Dec 18 (DM) The age of those suffering from heart disease in SL is gradually decreasing and the age limit has now reached 17, National Hospital specialist Indika de Lanerolle said. He said that the age range for developing heart disease was previously between 50 and 70 years. He said that the decreasing age of individuals suffering from heart disease raises concerns about its connection to the country’s development. In developed countries, the age of onset for heart disease is also decreasing. more..

Dec 18 (DM) Chief Incumbent of the Mihintale Rajamaha Vihara, Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammarathana Thera, who was charged with the alleged assault of a tour guide within the temple's central compound, causing injuries, was acquitted by A'pura Additional Magistrate Ms. P.H.W.D.L. Samarasinghe. A'pura police investigated into the complaint by tour guide Chandana Weerawantha Waduge, alias Ukkuwa, who alleged that Ven. Dhammarathana Thera had assaulted him on March 12, 2009, at the temple. more..

Dec 18 (AD) The Supreme Court announced that the verdict on the fundamental rights petitions filed seeking an order to re-conduct the 2024 Grade 5 Scholarship Exam, will be delivered on Dec 31, 2024. This was announced by the Supreme Court after concluding the hearing related to the petitions, which have been filed by filed by a group of students who sat for the examination and their parents. The petitions were heard before a judge bench comprising more..

Dec 18 (AD) Deputy Minister Samantha Vidyarathna announced plans to provide fertilizer subsidies to coconut plantation owners as a measure to resolve the prevailing coconut shortage in the country. Deputy Minister revealed that out of the 55,000 metric tons of fertilizer recently imported, a total of 27,500 metric tons will be allocated for coconut cultivation. “Our ministry’s coconut plantations, spanning tens of thousands of acres, have not been fertilized for five years, more..

Dec 18 (NW) The suspension of the parate execution law, which allows banks to auction collateral on defaulted loans, has been extended until March 2025, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in Parliament. The law was previously set to remain suspended until Dec 15, 2025 following a conditional approval of the COPF under the previous Govt. Prez Dissanayake said the decision to extend the suspension by three and a half months was made following concerns raised by SL’s banks, regulators, more..

Dec 18 (EN) Sri Lanka will allow private vehicle imports from Feb 1, 2025, Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament. The decision has been made after discussions with the central bank after assessing the impact on foreign exchange he said. “Do not have any fears that we will face another foreign currency crises because of car imports,” Prez said. “We have estimated the outflow of dollar for car imports. But to turn the economy around we decided we have to open imports. more..

Dec 18 (DM) A hill country leopard, frequently seen in the shrub jungle adjacent to Pordias Estate in Hatton, was killed, and its head and limbs were cut off and taken away. Police said the leopard was killed by a wire trap. Wildlife officers from Nallathanniya visited the location following information from the Hatton police and initiated an investigation. They said that the well-grown leopard was about ten years old, and its carcass, minus the head and legs, would be referred to more..

Dec 18 (AD) A residence said to belong to a drug trafficker, located in the Ranaviru Gama area of Homagama, was shot at early this morning, Meegoda Police said. Police stated that preliminary investigations have revealed two unidentified gunmen who arrived on a motorcycle had carried out the shooting, and then fled the scene. Police also revealed that the shooting was carried out using a 9mm pistol. Accordingly, two bullet casings and a live bullet were found on the road in front of the house. more..

Dec 18 (FT) When reviewing civil society’s involvement in supporting the education system in SL, we find that existing opportunities are minimum. It is not that civil society in SL has not contributed – however given the vast potential for collaboration and partnership, impact has been limited, largely due to the ad hoc nature of interventions. The role of civil society and contribution towards development cannot be undermined. Recently UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s remarks to more..

Dec 18 (FT) SL’s citizenry is in a way fortunate that there is a written down constitution – a variety of benefits behold its citizenry. Successive political legislators have however, contrived to be guilty of violating the rights of the people – when it comes to elections. A written down constitution like SL has, offers plenty of balance and equity for all: 1. Clarity and certainty: A written constitution provides a clear and definite framework for govt structure, powers, and limitations. more..

Dec 18 (TM) Parliamentary Opposition has called on the Govt to conduct a departmental-level inquiry into the forced cremation of bodies, particularly those of Muslims, during the Covid-19 pandemic, which took place under the administration of former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Speaking in the Parliament, SJB MP and Leader of the SLMC Rauff Hakeem, made these remarks while urging the Govt to disclose the details of the individuals more..

Dec 18 (DM) The number of internet subscriptions in SL, including mobile internet connections, has risen to 26 million units by the end of the second quarter of 2024, according to local analytics platform Charts.lk. The platform noted that the surge in the figures marks a 19 percent increase in growth compared to the same period last year, signifying a growing demand for internet connectivity and digital services across the country. “Internet subscriptions started to increase substantially, more..

Dec 18 (FT) National Audit Office has uncovered significant financial losses amounting to Rs. 2.66 billion and a systemic mismanagement in the former administration’s electric vehicle import scheme for expatriate workers, rising concerns over transparency and accountability. The report, recently submitted to the Parliament, scrutinised the issuance of permits under the scheme between 1 May 2022 and 15 Sept 2023. It also examined electric vehicle permits between 22Sept '20 & 30June '23. more..

Dec 18 (FT) SL’s economy grew by 5.5% year-on-year (YoY) in the third quarter of 2024 — highest since 2021, whilst continuing the upward momentum seen since Sept 2023. In terms of quarter-on-quarter, 3Q performance was higher than 4.7% growth achieved in 2Q. 3Q positive growth was driven by the industry sector accounting for 27.3% of the GDP, growing by a high 10.8%, whilst the service sector with a share of 55.5% of the GDP more..

Dec 18 (Island) The Supreme Court yesterday (17) permitted former Excise Commissioner M.J. Gunasiri to leave the country following representations made by President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva on his behalf. Gunasiri had earlier assured the Supreme Court that he wouldn’t leave the country without securing court permission. A motion was filed before the Supreme Court in October, seeking a travel ban on the former Excise Commissioner involved in a contempt of court case. more..

Dec 18 (Island) Sri Lanka once again showcased its scientific prowess at the prestigious 21st Edition of the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) 2024, where six talented young SL students brought home three silver medals and three bronze medals. The competition, held from 2 to 12 Dec, was organised by Ministry of Education of Romania in cooperation with the National Uni of Science and Technology Politechnica Bucharest, as well as the Uni of Economic Studies Bucharest. more..

Dec 18 (DM) Chamith Wijesundera, National Youth Organizer of the SJB, has called for decisive action against candidates who provide false qualifications or spread misinformation to gain votes. Referring to the recent resignation of the Speaker and allegations against Deputy Speaker Rizwi Salli, Wijesundera stressed that systemic failures in Sri Lankan politics undermine the democratic process, demanding stricter accountability measures and immediate reforms. more..

Dec 18 (DM) Tourists and the local community face inconvenience when making payments at expressway toll gates, as they currently accept only SL currency. Although a QR code payment system was introduced during the previous govt, complaints have been made that the codes do not function properly. A senior official of the Expressway Operation Division reported that expressway toll gates have not implemented systems to accept Visa card payments. more..

Dec 18 (TM) Police Dept stated that no decision has been made thus far to amalgamate the male and female cadres for administrative purposes, despite media reports suggesting that the Dept is in the process of doing so. Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake confirmed that the Dept has not taken any steps to change the existing structure of its workforce. “We have not taken such a decision. However, in the public service, more..

Dec 18 (DM) The Court of Appeal today directed the Central Environmental Authority to assess the air quality in the Jaffna area and present its findings to the court. The Court of Appeal two-judge bench comprising Justice (President) Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice Shashi Mahendran, directed the relevant authorities to explore the possibility of preparing a programme to inform the public about the adverse air quality conditions in Jaffna, based on the investigation’s results. more..

Dec 18 (DM) International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) have raised concerns about the internal disputes of the National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL), which have yet to be addressed and resolved properly. “We understand that these internal disputes and ethical issues, in particular those raised by your NOC’s Ethics Committee, have yet to be addressed and resolved properly by your NOC,” James Macleod, NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity more..

Dec 18 (Island) The Southern California Cricket Youth Association (SCCAY), a distinguished non-profit organization dedicated to developing young athletes, is set to embark on an exciting tour to Sri Lanka from December 20, 2024, to January 5, 2025. Established in 2002, SCCAY has cultivated a legacy of empowering youth through cricket, promoting physical and mental well-being, and fostering valuable life skills. This initiative, titled the Sri Lanka Youth Tour, extends beyond cricket. more..

Dec 18 (DN) Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage said that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports would provide the maximum support to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) to resolve the internal crisis and urged the National Olympic Committee to act in accordance with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee from now on. The minister of Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage summoned the executive members of the National Olympic Committee to the Ministry of Sports to more..

Dec 18 (DN) The Colombo Stock Market has become the second best performing market in the South Asian region, triggering a lot of people to come into the market take benefit from this investment avenue, Colombo Stock Exchange’s (CSE) Branch Network Manager Nishantha Batagalla said. Commenting on the record growth of the CSE, he further stated, “The Colombo stock market has become the talking point of more..

Dec 18 (DM) SL is witnessing growing interest from popular Indian restaurant brands, reflecting the country’s market potential and its steady recovery post-economic crisis, according to Colombo-based market research agency Sparkwinn Research. Notably, Colombo and Jaffna have emerged as hotspots particularly for South Indian-based restaurant brands. “Chennai-based Salem RR Briyani expanded its operations to Jaffna a couple of months ago. more..

Dec 18 (DN) Opener Kusal Mendis hit a sparkling knock of unbeaten 79 in 23 balls while young leg spinner Dunith Wellalage had impressive figures of 3 for 5 as Jaffna Titans continued their unbeaten record defeating Colombo Jaguars by 9 wickets with 4.2 overs to spare in their Lanka T -10 Super League cricket fixture played at Pallekele Int'l Cricket Stadium yesterday. Jaffna Titans chasing a 100 runs target lost their opener Kevin Wickham and Skipper Angelo Mathews early in the innings. more..

Dec 18 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned the Govt’s approach to the debt restructuring process and its commitment to the mandate received from the people, in Parliament. Premadasa accused the current administration of following the same IMF agreements established under former Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, contrary to the promises made by ruling NPP during their election campaign. more..

Dec 18 (FT) SL Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) has issued a public notice urging homeowners and institutions to verify the legitimacy of service providers before installing rooftop solar systems. The move comes in response to rising complaints about fraudulent companies misleading electricity consumers into believing they are authorised to install such systems. As demand for solar energy grows amid rising costs and a push for sustainable alternatives, the rooftop solar more..

Dec 18 (DN) M.F. Muhammad, the 16-year-old swimmer from Zahira College, has established himself as a dominant force in Sri Lankan swimming. Last week, at the National and Junior National Short Course Championship held at the Isipathana College Swimming Pool Complex in Colombo, Muhammad achieved the pinnacle of success, clinching five gold medals in five events—a feat that has captured the imagination of swimming enthusiasts across the nation. more..

Dec 18 (FT) Commercial Bank of Ceylon instituted a winding up application by Petition dated 27 June 2024 against Almar Teas Ltd. under the provisions of the Companies Act, No. 07 of 2007 on the basis that that Almar Teas Ltd. failed to honour a statutory demand and thus should be deemed insolvent. On such basis publications effected and the matter was fixed for inquiry on 20 Dec 2024. However, Almar Teas Ltd. by way of a Motion dated 6 Nov 2024 preferred an application more..

Dec 18 (FT) The much-anticipated grand finale of the 59th TAGS Awards 2024, organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of SL (CA SL), celebrated excellence in corporate reporting, with a diverse range of organisations – from multinationals and conglomerates to SMEs and NGOs – showcasing their commitment to high standards in financial and non-financial reporting by embracing the principles of transparency, accountability, governance, and sustainability while more..