Aug 16 (TM) Despite nearly a decade having passed since the Road Development Authority (RDA) began acquiring land for the long-delayed Central Expressway Project (CEP), approximately 10% of those who lost their land for the project are still awaiting compensation from the Govt. Compensation payments for CEP Sections I to III have been ongoing for years. However, due to the prevailing economic crisis, more..

Aug 16 (CT) Sri Lanka as a democratic nation has come to a decisive moment. On the 21st Sept, Sri Lankan people are ready to vote for their 9th executive president. This political moment is vital for the party politics in Sri Lanka because today the major parties who dominated the elite political culture have been dismantled by their own power politics. It is the JVP led NPP (National People’s Power) who has emerged as a powerful political force giving much hope for the public. more..

Aug 16 (TM) The last two weeks has been an interesting period with the island’s polity gathering steam to do what they do best, shape narratives and run for elections. Over the last two years, the Government of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and PM Dinesh Gunawardena, had held their ground that Sri Lankans should tighten their belts and dig deep in order to weather the storm of economic crisis and bankruptcy. The public, especially the vulnerable communities have borne the brunt of more..

Aug 16 (CT) SL is currently experiencing an unprecedented wave of political fragmentation, marked by a significant number of MPs crossing over to different parties, declaring themselves as independent MPs, and some even supporting leaders of other parties while holding a ticket from their own. These actions highlight the broader instability within SL’s political landscape in recent times, unlike anything seen before. more..

Aug 16 (ST) Many years ago when the controversial Hambantota airport was being built, I was seated next to an environmentalist in a plane during an overseas trip and our conversation steered towards the impact on bird life at the proposed airport. There were concerns from environmental groups over the danger to birds and also elephants as it (airport) was being built in an elephant corridor. “As far as birds are concerned, there are airports in the world adjoining areas teeming with bird life. more..

Aug 16 (Island) Election fever is running high with about five weeks to go before the presidential election. Nominations closed yesterday and as many as 39 candidates are in the fray; the vast majority of them are dummies supporting some of the main candidates. The participation of these proxies has increased the cost of conducting the election significantly, and concerned citizens are demanding action to prevent such characters from contesting presidential polls. more..

Aug 16 (GV) The root causes of Sri Lanka’s 26 year civil war have yet to be addressed resulting in many consequences including exacerbating the issue of land conflicts and contestation related to places of religious worship. A new report on contested religious sites by Minor Matters sheds light on the escalating conflicts over land and religious sites, particularly in the North and East, and examines how these disputes are deeply intertwined with issues of ownership, control and access, more..

Aug 16 (Island) Many TV channels devote 95% of news broadcast time to the run-up to prez elections. Mercifully, local newspapers have varied articles and one can just ignore news items on the political status quo and more so the promises made by candidates and their golayas. Plenty speeches on TV channels by the three principal contenders – RW, SP and AKD – promising to make SL a true paradise where the common man – you and me – will live in clover or, to use a colloquial term, more..

Aug 16 (FT) SJB on Wednesday unveiled its comprehensive National Tourism and Aviation Policies at the National Tourism and Aviation Summit. The event was held under the patronage of SJB leader leader Sajith Premadasa and attended by industry champions and well-wishers. The policy document, titled Tourism Policy for SL: A Blueprint for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, outlines a strategic framework designed to foster more..

Aug 16 (Island) British Council released a pivotal report that offers valuable insights into the current state and future potential of transnational education (TNE) in SL, underscoring the opportunities and challenges faced by students and educational institutions. The report was launched at the BMICH and was attended by the British High Commissioner to SL Andrew Patrick, education ministry officials, education policy makers, officials from UGC, state and non-state university officials. more..

Aug 16 (FT) National Development Bank said it continued to demonstrate strategic agility and resilience amidst less than conducive operating conditions, as was reflected in financial performance for the six months ended 30 June 2024. The Bank said it posted a pre-tax profit of Rs. 6.5 billion for the period under review, an impressive growth of 58%, predominantly driven by healthy net interest income. NDB CEO Kelum Edirisinghe attributed such performance to alignment to the bank’s more..

Aug 16 (FT) WISTA Sri Lanka celebrated its 10th anniversary with a dynamic keynote discussion on Charting the Course of Success in a Disruptive World featuring the renowned global transformation thought leader, Karen Leong at the event held at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo this week. Established in 2014, WISTA SL was initiated with the goal of providing a crucial platform for women to connect and drive progress, becoming phenomenally instrumental in empowering women within more..

Aug 16 (DN) Galle Under 19 girls emerged champions of the SL Youth league tournament when they beat Kandy under 19 girls by 10 wickets in the inaugural SL Youth League cricket final played at Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l cricket stadium Hambantota yesterday. Hiruni Hansika the 17-year-old National Youth cap from Devapathiraja MV Ratgama was the match winner for Galle team with fine all round performances. She bowled well to pick 4 wickets giving away 12 runs in her 4 over spell more..

Aug 16 (TM) Prez candidate for the National Democratic Front and Govt MP Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe expressed his discontent regarding the recent conduct of the Election Commission (EC) during the nomination acceptance event for the upcoming Prez Election. Dr. Rajapakshe urged the EC to uphold discipline and dignity throughout the electoral process. He highlighted that this year’s nomination event was markedly different more..

Aug 16 (FT) The Australian Govt on Wednesday updated its travel advisory issuing Level 2 amber colour warning, advising its nationals to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to Sri Lanka. The advisory notes that Sri Lanka is due to hold its Prez elections on 21 September where public demonstrations can occur throughout the country before, during and after polls and may become violent. It recommends Australian nationals to avoid areas impacted by demonstrations. more..

Aug 16 (FT) Bank of Ceylon (BOC) said in 1H 2024 it navigated the challenging landscape of the SL economy with strategic foresight. Despite heightened competition and global economic uncertainties, the bank delivered a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 22.4 billion, a growth of 114% compared to previous year PBT of Rs. 10.5 billion. This performance underscores the bank’s resilience and adaptability in an environment marked by fluctuating market conditions and challenges. more..

Aug 16 (DM) SL’s political and bureaucratic leaders should reassess the current debt sustainability plan with a fresh Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) to establish a realistic path out of the debt crisis, a top economist said, whilst also urging governance reforms to tackle corruption vulnerabilities. Verité Research Executive Director Nishan de Mel warned that SL’s current debt sustainability path is not based on sound data more..

Aug 16 (DN) Sri Lanka has once again demonstrated its strength and determination securing remarkable achievements at the 56th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship held in Batam, Indonesia. The event, which featured over 300 athletes from more than 22 countries, was a platform for showcasing the region’s finest talents, and SL’s performance was nothing short of exceptional. Highlight of SL’s participation was the gold medal victory by Minusha Premasinghe more..

Aug 16 (CI) In their only tour match ahead of their three-match Test series in England, SL face a fight to save the game after conceding a heavy first-innings deficit to an inexperienced Lions team in Worcester. SL were bowled out for 139 in just 43.5 overs on Wednesday, with no batter reaching 30 and Gloucestershire's Zaman Akhter taking 5 for 32, the second 5-wicket haul of his first-class career. Lions took a six-run lead heading into the second day after losing four wickets on the first evening, more..

Aug 16 (TM) Election Commission (EC) has announced that it will not provide additional voting facilities for individuals to cast their vote outside of their registered polling stations in the Prez Election despite requests from various parties urging the EC to allow these individuals to cast their votes near their places of duty or through alternative methods. EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake explained that the lack of necessary legal provisions prevents the EC from implementing such measures. more..

Aug 16 (ST) Four stay orders issued by the courts have prevented the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation (SLCF) from holding its elections until August 27. The elections of SLCF was due to take place under the patronage of Dr. Shemal Fernando, the Director General of the Department of Sports Development of the Ministry of Sports, as the Competent Authority, under the observation of a five-member Election Committee headed by Retired High Court Judge Gamini Sarath Edirisinghe. more..

Aug 16 (Island) Births in SL have declined by 20% and deaths have increased by 30% following COVID, according to Prof Indralal de Silva. He said that it was unlikely that SL Total Fertility Rate (TFR) would ever reach the replacement level of 2.1% in the foreseeable future. The situation should not be seen as something completely negative. “This also means most couples have avoided unwanted pregnancies. more..

Aug 16 (ST) Nine underage victims of sexual abuse, escaping from a government-operated safe house, in Keppetipola, Welimada were taken into Police custody. The girls claimed they decided to escape due to the harrowing environment within the safe house. The Welimada Police, with the assistance from the Nuwara Eliya Police, took the victims into custody on a complaint lodged by an individual who had spotted the victims in the Keppetipola area aboard a bus. more..

Aug 16 (FT) The dried fish industry in SL, a significant segment of the local economy, is undergoing a transformation aimed at overcoming long-standing challenges and enhancing its global competitiveness. This sector, traditionally plagued by bureaucratic hurdles, outdated practices, and limited market access, is seeing concerted efforts from various stakeholders, including Govt entities, industry associations, and private companies, to streamline processes, modernise operations, more..

Aug 16 (BBC) Ireland opener Gaby Lewis says the mood in the squad is brilliant before their ODI series against Sri Lanka at Stormont. Lewis scored a brilliant 119 in Dublin on Tuesday to help the Irish to a seven-run victory over the Asia Cup champions to draw the T20 series 1-1. It was a first win for Ireland women over SL, while Lewis chalked up her first T20 century against an ICC full member team. The sides now move north to Belfast, with the first of three matches taking place on Friday. more..

Aug 16 (FT) Three of the four MPs of the ACMC have expressed their support to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in the next month’s election. They are MP for Digamadulla District S.M.M. Muszhaaraff, MP for Puttalam District Ali Sabri Rahim & A'pura District MP Ishaq Rahuman who came from SJB ticket. Muszhaaraff said: “Although ACMC leader and MP Rishad Bathiudeen has stated his support for Sajith Premadasa, Muslim community is backing President Ranil Wickremesinghe. more..

Aug 16 (AD) The Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Open and Accountable Govt, MP Jagath Sumitraarachchi, recently informed the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration to take immediate action to issue passports in a way that does not inconvenience the public. This was discussed when the Dept of Immigration and Emigration was summoned to Sectoral Oversight Committee on more..

Aug 16 (Island) Chairman of the Election Commission (EC), R.M.A.L. Ratnayake urged all candidates contesting the prez election to follow election laws as the violation thereof is a punishable offence. He warned that the offenders would face disqualification. Addressing the 39 candidates who signed nomination papers, EC Chairman said human and physical resources of state institutions, including state owned banks, local and provincial councils must not be used for electioneering. more..

Aug 16 (TM) Imports from China to Sri Lanka are expected to grow with the growth of construction and lifting of import ban on vehicles, as Chinese imports take 23% of overall imports in 1H24, Independent think tank Arutha said. According to a report by Arutha, Chinese imports to Sri Lanka are likely to continue to grow parallel to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery as China continued to be the largest source of Sri Lanka’s imports in 2024, surpassing India. It said that the growth of Chinese imports more..

Aug 16 (CT) Nomination papers of 39 candidates were accepted by the Election Commission yesterday for the 2024 Presidential Election, scheduled for Saturday, 21 Sept. Commission noted that while 40 candidates had placed deposits to contest the election, only 39 completed the nomination process. Consequently, all 39 nominations were approved, allowing these candidates to participate in the Prez Polls. more..

Aug 16 (FT) Elections offer an opportunity to measure the re-composition of social forces. New coalitions are tested, new alliances become possible, and ultimately there is a period of policy convergence. Under ideal circumstances, this process results in the consolidation of a new regime capable of governing over the long run. In a parliamentary democratic system, such a hegemonic bloc can accommodate the rotation of parties in and out of power. The clearest examples in more..

Aug 16 (TM) As SL approaches its Prez Election, the nation faces an escalating global crisis that demands careful consideration of its foreign policy and disaster management strategies. With the spectre of a potential world war III looming and increasing global tensions, it is crucial for SL to adopt a robust disaster management plan while navigating complex international relationships. This article examines whether SL should align itself with pro-Palestinian, pro-Israeli, or non-aligned positions more..

Aug 16 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that the Puluwan Sri Lanka agreement, signed by 34 political parties and alliances, was not intended to create a new political party but to unite the nation and build a brighter future for the country and its people. He noted that those who signed this agreement are not individuals who shied away from the economic challenges, but rather, they are people who embraced these challenges, believing in the potential to rebuild the country. more..

Aug 16 (DM) The 78th Independence Day of India was celebrated in different parts of Sri Lanka on Thursday, August 15, 2024. The main event in Colombo was held at the India House where High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha hoisted India’s National Flag and inspected the Guard of Honour. He also read excerpts of the address by the President of India to the nation on the eve of the 78th Independence Day. Several cultural events were also organised. more..

Aug 16 (DM) A tense situation was prevailed at Dampura, Damanayaya in Bakamuna on last night when the police shot dead a wild elephant which was blind in one eye, frequenting the area and loved by the people since it had not hurt anyone. Wildlife officers said the jumbo had been shot dead with a T-56 rifle. Residents of the area said the wild elephant frequenting the road had been shot at by a police patrol in a trishaw. more..