Sri Lanka News : InfoLanka News Room

Jul 27 (AD) Highlighting the significance of establishing a Truth-Seeking Commission to address the ethnic problem’s impact on affected communities, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry has stressed that the commission should operate independently, with the government’s role limited to providing necessary support and facilities. Briefing trade unions and civil organizations on the Truth-Finding Commission at a discussion held at the Prez Secretariat on Wednesday (26 July), more..

Sri Lankan born Gary Anandasangaree appointed Canadian minister

Jul 27 (DM) Sri Lankan born Tamil MP Gary Anandasangaree has been appointed as a Cabinet Minister in the Canadian Govt. Gary Anandasangaree is the son of former MP and TULF leader Veerasingham Anandasangaree. He was among seven rookie MPs who have been promoted to PM Justin Trudeau's Cabinet following a major reshuffling on Wednesday. Gary Anandasangaree was first elected in 2015 as the MP for the Toronto riding of Scarborough-Rouge Park. more..

ඉන්දියන් බිත්තර සතොසට දැම්මේ කුණු වෙන්න...

An Indian author and lessons on morality

Jul 28 (DM) SL is now known as a nation that has driven its people to despair. With regard to the health crisis and the shortage of drugs in the island many medical professionals have aired the view that state sector authorities mustn’t be dishonest when purchasing drugs; at least from now onwards. Those born in SL may be cursing themselves. A quick study of their faiths will show that the majority of the citizens of this country are Buddhists. These Buddhists like those belonging to other faiths more..

Getting the right price

Jul 28 (ST) Thursday morning. The trio is waiting outside the gate for Aldoris, the choon-paan karaya. He arrives on time at 8 a.m. “Mata honda kontharathuwak labuna giya sumaney. Eka thama pastry sapayanna videshikayan ena podi aganthuka nivasayakata (I got a good contract last week. I will be supplying pastries to a small guest house for tourists),” he said, while dishing out hot buns. “Den videsha sancharakayo lankawata apahu enawa wage, eh adayam marga tika tika wedi more..

Commitment to human rights will continue even without an embassy: Norway Amb.

Jul 28 (DM) Ahead of the closure of the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal takes questions from Daily Mirror on the reason for it and the future of bilateral relations in the absence of a resident mission in Colombo. Norway started its mission in Colombo in 1996 given its role in SL’s peace and reconciliation process. Q: What is the reason for Norway to close down its mission in SL in its move to more..

Polls reveal growing voter disillusionment with established parties

Jul 28 (GV) In the latest SL Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) polling in June 2023, support amongst likely voters for the NPP/JVP fell five points and for the SJB four points from May to 23% each. The UNP saw no gains, with a big increase of seven points to 28% in the share of voters saying they would vote for other parties. In the four months since February the two leading parties, NPP/JVP and SJB, have experienced substantial declines in support in the SLOTS polling with more..

Beneath the skin deep liberalism lies cancerous caste prejudices

Jul 28 (CT) The debate on how important caste consciousness is in SL today and whether class consciousness has replaced caste consciousness requires that we briefly examine the beginnings of capitalism in SL, as well as the introduction of certain liberal approaches to the administration of the country during the Western colonial period, in particular, during the time of the British colonial administration. Fortunately, there is a now available a vast body of literature more..

UNESCO calls for global ban on smartphones in schools

Jul 28 (TM) Smartphones should be banned from schools to tackle classroom disruption, improve learning, and help protect children from cyberbullying, a UN report has recommended. The UNESCO said that there was evidence that excessive mobile phone use was linked to reduced educational performance and that high levels of screen time had a negative effect on children’s emotional stability. more..

Walk the talk!

Jul 28 (CT) Being deceived by the flamboyant promises of a better tomorrow has always been a thing for the people in SL. Having fallen for the same lie over and over again does not seem to have given any wit to the public either. So, the governing parties have been deliberately offering eyewash in their prolonged talks about future plans for development and the people have been happily settling down for them. And, here we are, still an under-developed country, facing multiple crises, almost more..

Tamil MP’s welcome to 13A solution

Jul 28 (TM) As much as the overall discourse on the 13th Amendment has remained a major national level topic of discussion for decades, the debates surrounding the same are far from reaching any acceptable closure. Although successive Govts have been putting off this issue as long as they could, with the influence of the related political and socio-economic concerns on the country intensifying, the 13th Amendment has reached a point where Govts cannot ignore it any longer. more..

Hiru TV Balaya Live

Sumeda and Sarangi to make amends for missed opportunities

Jul 28 (Island) The men’s and women’s 400 metres heats, the men’s javelin throw and the women’s long jump are among the most looked forward to events on day one of the 101st National Athletics Championship which commences at the Sugathadasa Stadium today. The men’s 400 metres titles of the national championship have been shared by Kalinga Kumarage and Aruna Dharshana during the last five years, with the former completing a hat trick at the centenary championship last year. more..

Milka and Nadila triumph at the Gymnastic Nationals

Jul 28 (DN) The National Gymnastics Championships, held coinciding with the 47th National Sports Festival, came to a thrilling close at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium from July 24 to 26. The event showcased exceptional talent and skill as gymnasts from across the country competed for top honors in the Men’s and Women’s categories. Milka Gihani de Silva and Nadila Nethviru emerged as the standout performers, claiming the prestigious titles in their respective divisions. more..

Indo-SL energy linkage: Nagapattinam -Jaffna pipeline under discussion

Jul 28 (TM) The proposed Indo-Lanka petroleum pipeline project is gathering steam, with energy security being one of the core topics that was discussed during last week’s historic two-day visit by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to India. The pipeline is mooted as a more cost-effective solution for India to support the SL energy market. However, SL is to appoint an expert committee to evaluate the proposal, with some senior officials more..

Anti-Corruption Act

Jul 28 (Island) The much-awaited Anti-Corruption Bill has been passed by the Parliament subject to amendment according to the determination of the Supreme Court. It is “An Act to give effect to certain provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption and other Internationally recognised norms, standards, and best practices; to provide for the establishment of an Independent Commission to detect and investigate allegations of Bribery, Corruption and offences related to more..

Editorial: Let govt MPs speak with one voice

Jul 28 (Island) Only the naïve would have expected Wednesday’s all-party conference (APC) to be successful. Most politicians who attended it did so not out of any desire to help it achieve its goal of bringing about a consensus among all stakeholders on the full implementation of the 13th Amendment. They were present there because they did not want to be blamed for trying to scuttle the event. Only the JVP turned down Prez Wickremesinghe’s invitation to APC, but it too did not act out of principle. more..

'මම ලංකාවේ කෙන්දරේ බැලුවා'

Maldivian and Indian competitors for Athletic Nationals

Jul 28 (DN) 101st National Athletic senior Championship will see several athletes from Maldives and India competing in this three day event which will commence today at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo at 7.30 a.m.The closing ceremony will br on July 30. The first event of the meet 10,000m. women’s final will start today 7.30 a.m. This is the last tournament of the Sri Lanka Athletic calender and 756 athletes including Elite National and youth poolists will compete in this major event. more..

Soaring ginger prices make tea, soup and curry bland

Jul 28 (ST) Pungent and spicy flavour and aroma of fresh ginger in a cup of tea, a bowl of soup, and a dish of curry is fast disappearing in many kitchens as its prices are expected to remain high till the end of this year. Price of a kilo of ginger was more than Rs. 2,000, even in shops in rural areas where ginger is also homegrown in addition to being a commercial crop. In supermarkets, it is sold at prices ranging between Rs. 2,600 and Rs. 2,700, while at the Pettah and Peliyagoda wholesale markets, more..

Giant Chaudhary Group to expand leisure footprint in Sri Lanka

Jul 28 (FT) South Asia’s largest hospitality conglomerate Chaudhary Group expressed its strong intent in expanding the footprint in SL from 14 properties at present including investment in Taj Samudra. “We have been consistently confident of SL as proven by our continuous investments. With stability returning in the country and uptick in tourist arrivals, we are optimistic of rapid growth in tourism hence looking at more..

Tourism Minister’s call for dialogue on MRR sparks debate among stakeholders

Jul 28 (FT) Tourism Minister Harin Fernando called on the hoteliers and tour operators to engage in another round of constructive dialogue to foster unity and reach a consensus on the minimum room rate (MRR). “I had a meeting with the industry stakeholders and gave them more time to discuss the matter amongst themselves hoping that it will prompt the stakeholders to address the issue of undercutting,” he said. Govt’s decision to reintroduce the MRR in Colombo city hotels starting more..

Indian parliamentary committee urges strong support for SL amidst crisis

Jul 28 (FT) An Indian parliamentary standing committee on external affairs has recommended the Indian Govt take steps to bolster its Neighbourhood First policy and be Sri Lanka’s biggest friend in times of crisis. In a report presented to the Indian parliament on Wednesday, the committee suggested that the Indian Govt extend favourable Lines of Credit, currency swaps, and other financial support to Sri Lanka, considering the country›s ongoing financial crisis. more..

All-party conference: Wiggy claims many attendees uninterested in 13A

Jul 28 (TM) Following the all-party conference – called by Prez on Wednesday to reach a final decision on the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution – concluding without a final consensus, TMTK Leader and Jaffna District Opposition MP C.V. Wigneswaran stated that many parties that attended the conference, including the Opposition’s TNA, were not interested in the implementation of the 13th Amendment. more..

Govt to settle unpaid electricity bills of 7 state hospitals totaling Rs. 160mn

Jul 28 (AD) Health Ministry and the CEB have reached a consensus to settle the unpaid electricity bills of seven state hospitals totaling Rs. 160 million. The unpaid bill of Colombo National Hospital adds up to Rs. 120 million while the electricity bill arrears of National Dental Hospital, De Soysa Maternity Hospital, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, National Eye Hospital, National Institute for Nephrology Dialysis & Transplantation in Maligawatta and Castle Street Hospital more..

Lady attorney arrested for chewing and destroying case documents inside court

Jul 28 (DM) Kekirawa police has arrested a female attorney-at-law who had allegedly torn and destroyed two copies of documents that were included in a file in the archives in relation to a land case pending before the Kekirawa District Magistrate's Court. The Attorney representing the proceedings of the Kekirawa District Magistrate's Court had reportedly torn two documents from a file related to a land case in the court registry and had chewed and destroyed them inside the court. more..

ක්‍රිකට් බෝඩ් එකේ ආතල් කැඩෙයිද මංදා ?

Uber partners with the Ministry of Transport to promote road safety

Jul 28 (Island) Uber, the leading platform for movement of people and things, announced a partnership with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Transport to promote road safety in the country. 1000 driver partners across Uber Rides and Uber Eats in Sri Lanka will undergo first-aid training conducted by Sri Lanka Red Cross. After undergoing this training, these drivers will be able to provide potentially life-saving first-aid support to riders in case of accidents. This will include vital skills such as more..

Hemas joins with Eco Spindles to combat plastic pollution

Jul 28 (CT) Hemas Group partners with Eco Spindles to establish two state-of-the-art Baling sites in Ampara and Colombo. This strategic collaboration aims to tackle the urgent issue of plastic pollution by collecting over 25,000 kg of plastic waste per month. The primary goal is to promote responsible plastic waste management practices in line with the Group’s Environmental Agenda, Hemas said and added with a strong commitment to offset its end consumer plastic waste, more..

Allowances in USD terms increased by over 70%, stipulation amended in favour of SLC

Jul 28 (Island) National Audit Office (NAO) has sought an explanation from Sports Ministry Secretary K. Mahesan regarding the sharp increase of allowances paid to the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as well as top management level personnel in USD terms. According to NAO’s draft report on SL tour of Australia late last year for T 20 World Cup, Executive Committee at a meeting held on more..

SLPP wants Prez to discuss 13A with religious leaders, Muslims

Jul 28 (TM) The ruling SLPP stated that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe should discuss the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution not only with politicians but also with other parties such as Buddhist monks and other religious leaders. SLPP General Secretary Govt MP Sagara Kariyawasam said that in implementing the 13th Amendment, holding discussions with politicians is not enough. "There is no point in discussing this only with politicians. more..

Locally-made schoolbag, shoes to go down by 10% from today

Jul 28 (DM) Local schoolbags and shoes manufacturers have agreed to reduce their prices by 10% from today, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. The manufacturers have taken this decision following discussions with the Minister. They also said the decision was taken to pass on the concessions to the parents after the depreciation of the US dollar. Earlier, decision was taken to reduce the prices of local schoolbags and shoes by 10% beginning July 15, the State Minister said. more..

හිරු ටීවී පත්තරේ විස්තරේ

Hayleys Solar partners with Watchtower SL

Jul 28 (FT) Hayleys Solar, the renewable energy arm of Hayleys Fentons, partnered with Watchtower Sri Lanka on 18 May, to construct a 2MWh battery backup system powered by solar PV, designed to provide energy independence, offering up to three days of uninterrupted power. This landmark project marks a significant milestone for the renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka and reinforces the nation’s commitment in transitioning to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. more..

NIMH mum over patient’s death

Jul 28 (CT) Hot on the heels of medicinal drug related deaths that have taken place in the State health sector, a patient’s death, allegedly following an assault by a certain category of health staff, was reported from National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Angoda earlier this week. Informed sources said the 48-year-old patient from Watareka, who was allegedly suffering from bipolar disorder, had been admitted to Ward 08 of the NIMH on 20 July, under the BHT 3245/2023. more..

Opposition calls for elections before devolution

Jul 28 (FT) SJB urged Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to conduct LG polls before engaging in discussions with political parties on the devolution of powers. According to SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara all groups including Tamil political parties present at the all-party meeting called for LG polls. “13A was essentially provided to all regions, including the N&E, as a means for the people to have control over their provinces more..

Top monks support religious property census

Jul 28 (TM) The Asgiri Chapter of the Siam Sect has expressed its view that while it is acceptable to conduct a census on properties belonging to religious places, particularly Buddhist temples, the Govt should, however, refrain from interfering in their administration. It was recently reported that the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs has decided to conduct a census on the properties of all religious places including Buddhist temples. more..

Defence Ministry lifts ban imposed under PTA against five organisations

Jul 28 (AD) Ministry of Defence on Wednesday issued an Extraordinary Gazette, lifting the ban imposed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against five organisations. Relevant gazette was issued by Prez Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence. Accordingly, the bans imposed on United Thawheed Jamma’ath (UTJ), Ceylon Thawheed Jamma’ath (CTJ), SL Thawheed Jamma’ath (SLTJ), All Ceylon Thawheed Jamma’ath (ACTJ) & Jamiyathul Ansaari Sunnathul more..

Dentists warn of halt in govt dental treatments

Jul 28 (TM) Govt Dental Surgeons’ Association (GDSA) has warned that due to the lack of approximately 1,300 types of medicines and equipment required for dental treatment, there is a risk of normal dental and orthodontic treatments and dental surgeries coming to a complete halt in certain Govt hospitals. GDSA Secretary Manjula Herath said that the Ministry of Health has failed to address the issue although Ministry had been requested more..

Open letter on health crisis and Opposition’s stand on Minister Rambukwella

Jul 28 (FT) Let me first say, I do appreciate the interventions made by the official Opposition in parliament, questioning the evolving crisis in our State hospitals that exposed severe deviations in procurement of medicinal drugs, their quality and efficacy and heavy corruption that now need independent investigations and legal action, and a change in the political leadership of the Ministry too. What is now taking place is exactly the opposite, with the health minister held responsible for more..