Jan 13 (SO) Two young golfers, Jevahn Sathasivam and Kaya Daluwatte, have earned an incredible opportunity to compete in the Faldo Series Grand Final in Vietnam after winning the Faldo Series Junior Golf Tournament SL Regional Finals held at the Royal Colombo Golf Club that brought together some of the best junior golfers in SL and India. Kaya Daluwatte’s victory was one of the most impressive performances of the tournament. Not only did she win her age category (Girls 17-21), but more..

Jan 13 (DN) Sri Lanka finished the New Zealand ODI series with a superb 140 run victory in their third and final game played at Auckland. Sri Lanka recorded ODI win after nine years and it was a superb all round performance by Sri Lanka team led by Charith Asalanka. Skipper Charith Asalanka said I think it’s always great to make a comeback with this type of victory. Unfortunately, we lost first two games but the way boys played in third ODI it was a pleasure to watch. more..

Jan 13 (ST) Court of Appeal (CA) President Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna is to step down from his position, the Sunday Times learns. The decision comes in the wake of plans by the NPP Govt to move an impeachment motion against him. It is learnt that Justice Karunarathna is to submit his resignation at the end of this month. He was due to retire on June 16 this year upon reaching 63, retirement age for Appeal Court judges. more..

Jan 13 (SO) Govt is confident of completing all prior actions before the IMF board meets in February, said Senior Advisor to the Prez, Duminda Hulangamuwa. He said the enactment of two Bills and the 2025 Budget will take place before the IMF board meeting. IMF reached a staff-level agreement with the Govt on the third review in Nov 2024. IMF Executive Board is expected to meet next month for the final approval of the review of SL’s EFF arrangement which would provide SL with access to more..

Jan 13 (DM) Uni of Sri J'pura announced the appointment of its illustrious alumnus, Prof. Patrick Mendis as a distinguished visiting professor and honorary fellow in Dec 2024. A trailblazer in education, diplomacy, and leadership, Prof. Mendis serves as a presidential advisor at the US Dept of Defence and has been recognized for his global contributions to academia and public service. Born in Polonnaruwa, Prof. Mendis was educated at Uni of Sri J'pura, Uni of Minnesota & Harvard. more..

Jan 13 (AD) Police investigations into the abduction of a schoolgirl in Daulagala, Kandy, have revealed that the primary suspect is a close relative—the son of the girl’s father’s sister. Police said that the suspect abducted the girl following a disagreement over their proposed marriage. Initially, both families had consented to the union, but the girl’s father later withdrew his approval, triggering the conflict, according to police. The schoolgirl, a resident of Handessa, was abducted on more..

Jan 13 (Island) Interest rates play a pivotal role in the financial landscape, significantly impacting micro and small businesses as well as marginal borrowers. Some banks charge as high as 20% of interest from small business owners and self-employed people for loan amounts below Rs. one million, given out for a period of 2-3 years. “While this might seem like mere numbers, interest rates can profoundly impact a small business’s survival or the very endurance of own-account workers more..

Jan 13 (Island) Alleging that the CEB had sought to put off the scheduled power tariff revision, on the basis of false data and assessment provided to the PUCSL, prominent SJB trade union activist Ananda Palitha said that the PUC could grant as much as 35% reduction in rates. Power & Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament last week that electricity tariffs would not be reduced soon but govt had decided not to increase electricity more..

Jan 13 (NW) Four newly appointed Supreme Court Justices took their oaths of office before Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (12) at the Presidential Secretariat. Accordingly, Court of Appeal Justices R.M.S. Rajakaruna, Menaka Wijesundara, Sampath B. Abeykoon, and M.S.K.B. Wijeratne were sworn in as SC Justices during the ceremony presided over by the Prez. Secretary to the Prez, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, was also in attendance at this occasion. more..

Jan 13 (DM) Alcohol & Drug Information Centre (ADIC) revealed that a 20% excise tax increase on alcohol last year led to a staggering reduction of 8.3 million litres in alcohol consumption while boosting govt revenue by Rs. 11.6 billion. Welcoming the latest hike on alcohol and tobacco taxes, ADIC Executive Director Sampath de Seram said the move is a significant step toward reducing public health risks. He noted that such measures align with recommendations from WHO to discourage more..

Jan 13 (EN) Sri Lanka will reactivate a suspended tender a for a liquefied natural gas terminal to power at least two large combined cycle plants, and lower their costs, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody said. “There is a suspended tender,” Minister Jayakody told parliament. “We will reactivate it and quickly implement it.” “We have two plants in particular which are supposed to run on LNG, but is running on liquid fuel at the moment, which is more expensive.” An international competitive tender more..

Jan 13 (TM) Prof. Krishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology called on public officials to carry out their duties independently, free from any political interference stating that the Government will protect public officials from external pressures. The minister made these remarks addressing a meeting held with govt officials attached to Wattala-Mabola Urban Council. He stated that, “You should perform your responsibilities without fear or favour. Govt will not interfere with your work, more..

Jan 13 (EN) SL Customs has agreed to work 24 hours to clear a backlog of import containers at Colombo Port following discussion with Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. “To expedite the clearance process, SL Customs officers agreed to operate continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” the statement said. SL Customs officials were doing more checks on import containers, an official was shown saying on television. more..

Jan 13 (DM) The Catholic Church of Sri Lanka urged the govt to carryout a fresh probe on the bomb drama at All Saints Church Borella which took place exactly three years ago and bring the perpetrators to book. A protest was held yesterday to mark the third anniversary of the incident where a hand grenade was found inside the church on Jan 11, 2022. The caretaker of the church was arrested then in connection of this and later he was released. Church then said that he was harassed and more..

Jan 13 (TM) Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) is set to lodge complaints with law enforcement authorities tomorrow, seeking an investigation into allegations that the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) Tender Board awarded a Rs. 37 million antiseptic mouthwash tender to a blacklisted company. It is learnt that the MCPA plans to lodge complaints with the CIABOC and CID of the Police Department. MCPA President, Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa more..

Jan 13 (DM) The taxes on vehicles may increase by up to 600% in some cases and some vehicles being subject to taxes as high as 400% or 500%, Vehicle Importers Association of SL (VIASL) said. VIASL President explained that although the govt issued a gazette notification, it only mentioned the excise duty percentages imposed on vehicle imports. The final cost of a vehicle is determined after calculating more..

Jan 14 (DM) The consumers in the country are clueless on the rice crisis currently prevailing in the country since October last year. It was the first major issue President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had faced since he assumed office in late September. First the prices of rice of almost all varieties which were just around Rs. 200 before the Presidential election have risen to around Rs. 250 without any shortage in the market which compelled the govt to fix controlled prices. more..

Jan 14 (CT) Recently, there was a shortage of rice at the controlled price. In short, AKD/NPP govt did not create this situation. The past govts, basically the previous govt, were responsible for the unexpected situation because they did not work with insight and strategically to avoid a possible rice shortage in the market. However, the bankrupt opposition used the rice shortage to brutally attack the govt, as it ended the AKD/NPP regime. Fortunately, people know well about the culprits. more..

Jan 14 (TM) Suggestions to address brain drain include increasing Governmental investment in higher education, establishing clear career pathways and competitive salaries, improving national systems, putting in place reimbursement-related arrangements, and political and economic reform. These suggestions were made in a letter to the Editor of the SL Journal of Nursing on the Need for change in the current more..

Jan 14 (TM) Sri Lankans face 2025 with much scepticism and hope that it will be a key link in the road to recovery. The island nation stands at a pivotal moment, where bold and transformative reforms can lead the battered nation towards economic recovery and sustainable development. There is an urgent need for fiscal consolidation, governance improvements, and policy modernisation. By implementing reforms that foster resilience, improve transparency and more..

Jan 14 (FT) “They’re trampling on our graves with their boots,” said Kavitha, a Tamil woman, as the torrential rain lashing our faces washed away her tears. Standing barefoot and ankle-deep in mud at the site of a former cemetery in Visuvamadu, SL, she was lamenting the adjacent military base built on the graves of fallen LTTE fighters, including that of her brother. LTTE was an armed group dominant in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of SL that fought to establish an independent Tamil state more..

Jan 14 (DM) Thai Pongal or Surya Pongal means prosperity, flourishing, growth and abundance in work, business and life. It is an important religious, social, cultural and mythological festival in Hindu mythology. Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil Community, the world over. It is a festival of happiness, joy, peace and prosperity. Thai Pongal is a celebration by Hindus to thank the Sun God, more..

Jan 14 (TM) Among the important promises of the NPP Govt to the people has been to address the problem of corruption and waste. This was the centrepiece of the aragalaya protests that brought down the Govt in 2022. Govt made many other promises too when it was in the Opposition. But, unlike in the case of these other promises, such as to reduce the cost of living, the promise to reduce corruption and waste is within the power of the Govt to a greater extent than to bring down more..

Jan 14 (ST) There is an intriguing question in the air. Is the creeping self-sabotage of NPP Govt due to innate political clumsiness in power, the sycophantic antics of minions appointed to office who are characteristically unable to hold the chairs that they inhabit or a dangerous tendency to lean towards Orwellian control? Or it is perhaps an unpalatable mixture of all of this, I wonder? There is certainly a demonstrated inability on the part of the Govt to select proper person for the proper office more..

Jan 14 (Island) Health Ministry is in the news again for all the wrong reasons. It has become a metaphor for corruption. Irrefutable evidence has emerged about how politicians at the helm of it have enriched themselves over the years at the expense of the sick, cutting as they did shady deals to procure substandard equipment and pharmaceuticals including fake cancer drugs. There is a widely-held misconception in SL that only politicians are corrupt; bureaucrats, save a few, are no better. more..

Jan 14 (Island) Anura Kumara Disanayake (AKD) is the first Prez of SL not affiliated with the political duopoly of the nationalist SLFP and comprador UNP, and their offshoots which have ruled the country in turns since the 1950s. In the first elections held since the collapse of the SL economy in 2022 and its default on external debt, AKD secured 42.31% of the popular vote, while his right-wing rivals Sajith Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe secured 32.76% and 17.27% respectively. more..

Jan 14 (TM) Since the announcement by Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala in Parliament that the State coffers would save over a billion rupees by withdrawing the security provided by the tri-forces to former presidents and VIPs, questions have arisen as to the exact figures of the savings, especially by reassigning VIP security personnel to other tasks. Upon inquiring into the monies spent to more..

Jan 14 (SO) Over seventy people participated in the consultation of public opinion on electricity tariff revisions which concluded on Friday. A senior official of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) said that consultations concluded on a fairly successful note. The consultations took place with public opinion gathered from the Western Province and took place at the BMICH in Colombo. Public consultations in eight provinces have already been completed. more..

Jan 14 (AD) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has left for China this evening (13), for a four-day official state visit. Undertaken at the invitation of Chinese Prez Xi Jinping, the visit will take place from Jan 14 to Jan 17. During this visit, Prez Dissanayake is scheduled to engage in high-level discussions with Prez Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and other senior Chinese officials, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation between the two nations. more..

Jan 14 (DN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be on a State Visit to China from Jan 14 to 17, his first such visit to China after being elected Prez in September last. The visit is expected to have far reaching implications for the SL economy as well as for SL’s geopolitical positioning vis-à-vis India and China, regional powers competing for dominance over South Asia. Faced with the necessity to give India, the immediate and only neighbour, more..

Jan 14 (AD) The govt is taking significant steps to address salary disparities in the education sector and elevate five key education services, including teachers and principals, to be among the 10 highest-paid professions in the country, Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe said. Speaking at an event held in Maharagama, Deputy Minister outlined the govt’s commitment to improving remuneration and addressing long-standing salary issues in the education sector. more..

Jan 14 (ST) Seven MoUs covering, among others, investment, the power sector, fisheries, and the economy will be signed during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s four-day official visit to China beginning on Tuesday, a Cabinet Minister said. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said, in addition to the MOUs, the main topics to be taken up for discussion would include China’s support for economic recovery, aligning with its assistance for the IMF’s debt-restructuring programme. more..

Jan 14 (NW) State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) Chairman Dr. Manuj Weerasinghe, has issued a statement denying media reports claiming a recent procurement of Chlorohexidine 0.2% Mouthwash was awarded to a blacklisted supplier. According to Dr. Weerasinghe, the tender for the mouthwash was initially awarded to the lowest bidder, a company registered with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). However, it was later discovered that the supplier had been listed as more..

Jan 14 (DM) Although Hindu devotees traditionally celebrated the Thai Pongal festival during previous years by preparing Pongal rice with red rice, this year they have to celebrate it by using Korra rice or Nadu rice, Jathika Paribhogika Peramuna (JPP) president, Asela Sampath said. Addressing the media, he expressed gratitude to the renaissance government for enabling people in the country to enjoy milk rice on January 1, made possible by importing rice from India. more..

Jan 14 (TM) Minister Sunil Gamage said that a special investigation will be launched into alleged fraud and corruption linked to the construction of the Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l Stadium at Diyagama, Homagama. He made this revelation, having undertaken a recent inspection visit to the venue, to look into its current deteriorating state. He said the proposed inquiries will aim to uncover irregularities, such as exorbitant costs, more..

Jan 14 (DN) The vibrant and sacred festival of Pongal is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Tamil people across the world. It is a magnificent festival of thanksgiving and appreciation for a bountiful harvest. It is celebrated most gloriously in the farming communities across SL and India. It celebrates the joy of a rewarding harvest. The cooking transforms the gift of agriculture into nourishment for the gods and the community on a day that Tamils traditionally believe marks more..