Dec 13 (FT) The recently held Parliamentary elections have resulted in the JVP led NPP winning 159 seats and forming the Govt. The SJB with 40 seats is the chief Opposition party. Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party (FP) with eight seats became the third largest party in Parliament. The ITAK did remarkably well in the multi-ethnic Eastern Province winning five seats. The party obtained three seats in more..

Dec 13 (TM) Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju shocked the world of chess on Thursday when he became the youngest world champion at the age of just 18. The Chennai-born prodigy defeated defending champion, China's Ding Liren, in a dramatic match staged in Singapore which he had entered as the challenger. The FIDE World Chess Championship carries a $2.5m (£1.96m) prize fund. It marked the peak to date of his career, his greatest moment in a long string of achievements. more..

Dec 13 (NW) The Parliament of SL has clarified details regarding the educational qualifications of Minister of Justice, Attorney-at-Law, Harshana Nanayakkara on the Parliament website, citing erroneous data. Issuing a statement, Director of Legislative Services Jayalath Perera said that recent reports in the media have indicated that the title of Dr. has been mentioned before the name of Minister Harshana Nanayakkara, in the directory of MPs on the Parliament website. more..

Dec 13 (NW) Speaker Asoka Ranwala has tendered his resignation following the controversy surrounding his academic qualifications. Issuing a statement, Ranwala clarified that while he has not made any false claims, he is currently unable to substantiate his academic records due to the absence of certain documents. “I intend to present the academic documents from the research institutes affiliated with Japan’s Waseda Uni more..

Dec 13 (EN) Prez Anura Dissanayake has appointed Harsha Amarasekera as chairman of the Port City Economic Commission. Other members include Damien Amal Cabraal, Mohan Ray Abeywardena, Sanjaya Kulatunga, and Dr Harsha Subasinghe. SL’s China-backed Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill was passed in 2021. Colombo Port City Commission approves large investments such as those that invest in building as primary businesses of strategic importance more..

Dec 13 (FT) In the wake of the Prez and General Elections, the NPP Govt will have to navigate the disinformation and scare tactics that were deployed during the campaign period about reform of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA). The new Govt has a genuine opportunity to lead an inclusive, evidence based, and responsible public discussion on the reform of MMDA. It is important that those in power are clear in their intention, their messaging and their approach to this sensitive but more..

Dec 13 (FT) Dear Mr Secretary; Following was sent to me by a very dedicated, loyal and caring young parent who wishes to remain anonymous due to obvious reasons. I sincerely hope you will study it well and take the most appropriate steps – not only because Royal College is both our alma mater – but because it’s one of the priceless assets of the nation and a lasting legacy left behind by the British Empire! Royal College leadership crisis: A systemic failure at the top? more..

Dec 13 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayaka will travel to India on a State Visit on 15-17 Dec, India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced. According to the Indian Ministry, this will be the first bilateral visit of Prez Dissanayaka to India after the recently concluded presidential and parliamentary elections in SL. During his visit, Prez Dissanayaka will meet Rashtrapati Ji and hold discussions with PM Shri Narendra Modi on bilateral issues of mutual interest. Prez Dissanayaka will also participate more..

Dec 13 (TM) The NPP party stated that they did not look into their Parliamentary candidates' educational qualifications during the selection process, and will therefore allow the Speaker of the Parliament Ashoka Ranwala to address allegations surrounding the doctorate degree that he claims to possess. Questions about the authenticity of the doctorate from a foreign university that Dr. Ranwala, who entered Parliament from NPP ticket, more..

Dec 13 (FT) Sri Lanka Customs yesterday announced that it has introduced an innovative online portal designed to verify the authenticity of legally imported vehicles. This offers both buyers and sellers a seamless way to ensure the authenticity of their transactions. The portal accessible at https://services.customs.gov.lk/vehicles, aims to mitigate the circulation of illegally imported vehicles in the country and foster transparency more..

Dec 13 (FT) Power and Energy Ministry confirmed that electricity tariffs will remain unchanged for the first half of 2025, citing financial management measures taken to offset expected shortfalls. Speaking at a media briefing organised by the Govt Information Department, Power Sector Reform Secretariat Director General Pubudu Niroshan pointed out that maintaining the existing electricity tariff structure will result in a revenue shortfall of Rs. 39 billion for the CEB. more..

Dec 13 (DN) A Fundamental Rights petition filed by an attorney seeking an order directing the Constitutional Council to approve the recommendation made by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to appoint the incumbent President of the Court of Appeal, Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne, as a Supreme Court Judge was dismissed yesterday by the Supreme Court with two million rupees costs. more..

Dec 13 (NW) An owner of a franchise in the Lanka T10 League has been arrested by SL’s Sports Police Unit following allegations of a fixing approach. “The owner of the Galle Marvels team in the Lanka T10 Super League, was arrested and will be produced before court today” Police confirmed. The arrest was made after a foreign player lodged a complaint, claiming to have been approached with a suspicious offer related to match-fixing. Authorities are now investigating the incident, more..

Dec 13 (CT) Thondaman Vocational Training Centre (TVTC) in Hatton, completed in 2020 at a cost of Rs 199 million, was initially inaugurated during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency but was left idle for four years. Yesterday, the facility was finally opened to the public by Deputy Minister of Plantation and Estate Infrastructure, Chandralingam Pradeep. Despite being intended to operate during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure, the centre remained unused, with its equipment, halls, and more..

Dec 13 (Island) British Council inaugurated its flagship project, Youth-Led Green and Inclusive Businesses, in partnership with four state universities, Uni of Peradeniya, Uni of Kelaniya, Uni of Sri J'pura and Uni of Uva-Wellassa during an event held recently. This initiative is designed to equip university students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead transformative changes in their workplaces and enterprises, fostering sustainable and environmentally conscious more..

Dec 13 (NW) The foundation stone was laid today for a 42-storey apartment complex developed in partnership with members of SL’s 1996 Cricket World Cup-winning team. The plot of land located on Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha in Pelawatte, will feature 240 housing units, with each floor named after a cricketer from the iconic team. Arjuna Ranatunga, captain of the 1996 World Cup-winning team laid the foundation stone. “In 1996 then Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga granted 14 more..

Dec 13 (DM) The annual loss to SL due to corruption in govt tender procurements is estimated to be at around 1% of the country’s GDP, according to Verité Research. Based on a 20% cost escalation of SL’s procurement expenditure, the think tank said the loss amounts to approximately Rs. 300 billion if the 2023 expenditure figures are considered. To support the estimation, Verité Research shared that out of 34 public more..

Dec 13 (EN) State-run CEB has recommended to the govt to go ahead with a tender for a floating liquefied natural gas terminal that will allow power generation costs to be slashed, Chairman Tilak Siyambalapitiya said. The tender for a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) to be built offshore of Kerawalapitiya was called in 2021. The tender involved an FSRU on a built operate own basis and a compatible mooring system on a built operate own and transfer (BOOT) basis. more..

Dec 13 (TM) The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) reassured the public that they have adequate fuel despite a ship carrying fuel meant for the country being turned away by the company that placed the order for the same. “We have adequate supplies of fuel so we would like to tell the public not to worry,” CPC and the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited Chairperson D.J.A.S. De S. Rajakaruna said at a press conference held yesterday at the Govt Information Dept. more..

Dec 13 (Island) Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra said that Sri Lanka would receive a lot of positive news after President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s visit to India. When asked the deputy foreign minister several questions related to the Prez’s visit to India from Dec 15 to 17, which is set to take place following an invitation from the Indian govt. The following are some comments made by the deputy foreign minister during the programme. more..

Dec 13 (FT) Aitken Spence emerged as the overall winner and received the prestigious Grand Slam Award for winning the award five times at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards (BCCSA) 2024 organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. This is a remarkable milestone for the organisation that has been a pioneer in sustainability as a corporate strategy in SL. Moreover, Aitken Spence is the only corporate in SL to be ranked among the Top 10 Corporate Citizens for more..

Dec 13 (TM) Close to 180 public-private partnership (PPP) projects valued at $ 5.3 billion have reached a financial close in Sri Lanka in 33 years, with only a few investments exceeding $ 15 million, Asian Development Bank (ADB) said. According to the Public-Private Partnership Monitor by ADB, during 1990-2023, 179 PPP projects reached a financial close, most of which concerned power (162 projects) and ports (five projects). more..

Dec 13 (DN) US Embassy Colombo announced the achievement of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, becoming the 50th building in Sri Lanka to earn this globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building program recognizes energy efficiency, water management, waste reduction, and indoor environmental quality execution in the built environment. more..

Dec 13 (Island) All eyes will be on new entrants to rugby Sri Lions Sports Club when they debut in the 2024/25 Inter-club league rugby tournament in Kandy on Sunday (15). Sri Lions are slated to take on last season’s league tournament runners-up Kandy Sports Club at the Nittawela grounds. Despite Sri Lions SC being new to domestic rugby, a thriller is expected; as the team is packed with players who are well drilled at training and other reason being all players possess an IRB Level 1 qualification. more..

Dec 13 (FT) Investors in the Colombo stock market appear to show growing signs of attraction to Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake-influenced optimism with its value soaring by Rs. 1 trillion since his election and the benchmark index yesterday crossing the 14,000-points level for the first time in its history. Sustaining the indices in green for the 13th consecutive day, benchmark ASPI and active S&P SL20 yesterday gained by 1% more..

Dec 13 (Island) The winds are a-changing in civil aviation and at SriLankan Airlines. Our national airline is now under the Ministry of Finance, directly under the control of the Prez, instead of the Ministry of Aviation. We have to wait and see whether it will improve matters. It will certainly carry a few possible risks and pitfalls. Some say that the situation in SriLankan Airlines cannot fall any lower. These risks must be properly managed and mitigated, because in civil aviation there is always more..

Dec 13 (DM) Geminids Meteor shower will be visibe to SL at its peak on Dec 14. Geminids is annually active in December and considered to be one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year. Geminids originate from asteroid 3200 Phaethon. When the Earth passes through the debris of the asteroid they collide with the Earth's atmosphere and create Geminids meteors. Tbe meteors appear to emerge from the constellation Gemini and is visible when looking at the Gemini constellation more..

Dec 13 (Island) Opposition continues to crank up pressure on Speaker Asoka Ranwala to resign over what it calls his false claim to have a doctorate. NPP govt may have expected its opponents’ campaign against the Speaker to fizzle out with the passage of time. In this country, controversies crop up at such a rate that one finds it well-nigh impossible to keep track of them, and that may be the reason why the govt has chosen to remain silent on the issue of the Speaker’s educational qualifications. more..

Dec 13 (TM) A few years ago, Sri Lanka set an ambitious target of reaching 70% of her energy needs through renewable energy by 2030. While the policy declaration by the Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa drew much attention from foreign leaders, industry giants, scientists, and environmentalists, the enthusiasm of the Govt’s power generation mechanism towards the set goal was lukewarm. There is little doubt that the energy establishment has resisted the push to bring onboard more..

Dec 13 (ST) The recent persistent heavy rains have led to a noticeable increase in prices of vegetables at wet markets. Vendors at Pettah market expressed frustration, attributing the price increase to flooded farmlands. “Many fields are waterlogged, and crops are either damaged or completely destroyed. This limits our supply and forces us to raise prices,” said Sunil Perera, a long-time vendor. more..

Dec 13 (DN) Rain once again disrupted the Lanka T10 Super League matches on the second day at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Only 3.3 overs were bowled in the first match between Kandy Bolts and Nuwara Eliya Kings, while the second game between Galle Marvels and Hambantota Bangla Tigers was abandoned without a ball being bowled. In the first game, Kandy Bolts were invited to bat. Pathum Nissanka started aggressively, scoring an unbeaten 26 off 11 balls more..

Dec 13 (FT) The Advocata Institute has applauded the recent policy action by the Government to provide a cash transfer of Rs. 6,000 to school children from vulnerable groups to assist them in purchasing school stationery for the upcoming 2025 academic year. “This policy move reflects a thoughtful and impactful approach to addressing pressing social challenges without compromising Sri Lanka’s fiscal sustainability,” Advocata said in a statement. more..