Dec 2 (CT) The death of Deegadanthu 1, a majestic tusker from Kala Wewa, is a tragic reminder of the deep failures in Sri Lanka’s wildlife conservation efforts. Electrocuted by an unauthorised power line, Deegadanthu’s death symbolises not only the loss of an animal but also the erosion of the country’s natural heritage. As elephants in Sri Lanka continue to fall victim to illegal electric fences, Hakka patas, gunshots and train accidents, the authorities remain alarmingly silent. more..

Dec 2 (SO) Cabinet Spokesman, Chief Govt Whip, Minister of Health and Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa in an interview outlined the Govt’s strategy to ensure a free media culture without any State interference and how the State and private media should play their legitimate roles to fulfill the aspirations of the people as a significant turnaround in the country’s political landscape had taken place following the Nov 14 general election. more..

Dec 2 (TM) SL’s agricultural sector has many woes and has long been in need of well-planned overhauling, based on sound policies which are practical. The impact of ad hoc decisions and arbitrary ones which are forced implemented over-night are not well-learned lessons in the sector. Sector needs a fundamental change in its culture and perception of what is to do business in the 2020’s. Further, the sector remains hindered by structural inefficiencies and a lack of more..

Dec 2 (Island) India’s Adani Group has been in the news of late —for all the wrong reasons. It has come under fire for very serious corporate malpractices for the umpteenth time. This time around, it has had legal action in the US to contend with. US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, has made an official announcement that a five-count criminal indictment was unsealed on 20 Nov, 2024, in federal court in Brooklyn, inter alia, charging Adani Group Chairman Gautam S. Adani, more..

Dec 2 (ST) Soothing rhetoric that we are all one has always come very easy for SL politicians. This velvet glove of oneness hiding a far uglier steel hand of majority rule was discarded during the short-lived Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime (2019-2022) when a new President declared without demur that he was a leader of the Sinhala-Buddhist majority, later permitting nakedly communalistic constituents of his Viyathmaga base to run riot in the political space. The end result of that disastrous more..

Dec 2 (Island) In a tragic incident, Deeghadanthu, the largest tusker in Kalawewa National Park, fell victim to electrocution on the night of November 27th, marking another devastating loss in SL’s conservation history. This incident reflects a recurring tragedy in the region, where famed tuskers such as Barana, Revatha, and Walagamba have also met untimely deaths over the years. The Kalawewa National Park, renowned for its high population of tuskers, has faced severe more..

Dec 2 (Island) SL’s former captain, Dinesh Chandimal, didn’t mince his words after his team was skittled out for a paltry 42 runs in their first innings of the Durban Test—a performance that will haunt them like a bad dream. SL’s lowest-ever Test total came in just 13.5 overs, leaving the tourists in dire straits in their pursuit of a spot in the World Test Championship final. Having entered the series perched at third on the table, SL’s hopes more..

Dec 2 (SO) At just 17 years old, Yevan David captivated a packed press conference in Colombo with the poise of a seasoned professional. For SL sports fans accustomed to cheering for international stars in the Premier League, NBA and Formula 1, Yevan is a breath of fresh air – a homegrown talent poised to make history as SL’s first Formula 1 driver. Displaying a maturity beyond his years, Yevan navigated a barrage of questions with ease, balancing his youthful enthusiasm with more..

Dec 2 (FT) Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe last week said tourism industry must establish robust financial buffers and shock absorbers to weather future crises independently. Participating as the Chief Guest at The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) Annual General Meeting and 59th Anniversary of the Association last Thursday, he urged the industry to reduce reliance on Govt intervention such as moratoriums during economic downturns. more..

Dec 2 (FT) ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading force in Southeast Asia’s hospitality industry, has announced the grand opening of Amari Colombo in Sri Lanka from yesterday. This much-anticipated launch marks the beginning of a new chapter for SL’s hospitality sector, coinciding with the season’s start and heralding a vibrant new era of sophistication and modernity in the region. The landmark property, located in the heart of SL’s bustling commercial and economic centre, is set to redefine modern elegance more..

Dec 2 (FT) A host of corporates came forward to empower over 100 students from State universities with the latest knowledge and insights to cyber security at the recently concluded Daily FT-CICRA Holdings organised 10th Annual Summit. The companies who extended support are John Keells Holdings, Carson Cumberbatch, Aitken Spence, LOLC Holdings, Bank of Ceylon, Diesel and Motor Engineering, Commercial Bank, Sunshine Holdings, Hatton National Bank, AIA Sri Lanka, more..

Dec 2 (TM) Disaster Management Centre (DMC) urged public institutions and the general public to act responsibly during hazardous times to minimise the adverse effects of natural disasters, threatening legal action against those who act irresponsibly. DMC Director General, Udaya Herath emphasised that disaster management is a collective effort requiring active participation from all sectors. Herath criticised the lack of more..

Dec 2 (ST) The Govt has reversed an earlier decision to provide ruling party MPs with official vehicles, a senior official said yesterday. Instead of providing them with official vehicles, they would be provided with a fuel quota, he added. The change of decision comes after considering the issue of vehicles that would be in conflict with the policies of the NPP. Moves to issue vehicles to all govt MPs also drew criticism from opposition parliamentarians, with some of them claiming that more..

Dec 2 (ST) In the midst of the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) risking their status as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) over potential misconduct and corruption, they are being charged with another possible misconduct of funds granted to athletes and the NOC Athletes’ Commission. The allegation raised by certain interested parties, connected to the NOC, reveal that a sum of USD 10,000 granted by more..

Dec 2 (EN) A controversial imputed tax on housing promoted by the IMF, with rents on second houses already taxed will be deferred, a senior advisor to President has said. The govt was also working on a policy of targeted subsidies rather than indiscriminate tax reduction, he said. The imputed rental tax, which was to have been paid on owner-occupied houses and later adjusted to a second house, has been controversial. more..

Dec 2 (Island) Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe commended President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on Saturday, for continuing with the IMF programme, initiated under the former’s watch as the President. He said it was a critical step for SL’s economic recovery. Wickremesinghe said so at the inauguration of the Amari Colombo Hotel, the first-ever five-star international hotel owned by a Lankan entrepreneur in Colombo.The hotel, part of the Amari Hotel chain, is owned by W. Winil, more..

Dec 2 (EN) SL’s govt has recieved debt relief of around US$ 8.4 billion from the time a default was declared in April 2022 to Aug 2024, but the banking system has repaid debt or collected reserves of US$ 7.3 billion, official data show. The debt relief over banking system repayments was about US$ 1.11 billion. SL stopped servicing bilateral and commercial debt on April 2022, and the central bank hiked rates previously kept artificially low rates low by printing money, helping ending more..

Dec 2 (DM) United States is actively working with the SL govt to develop a roadmap for the sustainable development of the country’s port sector, as part of its multi-faceted support for the maritime industry, according to a senior US diplomat. Speaking at the Colombo International Maritime and Logistics Conference last week, Regional Indo-Pacific Strategy Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy Dustin Bickel, emphasised the ongoing assistance to Colombo Port, through various initiatives. more..

Dec 2 (DM) South Africa climbed to second place in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with a commanding 233-run victory over SL in the first Test. Marco Jansen was the standout performer for the hosts, delivering exceptional match figures of 11/86. After losing the first Test of their away series by a large margin, SL dropped to 5th place in the WTC 2023-25 points table, with a points percentage of 50%. SL began the match in 3rd place, holding a points percentage of 55.56%. more..

Dec 2 (FT) The external sector continued its growth trajectory in October 2024, driven by strong inflows to the current account, resulting in an increase in foreign reserves and an appreciation of the rupee, the Central Bank reported. In its latest external sector report, the CBSL highlighted a 24% year-on-year (YoY) growth in exports for Oct 2024, surpassing the $ 1 billion threshold, while the trade deficit during more..

Dec 2 (DN) Sharujan Shanmuganathan, the wicket-keeper and batsman, smashed a brilliant knock of 102 as the Sri Lanka Under-19 team recorded a comfortable 131-run win over Afghanistan U-19s in their Asia Cup group fixture played at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium yesterday. The 18-year-old left-hander was undoubtedly the match hero, anchoring the innings as a number three batter. His century helped SL set a challenging total of 243 for 7 after choosing to bat first. more..

Dec 2 (AD) Senior Economic Advisor to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa claims that the new government is encouraging the private sector to be at the forefront of economic development in the country. However, he noted that the govt will retain control over strategic sectors of public interest. Hulangamuwa highlighted that the govt is pursuing a liberal market strategy to encourage private sector investment. Commenting on the restructuring of state-owned enterprises, more..

Dec 2 (ST) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) experienced a last-minute rush of people trying to file their tax returns before the Nov 30 deadline last night. At one point yesterday (30), 16,000 persons had logged in and were trying to file their returns. Some taxpayers had found the underpowered computers unable to cope with concurrent transactions. Many complained that the system had crashed after making several attempts, thereby forcing them to restart the filing process, but more..

Dec 2 (DM) A 43-year-old man from Kilinochchi, who holds British citizenship, was arrested at the BIA due to a travel ban imposed on him in 2009. The man, who had left the country in 2009 and acquired British citizenship, is accused of collecting funds for a terrorist group from the UK. He had allegedly returned to SL and distributed the money to individuals in the Colombo and Vanni areas. Colombo (North) Crime Division had obtained the travel ban from Colombo Magistrate's Court more..

Dec 2 (ST) Green light has been granted to reclaim 45 hectares of land area within the Bay of Galle to facilitate infrastructure and real estate developments similar to Colombo Port City. The Port of Galle is to be developed as a major state-of-the-art tourism hub in the region by reclaiming the land. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) secured the green light to go ahead as the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Dept more..

Dec 2 (DN) Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe said that a Bill to abolish the pension of all members of Parliament will be presented soon. “Salary is something that MPs are entitled to, but the pension will definitely be abolished,” he added. The Minister disclosed this while inaugurating the East Anuradhapura People’s Co-ordination office of NPP. The minister said neither the President nor the PM would use any govt residence. more..

Dec 2 (TM) The CID has arrested four individuals for disturbing the peace by allegedly promoting the LTTE under the guise of commemorating war dead last week. DIG Nihal Thalduwa stated that the four suspects had been produced before Magistrates Courts. The suspects, aged 28, 35, 45, and 50, are residents of Baddegama, Inuvil, Maradana. The individuals circulated photographs and videos of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on social media, along with footage from previous LTTE more..

Dec 2 (Island) Having repeatedly accused previous govts of showering perks and privileges on lawmakers, the newly elected NPP govt is continuing with the practice, says SJB MP Ajith P. Perera. Kalutara District SJB leader Perera has challenged the NPP to reveal any perk or privilege that their parliamentary group had decided to forgo in keeping with the pledges they made during the presidential and parliamentary elections. more..

Dec 2 (FT) Aseni, whiz kid in economics, has seen the viral news that the Central Bank has moved to a new monetary policy instrument called the Overnight Policy Rate, abbreviated as OPR. There has been a press release from the Central Bank, but it has been in technical jargons. As a result, it has been beyond the comprehension of the ordinary citizens. Aseni herself could not understand it. Hence, she turned to her grandpa, Sarath Mahatthaya, an ex-official of the Ministry of Finance, to elucidate this more..

Dec 2 (FT) The NPP, following its landmark victory in the 2024 General election, has introduced a Cabinet that emphasises professionalism, inclusivity, and a break from traditional politics. While these appointments reflect the core tenets of the NPP manifesto, they also invite scrutiny regarding their feasibility and effectiveness in meeting the nation’s expectations. NPP’s reliance on technocrats and professionals for key ministries underscores its commitment to expertise-driven governance. more..

Dec 2 (NW) SLC has confirmed that Dilruwan Perera, one of the country’s most successful spinners, has stepped down from his position as a member of the national selection committee. He has taken up a new role as the youth spin bowling coach for SLC. Perera, who played 43 Tests and 13 ODIs for SL, claimed 161 Test wickets at an average of 35.9 and was instrumental in several of the team’s memorable victories. Known for his accuracy and ability to exploit subcontinental conditions, more..

Dec 2 (NW) A tense situation unfolded this afternoon (2) in front of the Ministry of Education in Isurupaya, Battaramulla, as Development Officers staged a protest demanding permanent positions in the teaching service. Police intervened to disperse the protesters, who had obstructed the Kottawa-Borella Road (174 bus route), causing significant traffic disruptions. The protest escalated, leading to clashes between the protesters and Police personnel. more..

Dec 2 (EN) SL’s rupee currency has seen a sharp appreciation this year and is likely to end up with a significant rise for the second straight year, data showed, amid curtailed imports and in the absence of debt repayments after declaring bankruptcy. The rupee has appreciated against US dollar (11.3%), Euro (16.7%), Pound Sterling (11,6%), Chinese Yuan (13.6%), Japanese Yen (18.4%), Australian Dollar (17.1%), and more..

Dec 2 (CT) Road Development Authority (RDA) has observed that several roads and bridges were damaged due to the adverse weather conditions that prevailed during the last few days. Therefore, the Authority plans to assess damage caused to roads and bridges by the recent adverse weather. RDA Director General S.P.M. Sooriyabandara said many roads, especially in the North, North Central and Eastern Provinces were severely damaged. “The RDA has taken steps to construct temporary more..

Dec 2 (CT) Agricultural & Agrarian Insurance Board (AAIB) says that due to heavy rains, approximately 390,000 acres of farmland have been inundated. Board has appointed a special team to assess the damage to crops caused by flooding. Board’s Chairman, Pemasiri Jasingarachchi, says that the assessment of damages to the submerged farmlands will commence the day after tomorrow, starting with the Polonnaruwa District. Districts of Ampara and Batticaloa have recorded more..