Jun 18 (AD) Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Education has mooted issuing teaching licences to private tutors. During a recent meeting, chaired by MP V. Radhakrishnan at the parliamentary complex, the committee’s attention was drawn to the quality of private tuition classes across the island and the concerns about the qualifications and quality of these teachers. Accordingly, SOC recommended to the Education Ministry’s officials that it would be best to regulate private teachers more..

Jun 18 (DM) An identified virus disease that used to spread among pups only in the Central Province is now at risk of spreading to other provinces as well, Veterinarian Dr. Upul Sagarathilaka said. Vast spread of this disease was recorded in the Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya and Matale districts within the Central Province (CP). Moreover, he said that other than the above areas, the disease was reported to be spreading in the Kandy, Gampola, Hatton, Peradeniya, Ginigathhena and Hatton areas more..

Jun 18 (Island) Police are probing the mysterious deaths of two undergraduates from the North who had been found hanging by their necks in their respective hostels at two different universities yesterday, police said. One body was found from the Katuwawala men’s hostel of the University of Sri J'pura. The dead youth was a 24-year-old arts student of the university. He was from Kayts, Jaffna the police said. The body was found by his mates living in the hostel who alerted the warden. more..

Jun 18 (Island) Harbour police and Navy are conducting two separate investigations after finding the body of the executive officer of the SLNS Vijayabahu anchored at the Colombo Harbour hanging in his personal quarters (cabin) inside the ship on Thursday. Police identified the deceased as Commander R Rajapakshe, a resident of Gampaha. He is a father of two children and his wife is a major in the Army. Navy declined to comment. Police sources said that the preliminary more..

Jun 18 (ST) Health Ministry this week abruptly moved out 23 of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority’s (NMRA) most experienced pharmacists, leaving the institution with just 26 mostly junior pharmacists to carry out activities related to drug and safety efficacy. The unexpected transfers of pharmacists come amidst the second reported death on Friday of a patient at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital after he received more..

Jun 18 (ST) The visit will see the Prez also participate in the Global Leaders’ Summit for a New Global Financing Pact. The summit is scheduled to take place in Paris on June 22 and 23. The President is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes his Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake. Summit highlights the urgency of finding solutions to the multiple crises plaguing the global community, such as climate change, bio-diversity loss, ongoing impacts of COVID-19, escalating conflicts, more..

Jun 18 (TM) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) will seek approval from the Cabinet of Ministers in the coming weeks to amend the Penal Code in relation to cruelty towards children, The Sunday Morning learns. It is understood that the draft of the proposed amendment, aimed at updating outdated legislation, will be submitted to the Ministry of Justice to be listed for the consideration of the Cabinet in the coming weeks. According to NCPA Chairman Chanaka Amarasinghe, more..

Jun 18 (ST) For both the govt and the opposition, the week was one of consolidating their own positions on economic recovery and related issues. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe chaired a meeting of constituent partners of ruling SLPP govt he heads. For weeks now, SLPP hierarchy has been concerned but embarrassed to speak out. On Thursday, however, the party leadership seized the opportunity to politely give vent but more..

Jun 19 (DM) Yesterday, the third Sunday in the month of June, we in Sri Lanka, like hundreds of thousands of others around the world celebrated Fathers’ Day. Some Catholic countries of Europe commemorate Father’s Day on March 19 (Saint Joseph’s Day). Since the middle-aged Sikhs celebrate Father’s Day on Dec 29 - the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh. Whatever the particular date, it is the day we, the people of this world, celebrate the important role that fathers play in our lives. more..

Jun 19 (ST) Speaking at the Homagama DS this week, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe effortlessly recasted the currently heated debates on Sri Lanka’s proposed Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill as a choice between reasoned regulation and giving the media the licence to commit arson. But in going to the aid of his embattled Media Minister in this manner, he does himself the greatest injury, no more and no less. What we have here is a fundamentally bad Bill that gives the govt more..

Jun 19 (TM) He dances, performs, meditates and brings calm. He is emotive, reflective and serene. He is the god of beginnings. Ganeshism5 opened at the Barefoot Gallery and will be on until 24 June. The collection is based on an art form that has revolved around the ancient Vedic philosophy of self realisation. And, for artist Mahen Chanmugam, each time he puts paint to canvas, it is a new beginning. more..

Jun 19 (DM) The economic suffocation in our country has been all too clear for anyone who opened their eyes to the predicament of the working people. And now, for even those who hide behind data, there is ample evidence of the tremendous economic depression, where the contraction has not just pushed the economic activity back by years but by a decade. Unless there is a major shift in the economic policy trajectory, the decade ahead is also likely to be lost. more..

Jun 19 (TM) Throughout SL’s history, rulers’ short-sighted decisions have taken its toll on the country. While the prevailing socio-economic crisis is a prime example of it, some of the most disastrous events that befell the country, such as the 30-year war had a lot to do with rulers’ short-sighted decisions. However, it seems that the government has not learnt some lessons from past mistakes. Sri Lankans have over the last few years have faced many natural and man-made challenges, more..

Jun 19 (GV) In his fifth labour, Heracles cleans the Augean Stables by rerouting the rivers Alpheus and Peneus through the filthy abode of King Augeas’ divine cattle. Many believed that the aragalaya would have a similarly cleansing effect on SL society, washing away the filth of primordial extremisms with the waters of its idealism. As the Kurundi storm demonstrates, ethno-religious racism didn’t die. The extremity of the crisis and more..

Jun 19 (DM) Established 133 years ago in 1890, Depat of Archaeology needs a complete revamping. All the archaic laws, regulations and policies need speedy redraft. The top priority of officials of archaeology is to work on a re-evaluation of such regulations and guidelines. Archaeology is the methodical study of historical remnants of any kind. The archaic Law says, ‘The govt should regulate and prohibit construction in the locality of archaeological sites and memorials more..

Jun 19 (ST) Many Lankans face a tough time in catching up with Diana: Diana, the irrepressible; Diana, the unstoppable; Diana, the elusive Gamage. A tough time keeping step with Diana who has always managed to stay ahead of poisoned-tipped darts freed from political bows. She’s out of the box while the rest of them are cramped within the heirloom chest of solidified history, and, together with its stolen relics from a Victorian prudish past, stay locked up, unthawed, still in Ice Ages. more..

Jun 19 (Island) The Election Commission (EC) is in the news again. It is reportedly planning to ask the govt once again to allocate funds for the conduct of the local government (LG) polls, which have been postponed. It is reported to have decided to renew its call for funds because the govt, which refused to grant funds for elections, more than once, citing economic difficulties as the reason, has said that the economy is now firmly on course to recovery. True, the ruling party leaders more..

Jun 19 (Island) There (were) are forms of govt in which the legislature (Parliament), those who make laws, are the same as those who execute them. There are other forms of govt in which disputes between the two, as well as between citizen parties, are settled by the executive. The epitome of such concentration of authority and power is an absolute monarchy/a tyranny, where a king in 18th century France could say ‘I am the state’ or a dictatorship as we saw in Germany, in the 20th century more..

Jun 19 (FT) Sri Lanka had met 29 of the 100 trackable commitments of the IMF program and had failed on three as of the end of May 2023, according to The IMF Tracker dashboard of Verité Research. Two of the failed commitments relate to revenue. The first is to increase tax revenue to 2.1% of GDP, or Rs. 650 billion, by March 2023. Total Govt tax revenue was only Rs. 578 billion in the first quarter of 2023. more..

Jun 19 (ST) News reports of several events of in Sri Lanka Badminton is clearly indicative that the sport is finally finding its feet and taking shape for a long rally in the future. The recent elections that kept its President Rohan de Silva at the helm, together with a tried and tested team is noteworthy. Into the saddle of Secretary comes a very experienced shuttle administrator in Ajith Wijayasinghe, while it is good to see that Chandrika de Silva slips into the ExCo and brings more..

Jun 19 (CI) ODI World Cup Qualifier... What's that? As the packaging suggests, this is a qualifying event where ten teams will fight it out for the last two available spots at the 2023 ODI World Cup in India in October-November. The Qualifier is the finishing point of a four-year process that began with 32 teams in contention for the World Cup, where only ten will finally take part. Interesting. So will we see teams such as India and Australia in the Qualifier? Nope, they are already more..

Jun 19 (ST) Hundreds of SL Muslims departing for Hajj this year are being administered the mandatory meningococcal vaccine through unregulated means, with doctors suspecting the injection is being imported in regular passenger baggage with no guarantee of cold chain management. The meningococcal vaccine is a compulsory requirement imposed by the Saudi authorities on pilgrims performing Hajj more..

Jun 19 (FT) Kapruka, SL’s first and largest locally-owned e-commerce enterprise, has taken a significant stride in its global expansion efforts by extending its cross-border operations to Amazon UK and Walmart.com. Having initially established a strong presence as Amazon USA, Kapruka has created a substantial impact in the market. Building upon this success, Kapruka is now expanding its operations to Amazon UK and Walmart.com, further solidifying its brand presence and enabling more..

Jun 19 (FT) Automotive component manufacturers are optimistic about growth following the COVID-19 and economic crisis. SL Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (SLACMA) President Dimantha Jayawardena said, “SL automotive component manufacturers have gone through the toughest business cycle from 2020 and through the current economic crisis. Most manufacturers have survived,” he said. “Some are still trying to make the best following the temporary suspension of more..

Jun 19 (FT) With more RORO ships calling at the Hambantota International Port (HIP), the port will be adding a further 5000 slots to accommodate transhipment vehicles. HIP, which currently has the capacity to accommodate approx. 28,000 units, services nine main shipping lines who actively use the port for transhipment of RORO cargo. With large volumes expected via several shipping lines in the coming months, port management considers the rapid expansion of RORO yard an urgent more..

Jun 19 (FT) Young business leader of electronic media fame Rayynor Silva last week raced himself to be the third largest private shareholder of Sampath Bank picking up 3% additional stake for Rs. 2 billion signalling his optimism on the revival of the economy and upside in the financial services sector. With successive purchases on Thursday and Friday on top of his previous holding, Rayynor via his firm Phantom Investments Ltd., is estimated to be now owning more..

Jun 19 (TM) Govt will strongly oppose a request by the Int'l Maritime Organization (IMO) to review the vessel Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) located south of Dondra Head. The shipping lanes which lie south of SL are invaluable to the island’s economy and commerce, being the lifeblood of the Colombo and Hambantota Ports. The Sunday Morning last week reported that the IMO’s request had triggered a round of more..

Jun 19 (Island) Having had a keen interest in marine conservation since the inception of its environmental arm, Dilmah Tea is strengthening its investments in blue carbon – particularly mangrove conservation and sustainable seaweed harvesting in keeping in line with the UN decade of (ecosystem) restoration in 25 acres of land in Kappaladi Kite Lagoon in Kalpitiya, a company news release said. Dilmah Conservation (DC), the sustainability arm of the tea company, is restoring mangroves. more..

Jun 19 (FT) The SJB yesterday issued a statement calling on the govt to provide clarification regarding its recent shift in position regarding the restructuring of domestic debt. “President, Minister of Finance and the CB Governor continuously maintained that domestic debt will not be restructured according to the needs of the IMF. However, it is a matter of grave concern that the Govt has changed its stance and is presenting proposals for domestic debt restructuring,” the party said. more..

Jun 19 (DN) Sri Lanka would emerge victorious in the qualifying round of the World Cup to play in the final round of the 2023 ODI World Cup to be played in India, Cricket chief selector Pramodaya Wickramasingha said. Sri Lanka team will be pitted against UAE, Oman, Ireland and Scotland in their first round of the qualifying round followed by super six round and two best teams will enter the final. The only finalists have chance to qualify for the World Cup in India. more..

Jun 19 (Island) Dutch Govt has agreed to return six ancient artifacts that were taken from Sri Lanka during the Dutch colonial rule (1656-1796). The artifacts include a bronze cannon adorned with silver and traditional Sinhalese carvings, a wooden gun carriage, a solid gold sword-chestnut belonging to Lewke Disawe embellished with 136 diamonds, two guns with intricately carved wooden handles, an iron sword and scabbard, a gilded small gun barrel, and a bronze gun. more..

Jun 19 (TM) Govt is yet to make a decision on appointing an officer to the position of IGP which is going to be vacant soon with the expected retirement of incumbent IGP C.D. Wickremaratne. IGP Wickremaratne, who had submitted retirement papers earlier this year, was provided with a three-month service extension. Following the extension given to IGP Wickremaratne expiring on June 26, Minister Tiran Alles said more..

Jun 19 (ST) National carrier SriLankan Airlines is planning on a significant increase in flights to a number of destinations in its network during the upcoming winter season. “We anticipate increasing our overall number of weekly flights to existing destinations by 22 per cent in the upcoming winter season,” SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttal said. He explained that the increases will be seen across its wide network of destinations in India, West Asia, Far East and Europe. more..

Jun 19 (EN) Sri Lanka has marked International Yoga Day with the support of the High Commission of India with the participation of yoga enthusiasts, clergy, diplomats and govt officials. The event which was organized by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) of the Indian High Commission with the ministry of health also saw traditional doctors participating. UNGA adopted a resolution, piloted by India in 2014, proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga with more..

Jun 19 (FT) Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman Keith Bernard recently met Ambassador for France Jean-François Pactet who made his first visit to Colombo port. SLPA Chairman expressed extreme happiness on the fulfilment of the meeting that had been planned for a long time. “We consider it a great honour to have this opportunity to strengthen mutual and bilateral relations with a country like France, which has a strong history of maritime trade links. more..