Apr 23 (TM) The Election Commission (EC) stated that if the crisis situation within the SLFP continues, there may be a problematic situation in issuing nominations for SLFP members in the upcoming Elections. With an interim injunction being issued by the Colombo District Court (DC) preventing former President and incumbent Opposition MP Maithripala Sirisena from functioning as the Party Chairperson, more..

Apr 23 (FT) In a detailed critique of the recently gazetted SL Electricity Bill dated 17 April 2024, SLPP MP Dr. Charitha Herath has highlighted several critical observations and concerns. Dr. Herath commended the efforts made to enhance the Bill compared to previous drafts, acknowledging the considerable refinement and comprehensive nature of the latest version. However, he also identified fundamental issues within the draft, noting the need for further scrutiny and discussion. more..

Apr 23 (DM) NPP has officially notified the SJB that they are prepared to hold the proposed debate between NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa on one of the following days: May 7, 9, 13, or 14. In a letter sent by NPP executive member Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, to SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma bandara yesterday afternoon, it was emphasized that without a set date for the debate, misunderstandings may arise among the public. more..

Apr 23 (AD) The overall rate of inflation as measured by the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) on Year-on-Year basis has been decreased to 2.5% in March 2024, compared to 5.1% in Feb 2024. Meanwhile, the contributions to the inflation rate of March 2024 from the food group and non-food group are 2.1% and 0.4% respectively. On a monthly basis, the Year-on-Year inflation of the food group remained unchanged in March 2024 at 5.0% which was reported in Feb 2024 and more..

Apr 23 (AD) President of Iran Dr. Ebrahim Raisi is scheduled to make an official bilateral visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to jointly declare open the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project on 24 April. The Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project, funded by SL and Iran, is designed to generate and add 120 Megawatt electricity to national grid and provide irrigation to approximately 25,000 acres of paddy lands in the south eastern part of SL. more..

Apr 23 (TM) The two drivers of the racing cars involved in the deadly accident at the Fox Hill Supercross race in Diyatalawa on 21 April, who were arrested while undergoing treatment in hospital, have been remanded until 30 April. This order has been issued by the Bandarawela Magistrate’s Court. The two drivers of the racing cars involved in the accident at the Fox Hill Supercross in Diyatalawa on 21 April were arrested more..

Apr 23 (EN) The establishment of Ramayana trial which includes a land bridge between Sri Lanka and India will be a game changer for the island nation’s tourism industry, Indian High Commissioner for Colombo Santosh Jha said. Sri Lanka has seen a spike in tourist arrivals from India in its recovery from an unprecedented economic crisis. The island nation has renewed efforts to establish of Ramayana Trails, which includes all the places believed to be associated with Ramayana. more..

Apr 23 (Island) Dissident SLPP MP Prof. G.L. Peiris alleged that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa govt was pressing for the privatisation of key state ventures ahead of the upcoming prez election. In terms of the Constitution, the EC is empowered to make the relevant announcement on or after July 17. The former External Affairs Minister, now aligned with the SJB, said the Prez Wickremesinghe-led administration was bent on implementing a controversial privatisation project, more..

Apr 23 (Island) SJB spokesperson Mujibur Rahman alleged that attempts were being made to hide the identities of persons whom two Easter Sunday suicide bombers–– ringleader Zahran Hashim and his accomplice Ilham Ahamed, who blasted themselves at the Shangri-La Colombo on the morning of April 21, 2019––had met in the same hotel the previous day. Former Colombo District UNP MP said that the 2 suicide bombers more..

Apr 24 (CT) It is not a matter of dispute that all religious traditions do not condone or encourage avarice. But the fact is that as long as we dwell in this world, we need food, clothing and shelter as a minimum and we need to desire these things. The question is to what extent? The short answer would be that life has to move in the direction of self-regulation necessary to achieve eudaimonia – thriving – or genuine happiness, a concept of Aristotle. Unhae Park Langis, has written more..

Apr 24 (DM) What a turn of events in Myanmar–in 2021, the Generals seized power again from the legitimately elected govt of Aung San Suu Kyi, the second military coup staged since 1962. Generals had total power for much of Myanmar’s post-independence period, then relinquished briefly only to seize it back a few months later. She was jailed for 33 years on trumped-up charges. Widespread protests were crushed by killing over 3000 people, imprisoning 20,000 and destroying 55,000 more..

Apr 24 (TM) Colombo and its suburban streets have plunged into darkness at night, posing significant challenges for pedestrians and fostering an environment ripe for illegal activities. The Sunday Morning has observed that the primary cause of this darkness is the reduction in the number of functioning street lamps. Although each Local Govt authority has been allocated a quota for street lamp maintenance, many lamps are more..

Apr 24 (ST) Former UNP Deputy Minister Paltha Thewapperuma had no pretensions of being an educated intellectual nor any claim to a distinguished pedigree. He was a grassroots son of the soil, a man of raw impulse who exuded a natural honest-to-goodness rustic air, who never failed to call a spade a spade. A man of the people for the people whose political creed was to serve the people irrespective of race, religion, caste, and political creed. He was born on May 3, 1960, and more..

Apr 24 (TM) The debate about private medical education has been revived again with the Kotelawala Defence University’s (KDU) Medical Faculty being approved to provide paid medical training. Many have revived the criticism that private higher education, particularly of the medical stream will lead to disaster. The Govt and proponents of private education dismiss the claims. However, while the KDU has begun to advertise for the MBBS Medical Education programme already, and more..

Apr 24 (CT) Struggling with fuel shortages, a water crisis and a crippled healthcare system, the Northern islanders of SL, most of whom make a living from fishing, must also fight to save their livelihoods from the swarms of encroaching South Indian bottom trawlers. Sitting in some of the richest waters in the Indian Ocean, the waters around the islands of Eluvaitivu, Analaitivu, Nainativu and Delft along with the rest of more..

Apr 24 (SO) Who this country picks as the next leader is a question that’s very much up in the air these days for several reasons. People are not sure when the next leadership contest is going to be, and what exactly it would look like. But it’s a contest that will have to happen sooner or later. It’s a pivotal confrontation because it’s the first time a leader will be elected by the people after a President was ousted. The incumbent on the other hand was elected by Parliament, more..

Apr 24 (Island) There seems to be no end in sight to debates on the Easter Sunday carnage (2019), the latest being the one Parliament is scheduled to commence today. Chances are that the House will be thrown into turmoil, with the sittings descending into a three-day slanging match. If experience is anything to go by, nothing is likely to come of the debate. It may be recalled that on 23 Oct 2019, a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which looked into the Easter Sunday terror attacks more..

Apr 24 (DM) The saying Whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad is believed to have been made by the Greek Tragedian Euripides and has been used in English literature since the 17th century. Leon Tolstoy in his novel War and Peace uses the phrase in reference to Napoleon. Wikipedia quotes SL Catholic Priest Father Simon Gregory Perera, SJ using the phrase about the belief of Portuguese colonialists that the loss of Sri Lanka to the Dutch was divine punishment. more..

Apr 24 (FT) This article captures the core insights from the recent webinar hosted by the Daily FT, Board of Investment, SLID, CIMA, ACCCA and the Int'l Chamber of Commerce. The event fostered dialogue with the diplomatic community from crucial markets about the critical role of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in SL’s growth trajectory. As SL works to recover from its recent economic crisis through robust macroeconomic and fiscal policies, its future growth prospects remain constrained. more..

Apr 24 (ST) SLC will look at a significant increase in match and contract fees for women cricketers as an incentive to the players who have made great strides in recent years. Although these payments will not match what men’s cricketers are earning, the Board recognised that the players deserved a fair increase. Led by Chamari Athapaththu, the team’s latest adventure was in South Africa, a country which, with its bouncier pitches, more..

Apr 24 (FT) Tourism Minister Harin Fernando revealed plans to amend the recently implemented visa procedures, allowing tourists to apply for a single-entry 30-day visa starting from 1 May. The move comes in response to concerns raised by industry stakeholders and aims to rectify loopholes in the new visa system launched by the Govt last week. “Minister Tiran Alles has forwarded a proposal to the Parliament Consultative Committee to enable the online visa application process, more..

Apr 24 (FT) Former MP Hirunika Premachandra has been issued notice in respect of a contempt of court matter. The bench of the Honorable Court of Appeal consisting of Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Justice Dammika Ganepola, heard submissions made on behalf of the Complaining Party. According to the complaining party Hisham Jamaldeen, whilst there is an ongoing proceeding before the Magistrate’s Court of Mount Lavinia, Hirunika Premachandra has made a statement more..

Apr 24 (ST) Some Sri Lankan companies not in the renewable energy space are making inroads into Africa to set up clean energy projects while certain others are eyeing manufacturing facilities, industry officials said. Sri Lanka already has a number of strong engineering and renewable energy companies in clean energy especially in West Africa. Officials point out that the new companies venturing into Africa are not typically in the clean energy space but they are trying to get into it. more..

Apr 24 (ST) Retired Supreme Court judge Ameer Ismail passed away yesterday. Educated at Wesley College, Colombo, he obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Uni of Ceylon and was sworn in as an advocate in 1969. He joined the Attorney General’s Dept as a Crown Counsel in 1971 and was later promoted to Senior State Counsel. He was appointed as a High Court Judge in 1983, as a Judge of the Court of Appeal in 1990, and as President of the Court of Appeal in 1998. more..

Apr 24 (ST) A serious fraud using SL’s Postal Dept as a front is victimising unsuspecting people, with the Computer CID struggling to catch the masterminds behind the scam. The scam is in the form of a general SMS sent to mobile phone owners, notifying them of unpaid customs fees or an invalid delivery address for a package that is meant for them. It contains a link which, when clicked, redirects them to a duplicate (identical) more..

Apr 24 (FT) SJB leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday questioned NPP’s seeming reluctance to hold a debate between the economic councils of both parties. Premadasa pondered whether their refusal stemmed from the incompetence of the NPP economic council. “The reluctance to hold a debate between economic experts suggests an issue with their economic council, which appears to lack capability. Therefore, it’s suggested that they participate in both debates in May without more..

Apr 24 (FT) Highly respected tourism industry veteran Prema Cooray passed away yesterday after a brief illness at a private hospital. Cooray has a distinguished career, accumulating over three decades of experience in the travel and tourism sector. Among his key achievements were leading and developing SL’s premier hotel chain Aitken Spence from 1984 to 2003 and taking SL’s hospitality expertise overseas to the Maldives in 1991 and building the first-ever resort more..

Apr 24 (DN) SL women’s cricket skipper Chamari Athapaththu is back at the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings after a superb 195 not out in the third ODI against South Africa in Potchefstroom that helped her team level the ICC Women’s Championship Series 1-1. The 34-year-old left hand opener Athapaththu who played her 101th ODI against South Africa scored ninth ODI century, more..

Apr 24 (DN) SL Para Table Tennis player Dinesh Deshappriya excelled at the ITTF 15th Al – Attani Jordan Para Championship when he won gold medal at the class 9-10 category in Amman, Jordan yesterday. The chairman of the National Paralympic Committee Colonel Deepal Herath said Dinesh has good chance to get the Paris Paralympic qualification while his last chance at Bangkok Para meet is going to be very vital. If he excels in Bangkok next month he has good chance more..

Apr 24 (FT) Electricity Users Association has filed a formal complaint with Human Rights Commission SL (HRCSL) against the recently gazetted Sri Lanka Electricity Bill, alleging that it violates the rights of electricity users. The Association’s Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika outlined that the complaint was filed focusing on five critical concerns regarding the Bill. He also highlighted that under the proposed legislation, key entities such as the National Energy Advisory Council, more..

Apr 24 (DM) Sri Lanka is in a dilemma to decide whether to adopt an open skies policy or not in the event of divestiture of shares of the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, a top official said. An Open Skies policy means liberalization and ease of access and rules of use of national airports for foreign airlines. It is joined in order to increase the tourist flow and to develop the potential as a regional air hub. Govt has now called for bids to privatize or restructure the national career. more..

Apr 24 (DN) A seven member committee led by a Major General has been appointed by the SL Army to investigate the tragic accident that happened during the Fox Hill Super Cross 2024 racing event at Diyatalawa in which seven people were killed. The committee is headed by Major General Rohitha Aluvihare, Security Forces Headquarters (Central) Commander and includes two Brigadiers, two Colonels, one Lt Colonel and a Major. The other members of the committee are more..

Apr 24 (DM) The proposed Public Financial Management (PFM) Act remains crucial for the disbursement of the third tranche under the IMF US$ 3 billion bailout package, stressed Former CB Governor and economist, Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy. “It (PFM) is one of the prior actions to get approval of the IMF extended fund facility review. We already got the staff level agreement, but before getting executive board approval, more..

Apr 24 (AD) Special traffic plans will be set in place today around Colombo and Mattala in consideration of the arrival of Iranian Prez Dr. Ebrahim Raisi. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Iranian counterpart are scheduled to jointly declare open the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP) today. According to the police media division, the main road from Mattala to Uma Oya is planned to be temporarily closed from 9.45 a.m. to 11 a.m. and again from noon to 1 p.m. more..

Apr 24 (Island) Australia and SL’s commitment to countering maritime security threats has been on display with the launch of a new joint maritime security operation in Colombo recently. A joint media release between the Australian Border Force and the Dept of SL Coast Guard said: Aptly named Disi Rela, which means keeping a watchful eye over the maritime environment, the new joint activity will see the Australian Border Force (ABF) and Department of SL Coast Guard (SLCG) undertake more..