Oct 30 (TM) A raid at Boossa Prison yesterday (29), once again highlighted the corrupt and compromised nature of the national corrections system, with several mobile phones and other contraband found in the possession of organised criminal convicts. It is a well-known fact that a number of organised crime groups, especially ones involved in the narcotics trade, are managed by key figures who are held behind bars. These individuals, and those absconding overseas – more..

Oct 30 (TM) That all is not well within the Ranil Wickremesinghe Govt could be an understatement given the inter-Govt clashes and increasing displeasure among Govt members witnessed last week. While the country awaits the complete revival of the economy, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe surprised many people, including his Govt and key coalition partner – SLPP – with a surprise mini Cabinet reshuffle. more..

Oct 30 (ST) First the good news. Prez had certainly taken his time to sack Keheliya Rambukwella as Minister of Health but when the sacking finally arrived on Monday morn, it was welcomed with great relief and made the nation rise in rapturous applause. Prez Gotabaya had appointed him as Minister of Health in May last year. His qualifications to hold this post – as Minister responsible for the health of the nation – left much to be desired. He had acquired his basic training to become more..

Oct 30 (DM) Just over a year ago, our country declared itself bankrupt. In turn, our country was not considered credit-worthy by international lending institutions. With expenditure far exceeding import earnings. It was only to be expected these agencies would shun providing us with the credit needed to purchase much-needed important basics (Including rice-our staple diet- medicines, fuel, and cooking gas). Soon miles-long queues began forming outside fuel stations as supplies ran out. more..

Oct 29 (TM) Short-term action measures for Sl to get its energy sector on track include demand-side management strategies such as energy-efficient technologies which require fewer investment costs and cost-reflective pricing, while medium-term strategies should support implementing the Renewable Energy (RE) targets of the Paris Agreement and long-term strategies should align with the Net Zero Emissions more..

Oct 29 (CT) Education is a fundamental right of any student. Article 28 of the UNCRC states that member States should recognise the right of the child to education and to achieve this right progressively and based on equal opportunity. SL, an Asian country with one of the highest literacy rates in the region, has indeed made some progressive efforts to protect this fundamental right by law. The period of mandatory education any SL child should receive was increased from more..

Oct 30 (Island) Troubled by the increasing demoralisation of its rank and file, and the rapid erosion of its support base, besides the prospect of having to face an election next year, SLPP is desperate to consolidate its power. Things have not been moving the way it expected. On the political front, Ranil Wickremesinghe is arguably doing well for a Prez whose political party has only a single seat in Parliament; SLPP has not been able to leverage its parliamentary majority to have more..

Oct 30 (DM) The first and second parts of this article published on 14 and 21 October respectively narrated the story of how I was arrested by the CID in October 1987 and detained on the 4th floor for having exposed the realities of the war between the Indian Army under Indian Peace Keeping Force and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Northern Sri Lanka. In this third part, the focus will be on how I was interrogated by the CID while being held on the infamous fourth floor. more..

Oct 30 (Island) Electricity consumers reeling from the massive increase in tariff in Feb (adjusted somewhat in July 2023) were naturally appalled by the request for a further increase by the CEB. A public consultation was held on 18 Oct by the PUCSL to seek the stakeholders’ views on the CEB’s request for a tariff increase. However, the many representations made both in writing and orally at the public hearing do not seem to have had any impact; PUCSL has allowed the tariff more..

Oct 30 (ST) A proposed Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) will have powers to expel MPs found guilty of serious acts of misconduct, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told the Sunday Times yesterday. The body will be set up under a new Parliamentary Standards Bill that is nmow being worked on by the govt. A joint proposal presented by PM Dinesh Gunawardena and Justice Minister more..

Oct 30 (CI) Mohammed Shami ripped the heart out of England as India defended a modest total in Lucknow to maintain their unbeaten World Cup run and condemn their opponents' campaign even further. Shami claimed 2 for 4 from three overs inside the first powerplay in a breathtaking spell and Jasprit Bumrah 2 for 17 from five as England lurched to 40 for 4 after 10 overs chasing 230 for just their second win of the tournament. Shami claimed two more and Bumrah one to ensure that more..

Oct 30 (Island) Sri Lanka team’s injury woes during the World Cup is continuing as they were forced to replace fast bowler Lahiru Kumara with Dushmantha Chameera. Kumara, Man of the Match, in SL’s eight wicket win over England in Bangalore, had suffered a left thigh muscle injury during training in Pune on Saturday. Chameera, probably Sri Lanka’s quickest bowler, too has been injury prone and has appeared in just two games for Sri Lanka this year. After a disappointing game against Australia, more..

Oct 30 (ST) It was a small chase. A target of 157 off 300 balls seemed a walk in the park for the Sri Lankans under excellent batting conditions. But two quick wickets ignited a glimmer of hope for England who had been looking for some redemption after a horrendous display with the bat. Then Sadeera Samarawickrema and Pathum Nissanka put on an unfinished partnership allowing Sri Lanka to thrash the Englishmen clinically and convincingly. Nissanka has been in excellent form in the tournament, more..

Oct 30 (DN) Israeli Govt has taken steps to honour Anula Ratnayake who died during the Israeli–Hamas conflict after risking her life to save the elderly Israeli woman she was taking care of. Anula Ratnayake who was working as a caregiver took steps to save the life of the person she was taking care of – Ettie Morado. Ratnayake had hidden the elderly woman under a bed in a room, before coming out of the house to investigate what was happening. She had been killed due to firing by Hamas rebels, more..

Oct 30 (DN) After getting back to back victories Sri Lanka cricket team is poised to record their third win against Afghanistan to make semi final of the world cup and in their match at MCA Stadium in Pune today from 2pm onwards. This will be very important game to continue the momentum to go forward and Sri Lanka team is confident said SL teams most experienced player Angelo Matthew yesterday. more..

Oct 30 (FT) SL’s mobile operator community yesterday announced the commercial launch of new industry-wide network APIs, as part of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. In doing so, they will help developers and businesses accelerate the growth of digital services and apps, by ensuring they work seamlessly with all the country’s mobile networks and 100s of others around the world. All four of the countries mobile operators; Bharti Airtel Lanka, Dialog Axiata, Hutchison Lanka, more..

Oct 30 (DN) SL spin legend Muttah Muralitheran who is named ICC Ambassador for World Cup said SL has slight chance to enter world cup semi finals and to focus match by match in next games speaking at MCA stadium in Pune yesterday. We know India and South Africa having ten points and Australia and New Zealand also on top with four wins but we have to win all the matches and maintain good run rate said Murali. Any team can win or lose but more important is not to more..

Oct 30 (FT) SJB expressed its strong opposition to the Govt’s decision to extend Lanka IOC’s petroleum licence for an additional 20 years. SJB Deputy General Secretary Mujibur Rahman raised questions regarding the basis on which the licence renewal was granted by the Govt. Rahman pointed out that the agreement with Lanka IOC was originally established in 2001, granting the entity hefty tax concessions & 20-yr licence more..

Oct 30 (FT) SAARC Women’s Association (SWA) recently donated much needed equipment worth Rs. 1 million to the ICU and surgical theatre at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital. Proceeds for the donation were sourced from the cultural event SWA holds annually in support of charities. SWA identified urgently needed equipment, for the ICU & surgical theatre at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), as the recipients of the money collected for their projects. The following were purchased: more..

Oct 30 (GNN) SL U19 defeated Pakistan U19 by three wickets in the fourth one-day at National Bank Stadium, Karachi levelling the five-match series with a game to go. Left-handed opening batter Shahzaib Khan dazzled with the bat, hitting a magnificent half-century. However, it was overshadowed by SL leg-spinner Malsha Tharupathi’s four-wicket-haul, which awarded the visiting team their second victory of the series. After winning the toss, SL invited the home side to bat first. more..

Oct 30 (FT) Multiple State sector and provincial public service trade unions will commence a nationwide strike today over several demands. The Trade Union Collective Coordinator Chandana Sooriyaarachchi has confirmed that the strike is set to start at 12 p.m. today. The primary demands include a Rs. 20,000 allowance or a wage hike in the 2024 Budget. According to Sooriyaarachchi, the strike is anticipated to involve the participation of a broad spectrum of State sector employees, more..

Oct 30 (NDTV) As many as 37 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested and five of their fishing trawlers were seized by the SL navy after they allegedly strayed into Lankan territorial waters, a fisheries official in Chennai said on Sunday. The men were arrested during an operation by the Lankan navy on Saturday night. This month alone, 10 fishing boats and 64 fishermen from the state have been apprehended by the SL navy. Taking up the issue with the Centre, Chief Minister M K Stalin urged more..

Oct 30 (TM) NARA confirmed that the SL Govt will have access to, and ownership of, data collected by the research conducted with the controversial Chinese geophysical and seismic scientific research vessel Shi Yan–6. Following the Chinese vessel being authorised by the Govt to jointly survey the island’s western waters, NARA is to launch a two-day survey on the western coast in collaboration with the Chinese group of more..

Oct 30 (DM) Claiming that the 2024 budget will be totally based on IMF proposals, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said today that the government is planning to impose new taxes such as Wealth Tax and Heritage Tax from January, 2024. Addressing the NPP Pathadumbara electoral convention, he said it was customary for the Finance Ministry Secretary to publish a newspaper advertisement calling for public proposals for the budget and that surprisingly, no such practice has been adopted this year. more..

Oct 30 (DN) The loss caused by the fire that broke out last Friday at Maulana Building, Second Cross Street, Colombo Fort, had not been ascertained as yet. There were 50 shops in this six-storey building and only 27 shops were occupied at the time of the fire. Investigations have revealed that the fire started from Tanisha Textiles on the ground floor of this building. Police say that the fire broke out in the morning when a little petrol was used to burn coconut shells to burn incense. more..

Oct 30 (DM) Govt is set to implement a new property tax starting from 2025, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya disclosed. This decision has come as a result of recommendations put forth by IMF, according to State Minister. "The new tax will primarily target individuals possessing substantial property assets. These individuals will be required to pay a tax based on the value of their properties," the State Minister underscored. "The motive behind this move is to address income inequality more..

Oct 30 (DM) Responding to reports that SJB is to remove Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka from the post of party chairman, the party General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said they had not taken any final decision on the matter. "We have not taken a final decision, but he is definitely working against party interests. This is bad. Some SJB MPs have had a discussion with Mr. Fonseka but it has not brought any results. He does not seem to be listening to anyone," Madduma Bandara said more..

Oct 30 (FT) In a compelling address, CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe stressed that the thorough execution of the Anti-Corruption Act will be a major turning point in SL’s economic trajectory. He underscored corruption as a significant contributor to the country’s economic downturn and a deterrent to much-needed Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). Addressing a public seminar, Dr. Weerasinghe outlined how more..

Oct 30 (DM) NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday expressed the view that SL should embrace a genuinely non-aligned foreign policy in the present global landscape. “Sri Lanka must transition towards a non-aligned foreign policy that does not align with any specific foreign power,” Dissanayake said. The NPP leader made these remarks while speaking at an event in Los Angeles as part of his ongoing tour of the US to connect with party supporters and well-wishers. more..

Oct 30 (DN) Mount Lavinia Magistrate Kosala Senadheera yesterday ordered that Ravi Seneviratne, a former SDIG of the CID, who was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing an accident, be remanded until Nov 1. The former SDIG had been arrested by the Police for causing a collision with multiple vehicles while driving under the influence of alcohol on Saturday night. While driving his car from Bambalapitiya towards Dehiwala, his vehicle had collided more..

Oct 30 (Island) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera was given the plantation industries portfolio as Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, who previously held it, declined to present a Cabinet paper to hand over the loss-making Sevanagala Sugar Industries to former Minister Daya Gamage, political sources alleged. Both Amaraweera and Dr. Pathirana contested the last general election held in August 2020 on the SLPP ticket. more..

Oct 30 (DM) Controversial Consultant Judicial Medical Officer, Dr. Ruhul Haq, who was embroiled in controversy for defying a suspension imposed by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), is reportedly seeking to be reinstated in service. In a letter, Dr. Haq has requested the president of the College of Forensic Pathologists of SL Dr. S.P.A Hewage to inform the SLMC to rectify and expedite the process of reinstatement. Dr. Ruhul Haq has faced criticism for his controversial and contradictory more..

Oct 30 (FT) Over the years, we have noted old Ceylon go down the drain from being a proudly independent Commonwealth Dominion (1948) with a first-class civil service, and an aspiring arts and culture scene, to becoming and being as unpalatable as a banana republic. For too long now, in the absence of civil society checks and balances to nurture good governance, and with bread and circuses under-nourishing the island’s civic life and dramatic diets alike, there has been a decline more..

Oct 30 (DM) A dispute between the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the Urban Development Authority (UDA) over land has delayed the China-funded housing scheme for low-income city dwellers, a minister said. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said both institutions should reach an understanding regarding the land in the Dematagoda area for the project to be implemented. The UDA took over these two plots of land in 2019, but the CMC took legal action. more..

Oct 30 (EN) Sri Lanka’s debt office has rejected all bids at an auction for the sale of 45 billion rupees of bonds, data from the state debt office showed. The debt office offered 22.5 billion rupees of 2028 and 22.5 billion rupees of 2031 bonds. All bids were rejected, the debt office said. Sentiment was slightly negative, market participants said. The auction with settlement on Nov 1 came amid a coupon payment due on the same day. Coupon payments can be rolled over as paper, more..