Sep 2 (ST) Being a democracy, SL must have regular elections, while people used to enjoy them. Until the recent past, however, almost every year there has been some kind of an election somewhere in the country, if not the entire country. For about three years now, the country didn’t have any election, which is quite unusual in the SL political setting. Provincial Council elections were delayed for about four years, while local govt elections too have delayed for few months now. more..

Sep 2 (Island) Dharmaraja College batsman Pulindu Perera hogged the limelight with a match-deciding knock of 155 runs as Sri Lanka Under 19s registered a 51 runs victory over their West Indies counterparts to win the three-match Youth ODI series 2-1 at Dambulla yesterday. Chasing a target of 305 runs to win the visitors had their top order putting up a strong platform but bowlers led by left-arm spinner Vishwa Lahiru did well to contain the strong batting line up to 253 runs. more..

Sep 2 (FT) Indicating a robust turnaround of economic activities, SL’s imports expanded sharply in July by 7.8% year-on-year (YoY) to $ 1.36 billion marking significant shifts in trade dynamics. Imports in July increased compared to $ 1,287 million in July 2022 and $ 1,369 million in June 2023. CB noted that consumer goods and investment goods were the driving forces behind this import surge, whereas expenditure on more..

Sep 2 (DN) Eight talented SL swimmers, including six from the Killer Whale Aquatics (KWA), have embarked on their journey to compete in the prestigious World Junior Aquatic C'ships. 6-day c'ship is set to unfold in Netanya, Israel, from Sept 4 to Sept 9 and is anticipated to attract over 600 budding aquatic talents from more than 100 National Federations worldwide. SL contingent, equally divided between males and females, offers a rich blend of swimming skills. more..

Sep 2 (DN) Trinco Blu Sailing Regatte is back in action after a three year break and will be held on Saturday, Sept 2 on the sea of Trincomalee. Royal Colombo Yacht Club together with Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, started this regatta in 2009 will set sail to commemorate it for the 11th successive year. This regatta was strategically planned to attract tourists in Trincomalee. This year the beach front of Trinco Blu by Cinnamon will host a series of races, set against the picturesque backdrop of more..

Sep 2 (CI) Even in the hinterlands of the hill city of Kandy, excitement has built over their hosting of one of the world's great sporting encounters. It is not an unassuming city. The elites here will deride the capital as a crime-ridden, sweat-festival, on account of Kandy and its surrounds being a whole 500 metres higher than Colombo, and supposedly superior for its having resisted colonialism for three centuries longer than the coasts of SL. more..

Sep 2 (FT) Right to Information Commission of SL taking up a petition filed by a citizen ruled on Tuesday that Bar Association of SL (BASL) is considered a Public Authority and is therefore governed by the Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016. BASL had denied the appellant’s information request on 29 March, 2021, regarding complaints and petitions received by the association against Attorneys at law, citing Section 43 of the RTI Act, asserting that the BASL is not subject to more..

Sep 2 (FT) Central Bank yesterday announced that the Monetary Board decided to cancel the licence issued to Bimputh Finance (BFP), under the Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011 (FBA) with effect from 1 Sept 2023. Accordingly, BFP is not permitted to engage in finance business under the FBA with effect from 1 Sept 2023. “BFP, a licensed finance company under the Finance Business Act, No. 42 of 2011 (FBA) has continuously been violating/contravening provisions of the FBA, more..

Sep 2 (SLN) Indian Naval Ship (INS) Delhi arrived at the port of Colombo on a formal visit this morning (1). The visiting ship was welcomed by the SL Navy in compliance with naval tradition. INS Delhi is a 163.2m long Destroyer manned by a crew of 450 and the ship is commanded by Captain Abhishek Kumar. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the ship called on Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Suresh De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters this morning. more..

Sep 2 (Island) EducationUSA Fair organized by the US-SL Fulbright Commission, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Colombo, will have representatives of thirteen U.S. colleges and universities on Sept 5, from 2 – 6 pm in Colombo. The US mission announced that the first in-person U.S.-sponsored higher education fair in Sri Lanka since 2019 will take place at BMICH, Lotus Hall. The EducationUSA Fair is free and open to the public, but preregistration is required. more..

Sep 2 (Island) Two specialist doctors, Ajith Amarasinghe and Nilupul Perera, on behalf of the Eksath Janaraja Peramuna, have urged all MPs to sink their difference and vote for the no-faith motion against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. They emphasised that if the no-faith motion was passed that would help pressure the govt to take remedial measures. Both specialists explained how waste, corruption, mismanagement more..

Sep 2 (FT) SL’s construction industry continued to face headwinds in July 2023, amid lack of new projects with a total activity index value of 43.2. The Central Bank said industry players have grappled with challenging conditions, but there are glimmers of hope on the horizon. One notable trend has been the cautious optimism arising from a gradual decline in material costs. While many firms have remained dormant in the face of the industry’s challenges, ongoing projects have found a more more..

Sep 2 (AD) Showers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central and Northwestern provinces, the Department of Meteorology said in its weather forecast today (2). Heavy showers of about 100mm are likely at some places in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Showers or thundershowers are expected at several places in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts in the evening or at night. more..

Sep 2 (AD) Indian Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh’s visit to SL scheduled for 2-3 Sept has been deferred, High Commission of India in Colombo confirmed on Friday (1). Accordingly, fresh dates for the visit will be decided later. Shri Rajnath Singh was slated to visit the island nation tomorrow, to review bilateral defence ties between the two countries. He was expected to hold talks with Prez and PM, during which the entire gamut of India’s defence ties with SL were to be reviewed. more..

Sep 2 (CT) Minister Kanchana Wijesekara’s instructions to take legal action against the fuel station owners who violated licensing conditions by not maintaining a minimum fuel stock of 50%, when fuel prices were being revised, CPC has failed to do so against a single fuel station owner. According to the information obtained through a RTI request, between 1 Jan 2022 and 31 July this year, 822 complaints have been received with regard to not maintaining minimum fuel stocks and more..

Sep 2 (ST) Amid a sharp rise in illegal migration attempts due to the economic crisis, immigration authorities are warning people not to be deceived by racketeers who are seeking to profit from their desperation. On Wednesday, the Immigration and Emigration Dept’s Border Surveillance Unit (BSU) officers arrested a suspect who tried to travel to Canada via Dubai using a forged Canadian visa. more..

Sep 2 (DM) Since Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malclom Ranjith had slammed the govt authorities to name the group which supported the Easter Sunday bombers, Minister Tiran Allas invited him and the Church to go through the investigations and outline any shortcomings. “We have already informed the Church authorities to go through the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. Church is welcome to show any shortcomings with regard to the investigations which are almost completed. more..

Sep 2 (FT) Sinopec Energy SL announced revised fuel prices, but with a competitive edge over other two established players in the market — CEYPETCO and LIOC. China-based company wasted no time in making its presence felt by offering lower fuel prices compared to its local competitors. As per the latest price revision of Sinopec, a litre of 92 Octane Petrol is priced at Rs. 358, 95 Octane Petrol stands at Rs. 414, Auto Diesel at Rs. 338, Super Diesel at Rs. 356 and more..

Sep 2 (Island) Debt, a lack of education, and the ability to adapt to disasters are factors that make most Sri Lankans feel vulnerable, says a new report, released yesterday by the UNDP and Uni of Oxford’s Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). Policy Report puts forth SL’s first ever Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), which was derived using the National Citizen Survey (NCS) 2022-23 covering a representative sample of more..

Sep 3 (SO) QR Code system for fuel was terminated from Friday, possibly marking the end of a tumultuous era for the economy that began early last year. This period was marked by shortages of fuel, LP Gas and even essential foods caused by an acute lack of foreign exchange for imports. In fact, several people died in fuel queues that lasted for days on end as fuel supplies virtually ran out. Some profiteers made use of this opportunity to sell fuel in the black market for Rs.1,500 a litre to more..

Sep 3 (TM) At the height of India’s involvement in its southern neighbour’s domestic affairs, newly-elected Prez R. Premadasa, just 9 months in office, declared in a speech in 1989 that “we will never compromise our sovereignty or sell our independence to anyone”. He made sure his message hit home when he in the same breath declared: “However far, however close, or however powerful any nation may be, it has no right to maintain an unwelcome presence on our soil.” more..

Sep 3 (ST) TNA leader R. Sampanthan has written to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe expressing alarm over the recent unrest over the building of a Buddhist temple at Illuppaikulam in Trincomalee, warning that it could jeopardise planned foreign investments in the region. Mr Sampanthan has informed Prez that the building of the temple in a region where he claims 99% of the area residents are Tamil has led to unrest more..

Sep 3 (ST) repent and Return so that all sins may be wiped away seems to be the credo that the Netherlands is adopting to return some of the looted artifacts taken away from Lanka during its conquest of the island for nearly 150 years (1658-1796). It took two and a half centuries to express remorse for a historical wrongdoing amounting to theft, and eventually come out smelling of roses, or tulips, in the halo of publicity this week in Colombo by signing the transfer of the loot more..

Sep 3 (Island) This writing was inspired by the topical essay of Kingsley Wickramasuriya, retired Senior DIG, which dealt with the impact of politics on the police, and the pithy observation made by Rajan Phillips in his column of Aug 20 where he had, whilst discussing dangers that may affect provincial policing under the 13th Amendment, stated Nothing can be done provincially unless everything is reformed nationally. For a long time, total blame for political interferences more..

Sep 3 (TM) While gearing for the pending IMF review of the EFF scheduled for this month, the Ranil Wickremesinghe govt is looking at a possible delay in the finalising of the country’s debt restructuring programme. The debt restructuring programme was supposed to be finalised this month, with the SL Govt preparing its proposal to be presented to bilateral creditors in mid-September. However, it is now learnt that more..

Sep 3 (Island) The Finance State Minister is reported to have said that the Government of SL (GOSL) has decided to refund the five per cent withholding tax levy (WHT) deducted on the interest income of senior citizens after September 10 in case the interest income is less than Rs. 100,000 per month. He said this decision was taken with the Finance Minister, who is also the President, after considering the situation of senior citizens and the many requests to refund the WHT. more..

Sep 3 (TM) In 2021, 80% of Sri Lanka’s taxpayer money was used for salary and pension payments in the State sector. According to Minister Bandula Gunawardana, this was when Sri Lanka lost over Rs. 500 billion in tax revenue following the 2019 tax cuts by former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Fast forward to 2023, Govt, which is following the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of the IMF, has imposed higher tax rates to collect revenue to eventually achieve debt sustainability. more..

Sep 3 (ST) SL’s lagging performance in revenue collection has resulted in a significant shortfall from the estimated income during the past seven months on the eve of the forthcoming budget 2024 in Nov 2023, the National Council Sub-Committee on Economic Stabilisation has observed. The three revenue collection authorities have been able to collect Rs. 1,391 billion up to Aug 14 this year, less than 45% of the total estimate of Rs.3101 billion amidst the malfunctioning of RAMIS. more..

Sep 3 (CI) Chamari Athapaththu has proven herself to be "one of the best allrounders in the world", according to SL Women's head coach, Malinda Warnapura, who hailed her "scintillating" strokeplay after sealing a famous victory over England at Chelmsford. Athapaththu's 55 from 40 balls led a withering batting display from SL's top-order, as England's sub-par total of 104 was hunted down with 6.4 overs to spare. Her 21-run assault on Kate Cross's second over included more..

Sep 3 (TM) As Chinese-based Sinopec commenced operations in SL last week, poised to rake in significant profits, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the eagerly anticipated entry of two shortlisted US and Australian-based petroleum companies, RM Parks and United Petroleum. Sinopec’s commencement of operations coincided with a notable increase in local fuel prices by the Govt. more..

Sep 3 (Island) There’s a fair bit to be done for Sri Lanka to get back to their glory days in cricket, but you can safely say that the team has a taken huge strides to achieve that target. Yes, the drubbing by Pakistan at SSC and in Galle are still fresh in memories but Test cricket is one format where they have done reasonably well. It is the white ball formats the team has struggled, playing multiple qualifying tournaments in the last three years across T-20s and ODIs. more..

Sep 3 (Island) It is strange how the undergraduate unions have changed from what they were up to the latter half of the last century and the transformation to what they are at present. Students Unions were not legally mentioned in the 1942 Ordinance which established the University of Ceylon, transforming the existing University College to a fully-fledged university. But the Students Union existed both in Colombo and Peradeniya. They were never involved in protests or picketing at any time. more..

Sep 3 (ST) With all that hype of a war minus the shooting, rain played spoilsport as the Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan was called off at Pallekele. Thus Pakistan booked their place in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup, with three points to their credit. Pakistan collected two points after beating Nepal by 238 runs on Wednesday and they earned another one point as yesterday’s match was called off. India batted first and were dismissed for 266 but the Pakistani batters could not more..

Sep 3 (AD) Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Mannar included to form SL’s second Coconut Triangle Sri Lanka’s second Coconut Triangle was launched in the Northern Province on Saturday, in view of World Coconut Day. Accordingly, the Jaffna, Mannar and Mullaitivu districts formed the country’s second Coconut Triangle, which was officially launched at a ceremony held at the Palai Coconut Model Garden in Jaffna. SL’s coconut export revenue has significantly increased in recent years. more..

Sep 3 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that it was suspending all board-run domestic tournaments in the country, a move understood to have stemmed from a dispute surrounding the restructuring of these tournaments. "SLC has decided to immediately halt all board-conducted domestic tournaments," SLC stated. "This includes the ongoing Major Club 3-Day Tournament and also Invitational Club Tier 'B' 3-Day Tournament." more..