Nov 20 (FT) The resounding victory of the National People’s Power (NPP) marks the beginning of a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s history. For decades, citizens have watched as promises made by the political elite faded into disappointment. This election is a clear message: the people demand change. With 159 seats in Parliament and a two-thirds majority, the NPP has been given an unparalleled mandate to deliver a Govt that is clean, transparent, and accountable. more..

Nov 20 (AD) VC of the Uni of Ruhuna, Senior Prof. Sujeewa Amarasena has categorically denied all allegations leveled against him and asserted that he will not resign from his position, despite mounting pressure and ongoing protests by academic and non-academic staff and the students’ unions. VC’s refusal of allegations came after the academic and non-academic staff together with the students’ unions launched a strike action more..

Nov 20 (AD) The strike action launched by all academic and non-academic trade unions and Students Unions affiliated with the Uni of Ruhuna yesterday, demanding the immediate removal of the university’s Vice Chancellor, continued second consecutive day today. However, a discussion has taken place between the representatives of the relevant trade unions and PM Harini Amarasuriya last evening (19). Co-Chairman of the Uni Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) more..

Nov 20 (DM) A large batch of pharmaceutical drugs that is commonly used as a painkiller and also widely abused among addicts and schoolchildren as an intoxicant was seized by SL Customs from a consignment smuggled into the country last week. The Customs Revenue Task Force (RTF) on information raided one of the warehouses in Colombo Port and found a shipment of medicines that had been imported without a valid licence of Nat Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). more..

Nov 20 (S247) X-Press Feeders has hit out at the bureaucratic and legal hurdles that have caused severe delays in the case of the X-Press Pearl, a boxship that caught fire in 2021 causing one of SL’s worst-ever environmental disasters. The master of the ship has not been able to leave SL for the past 1,280 days. Splash reported late last month the new SL govt will reopen investigations into the X-Press Pearl disaster and seek multi-billion more..

Nov 20 (DM) Some of the traditions involved in opening of a new Parliament has been changed, sources said yesterday. This has been done to make the opening ceremony as simple as possible. Sergeant –at –Arms Kushan Jayaratne said that some traditions that have been carried out in connection with opening of Parliament has been done away with this time. “There will be no military parade at the Parliamentary premises while singing of Jaya Mangala Gatha will also not be held more..

Nov 20 (AD) A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed with the Supreme Court seeking an order that the fundamental human rights have been violated through the decision by the respondents including former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to issue liquor licenses in violation of the Excise Act after the 2024 Prez Election was announced. The petition was filed by Chamara Sampath Abeysekara and N. Ravichandran, two liquor retail businessmen in Kandy, naming 39 individuals including more..

Nov 20 (TM) The New Democratic Front (NDF) has revealed in an official statement that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe was informed about the party’s decision to nominate Ravi Karunanayake as a National List MP. In a letter issued by NDF Secretary General Shymila Perera, the party outlined the background to Karunanayake’s nomination, addressing growing criticism over the move. The letter states that the decision to nominate Karunanayake was made unanimously by more..

Nov 20 (TM) Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the National Police Commission (NPC) to conclude the investigations into the former Director of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) and current DIG Nalaka de Silva pertaining to an alleged plot to assassinate former Prez Maithripala Sirisena, during the tenure of the United National Front for Good Governance Govt. This order was issued by a two-Judge bench consisting of Justices, S. Thurairaja and A.H.M.D. Nawaz when more..

Nov 20 (EN) SL’s new administration wants to cut personal income taxes, take away value added taxes on some processed food items and education materials, without harming revenue targets in the IMF program. The IMF is fixated on revenues, so they are likely to require alternative taxes to make up for any tax losses. It should also be kept in mind that under the current system where VAT is not separately billed at retail level and more..

Nov 20 (AD) Former MP J. Sri Ranga has arrived at the CID this morning in order to provide a statement. The former MP is to provide a statement in relation to former MP Sujeewa Senasinghe’s luxury vehicle, worth around Rs. 100 million, which is suspected to have been illegally assembled. On Nov 11, the Fort Magistrate’s Court had ordered the CID to take former MP Sujeewa Senasinghe’s vehicle into custody and produce it to the Government Analyst’s Department and obtain a report. more..

Nov 20 (EN) SL’s newly appointed industries minister Sunil Handunetthi said he intended to make an intervention soon to solve capital, debt and raw material problems faced by industries. “From the Coronavirus crisis period industrialists fell into difficulties and got into a debt crisis,” Minister Lal Kantha told reporters soon after assuming duties as the Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development. “Many businesses and industries are now at the point of collapse. more..

Nov 20 (MB) Environmental activists in SL are celebrating the end of a 2020 decree that left the island’s nonprotected forests more vulnerable to agriculture and development projects. “This is a landmark victory for the protection of these important forests, securing their long-term conservation,” said Eric Wikramanayake, chair of the Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL). The EFL and its former director, more..

Nov 20 (SCMP) The decisive victory of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) alliance in the November 14 parliamentary election is expected to usher in a new era of clean govt and socioeconomic empowerment for the Sri Lankan people. However, much depends on whether the two Asian powers, India and China, and a global power, the United States, can act as partners in helping the Sri Lankan govt implement its ambitious reforms. more..

Nov 20 (EN) Sri Lanka will import 70,000 metric tonnes of rice to address the shortage in the market, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe said. “Even though there was a surplus rice production in the country this year, when you go to the market there is no rice,” Samarasinghe said. “The farmer has no paddy, and the consumer has no rice.” “The best decision we can take in this situation is to import rice to meet the demand.” more..

Nov 21 (DM) Today, the newly-elected Parliament will meet at 10 a.m., for the first time, for a ceremonial sitting – another landmark for the govt of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the NPP. After the MPs, including the new cabinet of ministers are sworn-in by the new Speaker Nihal Galappaththi, Prez Dissanayake is scheduled to make his first policy statement, in which, he is likely to outline the vision of the new govt and emphasize, the main thrust will be to bring about poverty more..

Nov 21 (CT) The appointment of Sugath Wasantha de Silva as SL’s first vision-impaired MP is a powerful stride towards inclusivity, particularly in a political landscape often criticised for underrepresentation. De Silva, representing the NPP through National List, brings not only his personal experiences but also his extensive advocacy for disability rights, promising a fresh perspective in Parliament. His inclusion is not merely symbolic, but it also reflects potential for systemic change more..

Nov 21 (CT) In an unprecedented victory, racking up a two-thirds majority in the 2024 General Election, the NPP, led by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, clinched three pivotal parliamentary seats in the Northern Province, marking a historic breakthrough for a Southern political party in a region long dominated by the ITAK and its alliances. This stunning outcome unseated ITAK, the region’s oldest Tamil political party, delivering more..

Nov 21 (DM) Just the other day (19) this writer, while travelling in a Tuk tuk, I had to endure the rudeness of being stopped by the police close to Koswatte junction. The moment the driver of the Tuk Tuk and myself readied ourselves to get down, a young lady appeared with a file in hand, and began directing questions at me. The questions were aimed at finding out where I was going, the reason behind my visit, to my destination, whether or not I fancied traveling in an air-conditioned coach more..

Nov 21 (GV) Reflecting on the recent elections in both SL and the US is an interesting exercise particularly because, as the two countries now have synchronized election cycles, comparisons and contrasts are readily evident. The US has presented itself for decades as a beacon of democracy: progressive and inclusive and an upholder of human rights within its borders. However, the prospective 47th president of the US and the team he is appointing seem to be getting ready to more..

Nov 21 (TM) Health and behavioural issues and related concerns among students has led to an ongoing debate on the use of social media by schoolchildren and its impact. The discussion has grabbed the attention of the Education Ministry, leading to it issuing guidelines to be followed by schools and students. Ministry of Education issued a circular on 8 Nov, providing seven guidelines for teachers and other relevant parties more..

Nov 21 (CT) SL’s political landscape has witnessed a seismic shift with the recent parliamentary election results, marking a historic victory for Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his NPP party. This triumph is not just a win for a political party but a beacon of hope for a nation yearning for change and justice. The NPP’s success in securing a two-thirds majority in parliament is a testament to the people’s desire to break free from the shackles of corruption and mismanagement that have plagued SL more..

Nov 21 (ST) It is all over bar the shouting and predicting the day when an egg will cost a thousand rupees under an NPP govt. But to that a little later. But right now, one must dig out those great economists, thinkers, and dregs that hovered around the last leader and his cabinet, raucously singing hallelujahs to the only man in SL who could save this sacred country, who would have returned to their bolt-holes by the time this appears. Those great thinkers that our self-elevated leaders more..

Nov 21 (SO) As a seasoned boxing coach in the US, Bandula Rathnapala is deeply troubled by the state of amateur boxing in SL. He argues that the sport, once rich in tradition and respected for its talent, has deteriorated due to a lack of professionalism, ethical issues and severe negligence in athlete care. Drawing from his experiences as a gym owner and coach in the US, he underlined the responsibilities that come with coaching and condemned the current administration for its failure more..

Nov 21 (FT) South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) celebrated the region’s finest achievements in financial reporting at the 2023 Best Presented Annual Report Awards hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL (CA SL) in Colombo on 11 Nov. This year’s theme, Honouring Excellence, captured the essence of the awards, celebrating the highest standards in annual reporting across diverse industries and recognising achievements in integrated reporting & corporate governance more..

Nov 21 (ST) Sprinter Yupun Abeykoon, SL’s and South Asia’s fastest man, who missed out the last Olympics held in Paris, is now fully focused on regaining his form of 2022. Abeykoon, who had to sideline himself from competitions after a series of injuries last season, is currently continuing the training process with his team in Italy, with three vital events on his list for 2025. Abeykoon, once considered a strong contender among more..

Nov 21 (Island) NPP has scored a decisive victory in SL’s first general election since defaulting on its external debt. With 61.56% of the popular vote, the NPP won 159 seats in Parliament. This gave Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) a supermajority in parliament and the power to make constitutional amendments. NPP won a majority of the popular vote in 21 out of 22 electoral districts in the country. In the southern district of Hambantota, a traditionally left-wing Sinhala nationalist constituency more..

Nov 21 (Island) The JVP added Sinhala slang, jilmaat, meaning trickery, to SL’s political lexicon, after the 2010 prez election; it claimed that the then Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa had secured a second term by means of a computer jilmaat, but it could not prove that allegation. However, there have been numerous instances of legislative and constitutional jilmaat in this country, and they are responsible for the rapid rise of anti-politics. Veteran leftist and former Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera more..

Nov 21 (ST) A global funding mechanism to aid poorer countries such as Sri Lanka deal with unavoidable risks of the climate crisis is expected to start financing projects in 2025, although projects have yet to be identified. United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, (Cop29), delegates gathering in Baku, Azerbaijan, a petro state, announced that pledges to the Loss and Damage Fund so far amount to US$720m. This falls far short of what is estimated to be required more..

Nov 21 (DM) The CEB reported a turnaround performance in the three months through Sept 2024, at both top and bottom-line levels, as the state-owned power behemoth turned to black, helped by the repeatedly raised tariffs in the last two years, despite the cuts to power tariffs earlier in the quarter. The CEB reported a revenue of Rs.126.80 billion in the July-Sept quarter, recording a 19.8 percent increase from the same period in 2023, even after twice cut power tariffs this year. more..

Nov 21 (FT) SL has set its sights on a transformative export agenda with Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe unveiling plans to achieve $ 45 billion in export revenue within the next five years. The target includes a significant boost in merchandise exports, services and tourism supported by an annual growth of 15%, a marked increase from the current 4%. Speaking at a media briefing ahead of more..

Nov 21 (Island) It’s been pure cricketing poetry watching the SL team in action. They’re on a roll, and Tuesday night saw them bag yet another series triumph, leaving fans beaming from ear to ear. It’s hard to believe this is the same side that finished a dismal ninth in last year’s World Cup. What a turnaround—it’s like NPP sweeping the general elections. This time they have a two thirds majority. Last time they had a mere three seats. So, what’s the secret sauce behind SL’s resurgence? more..

Nov 21 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tea exports in October have increased by 14% year-on-year (YoY) whilst value-wise, the growth was subdued. Tea export quantities in October amounted to 20.7 million kilos (Mnkg), reflecting a 14% increase from a year ago. With this gain, exports volume in the first 10 months has grown by 3.4 Mnkg YoY to 203.1 Mnkg. “Despite the strengthening of the Sri Lankan Rupee, earnings have risen to Rs. 360.5 billion compared to Rs. 354.9 billion last year. more..

Nov 21 (FT) Motor Traffic Dept (MTD) is pushing forward with a major digital transformation to enhance public service efficiency, curb corruption & improve convenience for citizens. This move is part of the broader govt initiative to modernise public services through digitalisation. However, project faces significant hurdles, including outdated systems, slow progress, and resistance from certain, allegedly corrupt officials. more..

Nov 21 (DN) Maris Stella College Negombo and Lyceum International School Wattala dominated the 53rd Sir John Tarbat Junior Athletic Championship, claiming the Boys’ and Girls’ Championship titles respectively at the District Sports Complex in Kotawila, Matara. The event, organized by the SL Schools Athletic Association and sponsored by Ritzbury, concluded yesterday. Maris Stella College clinched the Boys’ Championship with an impressive 82 points. St Benedict’s College Kotahena more..

Nov 21 (LP) Sri Lanka is a diverse island home to many different ethnicities, religions and cultures. I was born and raised in different regions of this island nation, but I’ve spent enough time away from home to understand that for many visitors, SL is often viewed as a smaller India – an island catering to the usual sun, sea and sand cliches. I’ve witnessed my home transform through its highs and lows, and watched my people’s resilience shine through after long periods of uncertainty. more..