Feb 19 (NW) A heated verbal exchange took place between SJB MP Ajith P. Perera and NPP MP Lakmali Hemachandra over the private-sector salary increment proposed in the govt’s 2025 Budget. Speaking during a televised debate, NPP MP Lakmali Hemachandra said that the govt has received the consensus of private-sector stakeholders for a salary increment. She further said that a nearly Rs. 9000 increment has been agreed to by the relevant private-sector stakeholders, more..

Feb 19 (NW) SL spinner Maheesh Theekshana has toppled Afghanistan star Rashid Khan to become the No.1 ranked bowler in ODIs. He was brilliant in the two-match ODI series against Australia picking up four wickets in 12.5 overs. Theekshana, in the latest ICC rankings update, has jumped to the top with 680 rating points while Rashid has slipped to second with 669 rating points. However, Theekshana is unlikely to stay at the numero uno position for long with SL not playing ODI cricket for next 3 weeks more..

Feb 19 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar has strongly criticised the newly presented Budget of the NPP Govt, describing it as a left wing gilded right wing Budget that fails to deliver genuine benefits to the public. He argued that while the budget is aspirational in rhetoric, it lacks meaningful relief for the people. He highlighted that, despite the Prez’s announcement of a Rs. 15,000 increase in the minimum basic salary of public servants, more..

Feb 19 (CT) Doctors at Base Hospital (BH) Homagama struck work, demanding the current Medical Superintendent overseeing the duties of the post be more amenable. GMOA said the Branch Union of BH Homagama had been pushed to a strike due to the high-handed and unbending attitude of the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital. They alleged that being the wife of the Presidential Secretary, she was acting in a high-handed manner as though she was above the hierarchy of more..

Feb 19 (FT) Representatives of political parties in Parliament yesterday met with the Election Commission to discuss the scheduling of the upcoming LG Election. Opposition party representatives have urged the Commission to set a date for the LG Elections that would allow members of Parliament to fulfil their duties without disruption, particularly during the Budget debate. They are concerned that the nomination and campaigning process could interfere with their more..

Feb 19 (Island) Education Secretary of Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Pubudu Jayagoda has strongly criticised the 2025 Budget, presented by Prez Anura Dissanayaka, calling it an extension of the IMF austerity agenda and a continuation of Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic policies. “When Prez arrived in Parliament to present the Budget, he carried it in a paper folder instead of the traditional briefcase. more..

Feb 19 (TM) Broadening the tax base may have been the govt’s primary goal, but it is also looking to address income inequality and social inequality through targeted transfers, said Inland Revenue Department Assessor Thanuja Perera, speaking on the budget of 2025 at an event held yesterday. “While broadening our tax bases was a primary objective, we are also looking to address the income inequality and social inequity issues,” Perera said, at the CA SL Budget Symposium. more..

Feb 19 (Island) SL’s transition into renewable energy (RE) is at a critical juncture, with solar power playing a pivotal role in achieving the country’s goal of 70% renewable energy by 2030. However, challenges in policy implementation and grid integration continue to hinder progress, according to renewable energy expert Parakrama Jayasinghe. In response to a query, Jayasinghe said acceptance that RE was the only way forward was the first step. “They can then have an attitude of facilitation more..

Feb 19 (EN) Australia has given a state-of-the-art sonar device to the SL Navy Hydrographic Service (SLNHS) to boost the island nation’s water mapping capabilities. The Shallow Water Multi-Beam Echo Sounder will help the SLNHS conduct precise hydrographic surveys, essential for creating nautical and electronic charts for international use, the Navy said. “The device will also facilitate the production of high-precision nautical charts, ensuring safer maritime navigation.” more..

Feb 19 (NW) A video of this morning’s Hulftsdorp courtroom shooting shows police and security personnel standing by without rushing the victim to the hospital. The video circulating in social media shows the victim, underworld kingpin Ganemulla Sanjeewa, lying on the floor of the witness box, with a gunshot injury visible on his chest. Amid the commotion, a number of security personnel are seen observing the situation and discussing details, but taking no effort to help the victim. more..

Feb 19 (DM) Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Kodituwakku pledged to provide prompt solutions to issues concerning the administration of the Ports Authority and to establish a committee comprising all relevant parties to address matters related to the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) of the Colombo Port, Joint Alliance of Port Trade Unions (JAPTU) Co-convener Udeni Kaluthantri said. more..

Feb 19 (Island) The Colombo Commercial High Court has ordered Airport & Aviation Services (SL) Ltd. (AASSL) to pay Rs 176 million, along with legal interest, to a private company for breaching a contract. The court ruled that AASSL’s unilateral termination of an agreement to upgrade airport software systems—awarded to the private company—was unlawful. Additionally, the state-owned entity was directed to settle a Rs 24 million bank guarantee, including applicable interest. more..

Feb 19 (Island) A report issued by the National Audit Office has revealed that the SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) spent Rs 261.7 million on the initial development of renewable energy projects in Mannar and Pooneryn, which were later awarded to India’s Adani Group with a combined capacity of 500 megawatts. On 8 Nov, 2022, the SLSEA formally requested reimbursement of the amount from the project developer. However, subsequent financial statements from the authority more..

Feb 19 (AJ) The sun hung low over the Indian Ocean, casting an amber glow on the waves as a heated argument erupted in Arugam Bay, a popular beach in eastern SL. In the water, a group of local surfers were engaged in a dispute with Israeli tourists that kicked off over surf etiquette – or rather, from the perspective of the Sri Lankans, a lack of it. Jeevan Hall, an internationally acclaimed SL surfer, was in the lineup of the surf when more..

Feb 19 (EN) Sri Lanka has withdrawn from an Integrated Field Exercise (IFE) under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Foreign Ministry sources said, a month the new government postponed the event with the mutual consensus of the international body in charge. Sri Lanka announced in 2023 that it had ratified the agreement the country signed in 1996. Soon after signing the agreement in 1996, an auxiliary seismic station was set up in Pallekele, Kandy. more..

Feb 19 (AD) The suspect in the killing of notorious drug trafficker and criminal gang leader Sanjeewa Samararathne alias Ganemulla Sanjeewa this morning is believed to be the same gunman responsible for the recent double murder at Watarappala, Dehiwala. Furthermore, it has been revealed that the woman who had brought the weapon used in the shooting is a suspected drug dealer from Negombo. Meanwhile, SSP Buddhika Manatunga stated that in addition to prison more..

Feb 20 (DM) Sri Lankans were able to catch a glimpse of a real-life crime thriller following the attack on a notorious underworld figure alias Ganemulla Sanjeewa on Wednesday at the Hulftsdorp Court Complex. Ironically, the assassin was disguised as a lawyer and had reportedly smuggled the weapon into the court complex by concealing it within the Code of Criminal Procedure. On the same day, a 39 year old man and his two children were killed in a shooting in more..

Feb 20 (DM) Sri Lanka’s banking sector faces a paradox: despite ample liquidity, with banks’ liquid assets nearly doubling to 35.25% of total assets, credit growth remains stagnant due to high levels of non-performing loans (NPLs). The Central Bank’s recent proposal to restructure SME loans, while welcome, addresses only a fragment of the problem. What Sri Lanka needs is a comprehensive solution: a public-private Asset Management Company (AMC) to resolve crisis-era NPLs. more..

Feb 20 (SO) Sky scraping marvels such as the Lotus Tower and Altair buildings are a testament to Colombo’s economic prowess, as the capital evolves into one of South Asia’s attractive destinations. But on Feb 7, a sudden blaze at the Krrish Tower brought the city’s shinning allure into question. CMC firefighters and Air Force personnel battled the blaze for four hours as flames spread from the 35th floor to multiple levels. more..

Feb 20 (CT) This year’s budget is crucial. By adjusting the budget or preparing the budget the govt can manage economic stability, control inflation, reduce unemployment, ensure debt sustainability and promote sustainable growth, making it a crucial part of fiscal policy. Therefore, after submitting the budget what is written elsewhere specially in the NPP’s election manifesto in regard to the fiscal policy, directly or indirectly has economically no relevance for argument. more..

Feb 20 (ST) So what more can one do? I am all for President AKD’s policy of non-interference with the judicial process from the pages of literature… It is the intervention with and the tampering with justice that have caused the breakdown of good governance and inevitably turned the people even against the forces of law to the point that they had come to believe that law is an ass even if they had not heard the original saying from the pages of literature. more..

Feb 20 (TM) SL’s power grid remains at severe risk of failure due to continued delays in implementing necessary measures to stabilise the system. Despite the urgent need for action, the State-run CEB has yet to find a viable solution, increasing the likelihood of another nationwide blackout similar to the one experienced last Sunday (9). Sunday’s outage, which lasted six hours, was initially blamed on a monkey disrupting a grid more..

Feb 20 (TM) The triple murder of a father and his two children on Tuesday night and yesterday’s blatant assassination of an organised crime suspect next to the witness box of number five Magistrate’s Court in the Aluthkade Courts Complex, sent shockwaves amongst the citizenry. As in true SL governance style, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men were available to close the stable gate, once the lawyer had escaped, pardon the pun, as the assailant was disguised as more..

Feb 20 (GV) In 2009, Mahinda Rajapaksa conquered SL. In 2010, he set out to conquer the world with an address to the Oxford Union. Although the visit was a private one, a 100+ delegation accompanied the president at public expense (it was after all December, the Christmas shopping season). The memory of the war was still raw. SL Tamils in the UK protested. Fearing a controversy, the Oxford Union rescinded the invitation. Some might well ask with legal justification now that lawyers more..

Feb 20 (Island) Yesterday’s shooting incident inside a court at Hulftsdorp, Colombo, must have sent a chill down the spine of every law-abiding citizen. A gunman, disguised as a lawyer, shot a suspect named Sanjeewa Kumara alias Ganemulla Sanjeewa, despite a heavy police presence at the court complex. What the underworld attack inside a heavily guarded court and the ease with which it was carried out signify is the growing vulnerability of the public vis-a-vis the rise of the underworld. more..

Feb 20 (SO) A tense situation unfolded outside the Wadduwa Police Station on Tuesday following the death of a young man just hours after his release from police custody. Around 40 villagers gathered outside the station, demanding justice and accountability from the authorities. The protesters accused the police of assaulting the deceased, Samitha Dilshan, a 24-year-old father of one, leading to his untimely death. Thunder should strike you down! women screamed at the police during more..

Feb 20 (CT) A vibrant young man, who was well into the process of putting SL on the global map as a versatile journalist, actor, poet, and writer, was silenced 35 years ago by a group of self-serving individuals with vested interests. It appears he was not merely abducted, brutally assaulted, killed, and dumped at sea simply because he had a full beard or looked like a rebel—the grim fate that befell many young men at the time—but more..

Feb 20 (FT) Sampath Bank said it achieved a robust financial performance in 2024, demonstrating significant growth and resilience amidst SL’s economic recovery. Total interest income for the year was Rs. 183 billion, a 10% decrease from 2023, primarily due to the lower Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPLR) and reduced interest rates on Government securities. Interest expenses declined by 21.4% to Rs. 103 billion, attributed to effective deposit repricing and more..

Feb 20 (FT) Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Global Research has said SL’s 2025 Budget is positive, though there are several challenges. In a report following the presentation of the 2025 Budget by President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday (17), the SCB Global Research in its report released on 18 Feb also provided an issuer recommendation of overweight for SL. “The 2025 Budget, the new Govt’s first since winning Prez and Parliamentary polls in 2024, more..

Feb 20 (Island) SL Masters will lock horns with their Australian counterparts today in the semi-finals of the Over-50 Masters World Cup at the Mercantile Cricket Association grounds in Colombo – 7. The other semi-final will see England take on Pakistan across the wall at NCC. The grand final set to be played at the P. Sara Oval on Sunday. Led by Shane Fernando and coached by Harsha de Silva, SL team has been a formidable presence in the tournament. Organized by International Masters Cricket more..

Feb 20 (DM) SL’s national carrier is gearing up for a leadership change, with SriLankan Airlines officially on the lookout for a new CEO to guide the airline through its next phase of transformation. In a recently published job advertisement, the airline’s board of directors announced its search for a dynamic and visionary leader, who can navigate the challenges of the aviation industry, while building on the airline’s proud legacy. Position is currently held by aviation industry veteran Richard Nuttall, more..

Feb 20 (FT) Last week, India’s Adani Green Energy, which has proposed to set up 484 MW renewable energy wind farms at Mannar and Pooneryn along with transmission system at an investment of $ 1 billion, said it is respectfully withdrawing from the said project. This is a huge setback for the nation which is trying to attract FDI as well as grow its green economy. However, some analysts have been claiming, on some incorrectly structured more..

Feb 20 (DN) Winning gold medals at two events, Shot Put and Discus Throw (F-44) at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025 Dubai is a real boost to go forward, said SL Para athlete Palitha Bandara in an exclusive interview with the Daily News. Four SL athletes were able to win six medals including three golds. It was an exceptional achievement by Palitha Bandara who created history as the first SL para athlete to get gold in two throwing events in one International meet. more..

Feb 20 (ST) A 56-year-old Ukrainian naval officer drowned in Bentota this week, while he was bathing near the breakwater in front of a well known tourist hotel. The Ukrainian was identified as Sandsley Marshkovidsky. The naval officer, his wife and two children who arrived in SL on Jan 30 were staying at a small seaside hotel. Tragedy occurred on Feb 11 when he was dragged into the sea while bathing. Two life guards had rescued him and given him CPR before taking him to Bentota hospital. more..

Feb 20 (FT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the 2025 Budget is aimed at boosting growth and reserves to be prepared for the resumption of external debt servicing from 2028. “We intend to use the next three years effectively to regain debt repayment capacity by 2028,” he asserted, acknowledging the constrained fiscal space but expressing confidence in disciplined economic management. more..

Feb 20 (CT) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed the historical significance of the Indian Ocean in global trade and exploration and said “Europeans rose to power because they sought control over the Indies. In the process, some had to navigate via the Atlantic and eventually discovered the Americas and if I think like President Trump, the two American continents should pay a fee to Asia annually. If not for us, they would not have been discovered.” Speaking at the Indian Ocean more..