Oct 2 (FT) Top professional and banking sector specialist Dinesh Weerakkody has been appointed as the new Chairman of Union Bank of Colombo. He fulfils the vacancy created by the resignation of Nirvana Chaudhary who however will continue to serve the Board as a Director. Union Bank’s majority shareholding is held by Nepalese and Forbes-listed billionaire Binod Choudhary via Culture Financial Holdings Ltd., which holds 70.84% stake. Weerakkody is a former Chairman of more..

Oct 2 (FT) Shares of leading mobility solutions app, PickMe owner Digital Mobility Solutions Lanka Ltd., will debut today for trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange following its highly successful Initial Public Offering (IPO). The shares of the Company amounting to 333, 323, 673 would be listed on the Main Board of the CSE with Security Code PKME-N-0000 and will be classified under 20304040 – Passenger Ground Transportation. sector. IPO involved issuance of shares worth Rs. 1.56 b more..

Oct 2 (FT) Business leader and ex-MP Dhammika Perera is set to return to the corporate world by re-joining the Boards of Hayleys and Vallibel in which he is the largest shareholder this week. Hayleys PLC formally announced the re-appointment of Dhammika to its Board as a Non-Executive Director and Co-Chairman a post he held previously too. Vallibel PLC is expected to follow suite. The move follows dissolution of Parliament last week and signals he isn’t keen to remain in politics. more..

Oct 2 (DN) SMVS Rajakaruna of St. Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa made history on the second day of the 92nd Ritzbury Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletic Championship at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday. Rajakaruna set a new Sri Lanka record in the Boys Under-18 200m sprint, clocking an impressive 21.52 seconds to win the gold medal. This performance erased the previous record of 21.87 seconds, held by more..

Oct 2 (DN) SL cricket team has risen to the occasion again, winning a Test series against New Zealand in Galle after 15 years. This win moved Sri Lanka to third place in the ICC Test Championship, behind India and Australia. Following this series win, SLC appointed Sanath Jayasuriya as the full-time head coach for one year after the New Zealand series. Jayasuriya had previously been the Head of the High-Performance Centre and served as interim head coach during India & England series. more..

Oct 2 (Island) Former captain Angelo Mathews, during the second Test, was asked what set prolific run-maker Kamindu Mendis apart from his contemporaries. Mathews, known for his measured words, pointed to the 26-year-old’s maturity as his defining trait. This maturity shone brightly once again during the post-match press briefing after SL’s dominant series win, when the topic of the declaration came under the spotlight. SL had stormed to a resounding victory by an innings more..

Oct 2 (ST) SLC has decided to appoint former cricket star Sanath Jayasuriya as the full time head coach for a period of one year, starting after the current Test series against NZ. This decision by SLC is crucial for SL cricket, especially given the team’s recent performances and the need for stability. As the interim head coach, Jayasuriya has shown his ability to motivate the team, which SLC recognises as they prepare to finalise more..

Oct 2 (TM) The Govt stated that a solution to the ethnic problem will definitely be provided through a new Constitution under a NPP Govt as soon as the Parliamentary Election is concluded. During a media briefing held yesterday, the media queried Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Vijitha Herath, who is also the Minister of National Integration, regarding the NPP administration's plan to resolve the ethnic problem including their stance on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. more..

Oct 2 (DM) The UNP and other opposition groups are willing to accept SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa as the Prime Ministerial candidate if he agrees to a common opposition alliance under a common symbol ahead of the General Election 2024, a former MP said. Former MP Saman Ratnapriya who is a close associate of former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe told media that Mr. Premadasa is welcome to become Prime Ministerial candidate if he agrees for a common opposition alliance more..

Oct 2 (DN) SL women’s cricket team, led by Chamari Athapaththu, performed well in their warm-up games before the T20 World Cup in Dubai. They won both matches, beating Bangladesh by 33 runs and Scotland by five wickets. SL will enter their opening group game against Pakistan with confidence. A 58-run partnership between Hasini Perera (43) and Nilashika Silva (30) helped SL secure a 33-run victory over B'desh in their first warm-up game. SL scored 143 runs for 7 wts in their 20 overs, more..

Oct 2 (TM) Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday announced that a Sri Lankan delegation will travel to Washington DC, US later this month for detailed discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the country’s ongoing financial program. Speaking at the first post-Cabinet meeting media briefing, he clarified that while the IMF agreement was not specifically addressed during the metering, the Government intends to review the program and move forward. more..

Oct 2 (CT) LYCA Mobile owner Allirajah Subaskaran, who has roots in the Northern Province, is reportedly stepping into politics, with efforts to form a mega Tamil political party by uniting the fragmented Tamil political parties of the North and East ahead of the upcoming General Election. Sivagnanam Shritharan, who allegedly met Allirajah last Saturday, visited President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday as well. more..

Oct 2 (DM) An attempt to export over eight tones of copper worth over Rs.37.5 million in a container declared as crepe rubber through Trico Logistics yard in Grandpass was foiled by SL Customs. Customs CID officials on information searched a suspicious 20 foot container that arrived at the Customs Export Facilitation Centre at Trico Logistics in Grandpass yesterday. The container, which was scheduled to depart to China had been declared as 12, 000 kilogrammes of crepe rubber but more..

Oct 2 (Island) Sri Lanka has long grappled with economic instability and the Rs 2.4 trillion fiscal deficit remains a daunting challenge for the newly elected NPP govt, Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda, a taxonomist and a former senior state official said. Among other things, he is a major contributor to biodiversity research in Sri Lanka. "Despite promises of change, bridging this gap requires more than just increased taxation or large-scale reforms," Dr. Pethiyagoda, told The Island. more..

Oct 2 (CT) Director of Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, Dr. Arjuna Tillakaratne has been appointed as the Director of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), sources said. Informed sources, yesterday (1), said that Dr. Tillakaratne had been appointed as the new Director of SPC by Health Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. However, the new appointment is yet to be processed. Teaching Hospital Peradeniya is currently being overseen by a Deputy Director, sources said. more..

Oct 2 (Island) Minister said that the govt could have former CB Governor Arjuna Mahendran, wanted here in connection with the Treasury bond scams, extradited from Singapore. As Ranil Wickremesinghe no longer had immunity, the UNP leader, too, could be summoned before court, Minister Herath said. Herath said so in response to a query regarding the still unresolved issue. Minister Herath said that the Public Security Ministry was in the process of taking action regarding the Treasury bond scams. more..

Oct 2 (TM) Ministry of Public Security stated that a swift solution would be provided to the problem of issuing passports, while at present, it is not possible to obtain new passports due to a court order related to the same, and also to return to the previous supplier of passports due to a decision made by the previous Cabinet of Ministers. Minister Vijitha Herath, under whose purview the Dept of Immigration and Emigration comes, more..

Oct 2 (FT) In response to growing concerns over the high cost of maintaining entitlements for MPs, Ministers and former Presidents, the Cabinet of Minister at their meeting on Monday approved reviewing and potentially reducing the privileges they receive. The move comes as the Govt seeks to ease the burden on public finances, which have been stretched due to fiscal constraints. “Currently MPs, Ministers and ex-Presidents are provided with a range of entitlements and allowances, more..

Oct 2 (TM) Defending the recent gazette notification issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, calling for the armed forces to maintain public order, the Govt clarified that it was intended to establish the legal framework for deploying the military in case of emergencies, particularly with the upcoming Parliamentary Election. During a media briefing yesterday, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Herath was queried about the reason behind the Prez's decision to issue the gazette. more..

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Oct 2 (FT) Dear Mr. Prez, As they say in the classics, it’s done and dusted. Your long cherished dream of leading your country has come to fruition. It has been a long struggle from your humble beginnings in the village of Tambuttegama to the Prez Palace in Colombo. Yet you have not lost your humility and simple way of life and the kitchen staff at Prez’s House will need to change menus to village style rice and curry dishes instead of French cuisines including award winning wines. more..

Oct 2 (FT) SL’s 2024 Prez election, which saw the ascension of Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) as the President, stands as a significant milestone in the country’s modern political history. This victory, deeply rooted in the collective frustration from the economic collapse and the 2022 Aragalaya protests, symbolises a departure from the entrenched political dynasties and neoliberal policies that have shaped SL governance for decades. As the island nation grapples with both its internal fractures more..

Oct 2 (NW) SL and the Netherlands have held a discussion focused on the initiation of the process to repatriate the second batch of colonial artefacts that belong to SL. Ambassador of SL to the Netherlands Rekha Gunasekera met with Minister of Education, Culture, and Science of the Netherlands Eppo Bruins, in The Hague on 30 Sept. Ambassador Gunasekera handed over to Minister Bruins the list of colonial artefacts identified by SL to be sent back in the second phase of repatriation. more..

Oct 2 (EN) Former state Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe has urged the new govt to stick with the IMF programme amidst the steady appreciation of the rupee against the dollar. “I urge the new administration to remain committed to the IMF programme, which has been instrumental in stabilizing SL’s economy,” Semasinghe said on social media platform X. “Any disruptive decisions could jeopardize the hard-earned progress that is vital for the betterment of our nation.” more..

Oct 2 (DM) The Porsche vehicle, which was given to her during her tenure as Presidential Advisor, was originally imported ten years ago, Rosy Senanayake, Adviser to former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said today. "I have been told that it was used by a powerful person attached to a Ministry ten years ago. I urge the authorities to conduct a probe into this," Ms. Senanayake said. "I was given eight used vehicles during more..

Oct 2 (PMD) Qi Zhenhong, Ambassador of China to SL, met with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake today at the Presidential Secretariat. The Ambassador extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Prez on his recent election victory and expressed China’s continued commitment to supporting SL in its future endeavours. Ambassador Qi reaffirmed the Chinese govt’s continued commitment to enhancing bilateral relations with SL, emphasizing the significance of on-going collaborative projects. more..

Oct 2 (PMD) The High Commissioner of Australia to SL, Paul Stephens, held a courtesy meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this morning at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. During the discussion, the High Commissioner extended his warmest congratulations to Prez Dissanayake and the Govt of Australia on his recent election, expressing the Australian Govt’s strong commitment to deepening ties with SL. The Australian govt reassured its support in key areas, more..

Oct 2 (HRW) UNHRC should adopt a resolution on SL to enable continued UN monitoring, reporting, and evidence collection of rights violations for future prosecutions, Human Rights Watch said today. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was elected on Sept 21, should reverse the policies of his predecessors by cooperating with the UN’s investigation mechanism, ending the use of repressive laws to stifle dissent, more..

Oct 2 (NW) There has been a reshuffle at the top of the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings with India pacer Jasprit Bumrah re-claiming his position as the No.1 ranked bowler. Bumrah overtakes teammate Ravichandran Ashwin and claims the premier position for just the second time on the back of his six scalps for the match during India’s recent seven-wicket triumph over Bangladesh in Kanpur SL spinner Prabath Jayasuriya gained a new career-high rating as he rose one place to equal more..

Oct 2 (DM) Legal action will be taken from today against buses that charge more than the revised bus fares, National Transport Commission (NTC) said. The NTC requests the passengers to inform them about the buses charging more than the announced fares. Passengers can submit complaints to the NTC's hotline 1955 or WhatsApp number 071 25 95 555 regarding inter-provincial private buses operating in this way. NTC Director General Ms. Naomi Jayawardena said that complaints more..

Oct 2 (PMD) Indian High Commissioner to SL, Santosh Jha, met with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake today to congratulate him on his recent election victory. The meeting took place at the Prez Secretariat. During the meeting, High Commissioner Santosh Jha emphasized the long-standing friendship and close proximity between India and SL, highlighting the importance of maintaining strong bilateral ties. He expressed India’s readiness to support SL’s development process more..

Oct 2 (PMD) In a significant diplomatic engagement, Prez of SL, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, met with the Cuban Ambassador to SL, His Excellency Andres Marcelo Gonzales Gorrido, at the Presidential Secretariat this morning . The meeting focused on bolstering the longstanding diplomatic and friendly relations between the two countries. During the cordial discussions, the Cuban Ambassador extended warm congratulations to Prez Dissanayake on his recent election victory. more..

Oct 2 (FT) Election Commission continues to rock. This week, it halted, for the duration of parliamentary polls, an order by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to increase fertiliser and fuel subsidies to farmers and fishermen. The same way it stopped a multitude of giveaways by Ranil Wickremesinghe during Prez elections. The conduct of the Election Commission indicates that, given right laws, institutions, guidance, and time, more..

Oct 2 (PMD) The British High Commissioner to SL, Andrew Patrick, made a courtesy call on Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake today at the Presidential Secretariat. The visit marked an important step in reinforcing the strong diplomatic relations between the two countries. During the meeting, High Commissioner Patrick congratulated Prez Dissanayake on his recent election and conveyed the British govt’s best wishes for his tenure. He also conveyed personal congratulations and more..

Oct 2 (CT) Former Fisheries Minister and General Secretary of the EPDP, Douglas Devananda, has announced that his party will contest the Colombo District in the upcoming Parliamentary Election scheduled for 14 November, in addition to contesting in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. EPDP General Secretary stated that the formation of an alliance by all Tamil political parties under the banner of ITAK will have no impact on the EPDP’s future political activities. more..