Dec 16 (FT) SLTDA Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam said the sector is on track to end 2024 on a high, with year-to-date (YTD) arrivals crossing 1.9 million and over 70,000 tourists registered in the first half of December. Speaking on the industry’s resurgence, he expressed optimism that the country could welcome over 250,000 visitors this month, pushing the annual total to an estimated 2.2 million. Hewawasam said if achieved, this would mark the highest annual arrivals since the 2018 more..

Dec 16 (DM) The Chamber of Lankan Entrepreneurs (COYLE) aims to expand its presence into thirty countries over the next ten years in a bid to take SL brands global. “Most of the entrepreneurs are scared to enter the global market because they don’t know how the legal system works; they don’t know how to secure a warehouse etc. So, the aim of this initiative is to create more global brands by supporting SL entrepreneurs,” COYLE Chairman Thushira Raddella told reporters. more..

Dec 16 (TM) In recent years, SL has undertaken a major re-assessment of its revenue strategies, setting an ambitious target of Rs. 232 billion for the Dept of Excise – the highest target in its history. In a bid to meet this goal, the then Govt had explored all possible avenues to increase revenue, including revising excise fees for liquor licences. In January, then Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also served as Finance Minister, issued an amd more..

Dec 16 (DM) The passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in India and Kankesanthurai (KKS), Jaffna in SL's Northern Province is scheduled to resume next January. The service was suspended on Nov 7 due to bad weather conditions. Ponnusamy Sundarraj, the investor of the Subam boat service, said that the ferry will operate six days a week, offering various facilities to passengers. "It was initially planned to resume operations on Nov 19, but due to a forecast depression more..

Dec 16 (Island) JVP-led NPP, which embarked on a much-advertised, ambitious campaign to clean up Parliament by filling it with honest, educated, intelligent members, has had to cleanse itself. Speaker Asoka Ranwala had to resign on Friday, unable to prove his claim that he had a doctorate. The NPP leaders, who contested under the Compass symbol, and secured an unprecedented mandate to put the country right, were left with no alternative but to throw Ranwala to wolves more..

Dec 16 (CT) Every year, as the Sri Pada pilgrimage season begins, we are reminded of a grim reality: tonnes of garbage — mostly plastic and polythene — will be strewn across this sacred and ecologically- significant site. Once a symbol of Sri Lanka’s deep reverence for nature, Sri Pada now stands as a glaring testament to our collective environmental insensitivity. Sri Pada, nestled within the UNESCO-listed Samanala Nature Reserve, is not just a site of immense natural beauty. more..

Dec 16 (FT) Many of our previous Govts of recent times fell into major problems since the leadership lost control of its party members. The problem was further compounded since quite a few of them were coalition govts. NPP is a single party govt with enormous power. Yet NPP can’t afford to remain complacent. The most important concern is to maintain cohesive relationships among the team members of NPP. It is not an easy task. The team size is so large with five-sixth of them being more..

Dec 16 (CT) Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Chairman, Admiral (Retd) S.S. Ranasinghe, speaks to Ceylon Today on the issues related to the Port of Colombo (PoC), which the new govt is working on, and the exact policy framework that the previous govts have drafted, as it was skilfully studied and researched. He also warned that it is time for the Port to become a Green Port, as agreed by the previous govt, and if they don’t meet more..

Dec 16 (ST) There is much that Sri Lanka’s newest party in govt, the NPP party needs to learn in terms of political realities, not the least of which is to be self-deprecating in victory. That is crucial if it is to avoid treading the path of predecessors who were ingloriously thrown out by the Sri Lankan people when the glittering gold that they promised turned to drab dross after being catapulted into power on extraordinary mandates (ie; G Rajapaksa, 2019-2022). more..

Dec 16 (TM) Last week, SL concluded the much-awaited International Sovereign Bond (ISB) restructuring process sparking hopes about a more methodical, stable economic revival. The announcement of the important agreement was made by the Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena who was retained from the former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe administration, allowing the continued handling of the sensitive matter under Dissanayake Govt by experienced hands. more..

Dec 16 (SO) A rice mafia operates in the country creating hardships for consumers every year during the festive season. However, no former Govt in power has been able to provide a lasting solution to this burning issue. Many trade analysts said that one of the main reasons for the rice shortage in the market is the jacking up of prices by large-scale rice mill owners. As the price of rice increased and paved the way to create more..

Dec 16 (CT) System Change was the magical slogan coined by the aragalaya youth, and that slogan turned out to be the magnetic vote puller for Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his NPP at the Prez and General Elections respectively. Although in their public campaigns AKD and NPP identified the post-independence political culture of ethnonationalism and its corrupt system of governance as the two crucial areas to be ended or radically reformed through a social revolution more..

Dec 16 (DM) Through the distant mists of history of cricket, we hear echoes of phrases such as cricket being the gentleman’s game. The breeding of team spirit and equality between men, who played the game, were by-words in the sport. Even today many of these beliefs persist. We hear and speak of the spirit of cricket, that it matters not who wins or loses, but how we play the game. Educationists wax eloquent over the discipline, spirit and values the game of cricket breeds in young minds. more..

Dec 15 (ST) For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, a foreign govt, the most powerful one in the world at that, has publicly acknowledged corruption by two SL citizens. On Thursday, the US Department of State declared that Udayanga Weeratunga and Kapila Chandrasena have been publicly designated for their involvement in significant corruption. Weeratunga, a cousin of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, more..

Dec 15 (ST) A new Speaker will be announced on Tuesday following the resignation of the recently elected Speaker, Asoka Ranwala. His resignation follows criticism regarding the authenticity of his educational qualifications. The Secretary to the President officially informed the Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera in writing, that the President had accepted the resignation of the Speaker. Mr Ranwala on Friday informed the President in writing of his decision more..

Dec 15 (TM) The expansion of the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo Port is set to be completed by June 2025, 18 months ahead of its intended timeline, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Kodithuwakku said. Kodithuwakku confirmed the acceleration, attributing it to successful negotiations with the contractor to expedite construction. The ECT, a critical component of Colombo Port’s South Harbour, is designed to accommodate ultra-large container ships, more..

Dec 15 (ST) With Sri Lanka’s current batch of 750,000 passports due to run out between July and September next year, depending on the daily issuance rate, the Public Security Ministry will seek Cabinet approval to allow an expert committee to propose how best to replenish stocks. The issue was now “a real tangle” which made even calling a new tender problematic, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala admitted. more..

Dec 15 (SO) The city hotels are looking at the best season after 2018 as forward bookings for 2024 end seems very positive, said President Hotels Association of SL (THASL), M. Shanthikumar. He said that the city hoteliers hope to complete the 2024 year averaging around 60% occupancy while the hotels outside Colombo should average over 70%. He, however, said that if the Minimum Room Rate was implemented for City Hotels the yield would be higher but now the rooms rates are more..

Dec 15 (SO) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a State visit to India from Dec 15 (today) till 17 at the invitation of Prez of India, Droupadi Murmu. This is the first bilateral official visit undertaken by Prez Dissanayake after his assumption of office in September this year. Prez is scheduled to meet Indian Prez Murmu and hold bilateral discussions with Indian PM Narendra Modi and other Indian dignitaries on a range of bilateral issues of mutual and regional interest more..

Dec 15 (TM) The Ministry of Agriculture has assured that the recently-arrived fertiliser stock meets all required quality standards. Agriculture Ministry Secretary D.P. Wickramasinghe stressed that the fertiliser had been tested in international laboratories prior to shipment and would not have been accepted if it did not meet these standards. He further confirmed that samples would be taken upon its arrival in Sri Lanka to verify its quality. The Govt on Thursday (12) received more..

Dec 15 (ST) Sri Lankans who reside abroad and have subscribed to the country’s Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds by remitting funds back home are exempted from paying income tax on the interest derived from those investments, Inland Revenue Department (IRD) said. The announcement came a day after the govt announced the conclusion of its international bond restructuring exercise, bringing closure to one of the most complex and challenging sovereign debt restructuring processes. more..

Dec 15 (TM) Parliament officials are awaiting a decision from Prez Dissanayake or PM Amarasuriya to commence investigating the credibility of educational qualifications submitted by MPs. The resignation of Speaker Asoka Ranwala amid controversy over his educational qualifications has sparked discussions about the importance of verifying the credentials of MPs. Several Opposition MPs have insisted that Govt investigate more..

Dec 15 (ST) Lo and behold the Cardinal comes bearing gifts of coconuts heralding new joy for the govt in its efforts to assist in providing a continuous supply of nuts to the local market made available to consumers at Sathosa outlets at guaranteed prices (Rs.130). While it is not clear the extent of coconut lands owned by the Catholic Church, a cashew and coconut estate in Mundalama, Puttalam owned by the Church with an extent of about 700 acres will be supplying the first consignment of coconuts more..

Dec 15 (ST) A storm has been brewing within SL football circles over the substantial salary package of the CEO of the Football Federation of SL (FFSL). The appointment, reportedly made bypassing standard protocols, has sparked discord among members of the FFSL Executive Committee, the body collectively responsible for approving such decisions. According to insiders, the terms of the CEO’s employment—now over three months into the role—are yet to receive necessary approval more..

Dec 15 (ST) Govt has made it compulsory for all local and foreign non-governmental orgaisations operating in SL, including those that have registered under the Companies Act, to register with the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations. The registrations have been made mandatory under the Voluntary Social Service Organisations (Registration and Supervision) Act No. 31 of 1980. Accordingly, all foreign NGOs operating or intending to operate in SL should register more..

Dec 15 (NW) Seventeen SL nationals in Israel are being deported for violating their employment agreements, according to Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel, Nimal Bandara. The deportees had entered Israel on agricultural work visas but were caught working in bakeries after leaving their designated workplaces. Israeli authorities detained the individuals during inspections, as the country closely monitors foreign labor practices to ensure compliance. more..

Dec 15 (ST) Just three days after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) imposed a funding suspension on the National Olympic Committee of SL, its General Assembly convened on Friday and decided to call for an early election in March next year. Election of office bearers are scheduled for March 31. However, this move conspicuously avoided addressing the core issue at hand: allegations of financial misappropriation and more..

Dec 15 (SO) Nadeeka Hemanthi achieved what many would deem impossible, defying all odds to become Sri Lanka’s first female powerlifting gold medallist at the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan. But her journey to this victory wasn’t just about lifting weights; it was about lifting herself out of a life of poverty and hardship, driven by unwavering discipline, determination and sacrifice. Born to parents Sunil Premaratne and Premila Malkanthi, Hemanthi grew up in an environment where more..

Dec 15 (EN) The European Union is allocating 175,000 euros (53.8 million rupees) to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to people affected by cyclone Fengal across Sri Lanka. The funding will benefit over 37,000 people in some of the hardest-hit areas in the eastern and northern provinces, EU in Sri Lanka said. This EU funding will support SL Red Cross in delivering assistance to address the basic needs of people who have lost their homes or livelihoods. more..

Dec 15 (TM) SL has experienced a severe reduction in the supply of medicines, with shipments falling from 2,000 consignments last year to just 750 this year. This represents a sharp 62.5% reduction in the receipt of medicines. The delay in receiving consignments is mainly attributed to the slow procurement process, as the officials follow the established procurement guidelines. It is also learnt that the new officials who have been more..

Dec 15 (DM) The process of re-checking and updating the information of all MPs on the parliamentary website is underway following the discovery that some titles were fake, an informed source said. The parliamentary authorities have also decided to call for explanations from those in charge of updating information on the web. Meanwhile, the Communication Department of Parliament said that the title of Dr. was mentioned before the name of the Minister of Justice & National Integration more..

Dec 15 (AD) SL Customs says that weevils (Gullo) have been detected in 50,000 Kg of imported rice while issues with product information labels have been detected in another 25,000 Kg of imported rice. Accordingly, the respective importers have been ordered to re-export the relevant rice consignments or face confiscation of defective stocks. It was revealed that two containers of imported rice contained defective stocks, while another container had labels tampered with—new labels affixed over old ones, more..