Dec 19 (FT) With a steady increase in vessels calling at the Hambantota International Port (HIP), and the port’s industrial park attracting numerous FDI projects, HIP has tied up with Royale Electronics Ltd., to establish a duty-free shop in their bonded area. The agreement was signed last week and the new facility will be opened for operations in the first quarter of 2023. “The duty-free facility will be a new value addition, directly for cruise ships, since most vessels calling at the port rarely have crew more..

Dec 19 (DM) The govt must take a scientific approach focusing on revenue elasticity when deciding taxes on alcohol and tobacco to collect an optimal tax revenue as they are not a cow that can be eternally milked, an expert opined. “Although, alcohol and tobacco are prone to be inelastic, there are substitutes. Beedi is a substitute, and beedi has three times the volume of sticks of legal tobacco. There are substitutes for legal alcohol. You have illegal alcohol and home-brewed illicit alcohol. more..

Dec 19 (AD) The luxury cruise liner Ocean Odyssey, carrying 108 high-end passengers from the US, reached the Colombo Port on Sunday. The cruise ship is scheduled to set off for Trincomalee tomorrow (19). The passengers of Ocean Odyssey will travel the country before boarding the cruise ship Dec 21 at the Trincomalee Harbour. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva also participated in the ceremony organised at the port to welcome the passengers of the cruise ship. more..

Dec 19 (FT) Sri Lanka is adrift and directionless, and steps into 2023 with great many unknowns as the Govt has failed to provide a roadmap to its people, avers SJB MP Dr. Harsha De Silva. Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance Chairman pointed to media reports stating CB for the first time since 2008 has not laid out a roadmap for 2023. Alongside that, different factions of Govt keep saying IMF bailout will come in Dec, more..

Dec 19 (DN) Afif Hossain hit a superb knock of 53 in 35 balls while paceman Binura Fernando finished with impressive figures of 3 for 20 as Jaffna Kings recorded a 16-run win over Galle Gladiators in their LPL cricket fixture played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Galle Gladiators led by Kusal Mendis chasing a target of 171 could manage only 154 for 9 wickets and Jaffna Kings celebrated their fifth victory of the tournament as they once again head into the final. more..

Dec 19 (DM) A statement has been recorded from journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrame in connection with the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter, a Police officer said. He said a two and a half hour statement was recorded from Chamuditha after being summoned before the CID. He said a statement was recorded from Chamuditha based on the fact that he had conducted a 40-minute interview on a youtube channel with investigative journalist Keerthi Rathnayake more..

Dec 19 (TM) Claiming that it is questionable as to whether a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate financial crimes will serve a substantial purpose, SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne said that Prez Wickremesinghe and the Govt should instead initiate investigations into the financial crimes that have occurred, gather the related evidence, and allow bodies such as the COPE to forward their findings to the AG's Dept. He said: “How many PCoIs and PSCs have been in this country? more..

Dec 19 (AD) All-Island Canteen Owners’ Association announced today that the prices of short eats and Kottu Roti will be reduced by Rs. 10 in line with the reduction in the price of wheat flour. Mr. Asela Sampath, President of the All-Island Canteen Owners’ Association, stated that the benefit of the decrease in the price of wheat flour will be extended to the public by slashing the prices of Kottu Roti, a vegetable roti, a roll, a Parata and an egg roti by Rs. 10 in restaurants. more..

Dec 19 (TM) CID has questioned 23 persons in relation to the abduction and murder of businessman Dinesh Schaffter and has recorded statements from them. SSP Nihal Thalduwa, two teams of detectives are investigating the available CCTV camera footage, and conducting a crime scene analysis. Thalduwa said that according to the post-mortem report, Schaffter was murdered and that the investigations which were initiated by more..

Dec 19 (DM) The slump in construction sector activities deepened in the third quarter of 2022, declining for the fifth quarter in a row, according to GDP data for the third quarter released. The sector measured based on 2015 constant prices slumped 33.2% in the July-Sept period from the same period in 2021 as both private and public developments came to a near standstill earlier this year when the economy collapsed sending prices of construction sector materials through the roof. more..

Dec 19 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka is to sell four plots of land in Colombo Port City for an investor to establish a facility for bunkering. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that they have also called for expression of interest to start an aviation fuel storage facility. He said that providing fuel for ships and aircraft can play a big role in developing Sri Lanka's economy. Colombo Port City can bring in over US$ 5 billion as foreign direct investment in the first five years of operation, he said. more..

Dec 19 (TM) As the SL authorities – including SL High Commissioner to Canada, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SriLankan Airlines, and Ministry of Health – despite previous agreements, had not taken steps to arrange the free air-freighting of a donation of medicines worth nearly Rs. 20 million provided by a group of Sri Lankans living in Canada, the said donation, which was prepared to be sent to Sri Lanka by March 2021, was delayed by more..

Dec 19 (FT) Two SL analysists, Chanuka Wattegama and Milinda Rajapaksa, have documented the success story of South Korea since 1960s for the benefit of SL’s ordinary readers. Published in both Sinhala and English simultaneously under the title Poverty to Prosperity: A Review on the Development Model of South Korea, the book can be used as guidance for Sri Lanka which is deeply mired in an unprecedented economic crisis today. more..

Dec 19 (GV) I think it’s time we changed the conversation in our society from what a woman’s role in society should be – from dutiful mother and wife – to whoever it is she wants to be. Personally, I always saw myself as more than someone waiting for a suitable husband. I never saw myself as a liability like my ex-husband did. He is my ex-husband now. Women are expected to act a certain way: to dress and behave in ways that do not provoke or draw too much attention from more..

Dec 19 (AD) Secretary General of Parliament, Dhammika Dasanayake stated that the Committee on High Posts has approved the appointments of Four Ambassadors and two Permanent Representatives recently (13). Accordingly, approval was given for the appointment of Ms. Niroshani Dias Gunasekara as the Ambassador of SL to the French Republic and Permanent Representative of SL to the UNSESCO in Paris, France. Furthermore, the Committee on High Posts has approved more..

Dec 19 (DM) Mihintale Raja Maha Vihara Chief Prelate Valahagunawewa Dhammarathana likened monks in universities to the Taliban. The Thera made these comments stating that laws should be drafted to limit the number of years students can engage in academic activities at universities. “They can engage in politics, but in a way that doesn’t harm others. Their actions are despised by the people and it reflects badly on the entire Sangha community,” he said. more..

Dec 19 (GV) Before Gotabaya Rajapaksa, there was S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Before organic only, there was Sinhala only. And the related transformation of Vidyodaya and Vidyalankara from monastic colleges to secular universities. Like Sinhala only, this was an election promise; like Sinhala only, this was implemented with no forethought or planning. The first signs of the coming malaise were evident by 1962 more..

Dec 19 (DM) The special Christmas Carol concert and carnival organized by Tourism Development Board, the armed forces and the police in the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat premises was declared open by Prez Wickremesinghe yesterday afternoon. This event was organized to give the people an opportunity to enjoy the Christmas spirit and a large crowd had gathered around the Prez Secretariat and at Galle Face Green in Colombo, regardless of caste, creed or religion, more..

Dec 19 (Island) Immigration and Emigration Dept officials at the BIA, on Saturday nabbed and deported two Iranian nationals who had tried to enter the country with forged Norwegian passports. Two Iranian nationals had arrived in the country from Kuwait at 3.30 am Saturday. When the two passengers arrived at the immigration counter to obtain visa to enter the country, the Immigration and Emigration Officers on duty, found that their passports were forged. more..

Dec 19 (TM) Refuting recent reports to the effect that employees of the CEB have decided to forgo bonuses for the year 2022, CEB Joint Trade Union Alliance (CEBJTUA) & CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) stated that almost all CEB employees, belonging to more than 50 trade unions, are expecting the relevant bonuses, with CEBJTUA warning of trade union action in the event the bonuses are not paid within the due course. more..

Dec 19 (Island) Leader of LSSP Prof Tissa Vitarana says that the current crisis is due to a shrinking economy and high inflation. “There is a lack of both dollars and of rupees. The lack of dollars is a result of the neoliberal policies of successive govts, since 1978, which raised our foreign debt to US$ 52 billion and brought down our foreign exchange (forex) reserves from US$ 8 billion to a few millions. The worst offender was the Yahapalana govt of 2015, led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, more..

Dec 19 (FT) State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said measures taken to control rubber imports for export industries has successfully stabilised the domestic prices. “The unlimited rubber imports were a major hindrance to stabilise the domestic rubber prices. Following strict regulation, we now see a drastic drop in rubber imports,” he said at the second progress review meeting of the committee appointed to investigate the decline in domestic rubber prices and excess imports. more..

Dec 19 (Island) A play from SL, reflecting the crisis the country is undergoing, added flavour to a tribal theatre form being celebrated annually since 2008 in a spherical sal forest clearing, in western Assam’s Goalpara district. The three-day Under the Sal Tree festival is organised mid-December in the district’s Rampur village by Badungduppa, a theatre group of the Rabha ethnic community. It primarily showcases the traditional tribal open-air theatre that relies more on music and expressions, more..

Dec 19 (FT) In early July 2019, Indian Finance Minister (and economist), Nirmala Sitharaman addressing the Lok Sabha in her budget speech, called for a back to basics, in agriculture, referring to the zero budget farming model developed by Majarashtra origin agriculturist Subhash Palekar. This method draws knowledge from India’s traditional farming heritage. We quote below her address to the Lok Sabha: “We need to replicate this innovative model, through which more..

Dec 19 (TM) State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe noted that while Sri Lanka had not been officially informed by the IMF regarding the global sovereign debt roundtable, if the country is informed, and if the presence of Sri Lanka is required, the Govt would certainly take part. Semasinghe said: “Of course, if it is informed to us, and if our presence is required, we will certainly take part. I don’t know authenticity of this news. more..

Dec 19 (AD) China will donate 90 million RMB (Rs. 5 bil) worth of school uniform material to SL students to meet 70% of the whole country’s requirement in 2023. Accordingly, the first batch of finished material of 3 mln meters of finished material in 38,000 boxes via 20 containers has already left China for SL, according to the Chinese Embassy in Colombo. In a tweet, Chinese Embassy has mentioned that the first batch of school uniform donation contains 2374427.5 m of white shirt/frock materials more..

Dec 19 (EN) Sri Lanka plans to boost internet facilities at state schools and add artificial intelligence to the curriculum, as part of reforms to the education system, an official said. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be added to the syllabus of Grade 10 students from 2023 onwards and teachers will receive training, the official who declined to be identified said. Sri Lanka’s education authorities are in talks with Microsoft to get help to implement AI education, he said. more..

Dec 19 (TM) In response to criticism that not enough is being done to control the inflow of drugs to the island although schoolchildren’s bags are being searched for such, the Police stated that such claims are baseless, as several arrests with regard to drug trafficking are being made on a daily basis. SSP Nihal Thalduwa stated that the Police, intelligence officers, the tri-forces, and the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) are on alert more..

Dec 19 (FT) Condé Nast Traveller has unveiled the 2023 Gold List, highlighting favourite classic hotels around the world that exemplify the gold standard of service and hospitality. Ceylon Tea Trails is the first SL hotel to make this prestigious annual roundup. Launched in the US in 1987, Condé Nast Traveller is the leading monthly travel magazine, with nine international editions. “Gold List is a chosen few of the best hotels in the world; authentic classics that have crafted their reputation over many yrs” more..

Dec 19 (EN) Four in every 10 households in Sri Lanka experienced a reduction in their incomes from June to Dec 2022, and one in every two households are currently relying on negative coping mechanisms to cope with the lack of food or money to buy it, a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FOA) report said. In its response overview for the period of June to December 2022, UN agency said the window of opportunity to support SL farmers and their communities is narrowly time-bound. more..

Dec 19 (TM) TPA Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Mano Ganesan on 16 Dec had requested International Climate Change Advisor to President Ranil Wickremesinghe Erik Solheim to use his experience and expertise to assist Sri Lanka to achieve a lasting solution within an undivided country. Ganesan said that although Solheim is currently an advisor to the President, he has played an important role as the Chief Mediator from Norway in the SL civil war. more..

Dec 19 (TM) University of Jaffna Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. Sivakolundu Srisatkunarajah said that university authorities are expected to submit a report to the University Grants Commission (UGC) soon regarding incidents of sexual harassment faced by female students of the university, perpetrated by outsiders. Srisatkunarajah said that the Director for Gender Equality and Equity of the university would submit a report regarding the incidents in compliance with a request made by the UGC. more..

Dec 19 (TM) Whilst stating that the only way to disregard the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) when revising electricity tariffs is to amend the PUCSL Act, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake questioned that in a country where the Cabinet cannot decide on the price of an egg, how can they decide on something as complicated as electricity tariffs. Speaking to The Morning on approving an electricity tariff hike without more..

Dec 19 (EN) In under a month since SL’s parliament passed a Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act, authorities have apprehended a large number of users, distributors and importers of harmful drugs including ice (crystal methamphetamine), according to Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. He said the amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act saw the inclusion of ice or crystal meth, the possession of over five grammes of which now carries more..

Dec 19 (AD) Standard Chartered Sri Lanka Chief Executive Officer Bingumal Thewarathanthri was elected as the Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) with immediate effect, at a recently concluded meeting of the SLBA Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment, Bingumal was a Vice Chairperson and Board Director of the Association. An industry veteran, Bingumal, better known as Bingu, has an extensive 30 years of experience in the banking and finance sector. more..