Sri Lanka News : InfoLanka News Room

May 28 (FT) Industry veteran and Mlesna Tea founder Anselm Perera yesterday issued a stark warning on the future of Ceylon Tea criticising the Govt’s decision to increase minimum wage hike by 70%. Speaking at a joint press conference organised by the industry, he said the move threatens the very existence of Sri Lanka’s historic tea industry. “If the Govt continues to make short-sighted, stubborn decisions, Ceylon Tea will become a thing of the past,” Perera declared. more..

Plantation industry opposes forceful wage hike implementation

May 28 (FT) The plantation industry yesterday raised vehement objections to the Govt’s unilateral decision to increase minimum wages for tea and rubber sector workers by an unprecedented 70%. Holding a collective media briefing, the Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA), Colombo Rubber Traders Association (CRTA), Ceylon Tea Traders Association (CTTA) and tea exporters voiced their concerns about more..

Who guards the guardians?

May 28 (FT) Two Fundamental Rights Applications against the appointment of former High Court Judge Kanishka Wijeratne to the position of Director General (DG) of the CIABOC, were fixed for support on 19 June 2024 by the Supreme Court last week. A third Fundamental Rights Application against the appointment is also pending. The three Petitions have been filed in public interest, by Energy Expert Dr. M.V.B. Ralapanawe, Transparency International of SL and Journalist Ruwani Fonseka, more..

Darshana edge towards Paris Olympic dream

May 28 (DM) SL sprinter Aruna Darshana further boosted his chances of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games by securing the Gold Medal in the Men’s 400m event at the second Belt and Road Athletics Invitation Meet in Chongqing, China. 25-year-old athlete from Sinhapura, Trincomalee and the South Asian Games Gold Medallist lived upto expectations and powered his way to finish the 400m final with a splendid time of 45.48s. Darshana of course, started the final brimming with more..

BOI මරා උපදින EC කුමරු!

Debt and taxes: Can we hide our heads in the sand?

May 28 (FT) A few days ago, I attended the launch of a policy platform by an organisation called Piripun Deshayak where the audience included at least one Presidential Candidate. I was quite surprised that the document (and the presentations) made no mention of debt or taxes. Saubhagyaye Dakma, the policy platform developed for Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Viyath Maga was a disaster, but it addressed both debt and taxes. That was in the good old days of 2019. In these darker times how could more..

Minority shareholders of Expolanka Holdings challenge de-listing

May 28 (EN) A group of shareholders of Expolanka Holdings Plc have filed a case to prevent the delisting. “Nine minority shareholders of Expolanka Holdings holding approximately 0.012% of the shares thereof, have filed an application before the Court of Appeal challenging the de-listing of Expolanka Holdings PLC.” Both Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) have been made parties to the said application, the company said. more..

Hospital says its a macerated stillbirth, parents seek justice

May 28 (DM) In a heart-wrenching saga that has gripped Weligama, a young couple is seeking justice for their deceased newborn amidst confusion and accusations against hospital authorities. The ordeal began when 23-year-old Kavindya Madushani, from Kohunugamuwa, Weligama, was referred to Matara New District General Hospital by a private doctor on the night of May 23rd to give birth to her first child. more..

Siyambalapitiya assures transparent recruitment for Customs Department

May 28 (FT) State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya announced that the recruitment process for the currently vacant posts of Assistant Superintendent of Customs and Inspector of Customs is proceeding without any interference, ensuring transparency and fairness. He emphasised that no one can influence the recruitment process and that it will remain strictly merit-based. “To enhance the efficiency of the Customs Dept, the list of candidates who passed the exam more..

Bad weather pushing vegetable and fish prices up

May 28 (AD) The prices of vegetables in the market have increased once gain due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions. It is reported that the prices have increased due to vegetable crops being damaged by the rainy weather. President of the Manning Market Traders’ Association, Ajith Kalutharage, warned that if this situation continues, the price of vegetables may rise even further. Meanwhile, it is reported that fish prices have also increased rapidly. more..

Video: UNP proposes postponing elections by two years

May 28 (AD) UNP has proposed to postpone Sri Lanka’s two upcoming elections by at least two years. UNP general secretary Palitha Range Bandara made this observation while attending a press conference today. He proposed that the Prez Election and the General Election be postponed for 2 years, through a proposal to be tabled in Parliament and that a referendum could be called if necessary. more..

Ongoing TU action: GNs warn of hampered disaster management efforts

May 28 (TM) In light of the ongoing trade union action seeking salary and allowance-related hikes, Grama Niladhari (GN) officers expressed concerns that the ongoing work-to-rule action may affect the discharge of their services relating to disaster management and the emergency response. Explaining these concerns, GN Trade Union Alliance’s Convenor Jagath Chandralal, said that GN officers’ salaries are in the clerk service’ salary range, which officially requires an 8-hour more..

Postponing elections not healthy for any democracy: Namal

May 28 (AD) MP Namal Rajapaksa says that postponing elections is not healthy for any democracy. SLPP National Organiser stated that extending the terms of the Prez and the Parliament undermines the fundamental principles of a democratic society. “Stability should come through the will of the people, not by delaying their voice,” he said in a post on ‘X’. Rajapaksa’s comments come likely in response to a statement made by the General Secretary of the UNP Palitha more..

96. ප්‍රේමකීර්ති ඝාතනය

Samurdhi banks, societies to be subjected to govt audit

May 28 (EN) SL’s Samurdhi community-based banks and Samurdhi community-based banking societies will be brought under govt audit, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. “There are 1,092 Samurdhi community-based banks and 335 Samurdhi community-based banking societies functioning across the country to promote microfinance activities,” he said. These banks and societies are audited annually by Internal Audit Division of the Samurdhi Development Dept as per more..

Fisheries Dept. to assess fishers’ property damages

May 28 (TM) Following the continuous warnings issued by the Dept of Meteorology for Naval and fishing communities on the inclement weather conditions, Dept of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and identifying the damages caused to fishermen's houses to take due action. With the prevailing adverse weather conditions, Met Dept issued a red warning for strong winds and rough seas for Naval and fishing communities to avoid activities more..

CSO urges for Customs’ action into BMW duty fraud

May 28 (TM) A civil society organisation (CSO) yesterday urged the Customs to take immediate action with regard to the alleged duty fraud involving 1,728 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) vehicles as per Court directives. Citizens of the People’s Struggle held a protest in front of SL Customs’ headquarters in Colombo, where they handed over a letter addressed to the Customs Director General (DG) Sarath Nonis more..

Indians running IT firm with visit visa apprehended

May 28 (DM) A group of Indian nationals who were illegally running an IT based firm in Colombo 7 on mere visit visas to remain in SL was taken into custody by the Dept of Immigration and Emigration. Officials of the dept’s Investigation Division following an inquiry raided a house in Cinnamon Gardens and took seven males and one female who were in their thirties. All the foreigners have arrived in the country on visit visas and two of them were found to have overstayed their 14 days visa period. more..

Sri Lanka risks foreign retaliation over VFS visa deal

May 28 (EN) Maldives could take reciprocal action after SL’s new system of outsourcing its visas, which requires the payment of processing and convenience charges of 26 dollars, even though the govt does not collect any fees. Maldivian authorities have reminded SL of the long-standing bilateral agreement under which their citizens could travel freely between the two neighbours without any charges or bureaucratic barriers. A one month stay is available without a fee. more..

Govt distances itself from UNP call for postponing elections

May 28 (EN) The govt has distanced itself from a statement by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNP calling for delaying elections by two years. Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said all political parties represented in parliament are free to make proposals, but the govt would have to make a final decision. Prez currently stands as an independent candidate, according to Nanayakkara, though he has yet to formally declare his more..

FPC undecided on Prez Poll aligning

May 28 (TM) While many political alliances are being formed in view of the upcoming Presidential Election, Freedom People's Congress (FPC), the largest ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) breakaway group led by Opposition Parliamentarian Dullas Alahapperuma, said that it is yet to decide on forming an alliance with any party, even though several discussions have taken place with political parties such as the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). more..

India & China divergent energy paths in SL

May 28 (ORF) Beneath the ever-shifting waves of global diplomacy, Sri Lanka emerges as the stage for a compelling narrative for the strategic expansion of China and the island nation’s cultural kinship with India, especially in sustainable development and renewable energy projects. Sinopec's pioneering endeavour to construct its inaugural wholly-owned refinery on foreign soil is not merely an extension of China's energy reach, but is a nuanced overture in what is traditionally considered as India’s more..

කොළඹ ජනාධිපතිවරණ සමීක්ෂණ...

SJB Lawyers’ Federation proposes legal reforms for system change

May 28 (DM) The SJB Lawyers' Federation stated that they have proposed 116 measures for significant legal reforms aimed at affecting a system change in the country. President's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya, President of the SJB Lawyers' Federation, made these remarks while addressing a media conference in Colombo and mentioned that these proposals will be included in the SJB manifesto. Jayasuriya stated that a proposal has been made to enact new laws within six months of the election to more..

First model village for strawberry cultivation established in Nuwara Eliya

May 28 (DM) The Agrarian Development Dept has taken steps to establish SL's first model village for strawberry cultivation based on four villages in Nuwara Eliya. This model cultivation village was established on the instructions of Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. A model village was established for each fruit and vegetable to be cultivated so that they could be exported. Accordingly, this strawberry cultivation has been started in 42 net houses through 50 farmers at a cost of Rs. 20 million. more..

University non-academic staff strike continues despite Cabinet decision

May 28 (DM) After the Cabinet decision and a trade union meeting, the University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) has decided to continue with their trade union action starting today. UTUJC Co-Chairman Dhammika S. Priyantha informed today that they are still awaiting the Cabinet decision concerning their issues, including salary anomalies. "We held our trade union meeting today to discuss the next steps required to more..

MCPA demands probe following patient’s death

May 28 (CT) Following the death of a patient admitted to the National Hospital Colombo, with burn injuries, who died following the administration of Cefuroxime 750mg an antibiotic drug, the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) queried as to why current administrators of the Health Ministry were not checking the quality of medicines that had been imported during former Health Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella’s period. MCPA President Dr. Chamal Sanjeeva more..

Sri Lanka’s popularity is surging with travelers. Here’s where To go

May 28 (Forbes) For centuries, Sri Lanka has been popular with foreign travelers. Around 300BC, at the time of Alexander the Great, the ancient Greeks called the island Palaesimoundu, meaning beyond the sea, and wrote of its mythical treasures. Chinese Buddhist monk Fa-Hien visited Sri Lanka around 410 AD and liked it so much that he stayed for two years. In the twelfth century, Italian explorer Marco Polo declared Sri Lanka the best island of its size in the world. more..

7 young elephants found dead in Sri Lanka amid monsoon flooding

May 28 (CBS) Wildlife authorities on Sunday found seven carcasses of young elephants believed to have drowned in the biggest single loss of the animals in five years. An official said the onset of the southwest monsoon had led to flooding in the elephant habitat in Dimbulagala. "We were alerted by villagers to three young elephants who had drowned last evening, but when we went to the marshy area we found 4 more," more..

New tie-up with UK to protect marine environment here

May 28 (Island) SL and UK have agreed on a new partnership to protect the marine environment. British High Commission in Colombo, Andrew Patrick, said yesterday that the Ministry of Environment and the UK govt’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs signed a MoU between the two nations, to protect and enhance the marine environment. Secretary, Ministry of Environment Prabath Chadrakeerthi, and Deputy Director for UK’s Dept for Environment, more..

Tense situation emerges at Nelum Mawatha when Prasanna Ranatunga passes area

May 28 (DM) A tense situation arose at the Nelum Mawatha premises near Parliament a short while ago when Minister Prasanna Ranatunga attempted to pass the area. Several civil organizations have come together in a protest march from near the Parliament to the Nelum Mawatha premises of the SLPP. During the protest march, a heated argument arose between the police and the protesters when the protesters were obstructed by the police near the entrance to Nelum Mawatha. more..

Harsha de Silva

Tea and lack of empathy

May 29 (DM) For years, even before our country received independence, it was the income from the tea industry which formed the backbone of our country’s economy. Even after independence, it was the income from tea that provided the main export earnings that kept the economic wheels of the country turning. Even today tea provides the third highest portion of SL economy behind the earnings of expatriate workers and the textile trade. SL’s tea export earnings crossed US $ 1 billion more..

Stop using schools as political platforms!

May 29 (CT) Daily on TV news (mainly Sirasa) we see Sajith Premadasa (SP) Sakwala සුහුරු පාසැල් (Smart School) programme donating some computer equipment to schools. A huge green banner with Sakwala & Pathikada names and Sajith Premadasa Leader of the opposition title is shown daily. All the school children, Principal and staff, and parents attend the event lasting about two hours. Most of the time is covered by Sajith and other SJB politicians from the area making political speeches more..

Pharmaceutical imports: Controversy over waivers of registration

May 29 (TM) National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is at the centre of a growing controversy after it was revealed that the authority had issued over 1,000 Waiver of Registration (WOR) letters over the past six years. This revelation has caused widespread concern about the quality, safety, and fairness of the price of medicines being imported to SL. From 2018 to June 2023, NMRA has issued1,601 WOR letters. more..

From three-wheeler drivers to beach boys: Sri Lanka’s workforce transformation

May 29 (DM) That is the story since the independence, but let’s leave the first 3 decades defined by quasi-socialist policies and skyrocketing fertility growths, which created enormous pressure on the state. But the story has not changed much since the economy was liberalized, and population growth is well under control- fertility growth now is barely at replacement level or less. One might observe a few concerted areas where the bulk of jobs were made available for the SL youth more..

Range’s smokescreen

May 29 (TM) The proposal by the UNP to postpone the upcoming Prez and General elections should be rejected outright by the broader SL political canvas. The move, which came from left field, and was articulated by UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara yesterday with a pitiful justification, is likely a distraction ahead of the main election campaign season. Prez had informed the Cabinet earlier this month that the Prez election will be held first and poured cold water on more..

Political lethargy bars prisoners from voting

May 29 (CT) Sri Lanka's lack of an advance voting system will deprive over 20,000 remanded prisoners from voting in the next Prez Election – a right that even Taliban prisoners enjoy in Afghanistan, prisoners’ rights activists and election monitors said. This was acknowledged by the Election Commission (EC) as well. Sudesh Nandimal was remanded on the allegation of rioting against the Govt in 2008 and more..

Ancient trees and unused high-tech solutions

May 29 (CT) Heavy rains and strong winds in Colombo have caused significant damage over the past few days, leading to the collapse of nearly 60 trees, some of which are over 150 years old. Among these, 19 incidents were reported at Vihara Maha Devi Park, one of Colombo’s prominent green spaces. The fallen trees have not only blocked roads but also disrupted train services due to trees falling onto the tracks, highlighting the severe impact of the storm on Colombo’s infrastructure and more..

Martin Wickramasinghe, Writer & Speaker

May 29 (TM) The foremost Sinhala writer Martin Wickramasinghe's 134th birth anniversary falls today (29). We all know about Wickramasinghe as a writer but know nothing about him as a speaker. However, one Sinhala book of his, which was launched in 2019 as a compilation of his speeches delivered in various literary events, shows him as a serious speaker as much as a serious writer. The book is Poth Livimen Lada Aswasuma (The consolation gained from writing books). more..