Feb 24 (DM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake should use helicopters when travelling across the country, MP Ravi Karunanayake told Parliament. "He spends at least seven hours travelling towards the North by road. He wastes valuable time which he can spend to make important decisions by travelling to the North by road. Prez will have more time to make important decisions if he travels by helicopter,” Karunanayake said speaking during the debate on the second reading of the budget. more..

Feb 24 (SCMP) What goes in your morning cuppa? A lot more than you think. If your brew is from SL, the process of growing tea, harvesting the leaves and producing tea bags is surprisingly labour-intensive. With a land area of 65,610 sq km, the country is responsible for almost 12% of all exports of tea and related products, according to Export Development Board. One of the country’s prime tea-growing areas is Bogawantalawa. more..

Feb 24 (CT) A statue commemorating the remarkable contributions of B.A. Mahipala was unveiled at Homagama Base Hospital, celebrating a legacy of philanthropy and dedication to healthcare. The statue stands as a testament to Mahipala’s pivotal role in transforming the hospital into a modern healthcare facility. The story of Homagama Hospital is one of vision and generosity. Originally founded by B.A. Semaneris Appuhamy, a pioneering philanthropist, the hospital was donated to more..

Feb 24 (EN) A committee of investors who say they now hold 50 percent of a sovereign guaranteed bond issued by SriLankan Airlines which is in default have hired the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld, a media report said. The ad hoc committee was formed to find “a fair and sustainable solution for holders,” Bloomberg Newswires reported quoting a statement by the law firm. The 175 million dollar bond was issued in 2019, rolling over a previously issued 5-year security. more..

Feb 24 (AD) Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha, says he has issued an order for the immediate arrest of all deserters from the security forces. Responding to a journalist’s inquiry about reports that army soldiers with weapons training were involved in a significant number of recent crimes, the Defense Secretary highlighted the Ministry’s concern over the issue. more..

Feb 24 (TM) Two sub-committees were appointed by the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Youth Affairs and Sports of the Parliament, to promote sports and youth activities in the country. Accordingly, members of the committee, MPs, Nilanthi Kottahachchi, Ruwan Mapalagama, Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran, and Hiruni Wijesinghe, were appointed as members of the Sub-Committee on Sports. Members of the committee, MPs Lasith Bhashana Gamage, more..

Feb 24 (AD) Supreme Court has fixed for hearing the nine Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions challenging the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the IGP. The petitions seek a ruling declaring that the manner in which Tennakoon, who previously served as the Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province, was appointed as the IGP is unconstitutional. The case was taken up before a five-member Supreme Court bench today, consisting of Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, more..

Feb 25 (DM) Exactly a month ago, on Jan 28 we editorially discussed some aspects pertaining to the ongoing crimes in the country while pointing out that minimising crimes should be one of the top most priorities of the govt’s Clean Sri Lanka programme. It is a well-known fact that crimes involving the underworld has not been an isolated phenomenon. It has been a blend of illegal drug business, proliferation of arms and political patronage. This is not a recent phenomenon. more..

Feb 25 (DM) In a significant shift, the JVP has abandoned its ideological rigidities and embraced a more pragmatic approach, acknowledging the complexities of the country’s current politico-economic realities. This transformation is particularly evident when comparing the economic principles underpinning Budget 2025 with the positions outlined in the JVP’s Revolutionary Policy Declaration. The ideological gap between the two is stark, highlighting the party’s willingness to more..

Feb 25 (DM) Amitabh Kant—the key driver of Made in India, Startup India, Incredible India, and God’s Own Country—shares his views during his visit to the country. He has spearheaded the Ease of Doing Business, Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), Production-Linked Incentive Schemes (PLI), liberalisation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Private-Public Partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure & Asset Monetisation more..

Feb 25 (CT) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake assured that there is no threat to national security when responding to questions from journalists inquiring on the series of murders which took place the week before. Despite his claims of these incidents not being a threat to security and according to Prez, the result of conflict between organised crime groups, it leaves serious room for thought if the claims are accurate or made in hopes of calming a rightfully concerned and alarmed public. more..

Feb 25 (ST) Is Budget 2025 a revolutionary people-friendly budget, or a mere continuation of the IMF aligned policies of the previous govt? Govt and opposition MPs offered vastly different interpretations of NPP govt’s first full budget as the debate on Budget’s Second Reading got underway this week. Speaking in Parliament, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa compared the contents of Budget 2025 with those of the NPP’s election manifesto A thriving nation, a beautiful life. more..

Feb 25 (TM) With 43 MPs claiming approximately Rs. 1.2 billion in total as compensation payments for property damaged during the 2022 citizens’ uprising (Aragalaya), the spotlight has turned to their assets and declarations. Speaking in Parliament on 6 Feb, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa questioned whether those who were in power had pressured Govt officials to value their properties higher to obtain the following payouts: more..

Feb 25 (TM) Last week, for the first time following the Election of the present Govt, the public questioned the Govt’s ability to establish the rule of law as it had promised and whether the country has returned to the era where suspects were nonchalantly killed when they allegedly tried to attack Police officers when taken to show hidden weapons. These concerns relate to the deaths of the two assailants in the case of the recent murder in Kotahena, where a man was shot to death. more..

Feb 25 (CT) Sri Lankans are witnessing a series of neo-burlesque theatrical dramas satirizing and rationalizing the maiden budget presented a few days ago to parliament by the AKD govt. While the expectations were high, fueled by hopes for a drastic system change as professed, what transpired was yet another anticlimax -reminiscent of previous budgets that failed to bring about any meaningful transformation. The rationalizations, often presented in modest public forums, more..

Feb 25 (FT) Lanka Communication Services Ltd has partnered Connex Information Technologies Ltd via a MoU, to officially introduce the SonicWall Managed Services Provider (MSP) in SL. MoU was ceremoniously signed at the Hilton Colombo Residencies, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of the country’s cyber security landscape. The event was also graced by SonicWall South India, SL and Maldives Regional Manager Suresh Khanna & Principal Solutions more..

Feb 25 (Island) Prez Donald Trump in the US is showing how, in a democratic polity, the winner of the people’s mandate can become an unstoppable extreme force. Critics of the NPP govt frequently jibe at the govt’s economic policy as being a mere continuation of the essential features of the economic policy of former president, Ranil Wickremesinghe. The criticism is that despite the resounding electoral mandates it received, the govt is following IMF prescriptions negotiated by more..

Feb 25 (FT) John Keells Group Corporate Finance and Group Tax Head Nisreen Rehmanjee last week said the Govt’s embrace of digitalisation is a step in the right direction, but not a silver bullet. Speaking at a panel discussion organised by the CA SL, she opined that digitalisation alone would not solve the country’s tax challenges. “Good governance and transparency are just as important,” she said, more..

Feb 25 (Island) JVP-led NPP govt, to give credit where credit is due, has already set two examples worthy of emulation. It had Speaker Asoka Ranwala step down when he failed to prove his claim that he had a doctorate. It has also had the courage to take exception to some degrading remarks Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage made about SJB MP Rohini Wijerathna last week. Chief Govt Whip Nalinda Jayatissa promptly requested the Chair to expunge the offensive words from the Hansard when more..

Feb 25 (SO) Wrestling is a sport of strength, speed and strategy. But for Netmi Ahinsa it is also about heart. The young wrestler, who made history with a world bronze medal, has now set her sights on a bigger prize. Before dawn broke on Wednesday, Ahinsa boarded a flight to the US, ready to push her limits at an intense one-month training camp. This is her final preparation for the Asian Wrestling Championship in Jordan, where she hopes to prove that her success is no flash in the pan. more..

Feb 25 (FT) Employers’ Symposium 2025 organised by the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) which is a much looked forward to event among the EFC’s member-companies and other business stakeholders, will take place on 28 Feb at the Monarch Imperial. This year’s edition will unfold under the banner, Traversing turbulence – Fuelling enterprises for success. The esteemed panellists drawn from diverse business sectors will deliberate on key issues pertaining to this theme under more..

Feb 25 (ST) Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), has lost its first-class status after being relegated from the SLC Major League. However, Samantha Dodanwela, the club’s Chairman of the Cricket House Committee and the Chairman of the Tournament Committee of SLC, remains steadfast that the century-old team will stage a strong comeback— not just any comeback, but a formidable one. SSC recently celebrated its 125th anniversary, and demotion comes as a shock more..

Feb 25 (ST) The National Police Commission (NPC) and the Acting IGP Weerasooriya have locked horns over the transfer of Officers in Charge (OIC) of police stations, with the dispute reaching the Constitutional Council (CC). Acting Police Chief Weerasoorirya had written to the NPC this week requesting that he be delegated the responsibility of making the OIC appointments, but the NPC had replied rejecting the request more..

Feb 25 (DN) The 26th edition of the Guwan Hamuda Papadi Sawariya 2025 is set to take place in conjunction with the 74th Anniversary Celebrations of SL Air Force. Organised by the Air force Cycling Federation under the guidance of Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe the 4 Comander of the SL Air Force, the prestigious event will feature both Men’s and Women’s races. The men’s Race will unfold over three stages across three days, while women’s race will be a one day event. more..

Feb 25 (FT) Hatton National Bank (HNB) said it has posted robust overall performance in the year 2024, demonstrating marked improvement on all fronts. Group Profit After Tax (PAT) improved to Rs. 44.8 billion in 2024, up from Rs. 23.6 billion in 2023 while the bank’s PAT increased to Rs. 41.3 billion, compared to Rs. 20.3 billion in the previous year. Commenting on the performance in 2024, HNB PLC Chairman Nihal Jayawardena stated, “With the improving economic landscape in 2024 more..

Feb 25 (Island) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has said the govt’s failure to take action against those responsible for extra-judicial killings has led to allegations of a culture impunity. The BASL has emphasised the need for the police to take all necessary action against officers who are responsible for custodial deaths and extra-judicial killings. The text of the statement issued: “On 19th Feb, a suspect was shot dead inside more..

Feb 25 (FT) SL’s tourism sector continues its strong momentum in 2025, with over 175,000 tourists arriving in the first 20 days of February, marking a 15% growth compared to the same period last year. According to the latest data, 175,436 tourists visited SL between 1 and 20 Feb, bringing the year-to-date (YTD) total to 428,197 arrivals, marking a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 19%. The first week of February saw a total of 61,667 visitors, followed by 63,164 tourists in the second week, more..

Feb 25 (DM) Senior journalist Chandana Sooriyabandara has been appointed as the Media Advisor to the President. Meanwhile, Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachch, a veteran journalist, has been appointed as the Director of International Media and Strategic Communications under the President’s Media Division. Both officials received their letters of appointment this afternoon from the Secretary to the Prez Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat. more..

Feb 25 (Island) Barista, one of SL’s most prominent coffee brands, is on a mission to make coffee a staple in every Sri Lankan’s life, says its CEO Dilupa Pathirana. Pathirana outlined the company’s plans to continue its rapid expansion, bringing the coffee culture to every city across the island. “We want to make coffee a social, accessible beverage that fits into every part of life, said Pathirana. “Whether you’re studying, working, meeting a friend, or just relaxing, we want coffee to be there. more..

Feb 25 (DN) SL National Rifle Association is set to host National Rifle Championship from March 6 to 8 at the iconic Pooneryn Naval Shooting Range in the Jaffna Peninsula. The 3-day national event, held as part of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) competition, will feature 216 shooters from SL and overseas, and is officially recognised on the International Rifle Shooting Calendar. This will be the first time in six years that the National Rifle C'ship is being held, more..

Feb 25 (FT) When analysing the solutions that the 2025 Budget should provide for the country, it is crucial to examine the mandate given to implement such a Budget and how that mandate has been executed. The policy framework presented to secure the mandate was A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life and Country to Anura. We must assess how much of these policy features are reflected in the 2025 Budget. more..

Feb 25 (DM) SriLankan Airlines reported a pre-tax loss of Rs.1.96 billion for the seven months ended October 2024, reversing a profit of Rs.4.13 billion in the same period last year, the Finance Ministry said. The ministry attributed the downturn to a 14.9% decline in net traffic revenue, which fell to Rs.152.32 billion, from Rs.178.82 billion a year earlier. The govt, which previously sought to restructure and privatise the state-owned airline, said it would explore alternative models to more..

Feb 25 (ST) The pause in US foreign assistance is affecting many important programmes in Sri Lanka, including ones critical to advancing food security, economic reforms, democratic governance, anti-corruption, border security, and orderly migration management, according to Marc-André Franche, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka. He said these programmes were being carried out with the support of civil society, the private sector and development partners. more..

Feb 25 (ST) SL’s tea industry is once again in a quandary as to how the govt arrived at a decision to propose a Rs. 1750 wage for estate workers when they there was no discussions, so far with relevant stakeholders. Galle and Kalutara Tea Smallholders Association President Ushan Samarasinghe said that this matter should have ideally been discussed with all stakeholder prior to arriving at a decision in this regard. He noted that when queried from other stakeholder associations it was found that more..

Feb 25 (DM) It is likely that a large number of SJB MPs will form an alliance with the UNP leaving out SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, former MP Rajitha Senaratne said. "There are many SJBers who want to form an alliance with the UNP and they are likely to abandon SJB leader and join the alliance," he said. "It looks like Premadasa is not interested in an alliance. It seems that he is not willing to bury hachets," Dr. Senaratne added. In response to this, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma more..