May 12 (AD) Investigations into the recent suspicious death of a 16-year-old girl in Kalutara have been handed over to the CID. Accordingly, the relevant investigations were handed over to the CID on the instructions of the IGP, C.D. Wickremeratne, Police said. On 6 May, the naked corpse of a 16-year-old girl was found near the railway line in Kalutara, after she reportedly fell to her death from the third floor of a five-story hotel in the area, in which rooms are rented. more..

May 12 (CT) ITAK has conveyed to Prez Wickremesinghe that N&E is the homeland of the Tamils and that no discussion could proceed ahead with the intention of dividing the North-East and decentralising power. Reps of ITAK had mentioned this stand to the Prez when they had met him at the Presidential Secretariat recently. During the discussion Wickremesinghe had informed ITAK reps that he was not opposed to the reps from political parties in the East also being part of the talks. more..

May 12 (TM) NPP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake raised concerns over the Govt's failure to make a representation in a case that has been filed by the relevant insurance company in UK, requesting that the maximum amount of compensation that can be granted for MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster be announced as $ 26 million. He also claimed that there could be an inter-connection between the non-representation more..

May 12 (FT) There has been talk, for a few months, of new governors being appointed to some provinces. According to media reports, there is an agreement between SLPP, main party in Parliament, and Prez’s UNP that four nominees of the latter should be appointed as governors. A spokesperson for the Presidential Secretariat has stated that four incumbent Governors have been requested to resign, adding that it is the tradition that Governors would resign when a new Prez is appointed. more..

May 12 (FT) Where does SL stand today in managing the crisis it is facing? Superficially it appears that the Prez is moving forward successfully in managing the crisis regardless of the obstacles posed persistently by the opposition political parties and trade unions. There is some truth in it, but I do not perceive it as the complete truth. Even with firm determination coupled with necessary knowledge and acumen in managing the crisis, it is only a certain distance that could be pursued alone. more..

May 12 (SLN) In a groundbreaking move, SL Navy has made history by assigning its first group of women to sea duties. Accordingly, the first group of Navy women including two lady officers and five women sailors were attached to SLNS Gajabahu this morning (11), marking a momentous step forward. Breaking barriers and shattering traditional gender roles, the Navy offered the Inshore Patrol Craft Handling Foundation Course in Oct 2022. During the course held at the Naval and more..

May 12 (AD) A 23-year-old female has been killed in a wild elephant attack in the Koslanda area, while camping on the Upper Diyaluma trek. Police revealed that a wild elephant had attacked the deceased and her 22-year-old partner while the duo was camping out in a tent. Police further stated that the girl had died on the spot, while her partner is currently receiving medical treatment after sustaining injuries in the attack. The deceased has been identified as a resident of Matara, more..

May 12 (TM) SL’s overall Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows surpassed $ 1 billion in 2022 even during a crisis year, for the first time after 2018 as the infrastructure sector saw the highest FDI inflow, CB data showed. Accordingly, FDI inflows, including loans received by companies registered under the BOI, increased notably by 37.9%, year-on-year, to $ 1,075.66 million in 2022, compared to $ 780.2 mil recorded in 2021. more..

May 12 (AD) The main suspect arrested over the death of the 16-year-old schoolgirl in Kalutara has been remanded until May 26. He was produced before the Kalutara Magistrate’s Court. On May 06, the naked corpse of a 16-year-old girl was found near the railway tracks in Kalutara, after she reportedly fell to her death from the third floor of a five-storey hotel in the area. Danushka Sahabandu, a 29-year-old resident of Isuru Uyana in Kalutara, was arrested on May 09, more..

May 12 (EN) Shares edged down in stagnant conditions trade on Friday, however the financial sector is seeing some positive gains as debt restructuring and optimization have been assured, Ranjan Ranatunga of FCH said. ASPI was down 0.25% or 22.08 points to 8,927.74, while the most liquid index S&P SL20 was down 0.62% or 16.02 points to 2,587.89. “The market is on a volatile day and is seeing limited economic activity and are seeking on an wait and see approach with more..

May 12 (AD) Police have arrested a suspect who reportedly murdered the 22-year-old girl who was reported missing on Sunday in Gampola, as per a confession made by him. Accordingly, 22-year-old Fathima Munawwara, a resident of Weligalla, Elpitiya in the Gampola area, was missing for six days before a 24-year-old area resident reportedly confessed to her murder today. Suspect in question was a goat herder, more..

May 12 (AD) The Colombo High Court today temporarily lifted the foreign travel bans imposed on Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. When the case against Rambukwella was called before High Court Judge Nawaratne Marasinghe, the defence attorney made a request to temporarily relax the travel ban as his client needs to travel overseas to attend the Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting 2023 and other official work. more..

May 12 (Island) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe who attended the 10th Environment Pioneer Prez’s Medal Awarding Ceremony 2020-2021 held at the BMICH, announced that SL is establishing the world’s first international environmental uni to support the global effort in addressing climate change. Prez acknowledged that although climate change is a significant challenge for the world, there is no central research hub to study it, and invited multiple countries to join SL in the effort. more..

May 12 (AD) The private tuition class teacher from Kalutara, who was recently arrested for sexually abusing at least 16 schoolgirls, has been placed behind bars on remand until May 26. The suspect was placed under arrest on Thursday when he arrived at the Kalutara Divisional Bureau for Prevention of Abuse of Children & Women to record a statement. Earlier, the divisional bureau said probes are in progress to identify the victimized schoolgirls after analysing 16 video more..

May 12 (TM) SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara claimed that the Govt employees who have been nominated as candidates for the LG elections in 2023 have had to face many difficulties following the circular issued transferring them to another electoral division if they are employed in a Govt or semi-govt institution in the same electoral division where he/she is a candidate. Jayasekara urged PM Dinesh Gunawardena to take necessary steps to avoid the inconvenience caused by more..

May 12 (TM) Statements by Ministry of Health regarding doctors leaving the country are attempts for foreign doctors to infiltrate the health system of this country without any regulation, GMOA claimed. The GMOA objected to a statement by the Director of the Ministry’s Tertiary Care Services Unit, Dr. Priyantha Atapattu regarding doctors leaving the country. According to the media release by GMOA, due to economic, social, & political instability more..

May 12 (CT) The presence of four serotypes of the dengue virus has challenged the production of a vaccine to battle dengue, Consultant Community Physician (CCP), Dr. Buddhika Mahesh said. He noted that with four Serotypes of the Dengue virus (DENV) a person who contracts dengue fever once could not have the immunity against another serotype of dengue, which also makes it difficult to produce a vaccine against the mosquito-borne disease. more..

May 12 (DM) A 24-year-old person has been arrested by the police on suspicion of assaulting doctors at the Kurunegala hospital. Police said the suspect, a resident of Matale was arrested by a team of Policemen from the Kurunegala Police while the suspect was on board a car in the Dambulla area. The car the suspect was travelling in has also been taken into police custody. Police launched an investigation after a complaint received that a female and a male doctor have been beaten while more..

May 12 (CT) SL Customs has seized a consignment of Chinese cigarettes, vehicles and foreign liquor worth over Rs 180 million. Had the consignment been cleared without being detected, loss in Customs duty alone would amount to more than Rs 145 million. On 5 May at the Cargo Verification Terminal in Orugodawatta, Customs officials had detained 556,000 Chinese cigarettes, which were illegally imported by a Chinese more..

May 12 (AD) A special dengue control programme is due to be implemented for a period of two weeks from today within the Colombo Municipal Council area. Commenting on the programme, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Colombo Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni stated that through this preventive measure, legal action will be taken against those responsible for mosquito breeding sites. Accordingly, the relevant dengue control programme is expected to run until 26 May. more..

May 12 (CT) The motion to remove PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake, from his post, is likely to be taken up for debate on 24 May 2023. According to Parliament sources this decision was reached by the Party Leaders, who decided to hold a debate on the resolution following a request made by the Opposition. A report to remove PUCSL Chairman Ratnayake was presented in Parliament on Tuesday (9). The report of Minister Kanchana Wijesekera was presented by chief govt whip more..

May 12 (FT) Freedom People’s Congress member MP Dilan Perera on Wednesday called the appointment of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as SL’s President in July last year the most despicable conspiracy in the country’s history. The MP made the comment during a press conference in response to a statement made by the General Secretary of the SLPP Sagara Kariyawasam, where the latter was quoted as saying the party will not allow any political conspiracy to take place. more..

May 12 (TM) Chinese Ambassador to SL has requested the Ministry of Agriculture to further expand mushroom cultivation in the Hambantota District. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera mentioned that Chinese Ambassador has requested him to take steps to further expand the mushroom cultivation that is currently being done in the Hambantota District. There are many species of mushrooms in this country, but the species that can be grown commercially are the straw mushroom, more..

May 12 (TM) Ceylon Tea expects to expand its market for European Union (EU) countries, therefore SL is to apply for a Geographical Indication (GI) certificate this September. “In September, we (Sri Lanka) will submit a GI application to the EU asking for GI for Ceylon Tea. Once we obtain a GI for Ceylon Tea in the EU, imports of Ceylon Tea will be given a grace time to adjust,” Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) Chairman Niraj De Mel said. more..

May 12 (EN) Parliament has approved a new welfare benefit plan which will consolidate existing social welfare schemes and allow beneficiaries to enter and exit depending on changing incomes. The proposal was approved by the parliament without a vote. “There are concerns that under the current welfare system, some who are truly in need are not getting support due to the lack of an effective mechanism to enter and exit welfare systems,” State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said. more..

May 12 (Island) Studying the reports and data from regional health officials show that in certain parts of the country, children have started losing weight rapidly, Prof. Duminda Guruge, Professor in Health Promotion of Rajarata Uni says. Nutrition, especially children’s nutrition, was among the most affected by the country’s severe economic crisis, he said. “Some pelple say no matter what happens Sri Lankans will survive by eating something. This is true. I am sure most people can find more..

May 12 (DM) An uproar flared up in Parliament today on the decision made by the govt to raise rupees one trillion through Treasury Bills as an urgent need. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa who objected to the decision said the issuing of Treasury Bills will be illegal as the approval by the Public Finance Committee to go ahead with the Treasury bill issue is not valid. “The approval by Finance Committee is not valid more..

May 12 (TM) IMF macro-framework on SL expects a real depreciation of the SL rupee over the medium term, which will help the country to restore current account surplus through increased export competitiveness, SL authorities told creditors. According to the Q&A session report of the Creditor Presentation held in March as released by Ministry of Finance, SL Authorities had said the IMF programme expects a real depreciation of the rupee which will help restore an external more..

May 12 (AD) The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has deemed the five-story building from which a 16-year-old schoolgirl fell to her death an illegal construction. Issuing a report in this regard, the UDA noted that the building in question was constructed defying several regulations. Accordingly, the UDA listed nine discrepancies with the construction in question, adding that the approval of the Kalutara Municipal Council had not been obtained prior. Meanwhile, Police have launched more..

May 13 (DM) Over the past weeks, members of the ruling party have been at pains to educate-us the masses- that the Aragalaya, which led to former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing the country and subsequently resigning, was a result of a secret plan hatched by a political party, which has twice tried to seize power through means other than by the ballot. On both occasions, the country witnessed horrendous violations of Human Rights and other brutal crimes against civilians more..

May 13 (GV) Piyath Nikeshala, a prominent social media activist, was attacked with machetes in broad daylight by former deputy mayor of Kaduwela MC, SLPP member Chandika Abeyrathne and his supporters. And then Piyath, the victim, was arrested by police while being treated for his injuries. Maurine Noor, another Aragalaya activist who was attacked by SLPP supporters at Temple Trees on May 9, was arrested for walking down the street carrying the national flag and demanding more..

May 13 (CT) After completing his visit to the UK to attend the coronation of King Charles III, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived back in the country on Monday (8) early in the morning. Prez Wickremesinghe, who went to London, reserved a part of the lobby of the hotel, where they were staying to meet and hold discussions with the State leaders, businessmen and officials who were attending the coronation. more..

May 13 (TM) Among clinical help seeking patients with delusional jealousy, delusional jealousy is more prevalent among males in their 30s to 50s, with a low economic status, and a low level of education, with the majority of them being married and continuing to live with their partners and children in the same household, and being employed and functional, a local study found. These findings were made in an original article on the "Frequency of reporting & socio-demographic characteristics more..

May 13 (CT) Market’s net shortfall fell by 5.71% (Rs 15,193 mil) to Rs 251,064 million on Thursday, led by the uplift of liquidity due to the settlement of net foreign inflows (NFIs), led by remittances during the course of trading. Consequently the country’s foreign reserves were uplift by USD 97.12 mil (Rs 30,936 mil) on Thursday. Conversions are based on Tuesday’s (9) administered spot value which was Rs 318.52 to the US dollar. Subsequently GoSL’s face value money printing (FVMP) more..

May 13 (CT) Sri Lanka has had to cling to any lifeline thrown to her as a result of her sunken economy. Touching all walks of life, the crisis has been felt very badly by the country’s health service, especially that which is watched over by the State. Hence, assistance in the form of aid and loans was utilised primarily in purchasing pharmaceuticals including medicinal drugs. It is unfortunate indeed that some of these medicinal drugs obtained more..

May 13 (TM) SL’s ecological disaster related to the MV X-Press Pearl, a container ship carrying hazardous chemicals that caught fire off its coasts on 20 May 2021, is back in the news as the country attempts to claim damages. The ecological disaster washed up tons of plastic pellets and other pollutants on the country's beaches and harmed its marine ecosystem. It is a stark reminder of the risks associated with transporting hazardous materials and the urgent need for govts companies more..