Aug 21 (NW) NPP Leader and prez candidate MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake engaged in a discussion with members of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) today. The discussion took place with ACJU President Mufti M.I.M. Rizwe, General Secretary Ash-Shaikh M. Arkam Nooramith, and Treasurer Ash-Shaikh Dr. Ahmed Azwar at the ACJU’s head office in Colombo. The discussion focused on the current political state of the country, while MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake more..

Aug 21 (CT) Election Commission has no issue with the Gas Cylinder symbol chosen by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is running as an independent candidate in the upcoming Prez Election, Election Commission Chairman, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said. He explained that the gazette notification published for the Prez Election has two sections: the first part lists the symbols of recognised political parties, and the second part details the symbols available to other parties and independent candidates. more..

Aug 21 (AD) Badulla District MP Vadivel Suresh has been appointed as the State Minister of Labour. Meanwhile, MP Ali Zahir Moulana has been appointed as the Non Cabinet Minister of Development Projects. They were sworn in before Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe today (21). Vadivel Suresh had been elected to the parliament in the 2020 general election from the SJB representing the Badulla District. more..

Aug 21 (AD) SJB member Bandula Lal Bandarigoda was sworn in as a MP this morning, filling the vacancy created by the removal of former Galle District MP Manusha Nanayakkara. He took oaths before the Speaker following the commencement of the parliamentary proceedings at 9.30 a.m. today. On 9 August 2024, the Supreme Court determined that the SJB's decision to expel then Galle District MP Manusha Nanayakkara and the National List MP Harin Fernando from the party is legally valid. more..

Aug 21 (DM) USS Okane of the US Navy arrived at the port of Colombo on a replenishment visit today. SL Navy warmly welcomed the ship upon its arrival. USS Okane, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer stretching 154 metres in length, is operated by a crew of 328 personnel. The ship is under the command of Commander Richard Ray. Following the completion of replenishments, she is scheduled to depart the island tomorrow (22). On Monday, USS Spruance of the US Navy also arrived more..

Aug 21 (AD) An individual has been arrested for allegedly murdering his mother-in-law and causing serious injuries to his wife and daughter at Lewangama. An investigation was launched after receiving a complaint regarding the incident, where a woman had been killed and two other females had been injured, which had occurred last evening in the Lewangama area of the Galapitamada police division. The deceased, a 55-year-old woman from Atalawatta, Lewangama, was reportedly more..

Aug 21 (AD) SLPP Matara District MP Karunadasa Kodithuwakku has decided to crossover to the opposition in the Parliament. Delivering a special statement in Parliament today (21) to announce the decision, the MP declared that he will be supporting Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming presidential election, for the benefit of the country’s future and the economy. After concluding his speech, Kodithuwakku took his seat among the opposition MPs in the Parliament. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Election Commission (EC) yesterday said it did not scrutinise the agreements various political parties entered into in the run-up to the prez election. A top EC official said so when asked whether such agreements were perused by the EC as the registration of political parties required the acceptance of their constitutions and their compatibility with the country’s Constitution. Both Prez and independent candidate more..

Aug 21 (AD) Sri Lanka Police says that a total of 1,417 persons have died from the road accidents that have occurred within the period that has elapsed so far this year. The Director of the Traffic Administration and Road Safety Division, DIG Indika Hapugoda says that annually around 1,000 fatalities are reported due the motorcycle accidents. He added that out of the more than 3,000 road accidents that occur each year, one-third are fatalities caused by motorcycle accidents. more..

Aug 21 (DM) The tally of dengue cases recorded for 2024 has topped the 35,000 mark. As of August 20, a total of 35,375 cases have been reported in 2024, with the highest number being from the Colombo district, which stood at 8,599. Western Province has recorded 14,448 cases, the highest province-wise while the month of August has also logged 2,630 Dengue cases. Due to recent heavy rainfall in several parts of SL, health officials are urging people to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings more..

Aug 21 (TM) Election Commission (EC) warned that any Prez candidate who violates election-related regulations, including those pertaining to campaign financing may face severe penalties, including the suspension of office, the loss of civic rights, and the revocation of voting rights, even if elected as the Prez. EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that the Gazette notification pertaining to expenditure limits on the more..

Aug 21 (Island) The Indian High Commission said that the govt of India had extended a grant assistance of USD 63.65 million to the govt of SL for rehabilitation of the KKS Harbour, which was earlier envisaged to be undertaken under a Line of Credit. This is in line with India’s commitment to supporting SL’s economic recovery and its journey towards progress and prosperity, in close partnership with India. The HC spokesperson said so in a press release that dealt with the resumption of more..

Aug 21 (AD) The Maliban Group – a household name in SL with a 70-year heritage in quality and taste – has announced a significant leadership transition, with Ms. Kumudika Fernando being appointed as Chairperson of the Group, with effect from the 15th of Aug 2024. This appointment follows the recent passing of Mr. Ratnapala Samaraweera, the previously-serving Chairman of the Maliban Group, who is also Ms Fernando’s father. Mr Samaraweera was the son of the late more..

Aug 21 (AD) The second draft of the strategic plan of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance has been presented to the representatives of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) on Wednesday. The representatives of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce had met with the Prez Candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance and leader of the Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP) entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera at the headquarters of MJP this morning. The meeting took place under more..

Aug 21 (AD) The US has commended SL’s commitment to 70% renewable energy by 2030 and its proactive role in global climate initiatives. U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Jennifer Littlejohn, who is currently on an official visit to Sri Lanka, accompanied by US Ambassador to SL Julie Chung, had held separate meetings with SL’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and Prez Advisor on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene more..

Aug 21 (EN) Sri Lanka is in the process of finalizing 10 mining companies which have been looking to invest in the island nation’s mining for a long time amid change in the mining regulation, State Minister Dilum Amunugama said. Cabinet in August 2023 approved several proposals by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe aimed at promoting foreign and local investment in the country’s mineral industry to boost revenues in a sector which more..

Aug 21 (EN) A net profit of 93 billion rupees made by Sri Lanka’s state power utility the CEB was used to settle outstanding debt, the Minister of Power and Energy said. “The net profit of Rs 93 Billion by June 2024 has been utilized to pay the outstanding amounts to Renewable energy developers, Thermal power plants, Coal Procurement, Local suppliers, Dues to major projects, Roof top solar & Short term banking facilities,” Kanchana Wijesekera said on X (twitter). more..

Aug 21 (CT) Arugam Bay area in Pottuvil has recently seen a surge in tourists. Thus, efforts are underway to develop Arugam Bay Beach into a major tourist destination. Certain coastal areas in the Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara Districts of the Eastern Province have gained international recognition. Similarly, Arugam Bay coastal region, located within the Pottuvil DS Division of the Ampara District, attracts thousands of local and foreign tourists daily due to its unique features. more..

Aug 21 (NW) The Sri Lankan government has announced visa-free access for citizens of 35 countries, including major nations like the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, India, Russia, South Korea, and Japan. This initiative will take effect from October 1, 2024, and will last for six months. The decision, approved by the Cabinet. more..

Aug 21 (NW) A female doctor has been arrested on charges of having allegedly stolen dry rations worth Rs. 5000 from a supermarket. Kiribathgoda Police arrested the doctor in Makola on Monday. She was seized by the security officials at the supermarket when she attempted to leave the supermarket with a Rs. 1700 tea leaves packet. After being handed over to the management, supermarket officials inspected her bag and found three chocolates, a milk powder tin, and a packet of sausages. more..

Aug 21 (Island) Former Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy has recently said the next new govt’s slogan should be consensus and consistency in implementing the economic policy reform framework that has been agreed with the IMF to achieve economic growth targets and stability. Dr. Coomaraswamy said so at a webinar jointly hosted by the Pathfinder Foundation (PF) and the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) at the National Uni of Singapore that dealt with domestic politics more..

Aug 22 (CT) Prez Election on 21 Sept 2024, if allowed to take place peacefully as scheduled, would be one like no other, because it is not simply going to be a choice among 39 individuals, which itself is a record, but more than that it will be a contest between two orders or systems and between two generations. It would present voters an opportunity to decide whether to retain a political culture and its associated system of governance, which is notoriously prone to nepotism, more..

Aug 22 (DM) As we prepare for the Prez Election on Sept 21, we also need to reflect on other key issues including the violence that people undergo based on religion or belief. Highlighting this issue, the UN marks today, Aug 22, as International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. UN underscores that the freedom of religion or belief, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to freedom of association more..

Aug 22 (CT) Commander, Joint Agency Task Force – Operation Sovereign Borders of Australia, Rear Admiral Brett Sonter, said human smuggling cannot be stopped but, should be continuously monitored and mitigated. “For that, collaboration and dialogue are needed,” he added. He also pointed out that illegal migrants using the maritime route to enter Australia has decreased and said most persons are from the Asian region. more..

Aug 22 (DM) SL needs rapid economic growth to overcome the current crisis. At the Public Finance Lounge on July 5, I highlighted that such growth is difficult to envision given the limited balance sheet capacity in the banking system. There is clear evidence of significant crowding out of private loans by govt debt. The share of rupee-denominated govt debt and other govt liabilities has increased from approximately 25% of total banking assets in 2019 to over 40% in 2024. more..

Aug 22 (GV) The law criminalizing sexual harassment could change very soon. A bill, which proposes to amend S. 345 of the Penal Code, has been gazetted. This is a welcome development. Yet amendments to the Penal Code are insufficient to tackle sexual harassment which women, in particular, have to undergo on a daily basis. Sexual harassment is a relatively new offence. Initially the SL Penal Code, enacted in 1883, contained a provision – S. 345 – which referred to more..

Aug 22 (TM) The local pharmaceutical sector has seen accelerated growth in the last decade in contrast to the years prior. According to stakeholders, despite being an emerging industry capable of immense growth, this sector does not receive sufficient policy support or attention. Over 85% of SL’s pharmaceutical requirements are met through imports, leaving only marginal room for growth in domestic more..

Aug 22 (TM) Reports that the Department of Police is shorthanded has surfaced again, with some senior officers worried about the law enforcement agency stretched thin, in the lead up to one of the most crucial Presidential Elections in recent times. It has been reported that the Sri Lankan police force is short-handed by about 30,000 officers. The number is staggering, given that the Sri Lanka Police nearly numbers 95,000 officers and constables. With a history more than 150 years, more..

Aug 22 (ST) This is one of those periods the late singer Sunil Perera of Gypsies fame would have revelled in. Famous for lampooning politicians through song and dance (with hilarious skits joined by the late Ronnie Leitch a.k.a Thattaya), Sunil would have been galvanised into action to produce another award-winning song featuring the long jumps and unabashed crossovers by politicians in this current presidential race. For example, consider his famous song Lankawe Mehema Wenne more..

Aug 22 (Island) All 225 MPs have been authorised to acquire two 12-bore repeater guns each in addition to the firearms already in their possession. It is being bruited about that some Opposition MPs have rejected the govt’s offer of more guns. The issuance of weapons to politicians in the run-up to a crucial election is a matter of serious concern. Whom is the govt trying to protect the MPs against? LTTE terror is a thing of the past, and so is that of the National Thowheeth Jama’ath. more..

Aug 22 (TM) This article is based on media documented incidents of child abuse and child neglect reported across various media platforms during the month of May of this year. In May, 2024, the media reported 80 separate incidents of child abuse, affecting a total of 118 victims. It is important to note that these figures represent only the cases reported by the media, reflecting a small segment of the actual situation in SL. Many incidents go unnoticed or are under-reported, more..

Aug 22 (CI) Dhananjaya de Silva justified his own decision to bat first with a gutsy 74 from 84 balls, while Milan Rathnayake followed his captain's lead with a startlingly composed knock of 72 from 135 balls, the highest by a debutant at No.9 in Test history. Unfortunately for SL, however, even those exceptional efforts couldn't quite atone for a dreadful top-order collapse that had handed England control of the first Test by stumps on day one more..

Aug 22 (CI) Believe it or not, but 6 for 3 wasn't all that bad. Not great, obviously. Awful, actually, considering those three wickets fell in the space of 10 deliveries. Nishan Madushka's nothing drive was bad. Angelo Mathews' wearing of a straight delivery worse - then even more so when he called for a review, seemingly to ensure anyone who did not catch it the first time around could get in on the joke. But 6 for 3 on the first morning of this three-Test series was only SL's fourth-worst total more..

Aug 22 (Island) On 31st July 2024, senior SL scholar Prof. Sasanka Perera left the South Asian University, New Delhi, which he had helped establish and worked for nearly 13 years. This was as a mark of protest against the mistreatment of a PhD student he was supervising and an inquiry initiated against him (Prof. Perera) over his supervisory role. Perera was one of the founding Professors of South Asian University, its only SL academic, the founding Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, more..

Aug 22 (DM) The presidential race kicked off last Saturday by four main candidates- Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and SLPP Namal Rajapaksa– stoking voter enthusiasm to participate in the presidential poll to be conducted on Sept 21 to elect the next executive president of Sri Lanka. As usual, election pledges garbed in rhetorical languages are made this time too, primarily aimed at attracting voters. more..