Jan 20 (ST) Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) will optimistically step into 2025 after their shuttlers made the country proud with an approximate tally of 11 medals at international series held throughout 2024, bolstering Sri Lanka’s standard in badminton after many seasons. Sri Lanka won two gold, three silver and six bronze medals at eight international events in 2024. But the climax of the untiring efforts of SLB more..

Jan 20 (Island) The Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has endeared itself to the people immensely by directing the CEB to lower the power tariffs by an average of 20%. It was a case of Hobson’s choice for the NPP govt, which insisted that a substantial electricity price reduction would not be possible within the next three years although it promised, before last year’s elections, to slash power tariffs by as much as 30% in the near future. Opposition has mockingly asked more..

Jan 20 (ST) When Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his NPP Govt point an accusing finger at the Dept of the Attorney General asking as to why sensitive prosecutorial files get lost in the dust for several years, four fingers are pointed right back at them. The priority at hand is not to run around the political mulberry bush, or the tea bush, (as the case may be in this green and verdant land with the human species being most vile), bleating platitudes on the virtues of good governance. more..

Jan 20 (CT) In SL’s political landscape, patriarchy continues to reign, stifling progress and marginalising half the population. Despite numerous global examples of women excelling as leaders, the country remains entrenched in toxic masculinity and male chauvinism, stubbornly resistant to the inclusion of women in politics. The recent European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) report highlighted the urgent need for increased female participation in SL politics, but more..

Jan 20 (FT) The state visit of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to China deepened the longstanding friendship between the two nations and further strengthened bilateral ties, as both sides explored new avenues for economic collaboration. Among the highlights of the visit were a series of discussions with leading global corporations in China, including representatives from BYD, signifying a shared commitment to innovation and sustainable development. more..

Jan 20 (TM) Sri Lanka will be lifting its restriction on the importation of motor vehicles for commercial purposes in February after almost five years of having banned it. With the news of the lifting of restrictions, most vehicle importers have been advertising prices of brand new vehicles, requesting advances to be placed in order to reserve the vehicles. However, in a recent extraordinary gazette issued under Section 3 of more..

Jan 20 (DM) There is an emerging international debate about what is at stake with GDP growth. In Sri Lanka, not just nationally, but even at the provincial level, GDP growth and contribution are attributed to economic success. However, the focus on GDP growth without considering the impact on employment and livelihoods, and for that matter social welfare more broadly, can lead to rising inequalities and even dispossession. SL’s economy needs to grow out of economic depression more..

Jan 20 (CT) While policies are framed at the political level the support mechanism for policy planning and implementation are orchestrated through administrative structures. It is axiomatic that an overarching super ministry is given the responsibility for planning and implementing development projects and programs-this has generally been the case in SL and many other countries in the region. Prez of SL has taken over the responsibility for overall management of the ministry of finance, more..

Jan 20 (DM) Former LTTE Jaffna District Commander Sathasivamillai Krishnakumar alias Col Kittu was regarded as the uncrowned king of Jaffna in the mid-eighties of the twentieth century. The greater part of Jaffna peninsula was under LTTE control then. This state of affairs came in for a rude shock when an unknown person lobbed a bomb into the vehicle driven by Kittu. Incident which rocked Jaffna in 1987 more..

Jan 20 (TM) Mental health continues to be an awkward and avoided topic in Sri Lanka’s public discourse and at the policymaking level. Reports of youth, especially school-age teenagers, attempting self-harm or attempting to take their own life keep drawing spotlight back into this phenomenon which culturally many SL communities find unpalatable. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) had recently said that it has received over 78,000 phone calls last year via a hotline set up to more..

Jan 20 (DM) Whether one reads the newspaper, switches on the radio or watches social media, one topic dominates. They all have one criticism or the other of our four-month old regime. It started with the Speaker of the House and his claim of a doctorate. We all know even Mervyn Silva was awarded a doctorate. The electorate unfortunately, did expect a similar character would exist in a political party claiming to be squeaky clean as the JVP. That was our mistake. The crux of the matter was that more..

Jan 19 (ST) The SJB is in the throes of a crisis, one more severe than issues that affect just a hundred-day-old NPP govt. What has weighed in heavily on its woes are strong allegations that an advisor to the party had made millions of rupees promising placements in the national list for wealthy businessmen. An exceptionally rich rice merchant from Polonnaruwa district had alleged that he paid a staggering Rs 500 million to secure a seat. more..

Jan 19 (DM) The Railways Dept has taken steps to suspend the services of a person attached to the Makumbura Multimodal Center who has been accused of being involved in the railway e-ticket scam. It has been revealed that the policeman has started a private company in the name of a relative of his, that issues train tickets and has booked e-tickets online through it. It has been reported that the tickets booked in this way have been sold to various individuals at higher prices. more..

Jan 19 (ST) Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya has requested the mass transfer of 17 officers-in-charge (OICs) of police stations in the Western Province, but the National Police Commission (NPC) will ask him to provide further details outlining reasons for his request for the mass transfers. Transfer list includes OICs of several key police stations in the greater Colombo area. Of the list of OICs sent to the NPC by the Acting IGP, 17 are to be transferred on a supernumerary basis, more..

Jan 19 (SO) Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody said that the Govt is committed to implementing the recommendations made by the PUCSL to reduce electricity tariffs, marking the first step in a broader Govt plan aimed at reducing tariffs by 30% over the next three years. The reduction will benefit households, hotels, and industries alike, with the Govt emphasising the importance of making electricity more affordable for all sectors. more..

Jan 19 (DM) Attorney General yesterday (17) provided an undertaking before the Supreme Court that any further complaints not yet considered could be forwarded by the petitioners to the AG and these complaints will be reviewed when making a final and independent decision regarding potential action against Pastor Jerome Fernando in connection with alleged hate speech undermining religious harmony in the country. Senior Deputy Solicitor General Sudarshana de Silva, representing the AG, more..

Jan 19 (AD) The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) has uncovered further information regarding a planned terrorist attack targeting tourists in the Arugam Bay area, a popular tourist destination frequented by Israeli tourists. The facts were presented before the court on Friday (17). The TID reported that the terrorist attack was planned while the perpetrators were in prison. When the case was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, more..

Jan 19 (CM) Supreme Court has ruled to immediately release a Sri Lankan man from detention, highlighting the risk of torture he faces if returned to his home country. The court issued a habeas corpus order after rejecting a decision to keep him in custody, agreeing with the asylum service that he should not be deported to SL due to the danger of inhumane treatment. The case, as detailed in the supreme court’s decision, dates back to 2017, when the man applied for a renewal more..

Jan 19 (TM) Cricket icon Kumar Sangakkara will lead the SL team in the upcoming International Masters League (IML) which will be held in India from 22 Feb to 16 March. This will also be the first time ever that the 47-year-old former Lankan batting ace will be involved in any form of competitive cricket since his retirement from the international game 10 years ago. Season 1 of the IML will witness the rekindling of rivalries, with all-time greats representing cricketing powerhouses more..

Jan 19 (Xinhua) "Sri Lanka and China are ushering in a new chapter in bilateral relations," Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said. At the invitation of Chinese Prez Xi Jinping, Dissanayake is on a state visit to China from Tuesday to Friday, his first trip to China since taking office in September as SL president. "I first visited Beijing in 2004. Returning after 20 years, I see a tremendous transformation," Dissanayake said. more..

Jan 19 (ST) Boxing Independent Integrity Unit (BIIU) has initiated a formal inquiry disciplinary inquiry against SL boxing referee Nelka Shiromala, a referee affiliated with Boxing Association of SL (BASL). The case stems from allegations that Shiromala violated the Article 25.6.8 of the International Boxing Association’s (IBA) Technical and Competitions Rules by participating as a referee and judge in the U-19 World Boxing Championship held in USA from Oct 25 to Nov 3 in 2024, more..

Jan 19 (ST) National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC), which has not met for several months now particularly during the tenure of the previous Ranil Wickremesinghe regime, finally met on Wednesday after a long spell where trade unions reiterated demands for a higher national minimum wage for the private sector. Veteran trade union leader, Palitha Athukorale, President of the National Union of Seafarers in SL, told the meeting which was chaired by Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha and more..

Jan 19 (NW) SL Air Force officially opened its newest golf course, the Eagles’ Citadel Golf Course, constructed to international standards, at SLAF Station Sigiriya yesterday (17 ). The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) and graced by the presence of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa. Located amidst the picturesque surroundings of Sigiriya, more..

Jan 19 (AD) Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that steps will be taken to increase the number of Sathosa outlets across the country to 1,000 locations with the aim of controlling the prices of consumer goods and to provide relief to the consumers. He made this statement while attending the opening of the renovated Sathosa outlet located in front of Public Market Complex in A'pura. He further noted that the govt was able to reduce the prices of goods by 17% over last 3 months. more..

Jan 19 (TM) Five M11 engines, valued at over Rs. 3,825 million and imported from India under the Indian Credit Line in 2019, are still awaiting repairs at the Railways Dept’s workshop in Ratmalana. It is learnt that these engines, which had been brought to SL without a proper Technical Evaluation (TE), are unsuitable for the country’s railway tracks. Despite having been in SL for more than 5 years, no proper investigation more..

Jan 19 (EN) Import tax reductions for the people of SL under a free trade agreement with Singapore has been halted, suspending the implementation of the deal, according to transcript of parliamentary proceedings. SL has agreed to reduce the Port and Airport Levy, imposed on imports from Singapore over 5 years under an FTA signed in 2018. Rising PAL, CESS and import duties on goods, allowing local producers to overcharge domestic consumers hiding behind a wall of tariffs, more..

Jan 19 (Island) HNB Assurance made a significant ascent in the latest LMD 100 rankings climbing 13 places to reach rank 64, cementing its position as one of SL’s leading listed companies. Throughout the past few years, HNB Assurance has grown stronger, smarter and more united in its purpose, turning challenges into opportunities and refining every aspect of its operations. LMD 100 is a prestigious annual ranking that evaluates the financial and strategic performance more..

Jan 19 (ST) International Olympic Committee (IOC) has firmly rejected an attempt by the suspended Secretary General of National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL) and his allies to conduct the election of office bearers on March 31, 2025. This move, proposed months ahead of the scheduled timeframe, was seen as an effort to safeguard the interests of the embattled official. In Dec 2024, NOCSL, where Secretary General Maxwell de Silva more..

Jan 19 (ST) SL’s political stability was rated as a critical factor for the momentum in the Colombo stock market along with other fundamentals and impending budget proposals which will capitalise on the country’s growth thrust. Analysts noted that the country came out on top in debt restructuring, the low-interest rate regime, and improved tourist arrivals. Inward remittances, and Prez Anura Kumar Dissanayake’s recent visit to China, which saw 15 bilateral agreements being signed as positive more..

Jan 19 (TM) The much-heralded project to build South Asia’s largest commercial and logistics complex at the Colombo Port is finally scheduled to commence this year with the granting of the Attorney General’s (AG) approval for the proposed concession agreement, which will be entered into with the BOI, according to Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). SLPA Chairman Sirimevan Ranasinghe stated that the commencement of the logistics centre project had been delayed due to delays more..

Jan 19 (Island) Several decades ago, when the Food Drive led by PM Dudley Senanayake in a bold move to achieve self-sufficiency in essential foods wherever possible, the press officer in Mr. MD Banda’s Agriculture and Food Ministry, Lakshman Ratnapala telephoned several prominent personalities to get their views on the effort. One of them, the late Dr. EW Adikaram, the ascetic academic, told Ratnapala: “I can tell you what I think but you will not be able to publish my view.” more..

Jan 19 (Island) As the World Test Championship (WTC) inches toward its climax with South Africa and Australia locking horns in the finals, it’s time for Sri Lanka to rummage through the wreckage and figure out where the wheels came off. This was no ordinary campaign – it was a rollercoaster ride with breathtaking highs and gut-wrenching lows. A series win against the Aussies would crown Sri Lanka’s effort with a third-place finish, leaving fans asking themselves, What if? more..