Nov 23 (FP) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in an exclusive conversation with Firstpost‘s Palki Sharma said BCCI secretary Jay Shah does not run Sri Lankan cricket. Former SL captain Arjuna Ranatunga’s comments on BCCI secretary Jay Shah running SL cricket has caused a major storm across the cricketing world, especially in cricket-mad India which happens to be a superpower of the sport. The comments have caused an uproar to the point that Prez himself offered an apology. more..

Nov 23 (EN) Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard Plc, a unit of Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard Company has posted a loss of 6.7 billion rupees in the September 2023 quarter, after taking write downs to account for a battering the firm got during a 2022 currency crisis. Colombo Dockyard reported losses of 94 rupees per share for the quarter, and 137 rupees loss for the nine months on total loses of 9.8 billion rupees in interim accounts filed with the Colombo Stock Exchange. more..

Nov 23 (EN) Support for the NPP among SL’s voters dipped marginally to 40% in October but the leftist party managed to maintain its notable lead over the main opposition SJB and the prez’s UNP, polling data showed. The NPP had enjoyed support from 42% of likely voters in September. The SJB stood at 26% in October, increasing 4% from 22% in September. Prez’s UNP’s support decreased marginally to 11% in Oct from Sept’s 13%. more..

Nov 23 (EN) SL’s proposed minimum room rates will, in effect, act as a price control and, given the turbulence faced by tourism in recent years, policy is the worst course of action that can be taken by the govt, think tank Advocata said. “It places the industry at a considerable disadvantage against regional and global competitors, at a time when a global slowdown looms large on the horizon, and positioning itself as a cost-effective alternative to other destinations is crucial to redeem more..

Nov 23 (Island) Sri Lankans between the ages of 15 and 49 were affected by dengue more than those of other age categories, Dr. Sashini Ranaweera of the National Dengue Control Unit said. Most of the dengue deaths were reported among the same age group, she said. “So it’s the country’s workforce that’s most affected by dengue,” she said. “If the attitude of people does not change, our efforts to contain dengue will be in vain. For example, when we visit people’s houses, check the premises, more..

Nov 23 (Island) SLPP MP Sarath Weerasekera said that he voted for the 2024 Budget after having received an assurance from Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe that his concerns over the proposed move to allow Provincial Councils to establish Universities on their own and the issuance of permanent deeds to farmers would be addressed. He said so when asked him what made him vote for the Budget after more..

Nov 23 (EN) SL’s national archives and libraries will go online with digitalisation, Chairman of National Library and Documentation Services Board Professor Nanda Dharmaratna said. “We are now in the digital age, where the library system has a major role to play. We selected 25 libraries from the 25 districts and digitalised them,” he said. The project was funded by UN Development Programme (UNDP) in SL and facilitated by Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) more..

Nov 23 (TM) The Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health (MoH) stated that a total of 115 drugs have failed quality tests so far in 2023. This year records the highest number of quality failures of drugs in a year. Drugs from India, Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan, Japan, and Bangladesh were among those that failed the quality tests. A total of 35 batches of Flucloxacillin Cap were withdrawn in May, recording the highest so far since 2017, in terms of the number of batches. more..

Nov 23 (Island) There are an increasing number of reports of families in Colombo district not allowing govt officials to conduct the ongoing census, Colombo District Secretary, K.G. Wijesiri said. “We could not hold the census scheduled for 2021 due to the crises that took place in the last two years. The last census was held in 2011. The data collected here will be used for development activities in the future,” he said. Wijesiri said that most households will receive a govt official collecting data more..

Nov 23 (Nikkei) As the sun sizzled over small, run-down houses in Batticaloa, a 35-year-old mother struggled to keep her newborn baby cool in the front room of her home. She sat on the floor, cradling the infant as a ceiling fan slowly turned overhead. The languid breeze from the fan, however, was a constant reminder of another worry. It was running on electricity illegally tapped from a nearby power line -- a secret the family keeps to more..

Nov 23 (AD) The principal of Rambukpitiya Central Collage, who is alleged to have forced a group of school students to eat the polythene lunch sheets they had wrapped their lunches in, has been transferred to Gampola Zone with immediate effect. Minister Susil Premajayantha revealed this while delivering a special statement in Parliament today (23). An incident had been reported yesterday (22), where a group of students of the Rambukpitiya Central College in Nawalapitiya more..

Nov 23 (DM) SL speedster Matheesha Pathirana is set to miss the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 2023 season. The 20-year-old cricketing was originally slated to turn up for Bangla Tigers in the tournament next week, however, he is yet to recover from the shoulder injury he sustained during the 2023 World Cup in India. Apart Pathirana, his SL pace mates Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka will also be skipping the T10 franchise leagues citing several reasons. more..

Nov 23 (DM) Heavy rain experienced currently in the Vavuniya district has resulted in the spilling over of 415 out of 699 tanks and reservoirs in the district. The Pavakkulam reservoir and several other tanks and minor irrigation canals within the purview of Agrarian Services Dept and the Irrigation Dept have been overflowing since last morning. He said 400 tanks, 11 minor irrigation works under Dept of Agrarian Services, more..

Nov 23 (TM) The Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL), L.T.B Dehideniya, has penned a crucial letter to Minister of Justice Wijayadasa Rajapakshe, advocating for the repeal or amendment of Sections 365 and 365A of the Penal Code. The letter, issued under the authority of Section 10(d) of the Human Rights Commission of SL Act, highlights the Commission's role in recommending measures aligning national laws with international human rights norms. more..

Nov 23 (AD) Court of Appeal on Thursday decided to once again postpone the further hearing of the case filed pertaining to the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Interim Committee. Accordingly, the case is due to be taken up for further hearing before the Appellate Court on 24 Nov, marking the third consecutive time that the relevant hearing has been postponed to the next day. On 16 Nov, Court of Appeal issued an order that the relevant case be taken up before a new panel of judges after Judge Neil Iddawela recused more..

Nov 24 (DM) The collapse of walls when students are present and the education authorities maintaining that as many as 74 academic institutes run the risk of crumbling down have made parents rethink sending their offspring to certain schools on the island. The islanders were in a state of shock several days ago when they read about the death of a schoolgirl from Wellampitiya. The wall in her school collapsed on her and some of her friends; injuring a total of 5, apart from the deceased. more..

Nov 24 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Wednesday, affirmed that both the Prez Election and the Parliamentary Election would take place next year and that there would be no postponements. On the same day, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana suspended State Minister Sanath Nishantha from attending Parliamentary Sittings for two weeks, owing to his disorderly conduct within the Chamber on Tuesday. Expressing strong disapproval over the tense situation that arose during Tuesday’s more..

Nov 24 (CT) SL’s power and energy supply to the masses has faced enduring challenges financially and economically throughout many decades. Despite achieving an uninterrupted power supply in 2023, the country grapples with a persistent financial crisis and debts mounting in the energy sector. As the year 2023 draws to a close, CEB confronts staggering losses once again; estimating an alarming Rs 18 billion and more..

Nov 24 (DM) Migrant worker remittances constitute a major component of SL’s GDP. SL migrant workers remitted close to USD 3.8 billion in 2022. But despite pre-departure trainings and skill improvement programmes for migrant workers, some of them continue to be brutally harassed by their landlords while working overseas. Two months after Ramachandran Dharshini (32), from Mathugama left to Saudi Arabia as a domestic worker, she returned with more tears than money. more..

Nov 24 (CT) Thank you Hon. Chair for the time allocated to speak a few words on these heads of expenditure. We have had an interesting debate so far, with his Excellency also participating. One of the institutions under consideration is the constitutional council, many things have been said today back and forth about the constitutional council but I want to raise a more fundamental issue. There is a vacancy in the constitutional council; all ten members have not been appointed, this is a very serious more..

Nov 24 (TM) In Sri Lanka, at present, different prices are charged by safari jeep owners from visitors for a safari tour sans consideration of visitor preferences, the vehicle condition, the number of visitors in the group, the travel time, and whether the tour group is local or foreign, with the amount charged varying without a scientific basis. These findings were made in an original article on Visitor preferences on different safari tour packages: more..

Nov 24 (ST) Budget 2024 is a good one. And it suits much better for a high-performing Sri Lanka under normal circumstances than for a crisis-ridden Sri Lanka like the one we live today. It is quite possible that we have already forgotten our status of living in a crisis-ridden economy in the last two years. SL didn’t have dollars to meet our foreign debt obligations and to pay for our essential imports. Shortages of essential supplies resulted in long queues throughout the country. more..

Nov 24 (CT) Following the recent landmark judgement by the Supreme Court that the three of the Rajapaksa brothers, and a number of senior state officials were responsible for the economic crisis, some members of Parliament hiding behind the shield of parliamentary privilege have begun to hurl allegations at the Judiciary in what is clearly an attempt to discredit the judicial system of Sri Lanka. Such attacks on the rule of law should not be taken lightly. The conduct of some MPs, more..

Nov 24 (Island) SL’s cricket crisis has become internationalised. Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and the Opposition insist that some Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials were behind the International Cricket Council’s decision to suspend SLC. They have produced documentary evidence to prove their claim and tabled in Parliament the copies of the letters that SLC officials wrote to ICC, allegedly seeking a ban. The cricket dispute in Sri Lanka took a dramatic turn with the BCCI more..

Nov 24 (Island) The Island editorial of Wednesday (22), as usual or as always, says it as it should be said; hits the nail bang on its head; minces no words and thus succinctly proclaims what has to be proclaimed. Most importantly, The Island editorials reflect exactly how the majority of Sri Lankans – sensible and intelligent – feel and opine. Nov 22 editorial is titled Terror in the House. Terror, or extreme fearful behaviour was perpetrated by some white garbed MPs as seen on TV on Nov 21. more..

Nov 24 (ST) National Dengue Control Unit has warned of an upsurge in dengue cases in the coming weeks. The biggest impact is in the Western Province, which accounts for almost half of all cases in the country at 34,396 (47.5%). Consultant Community Physician of NDCU, Dr. Nimalka Pannila Hetti, revealed that up to the third week of November, dengue patients have risen to 63,540, and 44 have died. more..

Nov 24 (FT) Macktiles Lanka, now SL’s largest manufacturer of tiles, unveiled plans to take over export markets, and showcased its capacity to serve the entirety of the domestic trade with its new state-of-the-art facility. Macksons Holdings Managing Director, Mizver Makeen said yesterday it was unfortunate that no SL manufacturer has expanded capacity over the past five decades to address export markets, noting that it was due to production and price pressures brought on by imports. more..

Nov 24 (FT) Ceylon Italy Blue Economy Association (CIBEA) today unveiled its pioneering strategy to contribute to decarbonising maritime transport in the Indian Ocean, with a steadfast commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. “SL and Italy, both nations with rich maritime traditions, are uniquely positioned to lead the transition to a greener maritime future. Our ultimate goal is to champion the development of a Hydrogen Value Chain in SL, focusing on bunkering and more..

Nov 24 (FT) Taking strategic measures to address the ongoing economic challenges, UDA has unveiled multiple investment prospects surpassing Rs. 550 million for four key properties. According to the UDA, these investment opportunities, available on a long-term lease basis, aim to make the best use of underutilised assets and stimulate economic growth and development. UDA’s Real Estate Management and Development Division has issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for two prominent projects. more..

Dec 24 (DN) Three Sinha Group of Companies, a leading player in SL’s Construction Sector, was awarded the Gold Award under the Medium Category at the National Industrial Excellence Awards – 2023 organized by the Industrial Development Board (IDB). The Award Ceremony was held recently, at the Nelum Pokuna in Colombo under the patronage of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Company’s Managing Director Manjula Ariyakumara received the Award. more..

Nov 24 (FT) President Ranil Wickremesinghe presented a comprehensive strategy to revise agro export, acknowledging past challenges and missed opportunities. In a forward-looking speech at the 25th Presidential Export Awards organised by EDB held at the BMICH he outlined a comprehensive plan to utilise SL's rich agricultural past for a successful future by combining support for smallholders, large-scale more..

Nov 23 (FT) The 18th meeting of the Committee on Ways and Means was held in Parliament this week under the Chairmanship of Champika Ranawaka. Discussion held was in connection with the implementation of the appeal process of the Aswasuma benefit program and obtaining the Grama Niladhari officials for the implementation of its second phase. Representative officials of the Welfare Benefit Board, Director Generals of Institutions and Grama Niladhari officials more..

Nov 24 (FT) Fonterra Brands Lanka, SL’s premier dairy company, has forged a partnership with the Wayamba University, Dept of Livestock and Avian Sciences, empowering the next generation of dairy enthusiasts to become responsible future leaders in SL’s dairy sector, aligning with the Govt’s vision for building a sustainable dairy industry. The alliance, formalised through a MoU, underscores Fonterra Brands Lanka’s commitment to nurturing the future of Sri Lanka’s dairy sector. more..

Nov 24 (EN) SL’s central bank has cut its policy rate at which money is injected in to the banking system to 10%, and the lower corridor to 9 percent in a monetary policy meeting in November. “..the Board viewed that with this reduction of policy interest rates, along with the monetary policy measures carried out since June 2023, sufficient monetary easing has been effected in order to stabilise inflation over the medium term,” more..

Nov 24 (DN) Rohan Fernando the former Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel chairman tipped to be appointed new Chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC) attached to the Sports Ministry. According to the Senior Sports Ministry official, former SL cricket skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has resigned from the the NSC chairman post and due to vacate this post Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe has plan to appoint Rohan Fernando for this responsible post. NSC is closely work with the Sports Ministry more..