Jan 30 (DN) Lanka Ariyadasa performed well at the Dhaka Marathon held in Bangladesh on last Sunday when she bagged the bronze medal to receive Rs.580, 000 cash award. Ariyadasa was finished third with 2 hours 26.54 seconds timing to get bronze while her team mate S.N Nidharshani was placed 4th and received Rs. 435, 000 rupees cash award. The third SL women’s athlete S.D Liyanage was placed 6th in this marathon. Meanwhile SL men’s marathoner N.S Karunaratne was more..

Jan 30 (CT) After the restoration of the more than a century old historic Ampitiya St. Joseph Vaz Church, with the financial contribution of the people of Goa, the first feast was held recently under the patronage of Bishop of Kandy, Joseph Viani Fernando. Priests, nuns, 41 persons from Goa and local residents were also present for the holy event. Father Viani Fernando said that the first Indian missionary who came to SL was St. Joseph Vaz and he travelled all over SL on a large missionary mission. more..

Jan 30 (TM) Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Dr. Ruhul Haq, who recently sparked controversy for having continued to hold office despite a suspension imposed by Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), has requested the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) to intervene to prevent what he claimed was a violation of his seniority and merit order in appointing the Colombo Chief JMO. In a letter addressed to the HRCSL, more..

Jan 30 (EN) SL’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs donated a consignment of Ceylon Tea to the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip as “a token of humanitarian assistance symbolizing Sri Lanka’s unwavering support and solidarity with the people of Palestine,” it said. “Tea, deeply rooted in our culture, is a gesture of comfort and strength. Sri Lanka extends our support to the people of Palestine, hoping that this contribution brings solace and strength during moments of crisis. more..

Jan 30 (DM) An air ambulance service between Maldives and Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will start on March 1 this year as part of Phase I of the programme, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. The announcement was made following a special meeting between the Maldives Transport and Aviation Services Minister Capt. Mohamed Ameen and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva at the Ministry office today with the aim of initiating an air ambulance service between two countries. more..

Jan 30 (DM) Steps are being taken to impose a minimum speed limit on expressways as accidents are caused due to slow-moving vehicles, Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana said today. He told the weekly Cabinet briefing that even though the maximum speed limit is imposed as 100 kmph, no minimum speed has been imposed yet. He said most accidents are caused when overtaking slow moving vehicles and it is important to set a minimum speed limit to prevent such accidents. more..

Jan 30 (Island) Alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa govt hadn’t introduced the amendments proposed by the Supreme Court in respect of the Online Safety Bill, dissident SLPP National List MP Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the certification of that Bill by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena should be subjected to sanction by Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC. He accused the govt of discarding at more..

Jan 30 (DM) A group of employees were arrested today by the police attached to the Women's and Children's Bureau for allegedly abusing a fellow female staff member. Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando said that the staff members were arrested a short while ago. “We have already interdicted these staff members as they were found guilty during an inquiry,” he said. He said there is no necessity for the police to seek the approval of the Speaker before arresting a staff member as more..

Jan 30 (PMD) Job opportunities are in Japan for 10,000 individuals who pass the Language Proficiency Test – State Minister of Social Empowerment Anupa Pasqual. State Minister Anupa Pasqual, unveiled a multi-pronged approach to foster national stability and prosperity during a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) today focused on empowering vulnerable populations, creating foreign employment opportunities & enhancing skills development. more..

Jan 30 (DM) Attorney-at-Law Chamari Priyanka Perera, the spouse of the late former Water Supply State Minister Sanath Nishantha, expressed her willingness to fill the void left by her husband's demise. She said the decsion will depend on the request of the Puttalam district people or the party leaders. She made her statement after visiting the residence of Anuradha Jayakodi, the security officer of the former state minister more..

Jan 30 (DM) Yala Safari Jeep Association has decided to increase the fare of the Yala and Bundala safari jeeps from Feb 1, Association President Ajith Priyantha said. He said that all safari jeep fares will be increased by Rs. 2,000 due to an increase in prices of fuel and spare parts after the imposition of the new 18% VAT. Accordingly, the fare for a four-hour trip in a Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi used for safari jeeps has been increased from Rs. 13,000 to Rs. 15,000. more..

Jan 30 (EN) Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Reyaz Mihular and three have resigned, the company said in stock exchange filings without giving reasons. Lalith Seneviratne, Ranjith Rubasinghe have resigned with effect from Jan 29 and K A Vimalenthirarajah from Jan 30, filing said. Daily FT reported earlier in the week that Mihular and other directors were asked to resign by the govt which is the controlling shareholder. Report said Mihular was asked to withdraw a case filed by Mobitel, more..

Jan 31 (DM) Sunday, 4th Feb will mark 76 years since our country gained independence from the British. Unlike India and Pakistan, we Lankans did not suffer a bloody struggle to free ourselves from direct colonial rule. Whether this was good is debatable. For one, we Lankans’ did not unite as men and women of one country to overthrow the yoke of imperialism. To this day we remain Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher first. Being Sri Lankan often takes second place to our individual more..

Jan 31 (DM) State Minister Sanath Nishantha Perera, at his death, upsurged another bout of deep political polarization in the country - a trait he personified in his political life. Some quarters in social media celebrated his death. What a great day to wake up to… said one poster in the Sri Lankan X. Fake news and doctored imagery amplified that rancour: A photo widely shared on social media platforms was revealed as an old imagery of the public in Borella celebrating more..

Jan 31 (SO) MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa says that while the Govt is making discernible efforts to mitigate the economic crisis, it should aim to rely more on direct taxes rather than indirect ones for enhanced revenue generation. MP Yapa also feels that the Online Safety Bill needs further amendments to ensure that the freedom of expression is safeguarded. He also calls for an end to the culture of political promises, more..

Jan 31 (TM) In another indication that the much hyped anti-organised crime operation yukthiya is poorly planned, the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation said that he has had to request relevant authorities to consider the objectives of rehabilitation centres when sending people to those centres. The reminder to the law enforcement agencies was triggered following prison overcrowding, and possible negligence from the Police when they sent crime suspects more..

Jan 31 (ST) Sanath Nishantha died as he had lived. In life’s fast lane, hurtling at reckless speed. In every political endeavour, he threw caution to the winds and acted in total disregard of its consequences, in the firm unwavering faith that his patron saint in politics Mahinda Rajapaksa would work in mysterious ways to grant absolution and come to his rescue at the eleventh hour. His tragic death at the untimely age of 48, would, no doubt, have struck a devastating blow to the flagging morale of more..

Jan 31 (CT) Amid escalating fears among Sri Lankans, in particular, those living along the coastal belt, of another tsunami, based on predictions made by certain astrologists on YouTube, GSMB said people need not panic because the probability of such an event is very low. Head of the Tsunami Division of GSMB, Seismologist Nilmini Thaldena said even an earthquake was unlikely in SL due to its geological position, more..

Jan 31 (GV) People suspected of using illegal drugs are among the latest Sri Lankans to find their rights under attack from the regime. So are those sharing news and views online that might suddenly be deemed prohibited, as huge powers of censorship are handed to a few presidential appointees. Meanwhile ministers continue to push for an Anti-Terrorism Bill which would let people be arrested on the flimsiest grounds, encouraging new injustices. And proposals for a Commission for Truth, more..

Jan 31 (CT) Quality early childhood education plays a crucial role in moulding the social and emotional well-being of children and setting the tone for their lifelong learning journey. It aids in the development of essential social skills like communication, empathy and cooperation. The absence of access to high-quality early childhood education can result in difficulties for children in navigating social interactions and lead to heightened social and emotional challenges that may last a lifetime. more..

Jan 31 (FT) Govt has decided to establish a new statutory body, the Investment Infrastructure Facilities Corporation. It is set to play a pivotal role in supplying essential infrastructure facilities, including roads, electricity, and water, to investment promotion zones. Its primary mandate is to manage and establish investment promotion facilities, aimed at providing consolidated infrastructure support for investors. “By centralising the responsibility for roads, electricity, and water more..

Jan 31 (DN) After reconstruction of the ground and an installation of the new light system, Rangiri Dambulla International cricket stadium will re-opened by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on February 5 at 7 pm. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) made a valiant effort to install a new light system for the day night cricket matches. Dambulla International Stadium has now been reconstructed with a new system, said SLC Treasurer Sujeewa Godaliyedde who is a product of St. Thomas’ Matale. more..

Jan 31 (Island) SL is going through difficult times, which are interesting nonetheless. In a dramatic turn of events replete with irony, a political crisis that Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa created more than half a decade ago, has received media attention again. SC has granted leave to proceed with a fundamental rights violation petition filed by a political activist named Osala Herath against the removal by Prez Sirisena of Ranil Wickremesinghe as PM in Oct 2018. more..

Jan 31 (FT) Private bond holders of SL’s sovereign debt are dismayed and extremely frustrated over the alleged lack of engagement on the part of the Govt. Majority of the bond holders have complained that since the first review of the IMF, Govt nor its advisors have engaged with them. This is contrary to claims by the Govt that negotiations with commercial creditors in good faith have been progressive and overall external debt more..

Jan 31 (Island) In a thrilling finish in Kimberley, West Indies came out on top as they beat SL by three wickets with just three balls to spare. After being sent in, SL kept losing wickets at regular intervals. It started with Nathan Edward dismissing Vishen Halambage in the first over of the game, and having Sineth Jayawardena a little later. Dinura Kalupahana occupied one end and stitched useful partnerships with Supun Waduge and Sharujan Shanmuganathan, but at 136 for 6, more..

Jan 31 (ST) The 25th anniversary of the CCC School of Cricket was marked with a blazing felicitation ceremony on January 20, at the Bishop’s College Auditorium with distinguished guests gracing the momentous occasion. The event was graced by distinguished guests and cricket legends in attendance that made the evening with excitement to remember. The entire auditorium was packed with students of CCC School of Cricket, guests and parents that adorned with glitter and glamour. more..

Jan 31 (Island) Beyond Wealth, a leading company which provides professional investment advisory services (PIAS) in Sri Lanka, recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary while entering into a strategic tie-up with TIW Capital Group, a multi-asset, multi-geography global asset management company headquartered in Singapore. For two decades, TIW Capital Group (TCG) has been amassing tech expertise, & devising a cyborg investment capability that consistently outperforms the market. more..

Jan 31 (ST) The govt has started the acquisition of lands, most of which are privately owned, for the Adani-backed 250MW Mannar Wind Power Project, its final environment impact assessment (EIA) report states. Report crucially emphasises the need for strong measures—even proposing a sophisticated radar system to signal when the turbines need to be shut down—to mitigate the effect of project on Mannar’s rich & diverse birdlife. more..

Jan 31 (Island) Sole Communist Party (CP) MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe broke ranks with dissident SLPP MPs on January 09 to vote for the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) Bill. Having contested the last general election on the SLPP ticket, Matara District MP aligned himself with the Uththara Lanka Sabhagaya (ULS) strongly opposed to the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa govt. However, the CP had absolutely no qualms in backing the controversial Bill, suspected by more..

Jan 31 (DN) Three Paralympics medal winners Pradeep Sanjaya, Dinesh Priyantha Herath, Samitha Dulan and Para Asian youth medal winner Galina Basnayake will be felicitated as the most outstanding Para athletes at the first ever Para athletes felicitation ceremony conducted by National Paralympic Committee (NPC) on Feb 24 at Waters Edge Battaramulla. Pradeep Sanjaya was the 2012 London Paralympic 400m bronze medalist which was the first SL paralympic medal while more..

Jan 31 (TM) Ministry of Public Security stated that it hopes to achieve the target of eliminating drug trafficking and organised crime by 30 June, by focusing more on breaking the drug distribution network. Both Minister Tiran Alles and Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon have said that they hope to continue the islandwide operation Yukthiya (Justice) to eliminate drug trafficking and organised crime in the country by 30 June. more..

Jan 31 (DM) As the recent back-to-back crises have left numerous SMEs in SL fighting for their existence, with many having to close their doors permanently, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) urged this segment to embrace strategic innovation at the earliest. By addressing these challenges head-on, SMEs can unlock new growth avenues and strengthen their market position, the ACCA said in the findings of its new study. The study ‘SMEs: Business challenges more..

Jan 31 (DM) The Central Bank gave a warning to businesses using personal accounts for financial transactions and said the practice is considered a deliberate action to evade taxes. Banks have brought to the attention of the Central Bank that many parties are currently engaged in this practice although they have separate corporate accounts. Officials between various ministries and institutions are discussing how this should be tackled and what legal recourse they have. more..

Jan 31 (ST) State-owned dairy producer, Milco (Pvt) Ltd has been confronted with alleged irregularities and malpractices in its operations during the last few years, Auditor Generals’ latest report uncovered. Ministry of Agriculture has appointed a committee to investigate the alleged corruption and irregularities at Milco in the wake of its takeover by India’s Amul Dairy Company in a SL-India joint venture (JV) in October last year. India’s National Dairy Development Board, more..

Jan 31 (DN) Engineer D. Tilak Siyambalapitiya noted the existing inefficiency of subsidies in the energy sector. The crisis, marked by frequent power outages and rising energy costs, has sparked a national debate on the sustainability of the country’s electricity supply. He points out that while subsidies intend to ease the burden on consumers, they often lead to inefficiencies and financial strain on the govt. “Subsidies, in the long run, do more harm than good. They distort market signals and more..