Nov 5 (FT) The National People’s Power (NPP) party’s vision for transportation is “to create an efficient, sustainable, and accessible transportation system that enhances mobility for all citizens while promoting economic growth and environmental conservation”. In his election manifesto titled A thriving nation – A beautiful life, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake cites an efficient transport service as a key element of A Sustainable Economy. Prez has promised five interventions aimed at more..

Nov 5 (FT) Former MP S.M. Marikkar, who is contesting for the Colombo district from the SJB says that his party has the competent team to steer the country for a better economy and prosperity. He also says SJB is confident that it will secure a significant number of seats at the forthcoming general elections and will support the Govt for its good initiatives and decisions. “It is too early to comment about this Govt’s progress but Elpitiya election results have sent a good message more..

Nov 5 (DM) Dept of Immigration and Emigration has proposed to link up with the tourist hotels in future as a practical means to track down information on foreign tourists visiting from seven countries that do not require a visa to enter or remain in SL. Presently it has become a challenging task for the immigration authorities to keep track of the tourists entering the country in large numbers to determine whether they return after more..

Nov 5 (DM) Claiming that the govt had held discussions with rice millers on the prices of rice, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that legal action will be taken against those who fail to sell rice at the controlled prices. He said the govt had no way of controlling rice prices as the previous govt had not purchased paddy at all. He said the govt had only two options to control the rice prices, either by releasing paddy stocks of the govt or by imposing laws, adding that more..

Nov 5 (Island) Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha handed over a package of development assistance to the fishing community of Trincomalee on Sunday, at an event held at the Trincomalee Fishermen’s Trade Union. The assistance, extended at the request of fishermen from the Trincomalee Fishermen Trade Union, which includes 21 fishermen associations from the district, consisted of a 40 HP boat engine, three deep freezers, and life jackets. While the deep freezers would more..

Nov 5 (FT) Advocata Institute is calling for a competitive bidding process to end corrupt procurement practices at State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). It said recent rumours that the new Govt might grant the CEB permission to continue to bypass competitive bidding for fuel purchases have sparked an uproar on social media. While the validity of these reports is yet to be determined, the resulting online debate draws more..

Nov 5 (DM) SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has joined forces with the SL Institute of Hotel Management (SLITHM) to roll out a mobile registration service, aimed at supporting and officially recognising the tourism service providers across the island. The programme will kick off with an awareness session at the Hikkaduwa Urban Council auditorium on Nov 5. The SLITHM said it would conduct a professional training programme on Nov 6, in an effort to improve the service more..

Nov 5 (DN) Govt plans to deposit Rs. 20 billion in farmers’ accounts as fertiliser subsidies for the Maha season, according to Agriculture Commissioner General. This support will benefit approximately one million farmers cultivating 720,000 hectares of rice. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the Treasury to increase the subsidy to Rs. 25,000 under the new administration for the 2024/25 Maha season. As an initial step, Rs. 15,000 has already begun to be disbursed. more..

Nov 5 (DM) People’s Bank announced its recognition as SL’s Best Digital Bank at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024. This accolade underscores the bank’s unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence in the digital banking landscape. The Euromoney Awards for Excellence is considered as a one of the highest level recognitions within the global banking industry, celebrating institutions that excel in differentiation and deliver exceptional services to their customers. more..

Nov 5 (DN) SL tea industry should look towards adopting sustainable practices and enhancing productivity through technology to bypass the high cost of labour, said Sanjaya Herath Chairman, Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA) at their 130th AGM in Colombo. He noted that labor costs account for over 60% of production expenses and are a significant concern amidst rising inflation and workforce shortages. He emphasized the need for automation & renewable energy investments more..

Nov 5 (FT) JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva has strongly criticised former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, accusing him of deceiving the public and undermining democratic principles. Silva’s remarks came as tensions rise ahead of the upcoming General Election. “Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was defeated, is once again trying to mislead the people by lying. He has asked us to learn about the constitution from him, but he has no right more..

Nov 5 (Island) Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, retired SDIG Ravi Seneviratne, had transferred a senior police officer who was conducting a probe into his alleged failure to act on an intelligence warning to prevent the Easter Sunday carnage, former MP Udaya Gammanpila, said yesterday. PHU Leader Gammanpila said former DIG Palitha Siriwardena had complained to the then IGP C.D. Wickramaratne that the Easter Sunday attacks had resulted from the dereliction of more..

Nov 5 (CT) Doctors at the National Hospital, Galle (formerly Teaching Hospital Karapitiya) have warned that they will launch strike today if disciplinary action is not taken against an oncology surgeon at the hospital for allegedly using abusive language and threatening several of his colleagues. Provincial Coordinator for GMOA, Dr Ubaya Bandara Warakagoda, when contacted yesterday, stated that medical practitioners had resorted to trade union action on Friday (1) following the abusive and more..

Nov 5 (ST) SL govt will be importing stocks of coconut kernels in a bid to assist the thriving coconut export market in the wake of increased global prices for the product. The authorities believe that there is a mafia that is controlling the increased prices in the domestic market. CDA Chairman Shantha Ranatunga said that a Cabinet paper has already been prepared which will give authority for exporters to import any amount of stocks of coconut kernels as required with no restriction on quantity. more..

Nov 5 (Island) In a comprehensive discussion that addressed the current state of SL’s key industries NPP Colombo District candidates, Chathuranga Abeysinghe and Dr. Rizvie Salih, outlined a series of initiatives aimed at driving economic growth, enhancing transparency and fostering a more competitive business environment. At the Business Edition Forum held on Sunday at the Ramada, Chathuranga responded to concerns from the gem and jewellery sector, which has seen more..

Nov 5 (ST) SL’s manpower workers face job uncertainty, which has also caused instability for their families. Many people from rural areas, drawn to Free Trade Zones and other sectors out of financial necessity, suffer from inadequate wages, lack job security, and have limited access to essential facilities. Most critically, they are often left without a voice to advocate for their rights. Workers hired by third-party agents are referred to more..

Nov 5 (CT) Signature, SL’s most admired menswear brand, has been appointed as the Official Formal and Casual Clothing Partner for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) from 2024 to 2027. Under this significant partnership, Signature will proudly sponsor and empower the national men’s and women’s cricket teams as their provider of formal and casual attire for upcoming tournaments, including prominent events organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC). more..

Nov 5 (CT) Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake announced that ballot papers for this year’s Parliamentary Elections have been printed in two columns. He explained that this change was necessary due to the increase in the number of independent groups and political parties contesting, which required the EC to adopt a two-column format. All constituencies, except for Polonnaruwa, Moneragala, and Kegalle, have received ballot papers in this two-column layout. more..

Nov 5 (FT) Former business leader turned Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof last week at a corporate forum spoke highly of newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, identifying him as SL’s one shot for transformation and hence, the private sector should extend support. Speaking at the first-ever International Conference of the SL Institute of Directors (SLID), Yusoof in his keynote said that Prez Dissanayake was for more..

Nov 5 (DM) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said that it remains optimistic about the continuity of the reforms in Sri Lanka but warns that there is very little room to manoeuvre as the country seeks a sustainable recovery. ADB Country Director Tajumi Kandono noted that the institution expects shifts in the new government’s approach to reform programmes, particularly with a focus on achieving a more equitable burden-sharing strategy to protect the poor and vulnerable. more..

Nov 5 (Island) The NPP’s main attraction at the prez election, and one of its key campaign promises, was to bring a halt to the corruption that has increasingly held the country in its thrall. Large scale corruption from top to bottom and encompassing both the public and private sectors became normalised following the opening up of the economy in the late 1970s. Huge development projects and foreign aid provided opportunities for corruption to those in positions of power. more..

Nov 5 (ST) In a bid to reduce his three-year ban, Niroshan Dickwella, accused of doping, is expected to provide a written submission on November 11 to the Anti-Doping Appeals Committee. Dickwella appeared before the Appeals Committee on Wednesday after the Appeals Committee decided to hear Dickwella’s case. He is pleading leniency. Dickwella recently became the first national cricketer to be slapped with a three-year ban from all forms of the game after failing a doping test. more..

Nov 5 (TM) SriLankan Airlines has recorded a Rs 12.9 billion net loss in the first three months of the 2024/25 financial year (FY25) due to persistent cash flow challenges influenced by legacy operational issues and financial costs from past debt, the Finance Ministry said. According to the Mid-Year Fiscal Report, SriLankan Airlines earned total revenue of Rs. 63.8 billion for the first three months of FY25, which is 12.7% less compared to Rs. 73.1 billion earned in the same period of FY24. more..

Nov 5 (DN) Sri Lanka is planning to name the same T-20 squad which was named for the last West Indies series for the forthcoming New Zealand two match series scheduled to be played from Nov 9 at Dambulla. SL is also looking to improve T-20 and ODI ranking and at the same time they are more focused on ICC world test championship ranking to enter the final. The next 4 test matches two against South Africa and more..

Nov 5 (FT) The Vella Group of Companies marked its official launch as a corporate entity at the Ravana Pool Club in Ella, one of its flagship properties. The newly established organisation, Vella, will serve as the central hub for administrative and corporate management across all operations within the Group. Vella Group comprises over 10 subsidiaries in the tea, leisure, adventure, investments, and IT sectors. Vella Tea’s portfolio includes Halpéwatte Tea Factory and estates, Halpé Tea, more..

Nov 5 (FT) The National Innovation Agency of SL, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), will today launch the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024 at the Saman Kelegama Auditorium, Institute of Policy Studies, Independence Avenue, Col 7, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Held under the theme Prioritising innovation in SL’s economic recovery, this event will bring together Govt leaders, industry experts, and academics to explore how innovation can drive sustainable more..

Nov 5 (TM) Recent legal actions, including the arrest and remanding of former Parliamentarians and Ministers Johnston Fernando and Lohan Ratwatte have raised serious concerns about the integrity of politicians, and have brought up again the usual discussion about corrupt politicians. The allegations against the two politicians entail the illegal importation and assembling of motor vehicles and the use of vehicles with no proper registration. Investigations and court proceedings more..

Nov 5 (TM) The recent bus accident in Badulla that claimed two lives and left around 40 injured has attracted the attention of both the authorities and the public, and the probes are in progress to find out whether the accident was a result of a technical issue or a human error. The incident involved a bus carrying a group of students of the Southern Campus of Kotelawala Defence Uni. SL's public transport system is a lifeline for millions struggling to survive the economic crisis, trades, and more..

Nov 5 (TM) Misinformation and disinformation have surged during the current electoral period, drawing attention to how effectively social media platforms respond to flagged content. Experts from Hashtag Generation and Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) have reported a troubling rise in coordinated disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining political figures and manipulating more..

Nov 5 (ST) Actor Ranjan Ramanayake must have wished he was still in solitary jail after being found guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court for saying, ‘They are all rogues, mallie’. At least four impregnable walls would have shielded his ignorance of the basic election laws that govern candidates, and prevented this former MP, with over 12 years in Parliament, from an embarrassing fall after flying high in choppers, hopping from one campaigning spot to another. more..

Nov 5 (DM) The enthusiasm among the people on the Nov 14 Parliamentary election seems to be very low compared to the Sept 21 Prez election. The traditional fighting between candidates of same parties for preferential votes, commonly known as Manapa Poraya also seems to be a thing of the past with only a few candidates of almost every party putting up posters displaying their preferential numbers. This might mislead or either confuse many voters, even the educated ones, more..

Nov 5 (SO) Following their defeat in the Prez election, whenever a politician from the UNP, SJB, or the SLPP talk about their ambitions to strengthen the Opposition at the next Election, they seem to be missing out on a key element. Their political discussions often seem to lack credibility and appear to be a bit eccentric and one egg short of an omelette. How did egg prices fall after the last Prez election? This has a story all its own. more..