Jan 23 (DM) URF leader Champika Ranawaka queried about the fate of forensic audit regarding the e-Visa scam, as promised by Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath. Making his remarks to the media, Ranawaka said that if not for legal action initiated by him along with MP Rauff Hakeem and former MP M.A. Sumanthiran, the entire scam which caused a loss of Rs. 3.2 billion would have been swept under the carpet. He said the COPF asked for a forensic audit into this scam, more..

Jan 23 (FT) The Colombo stock market yesterday gathered more momentum, fuelled by bullish sentiments on banks, which boosted turnover to over Rs. 10 billion amidst gains by indices. Benchmark ASPI improved by 1.4% or 231 points and the active S&P SL20 by 2%. Turnover was Rs. 10.6 billion involving 338 million shares. Turnover was led by HNB (Rs. 1 billion), Browns Investments (Rs. 984.6 million), Commercial Bank (Rs. 926 million), NDB (Rs. 903.6 mil), and JKH (Rs. 588.4 mil). more..

Jan 23 (TM) Employee Provident Fund (EPF) has a marked-to-market gain of at least Rs. 60 billion from its investment in equities by the end of 2024. The marked-to-market gains of the equity portfolio of the EPF calculated as of 31 Dec 2024 stood at Rs. 60.04 billion based on the purchased cost as of 30 Sept 2024. The purchased cost of equities as of 30 Sept 2024 stood at Rs. 88.6 billion while the market value of those equities as more..

Jan 23 (FT) Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday said the poultry industry achieved a significant breakthrough as China opened its market for direct imports of poultry products from SL. He said the new avenue offers an opportunity for the poultry industry to directly export chicken heads and feet – a by-product of its meat processing industry, which helps the economy to boost its foreign exchange revenue. “This was a request made by the industry and we were able to secure it during the recent visit. more..

Jan 23 (DM) Hot on the heels of signing an agreement with China’s Sinopec for an oil refinery in Hambantota, the govt is planning to establish a similar facility in Trincomalee with the help of India if willing, a Minister said. During the visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to China recently, the agreement was signed for an investment of US $ 3.7 billion with Sinopec which is a leading petroleum and petrochemical company in the world. Delivering remarks to the press, more..

Jan 23 (CT) SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri questioned in Parliament whether any Opposition members were involved in the release of 323 containers from SL Customs without proper inspection on Tuesday, if not for alleged political intervention by the Govt. He raised the query during the round of questions for oral answers when Deputy Minister Harshana Suriyapperuma stated that SriLankan Airlines would be free from political interference under NPP Govt to ensure it operates without incurring losses. more..

Jan 23 (DN) SL’s Annaya Norbert and Sahansa Damsiluni put on an outstanding effort to secure a thrilling victory in the girls’ doubles final at the ITF Asia 14&U Development Championships week 2 held at the SL Tennis Association courts in Colombo yesterday. The energetic SL pair went up against Paglauna Ella and Torrecampo Maristela from the Philippines. Despite losing the first set 2-6, Norbert and Damsiluni staged a strong comeback in the second set, securing it 6-4. The match more..

Jan 23 (FT) Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath clarified that the recently signed agreement with Chinese energy giant Sinopec was to expedite the long-delayed $ 3.7 billion oil refinery project at the Hambantota Port. He highlighted the significance of the deal, which gained renewed momentum during the recent visit to China led by Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in boosting economic ties and securing foreign investment. more..

Jan 23 (DM) Italy’s Oniverse has opted to increase investment in Sri Lanka, citing its extensive understanding of the local business ecosystem and renewed confidence in the normalisation of business in the country. Accordingly, its company Benji Ltd, which produces and exports corsetry items, specialising in moulding bra cups, inked an agreement for US $ 35 million. Benji CEO Giorgio Montresor underlined the importance of SL’s human resources in attracting new investment. more..

Jan 23 (Island) History will be made when the National Boxing Championship is held outdoors at the iconic Galle Face Green. This landmark event, organised by the Tri Forces and Police and endorsed by the SL Tourism Bureau, promises to be more than just a competition – it is a celebration of sports tourism and a bold step toward hosting international boxing events in Sri Lanka. The event will commence today. “This championship is a significant milestone for Sri Lankan boxing,” more..

Jan 23 (FT) The economy’s backbone – Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) – this week renewed their serious concerns and lack of effective support for their viability impacted by successive crises and policy missteps. SME Alliance said it would not agree with the circulars issued by the Central Bank on 24 Sept 2024 and 1 Jan 2025, as SMEs have not been provided any relief so far. more..

Jan 23 (DN) The two unbeaten sides, SL Under-19 Women and India Under-19 Women, will meet in their last group match of the ICC T-20 World Cup, scheduled to be played today at Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur. This game is going to be an exciting one in Group ‘A’ as both teams have looked impressive, recording two victories each before this third game of the group, which will decide the top of the group. The two teams have already entered the Super Six round, and a win in this game will more..

Jan 23 (DM) As an island nation with a high population density, Sri Lanka is already grappling with multiple challenges concerning biodiversity conservation. Sri Lanka is home to some unique, endemic plant species which cannot be found anywhere else on this planet but statistics indicate that the country has already lost around 70% of these species. But a new advocacy campaign titled Lesser-known foods of Sri Lanka spearheaded by the UNDP, WFP together with more..

Jan 23 (Island) You have only got to browse through social media and you would be amazed to see the number of beauty pageants that keep cropping up in the local scene, on a regular basis. In fact, the local beauty pageant scene is now turning out to be a big joke, with various competitions sprouting up – here, there, and everywhere! One must keep in mind that the four major international beauty pageants for women are Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Earth. more..

Jan 23 (FT) SL’s apparel exports in 2024 grew by 5% to $ 4.76 billion as per provisional data released by the Joint Apparel Association Forum. Overall exports to the USA, EU (excluding UK), and to the UK have indicated an increase of 5.23% to $ 1.9 billion, 0.81% to $ 1.4 billion, and 7.65% to $ 675 million, respectively, in comparison to 2023. Exports to other countries also indicated an increase of 10.13% to $ 778.4 million in 2024. Exports performance in 2024 trails more..

Jan 23 (ST) SL’s ambitious initiative of creating a techno-entrepreneurship driven economy and reduce SL’s reliance on agriculture in 2021 has now become a nonstarter owing to financial misappropriation, irregularities and lack of operational funding. National Techno Park Eco-System Development project, which will comprise modern tech infrastructure in strategic locations of Galle, Kurunegala, Digana, more..

Jan 23 (Island) A sea of Australian fans are expected to descend upon Galle for the much-anticipated Warne–Murali Trophy, set to kick off later this month. With Australia – the world’s top-ranked Test side – locking horns with sixth-ranked SL, cricket enthusiasts are gearing up for a spectacle, with both Tests scheduled at the picturesque Galle International Stadium. SLC announced yesterday that tickets will go on sale soon, and fans can purchase them via the official SLC website. more..

Jan 23 (CT) Sri Lanka has continued to miss the bus in establishing a robust vocational and skills development framework in the country for three primary reasons. First, there is a lack of understanding of the differences and future prospects of academic qualifications (UGC) versus vocational qualifications (NVQ). Second, the prevailing mindset among parents drives them to push their children towards traditional degrees, perceiving vocational training as inferior. more..

Jan 23 (Island) Donald Trump is no stranger to controversy, but his nonconsecutive second term is going to be even more controversial than the first one if some of the executive orders he signed immediately after being inaugurated as the 47th US President on Monday are any indication. He rescinded about 78 executive actions of his predecessor, Joe Biden. He ordered that the US withdraw from World Health Organization (WHO), causing much concern to the entire world. more..

Jan 23 (ST) Should I be pleased or was it just a coincidence? In a Nov 10, 2024 column titled Reinventing the wheel, I wrote: “With new committees, institutions and political authorities comes a requirement of space to house these new bodies. The BMICH is often used to house presidential commissions and inquiry committees. Maybe some of the 30-odd govt bungalows that were used by ministers and now released to the state could be repurposed as office space more..

Jan 23 (CT) In a significant move aimed at curbing corruption and enhancing transparency, CIABOC has launched a full-scale investigation into 26 companies managing parking lots under the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). The probe was initiated after these companies failed to pay nearly Rs 27 million in dues to the CMC, raising concerns about financial mismanagement and possible irregularities. more..

Jan 23 (DM) Given SL’s dependence on remittances from expatriate workers, there is strong justification for enabling them to vote. But they cannot be enfranchised unless the govt’s plans to give every citizen a biometric-based ID and provided authentication services are implemented. What that means is that remote voting over the internet cannot be permitted unless the relevant state agency can verify or authenticate that the person voting remotely is a citizen who is registered to vote. more..

Jan 23 (DM) Habitat fragmentation due to human activities has posed significant threats to biodiversity on this planet. With deforestation, many endemic plant and animal species are struggling for survival. Urban road development and agricultural practices create further divides within natural ecosystems. Shrinking habitats means a lower survival rate for animals given that a smaller size of land possesses less food for them, while increasing the rate of competition with other species. more..

Jan 23 (DM) Journalist Victor Ivan is perhaps one of the greatest examples of a person braving all odds and a partial disability to achieve lofty goals and most importantly leave an indelible mark in his chosen profession, the field of media. There were other faces to his personality; he was an activist, political analyst and an author. More than anything else, he was a thorn in the flesh to most govts of his time. more..

Jan 23 (TM) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake's recent statement that former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa should either vacate the house provided to the latter by the Govt or pay rent, and Rajapaksa’s response to the same, have gone viral, reigniting the perennial debate about reducing the privileges afforded to former Presidents. This issue, which typically stirs public opinion, gained more concern than before, especially after the economic crisis, which brought the country to the brink of more..

Jan 23 (CT) The CID has revealed a deceptive racket involving the resale of e-tickets for up-country train journeys, particularly to those who travel to the tourist hotspot of Ella. According to reports, certain groups have been exploiting the online ticketing system to buy up all the tickets using questionable methods, only to sell them to unsuspecting tourists at outrageous prices near railway stations. This fiasco has not only exposed the vulnerabilities in the e-ticketing system more..

Jan 22 (DM) Customs Trade Union Alliance (CTUA) announced that it will not take the responsibility for the goods contained in the 323 containers which were flagged red by the computer system, but cleared and released by the govt recently. CTUA Prez Amila Sanjeeva stated that the union will not bear any responsibility if these particular containers are found to contain low-quality medicines rejected by National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), cosmetic items deemed unfit for use, more..

Jan 22 (AD) The Govt of Sri Lanka has decided to recommence the construction of Kurinchakerny Bridge in Kinniya facilitating transportation needs of thousands of people in the area. The Ministry of Finance said that USD 10.5 million has been allocated to recommence the construction of the bridge facilitating the transportation and business needs of approximately one hundred thousand residents in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Kinniya in Trincomalee District. more..

Jan 22 (EN) Sri Lanka’s state-owned enterprises (SOE) could be either state-owned or privatized, Peter Breuer, IMF Mission chief for the island nation said, as a move to restructure several loss-making SOEs has been resisted by the new govt. Breuer’s comments come as President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s new govt has been resisting the privatization or divestment process under the previous govt’s SOE-restructuring strategies. more..

Jan 22 (DM) A former police officer has been arrested over a viral video showing a woman being forcibly abducted by two individuals, one of whom was dressed as a police officer. The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday (18), outside the hostel of a private hospital in Wellawatte. Police investigations revealed that the man dressed as a police officer had been suspended for failing to report for duty. Wellawatte Police arrested the former police officer in connection with the abduction more..

Jan 22 (AD) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara has alleged that his parliamentary privileges were violated by a statement made by the Minister of Power and Energy, claiming that electricity tariffs could not be reduced due to losses incurred by the CEB. The MP raised this issue in Parliament while participating in the debate on the Clean Sri Lanka national initiative. “On January 9, 2025, I questioned the Minister of Power and Energy regarding the possibility of reducing electricity tariffs. more..