Dec 22 (ST) The Indian Govt gave Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake a warm welcome on an otherwise chilly winter day in New Delhi last Monday. Commentators read both warmth and chill into the lingering image of Indian PM Narendra Modi putting a friendly arm around the visiting dignitary’s shoulder as he was led inside for the bilateral talks. Emerging from these talks, the two leaders held a media briefing and made public their Joint Statement (JS)—an unusually lengthy more..

Dec 22 (CT) It has been over a month since the incumbent Govt was elected by the people in a historic Parliamentary Election. The clear margins by which the Govt came to be don’t necessarily mean the country has wholeheartedly placed its trust and faith in the NPP’s political ideologies. Although going from three seats to 159 might look like the perfect good prevails fairy tale ending of the NPP’s long and arduous political journey, it is far from the truth, especially in a country where more..

Dec 22 (Island) The new parliament, packed with first timers as never before, had an interesting session last week with the dust yet unsettled over the issue of the last speaker’s doctorate. Now plain MP Ranwala who resigned from his august position, which ranked him number three in the national protocol list, has not admitted any malfeasance or skulduggery. He says his instant problem is an inability to quickly get clear proof of his qualification from Waseda, a private university in Japan more..

Dec 22 (SO) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which escaped an overhaul in 2023 over corruption charges raised in Parliament amid numerous public protests have finally admitted its failures and mismanagement and a disputed voting set up at what is said to have been an extraordinary general meeting held on Friday. Eventually admitting to its failures and abuses which it could no longer conceal amid calls for change over the past four years, SLC declared at the meeting that three Committees need to be set up more..

Dec 22 (TM) No upper limit has been set for private rice importers, as the Govt anticipates a scarcity of rice due to damage caused to the Maha harvest by the recent floods experienced in rice-growing areas across the country, according to the STC. STC Chairman Ravindra Fernando stated that the limit of 70,000 MT applied only to the STC and Sathosa, while private importers would be allowed to import as much as they could until more..

Dec 22 (SO) Children from Buddhist families eagerly join in the festive cheer. They participate in the most cherished tradition – making a Christmas tree at their homes or decorating a Christmas tree of a friend or neighbour. Buddhist parents support their children’s involvement, helping them string lights, hang green, red and gold trinkets and place whimsical decorations such as the gingerbread men, snowflakes, red berry stems and plastic glitter berries. more..

Dec 22 (ST) My dear Anura sahodaraya, I thought I should write to you since it is now three months to the day when you got the top job. It is also just over a month since the maalimaawa won the other election with a historic mandate that got you a record majority. Much has happened since then. Maybe it is a good time to take stock. You have told us time and again that you realise the enormity of the challenges before you. Our economy is in shambles and the prices of essential items are still sky high. more..

Dec 22 (CT) Indian Under-19 women’s cricket team secured their spot in the final of the 2024 ACC U19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup after a thrilling 4-wicket win against SL in the Super 4 stage at the Bayuemas Cricket Oval on Friday. Chasing a modest target of 99, India sealed victory in just 14.5 overs, showcasing a balanced performance with both bat and ball. G. Trisha was the top scorer for India, contributing a crucial 32 runs from 24 balls. She built a match-defining 63-run partnership more..

Dec 22 (EN) Sri Lanka has allowed the import of buses, special purpose vehicles like cranes and gully bowsers and small motorized vehicles like go karts with penalties if importers carry large unsold stocks for over 3 months. The first stage of import relaxation started through a gazette issued on Dec 18. SL has suffered imports controls, exchange controls, depreciation and social unrest due to initially central bank re-finance of rural credit, purchase of maturing debt from past deficits more..

Dec 22 (TM) The Govt is expected to make an urgent decision on whether to revert to the old Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) system or proceed with the implementation of the e-passport system, as passport stocks continue to deplete. The decision is pressing, according to Minister Ananda Wijepala, who added that the limited availability of passports was threatening to disrupt the issuance process. With the expiry of the interim order more..

Dec 22 (Island) Traveling to New Zealand feels like a journey to the ends of the earth. First, there’s the four-hour flight to Singapore, and from there, another ten hours to Auckland or Christchurch. But once you land, the long haul feels worth its weight in gold – NZ is an absolute gem, especially during Christmas. The moment you step out of the airport and take that first breath, the air hits you like a tonic – fresh, crisp, and rejuvenating. The landscape is a symphony of green, and the people are as warm more..

Dec 22 (ST) The day-to-day activities of Football Federation of SL (FFSL) have been largely hampered by its administrators’ failure to fill the vacated position of Finance Manager, a void that has persisted for over four months. Despite the gap created by the resignation of FFSL’s former Finance Manager, Ravindra Kahandawela, sources reveal that the local football administration has instead focused on recruiting a CEO for an inordinately high monthly salary. more..

Dec 22 (EN) Sri Lanka has to avoid stop-go (boom-bust) cycles involving unsustainable monetary and fiscal stimulus that lead to crises, Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana has said after Fitch upgraded SL from default status. SL completed a restructuring of sovereign bonds on December 20, and the country was classified as CCC+, 5 levels above restructured default. “All the hard work and sacrifice, more..

Dec 22 (AD) A surprise inspection conducted by the officers of the Jinthupitiya Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office and Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) this morning (21) has revealed alarming hygiene violations in several restaurants on Bodhiraja Mawatha, Pettah. The inspection uncovered unsanitary conditions, including the presence of rat droppings in kitchen areas and even inside cooking utensils. Pet cats were also observed roaming in food preparation areas, more..

Dec 22 (ST) Viren Nettasinghe, the country’s top seed Men’s Singles shuttler, bagged the gold medal medal at the Yonex-Sunrise Bangladesh International Challenge 2024, while Women’s Doubles pair Isuri Attanayake and Sithumi de Silva settled in with the bronze medal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium Complex in Paltan, Dhaka yesterday. Viren, 20, the youngest SL shuttler to earn direct Olympic qualification, further stamped his class at international stage after overcoming more..

Dec 22 (AFP) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will travel to the island's largest bilateral lender China for talks in January, he said on Saturday, days after completing a long-delayed foreign debt restructure. China accounted for more than half of Sri Lanka's bilateral debt at the time of the 2022 economic crash, when Colombo ran out of foreign exchange to pay for essential imports such as food, fuel and medicines. Its economy is recovering after receiving an IMF rescue package and more..

Dec 22 (SO) “Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has expressed the need to increase the current IT workforce from 85,000 to 250,000 within the next two years to achieve the target of USD 15 billion by 2030,” said Secretary, Ministry of Digital Economy, Waruna Sri Dhanapala. He was speaking at the unveiling of a partnership between MMBL Pathfinder Group and HCLTech, India to transform IT upskilling in SL via employment-focused training programmes through a career-shaper platform. more..

Dec 22 (TM) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has proposed an 11% reduction in electricity tariffs, directly opposing the CEB's recommendation of no tariff changes. PUCSL has outlined its position in a report submitted for public consultation on electricity tariff revisions for January 2025. According to the commission, the reduction is achievable without jeopardising the energy sector’s financial stability. more..

Dec 22 (ST) Stockbrokers said the Colombo stock market is posting record highs almost every week, and the index is slated to rise further based on fundamental valuations. They noted that most trades now happen on fundamental valuations and not merely on speculation. They stated that there were many instances when the price-to-earnings ratio was moved to 15 times on positive sentiment. “It has the potential to reach more than 20 times because there are quality earnings from June to September. more..

Dec 22 (ST) A police probe is underway to find out whether popular author Kasun Heenatigala was allegedly mistreated by the Athurugiriya Police after his arrest. Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya ordered the probe headed by the DIG in charge of the Colombo-South Police Division, Police Spokesman K.B. Manathunga said. Mr. Heenatigala, who is the husband of actress Madhavee Anthony and son-in-law of the late actor Jackson Anthony, claims he was arrested on Friday evening more..

Dec 22 (DM) People have the complete right to convince others that something true is false or something false is true, as it is a democratic right, NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi said. She said people also have the right to see the negative side of good things the government is doing and that the government will never block that democratic right. "You have the complete right to convince any truth as a lie and any lie as a truth. That is your democratic right. more..

Dec 22 (AD) A team from the CID has visited Parliament yesterday (20) and recorded statements from three officials, including the Assistant Secretary General of Parliament, regarding the incorrect use of the title “Dr.” before the name of Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. The issue came to light after Minister lodged a formal complaint with the CID, asserting that he had never held a doctorate and that someone may have deliberately entered false data to tarnish his reputation or erode more..

Dec 22 (TM) Govt will this week release the names of individuals who have received substantial amounts of money from the President’s Fund. However, The Sunday Morning learns that the Govt has not made any request thus far to amend the laws governing the President’s Fund. When reached for comment, Ministry of Justice Secretary Ayesha Jinasena, stated that she was unable to provide an immediate response, as she would need to more..

Dec 22 (AD) Another person who was injured and hospitalized during the passenger bus accident on the Hatton – Kandy main road has succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital, Police Media Spokesman confirmed. This brings the death toll to three, while 22 others are still hospitalized with injuries following the accident in Mallawaappu, where a private passenger bus veered off the road and fell down a precipice. The bus, which was traveling from Hatton more..

Dec 22 (UCAN) Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has called for a SL free from corruption and lawlessness, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic change. “Corruption and lawlessness have spread throughout the country due to the wrong economic practices” of previous govts, Ranjith said, and hoped the new govt “would bring about a positive transformation.” “Nowadays, many people living in our country are wondering how even to celebrate Christmas and find their daily meals,” more..

Dec 22 (ST) The visit of Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake to India continues to dominate the media. The most important takeaway, for the first time since 1987, is the absence of any reference in the Joint Statement on matters relating to reconciliation. Since Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi and SL’s President, J.R. Jayewardene signed the Indo-Lanka Accord that year, a reference to Colombo’s full implementation of the 13th Amendment more..

Dec 23 (DM) High Commission of India in SL, in collaboration with the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, organised two special meditation sessions to observe the United Nations-designated World Meditation Day on Dec 21. The sessions, which took place in Colombo and Ratnapura, provided a unique opportunity for individuals to enhance their mental and physical well-being through the practice of meditation. The first session was held at the Mayurapathy Meditation Hall in Colombo, more..

Dec 23 (DM) National People’s Power (NPP) was unequivocal in its manifesto about rescinding the current Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), describing it as oppressive. Yet, while other legislation such as the Proceeds of Crime Bill are moving forward with Cabinet approval, there is no movement on the PTA. On the other hand, detention orders have been issued under the Act by this govt, breaking the informal commitments of the previous govt that it would not be used. more..

Dec 23 (DM) The Writing on the Wall is a figurative expression derived from the story of Daniel in the old testament of the Bible. Chapter five of the book of Daniel relates how the then monarch of the Babylonian empire Belshazzar and his cronies were feasting and drinking in the night when a hand appeared miraculously and wrote some letters on the wall. The terrified King and his acolytes were unable to read and understand what more..

Dec 23 (DM) In three days’ time we will celebrate the festival of Christmas. Since the beginning of December our cities have been gaily decorated. Shops remain open until late as children excitedly flood shops in search of gifts. Christmas is celebrated world-wide to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is the Son of God. The central message of Christ is of love, hope and joy. In a single word it’s about peace to the world. Without love, hope and joy, more..

Dec 23 (GV) In the second decade of the 21st Century, genocide is being televised. 72 Virgins – Uncensored was a Telegraph channel run by the Israeli Defence Forces’ Influencing Department (Orwellian by name and by deed). According to an expose by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the channel promises Israeli audiences exclusive content from Gaza – gory videos of death and destruction visited on Palestinians recorded by their IDF perpetrators. An example: Burning their mother… more..

Dec 23 (TM) The still has no plans for Paddy Marketing Board (PMB), despite it being an important topic since rice shortages loomed last month. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne, who was previously very vocal on subjects related to agriculture, claimed that the Govt had yet to take firm initiatives regarding the PMB, as the administration was still new and had been burdened with many challenges from outset. more..

Dec 23 (TM) Last week ended with the positive news that Fitch Ratings has upgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to the ‘CCC+’ status from ‘RD’ (Restricted Default) and has also upgraded the Local-Currency IDR to the ‘CCC+’ status from ‘CCC-’ in order to align with the Long-Term Foreign-Currency IDR. It has pointed out Sri Lanka’s completion of the international sovereign bond restructuring and an improved outlook for macroeconomic indicators. more..

Dec 23 (CT) Shorn of the frills, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s India visit this week has demonstrated continuity in SL’s foreign policy independent of the expectations and anticipation that followed twin elections in three months. Earlier, by accepting the IMF agreement, as negotiated by the predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe regime, the current NPP dispensation had clearly indicated that it was not a disruptor who would put the nation’s medium and long-term interests in jeopardy. more..

Dec 23 (ST) An eventful final two days of Parliamentary sittings for 2024 saw the election of a new Speaker, the Prez briefing the House on economic relief the govt aims to provide in 2025 and plenty of arguments over academic and professional qualifications of govt and opposition MPs. On Tuesday (17), the House unanimously elected Polonnaruwa District NPP MP Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne as the new Speaker following the resignation of Asoka Ranwala from the post. more..