Sep 4 (Island) Dr. Vijaya Corea counts 60 continuous years with a microphone in hand and continues to enjoy the epithet SL’s Legend as a Broadcaster, Compere, Actor and Media personality . The Grand Salute was organised by the Batch of 2011, S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia to pay a tribute to the Grandmaster in Broadcasting. The event was held on Aug 22 at Light House auditorium, Colombo 7 Reverend Marc Billimoria – Warden of S. Thomas’ College; Hudson Samarasinghe, more..

Sep 4 (EN) Sri Lanka has announced a pay hike for its army, navy and air force personnel ahead of presidential elections later this month. “According to the final report of the Presidential Expert Committee, which includes recommendations for raising public service salaries and allowances effective from January 1, 2025, the basic salaries of members serving in the three armed forces will also increase,” a govt statement read. The statement is reproduced below: more..

Sep 4 (TM) In the wake of allegations that the proposed Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation Bill is an attempt to betray war heroes, Minister Ali Sabry said that the to be established Commission would not be empowered to prosecute anyone. Opposition MPs Wimal Weerawansa and Gevindu Cumaratunga charged that the proposed Bill is an attempt to prosecute military personnel who contributed to bring an end to internal conflict. more..

Sep 4 (TM) Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval – subject to adoption at the next meeting – to make necessary provisions for the recalling of nominations for the Local Govt (LG) Elections. Minister Bandula Gunawardana stated that it has been observed that over 900,000 voters who were included in the renewed 2024 voters’ list are at risk of losing the right to vote and the right for the candidacy as a result of the indefinite postponement of the 2023 LG Elections. more..

Sep 4 (Island) Bite Bliss Delight Pvt Ltd announced the recent launch of its latest culinary venture, House of Sandwich | Colombo (HOSC), located at No. 9, Station Road, Bambalpitiya for dine-in and takeaway. Customers can also order via PickMe Food, and UberEats as well as via the brand’s own WhatsApp platform for curb-side pick-up and delivery. The new sandwich shop/ fast food outlet, located in the heart of Colombo combines innovative recipes with premium ingredients, offering more..

Sep 4 (DM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who senses his defeat, has started to give impractical pledges like increasing salaries of govt servants and writing off crop loans, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today. Speaking at a rally, he said if he had genuine concern for the country and its people, he could have fulfilled most of the pledges he gives now. Dissanayake said after realizing that he is going to lose power, he has started to give election promises (Gundu). more..

Sep 4 (DN) The Election Commission said that the Returning Officers have been informed to provide necessary facilities for postal voters to cast their votes today (4) and tomorrow (5) at their relevant work places for the 2024 Prez Election as the postal voting commences from today. Since the officers have to be deployed to provide security and supervision at the postal voting polling stations, the marking of postal votes in all District Secretariats and Election offices will be held on Sept 4 more..

Sep 4 (FT) PAFFREL, an election monitoring organisation, has raised concerns about what it perceives as an attempt by the Govt to mislead state sector employees ahead of the postal vote for the upcoming Prez Election. PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi noted that the Cabinet of Ministers, during its meeting on Monday, made three significant decisions that could directly affect the upcoming election. more..

Sep 4 (NW) President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged the SJB and the NPP to remove proposals related to increasing public sector salaries from their manifestos, stating that this work has already been completed. He noted that two years ago, no one would have believed that he would be able to stand on a platform today and announce that public sector wages had been increased, emphasizing that he consistently fulfills his promises, unlike other leaders who merely make promises on stage. more..

Sep 4 (AD) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) says that several suspects, who had collected money from taxpayers by impersonating Inland Revenue officers, have been arrested. Furthermore, the department mentions that the information of taxpayers, who have paid money to these fraudulent persons or whose locations were visited by them or in connection with such activities, is required for legal proceedings. Thus, the IRD has urged the aforesaid taxpayers to immediately file a more..

Sep 4 (TM) The Election Commission (EC) has stated that it will take necessary measures if any decisions made by the Cabinet of Ministers these days impact the electoral process pertaining to the Prez Election. EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that the EC has the authority to find out whether the programmes implemented by the Govt these days affect the electoral process, even if no complaint has been received. more..

Sep 4 (FT) Election time is a bonanza time for the hearing pleasure of the public. Besides the carnival atmosphere that prevails, with one side trying to outdo others with crowd numbers, and extravaganza of the nature the country could hardly afford, unless funding comes from sources who have their own expectations in return, election promises are dished out to resounding cheers of the crowds at political meetings. Past post-election experience demonstrates that most election promises more..

Sep 4 (FT) These days, tax and taxation have become a football among the political players. Goalkeepers play the parts of Midfielders while Strikers take over the roles of Defenders. Tax is a delicate, complicated, and sensitive matter that is capable of overthrowing or installing a govt, however, it is powerful. Recent Aragalaya was reminiscent of the importance and power of the tax that dethroned the most powerful executive presidency ever elected by Sri Lanka. more..

Sep 4 (DM) Postal voting for the 2024 Presidential election officially begins today, with over 700,000 eligible voters set to cast their ballots. Postal votes can be marked today at District Secretariats and Election Commission offices across the country. For uniformed staff and civil workers attached to law enforcement and security offices, postal voting will be available on September 4 and 6. This includes Senior DIG and DIG Offices, SP and ASP Offices, Police Stations, STF Camps, more..

Sep 4 (AD) Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed against the presidential pardon granted to former army officer Sunil Ratnayake, who was on the death row over the Mirusuvil massacre, has been fixed for consideration on Jan 15, 2025, by the Supreme Court. The petitions seek to invalidate the decision taken by former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa to pardon former army officer Sunil Ratnayake, who was convicted of the murder of 8 civilians at Mirusuvil in Jaffna in Dec 2000 and more..

Sep 4 (EN) Rohini Kaviratne, SJB legislator lamented child malnutrition amid high food prices, while State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya tabled regulation removing import licenses for key cereals, but retaining import duties. She said according to a UNICEF report one third of the country’s children were suffering from malnutrition. “According to this report one third of our children suffer from acute malnutrition,” more..

Sep 4 (NW) SJB has shot down rumours of the party allying with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said that such rumours are being spread as SJB Prez candidate MP Sajith Premadasa is predicted as the frontrunner to win the Prez Election. Requesting the public to be vigilant of the false information, MP Markar further said that the SJB will never agree to an alliance between individuals. He said that several political parties have joined the SJB based on common consensus more..

Sep 4 (DM) Three-wheeler associations today announced their support for independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming Prez election. Accordingly, All Ceylon Three-Wheeler Drivers' Union (ACTWDU), Union of National Taxi App Drivers, United Passenger Transport Service Professionals Association, and Western Provincial Three-Wheeler Drivers and Owners Cooperative Society are united in their endorsement of the Prez. Around a thousand representatives from more..

Sep 4 (TM) SL will amend its Value Added Tax (VAT) Act to phase out temporary VAT registration for importers by the end of year 2024, distinguishing between those who import for personal use and those who import for commercial purposes, to avoid loss of tax revenue, a Parliamentary report said. According to the Third Report by the Committee on Ways and Means, the Finance Ministry will amend the VAT Act to suspend more..

Sep 4 (EN) Sri Lanka has issued regulations to extend the given for exporters to surrender dollars to 100 days from one month and 7 days, State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. It applies to the time given to convert dollars already brought into the country, he said. Exporters had complained that they faced difficulties in matching the payments and costs for inputs due to the short surrender time. Exporters who receive advance payments in particular had complained earlier more..

Indian National Defence College delian-national-defence-college-delegation-visits-navy-headquarters/more..

Sep 4 (DM) Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana today affirmed to the Maitripala Sirisena faction of the SLFP that tbe Nimal Siripala de Silva faction of the SLFP will not infuriate their rival faction Ex-Co members of the SLFP who are in litigation with the Nimal Siripala faction. Judge Sandun Vithana made this assertion in court following the assurance by President's Counsel Chandaka Jayasundara during an inquiry into a writ petition filed before court by Uditha Loku Bandara of more..

Sep 4 (CT) State sector doctors in all the provinces, except the Western Province, held protests outside major hospitals, during the lunch hour, demanding an immediate halt to the suppression of trade union leaders who revealed the truth about the situation in the State health service. Doctors in the Western Province will stage protests, outside several major State hospitals tomorrow, over the same demand. Media Committee Member of the GMOA, Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said that doctors serving more..

Sep 4 (AD) Supreme Court has ruled that the Registrar General violated basic human rights and ordered the govt to pay a total compensation of Rs. 3.3 million to the aggrieved petitioners. SC has decided that the basic human rights of the assistant registrars working in the Registrar General’s Dept were violated by indefinitely postponing their promotion examination. The verdict, announced by SC Justice Janak De Silva. more..

Sep 4 (DM) While calling for unity among Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and others, State Minister Arundika Fernando announced in Parliament that he will function as an independent MP from today. "All parties including Prez RWickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa should unite for the sake of the nation. This has to be done to prevent an unclean force from coming into power," he said. "This unclean force is trying to create more..

Sep 4 (AD) The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that the govt is prepared to pay the salaries of govt surveyors, subject to conditions. The payment of relevant salaries is temporarily suspended due to the trade union action launched by the Govt Surveyors’ Association. Appearing on behalf of the AG, Deputy Solicitor General Kanishka de Silva informed this to the court when a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed by the govt surveyors was taken up for hearing. more..

Sep 4 (AD) NPP prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake reiterated that the conditions of the IMF are not unfavourable to the country. Joining a business community conference, he reassured that an NPP govt will uphold the current agreement with the IMF. “Now all the international relations of the country including the bilateral and multi-lateral agreements have been placed inside the IMF basket. more..

Sep 4 (AD) SJB Prez Candidate and Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa says that steps will be taken to turn both deep sea and freshwater fishing industries into a smart industry under his govt. During a rally held in Puttalam, he highlighted his vision to initiate a public-private joint venture in the Exclusive Economic Zone, on the country’s sea border. He further added, “We are working to improve this fishing industry by making both marine and freshwater fishing industry more..

Sep 4 (DM) Ranil Wickremesinghe's (RW) manifesto in English spans 13,496 words. While it is primarily aspirational, like most manifestos, it also uniquely outlines his efforts over the past two years to stabilize the economy. He highlights the enactment of 100 new laws, with notable achievements in legislation related to the Central Bank, Economic Transformation, Anti-Corruption, Public Debt Management, Electricity, and Public Finance Management. more..

Sep 4 (CT) Joe Root’s dream run with the bat has helped the England batter to an even bigger lead in ICC Test Batter Rankings. Back-to-back centuries against SL for Joe Root have led to the English star extending his lead atop the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings. Root (922) now leads by 63 points over NZ’s Kane Williamson, and England right-hander has an opportunity to break his own personal best mark, just one point away from the 923 rating he attained in July 2022 after a century against more..

Sep 4 (AD) Court of Appeal has further deferred the decision regarding the petition filed by former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, seeking an order to invalidate the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court’s order remanding him in custody until the end of the trial over the alleged import of substandard medicine. Relevant decision was scheduled to be delivered today. However, Appeals Court judge bench comprising the President of the Court of Appeal Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne more..

Sep 4 (NW) A special meeting to appraise the MPs on the duties of the Central Bank was held in Parliament yesterday under the patronage of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. The group of MPs had pointed out that it was very important to inform the Parliament regarding the role of the CB. The group of MPs had also emphasized the importance of briefing the Parliament on the current financial situation in a transparent and more..

Sep 4 (DM) High Commissioner Kana Kananathan said Sri Lanka has been officially removed from the referral visa list for entry into Tanzania, a status in place for over two decades. This decision follows sustained diplomatic efforts by SL’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the High Commission in Kenya, along with high-level discussions with the Government of Tanzania. As a result, Sri Lankans wishing to visit Tanzania can now apply for regular visas online, eliminating the additional steps, more..

Sep 4 (AD) The Prez Candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance, entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera, has stated that all other presidential candidates are unable to implement the policies in their manifestos due to the influence of the political groups surrounding them. He made these remarks during a meeting held in Galle. “I represent a journey for the victory of a strategic programme based on concepts, and therefore, it is a programme that no one can oppose,” he said. more..

Sep 4 (NW) A police constable accused of statutory rape of an underage girl who came to lodge a complaint at the Mount Lavinia police station in 2012, has been sentenced to 45 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court. High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige sentenced the former Mount Lavinia police constable to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for each of the 3 charges, with sentences to run concurrently. more..