Jan 15 (DM) Hooray to the diplomats and doctors of our country. The govt has granted diplomats a bonanza for the new year. The govt will waive previously introduced austerity measures on the payment of school fees and other related expenses of diplomats’ children. Meanwhile, children of ordinary parents in our country are finding it difficult to even send their children to school, thanks to the ever-rising cost of living and tax burdens. The East Asia Forum points out more..

Jan 15 (SO) An estimated 10,000 SL Seafarers are on the line of fire in the Red Sea following escalating and deadly attacks on merchant and other vessels by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The exact number of active SL Seafarers currently embedded on foreign flagged merchant vessels cannot be reached but the officials said it is anything between 15, 000 to 20,000. The bulk of the Sri Lankans are employed on vessels that must sail to and more..

Jan 15 (ST) My dear Chaminda, I am writing to you after having heard that you had taken everyone by surprise by resigning your seat in Parliament this week. In a country where no one retires or steps down even when they are well past their retirement age, but attempts to cling on to power forever, this came as quite a shock to most of us. To be honest, we had heard of you only in passing until this week. In Parliament, you made the odd speech that made headlines. more..

Jan 15 (GV) It has been 16 years since the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Sept 2007. However, SL has not formulated a legal or policy framework, in line with the declaration, to ensure the survival, dignity and wellbeing of indigenous people in the country. After several meetings and discussions with members of the Adivasi community last year, the govt agreed to set up a committee to look into the problems more..

Jan 15 (Island) 48-year-old Batticaloa District MP Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, popularly known as Pillayan, has been shaping the Eastern Province’s political narrative since he was a teenager. He was just 16-years old when he joined the LTTE in 1990 as a child soldier. Since then, he continued to rise in the ranks of the LTTE until his immediate boss, Karuna Amman, decided to leave the outfit with his followers in 2004. more..

Jan 15 (DM) Observing two reports detailing reckless activities linked to the devil and the deep blue sea, where the SL Navy is conducting surveillance on international seas and a group of ruling MPs are having a lavish party on board a ship in the port, we had to slightly alter the title of the renowned creation by Nobel laureate, tall and handsome author Ernest Hemingway, who at 51 in 1951, finalized his magnum opus, The Old Man and the Sea. more..

Jan 15 (SO) SL has now officially documented that the smallest full member of the ICC has got the highest number of votes that invariably creates the base for vote buying to enter the corruption-ridden swashbuckling, financially prosperous boardrooms of SLC that has been the root cause of nepotism in one of the country’s top money spinning public enterprises. While neighbouring India, the most populous of the cricket playing nations with nearly 1.4 bil people has got just 38 votes on offer, more..

Jan 15 (ST) Parliament’s first sitting week in 2024 got off to an explosive start, with a shock resignation and a flurry of legislative activity, as a host of new bills were passed by the legislature through the course of the week. SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri announced to the House on Tuesday (9) that he had submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker. On Friday, Nayana Wasalathilaka, who was next in line in the preferential voting list at the 2020 poll more..

Jan 15 (TM) For a long time, Sri Lankans have complained that the left hand of the Government does not know what the right hand does. And yes, there are ample examples to show such. However, the fact that such shortcomings are not readily addressed, and left unchanged is a sign of poor governance and lack of sustained public pressure for change. It is no surprise then that there is a lack of cooperation and condition between the State’s prosecutorial arm, who advises the State on more..

Jan 15 (CI) SL stole to their target for the second time this tour, scoring the winning runs off the last ball to deny a tenacious Zimbabwe defence of a modest target. A top-edged four off the bat of No. 9 Dushmantha Chameera and a chip into the legside outfield were the final acts of a chase in which SL had struggled to stay afloat. Angelo Mathews, playing his first T20I in almost three years, had produced most substantial SL innings, more..

Jan 15 (SO) Probably the tallest netball player in the world, SL’s very own Tharjini Sivalingam has announced her retirement from the game. She has been a tower of strength to the SL team and has contributed immensely towards the victories earned by SL in the recent past as the main contributor to winning the Asia Cup twice. Quite rightly, president of Netball Federation of SL Victoria Laxshmi has come up with an appropriate suggestion that 45-yr-old Sivalingam be given a grand farewell. more..

Jan 15 (ST) SL authorities have officially taken a decision for the establishment of a gaming regulatory authority in the wake of ever increasing tax evasion by a handful of local casino owners, Finance Ministry sources disclosed. The new authority would oversee casino tax collection, counter criminal activity and negative societal impacts from gaming, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. Cabinet gave a green light to this authority, following a proposal submitted more..

Jan 15 (AD) Three teenagers, two girls and a boy, have reportedly drowned while bathing in the lagoon in Kalutara this evening (14). The deceased students named Ivangi Madubhashini (15), Subhani Supeshala (16) and Kivindu Sathsara (17) have been identified as residents of Panwila, Dodangoda and Neviliyawatte areas in Kalutara respectively, the police said. Police also mentioned that the two girls were expecting to sit for the upcoming G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination. more..

Jan 15 (Island) SriLankan Airlines’ CEO, Richard Nuttall has said that India is a massive opportunity for SL’s travel and tourism market. “We are the nearest international beach destination to India. India is the biggest source of tourists for SL at the moment, but the reality is, the number is peanuts. We get 20% more tourists from India, which has 1.4 billion people and is next door than we do from the UK that is 11 hours flying time away. We should be getting 10 times that amount,: more..

Jan 15 (SO) Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the season ticket program for school, university and vocational students remains the biggest subsidy program of the Govt, which spent a staggering Rs.21,775 million on it last year alone. He said that only Rs.1,638 million has been charged from the students for this concessionary program. Minister said that only 7% of the total cost is charged from a school student for more..

Jan 15 (DN) The vibrant and sacred festival of Pongal is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Tamil people across the world. It is a magnificent festival of thanksgiving and appreciation for a bountiful harvest. It is celebrated most gloriously in the farming communities across SL and India. The ancient rituals and cooking preparations appreciate every positive element associated with agriculture. Pongal dish and the process of its preparation are part of the symbolism, more..

Jan 15 (PMD) Thai Pongal, a vibrant Hindu harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil Community worldwide, beckons us into a realm of joy and gratitude, signifying not only the bountiful harvest but also the promise of new beginnings. Embraced within the auspicious month of Thai (January) in the Tamil calendar, this celebration harmonizes with the Sun’s northward journey, marking the onset of the harvest season. Originating around a thousand years ago during the Chola dynasty, more..

Jan 15 (TM) While the losses due to incidents such as the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster should be calculated annually for up to 20 years, MEPA has not carried out the relevant calculations for the year 2023 due to lack of support from Attorney General's (AG) Dept. Ongoing issue of the handling of the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, failures in determining the damage it has caused, allegations of misconduct in calculating more..

Jan 15 (TM) Sri Lanka is to bring in the new Microfinance bill after a delay of 3 years amidst reports of businesses providing microfinance credit with over 360% interest as the Govt tries to curb licensed credit providers, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe. Tabling the Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill at Parliament on Friday, he said that according to the bill, no business, collective or individual can lend microfinance credit without a licence from the regulator. more..

Jan 15 (TM) Ministry of Defence (MoD) strongly refuted media reports that a group of SL peacekeepers was taken hostage by the Al-Shabaab militant group after a UN helicopter crash-landed in Somalia. The response came following uncorroborated news reports appearing in the local press and social media citing foreign news reports over the weekend. It is likely that the foreign news report erroneously reported a SLAF helicopter crash-landing in the Central African Republic, more..

Jan 15 (ST) SL is readying to obtain the Blue Flag Certification that will showcase the coastal line of the island as a sustainable beachfront to the world as part of the Marine Conservation Master Plan. The international certification for safety and security for sustainability of the beach front would need to ensure that the inland water bodies are clean and pollution is minimised in addition to providing safety and security of the beach users, SLTDA Chairman Priantha Fernando said. more..

Jan 15 (EN) Tourism Promotion Bureau is in the process of clearing barriers to marine tourism, including leisure activities on yatchs, Managing Director Nalin Perera said. Yatch cruise operators have earlier complained that a specified International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) requirement by Sri Lanka’s Directorate of Merchant Shipping which was not demanded by countries like Thailand or Red Sea nations was blocking live aboard cruises. more..

Jan 15 (AD) The Chief Prelates of all three Buddhist Chapters in SL have called on Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to implement the law against the organized groups of people who they claim are spreading false ideologies regarding Buddhism and are harming the Buddhist philosophy and its cultural values. In a joint letter addressed to the Head of State, chief prelates highlight that it has become evident that the behaviour of more..

Jan 15 (DM) Claiming that a future NPP government would stop politicians’ misuse of public money, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today they will dissolve the large security detail of the President and the fleet of expensive vehicles used by politicians. He said the NPP will prove in practice that they will not misuse or loot a cent of public money and set an example to the people. “The Prez has thousands of army and police teams assigned for his security. more..

Jan 15 (AD) SL govt has increased the Casino License fees and the Casino License Renewal fee in the country. Casino Business Licensing Regulation No. 01 of 2022 has been amended through a Govt Notification issue by Prez in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, effective from Jan 1, 2024. Accordingly, for applicants with a minimum investment of USD 250 million in integrated development, the Casino License fee is Rs.10 billion while Casino License Renewal fee is Rs.10 b. more..

Jan 15 (AD) CID has arrested the A/L Agricultural Science teacher of a popular govt school in Ampara in relation to the incident of several questions of the 2023 GCE A/L exam’s Agricultural Science I & II question papers allegedly being leaked prior to the exam. The 52-year-old suspected male teacher reportedly also conducts tuition classes for A/L students. Police have also found the A/L exam’s Agricultural Science I & II question papers written in his own handwriting at his house. more..

Jan 15 (DM) Criticising the govt’s move to send in a naval ship to ensure the safety of international sea routes, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said local affairs have been neglected by the authorities. Cardinal Ranjith who was speaking during a special service at All Saints' Church, Borella said authorities have failed to find the real perpetrators who placed a grenade inside the church, who planned the Easter Sunday attacks and those who have harassed media in the past. more..

Jan 15 (TM) Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) blamed the Dept of Examinations for lack of responsibility, in relation to the controversial leaking of the Agricultural Science paper (Part ll) at the recently held GCE. A/L Exam, and called on the Ministry of education to launch an inquiry into the incident. Last week, Examination Dept cancelled the A/L Exam’s Agricultural Science II paper due to reports that several questions more..

Jan 15 (CT) The Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCEC) has acknowledged that it lacks the authority to establish duty-free rules, at the duty-free malls, in the Port City and pledged to revoke the already set regulations within a week. This pledge was given to the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) by the CPCEC at the recent committee meeting chaired by Dr. Harsha de Silva. During the meeting, COPF reevaluated the Regulations under Section 71, read with more..

Jan 15 (CT) In the midst of escalating concerns, the recent surge in vegetable prices, at the Nuwara-Eliya Dedicated Economic Centre (DEC), has become a pressing issue, with no apparent relief in sight for consumers. It is reported that due to the unprecedented highs, particularly in the cost of staples like carrots, leeks and beans, the public finds themselves burdened by the soaring vegetable prices. On 13 January, vegetable prices at the Nuwara-Eliya Dedicated Economic Centre more..

Jan 15 (ST) On Dec 28, 2022, former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella hurriedly summoned a press briefing. One of his objectives was to justify a recent trip to India, where he stayed in a five-star hotel and visited the facilities of a pharmaceutical company that his Ministry had shortlisted to receive a fat contract. The minister was self-righteous, angry. Allegations regarding irregularities in emergency procurements, more..

Jan 16 (DM) One who has even a slight knowledge of the essence of Buddhism would have been perplexed with the reports of seven individuals with close connections having committed suicide with the advent of the New Year, allegedly to seek eternal peace after a discourse among them based on Buddhism. Ruwan Gunaratne, an individual who has delivered religious sermons claiming to be Buddhist teachings had first taken his life on Dec 28 last year, by swallowing poison according to reports. more..

Jan 16 (DM) As political parties in the South gear up for the Presidential Election expected in September, the election of a new leader for Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) known as the Federal Party in English has assumed great importance in Tamil politics. The ITAK is holding the election today in Trincomalee, ahead of the long-delayed convention of the party next Sunday. In its almost 75-year history, election of the ITAK leader has always been unanimous. more..

Jan 16 (TM) The current tax system is neither fair nor reasonable, asserted Gajma & Co. Senior Partner N.R. Gajendran, in an interview, adding that any tax system had to be based on the principle of capacity to pay. “It is very difficult to say it is fair and reasonable because it has become unbearable. What is important is, if the taxes become unbearable, the legitimacy of the tax will be challenged & questioned by people” more..

Jan 16 (TM) SL as a democracy has had a poor track record on civil rights and freedom over the last seven decades. Given the past experience of dissent has been dealt with by the Govt, political parties and powerful individuals and groups, a majority of Sri Lankans have found refuge, a safe space to air their views and criticism in the digital realm of social media. As such, attempts by the current Government, or more specifically, Ministry of Public Security trying to railroad more..

Jan 16 (ST) When SL’s Justice Minister calls upon an opposing parliamentary colleague taking issue with the new Anti-Terrorism Bill tabled in Parliament this week, to justify where and in what country, anti-terrorism laws are solely dispensed with, he is missing the wood for the trees to put it mildly. Minister must refrain from engaging in classically ad hominem arguments when he tries to meet his critics on the floor of the House. Rather, his and his Govt’s task on hand is to counter more..