Dec 15 (AD) Three names have been proposed for the position of Speaker of SL’s Parliament following the resignation of MP Asoka Ranwala from the position, according to political sources. Sources indicate that the names of Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, MP Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, and MP Nihal Galappaththi have been proposed as candidates to become the new Speaker. This follows the controversy surrounding former Speaker Ashoka Ranwala’s doctorate, which led to more..

Dec 15 (Island) On Dec 1 TV bulletins beamed and the print media published next day news of the presentation of the KT Chitrasiri report on parliamentary and presidential privileges to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. A smiling president was shown on television screens accepting the gift-wrapped report from the retired SC judge who with two others, retired Ministry Secretary D. Dissanayake and retired District Secretary CT Bulumulla had been tasked by more..

Dec 15 (Island) Cricket, often referred to as the gentleman’s game, has weathered countless storms, but few have been as turbulent as the dark clouds of corruption. The sport’s integrity was dealt a body blow when Hansie Cronje, of all people, was caught in the tangled web of match-fixing by Delhi police in 2000. What followed was a six-month-long soap opera of stunning revelations, during which some captains were dethroned, more..

Dec 15 (Island) It is more than two weeks since the matter of the Speaker, Asoka Ranwala’s doctorate, or lack of it, was raised in public. If he does have one, it is sufficient time for him to have produced the necessary evidence and laid to rest the ongoing speculation. When my daughter acquired a doctorate from a university in England, she was ceremoniously presented with an ornately inscribed scroll, on thick, parchment paper , along with a foolish hat. To me, a non-academic, more..

Dec 15 (DM) In the wake of the controversy over the qualifications of certain politicians in the ruling party, Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih has shared his qualifications on social media. He said in a post on Facebook that he believed it was essential to maintain trust and accountability in leadership and in that spirit, he was sharing his professional qualifications openly. "I believe it is essential to maintain trust and accountability in leadership. In that spirit, I wish to share more..

Dec 15 (SO) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s first State visit to India starting today marks yet another historic milestone in the age-old links between the two neighbouring nations. It is also Prez Dissanayake’s first official visit abroad. It also adheres to a time-honoured tradition among SL leaders to choose India for their first official foreign visit. Indeed, over the years, the relationship has grown by leaps and bounds regardless of the parties and persons in power in both Colombo more..

Dec 15 (TM) Honourable MP Chamara Sampath Dasanayake is very much in the news these days, not for anything he did or not, but refreshingly, simply for being who he is. The outspoken SLFP MP, being one of the handful who were lucky enough to make it back to Parliament in the face of the NPP juggernaut that decimated the Opposition, speaks volumes about his popularity in the Uva region. To further add to the man’s interesting persona, he probably remains oblivious to the comparisons being more..

Dec 15 (ST) A huge diplomatic gaffe came to pass this week when PM Harini Amarasuriya thanked Taiwan, China’s arch-enemy, for an incredibly generous donation given—and said so in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong to boot. The event was the handing over of clothing material for school children by the Govt of China to the Govt of SL. Instead, Dr. Amarasuriya thanked the Republic of China (ROC)— more..

Dec 15 (CT) As I write this article on [former Speaker] Asoka Ranwala’s claimed doctorate allegedly without having one, he has resigned promising to produce the evidence and admitting no error or false claims on his part. We need to wait and see if he produces the evidence. However, I think too much is said about it in a country where academic standards are low and academic jealousies high. It ought to be different but we are born into this cesspit and must accept that more..

Dec 15 (CT) The controversy regarding the educational qualifications of the Speaker has now been unresolved for far too long and it’s irking not just the Opposition but the general public who have placed their trust in the new Govt. The more the issue is unresolved, the more the opposing political forces gain foothold to stand against the Govt with an overwhelming majority. Meanwhile, SJB is now considering submitting a No-Confidence Motion against the Speaker. more..

Dec 15 (CT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his Govt faced its first major setback last week since assuming office, with the resignation of JVP-led NPP MP Asoka Ranwala from the post of Speaker less that a month after being appointed to the post, following the controversy over his educational qualifications – especially the doctorate he claims to possess. The first order of business for Parliament that convenes for two days more..

Dec 15 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake spoke this week on Int'l Anti-Corruption Day detailing the number of bribery and corruption cases that have crashed at the hands of the CIABOC and asked what purpose laws serve if there is no enforcement of them to rid the country of the twin menaces. It is noteworthy that this day (D9) comes back-to-back with Int'l Human Rights Day (10). He and his party relied heavily on the anti-corruption slogan from every platform all these years, more..

Dec 15 (ST) My dear Mr Ranwala, I am writing to you because you are the talk of the town now. For the good part of a week and a half, all we talked about was you and your qualifications. You even managed to take attention away from more pressing issues such as rising rice prices and Anura sahodaraya’s upcoming state visit to India. In that period of time, you managed to create a Degree of confusion, quite literally. Even people like Deshapriya, Devasiri and Nandasiri more..

Dec 14 (BN) Sri Lanka gained extensive support from private creditors to restructure its international bonds, a key step for the country to exit an extended default. Investors representing close to 98% of the country’s $12.6 billion in dollar bonds are expected to agree to swap their securities for new notes, the govt said, citing preliminary results of its consent solicitation for the exchange. more..

Dec 14 (LP) There are train rides, and then there are Sri Lankan train rides. The teardrop island in the Indian Ocean may be small, but it packs in some of the world’s most thrilling rail journeys. You could find yourself rattling past suburbs with a fellow commuter dozing on your shoulder, or perhaps weaving in and out of emerald-green tea gardens and thickets of tropical rainforest while tucking into a packed-to-go meal of curry and rice – and sometimes both in the same trip. more..

Dec 14 (Island) Over 300,000 Sri Lankans have gone abroad for employment this year by Dec 13. About 300,162 Sri Lankans have left for foreign employment and among them are 177,804 males and 122,358 females. Kuwait is the leading destination for SL workers, with 73,995 individuals seeking employment there, followed by the UAE, which received 49,499 workers, 7,002 have gone to South Korea, 9,211 to Israel, 10,274 to Romania, and 8,251 to Japan for employment in 2024. more..

Dec 14 (EN) Sri Lanka’s one-month old new govt with more than a two-third parliamentary majority is facing credibility and integrity tests after people started questioning the educational qualifications of its top leaders. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Marxist-leaning JVP-led NPP came to power promising to replace academically and professionally under qualified legislators with highly qualified leaders. more..

Dec 14 (CT) All Ceylon Restaurant and Canteen Owners’ Association (ACRCOA) warned that the prices of food items would have to be increased if solutions were not given to the issues created by the rice and egg mafia, as well as the coconut issue. ACRCOA Chairman, Harshana Rukshan said that with the Opposition only having 40 seats in Parliament, the NPP Govt should keep their spine straight and make steadfast decisions regarding the price of rice, eggs, and coconuts. more..

Dec 14 (DM) The high temperatures experienced during the first 3 months of this year have worsened SL’s ongoing coconut shortage, alongside the increasing population of toque macaques, Head of the Dept of Crop Science at the Ruhuna Uni and Senior Lecturer Professor K.K.I.U. Arunakumara said. He revealed that the number of coconut plants cultivated annually in SL has dropped to just seven million. Globally, 92 countries produce coconuts, with Sri Lanka ranking fourth. more..

Dec 14 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake last week during his policy statement at the inauguration of the 10th Parliament promised to create a satisfactory public service. He recalled that the 2024 Election marked a historical milestone in SL as the one where the highest number of public servants voted in favour of a single Govt. The assurance comes when SL has one of the biggest public sectors in Asia. The previous regime under President Ranil Wickremesinghe was reluctant to more..

Dec 14 (DM) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa urged govt MPs to resign if they fail to provide evidence of their educational qualifications, echoing the recent resignation of Speaker Ashoka Ranwala. Rajapaksa praised Ranwala's decision to step down amid questions about his credentials, describing it as a commendable move in the interest of transparency. However, he criticised other govt MPs, particularly from the NPP party, who have yet to address allegations about misleading the public more..

Dec 14 (DM) In the wake of the decision to reduce the number of security personnel assigned to former Presidents, including Mahinda Rajapaksa, police said that the committee appointed to review security will meet periodically and assess reports to determine whether the number of personnel should be further reduced or increased. In response to reports regarding the reduction of security for former Presidents, more..

Dec 14 (DN) The current SL tax policies have an anti-business nature and these should be changed to create a better business environment, said Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe at the Western Province Entrepreneur Awards 2024 held at BMICH on Wednesday. “The new govt is determined to change this irregularity. A country also needs a shared vision to develop sustainably. We must focus on benchmarking and grooming entrepreneurs to become ones who cater to global markets. more..

Dec 14 (Island) The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) renewed its MoU with the University of Jaffna, strengthening its commitment to developing the next generation of capital market professionals. The partnership with the University of Jaffna began in 2009, as part of the SEC’s broader initiative to collaborate with national universities in 2008. This has been instrumental in bridging academia and the capital markets industry. The latest renewal reinforces more..

Dec 14 (FT) The bull run at the Colombo stock market persisted yesterday and ended the week a 4% gain amidst high turnover. During the week, the ASPI gained by 4.3% and the S&P SL 20 by 4.5%. Turnover averaged Rs. 5.66 billion. ASPI gained by 1.2% and the S&P SL20 by 1.7%. Turnover was Rs. 6.15 billion involving 188 million shares. Turnover was dominated by Hemas (Rs. 427.4 mil), HNB (Rs. 416 mil), LMF (Rs. 394 mil), JKH (Rs. 231.6 mil) and Alumex (Rs. 230 mil). more..

Dec 14 (ST) The annual buzz of the vibrant Christmas season at Pettah’s shops selling décor, seems to have quietened down this year. While some still wander through the narrow lanes eyeing Christmas trees, festive ornaments, and strings of colourful lights, the festive atmosphere feels notably subdued. The Sunday Times observed a drop in crowds as well as supplies. Shopkeepers said customers appear less eager to purchase holiday décor with just two weeks to Christmas. more..

Dec 14 (FT) Finance Ministry yesterday announced the expiration of its Consent Solicitation and Exchange Offer related to its International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs), with preliminary results indicating a very high participation from market participants. On 25 Nov, SL launched an official Invitation to holders of its ISBs to exchange their bonds against new debt instruments, pursuant to the agreement in principle reached on 19 Sept more..

Dec 14 (EN) Sri Lanka has received acceptances on an offer to exchange defaulted 2022 bonds of only 73%, in which Hamilton Reserve, a holdout investor has a stake, according to preliminary data. An offer to exchange 1.25 billion April 2023 bond has had acceptances of 98%. An offer to exchange 1.0 billion March 2024 bonds have acceptances of 97%. An offer to exchange 500 million in June 2024 bonds have acceptances of 99%. Other bonds have acceptances ranging from 96 to 99%. more..

Dec 14 (FT) The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed to expanding its initiatives in Sri Lanka. It said as part of this commitment, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has agreed to provide the financial and technical assistance needed to implement nutrition projects, school meal programs for children, agriculture sector modernisation project, digitalisation efforts, and livestock development programs in SL. This commitment was affirmed during a meeting more..

Dec 14 (GV) According to the Institute for Health Policy’s (IHP) SLOTS polling conducted in November, 25% of SL adults believed the country was heading in the right direction while 16% expressed uncertainty about its trajectory. However the majority, 59%, still thinks the country is heading in the wrong direction. There was a temporary boost in optimism in the days immediately after the presidential election but since then this has subsided. more..

Dec 14 (DM) The private sector of SL plays a prominent role in enabling corruption within the public sector of the country, a recent study conducted on corruption by Transparency International SL (TISL) found. The research identified the private sector as the supply side of corruption in SL, noting that the highest probability of corruption within the private sector occurs when the private entities engage with the public entities. The private companies often resort to offering more..

Dec 14 (ST) A 500-page Supplementary Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) report says SLPA’s proposed Galle Port Development Project will adversely affect the coral reefs in Rumassala Marine Sanctuary (RMS). The project aims to create a fully fledged tourist port with 44.97 hectares of reclaimed land for recreational and tourism real estate investments. Colombo Port City-style reclamation project includes a 150-metre berth for passenger cruise ships and superyachts more..