Dec 20 (CT) It is due to the misconceptions against the NPP and its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake that were spread among the public by their political opponents that investors at Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) took precautionary measures by sidelining from their usual investment decisions. Those misconceptions ranged from acquiring private businesses to fixed deposits. That is why, even though interest rate was on the decline, people hesitated to invest in the CSE, more..

Dec 20 (ST) Things are getting curiouser and curiouser as Alice, during a round trip in Wonderland, might have said. Here is a party (or is it an alliance?) that came to power promising—or was it threatening?—to change the system. It sure has—at least one system—though I cannot remember it being listed in its political cornucopia. Well, never mind; even a hustling, bustling bunch of sahodarayas cannot engage all gears and release all brakes at the same time, although more..

Dec 20 (TM) As part of a broader effort to tackle financial crimes and improve the country’s legal framework, the Govt is set to introduce significant reforms, particularly in the areas of illicit asset recovery and insolvency. Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara recently announced in Parliament that three bills were to be presented in Parliament, namely the Proceeds of Crime Bill, amendments to the insolvency law, and more..

Dec 20 (DM) Local Govt (LG) election has come to the fore again. The people and the sovereign voters expect the appointment of independent philanthropic representatives who can impartially educate and assist the people in the locality to overcome unfair practices and delays in regard to usage of public goods such as Free Education, Police actions, Judiciary services, sanitary services and garbage collection etc. This is in addition to the standard govt and non-govt services involving more..

Dec 20 (CT) Across the rural heartlands of SL, generations of farmers have worked tirelessly, contending not just with drought or disease but with an increasingly persistent challenge: wild animals. Elephants flatten paddy fields, monkeys swipe fruit with audacious ease, and birds decimate crops that took months to nurture. For farmers, the consequences are not just financial but deeply personal. It is a bitter blow to their livelihoods and a mounting sense of helplessness that more..

Dec 20 (TM) Corruption in SL, for the most part, has been seen as a public sector problem. Amidst large-scale corruption scandals in the public sector, the role that the private sector plays in facilitating corruption has often been ignored. Research however indicates that the private sector often functions as the supply side of corruption, according to a recent research report which sought to map the corruption-related risks that exist more..

Dec 20 (TM) A list of beneficiaries of the President’s Fund is going viral on social media platforms, sparking controversy in the general society as most of these beneficiaries are politicians and well-connected figures and not ordinary citizens. According to the list that is being circulated, several beneficiaries, who are well-known politicians, have received several millions of rupees from the Fund. In some cases, some politicians have allegedly used this money to obtain medical treatments more..

Dec 20 (DM) As Sri Lanka gets ready for Christmas in December, there will be some aged govt workers who will be getting ready for retirement. That sounds painful, especially for specialist doctors who have to retire at age 60 by Dec 31 this year. However, there can be some good news for them given that the Ministry of Public Administration takes steps to gazette a ruling by the Court of Appeal to extend the retirement age of specialist doctors serving at govt hospitals to age 63. more..

Dec 19 (AD) The Govt of India has agreed to provide financial assistance amounting to SL Rs. 300 million to address vehicle requirements for the SL Police, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced during the Cabinet press briefing held today. The grant will be utilized to supply vehicle to meet the operational needs of police stations in the Northern Province. Accordingly, the Cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs more..

Dec 19 (CT) If former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe had elevated the country to a commendable position, he would have been able to continue as Prez. However, he was rejected by the people, who recognised how those around him had contributed to pushing the country towards bankruptcy, NPP Kalutara District MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi stated. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Kottahachchi remarked that several destructive economic policies implemented by successive govts more..

Dec 19 (DM) Ministry of Defence said that it has decided to issue only one firearm per civilian for personal protection and it will be issued after considering intelligence reports. Ministry of Defence through electronic and print media announced that all firearms and ammunition issued to civilians for personal protection must be returned to the govt by 21 Nov 2024 for a quantitative review. In response to the notice, about 85% of the licensees have more..

Dec 19 (NW) Cabinet approval has been granted for the renovation of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex according to international standards. The Sugathadasa National Sports Complex is an internationally recognized sports complex that provides class 1 sports facilities. It is the only sports complex in Sri Lanka consisting of 400-meter, 200-meter, and 80-meter artificial tracks with all the facilities according to international standards. The artificial track was resurfaced in 2018, more..

Dec 19 (EN) SL’s statistics office said its representatives are visiting homes from Dec 19 to 23 to conduct a population census of the country, after completing a count of homeless people on Dec 18. Dept of Census and Statistics said it expected public support to complete the census. “They will collect data on population size, geographic distribution, education levels, language skills, computer literacy, reading and writing skills, job descriptions, physical and mental disabilities, more..

Dec 19 (AD) Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe says that criticism pertaining to the country’s economy should be made within the framework of the IMF agreement. Issuing a special statement today, he emphasized that it is necessary to move forward and protect the IMF agreement and that neither the govt nor the opposition has the ability to exit that agreement. “If we do so, economic problems will arise in this country again,” more..

Dec 19 (AD) Dept of Census and Statistics has completed the final phase of this year’s Population and Housing Census, with data collection focusing on homeless individuals conducted yesterday, between 10 p.m. and 12 midnight. Director General of the Dept, Anoja Seneviratne, announced that the completion of this phase marks the conclusion of the 2024 census activities. However, the next five days will be allocated for updating and finalizing the collected data. more..

Dec 19 (DM) Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, said he is confident and optimistic that the incumbent govt will bring justice to the Easter Sunday bomb victims by uncovering the truth. Responding to questions posed by reporters, Cardinal stated, “The govt briefs us from time to time on the progress of the investigations.” “The govt seems to be carrying out a transparent probe into the carnage. This becomes evident from the conversations they have with us on more..

Dec 19 (NW) Cabinet has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Women and Child Affairs to allocate Rs. 25 million for the year 2025 for the administration of temporary care homes for female victims of violence. Ministry of Women and Child Affairs has maintained a total of 10 care home centres, with one temporary care home each in the Gampaha, Ratnapura, Moneragala, Colombo, Matara, Batticaloa, Mullaitivu, and Jaffna districts and 2 in the A'pura District. more..

Dec 19 (DM) A multi-day trawler carrying more than 100 suspected illegal emigrants lost its course and drifted towards the sea off the Mullivaikkal coast in Mullaitivu. Investigations revealed that the group, primarily from Myanmar, had been attempting to migrate illegally under the guise of refugees. The trawler had run out of food and water after losing its direction and drifted to the area. SL authorities, including the Navy, police and local residents, provided immediate aid, more..

Dec 19 (CT) The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) urged Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa to introduce the concept of the Family Physician to rural hospitals to minimise congestion in larger State-run hospitals. MCPA President, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, on Tuesday, urged the Health Minister to introduce the Family Physician concept in rural hospitals in a bid to develop the services of more..

Dec 19 (DM) A masked woman was seen questioning NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi about whether their govt plans to recover stolen assets allegedly stashed in Uganda as mentioned by her during the election campaign period to woo votes. During a cultural event, MP Kottahachchi faced several sarcastic questions regarding the current state of affairs: Masked Woman: Will the govt bring about change? Kottahachchi: Yes. Masked Woman: Will the alleged stolen money hidden in more..

Dec 19 (NW) Former MP Manoj Sirisena says he made a verbal and written clarification from the President’s Fund yesterday, about the recent statement made in Parliament by Minister Nalinda Jayatissa mentioning his name related to the misuse of funds from the President’s Fund. Issuing a statement, the former MP said that on March 9, 2009, while participating in an event held in Akuressa he was seriously injured in a suicide bomb. He revealed that on 21st March, more..

Dec 19 (ANI) Minister Vijitha Herath, provided an update on the country's strategic efforts to revitalize its tourism sector, which has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years due to Easter Sunday attacks, COVID-19, and the economic crisis. Speaking at the India Foundation Program, Herath stated, "We too had such a big tourism before the Easter Sunday attack, 2018. We got (the) highest amounts of tourists. more..

Dec 19 (EN) CEB said it had inked a 150 million dollar loan with the Asian Development Bank to upgrade its grid to accommodate more renewable energy, and boost stability. “Through these funds, several essential projects in CEB’s long-term transmission plan will be implemented over 2025-2027, which will improve the overall reliability and stability of the grid,” CEB said. “Transmission assets built through this loan will enable the integration of planned large-scale renewable energy more..

Dec 19 (EN) Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal to allow the import of 30,000 metric tonnes of salt amidst a possible shortage in the first quarter of 2025, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. “The adverse weather conditions that prevailed could contribute to a possible shortage of salt arising in the first quarter of 2025, especially in the industrial sector,” Jayatissa told reporters on Thursday. Salt manufacturers have asked permission to import salt, he said. more..

Dec 19 (DM) The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today issued a warrant for the arrest of BBS General Secretary Ven. Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara Thera for failing to appear before court on the day the judgment was to be delivered over a case filed against him. When the matter was called before Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, neither Gnanasara Thera nor his surety were present in court. However, the defense counsel representing Gnanasara Thera informed more..

Dec 19 (FT) Vidullanka PLC’s first project under its $ 12.85 million Engineering Procurement and Construction contract with the Guyana Energy Agency, the 0.7MW Moco Moco Mini Hydropower Plant, was inaugurated on 13 December 2024. The ceremony was graced by the presence of the PM of Guyana Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, as well as key representatives of the Government and local authorities, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), the Lethem Power Company and the community. more..

Dec 19 (ABC) A remorseless killer who fatally attacked his wife with a hatchet in front of their children has been jailed for 37 years, with a judge describing his excuses as ridiculous. On Thursday, Justice Mandy Fox said Dinush Kurera had put forward a hopeless explanation that he acted in self-defence, as she sentenced the 47-year-old for murder and attacking his son. Nelomie Perera had long been fearful of her estranged husband more..

Dec 19 (AFP) A Sri Lankan man faced Broadmeadows Magistrates Court today charged with allegedly committing an act of indecency on board an international flight. The AFP will allege the man, 41, committed an act of indecency on a female passenger during a flight from Sri Lanka to Melbourne yesterday. The passenger alerted airline staff to the incident, who then notified the AFP. AFP officers interviewed passengers and airline staff when the aircraft arrived at Melbourne Airport. more..

Dec 19 (NW) A Quo Warranto application has been filed against Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Professor Upali Pannilage, seeking his disqualification as an MP. The application was filed by public interest litigant Oshala Herath at the Court of Appeal, stating that Prof. Upali Pannilage had been appointed as a MP under the NPP National List and was appointed a Cabinet Minister while being an officer in a public corporation. more..

Dec 19 (DM) Following unrest and uncertainty regarding the unpublished gazette on the retirement age of medical specialists, which risks the premature retirement of over 200 specialists, Ministry of Public Admin has decided to take steps to publish the gazette notification. Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa submitted a fresh note on the matter, addressing the Court of Appeal ruling that the retirement age for specialist doctors more..

Dec 19 (CT) The number of children dropping out of education is increasing daily, Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj, stated. She revealed that annually, around 350,000 children are enrolled in Grade 1, but an average of 50,000 leave school by Grade 10. Paulraj cited data from the 2022/2023 academic year, noting that at least 2,547 children dropped out after Grade 1. She questioned who should take responsibility for the significant number of children who abandon their education by Grade 10. more..

Dec 19 (DM) The govt has approved increasing the daily allocation to Rs. 100 to provide breakfast for children attending Early Childhood Development Centres and preschools, Cabinet spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Since 2017, the National Secretariat on Early Childhood Development has been implementing a programme to provide breakfast for children in centres and preschools with a high percentage of underweight children, under the technical guidance of the Health Ministry. more..