Jun 20 (Island) Ongoing investigation into firing a couple of gun shots at Anuradhapura District actor turned SLPP MP Uddika Premaratne’s vehicle last September has revealed that ASP Anuradhapura Sanjiva Mahanama fired at the car after the lawmaker got out of the vehicle and entered his house at Lahiru grounds, A'pura. The officer had used the personal weapon issued to him by the police dept and subsequently handed it more..

Jun 20 (DM) The Prisons Department has decided to provide a special opportunity for relatives of inmates to visit the prison for two days on the occasion of Poson Poya day, tomorrow, Prisons Commissioner and spokesman Gamini Dissanayaka said. He said the relatives of prisoners will be allowed to bring a parcel of food and sweets for the inmates. Visitors must arrive according to proper health and safety procedures in accordance with prison rules and regulations, the commissioner said. more..

Jun 20 (DM) A suspect who had allegedly defrauded over millions of rupees by using other people’s mobile SIMs was remanded till July 4 by the Colombo Chief Magistrate. The suspect, Mohan Dayalan of Hatton was remanded by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage after he was produced before court by the Cyber Crime Monitoring Unit of the CID. The detectives told court that the suspect had illegally logged into the bank accounts of various SIM card holders using the victim’s mobile more..

Jun 20 (Island) The ruling British Conservative party has appealed for the support of the British voters of SL origin. On behalf of Rishi Sunak’s govt, its Foreign Secretary David Cameron said, in a special video message reiterating his party’s commitment to British Tamils while pledging to support truth, justice and accountability for all. Sunak recently announced a general election on July 4. The following is the full text of the video message released this week. “You make an invaluable contribution to more..

Jun 20 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has approved proposal to amend the current circular related to the admission of children to the Grade 01 classes of govt schools. Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Bandula Gunawardena stated that the admission of children to the first grade of schools is done transparently and in a manner that minimizes irregularities, in order to ensure equal access to education consistent with the circular issued by the Ministry of Education. Accordingly, Cabinet of Ministers granted more..

Jun 20 (FT) Verité Research Executive Director Dr. Nishan de Mel opined that the IMF has become a part of a problem rather than a solution in Sri Lanka. He made this observation in a post on ‘X’ concerning the proposed Imputed Rental Income Tax which he claimed has serious problems. “It has no known analytical basis for its design as an efficient and effective tax measure for Sri Lanka,” Dr. de Mel said. more..

Jun 20 (EN) SL and Saudi Arabia will sign a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in promoting direct investment, minister Bandula Gunawardena said. “Both sides reached an agreement,” during the special meeting of the WEF held in Riyadh. Agreement “aims to attract direct investment to the country and improve the investment environment of both countries through policy and legal reforms, provision of advanced and integrated infrastructure, process redesign, more..

Jun 20 (FT) In the Best Stockbroking Research Team category,. was awarded Silver, while CT CLSA Securities Ltd. received the Bronze award. In the Best Equity Research Report category, In the Investor Relations category, Silver was won by John Keells Holdings, with Hatton National Bank PLC being awarded Bronze. First Capital Money Market Fund won the Silver award in the Best Unit Trust Fund category, while the Bronze was awarded to CT CLSA Equity Fund. more..

Jun 20 (EN) Central Bank staff could continue to get high salaries for up to 5 years, and not three years as set out in a collective agreement, a committee that went into the matter after a public outcry has recommended, a legislator said. A panel that went into the salary hike that the central bank staff had paid themselves had criticized the salary hike and a defined benefit pension plan, but said changing it would lead to legal problems, more..

Jun 20 (FT) The World Bank has announced the appointment of David Sislen as the new Country Director for Maldives, Nepal and SL. His appointment is effective from 1 July 2024. Sislen succeeds Faris Hadad-Zervos, who will be taking on a new World Bank assignment. “I am looking forward to my new role and meeting with all our stakeholders and partners soon. My key priority will be to lead the strategic dialogue to shape and implement operational engagements in line with more..

Jun 20 (AD) Cabinet has granted approval for the procurement of 2.3 million pre-printed Polycarbonate cards for printing National Identity Cards (NICs). Earlier on 5 May 2024, Cabinet decided to cancel the procurement considering recommendations of the procurement committee implemented for purchase of 5 million pre - printed Polycarbonate cards required for printing identity cards for Dept of Registration of Persons and the recommendations of procurement appeal boards in the regards. more..

Jun 20 (DM) Sri Lanka resumed donation of eye corneas to Pakistan. It was stopped following the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest donation of five corneas were dispatched on a SriLankan Airlines flight to Lahore yesterday night and were received by a team of Pakistani army medical personnel for surgeries to be performed at the army hospital in Rawalpindi, according to SL High Commissioner Admiral (Retired) Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne. He is also expected to witness the surgeries. more..

Jun 20 (DM) Coming up with allegations against higher-ups of his own party, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today said he was questioned by a SJB higher-up whether he will support Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa if he wants time to speak in Parliament. “I asked the Chief Opposition Whip to allocate some time for me to speak in the House. He then questioned me whether I will support Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at future elections if I want time to speak in the House. more..

Jun 20 (DM) SL legislature seemed to be heading for a battle with the Supreme Court with both ruling party and opposition members alleging that the said court had prevented Parliament and the Executive from acting in line with the constitution while the party leaders slated to take action against the move. MPs said the SC had actually prevented the constitutional council and the Executive from exercising its powers to appoint judges to more..

Jun 20 (AD) The Prisons Department has warned that strict disciplinary measures will be taken against officers who engage in trade union actions. Prisons Commissioner Gamini Dissanayake emphasized that prison officers have no legal right to participate in any trade union actions. Dissanayake also warned that legal action would be pursued against any officers who engage in such activities. Regarding the recent trade union action by certain prison officers, Dissanayake noted, more..

Jun 20 (CO) Legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is set to invest Rs 1,400 crore to establish a beverage and confectionery unit in Badanaguppe, Chamarajanagara district. Muralitharan, who runs a successful soft drinks business in SL, is planning to expand his business to India as well. Karnataka Minister for Large & Medium Industries, M.B. Patil, announced this development following a meeting with the iconic Sri Lankan spinner. more..

Jun 20 (HT) India and Sri Lanka on Thursday launched a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), reflecting the deepening maritime security cooperation between the two sides, as external affairs minister S Jaishankar met the top leadership in Colombo to bolster ties in a range of areas. Jaishankar was on his first foreign visit after beginning his second term as the foreign minister, with the choice of Sri Lanka as more..

Jun 20 (AD) Women’s Empowerment Bill was passed in Parliament with amendments, a short while ago, following its third reading. This was announced to the House by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Ajith Rajapakshe. The third reading of the bill was passed without a vote. Women’s Empowerment Act proposes essential provisions to legally empower women, including the establishment of a dedicated commission for their implementation. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe had previously more..

Jun 20 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently signed a MoU with the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), paving the way for enhanced cooperation and growth between SL and the dynamic business community of South Gujarat, India. Established in 1940, SGCCI’s influence extends through its direct engagement with over 12,000 members and indirect ties to more than 2,00,000 members via 150 associations, and it is a leading force in promoting trade, commerce, more..

Jun 21 (Island) Consumerism has grown exponentially over the last few decades, becoming an ingrained part of our culture. It is a culture of its own that rests on the belief that the happiness and prosperity of mankind hinge on the abundance and acquisition of more and more material goods and services. In a consumerist culture, the spiritual dimension of life is forgotten. Our modern life is so overwhelmed by a culture of consumerism that it has become a religion centered on quick & easy more..

Jun 21 (ST) In my neighbourhood in Colombo, there was an artificial floral shop. It specialised in selling artificial flowers, plants, foliage, greeneries, trees and similar decorative items made of plastic or polyester materials. Amazingly, they all looked so real to anyone that it was hard to distinguish them from their natural equals. It’s not a surprise that everything there was imported from China. There are hundreds of artificial floral factories in China, located mostly in Pearl River Delta area more..

Jun 21 (DN) When India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called on PM Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday at the Temple Trees in Colombo, the latter referred to the auspicious timing of the visit as it fell on the season of Poson Poya, the anniversary that marked the arrival of Arahant Mahinda to introduce the teachings of The Buddha to people of Sri Lanka over 25 centuries ago. more..

Jun 21 (TM) COPE yesterday charged that due to a deliberate delay spanning eight years, to issue a regulatory circular to petrol filling station owners, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has incurred losses to the State exceeding Rs. 3.4 billion during the 2014-2022 period. Parliamentary watchdog is planning to complain to the CID regarding those who are involved in the mammoth financial fraud. The losses were revealed at a meeting of COPE in the Parliament last afternoon. more..

Jun 21 (CT) Gender equality has always been a contentious issue in SL, with numerous controversies and challenges arising from efforts to address it. Despite genuine attempts to bridge the gap between non-heterosexual male gender identities and equality, significant disparities remain. A promising step was the drafting of the Gender Equality Bill, which offered a glimmer of hope. This Act aims to promote and facilitate gender equality and improve the status of men, women more..

Jun 21 (TM) The fashion industry is in flux. As it grapples with supply chain disruption, climate breakdown, geopolitical trade shifts, and the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, it must also prepare to comply with rapidly changing landscapes of human rights and environmental regulation and incentives in its major markets. This ranges from human rights and environmental due diligence related legislation to new import bans on more..

Jun 21 (CT) Poson Poya Day, observed each year on the full moon day in June, is a day of profound importance for Sri Lankans, particularly within the Buddhist community. This sacred day commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, introduced by Mahinda Thera, the son of the Indian Emperor Ashoka, in 236 BCE. The historical and religious significance of this day is immense, marking a foundational moment in Sri Lanka’s cultural and spiritual history. more..

Jun 21 (Island) Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, currently being held on remand over a scam where the Health Ministry procured a large stock of fake immunoglobulin on his watch as the Minister of Health, has been in arrears with house rent for four months, according to media reports. He has reportedly been occupying the official residence of the Central Province (CP) Chief Minister in Kandy since the arson attack on his private house in 2022. It has been reported that the rent for more..

Jun 21 (GV) In 2023, the number of refugees and asylum seekers (those with pending refugee applications) in the world increased about 8.75% from 45.9 million to 50.3 million, according to statistics of the UNHCR. But SL’s contribution to address this increasing global crisis has dramatically declined in the last 15 months. According to UNHCR, SL was hosting about 845 refugees and asylum seekers as of Feb 28, 2023 and only around 459 as of May 31, 2024, a decrease of 45%. more..

Jun 21 (DM) India finished with its parliamentary elections a few days ago and the Wickremesinghe regime can only be happy with the result. PM Narendra Modi’s BJP Party couldn’t win its outright majority, but held on to administrative power in Parliament with the support of a few regional parties. This support for Modi and the status co regarding who rules India remaining unchanged means Sri Lanka doesn’t have to start bilateral ties with its immediate neighbour all over again. more..

Jun 21 (ST) Trade unions have stepped up protests and strikes, impacting several sectors including the postal services, education, and railways. More trade union action is expected in the weeks ahead. The ongoing strike by non-academic staff at universities is on its 45 th day and union president Dhammika Priyantha says they will continue their action until the govt responds. “We are disappointed as the government has not yet more..

Jun 21 (FT) Colombo stock market gained ending five consecutive days of losses as investor sentiment appeared to have recovered. ASPI gained by over 23.1 points or 0.2% while the active S&P SL20 was up by over 5 points or 0.1%. For the week ASPI and the S&P SL20 lost 0.5% and 1% respectively. Turnover on Friday was Rs. 2 billion involving 46 mil shares. Market concluded the week on a positive note as the indices closed in green after 5 sessions of downward momentum. more..

Jun 21 (CT) The political landscape of SL has been rapidly changing, given this year’s Elections. National People’s Power (NPP) is gaining popularity. UNP, SLFP, SJB, and SLPP treat the JVP/NPP as the common enemy. Among many, the killings/violence in 1971 and 1988/1989 have been used as the primary weapon to attack JVP/NPP, which is sold dearly or very cheaply. However, the killings/violence of JVP in the past is not a concern at all for the majority of people because more..

Jun 21 (FT) In a bid to rejuvenate the SL film industry whilst positioning the country as a major tourist hub in South Asia, the Government has decided to host the Colombo International Film Festival. Organised under the sponsorship of the National Film Corporation (NFC) and the SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the film festival is set to take place from 8-14 July in Colombo. The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the joint proposal by Minister Bandula Gunawardena more..

Jun 21 (Island) A Bon Voyage Ceremony was held recently at the National Scout Headquarters to officially handover the National flag to the two contingents visiting Malaysia and Bangladesh. Contingent to Malaysia is led by Chief Commissioner of SL Scout Association Janaprith Fernando along with District and Headquarters Commissioners totaling 54. District Commissioners’ Conference will be held from 19th to 24June with several workshops that have been planned with more..

Jun 21 (TM) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is expected to finalise the appointment of a stop-gap coach for the men’s national team shortly, in the aftermath of the non-renewal of the extended two-year contract of Englishman Chris Silverwood. The Ex-English pacer’s original two-year contract was due to expire in April this year but, the sport’s local governing body opted to extend it till the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in US & WI. more..