Oct 16 (DM) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he is not ready to retire from politics and that his retirement is temporary. "I thought about not contesting the general elections, but politicians never truly retire," he said. Commenting on the upcoming general elections, former Prez said that everything is ready and that the SLPP will easily secure victory. "I did not listen to the statement made by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayaka claiming that politicians are starting to retire. more..

Oct 16 (AD) Court of Appeal has issued an interim order against the Gampola Divisional Secretary preventing her from interfering with the activities of the first cable car project in Sri Lanka, which is being built in the Ambuluwawa area. This order was issued by the Appeals Court after considering a petition filed by a private company alleging that their project is being unduly hindered by the said official. more..

Oct 16 (IPS) SL experienced six consecutive quarters of negative economic growth up to the third quarter of 2023. This downturn has had a direct impact on the labour market, leading to lower wage rates and discouraging workforce participation and skill development. As a result, productivity levels continue to fall, creating a vicious cycle known as the low productivity trap, which hampers further economic recovery. Against this backdrop, second session of IPS annual flagship publication more..

Oct 16 (DM) Cuban govt is paying attention to the production of medicine in SL, Cuban Ambassador to SL Andres Marcelo Gonzalez Gorrido said. He mentioned this during discussions held at the PM's office recently, while conveying the greetings of the Cuban govt to Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. Further, strengthening the almost 65-year-long diplomatic relationship between SL and Cuba, resuming the stopped mosquito control projects implemented under Cuban aid, more..

Oct 16 (PMD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the need to rebuild SL’s education system in alignment with global demands to achieve the country’s educational goals. He pointed out that children must be equipped with knowledge to improve the nation’s human capital for SL’s future progress. The President further highlighted that the responsibility of creating the workforce needed by the world over the next decade falls on more..

Oct 16 (DM) Depression among adolescents are high, and parents should be vigilant as they are predisposed to self- harm and substance use, an expert said. Teenagers with depression are more vulnerable to turn to risky or self- destructive behavior, said Dr. Jayan Mendis, Consultant Psychiatrist and Former Founder Director of National Institute of Mental Health. “When the child realizes that they are changing, they seek various methods to deal with internal stress or change. more..

Oct 16 (TM) The repeater guns purchased by former Parliamentarians from the Ministry of Defence under the programme to allow MPs to purchase two repeater guns have been returned to the Ministry. Ministry had informed the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera in August of this year that MPs would be allowed to purchase two repeater shotguns each from their personal funds, and retain them even after they are out of office. The Daily Morning queried Defence Ministry more..

Oct 16 (DM) None of the parliamentarians elected by the people understand the struggles of the country's innocent poor, Janasetha Peramuna Leader Ven. Battaramulle Seelarathana Thera said. Addressing the media after inspecting the sudden floods in the Katunayaka area, the Thera said that once parliamentarians come into power, they tend to prioritise their close relations. "No solutions have been given by the politicians for the issues of the innocent people," he said. more..

Oct 16 (AD) A group of foreign nationals, who were staying under suspicious circumstances at a hotel in the Chilaw area, has been arrested over suspicions of being involved in online financial scams. The arrests were carried out based on information received by the Puttalam Divisional Crimes Unit, according to police. Police Media Division said that among the arrestees were 4 Malaysian males, 3 Ethiopian males and a female, a Kenyan female and a Chinese man. more..

Oct 16 (EN) Sri Lanka tax revenues rose 41% to 2,348 billion rupees in the eight months to August 2024, at a rate higher that the full year 35% target, and current expenses only grew 3%, amid higher tax rates and monetary stability. Total revenues also grew 41% to 2,557 billion rupees, with non-tax revenues rising to 209 billion rupees from 158 billion rupees last year, according to pre-budget fiscal report. more..

Oct 16 (DM) SL’s new govt has abandoned plans to sell the debt-ridden national airline SriLankan Airlines, but will restructure it for a more profitable future. “Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed that the airline should be an institution that all Sri Lankans are proud of, and should be owned by Sri Lankans,” airline’s new chairman Sarath Ganegoda said. The previous govt had invited bids to part-sell and manage the airline that as been suffering accumulated losses over the years. more..

Oct 16 (TM) Inter-Uni Students' Federation (IUSF) called on the Govt to address the escalating fees at the SL Law College (SLLC), the country’s sole institution for legal professional education. IUSF highlighted that the significant increase in fees has resulted in a sharp decline in applicants and has made legal education unaffordable for many. At a press conference held yesterday, IUSF Convenor Madushan Chandrajith expressed concern over the reduction in SLLC entrance exam applicants, more..

Oct 16 (CT) In a bid to encourage local medicine producers by giving priority to the production of medicines for the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), Cabinet of Ministers approved the purchase of locally produced medicines under the Buy Back Agreement. Cabinet of Ministers had approved a proposal submitted by Health Minister Harini Amarasuriya during their Cabinet meeting held on Monday to enter more..

Oct 16 (EN) A decision to raise salaries of state workers in 2025 taken by the last cabinet has been taken without Treasury observations and it will have to be revisited, Minister Vijitha Herath said. The last administration said salaries would be raised from Jan 2025 based on recommendations by committee headed by Udaya Seneviratne, which also included trimming SL’s bloated public service over time. “A decision was taken by the cabinet close to the elections that salaries would be hike in Jan” more..

Oct 16 (Island) In the wake of Foreign Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson Vijitha Herath’s declaration that decision on controversial Indian projects would be taken up after the parliamentary election on Nov 14, Environment Secretary Prabath Chandrakeerthi, in an interview with Mint has said the discussions are in the final stages for a $5 billion road-and-rail link between India and Sri Lanka with India set to bear the cost of the stra­tegic project. This is the first big bilat­eral infra­struc­ture more..

Oct 17 (DM) Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and it is significant that SL has, for the first time, elected a president and govt which – to paraphrase the legendary former United States President Abraham Lincoln – is a govt of the poor, for the poor and by the poor. According to a statement issued by the United Nations to mark this day, the theme for this year will highlight one of the hidden dimensions of poverty, which is the social and institutional maltreatment more..

Oct 17 (CT) It begins as it always does — dark clouds gathering ominously overhead, casting long shadows across the land. A steady drizzle transforms into a torrential downpour within minutes, and in its wake, roads disappear under torrents of water. Rivers swell to monstrous proportions, devouring the banks, surging violently through villages, and flooding the streets of towns and cities alike. This is a story far too familiar to the people of SL, where the rain seems to carry with it more..

Oct 17 (TM) Despite the new Govt’s stated plans for a new constitution, it remains to be seen whether and how such a constitution will come to pass. Prez, responding to inquiries from the Maha Sangha recently, said that he hoped to introduce a new constitution, emphasising that it would only be done following discussions and a referendum. He further pointed out that previous govts had implemented constitutional amendments without public more..

Oct 17 (TM) Crisis-hit Sri Lanka needs to revisit its foreign policy, and revamp it to help navigate the evolving geopolitical landscape while ensuring the country moves towards recovery and growth, and to a period where we can build resilience. To do so, there is a need for a robust discourse about Sri Lanka national and foreign policies. One of the challenges SL faces in formulating a robust foreign policy is the lack of discourse about it. Awareness of foreign policy and diplomacy amongst more..

Oct 17 (CT) Since taking office, Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) has implemented several impactful measures that have caught the attention of both local and foreign observers. His leadership approach is grounded in simplicity and transparency, signaling a sharp break from the excesses of the past. With AKD’s refusal to embrace the trappings of power—no entourages of piloting vehicles, lean security protocols, and the avoidance of lavish lifestyles, int'l communities are already more..

Oct 17 (SO) Investigations into the death of a 16-year old student who leapt from the Lotus Tower’s observation deck on Monday (7) revealed that the tragedy was linked to the double suicide which happened in Altair apartments in July. The victim’s father said his daughter had been under duress following the Altair incident. Information that these victims are from the same school has drummed up controversy, together with more..

Oct 17 (ST) How do you balance the interests of farmers and consumers? If farmers get a good price for mainly rice, consumers complain and then it’s vice versa. If you give farmers subsidies on fertiliser and other inputs at state costs to reduce consumer prices, that puts pressure on public spending and inevitably this cost is met by increasing taxes on goods which then affects both farmers and consumers. So how do you strike a balance or is that even possible? more..

Oct 17 (Island) Economic and social policies based on Buddhist principles were the foundation of peace and prosperity in ancient Sri Lanka. A close examination of this Buddhist foundation would be of assistance to attain, once again, the cherished goal of peace and economic prosperity. Economic and political theories before Western influence were based on two famous ancient treatises, namely, Kautilya’s Arthaśāstra and Brihaspati’s Arthaśāstra. They had one common feature, more..

Oct 17 (DM) Poverty in SL has increased significantly with the onset of COVID-19 and the macroeconomic crisis. LIRNEasia’s national survey in 2023 highlighted that 4 million people fell into poverty between 2019 and 2023, causing 7 million individuals – or 31% of the population – to live in poverty at the time. Recent floods in the country have (re)exposed the vulnerabilities of various populations to adverse weather conditions. Robust, effective & adaptive social protection systems more..

Oct 17 (FT) SLT-Mobitel earned global recognition, securing Gold and a Certificate of Honour at the prestigious 38th Annual International ARC Awards held recently. The competition is acclaimed as the world’s largest annual report competition, felicitating companies having achieved an international mark of excellence in annual reports. The Sri Lanka Telecom Annual Report 2023 was adjudged the Gold winner in the Illustrations: Telecommunications category for the annual report titled more..

Oct 17 (FT) The World Bank in its latest bi-annual report, SL Development Update: Opening up to the Future highlighted that female labour force participation stands at a decade-low of 29.6%, stressing on substantial policy measures required to address inequality and ensure inclusive growth. Report highlighted that unlocking untapped potential by increasing women’s participation in the labour force could contribute to more..

Oct 17 (GV) At the cusp of a significant political transformation, SL stands at a crucial juncture in its history with an opportunity to reclaim and redefine its place among the community of nations. In the first part of my analysis in this series, I explored the roots of the political transformation both in terms of the historical forces that paved way to it and the deliberate political strategies and decisions that helped realise it. In the second part, I explored some of the essential ingredients more..

Oct 17 (Island) The preferential vote or manape, as it is popularly known, has become a hot topic again. Some Opposition politicians have accused the JVP/NPP of asking its supporters not to mark preferences for its candidates in the upcoming parliamentary election. NPP has denied their allegation as a propaganda lie aimed at misleading the public; it has however admitted that, as a matter of principle, it does not encourage its supporters to mark preferences and its candidates never more..

Oct 17 (Island) The 400 metres is one of the most looked forward to disciplines in the schools circuit. The likes of St. Sebastian’s College, Kandana sprinter Shashintha Silva and Jithma Wijetunga of Lyceum International Wattala are the top-notch athletes vying to bag top honours in the discipline when the All-Island Schools Games Athletics Championship commences at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday. South Asian Junior C'ship medallist Shashintha is in terrific form more..

Oct 17 (DN) Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, is expected to win the West Indies T20 series when they play their third and final T20 game today at the Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium from 7 pm onwards. West Indies won the first T20 by 5 wickets, while Sri Lanka fought back to level the series with a superb 73-run victory. The spinners took honours by bowling out West Indies for 89 while chasing a target of 163, with the exceptional Dunith Wellalage on his debut, taking 3 for 9. more..

Oct 17 (ST) In both Jaffna and Vanni electoral districts where six MPs each will be returned to the House, more than 400 nominations were filed on Friday afternoon by political parties and independent groups. The significant number of nominations filed for each electorate in North reflects the state of Tamil nationalistic political parties which saw splinter and breakaway groups contest polls separately in the hope of securing a seat in more..

Oct 17 (Island) When Anura Ranasinghe claimed the inaugural Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award in 1975, few knew it would start a legacy. Three decades later, Kusal Mendis stepped into those shoes, dazzling for Prince of Wales, Moratuwa. Expectations soared as he graduated to the Sri Lankan side, and while he struck a few stunning knocks, his career path seemed like a see-saw—brilliant at times, but inconsistent. Now, nearing 30, Mendis seems to have turned a corner. more..

Oct 17 (DN) Sri Lanka ‘A’ team will meet Afghanistan ‘A’ in their first ACC men’s T -20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup cricket fixture which will be played on Oct 18 at Oman Cricket Academy ground, Muscat from 7 pm onwards. Eight teams will battle for the T – 20 Emerging teams Asia Cup title. SL ‘A’ , India ‘A’, Pakistan ‘A’, Bangladesh ‘A’, Afghanistan ‘A’, Hong Kong, UAE and host Oman will take part this tournament while SL, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan ‘A' teams will compete more..

Oct 17 (EN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has urged authorities to streamline the procurement process in road development projects to ensure the rural economic development goals without the contracts being given only a few. Prez made these remarks during a progress review meeting for Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports & Civil Aviation. Prez Dissanayake’s Marxists JVP for years accused past past successive govts more..

Oct 17 (FT) Unilever Sri Lanka, in partnership with Vega Innovations, and USAID, is scaling up the use of refillable stations. These stations, part of Vega Innovations’ UFill initiative, offer consumers cost-effective ways to refill Unilever products such as laundry liquids and shampoos, while reducing reliance on single-use plastic packaging. By 2027, the UFill initiative is expected to prevent over 128 metric tons of plastic waste from entering Sri Lanka landfills. more..

Oct 17 (DN) World Powerlifting Champion Ruwan Paul managed to win 2 gold medals and a silver medal for SL at the World Powerlifting Championship. With this victory, Ruwan Paul made history as the first Sri Lankan to participate in the World Powerlifting Championship and the first Sri Lankan to win a gold medal in that championship. In this championship which was recently concluded at the Darling Harbor Exhibition Center in Sydney, Australia, he managed to win gold medals more..