Dec 3 (EN) Air Ceilao, a new private aircraft operator, has sought approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of SL, to operate domestic and international charter flights to transport passengers and cargo, an official document showed. The CAASL in a public notice said Air Ceilao, a new operator, has sought “an Air Operator Certificate and Airline Licence to engage in domestic charter and regular transport operations and international charter and regular transport operations carrying more..

Nov 3 (DM) Govt has decided to dispose super luxury vehicles used in govt institutions given their high maintenance and fuel costs. The govt will review all vehicles in its institutions. "Cars with petrol engines over 1800cc and diesel engines over 2300cc will be disposed, except for double cabs, single cabs, vans, and buses. The sale process will follow official procedures, and the vehicles must be disposed of by Mar 1, 2025. more..

Dec 3 (TM) Sri Lanka has been ranked 4th among the top five destinations for long vacations in a report by Ubuy India, based on factors like affordability, safety, and cultural richness. The island boasts eight United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites, a vibrant tourism sector, and an average cost of $1,630 for a 20-day stay. With a crime index of 42.1 and quality domestic transportation, Sri Lanka is ideal for extended stays. more..

Dec 3 (AFP) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake's leftist coalition was on its way to a landslide victory in snap parliamentary elections in November 2024, social media users shared a screenshot with a misleading claim that it shows the total vote cast for a ticket backed by popular YouTuber Ashen Senarathna. The screenshot -- which indicated the group received eight votes -- only shows the number of postal votes it received. The official count from SL's election commission showed more..

Dec 3 (CT) General Education Modernisation Project (GEMP), a World Bank-funded initiative aimed at transforming SL’s education system, has faced several setbacks, according to a recent AG’s report. The GEMP project, which runs from 2019 to 2024, was designed to introduce digital learning resources, including digital books for core subjects like English and Mathematics. As per the project’s targets (DL3 Index), digital books more..

Dec 3 (TM) The UNP accused the NPP Govt for its alleged double standards regarding the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA), claiming that the Legislation is being used to silence social activists. Former UNP MP Saman Rathnapriya criticised the NPP for employing the very law it had previously rejected. "The PTA, which the NPP once condemned as oppressive, has now become a tool for controlling the people's voice. Govt must clarify its stance on this Legislation," more..

Dec 3 (DM) A 51-year-old Australian national has reportedly committed suicide by jumping from the Crescat apartment complex in Kollupitiya this morning. Police said, the foreigner, who held dual citizenship, had been temporarily residing on the 7th floor of the building. He reportedly jumped from the floor and was rushed to the National Hospital Colombo. The Kollupitiya Police are currently investigating the incident. more..

Dec 4 (DM) Have some pity for our new govt. They were voted into power amid such high expectations; backed by the trade and student organisations. The people gave them a two-thirds majority in parliament. What is sad is we have never asked how these expectations will be matched. When Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected Prez, one of his sycophants promised that we Lankans, had seen the last of protest marches and strikes. Some among us, with a touch of irony, more..

Dec 4 (DM) The political Opposition in this country has yet again reduced to insignificance. This is a precarious existence for politics and the country at large, though this has been a recurrent phenomenon throughout the 2010s. Only the travails have incrementally worsened: In 2010, during the second term of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency, the UPFA won 144 seats, a tad short of the two-thirds majority, which was compensated with the pole vaulters from the Opposition to pass the 18th Amendment more..

Dec 4 (DM) The death of Deega Danthu II, an iconic tusker that roamed around Kala Wewa, Balalu Wewa and adjacent jungles in Kekirawa has sparked serious concerns about interventions taken by authorities including the Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) to conserve and protect these majestic species. Environmentalists opine that the state incurs a heavy loss in foreign exchange whenever an iconic tusker or more..

Dec 4 (CT) The decades-long civil conflict in SL caused immense suffering across all communities—Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, and Burghers. While the magnitude of suffering varied, no group emerged unscathed. For many, the pain persisted not just for a year or two, but for over three decades. Those who left the country experienced their share of hardships, though their suffering was incomparable to those who remained amidst the devastation. This isn’t a contest to determine who endured the most; more..

Dec 4 (FT) Aitken Spence last night walked away with the coveted Grand Slam Award at the 21st Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards. Aitken Spence also claimed the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2024, to clinch the prestigious Grand Slam, awarded to companies that have achieved the impressive feat of winning the Best Corporate Citizen Award in five different years. Nestlé Lanka and Sampath Bank were adjudged first and second runners up respectively. more..

Dec 4 (TM) Govt’s recent decision to import up to 70,000 MT of nadu rice has sparked debate, with consumers questioning the need for such a costly measure. As previously claimed by farmer unions, Sri Lanka already has adequate rice stocks, albeit concentrated in the hands of large-scale mill owners. Therefore, the move to spend millions of dollars on imports has prompted calls for alternative solutions. more..

Dec 4 (TM) With the onset of adverse weather, SL annually suffers a period of flooding and landslides. Despite a number of casualties and deaths which occur each year due to landslides in SL, little is done to mitigate the threat and build awareness about landslide risk. While some effort has been made to improve early warning of increased landslide risk, and landslide prone areas being mapped for disaster preparedness, one of the fundamental contributors to increased landslide-related risks has more..

Dec 4 (CT) Every ten minutes, a woman or a girl lost her life to gender-based violence in 2023. Partners and family members — those who should provide safety—committed these heinous acts. This grim reality underscores the urgency of addressing gender-based violence (GBV), a global crisis that continues to threaten the lives and dignity of millions of women and girls. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is not just another campaign but a vital moment to renew commitments, more..

Dec 4 (Island) Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe govt was responsible for turning the electoral process into a mess. It arbitrarily postponed the LG elections. Election Commission (EC) had made all arrangements for the mini polls to be held when Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, ably assisted by the SLPP, threw a monkey wrench in the works in defiance of a court order; he refused to allocate funds for the elections. LG polls have been rescheduled for 2025, & Cabinet has reportedly decided to amend more..

Dec 4 (FT) The Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) has announced a significant investment of $ 41 million in state-of-the-art crane technology, set to be fully operational by January 2025. This enhancement includes the installation of four Quay Cranes (QC) and 13 rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) at the Hambantota Int'l Port (HIP), expanding the port’s capabilities to a handling capacity of 1 million TEUs. Four Quay Cranes which arrived on the Mv. De Qiang 66 on 30 Nov more..

Dec 4 (FT) Govt has approved the procurement of medicines and medical supplies worth over Rs. 44 billion from local manufacturers, aiming to address shortages in hospitals and clinics, while giving a boost to the pharmaceutical industry. The decision follows recommendations by the Standing Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet. The procurement plan is based on approvals granted at the Cabinet meeting more..

Dec 4 (ST) As tradition would have it, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will make his way to New Delhi, perhaps bearing kavun, kokis and kiributh instead of love cake and other delicacies as more recent presidents and other leaders might have done in appeasement of our Big Brother to the north. If Dissanayake sahodaraya is carrying delicious goodies he is accustomed to from his childhood when his family would swap avurudu kema with the neighbours in those happy days when more..

Dec 4 (Island) The recent political transition in SL, following the prez and parliamentary elections of Sept and Nov, offers a pivotal opportunity to address entrenched issues of exclusion. In his inaugural speech at the 10th Parliament, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised his commitment to preventing racism and religious extremism in SL. He asserted that his govt would not allow racist politics to reemerge and pledged to establish a democratic state free from fear and suspicion. more..

Dec 4 (DN) SL’s National and Junior National Short Course Swimming Championship begins today at the Isipathana College Swimming Pool Complex, featuring 327 swimmers from 62 teams, including a 9-member squad from the Maldives. Organized by the SLASU, the 5-day event kicks off at 8 a.m., with finals scheduled daily from 3 p.m. Championship brings together the nation’s top swimming talent, promising thrilling competition and potential record-breaking performance. more..

Dec 4 (DN) Sri Lanka Under 19s fought back to record a thrilling 7-run win over Bangladesh Under 19s in their Asia Cup cricket fixture played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday. All credit goes to SL’s number four batter, Vimath Dinsara, who made a fighting 106 off 132 balls with 10 fours, while skipper Vihas Thewmika, the off-spinner, led from the front with the ball, taking 3 for 37 in his ten-over spell. Additionally, SL fielders did an excellent job to achieve 4 run outs, more..

Dec 4 (ST) CEB has come under fire for delaying the submission of its tariff revision proposals to PUCSL, a critical step in determining electricity tariffs for the coming year. The delay has fueled public frustration, particularly as consumers grapple with high energy costs amid economic challenges. A senior official from CEB, said that a fresh proposal for tariff revision is expected to be submitted by next week. more..

Dec 4 (DN) For the first time in history, Sri Lanka rugby team, Sri Lions, emerged as champions of the Men’s International Open Cup at the prestigious Emirates Dubai Sevens tournament in Dubai. In an electrifying Cup final, the Lions avenged their pool-stage loss to Spain’s Speranza 22 with a commanding 36-17 victory, securing their place in rugby history. In the semifinal, they overcame Tropics from Canada in a fiercely contested 28-19 match, setting the stage for a thrilling final. more..

Dec 4 (TM) Court of Appeal is scheduled to give its final verdict regarding the petition filed by seven provincial unions against the Director General (DG) of the Sports Ministry Prof. Shemal Fernando, over the amendments to be introduced to the constitution of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), today. This was confirmed by Prof. Fernando, in his capacity as the Competent Authority (CA) of SLR, since its dissolution by former Sports Minister Harin Fernando on 29 May, over its failure to hold its election more..

Dec 4 (TM) With hospitals across the country having reported a shortage of Mixtard insulin, Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD) stated that around 85,000 units of Mixtard insulin will be procured this week to meet the immediate demand. Deputy Director General – Medical Supplies Dr. G. Wijesuriya stated that the situation is already under control. “We have already taken measures to address this issue. more..

Dec 4 (DN) Manudi Nanayakkara of Princess of Wales Moratuwa will lead the 16-member SL team to the Women’s Under-19 T20 Asia Cup in Malaysia from 15-22 December. Rashmika Sewwandi of Anura College Matara has been named deputy skipper of the team. Sri Lanka women’s team left for Malaysia on Monday for this inaugural tournament and they are expected to get pre preparations before the Asia Cup to adjust to the conditions. We have good preparation to focus on this Asia Cup more..

Dec 4 (CI) Comebacks can happen. SL have proved that already this year, when having lost a Test at Lord's by 190 runs, they surged back at The Oval to win by eight wickets. This, at least, is what SL are trying to believe, having lost their first Test in South Africa by 233 runs. They can look back at other series-leveling come-from behind Test wins as well, such as in 2018, when they won in Barbados having lost in Port of Spain. Or even at home, when having gone down to Australia in the first Galle Test more..

Dec 4 (ST) A couple was electrocuted at Mundalama in Puttalam, and their daughter narrowly escaped death this week, police said. The victims were identified as Stanley Thilakaratne (54) and Chandrika Malkanti (53), both landowners and proprietors of a carwash centre. The incident occurred when the husband, after returning home from the carwash centre, went to connect a motor to a switch mounted on a wooden structure in front of the house. He was then electrocuted, more..

Dec 4 (Island) In a significant move for SL’s educational landscape, the Australian High Commissioner, Paul Stephens, officially launched Curtin University Colombo, marking a milestone in the growing partnership between Australia and Sri Lanka in higher education. The event was held on Monday at the Curtin University in Colombo, with dignitaries, educators, and students in attendance. Curtin University Colombo, an extension of Curtin University’s global network, now becomes more..

Dec 4 (TM) SL’s domestic debt saw a net increase of $ 2.4 billion in the third quarter as the govt continues to rely on the domestic debt market with the total domestic debt closing in at $ 60 billion. SL’s domestic debt rose to $ 59.9 billion from $ 57.4 billion at the end of June. The total stock of outstanding Treasury bills increased by $ 404.7 million to $ 13.1 billion, while the total stock of outstanding Treasury bonds increased by more..

Dec 4 (Island) Muhammathu Saali Naleem was sworn in as a member of the Tenth Parliament yesterday before Speaker Dr. Asoka Ranwala. Following the oath taking, Naleem signed the Members’ Roll in the presence of Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, marking his formal induction into the legislative body. Naleem was appointed as a National List MP, representing the SLMC. The inaugural session of the Tenth Parliament took place on Nov 21st, 2024, more..

Dec 4 (FT) ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has urged the Govt led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to clarify its position on the future of the Provincial Council system. Citing recent remarks to the media by JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva, who has suggested the system might be abolished, Rasamanickam called for an official response on the matter. The MP raised the question prior to yesterday’s Parliamentary debate on the President’s policy statement, emphasising that more..

Dec 4 (FT) Amid Sri Lanka’s journey towards economic recovery, Indian investors and businesses are closely monitoring the emerging opportunities in the local market. Indo-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ISCCI) Vice Chairman Dr. Naresh Bana shared his perspective recently, on current investment trends, bilateral trade, and collaborative ventures between the two neighbours. Despite strong tourism ties, Indian investment in SL’s tourism sector remains cautious. more..

Dec 4 (TM) Amidst landslides caused by adverse weather wreaking havoc in the country, NBRO stated that poor architectural planning and structural engineering-based construction-related shortcomings are to blame for damages, with certain cases in immovable property. Amidst landslide warnings given by the NBRO and reports of landslides completely and partially destroying immovable property islandwide, NBRO expressed concern on lapses in floor & building planning more..