Jul 18 (FT) Hirdaramani Group, a leader in apparel manufacturing and sustainability, yesterday announced its latest milestone in advancing sustainable apparel production with a significant Rs. 10 billion investment in a cutting-edge new textile mill, Mihila Tex in Pannala. This state-of-the-art facility will play a pivotal role in reshaping the future of the apparel industry and bolstering Sri Lanka’s position as a sustainable manufacturing hub. The Group will collaborate with Chinese owned more..

Jul 18 (DN) Sri Lanka took home a haul of 9 medals at the 7th Western Asian Youth Chess Championships including 3 gold medals as the tournament drew to a conclusion at the Citrus Hotel Waskaduwa, recently. Three gold medalists for SL came in J Vaneesha Gomes (U10 Girls) who scored 8 out of a possible 9 points to dominate her age category, AP Chenitha Karunasena (U10 Open) who scored 7.5/9 points and Sethumlee Palliyage (U12 Girls) who scored 7/9 points. more..

Jul 18 (FT) SJB charged that despite Govt claims the worst of the economic crisis is over and external debt restructuring measures have made significant progress, no such good news seems to have come. SJB MP, Dr. Harsha De Silva, said despite claims that bilateral restructuring deals have been reached, no such agreement has been tabled before Parliament. If debt restructuring deals are further delayed this could impact IMF more..

Jul 18 (FT) Eight quality improvement projects implemented at CEAT Kelani Holdings have won Gold awards for being SL’s leading tyre manufacturer at the National Convention on Quality and Productivity (NCQP) 2024, organised by the SL Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP). Noteworthy about this achievement was that every Quality improvement project presented by CEAT Kelani at the convention received a Gold award, and more..

Jul 18 (TM) Police stated that while red notices have already been issued for the arrest of suspected organised crime mastermind Najim Mohamed Imran alias Kanjipani Imran, the emphasis is on the cooperation of the country where he is currently residing in as such is crucial to facilitate his extradition. The recent shooting in Athurugiriya, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals, including businessman Wasantha Perera, also known as Club Wasantha, is suspected to more..

Jul 18 (TM) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has recommended not to implement the recent revision of tariff rates for new rooftop solar and renewable energy projects until they gather and analyse the relevant data. In a letter addressed to Secretary to Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, PUCSL's Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe said that CEB, had requested the PUCSL's approval for more..

Jul 18 (Island) Dambulla Sixers were eliminated from the Lanka Premier League in the most dramatic fashion as Kandy Falcons edged them over by the barest of margins to qualify for the playoffs. Dambulla won their last league game against Colombo Strikers big by recording a 28-run win but that wasn’t a big enough victory to go through to the knockout stage of the competition. After the league stage, both Kandy and Dambulla were tied on points with six points each and Kandy went more..

Jul 18 (DM) The youth of today want freedom and that too in loads. The generations before them were happy with freedom in small doses, but they wanted govt welfare more than anything else. Present day youth would feel insulted if someone has to take care of their welfare. This is, of course, a thought they’ll be forced to revalue if their earnings, after completing their higher education, wouldn’t suffice to pay bills. Generally, youth on this island are so enterprising. more..

Jul 18 (DN) The top two teams in the LPL, Galle Marvels and Jaffna Kings, will battle it out in Qualifier 1 today at R. Premadasa Stadium, starting at 3 PM. Both teams have strong all-rounders. Galle Marvels, captained by Niroshan Dickwella, are looking to challenge Jaffna Kings, led by Charith Asalanka. Both sides are expected to rely heavily on their spinners to exploit the pitch conditions. After the league stage, both teams finished with 10 points from five victories each. more..

Jul 18 (Island) Astrology and politics are conjoined twins in most Asian countries. SL is no exception, and its politicians would give their eyeteeth for consultations with famous astrologers either here or overseas. It has now been revealed that star divination also influences the process of conducting elections in this country. Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) R.M.A.L. Rathnayake assured that the EC would call the next prez election before the end of this month. more..

Jul 18 (ST) The National Library and the Documentation Services Board (NLDSB) where a fire was reported this week escaped serious damage to its valuable collections. But, Upali Amarasiri, former chairman and director general of the NLDSB, asserts that the long-delayed refurbishment may endanger the library in a number of ways. These concerns arose in the wake of the fire on Wednesday, while staff were in the building. more..

Jul 18 (ST) Foreign donor aid is gaining momentum for SL on the verge of its sovereign bond restructuring, top officials said. They noted that, now multilateral agencies are returning and are resuming infrastructure projects. News of the OPEC Fund for Development providing US$100 million, in financing for irrigation and water security in SL is a positive development for the country. This funding will support a project linked to the Mahaweli River, which is crucial for agriculture & water management more..

Jul 18 (ST) Havelocks Sports Club launched a fully-pledged rugby academy in partnership with FlyHiSports, an Australian based business entity, to develop the sport in SL. The launch took place last week at the Havelock Sports Club premises. Named FlyHiSports Rugby Academy, SL’s first internationally collaborated rugby academy will provide opportunities for the youth to develop their potential through sport. The participants at the academy will learn technical, strategic & tactical aspects more..

Jul 18 (FT) “Sri Lanka faces significant vulnerability to climate change, impacting crucial sectors like agriculture, tourism, and industry,” he writes, as if the proposed Adani project in Mannar is going to make the country less vulnerable to climate change. It will do no such thing. He is confusing climate resilience with climate-change mitigation: they are not the same thing, and the public should not be fooled. As “an engineer specialising in renewable energy engineering”, he ought to know better. more..

Jul 18 (CT) On Monday (15), Ceylon Today reported recent findings by the National Audit Office (NAO) that cast a troubling light on the Department of Probation and Child Care Services, highlighting severe deficiencies that cannot be overlooked. From 2019 to 2023, the department failed to comply with its mandate under Section 10C of the Adoption of Children Ordinance No. 24 of 1941 (Amendment No. 15 of 1992) to monitor the well-being of 32 children adopted by foreign couples. more..

Jul 18 (CT) As the Govt disclosed SL’s ongoing dialogue with the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) regarding the exploration of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts, which India also claims, Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, President of the Environmental Lawyers’ Association of SL, stated that, after India lodged its objections to SL’s submission of claiming the extended more..

Jul 18 (DM) Sri Lanka awaits an announcement from the Election Commission on the date of the Presidential Election. Right now, however, there are humanitarian issues that every citizen needs to be concerned about and address. One of these key issues is human trafficking to which Sri Lanka gives little attention. We need a ministry or a state ministry to look into issues connected with the crime of human trafficking. Later this month, the UN marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. more..

Jul 18 (ST) When, some weeks ago, a headline for one of my columns started with the words Games they play…, no reference was intended to SL’s cricket on and off the field. Though there is much to be said about our cricket, particularly when its administrators begin to show their political muscles, had our talent scouts looked farther afield, they would have discovered many more players adapting their own approach to the game that never came out from any coaching book. more..

Jul 18 (TM) Sri Lanka’s mineral industry has the potential to generate more foreign revenue and to improve its recognition as a minerals exporter. However, the industry is still recovering from the impacts of the economic downturn experienced during the past few years. In addition, there are legal, policy, procedural, and practical obstacles that need to be addressed without delay in order for industry’s growth. more..

Jul 18 (Island) The question mark that hangs over the prez election due in October this year is not going away. The answer to it keeps getting put off. The latest is the govt’s proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate ambiguity in the term of the president from six to five years. Supreme Court has thrice affirmed the legitimacy of the 19th Amendment, which reduced the term of the presidency. Academic scholars such as Nihal Jayawickrama have asked why 9 yrs later, more..

Jul 18 (TM) Exactly two years passed yesterday (13) since Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned from office while overseas amid popular unrest. Next Sunday (21) will mark two years since UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was elected as Prez by Parliament for the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term, assumed office. Trend of political events that we have seen in these two years clearly shows that the political class quickly reverted to its old ways without learning any lesson from more..

Jul 17 (DM) Former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the SLPP will fully support President Ranil Wickremesinghe if he decides to align with their party at the upcoming presidential election. He made these comments in response to questions from journalists today (17). When asked about the party’s candidate for the election, Rajapaksa said, “Now we have the program to win the election. The good news is that we will win. When the candidate is named, you will know how powerful he is.” more..

Jul 17 (CT) Cabinet has approved the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill, the legal effect of which would be that a Bill that seeks to extend the term of office of the President or the duration of Parliament to over five years would require a two-thirds majority in Parliament and the approval of the People at a Referendum. The Bill seeks to amend present Article 83(b), according to which the maximum period to which such term or duration can be extended without a Referendum is 6 yrs. more..

Jul 17 (EN) Sri Lanka will see a definite reduction in water tariff possibly towards end of this week after several variables in the water pricing formula including electricity cost have fallen, Minister Jeevan Thondaman said. Public Utilities Commission on Monday cut electricity tariffs by an average of 22.5%. The move comes ahead of a prez poll between Sept 17 and Oct 16. Prez Ranil Wickremesighe is expected to contest more..

Jul 17 (CT) The Health Ministry should take urgent measures to create public awareness that there was a change in policy with regard to Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH) over the past 10 to 15 years, the Govt Medical Officers’ Forum (GMOF) said. A GMOF spokesperson noted yesterday (16) that unlike earlier, the hospital had shed its semi-government policy, to appear more of a private sector health institution, where ICU care alone costs over Rs 200,000. more..

Jul 17 (DM) The Immigration and Emigration Dept today announced the launch of a new, efficient and safe e-passport for Sri Lankans, with effect from January 1, 2025. In a media release, the Department's Additional Controller General announced that a new passport will be issued according to a new methodology designed to ease the application process for passport applicants. Accordingly, prior registration links are required on https://www.immigration.gov.lk when applying more..

Jul 17 (DM) With reference to an illegal recording and uploading his film Sinhabahu on social media, Film Director and President of Film Directors Guild of SL Somaratne Dissanayake called for the banning of brining mobile phones into cinemas. “We have to do what we can to avoid unnecessary situations. What we can do is to ban mobile phones in cinemas. Such a ban is imposed in cinemas in countries such as Australia. more..

Jul 17 (DM) The govt will increase the amount paid under the President's Fund for heart and kidney patients by 100% and will pay within a week of receiving the application, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. He noted that previously, the Prez's Fund covered 50% for these patients, but there was a backlog of nearly 8,000 applications by August 2022 for these surgeries. While addressing an event in Kegalle recently, he said that under the current govt, more..

Jul 17 (GNA) Sixteen crew members including three Sri Lankans, were missing after their Comorian-flagged oil tanker capsized off the coast of Oman, the sultanate’s Maritime Security Centre (MSC) said Tuesday. The MSC, which is run by the Omani Defence Ministry, said in a post on X that a “Comoros-flagged oil tanker capsized” south-east of Ras Madrakah in the country’s centre. Search and rescue operations were underway, the MSC said without providing further details. more..

Jul 17 (CT) The All Ceylon Canteen and Restaurant Owners’ Association (ACCROA) said it had decided to drop the prices of several food items and bakery products by midnight yesterday. ACCROA President, Harshana Rukshan, said accordingly, the price of rice and curry would be slashed by Rs 25 while the price of fried rice and kottu would also be reduced by Rs 25. The price of short eats will be reduced by Rs 10 while the price of parata and egg roti will also be slashed by Rs 10. more..

Jul 17 (DM) Sri Lanka top order batsman Kusal Mendis is set to be dropped from the white ball cricket according to the reports. It is also said that middle order batsman Charith Asalanka is set to take over the captaincy in both ODIs and T20s following the resignation of Wanindu Hasaranga as the skipper in the shortest format. Kusal Mendis was viewed as the best batsman of Sri Lanka for a longer period. Many ex-cricketers were also of the opinion that Mendis is a generational talent. more..

Jul 17 (EN) Sri Lanka is planning the second stage of testing intra-uterine devices on red-faced monkeys as a means of controlling their population, as cries from farmers who want to cull them as crop destroying pests grow louder. Agriculture Ministry has identified toque macaques, wild boars, peacocks, giant squirrels among key pests damaging crops. Farmers are calling for air guns to protect crops. more..