Sri Lankans among crew members rescued after fatal Houthi attack on ship off Yemen
Mar 7 (AD) Two Sri Lankans are among the 21 crew members rescued by the Indian warship INS Kolkata from the cargo ship True Confidence which was attacked by a missile by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, according to the SL Navy. The navy spokesman further confirmed that one of the rescued SL nationals had sustained injuries in the attack. India’s navy evacuated all 20 crew from a stricken vessel in the Red Sea on March 7, after a Houthi attack killed three seafarers in the first
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Have your own pic on postal stamps for Rs.2,000
Mar 7 (DM) The SL Postal Department is offering citizens the chance to design postal stamps featuring their own photographs or events, with a creation cost of Rs.2000, said Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara. Addressing an event organized in Colombo to unveil a stamp for Hatton National Bank (HNB), he announced that individuals can now acquire a sheet of stamps with 20 stamps tailored for special occasions like weddings, gatherings, and parties or their own photographs.
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Parliament heats up over Central Bank’s autonomy and salary hike
Mar 7 (FT) Tensions ran high in Parliament yesterday as lawmakers engaged in a heated debate over the Central Bank's autonomy and recent salary hikes. PM Dinesh Gunawardena revealed that the gross salary of the lowest-ranking employee at the CB, an Office Assistant - Grade 1, has spiked by 29.53% to reach Rs. 188,827. PM disclosed in Parliament that the gross salary of the Deputy Governor has also witnessed a substantial
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Posts Dept aims Rs.21bn revenue for 2024
Mar 7 (DM) SL’s Posts Department said it is hoping to record a revenue of Rs.21 billion for 2024 and operate as a self-sustaining institution that is independent of Treasury funds. Elaborating on the department’s new outlook as a business service provider from a public service provider, Postmaster General Ruwan Sathkumara said that the department has initiated strategic collaborations with the private sector, in order to bridge the revenue gap and reach breakeven.
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Petition filed against Sri Lanka-Thailand FTA
Mar 7 (AD) A fundamental rights (FR) petition has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the SL-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA). The petitioners have requested the SC to deliver an order preventing the implementation of the trade deal. A total of 27 individuals including the Attorney General (on behalf of the Prez), PM, Cabinet Ministers, Secretary to the Finance Ministry and Secretary to the Trade Ministry have been named as respondents of this petition.
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President, MR, Basil to discuss possible alliance for polls
Mar 7 (DM) Basil Rajapaksa who spearheads the SLPP, along with former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa will meet Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe this evening to discuss the future political arrangements between the two sides ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections. Basil Rajapaksa, who was in the US, arrived in the country on Tuesday. The meeting takes place at a time when electoral alliances are being
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Non-medical health unions to decide future actions today
Mar 7 (TM) Executive Committee of the Health Trade Unions’ Alliance (HTUA) is to meet today (7) to decide its future course of action regarding their demands including an increase in allowances. HTUA Co-Convenor Chanaka Dharmawickrama said that the meeting is to be held to take decisions on their future union actions due to the possible delay of the receipt of solutions to their demands, including the allowance increase. Dharmawickrama also noted that Cabinet of Ministers is yet to approve
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Sri Lanka considering nuclear power as an energy option: Minister
Mar 7 (EN) Sri Lanka’s govt is considering nuclear power as an option and has secured Cabinet approval, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. “We are in the process of calling EOIs, so we are evaluating certain things,” Wijesekara said. He said that in order to develop nuclear power, a legal framework must be put in place as well as plans on dealing with an emergency. “We have got the cabinet approval to call for EOIs from suitable investors to establish a nuclear power plant
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2024 ජනපතිවරනයේදී චන්දය කාටද?
Intruders break into Ronnie de Mel’s Devinuwara home
Mar 7 (CT) The crimes unit of the Gandara Police launched a probe into a complaint of theft of brass locks and hinges from the house of the late Finance Minister Ronnie de Mel in Devinuwara on the night of 5 March. The late Finance Minister of the J.R. Jayawardene Govt died on 27 February and his funeral took place at the Uni of Ruhuna playground on 1 March. However, a complaint was lodged with the Gandara Police that an office at the late minister’s house in Devinuwara had been
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Three railway employees, suspended over alleged assault, reinstated
Mar 7 (AD) Three railway employees, who were suspended from service for allegedly assaulting two foreign nationals, have been reinstated pending disciplinary action. A contentious situation had ensued at the Nawalapitiya railway station on Tuesday (5) after two foreigners were found to have been travelling in the first-class compartment of the Badulla-bound Podi Menike express train without tickets. Subsequently, Railway Department suspended services of two Station Masters
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Sex education gets boost at long last
Mar 7 (TM) Introducing and promoting sex education is crucial not only to protect children from the unpleasant consequences of sexual abuse and in some cases sexual relationships, but also to empower adults, especially parents, to deal with children in a constructive manner when it comes to matters of sex and reproduction. Noting this, a group of children’s health and wellbeing experts, yesterday, explained to the media why
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National Transport Policy in limbo
Mar 7 (CT) Despite being assigned the primary responsibility for its formulation, Ministry of Transport has failed in finalising the National Transport Policy, which was approved over three decades ago. The policy was initially approved in November 1991 and revised in Oct 2009. Various entities, including the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), Sri Lanka Railways (SLR), Dept of Motor Traffic, National Transport Medical Institute and Ceylon – German Technical Training Institute
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Group of 13 Sri Lankan chefs who went to Ambani’s son’s wedding return
Mar 7 (DM) 13 chefs who were selected and taken from SL to prepare food for the wedding ceremony of Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian billionaire businessman Ambani, returned to SL this morning through BIA. These chefs were selected based on customer feedback, Google reviews and recommendations. These 13 chefs have prepared and served SL food in the latest ways in their restaurants. These chefs were given the opportunity to prepare lunch for the invitees
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Nearly 15% school-age children suffer from constipation
Mar 7 (CT) Nearly 15% school going children in Sri Lanka suffer from constipation while another 13.5 % suffer from abdominal pain, Paediatric Gastroenterologist, Prof. Shaman Rajindrajith revealed. Addressing a media briefing at LRH, to create awareness of its Gastroenterology Clinic (Room 39), he noted that many of the gastroenterology diseases were results of lifestyles, stress, socio economic patterns. He noted that constipation could affect
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Some 6.2 mn stray dogs roaming in the country: Pramitha Bandara
Mar 7 (DM) Some 6.2 million stray dogs are roaming in different parts of the country, State Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon said today. He told Parliament that this situation has caused serious issues in tourist areas such as Sigiriya. Minister said, according to statistics, there are 6.2 million stray dogs in the country and that this has posed serious issues. He said it is important to find solutions to address this issue as it has posed serious issues in tourist areas as well.
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Video: Udappuwa Sub-Inspector arrested over alleged assault granted bail
Mar 7 (AD) OIC of Udappuwa Police Crimes Division, who was arrested for allegedly assaulting several civilians, has been released on bail after being produced before the Puttalam Magistrate’s Court. Additionally, the Sub-Inspector in question was suspended from duties with effect from today on the orders of OIC of Puttalam Division, the police media division said. He was arrested for allegedly assaulting several individuals in Udappuwa on Tuesday night (5) during an altercation
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නන්දෙගේ කුමන්ත්රණය
Lasantha and Rohitha elected as COPA, COPE chairmen
Mar 7 (AD) State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna has been elected as the chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA). Meanwhile, SLPP MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena has been elected the chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE). New MPs nominated to the COPA are as Tissa Attanayake, Kabir Hashim, Niroshan Perera, J.C. Alawathuwala, Ashok Abeysinghe, Sivagnanam Shritharan, Hector Appuhamy, M. Udayakumar, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Dr. Harini
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CEB to introduce instalment payment scheme for new connections: Minister
Mar 7 (DM) Steps are being taken to introduce a mechanism to pay the connection charge for new electricity connections through an instalment payment scheme, Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said. He said that the proposal to introduce the instalment payment scheme has been approved by the Board of Directors of the CEB and that it will be announced by next week. Minister said the new system will allow consumers to obtain new connections after paying only 25% of
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NCPA to compile list of offenders convicted of child sexual abuse
Mar 7 (AD) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) says it intends to compile a list containing the names of the offenders convicted of child sexual abuse. Chanaka Amarasinghe, NCPA chairman, explained that these convicts are most likely to repeat the offences once they are released from custody after serving their prison sentences, adding that this leaves children at risk of falling prey to molesters.
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Deshabandu’s appointment as IGP challenged before Supreme Court
Mar 7 (DM) A Fundamental Rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the IGP. Anti Corruption Movement affiliated to the SJB filed this petition, further seeking a declaration that newly appointed IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon is unfit to hold public office including any post in the SL Police Force. Convener of Anti Corruption Movement Niroshan Padukka and Committee Member Ananda Palitha filed
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How Anura and the NPP are winning the public imagination
Mar 7 (FT) The secret of Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and the NPP’s success, the reason why the combination is drawing record crowds and is the only political entity in the field to do so, is really simple. It’s the public imagination, stupid! Anura and the NPP have seized the public imagination in a way that nobody in this election year has. They have done so, not by resorting to base invocations of race and religion as Gotabaya Rajapaksa did. They have done so, because they are not boring while
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Lord Naseby in House of Lords makes compelling case for greater British...
Mar 7 (FT) With global attention focusing on conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, British peer Lord Michael Naseby called out for the British Govt to assist SL, whose people still face many challenges. On Tuesday, the House of Lords held a seven-hour debate on Britain’s Foreign Affairs and 63 peers from various political parties raised questions on Britain’s role in the current volatile international landscape. Former PM
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Police sergeant arrested for aiding Harak Kata’s escape bid
Mar 7 (DM) A police sergeant assigned to the Matara Division Crime Investigation Unit has been arrested for his involvement in aiding and abetting the failed escape attempt of organized criminal Nandun Chinthaka alias Harak Kata from the CID. The 36-year-old sergeant, a resident of Ahangama, was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID). IGP handed over the investigations into the escape attempt by Harak Kata to TID. Accordingly, during the investigations
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Mar 7 (DM) Contradicting the Power and Energy Minister's claim that the electricity re-connection fee was reduced to Rs. 800 this year, newly appointed Anuradhapura District MP M.C. Muthukumarana said he paid Rs. 3,000 as reconnection fee two months ago. MP Muthukumarana told this in Parliament after Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said that the reconnection fee which was Rs. 3,000 earlier was reduced to Rs. 1,300 last year and that it was further reduced to Rs. 800 from this year.
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වාසියක් එනවනම් EPF එකට දෙන්න!
Pragmatic economic policy regime for SL
Mar 7 (FT) SL will face elections sometime in the future, and a new Government may be elected. It could be led by one of the old political parties or could be a brand-new party. The purpose of this note is to provide some thoughts on designing a pragmatic economic policy regime by the incoming new Govt. The major economic policy regimes are capitalist, socialist, and mixed regimes. Capitalist regimes are based on laissez-faire (leave us alone in French) principle and Adam Smith’s doctrine
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Sri Lanka plans bootha price controls
Mar 7 (EN) Sri Lanka’s combined harvesters for rice is next in line for price controls, according to statements made in a parliament, as price controls are also planned for three-wheelers and school vans in the wake of a currency crisis. The price charged for harvesting rice by owners of harvesting machines (colloquially known as a boothaya) is to be regulated from the next Maha season, State Minister of Agriculture Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva said. MP Samanpriya Herath, said however,
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Salary hike exaggerated to erode independence: Dr. Weerasinghe
Mar 7 (DM) The recent uproar over the Central Bank’s salary increases has caught widespread attention and according to Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, this controversy is a deliberate attempt to undermine the institution’s autonomy. He cautioned that exaggerating the salary increases to undermine the financial sector regulator’s independence could severely impact the economy, potentially regressing it to its troubled state
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CCD Organised Crime OIC fleeing: Future probes based on return to country
Mar 7 (TM) Further investigations into the incident of the CCD Organised Crime Division OIC, Inspector of Police Duminda Jayathilaka leaving the country citing threats to his life will depend also on whether he returns to Sri Lanka. Noting this, DIG Nihal Thalduwa explained yesterday: “He has obtained official leave only until today. Therefore, we will have to wait and see whether he returns, and future actions will also depend on the actions that he takes following his return, if he returns.”
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Ali Sabri Raheem suspended from parliament for one month
Mar 7 (AD) Puttalam District MP Ali Sabri Raheem has been suspended from Parliament for a period of one month with effect from Wednesday (March 06). A resolution proposing the suspension of Raheem from parliamentary proceedings was approved by the MPs during today’s proceedings. Raheem was embroiled in controversy last year after he was detained at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo on May 23 along with a stock of undeclared stock of gold and mobile phones.
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Presidential Poll will definitely be held before November deadline
Mar 7 (CT) Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake confirmed that the Prez Election will definitely be held at a date between 17 Sept and 18 Oct 2024. He said as a State that respects the Constitution, Prez Election should be held this year as the tenure of the Executive Prez ceases by November. “Constitution states the tenure of the presidency is five years and there are no provisions to extend the tenure.
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First Lady calls for humanized foreign ties
Mar 7 (DM) At a time where it is repeatedly stressed that SL needs to work closely with other nations, First lady Maithree Wickremesinghe called for diplomatic ties which would become connections of hearts, minds and souls. Ms. Wickremesinghe highlighted this point at the swearing in of US Peace Corps volunteers in Colombo. “The character of a nation consist not only of its geography and climate, origin, dominant culture, contemporary leaders in politics but also the caliber of its people and
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Sri Lanka’s second IMF review kicks off today
Mar 7 (DM) The IMF will kick off the second review under the EFF programme today. According to Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe, the outcome of the review will be largely positive. “Nobody should doubt the release of the third tranche. The second review is going to be better than the first. We are confident about that. Sri Lanka has achieved much of the progress required and fulfilled majority of the requirements listed by the IMF. So, we are good,” Semasinghe said.
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