Mar 9 (TM) Even though the Police’s conduct during last year’s aragalaya (people’s movement to remove Govt led by then-Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, then-PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and then-Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa) protests was marked with a severe and deliberate disregard for the protesters’ human rights and safety, a report by a local civil society organisation reveals that Police had placed the protesters’ lives in danger more..

Mar 9 (CT) The economy is beginning to give indications of macro stability which Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has made his primary objective. The most visible of these is the appreciation of the rupee against the dollar and other international currencies which signals a shift from the previous trend of depreciation. Over the past year the cost of the dollar rose by as much as 80% in the official exchange rate and even more on the black market. The current appreciation of the rupee more..

Mar 9 (GV) For her documentary film Teardrop On Fire, Jessica Palden interviewed many people who have directly experienced domestic abuse and intimate partner violence in SL. The footage for the film was generated during the past three years and it is a testimony to the dedication and commitment of Ms. Palden and her local team and crew that they were able to bring this film to completion amid global pandemic disruptions and the fuel shortages during the recent economic crisis. more..

Mar 9 (TM) Technology plays an important role in modern society. It connects, innovates, and transforms economies and societies at large. Yet, women and girls continue to have limited access to technology. This gender bias is also present in SL, where women comprise over 50% of the population. This year, UN marked Int'l Women’s Day yesterday under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality, more..

Mar 9 (Island) SL’s economic crisis is an orphan; nobody takes responsibility for it, but many are those who claim the paternity of what seems to be a nascent economic recovery process. SLPP-UNP govt is elated at the prospect of being able to unlock the US$ 2.9 billion IMF bailout soon. Prez rushed to Parliament on Tuesday and announced that China had pledged support for SL’s debt restructuring, and the IMF bailout would hopefully become a reality towards end of the current month. more..

Mar 9 (TM) SL remains hopeful that the much-awaited IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is most likely to materialise by the end of this month, in a context where the Govt has fulfilled the relevant duties and the country’s main creditors have come forward in support of the country. Noting this, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe stated this week that the agreement with the IMF is of special importance to restore the economy, as there is no alternative path to be seen at present, and that at this time, more..

Mar 9 (CT) On 24 Feb, Minister Susil Premajayantha who was answering a question posed by SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne, was irked when Kaviratne did not find his answer satisfactory. The Minister then threw Sinhala obscenity at Kaviratne while there were schoolchildren in the gallery. However, Premajayantha on Tuesday expressed remorse and apologised to SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne over using unparliamentary language. In response, Kaviratne raised concerns whether the Speaker and more..

Mar 9 (ST) It was bound to happen before long. Parliament high-ups conduct themselves as though they are above and beyond the law. Such laws might apply to other institutions, even to ministries and state institutions but not to parliament. Or so they have been thinking as previous experience has revealed. That is the arrogant attitude of the top rankers in the parliament structure. They think they have the right and the privilege to brush aside condescendingly requests for basic more..

Mar 9 (TM) The Power and Energy Ministry is poised to submit a Cabinet paper seeking approval for shortlisted foreign companies to enter the local energy market once the ongoing appeal process is completed, The Sunday Morning learns. It is learnt that three foreign companies have now been selected and all three companies will be permitted to enter the local energy market. However, the final decision on the 3 companies will be taken more..

Mar 9 (ST) A week after deciding not to grant the greenlight to the seven-member national rowing team picked to represent SL at the upcoming Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China, National Sports Selection Committee (NSSC) has granted approval to only two athletes. After the initial request made by the Amateur Rowing Association of SL (ARASL) was not entertained, the national rowing officials had officially written twice to the NSSC, addressing to its Secretary Arjun Fernando. more..

Mar 9 (FT) Minister Bandula Gunawardena assured that plans to introduce a new anti-corruption bill are afoot and not off. Responding to queries at the post-Cabinet-meeting media briefing yesterday he said the relevant bill will be presented to the Parliament soon. “We have discussed the proposed anti-corruption bill in the Cabinet earlier and it is being drafted. Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe will present for Parliament approval in the coming days,” Gunawardena added. more..

Mar 9 (CT) Thirteen of the leading companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) have pledged their support to increase women’s representation at both their management and board levels. The move comes as IFC partnered with the CSE for the eighth consecutive year for the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality, celebrated in line with International Women’s Day. As part of IFC’s moves to promote gender equality, the 13 companies have signed onto a commitment to boost more..

Mar 9 (MSN) Sri Lanka could get the opportunity to increase the export of its coconut-based products in the near future, as international companies are moving away from procuring from Thailand- a key supplier- due the usage of monkey labour. Following investigations carried out by PETA, major retailers, including Walmart, Costco, Target and Kroger, have already stopped carrying coconut milk from certain Thai suppliers accused of using monkeys for forced labour. more..

Mar 9 (FT) SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne presented two private members bills to the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to amend both the Value Added Tax Act No. 14 of 2002 (as amended) and the Special Commodity Levy Act No. 48 of 2007. These two amendments seek to facilitate Parliamentary control over public finance as constitutionality required, and prevent the executive (Minister) from abusing statutory powers, more..

Mar 9 (ST) SL’s newest insurance scheme for migrant workers to countries in West Asia through an agreement between SL Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) and Gulf Insurance and Reinsurance Company has been stained with irregularities and financial misappropriation, a COPE recent report exposed. It has been observed that there were irregularities in awarding the tender to a prospective bidder although the acceptable tender procedure has been followed with regard to more..

Mar 9 (TM) Claiming that a privileges question raised by SLPP MP Premnath Dolawatte has been given priority over a privileges question raised by SJB MP Rohini Kavirathna regarding the incident of Minister Susil Premajayantha using an expletive against her in Parliament, SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the same reflects harassment of female MPs through Parliamentary procedures. He said: “Kavirathna has submitted a privilege-related question to Parliament regarding more..

Mar 9 (TM) Although the IUSF and the representatives of the FUTA have demanded that legal action be taken against the Police officers who allegedly forcibly entered and tear gassed the University of Colombo premises during the protest organised by the IUSF on Tuesday, the Police stated that its officers, in special cases, are able to enter any premise even without permission. Following the incident of a group of Police officers more..

Mar 9 (FT) Tourist arrivals are averaging over 4,000 per day this month as against the 3,800 level in the last few months, mainly boosted by Russian travellers. Sri Lanka has welcomed 24,363 tourists during the first six days of the month, whilst daily arrivals have hit 4,061, the provisional data by SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) showed. The first six-day arrivals in March have also pushed the cumulative figure to date to 234,547, paving a good kick-start for the year 2023. more..

Mar 9 (EN) SL has tabled in parliament, a controversial draft monetary law giving discretion for economic officials to pursue an exchange rate policy, monetary policy and growth policy as an inflation target. The move comes as SL, and several other countries which have attempted to generate levels of inflation as high as 5% or 8% (a domestic anchor) without having a clean float and operating a foreign reserve collecting peg (external anchor), have ended in sovereign default after currency crises. more..

Mar 9 (DN) SL over 50 team All rounder Ruwin Pieris played a major role to win their first two matches against Australia and NZ at the Over 50 World Cup cricket tournament which is now in progress in Cape Town, South Africa. It was a fine effort from former NCC opener Ruwin Pieris who scored superb knock of 94 against Australia in the opening game while he took 4 for 18 as leg spinner to gain a second match win over NZ. At the opening game against Australia, SL scored 234 for 7 more..

Mar 9 (Island) Central Bank of SL Bill was presented to the Parliament, on Tuesday, by minister Susil Premajayantha. According to the new Bill, autonomy of the CB shall be respected at all times and no person or entity shall cause any influence on the Governor of CB or other members of the Governing Board, and Monetary Policy Board, or employees of CB in the exercise, performance and discharge of their powers, duties and functions, under this Act, or interfere with activities of CB. more..

Mar 9 (TM) Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would have made a loss of Rs. 287 billion in the year 2023 if it continued to supply power at the previously hiked tariff rate, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara stated in Parliament yesterday. Wijesekara said that if CEB had continued its operation based on last year’s tariff hike of 75%, it was estimated that the CEB would incur a loss of Rs. 287 billion in 2023 more..

Mar 9 (FT) Global giant Standard Chartered Bank speculated another 1% rate hike in the second half and inflation being above the Central Bank’s target whilst in the near term Rupee to trade between Rs. 300-325 to the US Dollar. In a commentary following CBSL actions and related developments, Standard Chartered research said it’s revised its policy rate forecasts and “expect a further 100bps hike, taking the SLFR to 17.5% by end·2023 (versus 15.5% prior).” more..

Mar 9 (DM) Three junior cricketers, who are part of the national Under 19 squad scheduled to travel to the UAE for a tri-nation tournament next week, have been given permission to join the team late owing to their involvement in their respective school big matches. Three players, Sineth Jayawardena from Royal College Colombo, Malsha Tharupathi of Richmond College Galle and Mahinda College's Dinura Kalupahana have been given special dispensation to travel separately, more..

Mar 9 (CT) Dept of Immigration has announced plans to launch electronic passports, or e-passports, beginning 2024. The proposal for the e-passport, along with the technical and procurement teams has been approved by Cabinet, Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, I.S.H.J. Ilukpitiya said. He said that the Dept will advertise for bids in April and any country that offers the best options and lowest cost will be selected. He added that the bidding process will last for one month more..

Mar 9 (TM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to meet with the representatives of trade unions tomorrow for further discussions. Accordingly, the representatives of all trade unions have been invited for the discussion which is due to be held at the Presidential Secretariat. The discussion is expected to focus on the concerns pertaining to the recent tax revisions. Meanwhile, GMOA met with the Head of State on Tuesday (7), during which a consensus was reached that solutions more..

Mar 9 (Island) Frontline Socialist Party says that the Central Bank of SL Bill, if passed, would enable Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to come to Parliament one day and state that there had been no Central Bank robbery for there had been no Central Bank to be robbed. FSP Educational Secretary, Pubudu Jagoda, said that the new legislation would deprive Parliament of power over the CB. “This Bill contains provisions to more..

Mar 9 (DM) "I will not accept any post as a national list MP from any political party," PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayaka said. He said that the statement by the minister is the best example of a typical SL politician. Rathnayaka condemned the statement made by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera today in parliament, claiming that he is to be sworn in as a national list MP from a certain political party. "They only work for people because they have a hidden agenda. But I work for the people more..

Mar 9 (TM) Core Group on SL at the UNHRC says it is deeply concerned about what it called heavy-handed responses of the SL govt to the peaceful protests. In a statement delivered by Simon Manley, the UK’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and UN in Geneva, the SL Govt has been urged to safeguard the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and freedom of expression. Emphasising that civil society has an important part to play in encouraging more..

Mar 9 (TM) According to directives provided by Election Commission (EC), Govt Printer Gangani Liyanage stated that she had written to the Treasury to release the remaining funds of more than Rs. 300 million to recommence the activities of ballot paper printing for the upcoming LG poll and had forwarded a written request to the IGP Chandana Wickramaratne requesting the provision of adequate security for the same. more..

Mar 9 (FT) The likely unlocking of IMF funds must be welcomed only with the utmost caution rather than exultant celebration, not only because of the continuing and coming cutbacks and plummeting living standards, but because of the logic—or rather, illogic-- of the path itself. Govt will use the IMF certification to borrow money from international institutions i.e., get deeper into debt, to pay off our creditors. We are going to be modestly funded so we can get into more debt to repay the debt we – more..

Mar 9 (FT) An economy is a system that enables the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services in a society. It’s a network of exchanges that involves individuals, businesses, and govts working together to fulfil the needs and wants of the population. People work to create products or services that are then exchanged or sold for money or other forms of payment. Economic growth is driven by an increase in the number of exchanges that occur within an economy. more..

Mar 9 (DM) A young man’s ear was cut off by another individual just because the victim was speaking on his mobile phone while crossing the road at Metigahatenna in Badulla yesterday. Police said the victim, who was a disabled man, was rushed to hospital after the suspect bit cut off his ear lobe in the middle of a pedestrian crossing just because the victim answered a call on his mobile phone. Police said the suspect, in an act of rage had pulled out a knife and cut off the disabled more..

Mar 9 (AD) COPE has proposed that a three-member committee be appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance to investigate corruption charges levelled against the General Manager of SL Export Credit Insurance Corporation (SLECIC). The recommendation came following a revelation made during a recent COPE meeting about several accusations of corruption being made against the SLECIC General Manager, Dilruk Ranasinghe. SLPP Madhura Withanage stated that more..

Mar 9 (CI) Impressive knocks from almost the entirety of the SL top order, particularly Kusal Mendis, gave SL a promising start in their pursuit of an unlikely World Test Championship final berth, as they put up 305 for 6 on opening day of first Test at Hagley Oval. However the persistence of Tim Southee and Matt Henry, who picked up five wickets between them, ensured the visitors would at no point run away with proceedings. more..