Dec 10 (FT) Sri Lanka finds itself at a pivotal moment as Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that the country aims to complete its debt restructuring agreements by Dec 2024, with plans to resume loan repayments in 2028. The NPP Govt has inherited an agreement with the IMF that Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Govt burdened the country with which is potentially deleterious. Within that context the timeline is ambitious to navigate the complex web of economic recovery, more..

Dec 10 (NW) For many Sri Lankans, owning a vehicle is more than a convenience—it’s often a necessity. Yet, the steep cost of vehicles makes this dream unattainable for many. Whether due to high taxes, restricted imports, or market speculation, vehicle prices remained prohibitively high in Sri Lanka even before the country faced its worst economic crisis. The vehicle import ban, introduced in March 2020 to conserve foreign reserves during the country’s economic crisis under more..

Dec 10 (AD) Eight suspects, who were arrested and remanded in custody in connection with the murder of two persons including businessman Surendra Wasantha Perera, also known as Club Wasantha, have been granted bail by Homagama High Court today. Accordingly, 8 accused were ordered to be released under strict conditions, each on a cash bail of Rs. 100,000 and two surety bails. Furthermore, Homagama High Court Judge, who imposed overseas travel bans on all eight suspects, more..

Dec 10 (FT) I was an attendee at the International Conference on Reimagining of the Electricity Industry for the Future held on 28 Nov 2024 organised by the SL branch of The Institution of Engineering and Technology. The event was well attended and enlightening. My sincere thanks to the organisers for staging this impressive event. Panellists from India shared their experiences of the rapidly changing and expanding electricity industry in their country with grid unbundling, more..

Dec 10 (DM) Central Environmental Authority (CEA) urges devotees visiting Sri Pada to refrain from disposing of waste, including polythene and plastic, in the area. Sri Pada pilgrimage season begins on Unduwap full moon Poya day (Dec 14), and ends on Vesak full moon Poya day in 2025. During this period, a large number of devotees visit the site for blessings. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, the Sri Pada Reserve is recognised as a highly sensitive environmental zone. more..

Dec 10 (NW) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that no matter how many laws are enacted or institutions are established, justice cannot be ensured to the citizens if those responsible for enforcing them fail to implement them properly. He further highlighted that the power entrusted by the people must be utilized to serve them; otherwise, that power becomes meaningless. Prez made these remarks during a ceremony more..

Dec 10 (Island) The People’s Struggle Movement (PSM) yesterday called on the government to take immediate and meaningful steps to address the ongoing shortages of rice and coconuts in the market, accusing authorities of relying on theatrics and false excuses instead of implementing real solutions. PSM Executive Committee member and Frontline Socialist Party Educational Secretary Pubudu Jagoda claimed that despite the President’s promises, the rice shortage persisted. more..

Dec 12 (DM) The credit card holders are yet to swipe their cards more meaningfully and more frequently for their purchases, as the outstanding growth in their card balances haven’t changed much during October and in fact, the balance still stays below the level at the start of the year, raising questions if the still higher rates are holding them out. Latest data available through Oct 2024 showed that the total outstanding card balance was at Rs.151.29 billion, up Rs.188 million from the month prior. more..

Dec 10 (DM) The US has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on two Sri Lankans — Kapila Chandrasena, former CEO of SriLankan Airlines and Udayanga Weeratunga, former ambassador to Russia — along with their immediate family members. These measures are part of ongoing US efforts to hold perpetrators of corruption accountable. Announcing the actions on Int'l Anti-Corruption Day and just ahead of more..

Dec 12 (ST) The govt is making provisions to absorb the losses of two state banks due to the restructuring of loans given to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. Accordingly, the govt is seeking parliamentary approval for a supplementary estimate of Rs 219.4 billion, of which Rs 130 billion is to be financed as compensation for any loss that would be incurred by the two state banks due to the restructuring of the CPC loans. The largest allocation in the supplementary estimate comes in the wake of more..

Dec 10 (ST) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be sharing the new govt’s policies with India’s PM Narendra Modi during his forthcoming visit to India, and shortly after, early next month, an official visit to China, where attracting investments, continuing with projects suspended, and negotiations of restructuring of loans will be the focus. Minister Vijitha Herath said that discussions were underway with Indian officials on the MoUs expected to be signed between two countries in New Delhi. more..

Dec 10 (DN) National Chamber of Exporters SL President Jayantha Karunaratne called for urgent reforms to strengthen the country’s export sector during his address at the 32nd NCE Export Awards, which took place in Colombo last Friday. He highlighted the pressing need for innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability to overcome the challenges faced by the industry. Karunaratne emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in regulatory processes, more..

Dec 10 (Island) World Council of Rural Organization driving the global agenda where a typical visitor experiences nature based activities in a village, agriculture, rural lifestyle/ culture and sightseeing has appointed marketing professional and Former Tourism Chairman Dr Rohantha Athukorala as the Vice President of the World Rural Tourism Council( WRTC). Dr Gan Yongfu the Secretary General World Rural Tourism said ‘We need a person who has value chain development experience more..

Dec 10 (DM) Sri Lankans pay considerably more for cigarettes than many of its Asian neighbours when adjusted for purchasing power, research by JB Securities showed. “This discrepancy not only affects the consumers but could also impact the stock performance for the companies in the tobacco sector,” it said. SL cigarette consumers are effectively paying around 78% of the cost of a cigarette, purely in taxes, more..

Dec 10 (TM) SL’s listed companies’ net profits for 2024 can go beyond Rs. 660 billion, the highest the country has recorded so far, with positive economic sentiments, Almas Holdings Group Chairperson Imtiaz Buhardeen said. Listed companies’ collective net profits, which stood at Rs. 450 billion by the end of the third quarter, could go beyond Rs. 660 billion by the end of the year. He said that during the crisis year 2022, listed companies recorded a collective net profit of Rs. 665 billion, more..

Dec 10 (Island) Sri Lanka is poised to make history with the opening of its first seven-star hotel, Aviyana’s Private Chalets, in Kandy. The brainchild of Dr. Indika Hewawasam, the estimated Rs. nine billion project is set to elevate the island nation’s appeal as a premier destination for high-end travelers. The first stage of this ambitious project, featuring 12 private chalets, is scheduled to welcome guests in May 2025. Ambasevana Group of Companies chairman cum chairman more..

Dec 12 (DN) SL women’s under 19 team led by Manudi Nanayakkara is ready to take on challenge at the inaugural Asia Cup. They are taking part in training to adjust to the conditions before the Asia Cup in Malaysia. The inaugural Asia Cup women’s under 19 tournament consisted of six teams scheduled to be played from Dec 15 to 22. SL women’s under 19 team left to Malaysia on December 2 two weeks before the tournament. They played two practice matches against more..

Dec 12 (Island) Viren Nettasinghe and Ranithma Liyanage lived up to their billing to win double titles as they won the open singles and doubles finals at the 72nd National Badminton Championship, concluded at the MCA Indoor Courts in Colombo on Sunday. Nettasinghe claimed the open men’s singles title, while Ranithma pocketed the open women’s singles crown. When they paired up they emerged victorious in the mixed doubles as well. The eight-day competition held at the MBA more..

Dec 12 (FT) SL’s pioneering shipbuilding and repairing company, the Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDL), is seeking a strategic and majority investor-cum-management party following the announced exit of Japan’s Onomichi. CDL announced that its Board of Directors have been informed by Onomichi Dockyard of Japan, which is the Company’s majority shareholder, that it has decided to withdraw from the management more..

Dec 10 (CT) In the SL Navy, 2,138 senior and junior sailors of various rates were promoted to mark the 74th anniversary of the Navy which fell yesterday. Those promotions were made on the recommendation of the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera. In preparation for the anniversary, commemorative programmes were held across all Naval commands under the guidance of the Commander, Naval traditions, and religious observances were prioritised. more..

Dec 12 (DM) Hospital sources across the island have confirmed a severe shortage of medicines in many hospitals in the country. This situation has caused much inconvenience to numerous patients. A notable example is the Mawanella Base Hospital, which is currently facing a shortage of sodium bicarbonate—a medication used to restore breathing in patients with kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. more..

Dec 10 (TM) Claiming that the importation of coconuts will not control coconut prices in the local market, SJB MP Nalin Bandara urged the Govt to amend the laws applicable to coconuts and to take stringent action to ensure that the country’s coconut cultivation is up to the standards. He said that the Govt must either devise a mechanism to provide fertiliser for small-scale coconut cultivators and those cultivating coconut in their gardens or provide a relief package for them. more..

Dec 12 (DN) Double Olympian Mathew Abeysinghe and Budapest-based Lankan Olympian Ganga Senevirathne will represent SL at the World Aquatic Short Course Swimming Championships, starting today and running until Dec 15 in Budapest, Hungary. Abeysinghe, 28, will compete in the Men’s 50m and 100m Freestyle events, while 21-year-old Senevirathne will swim in the Women’s 50m and 100m Backstroke. Both athletes are members of Killer Whale Aquatics, with it’s Head Coach more..

Dec 12 (FT) LAUGFS Rubber, a subsidiary of the diversified conglomerate LAUGFS Holdings, has once again proven its commitment to excellence by clinching the prestigious award for Most Outstanding Exporter – Overall at the 32nd Annual National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) Export Awards 2024. This is not the first time LAUGFS Rubber has received this recognition, having previously won the same accolade in 2022. It also maintains a stellar track record in the rubber tyre and more..

Dec 12 (TM) The All Island Under-15 A Division Basketball Championship had resembled a highly tensed up zone. It was organised and conducted by the SL Basketball Federation and held at the Indoor Court at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy on Saturday (7). The situation had threatened to blow out of control, after a group of irate parents had stormed the court due to the allegedly subpar standard of refereeing, at the competition. more..

Dec 10 (TM) For generations, Sri Lankans have lived in harmony with the rhythms of nature. The monsoon rains that sustain our crops and the coastal breezes that define our tropical landscape have always been part of our identity. But, this balance is shifting. As climate change accelerates, we are facing an increasing threat from hurricanes, ferocious storms with the power to reshape lives, communities, and landscapes. While such storms have traditionally been associated with other more..

Dec 12 (CI) Sri Lanka arrived in South Africa dreaming of a World Test Championship final spot, but having now been crushed 2-0, that dream has almost certainly faded. There is special regret that SL got to play on the two venues that would have best suited them - Durban and Gqeberha - and still could not seriously push the hosts, as they had done in 2019. Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya broke down the defeat, more..

Dec 12 (SO) SL has made tremendous progress with regard to achieving renewable energy targets ahead of schedule, said Prof. Asanka Rodrigo of the Dept of Electrical Engineering Uni of Moratuwa, at an event hosted by E.B. Creasy Solar to mark the company being appointed as the authorised distributor for LONGi, a global leader in solar technology from China. He said that this was especially evident in rooftop solar PV, ground mounted solar PV, floating solar segments. more..

Dec 12 (Island) The JVP/NPP got pillorying its political rivals down to a fine art while it was in opposition. It questioned their academic and professional qualifications and even ridiculed some of them as charlatans. Never did it miss an opportunity to cast aspersions on some educated members in previous governments, claiming that they were the descendants of Mahadenamutta (a blundering self-proclaimed pundit in folklore). The boot is now on the other foot, and more..

Dec 12 (Island) Recent events surrounding the ABBA tribute concert held in Colombo brought to light certain long-standing questions particularly to do with the arts and the idea of leisure. While I will not pretend that I can capture the spectrum of responses that were offered on the fact that some NPP politicians had attended the concert, I am intrigued by what I thought was a dominant critique. The politicians were viewed as being hypocrites because they came in on a promise of more..

Dec 10 (CT) Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to cast a long shadow over SL society, despite laws and policies meant to curb it. The issue is pervasive, affecting countless women, children, and even men, cutting across all social and economic divides. Yet, its persistence raises urgent questions about societal attitudes, systemic failures, and the enforcement of existing laws. Statistics paint a grim picture. In 2016, 17% of ever-married women aged 15-49 reported experiencing physical or more..