Jan 29 (SO) There is a very thin line between success and failure as an athlete especially if you are a sprinter. It is a race against time with the difference between the champion and those who also ran being a mere millisecond. On the other hand, some are born with a silver spoon in their mouth while others come to the limelight through hard work and determination. Just like reigning SL sprint queen Amasha de Silva, another talented athlete from Colombo Int'l School in Kandy, more..

Jan 29 (EN) SL’s renewable companies say they need tariff of 40 to 45 rupees a unit to sell power to CEB and the agency owes them tens of billions of rupees for power sold in the past. The association has strong exchange rate expectations based on the country’s dual anchor conflicting monetary regimes involving flexible inflation targeting with a reserve collecting target. “In the coming year of course because of the rupee devaluation, more..

Jan 29 (DM) The March 9 LG election would be a turning point in SL's political history and a new direction in where the country is heading, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today. Speaking at the NPP Bank and Finance Forum at Galadari Hotel, he said they could turn around the LG polls as a remarkable turning point in SL's political history and the country's way-foward. "If we can pass through this milestone, we can easily conquer the other obstacles as well," he said. more..

Jan 29 (EN) Sri Lanka’s state-run CEB has decided to continue power cuts, as the dry season hits the country despite orders to give 24 hours of power. The utility said its Board has decided to continue the demand management programme and it has informed the regulator of this decision on Jan 27. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said it had not approved the power cuts “as it violate and affect the rights of 331,000 students sitting for A/L exams.” more..

Jan 29 (ST) More than 40 Parliamentary Committees, including COPF, COPE and COPA, have ceased to function following the prorogation of Parliament. With Parliament prorogued till Feb 8 from midnight on Friday (27), other Committees that have ceased to function include the Committee on Parliamentary Business, the Committee on Standing Orders, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, more..

Jan 29 (SO) SL will need around USD 7 to 8 billion in investments, to achieve the 70% renewable energy (RE) target by 2030, said co-founder and MD/CEO of Regen Renewables and Chairman, SRT Energy, Dr. Lakmal Fernando. “We are aiming at adding 9GW of RE (combination of wind and solar) to the national grid to achieve the 70% Renewable Energy target by 2030 and to meet international climate control goals and commitments. “However funding for this is a major uphill task for more..

Jan 29 (MD) Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a severe economic and political crisis that recently resulted in a default on debt obligations. Additionally, the nation’s foreign exchange reserves are almost depleted, which limits its ability to buy imports and raises domestic costs for goods. There are many reasons of sir Lankan economic crises and the economic turmoil has provoked the challenges. This ongoing crises in sir Lanka has come up after long economic mismanagement. more..

Jan 29 (wsws) The new income tax policy directly impacts overtime earnings, drastically reducing workers’ take home pay. One Colombo port worker explained that they are doing backbreaking amounts of overtime to try and counteract the high cost of living but are being penalised by the new tax rates. The higher taxes apply to all those earning more than 100,000 rupees ($US275) per month, reducing their pay packets in some cases by up to 36%. Amid hyperinflation that last month hit 59%, more..

Jan 29 (ST) Stage 3 loans which are credit-impaired loans in the banking sector have increased to 10% from 4% last year. Aruni Gunathilake, Chairperson of HNB said that if the banks don’t get paid, the hike impairment in the dollar bonds will hit the capital of these institutions. Noting that the industry has seen a substantial increase in non-performing loans, she told a business forum organised by the CCC that this unsustainable debt brings big challenges on the impairment front. more..

Jan 29 (TM) SriLankan Airlines has in theory defaulted on its $ 175 million int'l bond following its failure to complete the creditor consent solicitation process to obtain approval to defer coupon payments by 12 months before 25 January. SriLankan was required to make the coupon payment for its $ 175 million Govt-guaranteed bond due in 2024 by 25 Dec 2022. However, in early Dec 2022 it commenced a consent solicitation more..

Jan 29 (ST) Govt’s desperate move of increasing income tax to a very high level under the new tax reforms fulfilling one of the commitments for the US$2.9 billion IMF extended fund facility has hit hard the high income earners and professionals below the belt. Hundreds of professionals including doctors, university professors, lecturers, engineers, bankers and public and private sector top executives took to the streets protesting against the unbearable tax hike in a black week organised by more..

Jan 29 (DM) Another member of the Election Commission has reportedly received death threats over the phone last night. Commission member M.M Mohammed, had been threatened to resign from his post. Also, Election Commison member S.B. Divaratna who received death threats earlier had received death threats once again yesterday. Earlier, the CID had launched investigations after Commission members K.P.P. Pathirana and S.B. Divaratna were threatened with death more..

Jan 29 (NR) Former Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to arrive in SL. Senior Adviser on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene said that the Former UN Secretary-General is due to arrive in the country on the 6th of Feb. Former Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to call on Prez Wickremesinghe on the 7th of February. Several agreements relating to sustainable development and climate change will be signed during the visit. more..

Jan 29 (NR) Vehicular movement along several roads in Colombo will continue to be restricted. The Police Headquarters said the special traffic plan implemented since yesterday will be in place till the 3rd of February due to the rehearsals for the 75th Independence Day parade on the 4th of February. Accordingly, the Police have informed the public that the traffic plan will be effective from 5am till noon daily. Vehicular movement will be restricted along; Galle Face Middle Road, more..

Jan 29 (TM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to open a line of communication with Chinese Govt leaders in order to finalise the ongoing debt restructuring negotiations with SL’s key bilateral creditors including China. The delay in finalising SL’s debt restructuring programme, especially with the key bilateral creditors – Japan, India, and China – has also resulted in the delay in moving ahead with proposed EFF with IMF. more..

Jan 29 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe warns that the country will fall into a crisis again similar to the situation in May and June 2022, if the economic and agricultural program implemented by the govt and the debt restructuring program being carried out with the countries as per the IMF program are disrupted in any way. He made this remark addressing an event at Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura this evening (28), during which he presented Akta Pathra (credentials) to new Atamasthanadhipathi, more..

Jan 29 (ST) About 82,000 candidates from more than 30 political parties and independent groups will be in the fray for 8,771 seats in 340 local councils at elections still scheduled for March 9. The Election Commission has notified Assistant Elections Commissioners to hand over the information regarding these 82,000 candidates, their party names and symbols accurately in all three languages today by 2 pm. The notification has been signed by the Elections Commissioner more..

Jan 29 (ST) President Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated on Thursday that he would fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution — a provision to devolve power. He will make a pledge to the nation when he makes a policy statement in Parliament on Feb 8. He told sections of leaders of political parties represented in Parliament at a meeting on Thursday that it was his responsibility to do so as President. more..

Jan 30 (DM) In April last year our country declared itself bankrupt and announced a temporary suspension of its external debt. We have not yet been able to begin repayment of this debt and are depending on an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout to regain international credit worthiness. From thence onward, our economic situation has continually deteriorated with insufficient exchange to purchase basic food items, fuel, gas, medicines and other essentials. more..

Jan 30 (Island) The 13th Amendment (13A), which introduced devolution of power to the periphery, is again in the news, this time on the need to fully implement it. Prez Wickremesinghe first raised the issue in Parliament, asking the various parties whether they are for 13 Plus, meaning improving on 13A. SJB’s Lakshman Kiriella, an avowed supporter of devolution, while saying that his party is for it, asked the Prez whether Mahinda Rajapaksa’s SLPP, which provides the Prez with Parliamentary more..

Jan 30 (DM) Bimal Ratnayake, a stalwart of JVP, responds to questions on elections, and their policies to develop the country. A Marxist party it is, JVP has advocated socialist policies right throughout. Q: How do you see the importance of this election when the govt argues against it citing financial constraints? A: This is a fully-fledged dress rehearsal. This election assumes the importance of a national election in the current context. more..

Jan 30 (ST) What has a nation, which cannot guarantee uninterrupted power supply to students sitting the A/L examination, where large swathes of the populace go hungry, where the sick do not have access to essential medicine with many hospitals announcing that they have run out of supplies, have to celebrate on its 75th Independence Day? This is an important question to ask. Reportedly, Prez has declared that it is important to mark that day in a ‘grand and proud manner… more..

Jan 30 (ST) If there is one thing left in this ghost-isle, worthy of a 200 million buck bash to celebrate 75 years of independence, it, undoubtedly, is democracy, however battered and scarred it may be. From sad catalogue of corruption, mismanagement, wastage, nepotism, failures, false promises, deceit, humbug, hypocrisy, phony nationalism, racism, bigotry, terrorism and bloodshed, it is a miracle that democracy’s flame has survived the long night of gusty governmental winds to snuff it out. more..

Jan 30 (SO) The theft of an ATM machine in Gampola was the first of its kind reported in SL. The incident had taken place on Jan 25 around 12:30 am. A group of four masked men arrived in a KDH van planning to get away with the ATM machine. The group blocked the entrance of the ATM with the van and rushed inside to overpower the security officer on duty. The men then tied up the security officer & threatened him at gunpoint. more..

Jan 30 (TM) World Leprosy Day is internationally observed on the last Sunday of January, and this year, it fell yesterday. While various programmes were held throughout the world in commemoration of this day, SL’s discourse on leprosy revealed an alarming situation, i.e. 10% of leprosy patients in Sri Lanka are children. Media cited Colombo District Director of Health Services Specialist Dr. Chandana Gajanayake, as saying approx 2,000 leprosy patients are reported in SL every year. more..

Jan 30 (CT) For the past 75 years since Independence, development alongside other nations has been severely hindered by our special brand of politics, the personal kind. While there is nothing wrong with a political candidate using aspects of his/her personal life and charisma to be more appealing to voters, ultimately, politics should never be about the politician but the people, a simple truth which both politicians as well as voters in Sri Lanka have failed to grasp. more..

Jan 30 (Island) Those who are all out to scuttle the local govt elections (LG) scheduled to be held on 09 March have got down and dirty. Having failed to intimidate the Election Commission (EC) into postponing elections, they are now trying to scare the members thereof into resigning as part of their strategy to delay the mini polls. Their desperation knows no bounds and they will baulk at nothing. The EC members who have been threatened with death to resign from their posts are more..

Jan 30 (DM) SL has a history of forming political Alliances for well over a century, the first being Ceylon National Association founded in 1888 and Ceylon Reform League founded in 1917 joining hands on Dec 11,1919 in forming a new political alliance called Ceylon National Congress [CNC]. Ridiculous political alignments are being transformed into alliances on the eve of the LG elections. Alliance can be defined as an official agreement between two groups, more..

Jan 30 (EN) Prez Wickremesinghe defended left leaning progressive taxes as tax protests rose among wage earners, saying the island will not be able to get int'l support unless taxes were hiked. There has been rising discontent among wage earners who have also seen real wages half due to monetary instability and value added tax, when they were hit by progressive taxes, undermining the case for economic reforms. more..

Jan 30 (TP) SL match referee Vanessa de Silva has been named as the match referee for the final of ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. De Silva will be the first SL Woman to officiate an ICC World Cup Final. ICC had announced 15 match officials for the tournament where De Silva head the panel of Match Referees which include former Bangladesh international cricketer Neeyamur Rashid and Zimbabwe’s Owen Chirombe. She had represented SL in 14 int'l matches (1 WTEST, 13 WODI) more..

Jan 30 (FT) Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Executive Director and Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) Co-Convener Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, warned that the 9 March LG poll (if held), may turn violent as political parties were fighting for their survival. He said that there was doubt whether the election would be held on schedule or whether it would be postponed by a few months or even indefinitely as the results of the election may be considered as a referendum. more..

Jan 30 (DN) We are going to discuss with the Sports Minister and SLC officials to work on AG's recommendation on the findings of the six member committee that investigated the alleged misconduct by the players, officials and associates during the last T20 World Cup in Australia in Oct/Nov said Sports Ministry Secretary K. Mahesan. The newly appointed Sports Ministry Secretary pointed out we have to investigate the matter thoroughly & ask govt auditor to conduct a comprehensive audit more..

Jan 30 (FT) Colombo will play host to Sri Lanka’s first-ever Tourism Investor Forum to lure foreign direct investments into the industry. “Sri Lanka Tourism will promote and position the country as a holistic destination for travel and opportunities for investments in the tourism sector,” Tourism and Land Minister Harin Fernando told the Daily FT. He said the forum will likely be held within the first half of 2023, assuring that the timeline will be announced soon. more..

Jan 30 (CI) A little over four months after winning the Asia Cup, SL are on the verge of a selection committee shake-up and its chief Pramodya Wickramasinghe is likely to be among the first names on the chopping block. Wickramasinghe has headed the selection committee since April 2021, overseeing a youth-driven overhaul of Sri Lanka's limited overs squads. This has seen seniors such as Mathews, Dinesh and Dimuth more..

Jan 30 (DN) Dambulla led by Minod Bhanuka recorded a five-wicket win over Jaffna in their National Super league cricket fixture played at SSC grounds yesterday. Dambulla had to get 45 more runs to win on final day yesterday as they reached it easily with five wickets in hand in 45 minutes of the first session yesterday. Skipper Minod Bhanuka hit two half centuries in each innings while Sanoj Dharshika scored fine knock of 60 to paved the victory. Meanwhile Galle recorded their more..

Jan 30 (ST) SL apparel workers are returning to their villages unable to fight the crisis of lost labour hours as most small scale garment businesses where they were working are heading towards an alarming situation come March when wages could get delayed and loans go unpaid. “Unlike the govt that can print money to pay salaries of state sector workers, we cannot do the same, so the authorities need to intervene and assist the apparel industry particularly the SME sector to sustain more..