Jan 3 (Island) Prez of South Korean Disaster Relief Foundation (SKDRF) Cho Sung Lea continues to be in the news—for the right reasons. He has told Sri Lankans, especially their political leaders, some home truths, which, in our book, are as precious as the much-needed foreign exchange. He has asked them to go all out to unleash their potential by working hard, eliminating waste and corruption and managing the economy properly. He has told the so-called SL leaders, who are living high life more..

Jan 3 (Island) Stand-in captain Hardik Pandya applauded Sri Lanka’s fighting spirit and expected them to play exciting cricket during their tour of India but added that his team is not focusing only to avenge the Asia Cup defeat last year. India came into the Asia Cup in UAE ranked number one and they were the favourites to win the title but suffered a shock defeat against Dasun Shanaka’s side. Sri Lanka went onto win the competition beating Pakistan in the finals. more..

Jan 3 (ST) The state health sector, grappling with a serious shortage of medicines, will be plunged into further crisis in the New Year with the compulsory retirement of specialists at the age of 60 years and the outward migration by young specialists, warned many experts. A red alert is being issued that specialties such as cardiothoracic surgery would die off in Sri Lanka by the end of this decade with this double-hit. more..

Jan 3 (Island) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s pledge to resolve the country’s longstanding ethnic conflict by Independence Day on Feb 4 can be the optimistic base on which other positive developments can be built. This is a hope that needs to be translated into reality. The past history of efforts to politically resolve the ethnic conflict do not present an optimistic picture. The list of Sri Lankan leaders who have sought to resolve this conflict but failed starts with the illustrious SWRD Bandaranaike more..

Jan 3 (DN) SL junior shuttlers emerged victorious at the recently concluded Badminton Asia Regional Championship finals which was held in Fujairah, Dubai. SL’s team members Pulina Wellalage, Shenuk Samararatne and Varangana Jayawardena clinched gold medals to bring honour for SL at the tournament said Chandrika de Silva the former National champion who accompanied the team. The victories over their Iranian counterparts at the Badminton Asia Regional C'ship finals more..

Jan 3 (DN) SL will meet India in their first T - 20 match of the three match series today (3) at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India commencing from 7pm (SL time). Team India will be ready with Hardik Pandya the new skipper leading the team in 2023’s first int'l home series whil Dasun Shanaka and his team also take on this challenge with confidence after the successful LPL franchise tournament. The experienced regular Indian skipper Rohit Sharma sustained a thumb injury more..

Jan 3 (FT) PM Dinesh Gunawardena urged the public servants to work together as inheritors of a nation with a bright future. Speaking at the commencement of duties in the new year at the PM’s Office in Colombo, Gunawardena said: “This is the moment to announce the pledge and resolve to work with commitment for the betterment of the nation.” He said the Government led by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is committed to achieve the targets in the next 25 years on behalf of all more..

Jan 3 (CI) Dasun Shanaka wants his team to step up against India after a T20 World Cup where they won only two games in the main round. They play three T20Is and as many ODIs on this tour, and India being the host country for the ODI World Cup later this year, getting familiarised with the conditions and doing well will help them in a big way. "We didn't have a good [T20] World Cup so we need to step up," Shanaka said in Mumbai more..

Jan 3 (Island) What if Kule had held onto that catch? What if Mathews had not got injured? What if Murali hadn’t picked up a niggle? These are the immediate thoughts that come to mind as you visit Wankhede Stadium. SL having started off the 2011 World Cup final so well, fell agonizingly short against hosts India, 11 years ago. Every now and then politicians cast aspirations and want the public to believe that everything wasn’t tickety-boo about that game. They question why four changes were made more..

Jan 3 (FT) General Secretary of SLFP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara says current Govt will lose its legitimacy following the upcoming LG elections. He said Govt’s public support is dwindling and it will not be able to hold on to power after the polls. “Govt has no mandate and is not prepared to face elections,” MP said, claiming the Govt is attempting to delay polls through various means. “We are hearing of an attempt to postpone the election by presenting a proposal to that effect in p'ment on 5 Jan” more..

Jan 3 (EN) SL saw a record high labour migration in 2022 as tens of thousands of people moved to other countries in search of jobs in foreign currency after the island nation’s currency collapsed and inflation soared to an all-time high. SL’s rupee fell over 60% in 2022 – from 200 rupees to 360 rupees – after the central bank printed billions of rupees to finance the govt revenue in the face of higher state expenditure and more..

Jan 3 (FT) Minister Bandula Gunawardane announced that a pilot project to provide driving licences to people who are completely deaf will be launched across the country this year. “There are nearly 600,000 to 800,000 individuals with total deafness all across the country; the issuance of driving licences for them, under a special symbols system, has already been implemented in the Gampaha District,” he said at a media briefing on Dept of Motor Traffic’s new procedures. more..

Jan 3 (EN) Former UK PM David Cameron has met Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo. The duo met at the Presidential Secretariat Monday morning. Cameron is in SL on a private visit. “During a friendly discussion, Mr. Cameron extended his best wishes to the President for the New Year,” the PMD said in a tweet. No further information was forthcoming. Analysts say Prez Wickremesinghe is looking westward in his ambitions to resolve SL’s ongoing currency crisis and usher in development. more..

Jan 3 (FT) Prof. G.L. Peiris, a member of Freedom People’s Congress said holding a referendum is a must to delay elections. Peiris said the Supreme Court in a previous judgement has held a referendum that must be held if Local Govt elections are to be postponed. “SC has clearly set out that a referendum is mandatory to delay elections,” he said. The MP also emphasised that the SC has delivered several landmark judgements relating to LG elections and that the polls therefore more..

Jan 3 (AD) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has slashed the price of auto diesel and kerosene with effect from midnight today (2). Revised prices are as follows: Auto Diesel – Rs. 405 (reduced by Rs. 15); Kerosene – Rs. 355 (reduced by Rs. 10). At the same time, Lanka IOC, too, has reduced the price of auto diesel by Rs.15 per litre with effect from midnight today. However, the prices of petrol and other types of fuel would remain unchanged, both CEYPETCO & LIOC added. more..

Jan 3 (Island) State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday (02) said that the recovery of at least part of revenue losses caused by the alleged sugar tax scam, (2020), couldn’t be done in a hurry. Siyambalapitiya said so when The Island asked the State Minister how soon the govt could recover 30% of Rs 16 bn loss in revenue in terms of an assurance he gave Parliament less than a week before the presentation of Budget 2023. more..

Jan 3 (AD) Police said that two employees have been arrested over an alleged attack on the Chairman and Executive Director of Maga Neguma Construction Equipment Company at its office in Peliyagoda. Two suspects have been arrested by Peliyagoda Police and that both are residents of the Beliatta area, aged 57 and 49 years. One of the suspects is reportedly Prez of Maga Neguma Project’s driver’s association and the other suspect is a committee member of same association. more..

Jan 3 (AD) Minister Kanchana Wijesekara has submitted the Cabinet Paper on the proposed revision of electricity tariffs to the Cabinet of Ministers at today’s meeting. Meanwhile, it is reported that the Cabinet has postponed considering and reaching a decision on the cabinet paper to next week’s meeting. In addition, Minister Wijesekara has mentioned that he briefed the ministers on the requirements, proposed tariff structure, energy forecast and finances. more..

Jan 3 (ST) Police have sought public assistance to track down two foreigners who robbed ATM machines of a state bank in the southern province and got away with over Rs 10 million. A group of locals too are being tracked for helping them. Three machines located in three areas of the Southern province had been robbed last Friday. The money was consequently taken from three ATMs that belonged to three different branches located in Hikkaduwa, Karapitiya, and Baddegama, more..

Jan 3 (DM) The cabinet ministers had agreed to import eggs to control the local market price. Trade Minister Nalin Fernando has submitted the proposal to the cabinet meeting this evening. Meanwhile, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners' Association (ACBOA) last Saturday said the eggs could be imported as a temporary measure to control the escalating prices and that it would be a solitary solution to the ongoing egg crisis. The association said after importing eggs, they could be sold at Rs. 30 each. more..

Jan 3 (FT) Despite it being a crisis year, tourist arrivals grew at a faster pace in 2022 with a post-COVID all-time high, regardless of missing the 750,000 revised target thanks to a record haul in December. SL ended 2022 with 719,978 tourists, up by 207% over 2021, in which year the increase was only 73%. In 2019, arrivals growth was 18%.The 2022 performance, however, was still 69% lower in comparison to the record more..

Jan 3 (HT) SL's ousted Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa applied for restoration of his US citizenship. This comes as he failed to get asylum in any country, the report said. Gotabaya Rajapaksa had fled SL in July last year. He then returned after nearly two months. Although, US govt is yet to consider the request. In 2019, Rajapaksa had renounced his US citizenship to contest the presidential polls owing to SL constitution rules which state that dual citizenship holders are barred from contesting elections. more..

Jan 3 (TM) The Colombo Additional Magistrate has allowed the CID to obtain DNA evidence through tests conducted by the Govt Analyst on the late Dinesh Schaffter’s blood samples, nails, body parts, and some spot evidence. Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya issued this order in accordance with a request made by the CID. Schaffter died at the National Hospital in Colombo on 15 Dec after being found tied to the driver’s seat of his vehicle with a wire around his neck. more..

Jan 3 (TM) A public petition launched by the Electricity Consumers’ Association, seeking the signatures of 6.9 million electricity consumers in opposition to the proposed electricity tariff increase, commenced from Matara and Galle on 1 Jan 2023 before travelling to Kelaniya, Galle Face Green, and Colombo Fort yesterday, while an islandwide programme over the same will be carried out at all temples on 6 January. more..

Jan 4 (CT) Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin JEONG recently delivered a presentation on the path of Economic Development in the Republic of Korea at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Maharagama. Korean Embassy jointly hosted the session together with NIE led by the Director General of NIE, Dr. Sunil Nawaratne. Korean Envoy shared many insights and information on Korea’s development that inspired the educated audience. Dr. Nawaratne in his welcoming remarks more..

Jan 4 (FT) A few months ago, the CEB tariff was increased for all consumers. The average increase was approximately 75%. Minister of Power and Energy has recently stated that there needs to be a further large increase in tariff in January, around 65%, if the CEB is to provide continuous power to the public. Without the increase, he says, there is likely to be eight-hour power cuts. There were numerous protests relating to the original tariff increase. more..

Jan 4 (TM) The majority of tourists who visit the Hikkaduwa beach have experienced various forms of harassment, which has led to a high negative perception and a very low attitude regarding the destination and its quality with persistent vendors, cheating, and begging being identified by tourists as the types of harassment that most faced, while sexual harassment, providing an unsatisfactory service, misappropriation, more..

Jan 4 (FT) According to media reports, Cabinet headed by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has approved the proposed new central bank law. This is the third time a Cabinet headed by Wickremesinghe has approved a new central banking act. The first was in 2004 and the second in 2019. In both these instances, it was proposed by the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration but aborted by the subsequent regime that came to power ousting his govt. On this third occasion, more..

Jan 4 (DM) To truly position and brand Sri Lanka and to ensure the country meets the global traveler’s expectations, it is essential that the Govt merge SL Tourism Development Authority, SL Tourism Promotion Bureau and SL Convention Bureau in to SL Tourism Authority and ensure professionals with expertise are on the board. Tourism Act No. 38/2005 unnecessarily broke tourism in to four separate institutions. This is exactly the opposite of global best practice such as more..

Jan 4 (FT) The first breach was a hoot. One year ago, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was booed when his convoy passed a milk powder queue in Mirihana. Rajapaksa went off in a huff. Within minutes, the police arrived in force, dispersed the people who had been waiting for hours to buy milk powder and forced the shop to close. That unprecedented hoot was an omen of the popular uprising that would hound Gotabaya more..

Jan 4 (TM) The limited supply and high price of eggs has emerged as one of the most pressing issues amidst the prevailing economic crisis, which has adversely affected the availability and affordability of a large number of food items. While this situation is far from being addressed, some of the so-called solutions presented by the authorities to restore the supply and to regulate the prices of eggs do not appear to be scientific, but opportunistic. Govt’s decision to import eggs in response to more..

Jan 4 (Island) The govt is behaving like a lonely child in a haunted house. Reports that the Election Commission (EC) has been left with no alternative but to hold the much-delayed Local Govt (LG) polls has scared the SLPP-UNP regime out of its wits. An election is something it needs like a hole in the head for obvious reasons, but it is hard put to postpone the mini polls, again. It however is bound to try every trick in the book to compass that end. Sadly, the EC stands accused of helping further more..

Jan 4 (DM) The worst days of the economic meltdown are now behind us. The miles-long fuel queues at petrol sheds are, but a distant memory. The petrol, diesel and kerosene shortage however are still with us, with only limited volume of fuel being made available to vehicle owners and householders at double the cost. LP gas cylinders too are also now available, albeit at a much higher cost. Many families though, are forced to use firewood as cooking fuel. more..

Jan 4 (Island) “Small-scale fisheries make an important contribution to nutrition, food security, sustainable livelihoods and poverty alleviation – especially in developing countries. Despite this significant contribution, the issues constraining the sustainable development of small-scale fisheries remain poorly understood” (FAO). SL is no exception to this rule. High rates of resource exploitation, unregulated technological change, increasing fishing pressure, pollution of both coastal & inland more..

Jan 4 (FT) Minister Bandula Gunawardena said no political leader will be able to provide a solution to the dire economic strait and the only way Sri Lanka could survive is by boosting the foreign exchange inflows. “Sri Lanka is going through the most decisive period to overcome this economic crisis. Top global rating agencies like Moody’s and Fitch Ratings have downgraded our economy numerous times. more..