Aug 18 (IN) Few tournaments have come to define a nation quite like cricket’s 1996 World Cup. That competition saw SL rip up convention, and tear into opening bowling attacks like a hurricane bearing down on a defenceless island. The result was so breathtaking that it changed cricket for good. “That was SL playing like no other side has done in history,” Aravinda de Silva, a member of that side and a batter who more..

Aug 18 (SO) SL tourism will earn a record income of over USD 4.3 billion and move up the ladder to be the second highest forex earner to the country, beating apparel export revenue, said Director General, SLTDA, Nalin Perera on Friday. He said that tourism earnings in the first six months have already passed the USD 1.5 billion mark. The major achievement for this year is the launch of PR and Digital campaigns in India, China, UK, Germany and in France for one year and for six months. more..

Aug 18 (DM) A future NPP govt will remove the VAT on medicines, school items and food items through its first budget, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. Speaking at the NPP inaugural rally in Tangalle, he said a simplified tax system will be introduced while steps will be taken to recover defaulted tax by businessmen such as liquor manufacturers. "We will remove the VAT on medicines & medical tests. VAT on school items & supplementary reading books will be more..

Aug 18 (AD) The water levels in the Kuda Ganga is rising, posing flood threats over the next 48 hours in the Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, and Madurawala DS divisions. Issuing an Amber warning in this regard, the Irrigation Dept stated that a considerable rainfall has occurred in the upstream catchment areas of Kuda Ganga Sub Basin of Kalu River as of 9 a.m. today. By analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels of Hydrological Stations in Kalu Ganga, it is warned that more..

Aug 18 (ST) Sri Lanka has temporarily restricted passport issuance in anticipation of the rollout of e-passports, scheduled for October 2024. This decision follows the awarding of a contract to a local-foreign joint venture after a tender process marred by malpractices and irregularities. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has urged the public to delay passport applications until October, advising only those with immediate needs to apply for urgent one-day passports. more..

Aug 18 (TM) The long-term tender to secure 50% of the coal requirements for Norochcholai – the country’s sole coal power plant – for the terms 2024/’25 and 2025/’26 is likely to be cancelled. This is due to Russia’s Black Sand Commodities Fz Llc (BSC), the current supplier, having proposed to offer coal at a lower rate than the most responsive bidder selected through the tender process. It is learnt that BSC, which is not a registered supplier more..

Aug 18 (ST) Trade unions are euphoric as the Rs.1700 wage hike for plantation workers means that the salaries of employees in other industries too should be increased to a national minimum wage of Rs 50,000. Free Trade Zone and General Services Trade Union General Secretary Anton Marcus said that they were still awaiting authorities to respond to their request for a discussion on the increase of the national minimum wage to Rs 50,000 and will start a public campaign from next week. more..

Aug 18 (DM) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sri Lanka said today that its attention has been drawn to the recent media reports regarding a judgement given by the Australian Federal Court in a case against the former Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Canberra. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is the standard practice that diplomats are facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take domestic assistants to assist their official representational duties. more..

Aug 18 (EN) SL began counting its elephants in the wild in an island-wide census on Saturday with a focus on conservation efforts. Census is being conducted by the Dept of Wildlife Conservation after a hiatus of 13 years. Last elephant census in 2011 showed that there were 5,879 wild elephants in SL. Since then SL has lost many elephants due to gun shot wounds, electrocution and being struck by trains. Govt data show that the highest number of tuskers have been killed in A'pura District. more..

Aug 18 (CI) Rob Yates anchored England Lions with a 68-ball half-century, as Sri Lanka's tourists slipped to a seven-wicket defeat in their first-class warm-up at Worcester. Chasing a modest 122 for victory after bowling Sri Lanka out for 309 on the third afternoon, the Lions had resumed with victory in sight on 47 for 2 overnight, and needed just 19.5 overs to seal the deal on the final morning. Yates, who had reached the close on 17 not out, added 40 more runs at the top of the order, more..

Aug 18 (ST) Amidst a continuing delay in implementing a proposed e-passport project, SL’s Dept of Immigration & Emigration was by Friday left with around 44,200 ordinary passports in stock and is issuing them to the applicants at a tightly controlled rate to avert a total collapse in supplies. Shortage has caused a huge backlog with applicants—many of whom travel from afar, even borrowing money—being turned away, sometimes leading to more..

Aug 18 (ST) More than Rs 200 million worth ongoing development projects secured by ACMC leader and MP Rishad Bathiudeen in six districts have been put on hold with immediate effect following directives issued by the Presidential Secretariat. Earlier, the ACMC leader secured approval to carry out development activities in six districts—Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Puttalam, Trincomalee & Batticaloa. Mr. Bathidueen said the projects were based on the requests of people, more..

Aug 18 (TM) Farmers are up in arms against the Govt’s decision to import ginger from China. All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation President Namal Karunaratne expressed concern regarding the Govt’s decision to import over 3,000 MT of ginger from China. This move was approved by the Cabinet with the support of the Ministers of Agriculture and Trade. He said: “Local farmers had cultivated a significant amount of ginger, with 1 kg of ginger sold for around Rs. 2,000, which was initially more..

Aug 18 (ST) 39 aspirants who want to be the 9th Executive President gathered in a first-floor conference room—almost the size of two buses parked alongside—at the Election Commission office in Rajagiriya last Thursday. Each candidate was accompanied by legal counsel and two signatories or a proposer and a seconder. The number works out to at least one and half million Sri Lankans per candidate with nation’s population of 22 mil. more..

Aug 19 (DM) On 16 Aug, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry summoned the Canadian Ambassador and protested the laying of the foundation stone for a so-called Tamil Genocide Monument at Chinguacousy Park in Brampton Canada. Sabry reiterated the so-called genocide was based on malicious disinformation and lacked validation from any responsible national or international authority. The construction of a genocide memorial at Brampton was first proposed in 2021, in response to the destruction of more..

Aug 19 (DN) Today is Nikini Full Moon. Let us resolve to make Sri Lanka a secular state with Dhamma, which does not belong to any religion, occupying the foremost place. The dawn of the VAS season marks a religious awakening among the lay devotees and has a tremendous impact on their moral thinking. After delivering the Dhamma Chakka Pavattana Sutta, Gautama Buddha observed the first recorded VAS – Rainy Retreat at Migadaya Deer Park Isipathanaramaya. more..

Aug 19 (TM) The lack of regulations specifically for the cosmetics industry is creating a dangerous environment for the public, who are increasingly on the lookout for whitening creams that promise them lighter skin colour. An official at the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said that they had conducted about 1,000 raids thus far this year related to the cosmetics industry. Dermatologists have termed a cosmetics act as the need of the hour more..

Aug 19 (DM) Although Buddhist teachings strongly oppose violence, some Buddhist sectors believe that these pacifist ideals have not prevented Buddhist nations from engaging in warfare. Some Buddhist dissertations on monarchy seem to support the idea of a just war, using arguments from various Mahayana sectors. While Buddhist scholars proclaim that there is no justification for war in their teachings, they acknowledge that Buddhism has not always remained separate from warfare. more..

Aug 19 (CT) As we reflect on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, which have endured for over 25 centuries, it’s crucial to examine how these teachings are upheld in the modern world. The Nikini full moon day, particularly significant for the Theravada tradition, brings to mind the first Buddhist council, a historic moment when the Buddha’s teachings were preserved and protected for future generations. During the Buddha’s time, his teachings were confined to a small region in N. India. more..

Aug 19 (CT) In 1938, leftist Journal Samasamajaya reported the first rubber plantation workers’ struggle in SL as the first strike of plantation workers in the history of the country. The strike reportedly started on 13 July 1938 and ended in victory within a few days. But have the tears of the rubber plantation workers who have fought for their basic rights over 86 years since then had more value than the tears of those days? more..

Aug 19 (CT) Recently while opening the de-salination plant in eastern Vadamaradchy, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he would commission river for Jaffna project, which Tamils are not going to take seriously. However it is worth examining feasibilty of it. Already there is one river in Jaffna peninsula, Valuki Aru, originating in Alavedy and confluencing at Araly, which in most of the time of the year runs dry. Hence this would be the second. One of the problem faced by people of Jaffna more..

Aug 19 (TM) With the Prez Election nearly a month away, and a General Election just around the bend, Sri Lanka’s politics have slowly turned to efforts of mustering the floating vote and herding them to each candidate’s corral before the gates close on 21 Sept. While all that is going on, the importance of this Prez Election and the following General Election for Sri Lanka cannot be understated. Sri Lanka is at a pivotal juncture in its history, and that too after some painful lessons. more..

Aug 19 (Island) With nominations for the Sept 21st prez elections now completed, a survey of the political landscape provides an interesting picture. A record 39 candidates are in the fray, but most of them would be also-rans. In this year’s election as well, there are three main candidates, with a couple of other interesting side shows. In the last prez election of 2019, the three main candidates polled 97% between them, while the balance 32 candidates shared 3% of the vote between them. more..

Aug 19 (Island) NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to abolish VAT on food, healthcare, and education, under a future JVP/NPP govt. He is not alone in making such promises. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe himself has undertaken to reduce taxes. He told a group of university administrators on Tuesday (13) that the govt was looking at adjustments to the personal tax structure to provide some relief to the taxpayers; he said he had received two proposals more..

Aug 19 (GV) The most iconic moment at Nelson Mandela’s star studded memorial service was a handshake. As US President Barack Obama ran up to the podium under a light drizzle, a CNN reporter was droning about the extra security arrangements. Suddenly, the excited voice of Christiane Amanpour cut in, shouting, “Castro, he’s shaking hands with Raul Castro.” Mr Obama had paused to shake the hand of Cuban more..

Aug 19 (TM) Election Commission (EC) yesterday stated that the decision pertaining to the limits on election-related expenditure will be made in the next two to three days, taking into account the issues raised during the discussions with the Presidential candidates and political party representatives regarding the same. On 16 Aug, the EC convened a meeting to deliberate on the expenditure limits for candidates, as outlined in the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act, No. 3 of 2023. more..

Aug 19 (ST) Questions have been raised within the fraternity itself regarding the conduct of the hierarchy of the Football Federation of SL (FFSL) concerning its approach in handling the national men’s team affairs and its overall administrative activities in recent times. These concerns come against the backdrop of an important medical requirement for the national team’s head coach, Andy Morrison, who is likely to be unavailable for SL’s upcoming international games against Cambodia, more..

Aug 19 (Island) After SL were beaten by England Lions in Worcester with two sessions to spare in the four day game, there was no packing of bags and getting ready to head to the next location – Manchester. Instead, the entire team was in the middle for a training session that went beyond two hours. One exception was uncapped fast bowler Milan Ratnayake. SL played three quicks for the four day game in Worcester that ended on Saturday. Right-arm seamer Asitha Fernando and more..

Aug 19 (DN) Sri Lanka Junior Match Play Champion, Dhanushi Wanasinghe, secured her second consecutive title by winning the Red Tee RCGC Ladies’ Bronze Club Championship at the 103rd Royal Colombo Golf Club Championship, held at the RCGC course in Colombo. Wanasinghe claimed victory in the final by defeating Deepani Gamage with a commanding 7/5 win. She earned her spot in the final with a dominant 7/4 victory over Ellane Sterchi in the second semi-final. more..

Aug 19 (DM) NPP will bring back former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran, who fled to Singapore, to SL as the first priority of a NPP govt, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. He said the NPP will take over power with plans to raise state revenue and said the NPP govt will stop fraud and corruption. He said Rs. 1,100 billion in taxes have been defaulted by various people and assured that NPP govt will recover all defaulted taxes. more..

Aug 19 (ST) Treasury is to set aside Rs 185 billion required for a proposed salary increase for public sector employees and payment of anomalies through the next year’s budget, a senior official said. He said the Treasury was making provisions for the allocations, which would be included in the budget proposals. The proposed increase was conveyed to the IMF in a similar manner as the previous proposal of Rs 10,000 was discussed with the IMF, the official added. He said that taking into consideration more..

Aug 19 (ST) Presidential contender Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Puluwan Sri Lanka (We can, Sri Lanka) agreement signed with ‘thirty four parties and alliances’ this Friday ahead of forthcoming elections on Sept 21st 2024 invokes as many ghastly jokes as the somewhat unfortunate allocation of a gas cylinder as his election symbol by the Elections Commission. Some of these parties and alliances are not worth the paper that the agreement will be written on. more..

Aug 19 (ST) SL cadet officer, who passed out from Britain’s prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy last week, has gone missing. Mohammed Aneek was among 209 officers who passed out after 44 weeks of intense training. He was scheduled to return home this week after the passing out parade but missed the scheduled flight. When the SL High Commission offered to arrange his transport to the airport for his scheduled flight last Sat. more..

Aug 19 (DM) The Daily Mirror once again calls upon the main prez candidates Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, Namal Rajapaksa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake for a live presidential debate, hosted by Daily Mirror & Lankadeepa. This is the second time that Daily Mirror extends its invitation to the candidates for a debate. When it first did two months ago, only Anura Kumara Dissanayake accepted the invitation while Wickremesinghe declined and Sajith did not respond. more..

Aug 19 (EN) SL’s central bank has bought US$ 121 million from banks in July 2024, taking net purchases to US$ 1.87 million in 2024. The central bank had to sell dollars on a net basis in June after an ealier spike in unsterilized excess liquidity and credit. In order to collect reserves permanently the liquidity created from dollar purchases has to be mopped up. Mopping up prevents domestic investments of the same amount, allowing the CB to invest the funds abroad as reserves. more..