Apr 6 (DM) Claiming that both Sinhala and Tamil people have a right to interact with the State in their own languages, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the proportion of the Tamil youth in public institutions, tri-forces and important sectors should be increased. Speaking at the Northern Provincial Conference of Ceylon Teachers Service Union, he said it was vital to defeat the racial political culture in the country on behalf of more..

Apr 6 (EN) Ayurvedic medicine should be integrated into the tourism industry more effectively, State Minister Sisira Jayakody has said. “Tourists show a particular fascination and enthusiasm for massage techniques offered by the traditional medical system,” Jayakody said. “In collaboration with the Dept of Ayurveda, we are establishing Body Mantra massage centres across the country.” The centres are planned for hotels and resorts within the country, as well as abroad, more..

Apr 6 (ST) The scorching sun and intermittent rains have not deterred the women and men protesting outside the Divisional Secretary office in Kalmunai North, a Tamil populated area in Ampara, since Monday. Their longstanding demand has been that the Divisional Secretariat area be given its due recognition, and function similar to other Divisional Secretariats across the country. Former Assistant Director of Agriculture, Kandasamy Sivalingam (70), alleged that funds coming from more..

Apr 6 (Island) SLFP dissident MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has said that he does not rejoice in the court injunction against former President Maithripala Sirisena banning him from holding the post of SLFP Chairman. “Of course, he has made mistakes. He removed me from the post of General Secretary and ever since he has been making a series of mistakes. If I had been the General Secretary he would not have been in this mess. The Court decision against him, however, is disastrous for the party,” more..

Apr 6 (TM) A special bus service is set in place from today (5) for members of the public, given the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year season, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) stated. The SLTB explained that measures have been taken to deploy around 200 additional buses during the festive season for people in Colombo and suburbs who are visiting their hometowns. Accordingly, this bus service will be operational from Colombo to all parts of the island. more..

Apr 6 (TM) The statements coming out of India on reclaiming Kachchatheevu island from Sri Lanka have no ground, SL Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda has said. The senior SL Tamil politician’s comments came days after the Narendra Modi govt targeted the Congress and its ally the DMK in Tamil Nadu accusing them of overlooking national interests in the ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974. more..

Apr 6 (AD) An adjournment debate on the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks is scheduled to be held from 24-26 April in accordance with a motion brought by the Opposition. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Parliamentary Business Committee chaired by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse on Friday (5), as per a press release issued by the Parliament’s Communication Department. Thereby, the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill (Second Reading) and Regulations under more..

Apr 6 (ST) Hong Kong-based luxury hotels owner and operator Shangri-La Asia Ltd, which owns hotels in Colombo and Hambantota, and a mall and apartments on Galle Face, has reported a US$1.9 million loss for the year ended December 31, 2023. It was a sharp reduction in loss from 2022, when the hotels in SL were US$6.9m in the red, annual filings show. Revenue of hotels, mall, offices, and apartments, exceeded US$51m for 2023 – US$33.2m from hotels, and US$18.5m more..

Apr 6 (DN) Youth for Renewable Energy Organisation Convener Indunil Bandara emphasized the need for swift approval of renewable energy projects that have been delayed. Bandara is of the view that these projects have the potential to enhance the country’s economy and benefit taxpayers. “The surge in electricity bills is adversely impacting businesses and entrepreneurs, hindering economic growth and innovation. He reiterated that though the Govt and the subject Minister more..

Apr 6 (DM) Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana today made an order suspending an enjoining order obtained against the office-bearers of the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA). The order of the Court suspending the enjoining order was made in response to an urgent application filed by motion by the Attorneys-at-Law representing the President and Secretary of the SLSCA. The Plaintiffs had obtained the order on March 25, preventing the SLSCA from conducting more..

Apr 6 (NW) The IMF says there is a strong expectation that agreements with commercial creditors consistent with program parameters will be reached by the completion of Sri Lanka’s second review. Director of the Communications Dept Julie Kozak said the next steps on the debt restructuring are to conclude the negotiations with external commercial creditors and to implement agreements in principle with official creditors. more..

Apr 6 (FT) The Sri Lanka Blue Green Alliance, this week called for an end to coal power plants in a bid to promote sustainable energy and community welfare. General Secretary Rajitha Abeygunasekera said, “Oil and coal claim more than 60% of the country’s electricity generation input mix, despite the country not lacking in Renewable Energy potentials, which impacts on national energy security heavily and is a major strain on the country’s trade budget with negative economic impact. more..

Apr 6 (EN) The SJB has welcomed some of the most prominent members of the former SLPP govt headed by ousted ex president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, with the SJB general secretary particularly heaping praise on MP G L Peiris. SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara speaking at a ceremony to mark the alliance between his party and the FPC headed by Peiris said the latter’s partnership was a great strength to the SJB. “G L Peiris and the team have become a great strength to us today. more..

Apr 6 (DM) A patient who was subjected to permanent loss of sight due to the use of Prednisolone Acetatean, eye drop used after cataract surgeries at a govt hospital, has sent a Letter of Demand claiming a compensation Rs.100 million from Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and eight others for the damage caused to his eyes and possible threats to his life. The victim, Makkari Rajaratnam, a resident of Kandapola sent more..

Apr 7 (SO) Nationalisation was in vogue in the 1950s and 1960s, not only in Sri Lanka but also in developed Western countries. The premise behind nationalisation is that the State should be in control of main utilities and services to provide a better service to the public. This was socialism or communism in action, even though many Western countries such as the UK and Germany also followed this doctrine at that time. Today, the tables have turned and even some of the most more..

Apr 7 (CT) As the Prez Election nears, political arena is getting warmer by the day and coincidentally, mostly by the actions and reactions of former Presidents. Among them is the former Prez Maithripala Sirisena who hasn’t failed to make many headlines, one after the other, for his brave controversial statements and contradictory actions. While it looks as if the former Prez is setting the stage and preparing the pitch for him to act and play a leading part in upcoming Prez Election, more..

Apr 7 (CT) An arbitrary and mischievous decision by party Chairman, former Prez Maithripala Sirisena to reshuffle three key positions at a special meeting on Saturday (30) has deepened the internal crisis of the SLFP. During the meeting, Sirisena announced the removal of MP Duminda Dissanayake from the position of SLFP National Organiser, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna from the position of Treasurer more..

Apr 7 (CT) During the month of March, political parties continued with what they do best: politicking over electing the next president. Basil Rajapaksa, chief of the SLPP, flew home from the US in time to muddy the political waters by proposing a parliamentary poll before the prez election. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe appeared firm on holding the prez election on time as the parliamentary election could be held only after the IMF economic recovery plan is completed, hopefully by July. more..

Apr 7 (TM) With election heat rising in anticipation of SL’s most-anticipated Prez Poll that is likely to take place in around six months’ time, it would be unusual if the political theatre in this drama-filled land had not gotten into a frenzy by now. As if on cue, there are already tell-tale signs of that phenomenon unfolding these days, with internal clashes within parties, jostling for nominations, governing types going on distribution sprees at taxpayers’ expense, legal interventions and prohibitions, and more..

Apr 7 (TM) Proposed constitutional amendments relating to electoral reforms will not be implemented during the current Parliament, said Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, in an interview. “Until such time there will be a dialogue and conversation on them [proposed amendments] and any candidate or party can also tell the people about their stances on changing the Constitution in their manifestos,” more..

Apr 7 (SO) International and local maritime trade unions this week expressed serious concern on the well-being of the 21 seafarers on board the Singaporean-flagged Dali that crashed on to the Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore-USA on March 26 and called on the authorities to closely monitor the developments both at home and overseas. Int'l Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Colombo Office representative Ranjan Perera said that the current focus more..

Apr 7 (TM) The Colombo bourse observed a sharp surge in trading activity last week characterised by high turnover, led largely by banking counters – part of an extended bull run in the CSE since February. First Capital Holdings Chief Research and Strategy Officer Dimantha Mathew revealed that the current bull run in the market was largely led by activity in banking counters. According to him, there is significant interest in banking counters as they are currently trading at discounted prices. more..

Apr 7 (TM) SL and Indonesia aim to hold the second round of talks in June for the proposed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two nations, following the conclusion of the first round of talks last week. Int'l Trade Office (ITO) Chief Negotiator K.J. Weerasinghe revealed that the first round of talks in the negotiation for the proposed PTA between SL and Indonesia had concluded last week. He said that the first round of talks on PTA negotiations had been carried out digitally on 3 and 4 April. more..

Apr 7 (SO) A 15-year old SL girl has gone viral after she was captured bowling against England and Australia in an U-19 home series sending down deliveries that brought back memories of a South African bowler Paul Adams who played with a similar action. The Press nicknamed the bowling action of Adams as a frog in the blender, Shashini Gimhani is a left arm wrist spinner who hails from Devapathiraja College in Ratgama Galle and she played in four matches in the tri-nation series more..

Apr 7 (TM) As the country enters into holiday mode with the Govt also in slow motion and all activities at a snail’s pace until the following week starting 15 April, the political stage was a hive of activity last week dominated mainly by the internal clashes that finally cracked open the core of the SLFP and the formation of a SJB-led alliance with a group of dissident SLPP MPs. The fact that the country has entered into holiday mode more..

Apr 7 (Island) Few Lankans would have been surprised that Indian PM Narendra Modi, now campaigning to lead his Bharatiya Janatha Party to ‘threpeat’ its election victories for the third consecutive time, has raked up a long dead Kachchativu issue to win votes in Tamil Nadu where the BJP fared badly at the last two elections. Both Modi and his suave External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, a retired career diplomat, have waded into this issue, more..

Apr 7 (ST) Gnanasara hamuduruwaney, I am not sure where I should direct this letter hamuduruwaney, whether it is to the prison, to the prison hospital or even whether it should be to your temple, but I thought I must write to you after hearing that you have been sent to prison for a second time. Again, it was for something you said. When the news that you have been sent to prison hit the headlines, most people wondered why you were making a habit of this. more..

Apr 7 (ST) It was a matter of time before the upcoming general election campaign rhetoric in India was to spill over to SL. This time it was no less a persona than its PM who obliged with his choir of senior ministers in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) joining in singing from the same hymn sheet. It was a marked departure from the usual. Normally, it is the Tamil Nadu politicians who use the Sri Lanka card for electioneering. This time it has come from the Centre itself. more..

Apr 7 (DM) Former President Maithripala Sirisena who is at the centre of controversy over his latest remarks that he is aware of the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday carnage will be forced to place all his cards on the table when Parliament takes up a fresh debate on the matter during the next sitting week. Parliament will take up a three-day debate when it meets for the first time after New Year on April 24, as agreed upon at the party leaders’ meeting conducted yesterday. more..

Apr 7 (ST) Prez Secretariat has ordered a full investigation to determine whether disciplinary action should be taken over the conduct of certain Western Province graduate teachers during the ceremony held on Wednesday at Temple Trees to award letters of appointment to them. The order had come following several complaints regarding what was deemed disrespectful behaviour by some of the graduate teachers. more..

Apr 7 (ST) Dilana Damsara’s impressive knock of 67 runs set the stage for St. Peter’s College to secure a comfortable 3-wicket triumph over traditional rivals St. Joseph’s College in their 50th Battle of the Saints Limited Overs encounter played at the SSC ground yesterday. The clash began with St. Joseph’s College taking to the crease, fueled by the determined batting efforts of Hirun Kapurubandara and Hiran Jayasundara who orchestrated a formidable 124-run partnership for 3rd wicket, more..

Apr 7 (ST) Former SL first class cricketer, Ramesh Subasinghe has been appointed as the new Head Coach of West Indies Men’s Academy, a role he will officially take over from May 1. A former alumni of St. Peter’s College, Subasinghe turned out for Air Force and Kurunegala Youth Sports Club, before switching to NCC, where he functioned as a right-arm fast bowler and a left hand batter. His best figures in bowling, 6 for 73, came against Tamil Union among the tally of 28 wickets more..

Apr 7 (ST) After Sri Lanka’s women cricketers secured a historic 2-1 victory against South Africa in the Women’s T20I series last week, team captain Chamari Athapaththu posted a photo holding the trophy with Head Coach Rumesh Ratnayake, captioned ‘Champions, Bilateral Series against South Africa, Final duty for my country’. However, Coach Ratnayake believes that all-rounder Athapaththu’s statement may not have been what she truly intended, more..

Apr 7 (Island) This year marks the 25th anniversary of the appointment of the first ever Cricket Interim Committee. Ironically, the man who was chosen to Chair that committee, although a keen follower of the game, had little experience in its administration. Rienzie T. Wijetilleke is his name. Orders to appoint Wijetilleke, then Chairman of HNB came directly from the Country‘s President, Chandrika Kumaratunga who was well acquainted with his no nonsense approach to discipline & accountability. more..

Apr 7 (ST) Sri Lanka’s budget for the first time in history is set for a complete overhaul, covering the entire government sector to ensure full transparency of fiscal planning and other policy interventions, Finance Ministry sources said. All the previous budgets provided incomplete information on the use of public funds, fiscal policy setting and equally incomplete transparency regarding public revenue and spending, a recent analytical report of the ministry highlighted. more..