May 19 (DM) The WHO, UNICEF and UN Population Fund have together called for urgent global attention to preterm births or births before 37 months of pregnancy. Preterm babies could die or have a deep and lasting impact on the child’s health, the surrounding society and the country’s economy. In a publication entitled: Born too soon: Decade of action on preterm birth released on May 9, EHO, UNICEF and UNFPA point out that 152 million babies were born preterm in the last 10 yrs. more..

May 19 (DM) In SL religion most often causes turmoil rather than usher in peace and calm. Just a few days ago a Pastor by the name of Jerome Fernando caused a stir by stating at a religious sermon that Buddhists were alien to the word love. Buddhists are not focused on love but their goal is enlightenment. The word love is used in a wide context and can be misunderstood too. How can a religious man preach about love if he has no regard for those who don’t have a habit of talking more..

May 19 (DM) Attempts to create religious disharmony have caused more harm than good to the fragile social fabric in Sri Lanka. Hate speech, misinformation and disinformation can also create a similar situation. Sri Lanka has already witnessed two insurgencies and the 30-year ethnic conflict, of which the darker memories still continue to haunt the entire populace. It is in this backdrop that anti-Muslim riots in Digana and Aluthgama added more fuel to the fire. more..

May 19 (Island) 77% of SL sex workers have never applied for the govt Samurdhi benefit, primarily due to a combination of lack of necessary documentation and social discrimination against them, a report Status of Sex Workers in SL 20233 – 2023 said. Study was carried out by several groups including SSA. Among the small number who did apply & were denied Samurdhi, 56% stated it was because they did not perform sexual favours. more..

May 19 (TM) Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) informed that the consumption of salt must be less than five grams per day, as otherwise, blood pressure can increase resulting in hypertension. A member of the Bureau, Dr. Sherine Balasingham said: “We need sodium every day. Salt being the main source. But, we need to remember to reduce the use of salt. The effect of excess salt consumption on human health can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, more..

May 19 (DN) Test Cricket captain Dimuth Karunaratne has been added to the preliminary squad named for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. Karunaratne the 35-year-old left-hand opener has vast experience as a top-order batter and his availability at this stage is very important for the SL team. SL selectors have added Dimuth Karunaratne as cover for openers Kusal Janith Perera and Pathum Nissanka who have injury concerns. Kusal Janith Perera the wicket-keeper batter had more..

May 19 (FT) Minister Harin Fernando is mooting a free visa scheme till October, in an effort to attract large numbers of Indian tourists during the shoulder season. “We are exploring possibilities of waiving off the $ 20 visa fee for Indian travellers till October to attract more visitors from the neighbouring giant,” he said, adding that many countries practice such initiatives to woo visitors during the low arrivals period. Noting that a meeting with Prez’s Senior Advisor Sagala Ratnayake more..

May 19 (Island) While cricketers of leading Colombo, Kandy and Galle schools have opportunities to make an impact in the game, the District Under-19 tournament conducted by SLC ensures that talents in rural areas are taken care of and do not go unnoticed. As a result of these events, several young players have broken through to the SL U-19 side and from thereon to the national cricket team. In this year’s competition too, Western Province is packed and already 12 games have taken place more..

May 19 (TM) If there has been any irregularity or corruption that involves the MT New Diamond incident and MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe should intervene in order to ensure that the matter is properly investigated, and the truth is uncovered, said SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam. Various parties have alleged that there have been irregularities behind granting permission to more..

May 19 (DM) Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe in a bid to turn their luck with World Rugby (WR) has made first communication through a letter dated May 11. WR on Wednesday opted to suspend Sri Lanka Rugby as a member of the global body following the Ministry of Sports' appointment of a stabilization committee throwing out President Rizly Illyas. "The World Rugby Council were advised that the SL Sports Ministry had reinstated Sri Lanka Rugby as a sports federation in Sri Lanka more..

May 19 (DN) 5 year roll-out plan by Port City Colombo envisages USD 5.6 billion in FDI to SL which will fast-track the nation’s economic recovery. It will also help in positioning both Port City and SL as a leading player in the service export industry. It is also set to reach its highest level of activity as the region’s first multi-currency, service export Special Economic Zone,” said Deputy MD, CHEC Port City, Thulci Aluwihare. “Port City Colombo will help drive SL’s new phase of growth more..

May 19 (TM) College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) and GMOA urged the Govt to review the decision taken by the Cabinet to establish paying wards in State hospitals by looking into the consequences of the said decision and its impact on patients. President of the CMLS, Ravi Kumudesh claimed that the Govt is attempting to privatise the health sector under the guise of this so called paying ward system. more..

May 19 (FT) The 10th edition of Sancharaka Udawa — the country’s biggest and only travel and tourism trade fair is all set to kick off today under the patronage of PM Dinesh Gunawardena at the BMICH. The two-day event is organised by the SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), and supported by SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) is being held after a three-year absence following multiple crises. Trade fair offers a vital platform for business-to-business (B2B) and more..

May 19 (FT) The Grand Ward Place, the ultra-luxurious flagship project of Prime Group, declared open with its esteemed clients and project partners on 15 May, 2023. As the only high rise in the prestigious Colombo 7, The Grand Ward Place is truly a masterpiece, boasting utmost privacy and breath taking city views, meticulously crafted apartments and penthouses designed to cater to the refined lifestyle of its residents. The ceremony also marked the successful acquisition of more..

May 19 (FT) Govt has short-listed transaction advisors to assist in the divestiture of four State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). They are Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd, Hotel Developers Lanka Ltd (Hilton Hotel Colombo), Canwill Holdings Ltd (Grand Hyatt Hotel), and Litro Gas Lanka Ltd including Litro Gas Terminals Ltd (LPG retailing). The short listing follows the evaluation of the about a dozen Expression of Interests (EOIs) received by the Standing Cabinet Appointed more..

May 19 (DM) The convener of IUSF Wasantha Mudalige and 7 others were arrested last night during a protest held in front of the Kelaniya University. Police said a monk was also among those arrested. According to the police a tense situation had emerged between police and IUSF students when the protesters tried to block the Colombo-Kandy main road. They were arrested for unruly behaviour in public, assaulting and injuring police personnel and obstructing police more..

May 19 (AD) President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the govt will be able to consider the privileges including financial concessions sought by the university lecturers, after the domestic debt restructuring program is successfully completed by September and the country’s economy is stabilized. His remarks came during the meeting with the FUTA at the Presidential Secretariat this evening (18). more..

May 19 (Island) “A wait- and- see approach has been adopted by share investors, looking for clarity on debt restructuring. The appreciation of the rupee as against the dollar has negatively impacted export earnings of CSE companies, share market analysts said. Both indices moved downwards. The All- Share Price Index went down by 43.07 points and S and P SL20 declined by 25.08 points. Turnover stood at Rs 624.9 million with two crossings. Those crossings were reported in JKH, more..

May 19 (Island) The current govt believes that all state-owned enterprises (SOE) must be sold, even the ones that make significant profits, President of Telecommunication Workers Union Jagath Gurusinghe says. He said that a committee had been appointed to restructure SOEs and it was carrying out its activities in secrecy. “No one knows what’s going on. There is no transparency. I don’t think that the workers’ concern that the govt is up to no good is ill-placed,” he said. more..

May 19 (DM) The 5-member expert committee, comprising of specialist doctors, appointed to prepare a report on the death of businessman, Dinesh Schaffter, yesterday requested in writing to the Colombo Magistrate's Court that the body of deceased Mr. Schaffter needs to be exhumed to find the cause of his death. In order to determine the cause of death, the body of the deceased should be exhumed and examined, and for that reason, the five-member special medical board requested more..

May 19 (CT) 14th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony will be held today afternoon near National War Memorial, in Sri Jayewardenepura, under the patronage of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. Ranaviru Seva Authority is organising this celebration, in coordination with the Ministry of Defence and the Army HQ. Parents and relatives of the war heroes, who sacrificed their lives for the country, will also participate in the National War Heroes Commemoration. more..

May 19 (DM) SL’s rupee further appreciated against the US dollar (US$) dropping below Rs.300 for the first time since April last year as the Central Bank (CB) took a breather from its dollar purchases to allow consumption to rebound. The buying and selling rates of US$ were at Rs.299.21 and Rs.312.37 yesterday. “The main reason for the rupee appreciation was the CB reducing US$ purchases by taking a breather,” more..

May 19 (FT) PHU called on the authorities to investigate Christian Pastor Jerome Fernando over his alleged involvement in money laundering. Party’s Propaganda Secretary Iranga Mendis filed a complaint against the pastor with the CID. There he requested the police to obtain an injunction preventing the pastor from holding the planned Mega Church Day at his Miracle Dome church in Katunayake. Mendis said the party has received reliable information that over Rs.3b was spent more..

May 19 (FT) The Immigration and Emigration Dept Controller General I.S.H.J. Ilukpitiya announced that passports will be issued via a new system from 1 June. The move comes after people who have come from countrywide expressed their displeasure over not having a fair system to issue passports. They claimed that the Dept officials and third-party individuals were involved in backhander activities to avoid long queues, while the majority of them were waiting for days. more..

May 19 (FT) PUCSL declared that electricity tariffs should be reduced by at least 27% and dismissed the proposal for a 3% cut by the CEB. PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake alleged that the CEB proposal was by concealing the correct cost data. Therefore PUCSL has informed CEB to submit the corrected data to reduce the electricity tariffs on par with the actual cost reduction. “The electricity tariff was increased by 66% this February more..

May 19 (FT) We hear many sophisticated voices among the urban middle class calling for far reaching changes in the labour market including dismantling and banning of trade unions. They call trade unions a nuisance and a hindrance to society, for businesses and an obstacle for investor promotions. This is a platform neo liberal free marketers campaign on and the rich hang around these days with news that the Labour Ministry is working on labour law reforms. more..

May 19 (FT) Sri Lanka is putting behind it, the dark economic days of 2022. At the time, it faced an acute balance of payments crisis, and announced a pre-emptive default on its foreign debt of over $ 50 billion in April 2022, which triggered the worst economic contraction in SL’s post-independence history. The country’s GDP fell by -7.8% in 20221, year-on-year inflation reached 69.8% in Sept 2022 2, business confidence plummeted to an all-time low and poverty increased. more..

May 19 (AD) Three persons were arrested yesterday in connection with a shooting in the Kadawatha area. Accordingly, a 50-year-old resident of the Suriyapaluwa area in Kadawatha was admitted to the Ragama Teaching Hospital after sustaining gunshot injuries. The victim’s brother and nephew were arrested together with another individual over the shooting, which is believed to have been fueled by a land dispute, Police said. The victim had been standing on a byroad near his house, more..

May 19 (DM) Sri Lanka also heavily relies on tourism to support its economy, said Dr. Palitha Kohona, the Ambassador of SL to China. Addressing the World Tourism Cities Federation Changsha Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2023, in Changsha, China, the ambassador highlighted the richness of Sri Lanka's food, tea, ancient cities, Buddhist culture and biodiversity. He extended a warm invitation to tourists from around the world to visit Sri Lanka and experience its beauty and hospitality. more..

May 19 (DM) Hot on the heels of the 14th anniversary of the war victory, Sri Lanka is heading for a diplomatic battle with Canada once again after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau made a statement yesterday in recognition of what is called Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, the day when the war ended in SL 14 years ago. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said SL denounces the statement which he cited unhelpful to the reconciliation process locally. more..

May 19 (DM) The writ petition filed by animal rights organisations and animal rights activists challenging the proposed capture and exportation of 100,000 Toque Macaque monkeys to China was fixed for May 26 by the Court of Appeal. When the matter came up before the Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and M.A.R. Marikkar, the Attorney General sought a further date to present facts on behalf of the respondents. more..

May 19 (AD) SL security forces have arranged special security and traffic plans ahead of the 14th commemoration of the National War Heroes’ Day this evening. Thereby, security has been beefed up near the parliament complex while a special traffic arrangement is also in place coinciding with the ceremony. SSP Nihal Thalduwa said between 3.45 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. today, vehicular movement will be limited on the entry road to Parliament from Kiyannam Junction to Polduwa Junction. more..

May 19 (FT) US Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC) and US Congressman Bill Johnson (OH) introduced a bipartisan Resolution calling for a referendum for Eelam Tamils to be democratically and equitably represented as well as a lasting peaceful political solution. Resolution comes as the Tamil nation marks 14 years since the massacre at Mullivaikkal where SL’s forces killed tens of thousands of Tamils in the final weeks more..

May 19 (DM) A 62-year-old Buddhist monk who allegedly abused an eleven-year-old girl, who was the daughter of his mistress, had been remanded till May 30 by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court. Police said the monk, who lives in a temple in Moratuwa was arrested by the Mount Lavinia Child and Women’s Bureau following a complaint by the girl's father. It was reported that the 62-year-old monk had an affair with the abused girl’s mother. Monk had told the woman to come to a house more..

May 19 (AD) Colombo High Court today ordered the release of three accused in a misappropriation case including former minister Johnston Fernando. The trio is accused of incurring a loss to the govt by unlawfully engaging the employees of CWE/Lanka Sathosa in political activities during Fernando’s tenure as the Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade. Bribery Commission had lodged the case before Colombo Magistrate’s Court against Johnston Fernando, more..