Nov 7 (EN) The number of Israeli tourists to Sri Lanka had declined, while tourist arrivals in general had risen in October, Minister Vijitha Herath said. “There was a drop in their [Israeli] arrivals. That is true,” he said.. “As of yesterday, there were 151 Israelis reported to be in the country,” Herath said. 21,913 Israelis visited the country in the month of October. On Oct 23, US Embassy in SL asked nationals to avoid Arugam Bay, a popular tourist destination, in SL’s Eastern Coast saying more..

Nov 7 (EN) Central Bank signed an agreement to obtain and exchange information on investigations and prosecutions of Money Laundering (ML), Terrorist Financing (TF) and related crimes in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and of any persons connected with such bodies. The Central Bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the National Secretariat for NGOs entered into the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday with this regard, the Central Bank said. more..

Nov 8 (DM) Sri Lankans are gullible to pseudoscience. Lawmakers and ambitious people are aware of this existence and use it to their advantage. The last time people believed in such nonsense was when a doctor in Kurunegala was accused of performing illegal sterilisation surgeries on females. Several complaints were lodged against this doctor by a number of mothers. They claimed that after they were treated by this doctor, they experienced complications in conceiving. more..

Nov 8 (DM) Sri Lanka is an island, hence its citizens have to get accustomed to the influences of outsiders who set foot in here. These days are a buzz with the news that Israeli tourists holidaying here can be targets of terror attacks. This news is important from both a security and political perspective. Then, there is this buzz in tourism that foreigners are arriving in SL to soak in its beauty and enjoy a holiday. But the vibe generated in Arugam Bay is rather negative. more..

Nov 8 (TM) SL’s burgeoning tourism industry, already under pressure to recover post-pandemic, is grappling with an influx of foreign nationals overstaying their visas and engaging in unauthorised business activities. This trend, particularly among Chinese, Russian, Ukrainian, and Israeli visitors, has affected local hospitality and tourism operators, who argue they are being sidelined as foreign-run enterprises exploit local loopholes. more..

Nov 8 (DM) NPP Executive Committee Member and Women’s Rights Activist Samanmalee Gunasinghe has entered the fray to contest at the upcoming Parliamentary elections. Gunasinghe responded to various allegations vested against the NPP by Opposition factions. She spoke about her journey in politics, NPP’s involvement in empowering women to engage in active politics, criticisms on the statement regarding legalising the trade of the sex workers and her plans for Colombo. more..

Nov 8 (DM) Former Mayoress of Colombo and UNP stalwart Rosy Senanayake will be contesting from the Colombo District under the New Democratic Front ticket. In a candid interview with the Daily Mirror, Senanayake explained why former UNP candidates are contesting under a new Party and a symbol while sharing her thoughts about the new govt, challenges and opportunities she has as a candidate from Colombo and the need for women’s empowerment under the new govt. more..

Nov 8 (DM) This week the Govt declared all Divisional Secretariat areas nationwide as African Swine Fever (ASF) and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome as infected zones. Govt issued the communiqué under the Animal Diseases Act No. 59 of 1992. This Order enforces strict measures, including a ban on the transport, sale and slaughter of pigs and related products. The directive, which is valid for more..

Nov 8 (DM) This week, the Govt stated that 15 officials appointed to Sri Lanka’s foreign diplomatic service on a political basis have been instructed to return by 1 December. According to Cabinet Spokesperson and Foreign Affairs Minister, Vijitha Herath, children and spouses of certain Parliamentarians and Ministers have also been directly appointed to positions below top diplomatic positions. The Govt asserted that such appointments would not be made in the future. more..

Nov 8 (CT) As the Parliamentary Elections approach, a striking revelation from the PAFFREL has captured the public’s attention: of 8,000 candidates, only around 1,000 have engaged in campaign activities. This widespread disengagement raises a crucial question: are candidates avoiding traditional electioneering out of choice or lack of motivation? Or else, has the Campaign Finance Act severely curtailed their freedom to connect with voters, so that they have given up on more..

Nov 8 (Island) Donald Trump has done the impossible. He has made a triumphant return to the White House against all odds. Even his ardent loyalists may not have expected him to secure a non-consecutive term like Grover Cleveland, when he refused to concede defeat following Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, which, he claimed, had been stolen, and went on to instigate his backers to rebel. His opponents said he had cooked his goose. Trump, impeached twice, more..

Nov 8 (ORF) In SL, the new govt of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has decided not to sell the state-owned enterprise (SOE)—Sri Lankan Airlines. The decision mirrors the govt of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also scrapped plans to privatise Sri Lankan Airlines in July. State-owned enterprises have impacted SL’s economy for decades. SL defaulted on its sovereign debt in April 2022 amid power blackouts and long fuel queues, with its reserves dropping below US$50m. more..

Nov 8 (Island) For nearly two decades, state universities have been under siege. They were targeted by a deliberate campaign of discreditation. Various expert committees were set up by incumbent govts to deliberate on the problems in higher education, with minimal involvement of university communities. The sector was increasingly politicized, with undue state involvement in recruitments and appointments. more..

Nov 8 (ST) During a recent visit to Germany to study migration trends and the prospects for skilled and professional Sri Lankans to work there, the first stop was at the Dept of Civic Education where Frank Burgdorfer, an independent expert, briefed our group of journalists from India, SL, Bangladesh and Nepal on demography, the skilled labour shortage and the economic transformation. He spoke at length about migration trends in Germany starting with Polish migrants who came there many decades more..

Nov 8 (DN) “Getting more overseas tours for the SL ‘A’ team is vital for youngsters,” said SL ‘A’ team head coach Avishka Gunawardena before their departure for the Pakistan tour yesterday. Sri Lanka ‘A’ team recently toured South Africa and participated in the ACC Emerging Asia Cup tournament in Oman, both of which ended successfully. Our players gained experience and had a good chance to adjust to different conditions. Credit should go to SLC for organising more..

Nov 8 (Island) New Zealand cricket team took a breather, immersing themselves in the natural splendor of Minneriya, where they witnessed the breathtaking Gathering — a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle where elephants congregate around the Minneriya Reservoir during the dry season. It’s a sight to behold, one of the world’s most captivating wildlife events, and a must-see for nature lovers. But today, the Kiwis will shift their focus back to the pitch, preparing to face Sri Lanka more..

Nov 8 (FT) As Sri Lanka enters a new era of creativity and innovation, the SL Design Festival (SLDF) has reintroduced its acclaimed Product and Interior Design Exhibition, a cornerstone event showcasing SL’s design talent. This year’s exhibition emphasises products designed and made in Sri Lanka, underscoring the nation’s rising focus on homegrown design-led industries and innovation. The exhibition was opened on Wednesday by British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick. more..

Nov 8 (TM) National Democratic Voice (NDV) organisation urged the Govt to reconsider any attempts to close or merge SL Thriposha Ltd (SLTL), warning that such a decision would jeopardise the nutritional support provided to vulnerable social groups. NDV Spokesperson Ravi Kumudesh raised these concerns, emphasising the critical role that the SLTL plays in addressing malnutrition among low income communities. more..

Nov 8 (DM) India-based HRV Global Life Sciences and New Horizon Global Pharma is exploring possible expansion into SL, which is emerging as a strategic growth market in South Asia. HRV Global Life Sciences & New Horizon Global Pharma is a leading manufacturer, seller & market expansion company for a wide range of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Advanced Pharma Intermediates, Pellets, Food Grade Chemicals, Food Additives and Food Ingredients across the world. more..

Nov 8 (Island) SL’s coconut industry is facing a significant crisis, with production levels plummeting from three billion nuts annually to just 2.85 billion nuts. Erratic policies of previous govts regarding fertilizer use have played a key role in precipitating this situation, Coconut Development Authority (CDA) chairman said. He highlighted that the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations has led many farmers to neglect best practices in nurturing coconut trees, thus exacerbating the problem. more..

Nov 8 (FT) South Asia’s premier precious stone showcase, Gem Sri Lanka, is set to make a dazzling return from 7 to 10 January next year at the Cinnamon Bentota Beach, with a goal of taking the country global. Organised by the Chinafort Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (CGJTA), Gem SL has become a significant platform to connect international buyers with SL traders. Gem SL 2025 is the 2nd edition of the exhibition, more..

Nov 8 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is off to a robust start in November, with over 30,000 tourists arriving within the first five days of the month. From 1-5 November, the island nation welcomed 30,620 tourists, marking a 38% increase from the 22,202 arrivals during the same period a year ago. The surge in arrivals has also lifted year-to-date (YTD) tourists to over 1.65 million, pushing the country closer to its annual target of two million visitors. In addition, the daily average tourist arrivals more..

Nov 8 (FT) Dialog Axiata PLC yesterday announced a strong rebound in third quarter of FY24 delivering growth in core revenue and profitability. Dialog said the Group delivered a strong performance across Mobile, Fixed Line, Digital Pay Television, Int'l and Tele-infrastructure businesses recording a positive core revenue growth of 6% Year-to-Date (YTD). Excluding revenue from Airtel Lanka, YTD core revenue growth was at 3%. Group revenue reached Rs. 125.4 billion down 10% more..

Nov 8 (TM) National Hospital of SL (NHSL) in Colombo currently has more Accident and Emergency (A&E) Physicians than required, while the Provincial General Teaching Hospital (TH) in Ratnapura, which has a well-established A&E Unit, lacks adequate physician support, it is learnt. According to a member of the Health Ministry’s Specialist Transfer Board, the NHSL's approved A&E physician cadre is two, yet, six are currently serving there — two permanent Consultants, more..

Nov 8 (DN) Federation of Information Technology (Guarantee) Limited (FITIS) is proud to announce the outstanding achievements of 11 Sri Lankan organizations at the ASOCIO DX Awards 2024, held during the ASOCIO Digital Summit from November 6-8, 2024, at the ANA InterContinental Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. Eleven FITIS member and partner organizations received ASOCIO DX Awards, showing Sri Lanka’s increasing impact and leadership in digital transformation. more..

Nov 8 (EN) SL’s application to become a member in the BRICS has been rejected by the group’s current membership, but its request to become a member of New Development Bank (NDB) established by member countries to mobilise resources for infrastructure in emerging markets, the cabinet spokesman said. Established in 2015 by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa), NDB is a multilateral development bank more..

Nov 8 (EN) More people were falling prey to financial scams conducted through social media apps, including WhatsApp, SL’s Information Dept said, urging the public to be alert. Incidents of WhatsApp accounts being hacked have been reported, with messages then sent to those in the contacts list asking for money. There have also been incidents reported of fake websites posing as those of various established banks, govt or non-govt org, business org, etc fraudulently obtaining money. more..

Nov 8 (DN) Senior Advisor to the Prez on Economic and Financial Affairs Prof. Anil Jayantha stated that the government will focus on reducing the VAT levied on school material including textbooks and essential foods and medicine. The professor said this while participating in the meeting of Gampaha district farmers organised by SL Agricultural Development Council, chairman Sashika De Silva, at Miriswatta yesterday. The Gampaha Minsara organisation President who attended the event more..

Nov 8 (ST) The Supreme Court has ordered the Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Director General to submit a comprehensive report on the current situation of the trenches that had been dug as part of the project undertaken to mitigate the human-elephant conflict. The bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeyesekere gave the order after taking up a fundamental rights petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) alleging that more..

Nov 8 (ST) Finance Ministry is crafting the 2025 national budget with a focus on enhancing production capacity, improving living standards, and managing economic policies to facilitate a recovery on the directions of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. It aims to introduce a transformative strategy designed to rejuvenate the economy for the benefit of the people. It intends to tackle the urgent economic issues citizens face while fostering sustainable growth and inclusivity, more..

Nov 8 (DM) Meteorology Dept will be able to provide more accurate weather forecasts from 2026, following the installation of two Doppler radar systems by the end of this year. Deputy Director of Forecasting and Early Warning, stated that the two Doppler radar systems will be provided to SL as part of a grant from the JICA. Civil construction work to install these radar systems is set to begin soon in Puttalam & Pottuvil. more..

Nov 8 (TM) The Election Commission (EC) is expected to announce the Local Govt (LG) Elections within this year and aims to hold it in Jan 2025, it is learnt. Originally scheduled to be held early last year (2023), the LG Elections had to be postponed due to the lack of funds or the non-provision of funds. EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that the plan is to hold the LG Elections soon after the Parliamentary Election, though a brief period will be required for preparations. more..

Nov 8 (DN) Police figures reveal that the police spends nearly Rs.1000 million annually for 45 police vehicles and 530 police officers deployed to protect five former Presidents and a late president’s wife. All expenses incurred by the police, including fuel issued by the police, salaries and allowances of police officers, electricity and water costs of the barracks and offices where the police officers stay, have been added to it. Some former Presidents are even entitled to military protection and more..

Nov 8 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured that SL’s workforce will see a reduction in current Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax rates by March 2025. He outlined significant tax reforms and economic measures that his administration intends to implement in the new Budget, scheduled for Feb 2025. Prez announced that the Budget would include targeted relief from high PAYE tax rates, particularly benefiting more..

Nov 8 (FT) The victory of Donald Trump in the US Prez election held on 5 Nov 2024, is likely to be a defining moment in our global epoch. Trump brought together the decades-long projects of the American oligarchy and reactionary social forces. He ran on the agenda of amplifying the darkest trends in the American polity. But while the spectre of his return rose, the Democratic leadership held onto a bankrupt vision for the future that resisted interrogation of the US empire. more..