Jan 13 (AD) A postmortem examination has revealed that the death of the 42-year-old suspect while in police custody was due to internal bleeding, SSP Nihal Thalduwa said. The postmortem was conducted by specialist JMO Ajith Tennakoon, on the orders of the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court. Meanwhile, Thalduwa assured that an internal investigation is also currently underway into whether excessive force was used by the relevant officers present at the scene, more..

Jan 13 (AD) Theldeniya Magistrate’s Court remanded Saliya Perera, a member of the Kundasale PS, belonging to the SLPP, and another individual in connection with the recent theft of the Sandagala (moonstone) from the Uda Malwa (Upper Deck) Archaeological Reserve in Kundasale. Perera was remanded with another individual identified as Roshan Kandanagae, a resident of the Mahawala area in Kundasale, who is believed to have hidden the Sandagala at his residence. more..

Jan 13 (AD) Former governor and minister Reginald Cooray has passed away at the age of 75, the Director of Nagoda Hospital confirmed. He has served as a member of parliament, Minister of Mass Media, Minister of Minor Export Crop Promotion, Minister of Aviation, Deputy Minister of Justice, Chief Minister of Western Province, Governor of the Northern Province, the Chairman of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and the Chairman of the SL Rupavahini Cooperation (SLRC). more..

Jan 13 (DM) Fitch Ratings has downgraded National Long-Term Ratings of 10 SL banks, CEB, SLT and SL-based Lakdhanavi Ltd. Accrdingly, Fitch Ratings has downgraded the National Long-Term Ratings of 10 SL banks following the recent sovereign downgrade and recalibration of the agency's SL national rating scale. The recalibration is to reflect changes in the relative creditworthiness among SL issuers following Fitch's more..

Jan 13 (CT) Special attention must be paid to the possibility of SL men’s cricket team being subjected to the influence of religious cult, Born Again, as there are clear signs of that happening, recommended the five-member committee appointed to probe various allegations against Sri Lanka men’s cricket team, which had taken place during Dec 2022 Australia tour. This recommendation was made by the committee after obtaining statements from several SLC officials and team members. more..

Jan 13 (Island) The CIABOC probing the alleged sugar tax scam perpetrated in Oct 2020 is expected to question the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle and Sathosa Chairman Nushad Perera. Sources said that MP Bandula Gunawardane who served as the trade minister when then Treasury Secretary Attygalle brought down duty on a kilo of imported white sugar from Rs 50 to 25 cents on Oct 13, 2020 was questioned by CIABOC on Wednesday (11). more..

Jan 13 (TM) In a landmark verdict, Supreme Court (SC), which held that former Prez and Defence Minister and incumbent MP Maithripala Sirisena, former Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Hemasiri Fernando, former IGP Pujith Jayasundara, former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director and incumbent SDIG Nilantha Jayawardena, and former Chief of National Intelligence and DIG Sisira Mendis more..

Jan 13 (AD) The Parliament will meet from Jan 17 to Jan 20, as decided by the Committee on Parliamentary Business. The committee, chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, met today. Accordingly, Parliament will meet every day at 9.30 a.m. except Friday (20). The time period from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. has been allotted for questions for oral answers. The regulations published in the Extraordinary Gazette No. 2307/12 and 2308/26 under the Import and Export (Control) Act and more..

Jan 13 (FT) The object of this article is to point out an important aspect that has been ignored in analysing the crisis facing SL, and also to explain what the end of the crisis could be, which I venture to do from the perspective of a critic who has foreseen the impending crisis in advance and had cautioned the authorities and the public about it repeatedly. A person who has gone too far on a wrong track may find it difficult or even impossible to get back to the right path even if he realises more..

Jan 13 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s discussions with China Export Import Bank was positive, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said. Prez had an online discussion with Exim Bank President Wu Fulin on bilateral cooperation and debt issues on Thursday. “The response from the Chinese Exim Bank for the president’s call is positive,” Minister said. “We are also closely working with India. So it is a matter of getting assurance. I am sure we will get the assurance as soon more..

Jan 13 (FT) In the first parliament sitting for 2023, the discussion on the parliament floor touched on the issue of hate speech versus freedom of speech. The televised proceedings on 5 Jan concerned a controversial video shared on social media, where a popular YouTuber, Sepal Amarasinghe, made disrespectful remarks about the sacred Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha. Amarasinghe identifies as an atheist, and among other things, alleges misconduct in organised religion, especially Buddhism, more..

Jan 13 (EN) An unprecedented verdict by Supreme Court ordering an ex head of state and top defence officials to pay hundreds of millions of rupees in compensation to victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings has been welcomed by the Catholic church which also anticipates criminal proceedings against some of the respondents. Head of SL’s Catholic Church Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said he was very happy with more..

Jan 13 (DM) The Election Commission today informed Supreme Court that it has taken all steps to hold the Local Govt Election in accordance with the law. President's Counsel Saliya Pieris appearing for the Election Commission made these remarks when a writ petition filed by a retired army Colonel in respect of the Local Govt Election was taken up before Supreme Court three-judge-bench headed by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. This petition fixed for support on January 18. more..

Jan 13 (AD) China has donated school uniform material, worth USD 4.24 million, to SL students to meet their requirements in 2023. Accordingly, the first batch of the total donation containing 3 million fabric meters of school uniform material reached the Colombo Port today and is currently being unloaded. School uniform material donation would fully cover the requirement of Northern, Eastern, Uva and North Central provinces, and 70% of the requirement of the other provinces of the country. more..

Jan 13 (TM) The Govt has decided to celebrate the 75th National Independence Day with the new reformist programme for the next 25 years, PMD reported. During this celebration held with pride under the theme Namo Namo Matha – A Step towards a Century, Govt will announce its new reformist course for the next 25 years for the implementation of a stable govt policy right until the 100th Indept Day celebrations in 2048, more..

Jan 13 (CT) Confusion arose at the State Printing Corporation (SPC) when a new Chairman reported to work yesterday morning, with an appointment letter signed by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, without informing the incumbent Chairman that he had been replaced. The trade unions sent the new chairman back claiming that they could not accept the new appointment. According to SPC trade unionists, the individual, who had claimed to have been appointed as more..

Jan 13 (TM) If the Govt of SL decides to proceed with restructuring domestic debt, Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) would be one of the entities that will benefit from the move, according to statements made by CSE Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara at an event held on Wednesday. Wirasekara, responding to a query raised by a journalist, stated that if domestic debt restructuring were to happen, it would be slightly positive for the market, as investors would be looking for asset classes with no haircuts. more..

Jan 13 (TTG) Once upon a time, two best friends and avid travellers got married and began building their life’s adventures together by exploring deep into their homeland Sri Lanka. On their trips, they saw that tourist hotspots were overcrowded while stunning but remote places could do with additional income from tourism. Those observations sparked off the birth of Ayu in the Wild in 2012, a destination specialist that is bent on showcasing the beauty of life in biodiverse SL while more..

Jan 13 (FT) CEB yesterday confirmed that the higher tariff will be effective from 1 Jan 2023 until the regulator PUCSL comes with its final recommendation by 15 Feb. The move was announced by CEB General Manager Rohan Siriwardena in accordance with the amendments to the Public Policy Guidelines currently in force regarding the Power Industry. Following the first upward revision of 75% in August last year, CEB proposed a similar hike from 1 January 2023. more..

Jan 13 (AFP) Sri Lanka will slash its army by a third to 135,000 personnel by next year and to 100,000 by 2030, state minister of defence has said, as the country tries to cut costs in the face of its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades. "Military spending is basically state-borne expenditure which indirectly stimulates and opens avenues for economic growth by way of assuring national and human security," more..

Jan 13 (AD) Secretary-General of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Stephen Twigg, who is on an official visit to SL, has called on Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe today. The meeting took place at the Prez Secretariat this morning. Senior Advisor to the Prez on National Security and Chief of Staff of the Prez Sagala Ratnayake was also present on this occasion. Mr. Twigg, who is on an official visit to SL, met with PM Dinesh Gunawardena and Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry yesterday. more..

Jan 13 (EN) Shares edged down on Friday on weak macroeconomic sentiments on constant delays on the IMF loan that was supposed be acquired by the first quarter of 2023, analyst said. “Bourse closed the week on a negative note as investor sentiment weaken over a possible delay in Debt restructuring talks with bilateral creditors and a downgrade of SL banks’ ratings by Fitch,” First Capital Market Research said. “Accordingly, selling spree emerged on major banks where COMB largely more..

Jan 13 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe assured the private sector that he will look into the possibility of an extension of the debt moratorium to protect businesses and provide necessary relief. He said that CB Governor had been informed to look into this matter while protecting the banks. Prez made this revelation in his remarks at the Women Entrepreneur of the Year Pratibha Abhisheka 2022 awards ceremony more..

Jan 13 (DM) While highlighting that a criminal case should be filed against former Prez Maithripala Sirisena and others for failing to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks based on the Supreme Court ruling, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said their legal team is studying the SC verdict and how the Attorney General was acting upon the verdict. He said that the verdict however was not revealing the mastermind of the attack and that the govt should reveal the mastermind as well. more..

Jan 13 (EN) Inability to get debt assurances from bilateral creditors which has delayed a bailout by the IMF is taking a heavy toll on the people, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe has said. “[T]he delay to reach quick agreements with bi-lateral lenders has delayed the IMF Executive Board’s approval and the disbursement of funds,” Minister was quoted as saying at a Voice of Global South Summit G20. “The discussions are undergoing, and such technical issues and delays are taking a heavy toll more..

Jan 13 (CT) The CEB has put the owners of renewable energy (RE) power plants into jeopardy as the CEB has failed to pay them about Rs 40 billion, placing them in difficult situations with banks, CEB General Manager Rohan Seneviratne claimed. He claimed that of the Rs 40 billion, nearly Rs 3 billion must be paid to the owners of roof top solar panels. Seneviratne said that if the CEB cannot pay this Rs 40 billion, no person will make any future investments in renewable energy projects. more..

Jan 13 (TM) In the wake of the ITAK announcing that the party will contest separately at the upcoming LG poll, the other two constituent parties of the TTNA – TELO and PLOTE – had held preliminary discussions with the TMTK and two other parties operating in the N&E on the possibility of forming a coalition at the forthcoming poll. TMTK Leader MP C.V. Wigneswaran confirmed on Wednesday the possibility of the above and noted that these parties are most likely to sign MoU by this weekend. more..

Jan 13 (DM) Director of Special Investigation Unit of Police Dept SSP Wickramasinghe today informed court that he was threatened by SDIG Deshbandu Tennakoon for reporting facts to the court regarding the investigations into the money recovered by protesters inside Prez's House on 9th July. Filing a report before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage, SSP Wickremasinghe informed that he was threatened by SDIG more..

Jan 13 (AD) Fort Magistrate’s Court today ordered the Police Special Crimes Division to record a statement from former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa pertaining to the millions of rupees in cash found at Prez’s House during mass protests on 9 July 2022. The money was found by protesters on the 9 July 2022, when they stormed the prez residence during mass anti-govt protests. At least Rs. 17.5 million in cash was handed over to the Fort Police by the protesters who were at prez residence more..

Jan 13 (AD) The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Moneragala who was recently arrested in connection with a large haul of cannabis from his official residence has been interdicted with effect from 10 January. Accordingly, Moneragala SSP Sisira Kumara was interdicted by the IGP, effective from 10 January, Police Media Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa stated. The Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Ethimale Police Station was also arrested last evening in connection with the incident. more..

Jan 13 (FT) Despite global recession fears, SL’s tourism industry is upbeat with signs of a good start in 2023 with plans of comprehensive global promotions from next month. The industry is off to a promising start with average daily arrivals exceeding 3,200 as opposed to over 2,000 in December, marking it the highest since March 2022. SL has welcomed 30,832 tourists in the first 10 days of the month comprising 20,875 in the first week more..

Jan 13 (FT) Walkers Tours, a leading destination management company, is readying to welcome two cruises, MS Amera and MS Artania belonging to the Phoenix Reisen, Germany. The cruises carrying German nationals are expected to arrive this week and the third week of January. MS Amera, a mid-sized premium category passenger cruise vessel with the capacity of 835 passengers and 440 crew members will call at Colombo on 12 January. She will stay in Colombo Port & leave on 13 Jan. more..

Jan 13 (DM) Dudley Sirisena, brother of former Prez Maithripala Sirisena said today the Supreme Court had not ordered him to pay compensation to Easter Sunday victims but it was his brother Maithripala who had to pay the compensation. He made these remarks when journalists questioned if he would be offering monetary help to his brother to pay the compensation monies. The SC yesterday ordered former Prez Sirisena to pay a sum of Rs.100 mil as damages to victims of Easter Sunday attacks. more..

Jan 14 (ST) After studying and working in Japan and living there for some years, Vernan Perera decided to come back with his wife and son and settle down in SL. He and his wife wanted to serve the motherland, while educating their son in the SL way. He decided to renovate his ancestral house located away from Colombo, which was in a dilapidated status, while staying in a rented house in the suburbs of Colombo. However, living here was not as disciplined as in Japan so that more..

Jan 14 (DM) YouTube video released by Social media activist Sepal Amarasinghe making derogatory remarks on the sacred tooth relic and Dalada Maligawa in Kandy has opened a can of worms as expected. However, the controversies over the local govt election related issues and the disunity among the southern nationalistic groups have apparently eclipsed the matter. However, the video has brought two issues – blasphemy or insulting religion and limitations of freedom more..