May 8 (TM) Noting that the number of employees of the CEB must be reduced in order for it to become a profitable institution, the Chairman of the PUCSL, Janaka Ratnayake, said that the proposed amendments to the SL Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009 do not make any related changes. He said: "The CEB currently has more than 22,000 employees. It is mandatory to reduce the number of employees if it is to recover from the loss-making status. But, the proposed amendments do not contribute more..

May 8 (TT) “Hashem Ashjazedah expressed Iran’s friendship with this gift as a statement of solidarity in this difficult time,” says Minister Kehelaiya Rambukwella, expressing his gratitude for the grant. Iran expects to increase the exports of medicine to around $200 million in the current year that started on March 21, from some $60 million last year. “The increase in drug production is supported by stable supply for exports, and our forecast for exports in the current year is $200 million,” more..

May 8 (EN) Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) has accused the govt of trying to distribute responsibility for the country’s agreement with the IMF. FPC frontliner said that the govt broke convention to debate and pass the IMF deal in parliament to escape any blowback from the public. There is no tradition of parliament approving an agreement with the IMF, nor is there a legal requirement for it, said Peiris. more..

May 8 (TM) Working Committee of the SJB, which is slated to meet today, will discuss the initiation of disciplinary action against SJB MP A.H.M. Fowzie, who voted in favour of the Resolution for the implementation of the arrangements under the IMF's EFF. While the SJB had decided not to take part in the vote for the said Resolution which took place late last month, Fowzie, who entered Parliament following the resignation of then-MP Mujibur Rahman, voted in favour of it. more..

May 8 (CT) There are over 300 vacancies for nurses at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital (Kalubowila Hospital) at the moment, the World Bank (WB) in a recent report stated. The WB study titled Establishing day-surgery units in SL’s hospitals: Key issues and options dated March 2023, further stated that a similar situation has also been found at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. “The cost of living in Colombo and other large cities is expensive, while nurse remuneration was low. more..

May 8 (AD) A couple and another person who were arrested over the death of a 16-year-old girl in Kalutara have been ordered to be remanded in custody until May 15, after being produced before the Kalutara Magistrate’s Court. A naked body of a schoolgirl who had died after falling from the third floor of a five-story building where rooms are rented, and located next to the railway line in Kalutara city was discovered on May 6, more..

May 8 (AD) The Department of Motor Traffic has decided to blacklist the vehicles that have not obtained revenue licenses for 05 years and to remove them from the information system of the department. Making a special statement, Motor Traffic Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha stated that although 8.3 million vehicles have currently been registered in the Department of Motor Traffic, only 6 million vehicles have been registered through the QR code system. more..

May 8 (AD) Chairman of PUCSL Janaka Ratnayake says that the electricity consumers should receive an immediate electricity tariff reduction of approximately 20% given the facts of reduced the electricity demand in SL, reduced exchange rate and reduced fuel prices. “According to the tariff requested by CEB on 5th January this year, CEB had estimated an electricity demand of 16,520 GWh for 2023, expecting a revenue of Rs. 722 billion for CEB, from energy sales. more..

May 9 (DM) Leaders and people of SL cannot be content with the country having been ranked 135th among 180 countries in this year’s World Press Freedom index (WPFI) released by the Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), one of the premier international organizations acting with the stated aim of safeguarding the right to freedom of information. The Index has been released every year since 2002 on the World Press Freedom Day which falls on May 3. RSF has been compiling and publishing more..

May 9 (DM) Former Prez J.R.Jayewardene was once, in around 1988, taking questions from an audience at the SL Law College during a meeting where he delivered a lecture on something about democracy. The writer was covering the event for the now defunct Tamil daily, the Dinapathi. An elderly Tamil person stood and attempted to point out the contradiction between the theme of the lecture Jayewardene delivered and the practical side of it during his tenure as President. more..

May 9 (DM) Reviving the Colombo Light Rail Transport (LRT), abruptly suspended in 2020, makes eminent sense from the transport point of view. But collaborator Japan’s re-entry into the project is tied to tough pre-conditions set by Tokyo, it is reliably learnt. Japanese sources said that SL will have to ensure that foreign investments are safeguarded; the country’s financial condition is stable; int'l debt restructuring process more..

May 9 (GV) At a time when everyone is taking a stand on everything, abstentions only show that you don’t want to take a stand on anything. The SJB, the country’s main opposition, chose to abstain from the vote on the IMF deal. Dayan Jayatilleka’s take on the decision, which SJB MPs justify on the grounds that the deal was not presented properly to parliament, is by far the best: by abstaining, SJB copped out and by copping out it essentially deprived itself of the best opportunity since more..

May 9 (CT) SL authorities usually leave no stone unturned when they search the your fault mine for the glistening blaming gems. They go over it with a fine tooth comb when they want to point fingers at the public for supposedly disrupting the flow of tourism and dollars into the country. But like most things with SL authorities, when they deserve that slice of cake, they’d generously pass it on for someone else to eat it. As no one has forgotten, during the incredibly hard times more..

May 9 (TM) The socio-economic crisis that led to a number of changes in SL’s social, economic, and political spheres had different impacts on different groups. While the crisis motivated as much as 50.3% of Sri Lankans to become more politically engaged, some disengaged from politics due to the same. In the case of some individuals, it did not result in any difference. According to two survey reports that cover more..

May 9 (TM) Reports that Presidential Secretariat has informed four Governors – i.e. Eastern Provincial Governor Anuradha Yahampath, North Western Provincial Governor and Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Uva Provincial Governor A.J.M. Muzammil, and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa – to resign from their Governor posts, and that UNP Leader and Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is to appoint their successors after the Prez’s return from the UK, attracted more..

May 9 (Island) About 40% of Sri Lankans have adopted livelihood-based coping strategies in view of the current economic crisis and chosen to curtail expenditure on education and health, according to a Central Bank document. In other words, due to a drastic decline in their real income, they have had to prioritise their basic needs such as food for want of a better alternative, and they are left without enough money, at the end of the month, to pay for education and healthcare, unlike in the past. more..

May 9 (ST) Leg-spinning all-rounder Dushan Hemantha was on the verge of making his international debut during the second Test match between SL and Ireland played at Galle. But a change of hearts by the team think-tank his prolonged international debut. SL played an unchanged XI in second game, playing two spinners and two fast bowlers as in the first one and the wait continues for Hemantha who is in his late 20s now. He was drafted into the test side more..

May 9 (Island) Last week’s Kuppi column, by Kaushalya Perera, focused on labour concerns at state universities and the impact of measures taken by the govt on the recruitment and retention of academic staff. In this article, I specifically draw attention to the factors that affect attracting and retaining young lecturers and their career development in the state university system, especially at a time of economic crisis. To do this, I will use my own experiences and those more..

May 9 (TM) Although there should be three batches of students receiving training in nursing schools at any given time, only one batch is currently receiving training in the 17 nursing schools across the Island, and the same will therefore have a serious impact on the requirement of nurses, claimed All Ceylon Nurses' Union (ACNU). ACNU President, S.B. Mediwatte said: “There are 17 nursing schools in the country. more..

May 9 (ST) Last week in many countries where a free press still flickers despite the creeping hand of authoritarianism that stretches to snuff it out, World Press Freedom Day was observed for the 30th consecutive year. It was particularly so in countries that have seen the killing and disappearance of journalist colleagues either by the hand of the state or by those who have most to fear by the exposure of their malfeasance or politically or religiously-driven acts of terrorism more..

May 9 (ST) The recent trading suspension of key managers in stockbroking by the stock market regulator for share price manipulation of Ceylon Grain Elevators (CGE) will put former central bankers (CB) in trouble. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) issued directives suspending Sriyan Gurusinghe and Dinal Wijemanne who were trading at Ceylinco Stockbrokers and Taprobane Securities respectively, from the industry for selling shares of Ceylon Grain Elevators more..

May 9 (FT) Seylan Bank has begun the new financial year on a strong note, with Q1 2023 recording a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs. 1.7 billion reflecting a robust year on year growth of 17.26%. Supporting the bottom line, Profit After Tax (PAT) was Rs. 1.135 billion in 1Q 2023, a 7.69% increase over the corresponding 2022 period. Contributing significantly to the bank’s profit momentum was a surge in Net Interest Income (NII) by 67.98% for the period under review. more..

May 9 (ST) China’s imports from SL from January to March have dropped to US$ 93.74 million this year, and a substantial trade surplus remains in China’s favour for the three months. China imported goods worth US$ 93.74 million (Rs 29.94 billion, down by 3.9%), while exporting shipments valued at US$ 759.80m (Rs 242.55 billion, down by 40.2%) to Colombo from January to March, China Customs data show. For many decades, bilateral trade has been substantially in favour of China more..

May 9 (TM) Electricity consumers should receive an immediate electricity tariff reduction by approximately 20%, given the recent reduction in the demand for electricity, foreign exchange rates and fuel prices, said PUCSL Chairman, Janaka Ratnayake. He said: “According to the tariff hike requested by the CEB in January, an electricity demand of gigawatt hours (GWh) 16,520 had been estimated for 2023, more..

May 9 (TM) Media reports emerged that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly received support from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to move this year’s Asia Cup out of Pakistan. This is a big setback for Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who was planning to schedule the elite continental tournament in the nation. Furthermore, according to the reports B'desh and SL are both eager to host the tournament if it is relocated from Pakistan. more..

May 9 (FT) SL has welcomed over 18,000 tourists during the first week of the month, propelling the impetus to reach the monthly target of 75,989 arrivals. SL received 18,401 tourists during the first 7 days of the month, led by Indian travellers. The first-week arrivals have also pushed the cumulative figure to date to 459,578, propelling the impetus to continue in the year 2023. After regaining its place as the top source market in the first week of May, India continues to grow reflecting 26% more..

May 9 (Island) For the second consecutive day an Asian Youth C'ship medallist topped track event performances as meet records continued to fall at the Junior National Athletics C'ships continued at Diyagama on Monday. Commonwealth Youth Games hopeful Ayomal Akalanka of Ambagamuwa Central took 26 miliseconds off the meet record held by an alumni of his school, Dhanuka Dharshana to win more..

May 9 (Island) SL Red Cross Society (SLRCS), the country’s largest humanitarian organisation, commemorated World Red Cross and Red Crescent (WRCRC) Day 2023 with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, celebrating the power of community and people helping people in times of crises and day-to-day life, encapsulated in this year’s theme #FromTheHeart, said a release from the SLRCS. In honour of WRCRC Day 2023, branches of SLRCS in the 25 districts, more..

May 9 (Island) Opposition parties have agreed to close ranks to resist the anti-people policies of the govt, FPC member, MP Nalaka Godahewa says. Godahewa said, in Colombo, that there were many serious problems regarding the anti-terrorism Bill, the IMF agreement, and the proposed Central Bank law. “If you look at the draft law on the Central Bank, the Supreme Court has made about 45 alternative suggestions. Let’s see whether the govt will amend the Bill accordingly. more..

May 9 (TM) Against the backdrop of reports that certain SLPP Govt Members are expecting SLPP National Organiser and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to become the Party Leader, there will however be no change of any positions within the Party any time soon, The Daily Morning learned. It was recently reported that loyalists of Rajapaksa were promoting him as the Party Leader but that many SLPP members were of the view that such a move would make the SLPP unpopular. more..

May 9 (CT) Disagreements have emerged, between political party representatives in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, over forthcoming discussion with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. According to the sources within these political parties, although most of the political party representatives from the North have received invitations for this discussion, such invitations have not been received as yet by their counterparts in the East leading to disunity amongst them. more..

May 9 (Island) The Opposition lambasted Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena for what it called a move to disrupt the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) ahead of the vote on a Bill titled Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Top spokespersons for the NJS Prof. G.L. Peiris, MP, and SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva frowned on the indefinite postponement of the appointment of the Chairman of the watchdog committee. more..

May 9 (EN) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has lost 615.1 billion rupees in 2022 despite price hikes, with 527 billion rupees coming from a forex loss as the rupee collapsed, central bank data showed. “Financial performance of CPC worsened further in 2022, largely driven by losses due to significant depreciation of the exchange rate, despite the cost reflective price revisions, which were mostly implemented in the second half of 2022,” the central bank said in its annual report. more..

May 9 (FT) SJB has decided to not join the current Govt or to accept any positions in it. While various members of the party had expressed the party’s stance to refuse Prez Wickremesinghe’s offer to form a national govt, it was only officially ruled out by the Working Committee during yesterday’s meeting in Colombo. The committee has also decided to field a candidate for the next presidential election. The key decisions were taken and approved unanimously at a special WC meeting more..

May 9 (DM) The eyesight of ten individuals who had undergone eye surgeries at the Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital have weakened due to complications caused by the use of Prednisolone, an eye drop imported from India, Health Ministry sources said. According to the sources, this is due to issues found in the medicine. Prednisolone eye drops is used to treat mild to moderate non-infectious eye allergies and inflammation, including damage caused by chemical & thermal burns. more..