Oct 24 (CI) Sherfane Rutherford and Gudakesh Motie put on a record-breaking 119-run ninth-wicket stand, before Motie and Alzarri Joseph struck once apiece inside the powerplay. Aside from these stretches of dominance though, SL ran away with the game. Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Asitha Fernando had sent West Indies crashing to 58 for 8, before that ninth-wicket resistance came. Then, after the loss of two more..

Oct 24 (FT) Institute of Supply & Materials Management (ISMM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries and Industries Development Board (IDB) will celebrate National Supply Chain Day under the auspices of PM Harini Amarasuriya today at Shangri-la, Colombo followed by National Supply Chain Excellence Awards. ISMM being the only professional org enacted by Act of Parliament No. 3 of 1981 for fostering and conducting training on Supply Chain Management in SL more..

Oct 24 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved awarding a contract to renovate the Ekgaloya and Riverston tourist bungalows to Central Engineering Services Ltd, under the supervision of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau. These renovations are part of a broader initiative to revive nine State-owned tourist bungalows identified by the Dept of Forest Conservation. The renovation plan follows the recommendations of a committee tasked with developing a strategy for more..

Oct 24 (Island) All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship concluded with Maris Stella College, Negombo and Lyceum Int'l Wattala retaining the overall boys’ and girls’ titles at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Tuesday. Ratnayake Central Walala (girls) and Lyceum were the runners up in the two categories. During the five-day competition the athletes accounted for 31 meet records and four national junior and youth records. Wickramabahu Central, Gampola athlete Tharushi Abisheka more..

Oct 24 (CT) Defending champions Sri Lanka showcased their prowess by 72-40 defeating Malaysia in another Group ‘A’ game at the Asian Netball Championship held at Koramangala Indoor Stadium, Bengaluru, India, yesterday. The match commenced with Sri Lanka establishing early control and swiftly building a lead. Although Malaysia displayed resilience and attempted to score consecutive goals, Sri Lanka concluded the first quarter with a score of 11-8 in their favour. more..

Oct 24 (Island) Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched a programme yesterday to support the govt of SL to prepare an integrated climate responsive investment portfolio comprising a pipeline of bankable green investment opportunities. This was announced by Takafumi Kadono, ADB Country Director at an event hosted by the Bank at ITC Ratnadeepa Hotel. It turned out to be a historic workshop in SL since the country signed more..

Oct 24 (FT) Despite the security advisories of potential threats in the Eastern Province yesterday, both Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and US Ambassador Julie Chung continued with their political and official duties respectively. Prez participated in a political rally in Trincomalee as part of his Building the Nation Together — We are for Malimawa campaign series, drawing thousands of people despite concerns over safety. In a post on ‘X’, Prez expressed gratitude to the crowd: more..

Oct 24 (TM) Sri Lanka continues to build its maritime domain awareness (MDA) capacity with the arrival of another, maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), donated by the Govt of Australia. Aircraft which is expected to be ferried to SL today is a Beechcraft KingAir 350 which had been in service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and has been refurbished and modernised to perform the maritime patrol role. It is learnt that Australia has provided training for SL personnel on the platform. more..

Oct 24 (TM) PHU Leader Udaya Gammanpila criticised the Govt’s decision to reject two reports on the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, which were published in the public domain by him. Gammanpila argued that dismissing the said reports based on allegations against the committees’ members is unjustified and irresponsible. The reports in question were commissioned by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, and more..

Oct 24 (FT) The Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) yesterday announced the appointment of Nusith Kumaratunga as the new Chairman with effect from 18 October, with Kumaratunga assuming official duties on 22 October 2024. A seasoned professional with extensive experience in finance, management, and entrepreneurship, Kumaratunga brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the leadership of Sri Lanka’s largest and most established insurance provider. more..

Oct 24 (FT) SL India Society (SLIS) President Kishore Reddy, and the executive committee of the society organised a commemorative dinner to celebrate the 78th Independence Day of India with Minister Vijitha Herath as the Chief Guest and Indian High Commissioner to SL Santosh Jha, as the Guest of Honour. Event also saw the presence of diplomats, society members, officials, and numerous other dignitaries, all gathered to celebrate an evening of camaraderie at Taj Samudra more..

Oct 24 (CT) Of the 80,000 workers in Free Trade Zones (FTZ), including Katunayake, Biyagama, Watupitiwala, and Mirigama, only 22% had the opportunity to vote in the recently held Prez Election, according to several organisations working on the welfare of FTZ workers. They also pointed out that garment workers’ supervisors have demanded to vote for their parties and candidates at workplaces. At a media briefing held yesterday, these organisations highlighted 2 critical demands more..

Oct 24 (ST) West Indies coach Darren Sammy ignited a fresh and fierce debate on maximizing home advantage on pitch preparation and its implication on player development, following WI first T20 series loss to SL on Friday. Sammy’s frustration is rooted in the drastic transformation of the pitch conditions during the series. He described the initial match as a typical Dambulla wicket, suitable for competitive play. However, he noted a troubling shift in the subsequent games, more..

Oct 24 (FT) Several key tourist markets, including US, UK, Australia, Russia, Canada, Israel & NZ issued travel warnings for Sri Lanka following reports of potential threats to international travellers, particularly in the eastern, southern, and western coastal cities. Interestingly, six of these countries, except for NZ, are among the top 20 source markets, which have collectively contributed to 28.2% of total arrivals so far in 2024. more..

Oct 24 (Island) The UN World Food Programme (WFP), together with the Ministries of Environment of India and SL, on Monday (21) launched its Adaptation for Resilience (ADAPT4R) project. The five-year initiative aims to enhance the food security and livelihoods of farming communities facing climate-induced challenges, according to a statement released in New Delhi and Colombo on Monday. The text of the statement: “Supported through a US$ 14 million contribution from more..

Oct 24 (DM) Sri Lanka’s gem and jewellery industry is set to dazzle once again with the 31st edition of FACETS Sri Lanka, South Asia’s premier gem and jewellery exhibition, all set to kick off early next year. Taking place from January 4-6, 2025, at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, this highly anticipated event promises to be a glittering showcase for the world’s gem and jewellery elite, attracting traders, wholesalers, manufacturers, lapidarists, retailers and collectors. more..

Oct 24 (CT) Supreme Court ordered the National Election Commission to accept the nomination of Pararajasingham Udayarasa of the Democratic National Alliance for the 2024 General Election. However, in a separate instance, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by YouTuber Ashen Senarathna, who challenged the National Election Commission’s decision to reject his nomination for the upcoming General Election. Commission had previously disqualified Senarathna’s more..

Oct 24 (DM) Sri Lanka is expected to attract around two million tourists this year, falling short of its initial target of 2.3 million by 11.6%. The shortfall is attributed to the recent visa processing issues that have hindered arrivals, along with concerns that the upcoming elections may further dampen the inflows. SL’s tourism authorities initially targeted 2.36 million arrivals for 2024 but the country has struggled to maintain momentum since mid-year, due to the visa-related disruptions. more..

Oct 24 (AD) Police says two persons have been arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) on suspicion of allegedly planning to attack Israeli nationals in SL. Security has been heightened at the popular surfing resort of Arugam Bay, following reports of a potential attack targeting foreign tourists, particularly Israelis. “There is information about a possible attack targeting Israelis at a building where they are staying" more..

Oct 24 (Island) Cabinet of Ministers has decided to establish a mechanism to ensure that resorts and bungalows operated by various state entities do not become private holiday homes for the Minister in charge, Cabinet spokesperson Vijitha Herath said. SL has a significant number of state-run resorts and bungalows, but the average Sri Lankan often finds it difficult to book these facilities, as they are frequently reserved by default for Ministers and their associates, he said. more..

Oct 24 (DM) SL security forces have been alerted to a potential attack on Israelis in the Arugam Bay area by Indian intelligence agencies. According to intelligence information, the threat is believed to be targeted at foreign nationals. Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya also said that intelligence regarding possible threats was first received on Oct 7. “We had reports indicating a potential attack aimed at foreign nationals,” he said, adding that the issue was extensively discussed more..

Oct 24 (TM) SL’s law enforcement authorities were reportedly, by their own admission, aware of intelligence regarding the potential for a possible attack targeting popular tourist locations in the Arugam Bay (Ampara District, Eastern Province) area, Police Dept said, as SL authorities rush to take preventive measures to mitigate the impact from a terror threat. Revelation came following the US Embassy issuing a security alert for more..

Oct 24 (SLN) A search operation conducted by the SL Navy led to the seizure of 02 Indian fishing boats and apprehension of 16 Indian fishermen, poaching in Sri Lankan waters. This special operation was conducted off the Kachchativu Island, Jaffna on 23rd Oct. Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in SL waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen. more..

Oct 24 (FT) One could not ask for a better market place than the recently staged Presidential election – 17.4 million consumers (voters), targeted essentially by four brands (though there were 38 Prez candidates registered). Each brand had the stipulation of Rs. 1.8 billion within a two-month period. Given that Sri Lanka is an island nation, it was a perfect market place. All candidates had the freedom to travel, freedom to use any medium of communication. more..

Oct 24 (FT) In his stump speech on the General Election campaign trail, President AKD has called for the voters to produce a powerful (balavath, prabala) govt. Interestingly, he did not call for a strong (shakthimath) govt which is conventionally the opposite of a weak one. Given where he’s coming from, that distinction and his choice of words should give us pause. SL, Ceylon at the time, was not only the first in Afro-Asia to have universal franchise but it was also the first more..

Oct 24 (DM) The emergency declared at BIA following another bomb scare on a Vistara flight has been called off, according to the airport management. Flight operations at the BIA are continuing as usual without any disruption to the airport’s normal operations, says Airport and Aviation Services SL (AASL). The management of BIA declared a full emergency in response to another reported bomb scare on a Vistara flight from Mumbai to Colombo, which was scheduled to arrive more..

Oct 24 (DM) Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the security threats to Israeli nationals in the Arugam Bay area, Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath said. At a special media briefing, the Minister confirmed that the suspects, all Sri Lankan nationals, are currently being questioned regarding the incident. He said that further details about the suspects will not be disclosed to the public, as doing so could more..

Oct 24 (NW) SLPP member Rohitha Abeygunawardena says it is better to be killed than to allow his reputation to be tarnished. Former SLPP MP said that it is not easy to pull him down through mudslinging campaigns. “I would like to say to those who hate me, instead of mudslinging and ruining my reputation, you should just destroy my life, like how several leaders were shot and killed or murdered,” he said. Rohitha Abeygunawardena said he was ready to sacrifice his life for nation & politics. more..

Oct 24 (FT) Ekho Ella, a boutique hotel tucked away in the serene hills of Ella, has just been recognised as the number one boutique hotel in Sri Lanka by TripAdvisor. This esteemed accolade is part of TripAdvisor’s much-anticipated list of the 10 Best Boutique Hotels to visit in SL. It’s a true testament to the charm and warmth that Ekho Ella offers its visitors. What sets Ekho Ella apart is its stunning vistas of the iconic Ella Gap, coupled with an exquisite fusion of natural beauty more..

Oct 24 (GV) Sri Lankans views of the country’s direction improved dramatically in the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) SLOTS polling for September 2024. In the weeks leading up to the prez election, a net 43% of the public thought the country was heading in the wrong direction. This reversed after the election with a net 5% of Sri Lankans saying that the country was headed in the right direction in last 10 days of the month, more..

Oct 24 (DM) While criticising the move by foreign embassies in Sri Lanka to issue advisories to their nationals from travelling to Arugam Bay, the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance stressed that the law should be enforced against tourists who illegally set up set up businesses and overstay their visas. In an open letter, written by its Chair Malik Fernando, the SL Tourism Alliance also expressed hope that tourists intending to travel to the country would see beyond the smoke and mirrors. more..

Oct 24 (AD) Supreme Court has ordered for the Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed seeking an order preventing the release of the 2024 Grade 05 Scholarship Exam results and the cut-off marks, to be taken up for consideration on Nov 18. The petitioners have requested the Supreme Court through their FR petition that an order be issued invalidating question paper 1 of the 2024 Grade 05 Scholarship Exam of which certain questions are alleged to have been leaked, and more..

Oct 24 (AD) Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath says that the travel advisories issued by several foreign countries for SL could be lifted within the next two to three days. Minister stated this during a special press conference today, to brief on the steps taken following information received on possible attacks targeting foreign tourists in Sri Lanka. He reassured to public and the tourists that there is no cause for concern, as necessary security measures have been taken to ensure more..

Oct 24 (DM) Special security has been deployed and police patrols increased around Chabad houses (Jewish prayer halls) in several areas, in the country including in Colombo, following the warning of potential attacks on Israeli tourists. Accordingly, security has been heightened near Chabad houses in the Colombo, Arugam Bay, Ella and Weligama areas where Israeli tourists visit. Police said security had been provided to these areas prior to the advisory issued by embassies. more..

Oct 24 (FT) The Transparency International SL (TISL) yesterday announced the launch of its 2024 General Election Observation program, focusing on the critical issue of public resource misuse by politicians for campaigning. Speaking about their organisation’s mission for the 14 November General Election at a media briefing yesterday, TISL outlined their efforts to foster an accountable and fairer electoral process, more..