Nov 14 (EAR) The victory of Anura Kumara Dissanayake in SL’s 21 September 2024 presidential elections signals more than a domestic shift towards anti-incumbency and popular discontent with mainstream politics. It also reflects a global trend where non-elite actors are disrupting established institutions by assuming power and promising to bring deep structural change. In Sri Lanka’s case, traditional political gatekeepers were unable to prevent the NPP party’s rise to power. more..

Nov 14 (Dawn) SL ‘A’ and Pakistan Shaheens’ first four-day match was heading for an exciting finish after the visitors secured an overall lead of 221 runs with one second innings wicket remaining at stumps on the penultimate day here at the Rawalpindi Cric­ket Stadium on Wedn­esday. Trailing by 143 runs on the first innings and starting the day at 77-1, SL ‘A’ were 364-9 at the draw of stumps. After dismissing the visitors for 115 on the first day, Shaheens had replied with 258 on day two. more..

Nov 14 (Island) SLT-MOBITEL Group has reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs. 1,093 million for Q3 2024, compared to a loss of Rs. 1,543 million for the same period last year, demonstrating a significant 171% turnaround in bottom-line performance. At company level, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT) also recorded a positive PAT of Rs. 932 million for Q3 2024 compared to a Rs. 651 million loss last year, indicating a successful transition from loss to profit. The Group has announced more..

Nov 14 (FT) Sheikh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani, the distinguished Grand Custodian of the Shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jailani and the Supreme Head of the Thareeqathul Qadiriya World Sufi Order, will be in Sri Lanka today on a four-day visit. His visit is eagerly anticipated by followers across the nation, bringing blessings, inspiration, and spiritual guidance to the people of SL. A respected and revered figure, Sheikh Afeefuddin carries forward the legacy of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jailani, more..

Nov 14 (ToI) Israeli authorities Wednesday eased a travel warning for Sri Lanka on Wednesday, some three weeks after cautioning tourists at a popular beach town of an imminent terrorist threat. The National Security Council, which publishes travel advisories, said it was lowering the warning level for Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay area from four, which indicates a highly credible threat, to two, indicating a more mild occasional threat. more..

Nov 14 (NW) Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi has returned to number one in the ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings after playing a vital role in his team’s impressive 2-1 series victory over Australia, a first in the country since 2002. His notable returns of three for 26 and three for 32 in the second and third matches saw him rise three slots to the top spot with 696 rating points. Shaheen topples South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj (down two spots to third) from his perch to reclaim the number one spot for more..

Nov 14 (DM) As the country prepares for today's general election, law enforcement authorities have mobilized a massive security operation to ensure a peaceful and orderly process. Over 90,000 police, military, and civil security personnel have been deployed across the country, with a comprehensive plan in place to safeguard polling stations and counting centers. 64,000 police officers are assigned to directly oversee election security, with an additional 6,000 officers on standby. more..

Nov 14 (DN) The Public Administration Provincial Councils and Local Govt Ministry said that all the official residences given to former ministers and state ministers have been returned to the govt. Official documentation and inventories are currently being conducted regarding the furniture of the official residences that have been taken over by the govt. 28 govt bungalows were given as official residences to former ministers and state ministers. Army has been deployed to protect the bungalows more..

Nov 14 (Island) Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake yesterday (13) said that the general election could attract much more voters than the prez election. Of 17,140,354 registered voters, 13,619,916 (79.46 %) exercised their franchise at the prez election held on Sept. 21. Rathnayake said. The peaceful atmosphere following the prez election was very much likely to influence the electorate. Rathnayake said that some people had refrained from voting for any party as more..

Nov 14 (Reuters) Sri Lanka votes to elect a new parliament this week in a snap general election called by its Marxist-leaning president who wants a fresh mandate in the legislature to drive economic reforms in the debt-ridden island nation. Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected president of the South Asian country in September but his NPP coalition had just three of 225 seats in parliament, prompting him to more..

Nov 14 (AP) Sri Lankans are voting in a parliamentary election Thursday that is key for the country's new, Marxist-leaning president to consolidate his party's power and follow through on promises of economic recovery. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidential election on Sept. 21 in a victory that marked a rejection of the traditional political parties, which have governed the island nation since its independence from British rule in 1948. more..

Nov 14 (EN) Voting in Sri Lanka's parliamentary poll started Thursday to elect 225 members to the parliament with Prez Anura Dissanyake seeking a majority to govern the sovereign debt defaulted nation amid calls for a new political culture without corruption and misappropriation of public funds. SJB led by Sajith Premadasa, SLPP of ex-Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, the NDF made up breakaway legislators backing ex-Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and minority parties in the North are seeking seats. more..

Nov 14 (DM) Sri Lankans will vote for the election of MPs to the country’s tenth Parliament today, the first to be constituted after Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office. The last parliamentary election was conducted in August, 2020 when the country was hit by the pandemic. At this election, 196 MPs will be elected through direct votes and the remaining 29 to be nominated on the National List. Voters can cast their ballots more..

Nov 14 (AD) Voting in the 2024 Parliamentary Election in Sri Lanka officially closed at 4 p.m. today. Accordingly, the ballot boxes have now been sealed at polling stations across the island, and counting is expected to begin shortly. Meanwhile, it was previously reported that the overall voter turnout as at 2 p.m. today had exceeded 55 percent in several districts. In the meantime, DIG Nihal Thalduwa stated this afternoon that polling for SL’s parliamentary election has been peaceful more..

Nov 14 (EN) SL’s election turnout at the 2024 parliament election has been around 55 to 65% at several districts, according to their returning officers, which is the lowest since the 2010 general election, according to information now available. Prez Anura Dissanayake said he expected a “strong mandate” to govern during his term. In 2010 when Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa’s UPFA won 144 seats, the turnout was 61.3%. Initial assessments by the district returning officer of Puttalam put the turnout at 56%, more..

Nov 15 (NW) Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Ministerial candidate from the NPP for the 2024 general election, has emerged as the top candidate in the Colombo district, securing over 655,289 preferential votes. This vote count marks a historic record as the highest number of preferential votes ever received by a single parliamentary candidate in SL’s election history. Previously, the candidate with the highest number of preferential votes was Mahinda Rajapaksa, who contested from more..

Nov 15 (EN) Ambassador of Japan to SL, Akio Isomata has congratulated SL’s people on the peaceful and democratic parliamentary elections. He commended SL people’s active engagement in the democratic process, and extended congratulations to all newly elected members of the parliament, the Embassy of Japan in SL said. “Japan looks forward to working closely with the govt, newly-elected MPs and people of SL, to achieve peace and prosperity in our countries and in the world, further more..

Nov 15 (EN) Sri Lanka’s 2024 general elections has returned an overwhelming majority of candidates from the NPP Anura Dissanayake followed by the SJB. The following is a list of reported candidates and preferential votes in the 2024 general election. Anuradhapura District: NPP Wasantha Samarasinghe – 251,639; Sena Nanayakkara – 86,150; Susil Ranasinghe – 72,508; Susantha Kumara – 71,695; Bhagya Herath more..

Nov 15 DM) Harin Fernando and Ruwan Wijewardene, who both contested under the NDF in the Badulla and Gampaha District respectively have been defeated. Meanwhile Rehan Jayawickrama who contested for the Galle District from SJB was also defeated Jayawickreme took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to confirm that he had not received a seat in parliament. "Thank you to everyone who supported me in Matara. I placed third on the preferences list and didn’t make it to P'ment. more..

Nov 15 (NW) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has extended gratitude to his supporters who voted in the 2024 Parliamentary Election, via a statement on ‘X’. “පුනරුද යුගය ඇරඹීමට උරදුන් සැමට ස්තූතියි! மறுமலர்ச்சி யுகத்தை ஆரம்பிக்க‌ தோள் கொடுத்த அனைவருக்கும் நன்றி! Thank you to all who voted for a renaissance!” the President said. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s NPP gained a majority in Parliament, claiming 141 seats, excluding National List. more..

Nov 15 (EN) The National People’s Power (NPP) has swept the 2024 parliamentary elections raking in a two thirds majority winning 159 out of 225 seats in the assembly. NPP painted the island winning across ethnicities and religious groups and made history wining the Northern Jaffna district. Since the preferential votes started under the current constitution, no single party on its own has been able to get such a majority. more..

Nov 15 (DM) Defeated candidate from the Gampaha district Ranjan Ramanayake said he and his party, the United Democratic Voice (UDV) did not have enough time to campaign ahead of the Parliamentary Elections. “We did not have much time to carry out an effective campaign,” Ramanayake, who is the party’s leader said. "We formed our party only on Oct 9, 2024 and had only 22 days of campaigning," he said. "My people need to be educated to hear my voice," he said, more..

Nov 15 (NW) Several former ministers have failed to secure a seat in Parliament following the 2024 General Election. Former Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera is out of Parliament as his party fell short of securing a seat in Hambantota. Former Ministers Ramesh Pathirana and Manusha Nanayakkara are also out of Parliament as their party failed to secure a seat in Galle. Kanchana Wijesekera, who served as Power and Energy Minister in the previous govt, has failed to more..

Nov 16 (ST) Many students are surprised, when they hear for the first time that banks can multiply your deposits. Banks do that, actually. Their business is to make money from others’ money unlike other businesses which make money by doing something else. In the process of making money from others’ money, banks create more deposits, not intentionally but effectively. If you deposit Rs.5,000 in your bank account, for example, the bank must lend it to somebody else to earn an interest income. more..

Nov 16 (DM) In the run-up to the general election, newly elected Prez Dissanayake asked voters to drive corrupt politicians out of parliament. Well the public has done just that. Now it is up to Dissanayake and his team of brand new MPs to help Lanka’s people out of the misery their experienced politicians led them them into. According to WB statistics, “...poverty rates continued to rise for the fourth year in a row, with an estimated 25.9% of Sri Lankans living below the poverty line in 2023. more..

Nov 16 (TM) The African swine fever spread in SL during the past few months had a significant impact on the pig farming industry also leading to restrictions on the transport and sale of pork, and for the first time in recent memory, those who were in possession of pork faced the risk of arrest. In the general society and on social media platforms, this situation was viewed mostly as an issue affecting pork consumers, when in reality, it caused more..

Nov 16 (ST) When Sri Lanka’s National Policy on Migration, to enhance the governance and management of labour migration, was being reviewed a few years ago, after it was first introduced in 2008, officials and civil society activists began deliberating on a reworked policy to suit current needs. This process went through the tenure of three presidents and three governments until the process was completed and ratified by the Cabinet in Sept 2023. more..

Nov 16 (DM) How can one explain the massive two-thirds victory of the NPP at the Thursday’s Parliamentary election, based on the results of the Presidential election held two months ago, on Sept 21? Also, how can one explain the unprecedented massive support the Tamil and Muslim people have extended to the NPP at the Parliamentary election? Although NPP leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the Prez election he failed to secure 50% of mandatory votes at the first round of more..

Nov 16 (CI) Kusal Mendis took home the post-game accolades for a career-best 143 as SL won the first ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday by 45 runs via DLS method. However, it might have all been for nought if not for an exemplary effort by the bowlers. NZ's openers Will Young and Tim Robinson had given the visitors an ideal start in pursuit of an adjusted target of 221 in 27 overs, with an 88-run opening stand more..

Nov 16 (DN) “We had a chat about the opening partnership, and we wanted to bowl tight overs. That was the only way to win the first ODI against New Zealand,” said Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka after the game at Dambulla. The Sri Lanka team’s plan was well executed and they won the first game by 45 runs (DLS method), taking a 1-0 lead. The two teams will meet for their second game tomorrow (17) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Skipper Asalanka further said, more..

Nov 16 (Island) JVP-led NPP has achieved the unthinkable. It made history when it swept Thursday’s general election and bagged all electoral districts except one. This is something unprecedented in this country. The NPP polled a staggering 6,863,186 votes (61.6%) and secured as many as 159 seats. ‘Even the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer’. Hardly anyone would have expected a political party to secure a two-thirds majority outright under PR system, more..

Nov 16 (CT) Never in the annals of Ceylon’s election history has there been a verdict so ruthless and final. What the voter showed just one and a half months ago was reaffirmed on Nov 14, 2024. The cliched egg was not broken; it was smashed to smithereens. In one of the most peaceful elections, the voter expressed his anger and disgust in the most decisive manner. Has traditional politics come to an end? How could the voters in the North, East, South and the West decide like one person voting? more..

Nov 16 (EAR) In the SL Prez election held on Sept 21, the candidate of the leftist National Peoples Power (NPP), Anura Kumara Dissanayake, just scraped through. But in the parliamentary elections held on Nov 14, his party, the NPP, romped home with a stunning two thirds majority. SL’s only major leftist party, the NPP, is continuing its dream run in the island nation’s electoral politics. It registered a stunning improvement in its electoral standing in the parliamentary elections held on Nov 14. more..

Nov 16 (EN) SL’s NPP will not mis-use a two third majority given by voters to carry out its program, Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of the JVP, the main party behind the political group said. “We have understood the weight of responsibility of this victory,” Silva told reporters after the landslide win. “That trust we have to protect. We have got 159 votes, exceeding two thirds. There was opinion in society that there should not be two thirds. more..

Nov 16 (PO) A 158-run third wicket partnership between Mohammad Suleman and Ali Zaryab helped Pakistan Shaheens defeat Sri Lanka ‘A’ by seven wickets on the fourth and final day at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Suleman was dismissed after scoring 86, while Ali returned unbeaten on 83 as Pakistan Shaheens achieved the 222-run target in 53 overs. Earlier, Khurram Shahzad picked up the last SL wicket on the fourth ball of the day without any addition to more..