Apr 9 (TTG) SL is hopeful of a UK tourism boost after the Foreign Office softened its stance on travel to the country, but campaigners say the changes to its travel advice for the country do no go far enough. The FCDO advice previously warned visitors could face shortages of food, fuel, medicine and medical services, as well as power cuts, and that their travel in SL’s cities and around the island could be impacted by political unrest – advice that dates to the country’s 2022 economic downturn. more..

Apr 9 (EN) Sri Lanka expects 150,000 to 200,000 vehicles on the road during the April New Year season, compared to around 110,000 seen on other days, Road Development Authority Director General, S L P Suriyabandara said. “We usually see a 100,000 to a 110,000 cars a month,” Suriyabandara said at a press conference on Tuesday. “However, for the Christmas season we saw around 145,000 cars, and for the new year season we expect 150-200,000 cars.” more..

Apr 9 (CI) Sunrisers Hyderabad have signed 22-year-old SL legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth as a replacement for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga at his reserve price of INR 50 lakh. Hasaranga was officially ruled out of IPL 2024 on Saturday owing to chronic pain in his heel that initially delayed his arrival for the tournament. Viyaskanth first rose to prominence in Dec 2020, when he became the youngest player at more..

Apr 9 (F2F) In Feb 2024, Sri Lanka experienced a notable increase in container transshipment volumes, rising by 29.1% to reach 528,348 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This surge was attributed to shipping lines utilising Colombo port for cargo operations previously linked to bypassed Middle Eastern ports. Leading up to Feb 2024, transshipment volumes had already seen a substantial uptick of 27.2%. Simultaneously, domestic container volumes witnessed more..

Apr 9 (DM) A Parliamentary Committee has revealed that CCTV camera equipment that had been purchased at a cost of Rs. 2.1 million to be fixed at the internal premises of the Immigration and Emigration head office had been stored for six years without being fixed. This was revealed when the Immigration and Emigrations Department was summoned before the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) recently. It was further revealed that equipment had been purchased in 2017 more..

Apr 9 (FT) Located in Pelawatte, Siddhalepa has introduced a sanctuary that transcends the ordinary – a haven where health and wellness intertwine seamlessly. Opening its doors this year, the new Siddhalepa branch blends the realms of wellness clinic, and store into a singular, transformative experience. Entering the branch is an invitation to a warm display, an ode to Siddhalepa’s wide range of products nestled among an arrangement of herbs and ingredients. more..

Apr 9 (AD) The Court of Appeal postponed delivering the verdict on the interim requests in the writ petition filed against the remand of the Director of the Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division Dr. Kapila Wickramanayake, until April 26. The relevant verdict was scheduled to be delivered by the Appeals Court judge D.N. Samarakoon today. However, the judge ordered the verdict to be issued on April 26, when the case was taken up this morning. Dr. Wickramanayake, who currently remains more..

Apr 9 (DM) Sri Lanka is hard-pressed against time to reach agreements with creditors including bondholders before June, when the third tranche of the IMF extended fund facility is expected. SL is expected to get the next tranche of US $ 337 million in June after the third review of the programme. Before that, SL has to sign the MoU with the Paris Club of Nations on restructuring bilateral debts while signing a separate agreement with China more..

Apr 9 (Xinhua) SL's cabinet approved to establish diplomatic relations with Chad as part of its move to enhance ties with the African region, a statement from the govt's information department said. The dept said the proposal was presented by Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry at the cabinet meeting held on Monday. Sri Lanka has established diplomatic relations with 46 countries on the African continent. The govt of Chad has also expressed its desire to establish diplomatic relations with SL. more..

Apr 9 (TM) The SJB, claimed that a future Govt under it will address the issues of ethnic minorities appropriately, and according to the Constitution, and that therefore, it is the only Party in which the ethnic minorities can place their confidence in. In the wake of media reports being circulated about a common Tamil Prez Candidate, the National Organiser of the Party and Opposition MP Tissa Attanayake said that the preliminary discussions between the ethnic minority parties are still underway, more..

Apr 9 (Island) Puttalam District SJB MP Niroshan Perera has asked Finance Minister, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, to reveal fee structure and other details pertaining to the govt retaining France-based Lazard as financial advisor and Clifford Chance LLP as legal advisor to support the country on debt restructuring. MP has referred the question to the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies and more..

Apr 9 (DM) Cabinet approval was granted to recruit 2,500 English teachers under English for All programme, Minister Bandula Gunawardana said. He said a total of 4,441 English teachers have been approved for schools to teach GCE O/L subjects in English. There is a requirement of 6,500 English teachers for this. Accordingly, the govt has decided to increase the number of schools to 1,000 this year. There are 765 schools that conduct subjects in English. more..

Apr 9 (NW) Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena has left for Thailand on a visit, it was reported. A group consisting of nine persons has accompanied the former Prez on his visit. He had reportedly left for Bangkok, Thailand at around 12.55 am today. The former Prez’s departure comes at a time when his SLFP is facing a crisis. An interim order was recently issued preventing Maithripala Sirisena from functioning as the SLFP leader, following a complaint by former Prez & SLFP leader Chandrika more..

Apr 10 (DM) We wish our readers a happy and bountiful New Year, as the country celebrates its cultural festival this month. On the 13th of this month, the two major communities in our country Tamils and the Sinhalese celebrate the Eastern or cultural New Year. Around the same time, our Muslim brothers and sisters celebrate Ramadan, while Christians celebrate Easter. The Adhi Vasies- also known as the Veddahs also celebrate the New Year or Kona Mangalaya during this time. more..

Apr 10 (TM) The Aragalaya (public uprising in Sinhala) of 9 April 2022, is a distinctive and historic moment in Sri Lanka’s political landscape of 75 years since independence. It signified a unique set of circumstances and a fusion of multiple social movements that managed to garner widespread popular support, which cut across Sri Lanka’s torn ethno-religious tapestry, and for a moment shine a bright light at the island's deeply flawed culture of governance. more..

Apr 10 (TM) The prices and quality of consumer goods, especially food, became a national level topic in the context of the economic downturn that resulted in drastic inflation. Even though inflation and other market-related conditions influenced by the downturn have stabilised to some extent, SL’s markets, especially the food market, remains affected by perennial issues such as intermediaries taking undue advantage, issues faced by more..

Apr 10 (DM) I have written in these pages that Sri Lankans, more than anyone else, have done a spectacular job in disparaging their country at home and abroad. The genesis of this particular penchant is multifaceted. Some are innately bitter, some are attention-seeking, and others seek validation. For certain others, this represents an escapism from an existential identity crisis. Most of them live in an eternal gripe. So whenever the country gets a positive mention, their egos are prickled, more..

Apr 10 (GV) Two years after the aragalaya, which ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022, Sri Lankans are still bearing the brunt of an economic crisis. When Prez Rajapaksa came to power in Nov 2019, the country’s foreign reserves stood at nearly $8 billion. By the end of the following year, that number had fallen to less than $4 billion and by December 2021, it was down to less than $2 billion. Coming out of a series of lockdowns that paralyzed the economy, more..

Apr 10 (TM) Despite Cabinet approving a 40% increase to the minimum wage, revising it from Rs. 12,500 to Rs. 17,500, stakeholders and experts opine that ordinary citizens are not likely to feel any relief. Last month, Cabinet approved to increase the national minimum salary by Rs. 5,000 and to revise the National Minimum Wages Act No.3 of 2016 to increase the national minimum daily salary by Rs. 200 from Rs. 500 to Rs. 700. more..

Apr 10 (CT) It is not unusual for the SL public to witness the fate of grand decisions adrift in the choppy waters of policymaking after we have been promised big shiny policies that will supposedly steer us in a direction which will allow us to catch up with the rest of the world. Alas, only for those very policies to be discreetly flicked off the boat midway in the strong tides of political agendas where they sink to the bottom of the ocean like a treasure lost to the depths of more such treasure. more..

Apr 10 (Island) The latest internecine battle of the Blues, as it were, at Darley Road, has taken a dramatic turn. The anti-Sirisena faction of the SLFP held a politburo meeting, on Monday, and made some key appointments. They met at the SL Foundation Institute because the SLFP hq remained closed. Former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga, who is leading the battle against former Prez Maithripala Sirisena, was present there, as an observer, enjoying the drama directed by her. more..

Apr 10 (Island) 15 years after the end of the war in the North and the East, a tourist might have a difficult time figuring out whether a war was fought there at all, at first glance. There is not much difference between the towns in the North and the South. There is an appearance of peacefulness and normalcy that tourists have taken to. SL has claimed the coveted title of the number one destination for solo female travellers in 2024, according to Timeout.com, a leading global media and more..

Apr 10 (ST) The lack of a large number of speakers from both the govt and opposition forced a temporary halt to proceedings during Parliament’s final sitting a few days before the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The decision prompted anger from the opposition, which accused Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe of setting a dangerous precedent. Tuesday’s (2) Parliament sittings were held to pass several important pieces of legislation, namely the Banking (Amendment) Bill, more..

Apr 10 (ST) A BOI company in Sri Lanka is the importer of the hazardous material scheduled to have been shipped to Colombo, according to the manifest of the Dali vessel chartered by Maersk. More vessels with hazardous materials are also expected to be due at the Colombo Port. The company, Ansell Lanka, based at the Biyagama Export Processing Zone, had ordered to import a stock of Resin Solution; more..

Apr 10 (AI) During 2022 and 2023, SL law enforcement authorities responded to unprecedented protests in Sri Lanka with unlawful use of tear gas and water cannon and the misuse of batons. Law enforcement authorities used tactics of obstruction, surveillance, and intimidation of protests, creating a chilling effect on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. The suppression of protest must stop and the government must ensure that law enforcement authorities adopt more..

Apr 10 (Island) In sports and life, it’s all about grabbing the opportunities from both hands. Often, we tend to cry over spilled milk and turn a blind eye when new opportunities or ventures open up. Kamindu Mendis is a great example of making most of his chances. The left-handed batter from Richmond College, Galle was given a raw deal as he was sidelined after making a half-century on debut against Australia. He was in the sidelines for two years not able to break into the senior side. more..

Apr 10 (FT) National Chamber of Commerce of SL (NCCSL) and KPMG SL have officially signed a MOU aimed at fostering knowledge sharing and collaborative endeavors. This landmark agreement marks a strategic collaboration between two influential organisations, poised to catalyse numerous joint initiatives. The primary objective of this MOU, where KPMG SL will be onboard as a Knowledge Partner, and to strengthen the services to the MSME sector through capacity building more..

Apr 10 (FT) SL Insurance Corporation (SLIC) said yesterday it concluded the year 2023 with remarkable success, achieving an impressive profit before taxation of Rs. 10.6 billion, reflecting a robust improvement in combined Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 44.2 billion, marking a growth of 7.2%. As of December 31, 2023, Sri Lanka Insurance Life recorded a premium volume of Rs. 21 billion, while Sri Lanka Insurance General recorded a premium value of Rs. 23.1 billion. more..

Apr 10 (ST) Before finalising the ODI squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh, national selectors were in a dilemma whether or not to pick Lahiru Kumara. Their concern stemmed from Kumara’s soaring skin-fold levels, which raised doubts about his fitness and increased his susceptibility to injuries. The reading was well over 120–much more than the required 85, indicating significant room for improvement more..

Apr 10 (CT) 14-year-old Chamodi Munasinghe’s 5-wicket haul and Dewmi Wijerathna’s 4/43 scripted SL U-19 Women’s comprehensive 108- run win over England Under-19 Women in the third game of the U-19 Women’s Tri Nation ODI Series 2024 worked off at Galle Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. Opting to bat first, SL posted 226 runs before being bowled out in 48.3 overs, and in reply, England fell well short of the target as they were bundled out for 118 runs courtesy Chamodi and Dewmi’s heroics more..

Apr 10 (TM) Cabinet committee looking into entering BRICS as the country plans to grow the economy after its worst economic crisis, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry said. He said that Sri Lanka is looking at entering BRICS as an option which was suggested by the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs. However, he said that BRICS is too early for Sri Lanka as many people are interested in entering the bloc, “they are not going to just accept us, it will take little time,” he added. more..

Apr 10 (TM) Endorsing the reported preparation by Tamil political parties to field a common candidate for the upcoming Prez Election, TMTK Leader C.V. Wigneswaran said that several names of potential candidates are already being considered. He said that the TMTK would endorse fielding a common candidate representing the Tamil political parties, charging that the Tamil community has been let down every time that more..

Apr 10 (FT) T National Savings Bank (NSB) said yesterday it demonstrated its mettle amidst challenges by recording a Profit after Tax (PAT) of Rs. 7.2 billion for the fiscal year ended Dec 31, 2023. NSB said the performance in FY23 was a testament to its adept management and highly skilled workforce in a year which saw the aftermath of pandemic followed by largest economic crisis in post-independence history, and socio-political uncertainties and monetary tightening. more..

Apr 10 (DM) The world’s first Cinnamon Museum was unveiled this week in Mirissa Hills, a cinnamon estate near Weligama. The opening event was graced by Minister Harin Fernando, who called it a brilliant idea to make value to a SL brand. The Cinnamon Museum, a project by Global CEO- Ogilvy & Mather, Miles Young, who did extensive research and discovery of cinnamon, is a unique small resort with four bedrooms, where visitors can stay and experience a walk around the plantation, more..

Apr 10 (DM) Despite earning a yearly profit of Rs. 5 billion from expressways, Minister Bandula Gunawardana revealed that it might take at least 160 years to fully pay off the Rs. 800 billion loan used to build them. Gunawardana explained that even if someone lived for 80 years, it would still be impossible to settle the debt. He emphasized that even if someone reincarnated multiple times and worked throughout each lifetime, the debt would persist. To prevent financial collapse, more..