Dec 27 (FT) Sri Lanka yesterday commemorated the 20th anniversary of the devastating 2004 tsunami, a tragedy that claimed over 35,000 lives and caused widespread destruction. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters faced in history, bordering the Indian Ocean, leaving an unforgettable mark on global disaster response and resilience efforts. 2004 Boxing Day tsunami killed 226,408 people, of which 35,399 were in SL. more..

Dec 27 (CT) Govt is in the process of formulating a mechanism to provide relief to depositors earning less than Rs 150,000 in monthly deposit interest, who are currently subject to a 10% withholding tax, Minister Anil Jayantha said. Minister announced that the Inland Revenue Dept (IRD) would soon release details of the mechanism to address the concerns of affected depositors. When asked whether the recently increased 10% withholding tax is currently being applied to all depositors, more..

Dec 27 (DM) A new Gazette Extraordinary has been issued, outlining the procedure for the payment of monthly benefit allowances to eligible families and individuals under the Aswesuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme, effective from Jan 2025. This Gazette Notification was issued by the Prez in accordance with the powers vested in him as the Minister of Finance, Planning & Economic Development. The previous Gazette notification, issued by former Prez Wickremesinghe more..

Dec 27 (Island) Most of the males and females active in the labour force in Sri Lanka were in their 40s, according to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) valid for the second quarter 2024. The unemployment problem in Sri Lanka is more acute for educated females than educated males, the survey bulleting stated referring to its consistent observation over the past years. The survey was based on the data collected in April, May and more..

Dec 27 (NW) The SJB party has established a special unit to investigate arbitrary transfers being carried out at the state and provincial council levels. Issuing a statement, the SJB said that it has come to light that there is a systematic program of transferring govt officials between service stations on unacceptable and illogical grounds across various state and provincial council sectors. The SJB pointed out that it is concerning that the government, which came to power with a promise to ensure more..

Dec 27 (EN) The non-contributory nature of SL’s Public Services Pensions (PSP) scheme has become a significant burden on the country, as pension benefits are funded directly from govt revenue through general taxation, a research article by the Institute of Policy Studies finds. “With approximately 700,000 public sector pensioners, this system imposes a substantial financial strain on the govt.” According to IPS, about half of these pensions benefit the top 20% income group. more..

Dec 27 (DM) Although Rs. 40 million is spent monthly on salary payments for the Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital (NFTH), the govt does not intend to operate the hospital as a traditional govt facility, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. He made these remarks during an inspection of the NFTH this morning. Minister said that the govt plans to develop the hospital under a new model, taking into account both international and local circumstances, while leveraging the talent more..

Dec 27 (ST) Coconut industry-based authorities are looking at the possibility of imposing the essential commodity tag on coconuts in a bid to contain prices at levels as indicated by the govt. The authorities are finding it hard to ensure that prices in the local market can be retained without surging from Rs.110 upto around Rs.200. Currently prices in supermarkets are at Rs.180 per coconut. As a result of this sudden surge in prices due to a shortage in supply, authorities are trying to more..

Dec 27 (DM) RDA is poised to sustain a cost of Rs.900 million for the restoration of damage done to the electrification system of the Katunayake - Colombo expressway by drug addicts in their acts of thefts of copper cables. These unscrupulous elements started stealing copper cables during the lockdown of the country for the pandemic. It has continued up until now and RDA has estimated the cost for restoration at more..

Dec 27 (DM) A gem merchant in Nivithigala has found a blue sapphire in the shape of SL. The gem merchant Rohan Dissanayake of NIvithigala said he bought it from a gem miner in the Karavita area. The gem stone is in the shape of our Island home SL and the relief of land, including the Jaffna Peninsula, Mannar and Trincomalee are clearly visible. The gem merchant said he forwarded it to the Gem and Jewellery Authority on Dec 24 and obtained a certificate confirming that it is a blue sapphire. more..

Dec 27 (DM) Sri Lanka faces the risk of its entire wild boar population being wiped out because of African swine fever that has already killed around 100 of them as observed by the wildlife authorities, an official said yesterday. The disease has already caused huge damage to the pork industry. Dr. Tharaka Prasad, Director – Wildlife Health at the Dept of Wildlife Conservation said that wild boar deaths caused by this disease were observed mainly in Block 1 of the Yala National Park and more..

Dec 27 (Island) Sri Lanka Athletics has suspended track and field official S. W. Nimalsiri for four years after a three member committee appointed by the sports governing body found him guilty of manhandling leading athletic official G.L.S. Perera within the SL Athletics premises in Torrington. “The executive committee of SL Athletics decided to hand Nimalsiri a four year suspension after the three member committee concluded that he was guilty of manhandling the respected official,” more..

Dec 27 (FT) The Cabinet at their meeting on Monday approved awarding a long-term contract for the procurement of six murban crude oil shipments for four months to Singapore based, Aditya Birla Global Trading Ltd. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the Govt approved a contract for the procurement of six Miriam crude oil tankers from 1 April 2025 to 31 Aug 2025. He said bids for the procurement were invited from registered suppliers of the CPC with six bids received in response. more..

Dec 27 (TM) Govt is set to amend the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance (as amended) in response to calls from religious institutions urging the Govt and law enforcement authorities to take necessary action against individuals and organisations allegedly distorting religious teachings and practices. Minister Prof. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi said that Articles 42 and 43 of the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance (42 – Offence of passing off as more..

Dec 27 (IPS) In a mid-Oct 2024 meeting with the European Union (EU) Ambassador, SL reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade relations with the EU, particularly highlighting the role of the GSP+ programme in boosting SL exports. This discussion underscores the significance of the GSP+, which offers tariff preferences for SL’s exports to the EU. The GSP+ offers reduced tariffs on exports, conditional upon the recipient countries implementing 27 international conventions. more..

Dec 27 (TM) Public sector lender Indian Bank Ltd said the financial intelligence unit of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs. 2 million (INR 5.85 lakh) on the bank for failing to comply with the provisions of SL’s Financial Transactions Reporting Act. “...we have to inform you that the Central Bank of SL -Financial Intelligence Unit has imposed a monetary penalty of SL Rupees two million i.e. approx. INR 5.85 lakh on the bank for failure to conform more..

Dec 27 (FT) SL yesterday marked the arrival of the two millionth tourist for 2024 achieving a new milestone for the first time since 2018. The two millionth lucky tourist was Prasan Ingkanunt from Thailand who arrived on UL 403 for his first visit in SL with his wife and sister. “This marks the first time since 2018—when the country recorded its highest-ever arrivals of 2.3 million—that such numbers have been reached. more..

Dec 27 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has formally expressed the country’s interest in joining BRICS, the influential economic bloc, in a letter to Russian Prez Vladimir Putin. The development was confirmed by SL’s Ambassador to Moscow, P.M. Amza, in an interview with Russian news agency RIA Novosti this week. “President Dissanayake conveyed SL’s desire to join the BRICS family in a letter to President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, we have approached other BRICS member more..

Dec 27 (FT) EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe said the Govt’s decision to reduce the export service tax from 30% to 15% marks a major boost for the service export sector, paving the way for growth. Commenting on the policy change announced on 18 Dec, he said it was something that the industry along with the EDB lobbied for from the new administration. “The move will have a transformative impact on industries such as ICT/BPM, financial services, construction, transport & logistics” more..

Dec 27 (TM) Sri Lanka will have only two Test series to play in 2025, as per the Future Tours Programme (FTP) that has been formulated by the ICC, in conjunction with its stakeholders, a perusal of the schedule by The Daily Morning Sports, shows. Dhananjaya de Silva’s men will kick off their red-ball assignments in the new year, by hosting reigning ICC Test world champions Australia for a two-match series in January. Afterwards the Test team will have a break of five months, more..

Dec 27 (Island) A cascade of tectonic shifts triggered by the 2022 uprising or Aragalaya during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa govt has reshaped SL’s politics in such a way that more than 6,000 politicians have so far gone out of circulation, according to an election monitoring outfit. Executive Director of PAFFREL Rohana Hettiarachchi has reportedly said those politicians were left with no alternative but to call it quits because they knew that they had absolutely no chance of re-election. more..

Dec 27 (FT) Top ministers yesterday outlined the Govt’s progress in economic stability and debt restructuring plans and its proposed relief measures for the public. Labour Minister and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma at a press briefing, explained on efforts taken to stabilise the economy and initiatives way forward. more..

Dec 27 (Island) The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot. Cassandra quotes below a poet she never could enjoy – Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 – 1892). He was 1st Baron Tennyson and Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria’s reign. To her he sounds pompous but his Ring Out Wild Bells is a simple poem and she found it apt at this time. Two stanzas of the poem go thus: Ring out the want, the care, the sin, / the faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out my more..

Dec 27 (CT) As Sri Lanka approaches the 20th anniversary of the devastating 2004 tsunami, which claimed over 35,000 SL lives and 250,000 across the Indian Ocean, the country’s readiness for a similar disaster warrants critical evaluation. Despite advances in early warning systems and evacuation mechanisms, significant gaps in implementation raise concerns about overall preparedness. SL’s vulnerability to natural disasters is underscored by the fact that 96% of such events in SL more..

Dec 27 (TM) One of the key failures in governance of SL, is the lack of rule of law. SL has had a systematic failure to enforce the laws which govern the land for decades. As such, lawlessness, crime and corruption reign. One of the key issues which has been a part of the problem is the lack of integrity and professionalism in the law enforcement agencies. Today, many have little or no respect for the Police. Police Dept is widely believed to be ineffective, and a haven for crooks, more..

Dec 27 (SO) Where were you at 9.36 a.m. on Dec 26, 2004? That has become one of the definitive questions such as where were you on Nov 22 1963 when John F. Kennedy was shot?. It is a moment that we will all remember, as long as we live. Indeed, the Indian Ocean tsunami is the most catastrophic event in living memory for many of us. And we are on the cusp of marking 20 years since that fateful day, which saw the deaths of nearly 240,000 people across 14 countries in Asia and Africa. more..

Dec 27 (CT) The grand and ostentatious Indian tour, hosted by India for Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Minister Vijitha Herath following their sweeping victories in the recent Prez and Parliamentary Elections, concluded successfully. However, it prompted numerous questions from various political parties regarding the assurances exchanged between India and Sri Lanka, which the NPP govt has sought to clarify over the past few days. more..

Dec 27 (GV) The tsunami that struck Sri Lanka 20 years ago on December 26, 2004 was the most destructive natural disaster in living memory. It claimed over 39,000 lives and destroyed thousands of houses and livelihoods. In recent years, SL has witnessed a surge in natural disasters, prompting an urgent need to strengthen and enhance Disaster, Risk and Reduction (DRR) policy and practices at community and national level. Since 2010, approximately 13 million people in SL more..

Dec 27 (CT) In a landmark decision, the Australian Federal Court has fined Himalee Arunatilaka, SL’s current Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, over AUD 117,000 for exploiting a domestic worker during her tenure as Deputy High Commissioner in Canberra. From 2015 to 2018, Priyanka Danaratna, a SL national, was employed by Arunatilaka in Canberra. During this period, Danaratna worked extensive hours, often from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., more..

Dec 27 (DM) Twenty years ago on a day like today (26), people in Hambantota were getting ready to go to the Sunday fair during the early hours of the morning. The fair was usually at the beachside and back then, there were many families that lived along the coast belt in the Hambantota town itself. It would have been around 7am when Mohamed Zain Airudeen left home to obtain his daily catch. The weather had been strange, but more..

Dec 27 (DM) We love the police despite these law enforcement officers wearing an intimidating colour like khaki. Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara once mooted the idea of changing the police uniform to light blue, which is the colour of the police uniform in most European countries. But that idea never came to being implemented. By the way, light blue is a much friendlier colour than khaki. The word implement is so closely imbedded in the policeman’s jargon. Whether one likes it or not more..

Dec 27 (DM) With the advent of media and social media, people today are flooded with information, misinformation and disinformation, and it entails both upsides and downsides, particularly in a democratic society. Instant, regular flow of information has revolutionised social order with people becoming better armed with information to make informed decisions and rationalise their choices. The flow of information helps build public opinion on a particular thing in quick time, more..