Sep 11 (EN) Three international banking corporations are in discussion to set up offshore operations in Colombo Port City, its operating company said. Parliament on Sept 4, approved offshore banking rules gazette in July, CHEC Port City CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd said. “The presence of offshore branches of international banks would promote greater financial stability and provide the dexterity to invest in large-scale projects for prospective global investors,” more..

Sep 11 (CT) Several prominent members of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) have pledged their support to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Prez Election. Among those who have aligned with Wickremesinghe are former Northern Provincial Councillor Alikhan Shariff, former Musali PS Chairman A.G.H. Subihan, members A.R.M. Rasmin, Haneef Makbool, M.H.M. Kamil, Ash Sheikh Abdul Rahman and former Musali Jamiyyathul Ulama President M. Thowfeek, along more..

Sep 11 (Reuters) Not one of the 38 contenders in SL's prez election this month is a woman, a stark contrast in the Indian Ocean island where women make up more than half the voters and the workforce. Well before more familiar figures such as Britain's Margaret Thatcher or India's Indira Gandhi, SL gave the world its first female PM in 1960, electing Sirimavo Bandaranaike to a job her daughter also held 30 years later. more..

Sep 11 (wsws) SL’s main prez candidates—Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake of NPP —have made bogus and extravagant election promises. They maintain, however, total radio silence on the escalating danger of a catastrophic third world war. The threat of world war is very real. The fascistic Israeli regime, with the full backing of Washington and its European NATO allies, has now expanded its relentless slaughter of more..

Sep 11 (AD) The Election Commission (EC) says that postal voting for the 2024 Presidential Election can be carried out today and tomorrow. Accordingly, the government employees who were unable to cast their postal votes on Sept 4, 5, and 6 can do so on these two days. The EC has also stated that if postal votes are not used on these two days, there will be no further opportunities to use the postal vote on any other day or on Sept 21, when the Presidential Election will be held. more..

Sep 11 (NW) Asset declarations of over 100 persons who are obligated to submit their asset and liabilities declarations, including top officials and the Prez, are now publicly accessible on the Asset Declarations webpage of the CIABOC. This is an interim measure to make asset declarations public under the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023 (ACA), while CIABOC establishes a centralized electronic system in compliance with the law. more..

Sep 11 (AD) Prez candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance, entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera, called on the public not to base their final decision on artificially created political rallies. He made these remarks during a meeting held this morning to present appointment letters to several electoral organizers of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance. He stated that SL has reached the final stage of the prez election, regarding which the people of the country had placed immense expectations and hope. more..

Sep 11 (DM) NPP MP Harini Amarasuriya today filed a defamatory action before the Colombo District Court against SJB MP Tissa Attanayake claiming Rs.100 million as damages for allegedly making a false and defamatory statement during an election rally. Harini Amarasuriya alleges that on August 19, the defendant Tissa Attanayake made a public statement during an SJB Presidential campaign meeting in Mawanella, claiming that an NPP govt would halt the Kandy Dalada Perahera more..

Sep 12 (CT) With the Prez Election drawing closer day by day, the political landscape of the country has become highly charged with tension and it seems to have leaked into every sphere of the society, making it hard for anyone not to talk about, or at least hear about politics in their day-to-day life. Proportionally to the very high number of candidates that will appear on the ballot paper, there is a rise in the number of complaints filed against violation of election laws as well. more..

Sep 12 (DM) With mere 9 days to go for the Prez Election, most people are focusing on the often broken promises of various ruling parties – which were essentially family based – but, constitutional analysts are reflecting on a system change. One of such system changes proposed is a body like the Senate which could maintain checks and balances on the ruling party. According to the Soulbury Constitution, under which SL gained independence on Feb 4, 1948, Senate was also set up and more..

Sep 12 (CT) There has been considerable discussion in society regarding the assets and liabilities of the four main party candidates, who contest the prez election. This has been prompted by the CIABOC’s public release of their asset and liability statements. However, these statements reveal that the principal political candidates running for the presidency, along with their families, are in severe debts to various more..

Sep 12 (DM) This is a cricket crazy nation where every islander is loyal to the national cricket team. There was a time when most shopping malls selling televisions would switch on at least one tv and offer some entertainment to passersby. On Test match days, we’d see people standing on the road soaking up the action with their eyes glued to televisions, owned by store owners. Right now, the focus is on the upcoming Prez Elections, and a SL victory over England in the Third Test at the Oval more..

Sep 12 (DM) The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) strongly encouraged all those who are eligible to vote at the upcoming Presidential Elections. In a statement, they added that they consider voting a spiritual-political act, which is an opportunity for voters to not only exercise their rights to choose their leaders, but also express compassion and solidarity with marginalised and vulnerable groups and contribute towards a better country for all. more..

Sep 12 (TM) Concerns have been raised regarding the decision to increase salaries and hire additional staff at the State-owned CEB and CPC, which have been incurring losses. These institutions, which have contributed to significant financial losses due to alleged mismanagement, have shifted the burden onto consumers through higher electricity tariffs and fuel prices. A key concern now is whether these institutions more..

Sep 12 (ST) Sri Lankan politicians make such unimaginable and unattainable promises at election time that Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew once described it pithily. He called it the auction of nonexistent resources. During a chat I had with him in Hong Kong when I was with The Standard newspaper, he made a similar remark but more out of pity for our country like no other than with any touch of condescension that marked his earlier description of our political legerdemain. more..

Sep 12 (GV) It is an enduring stain on SL’s democracy and gender equality that only 4.8% of MPs are women despite their high literacy rate and educational levels. To correct this imbalance, proactive action is needed by women and men. Women had the right to vote when universal franchise was granted to all males and females over the age of 21 in 1931. Before that, under the Donoughmore Constitution voting rights were given to a section of the elite but women from more..

Sep 12 (TM) As the 21 Sept Prez Election nears, there are signs that the post-vote period will likely see some instability. As of this week, two of the top three contenders for the Presidency seem to be inching forward in the race, and are now neck and neck as they reach the finishing line. Given the rhetoric and scale of the campaigns which are being waged, in the event of a close result at the ballot box, it is likely that a dissatisfied candidate could begin to throw all sorts of allegations, more..

Sep 12 (CT) In 12 day the country would have to congratulate Anura Kumara Dissanayake as Prez and hurl imprecations at an electoral processes which opened a perilous pathway for Sajith or possibly Ranil to stake a claim to the presidency. For impenetrable reasons however Sumanthiran decided to support Sajith (as did a miniscule left entity known as the ULF). Why Sumanthiran backed Sajith, instead of the NPP, is difficult to understand. It is true that NPP/ JVP has not issued a guarantee more..

Sep 12 (DN) SL athletes managed to claim all the glory on the first day of the fourth South Asian (U-20) Junior Athletics Championships, which commenced yesterday in Chennai, India. Competing against athletes from six countries, SL stormed to the top of the medal standings on the first day, winning nine medals. This included 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 3 bronze medals. In the men’s 100 metres event, Merone Wijesinghe sprinted more..

Sep 12 (Island) Leading US prez candidates, Donald Trump (Republican) and Kamala Harris (Democratic) engaged in a combative live debate on Tuesday. The general consensus is that Harris fared better than Trump, who was seen to be on the defensive. Her experience as a former prosecutor may have stood Harris in good stead when she took on Trump, whose legal woes are legion. Tuesday’s prez face-off revolved around several key issues, but it is thought to have been light on policy details. more..

Sep 12 (FT) Sri Lanka – Japan Business Council (SLJBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on Monday held its 45th AGM where for the first time it also received the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation Award. It was presented by Japanese Ambassador and Patron of the Council Hideaki Mizukoshi who was also the Chief Guest. This prestigious award was given in recognition of the Council’s unwavering support in strengthening bilateral trade, tourism, and investment ties more..

Sep 12 (FT) Jaya Container Terminals Ltd. (JCT Ltd.), a fully owned subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), recently commemorated its 16th anniversary. Since its inception in 2008, JCT Ltd. has established itself as a cornerstone of the Sri Lankan maritime industry, consistently exceeding expectations and achieving remarkable milestones. Over the past three years, JCT Ltd. has witnessed phenomenal growth, shattering previous records for revenue and profitability. more..

Sep 12 (ST) For Sri Lanka’s LGBTQIA+ community, casting their votes at elections is a distressing exercise as the identity documents they will be carrying to the polling booths misstate their gender identity, activists say. They say the Dept for Registration of Persons issues national identity cards only for two sexes—male and female—and efforts by persons with LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and the +) identities to find a solution more..

Sep 12 (FT) With less than 10 days to go, incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe described the decisive Prez election as still open but expressed confidence of victory on the strength of his proven prowess and the dynamic plan and implementation focus to deliver higher socio-economic growth. Despite his busy schedule in the campaign trail, Wickremesinghe reiterated his commitment to driving economic stability, growth & prosperity more..

Sep 12 (Island) SL’s Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya believed that dismissing Joe Root cheaply in both innings in the third Test at The Oval was the game changer. Root, who averages 67 in Tests against SL, was a thorn in the flesh to the opposition with a match winning half-century at Old Trafford and hundreds in each innings at Lord’s where England won by 190 runs. Jayasuriya told journalists that his team had spent considerable time discussing how to dismiss Joe Root cheaply and that it paid off. more..

Sep 12 (DN) Opener Oshada Fernando performed well, scoring 122 and 80 in both innings, while paceman Isitha Wijesundara had fine figures of 7 for 34, guiding SL A to a 6-wicket win over South Africa A in their first four-day game played at Diamond Oval Grounds Kimberley yesterday. South Africa A scored 372, with Matthew Breetzke hitting 129 in their first innings, while SL A were all out for 323 in their first innings, with Oshada Fernando leading from the front, scoring 122 off 146 balls more..

Sep 12 (TM) National Police Commission (NPC) is set to discuss the recent Supreme Court (SC) ruling that the fundamental rights (FR) of DIG Bimshani Jasin Arachchi were violated by her removal as the Acting DIG of the Community Police Division, and the recommendation to consider her reinstatement from 5 October upon receiving the official order. Considering an FR petition filed by her, SC Judges, Justice S. Thurairaja, more..

Sep 12 (TM) The Election commission (EC) informed that it will stay within the budgetary allocation of Rs. 10 billion for the Presidential Poll of this year (2024). “We have decided to stick to our budget of Rs. 10 billion,” the Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake told The Daily Morning yesterday (11) in response to a query on any changes in the budget. “This budget was decided last year (2023) and we will cover the cost of this election with this.” more..

Sep 12 (EN) Under the orthodoxy now promoted by inflationist macro-economists that drive countries wholesale into currency crises through ad hoc exchange rate policy, SL’s central bank is an independent holy cow only answerable to the IMF. SL’s presidents, prime ministers and ruling party legislators, who are unceremoniously kicked out by the electorate when the currency depreciates and energy and food prices go up, as rates are suppressed with inflationary open market more..

Sep 12 (DN) As SL moves towards a resilient recovery of the economy, revitalizing the tea industry is a crucial step for economic growth opined World Bank’s Country Manager for SL and Maldives, Gevorg Sargsyan, addressing the 25th AGM of Tea Exporters Association (TEA) held in Colombo. “To ensure the continued success and sustainability of this unique brand, it is essential for all stakeholders, public and private sector, to unite in their efforts in enhancing growth across entire ecosystem more..

Sep 12 (DM) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday signed the Bill passed in Parliament, making the minimum basic salary for private sector employees Rs. 21,000. Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry said that this should be considered the minimum wage when calculating payments for the EPF, ETF and gratuity. According to the Bill, the private sector employers will pay their employees a national minimum wage of Rs.17,500 along with an additional minimum wage of more..

Sep 12 (Island) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said that it strictly followed procurement rules and procedures to ensure full transparency and fairness in respect of an anti-corruption project underway in SL. Spokesperson for JICA SL Office said so in response to The Island query regarding the ongoing controversy over JICA agreement with the Bar Association of SL (BASL). A 5-member Special Committee, appointed by more..

Sep 12 (DM) CID has recorded a statement from a former Major of the SL Army for allegedly making a threatening statement towards supporters and members of other political parties in a video posted on social media. Police said that the investigations began after a MP lodged a complaint with the CID on Sept 7, alleging that the individual had made the statement during a NPP election campaign rally. Several organizations have also filed complaints regarding the statement in the video. more..

Sep 12 (Island) SJB prez candidate Sajith Premadasa has pledged to transform all schools and hospitals into smart institutions during his presidency. Premadasa revealed plans to establish 14 factories, in selected Divisional Secretariat areas in the Kurunegala district, as a pilot project, soon after assuming office. “Once these factories are operational, we will extend the initiative to other divisional secretariat areas in the Kurunegala district. Modernising agriculture is also a priority, more..

Sep 12 (Island) The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) yesterday (11) launched its international expert election observation mission for the September 21 Presidential Election here. ANFREL deployed 10 observers, including two electoral analysts and a mission management team, across key areas of the country, the ANFREL said in a statement. Earlier European Union and Commonwealth polls monitoring projects got underway. The text of ANFREL press release: more..