Jan 22 (Reuters) Consumer price inflation rate jumped to 4.2% year-on-year in December driven by rising food prices, official data showed on Monday, although it remains well below record high levels seen at the height of the country's financial crisis. Food prices rose 1.6% in December after falling 2.2% in November on the year, Dept of Census and Statistics said in a statement. Prices for non-food items, however, fell 6.3% in December from 7.1% year-on-year in November. more..

Jan 22 (PMD) Health Minister Ramesh Pathirana announced a staggering 91% vaccination rate for measles among children, a crucial step in combating a recent resurgence of the disease after eradication. This achievement demonstrates the country’s dedication to proactive healthcare. He outlined further health priorities for 2024. Disease prevention takes centre stage, with plans to bolster primary healthcare services and improve efficiency for patients. Prompt access to essential resources is also a key focus. more..

Jan 22 (AD) A special trade union discussion is set to take place today, during which a decision against the recent interdiction of employees of the CEB is due to be taken. Accordingly, nearly 100 trade unions from across the country are due to participate in the meeting today, which will be held under the leadership of the CEB trade unions. Meanwhile, civil society organisations have planned to launch a protest campaign in front of the CEB Head Office at 12 p.m. today, against the said interdiction more..

Jan 22 (UCAN) Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has urged SL’s interim govt not to introduce bills and laws one after another ahead of the polls scheduled later this year. “Bills and regulations are being introduced every day. It is not possible to change society by imposing more laws,” Ranjith said on Jan. 21 during the feast Mass at St. John the Baptist’s Church in the capital Colombo. Interim govt of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is preparing more..

Jan 22 (TOI) Will the govt accelerate the proposal for construction of a sea bridge linking India’s Dhanushkodi— believed to be the place where Lord Ram had ordered Hanumana to build a bridge to carry his army across to SL—with Talaimannar? The govt is likely to carry out a feasibility study soon for building the 23-km bridge. India and SL had agreed to examine the viability for developing land access to the ports of Trincomalee and Colombo during SL Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Delhi more..

Jan 22 (ICC) SL all-rounder and Women’s Team Captain Chamari Athapaththu has been named in the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2023, and has been honoured with the team captaincy. The ICC Team of the Year recognises 11 outstanding individuals who have impressed throughout 2023, be it with the bat, the ball or their all-round exploits. The ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year for 2023 is as follows: Chamari Athapaththu (c) (Sri Lanka): The veteran Sri Lankan started the year with more..

Jan 22 (Island) SL and Iranian officials have discussed how to improve SL’s tea exports, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said on Saturday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Wijesekera said that the Chairman and other officials of the SL Tea Board had visited the Ministry of Power and Energy on Friday with the officials of the Iranian Embassy and Iranian Trade Promotion Organisation. Minister said that in 2023, state-owned petroleum distributor, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) more..

Jan 22 (DM) An organized gang has been operating in various areas of the country, defrauding people by making telephone calls and posing as police officers, attempting to extort money, SSP Nihal Thalduwa said. He said that numerous complaints had been received to various police stations regarding calls made to residents where the callers falsely claim to be police officials seeking money. "The calls initially targeted landlines in houses located in the Mulleriya and Nawagamuwa areas. more..

Jan 22 (EN) SL’s main opposition SJB has filed a petition against a proposed Anti-Terrorism bill which the party claims is being introduced in an election year to repress opposition parties. The petition was filed by SJB general secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara today at the Supreme Court. MP said the proposed bill is a threat to opposition parties and to democracy itself. “This bill is being presented not at a time of terrorism prevailing in more..

z Rs. 35. at all Lanka Sathosa

Jan 22 (CT) Jaffna International Trade Fair 2024, a transformative annual event that has played a pivotal role in fostering economic growth and community development in SL’s Northern Province, is back with its 14th edition. Organised by Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd. (LECS) together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Yarlpanam (CCIY), Jaffna International Trade Fair 2024 was held from 19 to 21 Jan 2024. The theme is Your Gateway to the North. more..

Jan 22 (DM) While condemning the statement by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, where he claimed that two-thirds of the loan interest obtained by the CEB employees is being reimbursed by the public through their electricity bills, CEB Engineers' Union (CEBEU) said that the Minister has once again attempted to generate public anger towards the CEB and its staff. CEBEU said that an X message by the Minister more..

Jan 22 (AD) Six police teams have been deployed to investigate the shooting incident reported in Beliatta, Tangalle this morning (22). According to SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the special police teams were deployed to carry out investigations under the supervision of the SDIG of the Southern Province. The Spokesman said the SDIG in charge of the Southern Province has appointed the following police teams to conduct the said investigation; Southern Province Crime division, more..

Jan 22 (TM) The main Parliamentary Opposition party, SJB yesterday condemned the National People’s Power’s (NPP) pledge to legalise prostitution under a future administration led by the NPP, charging that such an inappropriate legislature would create cultural disputes and erode society. SJB National Organiser and Opposition MP Tissa Attanayake said that the SJB would not make a move to legalise prostitution if they were to assume power in the future. more..

Jan 23 (GV) On Sept 18, 2023, Govt of SL published a Bill titled Online Safety and this was subsequently tabled in parliament on Oct 3. The Bill aims to establish an Online Safety Commission with a range of powers, including the ability to direct persons and internet service providers to remove vaguely defined prohibited statements from online platforms. With the Wickremesinghe-led govt ostensibly resolved to make the Bill law, one must query the implications of SL online space being policed more..

Jan 23 (DM) In the heart of the Indian Ocean lies SL, a nation whose innovation engine is rapidly churning, sparked by surges in Information Technology (IT) and Biotechnology — a duo, potent enough to redefine its economic story. This country, once overshadowed by the tigers of Asia, is now on the brink of a remarkable transformation that may very well turn it into an innovation powerhouse. The pivot to innovation is no longer a lofty ideal but an urgent necessity for SL, more..

Jan 23 (CT) ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stands out as one of the few MPs embraced by the younger generation for his roaring in Parliament on crucial public issues. Proficient in Tamil, Sinhala and English, he fluently communicates his views and has captured the public’s attention over others. Rasamanickam says he is unswayed by the opinions of other politicians, emphasising that public endorsement is more..

Jan 23 (CT) Every successive govt in SL, since independence, has either introduced fresh or additional legal arrangements and institutional structures in addition, to the establishment of several State agencies, parliamentary committees, presidential commissions and committees to combat and overcome bribery and corruption in the public sector. Despite probably being the sole country that elected a Govt of Good Governance, SL still has a long way to walk away from corruption. more..

Jan 23 (DM) Many hailed the recent Supreme Court ruling on the case against the granting of Presidential pardon to former MP Duminda Silva who had been convicted for the murder of former Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra on Oct 8, 2011, calling it a landmark judgement. However, their stand on the mater does not seem to be so different than the decision by former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa to grant the pardon to Silva. Both were politically driven. more..

Jan 23 (DM) With vital elections looming on the horizon, rhetorical remarks from across the political divide have become the norm for each passing day. It is common for political leaders of all hues to fine-tune their speeches with rhetorical language as a vote catching, crowd pulling exercise. In the process, what is done is ostensible concealment of truth from the general public in the couch of rhetorical language. more..

Jan 23 (TM) The near military precision of the murder of five individuals in the Beliatta area in Tangalle, yesterday raises many red flags for law and order in SL. Firstly, it points to the SL Police Dept’s ill-advised focus on the dragnet style Yukthiya anti-crime operation, being ineffective to addressing the higher tiers of organised crime in SL. Proponents of Yukthiya often quote the colossal number of low-level suspects that are netted each day as a measure of success. more..

Jan 23 (ST) Fondre Fat Spread, marketed and distributed by Pyramid Wilmar (Pvt) Ltd., announced its collaboration as main sponsor of the inaugural Relay Olympiad organised by the past athletes of St. Bridget’s Convent and St. Joseph’s College together with Quadrangle, scheduled for Jan 27. The daylong event will commence from 9am onwards at the Torrington Grounds in Colombo. For the first time in SL, 18 schools – both present and past athletes will participate in a Relay Carnival more..

Jan 23 (Island) Sri Lanka, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes, is grappling with an unprecedented macroeconomic crisis. This crisis has given rise to acute shortages and sharp increases in the prices of essential products, creating a complex web of challenges. At the heart of this multifaceted crisis lies a severe impact on food security stemming from disruptions in agricultural production, a depleted treasury, unfavourable harvests, soaring prices, and more..

Jan 23 (Island) SL ministers are never short of lame excuses, which they are adept at fabricating. Never do they own up to their blunders, which have landed the country in the current predicament. When the economy went into a tailspin, they promptly blamed the war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic, but other countries did not face insolvency due to those global factors. They have undertaken to put the economy back on an even keel, but the question is whether those who cannot even manage more..

Jan 23 (CT) There has been much discussion regarding the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country lately, particularly due to the Yukthiya anti-narcotics operation that has been launched by the SL Police. Along with it, a serious debate is already taking place linked to issues concerning the rehabilitation of those who have been addicted to illegal drugs. There is no denying that currently there are questions as to whether more..

Jan 23 (ST) Hirunika Premachandra was a mere 23 year old slip of a girl when she learnt that her father, staunch SLFP trade unionist Bharatha Lakshman had been killed in cold blood by the then all powerful Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s protégé Duminda Silva on the streets of Angoda in broad daylight. The political killing which seemed to have the blessings of the political establishment, was to transform her hitherto fun loving life and tinge the full promise of youth with a grievous sense of more..

Jan 23 (SO) Indian and SL Govts have resumed discussions on the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which seeks to further advance trade and economic partnership beyond the Free Trade Agreement which came into force in 2000. Once signed, it will help in achieving the true potential of India-SL trade partnership. If we go by the FTA experience, it will enable SL to significantly expand its exports both in goods and services to India, said Indian HC to SL more..

Jan 23 (CT) Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) has bagged hosting rights of two International Badminton events, SL Int'l Challenge 2024 and LI-NING SL Int'l series 2024 which will be worked off in February. Accordingly, SL International Challenge 2024 is set to take centre stage from 5 to 11 Feb, while LI-NING SL Int'l series 2024 will be played from 12-18 Feb. The timing of the (2) two events is very significant as it coincides with the tourist season of the south coast, and both events are scheduled more..

Jan 23 (FT) The Fundamental Rights petition filed by the Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, aiming to oust top cop Deshabandu Tennakoon from the role of Acting IGP and secure an interim order preventing Tennakoon’s confirmation as the IGP, is scheduled for consideration on 31 January by the Supreme Court. The decision was made when the application was brought before Judges Prithi Padman Suriyasena, Achala Vengappuli, and Mahinda more..

Jan 23 (TM) SL Customs is confident that it will be able to exceed last year’s revenue of Rs.970 billion in 2024 with a whopping Rs. 1.5 trillion as increased VAT coupled with lifted import restrictions since October 2023 (except for several motor vehicle import restrictions) are in place this year. SL Customs Media Spokesperson Seevali Arukgoda said: “It is certain that we (SL Customs) will be able to surpass the previous year’s more..

Jan 23 (DM) At a very heartening ceremony held at her residence in Kandy on 19th Jan 2024, Professor Ratna Handurukande, the former Professor of Sanskrit at the Uni of Peradeniya, received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo. Prof. Handurukande received this Lifetime Award from the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the High Commission of India in Colombo, on the occasion of World Sanskrit Day which falls on 31st Aug 2023, more..

Jan 23 (DM) In a first for oral medicine health service in Sri Lanka, My Dentist was accredited to the much coveted dental practice quality standard ISO 9001:2015. Receiving certification to this important quality management standard shows that it is executing on the fundamental company-building initiatives necessary in obtaining regulatory approval for the delivery of successful dental products both in Sri Lanka and abroad. Registration to ISO 9001:2015 provides more..

Jan 23 (EN) More SL doctors are planning to leave the country for greener pasture and better remunerations, Health Minister Ramesh Pathirana said, despite the recovery in the economy with higher tax revenue. Sri Lanka’s unprecedented economic crisis has led professionals in health and education sectors to leave the country in search of better remuneration mainly after the tax hikes. more..

Jan 23 (AD) The Secretary General of the Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera has said that the reports that there is constant sexual harassment towards female staff members and female MPs in Parliament and that proper investigations and measures are not being taken are completely false. Issuing a statement, the Secretary General emphasized that when such incidents related to disciplinary violations in the Parliament are reported, investigations related to them are carried out more..

Jan 23 (TM) The probes conducted by the Office of the Commissioner General (CG) of Rehabilitation into the recent events that caused tense situations in the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre have found the existence of control and power-related issues inside the centre among detainees. This was revealed by the CG of Rehabilitation, Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi, who explained that in addition to persons addicted to drugs who are genuinely in need of assistance, more..