Nov 14 (ST) This is not the first time the SL cricket team had been on tour abroad. Not the first time some scandal has been attached to a player’s off-the-field conduct. But it is the first time that a player’s actions have caused such worldwide public outrage and brought shame and opprobrium to SL’s indisciplined cricket world. Danushka Gunethilaka, who was out for a duck in the T-Twenty World Cup tournament’s opening match against novices Namibia on Oct 16 and ruled out from more..

Nov 14 (ST) When there is muttering in some quarters as to, what has the Aragalaya achieved?, an easy answer comes to mind. Notwithstanding the predictable corruption of that struggle by the political establishment which is a point that I will return to later, this spontaneous eruption of massive public fury for the first time since SL’s independence from British colonial rule, made the country’s politicians cower in fear. That fact, in and of itself, must be distinguished from more..

Nov 14 (SO) In May 2004 Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakhsa was appointed as a MP to represent the ruling Party the SLFP and was offered the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs which he turned down. Later he continued as the only MP on the Govt side, without a portfolio. Following the 2005 presidential elections, Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed him as the Minister of State Banking Development, but he resigned in April 2006 more..

Nov 14 (DM) The Dhanushka Gunathilake scandal raises disturbing questions not just about one individual, but our entire sports culture, including its star game, cricket. Dhanushka was arrested in Australia while on tour on very serious charges – criminal assault and attempted rape. If proven guilty, he could spend years in prison. The most disturbing revelation is that this is the third time Dhanushka Gunathilake has been accused of serious misconduct with women. more..

Nov 14 (CT) The arguments justifying ragging in universities and corporal punishment in schools bear striking similarities. Both parties who are pro-ragging and pro-corporal punishment argue that both measures are means of discipline that is necessary for the development of the student in these institutions and in universities ragging has arguably become a sub-culture without which the university system can’t function properly. Once something has become a part of culture, more..

Nov 14 (TM) SL’s biggest challenge in 2023 will be the repayment of loans and interest despite declaring bankruptcy, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said last week, adding that the prospect of more taxes through this week’s Budget was unlikely. SL is trying its best to secure Board-level approval for the IMF programme by the end of December, Semasinghe stressed, acknowledging that the island nation was at least more..

Nov 14 (TM) With the recent incident where the Police arrested two female protestors who were marching towards the Galle Face Green from Kalutara demanding the release of activists detained under the PTA, public opposition against the Police has entered a new phase. Now, the public discourse on Police oppression – which, thus far, focused on the issues faced by the general public – actively seeks better treatment for junior Police officers, and female Police officers. more..

Nov 14 (Island) Religious leaders, especially Buddhist monks, usually draw heavy flak for ingratiating themselves with politicians. Some of them have even earned notoriety for dancing attendance on political potentates in public and seeking patronage. But the newly-appointed Chief Incumbent of Atamastahana in A'pura, Most Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, has made a difference. He chose not to invite any politicians when he assumed duties in his new post more..

Nov 14 (DM) Most Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, who created lyrics for Karunarathna Divulgane’s Atheethaya Sihinayak Pamanai sabesuvadak ne; (loosely translated…, Past is just a dream, where there is no real fragrance…, there will be no heartburns now, if didn’t bond in love then), was appointed as the new Custodian and Chief Priest of the Sri Maha Bodhi and Atamasthana Adhipathi of Anuradhapura, by the Atamasthana Committee. more..

Nov 14 (CT) Top emerging talent will be heading to SL in 2024 for the U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, as the ICC Board announced host countries for U-19 events between 2024 and 2027. Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh and Nepal are also set to host ICC U-19 events between 2024 and 2027, after the ICC Board approved the plans. U-19 WC 2024 edition will be hosted by SL, while the 2026 edition will be staged in Zimbabwe and Namibia. ICC U-19 Women’s T20 WC 2025 more..

Nov 14 (CI) England became the first team to hold both men's World Cups simultaneously, sneaking past Pakistan in a tense run chase to win the 2022 Men's T20 World Cup final at the MCG by five wickets with an over to spare. Ben Stokes, England's match-winner in the 50-over final three years ago, anchored another run chase and ground out his first half-century in T20Is in the format's biggest game. He had battled to 24 off 34 more..

Nov 14 (ST) Officials in the energy industry were informed of a proposal by authorities recently, during a conference, of a move to increase electricity tariffs by nearly 60% next year. Industry stakeholders who attended the Energy Roundtable Conference recently said that there was a proposal by certain officials to increase electricity tariff rates owing to the increase in fossil fuels. They said that depending on the fossil fuel prices which are inclined to go up, the tariff will have to be changed. more..

Nov 14 (ST) Parliament’s Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando has sought the help of the IGP to investigate three people who posed as staff of a non-existing MP and were allegedly involved in fraudulent activities. The three suspects had prepared identity cards claiming to be working for a MP of the Trincomalee Electoral District. MP has been named as T.M. Shariff, but there was no such MP. Three men had designated themselves as coordinator, a coordinator secretary, and more..

Nov 14 (ST) SL’s and South Asia’s fastest man, Yupun Abeykoon, will have a shot at his next target at next year’s World Athletic Championships in Hungary and the postponed Asian Games in China. The Olympian said these on the sidelines of his inaugural training camp – Train with Yupun – he had for 50 budding sprinters, at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday. “Meets planned are being done as usual. Our main target is the Asian Games, which would be preceded by more..

Nov 14 (DM) SL is facing its worst economic crisis in years. The acute shortage of US dollars in the country has pushed up the price of basic food items including milk, an essential ingredient for a nutritious meal. Our country is facing a situation that is bad in two different ways - increasing prices and high external debt. UNICEF reports show over 5.7 million people, including 2.3 million children, require humanitarian assistance, making this country among the top ten countries with more..

Nov 14 (TM) Directing the Police to provide information pertaining to an information request regarding the recommendation made by the National Authority for The Protection of Victims of Crimes and Witnesses to the Police to provide security to former CID Director ex-SSP Shani Abeysekara, by 12 December, the Right to Information Commission of SL stated that it will initiate legal action if the Police fails to do so. more..

Nov 14 (CT) SL settled for 4th place in the 2022 Asia Rugby Sevens Series second leg, which concluded at the Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium in Incheon, South Korea yesterday. After being knocked-out in the Cup Championship semi-finals, SL Tuskers went on to play in the consolation final but ended up losing the third-place playoff 7-24 against the Philippines. SL suffered a similar fate in the Cup C'ship semi-finals as they lost to South Korea 14-31 after the scores were level 14-14 at half time. more..

Nov 14 (TM) A collective agreement between the Ceylon Estate Staff Union (CESU) and the Employer’s Federation of Ceylon (EFC) was signed last Friday, granting a 30% pay hike to the estate staff. CESU General Secretary Robert Francis said yesterday (13) that the agreement was signed between his union and the EFC on 11 Nov. “We agreed to a 30% salary increment. Accordingly, a 25% hike will be in effect from 1 Oct, and the balance 5% will come into effect from 2024,” more..

Nov 14 (TM) The initiation of the political and economic programme of Freedom People’s Programme (FPP) by the group of MPs that recently left the SLPP-led Govt and since declared themselves as independent MPs took place yesterday in Colombo, with the notable participation of SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Prez’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran, and Champika Ranawaka, among others. more..

Nov 14 (DN) Sri Lanka is currently following the same successful path that Mexico followed to overcome their economic recession (Tequila crisis) in 1995 said Mexican Ambassador to SL Federico Salas Lotfe. Mexico’s economy experienced a severe recession as a result of the peso’s devaluation and the flight to safer investments from 1994. The country’s GDP declined by 6.2% throughout 1995. Mexico’s banks collapsed and the country faced severe inflation and more..

Nov 14 (DM) Hatton National Bank reported higher profits in Sept quarter despite having to provide billions for possible bad loans and muted growth as the bank managed to navigate through the soaring interest rates quite successfully while making substantially higher non-fund incomes. The bank reported net interest incomes of Rs.33.1 billion in the July - Sept quarter, up 134% from a year earlier period on the back of the interest margin which expanded from 3.7% at the beginning of yr more..

Nov 14 (SO) A top maritime trade union yesterday reached out to int'l agencies to seek the release of eight SL seafarers being held by the Nigerian authorities on questionable charges. The eight Lankans are a part of a larger crew that included 16 Indians, one Philippine national and a Polish national, President of the National Union of Seafarers SL (NUSS), Palitha Atukorale said. He said the NUSS was working alongside the Int'l Transport Workers’ Federation (ITWF) and more..

Nov 14 (CT) Workers’ remittances, a major source of country’s foreign exchange earnings, increased for the second consecutive month in October this year. Migrant workers sent home USD 355.4 million during September this year, up 12% compared to USD 317.4 million, during the same month last year. During the first ten months of this year, migrant workers sent home USD 2.92 billion, down 40% from USD 4.89 billion, during the same period last year. more..

Nov 14 (Island) SJB has alleged that the Attorney General’s Department is delaying the release of information, pertaining to the withdrawal of indictments in a number of controversial cases, after the Nov. 2019 presidential election. SJB lawmaker Mujibur Rahuman yesterday told The Island that he had submitted an application, dated Nov 1, 2021, to the Attorney General, in terms of RTI Act but he was yet to receive the required information. more..

Nov 14 (AD) Judicial Services Commission (JSC) has decided not to grant unpaid leave, which is given to public officials for a period of 5 years, for the officials working in the courts. Earlier, the Ministry of Public Administration had issued a special circular to be effective from Sept 5 this year, allowing public sector employees to take leave with no pay which is subjected to a maximum of 5 years during their service period. However, public employees engaging in judicial services will not be allowed more..

Nov 14 (DN) Sri Lanka will host three Lanka Challenge Tuk Tuk (world-famous three-wheeled adventure) events next year bringing high destination value and revenue to the country. The TukTuk Tournament is a two-week event that combines the best of independent and group travel experiences into a competition where they travel all over SL for nearly 10 days. “The event carries huge global media coverage and as it explores the wild and less travelled territory in many provinces more..

Nov 14 (TM) SJB MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday stopped short of denying that he has plans to cross over to the Govt when queried by The Morning about the speculation about such a move, particularly during the voting on the Budget 2023. When queried by The Morning if he has any plans to join the Govt, Dr. Senaratne noted: “I don’t have any personal agendas.” Upon further questioning, he said: “We have to see and examine the programme that is being put forward by the Govt.” more..

Nov 14 (FT) Prez and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is widely expected to unveil a reforms and relief Budget 2023 today in Parliament at 1:30 p.m. Though most of the revenue measures were announced in the interim 2022 Budget in August, analysts expect the Prez to unveil a raft of further measures today aimed at ensuring stability as well as growth amidst the most challenging circumstances in the history of the country. SL in April declared bankruptcy on external debt more..

Nov 14 (TM) IGP has ordered the Special Investigation Unit of the Police to investigate if a senior police officer who manhandled two junior female police officers during a protest march on Saturday, acted in a manner that was disrespectful and improper towards the female police officers. Police officer in question, Chief Inspector (CI) Chamindra Pinto, was seen grabbing two female police officers by the scruff of their necks, more..

Nov 14 (DM) Ahead of today’s budget presentation, the govt yesterday disclosed plans to prop up State expenditure by 29.2% to provide relief to the economically-battered population while moving towards fiscal stability and expecting a gradual economic recovery. State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said that all preparations are made to present the 2023 budget with an expenditure of Rs.7.88 trillion. However, he noted that the fiscal deficit will be contained at Rs.1.78 trillion. more..

Nov 14 (BN) Sri Lanka is balancing competing demands going into Monday’s budget, as it seeks to finalize conditions for a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund loan while buffering citizens from the island nation’s worst economic crisis in decades. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who doubles as the South Asian country’s finance minister, is expected to lay a fiscal roadmap with measures to bolster tax revenues and announce reforms in the public sector aimed at trimming wasteful expenditure. more..

Nov 14 (EN) 2023 budget will target subsidies and policies that promote a private-sector-led economy to help recover from the current unprecedented economic crisis. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the finance minister will present his budget in the parliament later on Monday as the island nation is yet to see some strong policies to sustain its debts, control the economic crisis, and prevent all possibilities more..

Nov 14 (DM) Former Minister Ravi Karunanayake is expected to make a return to active politics as the new General Secretary of the UNP. A majority in the UNP have proposed appointing Karunanayake as the UNP General Secretary. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also in favor of the move, has already had discussions in this regard with Karunanayake, sources said. Sources also said that current UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara is to be appointed as a Governor. more..

Nov 14 (FT) The country is facing the worst financial crisis ever, already declared unable to pay the loan instalments borrowed from multiple sources, the claim amount to accepting bankruptcy. The country is discussing with the IMF and expecting help to recover. With the agreement with the IMF, other debt holders will reduce their demands. But prior to assistance basic adjustments to economy and administration are required. Regular discussions are conducted between two parties, more..

Nov 14 (FT) Prez and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is to present his maiden full budget for 2023 in Parliament this afternoon. A lone MP in Parliament representing the UNP, he accepted the premiership in May 2022 when the incumbent PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from the post after a popular struggle against his administration. He informed the Parliament and the nation that he accepted the position, when the others were reluctant, to rescue the country’s dying more..