Jan 26 (FT) IMF Executive Director Dr. Krishnamurthy V. Subramanian will today speak on Monetary Policy in a Changing World at a public lecture organised by the Centre for Banking Studies (CBS) at 3:30 p.m. at the Atrium of the Central Bank of SL, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo-1. India's former Chief Economic Advisor represents the country on the IMF Board as well as represents Bangladesh, Bhutan and SL, along with another appointee from one of these countries. more..

Jan 26 (CT) South Africa survived a nerve-jangling final over to beat SL by one run to end their ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign on a high. Even with victory South Africa were unable to usurp India or Australia on net run rate, with only Bangladesh now able to snatch one of the qualification places from Group 1. A composed 43 from Kayla Reyneke gave South Africa the base to build a competitive score after they had opted to bat first, with Madison Landsman (21 from 12) more..

Jan 26 (TM) TNA Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam urged the people to commemorate a black Independence Day on the 75th Independence Day celebrations on 4 February, by hoisting a black flag in front of their houses, claiming that despite six months having passed since Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe came to power, none of the country’s issues have been resolved. more..

Jan 26 (DN) Nipun Dhanajaya and Kamindu Mendis have been named four-day and one-day captains at the SL ‘A’ team series against England Lions which will commence on Jan 31st at Galle Int'l Cricket Stadium. The second four-day unofficial Test will be worked off from Feb 7 to 10 at the same venue, Galle. Nipun Dhananjaya the former National U-19 team captain who was also a former St. Joseph Vaz, Wennappuwa skipper, currently plays for SSC and former SL Emerging team captain more..

Jan 26 (DM) Italy has expressed its willingness to help SL by supplying helicopters for anti-human trafficking measures taken by the Govt of SL. Italian Ambassador Rita Giuliana Mannella revealed this during a meeting with Prez Wickremesinghe held at the Prez Secretariat. The duo discussed the strengthening of the partnership between Italy and SL and special attention was paid to cultural exchanges, tourism enhancement, possible investments, defence aspects, more..

Jan 26 (FT) NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake says a strong foundation with a new constitution at its core is needed to rebuild and revive SL. While admitting that many economic factors and decisions led to the current economic crisis, Dissanayake blamed the current political culture in the country for being a key driver that led to the country’s collapse. “We often discuss the crisis in terms of many economic factors. However, it is also a result of our political culture. more..

Jan 26 (FT) MP Dullas Alahapperuma has accused the Govt of attempting to bribe Opposition candidates expecting to contest at the upcoming local Govt polls. Alahapperuma said he will present the evidence to back up these accusations in due course. “Govt is attempting to do everything possible to delay the election as there are certain doubts surrounding their possible victory. However, the loser is already quite evident,” he said. MP said, therefore, Govt is continuing in its tactics to delay polls. more..

Jan 26 (TM) Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court ordered IGP Chandana Wickramaratne to make an explanation regarding the investigation related to the sum of Rs. 17.85 million, which was found at the Prez's House in Colombo when it was taken over by the public in July 2022, being removed from the Police Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and being handed over to the CID, and Police's failure to comply with a court order more..

Jan 26 (AD) The Department of Examinations has released the District Level cut-off marks of the 2022 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination. Accordingly, the cut-off marks related to each district are as follows: Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Matale, Galle, Matara, Kurunegala Kegalle -153 Hambantota and Ratnapura - 150 Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Monaragala, Ampara, Puttalam - 148 Nuwara-Eliya and Trincomalee - 147 Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu - 145 more..

Jan 26 (DM) A tense situation was reported at the JR Jayawardena Center in Colombo today after hundreds of job seekers around the country gathered at the center following a fake Turkey job interview published on social media. It was reported that an individual had scammed the public via social media claiming that free jobs were being offered during the interview today. Accordingly, hundreds of people reportedly gathered at the site causing a tense situation. more..

Jan 26 (TM) IMF is awaiting financial assurances, similar to what has been provided by the Govt of India, from China and the Paris Club members, for it to proceed with the agreed Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to SL, said CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe last noon during the first monetary policy review press conference for the year. Dr. Weerasinghe stated that once China and the Paris Club provide their assurance letters to IMF, more..

Jan26 (FT) Economic revival certainly has a political prerequisite and a political economy core, but that is certainly not a new Constitution as JVP-JJB leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake proclaimed at his well-attended economic conclave, the equivalent of Gotabaya’s Shangri-La conclave of mid-2018. With his line of thinking, we shall be waiting forever for economic recovery since successive administrations (1995-2019) have walked into a quagmire of contentious constitutional issues more..

Jan26 (FT) Why can’t we do better? is always a question we ask ourselves in all kinds of situations. The tech world is no different and the big question is how can we build a billion-dollar company? To speak on the topic, Why haven’t we seen a unicorn in SL, at the recently held SL Internet Day 2022, the Digital Chapter of FITIS invited International Finance Corporation (IFC) Disruptive Technology Investments South Asia Lead Ruchira Shukla. Her belief is that it’s not impossible to build more..

Jan 26 (FT) Lanka IOC (LIOC) said its perseverance yielded impressive results in the third quarter for FY23. In a statement LIOC said it remained resilient in its approach, continuously striving to steer through the adversities and stiff challenges confronted due to dearth of foreign exchange, steep rise in inflation, high volatility in international oil prices and country ratings down-gradation, to name a few. While the economic conditions remained tough, LIOC performed remarkably more..

Jan 26 (DM) The Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court today issued summons on Western Province Senior DIG Deshbandu Tennakoon to appear before Court on February 16 over a criminal accusation that he had allegedly aided and abetted to commit criminal breach of trust with regard to Rs. 17.8 million recovered by protesters inside the Prez's House on 9th July. Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage decided to name Senior DIG as an accused in a private plaint filed by activist Mahinda more..

Jan 26 (EN) Employees of Central Bank have joined a week-long black protest campaign organised by state sector unions against a sharp hike in personal income tax, even as CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said painful measures were needed for the country to recover from its worst currency crisis in decades. President of CB Executive Association Jayadu Perera said that while the protesting CBSL staff were not opposed more..

Jan 26 (DM) From the day where the imports of certain goods into the country were restricted, we have been able to save US$ 2,500 million, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siambalapitiya said. The minister said this while speaking at the International Customs Day ceremony held at the Customs Headquarters today (26). He pointed out that due to this restrictions, essentials such as fuel, medicines and fertilizer are being imported and there was no shortage of these. more..

Jan 26 (AD) Election Commission of SL has stated that they are yet to receive any resignation letters from its members, contrary to various media reports. Accordingly, the Commission noted that preparations for the upcoming 2023 LG election are being carried out uninterruptedly, as no resignation letters or copies of said letters have been received thus far. LG election is scheduled to be held on 9 March. Mrs. P.M.S. Charles, a member of the Commission, had reportedly tendered her resignation more..

Jan 26 (AD) The COPE, taking issue with the pricing formula introduced for eggs, has instructed the respective officials to revisit the move, on account of various practicality concerns. A COPE meeting was convened on Wednesday under the chairmanship of MP Ranjith Bandara, a for 4-pointer discussion as an extension of the committee meeting on Jan 19. Reportedly, yesterday’s COPE meeting has focused on estimating more..

Jan 26 (TM) With less than ten months to go for the Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka’s 50-over playing 11 needs an overhaul. It’s an obvious conclusion for anybody who watched the way the Lankan team fared in India during their previous ODI series. Why should we struggle so much in the batting department, failing miserably to just bat through the 50 overs, as seasoned campaigners such as Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, and Dimuth Karunarate are not given a go? more..

Jan 26 (AD) Attorney General has requested the Court of Appeal that an opportunity be given to present facts before the court in relation to the interim order issued preventing the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) from collecting PAYE taxes from judges. Accordingly, the case is due to be taken up on 09 February, after the AG noted that measures with regard to deducting the PAYE tax from some judges are already underway. The Court of Appeal yesterday issued an interim order preventing more..

Jan 26 (Island) Auditor General W. P. C Wickremaratne has questioned the continuing refusal on the part of the Inland Revenue Department to furnish the service agreement with a Singaporean company that installed the faulty RAMIS (Random Access Management Information System) at a cost of more than Rs 10 bn. Wickremaratne, seated next to COPA (Committee on Public Accounts) Chairman Kabir Hashim, pointed out that IRD had also refused to disclose more..

Jan 26 (CT) With the country reporting over 7,000 dengue cases by the third week of Jan 2023, Association of Health Entomology Officers (AHEOs) urged students sitting the GCE A/L Exam – especially those in high risk areas to take precautions to prevent contracting the mosquito-borne disease while sitting for the examination. National Organiser for the AHEOs Disnaka Dissanayake said, the last 25 days of January this year had seen a total 7,115 dengue cases more..

Jan 26 (Island) United Rice Producers Association (URPA) alleges that paddy stocks worth Rs 1.3 bn procured by the govt in 2019/2020 Maha, 2020 Yala, 2020/2021 Maha and 2021 Yala seasons have not been accounted for. URPA President Muditha Perera has, in a letter dated Jan 5, informed Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe that the paddy stocks at issue were to be sold through Sathosa outlets after being milled by more..

Jan 26 (Island) The Coalition for Democratic and Inclusive Elections (CODI) held a meeting between heads of Election Monitoring missions and leading trade unionists to prevent the misuse of state resources for campaigning at the forthcoming LG poll, Heads of CMEV, CaFFE, PAFFREL, TISL, Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) and Mothers & Daughters of Lanka (MDL) met with over fifty leaders of powerful trade unions in the country at Renuka City Hotel more..

Jan 26 (CDM) The home coming of a couple in Galatha in Gampola ended up in a dispute yesterday when the bride assaulted the groom for enjoying a beer with one of his friends. The bride who lost her temper had bitten off a piece of the groom’s ear, Mike Tyson style, had assaulted his sister and verbally abused his father and mother. She had then thrown her wedding ring on the groom indicating that the marriage would end. Investigations into the incident were conducted by Gampola police more..

Jan 26 (TM) Indian High Commissioner to SL Gopal Baglay says co-operation and working together would be very important for SL and India on the journey that lies ahead for the two nations to celebrate the centenary of independence in 2047 for India and 2048 for SL. He made this observation on Tuesday (24) addressing the gathering at the Rhythm of Harmony held at the BMICH to mark 74th Republic Day of India more..

Jan 26 (AD) SLPP MP Nalaka Godahewa and two others, the three accused in a case filed against the alleged misappropriation of state funds to the tune of Rs. 5 million, were acquitted and released by the Colombo High Court today. The case had been filed against Godahewa for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 5 million belonging to the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) by using the funds for the activities of the Tharunyata Hetak organization, while he was in office as the SEC chairman. more..

Jan 26 (EN) UK is ready to consider financing assurances to Sri Lanka to secure a 2.9 billion US dollar extended fund facility (EFF) with the IMF, a UK official said. Minister of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan told the British parliament on Tuesday (24) that the UK is fully supportive of the proposed Coordination Platform between SL’s Paris Club and non-Paris Club creditors, which the British govt believes represents the most efficient way to restore debt sustainability in Sri Lanka. more..

Jan 26 (CT) Four masked men stole an ATM machine with nearly Rs 8 million from a private Bank in Gampola. According to Police, the group had dismantled and had stolen the ATM machine at around 12:40 a.m. yesterday. The group is said to have arrived in a van and had tied up the security officer at the Bank after which they had stolen the ATM machine. Police found the van in the evening at Galaha Junction with the driver. The driver was arrested. more..

Jan 26 (DM) The Court of Appeal today issued a writs of Certiorari quashing former Health Minister Pavithra Wanniaarachi's decision to remove Prof. Harendra de Silva as President of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and removing fours others as Council Members of the SLMC. Former President of Sri Lanka Medical Council Prof. Harendra de Silva and four council members, Dr. Sunil Rathnapriya, Dr. Upul Gunasekara, Prof. Narada Warnasuriya and Dr. Pushpika Ubeysiri filed Writ petitions more..

Jan 26 (HM) Buddhist monks donating food to the poor should not be news. The concept of dana – giving to reduce attachment to worldly possessions – is considered central to SL’s Buddhist heritage. But lately things have been different. In July and Dec, when the head of the Malwatta chapter and other senior monks donated food items to the poor, it did make the news. So did dry-ration distribution to the poor in Kandy more..

Jan 26 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed out that the industrial education and training opportunities in SL should be improved by introducing modern technology required to surpass the new industrial technology and digital economy of the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions. Prez made this observation yesterday during a preliminary discussion on the International Conference and Exhibition on the New Digital Economy scheduled to be held in SL in the last quarter of this year. more..

Jan 26 (DM) A CCTV footage of a teenage couple committing suicide at a hotel in Tangalle which had gone viral on social media, has revealed that the couple had committed suicide as they did not get a chance to marry over a birth certificate issue. The Tangalle Police said the couple was found dead at a tourist hotel in Tangalle on Monday. A senior officer said that the victims, a 20-year-old Tamil boy from Tangalle and a 17-year-old girl from Ambalantota had hung themselves inside the hotel room. more..

Jan 26 (DM) Indian billionaire Gautam Adani who has his businesses in several countries including investments in SL's wind and renewable energy sector, has been accused of pulling off the largest con in corporate history through the Indian-based Adani Group Corporation. US investor Hindenburg Research, which has begun short selling the conglomerate through bonds, conducted a 2-year probe against more..

Jan 26 (MoD) The coming year will strengthen the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) with further regulatory powers with the enactment of the proposed National Building Research Institute Act, Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne said. He expressed these remarks while addressing a distinguished gathering, as the Chief Guest, during the 12th Annual Research Symposium - 2022 organized by the NBRO, on the theme of Building Resilience amidst Economic Challenges more..