Dec 22 (CT) Units of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant are scheduled to be shut down for maintenance in three stages in 2023, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. He said, Units 1, 2, and 3 at the Coal Power Plant will be shut down for over 180 days in 2023. Thus, from 20 September to 31 December 2023, Unit 3 will be offline for 100 days to carry out Level A maintenance. From May to June 2023, Unit 1 will be offline for 30 days to carry out Level C maintenance. more..

Dec 22 (DM) As SL’s dividend tax policy is inhibiting risk-taking, entrepreneurship and timely restructuring activities in the corporate sector, a top investment professional called upon the govt to take corrective actions to rectify the unfair double taxation on profits when distributing dividends to investors. “Dividend tax is a double taxation on profits; it discriminates against incorporated body corporates. Further, by taxing dividends, you are disadvantaging risk capital – this does not make sense more..

Dec 22 (Island) Minister Bandula Gunawardane, has asked the CIABOC, which is inquiring into massive revenue losses suffered in 2020/2021, owing to an alleged sugar tax scam, to give him another day to appear before the Commission. Sources close to the Minister said that the former Trade Minister had been informed of the CIABOC summons at the last moment, hence his inability to provide a statement. more..

Dec 22 (FT) Govt has introduced its policy of retirement at 60 years ostensibly as a measure of reducing its expenditure on public sector salaries. As soon as it was announced the absurdity of an across the Board policy was pointed out and the Govt backpedalled somewhat on its clever move, as there were difficulties in relation to the doctors. However, it now seems to be gazetted as a conclusive decision. I recall during my time at the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC) perhaps in the 1990s, more..

Dec 22 (NR) The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka says power cuts will not be enforced from the 24th to the 26th of December. A two hour and 20-minute power cut however will be imposed tomorrow (23). Earlier, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said power cuts will not be enforced on the 24th, 25th and 31st of December and the 1st of January. Minister Wijesekera said the Ceylon Electricity Board will ensure uninterrupted power supply during the relevant days. more..

Dec 22 (FT) A surreal crime: the gruesome, cruel death of Dinesh Schaffter, a decent, personable businessman belonging to a well-established family, resulting from deadly injuries intentionally inflicted in or on the way to the main cemetery of Colombo where dead bodies go—not where live people are killed—illustrates the decay of SL in the current period. Colombo in the daylight hours has become the heart of darkness. Horror is bound to impact the image of the country and its business climate. more..

Dec 22 (EN) SL Export Development Board said it will conduct market studies in EU covering areas like trade regulation, non-tariff measures, pricing, environment and social requirements for fish, processed foods and apparel productd with the help of the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO). EDB Chairman Suresh D de Mel signed a MoU with of SIPPO on Dec 22. The research will be conducted for Sri Lanka’s processed food, sustainable fish; sea food and value added textile. more..

Dec 22 (PMD) On the directions of Prez, Govt decides to reorganize the existing conventional institutional set-up and newly establish the Int'l Trade Office (ITO) to interconnect all the relevant institutions and synergize their work to obtain maximum output from the external trade sector to the National Economy. Realizing the untapped economic potential of trade and investment via linking with regional and more..

Dec 22 (AD) Prez has instructed the relevant officers to formulate a report jointly engaging all govt agencies on the resolution of land problems within the Nuwara Eliya district. He noted that in the event the said report is not presented to him before 4 Feb 2023, he will take necessary action in this regard. Moreover, the District Secretariat, Ministry of Plantation and Land Registration Dept were also instructed to prepare a joint report on the govt owned lands in the district within a month. more..

Dec 22 (AD) SL’s High Commissioner to Canada, Harsha Navaratne, has reiterated that the island nation stands for a healthy and sustainable planet. Delivering the Country Statement at the High Level Segment of COP 15, HC stated that SL is always ready to stand with the international community for a healthy and sustainable planet, adding that despite its small size, the island is endowed with a wide variety of ecosystems, making it one of the most biologically diverse countries in Asian region. more..

Dec 22 (Island) Attorney-at-Law Chameera Dinesh Gallearachchi has warned Controller General, Dept of Immigration and Emigration, I.S.H.J. Illukpitiya, that the CIABOC will be moved against him unless he arrested British passport holder Diana Gamage, MP, over the violation of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No 20 of 1948 as amended. The lawyer asked that she be deported unless she produced a valid visa to stay here. more..

Dec 22 (DM) Lanka Sugar Company Chairman Janaka Nimalachandra has been removed from the position due to allegations of corruption and other charges, a Plantation Ministry official said. Major General (Rtd) Sarada Samarakoon has been appointed as the new Chairman. The official said the former Chairman Nimalachandra had been involved in alleged corruption charges such as going on overseas tours without approval. Nimalachandra is also facing investigations by more..

Dec 22 (AD) Six motorcycles that were brought into the country through illegal means have been seized by Gampaha Police in Henagama, Weliweriya. Gampaha Crimes Division conducted a raid at a garage in the area following a tip-off they had received in this regard, leading to the arrest of two persons, along with the motorcycles yesterday. Accordingly, the motorcycles, valued at around Rs. 40 million, were reportedly brought into SL in parts, and were later assembled in order to be more..

Dec 22 (EN) SL diplomats had showcased investment opportunities in Sri Lanka to the business community in Southern India in an interactive session with the Southern India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI), the foreign ministry said. Deputy High Commissioner of SL in Chennai Venkateshwaran highlighted potential investment avenues available in SL, and facilities and incentives being provided by the Govt to foreign traders and investors, at a business more..

Dec 22 (NR) SL Police was today awarded 125 jeeps under the first phase of providing 500 jeeps under Indian loan assistance. An event was held today (22) at the Ministry of Public Security to hand over the 125 jeeps. Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay symbolically handed over the jeeps to Minister Tiran Alles. Minister Alles said today is a special day for the SL Police adding that the 500 new jeeps will provide a solution to the lack of duty vehicles at certain Police Stations. more..

Dec 22 (Hindu) SL is waiting for financing assurances from its bilateral creditors, including India and China, to tap support from the IMF, according to CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe. In September, the IMF reached a staff level agreement with SL for a $2.9 billion package to help the island nation facing its worst economic crisis in decades. The development came months after SL floated the rupee, opted for more..

Dec 22 (Island) State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that the national economy was in such a parlous state that an election was the last thing the public needed. He said so in response to him being criticised by rebel SLPP leader, Prof. G.L. Peiris, at their regular weekly briefing, over the possible postponement of Local Govt polls, scheduled for early next year. As constitutionally stipulated, newly elected 340 Local Govt authorities have to be formed by, or before, March 20, 2023. more..

Dec 22 (DM) Asia Rugby (AR) imposed a punishment of USD 10,000 on Sri Lanka Rugby for not fielding a Women’s Rugby Sevens outfit at the third leg which took place in Al Ain, UAE. As per the agreement between AR and National Olympic Committee (NOC) the agreement was reached to feature a Men’s and Women’s outfit in South Korea and UAE after missing out in the first leg in Thailand due to the suspension imposed on SLR by AR. SL Men’s outfit featured both in South Korean more..

Dec 22 (DM) Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has come under fire over his current visit to India, with health officials questioning whether the Minister is overseas to purchase alleged low quality medicines through a private Indian company. Rambukwella left for India on Dec 21 and is expected back over the weekend. However Health officials have raised concerns over Minister's sudden visit to India after rumors surfaced that more..

Dec 22 (DM) The Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary of SL's democratic political system and the education system need to be reformed and the mindset of the people changed to see any development in the country, Korea Disaster Relief Foundation (KDRF) Prez Cho Sung Lea said yesterday. While addressing a meeting to elaborate on how South Korea became one of the most developed and powerful countries in the world in just 40 years and the way they were willing to more..

Dec 22 (EN) Shares fell for the sixth session as investors sentiments tanken on speculation on local debt restructuring and a delay in the IMF deal, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed 0.27 percent or 23.14 points lower at 8,397.12. “Bourse closed in red for the 6th straight day as investor sentiment was hampered following speculations on local debt restructuring coupled with the delay in achieving the IMF board-level agreement,” First Capital Market Research more..

Dec 22 (AD) An order was issued by the Peradeniya Magistrate’s Court today, calling for the immediate arrest of Anuruddha Withanage, the President of the Peradeniya University’s students’ union. Moreover, the 12 students arrested over the assault on the former vice-chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Prof. Athula Senarathne and his son were also further remanded until 04 January 2023, after being presented in an identification parade before the court today. more..

Dec 22 (CT) No information has been uncovered so far on the whereabouts of the nine-year-old missing from his home in Kiralogama, Getadiwula. Eppawala Police that is conducting investigations searched several houses in the area yesterday. Police are currently on the lookout for a male suspect. SSP Nihal Thalduwa said, a middle-aged man, employed as an electrician in the area, is the main suspect, according to the complaint lodged by the parents. The child was reported missing at around more..

Dec 22 (DM) State Minister Anupa Pasqual and its officials were taken to task by South Korea Disaster Relief Foundation (SKDRF) President Cho Sung Lea for getting late by 30 minutes for a scheduled meeting in Colombo. The meeting, which was held yesterday at the Social Empowerment Ministry, looked into how South Korea could help SL overcome its current economic crisis. South Korea became one of the most developed more..

Dec 22 (CT) Due to the sudden surge in Covid-19 in China, the Indian Health Ministry held a critical meeting yesterday to step up Covid-19 alert. According to Bloomberg, the number of Covid-19 positive dead arriving at Beijing’s funeral homes and crematoriums is increasing, despite the country not officially reporting a fatality from the virus for two weeks (21). When inquired about the latest on the Covid-19 situation in China, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo was tight-lipped. more..

Dec 22 (EN) Sri Lanka’s China-backed Hambantota Port said a plug-and-play factories for light industries by Xinji Shenzhen Group will be ready for occupation at an industrial park bordering the harbor in mid-2023. The plug-and-play factory units by China’s Xinji Shenzhen Group is a part of a 15-million-dollar project spread over 44,194 square meters. A 1,500 square meter warehouse will be completed by end of December,2022. Operations are expected to begin by June 2023. more..

Dec 22 (EN) SL’s ruling party has no intention of holding local govt elections soon, the SJB said, claiming that attempts are under way to use govt agents to delay the polls. SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that the president had met the chairman of the elections commission the previous day but no decision had been made about when to hold the local govt polls, which ought to be held before March 20 next year. more..

Dec 22 (AD) Prez Wickremesinghe has urged all persons to unite and fulfill their moral responsibility towards the country, while assuring that he has not forgotten the predicament suffered by the people over the last few months. Speaking at the progress review meeting of the food security district program held at the Nuwara Eliya Town Hall this morning, Wickremesinghe stated that everyone should step out of traditional politics and join hands to fulfill their moral responsibility more..

Dec 22 (DM) Seldom has so little money been spent by so few to gain so much luxury as SL now offers. With the British Govt now giving a green light for travel to the country, tourists are being offered unprecedented bargains following the almost total tourism shutdown earlier in the year due to fears about riots and food shortages. Those fears appear to have been over-stated and short-lived. I have just spent two weeks in SL, a country I have always loved, and was amazed by what I found. more..

Dec 23 (DM) It has been a hectic year for all of us; especially for the lawmakers who have had to continue their act in trying to prove to the people that they are worth the salaries paid to them. What’s alarming is that we hear of at least one leading television station planning to invite some of these failed lawmakers to an upcoming Christmas TV show during the festive seasons. As much as all media institutes have a responsibility to expose these lawmakers who have fooled the public more..

Dec 23 (DM) President Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed to all political parties in Parliament to get together to find a solution to the decades-old ethnic problem before Sri Lanka’s 75th Independence Day which falls on February 4 next year. Interestingly, Tamil political parties based in the Northern Province while commending the President for his overture have demanded him to fulfil the three requests they have put forward, before January 31, four days before his deadline. more..

Dec 23 (TM) The products of a mere 14 companies make up 80% of the marine waste found in 16 coastal locations of SL, while 74 companies account for the remaining 20%, as per a recent survey. What is more, only 18 products comprise 53% of all marine waste found in those locations. The gravity of SL’s marine waste problem and how the products of leading companies are contributing to the same were highlighted more..

Dec 23 (TM) Amidst criticism that the Govt is not supporting the organisation of the LG election and is in fact attempting to postpone the same for as long as possible, Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardana recently said that the Govt does not have any intention of doing so. He further said that it is the Election Commission (EC) that should take the necessary steps to hold a free and fair election. In addition, Dr. Gunawardana said that ruling SLPP /UNP-led alliance has already commenced more..

Dec 23 (CT) Sri Lanka has entered into a staff level agreement with IMF on 1 Sept 2022 and the agreement was not reveled to the Parliament. However the summary of the agreement was published in the webpage of IMF. The key elements of the agreement were raising fiscal revenue and aim to reach a primary surplus of 2.3% of GDP by 2025; introducing cost-recovery based pricing for fuel and electricity; introducing a social safety net; restoring price stability through data-driven more..

Dec 23 (TM) Instead of tightening the laws to penalise traffic law violators, which has long been the most prevalent method of dealing with offenders, Sri Lanka is making plans to strengthen the prevention aspect of traffic law violations. As was revealed recently, the authorities are planning to introduce a demerit system for driving licenses, which has been under discussion for yrs in SL, with effect from early next yr. more..

Dec 23 (DM) Since SL’s civil war ended in 2009, successive govts have attempted a range of steps to enhance the reconciliation process. In 2011, SL Lessons Learnt & Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) issued its initial proposals for addressing the root causes of the protracted war and reconciling with the past. When the newly elected govt in Jan 2015 backed a Resolution of the UNHRC, program of reconciliation got a further impetus. Even though over 10 years have passed since more..