Feb 3 (Island) It has now become abundantly clear that US Prez Donald Trump is trying to make America great again by creating a new world order according to his whims and fancies. His aversion to war is to be admired; he makes no bones about his contempt for belligerent NATO, and has not started any war himself, but in working towards the realisation of his ambitious goal of remoulding the world subservient to the US, he is proceeding with a Napoleonic zeal and a Nelsonian eye. more..

Feb 3 (Island) I was in the last year of my training and stationed at the State Engineering Pre-cast Yard at Narahenpita. I was on a unique project experimenting with a concrete boat modelled on a popular FAO wooden fishing boat design. The election fever was at its peak. The workers had high hopes for a Workers Govt (Kamkaru Anduwa). They were expecting a dictatorship of the proletariat, hoping to end all their woes. They were promised the establishment of Janatha Committees, more..

Feb 3 (ST) Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) current executive committee is all but set to reclaim their positions unopposed at the March 31 election of office bearers after new sports regulations enacted last year brought in major changes to the term of office. However, a lacuna in the law may delay the scheduled election. Even though the regulations were gazetted as far back in May 3, 2024, Sports Ministry has not taken steps to more..

Feb 3 (CI) India's spin bowlers continued to be as brilliant as they've been throughout the tournament to take them to their second consecutive ICC Under-19 T20 World Cup title. On the back of the efforts of Aayushi Shukla, G Trisha, Vaishnavi Sharma and Parunika Sisodia - who took nine wickets between them - India restricted South Africa to 82. Trisha then starred with the bat as well, helping chase down a simple target in 11.2 overs to leave a heartbroken South African side in tears in Kuala Lumpur. more..

Feb 3 (FT) The country has ended 2024 with a cumulative deficit in the trade account in 2024 of $ 6.07 billion, high in comparison to $ 4.9 billion 2023. “Larger expansion in import expenditure outpacing the expansion of export earnings led to the higher trade deficit in 2024 and in Dec 2024, Central Bank said on Friday. Earnings from merchandise exports in 2024 increased by 7.2% compared to 2023, reaching $ 12,772 million, which is the second highest annual export earnings in the history. more..

Feb 3 (Island) Three present First XI players and four team officials were felicitated by the Dharmaraja College Cricket Foundation (DRCCF) at its annual Cricket Night and Awards Ceremony for the 2023/2024 season held on the 25th of January at the Grand Kandyan Hotel in Kandy. The event, which coincided with the 25th anniversary celebrations of DRCCF saw the presence of over 200 past cricketers of Dharmaraja College joining hands. The annual Cricket Night and Awards more..

Feb 3 (FT) TVS Lanka said that it continues to redefine SL's two-wheeler industry by manufacturing the total range of motorcycles, scooters and mopeds with domestic value addition. As SL navigates a critical economic phase, TVS Lanka’s commitment to domestic value addition plays a pivotal role in revitalising the economy, offering sustainable and cost-effective mobility solutions to SL consumers. Since the commissioning of its state-of-the-art vehicle assembly facility in 2021, more..

Feb 3 (FT) The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) demanded the Govt to stop its deception on paddy pricing. In a statement SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa said the Govt must end its theatrics and fulfil its promise of ensuring a fair price for paddy. During the elections, President pledged to eliminate the rice mafia and guarantee higher prices for farmers. However, these commitments have proven to be empty words. more..

Feb 3 (TM) Trade and Commerce Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe yesterday (2) said that the fuel price revisions are being carried out in accordance with the pricing formula, with adjustments reflecting fluctuations in the global market. Minister stressed that the Govt remains committed to implementing the pricing formula, ensuring that fuel prices adjust accordingly on a monthly basis. “Fuel prices fluctuate based on the pricing formula, which aligns with global market trends. more..

Feb 3 (TM) Sri Lanka’s domestic money market liquidity recorded a surplus of Rs. 168.1 billion by the end of Dec 2024, marking the first positive liquidity balance in two years. The Central Bank attributed this shift primarily to foreign exchange purchases and swap transactions. According to the Market Operations Report, liquidity conditions in the domestic money market have been improving since April 2024, culminating in the Rs. 168.1 billion surplus at year-end. more..

Feb 3 (DM) Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC) has reported a disturbing trend in which dogs are being used as bait to lure leopards, making the big cats more visible to tourists in national parks. An AWC official said that using dogs to feed wild animals is unnatural and unethical. "While it is natural for leopards to hunt dogs in the wild, deliberately bringing dogs to them for the sake of tourist entertainment is unacceptable and more..

Feb 3 (DN) St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, and Ladies’ College, Colombo stamped their authority in SL’s competitive swimming circuit by emerging champions at the Anchor Newdale Relay Carnival Swimming Championship. The tournament, organized by the SL Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), concluded on Saturday night at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool Complex. St. Joseph’s College continued their dominance in relay swimming, amassing 304 points to claim title. more..

Feb 3 (EN) China-backed Hambantota International Port, says it is ready to facilitate vehicle imports which have been allowed from February 2024. In 2024, HIP had transshipped 579,362 vehicles, up from 238,997 in 2023, Wilson Qu, Chief Executive of Hambantota International Port Group said. A yard with a storage capacity for at least 4000 vehicles, has been designed to handle both imports and transshipment vehicles, HIP said. It provides basic facilities for wharf clerks and importers more..

Feb 3 (Wisden) Dasun Shanaka blasted a first-class hundred in SL domestic cricket and played a cameo in the ILT20 on the same day. After the Moors Club declared on 412-9, the SSC finished day two of the three-day match on 136-5. At the crease were captain Charith Asalanka (26) and Shanaka (39). Earlier in the game, Shanaka had bowled 21 overs for his 1-76. Shanaka exploded on the third morning, hitting 10 fours and eight sixes before falling for only 123 in 87 balls, dominating a stand of 178. more..

Feb 3 (FT) Govt is set for a major shake-up in its tourism industry with the establishment of a National Tourism Commission, a move aimed at streamlining decision-making and boosting efficiency. Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe on last week revealed that the initiative is part of broader reforms including a newly approved Tourism Act, to modernise regulations and enhance governance in the industry. He disclosed both proposals were approved by the Cabinet at their meeting last week. more..

Feb 3 (FT) The SJB yesterday launched a scathing critique of the Govt’s economic policies, tax plans and handling of corruption allegations, accusing it of failing to deliver on key election promises. SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva accused the administration of backtracking on tax commitments, misleading the public on debt restructuring and failing to address high-profile corruption cases. more..

Feb 3 (CT) Justice Mohammed Thahir Laffar, most senior Judge currently serving in the Court of Appeal, has been appointed as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal. Justice Laffar took his oaths as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal before Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday. The appointment follows the pre-retirement leave of the incumbent President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna, which has been accepted by Prez Dissanayake. more..

Feb 3 (TM) SJB questioned the Govt’s willingness to address what it called the deep-rooted corruption that has allegedly resulted in the prevailing congestion in the Colombo Port. SJB MP Dr. Harsha De Silva said that the crisis at the Colombo Port is not a mere issue of delays in releasing containers, but corruption in the SL Customs. He added that, in a context where the President’s Secretary has over 27 years of experience working in the Customs along with experience in researching more..

Feb 3 (ST) Billions in foreign currency sent home last year by Sri Lankans working and living overseas have, as expected, anchored the country’s external sector resilience at a time of persistent economic vulnerability. Remittances of Sri Lankans jumped to US$6.575 billion in 2024, year-end figures show, exceeding the meagre gross official reserves of US$6.1 billion, which includes the People’s Bank of China’s 10 billion yuan swap facility worth US$1.4 billion. more..

Feb 3 (AD) Ministry of Public Admin, PCs, and LG has issued Circular 01/2025, amending certain provisions related to the 77th Independence Day celebrations. A previous circular issued in January had instructed all govt institutions to hoist the national flag from Feb 1 to Feb 7 and to illuminate their buildings with light decorations on Feb 3 and 4. However, considering concerns put forward on electricity conservation and cost management, Ministry has decided to revoke the directive more..

Feb 3 (TM) Health experts raised concerns about the number of pregnancies which do not result in healthy births in SL. Nearly 313,000 women become pregnant in SL every year, but alarming statistics reveal that a significant number of these pregnancies do not result in healthy births. According to College of Community Physicians of SL, nearly 26,000 women lose their fetuses within the first few months of pregnancy, more..

Feb 3 (DN) A stock of 1,556 metric tonnes of rice, lentils and dates received in 2023 under the World Food Programme (WFP) for distribution among low-income families and schoolchildren was found rotting in the Veyangoda Govt Food Warehouse. This discovery was made during an inspection on January 31 by National Integration Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer and MP Ruwan Mapalagama, who conducted an inspection following reports of the food stock being left to deteriorate. more..

Feb 3 (FT) After nearly five years of restrictions, Govt officially lifted its temporary suspension on vehicles including; cars and vans for personal usage, buses for public passenger transport, vehicles being used for goods transport purposes, special purpose vehicles, trishaws, bicycles and other non-motorised items classified under a total of 304 HS Codes — to re-enter the market. The decision, formalised under Gazette Extraordinary notification no 2421/44 took effect from 1 feb more..

Feb 3 (FT) SL’s long-awaited decision to lift its five year ban on vehicle imports has sparked mixed reactions from industry leaders, with concerns emerging over affordability, taxation policies and the broader economic impact. Vehicle Importers’ Association Lanka (VIAL) and Vehicle Importers Association of SL (VIASL) both welcomed the move while acknowledging the positives and negatives of the Govt’s approach. more..

Feb 3 (FT) Under the new Central Bank of SL Act, abbreviated as CBA, the Central Bank should use inflation targeting as its monetary policy framework. Inflation targeting is the operational mechanism of the Central Bank which is mandated to attain and maintain price stability as its main objective and the maintenance of financial system stability as the other objective. Accordingly, price stability preponderates over the system stability. However, these two objectives are interconnected, more..

Feb 3 (FT) On the 77th anniversary of SL’s independence from colonial rule, following foreign domination of some four and a half centuries, the focus may well be on liberty from oppression or tyranny, and sundry freedoms in the sociopolitical and economic spheres. But the right to chart one’s course as a sovereign nation state had a deeper anchorage in the case of the once model crown colony of Ceylon. And the granting of suffrage – in a restricted quantum at first, and then more..

Feb 3 (DM) Just a week after India’s Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest over an incident involving Indian fishermen in SL waters, SL Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and arrested 10 Indian fishermen for poaching in SL waters. Arrests took place during a special operation conducted south of Mannar. Navy emphasized that regular patrols and operations are being carried out in SL waters to combat illegal fishing by foreign vessels, which negatively impacts the livelihood more..

Feb 3 (AD) A petition has been filed with the Court of Appeal seeking an order to invalidate the parliamentary seat of Minister Ananda Wijepala. The petition was filed by the Administrative Secretary of SLPP, Renuka Perera naming Minister Ananda Wijepala, Secretary General of Parliament and the Attorney General as respondents. In his petition, the petitioner has mentioned that Wijepala was appointed as the Minister of Public Security by the President on Nov 18. more..

Feb 3 (NW) Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) has clarified that the recent encounter between a dog and a leopard inside Wilpattu National Park was not caused by a domestic pet being brought into the park. Director General M.G.C. Sooriyabandara issued the statement following an investigation triggered by a viral video showing the interaction, which raised concerns about whether dogs were being used to attract leopards more..

Feb 3 (NW) Attorney Supun Wijerathna officially assumed duties today as the new chairman of the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) and director-general of youth affairs in SL. Before his appointment, Wijerathna served as a board member of the NYSC. He holds a law degree from Open Uni and has been actively involved in youth leadership. He previously served as chairman of the Moratuwa Youth Society Regional Conference, vice chairman of Colombo district youth society conference, more..

Feb 3 (DM) SL corporate leader and executive Deshamanya Kandiah (Ken) Balendra passed away at the age of 85 today, his family confirmed. Born in 1940, Balendra held numerous influential corporate positions in Sri Lanka and the region. He was the first SL Chairman of John Keells Holdings Ltd. and was serving as the chairman of the Commonwealth Development Corporation at the time of his death. Known as Ken to some and Bala to others, Balendra was a legendary figure whose remarkable more..

Feb 3 (TM) Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) called for the report of a committee headed by Energy Ministry Secretary, Udayanga Hemapala, proposing amendments to Electricity Act No. 36 of 2024, to be discarded. They argued that amendments should be proposed through a transparent consultation with genuine stakeholders. In January of this year Cabinet authorised Energy Ministry Secretary to more..

Feb 3 (AD) Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has directed officials to implement regulations on all products and ingredients used within the Ayurvedic medicine and Ayurvedic cosmetics sector, ensuring strict oversight. The minister made these remarks during the appointment letter presentation ceremony for the new Chairman and members of the Ayurvedic Medicines and Products Council at the Ayurvedic National Hospital in Rajagiriya. Highlighting the need for regulation, Minister Jayatissa emphasized more..

Feb 3 (AD) South Africa’s cricket legend and fielding maestro, Jonty Rhodes has arrived in SL, early this morning. Speaking to the media upon his arrival, Rhodes said: “Sri Lankan team is having up and downs like cricketers all the time. It is good to see that the cricketers are positive here in SL. As a coach, I was excited about young players. That’s one thing that SL has in abundance. These brave young players keep coming on to the scene. Great to see some performances.” more..