Dec 12 (DN) Double Olympian Mathew Abeysinghe and Budapest-based Lankan Olympian Ganga Senevirathne will represent SL at the World Aquatic Short Course Swimming Championships, starting today and running until Dec 15 in Budapest, Hungary. Abeysinghe, 28, will compete in the Men’s 50m and 100m Freestyle events, while 21-year-old Senevirathne will swim in the Women’s 50m and 100m Backstroke. Both athletes are members of Killer Whale Aquatics, with it’s Head Coach more..

Dec 10 (TM) Claiming that the importation of coconuts will not control coconut prices in the local market, SJB MP Nalin Bandara urged the Govt to amend the laws applicable to coconuts and to take stringent action to ensure that the country’s coconut cultivation is up to the standards. He said that the Govt must either devise a mechanism to provide fertiliser for small-scale coconut cultivators and those cultivating coconut in their gardens or provide a relief package for them. more..

Dec 12 (DM) Hospital sources across the island have confirmed a severe shortage of medicines in many hospitals in the country. This situation has caused much inconvenience to numerous patients. A notable example is the Mawanella Base Hospital, which is currently facing a shortage of sodium bicarbonate—a medication used to restore breathing in patients with kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. more..

Dec 10 (CT) In the SL Navy, 2,138 senior and junior sailors of various rates were promoted to mark the 74th anniversary of the Navy which fell yesterday. Those promotions were made on the recommendation of the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera. In preparation for the anniversary, commemorative programmes were held across all Naval commands under the guidance of the Commander, Naval traditions, and religious observances were prioritised. more..

Dec 12 (FT) SL’s pioneering shipbuilding and repairing company, the Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDL), is seeking a strategic and majority investor-cum-management party following the announced exit of Japan’s Onomichi. CDL announced that its Board of Directors have been informed by Onomichi Dockyard of Japan, which is the Company’s majority shareholder, that it has decided to withdraw from the management more..

Dec 12 (Island) Viren Nettasinghe and Ranithma Liyanage lived up to their billing to win double titles as they won the open singles and doubles finals at the 72nd National Badminton Championship, concluded at the MCA Indoor Courts in Colombo on Sunday. Nettasinghe claimed the open men’s singles title, while Ranithma pocketed the open women’s singles crown. When they paired up they emerged victorious in the mixed doubles as well. The eight-day competition held at the MBA more..

Dec 12 (DN) SL women’s under 19 team led by Manudi Nanayakkara is ready to take on challenge at the inaugural Asia Cup. They are taking part in training to adjust to the conditions before the Asia Cup in Malaysia. The inaugural Asia Cup women’s under 19 tournament consisted of six teams scheduled to be played from Dec 15 to 22. SL women’s under 19 team left to Malaysia on December 2 two weeks before the tournament. They played two practice matches against more..

Dec 10 (Island) Sri Lanka is poised to make history with the opening of its first seven-star hotel, Aviyana’s Private Chalets, in Kandy. The brainchild of Dr. Indika Hewawasam, the estimated Rs. nine billion project is set to elevate the island nation’s appeal as a premier destination for high-end travelers. The first stage of this ambitious project, featuring 12 private chalets, is scheduled to welcome guests in May 2025. Ambasevana Group of Companies chairman cum chairman more..

Dec 10 (TM) SL’s listed companies’ net profits for 2024 can go beyond Rs. 660 billion, the highest the country has recorded so far, with positive economic sentiments, Almas Holdings Group Chairperson Imtiaz Buhardeen said. Listed companies’ collective net profits, which stood at Rs. 450 billion by the end of the third quarter, could go beyond Rs. 660 billion by the end of the year. He said that during the crisis year 2022, listed companies recorded a collective net profit of Rs. 665 billion, more..

Dec 10 (DM) Sri Lankans pay considerably more for cigarettes than many of its Asian neighbours when adjusted for purchasing power, research by JB Securities showed. “This discrepancy not only affects the consumers but could also impact the stock performance for the companies in the tobacco sector,” it said. SL cigarette consumers are effectively paying around 78% of the cost of a cigarette, purely in taxes, more..

Dec 10 (Island) World Council of Rural Organization driving the global agenda where a typical visitor experiences nature based activities in a village, agriculture, rural lifestyle/ culture and sightseeing has appointed marketing professional and Former Tourism Chairman Dr Rohantha Athukorala as the Vice President of the World Rural Tourism Council( WRTC). Dr Gan Yongfu the Secretary General World Rural Tourism said ‘We need a person who has value chain development experience more..

Dec 10 (DN) National Chamber of Exporters SL President Jayantha Karunaratne called for urgent reforms to strengthen the country’s export sector during his address at the 32nd NCE Export Awards, which took place in Colombo last Friday. He highlighted the pressing need for innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability to overcome the challenges faced by the industry. Karunaratne emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in regulatory processes, more..

Dec 10 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be sharing the new govt’s policies with India’s PM Narendra Modi during his forthcoming visit to India, and shortly after, early next month, an official visit to China, where attracting investments, continuing with projects suspended, and negotiations of restructuring of loans will be the focus. Minister Vijitha Herath said that discussions were underway with Indian officials on the MoUs expected to be signed between two countries in New Delhi. more..

Dec 12 (ST) The govt is making provisions to absorb the losses of two state banks due to the restructuring of loans given to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. Accordingly, the govt is seeking parliamentary approval for a supplementary estimate of Rs 219.4 billion, of which Rs 130 billion is to be financed as compensation for any loss that would be incurred by the two state banks due to the restructuring of the CPC loans. The largest allocation in the supplementary estimate comes in the wake of more..

Dec 10 (DM) The US has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on two Sri Lankans — Kapila Chandrasena, former CEO of SriLankan Airlines and Udayanga Weeratunga, former ambassador to Russia — along with their immediate family members. These measures are part of ongoing US efforts to hold perpetrators of corruption accountable. Announcing the actions on Int'l Anti-Corruption Day and just ahead of more..

Dec 12 (DM) The credit card holders are yet to swipe their cards more meaningfully and more frequently for their purchases, as the outstanding growth in their card balances haven’t changed much during October and in fact, the balance still stays below the level at the start of the year, raising questions if the still higher rates are holding them out. Latest data available through Oct 2024 showed that the total outstanding card balance was at Rs.151.29 billion, up Rs.188 million from the month prior. more..

Dec 10 (Island) The People’s Struggle Movement (PSM) yesterday called on the government to take immediate and meaningful steps to address the ongoing shortages of rice and coconuts in the market, accusing authorities of relying on theatrics and false excuses instead of implementing real solutions. PSM Executive Committee member and Frontline Socialist Party Educational Secretary Pubudu Jagoda claimed that despite the President’s promises, the rice shortage persisted. more..

Dec 10 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that no matter how many laws are enacted or institutions are established, justice cannot be ensured to the citizens if those responsible for enforcing them fail to implement them properly. He further highlighted that the power entrusted by the people must be utilized to serve them; otherwise, that power becomes meaningless. Prez made these remarks during a ceremony more..

Dec 10 (DM) Central Environmental Authority (CEA) urges devotees visiting Sri Pada to refrain from disposing of waste, including polythene and plastic, in the area. Sri Pada pilgrimage season begins on Unduwap full moon Poya day (Dec 14), and ends on Vesak full moon Poya day in 2025. During this period, a large number of devotees visit the site for blessings. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, the Sri Pada Reserve is recognised as a highly sensitive environmental zone. more..

Dec 10 (FT) I was an attendee at the International Conference on Reimagining of the Electricity Industry for the Future held on 28 Nov 2024 organised by the SL branch of The Institution of Engineering and Technology. The event was well attended and enlightening. My sincere thanks to the organisers for staging this impressive event. Panellists from India shared their experiences of the rapidly changing and expanding electricity industry in their country with grid unbundling, more..

Dec 10 (AD) Eight suspects, who were arrested and remanded in custody in connection with the murder of two persons including businessman Surendra Wasantha Perera, also known as Club Wasantha, have been granted bail by Homagama High Court today. Accordingly, 8 accused were ordered to be released under strict conditions, each on a cash bail of Rs. 100,000 and two surety bails. Furthermore, Homagama High Court Judge, who imposed overseas travel bans on all eight suspects, more..

Dec 10 (NW) For many Sri Lankans, owning a vehicle is more than a convenience—it’s often a necessity. Yet, the steep cost of vehicles makes this dream unattainable for many. Whether due to high taxes, restricted imports, or market speculation, vehicle prices remained prohibitively high in Sri Lanka even before the country faced its worst economic crisis. The vehicle import ban, introduced in March 2020 to conserve foreign reserves during the country’s economic crisis under more..

Dec 10 (FT) Sri Lanka finds itself at a pivotal moment as Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the country aims to complete its debt restructuring agreements by Dec 2024, with plans to resume loan repayments in 2028. The NPP Govt has inherited an agreement with the IMF that Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Govt burdened the country with which is potentially deleterious. Within that context the timeline is ambitious to navigate the complex web of economic recovery, more..

Dec 10 (NW) New Democratic Front (NDF) has formally nominated Faiszer Musthapha to be appointed to Parliament through its National List, according to party sources. While the Election Commission has not yet confirmed the nomination, Musthapha said that he has been informed by the party of this decision. Musthapha, a senior lawyer and politician previously served as Minister of Sports and Minister of PCs & LG. more..

Dec 10 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake an official visit to India on Dec 15 following an invitation from the Indian govt. This was confirmed by Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa during the Cabinet press conference. This will be Dissanayake’s inaugural foreign trip since assuming the presidency. Dr. Jayatissa further stated that the President will be in India until Dec 17, and will call on India’s President, PM and several other dignitaries. Head of the State will be accompanied by more..

Dec 10 (DM) The Catholic Bishops Conference in Sri Lanka today clarified that Pastor Jerome Fernando was not a Bishop of the Catholic Church, and therefore the members of its church should not be deceived. “Jerome Fernando, who has no official apostolic succession in the Catholic church, is not a Catholic Bishop, hence we request our Catholic faithful not to be deceived by such information,” a statement signed by Bishops Conference Secretary General Rev J. D. Anthony Jayakody said. more..

Dec 10 (DM) Amid allegations over the academic qualifications of Speaker Asoka Ranwala, Parliament website has removed the title 'Dr.' from his profile. Previously listed as Dr. Asoka Ranwala, his name now appears as Asoka Ranwala MP, raising further doubts about the legitimacy of his alleged doctorate. It has been reported that the webpage was updated within the last 24 hours to remove the title 'Dr.' from Speaker's profile. more..

Dec 10 (AD) Speaker of the Parliament Asoka Ranwala will soon make a responsible statement regarding the recent controversies related to his doctorate, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. Responding to a question raised by a journalist Dr. Jayatissa expressed that certain parties had even questioned about his own PhD as well. Furthermore, he mentioned that the govt will arrive at a decision regarding the matter after the Speaker reports on his qualifications to the relevant authorities. more..

Dec 10 (DM) A total of 1,802 Sri Lankan workers are set to leave for Israel between December 2024 and January 2025, according to the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. It is reported that 4,531 Sri Lankans were employed in Israel's construction sector between April 13 and November 30, 2024, as part of a programme established in February 2024. However, the Bureau has uncovered fraudulent activities by individuals and groups exploiting job seekers. more..

Dec 10 (AD) SL has received the grant of 11.28 million meters of fabric required to be provided for schoolchildren as uniform materials for the year 2025, from China. The fabric grant was officially handed over to PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya by the Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong during an event held at the Colombo Port today. The 11.28 million meters of fabric, valued at around Rs. 5.2 billion, will be distributed among the students of 10,096 govt and govt-aided schools and 822 pirivens. more..

Dec 10 (TM) Govt is planning to introduce an inclusive mechanism to strengthen national unity based on the people’s mandate it received at the last General Election, according to the Deputy Minister of National Integration Muneer Mulaffar. Mulaffar said that the Ministry of Justice and National Integration will take necessary steps in the coming months to promote national unity. He stressed that the Govt’s approach will include more..

Dec 10 (AD) Cabinet of Ministers has approved the extension of the moratorium on the execution of the Parate Law, which halts banks from acquiring creditors’ properties, until 31 March 2025. Minister Nalinda Jayatissa stated that the economic crisis faced by Sri Lanka in the past 04 years has severely affected the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and it has been reported that small and medium entrepreneurs have had to face difficulties in settling the loans obtained from banks. more..

Dec 10 (DM) The Indian Railways have agreed to provide 22 American Locomotive Company (ALCO) diesel engines to Sri Lanka Railways as a grant from the Indian Govt. Accordingly, India will supply 20 slightly used M10 locomotive engines to the SL Railways Department and two additional engines to be used for spare parts required for maintenance. An unsolicited proposal to provide locomotive maintenance services for a period of five years has been submitted by RITES, more..

Dec 10 (AD) Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, announced that liquor companies owe nearly Rs. 7 billion in taxes, and that the govt is taking measures to recover the outstanding dues. Dr. Jayatissa’s comments came in response to the statement issued by former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s office on Dec 9. The statement claimed that Wickremesinghe had not granted any liquor licenses outside prescribed procedure more..

Dec 10 (AD) Govt of SL has submitted a request to the OPEC Fund for International Development to secure funds to finance SL’s Comprehensive Reform Agenda, in line with the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) implemented with the assistance of the IMF. The institution has agreed to provide a loan of USD 50 million as a policy-based loan, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Meanwhile, the IMF has also confirmed that the loan is in line with the parameters of the EFF program in Sri Lanka. more..

Dec 10 (NW) Cabinet has approved a proposal by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to establish a Food Policy and Security Committee under the Presidential Secretariat, in line with the govt’s commitment to ensuring national food and nutrition security. The committee aims to provide every citizen with their minimum food requirements in sufficient quantity and quality at an affordable price. According to the new govt policy statement, Food Policy and Security Committee will focus on more..