Jul 16 (DM) The Western Province National Transport Commission has established new fixed fares for three-wheeler taxis. Effective from last night, the fare is Rs. 100 for the first kilometre and Rs. 90 for the second kilometre. President of the All-Island Three-Wheeler Drivers’ Union (AITWDU) Lalith Dharmasekera said that this new fare system was implemented by the Chairman of Western Province National Transport Commission more..

Jul 16 (DM) All Island Canteen and Restaurant Owners' Association (AICROA) said the food prices will be lowered from tonight following the recent electricity tariff revision. Association President Harshana Rukshan told the Daily Mirror that the price of a plate of rice and curry, fried rice and kottu will be reduced by Rs. 25. The price of short eats, paratha and egg roti will be reduced by Rs. 10 and a cup of plain tea will be reduced by Rs. 5. The association requests that more..

Jul 16 (TM) A unique SL-origin natural royal blue sapphire, exceeding 100 carats and valued at US$ 3 million, captivated attendees at the Singapore International Jewellery Expo (SIJE) 2024. Exhibited by a Singaporean jeweller, this exclusive gem was one of only five available globally. Displayed at the SL pavilion, organized by the Sri Lankan High Commission and National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA), the SIJE showcased over $250 million worth of gems and jewellery more..

Jul 16 (EN) Cabinet has approved a policy to admit foreign students to 26 local state and private universities, based on internationally accepted minimum qualifications, minister Bandula Gunawardena, said. “Cabinet approved the proposal to consider the minimum qualification recognized for university admission by the 193 UN Member countries, as the minimum qualification to enroll for degree programmes,” more..

Jul 16 (AD) The Director-General of the UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, who is currently on a visit to Sri Lanka, has called on Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe a short while ago at the President’s House in Colombo. The UNESCO Director-General, who is visiting the island on an invitation from the Govt of Sri Lanka, had reached the BIA this morning (15) accompanied by a delegation. During her three-day visit, the Director-General of UNESCO is also scheduled to meet and hold discussions with more..

Jul 16 (DM) SJB rejected the offer by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to reinstate the UNP membership of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and others if they extend their support to safeguard the nation. The rejection came from SJB MP S.M. Marikar and the party’s campaign manager Sujeewa Senasinghe today. “The Prez has offered to reinstate our membership in the UNP if we support him to safeguard the nation. However, we are not prepared to accept this offer as we don’t want to be more..

Jul 16 (CT) SLMC Leader and Kandy District MP Rauff Hakeem announced on 14 July that they oppose the govt led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and added that the announcement on the Prez Election will be made very soon. Hakeem made these remarks while speaking to the media upon his arrival at Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tamil Nadu, where he was a special guest at the graduation ceremony of Papanasam Rajagiri Dawood Batcha College of Arts and Science. more..

Jul 16 (CT) A medical student was remanded until 19 July, by Colombo Additional Magistrate yesterday, for allegedly impersonating a licensed medical practitioner and administering medication to two minors. The Magistrate noted that the evidence presented indicates that the student may have committed an offence akin to murder, which is an indictable offence punishable by the High Court. The suspect, who is reportedly the daughter of an obstetrics and gynecology specialist, more..

Jul 16 (CT) Dept of Probation and Child Care Services has failed to monitor post-adoption evaluation, for 32 children adopted by foreign couples, between 2019 and 2023, as required by Section 10C of the Adoption of Children Ordinance No. 24 of 1941 (Amd No. 15 of 1992). According to the Act, the dept is required to obtain post-adoption reports for 10 years after the adoption. However, dept has not complied with this requirement. more..

Jul 16 (TM) Adani’s newly opened Vizhinjam Transshipment terminal is a competition to Colombo Port rather than a threat to it, stated Shippers’ Academy International (SAI) founder and Shippers Academy Colombo (SAC) CEO Rohan Masakorala, amidst reports citing that Colombo wil lose transhipment business to Vizhinjam Transshipment. Masakorala stated: “Whoever is more efficient, practical and pragmatic will attract business. So there's a chance at higher competition.” more..

Jul 16 (DM) A minor earth tremor measuring 2.7 on the Richter Scale was reported this evening in the area between Anuradhapura and Kantale. The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) confirmed the event, which occurred at approximately 6:30 PM local time. Residents in the surrounding areas reported feeling slight vibrations, but there have been no reports of damage or injuries. GSMB officials have assured the public that such minor tremors are not uncommon. more..

Jul 16 (EN) Sri Lanka has been able to lower electricity prices in 2024 due to a stronger rupee, lower coal prices and correct decisions made including to raise prices when costs went up, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. From July 2024, electricity prices were cut by as much as 32% for households, and 38% for small domestic users and about 33% for industries and hotels. SL rupee was close to 400 rupees during economic crises more..

Jul 16 (Island) Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Transport and Energy is planning to revive colonial time transportation method of using waterways as a remedy to reduce the rush-hour traffic congestion. When the Committee met with its Chairman MP Nalaka Kottegoda presiding, he said that although there had been discussions on how to move people through waterways for a long time, no formal system had been prepared for this. It was pointed out that the existing waterways more..

Jul 16 (DM) In the wake of a statement by State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today that he would like to see State Minister Lohan Ratwatte living at the time of the NPP's victory. He told an NPP rally in Kandy that everyone is not equal before the law in Sri Lanka as stated in law and said if that was the case, Lohan Ratwatte cannot be at large. "Lohan said recently in Kandy that he will not allow us to win as long as he is alive. I am happy to see him alive to more..

Jul 17 (CT) Indeed, to be accountable for one’s actions is one of the greatest qualities a person could possess. Moreover, accountability is an essential feature in good governance as well. Nonetheless, it has been the common practice of many in the country, including those who govern, to pass the buck. Not breaking the tradition, the responsible officials, including the very President of the country, started to pass the ball to everyone else except themselves, more..

Jul 17 (CT) The pedagogy of the oppressor is a concept that has been brought to our attention by educational philosopher Paolo Freire. This philosophy highlights the idea that there is a layer of control in society that oppresses the poor and dictates the main concerns of society. It’s important to recognize this concept and its impact on the oppressed, as well as to explore potential remedies. In many countries, the ruling class is made up of well-educated individuals who use their more..

Jul 17 (TM) Trade unions of various State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) within the public service have intensified their demands through strikes in the past couple of months, primarily demanding a salary hike of Rs. 20,000. However, each trade union representing different SOEs has its distinct set of demands, reflecting specific concerns relevant to their occupations. Over 200 trade unions belonging to the State, semi-State, and more..

Jul 17 (DM) Around election time, our country unfailingly witnesses the shortsighted characteristics of our party political leaders. At then Ceylon’s first general election in 1948, the Tamil tea and rubber plantation workers of Indian origin, elected representatives of the Marxist parties defeating candidates of the premier’s party. A shrewd politician that he was, our first prime minister recognised the dangers posed to his voter base by a united body of organised workers. more..

Jul 17 (DM) When the country ran out of foreign reserves and fuel queues sprang up, Sri Lankans stormed the Prez’s House and ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa. That may be an extreme case, but that was not the first time the street protestors toppled govts when the going got tough. Dudley Senanayake, second PM, was the first victim of the populist outrage after he increased the price of a measure of rice’ from subsidised 25 cents to 70 cents when it transpired rice subsidy more..

Jul 17 (TM) Animal rights activists continue to raise serious concerns about the welfare of animals at the Dehiwala Zoo while the National Zoological Gardens Dept states that it is engaged in programmes to reduce the density within the zoo and to prioritise conservation through rewilding programmes. The welfare and living conditions of animals at the Dehiwala Zoo have been a point of concern for many animal rights activists more..

Jul 17 (ST) Sri Lanka claimed two gold medals at the Western Asia Youth Rapid Chess Championship, which kicked off at the Citrus Hotel in Waskaduwa earlier this week. Chamuditha Bandara Herath of Maliyadeva College, competing in the Under-10 Open, and Thisarindu Induwara of Royal College, competing in the Under-14 Open, pocketed gold medals in their respective categories recording identical scores of 5.5 points out of 7. Others who earned medals for SL were Eleesha more..

Jul 17 (ST) As the clock ticks down to the Election Commission (EC) declaring the date for the upcoming prez election, opposition parties continue to allege that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and his govt are trying every trick in the book to prevent the election from going ahead as scheduled. These concerns have heightened to such an extent that NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday (11) moved an adjournment motion on “Holding the Prez Election during the period more..

Jul 17 (FT) Dipped Products PLC (DPL), a global leader in the manufacturing of high-quality gloves and a subsidiary of Hayley’s PLC announced the opening of its dedicated sales and marketing office in Mumbai, India. This strategic move is part of DPL’s ongoing global expansion strategy to enhance its presence in key markets. Notably, the new Mumbai sales office is equipped with a state-of-the-art electrician glove testing facility, ensuring that each glove meets highest industry standards more..

Jul 17 (Island) Hope is said to spring eternal. Hence desperate attempts to delay the next prez election, which the govt politicians are scared of. Two fundamental rights petitions seeking a Supreme Court (SC) intervention to prevent the Election Commission (EC) from declaring the prez poll have failed. The SC has censured the petitioners for wasting judicial time and imposed costs. One of the petitioners is a lawyer by profession. What possessed him to claim that the 19th Amd more..

Jul 17 (FT) Pursuing structural reforms is critical to ensure Sri Lanka achieves sustainable inclusive growth, Verité Research and Bandaranaike Academy for Leadership and Public Policy organised forum on Practical Solutions highlighted yesterday. Discussing Practical Solutions for Inclusive Growth, Verite Research Fellow Prof. Shantha Devarajan, said SL must learn to separate foreign policy from foreign investment. more..

Jul 17 (TM) As Sri Lanka continues to follow guidelines set out by the IMF and move towards a recovery, sustaining the progress will be a key challenge as normalcy returns. SL is by no means out of the woods, and must follow through with meaningful governance and economic reforms, to ensure that Sri Lanka returns to a growth trajectory. As the island nation moves forward with such changes, many of which will be difficult and painful, SL must also fine tune its foreign policy to more..

Jul 17 (ST) SL’s billionaire entrepreneur, Dhammika Perera’s two luxury hotels are slated to open by next year-end. Mr. Perera, Chairman of Greener Water Ltd (a fully owned subsidiary of Vallibel One) and Chairman of Summer Season Ltd Mohan Pandithage in Feb 2020 signed two groundbreaking MOUs to establish global luxury brands JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton in SL. Prez – Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China) of Marriott Int'l Rajeev Menon, and Regional Vice Prez Head of Business more..

Jul 17 (FT) Election Commission of SL (ECSL) Chairperson R.M.L. Ratnayake has re-confirmed that the announcement of the Prez election will be made before 31 July. Chairperson made this assurance at a press conference held at the ECSL yesterday. He said the ECSL will be authorised to call for the Prez election after midnight on 16 July and accordingly, the election date will be announced before the end of July. Ratnayake also said the requested budget of Rs. 10 b for Prez poll more..

Jul 17 (FT) Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) welcomed this week’s decision by PUCSL to implement a 25.3% reduction in industrial electricity tariffs, parallel to a 27% reduction for domestic customers and a 22.5% overall reduction effective 16 July. In addition to easing the burden on retail customers, JAAF commended the PUCSL decision for providing much-needed relief to SL’s apparel and export industries, enhancing competitiveness and supporting economic recovery. more..

Jul 17 (TM) Sri Lanka’s ODI captain Kusal Mendis who is currently experiencing a lean patch with the bat is set to be rested, while two stars who were overlooked for the concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the US and the West Indies Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Janith Perera, are set to be recalled by the selectors, ahead of the upcoming home white-ball series against India, informed sources said. more..

Jul 17 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar asserted that SJB leader Sajith Premadasa is leading all public opinion polls for the Prez election, making him the clear choice of the people. He said that Premadasa is poised to be the candidate with the highest public support in the upcoming election. Marikkar stated that survey reports indicate a decline in the popularity of Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, while the support for Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Podujana Peramuna remains stagnant. more..

Jul 17 (Island) With no half-centuries in the league stages of the LPL, Kusal Mendis is facing the axe from the Jaffna Kings side for the playoffs. In fact, the opening batter has 30 runs as the highest score after 8 innings in the LPL. It will be a comedy of errors if Jaffna drop him but Mendis still goes on to open batting for SL next week in the three match T-20 series against India at Pallekele. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dhananjaya de Silva have been both axed for India series; so is Angleo more..

Jul 17 (TM) The third phase of the excavations at the Kokkuthuduvai mass grave in Mullaitivu has concluded, revealing 12 additional human body parts, said the JMO of Mullaitivu, Dr. Kanagasabapathy Vasudeva. He confirmed that the total number of skeletal remains excavated from the site now stands at 52, adding that these remains have been securely stored at the Mullaitivu District General Hospital following orders from more..

Jul 17 (DN) In a spirited performance, Dambulla Sixes defeated Colombo Strikers by 28 runs in their LPL game at R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium yesterday. Despite their victory, Dambulla Sixes were eliminated from the tournament. It was a low-scoring match, with Dambulla Sixes being bowled out for 123. Colombo Strikers struggled in their chase, managing only 95 runs in 18.1 overs. Skipper Thisara Perera fought valiantly, scoring 30 runs off 31 balls with a four and three sixes, more..

Jul 17 (FT) 5th Sri Lanka – USA Partnership Dialogue concluded on 12 July 2024 in Washington, D.C. The Sri Lanka delegation was led by Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aruni Wijewardane and the USA side was led by Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs of the US Department of State John Bass. Sri Lanka delegation included Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe as well as senior officials of the SL Embassy, Washington D.C. and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. more..