Jun 13 (TM) Almost two years after then State Minister State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, allegedly committed some of the most controversial acts by a minister in Sri Lanka’s political history, where he allegedly have forcibly entered the Welikada and Anuradhapura Prisons and intimidated several inmates at gunpoint, Sri Lanka sees a proper evaluation of the nature of his alleged acts and recommendations on the appropriate legal actions that should be taken against him. more..

Jun 13 (TM) Ranil Wickremesinghe Govt’s game of political hardball continues while President Wickremesinghe is focused mostly on manoeuvring SL’s repositioning on the regional geopolitical map. One of the key achievements for Wickremesinghe was the green light last week on his long-overdue visit to India, which is now scheduled to take place next month. Indian visit will now happen far ahead of the Prez’s impending visit to China towards the latter part of the year. more..

Jun 13 (CT) Recently, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted that local universities, currently, do not hold the same position and prestige that SL universities used to have around the time he received his higher education, to the point where they were high on the list of Asian universities. President, in his speech at the CVCD Excellence Awards last week, made some valid and important points about the gaps in SL education system and where we need to have a long hard look at, more..

Jun 13 (FT) In a bid to boost economic activities, Sri Lanka is planning to allow free visas for South Asian countries soon. “We are in the process of finalising the details to extend the free visa for SAARC member countries very soon. By reducing the barriers to entry, we aim to position SL as more welcoming and accessible,” Minister Harin Fernando said. In a competitive global tourism market, offering free visas can give more..

Jun 13 (Island) Three days before the former British PM Boris Johnson did his latest antic 09 June, jumping before being pushed out, I was at the 80th birthday party of a friend of mine who is a retired Paediatric Cardiologist responsible for taking a number of teams from Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, where he worked, to do heart surgery on children at the Karapitiya Hospital. It was a privilege to meet some of his colleagues who visited SL; their dedicated voluntary service more..

Jun 13 (ST) How many moons must show its face before the Minister of Sports (MoS) wakes up and plays the ball back to FIFA. As long back as Jan 2023, FIFA wrote to the FFSL conveying its suspension and imposing conditions under which they would consider lifting the ban and allowing Sri Lanka football to get back on its feet again. But there has been a resounding silence from the MoS and instead a Commission of Enquiry was instituted against the establishment, whose report more..

Jun 13 (FT) Vidullanka PLC on Friday ceremonially commissioned the Horana Solar Power Plant, a 2MW Ground Mounted Solar Power Plant in Horana presided by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, State Minister Indika Anuruddha, CEB General Manager and SL Sustainable Energy Authority Chairman Rohan Seneviratne. The 2 MW Horana Solar PV Power Project has been developed by Vidullanka PLC, through one of its subsidiaries, Horana Solar Power. more..

Jun 13 (ST) Women worker representatives have been thrown out of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) this year and now the council is scrambling at the behest of the Minister to find women from the appointed trade unions to join in the discussions. This issue came to the fore when the first meeting of the newly reconstituted NLAC where Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara had appointed an all-men committee to consider female participation on the council. more..

Jun 13 (DM) Seven SL fugitives are among 6,872 fugitives listed under the INTERPOL’s red notice list, recent statistics have shown. Out of the seven, four Sri Lankans are listed as wanted in SL while the other three SL fugitives have been issued red notices upon requests made by foreign countries over crimes they had committed in their territories. A red notice is a request to law enforcement authorities worldwide to locate more..

Jun 13 (DN) Opener Lasith Croosepulle made a fine knock of 98 in 119 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes while all rounder Ramesh Mendis hit 78 in 89 balls with 12 fours as SL ‘A’ scored 325 all out in their first innings against South Africa ‘A’ on the opening day of first four day game played at Pallekele yesterday. The first day belongs to right hander Croosepulle with his solid knock but he was unfortunately LBW to leg spinner Senuran Muthusamy who finished with excellent figures of 7 for 132 more..

Jun 13 (FT) The June edition of leading business magazine, LMD, stated: “Following NielsenIQ’s exclusive monthly survey for LMD in the first week of May, its Director – Consumer Insights Therica Miyanadeniya notes that both long and short-term perceptions about business improving have deteriorated.” “And likewise, the number of corporates that expect business volumes to increase in the next 12 months has diminished too,” Miyanadeniya added. LMD observed that more..

Jun 13 (TM) The SLPP will not initiate any form of disciplinary action against State Minister of Plantation Industries and former State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte over the incident of the latter having forcibly entered the Welikada and Anuradhapura Prisons and intimidated several inmates in 2021 until the charges against him are proven through the relevant court proceedings, more..

Jun 13 (FT) Galadari Hotels (Lanka) PLC has entered into a Hotel Development Services Agreement (HDSA) and a Hotel Management Agreement (HMA) with multinational hospitality company, Radisson Hotels Asia Pacific Investments Ltd., concerning the five star 450-room property in Colombo. Galadari Hotels (Lanka) said it intends to engage with Radisson Hotels Asia Pacific Investments Ltd. and/or one or more of its affiliates (Radisson) to manage the Galadari Hotel more..

Jun 13 (Island) Tharushi Karunaratne’s outstanding achievement of winning three medals including two golds at the Asian Junior Athletics Championship once again turned the spotlight on her school, Ratnayake Central, Walala and coach Susantha Fernando who has the rare distinction of training nearly one third of Sri Lanka’s Asian Junior Athletics Championship medallists in history. From Manoj Pushpakumara’s back to back silver winning efforts in Thailand and Malaysia (in 2002 and 2004) more..

Jun 13 (FT) One of SL’s leading research firms, Research Intelligence Unit says plantation companies are very optimistic about the revoking of the ban imposed on the usage of chemical fertiliser and see it as the ex-factor for a production boost in 2023, as compared with 2022. The companies consider labour as a crucial element of their business and the revenue-share model which is a newly adapted model from the 150-year-old daily wage model is expected to correct most of more..

Jun 13 (DM) If the govt does not take any action against the chicken meat traders, the All Island Canteen Owners' Association (AICOA) warned that they would launch a programme to boycott the buying of chicken meat from next week. AICOA chairman Asela Sampath said they will do the same thing that they did to control the biscuit price hike. They warned the chicken meat traders to pass the concessions received from the dollar depreciation to the consumers. more..

Jun 13 (Island) Rebel SLPP MP G.L. Peiris questioned the propriety of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe recently dismissing the importance of elections at the recent National Law Conference in Nuwara Eliya. Former External Affairs Minister said that Prez Wickremesinghe had declared at the BASL event that the people had no faith in elections. Prof. Peiris pointed out that among the distinguished gathering were judges of the SC and CA more..

Jun 13 (DM) The MRI scan machine at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital is non-functional, forcing the hospital authorities to send patients to other hospitals. Hospital Director D.M.S. Samareweera stated, “We are in the process of bringing the machine back into operation as final repairs are ongoing.” “Repairs have been underway for the last two months and we are now at the final stage. There are several replacement parts that have to be imported to fix the machine. more..

Jun 13 (Island) Those who seek treatment at the eye ward of the Karapitiya hospital have been greatly inconvenienced due to the migration of the consultant ophthalmic surgeon. The doctor, who was the only ophthalmic surgeon attached to the ophthalmic surgical unit, has left the country. Chairman of the Professional Forum of Physicians on Medical & Civil Rights, said that a number of top doctors had left the country and that Health Ministry should look into the worsening crisis. more..

Jun 13 (CT) In the face of a growing shortage of doctors to function State-run hospitals, GMOA warned they would resort to a strike after 19 June, if the Health Ministry failed to take necessary action in awarding internships to the batches that completed their GCE A/L examinations in 2014/15. GMOA General Secretary Haritha Aluthge said his outfit had taken several decisions during a GMOA Central Committee meeting with regard to the 2014/15 A/L batches who had even passed out more..

Jun 13 (TM) Towards the end of this year, food insecurity in the country is more likely to increase, claimed Uni of Peradeniya Department of Economics and Statistics Professor Wasantha Athukorala. In Sri Lanka, more than 7.5 million (33 % of the total number of families) are facing an acute food problem (food insecurity), per the latest study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN. Also, Sri Lanka is in the 79th place in the severely food insecure list. more..

Jun 13 (TM) In the wake of the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security stating that it will not recommend privatising Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) as matters sensitive to national security could be exposed, Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies said that they are not ready to reverse its reform agenda for any reason. State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that the Govt could assure that more..

Jun 13 (DM) Regulation of private bus operations remains a challenge since there are influential people like politicians, senior police officers, and officials of the Inland Revenue Dept and Customs among bus owners, a Minister charged. Haphazard driving, non-issuance of tickets to passengers, speeding, ad hoc stops for boarding and dropping passengers, and non-adherence to time schedules are among major allegations against private bus operators who are responsible of 50% stake more..

Jun 13 (DM) The first A 330-200 aircraft of the Sri Lankan Airline leased from France 23 years ago is to be returned to the company of origin on the expiry of the lease. Sri Lankan Airlines had leased the aircraft from the French Airbus Company, the manufacturers of the aircraft. A spokesman for SriLankan Air said the aircraft had been used for long destinations including Heathrow, Frankfurt, Melbourne, and Moscow routes and had completed 100,000 flight hours. more..

Jun 13 (CT) Days after being severely criticised by the Prez during a meeting, Director General of Dept of Archaeology, Professor Anura Manatunga, tendered his resignation. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, during the said meeting on 8 June, asked Prof. Manatunga, when an issue pertaining to the allocation of lands to an archaeological site came up, “Are you trying to teach me history? Or do you want me to teach you?” more..

Jun 13 (FT) Except in Opposition political party leaderships, there is not much interest in the Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Act the Govt plans to present for parliamentary approval. Most vociferous media activists and media organisations are not very conspicuous in protests against this piece of law that reads terribly nasty on democratic life of people and society. In summary, the Act would provide the commission the power to act against any broadcaster through its more..

Jun 13 (FT) The globally respected UN diplomat Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala passed away on 27 May 2023, in Kand. He was 85. Ambassador Dhanapala was a quintessential Sri Lankan—a Buddhist schooled in a Christian and pluralistic society. At an early age, he developed an open mind to foster a better world for all. Selected as an “all-rounder” and winner of the Ryde Gold Medal at the Anglican Church–managed Trinity College in Kandy, the 19-year-old won a prize for his New York Herald Tribune essay more..

Jun 13 (IE) A Cork woman who was injured in an accident on a cycling holiday in Sri Lanka can sue the UK-based organisers in the Irish courts, the High Court has ruled. Home economics teacher, Ann Casey (59), from Midleton in Cork split her chin bone, broke her jaw, fractured her right wrist and sustained other injuries to her arms and chest in the accident on December 30, 2018, it is claimed. She was part of an organised cycling group which was travelling from Kandy, SL, when she claims, more..

Jun 13 (AD) Former Minister Navin Dissanayake was appointed the new Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province today. He was sworn in before Prez Wickremesinghe. Speaking on his new appointment, Dissanayake vowed to bring his 20 years of experience to improve the public delivery systems in the province and bring much-needed reforms in the education sector in his capacity as the governor. Disanayake also expressed his commitment to contributing significantly to the realization more..

Jun 13 (AN) Due to the current economic crisis, more than one million construction workers in Sri Lanka have lost their jobs and thousands have left the country in search of employment, mainly in Japan, Malaysia, the Middle East and South Korea. This was revealed during the meeting of the Committee on Measures to Mitigate the Impact of the Economic Crisis held in the Colombo Parliament last week. more..

Jun 13 (EN) Sri Lankan Aviation College, the training arm of Sri Lankan Airlines, has started aviation programs in Jaffna after partnering with the British College of Applied Studies (BCAS), a statement said. “Several of Aviation College’s programs will now be available via BCAS’ campuses in Jaffna and Kalmunai, delivered by SriLankan Aviation College’s very own expert panel of aviation trainers,” Airlines said. Through the program by Aviation College and BCAS, more..

Jun 13 (DM) COPE revealed that two consultants appointed on the recommendation of former Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd and the Media Ministry had been paid Rs. 1.8 million and Rs. 900,000 respectively. Auditor General informed the Committee that a consultant who was recruited to the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd on Dec 7, 2020 had been paid Rs. 1.8 million and another consultant who had been released to more..

Jun 13 (EN) Proposed new Broadcast Regulatory Commission Act requires broadcasters to renew their licence once a year which will hinder business and compel them to toe the govt line, the main opposition said, though the media minister contested the claim. Former SJB MP Ajith P Perera said that the annual license renewal requirement will result in SL’s privately owned broadcast media being as subservient to the govt the way state-run more..

Jun 13 (EN) SL has allocated 70 million rupees to compensate paddy farmers for crop losses in the Yala 2022 season, but it will not cover losses from fertilizer shortages. Program expects to compensate 3499 farmers who suffered crop damage in the 2022 yala season. Agricultural & Agrarian Insurance Board compensate 3,499 famers whose field were damaged. “Even though compensation will not be paid for damages due to lack of fertilizer, by paying an annual insurance premium of 200 rupees, more..

Jun 13 (DM) The Lanka Premier League 2023 will reach new heights when it holds its first ever player auction tomorrow (June 14) at the Shangri La Hotel, Colombo. Some of the top names in the cricketing world will come under the hammer at the LPL Auction. A total of 360 players, both capped and uncapped, are registered to obtain a place to play in the 4th edition of the Lanka Premier League 2023, Sri Lanka’s top domestic T20 competition with an international flavor. more..