Dec 26 (Island) The majority of cases filed by the CIABOC had been withdrawn primarily on technical grounds, mainly the absence of sanction of all three commissioners, those familiar with the process told The Island. In terms of the previous bribery Act, the sanction of all commissioners was a must, sources said. Act made written sanction of three commissioners compulsory before an indictment was drafted, more..

Dec 26 (DN) “Today an atmosphere has arisen in which humanity is measured by selfish human yardsticks such as wealth, power, social status and contribution to the production economy, which do not consider spiritual values,” said Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, participating as the chief celebrant at the Christmas Midnight Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Ja Ela, on Tuesday. He said that the people spend their lives without any goal, meaning or freedom. more..

Dec 26 (AD) SL Police says legal action has been taken against a total of 8,747 motorists for violating traffic laws, including 251 individuals driving under the influence of liquor, during the last 24 hours. In accordance with instructions from the Acting IGP, the special island-wide traffic operation aimed at reducing road accidents will continue throughout the festive season. SSP Buddika Manathunga said that no fatal accidents have occurred in the island within the last 24 hours. more..

Dec 26 (DM) Making a fresh approach towards the stagnating tax issue of staggering Rs.5.8 billion defaulted by the local liquor giant W. M. Mendis and Co. Ltd. the newly appointed Excise Chief has proposed a way-out to settle 50% of the arrears to reactivate its suspended production licence. Termed as the most practical means to regain massive tax arrears to the state coffers and also to safeguard livelihoods of 600 more..

Dec 26 (DN) Excise Commissioner General Udaya Kumara Perera has notified the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to submit a report on licensed excise permit holders who have paid taxes for the year 2025. With approximately 2,000 permits set for renewal next year, the Commissioner General has requested details of both taxpayers and defaulters to ensure a streamlined process. According to Commissioner General, IRD has already forwarded 1,636 applications for permit renewals, more..

Dec 26 (CT) The 20th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami will be commemorated across Sri Lanka today (26) on the theme National Safety Day – Jathika Surakshitha Dinaya, according to Pradeep Kodippili, Assistant Director of Media and Public Relations at the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The commemoration events will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Kodippili stated that the main event has been organised at the DMC Head Office, with Dy Minister of Defence, more..

Dec 26 (DM) There will be a definite salary increase for govt sector employees, including teachers, by next year, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando said. He said that the full details of the salary increments will be included in the 2025 budget proposals. "We are working to increase the salaries of state employees not for political gain, but because everyone knows that people are facing significant hardships with the current economic situation in the country. more..

Dec 26 (Island) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited the Chinese Navy hospital ship Peace Ark at the Port of Colombo Tuesday. Chinese Ambassador to SL Qi Zhenhong and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri too were present. The Peace Ark arrived at the Port of Colombo on 21 December and will provide free medical examinations and treatment services to the people of Sri Lanka from 22 Dec to 27 Dec. During her visit, PM commended the humanitarian efforts more..

Dec 26 (DM) Pastor Jerome Fernando recently shared a nostalgic Facebook post recalling the role of the Cardinal brand in his childhood Christmas traditions. He fondly remembered how his mother would use the Cardinal brand to give their home floors a gleaming shine during the Christmas season. He even admitted to hopping onto his mother’s cleaning brush as she scrubbed, turning her hard work into a playful joyride until more..

Dec 26 (Island) Close on the heels of the conclusion of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s three-day official (Dec. 15-17) visit to New Delhi, the Indian High Commission here announced the planned visits by Indian Coast Guard vessels OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) Vaibhav and FPV (Fast Patrol Vessel) Abhiraj to Colombo and Galle, respectively. According to an Indian HC press release, dated Dec. 20, OPV Vaibhav would be here from Dec. 23 to 27 and FPV Abhiraj from Dec. 29 to Jan 2, 2025. more..

Dec 26 (AD) A group of suspects who broke into more than 21 houses and jewellery shops in various parts of the island and stole valuables and property including cash, gold items, mobile phones, etc. worth millions of rupees have been arrested by the Galaha Police in Kandy. The suspects have been identified as residents of the Jaffna area, aged 19, 21, 22, 23 and 26. It has been revealed that this group had been involved in breaking into houses, temples and jewellery shops in Jaffna, Vavuniya, more..

Dec 26 (EN) SL has received 2,234 tourists from Israel in the 52 days from Nov 1, despite threats over possible attack on a Eastern coastal tourism hotspot where more Israeli tourists gather. The number of tourists from Israel has increased to 24,147 as of Dec 22, compared to 21,913 at the end of Oct 31, the latest weekly tourism data showed. The island nation saw 19,517 Israeli tourists last year. Israel on October 23 asked its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Sri Lanka, more..

Dec 26 (DN) WSO2 Founder and CEO Sanjiva Weerawarana called for radical reforms to modernize SL’s financial system, proposing a cap on cash transactions at Rs 2.5 lakhs and the demonetization of the Rs 5,000 note. Speaking at a CB lecture on Unleashing the Digital Economy in SL, Weerawarana emphasized the urgent need to accelerate digital adoption to foster economic growth and improve transparency. Weerawarana himself was solicited for a cash payment when more..

Dec 26 (TM) Govt is planning to transform SL Postal Dept into a more innovative and efficient service by using modern technology, said Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. The minister made these remarks during a recent visit to SL Postal Dept headquarters. The visit was aimed at reviewing the department’s current services and its future plans. He also met trade union representatives to discuss their professional concerns at a meeting more..

Dec 26 (AD) PM Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, in her Christmas message, emphasized the essence of the season as a time for togetherness, gratitude, and peace. She highlighted the importance of family and community bonds during this period of national transition, stating that “Coming together, sharing meals, and supporting one another strengthens not only our bonds but also our resilience. These moments remind us that building a healthy community; a strong nation begins at home.” more..

Dec 26 (AD) Former President of SLPP Education Services Union, Wasantha Handapangoda, has passed away. Reports indicate that she succumbed to a sudden illness. She had been hospitalized while visiting her daughter in England recently, where she had been receiving treatment for two days before her death. Handapangoda was a teacher by profession and had gained considerable attention in society following the violent incidents that took place during Galle Face protests on May 9, 2022. more..

Dec 26 (EN) The cost of key ingredients for making SL’s Christmas cake, fell 7.3% in 2024 amid deflationary policy and currency appreciation followed by the central bank under Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, retail price data show. The difference in the cost of ingredients from 2022, when deflationary policy started showing up in the balance of payments and Nov 2024 was only 0.8%. The widely watched Colombo Consumer Price more..

Dec 26 (DM) SLPP had decided to go to court over reducing the strength of security provided to former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa. National Executive Member of the SLPP Attorney at Law Ravindra Jayasinghe said that if the strength of police officers was reduced as a requirement of service, it could have been justified, but reducing the security force personnel as a matter of economy was not acceptable. “The statement of NPP MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi’s statement as a lawyer was more..

Dec 26 (DN) An Eighteen member squad has been selected to represent the over 50 SL Cricket team for the upcoming World Cup tournament, organised by the Lanka Masters Cricket Association, which will be held in Sri-Lanka from the 09th to the 23rd of February 2025. Shane Fernando has been appointed to lead the over 50 Sri-Lanka team with Ruvin Peiris being appointed as his deputy. Suwanji Madanayake who showcased his talents as one of the finest all rounders in recently concluded more..

Dec 26 (DN) SL’s rugby team is set for a defining moment as they face Malaysia in a one-off playoff match on April 19, 2025, at Johor Rugby Stadium, Malaysia. The match will determine which team secures promotion to the prestigious top-tier Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship (AREMC) and keeps their hopes alive for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Asia rugby announced. Sri Lanka earned this opportunity after a stellar performance in the 2024 Asia Rugby competition, winning Division 1 more..

Dec 26 (Island) Power not only corrupts but also makes the wielders thereof cherish the delusion that popular mandates are cartes blanches for them to do as they please and be above the law. This fact has been borne out by the despicable manner in which the President’s Fund has been misused, if not abused, under successive governments. Thankfully, the President’s Fund is now under the microscope, and numerous questionable fund allocations have already come to light. more..

Dec 26 (ST) “I felt utterly betrayed by the ocean—it gave me palpitations just to look at it, which felt wrong, as though a lifelong friend, integral to my identity, had suddenly turned on me and taken almost everything I had,” says tsunami survivor Shamali Dickumburage. On Thursday, a week away from the 20th anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami, that left a trail of death and destruction, the Sunday Times visited the southern coast to more..

Dec 26 (Island) The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, also known as the Boxing Day tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra on 26 Dec, 2004, had a catastrophic impact on SL. It is estimated to have released energy equivalent to 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs, wiping out hundreds of communities in minutes. The tsunami struck SL’s eastern and southern coasts approximately two hours after the earthquake. The eastern shores, facing the earthquake’s more..

Dec 26 (DM) Stressing the need to resolve issues in the supply of medicines soon, Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA), State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) and Medical Supplies Division (MSD) must take the responsibility of providing quality medicines to the people continuously. Minister said the four institutions - NMRA,SPC, SPMC & MSD more..

Dec 26 (ST) Many decades ago during the mid-1980s, when Ronnie de Mel was Finance Minister — in fact he probably broke a record for being the longest serving Finance Minister in any govt here or overseas — he used to have his customary briefings for the media. But he also had his own rules, often frowned on mostly by senior journalists. He starts off a briefing……giving the headline of the story and the first para. Now write it that way, he would say much to the chagrin of senior writers but more..

Dec 26 (GV) Christianity gained popularity in SL following the arrival of European invaders and became a widely practiced religion over time. The Nestorian crosses discovered during archaeological excavations in Anuradhapura, which was a prominent commercial city in the past, serve as evidence of the arrival of Christian traders. However, Christianity was not widespread in the country at that time; it took root with the arrival of the Portuguese. In recent decades, numerous Christian fathers more..

Dec 26 (TM) Vehicle congestion at national parks, particularly in SL’s popular parks such as Yala, has become a growing concern with no concrete solution in sight despite numerous discussions. This issue not only affects the experience of visitors but also poses significant threats to wildlife and the natural environment. As the number of vehicles entering these parks continues to increase, so does the pressure more..

Dec 26 (CT) The recent tragedy near the Anuradhapura New Town Railway Station is a harrowing reminder of how fleeting human life can be when overshadowed by a moment’s lapse in judgment. A 38-year-old mother and her 18-year-old daughter lost their lives in an incident that defies comprehension. Their young son, a witness to this horrific event, now carries scars both visible and invisible. This incident, as senseless as it is devastating, serves as a stark metaphor for more..

Dec 26 (GV) Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Palestine, during a time of colonization and political and economic oppression by Roman imperialism. Those who dared to call for freedom and justice were brutally crushed. Some were thrown to the lions or crucified in public. This was to instill fear and prevent further uprisings. Jesus’s mother, Mary, was a young unwedded girl who was courageous to have said yes to God’s call to carry baby Jesus in her womb as part of God’s revolutionary plan more..

Dec 26 (AP) Pulled from the mud as an infant after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and reunited with his parents following an emotional court battle, the boy once known as Baby 81 is now a 20-year-old dreaming of higher education. Jayarasa Abilash’s story symbolized that of the families torn apart by one of the worst natural calamities in modern history, but it also offered hope. More than 35,000 people in SL were killed, more..

Dec 26 (CT) Losers are many and winners few. That is the macro verdict of the year 2024. In an Election Year, one expects to close the year with a net positive. However, the human condition deems it absolutely essential that whoever wins or loses, the country at large and her people remain, if not winners, at least recipients of a draw. SL is fortunate. She has done no harm to its exploiters. She has been patiently waiting for the D-Day. And when it arrived, they showed the entire world, more..

Dec 26 (TM) Two decades ago, on 26 December 2004, Sri Lanka was struck by a devastating tsunami that left death, destruction, and heartbreak in its wake. The Tsunami, which registered a magnitude of 9.1, struck off the coast of Sumatra Island, Indonesia on a Sunday morning. About 20 minutes after the shock, Indonesia’s Province of Banda Aceh, which was closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, was devastated by massive 100-foot waves, claiming the lives of more than 100,000. more..