Jul 13 (FT) Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Singapore Senarath Dissanayake met Singapore Communications and Information Minister Josephine Teo on 1 July and exchanged views on shared common interests on the digital front, including AI. The High Commissioner briefed the Minister on the recent Fintech delegation visit to Sri Lanka to explore possible collaborative opportunities in digital public infrastructure and the proposed visit by the Press Club of Singapore. more..

Jul 13 (FT) PM Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday attended the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting held at the Jaffna Divisional Secretariat Office. He also participated in the distribution of rice and egg incubators for the low income families. In his address, PM said farmers are not Govt workers, and their service and contribution are immeasurable. “Govt is dedicated to improving the living conditions of the Jaffna Peninsula. In order to increase the living conditions, more..

Jul 13 (FT) Colombo stock market witnessed a dismal week despite indices gaining on Friday. During the week the benchmark ASPI declined by 0.9% and the active S&P SL20 by 1.5%. Average daily turnover was Rs. 627 million. Asia Securities said on Friday the indices closed the week in green with the ASPI gaining 42 points (+0.4%) and the S&P SL20 index increasing 19 points (+0.6%), supported by price increases in LOFC (+3.4%), DIPD (+2.5%), COMBN (+2.2%), more..

Jul 13 (Island) There were 1,103 road accidents in SL during the first six months of 2024, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said. There had been 1,154 fatalities. He said his Ministry has implemented various programmes to reduce the number of road accidents. National Council for Road Safety has allocated 50 million rupees to SL Police for the purchase of speed control equipment, he said, adding that the Ministry of Transport will also issue a gazette with new road speed limits within more..

Jul 13 (CT) Some 44 years ago on 11 July 1980, United Trade Union Working Committee met and demanded that a Rs 300 monthly wage increase be given immediately to public and private sector employees and they be also given an allowance of five rupees for every rising cost-of-living index and that the interdicted workers (12) be reinstated unconditionally. They also warned of launching a country-wide general strike if there was no more..

Jul 13 (EN) Sri Lanka is in the process of starting spatial mapping on all tree species in the island nation before going for carbon credit trading in the global market, Senior Prez Advisor on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene said. SL has been in the process of carbon credit for more than a decade. Carbon credit is a way of compensating for emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. If SL reduces its Carbon Dioxide emissions through efforts like reforestation and more..

Jul 13 (DN) Dinali Karunadasa of Visakha Vidyalaya captured the spotlight on the fourth day of the 49th MILO-sponsored All Island Schools Aquatic Championship at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool Complex yesterday, where seven new meet records were shattered. Karunadasa broke the Under-20 Girls 800m Freestyle meet record, clocking 10:15.93 and surpassing the previous record of 10:19.05 set by South Asian Games medalist Sandu Savindi more..

Jul 13 (ST) SL loses Rs 350 million worth of its rich fisheries resources on a daily basis in the northern territorial waters due to the entry of at least 500 illegal mechanised bottom trawlers operated by Indian fishermen, according to a Cabinet note prepared by Fisheries Ministry. Note pointed out that in recent years, the fisheries sector has faced a huge issue, especially in the northern waters, due to illegal entry by Indian trawlers. more..

Jul 13 (Island) The spotlight will fall on the Under 20 age category when the Junior National Athletics C'ship commences at Diyagama today as the four-day championship will be the final opportunity to qualify for the World Junior Championships. Six athletes have already reached entry standards for the world event to be held in Lima, Peru in August. SL Athletics has spelt out the plan to form a team for the costly tour also leaving a space for those athletes who excel in U-18 age category. more..

Jul 13 (ST) SL’s apparel trade has spent more than US$1 billion in foreign exchange to bring in intermediate goods up to May this year, compared with earnings of US$ 1.96 billion from exports. The net earnings from these exports amount to less than US$1 billion. Data from the Central Bank show that forex spending on imports of textiles and textile articles from January to May has increased by 9.4% from the year before to US$ 1.09 billion (US$ 999.9 million in Jan to May 2023). more..

Jul 13 (FT) Embassy of SL in Muscat in collaboration with the SL Business Council Initiative (SLBCI) in the Sultanate of Oman successfully organised the SL Roadshow – 2024 for the first time on a magnificent scale, under the theme of Serendib the Golden Island, promoting SL culture, tourism and trade on 5 July 2024 at the Oasis Mall, Muscat. The event was arranged with the aim of showcasing SL as a premier travel destination to attract tourists during the summer vacation in Oman more..

Jul 13 (DN) After the first and second LPL legs at Pallekele and Dambulla, we are in a good position to lead the points table, said Jaffna Kings skipper Charith Asalanka. “My batsmen and bowlers have worked hard for our success and are eager to play the third leg today at R. Premadasa Int'l Cricket Stadium.” Jaffna Kings will meet Kandy Falcons , with the match scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Jaffna Kings skipper Charith Asalanka praised the emergence of young players more..

Jul 13 (ST) The second phase of the govt’s anti-drug war, officially known as Yukthiya (Justice), got underway this week with new strategies being employed to combat narcotic-related crimes. The operation, jointly carried out by the Police, STF, and armed forces, primarily targets the Western and Southern Provinces, where the narcotic trade is more pronounced. However, the operation will also cover other regions, according to DIG more..

Jul 13 (CT) The question is on everyone’s lips: Will the Govt stick to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s public declaration not to offer pay-hikes to govt employees, come what may? Rather, can the Govt afford the risk in an election year, that too if the incumbent finally decides to throw his hat into the ring? And can the ruling SLPP MPs not belonging to the President’s traditionally anti-labour UNP especially afford it all as they too will be facing re-election blues, whoever becomes President? more..

Jul 13 (Island) US Prez Joe Biden is in the news for all the wrong reasons, ranging from his backing for Israel, which is wreaking havoc on Gaza, and his unconditional support for Ukraine, which is ruining itself by fighting a proxy war against Russia at the behest of NATO. Pressure is now mounting on him to leave the presidential race owing to a string of gaffes and other signs of memory lapses, the latest being his slip-up during a presser, where he spoke to reporters about continued NATO support for more..

Jul 13 (Island) Just a few weeks before the 2015 prez election, the late Rajavarothiam Sampanthan admitted that the annihilation of the LTTE freed his political party – the TNA – from the clutches of the ruthless Tigers. The lawyer-turned-politician wouldn’t have said so willingly under any circumstances. Never. Sampanthan, who led the alliance during a turbulent 23 years, had no option but to acknowledge the truth as the writer raised the issue at a special press conference called by TNA more..

Jul 13 (CT) Millions of stars are lightening up the skies; their solitary endeavor to brighten a moonless night is not often appreciated by many other than by those who indulge in uncommon love: exchanging whispering of infinite love, yet going thus far and no further; physical love-making is a no-no. They had been exercising enormous discipline and their murmuring of romantic dialogues were essentially within the parameters that were not usually observed by a man and his paramour. more..

Jul 13 (TM) With the upcoming Prez Election likely to be the first test for the new campaign finance laws given that LG Elections have been postponed indefinitely, concerns abound regarding the implementation of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act No.3 of 2023. The act intends to regulate expenditure incurred by recognised political parties, independent groups, and candidates at LG, PC, Parliamentary, & Prez Elections. more..

Jul 13 (GV) World Population Day is a day to raise awareness and focus on the urgency, importance and complexities of global population issues. The day was first commemorated on July 11, 1987 as the the day of five billion when the global population first crossed fivebillion people and it brought the focus of issues such as sustainable development, resource management and the dynamics of population expansion. In 1989, UNDP identified the necessity for a more focused approach to population more..

Jul 13 (CT) The import section of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) held its 89th AGM in Colombo on Wednesday, anticipating smoother import operations during the post-debt restructuring scenario, with improved external economic conditions. During the AGM, the chief guest, Deputy Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe, addressed several critical issues facing SL’s economy. While his speech was full of optimistic projections and commendable efforts towards economic more..

Jul 13 (DM) Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee who led a parliamentary delegation tHe has served as a Senior Cabinet Minister in both the John Key and Bill English-led Govts, most noticeably for his work as the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister soon after devastating earthquakes struck Christchurch. o SL shared his views on the way forward for cooperation between 2 countries. more..

Jul 13 (DM) Supreme Court on July 8 dismissed a petition filed by a resident of Moratuwa, C.D. Lenawa on July 3 seeking a declaration that the president’s term of office is six years and an order to suspend the presidential election until the ruling on his petition is given. During the hearing of the petition which was very brief before it was dismissed Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya pointed out to the petitioner that the Article on the Prez’s term in the Constitution very clearly and more..

Jul 13 (DM) July is here again. It is one of the 12 months, SL is notoriously famous for the wrong reasons. Reminiscence of the 1983 Black July or the anti-Tamil pogrom is one of the darkest black marks in the history of the entire country and for all Sri Lankans, especially the majority Sinhalese. The short-sighted, irresponsible, petty political decision-making especially by the head of the State, the Executive Prez J. R. Jayewardene and his govt resulted in creating one of the darkest more..

Jul 12 (ANI) Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 100 million policy-based loan to support and facilitate reforms in Sri Lanka, aimed particularly at enhancing the financial sustainability of the power sector in the island country. As per a release from the ADB, the Power Sector Reforms and Financial Sustainability Program will complement the IMF's Extended Fund Facility arrangement and bolster the operational efficiency and competitiveness of SL's power sector. more..

Jul 12 (DM) Employees working on contract basis for manpower companies at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) sites and offices around the country are demanding permanent employment. They claimed that about 2,000 workers have been working across the country for the NWSDB under various manpower companies for nearly 25 years. It is unfortunate that most of these employees have been fulfilling services for various contractors over the past 25 years for more..

Jul 12 (DM) Wanindu Hasaranga, who has often faced criticism for the team's disappointing exit in the T20 World Cup and his attitude, as well as some disciplinary issues, said that this attitude has helped him overcome challenges and inspire himself to improve. "I have at all times expressed emotion on the field and such attitude has helped me overcome challenges and to inspire myself to do better. This is in no way aimed to offend more..

Jul 12 (CT) Prevailing weather patterns have given rise to paediatric patients with influenza-like viral infection, the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) said. Hospital sources yesterday (advised parents to take precautionary measures, especially if several members of a family had a viral infection with influenza-like symptoms. Wear a mask when attending school, day-care centres or Montessori. Preferably, the children should be kept at home to prevent a further spread, they said. more..

Jul 12 (CT) Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) is expected to file a petition in the Supreme Court with regard to the recent Cabinet decision to award a minimum salary increment of Rs 525 to teachers who did not participate in the sick note campaign on 9 July, CTU General Secretary, Joseph Stalin said. General Secretary said that while all of the teachers in the country took part in the sick note campaign, the handful of teachers who were unable to participate in the campaign did so as a result more..

Jul 12 (Island) Criminal gangs in Sri Lanka do not possess a large quantity of firearms, says DIG Nihal Thalduwa. He said that since the war against terror ended, some weapons held by the LTTE cadres had got into the hands of criminal gangs, he said. “We see some of these weapons still in use. They can also be smuggled into the country in boats as well. However, there is no evidence to believe that criminal gangs have a lot of more..

Jul 12 (EN) The IMF is still assessing SL’s deal with investors to re-structure sovereign bonds, Director of Communications Julie Cozack has said. “Our team is in the process of assessing the agreed terms of the debt restructuring and whether they’re consistent with the parameters of our of our program,” Cozack told reporters in Washington. “So once that assessment is complete, we’ll be able to communicate our our views on that.” The Official Creditor Committee also has to sign off more..

Jul 12 (Island) A cabinet paper WAS being drafted to permit motorcycles exceeding 1,000 cc engine capacity to operate on SL roads and that could lead to a dramatic increase in road accidents, FPC MP, Dullas Alahapperuma told parliamet. Motorcycles accounted for 58% of vehicles in SL, Alahapperuma said. The police had motorbikes with capacities ranging from 450cc to 600 cc, he said “There are over 10,000 high-capacity motorbikes that have been assembled in SL with smuggled parts. more..