Sep 11 (TM) Despite recent rains replenishing several hydropower reservoirs across the country, CEB continues to secure emergency power sources, claiming that the rainfall is insufficient to meet the rising demand for electricity. In response to the pressing energy needs, the CEB has not only acquired emergency power, but is also gearing up to purchase supplementary power to mitigate anticipated future shortages, CEB Chairman Nalinda Illangakoon told The Sunday Morning. more..

Sep 11 (DM) Muttiah Muralitharan believes PCB is to be blamed for this fiasco due to the high ticket prices set by the board, who is the official host for the continental tournament. An India vs. Pakistan fixture in front of empty stands is not something you can even think of. Still, the Asia Cup 2023 fixtures between the two arch-rivals in Sri Lanka have been played in front of near-empty stadiums. Former SL spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes PCB is to be blamed for this fiasco due to more..

Sep 11 (TM) Govt is yet to recover all the data lost from a large scale ransomware attack on state email domains during 17 May to 26 Aug this year. The large-scale attack is one of the biggest breaches of cyber security in SL during recent times, and comes in the wake of the Govt calling for greater digitisation and automation of state services. It was reported that all Govt offices using the gov.lk email domain, including the Cabinet Office, more..

Sep 11 (AD) Two persons have been taken into custody by Customs’ central intelligence directorate, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 4.5 million sticks of foreign-made cigarettes worth around Rs. 110 million into the country. The undeclared stock of cigarettes was taken into custody by officers of the central intelligence directorate at the Grayline Container Yard in Colombo on Monday, following the inspection of a container that had reached the Colombo Port from India. more..

Sep 11 (DM) BBS General Secretary Ven. Galaboda Atte Gnanasara Thera and seven others today pleaded guilty to charges in connection with a case filed before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court for trespassing into the Nippon Hotel in Colombo and obstructing a media conference organised by JBS leader Ven. Watareka Vijitha Thera in 2014. Ven. Gnanasara Thera and others were ordered to pay compensation of Rs.300,000 to the complainant party and they were subsequently severely more..

Sep 12 (DM) Prez has said that he would appoint a committee headed by a Supreme Court judge to look into the allegations levelled by Britain’s Channel 4 that the State Intelligence Service Chief Suresh Sallay conspired to engineer the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The controversial channel quoted Azad Maulana, the former Private Secretary to State Minister S Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan as saying that he arranged a meeting in 2018 between Sallay and Zahran Hashim, more..

Sep 12 (CT) At a time when the health of the health sector is rapidly deteriorating, the 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service is heading for a volatile situation, due to cadre issues and not having proper vehicles in its ambulance fleet. There appears to be a shortage of over 600 personnel at the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, with 321 vacancies specifically for drivers. Despite the approved total staff count being 1,992 the actual number of employees stands at 1,390, a shortfall that could more..

Sep 12 (DM) The 269 individuals who lost their lives to the Easter Sunday carnage may have never wished for such a brutal end. But their loved ones continue to live with flashbacks of the final memories they shared with the departed. Breaking the silence four years later, a chilling revelation by UK’s Channel 4 titled Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings narrates a more shocking tale of how the carnage was allegedly pre-planned. more..

Sep 12 (DM) The Veddas, the original inhabitants of Sri Lanka, were once numerous and lived throughout the island. But they have almost disappeared now, being less than 0.13% of the population according to the last census taken in 2011. Presently, they are confined to the Bintanna area in South Sri Lanka and the Batticaloa District in the east. These days, the Veddas are treated as museum pieces to be shown to Western tourists fascinated by antiquities. more..

Sep 12 (TM) Govt has been calling for greater digitalisation of public services and state institutions, citing ease of doing business, more streamlined service and reduced overheads as the troubled island nation looks to make an economic recovery in the wake of several turbulent years. However, the lofty policy goals announced by the Govt have the rug pulled from beneath when long-term policy failures of not getting the basics right, come back to bite the state in its digital hind parts. more..

Sep 12 (TM) In a context where historic documents are and have always been instrumental in understanding how a country has evolved, the importance of preserving vital documents for the future cannot be stressed enough. In SL’s case, the Department of National Archives has been entrusted with the task of preserving such documents. However, this duty, which has a significant national-level importance, more..

Sep 12 (ST) The graves mark the names of the innocents who were killed in the Easter Sunday bomb blasts in 2019 but they do not reflect the still continuing trauma and anguish of the loved ones they left behind. Nor do the graves of those that lie beneath give a sign of resurrecting the truth interred beside their dust; nor offer a ray of hope to the families that their long heartbreak search for justice for the dead will ever end. The crosses above their graves serve as reminding sentinel more..

Sep 12 (TM) The devastating impact that the price increases in the country have had on the living standards of the people is brought out by survey after survey. A national citizens’ survey led by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found more than 55% of the population to be vulnerable across three dimensions — education, health and disaster, and living standards — and 12 indicators, including school attendance, their physical condition of health, unemployment and indebtedness. more..

Sep 12 (Island) At a time when the world is encountering the major environmental issue of disposing of shredded currency notes, which are accumulating in the tens of thousands of tons on a daily basis, a Sri Lankan entrepreneur has devised a chemical-free method of putting such old currency notes to productive use by recycling them and using as a catalyst in the process disposable local fruits and vegetables, instead of burning or burying the latter. more..

Sep 12 (Island) Pandora’s Box from Greek mythology is, in reality as projected in the literature, a jar known as pithos in the Greek language. The story of Pandora and her jar is recounted in Hesiod’s Works and Days, a poem from around the 7th or 8th century BCE. The concept of Pandora’s Box, as it is commonly known today, originates in this story. Zeus presented Pandora to Epimetheus, Prometheus’ brother, as a bride. Pandora brought the jar with her, and despite Zeus’ warning, more..

Sep 12 (FT) Making an emphatic call for strategic reforms, SLTDA Chairman, Priantha Fernando, stressed the pivotal role of a well-crafted aviation policy in realising the country’s ambitious goal of attracting 5 million tourists by 2029. In June, the IATA in June also called on SL to take steps towards creating an aviation blueprint that can lead to greater economic growth and prosperity through development of a robust aviation more..

Sep 12 (Island) Even Channel 4 may not have expected its recent programme on the Easter Sunday terrorist bombings to cause such a stir in Sri Lanka. Anyone familiar with western media tropes could see the butler-did-it ending of the much-advertised exposé coming, miles away. Curiously, even those who used to brand Channel 4 as a hireling of anti-sri Lankan forces have chosen to buy into its claims at issue, albeit selectively, in a bid to gain political mileage. more..

Sep 12 (DN) SL is set to field three formidable players in the upcoming 19th Asian Games, scheduled to take place later this month in China. According to the squash draw, SL’s top-ranked player, Ravindu Laksiri, has been seeded 11th in the Asian Games squash competition, increasing hopes for a medal win. Mixed Doubles partners, Shamil Wakeel and Women’s Junior National Champion Chanithma Sinaly, a Commonwealth Games 2022 Plate C'ship winner, also hold strong more..

Sep 12 (DN) Sri Lanka having won 13 ODIs will go out with confidence against India in the Super four game of Asia Cup cricket tournament which will be played today at the R Premadasa Int'l cricket stadium. We changed our combinations during last Zimbabwe tour for the the world cup qualifying cricket tournament which brought about success said SL Assistant coach and batting specialist coach Naveed Nawaz yesterday. However weather could be the deciding factor once again today. more..

Sep 12 (DM) The first ever mega Business & Trade Forum is to be held in UAE, and the SL - RAK Business Forum & Trade Fair is to bring together over 25,000 of visitors per day consecutively for 5 days including institutional and high-net worth business delegates, buyers from the regions including Middle East & North Africa, Asia, South East Asia, Europe and Americas. “This will be a key to kick starting new destination and business relations with Ras Al Khaimah and Sri Lanka, more..

Sep 12 (TM) Surangi Perera, a 37-year-old resident of Kottawa, had just stepped out of a pawning centre in Malabe. She was standing on the bustling street, waiting for a trishaw to take her to Narahenpita. In her hand she held a few crumpled notes, thinking they would cover the trishaw fare. As she waited, growing increasingly impatient, Surangi began counting her money repeatedly. The hot sun beat down on her, adding to her discomfort. more..

Sep 12 (CI) KL Rahul wasn't supposed to start against Pakistan. After Shreyas Iyer suffered back spasms during the warm-ups, he replaced him on Sunday and on Monday, the reserve day, he announced his return with a sensational hundred. At the other end, Virat Kohli did his thing, bringing up a century of his own, as India piled up 356 for 2. Jasprit Bumrah, bowling in ODIs for the first time after his injury break then discomfited Pakistan's top order with vicious swing & seam movement. more..

Sep 12 (BBC) Durham have signed Sri Lanka international seamer Vishwa Fernando for their final two County Championship matches of the season. The 31-year-old, who has played 20 Tests, will bolster Durham's attack at Worcestershire, starting next Tuesday, and at home against Leicestershire. They need only five points from their remaining two games to seal both promotion and the Division Two title. Fast bowlers Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts will be away with England. more..

Sep 12 (FT) EJB leader Patali Champika Ranawaka urged the Govt to conduct a probe into the case filed against SL by the Hamilton Bank in St. Kitts & Nevis and its potential links to the Rajapaksas and former CB Governor Ajith Nivaard Cabraal. Hamilton Reserve Bank, which holds more than $250 million of SL’s 5.875% Int'l Sovereign Bonds due July 25, filed the suit in June before a New York federal court seeking full payment more..

Sep 12 (DN) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, declared open the Enquiry Centre of Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) yesterday enhancing the capabilities of the Port of Colombo, which plays a pivotal role as a hub port and international trade and shipping center with continuous operational activities. Accordingly, SLPA Enquiry Centre has been established with the aim of providing information about the port services in a more expedited and convenient manner for more..

Sep 12 (FT) High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena presented credentials to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim as SL’s first Permanent Representative to the IMO. Sri Lanka’s accreditation to IMO comes at a time when the country is due to assume chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in October this year. Being in the centre of one of the most vital shipping lanes, SL is positioned to be a major maritime hub in the Indian Ocean. more..

Sep 12 (FT) People’s Bank, a pioneer in the SL banking and financial services sector, announced a significant milestone in its journey towards the country’s digital banking supremacy. As of 31 Aug 2023, the bank has successfully enabled digital banking services through its internet banking, mobile banking app, and Wallet App for more than 2 million customers, revolutionising their banking experience and providing seamless access to a range of innovative financial solutions. more..

Sep 12 (Island) Sri Lanka became the very first country (outside the USA) to deploy Georgia State University’s (GSU) Cosmic Ray Muon Detector. SL now becomes GSU’s first international member as a part of its ongoing deployment plan for a global muon detector network and hosts a detector each at two strategic locations – Badulla, hosted at the University of Uva Wellassa campus, and Colombo, hosted at the Uni of Colombo campus, according to a press release issued by Prof. Unil Perera more..

Sep 12 (TM) In the wake of certain State Ministers lamenting that fulfilling their duties and responsibilities has been hindered due to the respective Cabinet Ministers' actions, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has hinted at the gazetting of specific subjects for State Ministers in the coming days. Claiming that several State Ministers including himself have been hindered from fulfilling their duties and responsibilities due to the actions of more..

Sep 12 (CT) Electricity generated by cheap and clean renewable energy (RE), aided by monsoonal rains, met over 50% of Sri Lanka’s electricity needs for two consecutive calendar days to Sunday (10) after six days. On Sunday, RE met 50.33% (18.29 Giga Watt hours (GWh) of the country’s electricity needs, while the balance 49.67% (18.05 Gwh) was met by the environmentally-pollutive imported fossil fuels (FF) and on the previous day Saturday, RE provided 50.04% (19.72 GWh) more..

Sep 12 (CT) Leader of TPA Mano Ganesan and Secretary General of CWC, Minister Jeevan Thondaman condemned Velanturai Plantation Manager, Kahawatte for allegedly attacking another family that tried to construct a makeshift house to live in, as the line room was congested. The temporary house erected there was demolished due to an alleged attack by the Velanturai Plantation Management of the Kahawatte Plantation PLC. MP Ganesan said he has called Minister more..

Sep 12 (CT) Two railway trade union actions, including the one planned for today (12), have been cancelled following discussions with the General Manager of Railways (GMR). As a result, the railway yard workers have decided to call off their trade union action, announced by the SL Railways Station Masters’ Union. Additionally, Locomotive Operating Engineers’ Association and railway yard workers went on strike in the morning of 11 Sept, due to the non-payment of incentives more..

Sep 12 (FT) Media baron and lawyer Dilith Jayaweera has been appointed as the leader of the Mawbima Janatha party signalling his entry to active politics. Jayaweera has assumed leadership of the party, taking over from veteran politician Hemakumara Nanayakkara, who will now serve in an advisory capacity with the title of Senior Leader. There is speculation that other political parties may consider forming a coalition with Jayaweera’s party, as he apparently has intentions to contest more..

Sep 12 (AD) Responding to the oral report on Sri Lanka at the first meeting of the 54th Regular Session of the UNHRC in Geneva on Monday, Sri Lanka has rejected the report and its recommendations, claiming that is does not reflect the actual situation in Sri Lanka, and instead gravely distorted and misinterpreted the ground situation within the country. Speaking further in this regard, the Permanent Representative of SL to UN more..

Sep 12 (TM) Several ministerial portfolios are likely to be reshuffled within the course of this month (September), political sources have claimed. While a final decision in this regard is yet to be made, discussions pertaining to the matter are reportedly taking place within those political parties affiliated with the ruling party (SLPP). The reshuffle is said to be taking place in light of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s preparations to travel overseas. Although Prez Wickremesinghe more..