Jan 27 (TM) Govt is considering the importation of coconut pieces required for export industries, stated the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security. This, following calls from coconut exporters for permission to address the anticipated coconut shortage. Deputy Minister R.M. Jayawardena stated that a final decision on coconut imports is yet to be made. However, he mentioned that discussions are ongoing to allow companies or exporters to import coconuts according to their requirements. more..

Jan 27 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that the govt is taking steps to strengthen the public service as a right of the citizen and a responsibility of public officials. Highlighting the dissatisfaction among citizens regarding the current public service, the Prez stated that the govt aims to deliver efficient services to citizens through the digitization of govt services. These remarks were made by Prez during more..

Jan 27 (FT) Last week, I happened to be one of the two speakers and a panellist at a public policy dialogue on the theme India, with or without hosted by the new thinktank in Colombo, Nexus Research, headed by the former Parliamentarian and university don, Professor Charitha Herath, as its current head. The other speaker was the Colombo based Law and Security Studies Centre’s Executive Director Nilanthan Niruthan. The dialogue was facilitated by former MP Karu Paranawithana and more..

Jan 27 (FT) SL’s rice industry has been at crossroads facing numerous challenges every year with production, marketing, pricing, and availability issues that have impacted not only the farmers but citizens across the nation. At these critical times the Daily FT sought the views of Professor Buddhi Marambe, a former Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Uni of Peradeniya, now attached to the Agriculture Faculty as a Senior Professor. His candid views not only diagnose the root causes more..

Jan 27 (DM) Former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in response to an inquiry about the shortage of red rice and the soaring prices of coconuts by a group of residents in Galle yesterday, said, "Let's wait and see what happens" Wickremesinghe was visiting the home of the late veteran journalist Victor Ivan at Katuhempala in Galle last morning, where he met with the late journalist's relatives and expressed his condolences. The former Prez said Victor Ivan's passing away was a massive loss, and more..

Jan 27 (DM) According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) in major urban areas across the country, a moderate level of air quality was recorded in most cities, while a good level was observed in Nuwara Eliya, the Vehicular Emission Test Trust Fund of the Dept of Motor Traffic said. They said the AQI forecast indicated that the levels would range between 60 and 118 throughout the day, suggesting slightly unhealthy air quality in Colombo 07, Jaffna, Galle, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa & A'pura more..

Jan 27 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was remanded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The decision came after a lengthy hearing presided over by Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake. Rajapaksa was released on two surety bails of Rs. 50 million each, with additional bail conditions imposed. more..

Jan 27 (AD) Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had been remanded in custody, has been granted bail after being produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court this morning (27). Accordingly, he was ordered to be released on two surety bails of Rs. 50 million each by Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Rathnayake, following an extended hearing of the facts. The Additional Magistrate, who also imposed an overseas travel ban on Rajapaksa, more..

Jan 27 (TM) SL rupee was seen as the worst performing emerging market currency by the end of fourth week of January after ranking top in 2024, data showed. Accordingly, the rupee has recorded a negative spot return of 1.72% for 2025 as of the end of 24 Jan. Other worst performing emerging market currencies were Argentine peso and Turkish lira with negative spot return of 1.46% and 0.89% respectively. Russian ruble was the top emerging market currency so far in 2025 with 16.07% more..

Jan 27 (EN) A Sri Lanka truck driver halted by officials in amid black market created by their own price controls, was shown on national television protesting he was not transporting stolen goods as threats were made to take him and the cargo to police. Consumer Affairs Authority created a black-market in red rice in particular by gazetting prices below the market clearing price, ahead of the Maha rice harvest. more..

Jan 27 (DM) The CIABOC said it has filed three cases against former Civil Aviation Minister Piyankara Jayaratna. The cases were filed before the Colombo High Court on January 8. One of the charges accuses the former Minister of causing a loss of Rs. 128,520 to the Sri Lanka Civil Aviation Authority by having 3,000 Vesak greeting cards printed at the Authority’s expense. Another charge involves a corruption offence, where Jayaratna had allegedly caused a loss of Rs. 360,000 by more..

Jan 27 (AD) SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa, the eldest son of former PreZ Mahinda Rajapaksa, challenged the govt to prove in court if either he or his brother Yoshitha Rajapaksa have committed any wrongdoing, instead of resorting to various spectacles for media. Rajapaksa accused the government of targeting his family members rather than addressing the country’s pressing issues. Speaking to the media following the court hearing involving his brother Yoshitha Rajapaksa, more..

Jan 27 (EN) Sri Lankans can view six planets of the solar system just after sunset in a rare alignment, Chandana Jayaratne, a professor at the University of Colombo, said. “This celestial parade can be best seen within 90 minutes after the sunset in these days up to January 29th and even up to mid February,” Jayaratne said. Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars are bright enough to see with the naked eye, he said, while Uranus and Neptune are visible with a telescope. more..

Jan 27 (NW) The first batch of imported salt, totalling 1,485 metric tons, arrived in Sri Lanka today, the State Trading Corporation (STC) announced. The Cabinet of Ministers had recently approved the import of 30,000 metric tons of salt. The move was to address the current shortage of salt in the local market due to challenges faced by local salterns during the recent monsoon season. As such, Cabinet approval has been granted for the import of salt from India until 28 Feb 2025. more..

Jan 27 (TM) Container Truck Drivers’ Association (CTDA) is preparing to launch a trade union action if delays in clearing imported containers are not resolved. Container Truck Owners’ Association (CTOA) President Sanath Manjula said that container truck drivers are greatly inconvenienced due to delays in clearing imported containers. “The drivers are facing a lot of hardships. There are not even basic sanitary facilities more..

Jan 27 (DM) Police arrested a 48-year-old woman over a social media post depicting a dog being hanged. The suspect, a resident of Mankulam, was arrested under Criminal Procedure Act and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, No. 13 of 1907. SSP Buddhika Manathunga said that the woman will be produced before courts, and further investigations are underway by the Mankulam Police. The arrest follows allegations by the Animal Welfare Coalition (AWC) more..

Jan 27 (DM) Adviser to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that former Governor of the Southern Province Keerthi Thennekoon has sent in a letter of demand to Minister of Plantations Samantha Vidyaratne asking him to pay Rs 100 million as damages for the alleged defamatory statements the latter had made. In the letter dated January 24, 2025, Thennekoon's lawyers had wanted the Minister to pay Rs 100 million within 14 days from the date he received the letter. more..

Jan 27 (NW) Minister Bimal Rathnayake says plans to sell the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, formulated under the former Ranil Wickremesinghe Govt, have been halted. Minister said discussions with other firms regarding the airline are underway with the intervention of new SriLankan Chair Sarath Ganegoda. He confirmed that, as of now, plans to privatize and sell shares of SriLankan Airlines have been suspended. more..

Jan 27 (AD) Air Vice Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe has been appointed as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The appointment is effective from 29 Jan 2025. The incumbent Commander of SLAF, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksha, is slated to retire from the service on Jan 29. Air Vice Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe, born on 20 June 1970 in Kandy, is a proud product of St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy. He joined the SLAF through 24th intake as more..

Jan 27 (DM) The NPP is in the process of appointing committees to play advisory and supervisory roles for each ministry, a party official said. The NPP pledged, in its election manifesto, to establish such a mechanism. Tilvin Silva, the General Secretary of the JVP which is the main force of the NPP, said that the appointment of such committees is in progress at the moment. He said these are voluntary bodies comprising experts on different subjects. Asked about the composition, he said, more..

Jan 27 (EN) SL’s Malayaha, or hill-country Tamil, community faces systemic barriers that continue to hinder their progress, UN Resident Coordinator has said. “Hill-country Tamil community exemplifies resilience, yet systemic barriers continue to hinder their progress,” Marc-André Franche said. He was speaking at the Malayaha Teachers’ Research Conference, held on 27 and 28 Jan. “This conference is a vital step toward empowering this community through education and more..

Jan 27 (DM) Authorities at SriLankan Airlines had paid the US $ 9 million (Rs.2.6 bil) a month for three years as the lease for three aircraft despite them being grounded due to lack of engine spare parts, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said. He said that one of these aircraft had now been put in use, and the remaining two would be in operation by April. The new govt had scrapped plans to privatize the airline. "It will be developed according to a business plan being worked out at the moment," more..

Jan 27 (AD) An extraordinary gazette notification has been issued in relation to the import of vehicles. This gazette extraordinary has been issued by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake according to the powers vested in him as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development today. The gazette extraordinary, issued in terms of the powers vested in the Finance Minister by Section 20 read together with more..

Jan 27 (NW) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa’s body must be preserved for public display for future generations, former Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapkshe said. Ajith Rajapkshe said Mahinda Rajapaksa was a celebrated figure of the nation for ending a 30-year civil war. He further said, as such, after his demise, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s body must be preserved for public display, such as the late Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin and Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. more..

Jan 27 (FT) Advocata Institute Chairman Murtaza Jafferjee on Friday delivered a sharp critique of the economic policies, labelling them as rigid and counterproductive. Speaking at a forum hosted by HNB Leasing titled, Sri Lanka Motor Industry: Outlook for 2025 last Friday, Jafferjee — a staunch advocate against the vehicle import ban, reiterated the rigidity of the current monetary policy that incentivises imports, but hinders the growth of domestic goods. more..

Jan 27 (AD) Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara has addressed concerns circulating on social media regarding the recent granting of bail to Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa, emphasizing that the decision was made following due legal process under the provisions of the Bail Act. Minister acknowledged public doubts about whether the current govt is mirroring the practices of more..

Jan 27 (CI) Pathum Nissanka is almost certainly out of the first Test against Australia, as he continues to recover from the groin strain he sustained during the third T20I against New Zealand, earlier this month. Nissanka is undergoing rehabilitation for the injury in Colombo, and in fact has not joined the rest of the squad in Galle, team manager Mahinda Halangoda said. Sri Lanka's team management is hoping Nissanka can be available for the second Test starting on Feb 6. more..

Jan 27 (CT) Ministry of Health has expedited plans to provide the necessary clinical training for dental students at the Uni of Sri J'pura, ensuring a timely solution to a pressing issue faced by the institution’s Faculty of Dental Sciences. At present, approximately 145 students are enrolled across four academic years in the Faculty of Dental Sciences of the Uni of Sri J'pura, which is SL’s second dental faculty. Fourth-year students, who are required to complete mandatory professorial training more..

Jan 28 (DM) Clean Sri Lanka project of the NPP govt led by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake covers every aspect of life of Sri Lankans and SL society including environment, governance and attitudes of individuals. Based on the purpose of the project only corrupt people – financially as well as morally – would oppose it. However, there seem to be conflicts among people over the priorities of the project, with every individual or group preferring the authorities to start it from where they hate most. more..

Jan 28 (CT) The question of the adequacy of security provided by the state for members of the Legislature, has appeared from time to time. The most recent repetition has been occasioned, mainly in respect of the trimming of security details assigned to various persons, as part of a drive to reduce wasteful State expenditures, including retirees and those in service. Reproduced here is an article that appeared in Island of 12 March 2023. It is broadly relevant to the current discourse. more..

Jan 28 (DM) With reports indicating the rising prevalence of joint diseases becoming a major public health concern in SL, a leading Rheumatologist expressed his thoughts regarding the increase in such diseases among the elderly and those who are susceptible to them. Dr. Himantha Atukorale is a Consultant in Rheumatology and Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Health and Convener of Young Rheumatology fraction of more..

Jan 28 (DM) The problem of recovering billions of dollars stashed away in safe havens abroad, is universal, with both developed and developing countries facing it. But govts which have made determined efforts to recover them have succeeded to an extent. The richer countries with efficient and committed administrative structures, and a goal-oriented foreign policy, have had greater successes than countries in Global South, with their structural deficiencies and political & moral infirmities. more..

Jan 28 (TM) Sri Lanka has been facing air quality reduction-related issues on and off for several decades, with authorities often limited to issuing warnings and weather updates regarding them. Yesterday, National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) warned that Air Quality Index (AQI) has dropped to slightly unhealthy levels in and around Colombo, Jaffna, Galle, Trinco, Polonnaruwa & A'pura due to the trans-boundary drifting of polluted air in the Northern region. more..

Jan 28 (SO) An uptick in shootings is spreading terror in our streets. The killings have been attributed to a turf war between rival gangs and they follow a pattern; a duo arrives on a motorcycle, the pillion rider disembarks, opens fire and gets back in the saddle and escapes. Since Jan 1, eight shootings related to underworld gangs and contract killings have taken place across the island, with the majority being reported from around Colombo more..

Jan 28 (CT) Sri Lanka’s roads have become battlegrounds, with private bus drivers leading the charge in a reckless display of lawlessness that endangers lives and undermines the promise of safe public transport. The introduction of bus priority lanes was meant to alleviate traffic congestion, streamline transportation, and encourage more commuters to rely on buses. Instead, it has exposed the glaring inadequacies of enforcement, discipline, and infrastructure in SL’s transport sector, more..

Jan 28 (GV) The discussion surrounding the potential adoption of nuclear energy by Sri Lanka has gained traction in recent months. The NPP govt has expressed support for integrating nuclear energy into the country’s long term energy strategy as a means to diversify and strengthen the nation’s energy infrastructure. However, before embracing such a significant leap, it is imperative to weigh the many complexities and challenges associated with nuclear power. more..