Jul 31 (DM) The leader of the UPF, MP Champika Ranawaka, said he is keeping all options open with regard to the presidential election and is also ready to contest for the presidency if his party members want him to. “Our earlier stand was that we would not support anyone who allied with the Rajapaksas. However, the SLPP has made a good decision to field its own candidate. The Supreme Court has named former Prezs Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Ralapaksa and former Minister more..

Jul 31 (FT) Top blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) announced a Rs. 7.7 billion EBITDA for the first quarter of FY25 down by 13% from a year ago whilst its bottom line saw a negative Rs. 868 million. JKH said Group EBITDA included substantial pre-opening costs pertaining to the ramp-up associated with the opening of the Cinnamon Life hotel at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, whilst the first quarter of the previous year included a deferred tax credit at the Group’s Ports and Shipping business, more..

Jul 31 (CI) At some point, you just have to break into a slow clap and marvel at the sheer enormity of it. The towering heft. The enterprise. The audacity to have gone so big, and yet find it within to go bigger. SL men's team specialises in crash-and-burn batting, especially against India. This series they had already blessed us with nine wickets going down for 30 runs in the first match, then in the next game, losing seven for 31. more..

Jul 31 (AD) SL Police says over 50 foreign nationals were arrested in the Puttalam area for allegedly operating an online scam. DIG Ruwan Gunasekara said 44 males and 09 females were arrested in the operation carried out yesterday. The arrested suspects had engaged in this illegal operation from a hotel located in the Kalpitiya area of Puttalam while a search was carried out at the hotel in question by the investigation officers after obtaining a court order. more..

Jul 31 (EN) Sri Lanka has appointed three ministerial committees to address potential global and Iranian impacts on the island nation amid fears of an escalating middle east war after the assassination of a Hamas political leader in Iran. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe aMF mission on Aug 1, with a wrap up meeting with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, State Minister for Finance, Shehan Semasinghe said. SL is awaiting the assessment from the IMF on the compliance of an in-principle private creditor restructuring deal on the debt sustainability assessment. Also awaited is a decision from the Official Creditor Committee on the comparability of treatment on the private creditor deal. more..

Jul 31 (DM) Days after Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe announced his candidacy in the September Prez Election, 92 MPs, mostly from the SLPP met Wickremesinghe last evening and pledged their support to him. In the Govt Parliamentary Group meeting that convened last evening, MPs in support of Wickremesinghe said they accepted the Prez’s economic vision and pledged their support to work with him. more..

Jul 31 (DM) Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa has informed Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to go for a dialogue with former Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa and try to obtain the full support of the SLPP. Deputy Speaker said he had personally made this request from Prez Wickremesinghe. "I told the Prez that he will surely win the Prez election, but his victory might me greater if he obtains the support of the Rajapaksas and that former Prez Rajapaksa is an understanding person and more..

Jul 31 (DM) Hangzhou Asian Games Gold Medallist Tharushi Karunarathna will come out for the first time at the 33rd Paris Olympic Games when she competes in the Women’s 800m heats on Aug 2. Track and field events of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will commence on Aug 1 and will conclude on Aug 11 with the Stade de France set to host most of the events. 1,810 athletes are set to participate in the Paris Olympic Games track and field events, which will include 48 different disciplines more..

Jul 31 (EN) Sri Lanka has appointed three ministerial committees to address potential global and Iranian impacts on the island nation amid fears of an escalating middle east war after the assassination of a Hamas political leader in Iran. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe arranged to appoint the committees “as a preliminary measure to address the security and economic pressures that may affect SL, considering the potential developments in the Middle East and globally,” his media division said. more..

Jul 31 (AD) The STF has arrested a Mawlawi and his brother at Oddamavadi while in possession of weapons including two firearms and several rounds of ammunition. DIG Ruwan Gunasekara said the two suspects were arrested with two T-56 assault rifles, two magazines, 60 rounds of ammunition, a sword and a pair of binoculars. The suspects were arrested by officers of the STF in Aralaganwila during an operation conducted last night (30), based on information received by army intelligence. more..

Jul 31 (EN) Ruling nationalist party SLPP’s internal differences have finally come out through its own actions and criticisms, as a majority of the party’s legislators have chosen to back Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in the next presidential poll scheduled for Sept 21. The decision to back the current prez by at least 92 SLPP legislators came a day after the party led by former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to field their own more..

Jul 31 (DM) The Election Commission (EC) has summoned Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, and Senior DIG Asanga Karavita to discuss the issues surrounding the Inspector General of Police (IGP). Asanga Karavita is responsible for overseeing duties related to the elections. Addressing the media, Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said they had formally requested Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to address ongoing issue concerning the IGP. more..

Jul 31 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his commitment to enhancing youth organizations, including the Girl Guide Association, Scout Association, Cadet Corps, and Youth Corps, in every aspect. His objective is to foster substantial contributions from young people towards the country’s future. Prez highlighted that the govt has already allocated the necessary funds for youth programs. As the country’s economy strengthens, Prez plans to allocate any remaining funds more..

Jul 31 (DM) Since 2020, it’s been decided to implement a plan to recycle e-waste domestically rather than exporting it; with the goal of recovering its valuable metals. According to the Environment Minister at that time, Mahinda Amaraweera, about 28 companies registered with the Central Environment Authority collected electronic waste from various areas and exported it for recycling. The idea of the then Environment Minister was to extract more..

Jul 31 (Island) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa has urged the Mahanayakes intervention to prevent Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe from betraying the SL State to foreign powers. A senior spokesperson for the party said that copies of MP Weerawansa’s letter had been delivered to Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sumangala of Malwattu Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratne of Asgiriya Chapter, Most Ven. Karagoda Uyangoda Maithri Murthi and Most Ven. Makulawe Sri Wimala of more..

Jul 31 (DM) Since 2020, a significant number of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) have left the country due to the latest currency crisis, Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (Pvt) Limited (AASL) Chairman Athula Galketiya said. He said that a total of 38 ATCs have left the country so far. Therefore, the AASL has decided to recruit 71 new ATCs. We have completed training for 21 ATCs and are currently training another 25. An additional 25 ATCs are under evaluation. more..

Jul 31 (DM) The final decision regarding the presidential candidate of the SLPP will be made next week, SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa said. Namal Rajapaksa stated that he stands by the party’s decision not to support Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, despite a significant portion of SLPP MPs deciding otherwise. When asked whether disciplinary actions will be taken against those MPs who have failed to comply with the party’s decision, MP Rajapaksa said people will decide on them in the future. more..

Jul 31 (EN) SJB general secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara has paid the election deposit for the party’s candidate Sajith Premadasa for the upcoming Presidential Election 2024. SL’s presidential election will be held on Sept 21, with nominations to be accepted till August 15. Several candidates have paid their cash deposits including former deputy minister Sarath Keerthirathne, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, activist Oshala Herath and businessman A S P Liyanage. more..

Jul 31 (NDTV) In September 2004, an extraordinary incident unfolded in Bavaria, Germany. A 23-man SL handball team had arrived in the country to take part in a sports exchange programme consisting of friendly matches against local clubs, according to Deutsche Welle. However, the team's performance during a match raised eyebrows. Players seemed to show unfamiliarity with the rules of the sport, and more..

Jul 31 (AD) The Central Committee of the SLFP today met with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and expressed their unwavering support for his victory in the forthcoming prez election. SLFP’s Politburo and Central Committee had convened a meeting this evening and a final decision was reached support Prez Wickremesinghe at the upcoming election. MP Duminda Dissanayake further stated that, “Only the incumbent Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has made a request in writing asking for our support.” more..

Jul 31 (TM) The SJB, vowed to provide compensation within this year (2024) to those who allegedly became victims of the forced cremation of bodies during the Covid-19 pandemic under the administration of former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. This statement was made by SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa during a gathering in the Moratuwa area, where he assured that a future SJB Govt would not only apologise but also take concrete steps to deliver justice to the victims. more..

Jul 31 (TI) IT was exactly 37 years ago (July 29, 1987) that the India-SL Accord was signed; under its mandate, the Indian Peace-Keeping Force (IPKF) was formed and Operation Pawan was launched. It took the SL security forces another two decades to end the civil war. Last week, the country celebrated 25 years of the Kargil skirmish, the official term used for the limited campaign that was launched to throw out Pakistani intruders more..

Jul 31 (DM) SL swimmer Kyle Abeysinghe finished last in the Men’s 100m freestyle heat four at the 33rd Paris Olympic Games in France. Abeysinghe returned a time of 52.42s and ended in 54th overall position out of the 79 competitors, who participated in 10 heats. The 16 swimmers with the best timing qualified to participate in the Men’s 100m freestyle semi-finals. Abeysinghe became the second SL swimmer to be eliminated from the heats following the exit of Ganga Senevirathna on previous more..

Jul 31 (TM) People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), which has been working as a recognised election monitoring agency for more than three decades, has worked against the misuse of state property and state power during elections, and against the use of state resources and power for the promotion of one party or candidate, and we have taken legal action in this regard on many occasions. We observed for a long time that the country's national wealth was being used for promotion more..