Sep 11 (TM) SLPP will not consider any action against TMVP Leader, State Minister, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, despite the allegations in the recent Channel 4 documentary, linking him with the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019. UK-based Channel 4 on 5 Sept broadcast the controversial documentary titled SL’s Easter Bombings, and it contains startling accusations pertaining to terror attacks on 21 Apr 2019. more..

Sep 11 (EN) A tax scam involving fake revenue stickers on alcohol bottles is being let go with fines when it appears to involve criminal wrongdoing, MP Buddhika Pathirana has questioned in parliament. State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said raids have so far found close to 100,000 bottles and 43,776 quarter bottles (180 ml) packs were confirmed to have fake stickers. Stickers can be detected using visual inspection, with the aid of a special torch & through other forensic means, more..

Sep 11 (IDR) The recent video documentary released by Channel 4 in the UK is akin to a good tale told by a storyteller full of sound and fury, but signifying nothing. It is a basic principle in media ethics that one should always disclose the sources of their information to verify the authenticity of their story, if not it is likely to be a narrative grounded on imagination. As a matter of fact, theory developed by Channel 4 in the UK suggesting that Sri Lanka’s Easter attacks were carried out more..

Sep 11 (AD) Minister Keheliya Rambukwella has reportedly given approval for the commencement of operations of three private medical universities. He stated that the relevant universities have already commenced operations. Commenting on the recent controversies surrounding the provision of medial degrees at private universities, the Minister stated there are many children who are eligible to study medicine, but we have only 11 universities in our country, which is insufficient. more..

Sep 11 (FT) UDA announced calls for Request for Proposals (RFPs) to restore and develop two unique and iconic properties in the city of Colombo. He said the UDA has commenced the renovation of the dilapidated and historical buildings island-wide that are designated under the Dept of Archaeology as economically viable adaptive uses such as shopping malls and tourism-related activities by preserving their original architectural features whilst adding modern features and amenities. more..

Sep 11 (Island) MP Champika Ranawaka has questioned the circumstances under which the Rajapaksas granted amnesty to 12,600 LTTE cadres following the successful conclusion of the war in May 2009. However, some of them were released during Yahapalana administration (2015-2019) in which Ranawaka served as a Cabinet Minister. Ranawaka has also sought an explanation from former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa and more..

Sep 11 (CI) India made a bright start to the game with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scoring half-centuries at better than a run a ball in an opening stand of 121. Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled an expensive first spell while Naseem Shah was luckless at the other end, beating Rohit's bat repeatedly with outswing and extra bounce. Pakistan recovered some control by dismissing both openers within eight balls of each other - with Shaheen returning after going off the field with more..

Sep 11 (AD) Information & Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) has officially confirmed a severe data loss incident affecting all govt offices using the gov.lk email domain. Issuing a notice in this regard, the Director for Strategic Communications at ICTA confirmed that several govt offices using the gov.lk email domain including the Cabinet Office, was affected by the data loss which is believed to have been caused by a large-scale ransomware attack between 17 May - 26 Aug more..

Sep 11 (FT) Sri Lanka’s tourism earnings surpassed over $ 1.3 billion in the first eight months of 2023, in tandem with over 930,000 visitors SL welcomed from January to date. Tourism earnings in the first eight months of 2023 were over $ 1.3 billion, reflecting a 56.7% increase from the corresponding period of last year, whilst August earnings stood at $ 210.5 million. In a month-to-month comparison, August earnings experienced a 3.88% decrease compared to July, more..

Sep 11 (ST) Senior officials of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) style regional inter-governmental body, were in Colombo this week to help and ‘nudge’ the country to address the gaps in money laundering and related areas. Sri Lanka is to undergo the third annual mutual evaluation by the APG in 18 months and the current visit by its officials is to point Sri Lanka in the right direction, officials said on Thursday. more..

Sep 11 (FT) Ceylon Chamber of Commerce urged Govt to reconsider its recent decision to abolish the Simplified Value Added Tax (SVAT) system given the impact it will have on functioning of the export industry. “This comes at a critical time when SL has seen a significant dip in exports of over 10% in 2023 so far, along with a staggering 19% decrease in apparel exports with expectation for weak external demand to continue” more..

Sep 11 (DM) Sri Lanka has observed 74% increase in workers’ remittances during the first eight months of 2023, reaching nearly US$ 4 billion, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. Workers’ remittances in August 2023 increased to US$ 499.2 million, a substantial uptick from the US$ 325.4 million received in Aug 2022. However, this figure remained below the six-year average of US$ 584 million for the month of August spanning from 2015 to 2020. more..

Sep 11 (DM) Forensic Medical Experts and archaeologists continuing excavations in what security forces believe to be a mass grave at Kokkutuduwai in Mullaitivu had on Saturday recovered complete skeletal remains of two bodies. JMO Mullaitivu Hospital Kanakasabhapathi Vasudeva said fragmented skeletal remains of another three bodies had also been recovered on Thursday. He said the fragments of decayed uniforms similar to those of security forces, more..

Sep 11 (TM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to appoint a committee chaired by a retired Supreme Court (SC) judge to inquire into the recent allegations made in a controversial documentary produced by Britain's Channel 4 on the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019. While a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge would be appointed to look into the allegations, Govt intends to appoint more..

Sep 11 (EN) CSE said it plans to allow regulated short selling of stocks subject to some rules. A short seller will first have to borrow stocks through a stock borrowing and lending agreement. When the price of a share eligible for RSS declines by 10% from its previous closing price, the Uptick Rule will come into effect. Under the Uptick Rule, a short sell order must be at least one tick size above the last traded price of the share. Uptick Rule reduces potential market manipulation and volatility. more..

Sep 11 (FT) Whether it was a politically strategic or principled decision, RW’s initiative to implement the 13th Amendment (13A) has raised fears in the different communities for different reasons. Among them the Muslim community, almost one third of which live in the north and east of the country, is raising concerns over their future in a Tamil dominated single mega province or two separate provinces with powers devolved as per the provisions in 13A. more..

Sep 11 (PTI) Pakistan team's current media manager Umar Farooq Kalson and board's GM (International Cricket) Adnan Ali are under scanner after pictures and video footages emerged of the duo visiting a Colombo casino. Both are in Colombo in official capacity as a part of the Pakistani contingent for the ongoing Asia Cup and visiting a gambling den is sure to attract attention of ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit as it is one of the prohibited places as per code of conduct. more..

Sep 11 (FT) Modern economies are called knowledge economies because they rely on human knowledge for economic prosperity. However, this designation describes a modern economy only partly. Instead, they should appropriately be called innovation economies. That is because knowledge or invention alone is a lame duck incapable of delivering prosperity. For knowledge to be effectively used, there should be entrepreneurs who would use that knowledge in viable commercial more..

Sep 11 (EN) SL’s foreign reserves, which are now at US$ 3.6 billion following a dip in August, is still a significant improvement from negative reserves just last year and are in line with targets, State MInister Ranjith Siyamabalapitiya said. He said SL may have to manage its existing reserves and use it to appreciate the rupee and to service some debt. “Though it is said we’re not repaying loans at the moment, more..

Sep 11 (NR) A 4.6 magnitude earth tremor on the Richter scale has been recorded in seas off Batticaloa. Geological Survey and Mines Bureau said the tremor was reported 310km off the coast of Batticaloa at around 1.30am. Geological Survey and Mines Bureau meanwhile urged the general public not to panic as there is no risk of tsunami following the tremor. Bureau noted that only quakes with a magnitude of 6.5 or 7 on the Richter scale pose a potential tsunami threat. more..

Sep 11 (CNA) A SL man was charged on Monday (11) with the murder of his wife after her body was found at a hotel in Katong. Eshan Koottage, 30, is accused of murdering his wife Sewwandi Maduka Kumari sometime between 10.45am and 4.42pm on Sep 9 at Holiday Inn Express Katong Square, located at 88 East Coast Road. The charge sheet did not state how the alleged act was committed. SL man, dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt, was handed charge via videolink in State Courts. more..

Sep 11 (TM) GMOA urged the Govt to ensure proper feasibility tests are conducted prior to the establishment of non-state medical faculties if the Govt intends to expand medical education in SL. When asked about a statement made by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe that plans have been made to establish the first non-state medical faculty in SL, GMOA Spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said that establishment of a new medical faculty more..

Sep 11 (AD) Notorious underworld figures Harak Kata and Kudu Salindu have agreed to withdraw the writ petitions filed by them seeking a court order invalidating the detention orders issued permitting for the two to be detained by the CID. The matter was conveyed to the Court of Appeal on Monday (11), by Prez’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetti, when petitions filed by the duo seeking an order that the Director of the CID to ensure their safety while in CID custody was more..

Sep 11 (GUK) Statement on report of OHCHR on promoting reconciliation, accountability & human rights in SL. Delivered by UK Ambassador to UN Simon Manley. Thank you Madam Vice Prez, Deputy-High Commissioner, let me thank you for your report and update. UK welcomes SL’s initial commitments to implement devolution in line with the constitution, to address land issues, and to advance governance legislation. It is important that these commitments are matched by tangible more..

Sep 11 (DM) A billion rupee project to clean up Beira Lake had got off the ground with the foreign Partner of the project Grepo Pvt Ltd already installing machinery to clean up the lake. CEO of Grepo Pvt Ltd Masasi Onsu told journalists that his company will use 'Nanobubble Technology' to clean up Beira Lake. "We will activate the bacteria that is located at the bottom of the lake. These bacteria, once activated, will in turn take away carbon dioxide and methane gases, which will clean up more..

Sep 11 (CT) There is a shortage of over 600 personnel at the 1990 Suwa Seriya Foundation, with 321 vacancies specifically for drivers, a senior official said. Despite the approved total staff count being 1,992, the actual number of employees stands at 1,390. This shortfall could pose a challenge to the continuity of services provided by the SuwaSeriya Foundation. Additionally, it was noted that 25 ambulances, obtained through a finance lease system in 1990, remained parked in more..

Sep 11 (AD) The UN’s deputy rights chief Nada al-Nashif says that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has repeatedly called for an independent international investigation into the Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019. Delivering the oral report on SL at the first meeting of the 54th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council currently ongoing in Geneva, the Deputy High Commissioner of Human Rights more..

Sep 11 (AD) The four police personnel arrested over their alleged involvement in the custodial death of R. Rajakumari, a housemaid, have been further remanded until 18 Sept, on orders of the Colombo Magistrate’s Court. The relevant order was issued by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harsha Kekunawala when the case was brought before the court this morning (11). Three of the four suspects, two Police Sergeants and a Constable, were scheduled to be referred to an identification parade today, more..

Sep 11 (DM) In an obvious move targeting the Presidential Election next year, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his meeting with SLPP National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa, discussed yesterday the importance of announcing some relief measures for people in the upcoming budget. The President and Mr. Rajapaksa met as part of their regular political engagements. President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake was also present at the meeting, which lasted for about one hour. more..

Sep 11 (TM) Law Students' Union of SL (LSUSL) has raised concerns over the Extraordinary Gazette no 2313/49 dated 5 Jan, through which the fees charged by SL Law College (SLLC), has not been presented for Parliamentary approval thus far. Many types of fees including that for the General Entrance Exam charged by the SLLC had been raised through the said Extraordinary Gazette. LSUSL Prez Shenal Wijesinghe said more..

Sep 11 (EN) Shares closed down on Monday on profit taking in the banking sector and consumer services sector. ASPI was down 0.69% or 79.34 points to 11,386.73, while S&P SL20 was down 0.6% or 19.46 points to 3,228.90. “Overall market was in red because of profit taking in the banking sector,” an analyst said. Losers during trade were Commercial Bank, Sampath Bank and National Development Bank. “There was also profit taking the consumer services sector and the food and more..

Sep 11 (CT) Mulleriyawa Police have received a complaint accusing the Director of Base Hospital Mulleriyawa of allegedly taking samples belonging to the Mulleriyawa Consultant Judicial Medical Officer’s Office without informing the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO). Police sources said the Consultant JMO in charge of Mulleriyawa and NIDH (National Institute of Infectious Diseases), Angoda, in his complaint had accused the Director of having replaced the nurse in charge of the JMO office more..

Sep 11 (TM) Dept of Irrigation is conducting a study on the nature of the leaks at the right banks of the Samanalawewa reservoir, following recent heavy rains and the report will be sent to the CEB for further actions. Recently, it has been reported that approximately 78 million cubic metres of water leaks from the Samanalawewa hydropower reservoir annually, causing a staggering loss of Rs.2.7 billion. Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has also acknowledged the severity of the issue, more..

Sep 11 (CT) Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) expressed its strong displeasure at the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Department of Sports Development coming before the committee without preparation. This displeasure was expressed when the COPA, chaired by State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, met last week to discuss the AG’s reports for the years 2020 and 2021 and the current performance of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and Dept of Sports Development. more..

Sep 11 (CI) SL have had a history-making 12 months. It is difficult to overstate just how impressive they've been, compared to what had come before. Between Jan 2015 and Sept 2022 (just before the beginning of last year's Women's Asia Cup), SL had played 123 completed internationals and lost 100 of them. This is a win rate of 18.7%, and included in this are victories over sides such as Malaysia. SL had also lost to Thailand more..