Jan 19 (TM) As the Maha harvesting season commences in parts of SL, farmers are grappling with concerns over whether the rice yield will be sufficient to ease the current market shortages. While the ongoing harvest may temporarily alleviate scarcity, farmers warn that the supply could fall short of meeting demand, with fears of another shortage looming by April. Farmers attribute the uncertainty to significant crop damage caused by floods more..

Jan 19 (Island) There is an abundance of historical data available on the extent of land cultivation and the amount of paddy harvested based on well-established yields per unit area. Separate sets of statistics cover the Maha and the Yala seasons. The amount of rice produced is estimated to be about two thirds of cultivated paddy by weight. Paddy cultivation as well as rice production and consumption statistics are also available in an impressively disaggregate format, including more..

Jan 19 (SO) Former SL women’s rugby winger Charani Liyanage will storm into the history books today as the first female to referee a men’s match when she takes charge of the whistle at the inter club League game between Kandy SC and Navy SC at the Nittawela stadium. The only sport that Charani knew was track and field as a sprinter for St. Anthony’s College at Dematagoda in Colombo and is now considered the pin-up girl for as many as 30 budding female referees in fast developing more..

Jan 19 (ST) My dear Harshana, I am writing to you because you seem to have somehow stolen the limelight this week by presenting an award to a former prison official who was convicted of murder and later acquitted by the highest court in the land. For many, this was more interesting than even Anura sahodaraya’s visit to China! You can say you did nothing wrong and there is no need to make such a fuss about this. Legally, you did nothing wrong. In fact, you presented the award not more..

Jan 19 (ST) China spared no efforts to roll out the red carpet for Prez A.K. Dissanayake’s state visit this week. Notwithstanding all the optics of the overwhelming hospitality, little of the substance of the official talks has come out into the public domain. There is, for instance, still no clarity regarding all the MoUs that were signed or the details of the additional meetings that were held. The Joint Statement (JS) envelops SL within the multiple folds of China’s global outlook, more..

Jan 19 (ST) Govt’s move to lease out the presidential bungalows and ministerial residences to the private sector has raised concerns due to the historic value of these buildings. The govt says a committee has been appointed to evaluate which properties should be handed over to private developers, but questions have been raised over how prudent such a move is. Former MP Charitha Herath is among those who raised concerns more..

Jan 19 (CT) The recent revelation by Minister Chandana Abeyratne, regarding the shortage of over 3,000 Grama Niladhari officers in the country is a matter of grave concern. This shortage, which has led to delays in essential administrative tasks such as voter registration and census data collection, highlights the critical role these officers play in the daily functioning of the nation. Grama Niladhari, as the smallest administrative unit, is entrusted with managing local governance and more..

Jan 19 (TM) While Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake was absorbing the lavish red-carpet welcome extended to him by the People’s Republic of China as he embarked on a four-day visit to the country last week, domestic developments of the political kind appeared to have been weighing heavily on his mind. Just a couple of days before his departure to China, Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) endured multiple, humiliating losses at the Cooperative Society Elections held recently. more..

Jan 19 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his NPP Govt is currently facing a mix of victories and defeats in its governance path. While AKD concluded a successful visit to China, his Govt is trying to put out many fires in the country while trying to balance State finances and ease the burdens shouldered by the masses. AKD’s first official visit to China as Prez was undoubtedly the most successful one out of the visits more..

Jan 19 (CT) The introduction by the NPP govt of the Clean Sri Lanka campaign has been hailed as a fulfilment of an election promise. However, doubts have also arisen whether this project is sincere or merely a cosmetic stunt. Further, that this was just a gimmick to deflect attention away from their major undertaking, to punish fraudsters, and to bring back the loot stashed away in safe havens. The explanation by AKD, that they do not wish to be hasty, but prefer to gather reliable data more..

Jan 19 (SO) If historical accounts are accurate – and there is no reason to dismiss the writings of Fa Hien, Admiral Zheng He and other Chinese explorers – the friendship between SL and China goes back centuries. Chinese coins have been discovered in several places in SL, which proves that the two countries were trading partners since ancient times, probably through the Maritime Silk Route. Newly Independent SL (then known as Ceylon) was one of the first countries in Asia to formally more..

Jan 18 (FT) In a long-awaited move, Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) announced an average 20% reduction in electricity tariffs for all categories for the first six months of the year, effective from today. The decision follows the third delayed tariff revision of 2024 and was finalised after extensive public consultations and a detailed review of proposals from the CEB, reflecting adjustments in operational efficiencies and more..

Jan 18 (CT) Amid claims of confusion over the NPP Govt being assured of a USD 3.7 billion oil refinery project while the UNP secured a USD 4.5 billion deal for the same project, the UNP clarified the historical and factual context surrounding the Hambantota Refinery. UNP explained that the USD 4.5 billion agreement came about after the ambitious project with Silver Park International was terminated by late 2023 due to construction delays. Subsequently, in Nov 2023, a new USD 4.5 billion deal was more..

Jan 18 (FT) Greenpeace South Asia has commended the SL Cabinet of Ministers’ approval for the proposal made by the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister to sign the Agreement on Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). This landmark decision represents a pivotal step towards addressing the escalating threats facing our oceans due to unregulated human activities in international waters. Greenpeace South Asia Campaigner more..

Jan 18 (EN) SL’s manufacturing and services sectors continued to expand in December, with wholesale and retail trade business activities posting a strong growth during the festive season and the peak of tourist season, according to a Purchasing Managers’ Index. PMI – Manufacturing recorded an index value of 57.2 in Dec 2024, indicating a further expansion in manufacturing activities. All sub-indices, except employment, contributed more..

Jan 18 (Island) Agricultural experts have expressed concern about the got’s decision to release rice stocks purchased and stored at lower prices to the market as such action could lead to a significant drop in rice prices during the 2024/25 Maha harvesting season. Professor Buddhi Marambe, from Dept of Crop Science at Faculty of Agriculture, Uni of Peradeniya, has criticised the move, noting the govt’s earlier claims that previous administrations had failed to store even a grain of rice. more..

Jan 18 (AD) The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has seized Rs. 283 million in currency notes, marking the largest amount of cash ever confiscated from a drug trafficker in SL. According to police, the money allegedly belongs to a suspect who is currently in prison, and that he has been orchestrating drug operations from inside the prison. The funds were recovered from a residence in Kurunegala during a search operation. Additionally, officers seized 18 grams of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine), more..

Jan 18 (DN) SLIIT hosted its second annual SciFest recently, celebrating the groundbreaking innovations of young minds from schools nationwide. Organised by the Department of Applied Sciences of the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, this year’s event featured Professor Ruchira Cumaranatunga from Uni of Ruhuna as the distinguished guest. SciFest 2024 introduced a new element, Young Innovators Competition, complementing its traditional quiz competition. more..

Jan 18 (FT) Second edition of the HSBC Ceylon Literary and Arts Festival commenced yesterday at the Colombo Public Library with a vibrant cultural dance performance by the senior dance troupe of Bishop’s College, Colombo. The event continued with a brief 5-minute opening address by the newly appointed Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof. In his speech, Governor praised the organisers for hosting such events in the province, emphasising their significant role in enhancing more..

Jan 18 (ST) Amutha, her husband, and two teenage daughters lived in a tiny studio in Narahenpita until 2021, when the city informed them their home would be demolished due to illegal settlement. Facing the unknown of when the bulldozer might show up and already struggling to raise a family in such cramped quarters, Amutha decided to move. Now in Mount Lavinia, she pays Rs. 20,000 for a two-bedroom house. more..

Jan 18 (AD) President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has arrived in the island, a short while ago, following the conclusion of his four-day state visit to China. On the final day of his visit, Prez Disanayake held a meeting this morning with Wang Xiaohui, the Secretary of the Communist Party of China for the Sichuan Province. Subsequently, the President toured the Dongfang Electric Corporation located in the Chengdu City, the capital city of the province of Sichuan. more..

Jan 18 (FT) Colombo stock market yesterday sustained its upward momentum closing the week positively. ASPI gained by 0.26% and the S&P SL20 by 0.28% boosting the improvement for the week by 2.1% and 2.6% respectively. Turnover yesterday was Rs. 5.4 billion higher than the week’s average of Rs. 4.96 billion and involved 199 million shares. The bourse experienced a day of positive sentiment and increased momentum, contrasting with the volatile sentiment experienced during the day. more..

Jan 18 (SO) Officials of the SL Customs said that 60 percent of the containers subjected to random checks under the new clearance process in the Colombo harbour were found to have been imported in violation of Customs laws and regulations. Customs processes around 2,000 containers daily for clearance. As part of the enhanced procedure, nearly 600 containers are now subjected to rigorous checks daily. While the new system has led to some delays, Customs officials have assured that more..

Jan 18 (Island) Unilever SL has unveiled a state-of-the-art rooftop solar power system at its food factory and Distribution Center in Sapugaskanda. This project represents another step towards Unilever’s aim to convert to 100% renewable energy sources across its sites globally. Project combines 1,672 solar panels from the two facilities to produce a total of 970kW, with an 810Kva inverter to support it. This system is anticipated to generate an outstanding 1.25 million kWh of electricity annually, more..

Jan 18 (FT) SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna yesterday while commending Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake for seeking assistance from foreign countries to develop Sri Lanka urged him to revisit his own statements which highly criticised China for making the country a Chinese colony by putting it in a debt trap. “As a political party in the Opposition SJB, we are happy about his new stance and we are supporting the Govt,” more..

Jan 18 (DN) Union Assurance has taken a significant step in empowering the nation’s future business leaders by signing a MoU with the Faculty of Management Studies at the Uni of Sabaragamuwa. This partnership builds on its collaborations with leading academic institutions, including the Uni of Wayamba, Uni of Sri J'pura and the Uni of Kelaniya, reaffirming Union Assurance’s commitment to nurturing Sri Lanka’s youth and preparing them for the evolving business landscape. more..

Jan 18 (FT) A session on Driving Growth in Value-Added Export Manufacturing at the SL Economic Summit (SLES) will address key challenges to enhancing SL’s value-added export manufacturing, and examine how the country can strengthen its integration into global and regional value chains. Conducted under the theme Shaping SL’s Future: Transformational Growth Rooted in Sound Economic Policies, the SLES will be held on 28 and 29 January at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo. more..

Jan 18 (CT) Domestic tourism in SL is facing challenges, as several small-category aircraft (four-seaters) remain grounded, reportedly due to negligence and unqualified inspectors. Concerns about this issue have been repeatedly raised with Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) over the past few years, urging improvements in facilities and oversight. President of the Aircraft Owners’ & Operators’ Association (AOAOA), more..

Jan 18 (DN) Kusal Mendis returned to domestic cricket after the New Zealand tour, scoring 123 for SSC against CCC, while Colts CC all-rounder Dhananjaya Lakshan hit 104 against Panadura SC on the first day of the Major-Club Three-Day Cricket Tournament played yesterday. Mendis, coming in at number 6, scored 123 off 158 balls with 11 fours, guiding SSC to a formidable total of 304/7 at the close of play at SSC grounds. Meanwhile, Colts CC were struggling at 66/4 at one stage, more..

Jan 18 (CT) As the ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup 2025 approaches in Malaysia, one team that has quietly garnered attention is Manudi Nanayakkara-led SL. Often overshadowed by cricketing powerhouses, SL U-19 women’s team is emerging as a dark horse in the tournament, with a growing sense of determination, talent, and a desire to make a significant impact on the global stage. Team has been building momentum over the past few years, with strong performances in regional more..

Jan 18 (Island) The JVP-led NPP asked for a working majority in Parliament to carry out what it called a clean-up campaign on the cards. Believing in its rhetoric, the people gave it a two-thirds majority instead. Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake asked for mops and brooms for the grand clean-up, but the people gave him a bulldozer, so to speak. They did so because they wanted to strengthen his hands to overcome challenges and obstacles, upend the existing systems and serve their interests, more..

Jan 18 (ST) I had a very good driving trainer from whom I received my training to drive motor vehicles. Those days, the most common motor car used by driving trainers was the Morris Minor from England. As there were no AC components fitted in the older cars, it was not unusual that during daytime we were sweating inside the car. The shutters were always kept opened for ventilation. “Let’s switch on AC”, my driving trainer sometimes said, while adjusting the triangular shape small shutters on either side. more..