Nov 24 (TM) Despite a statement by Minister Ananda Wijepala that MPs will be provided with fuel-efficient vehicles, there has been no final decision on the matter. Speaker Dr. Ashoka Ranwala clarified that no decision had been made regarding the issuance of new vehicles or permits for MPs. Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs had previously announced that all MPs would receive fuel-efficient vehicles, but the overall plan remains unresolved. Currently, more..

Nov 24 (NW) A third student from the Kotelawala Defence Uni (KDU) has succumbed to injuries sustained in the fatal bus accident on November 1 in Badulla, raising the death toll to three. The victim, 24-year-old Kayilanathan Sinthujan from Kantharmadam, Jaffna, passed away today (23) while receiving treatment at the Uni Hospital KDU. He is an old boy of Hindu College Jaffna. The accident on Nov 1 claimed the lives of two individuals on the spot and injured 39 others more..

Nov 24 (ST) The transition in Sri Lanka’s political setting has triggered a high alert in banks and financial institutions cautious about transaction spikes among Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) accounts, officials in the banking sector said. PEPs are described as high-risk customers with more opportunities than ordinary citizens to acquire assets through illegal methods such as taking bribes and money laundering. more..

Nov 24 (AD) Two individuals were killed in an accident when a jeep traveling from Kuliyapitiya to Hettipola veered off the road and plunged into the Bujgamuwa Oya near the Kamburapola Bridge on the Kuliyapitiya-Hettipola road this morning (23). With assistance from a crane, the submerged jeep was recovered, and it was confirmed that the two occupants, who had been trapped inside, succumbed to their injuries upon admission to the Kuliyapitiya Base Hospital. more..

Nov 24 (ST) The SL govt cloud, the Digital ID and digitising bus and train tickets will be high-priority projects of the Digital Economic Ministry, top officials said. Eranga Weeraratna, Deputy Minister of Digital Economiy, said on Thursday the govt has laid out an ambitious agenda focused on digital transformation within the state sector and that the Sri Lanka Govt Cloud, the Digital ID project and the bus/train ticket project are now being looked at by the Ministry. “We will be analysing the feasibility of more..

Nov 24 (CT) Govt Radiological Technologists’ Association (GRTA) President, Chanaka Dharmawickrema lamented that disciplinary action was being taken against 10 Radiological Technologists for having allegedly refused to work with a handheld X-ray machine purchased by the District General Hospital, Polonnaruwa in 2020 despite the Health Ministry being advised against such purchases. Dharmawickrema said that the Radiological Technologists had earlier warned more..

Nov 24 (NW) Former SL Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday said his successor Anura Kumara Dissanayake should fully implement the vision document adopted with India last year. Prez Dissanayake, elected to the top office in September this year, is scheduled to visit India in mid-December. During his India trip in July 2023, then-Prez Wickremesinghe had signed a vision document with PM Narendra Modi, outlining areas of cooperation between the two countries, more..

Nov 24 (AD) IMF staff and the SL authorities have reached staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the third review of SL’s economic reform program supported by the IMF’s EFF. Once the review is approved by IMF Management and completed by the IMF Executive Board, Sri Lanka will have access to about US$333 million in financing, a statement said. The new govt’s commitment to the program objectives more..

Nov 24 (NW) Minister of Health and Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has refuted reports that he engaged in a observation tour of a state hospital in Kandy, where he allegedly pointed out shortcomings and concerns. Media Secretary to the Minister said that a detailed fake report claiming that the Minister engaged in a tour, is currently circulating on social media in Sinhala and English languages. Explaining further, the statement said that Minister Jayatissa remained at Health Ministry premises more..

Nov 24 (ST) Cabinet and deputy ministers will use official vehicles used by ministers in the previous govt, while all other govt MPs will also be given an official non-luxury, fuel-efficient vehicle, a senior govt official said. This means that all 159 govt MPs will each have an official vehicle of some sort. The official said the ministers and deputy ministers would be using vehicles allocated by their respective ministries to previous ministers who oversaw these ministries. more..

Nov 24 (ST) Just after their resounding success at the parliamentary elections, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, put together this week his team and spelt out the priorities of his NPP govt in his first policy statement. The first was last Monday when he swore in a 22-member cabinet of ministers. Forty-eight hours later, he took part in a ceremonial opening of Parliament where simplicity was the hallmark. more..

Nov 25 (DM) The new govt took power scarcely a month ago. So far mainstream media has refrained from harsh criticism of the regime. Perhaps, a hang-over of past govt’s antagonism toward the media. Or, perhaps it is because of the fact in our country the media does not immediately criticise incoming regimes. Whatever the reason, the media has been extremely sensitive not to ruffle the feathers of the regime. Perhaps memories of a by-gone era, where voices of dissent, were stilled out-of-hand, more..

Nov 25 (DM) Time waits for no one. Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle, the Dutch-American villager, fell into a deep sleep and awoke 20 years later to find a transformed world. During his slumber, he missed the American Revolution, which shaped the colonies into a nation rooted in liberty and self-governance. By the time Rip awoke, the ideals of equality and justice had become a rallying cry for change. We blend literary and historical metaphors to emphasise the transformative urgency more..

Nov 25 (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 general election. more..

Nov 25 (CT) Sri Lankans have been hopeful of making their country a respectable and modern nation for over seven decades of independence. They had reasons to dream. They were a proud, resourceful and talented people. But they were misgoverned, misled, and prevented from achieving their status as a developed, prosperous nation. There was ethnic bungling, self-promotion, corruption, and nepotism among other modes of mismanagement. more..

Nov 25 (ST) Long before election fever gripped SL, the writing was on the wall signalling that a maddened electorate will opt for amputation of mainstream limbs of the nation’s political establishment at the speed of greased lightning. Pushed beyond limits by a crassly arrogant ruling class, public fury turned with a vengeance against the once-adored Southern so-called political dynasty, the Medamulana Rajapaksa’s war-winning clan. Even after country-wide mass protests more..

Nov 25 (CT) Following the Govt’s landslide victory in last week’s General Election, the SJB, SL’s main Opposition party in the newly-elected 10th Parliament of the country is to be tested once again. Securing just 40 seats out of the 225 seats in Parliament, the Party Leader Sajith Premadasa was appointed the Leader of the Opposition once again. Despite the 40 seats in the House, SJB managed to secure just below 18% of the total ballots more..

Nov 25 (GV) There has been growing public concern over the recent weeks about happenings in Arugam Bay. This analysis adds to the discourse. Democratic states are obliged to protect all people within its borders whether citizens or non-citizens. Non-citizens include tourists on short stays subject to the law of the land they visit. Informed sources report that Jewish places of prayer have been set up for Israeli tourists in Arugam Bay. Although few would object to people at prayer, this raises a more..

Nov 25 (TM) With a new Govt at its helm, SL has to quickly get down to business and begin addressing key issues which impact the Indian Ocean island’s economy which remains in a crisis. While the situation in the country has improved since the bleakest period in 2022, some issues which contribute to the crisis remain unchanged. In 2022, SL was exploring ways to trim its massive public sector by allowing State workers to go on leave for other jobs both locally and abroad as more..

Nov 25 (Island) Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the NPP on their resounding victory in SL’s recently concluded Prez and General Elections. This landslide triumph signifies a remarkable transformation in the nation’s political landscape, showcasing the NPP’s ability to connect with and inspire diverse communities across the country. Overcoming their earlier pro-Marxist political roots, NPP’s success reflects a historic shift, underscoring their evolution into a unifying force more..

Nov 25 (CT) The inauguration of the 10th Parliament and the presentation of the Govt’s Policy Statement by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake took place in the Parliament Complex on the morning of 21 Nov in a simple and dignified manner. The ceremony was held in a very simple way, without a salute, parade, or jayamangala gatha, which caught everyone’s attention. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Speaker Dr. Ashoka Ranwala, Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, and more..

Nov 25 (EN) Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong during his visit to SL’s Northern Province, which is close to India, said ethnic minority Tamils have made a correct decision in helping ruling Marxists-leaned NPP to win the last week general elections. SL’s North is the closest SL landmass to the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Northern Tamils have been more close to India due to Hinduism religion, Tamil language & culture. more..

Nov 25 (ST) The Pathirage family has become synonymous with excellence in SL motorsport, where brothers Nikila and Vinula, under the guidance of their father Mangala, have made history. Their journey, marked by record-breaking victories, personal milestones and moments of resilience, highlights their collective passion for racing and their unyielding commitment to making their mark. Nikila, the elder of the two brothers, turned 25 on Nov 9, celebrating not only his birthday but more..

Nov 25 (Island) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has decided that compliant taxpayers who submit their Return of Income for 2023-24 (1 Apr 2023 to 31 Mar 2024) can only do so electronically by submitting an e-return. Whilst it is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, no consideration has been given to the fact that such a move should be made in a phased manner. In typically cavalier fashion, the dept’s mandarins want to go from zero to a hundred, forgetting that many individual taxpayers more..

Nov 25 (ST) The annual All-Island Inter-School Archery Championship, organised by the Colombo Archery School (CAS), was held last weekend at the Colombo Archery Centre. A total of 120 young archers representing 23 schools from across the island. In the tournament, St. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela emerged champions in the boys’ category, winning five gold medals, while Bandarawela Kuda Kusum Balika Maha Vidyalaya claimed the title in the girls’ category more..

Nov 25 (DN) Navy men’s team showcased an impressive performance, securing the runners-up position in the Eagles Cup Handball Challenge Trophy after hardfought final with SL Army, This event was hosted by SL Air Force for the third time which ended at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo. Air Force Commander Udeni Rajapaksa was the chief guest at the awards ceremony. The men’s finals of the tournament, featuring nine competing teams, saw the Army and Navy more..

Nov 25 (EN) SL’s tax revenue were up 39% to 2,918.3 billion rupees in the nine months to Sept 2024 from a year ago, while the budget deficit was down 40%. Tax revenues were going in line with a 40% projection in the budget, though collections can be lumpy and unevenly distributed across months. Non-tax revenues were up 30% to 229.7 billion rupees. Current spending rose only 3%, amid expenditure restraint & also a flat interest bill, more..

Nov 25 (Island) Just 24 hours after wrapping up a bilateral series against NZ, several SL cricketers landed in Abu Dhabi to showcase their firepower in the T10 League. As the two-week tournament unfolds, hard-hitting stars Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasun Shanaka have delivered standout performances in the opening days, proving why they are among the most exciting players in this format. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, turning out for the Chennai Braves, set the stage ablaze with more..

Nov 25 (Island) Jaffna District Independent MP Dr. Archuuna Ramanathan has drawn heavy flak for his unparliamentary conduct during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament last week. He occupied the Opposition Leader’s seat improperly, and resisted a parliamentary worker’s efforts to persuade him to leave it; he declared that he was no respecter of parliamentary traditions. He went so far as to post a video of the incident on social media. The word, Eelam, he used to give his more..

Nov 25 (NW) According to reports, the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has informed that a revision of electricity tariffs is unlikely to occur this year due to repeated delays by the CEB in submitting a revised tariff proposal. Initially, the PUCSL found the reduction percentages in the CEB’s initial tariff revision plan to be insufficient and suggested that greater reductions could be implemented under current conditions. more..

Nov 25 (EN) Vietnam’s embassy in SL has met the Board of Investment, SL – Greater Mekong Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, to promote links between investors of the two countries. “In a bid to bolster economic diplomacy, the Embassy of Viet Nam in SL has been actively engaging with key SL agencies and business leaders,” a statement said. “The Embassy’s proactive efforts aim to unearth the vast potential in the Viet Nam market for SL investors more..

Nov 25 (AD) Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana have been sold to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. Hasaranga, the dashing leg-spinner, has fetched a sum of ₹5.25 crore at the event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The wrist-spinner has emerged as a match-winner for the Lankans in limited-overs cricket. Meanwhile, Theekshana bagged a ₹4.40 crore deal. Hasaranga was ruled out of the 2024 IPL season. more..

Nov 25 (SLN) Following a successful intelligence-sharing operation between the SL Navy and the Maldivian Coast Guard, a SL fishing trawler carrying about 344 kg of crystal methamphetamine and about 124 kg of cocaine was seized by Maldivian Coast Guard on 23rd Nov. The operation also led to the apprehension of 5 suspects in connection to the incident. Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo, established at the Navy HQ, was alerted in the early hours of 23rd Nov by more..

Nov 25 (ST) Govt has directed Laugfs Gas, one of the major providers of cooking gas, to ensure a monthly supply of 3,000 metric tonnes to households on a priority basis compared to industrial customers, as a country-wide Laugfs gas shortage is being experienced. Issuing a gazette notification on Friday under Section 12 of the Finance Act Commercial Hub regulations No. 01 of 2019, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake directed that the cooking gas provider should maintain a minimum of 7,500 MT more..

Nov 25 (FT) IMF on Saturday welcomed new Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s and his Govt’s commitment to continue with the on-going program and identified the 2025 Budget as a litmus test. The IMF’s opinion follows its staff and the SL authorities on Friday reaching agreement on economic policies to conclude the third review of the economic reform program supported by the IMF’s EFF. Once the review is approved by IMF more..

Nov 25 (DM) Asian Development Bank (ADB) asserted that Sri Lanka should start laying a strong foundation that assures its people a high quality of life, which would help reduce the brain drain of skilled workers leaving the country in search of better jobs and living standards in other countries. According to ADB, the migration of young, skilled professionals, especially in evolving industries such as technology and hospitality, creates serious challenges for both SL’s economy and more..