Mar 19 (EN) SLPP national organiser Basil Rajapaksa has told party members that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe would be a suitable candidate for the prez election but the parliamentary polls should be held at first. MP S M Chandrasena said that Rajapaksa had said Prez Wickremesinghe is a skilled leader and a good candidate. “What he was indirectly saying there was that Mr Wickremesinghe is suitable to run. But he’s also saying that the parliamentary polls should be held first,” more..

Mar 19 (EN) Chinese Embassy in Colombo has raised strong protest against a move by SL to allow a German research vessel for a port call, diplomatic and govt sources said, amid a one year ban on foreign research vessels. The protest comes after SL authorities turned down a Beijing request for a research vessel in February. It was not immediately clear how the German research ship got the approval under the ban. more..

Mar 19 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has given its approval to provide 10kg of rice per month for each low-income family for a period of two months. As per the proposal furnished by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, as many as 2.74 million low-income families will benefit from this relief program. These low-income families will be identified through District Secretaries/Government Agents by involving small- and medium-scale mill owners, the govt said in a statement. more..

Mar 19 (Island) Galgamuwa police, on Sunday, nabbed a 48-year-old person for duping over dozen of Lankan women working in West Asian countries by promising to marry them and cheating them of out millions of rupees. The suspect posed as an army officer. Galgamuwa OIC Chief Inspector M.M.S. Pushpakumara said that they had received a complaint from a woman returning home from abroad on 11 March that her money and valuables had been taken away by her lover whom more..

Mar 19 (DM) Central Bank has no powers to increase the salaries of its employees without the approval of Parliament in terms of the Constitution and the move to increase their salaries is wrong, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. He said that Parliament has powers over Public Finance in terms of the Constitution and that the Central Bank cannot increase the salaries of its employees without Parliamentary approval. more..

Mar 19 (CT) The Health Trade Union Alliance (HTUA) said it had temporarily called off its strike, planned for today (19), after the Health Ministry Secretary pledged in writing that the Ministry of Finance was preparing a discussion with them in connection with their demand for increase of a Disturbance Availability and Transport (DAT) allowance similar to that given to doctors. Convener of the HTUA Chanaka Dharmawickrema said yesterday that the Finance Ministry more..

Mar 19 (CT) Minister Douglas Devananda announced that countries such as India, China and Japan have pledged substantial financial assistance totalling over Rs 4,900 million to develop the Northern Province. Minister Devananda assured that these funds would be utilised efficiently to implement planned development projects, ensuring benefits for all residents regardless of political affiliations. He credited the timely and prudent actions of the govt, led by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, more..

Mar 19 (AD) SLPP MP Gamini Waleboda has also resigned from the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). Accordingly, 7 members have thus far resigned from the parliamentary committee within the last two days. TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and SJB MP Hesha Withanage have also resigned from the COPE. This brings the total number of opposition members who have quit the parliamentary committee thus far to six. SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne resigned from COPE more..

Mar 19 (DM) The Colombo District Court today rejected the objections raised by SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, against the enjoining order which prevented the SJB from removing Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka from his party membership and positions. Accordingly, Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana further extended its enjoining order preventing the SJB from removing Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka from party membership and positions till April 2. more..

Mar 19 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the cabinet of ministers that he intends to contest the presidential election, UNP general secretary Palitha Range Bandara said. The former MP said that Wickremesinghe will contest the election, not from the UNP, but as a neutral candidate. Bandara was ostensibly referring to a grand alliance that has been speculated to be formed under the UNP leadership. more..

Mar 19 (AD) SL Customs officers have arrested two airline passengers who attempted to smuggle a stock of gold jewellery worth over Rs. 100 million into the country at the BIA. The two passengers are said to be local businessmen who had arrived onboard an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai at 8.30 a.m. this morning (19). They had been arrested by customs officers at the airport while attempting to exit through the Green Channel. Officers had searched their luggage and discovered more..

Mar 19 (AD) The govt says it has decided to operate the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery as a state-owned business entity disjoined from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). The proposal, tabled by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, was green-lighted by the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting convened on Monday (18). In a statement, the govt said it has identified the need to make a critical investment to upgrade the oil refinery in order to keep it up and running for another 25 years. more..

Mar 19 (AD) A contentious situation ensued in parliament on Tuesday morning (19) as MPs of the TNA staged a protest while holding placards. They were protesting against the recent arrest of eight civilians who were conducting a pooja in view of the Maha Shivaratri Day on March 08 at a Hindu temple in Vavuniya. The parliament, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, convened at 9.30 a.m. for the debate on the no-confidence motion more..

Mar 19 (EN) A speaker’s endorsement is required for bills passed by parliament to ensure that it is ‘duly passed’ opposition legislator M A Sumanthiran said in a debate on a no confidence motion against Speaker Mahinda Abeywardana. The opposition said several clauses in a so-called online safety bill (now Act) to police social media were against the constitution, as the bill did not incorporate the changes required by the Supreme Court. “This is the first time that a Supreme Court determination more..

Mar 19 (DM) The govt is planning to issue licenses to open 200 wine stores under the FL4 category and 15 of them have already been issued, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa alleged in Parliament today. He told Parliament that the govt must reveal whether a decision has been taken to issue licenses to 200 wine stores, of which 15 have already been given. Premadasa also revealed that six liquor manufacturing licenses have already been issued targeting the elections. more..

Mar 20 (DM) Polls fever in the country is heating up. Yet, we the people are not certain whether the poll would be for a general election, prez poll or whether a poll will be held at all. Our constitution however, dictates a prez election is due during the fourth quarter of the year. One thing seems certain; we still see the same faces who played a major role in bankrupting the country, putting themselves forward to lead us and our country into new vistas of prosperity. more..

Mar 20 (DM) In the last two decades since Arrighi wrote his seminal article, SL and many African countries have been on the same path of commercial borrowing. The process has resulted in the extraction of more wealth and further exacerbated balance of payment problems, even as the elite in these countries sprawl in luxurious consumption. Crisis and despair push us to learn rapidly and that is true of debt crisis as well. But whom do we learn from and whom do more..

Mar 20 (CT) Authorities have failed to take a final decision on an exotic bird consignment imported without a valid permit at the end of last year even after two and a half months have elapsed. The exotic birds, imported from Suriname, which is infamous for exotic bird smuggling, have been kept under safe custody of SL Customs at the importer’s premises to date. When inquired on any update on the investigations and what led to a delay more..

Mar 20 (GV) Mannar Island transcends the realm of a mere tourist destination. It’s a living tapestry woven with threads of breathtaking natural beauty, a profound historical heritage and a vibrant cultural diversity that has flourished for millennia. Yet amid the island’s serene shores and ancient whispers, a silent war brews – a battle between the promise of economic progress and the imperative of environmental preservation. Mannar’s enchantment unfolds like a scene from a painter’s dream. more..

Mar 20 (CT) The illegal importation of exotic birds via the Mattala Int'l Airport, on 30 Dec 2023, stands not only as a testament to the audacity of wildlife traffickers but also as a stark reminder of the fragility of SL’s environmental protection mechanisms. Over two and a half months have elapsed since this brazen act, yet the fate of the smuggled birds remains uncertain, shrouded in bureaucratic inertia and suspicion. At the heart of this controversy lies a fundamental question more..

Mar 20 (TM) The skyrocketing cost of living has had a disproportionate impact on women, with one such instance involving their inability to afford proper menstrual hygiene products, especially with the imposition of high taxes on these products. The financial burden placed on the biological process of menstruation ensures that many women and girls face restricted access to what is an essential commodity in maintaining menstrual more..

Mar 20 (TM) Yesterday, what began as an unprecedented act of showing no faith in the Speaker of Parliament, was side-lined by a string of resignations from COPE following the controversial appointment of the ruling SLPP Govt MP Rohitha Abeygunawardana to head the parliamentary watchdog. SLPP’s move to appoint Abeygunawardana, who is no stranger to controversy and allegations of corruption and criminal behaviour, to lead the COPE, more..

Mar 20 (Island) Newly-appointed COPE Chairman and SLPP MP, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, has threatened legal action against JVP MP, Vijitha Herath, for making what he calls a defamatory statement about him in public. JVP has dared Abeygunawardena to carry out his threat so that it can prove its allegations against him in court. Such searing verbal battles are not uncommon among SL politicians, who trade accusations and abuse liberally, but never go all out to throw more..

Mar 20 (Island) Global inequality is at an all time high. According to a recent Oxfam report (Inequality Inc. Jan 2024), the richest 1% of the world owns 43% of global assets; the world’s richest five men have doubled their wealth since the onset of the pandemic while five billion people have been made poorer. Ever-reducing wages (for workers), tax concessions and evasion (for/by corporates), and the privatization of public services has concentrated wealth and power in corporates, more..

Mar 20 (Island) Prez has announced that the govt has enacted 42 new laws in the past 4 months, with another 62 in the pipeline, all aimed at catalysing the country’s economic transformation. Among these are two draft laws related to women’s rights, designed to promote gender equality and empower women. These laws are slated for presentation to parliament in May. The proposed Women’s Empowerment Act envisages the establishment of a separate women’s commission. more..

Mar 20 (ST) An increasing number of recent shooting incidents where bystanders are being harmed is endangering public safety. The police said most shootings happen in the western and southern provinces, where organised crime groups are active. Police crime records reveal that around 32 shooting incidents took place over the first three months of this year, causing 21 deaths and injuring 14. This week, two separate shooting more..

Mar 20 (FT) Dialog Enterprise, the corporate ICT solutions arm of Dialog Axiata PLC., in partnership with Bahrain-based award-winning cybersecurity solutions partner, CTM360 has launched a Digital Risk Protection (DRP) platform empowering organisations and enterprises to navigate the digital landscape confidently amidst ever-evolving cybersecurity threats. A holistic solution stack to address the current cybersecurity challenges faced by organizations, more..

Mar 20 (DN) SL’s top judo player, Rajitha Nuwarapaksha, is on a mission to climb higher in the world rankings. Currently based in Italy, Nuwarapaksha is ready for the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2024 in Georgia from March 22 to 24 with hopes of making his mark among the best 100 players globally. Nuwarapaksha, aged 31, achieved SL’s highest judo world ranking of 127 last year. Now, he’s determined to break into the top 100 after competing in consecutive tournaments more..

Mar 20 (ST) How did the Alligator Gar, a huge freshwater fish largely found in North America, come to Kandy Lake? The environmentalists want a probe conducted to find an answer to this question, as this fish is said to be posing an existential threat to fish endemic to the lake and the lake’s environment. Some say it could eat up all the other fish in the lake within one month. Alligator Gar with a crocodilian head, a wide snout and razor-sharp teeth, is also found in some South Asian countries. more..

Mar 20 (ST) SL‘s new company registrations including the partnership business with foreigners have increased considerably since 2022 even after the economic crisis left deep scars among prospective entrepreneurs struggling to find access to capital. The trend of increasing foreign partnership companies even during the period of recession was due to the practice of selling land and property to foreigners by interested parties taking advantage of the 2018 amendment more..

Mar 20 (FT) Hoteliers particularly those in the city have hailed the robust earnings thus far by the rebounding tourism sector and expressed optimism of continued momentum if pricing is not tampered with. SL earned $ 687.5 million in the first two months of 2024 from tourism against $ 118 million a year ago according to the Central Bank. The massive nearly 500% increase in earnings from the corresponding period of more..

Mar 20 (DM) India-based Premier Energies has landed a US$17 million bid to install solar power systems in religious establishments in Sri Lanka. This will be financed by an Indian credit line. Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the proposal presented by the Minister Kanchana Wijesekara to award the contract to Premier Energies Ltd, based on recommendations of the Cabinet appointed Technical Appraisal Committee and the Standing Procurement Committee. more..

Mar 20 (ST) Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Sabry is a good man to lead a chorus. Never mind what lyrics or melody he is asked to raise his voice to; he will do so with alacrity and sing in harmony. After all, he is a minister for all seasons, and some time or other the merry-go-round turns a full circle, and there is MUM Ali Sabry back again as SL’s voice to the world outside, which eagerly awaits to hear what weird policy is being announced by the clarion callers in the Resplendent Isle more..

Mar 20 (CI) Less than a day after Sri Lanka announced that Wanindu Hasaranga would be coming out of Test retirement to join the team for a two-match series in Bangladesh, he ended up with a sanction from the ICC that meant he would not be able to take part in the series. Hasaranga was punished for breaching article 2.8 of the player's code of conduct, which relates to showing dissent against the umpire's decision. more..

Mar 20 (DN) For the first time in the world, an anti moth pest repellent bulb for the Agro and Industrial Sector has been introduced by TOS Lanka Co. Ltd, a joint SL and Japanese company at the Biyagama BOI Zone. “This has been initiated through Japanese R&R and also with inputs from JAICA and UNDP,” said TOS Lanka Co. Pvt. Ltd, President Jitsuo Mikasa who was in SL for a brief stay. Unlike In traditional pest repellents where a light or chemicals or traps used to attract moth more..

Mar 20 (DN) SL Netball team is having a busy schedule with their training under the National coach P.D.N. Prasadi and they are focused on the next Asia Cup, said Prez of the Netball Federation of SL (NFSL) Victoria Lakshmi. NFSL already made all arrangements to give facilities to the National pool and recently concluded Inter Association Netball tournament successfully. We were lucky to find new sponsor Enchanteur for Netball and it’s country Manager Vivek Vaig is very keen to support more..