Dec 4 (CT) Govt never hesitates to suppress the attempts to ignite racism and division by the defeated political factions to gain their political ends that would deprive the golden opportunity before the people to thrive together irrespective of the differences, PM Harini Amarasuriya said in Parliament. Affirming that the citizens of the country, taking a bold decision at the election, demanded the newly-elected Parliament to be different, more..

Dec 4 (EN) SL saw offshore inflows into its govt securities for the 11th straight week ended on Nov 29. Analysts said SL’s deflationary policies and import curbs amid declining interest rates have made some investors buy before making some profits due to appreciation of the rupee currency. SL saw 2.86 billion rupees ($9.86 million at 1 US$ = 290 LKR) inflow into govt securities in the week ended on Nov 29, extending the total inflows into treasury bonds and bills to 19.1 billion rupees more..

Dec 4 (FT) Govt has decided to appoint two committees to provide sustainable solutions to the issues pertaining to the recruitment of school development officers for the teaching service. The two committees include a ministerial committee led by PM Harini Amarasuriya and a committee of officials led by the Secretary to the PM. “At present over 15,800 development officers are engaged in teaching in both national and provincial schools. However, everyone must understand that more..

Dec 4 (DM) Asserting that it is committed to scrap the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that the government will not hesitate no matter what, to invoke existing laws and regulations to prevent any attempt to fuel communalism. In response to a question at the weekly Cabinet briefing regarding the invocation of the PTA against some social media users, he said that the govt is committed to repeal the PTA more..

Dec 4 (FT) When the NPP party swept into power just a couple of months ago, it did so on a wave of hope and promises of change. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s campaign was built on sharp critiques of past economic mismanagement and vows to steer the country towards a more equitable future. Yet, in a move that has surprised many supporters, the new Govt has chosen to accept the IMF bailout terms negotiated by its predecessor—a decision that underscores the scale of challenges it faces. more..

Dec 4 (FT) Some Inland Revenue Department (IRD) officers have misunderstood that contractors’ bills have been settled as per their satisfaction. This is a myth, because although a portion of contractors’ dues have been paid by previous Govts, these bills have been stagnant for two or three years. By that time, bank interests have eaten up all of their profits and have pushed them towards great losses. Further, many bills remain uncertified and these have not been settled for contractors. more..

Dec 4 (NW) National Procurement Commission is investigating the procedure followed by the former govt related to the tender awarded for the procurement of electronic passports. Court of Appeal was informed in this regard by Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, representing the Attorney General. Additional Solicitor General further informed the court that the National Procurement Commission has sought a week to present its observations related to its investigation. more..

Dec 4 (AD) The officials of the Excise Dept have conducted a raid at a well-known casino located in the Kollupitiya area, for allegedly illegally maintaining liquor counters. The raid was carried out based on a tip-off received by the Commissioner General of Excise. During the operation, around 100 bottles of illegally imported foreign liquor, valued at over Rs. 2.5 million, were also discovered. The casino was found to be operating multiple liquor counters across its 5 floors, issuing free alcohol to its members. more..

Dec 4 (EN) Sri Lanka’s goods exports grew 18.22% from a year ago to US$ 1.09 billion in October 2024, the island’s export promotion office said, helped by a spike in exports of apparel and textiles, tea, rubber based products, coconut based products, and spics and concentrates. Apparel and textiles rose 21.77% from last year to US$ 430.21 million in October 2024. Exports to the USA and UK increased 23.28% and more..

Dec 4 (DM) All Ceylon Small & Medium Scale Rice Mill Owners' Association warned that the country could face a severe rice shortage unless the govt imports the required stocks of rice within the next two weeks. Association prez U.K. Semasinghe said the govt should implement a long term programme to solve the rice shortage. "The govt should go for a long term solution. If not, the country will face another crisis. Paddy Marketing Board should prepare a systematic programme to purchase more..

Dec 4 (AD) After concluding the hearing of the petition filed against former MP Hirunika Premachandra accusing her of contempt of court, the Appeals Court today ordered to acquit her of those charges. This order was issued today after Hirunika Premachandra, through her lawyer, made an undertaking to the court that she will withdraw the statement that she had made at a press conference regarding an order issued by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court and that she would refrain more..

Dec 4 (Island) Leader of the EJP and former Power Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said that CEB workers shouldn’t be granted year end/Christmas bonuses as they had not contributed to the much favourable current financial status of that state-owned enterprise. Ex-MP Ranawaka said that the CEB had earned massive profits solely by implementing extremely unfair tariff structure, therefore workers shouldn’t be paid bonuses. more..

Dec 4 (AD) The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has extended the deadline for filing Income Tax Returns for the Year of Assessment 2023/2024, offering relief to taxpayers and approved accountants affected by recent severe weather events. Under the Inland Revenue Act, No. 24 of 2017, taxpayers are required to file their returns within eight months following the end of each assessment year. This year’s deadline, November 30, 2024, fell on a Saturday. more..

Dec 4 (EN) Aitken Spence won the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Award 2024 at the Ceylon Chamber’s Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards, while Nestlé Lanka and Sampath Bank were adjudged first and second runners up respectively. Annual BCCS Awards, which recognizes corporate citizenship, was held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo. “The Awards promote corporate citizen sustainability ownership and initiatives that deliver social and more..

Dec 4 (DM) Former Test Captain Dimuth Karunaratne has arguably been Sri Lanka's best opener in the last decade or so. Since the retirement of some of Sri Lanka's big names such as Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, T. M. Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera, the left-hander became Sri Lanka's Mr. Reliable at the top of the order in Test Cricket. His runs in the longer format both home and away have been consistent and provided Sri Lanka a lot solidity at a time of crisis. more..

Dec 4 (NW) Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe has outlined measures taken to ensure the continuous supply of essential foods during the upcoming festive season. He said that Rice Millers have agreed to supply 200,000 kilos of rice daily with effect from today. He said the rice will be supplied to the local market via state-owned retail chain, Lanka Sathosa at a controlled price. Minister of Trade further announced that one million coconuts will also be sold through Sathosa outlets more..

Dec 4 (FT) They are back, creeping of the woodwork. The gathering outside Colombo’s main railway station was mercifully small, just the mandatory monk and a handful of civilians. Having offered flowers to a statue of the Buddha, they proceeded to violate his teachings by trying to ignite an ethno-religious fire. Their target was the welcome decision by the NPP/JVP Govt to release some of the military-occupied land in the north to more..

Dec 4 (DM) Investigations have revealed that a certain political group is out to create ethnic unrest between the North and the South, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said. "This group is engaged in uploading fake posts on social media. Some of the videos that have been uploaded are clips of Mahaviru commerations held overseas a few years ago. There have been more than 244 Mahaviru commerations in the North but only ten of these ceremonies had displayed LTTE flags more..

Dec 4 (EN) SL’s Lion Brewery (Ceylon), the island’s top beer producer has initiated talks with UK-based Diageo Plc to produce international spirit brands under license, CEO Rajiv Meewakkala said. Lion already has about 90 percent of the local market which is growing slowly and has also started exporting to boost the market. Expanding into spirits will open up new market for the firm. “One of the main things what we will be looking at is trying to manufacture the international brands locally, more..

Dec 4 (AD) Rice millers have agreed to supply 200,000 kilograms of rice daily to the market through the Lanka Sathosa, at a controlled price effective from today. This was confirmed by Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe. Consumers will be able to buy rice at a price of Rs. 220 per kilogram. “During the recent discussion with the rice mill owners, they claimed that the rice stocks in the mills cannot be released to the market more..

Dec 4 (NW) A group of SL asylum seekers who became stranded on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) of Diego Garcia have arrived in the UK after a three-year legal fight led by a Leigh Day Solicitors human rights team. They were greeted by the lawyers whose painstaking battle to have the asylum seekers’ plight recognised was successful. An offer from the Home Office to finally transfer the group to the UK was the culmination of three years’ work to have the group of more than more..

Dec 4 (DM) NPP govt should probe the killings of its founder leader Rohana Wijeweera and actor turned politician Vijaya Kumaratunga in keeping with the pledges made by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his policy statement, opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake told Parliament “Prez in his address to Parliament said cases which are buried will be taken out again. Therefore, we request that a probe be conducted on JVP founder leader Rohana Wijeweera and actor turned politician more..

Dec 4 (AD) The liquor manufacturing license issued to W.M. Mendis & Co. Limited will be suspended from tomorrow due to their failure to pay Rs. 5.7 billion in excise taxes and surcharges, the Excise department said. Accordingly, as per the provisions Excise Ordinance Act, the Commissioner General of Excise has ordered to suspend the liquor manufacturing license issued to W.M. Mendis & Co. Limited effective from tomorrow. The department further stated that measures have been more..

Dec 4 (AD) Ministry of Defense has announced a new policy limiting the issuance of firearms for self-defence to only one per individual. This decision follows a comprehensive survey conducted to assess the distribution and usage of firearms among civilians, the Defence Ministry said. Ministry clarified that exceptions to the one-firearm rule will be considered only after a thorough security analysis. However, the final decision in such cases will rest with the Ministry of Defense, more..

Dec 4 (DM) Heated arguments erupted in Parliament over a statement by SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, who said that cases have been filed against recent incidents involving LTTE commemorations under two laws in the North and South. MP told Parliament that cases have been filed in the South under the PTA while cases have been filed in the North under the Penal Code. Public Security Minister responded, saying that more..

Dec 4 (DM) The govt is planning to present three Bills in Parliament within the first quarter of this year, aiming to recover stolen assets, deter money laundering, drug trafficking and related vices, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said today. Speaking during the adjournment debate on the govt's policy statement delivered by the Prez, Minister said the three legislations are the Proceeds of Crime Bill, Rescue, Rehabilitation and Insolvency Bill and amendments to the Audit Act. more..

Dec 4 (EN) The Colombo Stock Exchange closed up on Wednesday, data on its site showed. The broader ASPI closed up 1.29%, or 171.69 points, at 13,511; while the more liquid S&P SL20 Index closed up 1.90 percent, or 74.80 points, at 4,016. “The ASPI reached an all-time high,” market participants pointed out, with the S&P SL20 also breaching the 4,000 mark. Turnover was 5.2 billion. Most of this came from capital goods (Rs1.16bn) and banks sectors (Rs1.18bn). more..

Dec 4 (DM) Following an allegation by SJB MP Mujibur Rahman claiming that the CEO of Dialog which had refused to produce the phone conversations of former police officer Anura Senanayake and others have been appointed as a Prez advisor, Chief Govt Whip Nalinda Jayatissa said that the data pertaining to the phone calls have been received by the investigation officers. “The investigations carried out by Yahapalana govt more..

Dec 4 (DM) Claiming that investigations into MPs who had obtained liquor licenses had begun, Chief Govt Whip Nalinda Jayatissa said today the list of MPs who obtained liquor permits will be presented to Parliament this afternoon. He told this in Parliament while responding to a question raised by MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam. MP questioned why the govt is not releasing the list of MPs who obtained liquor permits. "People must know who are the MPs who have obtained bar permits. more..

Dec 4 (DM) In another judgement broadening the scope of the applicability of the Right to Information Act, the Court of Appeal recently held that any amount of money spent by a public authority must be accountable and made available for scrutiny when requested by a member of the public. The Court of Appeal delivered this judgement in response to an appeal filed by People's Bank, challenging the Right to Information Commission's decision directing the release of information more..

Dec 5 (CT) I remember the beautiful evening on 4 Dec 1974, when I went to the Katunayake Airport to report for my night duty at 6:30 p.m., at the Air Ceylon Flight Operations Office, which was on the first floor, right wing of the building. That particular night while on duty I had to file an ATC (Air Traffic Control) flight plan for a Pakistan International Airlines Flight, a Boeing 707 aircraft, which was coming from Singapore en route to Karachi around 2340. more..

Dec 5 (DM) Addressing the first formal session of the new parliament on Tuesday, PM Harini Amarasuriya reiterated that the govt of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the NPP would not allow any party or group to indulge in racial tension or violence. She said that the NPP govt, while encouraging the free media for balanced reporting, would not allow any group or individual to provoke racial tension or violence. According to reports, in 1915, riots between Sinhalese and Muslims erupted after more..

Dec 5 (DM) The most terrible plane crash in SL which featured the Dutch Martinair DC8 aircraft and took place on Dec 4, 1974 marks 50 years today. The aircraft travelling from Surabaya Int'l Airport in Indonesia bumped into the Seven Virgins Hill range in Norton Bridge. The crash claimed the lives of 182 passengers and nine crew members. The flight with Makkah bound pilgrims had crashed into the hills in thick jungle at the dead of more..

Dec 5 (CT) Lawyers and transparency activists monitoring SL’s state banking sector have welcomed two significant decisions of the Right to Information Commission of SL bringing key state banks, the Bank of Ceylon and the Peoples Bank, under the Right to Information (RTI) microscope to account for use of state funds to, among others, politically favoured persons. Last week, Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by the People’s Bank challenging a decision of the Commission more..

Dec 5 (DM) We were in a mighty hurry to vote for Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the Prez of SL. We showed the same urgency to bring in Gotabaya Rajapaksa when Sri Lankans flocked to polling stations in 2019 to vote and elect the country’s eighth Executive Prez. Bringing in that second Rajapaksa as Prez spelt doom, despite baseless predictions that the former military man was able to turn the country around. When he failed the 6.9 million voters who backed him, more..

Dec 5 (TM) The promotion of employment among elderly women can be done through several key implementations including the promotion of home-based employment opportunities and implementing the necessary legal framework to provide comprehensive welfare coverage. This also includes preparing the foundation to engage in all types of employment, updating the farmers’ pension scheme, more..