Mar 17 (CT) Many sectors, including health, education, electricity, banks, water and ports, were severely impacted due to the island-wide strike, organised by the PTUC, on Wednesday. According to the PTUC, over 47 trade unions engaged in the strike mainly against the newly introduced tax scheme and the undemocratic conduct of the Govt. Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of CTU said strike conducted by teachers was successful with nearly 90% of schools in the country not functioning. more..

Mar 17 (FT) Govt has begun to consider restarting the JICA-funded $ 2.2 billion Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, stretching from Colombo Fort to Malabe which was abruptly terminated by the previous regime. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the new administration is ready to renew the LRT project contract with a JICA loan facility given its favourable conditions including low-interest rates and the grace period of 12 years more..

Mar 17 (CI) At a venue they had previously been decked in, in Christchurch, this SL team pushed NZ close. Heading into the Wellington Test, there is likely to be some confidence in SL's seam attack, in particular. Kasun Rajitha delivered some excellent new-ball spells, Lahiru Kumara hurried batters up with his pace, and Asitha Fernando was SL's best bowler on the match-defining fifth day. NZ will still back themselves, of course, with Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell in outstanding form, more..

Mar 17 (ST) The Sri Lanka Open 2023, the country’s topmost professional golf tournament, will be held between May 28 and June 2 at the picturesque Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC) course in Colombo. The feature professional golf tournament organised by Sri Lanka Golf (SLG) is the SL Open first played in 1972, providing an opportunity to non-member golfers with talent to vie for Open Golf Champion title, which was won by H.L. Premadasa, a caddy beating top amateur golfers in 1972. more..

Mar 17 (Island) Skipper Dasis Manchanayake and Ramiru Perera staged a dramatic fight back after Thomian pacemen rattled the top four wickets for Royal to post 326 for eight wickets at stumps on day one of the 144th Battle of the Blues at the SSC on Thursday. The pair broke the all time record for the fifth wicket partnership as they defied Thomians during the entire second session. Manchanayake scored 137 runs inclusive of 17 fours and never let the initial damage dampen the spirits of more..

Mar 17 (BN) Foreign investors are likely to raise holdings of Sri Lanka govt bonds, betting that a successful deal with the IMF next week would unlock more funding to stabilise the nation’s finances, according to Standard Chartered Plc. “The moment we have clarity on the debts, the restructuring process, the interest rates will fall and investors will want to time it right and get into the bond space pretty early,” said the UK bank in Sri Lanka, CEO Bingumal Thewarathanthri. more..

Mar 17 (MSN) Researchers say they have created a superconducting material that works at both a temperature and a pressure low enough to actually use it in practical situations. It reaches a breakthrough that scientists have been chasing for more than a century, in making a material that is able to transmit electricity without resistance, and pass magnetic fields around the material. Its discovery could lead to power grids more..

Mar 17 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar says the Govt must truly understand the real issues faced by the people and not turn their woes into a publicity war. Commenting on the blow-by-blow updates provided by the President’s Media Unit during the strike action on 15 March to imply the trade union action had failed, Marikkar said this was no publicity war. “Understand the issues faced by the professionals,” he told the Govt. Marikkar said while admitting taxes must be imposed they must however be more..

Mar 17 (FT) The Election Commission of SL (ECSL) has decided to call for a key meeting with the secretaries of accepted political parties at 10 a.m. on 23 March. The ECSL said the decision to hold a discussion with all political parties was taken at yesterday’s Commission meeting. While it was expected that the ECSL would make an announcement on postal voting and LG election due to the prevailing uncertainty, no such announcement was made following the meeting. more..

Mar 17 (TM) Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) has had to adjourn the investigation launched into the issues related to the shortage of essential medicines in Govt hospitals, to 23 March, as the responsible Govt officials who were named as the respondents did not appear before the Commission. It is stated in the press release issued in this regard yesterday by the HRCSL that they had decided to launch an investigation into more..

Mar 17 (Island) Executive Director of IRES Manjula Gajanayake says political parties are bent on preventing the election of women local councils. Gajanayake said the sitting female councillors were not allowed to contest their wards and they were placed on the additional list or made to contest other wards or simply denied nominations. Executive Director of CaFFE Mannas Makeen said that women could not contest elections due to lack of internal democracy of political parties. more..

Mar 17 (ST) The decision by the University of Jaffna to issue a severe warning to a senior academic for complaining to the UGC regarding alleged irregularities in the process of promoting another academic to the post of Professor was contrary to law and should be withdrawn, the University Services Appeals Board (USAB) ruled. USAB’s order came following a hearing into an appeal filed by Dr M Sarvananthan of the Jaffna University’s Dept of Economics challenging the merit promotion more..

Mar 17 (TM) Court of Appeal has granted leave to consider two writ applications seeking an order revoking the decision to impose PAYE tax on the salaries of Judges. Accordingly, these two petitions, filed by High Court (HC) Judges’ Association and Judicial Officers’ Association, will be called before a five-Judge bench of the Court for consideration. Meanwhile, interim order preventing the imposing of the PAYE tax on the salaries of Judges was further extended until 22 March. more..

Mar 17 (ANI) India, under its Neighbourhood First policy, has always come forward to help debt-ridden SL, and in the latest instance, New Delhi distributed the ration in Kalmunai, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said. Taking to Twitter, the High Commission of India in Colombo said, "Support by @IndiainSL to needy sections continues!! Glimpses of ration distribution in Kalmunai." The island-nation plunged into a financial crisis after the Covid-19 pandemic affected tourism, more..

Mar 17 (TM) Giving the Govt a week’s ultimatum to take drastic measures concerning their demands, NTUC National Organiser Wasantha Samarasinghe said that the trade unions would launch an all-out strike after a period of a week unless the Govt reverses their tax policy hikes, increased electricity tariffs, and interest rates. He expressed these views at a joint media briefing organised by the NTUC with the intention of more..

Mar 17 (EN) SL’s draft monetary law can be revised to strengthen its provisions taking into account feedback, before it is passed in parliament, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. Sri Lanka draft monetary law has run into controversy in several quarters. Some critics have pointed to deep policy confusion involved in money and exchange policy conflicts giving wide discretion to trigger forex shortages as it has done in the past and as many third world central banks do. more..

Mar 17 (AD) Ministry of Justice has shifted its focus on amending the laws pertaining to the prosecution of those involved in cases related drugs and narcotics. This was stated by Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who explained that the decision to do so was taken after several accusations were made by the public about the procedures followed in this regard. Minister stated that strict monitoring will be in place, following claims that several of those accused for drug-related charges have been falsely more..

Mar 17 (USE) Good morning. I am honored to address this distinguished group this morning as you open the Sri Lanka National Law Conference. As the voice of the legal profession in this country, the Bar Association is a vital part of the legal infrastructure. You have the respect of legal professionals and the public alike because you have demonstrated your commitment to the rule of law and the protection of human rights, both so imperative at this juncture for Sri Lanka. more..

Mar 17 (Island) PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila in terms of the RTI Act has asked the Immigration and Emigration Dept whether the CIA Director William Joseph Burns arrived in SL through BIA. Burns reportedly visited Colombo on the night of 14 Feb. Gammanpila has asked for (1) the names of all members of the US delegation (2) whether CIA Director was among them (3) whether their luggage was checked (6) whether the US delegation entered the country through normal channel, more..

Mar 17 (EN) Sri Lanka’s current govt has no intention of laying off state sector employees yet, however, the public are concerned about the efficiency of a few workers in the govt sector, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said. However, analysts have said if the got needs to achieve the IMF's fiscal targets, it will inevitably have to reduce the wage and pension bill for the public sector. This means the govt will have no choice, but more..

Mar 17 (CT) A suspect, who was charged with pretending to be the son of the Prez’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, was released on bail yesterday by Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis yesterday. The suspect, identified as a resident of Palagama, Polgasowita, was released on a surety bail of Rs 200,000. He was charged with furnishing bogus information, while posing off as another individual and fleecing a person. Cinnamon Gardens Police told the Magistrate that the suspect more..

Mar 17 (TM) Dept of Govt Printing has rejected a request of the Election Commission (EC) to provide it with the postal ballot papers for 17 districts for the LG elections that have been printed as of now. Govt Printer Gangani Liyanage said: “EC has been requesting that I release the postal ballot papers for 17 districts that have already been printed, but I cannot release them just because the printing work is done. They should be checked and the relevant payments should be made by Treasury to us. more..

Mar 17 (Island) Over a week after the Opposition accused the govt of deploying troops armed with wooden poles and iron bars at a protest launched by IUSF in Colombo on March 7, Army Hq said that the contingent of men in question had not been identified. Military Spokesman Brig. Ravi Herath insisted that those men in photographs released to the media and in video footage were certainly not army personnel. more..

Mar 17 (FT) Political, social and economic issues wrestle on daily basis like a tsunami of waves. The constitution is grossly violated, state thuggery and aggression are discharged to restrain people’s uprising thus silencing the people’s voices. Govt has no concern of people’s sovereign rights but says the priority is to restore the economy at any cost, neglecting social responsibilities. With these actions, Govt displays very specific characteristics of heading to a tyrannical regime. more..

Mar 17 (FT) On 22 Dec the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue (CGIR) issued the guidelines for employers on deducting Advance Personal Income Tax (APIT) from employment income (SEC/2022/E/04) and the ‘Quantification of values for non cash benefits in calculating Employment Income (SEC/2022/E/05). (Refer article titled Is 2023 a Year of Taxation? – Part 1 published on 5 January 2023 for details on these circulars and APIT). The CGIR issued a revised circular on 7 Feb more..

Mar 17 (CT) If any negative consequence outside a democratic framework happens due to the attempts to suppress democratic rights of the people, the Govt has to bear the sole responsibility of that, PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said. He said with the current situation it indicates that LG Election 2023 will not take place on 25 April 2023. Pointing out that the Executive and the Legislature should collaborate Hettiarachchi said the Prez needs to act responsibly in order to more..

Mar 17 (AD) Two individuals involved in foreign job scams have been arrested by the investigation officers of the Foreign Employment Bureau (SLBFE). One person was taken into custody in Maradana on Wednesday (March 15), based on a complaint filed by a woman who was defrauded of Rs. 450,000 for an employment opportunity in Kuwait. The suspect was later released on a surety bail of Rs. 500,000 and a cash bail of Rs. 10,000 after being produced before the Gampola Magistrate’s Court. more..

Mar 17 (AD) Prez has made recommendations to appoint Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon as the country’s 36th IGP, high-profile sources said. The current police chief C.D. Wickramaratne is set to retire on March 25. Tennakoon joined the police service in 1998 as an apprentice Assistant Superintendent of Police. He was promoted to the posts of SP in 2006, SSP)in 2011, and DIG in 2015. more..

Mar 17 (CI) The immensely blustery conditions at the Basin Reserve were likely the cause of the Sri Lanka seamers' wayward lines and lengths on the opening day of the second Test in Wellington. Both the day's top-scorer Devon Conway and Sri Lanka's fast bowling coach Dharshana Gamage agreed on this point, suggesting it was particularly difficult to bowl into the wind. A biting northwesterly whipped through the venue after rain had washed out the morning session's play. more..

Mar 17 (AD) Wanted criminal figure Ravindu de Silva alias Booru Muna, who is accused of shooting a restaurant owner dead in Hanwella on Dec 18 last year, was arrested in Avissawella today. On Feb 24, the suspect fled police custody at the BIA after he was barred from boarding a flight to Dubai owing to a travel ban previously issued by the court. Booru Muna had attempted to fly out of the country using a forged passport. However, two Buddhist monks had reportedly aided & abetted suspect’s escape more..

Mar 17 (CI) In rain-impacted Wellington, with heavy winds for company, NZ batted just 48 overs as bad light brought about an early close to an already truncated opening day. Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls were unbeaten on 26 and 18 at the close respectively, though it was when Devon Conway was at the crease during his 108-ball 78 that NZ had looked the most threatening. SL's seamers, whose eyes might have lit up more..

Mar 17 (DM) Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe alleged that some police officers have falsely arrested persons on drug-related offences. “Police lately have arrested a large number of persons for keeping drugs in their possession, but the substances they have recovered from the suspects have not been narcotic drugs, the Minister said. “Genuine arrests have been less than one percent,” he added. “There are instances where it has been found Panadol powder from the possession more..

Mar 17 (PMD) The Satarawa Deepani Felicitation Ceremony, which was organized at the behest of Minister Bandula Gunawardena was held at the BMICH Yesterday afternoon. The event, presided over by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, was held on a grand scale. During the event, tributes were paid to a group of artists who had contributed to the artwork created by Dr. Bandula Gunawardena. Veteran artists such as Dharmasiri Bandaranaike, Parakrama Niriella, and Cyril Wickramage more..

Mar 17 (AD) Court of Appeal today ordered for the writ petition filed by former Prez Maithripala Sirisena challenging a private complaint filed against him regarding the Easter Sunday attacks of 2019 to be heard on 31 July. The order was issued this morning by a two-judge bench comprising of Court of Appeal President Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A. Marikkar. Accordingly, the petition will be heard before a five-judge Appellate Court bench on 31 July and 09 August. more..

Mar 17 (TM) RTI Commission has decided to file a case against the Police in the relevant Magistrate’s Court over the Police Department's failure to comply with an order issued by the Commission concerning the non-provision of Police security to former CID Director, SSP Shani Abeysekara. Since the Police had not responded to a RTI request filed by Journalist Tharindu Jayawardhana seeking information regarding the non-provision of security to Abeysekara, he had filed an appeal more..