Apr 19 (PMD) The distribution of fortified rice, provided by the World Food Program (WFP) on behalf of the program initiated under the instructions of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, to provide a nutritious meal for school students, commenced today, at the Veyangoda warehouse complex. In an effort to reduce iron deficiency among school children, fortified rice is provided for school meals. This distribution will be conducted under the supervision of M.H.A.M. Riflan, more..

Apr 19 (AD) The final rites of former Deputy Minister and former UNP MP Palitha Thewarapperuma are planned to be performed this afternoon (19). The funeral procession will commence following the religious observances at this residence in Yatadolawatta, Mathugama and the remains will be buried at the gravesite he had built himself sometime back. The former Kalutara District MP died from electrocution on Tuesday (16). He was aged 64 at the time of his demise. more..

Apr 19 (EN) Sri Lanka is in discussions with China’s Sinopec to give extra land and assure water supplies after the company decided to expand the capacity of a planned oil refinery in Hambantota, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. “There are concerns on how the water supply is going to be provided for the refinery,” Minister Wijesekera told reporters Friday. The refinery will need more land and also revise conditions in a Board of Investment agreement, he said. more..

Apr 19 (Island) Health officials have reported that Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) was the leading cause of death in govt hospitals from 2010 to 2020. IHD, commonly known as heart attacks, involves heart complications due to narrowed coronary arteries that impair blood flow to the heart muscle. Dr. Sherine Balasingham, a Consultant Community Physician, emphasised the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle to reduce the risk of such conditions. “Walking is beneficial, and more..

Apr 19 (TM) The ruling SLPP said that no Govt MP has requested lower-priced vehicle permits instead of the duty free permits that they are entitled to, as claimed in media reports. Several media reports alleged that MPs from both the Opposition and the Ruling Party have encouraged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and govt officials to offer lower-priced car permits in the event the duty free permits that have already more..

Apr 19 (CT) The bodies of two women, who are suspected to have died under suspicious circumstances, were discovered inside a house in Isuru Uyana in the Kalutara-South Police Division. Kalutara-South Police were alerted by the 119 Police Information Centre regarding the absence of two women from the area for several days, accompanied by a noticeable odour emanating from the vicinity of the house on Wednesday (17). Subsequently, a team of Police Officers visited the scene more..

Apr 19 (DM) In light of the adverse weather conditions at the Dubai International Airport, SriLankan Airlines (UL) faces flight cancellations to the UAE hub, sources said. According to reliable sources, Flight UL 225, slated for departure to Dubai at 18:25 today (19), has been grounded due to the turbulent weather. Further, a previous UL flight bound for Dubai had to be rerouted yesterday (18), while another scheduled for departure on April 17 met the same fate. more..

Apr 19 (CP) The 19-year-old SL national charged in the mass killing of a newcomer family in Ottawa has no plan to seek bail, his lawyer says. Febrio De-Zoysa was arrested and charged in early March with six counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, after police found the family dead in a townhouse in the suburb of Barrhaven. He remains in custody & his lawyer said “there is presently no plan to apply for bail.” more..

Apr 19 (AD) The Election Commission says it has no legal authorization to intervene to resolve the internal rifts of the SLFP. Members of the election body convened a meeting on Thursday to study the documents submitted by the factions within the SLFP with regard to the recent changes made to the party positions. When the SLFP’s politburo met on 08 April under the patronage of former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga, the party’s incumbent Vice Chairman MP Nimal Siripala de Silva more..

Apr 19 (EN) Inclusive growth cannot be achieved without the full participation of women, Linda Ehrichs, Charge’ d’ Affaires of the High Commission of Canada has said. “Inclusive growth and lasting change cannot be achieved without the full and equal participation of women as economic actors in the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Ehrichs said at the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) GRIT event. The GRIT (Growth, Resilience, Investment and Training) program aims to nurture more..

Apr 19 (FT) Harsha de Silva, MP and Chair of the COPF, addressed the media in Sinhala, on 17 April 2024, shedding light on the recent breakdown of debt restructuring talks between the SL Govt and the international bondholders’ steering committee. These confidential negotiations, conducted behind closed doors, aimed to restructure over $ 12 billion of debt. However, they faltered due to discrepancies between the bondholders’ proposed baseline assessments more..

Apr 19 (FT) The Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party will celebrate its 75th birthday in December this year. The premier political party of the SL Tamil people known as Ilankai Thamizhar in their mother tongue was born on 18 December 1949. On that day, a group of 60 Tamils including two parliamentarians and two senators convened at the Govt Clerical Service Union (GCSU) hall in Colombo. That historic conclave resulted in the launching more..

Apr 19 (DM) With the Presidential Election scheduled to be held in the first week of October, political parties have begun vigorous campaigns in electorates as well as closed door discussions with MPs in a bid to secure a basic 50% vote base which will win them the presidency. As reported earlier, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will present himself as a national candidate who will contest from a brand new symbol and more..

Apr 19 (FT) Immigration and Emigration Dept Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya said the introduction of new visa procedures and the rollout of an online visa issuance system are set to attract a broader range of visitors, strengthening the country’s standing as a premier tourist destination in the region. “One of the key objectives behind the implementation of the new visa system is to attract new visitors to Sri Lanka, whilst also ensuring a seamless experience for repeat visitors,” more..

Apr 19 (CT) Ambassador of France to SL, Jean-Francois Pactet, embarked on a significant visit to the Hambantota International Port (HIP) with a keen eye on fostering trade prospects between France and SL. During his recent tour of the port, Envoy Pactet engaged in discussions with key stakeholders to gauge the potential for collaboration and investment by French companies. Pactet met Tissa Wickremasinghe, the Chief Operating Officer of HIPG (Hambantota International Port Group). more..

Apr 19 (FT) Govt issued an update on the progress of the divestiture of the initial set of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) saying all transactions other than SriLankan Airlines will be concluded by Aug 2024. Timeline for SriLankan Airlines is likely to extend to end Sep 2024, said a statement from the SOE Restructuring Unit (SRU). The update comes amidst concerns from prospective investors and their advisors over the inordinate delay in more..

Apr 19 (FT) Govt has published the proposed electricity sector reforms in the gazette on Wednesday, now named the SL Electricity Bill. The crucial legislation is now set to be presented to Parliament during the next sitting week. Minister Kanchana Wijesekera noted that amendments proposed by stakeholders in January have been incorporated into the revised Bill. He also stated that the Bill allows the public a two-week window from the date of its presentation in Parliament more..

Apr 19 (FT) The counsels appearing for the former personal assistant to former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission Janaka Ratnayake, Gayathri Bimba and others yesterday objected to the conditional injunction issued by the Colombo Magistrates court under the Online Safety Act (OSA) to prevent the publication of Ratnayake's personal information on social media platforms. Ratnayake, who is also a Presidential hopeful through his counsels had filed the case under latest OSA more..

Apr 19 (FT) The ICC announced that ICC cricket rights in Sri Lanka up until the end of 2025 have been awarded to MTV Channel Ltd. MTV will exploit the broadcast rights via their free to air channels, TV1, Shakthi TV and Sirasa TV. The digital rights will be exploited via www.sirasatv.lk and by icc.tv enabling more fans to watch ICC world events over the next two years. MTV network covers a large proportion of the SL population with channels covering the main three languages more..

Apr 19 (CNN) Polls opened Friday for the first and largest phase of India’s marathon general election, kicking off a vote in which PM Narendra Modi is seeking to win a rare third consecutive term. About 969 million people are eligible to vote in the biggest election in human history, with polling taking place in seven phases over the next six weeks in the world’s most populous country. The nationwide vote is considered among the most consequential in decades as Modi’s powerful right-wing BJP more..

Apr 19 (CT) A retired SL Army Major General and another individual were arrested yesterday for allegedly scamming people promising job opportunities in the Russian Military. Aged between 61 and 63 years, the two individuals were apprehended by the CID in Rajawella and Wariyapola. The arrests had been made following complaints lodged by victims of the duo. While an official confirmation surrounding more..

Apr 19 (DN) The man who was sentenced to death for brutally killing Dr. Wadu Arachchige Amarasiri, a CEB engineer due to an affair, he had with his wife and had been in hiding for 34 years was arrested by the CID from Pugoda yesterday. He was arrested on a tip off received to a CID Police Sergeant. The convict, Colambage Sarathchandra Sumanasekera alias Nandana Sumanasekera had been working as a security officer of a leading company. This convict with the support of his wife had dismembered more..

Apr 19 (FT) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) – the UN Migration entity, on 18 April, facilitated the voluntary return of eight SL migrants who were trafficked for forced criminal activities in the cyber scamming compounds in Myanmar. SL migrants have been forced into various cyber scamming activities in Myawaddy area of Myanmar, under the pretext of legitimate job offers in the IT and other customer service job fields. more..

Apr 19 (FT) SJB MP S. M. Marikkar proposed yet another alternative plan for a public debate between the SJB and the NPP party yesterday by suggesting the parties hold a debate between the economic councils of both parties, led by their respective party leaders Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Politicians from the SJB and NPP have continued to exchange rhetorical challenges regarding a public debate with no concrete plan to hold one being announced. more..

Apr 19 (FT) Bank of Ceylon said it yet again set a record during Avurudu Season with over Rs. 503 billion worth transactions carried out by customers via its service points. Bank said Rs. 185 billion worth transactions took place in BOC’s very own CRM and ATM terminals. Transactions made on the ATM and CRM network were recorded from 1 to 15 April was over 9.7 million transactions worth Rs. 185.9 billion. BOC from its countrywide branch network recorded 0.82 million transactions more..

Apr 19 (TM) In the wake of the proposed Electricity Sector Reforms Bill being published in the Govt gazette on Wednesday as the SL Electricity Bill, energy expert Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya claimed that the electricity consumers will not have the expected benefits from this particular Bill since certain long-term issues in the sector have not been addressed by the Bill. Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that more..

Apr 19 (DM) As scorching temperatures continue to sweep across Sri Lanka, the Vets in SL have issued a stark call to action, urging public to provide water access to animals especially birds. SL Veterinary Association Secretary Dr. Desika Jayasinghe said animals, much like humans are susceptible to a range of heat-related ailments including heatstroke, rashes, sunburns, diseases and parasite attacks. "Dehydration is the main challenge that both wild animals and pets face this season," more..

Apr 19 (FT) NatCon 2024, the most awaited youth leadership conference will take place from 19 to 21 April 2024, at the Hotel Sudu Araliya Polonnaruwa. This isn’t just any conference; it’s the cornerstone event for AIESEC in Sri Lanka, charting the course for leadership and growth in the year ahead. With a special emphasis on diversity, leadership, and skill-building, NatCon 2024 will bring together over 400 students from over 20 universities across SL. And the event is open to all AIESECers, more..

Apr 19 (FT) Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa voiced concerns on the Govt’s decision to increase visa fees through its new online system, warning of potential setbacks for the thriving tourism industry. Premadasa highlighted the recent recovery of the tourism sector from various challenges and expressed concern over the Govt’s decision to raise visa fees while abolishing the previous Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. more..

Apr 19 (ST) Once again, sea turtles have started to surface on the northwestern shores of Sri Lanka for nesting. As large numbers come ashore at night, the officials of the Dept of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) and security forces personnel are doing their best to ensure a safe environment for these nesting turtles. Sea turtles, which have been inhabiting the oceans for millions of years, are now a critically endangered species. Out of the seven species of sea turtles found worldwide, more..

Apr 19 (DM) Port City Colombo officials expressed frustration over delays in opening the downtown duty-free mall in Colombo. Originally scheduled to commence operations in April, the facility now faces an uncertain timeline for opening to the public, primarily due to unexpected legislative hurdles. While concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact of the duty-free mall on local businesses and SL’s taxation framework, CHEC Port City Colombo Deputy Managing Director more..