Oct 10 (Island) Prez Wickremesinghe has reportedly taken exception to his likeness being used in cutouts, banners, posters, etc, and banned such representations of him. The erection of a cutout of Ozymandian proportions carrying his picture in Batticaloa is said to have irked him beyond measure. He had it removed immediately. That could be considered a wise move in that the use of such propaganda paraphernalia is counterproductive. Propagandists tend to go overboard in their more..

Oct 10 (DN) After a three-year break due to the pandemic and economic challenges, the Victoria Golf Resort (VGR) and the rival Nuwara Eliya Golf Club (NEGC) are set to tee off once again for the 4th Victoria Gregory Derby Tee Off. Sponsored by Lynear Wealth Management, the tournament will take place on October 14 at the Victoria Golf Resort in Rajawella. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Royal Colombo Golf Club on Monday. more..

Oct 10 (FT) MendisOne celebrates 25 years of prosperity as one of SL’s most compelling businesses built on trust, reliability, and professionalism. With its 3 entities, Prudential Shipping, Premium Trading and Logistics and Helanka Vacations, the Group has thrived as a beacon of unwavering dedication and unparalleled business ethics and values. MendisOne celebrated its illustrious journey of a quarter century on 23 Sept at Monarch Imperial with its key principles, more..

Oct 10 (FT) CT CLSA Securities forecast the economy to contract by 1.8% in this year following the release of 2Q and first-half GDP data recently. The broking firm expects the economy to grow at 2.2% next year. SL recorded a slowdown in contraction in GDP in 2Q2023 declining by 3.1% (vs. 11.5% contraction in 1Q2023). “This was in-line with our expectation as the economy gears up for a growth phase after the contractions recorded more..

Oct 10 (DN) After many positives from the first game SL is ready to play against Pakistan in their second world cup game today in Hyderabad, commencing at 2pm. This game is going to be a close tussle as Pakistan led by Babar Azam ready to face challenge against SL after defeating SL at the Asia Cup in SL. Pakistan team packed with good bowlers and they are always a challenge for SL batters and SL batters have to play at their best against this bowling attack to put up a good fight. more..

Oct 10 (ST) A little-known girl from a well-known school to produce athletes of international repute, has now won the hearts of many a Sri Lankan. Tharushi Karunaratne, who will be turning 19 on Nov 18, not only made her country proud at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, but also engraved her name in the record book as a young, yet promising runner at elite stage. Tharushi, best known for her calm and composed character, is a totally different persona on the track, more..

Oct 10 (Island) PHU leader Udaya Gammanpila said that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe owed an explanation to the public as to why a successor to IGP C.D. Wickremeratne couldn’t be named before the end of the incumbent police chief’s second 3-month extension. Wickremeratne’s second extension ended yesterday. The former Power and Energy Minister said that in terms of the Constitution, Prez should inform the CC more..

Oct 10 (DN) Some of the locally manufactured novel industrial products during the COVID Pandemic era have now been accepted and associated with the world’s leading brands, said Minister Ramesh Pathirana. These included many previously non-manufactured devices in SL. He opined this during the Industry 2023 Kandy Edition jointly organized by the Ministry of Industries, Ceylon Industrial Development Board, Central Provinces Governor’s Office and Ministry of Industries of more..

Oct 10 (TM) Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is to launch a project in order to carry out emission tests on State owned vehicles with the help of the Vehicle Emission Testing (VET) programme in SL. This follows a recent decision taken by Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) to withdraw from emission testing from January next year as there is no procedure to conduct emission tests for SLTB buses and State vehicles. LPBOA Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said that emission testing more..

Oct 10 (DM) While calling for assistance in facilitating the return of Israelis, including tourists and employees in Sri Lanka to Israel, the President had directed police to provide necessary security to the Israelis within Sri Lanka, the PMD said. President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine would likely lead to a prolonged period of high fuel prices, adversely affecting developing economies, including Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 10 (PMD) In a significant development, Sri Lanka’s aviation sector has reported a substantial profit of Rs. 22 billion in the period spanning from Jan to Aug 2023, said Minister of Port, Shipping and Aviation Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, during a news briefing held at the Prez Media Centre (PMC) today (9). The Minister highlighted that approximately Rs. 10 billion from this profit has already been contributed to Treasury, providing a much-needed boost to the country’s finances. more..

Oct 10 (FT) The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in SL (CBCS) has written to President Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting copies of reports compiled by international law enforcement and secret service agencies including those from the US, UK, India, China, Australia and Pakistan on the Easter Sunday attack. In a letter dated 6 Oct, CBCS observed that Prez Wickremesinghe had discussed these reports in a recent interview more..

Oct 10 (ST) SL Govt has been called upon by the IMF to establish policies and rules that protect the Right to Information Act and the reach of the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) with recent proposed bills assessed as potentially constraining the ambit of the RTIC, excluding sensitive matters from its jurisdiction. With particularly acute concerns arising around privacy and anti-terrorism draft laws, the IMF has warned that if an appropriate balance is not evidenced, there is a significant risk more..

Oct 10 (AD) National Building Research Organization (NBRO) says it will carry out a technical inspection on the two overhead pedestrian crossing bridges established for the entry into Wellawatta and Bambalapitiya Railway Stations in the Marine Drive today (9). Director of the Structural Engineering Research & Project Management at the NBRO, Mrs. Dhammika Kahahengoda stated that accordingly, a technical team from their institution was sent for the inspection activities more..

Oct 10 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa accused the Govt of conspiring to postpone all elections scheduled for next year. Issuing a statement, Premadasa said, “Delaying or cancelling elections constitutes a grave assault on democracy.” According to Premadasa, the present Govt, unable to face elections, has unilaterally postponed local govt elections and is now in the process of implementing certain anti-democratic measures to obstruct prez poll set to be held in 2024. more..

Oct 10 (TM) Acting Consultant Anaesthetist Dr. H.P.A. Maduwanthi at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama, who was released to the District General Hospital in Hambantota with effect from 3 October on the instructions of the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena, is yet to report to service at the latter Hospital. Since the Consultant Anaesthetist at the Hambantota District General Hospital had left the country without giving any notice, more..

Oct 10 (TM) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, who lost his membership of the SLFP for supporting the Govt and accepting a ministerial portfolio, said that a number of parliamentarians who crossed over are now experiencing shock over SC ruling which upheld the decision of the SLMC to revoke the party membership of current Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed. The SC, in its ruling with regard to a petition filed by Ahamed challenging more..

Oct 10 (DM) SL was handed an embarrassing defeat by South Africa in their World Cup opener in Delhi on Saturday. The island nation was humiliated in the Asia Cup Final by India who had SL bundled out for 50 runs, and conceding 428 runs against South Africa in a World Cup encounter was equally poor from a nation once feared in the world of cricket. SL had opted for a three pace attack - Matheesha Pathirana (95), Kasun Rajitha (90) Dilshan Madushanka (86) on a pretty flat wicket more..

Oct 10 (AD) One person has sustained injuries in a shooting incident that took place in the Rathgama area in Galle. Rathgama Police is conducting further investigations regarding the incident. The individual who was wounded in the shooting incident that took place this evening (09) in the Rathgama area in Galle District has succumbed to injuries. He has been identified as a former Inspector of Police (IP). It is also reported that the victim had formerly served as the Inspector of the Ambalangoda Police more..

Oct 10 (DM) The govt has moved to change the parliamentary electoral system triggering fears in political circles whether it is yet another attempt to postpone the national elections including the Prez Election pending next year, Daily Mirror learns. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has submitted a Cabinet resolution seeking approval to introduce a new system to elect members to Parliament under a mixed system. more..

Oct 10 (FT) In Oct, 2023 SL will assume the IORA Chair and present its theme, Strengthening regional architecture: Reinforcing Indian Ocean identity. This presents SL’s vision and mission for IORA and its partner countries. Based on the above agenda, the meetings will focus on sustainable economic growth, environmental stability, management of marine resources, maritime security, blue economic opportunities, disaster resilience and climate change, technical and vocational education more..

Oct 10 (DM) The SJB said it will not support the proposed parliamentary electoral system. SJB's MP S.M. Marikkar came up with this remark in response to a report stating that Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksha is to submit a Cabinet Paper to amend the parliamentary electoral system. “Govt obviously needs the Opposition's support to get the legislation approved in Parliament. We, the SJB will never support the electoral amendment as it is a trick by the govt to postpone the general elections, more..

Oct 10 (AD) The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed before the Supreme Court by Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara seeking the nullification of the SJB's decision to suspend their party membership, has been fixed for hearing. Accordingly, the FR petition, which requests the court to issue an order nullifying the SJB’s decision to expel them from the political party and disqualify them of their parliamentary seats, will be taken up for hearing on 12 October. more..

Oct 10 (SLA) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the recommendation of the Ministry of Defence and Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army, has promoted a total of 314 Officers of the SL Army (Regular and Volunteer Force) and a record 1565 Other Ranks of the Army (Regular Force and Volunteer Force) to their respective next rank attaching symbolic significance to the 74th Army Anniversary Day (Oct 10). more..

Oct 10 (EN) If SL fails to carry out unpopular economic reforms such as restructuring state-owned enterprises (SOEs) inviting another crisis, politicians of all sides can forget about their political future, Advocata CEO Dhananath Fernando warned. Politicians in SL benefit from the status quo, said Fernando, which allows them to use SOEs for their own political gain. “The next crisis will impact all of them if they don’t do these reforms. more..

Oct 10 (FT) A comprehensive analytical review of the horrific tragedy that took place on Easter Sunday 2019, when a group of Muslim suicide bombers targeted foreign tourists and Christian places of worship killing over 200 people, has been much awaited and necessary. Apart from a few media articles and the very comprehensive report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), little was known about the motivations, the individual and institutional identity and history of the attackers more..

Oct 10 (AD) Two Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel have been killed while five other STF personnel were injured and hospitalized after the Defender they were traveling in crashed last night at Velikulam in Vavuniya. Police said that the accident had occurred at around 9.30 p.m. last night amidst heavy downpour when the Land Rover Defender belonging to the STF had collided with a cow causing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash into a wall. more..

Oct 10 (EN) Cabinet has approved the appointment of a committee to make recommendations to amend the provisions of the Medical Ordinance to suit the country’s current needs. The president and health minister proposed that steps be taken to enact the necessary legal provisions so that the medical degrees awarded by foreign universities, within number 1 to 1,000 international rankings, can be accepted in Sri Lanka. more..

Oct 10 (DM) Education Ministry is to assign a total of 4,718 principal appointments to schools at the beginning of November in order to avoid the shortage of principals, Minister Susil Premajayantha said. While being the chief guest at the Agricultural Exhibition held at Mullathivu Mallavi Middle School, Minister said 705 vacancies in the teacher education service and 405 vacancies in the education administration service will be filled while removing discrepancies in teacher consultant service. more..

Oct 10 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has initiated the appointment of a Board of Directors for the SL Personal Data Protection Authority, established with the primary objective of safeguarding personal data within the nation. In a significant milestone for data protection in South Asia, Sri Lanka's Personal Data Protection Act No. 9 of 2022 (PDPA) has been making strides toward full implementation. The act, certified by the Speaker on 19 March 2022, aims to safeguard personal data more..

Oct 10 (CI) Defending champions England produced an emphatic response to defeat in their opening World Cup match, crushing Bangladesh by 137 runs in Dharamsala to get their tournament up and running. A total of 364 for 9 was underpinned by Dawid Malan's maiden World Cup hundred - and fourth this calendar year - before the returning Reece Topley ripped through the top order as Bangladesh faltered in the foothills of what would have been a record chase. more..

Oct 10 (CT) The mass death of thousands of fish in the Kumbichankulama lake, situated in the heart of Anuradhapura, has now been effectively managed and it is believed that this situation is attributed to an issue with algae, Ruwan Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Municipal Commissioner said. Although various animals, including birds, dogs and other creatures, may have consumed the deceased fish, there is no evidence to suggest that poisoning was involved, according to the Health Dept Anuradhapura. more..

Oct 10 (EN) The Exim Bank of China, the top Chinese lender to Sri Lanka has reached a preliminary agreement with the island, raising prospects making progress on restructuring the defaulted island’s debt. The debt agreement was reached at the end of September, Bloomberg quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman was quoted as saying in Beijing on Oct 10. SL has to make progress acceptable to the IMF to unlock a second US$ 330 m more..

Oct 10 (AD) Kalutara High Court today (10) served the death sentence on three convicts who were found guilty of a murder that took place 32 years ago, and handed a 10-year rigorous imprisonment to another convict. The three individuals have been convicted of an incident of attacking a person to death with clubs in the Keeranthidiya area in January 1992. Welipenna Police had arrested the relevant suspects in relation to the crime and produced them before Mathugama MC. more..

Oct 10 (Island) Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday (9) demanded the immediate appointment of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). Issuing a statement in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice, the former lawmaker pointed out that the IMF had suspended the second tranche of the USD 2.9 bn bailout package over Sri Lanka’s continuing failure to take meaningful measures to reign in corruption. more..