Dec 31 (DM) As 2024 approaches its conclusion, Dec 31st stands as a noteworthy marker—the President’s first hundred days in office. However, this milestone cannot be conflated with the first hundred days of the JVP/NPP govt, given that the new parliament has been in session for only 49 days as of this date. This dual timeline encapsulates the intricate and evolving dynamics of Sri Lanka’s political landscape. The completion of the President’s first hundred days is a symbolic milestone, more..

Dec 31 (TM) Serious concerns regarding the quality of medicines in the local market have resurfaced, with the NMRA recently making the decision to withhold 13 batches of different types of medicines and withdraw these batches from use in local hospitals. NMRA Chairman Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said that investigations were currently underway and that the authority had informed all hospitals to withhold the questionable medicines until investigations were complete. more..

Dec 31 (CT) A break from the past, A new beginning in SL was the arresting caption of an Op-Ed piece that appeared on 25th September in the Hindu. It was just four days after Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in. It had been penned by Emeritus Professor of Political Science Uni of Colombo Jayadeva Uyangoda. I shared Professor Uyangoda’s assessment and optimism. As the historian E H Carr points out, revolutions don’t easily live down utopian visions which have inspired them. more..

Dec 31 (DM) Feeding of wild elephants that frequent the roadside near national parks and forest reserves, regardless of its dangers, has been going on unchecked for a long time, much to the concern of the wildlife authorities. Groups of pilgrims and tourists, motoring through national parks, are in the habit of feeding and petting wild animals at the peril of their own lives. This is despite warnings by the wildlife authorities to refrain from such risky undertakings. The situation has become so aggravated that more..

Dec 31 (SO) Japan, a global leader in radar technology and a longstanding ally of SL, has gifted a state-of-the-art Doppler Weather Radar Network to SL. This advanced system is set to significantly enhance the country’s capacity for real-time rainfall observation, aiding the Dept of Meteorology in mitigating the impact of weather-related disasters. These include severe floods, such as those caused by Cyclone Fengal in the Bay of Bengal, more..

Dec 31 (ST) Former Peradeniya Uni contemporary and Lake House colleague Thalif Deen did a fascinating piece that appeared in this newspaper last Sunday if the killing of political leaders who themselves have done quite a lot of butchering in their day does provide fascination. At least to those with ghoulish tendencies and psychological quirks, it seems to. Even if such revival of political executions and the attempts to flee what seemed their nemesis do recall Shakespeare’s words from more..

Dec 31 (DM) Local media highlighted the twentieth anniversary of devastating Tsunami that struck SL on Dec 26, 2004 and snatched away almost one percent of the Muslim population. However it failed to underscore how billions of tsunami aid disappeared without a trace. According to reports, tsunami victims didn’t get any aid and they did not know where the aid money went. Some reports stated that money was feverishly transferred not only to govt establishments, but also to accounts of more..

Dec 31 (Island) The honeymoon between the state service and the JVP-led NPP govt is apparently on the rocks. Public employees overwhelmingly voted for the NPP at both presidential and parliamentary elections this year, as evident from the postal vote results, but some NPP ministers have issued warnings to the public service, accusing it of being an impediment to the implementation of their policies and programmes. These politicians are learning to navigate the governance issues the hard way, more..

Dec 31 (Island) Downtown Colombo and especially its upmarket commercial areas sparkled, and will continue to do so, in the night this Christmas season until the grand finale on New Year’s Eve. There is little indication that this city of night lights had experienced dire economic collapse just three years ago. The long lines of vehicles that once queued up for fuel outside petrol stations are overshadowed the much longer lines of traffic crawling on the way to the centre of celebrations more..

Dec 31 (ST) SL exporters have shipped coconut and products based on coconuts worth US$782.32 million (Rs 228.84 billion) in the 11 months to November amid a severe domestic shortage, a sharp drop in production this year, and a substantial retail price increase of nuts as well as that of coconut oil. Data from the EDB show that export earnings of coconut and products based on coconut shot up at a high double-digit rate from January to November. more..

Dec 31 (ST) The 15-year-old S. Lohith of Jaffna Hindu College and A.Suganya of KCCC emerged men’s and women’s open champions in the Northern Province Table Tennis Championship which concluded over the weekend at Northern Sports College Jaffna. The tournament conducted by Asian/German Sports Exchange Program (AGSEP) in collaboration with the Jaffna District Table Tennis Association, and approved by the Table Tennis Association of SL, proved to be a remarkable platform more..

Dec 31 (FT) The Colombo stock market yesterday recorded its second Rs. 10 billion plus turnover for 2024 boosted by active investor participation and gain in indices. The benchmark ASPI increased by 1.88% or 292 points and the active S&P SL20 shot up by 3%. Turnover was Rs. 10.23 billion involving 291 million shares. Turnover was led by HNB (Rs. 1.1 billion), Commercial Bank (Rs. 970 million), JKH (Rs. 668.6 million), PABC (Rs. 401 million), and DFCC Bank (Rs. 349 million). more..

Dec 31 (ST) Colombo Stock Exchange will onboard several green and sustainable bonds next year, top officials said. These bonds are classified as “innovative financial instruments where the proceeds are invested exclusively in green projects that generate climate or other environmental benefits, Commercial Bank and Alliance Finance PLC are two entities that will launch their green bonds next year, they added. At least one more bank is slated to launch a green bond within more..

Dec 31 (ST) Fisheries Ministry has decided to scrap future Indo-Lanka talks at the fishermen level on the ongoing issue of illegal mechanised bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in SL’s Northern waters while sticking only to official-level engagement between the two countries on technical assistance and support. “There will be no talks between fishermen groups of the two countries anymore. Those were concluded a long time ago. Talks at official levels are currently underway between more..

Dec 31 (FT) The Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) estimates a reduction of Rs. 16.2 billion in energy costs compared to the CEB proposal for revision and opined it could result in a tariff decrease of up to 11.8%, challenging the utility’s request to maintain the current tariff structure in the first half of 2025. The electricity regulator launched public consultations on 17 Dec regarding the proposed electricity tariff revision for January 2025, more..

Dec 31 (FT) In a landmark development for SL’s renewable energy sector, Liege Capital Holdings successfully concluded the second wind power securitisation for the Ceylex Renewables Mannar project, for Rs. 6.5 billion branded as Windscape Mannar. This groundbreaking transaction was led by the National Savings Bank (NSB) as the Lead Banker and Trustee, with Commercial Bank of Ceylon as the co-investing bank. The securitisation raises significant capital for Windscape Mannar, more..

Dec 31 (FT) The National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) has issued a press release appreciating recent reports of the Govt’s intention to abolish the Executive Presidency. The organisation has called on all political parties and civil society groups to unite in support of this transformative effort, which it believes will pave the way for a stronger democracy in Sri Lanka. Signed by NMSJ General Secretary Sunil Jayasekara, the press release expressed the movement’s optimism over more..

Dec 31 (FT) SJB Chairperson and former MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar has written to party Leader Sajith Premadasa and General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, urging them to initiate a comprehensive reorganisation of the party to strengthen its connection with grassroots members. In the letter, Bakeer Markar emphasised the need to build a strong relationship between the leadership and membership while avoiding “parachutists” in leadership creation efforts. more..

Dec 31 (EN) A plain sovereign bond paying a coupon of 4% due to mature in 2028 was quoted around 6% in the first week after issue. A rate of 6% for the 2028 compared with around 4.0 to 4.1% for 3 and 5-year yields indicating a risk premium of only 200 basis points for despite Sri Lanka having a rating of CCC+. At those levels Sri Lanka would be able to roll-over debt, analysts say. Sri Lanka issued a number of bonds with lower coupons than US Treasuries, which would go up later. more..

Dec 31 (FT) SJB MP Mujibur Rahman has called on the Govt to remove the Rs. 65 tax imposed on imported rice, leaving consumers struggling. Rahman raised concerns over the ongoing rice shortage in Sri Lanka and criticised the Govt’s handling of the crisis. Rahman acknowledged the Govt’s decision to import rice to address the shortage caused by insufficient local production. However, he highlighted that despite the imports, rice remains unavailable at a reasonable price in many shops, more..

Dec 31 (TM) The National Women’s Unity organisation urged the authorities to take immediate measures to reduce the cost of electricity, underscoring that the existing electricity fares have dealt a heavy blow to entrepreneurs. Presenting a set of proposals to the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) to be taken into account in the first electricity fare revision next year (2025), the organisation stressed that fair price revisions are the right of every citizen. more..

Dec 31 (TM) With a ban having been imposed on sand mining along the Kelani River in the Kaduwela Municipal Council (MC) area, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) stated that it has reduced the issuance of mining licences due to the rise in illegal activities and their adverse impact on the environment. The ban reportedly aims to curb activities such as reclaiming low-lying land, soil washing, and sand mining in the Kaduwela MC area to mitigate the risk of flooding from the Kelani River. more..

Dec 31 (TM) The SL Govt will not extend the year-long moratorium on foreign Marine Scientific Research (MSR) which comes to an end tonight, it is learnt. It is also learnt that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is scrambling to set up a committee to once again, draft a ‘new’ Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) for granting diplomatic clearance for foreign marine research vessels and aircraft to call at SL ports, and to grant permission for such MSR to conduct surveys in SL waters more..

Dec 31 (AD) A Gazette notification has been issued by the Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa prohibiting the featuring of children under the age of 12 years in advertising of food items with effect from January 01, 2025. The regulations have been made by the Minister of Health and Mass Media, in consultation with the Food Advisory Committee under Section 32 of the Food Act, No. 26 of 1980. Accordingly, the Food (Labelling and Advertising) Regulations 2022, , published in Gazette Extraordinary more..

Dec 31 (CT) People in two divisional secretariats in Anuradhapura yesterday protested urging the Govt to provide a viable solution for impediments caused by wild elephants to them and their crops. These protests were initiated in the wake of Deputy Housing Minister T.B. Sarath pledging to remove all unauthorised cultivation that block the elephant corridors within three months. The farmers are claiming to face a severe crop damage these days, especially by elephants, more..

Dec 31 (DN) A Police officer has been suspended for reportedly leaving his duty firearm, a T-56 weapon, and four rounds of ammunition, at a GCE A/L Examination centre in Kilinochchi where he was deployed for duty, and going on a personal errand. After the matter had been reported to higher authorities, the SSP in charge of the Kilinochchi Division had taken steps to suspend the constable. A sergeant along with this constable had been deployed for security at the examination centre, last Saturday. more..

Dec 31 (DN) Police have nabbed 413 persons for drunk driving in a special traffic operation during the 24-hour period ending on Dec 30. During the period, Police took action against a total of 7,676 drivers for traffic offences. This includes 49 for reckless and dangerous driving, 110 for speeding, 1,086 for other traffic violations, 94 for licence-related offences, and 5,324 for various other traffic offences. This special traffic operation, which began on Dec 23, aims to reduce road accidents more..

Dec 31 (DM) Two ruling party MPs- Wijesiri Basnayake of Kurunegala and Ajith Gihan of Puttalam- came under mob violence when they came out in their separate vehicles after a meeting with the management of an apparel factory in the Bingiriya area. According to video footage of the scene now doing the rounds on social media, the angry crowd of people who thronged at the gate of the factory hurled abuses at the two MPs while banging on their vehicles. more..

Dec 31 (TM) Ministry of Public Security stated that the Senior DIGs, who currently have supervisory roles, will take on operational duties through the special criminal investigation bureaus to be set up in all the provinces. It was recently reported that special crime investigation bureaus are to be set up covering all provinces to minimise crime. Minister Ananda Wijepala said: "Currently, there are special investigation bureaus only in Provinces such as the Western and Southern Provinces. more..

Dec 31 (CT) Vegetable prices are skyrocketing in the dedicated economic centres at several places across the country including the Dambulla Centre, accompanied by the increased demand for vegetables during this festive season, in comparison to the last. Accordingly, the whole price of 1 kg beans had gone up from Rs 350 to Rs 400 and 1 kg green chillies from Rs 800 to Rs 900. In addition, the price of some other vegetables such as carrots, lady’s fingers and tomatoes had gone up significantly. more..

Dec 31 (DM) With the shortage of Nadu and white raw rice varieties in the market, Sri Lankans will find it difficult to prepare traditional milk rice to welcome the dawn of New Year, a trader said. According to Maradagahamula Rice Traders’ Association’s member S.S. Ranasinghe, there is a severe shortage of such local rice varieties in the market. White raw variety is widely used to make Kiribath, a traditional meal prepared by people on the occasions of national festivals. more..