Nov 28 (DM) Dept of Immigration and Emigration has busted a major child smuggling racket that operated between SL, Malaysia and UK and has handed over findings of a lengthy probe to the CID after examining over 20,000 child departures from Colombo. A senior detective of the Dept said that from over the 20,000 departures generated from BIA in recent months involving children under the age 16, a probe was more..

Nov 28 (FT) Sri Lanka’s Budget 2024 follows the IMF package signed in March 2023. While Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe calls it a welfare budget, it is in fact proposing severe austerity measures. This Budget is quintessentially a commercial budget serving multi-national businesses and local elite interests. It sets a neoliberal trajectory in line with int'l financial institutions, particularly the IMF and World Bank. It also reinforces the local guardians of free markets and frames it as more..

Nov 28 (AD) World-famous Australian chef Gary Mehigan, popularly known for his role as a judge on MasterChef Australia, has arrived in SL. 56-year-old Mehigan had arrived at the BIA aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight (UL 172) last night, along with his wife and manager. The award-winning chef will be in SL for one week, during which he is expected to host several workshops, and cook two dinners alongside several SL chefs on 30 Nov and 2 Dec at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo. more..

Nov 28 (DM) Govt of SL is set to borrow USD 60 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Second Integrated Road Investment Programme – Tranche 4. Funds will be allocated to address crucial works on ongoing and incomplete road sections as part of the broader Integrated Road Investment Programme, aimed at enhancing road safety and minimizing public inconvenience. The loan, provided by ADB's Concessional Ordinary Capital Resources, forms a part of more..

Nov 28 (FT) In Part I, we examined the rationale and implications of the CBSL’s prohibition from purchasing Govt securities under the new CBA. We argued that this rationale is fundamentally flawed and likely to have detrimental effects on the SL economy, especially growth & employment. In Part II we delve into the rationale and implications of the CBA making the primary objective of the CBSL the control of inflation (and stability of the financial system) and increasing its independence in more..

Nov 28 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe sacked the Sports and Irrigation Minister Roshan Ranasinghe after he continued a campaign of criticism against the Prez over the scandal involving SLC. Within hours, the portfolio of sports was transferred to the current Tourism and Lands Minister Harin Fernando, who previously served as the Sports Minister in 2018 while Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, currently serving as the Minister of Wildlife and more..

Nov 28 (TM) A multi-faceted investigation is being carried out into the much-discussed incident of covering the historic Avukana Buddha statue with a saffron robe, according to the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs. Photographs of Avukana Buddha statue covered with a saffron robe are currently being circulated on social media platforms including Facebook, and the same has led to great controversy. Minister Vidura Wickramanayaka has called for a systematic more..

Nov 28 (PMD) Minister of Economy and Planning for Saudi Arabia, Faisal Alibrahim, met with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe this afternoon (27) at the Presidential Secretariat. During the discussions, Minister Faisal Alibrahim emphasized Saudi Arabia’s keen interest in strengthening economic ties with SL across various sectors, including garments and tourism. He elucidated that his govt was focused on expanding economic relations within the region and regarded SL with significant importance. more..

Nov 28 (ST) A high-level delegation led by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and consisting of as many as 80 delegates, including Ministers Ali Sabry, Kanchana Wijesekera, Keheliya Rambukwella, Climate Change Presidential Advisor Ruwan Wijewardene, Foreign Affairs Advisor Dinouk Colombage, and four MPs, will fly to Dubai for the UN Conference of Parties (COP28) summit next week. The technical delegation will consist more..

Nov 28 (TM) Sri Lanka’s decision to charge value-added tax (VAT) from software companies might push local startups overseas, driving away foreign direct investments (FDIs) from the country, PickMe Founder and CEO Jiffry Zulfer said. He said that the IT sector – which was impacted by Covid-19 and the economic crisis – will be impacted again by the inclusion of VAT to most software companies. “We consider ourselves a software company because we provide software to our partners. more..

Nov 28 (DM) Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has decided to regulate private security firms and has requested the Defence Ministry prepare a system to this effect. Decision on regulating private security firms came up at the oversight committee meeting when members of the committee highlighted that the public is oppressed by those who get private security guards to go along with them when they travel. Senior police officers said that legally, police cannot intervene more..

Nov 28 (Island) Secretary to the Ministry of Education had sent 3,308 letters to principals of national schools asking them to admit students outside established protocols, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), Joseph Stalin, said, adding that it had been revealed in a report by the National Audit Office. Those letters were sent between 01 January 2020 and 31 May 2022, according to the National Audit Office. “Out of this, 72 percent are nominees of politicians, more..

Nov 28 (CT) Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja yesterday (27) sentenced the sister-in-law of death row inmate and drug kingpin Wele Suda, to five years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI), after she pleaded guilty, to violating Provisions contained in Sections of the Offences against the Money Laundering Act. The accused had been unable to disclose to Court, as to how a sum of Rs. 10.6 million, had come to be deposited in her bank account & how she had received that amount. more..

Nov 28 (TM) Prez and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to become the presidential candidate of a coalition led by the UNP and the party is to work on an action plan drafted by its Working Committee ahead of the next Presidential Election, said UNP General Secretary Palitha Rangebandara. Speaking to The Daily Morning following a meeting held at the party’s hq with the Prez and several other UNP senior members, more..

Nov 28 (FT) The CIABOC revealed on Friday a large-scale fraud of over Rs. 5 billion committed by suspects in connivance with officers of the Dept of Motor Traffic before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. Commission filed a “B” report, presenting a jeep before Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis, alleging that the Toyota jeep had been registered under a lorry chassis number to evade paying customs duty and taxes to the State. The bribery investigators informed the Magistrate that more..

Nov 28 (CT) A four-member SL family, who were stranded in the Gaza, safely arrived in SL on 24 Nov. Consular Affairs Division of Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilitated the repatriation of the family. Upon their arrival in Colombo, officials from the Foreign Ministry received the returning SL family. The officials from the SL Embassy in Cairo, working in coordination with the Egyptian authorities, visited the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza and received the stranded Sri Lankans. more..

Nov 28 (FT) Two renowned film conservators were in courts this week to pursue legal action to assert ownership rights for Sinhala films Thewatha (1970) and Aparadaya saha Danduwama (1973). Film conservator Tissa Nagodavithana had filed a petition before the Kaduwela Magistrate Court against Hemapriya Kandambi of Hemapriya Kandambi Cinema Museum and Archive in Kadawatha, under the Intellectual Property Act to assert ownership of the two films that were broadcast on more..

Nov 28 (Island) Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith on Sunday called on people to join forces to reject oppressive leaders to cleanse the country’s politics to enable the emergence of a new leadership. Cardinal said so addressing this year’s SIGNIS Awards ceremony held at the BMICH. He said that the govt was determined to bring in new laws in the name of regulating social media to deprive people of their right to know the truth. It is the duty of all patriotic & independent media more..

Nov 28 (Island) Top Opposition spokesman Prof. G.L. Peiris warned of a major govt offensive against the media to neutralise print and electronic media ahead of the presidential election scheduled for next year. He told a media briefing that the proposed creation of a Broadcasting Regulatory Commission for electronic media, Online Safety Bill and Commission of Inquiry headed by retired Chief Justice Priyasath Dep, more..

Nov 28 (DN) Former SL fast bowler Dhammika Prasad started new role as a coach as he commenced a very worthy programme named Fast Bowling Talent Hunt at the De Mazenod College grounds Kandana. Prasad who retired from International cricket later became a coach while he did his service first to Nepal and later he came back home to do his service for the cricket development. Fast Bowling Talent Hunt is a new concept of mine while former SL fast bowlers get together to more..

Nov 28 (FT) In a resolute commitment to catalysing SL’s vibrant start-up ecosystem, ICTA of SL proudly announces the renewal of its partnership with Brandix Apparel Limited for the second consecutive year. This strategic alliance aims to significantly bolster startups by providing essential funding and fostering their swift expansion. The primary focus is to fuel technological entrepreneurship within SL, propelling its future digital economy. Under the umbrella of the Spiralation start-up incubator, more..

Nov 28 (TM) Govt is to amend the current Atomic Energy Act with the advice of the Int'l Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to create a favourable atmosphere for the setting up of nuclear power plants in Sri Lanka, said the SL Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB). When contacted, SLAEB Chairman Prof. S.R.D. Rosa said that the prevailing rules and regulations would only allow the establishment and use of non-power applications and more..

Nov 28 (DN) Sri Lankan Chess Olympiad first ever Gold medalist Suneetha Wijesuriya obtained the title of FIDE Trainer from the Int'l Chess Federation recently and this is the first time SL chess player has obtained the FIDE Trainer title. World Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich recognized SL ten time women’s National chess champion presented the certificate to Suneetha as FIDE Trainer. Suneetha who is the person behind the success of Anatoly Karpov Chess Club more..

Nov 28 (DN) SLC's Chairman of Selectors, Pramodya Wickramasinghe reported to the Sports Ministry’s Special Investigation Unit (SMSIU) for the Prevention of Sports Offences yesterday for the second day. He was issued a summons to arrive before the Sports Ministry’s Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Sports Offences over a recent statement he had made concerning Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The first day on November 21 st while part of the investigations more..

Nov 28 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce will kick off the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2023 today evening at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo, with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe attending as the Chief Guest. The inauguration will also feature a keynote address and fireside chat with Planning Commission of India former Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Chairman of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Duminda Hulangamuwa will deliver the welcome address. Marking its 23rd consecutive year, more..

Nov 28 (ST) A new Registration and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Bill that would enable the registration and enforcement in Sri Lanka of rulings given by courts in other countries is to be submitted to Parliament in the coming weeks, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. Once the new law comes into effect, it will repeal the existing Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Ordinance and the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Ordinance. more..

Nov 28 (Roar) Susila Kanthi is one of the few active fisherwomen working in one of SL’s biggest fishing districts. After nearly 27 years in the trade, she has garnered respect and support from her community. On a largely barren land in Puttalam, Susila Kanthi’s house borders a large salt production factory on one side and vast lagoon on the other. Every Saturday evening, Kanthi (57) gathers her net & oar, setting out to fish on Puttalam lagoon. more..

Nov 28 (Island) The Nilwala Ganga has a drainage area of 1043.0 sq.km and its annual average run off to sea is estimated as 1167.0 Million Cubic Meters (mcm). The only major infrastructure facility available in the basin for flood protection is the project implemented during 1982-1988 with financial assistance from the Govt of France. This scheme provided a series of dykes with pump houses to protect the lower reaches of the Nilwala Ganga. In this scheme the unprotected area more..

Nov 28 (Island) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s plan to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to probe the affairs of the Constitutional Council (CC) has run into stiff resistance from all those who cherish democracy and are concerned about the future of this country. Speaking in Parliament, the Prez lambasted the CC for impeding the process of making appointments to high posts including those of the IGP and judges. He went so far as to accuse some CC members of sabotage more..

Nov 28 (ST) The first week of the Committee Stage debate of Budget 2024 began on Wednesday in the backdrop of unruly scenes witnessed the day before, with bad blood stemming from that incident affecting proceedings throughout the week. Before proceedings began on Wednesday, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced that he had suspended Water Supply State Minister and SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha from attending sessions for 2 weeks due to unruly behaviour previous day. more..

Nov 28 (ST) With the impending demutualisation of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), three investors from Europe have expressed interest in a strategic stake in the entity after the demutualisation process. The 15-member stockbroking firms have got a detailed report done with the help of the IFC on the demutualisation of the CSE and after the Demutualisation Act should be passed by the Parliament, after which, the CSE as a company limited by guarantee, will be converted to more..