Apr 21 (SO) SL may consider lifting the import ban of motor vehicles next year as the country’s economic situation is improving with foreign reserves almost reaching USD 5 billion, said Chief of Staff to the Prez, Sagala Ratnayake. “As the country’s economic landscape has improved, the ‘would be’ import bill for motor vehicles is not a big amount that the country should worry about. “But our concern is the protection of the local motor industry which is now making great progress.” more..

Apr 21 (EN) Five years on, Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings has left us with more questions than answers. Both the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government and now the Ranil Wickremesinghe tenure has been shown up poorly in terms of ensuring the masterminds and those who failed to prevent the bombings are bought to book. As one sifts through various reports and discussions on the Easter Sunday bombings which took the lives of 315 and injured at least 600, one must, more..

Apr 21 (ST) Alleged irregularities within the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Company’s (CPSTL) and its fuel distribution system has had an indirect impact on fuel consumption data countrywide which was a significant drop due to a decline in demand, Ministry of Power and Energy sources highlighted. CPSTL is a joint venture between CPC and LIOC, responsible for receiving fuel from ships, storing it and distributing it more..

Apr 21 (ST) SL and its external bondholders are under immense compulsion to reach a consensus on the US$ 12 billion sovereign debt in the next few weeks by mid-May or early June before the country’s prez/general elections this year, Finance Ministry sources affirmed. But if an agreement on external debt restructure is not reached by June, SL’s elections may complicate the negotiations or, delay the debt restructure deal till 2025, a former treasury secretary, who has wide knowledge more..

Apr 21 (ST) SL could be facing another financial crisis with fund raising issues mainly from borrowings commencing by mid this year with political stagnation and periodic economic crises being the norm as in the past, a confidential report of the Finance Ministry revealed. The report has already been submitted to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe who is also the country’s finance minister issuing a warning that the ability to raise funds from domestic borrowings more..

Apr 21 (DM) A 33-year-old pilgrim who climbed to Sri Pada went missing after he jumped off the protective fence at the Ratnapura-Sri Pada route at the Uda Maluwa. The victim was identified as a resident of Sooriyawewa, Hambantota. He had visited the Sri Pada with two other women yesterday (19) and as recorded on CCTV cameras, the man had suddenly ran down and jumpped off the protective fence while he was climbing down along Ratnapura-Sri Pada route. more..

Apr 21 (ST) SLC has parted ways with Naveed Nawaz, the assistant coach of the national team, as his two-year contract came to an end this month. Nawaz, entrusted with the crucial role of team batting, departs amidst scrutiny of his performance. Having donned the SL jersey in Tests and ODIs previously, Nawaz transitioned to coaching, initially leading the Bangladesh U-19 team to glory in the U-19 Cricket World Cup in 2020. His appointment as assistant to Englishman Chris Silverwood more..

Apr 21 (TM) The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) is grappling with a severe shortage of around 30 vacancies in its laboratory, compromising its ability to conduct thorough quality tests on imported medicines. NMRA Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said that the authority’s National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory (NMQAL), which conducts laboratory testing to determine the quality of medicines, more..

Apr 21 (DM) Two female passengers of the Republic of Guinea who tried to enter SL by carrying Rs. 20 million worth of swallowed cocaine in their abdomens were intercepted by the Customs this morning. Officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Unit stationed at Arrival Terminal of the BIA questioned the foreigners on suspicion to realize that they had swallowed capsules containing cocaine. Authorities have managed to retrieve 29 and 11 capsules containing 500 grams of cocaine more..

Apr 21 (CT) Major political parties are gearing up for May Day and are planning to hold their respective rallies on a grand scale, with the aim of demonstrating their strength with elections on the horizon. The organising committees of these parties are, in a bid to outdo one another, currently working tirelessly to draw the largest possible crowds to their respective rallies in Colombo on 1 May. Particularly, SLPP, SJB, NPP and UNP have expanded their organising networks, prioritising more..

Apr 21 (TM) Despite earlier stipulations that all those above the age of 18 years must register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN) before 1 April, the deadline is no longer operational. A high-level official at the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) said that the Govt understood that the public needed some time to obtain the TIN, and therefore, while TINs were being issued for those who applied, the earlier mandatory deadline was no longer functional. Meanwhile, IRD General Employees’ Union more..

Apr 21 (CT) With a special notification by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, over Rs 320 million has been allocated to six members of the SJB for development projects through decentralised proposals. In addition to the proposals presented by the district coordination committees for regional development projects in the decentralised budget programme 2024, it was revealed that Prez has instructed to release the allocations for the implementation of the development project proposals submitted more..

Apr 21 (Nikkei) Having hit a roadblock with international bondholders, uncertainty looms over the economy of crisis-hit SL and an upcoming review by the IMF, experts warn. South Asian island country announced on Tuesday that it has failed to strike an agreement with international bondholders on restructuring more than $12 billion in debt, a mandatory requirement set out by the IMF. Colombo-based economist Talal Rafi more..

Apr 21 (Island) Russian Embassy in Colombo, on Friday stated that it possesses no information regarding the involvement of SL citizens in the Ukrainian conflict on the Russian side, as well as any data on potential numbers of such individuals. Commenting on recent newspaper articles, the embassy said they are not aware of a local recruiting agency that hires Sri Lankans to fight for Russia under false pretenses and promises. Embassy also denied any connections with the return to SL more..

Apr 21 (ST) Iran’s Prez Ebrahim Raisi will arrive in the country as previously scheduled on Wednesday for an overnight state visit when he will also inaugurate the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project along with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. Though neither the Foreign Ministry nor the Iranian embassy in Colombo have confirmed the dates of the state visit, govt sources said they were going ahead with the visit as previously scheduled. The visit will include official talks between more..

Apr 21 (ST) The National New Year holidays are over but normal life is yet to return to normal in most areas. In Greater Colombo, most shops, and restaurants, like in other provincial towns, remained shut. One of the main reasons has been the inability of transport services to bring back those who had gone mostly to their homes. The rush was far too heavy, and they could not cope. An example was those travelling from Kandy more..

Apr 22 (DM) Israel’s misguided (as the US Prez chooses to call it) attack on the Iranian Consulate in Syria, the retaliatory strikes by Iran on Israel and counter-strikes by Israel on Iran have set West Asia (referred to as the Middle East by the US and the West) in flames. By these actions, the taboo against direct attacks on each other has now disappeared. If there is another round-a conflict over Iran’s nuclear advances or another strike by Israel on Iranian military officers more..

Apr 22 (TM) Local media outlets report that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe have jointly presented a draft law that provides for the forfeiture of the proceeds of crime, marking a significant step in the govt’s efforts aimed at combating crimes, especially corruption. This step comes in a context where the country has accepted serious anti-corruption obligations as part of the IMF Extended Fund Facility programme for Sri Lanka. more..

Apr 22 (CT) Port City Colombo (PCC), a multi-billion dollar FDI-funded PPP (Public-Private Partnership) project located in the metropolis of Colombo, Sri Lanka is positioned as the gateway to South Asia, offering a combination of global investment opportunities, international business environments, world-class infrastructure and sustainable yet cosmopolitan living, say the Port City developers. more..

Apr 22 (TM) Twenty-first April of this year (2024) will mark five years since the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in SL. The targets included two Catholic Churches in the Archdiocese of Colombo, the Zion Church in the Eastern Province, and three high-end hotels in Colombo. Around 269 people, including about 45 foreigners and 45 children, were reported to have been killed, making it the biggest post-civil war massacre in Sri Lanka. The damaged Churches and Hotels were quickly rebuilt. more..

Apr 22 (ST) That a State Minister has called upon Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to pardon Gnanasara Thero now serving his most recent sentence of four years handed down by the Colombo High Court last month for outraging religious feelings of adherents of the Islamic faith in 2016, should surprise no one. No doubt, the State Minister in question is largely insignificant in the larger scheme of political realities. Even so, there is little doubt that his sentiments will be applauded by more..

Apr 22 (GV) The churches have been restored for congregations to worship and the luxury hotels have been repaired for the elite to dine in but the families of victims are still seeking justice for the carnage of April 21, 2019. They also need medical, emotional and financial support to rebuild their shattered lives. April 21 marks five years since 269 people died and 500 more were injured in the Easter Sunday bombings in 3 churches more..

Apr 22 (CT) Debt negotiations between govt’s hired experts and private sovereign bond holders are reported to be progressing undern closed doors and to the satisfaction of the principal supervisor IMF. This has convinced the former SLBC Governor Indrajit Coomaraswamy to feel confident that the third tranche of IMF’s $3billion EFF would be released soon. If settlement arrangements are to be finalized and signed by both parties the terms and conditions so agreed must be honoured by more..

Apr 22 (CT) In his speech marking two years in office, the Secretary to the Treasury and Ministry of Finance (MoF), Economic Stabilisation and National Policies, K.M. Mahinda Siriwardana, reminded us of the beginnings of SL’s ongoing economic recovery journey, under his strict fiscal management leadership with significant responsibilities. On the theme ‘Two Years at the Ministry of Finance: Looking Back at Confronting Sri Lanka’s Deepest Economic Crisis in Post more..

Apr 22 (Island) A woman has recently been arrested in Brazil for taking a 68-year-old man, who had been dead for hours, to a bank in Rio de Janeiro to obtain a loan. She pretended that the dead man, whom she kept calling uncle, was seriously ill, but wanted a loan, according to media reports. Thankfully, she could not dupe the bank employees, who alerted the police. Perhaps, what the Brazilian woman is reported to have done in a bid to draw a loan pales into insignificance in comparison to how more..

Apr 22 (SO) SL’s fragile economic recovery faces a new threat – the potential fallout from an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and spillovers to the wider Middle East. While geographically distant, SL is certainly vulnerable to disruptions in the Middle East, a region crucial for global oil supplies and int'l trade. Let’s explore the key channels through which an intensified Israel-Iran conflict could cause substantial external headwinds to SL – headwinds that country can ill afford to face right now. more..

Apr 22 (FT) The economically critical yet troubled Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have united to launch a new lobby group to champion effective solutions to their plight thereby ensuring stability and prosperity in the country. Named the Ceylon Federation of MSMEs the promoters said it represents 1.1 million formal MSMEs in the country and the grouping is apolitical. The launch coincided with the fifth anniversary of the 2019 Easter more..

Apr 22 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is witnessing a remarkable surge, with the country welcoming over 100,000 tourists in the initial 20 days of April, setting an optimistic tone for the sector’s trajectory in 2024. “The provisional figures reveal that over 100,000 tourists were welcomed in the first 20 days of the month, contributing to a year-to-date (YTD) figure of 740,000,” Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said. He said the surge in arrivals signals a promising year for the tourism sector, more..

Apr 22 (FT) Sri Lanka is projected to fall short of its Budget target on revenue to GDP for the 33rd consecutive year in 2024, according to the recently released State of the Budget Report 2024. The State of the Budget Report is compiled annually by Verité Research and published on PublicFinance.lk, Sri Lanka’s premier platform for economic insights. The report provides a robust analysis and objective assessment of the fiscal, financial and economic estimates in SL’s annual Budget. more..

Apr 22 (Island) St. Peter’s College did well to beat Royal College Colombo 10-5 in the final of the all-island Elite Rugby Sevens and clinch the Cup Championship at Royal Sports Complex in Colombo on Sunday. St. Peter’s did well to survive a scary second half where they were down to six men following a yellow card offense. But the Peterites managed to hold a second half charge by Royal, who won the hearts of spectators for playing well after half time and threatening to pull the game more..

Apr 22 (FT) Public Security Minister Tiran Alles yesterday called on the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and the Catholic Committee to collaboratively review all investigations conducted thus far on Easter Sunday attacks and collectively identify the perpetrators to ensure justice is served. Addressing a gathering, he assured commitment to facilitating a comprehensive review of the investigations surrounding the tragic events of Easter Sunday 2019. more..

Apr 22 (AD) The Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 racing event, held in Diyatalawa today (21), turned tragic as a race car veered off the track, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals including an eight-year-old child and leaving over 20 others hospitalized with injuries. The accident occurred when two race cars lost control and collided with a group of spectators. The deceased are residents of Avissawella, Matara, Akuressa and Seeduwa. more..

Apr 22 (ST) Travellers to Sri Lanka will have to pay more to enter the country as the new visa rules come about giving effect to new and increased charges that has taken even the Tourism Minister by surprise. The new system in place under the VFS Global charges a US$18.50 service fee, $7.27 convenience fee and a visa fee of $75 that totals to $100.77. And the previously charged $50 visa fee is also not available on the new website. The tourism industry was woken up to a rude shock more..

Apr 22 (FT) WUSC (World University Service of Canada) held its first entrepreneurial ecosystem convening and knowledge sharing events on 27 February 2024 in Colombo and 14 March in Jaffna, under its newest project GRIT - Growth, Resilience, Investment and Training, a Gender-Responsive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development Project in the North of SL. The Colombo convening and learning event was attended by women entrepreneurs in the North showcased more..

Apr 22 (DM) The Govt is maintaining a deafening silence on the investigations over a number of emblematic cases. Current Prez then PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had in 2015 assured justice over the murders, including that of former Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and rugger player Wasim Thajudeen. However, Prez Wickremesinghe and his administration have not provided any assurances to the families of the victims more..

Apr 22 (DM) Sri Lanka will see consumers hold back gold purchases as prices of the precious metal continue to expand globally, Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA) said. Amid rising geo-political tensions in the Middle East region and looming fears of an Iran-Israel war, gold prices continued to scale high for the sixth week in a row during the weekend despite rising US dollar rates. Speaking to Mirror Business on the impact of global gold price hike on the island nation, more..