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Washing dirty linen, possible next stage in Presidential poll campaign?

Aug 24 (CT) If former Prez Maithripala Sirisena feels used-and-discarded like you-know-what, he alone is to blame for his current fate of presidential candidates Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa camps indicating that they have not invited him as an ally and star campaigner. The other two main contenders, namely, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Namal Rajapaksa have not said so – not that anyone is going to quiz them on Sirisena. Sirisena has since rebutted suggestions that more..

Untold struggles of queer lives in Hambantota

Aug 24 (CT) Half a century ago, a child of eight years in Hambantota was desperate to buy a foot-ruler for school. He had been humiliated and punished twice by the class teacher already for not having one, but, a ruler was a luxury that could not be afforded by his parents. Being desperate, the child turned to an uncle of his, who was running a hotel, hoping his benevolence would gain him a ruler. In fact, he got a ruler, nonetheless, at the cost more..

Hubris & Nemesis

Aug 24 (CT) The Supreme Court has ruled that both, the Election Commission and the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, were responsible for violating voters’ rights by postponing the local govt elections. A top official of the Elections Commission on hearing the top Court’s ruling claimed that the Courts’ pronouncement strengthened the Election Commission. The Daily Mirror reported President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s response with calculated brevity. more..

IMF programmes: Symptom of policy failures

Aug 24 (CT) In this ongoing Prez Election battlefield, there are still candidates and their supporters who focus on complaining about the effects of IMF programmes rather than on macroeconomic policies and structural reforms that would keep us away from the IMF. On many of the 17 occasions, domestic policy errors have pushed us into IMF programmes. Unsustainable budget deficits have usually been the root cause. The first lesson to learn from the successful countries to the East of us is to more..

සුබ නිමිත්ත

Editorial: Saccharine smiles & artificial toddy

Aug 24 (Island) Has Christmas already arrived? This is the question Sri Lankans must be asking themselves on seeing politicians’ boundless generosity; the self-proclaimed do-gooders in kapati suits are giving away various things including state-owned lands and houses. Govt politicians had been saying, until very recently, that they could not consider workers’ demand for a pay hike because they were without funds, but they have suddenly realised that they can grant a salary increase. more..

Sri Lanka hosts Central Asia Forum 2024: Prioritising connectivity and...

Aug 24 (FT) The Central Asia Forum 2024 organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of SL, together with the Geopolitical Cartographer held at the Granbell Hotel in Colombo on 21 Aug, explored the potential for future cooperation between Sri Lanka and Central Asia, a region with increasing geopolitical and geo-economic significance. Sri Lanka’s engagements with countries in the Central Asian region has achieved considerable progress in recent times with the conclusion of more..

'2014 was the best year of my career and the England series was the icing on the cake'

Aug 24 (CI) Angelo Mathews looks back at SL's memorable Test series win in England ten years ago. Q: To start, what are your memories of that 2014 series? A: It was one of my best years as player and captain. It will go into the record books and history books. We can cherish those moments for the rest of our lives, because it was such competitive cricket. Q: Let's talk about that Lord's Test first. You scored a hundred and Kumar Sangakkara more..

Our Political Insanity

Aug 24 (Island) The most relatable definition of being insane is given in the following quote: “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” It has been attributed to the great thinker Albert Einstein, but no definitive proof has been found. Whatever the origin may be, why should it be relatable to us? Because there is every indication that we, as a nation, are on the verge of being the mascot for this famous quote in the way we are heading into the upcoming elections. more..

Profood Propack & Agbiz 2024 kicks off

Aug 24 (FT) The most eagerly awaited food industry exhibition, the Profood Propack, Agbiz and Knowledge Hub 2024 Exhibition organised by the SL Food Processors Association (SLFPA) together with Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS), kicked off yesterday at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Exhibition and Convention Centre, Colombo. The event was endorsed and supported by the Industries Ministry, the National Agribusiness Council, and the Institute of Food Science and Technology SL. more..

Anura Kumara Dissanayake

No more Senior Championship this year

Aug 24 (CT) South Asian Senior Athletics Championship 2024 and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2024 have been cancelled. Consequently, Sri Lanka Athletics has also cancelled the selection trials that were scheduled for next month. Earlier this year, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) invited teams to participate in the South Asian Junior Championship (in September) and the South Asian Senior Championship (in October), prompting SLA to schedule trials accordingly. more..

Hesali Peiris becomes the youngest Sri Lankan at FIM Asia Women’s Cup

Aug 24 (ST) Hesali Peiris is making waves locally as the youngest participant in the women’s motorcycle racing championship. Representing SL on the global stage, Hesali, 14, is not just breaking barriers but also setting new benchmarks for aspiring female riders across the country. She will break barriers on August 30 as the youngest female rider from SL to compete in an all-female R2M Sport Production 200 SS/ 200 SS Junior event, which will be part of the FIM Asia Women’s Cup of Circuit Racing more..

Secret negotiations between UNP, SJB take backseat as a Judas emerges in their midst

Aug 24 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe officially launched his 2024 Prez Election campaign on Saturday (17), at a rally in Anuradhapura, pledging to stabilise the nation through concessions expected from creditor nations. After returning to Colombo, he went to UNP headquarters Sirikotha to attend the Working Committee meeting as it requires him to get permission from the party to contest as an independent candidate. more..

CSE suffers another week of losses

Aug 24 (FT) Colombo stock market suffered another week of losses with bearish investor sentiment amidst concerns over the outcome of next month’s Presidential Election. During the week, ASPI lost 1.2% and the active S&P SL20 by 1.4%. On Friday, the S&P SL20 declined by 1% and ASPI by 0.8%. Turnover during the week averaged Rs. 786 million though yesterday it was Rs. 1.2 billion involving 38 million shares. The indices closed the week in red dragged by price declines more..

Sooriyabandara leads SL ‘A’ in South Africa

Aug 24 (DN) Pasindu Sooriyabandara will captain the SL A team in both the One-Day and Four-Day series during their tour of South Africa, which begins on August 27. Sooriyabandara, a standout batsman from Moors SC, was recently named Player of the Final at the National T10 Cricket Tournament. He previously led SL A to victory against Afghanistan A at the P. Sara Oval Stadium. Pawan Ratnayake, who scored three consecutive centuries in the recent Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament, more..

Namal says being Mahinda’s son shouldn’t disqualify him from being a politician

Aug 24 (DM) SLPP's Prez Election candidate, Namal Rajapaksa, responded to nepotism allegations against the party, asserting that having a politician as a parent shouldn’t disqualify someone from pursuing a political career. He also suggested that the party was about more than just the Rajapaksas, with many young politicians being groomed at the grassroots level. “I personally believe that for the child of a politician to more..

New Sri Lanka Foreign Service recruits share their vision for the country

Aug 24 (ST) Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS) has 19 new recruits—the first to be recruited in six years. They were recruited following two examinations and an interview. The Sunday Times spoke to some of them—Bamini Sellathurai, Manduli Katugampola, Raveen Ubeysekera, and Thilina Galappatti—to learn about the job and their vision for the service. Most of the recruits come with many years of experience in the private sector, information technology, the public service, and the UN. more..

Dayasiri disappointed as SLFP stalwarts Angajan and Dushmantha switch allegiance

Aug 24 (FT) SLFP General Secretary and MP Dayasiri Jayasekara has expressed his deep disappointment and dismay over the decision of party Senior Vice President Angajan Ramanathan and former Acting General Secretary Sarathi Dushmantha Mithrapala to support Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Prez Election. Jayasekara expressed his disgust, particularly with Mithrapala, who had previously while aligned with SLFP Chief Maithripala Sirisena voiced more..

පලංචියේ ලී ඉරුවේ අපි එකට...

Sri Lanka to host Test series against New Zealand amidst presidential polls

Aug 24 (CI) The first Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test, starting September 18 in Galle, has six days allocated to it, with a rest day thrown in to accommodate the country's presidential elections on Sept 21. The series is of two Tests, which are part of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. This will be the first instance of a rest day in a Test match since the Bangladesh vs SL Test in Dhaka in 2008, which accommodated a rest day because of the parliamentary elections. more..

Global tea convention positions tea as a versatile lifestyle choice

Aug 24 (Island) The Colombo International Tea Convention recently brought together a global audience in Colombo to explore the future of the tea industry. A primary focus of the forum was the need to position tea as a versatile lifestyle choice. Dr. Sharon Hall, Chief Executive of the UK Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA), provided exclusive insights into the event’s success, the challenges facing the industry, and the emerging trends that are shaping the future of tea. more..

Mathews fights after Smith's maiden hundred, but England close in on victory

Aug 24 (CI) For 65 runs, spanning the best part of 50 overs and a wide range of England tactical switches, Angelo Mathews seemed to be playing from memory: his very best memory, in fact, from SL's triumphant Test tour in 2014, when his twin hundreds formed the backbone of a remarkable series win. By the close, however, Chris Woakes - armed with a lavishly swinging replacement ball, and in a scenario that Australians might recall more..

Will treat Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils equally: Ranil

Aug 24 (DM) Whilst stating that he will treat all ethnic groups in the country equally if elected President next month, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe told the people in the eastern city of Akkaraipattu to think of the nation when voting at the Presidential election. “Don’t think of me when you cast your vote at this year’s Prez election, but think of your future,” the Prez said speaking at the 20th convention of the National Congress led by MP A.L.M. Athaullah in Akkaraipattu. more..

Suspected gunman in Club Wasantha murder arrested in Dehiwala

Aug 24 (AD) The TID has arrested one of the suspected gunmen involved in the recent killing of two persons including businessman Surendra Wasantha Perera also known as Club Wasantha, in the Athurugiriya area. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Patty Arambage Ajith Rohana, was apprehended by the TID in the Kawdana area of Dehiwala. During the operation, a T-56 assault rifle, 120 rounds of ammunition, and a stock of 9mm pistol bullets were also seized. more..

හිරු ටීවී පත්තරේ විස්තරේ

University don criticises state of economy and election spending limits

Aug 24 (Island) The success of the campaign finance laws is dependent on how serious the political parties are about abiding by election laws, Professor Aminda Methsila Perera, Head of the Dept of Accountancy at the Wayamba University says. “We can only hope that political parties will be honest and transparent with their accounts, and this is a leap of faith,” Prof. Perera said. Each candidate could spend about 1.86 billion rupees for campaigning for the 21 Sept Prez Elections, more..

Inland Revenue Department warns public of fake tax collectors

Aug 24 (AD) Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has issued a warning to the public regarding a surge in fraudulent activities involving individuals impersonating tax officials. These scams have been reported in various regions, including Colombo, Panadura, Negombo, Wennappuwa, and Minuwangoda, it said in a statement. The dept emphasized that legitimate Inland Revenue Officers will only visit to advise taxpayers to make payments directly into designated bank accounts at more..

Fewer Indian bottom trawlers after stricter laws by Sri Lanka, and increased Navy action

Aug 24 (ST) With the tough implementation of recently amended fisheries regulations and continuing arrests of TN fishermen engaged in bottom trawling in Lankan territorial waters, the number of bottom trawlers venturing into the waters reduced significantly in recent months, Northern fishermen observed. Annalingam Annarasa, Secretary of Kayts Fishermen Cooperative Society is of the view that the recent prosecution of more..

Sri Lanka delays Hilton building sale until after the elections

Aug 24 (EN) Sri Lanka has halted the sale of Hotel Developers (Lanka) Ltd, a state-run. company that owns the building housing Colombo Hilton, until elections are completed, Finance Ministry said. Finance Ministry statement said several social and mainstream media reports relating to the sale of Hilton hotel are not correct. A claim that the Govt Chief Valuer has released a valuation in July 2024, which was lower than a 124 million dollars assessed in Aug 2024 was false, the statement said. more..

Tourism industry welcomes free visa initiative, urges swift implementation of ETA

Aug 24 (FT) Tourism industry stakeholders expressed strong support for the Govt’s decision to offer free-of-charge visas to national of 35 countries from 1 Oct, whilst insisting on the need for the swift implementation of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system to fully capitalise on this opportunity. “This is a great initiative, and the industry welcomes this positive move,” said top tourism associations, SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) and Hotels Association of SL (THASL). more..

Vanishing bus routes: Different transport modes and links may ease commuter woes

Aug 24 (ST) In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Colombo and the Western Province witnessed a disturbing but little-talked-about trend: the disappearance of several bus routes. Route numbers such as 104 (Wattala to Bambalapitiya), 155 (Mattakkuliya to Soysapura), 140 (Meethotamulla to Kollupitiya), and 168 (Nugegoda to Kotahena) have vanished, are vanishing, or are only partially operational, more..

What the majority want from a new govt

Aug 25 (Island) Now that the prez election is round the corner and would be followed by a general election, the majority of law-abiding, patriotic, selfless and non-partisan people would want many changes in the system to bring this country back to where it was in the early nineteen fifties. The first thing many are clamoring for is to abolish the executive presidency. This office has been a bane rather than a boon to this country and its people. It has only helped to enrich some who more..

A darker shade of yellow

Aug 25 (TM) It is a familiar scene at the BIA; a young family with at least one, usually two children in tow, the tearful, long goodbye; bags packed and wry smiles at the departures section. Since the economic collapse, the frequency of Sri Lankans leaving for employment in a foreign country has accelerated dramatically; a majority of these are women who must leave behind their young children in order to earn a living as domestic workers under difficult and often abusive conditions more..

IMF keeps close watch on candidates’ economic gamble while SJB attacks RW’s...

Aug 25 (TM) As campaigns for the Prez Election are heading towards a peak, likely by the onset of September, the key contenders at the polls have made the country’s ongoing socioeconomic crisis the main theme of their campaigns. At the height of campaigning, a few key contenders have taken on an economically sensitive issue as a key pledge – the renegotiation of Sri Lanka’s deal with the IMF which has formed the base for more..

Campaign finance: The check beyond the cheques

Aug 25 (ST) In a country where even foreign loans and aid are not properly recorded in the official books according to Auditor General, the monitoring of this week’s announcement that each prez candidate is allowed to spend a maximum of Rs. 1.8 billion, or Rs. 109 per registered voter, will be next to impossible. Elections Commission (EC) arrived at this figure by a mathematical formula, or a sutra that is not made public, after consulting parties and candidates in the race for Sept 21 election. more..

Presidency and rule of law

Aug 25 (TM) Though abolition of the executive presidency is no longer top of the charts on election platforms as it was during the past 30 years, the reckless, arbitrary, and unlawful actions of those who have held that office during the past decade and the profound consequences of those actions should in fact validate the call for abolition more than ever before at the upcoming Presidential Election. However, with the election now just weeks away, thus far, only one mainstream candidate more..

Major ITAK split over presidential candidate

Aug 25 (ST) ITAK leader S Shiritharan extended his support to prez candidate P Ariyanenthiran despite his party yet to make a final decision on which candidate it will support in the upcoming election. Mr Shritharan met Tamil common candidate Ariyanenthiran, who is also a Central Committee member of ITAK, on Thursday at his residence in Jaffna and declared his support for his candidacy. Mr Shritharan stressed that it was his personal more..

Torn between two leaders

Aug 25 (ST) My dear Thalatha, I thought I should write to you when I heard that you had suddenly left the ‘telephone’ party. I must confess this didn’t come as a surprise because rumour had it that this would happen sometime before the big election. So, it was more a question of when it would happen and not if it would happen. What was surprising though was that unlike most others – and most notably Rajitha who left before you – you didn’t join Uncle Ranil straight away. more..

Editorial: Diplomatic domestics

Aug 25 (Island) The recent decision of an Australian federal court that a Sri Lankan diplomat had underpaid a domestic aide serving at her residence in Canberra and made an award of over AUD 500,000 (back pay and interest) is, to say the least, most disturbing. More so because the concerned diplomat, Himali Arunatillake, now serving as our Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, is widely regarded as one of the best professionals in the country’s foreign service. more..

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