Jun 7 (AD) MP Dayasiri Jayasekara assumed duties as the General Secretary of SLFP in front of the party hq, claiming that he holds the post. Jayasekara assumed duties outside the headquarters as he was prevented from entering the building by police. Meanwhile, a tense situation was reported in front of the SLFP’s Headquarters on Darley Road in Col 10, following the arrival of MP Dayasiri Jayasekara this morning. Jayasekara alleges that he is still the legitimate General Secretary of the party, as more..

Jun 7 (Island) Hong Kong has developed a technology of using sea water for flushing toilets and SL govt can use this technology to save potable water, Director of Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong Dr. CHUI Ho Kwong Samuel said in a recent event in Colombo. Addressing an Awareness Workshop on Water Technology 2024, jointly hosted by Central Environment Authority (CEA), Joint Research and Demonstration Center (JRDC) and more..

Jun 7 (AD) A tense situation has been reported in front of the SLFP’s Headquarters on Darley Road in Colombo 10, following the arrival of MP Dayasiri Jayasekara. However, MP Jayasekara had claimed that he will recommence duties in the post of General Secretary of the SLFP this morning. Meanwhile, he also alleged that he is still the legitimate General Secretary of the party. more..

Jun 7 (DM) The police have announced a special traffic plan in conjunction with the Bohra convention scheduled to be held from July 7 to 16 at the Bambalapitiya Bohra Mosque and the SL Exhibition and Convention Centre. Several byroads entering Galle Road, Colombo Fort and Marine Drive in Bambalapitiya will be closed during the following periods: 8 am to 11 am, 1 pm to 3 pm, and 5 pm to 10 pm on the specified dates. Further, traffic restrictions will be imposed in surrounding more..

Jun 7 (TTW) In 2023 and 2024, both Sri Lanka and Malaysia have been actively promoting tourism among Indian travelers. Indian passport holders traveling to Malaysia from Dec 1, 2023, to Dec 31, 2024, are eligible for visa-free entry, allowing a stay of up to 30 days per visit. Malaysia Outperforms Sri Lanka in Tourism, Attracting 700,000 Indian Tourists with Remarkable Visa-Free Incentives. This initiative aligns with Malaysia’s broader strategy to attract international tourists, more..

Jun 7 (EN) The centre-left Labour Party won a massive majority in the 650-seat UK parliament while PM Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party suffered the worst performance in the party’s long history as voters expressed their frustration over high cost of living crisis, failure in public services, and a series of scandals. So far Labour has won 412 seats, while Conservatives have slumped to just 120 & centrist Liberal Democrats have taken 71. more..

Jun 7 (Reuters) Sri Lanka will save $3 billion in debt write-offs from commercial creditors once a provisional deal to restructure its debt with international bondholders is completed, the president said on Friday. SL said on Wednesday it has secured a deal to move forward on restructuring about $12.5 billion of int'l bonds, a major step in its fragile recovery from a severe financial crisis. Late last month, the island nation, which has total external debt of $37 billion, more..

Jun 7 (ST) Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) is planning renovations of its stations to improve facilities for commuters. Railways Acting General Manager, S.S. Mudalige, said as part of the renovations, pay-to-use washrooms would be introduced and more public ones would be made available. Facilities will be set up at main stations, while the railway department plans to outsource the maintenance of pay-to-use washrooms in some main and stations considered tourist destinations, he said. more..

Jul 6 (SLG) The month of June was a busy one for Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. He announced his candidacy for the prez election, cashing on his success with the restructuring of debtors achieved in the Paris Club meeting that satisfies the IMF debt relief package. Prez Wickremesinghe announced his entry into the presidential fray in a meticulously orchestrated a TV address. He said, “Today makes a significant milestone in the recent history of our country. more..

Jul 6 (FT) As reported by Daily FT on 25 June, at an awareness conference organised by the Ceylon Federation of MSMEs on Business debt and finance management, Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had proposed two solutions to balance the relationship between banks and industries. One was to abolish the parate law and the other was to provide opportunities for distressed customers to restructure their credit lines. Abolishing the parate right given to banks more..

Jul 6 (TM) Sri Lanka is likely to hand over its controversial Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply to Petronet LNG Ltd, an Indian company specialising in LNG importation and terminal establishment. A Cabinet-appointed committee is currently evaluating Petronet’s LNG proposal. Once this evaluation is completed, Power & Energy Ministry plans to entrust the procurement of LNG and the construction of more..

Jul 6 (CT) SL is grappling with a severe cost-of-living crisis rooted in pervasive political corruption. Political intermediaries profit at every stage, shifting the burden onto consumers. The economy has plummeted due to corrupt leaders using the govt to further personal agendas and misusing public funds on unproductive projects while simultaneously selling national assets and depleting public reserves. Under such deceptive governance, our future hard work and increased taxes will be in vain, more..

Jul 6 (FT) SL is considered a hotspot for climate change impacts. Over the past 20 years, the country has experienced frequent natural disasters, predominantly floods and droughts. According to the Climate Risk Index 2021, which measures a country’s exposure and vulnerability to extreme weather events, SL ranks 30th out of 180 countries in terms of vulnerability. “On average, SL experiences LKR 50 billion (US$313 million) in annual disaster losses related to more..

Jul 6 (CT) President Ranil Wickremesinghe was scheduled to deliver a special statement to Parliament on Tuesday (2) regarding the implementation of debt restructuring agreements. It was scheduled to present the bilateral agreements to Parliament and hold a vote followed by a debate. Earlier, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had issued a written notice to all MPs, summoning them to a special more..

Jul 6 (ST) Sri Lanka has been a repeated client of the IMF. It has been there 17 times during the past 58 years – too long and too often. The first visit was in 1965 and the most recent one in 2023/24. About 2 – 3 years ago SL refused to go to the IMF and started seeking home-grown solutions to the problems at home. As SL was waiting for a home-grown solution to drop down from somewhere, the problems got aggravated. It ended with a default; the country declared more..

Jul 6 (TM) The writer is prompted to pen this article having read an excerpt from a recent article on System change in the national press by an erudite personality – “The aragalaya (the public movement that sought the resignation of the previous Govt led by former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa) youth shouted ‘No 225 (a reference to MPs)’ and agitated for system change. But, what is the new system going to be? No one has so far put out a blueprint or even a skeletal description of more..

Jul 6 (DN) All rounder Dunith Wellalage has shown his potential in the ongoing Lanka Premier League tournament while playing for Colombo Strikers which is led by Thisara Perera. Dunith Wellalage the leg spinner was outstanding with the ball taking four wickets (4 for 20 )against defending champions Kandy Falcons in their opening game at Pallekele. Pakistan leggie Shadab Khan also in Colombo team had 4 for 20 including a hat trick .Shadab pointed out young Wellalage‘s potential. more..

Jul 6 (DN) SL national champion 17 year old Ranithma Liyanage entered the women’s single quarter final at St Denis Reunion Open 2024 Badminton International series held at Reunion Island following a dominant straight-set win over Emmanuelle Aamette from host country in the pre quarter finals. Ranithma who is 183 world ranking shuttler has shown her potential to beat Aamette in two straight sets 21-4, 21-6 comfortably. Earlier at the second round Ranithma securing more..

Jul 6 (DM) Veteran Tamil political leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan passed away peacefully in Colombo on 30 June 2024. The nonagenarian Sampanthan who had been ailing for some time was listening after dinner to an audio tape of Kanthasashti Kavasam verses sung by the Soolaman Sisters Rajalakshmi and Jeyalakshmi when he collapsed with a groan. Sampanthan was immediately taken to Lanka Hospital more..

Jul 6 (Island) President Ranil Wickremasinghe got a bellyful of criticism in the print media last Sunday – June 30. Why? His Address to the Nation which he named Good News and believed would descend, Cass is certain, like manna on an adoring public; consolation and salvation brought unto them singly and solely by him throughout-negotiating the IMF as he outdid the bankruptcy of the country. True, if bankruptcy is solely measured by queues for gasoline products. more..

Jul 6 (Island) Time was when the SLFP and the UNP dominated SL politics, and captured power almost alternately so much so that we had a two-party system to all intents and purposes. But today they have become shadows of their former selves and are struggling for survival. Worse, their offshoots have not only overtaken them but also rendered them almost irrelevant in national politics. The UNP is lucky that the elevation of its leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, to the presidency, more..

Jul 6 (CT) Women’s skipper Chamari Athapatthu says her aim is to be the No.1 batter in both ODIs and T20Is at the same time and get nominated to all three ICC awards – ODI player of the year, T20I player of the year and ICC player of the year. Athapatthu stated that she currently holds the top spot in ODI batting and is ranked 5th in T20Is, with the goal of achieving the number one position in both formats concurrently. She acknowledged that this would be a challenging task but more..

Jul 6 (DM) With confusing, contradictory and sometimes mysterious announcements about the upcoming elections—we still do not know whether it will be a presidential or parliamentary election—the death of the Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan needs to encourage and inspire other political leaders to act peacefully and calmly to find a just and fair solution to SL’s ethnic crisis. Since independence in 1948 there has been unity in diversity but with the tragic death of more..

Jul 6 (ST) Housewife and mother of two, Saman Kumari (38), is very happy to be back with her family in the village of Iluppelessa, Padiyapelella, around 60km from Kandy town. She has not come home with a few material possessions from West Asia to help her husband, a causal telecommunication employee, keep the home fires burning, but from Jaffna with a new lease of life, having overcome ata-midulu wala cancer more..

Jul 6 (DN) The Economic Transformation Bill presented to Parliament in May will have far reaching economic benefits to Sri Lanka, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said at a special event held at the Information Department yesterday. The Governor said that this Bill is packed with features and regulation that brings financial discipline to the country and curtails uncalled for expenses. “In addition it also has insulated features to reduce corruption.” more..

Jul 6 (CT) Cheap and clean renewable energy (RE), also known as green electricity, led by CEB hydroelectricity, provided over 50% of SL’s total electricity needs for the 44th consecutive day to Thursday (4) after 165 days, CEB’s Friday’s (5) data showed. On Thursday alone, RE was led by the cheapest and cleanest of all RE, namely CEB hydroelectricity, which, by itself, met 36.71% (17.78 Giga Watt hours) of all electricity consumed on that day on a net basis, more..

Jul 6 (EN) State Intelligence Service (SIS) has warned the govt not to grant a salary hike to protesting non-academic staff at the island nation’s state universities as it is a part of a greater plot, State Minister Suren Raghavan said. The State Minister’s revelation comes after more than two month of protest by the non-academic staff crippling the smooth operations in the island nation’s state universities. more..

Jul 6 (ST) A group of farmers conducted a deva pooja seeking punishment for the unauthorised persons who have excavated and damaged the rock near Kala Wewa. History records that the reservoir was constructed in the fifth century during King Datusena’s reign. The excavators have dug around 2 feet on the rock bed using equipment. The location of the excavation site is near the Kala Wewa circuit bungalow. Farmers suspect that this operation has happened with protection of higher officials more..

Jul 6 (FT) SLASSCOM and IIT Madras Pravartak have inked a landmark MoU aimed at enhancing collaboration and fostering innovation in SL’s startup ecosystem. The agreement was facilitated by Dr. Shankar Raman from IIT Madras Pravartak and SLASSCOM Chairman Jehan Perinpanayagam, Rajendra Moortha and SLASSCOM Vice Chair Nishan Mendis. MoU between SLASSCOM and IIT Madras Pravartak encompasses a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at fostering innovation more..

Jul 6 (FT) The Colombo stock market managed to gain modestly yesterday but turnover fell to a new low as investor sentiment remained lacklustre. ASPI gained by 21 points or 0.17% whilst the active S&P SL20 was flat. For the week, ASPI lost 301.6 points (2.5%) and S&P SL20 lost 104.4 points (2.9%). Turnover yesterday was Rs. 472.5 million involving just 21.5 million shares. Asia Securities said the market closed the session in green) with the ASPI gaining 21 points (+0.2%), more..

Jul 6 (FT) SL’s most focused construction, interior products, lighting, power and energy exhibition – Construction Power and Energy Expo 2024 kicked off yesterday at the BMICH. It will conclude On Sunday. Organiser Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS) said the Construction Power and Energy Expo is Sri Lanka’s premier exhibition in the construction, interior products, power, and energy-related sectors. With its eighth successive year, the expo provides more..

Jul 6 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday revealed that the External Debt Restructuring (EDR) process will include a $ 5 billion in loan interest relief from bilateral creditors and a $ 3 billion debt write-off from commercial creditors providing the country with a total relief of $ 8 billion. Wickremesinghe revealed this while addressing the Urumaya Freehold Land Deed Ceremony held in Kurunegala. more..

Jul 6 (FT) In a significant move to boost tourism and recreational activities in the Kalmunai Municipal Council area, Cabinet on Monday approved the acquisition of land for the development of a tourist facility centre. The coastal area of Karuna has been designated as a prime location for such activities under the Kalmunai Municipal Council area development plan. “The approved plan involves acquiring 1 rood and 29.44 perches of land located on Rest House road in Kalmunai area. more..

Jul 6 (DM) The Central Bank extended the suspension on controversial primary dealer Perpetual Treasuries Limited by another six months. Central Bank first suspended the business of Perpetual Treasuries on July 6, 2017 and since then, the suspension has been extended every six months up to now. Perpetual Treasuries is at the center of an investigation into possible irregularities at a govt bond sale in 2015. “The Central Bank of SL, acting in terms of the regulations made under more..