Oct 5 (DM) State Minister Diana Gamage accused SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara of abusing her verbally. “Madduma Bandara called me a ‘bitch’ in Parliament the other day. This is actually sexual abuse in the form of words. This is an insult to all women in the country which accounts to 52% of the population. It is women who elect MPs to Parliament. These MPs have no right to insult women. He should be brought before the privilege committee & should be severely dealt with,” more..

Oct 5 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe informed Parliament that the Govt was in the process of establishing a new independent body to oversee the EPF and ETF. He expressed the Govt’s willingness to engage in discussions with the Opposition and consider their proposals regarding this matter. Prez Wickremesinghe also said the need to deliberate on whether the EPF and ETF funds should be allowed for investments abroad, indicating the Govt’s inclination to permit such investments more..

Oct 5 (AD) The All-Island Canteen Owners’ Association has decided to increase the prices of several food items including fried rice and Kottu. Accordingly, the price of a packet of Kottu will be increased by Rs. 20, fried rice by Rs. 50 and a cup of plain tea by Rs. 10. This decision has been arrived at in view of the recent price hike of domestic gas cylinders. The president of the All-Island Canteen Owners’ Association announced this, while joining a press conference held today (05). more..

Oct 5 (FT) Ramzi Razeek was arrested in the early days of the pandemic when knowledge of the virus was sketchy and myths filled the gaps. Rajapaksa regime had militarised a health crisis. The army commander was running the show. Patients were treated like enemy aliens, entire communities forced into poorly-prepared quarantine centres literally at gunpoint by soldiers often without even facemasks. more..

Oct 5 (EN) Central Bank has signed an agreement with the govt to maintain inflation at 5% with a 2% variation, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. “Inflation target is 5%, plus or minus 2%,” Govrnor Weerasinghe told reporters. “Variation would be assessed on the basis of quarterly average of two quarters. “If there is a deviation it will trigger other actions.” The agreement will be published soon by the Finance Ministry, Governor Weerasinghe said. more..

Oct 5 (AD) A new chairperson has been appointed to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. (CPSTL). Accordingly, Mr. Saliya Wickramasuriya will be the chairperson of both CPC and CPSTL with effect from today, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The appointment came after Mr. Mohamed Uvais Mohamed stepped down from his posts on Oct 4. At present, Mr. Wickramasuriya, who is an energy industry specialist, more..

Oct 5 (TM) A batch of human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) imported to the country from India in violation of the due procedure has been suspended from use, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) said. In a media release, NMRA Chairman Prof. S.D. Jayaratne said that forged documents were found to have been submitted for Customs clearance when importing the drug which later failed the quality tests. more..

Oct 5 (DM) Hemas Holdings, today announced the resignation of Kasturi Chellaraja, the Group CEO, effective March 30, 2024. Ms. Chellaraja, has served as the Group's Chief Executive Officer since 2020 and played a pivotal role in Hemas' growth and success during her tenure. Kasturi Chellaraja's contributions have significantly contributed to the transformation of Hemas into a purpose-led organization that has strengthened its market positions in the Consumer, Healthcare, and more..

Oct 5 (AD) The Supreme Court today ordered the Attorney General to submit a report pertaining to the compensation payments made thus far to the fishermen families affected by the X-Press Pearl maritime disaster. The relevant petition was taken up before a five-member Supreme Court judge bench comprising of Justices Murdu Fernando, Yasantha Kodagoda, Shiran Gunaratne, Achala Wengappuli and Priyantha Fernando. President of the 5-member judge bench, Justice Murdu Fernando more..

Oct 5 (TM) The Health Ministry has no plan to recruit foreign doctors in order to overcome the prevailing shortage of doctors and specialists, said Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. Speaking in the Parliament yesterday (4), in response to a series of questions raised by Opposition Parliamentarians, he said that no such decision has been made so far and that the Govt is seeking to fill the existing vacancies in Govt hospitals using the resources within the country. more..

Oct 5 (AD) A traffic Police Constable attached to the Cinnamon Gardens Police Station was left severely injured after an errant driver ran him over near the Independence Square Roundabout in Colombo on Thursday. The injured constable, identified as A. Priyankara, a resident of the Walasmulla area, was rushed to the Colombo National Hospital in critical condition, while the driver of the SUV, reportedly identified as the son of a high-ranking police officer, has been arrested. more..

Oct 5 (AD) Despite economic challenges and global competition, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing the General Convocation of Sir John Kotelawala Defence Uni encouraged graduates to contribute to SL’s growth. Prez emphasized the need for competitiveness and highlighted the significance of a highly educated and skilled labour force. He encouraged graduates to pursue advancements in technology, more..

Oct 5 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Tharushi Karunaratne, a dedicated student athlete, for her outstanding achievement in winning a gold medal in the women’s 800m event at the Asian Games in China. Prez personally reached out to Tharushi Karunaratne by telephone this morning to acknowledge her exceptional talents and accomplishments. During their conversation, Prez expressed the pride felt by the nation more..

Oct 5 (TM) A metal detector has indicated that the injured elephant Seetha of the Mahiyangana Perahera had been shot with live bullets. This piece of information came to light following a scan conducted on Tuesday, Prof. Ashoka Dangolla of the Peradeniya University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science mentioned. The 48-year-old elephant was mistakenly shot by an officer of the Civil Security Dept (CSD) after the Mahiyanganaya Rajamaha Vihara more..

Oct 5 (AD) Governor of the CB, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has assured that no decision pertaining to the restructuring of state banks has been made thus far. He explained that the CBSL has not been informed of any such decision to restructure state banks. Governor made these remarks in response to a question raised in this regard by a journalist, who claimed that six state banks were amongst a list of govt institutions more..

Oct 5 (TM) While admitting that it would be better if the public consultation on electricity tariff revisions could be done covering all Districts, Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) stated that it is however not possible to do so as the related process should be completed within a short period of time. With the PUCSL's public consultation on the proposed electricity tariff revision to be held in Colombo this month, Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) recently more..

Oct 5 (EN) Sri Lanka is still expecting an International Monetary Fund review to be completed by October – November with debt restructuring moving in parallel, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. On debt “very good progress and support was seen by India Paris Club and China”, Governor Weerasinghe said, speaking to reporters in Sinhala. A staff level agreement will also be agreed ‘as soon as possible’ once a few matters are ironed out, he said. more..

Oct 6 (CT) SL is on the brink of re-entering the Financial Action Task Force’s Grey List due to non-compliance with FATF’s 40 recommendations in its upcoming third Mutual Evaluation in March 2025. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the CB has raised concerns about the country’s anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) combat procedures, following the recently concluded National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) Risk Assessment. more..

Oct 6 (ST) The IMF team on Wednesday concluded its first visit to Sri Lanka after reaching its 17th agreement with the country. Its statement on the same day after reviewing the EFF arrangement with SL that was approved in March this year, portrays a grey-outcome of the country’s progress so far. Though the IMF mission admits a few commendable developments, in an overall assessment it’s a wake-up call. In fact, it is the second wake-up call to bring the economy on track, more..

Oct 6 (TM) In the heart of SL’s intricate tapestry of culture, tradition, and biodiversity, the conservation of elephants holds a special place. Prof. Ashoka Dangolla, a voice in the realm of wildlife conservation and animal welfare, has dedicated his life to unravelling the complexities of this coexistence. In a candid and insightful interview, The Daily Morning sat down with Prof. Dangolla to learn more about these complexities. more..

Oct 6 (GV) In an era where the digital landscape has become an integral part of our lives, ensuring online safety has never been more crucial. As the online realm grapples with issues like cyberbullying, misinformation and the misuse of online platforms, the govt has introduced an Online Safety Bill. Central to the implementation of the bill is the establishment of the Online Safety Commission. This article examines the proposed bill to assess whether the online safety commission will more..

Oct 6 (DM) Besides SL’s economic disaster, which has plunged tens of thousands of families into poverty, climate change has disfigured weather patterns, with prolonged droughts hitting people at unexpected times and heavy rain causing floods in several provinces also at unexpected times. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and the SLPP govt need to act immediately and effectively to provide relief to tens of thousands of people affected by ongoing floods. In various districts, more..

Oct 6 (CT) In the aftermath of the catastrophic Easter Sunday bombings in 2019, orchestrated by fanatics fuelled by the venomous ideology of Islamic State, a sinister shroud of conspiracy theories and concealed realities has ominously eclipsed the tragic events. A two-day parliamentary debate has blurred the very boundaries that separate stark fact from insidious fiction, ensnaring the noble quest for justice more..

Oct 6 (TM) The saga of extensions being issued to incumbent IGP Chandana Wickramaratne’s looks set to continue, while dozens of senior DIGs, including a few aspirant candidates look on. Wickramaratne who has had multiple extensions, had submitted his letter of resignation earlier this year, only to have his wish to retire, be shot down. The confusion over the post of the IGP and whether Wickramaratne will be given the post or not, left the Police Dept headless for a week more..

Oct 6 (Island) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent interview with DW, in Berlin, has been trending in the digital realm—not for all the right reasons, though. Thanks to it, the genre of interrogative interview has apparently taken on a whole new meaning, with the interviewee aggressively interrogating the interviewer! There was obviously much more to what transpired during the DW interview than the interviewers’ questions, comments and remarks provoking an angry reaction from Prez more..

Oct 6 (DM) In Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s verbal blitzkrieg during his Oct 4 interview with Germany’s public broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, slamming the Western media’s prejudice against the global south, there are many takeaways. They relate to politics and media studies, among many other subjects that include public diplomacy and double standards in int'l relations. First, the political aspect. The video clip that is now going viral is the first clear indication that Prez is all set to contest more..

Oct 6 (Island) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe eloquently outlined the current global economic crisis affecting the developing world, in particular the Global South, during his speech at the Berlin Global Dialogue. In the course of his presentation he conveyed the fact that while the developed countries may have the strength and resources to weather the challenges, the Global South is not equipped to meet them. Attributing the current crisis as being due to a combination of systemic inadequacies more..

Oct 6 (CI) If there had been hype building for this SL side through their Asia Cup campaign, much of it burned down, like a Vesak lantern that catches fire and ends in a smouldering mess, as a result of that calamitous final - a total of 50 all out tends to have this effect. But there had been a hard-fought victory against Pakistan to reach that final, plus two wins over Bangladesh through the course of the campaign, as well as a victory more..

Oct 6 (CT) Discussions at the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings that open in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Oct 9, 2023, should prioritize systemic reforms to align policies with human rights, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing a video to illustrate the concerns. The changes are needed because current policies are compounding poverty and inequality. The five-minute video features Shanthi, a woman living in SL who is struggling to cope with both the economic crisis in the country and more..

Oct 6 (CI) Revenge for the final of the 2019 World Cup was never going to come in the first match of the 2023 edition. But a nine-wicket demolition of England in the Ahmedabad curtain-raiser will have provided New Zealand ample satisfaction. The defending champions have been battered, comprehensively, wearing what might end up being one of the most emphatic beatings of the tournament. Pursuit of a target of 283 came with 82 balls to spare thanks to a brutal more..

Oct 6 (DN) Bentota area needs more mid-range large hotels to attract the local and foreign middle class tourists, said Chairman, Diyakawa Water Sports Centre, Aluthgama, Niroshan Fernando. He said that the Bentota area is surrounded by four and five star hotels which have on average more than 75 rooms in each and are patronized mostly by the up market clientele and there is no single three star hotel. “If the middle class people do come they stay for one night due to high price of the hotels. more..

Oct 6 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued direct instructions to Govt officials, including the Matara District Secretary, to assess the urgent needs of the flood-affected people in the Matara District, resulting from heavy rainfall. Prez has emphasised the necessity of swiftly implementing relief measures. Prez's directives also encompass the provision of vital facilities such as cooked meals and medication to those affected, along with the engagement of the armed forces more..

Oct 6 (DN) Tharushi Karunaratne became the outstanding Sri Lankan at this year’s Games. After winning the gold medal in the 800m event, 50 minutes later she won the bronze medal with the women’s 400m relay team, a new SL record. After winning this gold medal, Tharushi became the number one athlete in the 800m event according to the latest rankings of senior and junior Asian athletes released by Asian Athletics Association more..

Oct 6 (FT) Internet freedom in Sri Lanka improved slightly and remained categorised as partly free with its score gaining to 52 out of 100 from 48 last year as per The Freedom House Freedom on the Net 2023. SL’s score on Obstacle to access was 12 out 25; Limits on content was 22/35 and Violations of user rights - 18/40. Improvement was a result of the lack of blocks on social media platforms during the coverage period. Improvements in internet penetration and a drop in cyberattacks more..

Oct 6 (ST) The Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) has sought a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe to raise concerns on a proposal to permit a zero customs tariff on the CIF value to import electric vehicles with power up to 500 kW, or plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PEHV) up to 3,000CC, in semi-knockdown (SKD) form for local assembly. Association chairman Charaka Perera said that they have already sought an appointment with the President. more..