Dec 18 (FT) Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday defended his decision to decline the premiership in 2022, claiming that he refused to collaborate with those responsible for SL’s economic collapse. Speaking at a SJB electoral organising meeting in Biyagama, Premadasa emphasised that today the people recognise the correctness of his decision at that time. Premadasa, visibly displeased with comments made about him during the recent SLPP national convention in Colombo, more..

Dec 18 (ST) SL has lost a long term contract offered by Saudi Arabia to supply a large quantity of coco peat (sterilised coir) worth millions of dollars due to official bungling and corruption, an official probe revealed. The other reason for the cancellation of the order was the lack of vision and proper procedure of state authorities to facilitate the official process of supplying the required stock of sterilised coir. Furthermore the Atomic Energy Board (AEB) has been directed to more..

Dec 18 (FT) SJB MP Harsha De Silva opined all parties and politicians need to stop deceiving people with fairytales in the run up to elections, and work responsibly to ensure growth and stability of the nation. MP said 2024 will be a difficult year for the country in the face of two major elections, and both politicians and the people must understand there is no way forward for the country without effective restructuring in almost every more..

Dec 18 (DM) The Lawyers’ Collective, a prominent legal advocacy group in Sri Lanka, has raised concerns over appointing Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon as the acting IGP while having a number of pending cases against him. Former President of the Bar Association of SL (BASL) Upul Jayasuriya PC questioned as to how the Constitutional Council granted its approval to appoint Deshabandu Tennakoon as Acting IGP when there was a pending case before the Supreme Court for torturing more..

Dec 18 (TM) More than 80 suspects were arrested by the Police on the first day of the islandwide operations to combat organised crime, including narcotics trafficking and gun crime. The operation, which was surprisingly announced a day in advance, was implemented on the instructions of Minister Tiran Alles and Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon. Police initiated islandwide operations yesterday (17), with the support of other security forces such as the SL Army and the STF. more..

Dec 18 (Island) The unseating of Batticaloa District Opposition MP Naseer Ahamed for voting for the 2022 Budget during its Third Reading on Dec 10, 2021, was widely expected to serve as a deterrent to other dissidents, but over 20 MPs voted for or against the 2024 Budget last week in violation of their parties’ stances on the Appropriation Bill. The majority of them were SLPP members. In Oct 2023, Supreme Court upheld the expulsion by more..

Dec 18 (FT) SL is going through a prolonged recession today. Economists, as a rule of thumb, define an economic recession as a state in which the real GDP growth is negative for two consecutive quarters. In the case of SL, GDP growth has been in the negative region for six consecutive quarters from Q1 of 2022 to Q2 2023. Q3 of 2023 has recorded a dismal growth of 1.6% over the low base in the Q3 of 2022. But it is not news for rejoicing since the GDP of Rs. 2,946 billion in Q3 of 2023 more..

Dec 18 (DM) Bandula, a chilli farmer of Puliyankulama, Anuradhapura has earned a record income of Rs. 10 million from his chilli cultivation on half an acre by yesterday. He has recorded the highest yield and income of chillies ever obtained from half an acre, the Agriculture and Plantation Industries Ministry said. Under the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project, he has started chilli cultivation on half an acre in the Puliyankulama area using the new technology of chilli cultivation, more..

Dec 18 (FT) People never believe in volcanoes until the lava overtakes them. The phrase of wisdom occurred to me, when I listened to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe sermonising in Parliament, that there is no other way other than the path he had decided to plod on. Later in the day, the path he had decided to take was revealed in all splendours. Legislation for revising VAT was enacted by a blatantly contemptuous, patently heavy-handed process of parliamentary manoeuvring. more..

Dec 18 (AD) Measures have been taken to release 10 million imported eggs to the market from today (18). The Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation stated that the relevant stock of eggs with the approval of the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) is to be distributed to Lanka Sathosa from today. Accordingly, the general public will be able to purchase eggs during the festive season through the Sathosa network of outlets without any shortage, it said. more..

Dec 18 (TM) Legislative updates will continue next year with 60 Bills expected to be passed in 2024, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. 35 Acts were passed during the past 15 months with the aim of updating laws related to various fields, which he claimed helped gain the trust of the IMF in the process. “We passed 35 Acts to update laws. In addition, we hope to pass more than 60 laws next year. more..

Dec 18 (AD) STF has recovered more than 100 kilograms of Kerala cannabis during a special raid carried out at a house in the Ja-Ela area. The raid has been carried out based on a tip-off received by the police. The street value of the stock of Kerala cannabis is estimated to be around Rs. 20 million, according to police. Police said that further investigations are underway regarding the incident. Meanwhile, the police have also arrested a 38-year-old woman, along with more..

Dec 18 (TM) Although former MP Basil Rajapaksa has not yet expressed his desire to officially accept the position of its National Organiser, the ruling SLPP stated that he would perform all the tasks related to that position. The SLPP's Executive Committee has appointed its new office bearers, leaving the post of National Organiser vacant with a request for Rajapaksa to take over at one point. SLPP's General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said that as per the SLPP's new Constitution, more..

Dec 18 (TM) Former Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta was arrested by the CID a short while ago. He was arrested after the CID recorded a statement over the import of substandard Immunoglobulin injections. With regard to the ongoing investigations related to the substandard Immunoglobulin scandal, several officials including Director of Medical Supplies Division are currently in remand custody. more..

Dec 18 (Island) Confusion has arisen over whether NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake voted against Budget 2024 on Dec. 13, or was absent when the final vote was taken. His name has been included in a list, prepared by Chief Govt Whip Prasanna Ranatunga’s office, mentioning him as one of those who were absent. The list also gives the names of the MPs who voted for or against the Budget. Our efforts to contact MP Dissanayake failed because he did not answer his phone. more..

Dec 18 (EN) SL’s planned new Employment Act will look at how employers treat employees, especially in the plantation sector, a govt minister said. “We are updating our employment laws to hold all employers accountable for the working conditions and facilities they provide their workers, especially in the tea estates,” Minister of Estate Infrastructure Development of SL, Jeevan Thondaman said on X (twitter). “If estate workers are sitting on the ground to eat and lack basic facilities more..

Dec 18 (TM) Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) called on the Govt and the public to understand the socioeconomic impact of alcohol use and abuse, and not to treat it only as a revenue source for the state. Following several new proposals which were included in the Budget for 2024 regarding the enhancement and regulation of the excise sector, ADIC Chairman Sampath De Seram said that every govt has become victims of unreliable myths surrounding the increase more..

Dec 18 (DN) The report to be submitted to the Parliament regarding the issues and recommendations related to the safety and care of children between the ages of 0-5 years of working women in SL was considered in the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women, and Gender. It was discussed in the Sectoral Oversight Committee that the impact on the growing child of 0-5 years of age without mother’s care will have a huge social impact in the next 20-25 years. more..

Dec 18 (JP) One of the consequences of the war has been a lack of manpower in Israel. The agriculture and construction sectors have been particularly hard-hit since work permits were withdrawn from Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza. This situation has been compounded by the loss of foreign workers, including thousands of Thai nationals, many of whom have returned home. more..

Dec 18 (DN) Outgoing Pakistani High Commissioner, Major General (Retd.) Umar Farooq Burki paid a farewell call on PM Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees today and thanked the PM for excellent support extended to him during his tenure in SL. The High Commissioner briefed the PM about the steps taken to promote tourism, especially Buddhist pilgrim tours to Pakistan. PM, while welcoming the offer by Pakistan to open Buddhist pilgrim sites for more..

Dec 18 (Island) A number of Tamil political parties and organisations have condemned the GTF (Global Tamil Forum)-led initiative aimed at promoting post-war national reconciliation though the US has welcomed it. Tamil civil society groups consisting of university students, families of the disappeared, religious groups, labour unions, academics, women groups et al jointly rejected the Himalaya Declaration by an association called Sanga for better Sri Lanka (SBSL) and GTF. more..

Dec 18 (DM) In the wake of the detection of the immune-evasive and fast-spreading variant in Kerala, India, the health authorities in Sri Lanka have taken note of it and gone on alert. India identified a new Covid sub-variant JN.1 in a woman in Kerala, raising concerns and emphasizing the need for alertness. Union Ministry of Health on 16 Dec initiated preparedness measures after the case was identified in Kerala. more..

Dec 18 (DM) Referring to the appointment of a new Selection Committee to Sri Lanka cricket, veteran SL umpire Kumar Dharmasena said a shift in individuals is not poised to yield any substantial changes. Speaking to reporters, the former all-rounder said Sri Lanka Cricket should require a feasible strategic plan aimed at reviving Sri Lanka's cricket. “The present state of Sri Lanka cricket is a result of a prolonged period of poorly executed plans. Hence, it’s high time to have more..

Dec 18 (TOO) Migrants play a pivotal role in the socio-economic well-being and development of their respective families and dependents as well as the home and host countries. Sri Lanka had been an international hotspot for both inward and outward migration from time immemorial. In the contemporary era, many Sri Lankans have temporarily and permanently migrated to several countries, immensely contributing to the socio-economic development of SL as well as more..

Dec 18 (DM) A total of 4,482 people, belonging to 1,323 families have been affected by the heavy rains in the Nothern Province, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said. While issuing a situation report for today, they said 473 people, belonging to 143 families, have been affected in the Mullaitivu district due to flash floods. Some 1,626 people were also affected in the Kilinochchi district due to flash floods, while 138 were affected in the Vavuniya district, and 2,245 in the Mannar district, more..

Dec 18 (NW) Chairman of the state-owned dairy producer and marketer, MILCO, Renuka Perera has tendered his resignation. Perera announced his resignation via a letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. In his letter, Renuka Perera has cited objections to the privatization of MILCO despite its profitability. Stating that the company had increased the cost of milk procured from local dairy farmers despite the economic difficulties, he added that the company still offers milk powder more..

Dec 18 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe urged all political leaders to exhibit responsibility in their approach to the IMF program. He emphasised that those opposing the program should provide concrete proposals to rescue the country from financial crisis. Prez cautioned against engaging in rhetoric merely for public appeasement without shouldering responsibilities, noting that such political tactics could lead the nation back more..

Dec 18 (DM) Minister Tiran Alles alleged that certain lawyers who opposed the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Acting IGP are now appearing on behalf of cases filed by the court against notorious drug traffickers. Minister disclosed that these lawyers are earning billions of rupees from such cases. Earlier, Minister Alles said that he and the Acting IGP are committed to cracking down on narcotic drugs and the underworld, irrespective of certain objections or pressures. more..

Dec 18 (EN) SL’s non-tax paid cigarettes, made up of smuggled foreign brands and counterfeits have risen to 29% of the market in the third quarter of 2023. SL's legal cigarette sales are in long-term decline, while there has been tendency for illegal products to go up, a periodic survey by Research Intelligence Unit has found. The rise in illicit sales were driven by a currency crisis and inflation which had reduced purchasing power and tax hikes which had made smuggled products more more..

Dec 18 (CT) Children may be at serious health risk due to the use of substandard imported school items and stationery, Head of the Quality Management Unit at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Dr. Mahinda Wickramarachchi, warned. He alleged that substandard imported pencils and colouring pencils may contain heavy metals in the colours coated on their surface and that they did not comply with EN 71-3, more..

Dec 18 (DN) Camillus Perera, the renowned cartoonist who created characters like Gajaman and Siribiris passed away yesterday at the age of 84. His characters have been published in various newspapers ranging from the Sunday Observer to Sivdesa. Perera began work as a cartoonist in 1966 developing characters for the Observer and Dekkoth Pathmawathi for Lake House’s film magazine. In 1972 he created Gajaman, his most popular character. more..

Dec 18 (DN) Eleven artistes including popular South Indian singer Hariharan, who came for a concert in Jaffna reportedly got stranded due to bad weather conditions. The concert was scheduled to be held on December 21 at Muraveli grounds in Jaffna and the organizers have decided to postpone the concert due to the ongoing heavy rain and bad weather conditions. Accordingly, the organizers have decided to send Hariharan and others to South India, but they are said to be in great difficulty more..

Dec 19 (DM) The country is totally relying on the IMF led programme for recovery from the unprecedented economic crisis that was created by the leaders who for the past several decades promised to the people a paradise on earth. Despite the successful recovery being still in the balance, the economic reforms that are being implemented under the IMF programme have already started to bite especially the poor and the vulnerable. Those who paid between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 1,500 monthly more..

Dec 19 (DM) The Global Tamil Forum, a twice-banned diaspora organization, has reportedly received a warm reception during their recent visit to Sri Lanka. They’ve arrived with a delegation of Buddhist monks to present the Himalaya Declaration. While their meetings with the President, religious figures, and civil leaders have caused concerns in certain sectors, there haven’t been direct attacks or confrontations reported. These receptions might suggest a potential shift more..

Dec 19 (TM) The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference/Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) (COP28) has been high on the global agenda for the last two weeks with a record-breaking number of people in attendance. SL too was in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a delegation led by Prez and National Policies Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who used more..

Dec 19 (ST) In another dubious record for SL’s paralyzed criminal justice system, the Acting IGP who had assumed his post recently trailing clouds of controversy regarding his professional conduct, has been held directly responsible by the Supreme Court for violation of Article 11 of the Constitution (freedom from torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment). As observed with justifiable ire, the Court had on umpteen times, laid down guiding principles as to how law enforcement officers more..