is among 105 people in the East honoured for their exceptional contribution to their communities. He said he was "absolutely over the moon, thrilled" to receive the award. more..

Bribery or Corruption Commission to undergo significant changes

Dec 31 (ST) SL’s CIABOC will undergo significant changes in 2024 with new and extensive responsibilities in accordance with powers vested in it under Anti-Corruption Act (ACA) and guided by IMF, Finance Ministry sources said. These responsibilities are relating to the development of anticorruption strategies, the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of corruption offences, and the establishment of mechanisms to coordinate anticorruption efforts across whole of govt. more..