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'24-year-old collective agreement had to be honoured and precedents followed'

Mar 23 (Island) The CBSL (Central Bank of SL) pay hike controversy apparently refuses to go away. Hardly a day passes without it being taken up in Parliament or elsewhere. The person in the crosshairs of the critics of the CBSL in general and the pay revision in particular is CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. Has the CBSL departed from the established procedures, processes and practices in effecting the latest pay increases, more..

Meeting in Court; COPE; poem read at Oscar Awards 76

Mar 23 (Island) One of two headlines in The Island of Monday March 18 was Let’s meet in court, JVP tells Rohitha. The proposer JVP will be represented by former COPE Chairman Sunil Handunetti and Vijitha Herath and of course Rohitha is Abeygunawardena, always in the news. The challenge is consequent to the newly appointed Chairman/COPE threatening to bring legal action against Vijitha Herath who, Rohitha accuses, made a defamatory statement against him. more..

Investment and accelerated progress during crises?

Mar 23 (Island) Around 13 March, it was reported that six undergraduates had been selected from Sri Lanka to climb Mount Everest or Sagarmatha as it is known by the Nepali. This news reminded me that for many who are privileged to be admitted to study at our state universities, their own journey as undergraduates is as significant and phenomenal as climbing Mount Everest. The scenes at the Orientation day for freshers and on graduation day beautifully captures the egalitarian miracle more..

හිටපු ජනපති මෛත්‍රී අත්අඩංගුවට ?

From bubbles to troubles: SL's rising wash-water crisis & its ecological fallout

Mar 23 (TM) SL's rich biodiversity and plentiful water resources are a true gift. According to WB, we benefit from a vast network of rivers and enjoy relatively low salinity levels in freshwater resources. World Wildlife Fund recognises us as one of the top 10 globally, highlighting the richness of our ecosystems, especially considering SL's relatively small size. Unfortunately, we face a significant environmental challenge caused by using public wells & natural water sources to wash clothes. more..

Fratricidal conflict between LTTE and Karuna Eastern Tigers

Mar 23 (DM) In the first article published last week (Col Karuna’s Eastern Tiger revolt against LTTE 20 years ago) the background and reasons for the Eastern Tiger revolt were discussed in detail. In this second article, the course of events leading to the eruption of the intra-tiger fratricidal conflict in the aftermath of Col Karuna’s rebellion will be recounted, relying on some of my earlier writings. All hell was expected to break loose after Col Karuna the Eastern regional commander of LTTE raised more..

Double blow for food vendors at Galle Face

Mar 23 (TM) The future of informal vendors at the iconic Galle Face Green remains uncertain – a double blow to a group of people already disenfranchised due to the crash of the economy in 2022 and bouts of upscale development over the past decade that have pushed these residents of the city out of their homes and towards the borders of Colombo. It is learnt that the SLPA is negotiating a mechanism with the vendors, who will be more..

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Mar 23 (CT) According to the Constitution, prez election should be held in Sept/Oct 2024. Some people believed, and some still believe the election will not take place. The skepticism is not without reason because Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s party, UNP, has a history of finding excuses for not conducting polls. Prez Jayewardene’s 1982 referendum canceled the parliamentary election. The present govt of Wickremesinghe indefinitely deferred local authority elections scheduled for 2023. more..

Isn’t there a better COPE chief in SLPP?

Mar 23 (DM) One of the three watchdog committees of SL’s Parliament, the COPE, has been hit by a wave of resignations since Monday (18), following the appointment of Rohitha Abeygunawardena as its chairman. By yesterday noon, 11 members – almost all from the Opposition and dissidents of the ruling SLPP – had tendered their resignation. Eran Wickramaratne, S.M. Marikkar and Hesha Withanage from SJB, Anura Kumara Dissanayake from NPP, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam more..

Preserving guardians of the coast

Mar 23 (CT) Pambala Forest Reserve in Chilaw which spans across 18.9 hectares is home to all 22 mangrove species in Sri Lanka. Out of the 22 mangroves species, 17 are true mangroves and can be seen in this unique habitat, especially dedicated to ensure their survival. The mangroves thrive in this environment as they get the required conditions needed for their existence from the lagoon close by. more..

Weather, economy and fate of cricket team

Mar 23 (DM) It’s growing hotter by the day. Last Saturday the temperature in Colombo rose to around 89 degrees Fahrenheit. Forecasters have predicted that there will be no let-up in the spell of hot weather. Rather they are warning that temperatures will rise further by April when sun will be directly over SL. Doctors also warn the public to avoid strenuous labour, to wear white clothing that absorbs solar energy & drink more water. Difficulty here is that our reservoirs are running low on water supplies. more..

Gender equality & women empowerment

Mar 23 (TM) Although various programmes have been launched throughout the past to establish gender equality and to empower women, it is somewhat questionable as to whether they have achieved any significant results. It is becoming clear that without sufficient support from family corporations and the society, progress to the said components cannot be achieved through initiatives launched by the Govt including legal provisions alone. This was further confirmed in more..

Massive rise in scams as public struggle from financial crisis

Mar 22 (DM) Amid the country's high cost of living, there's an increased risk of individuals falling prey to ongoing scams and cyber frauds as more people are desperately resorting to earning quick money, SL Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) said. Senior Information Security Engineer Charuka Damunupola of SLCERT said that several incidents relating to social media platforms, such as Facebook, now known as Meta, Messenger were reported in addition to more..

Foreigners to be offered driving license at airport, demerit system from April

Mar 22 (EN) Foreigners entering Sri Lanka will be able to obtain a driving license at the airport from April 15, State Minister of Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna has said. “In collaboration with the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, arrangements are being made to obtain a driving license in Sri Lanka for foreigners seeking to have them,” State Minister Alagiyawanna told a press briefing on Friday. more..

Presidents, PMs in last 70 years lacked job experience and vision: Janaka Rathnayake

Mar 22 (DM) Over the past 70 years, Prezs and PMs who governed this country lacked any significant job experience and also failed to provide a clear vision for the country, Prez candidate Janaka Ratnayake said. He said a Prez and a leader should have a vision for the development or betterment of the country on behalf of the people. "As far as we see, none of the previous Presidents had the ability to manage. With the powers of the country, a Prez should be the CEO of the country. more..

විශ්වාසභංග ඡන්දය - පිළිතුරු කතාව

Prez directs completion of Urumaya program granting free land rights to 2 million people by June

Mar 22 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed officials to ensure the completion of the national Urumaya freehold deeds program by June. Prez emphasized that it is the dream of every citizen to attain legal ownership of land, regardless of their background. He firmly believes that everyone should have this fundamental right. Prez made these remarks while attending the Urumaya Freehold Deeds program held in the Ottagapulam, in Jaffna this morning (22). more..

Navy nabs 9 persons for illegal night diving

Mar 22 (SLN) Navy apprehended 09 persons who engaged in illegal night diving in Mamunai and Nagar Kovil sea areas in Jaffna, during search operations conducted on 20th March. The operations also led to the seizure of 03 dinghies, diving gear and fishing equipment used for this illegal activity. The Navy carries out regular operations in the coastal and sea areas around the island, with a view to prevent illegal fishing practices of a handful of individuals who disregard the sustainability more..

Sri Lanka to secure likely 6-year moratorium on debt owed to India, Paris Club

Mar 22 (AD) SL is close to finalising a debt treatment plan with India and the Paris Club, sources familiar with the negotiations said, pointing to a likely moratorium of up to six years and a reduced interest rate during the repayment period. “The discussions are at an advanced stage. A formal agreement on the terms can be expected very soon,” the Colombo-based source said, after a recent discussion among members of the Official Creditor Committee [OCC]. more..

Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus expresses concern on reducing consent age for sex

Mar 22 (DM) Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus has requested Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to take steps to withdraw the bill gazetted to amend Chapter 19 of the Penal Code which seeks to reduce the consent age for sex to 14. "According to the amendments made to the Penal Code in 1995, even if a girl under 16 years of age has sexual relations of her own free will, it is considered rape and the proposed amendment to the Penal Code by Minister of Justice will lower the age limit to 14 years," more..

Keheliya’s revision application seeking bail fixed for consideration

Mar 22 (AD) Colombo High Court on Friday (22) decided to consider the revision application filed by former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella seeking to be released on bail. Accordingly, the revision application has been fixed for consideration on Monday (25) by HC Judge Sujeewa Nissanka. During the court proceedings, Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama, representing the AG, told the court that the prosecution has yet to receive the documents pertaining to the revision application. more..

Police offer cash rewards for information provided on illegal firearms, organized criminals

Mar 22 (AD) SL Police have decided to offer cash prizes to individuals who provide information about illegal firearms used by organized criminal gang members. In parallel to the ongoing Yukthiya exercise to eradicate drug distribution initiated in late Dec 2023, the police launched a special police operation on March 19 in a bid to crack down on organized crimes. Accordingly, 20 special police teams – each consisting of nine personnel including one Crimes OIC, more..

General elections must be held first to maintain fairness: MR

Mar 22 (DM) Leader of the SLPP, Mahinda Rajapaksa, said that a general election should be held first and then the prez election to maintain a fair process in the country. Rajapaksa said that Basil Rajapaksa had conveyed this proposal to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe on behalf of the SLPP when Basil met the Prez recently. Mahinda Rajapaksa also maintained that if this proposal is not followed, whichever party wins the prez election will have a massive victory in the parliamentary election, more..

Japanese Ambassador assures Japan’s support for Sri Lanka’s economic development efforts

Mar 22 (PMD) The Japanese Ambassador to SL MIZUKOSHI Hideaki, expressed Japan’s support for the current program aimed at rebuilding the Sri Lankan economy. Drawing parallels between Japan’s historical journey and SL’s current economic challenges, the Ambassador highlighted Japan’s resilience and economic resurgence as a model for SL. These remarks were made during his keynote address at a panel discussion on “Economic Development and Modernization with Lessons from Japan,” more..

පොහොට්ටුවේ තුන්කොන් ගැටුම

IMF staff mission team call on Opposition leader

Mar 22 (FT) IMF staff mission team led by Peter Breuer, Katsiaryna Svirydzenka and Sarwat Jahan called on Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa at the Parliament complex on Wednesday. The purpose of the meeting was to engage in a discussion concerning the ongoing progress of the agreement reached between the IMF and the Govt. The high-level gathering saw an extensive exchange of views on a wide array of economic, social, and political matters. During their discussion it was pointed out more..

Navy apprehends 32 more Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters

Mar 22 (AD) The SL Navy has apprehended 32 Indian fishermen along with 05 trawlers poaching in SL waters off Talaimannar and near the Delft Island in two separate operations conducted on Wednesday night. The Navy continues to conduct regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers, taking into account the impact of those practices on the livelihood of local fishermen. As an extension of these operations, more..

Ex-President ready to disclose masterminds of Easter Sunday attacks

Mar 22 (AD) Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena claims he is aware of the true mastermind of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks and that he is prepared to disclose the information to the judiciary if inquired from him or issues an order regarding the matter. Commenting to the media in Kandy today, Sirisena highlighted that he is ready to disclose the relevant information and that at the same time, it is the responsibility of the judges to keep the information strictly confidential. more..

Bangladesh's fast-bowling evolution bears fruit in green Sylhet

Mar 22 (CI) Glass half-full or glass half-empty? It was a day when Bangladesh pinned SL on the ropes, but then allowed them to wriggle free and, with the ball in hand, throw some heavy punches of their own. Whichever way you saw it however, Bangladesh's fast bowlers were in the thick of the action. On a rare green-tinged pitch in Sylhet, Khaled Ahmed gave them a blazing start before Sri Lanka counter-attacked and took control of the middle session. Then the fast bowlers struck again. more..

Sri Lankan family in Canada donates ICU beds worth Rs. 400 Mn to SL

Mar 22 (DM) A total of 157 cutting-edge Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds worth over Rs. 470 million were donated to the SL govt by a Sri Lankan family living in Canada. This generous contribution has been made at the behest of Rev. Fr. Darrel Coonghe, the Director and Founder of Supuwath Arana in Seeduwa. The donation ceremony took place at the Colombo Logistics Terminals (Pvt) Ltd in Welisara today (21). Health Ministry said these 157 beds are set to be distributed across 34 hospitals more..

Dhananjaya, Kamindu centuries put Sri Lanka on top on 13-wicket opening day

Mar 22 (CI) A day that started with SL's top five being skittled for just 57 ended with Bangladesh three down and trailing by 248 runs. In between, there were centuries for Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis amid a 202-run sixth-wicket stand, as SL fought back from a horror start to end day one of the first Test in Sylhet in control of proceedings. By stumps, Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha had accounted for three of Bangladesh's top four, more..

All performances in Kandy Esala Perahera including dance elements to be gazetted

Mar 22 (DM) There are discussions to gazette all the performance items, including dance elements presented during the annual Esala Perahera festival by the Sri Dalada Maligawa and the Satara Maha Devalayas, Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela said. The discussions were held with the President's Secretary, Saman Ekanayake, today. The Diyawadana Nilame pointed out that by gazetting all the items, including the dance elements, they will not be distorted in the future. more..

AG will not represent ex-Health Minister Keheliya, court told

Mar 22 (AD) Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that he would not represent former Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella and several other respondents named in a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition. The petition seeks a ruling determining that fundamental human rights have been violated through the decision taken to purchase medicines from two unregistered Indian companies under the Indian credit line. Appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, Deputy Solicitor General more..

77 ට ආපහු යන්නද හදන්නේ?

Economic recovery must become more broad-based

Mar 22 (FT) Sri Lanka is now clearly emerging from an unprecedented economic crisis that imposed significant hardships on its people, especially the most vulnerable. There are now some clear signs of recovery. The IMF has projected that the economy will expand in 2024 and that growth will accelerate. Tight borrowing conditions and reduced disposable income still holds back domestic consumption whilst the reform momentum is hurting the poor in some ways. more..

Absolute independence is the bane for CBSL enhanced salary revision

Mar 22 (AD) The famous dictum made by John Acton, a British jurist (1887) that absolute corruption corrupts absolutely comes to my mind when I read the unilateral decision taken by the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) in granting an obnoxious salary revision (70%) to its employees across the board, behind the cover of the unfettered autonomy and independent status given to the CBSL by Act No. 16 of 2023. One could argue whether the CBSL’s sense of morality has lessened to such a low ebb more..

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