May 9 (FT) When I went to register the birth of our son, I wasn’t asked to provide our marriage certificate – the fact that a man is willing to accept paternity by putting his name down is generally accepted as proof of legitimacy. While this patriarchal practice is discriminatory – impugning the dignity of the child, who is a human being regardless of the relationship between his or her parents – I have no qualms on employing this practice on a policy document. more..

May 9 (Island) The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) had not taken legal action any errant wholesalers in 2023, it was revealed when the COPE met. CAA officials told the COPE that they had no authority to act against large businesses. CAA officials also said that the Act is being amended and that the final draft could be presented within the next six weeks. COPE members told CAA officials that in 2021 only one raid had been carried out against errant wholesale fertiliser traders. more..

May 9 (DM) Cutting back on alcohol consumption during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year festival has resulted in notable dip in incidents of conflict and quarrels associated with alcohol use during the festival season. This was revealed in a survey conducted by the ADIC, SL concerning alcohol consumption and related information during the season. The survey encompassed a sample size of 415 individuals across all 9 provinces of SL. more..

May 9 (CT) Four elderly patients succumbed to the prevailing hot weather at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, as reported by Hospital sources. Teaching Hospital sources when contacted yesterday (8) said the patients who were over 70 years of age had died earlier this week of heat stroke due to the prevailing high temperature experienced in several parts of the country including the Jaffna District. They had no infections but were mostly psychiatric and neurologic patients. more..

May 9 (CI) Wanindu Hasaranga will captain SL's squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, after missing the whole of IPL 2024 with a heel injury. Hasaranga made his return in the ongoing T20 practice games in Sri Lanka, where he scored 9 and 28 for SLC Yellow but did not bowl in either game. SL are in group D at the T20 World Cup along with Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands and South Africa. They play their first game of the tournament against South Africa on June 3 in New York, more..

May 9 (EN) Sri Lanka has seen good results under the IMF program, but the country has to complete debt restructuring and continue on a reform path to ensure strong growth, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe said. “A lot of good results (sadaneeya prathilaba resak) are coming from the IMF program,” Wickremesinghe said. “An appreciating rupee has brought down prices of imported goods, including milk powder and gas. The falling interest rates are benefiting businesses.” more..

May 9 (TM) CEB is yet to submit the proposals regarding the reduction of electricity tariffs to the Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL), according to PUCSL chairman Prof. Manjula Fernando. Accordingly, the proposals were initially expected to be submitted to the PUCSL by the 1st of May. However, the PUCSL had granted an extension until tomorrow in response to a request from the CEB. Consequently, the PUCSL has instructed the CEB to submit proposals before the deadline more..

May 9 (Nikkei) Apparently moving to counter China's formidable presence across Sri Lanka, President Ranil Wickremesinghe's administration is increasingly engaging Indian companies for vital projects. On Tuesday, SL govt said it had approved a 20-year power purchase agreement with India's Adani Green Energy, which will invest $442 million to develop two wind power stations in Mannar and Pooneryn in the north, totaling 484 megawatts. more..

May 9 (AD) A Gazette notification has been issued stating that Mujibur Rahman has been nominated by the SJB to fill the vacancy in Parliament created by the disqualification of Diana Gamage as MP by a Supreme Court verdict. Accordingly, the Election Commission, acting under section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981 read with provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, has announced that Mohamad Mujibur Rahman was declared elected as a MP to fill the vacancy more..

May 9 (TM) The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) has been abused and misused by every successive govt, said the TNA MP, M.A. Sumanthiran, who presented an amendment to the EPF Act yesterday (8) in Parliament. Speaking in the Parliament, MP Sumanthiran noted that the Govt has neither responded to nor taken any action to implement the recommendations submitted by the IMF in their governance diagnostics that there must be an independent body to regulate this Fund. more..

May 9 (Island) The newly-established Community Advisory Committees (CAC), on a directive of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to monitor development projects and programmes implemented in rural areas, is aimed at further politicising development activities at the grassroots, says Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake. Gajanayake said more..

May 9 (DM) Following discussions with vehicle importers, the govt is focused on resuming vehicle imports in four stages, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said. After the meeting, the State Minister claimed that vehicle importers are expected to deliver a report soon on the potential impact of lifting vehicle import restrictions. He said the report will include detailed information on the relaxation of import restrictions. Minister Siyambalapitiya pointed out more..

May 9 (DM) There is no legal barrier for the non-citizens to register a political party, Former Chairman of Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said. “SL law only prevents a non-citizen from becoming a MP, to contest an election while the law also prohibits a non-citizen to vote in an election,” Deshapriya said. Also, he said Former State Minister Diana Gamage has not signed nomination papers of SJB and that she has never been the general secretary of Ape Jathika Peramuna. more..

May 10 (DM) The legal recognition of the fundamental rights of trade unions in this country has been derived from Article 14(1) b, c and d in chapter 3 of the Constitution of SL, the ILO Conventions 87 and 98 ratified by the Govt of SL, the Trade Union Ordinance and the Industrial Disputes Act of SL and subsequent amendments thereto emerged from time to time. The term Strike has been defined in the Trade Union Ordinance as “cessation of work by a body of persons more..

May 10 (DM) Sri Lankans may be wary of trusting their instincts given their bad experiences with politicians. This is a country where the majority of the citizenry hasn’t had the fortune of receiving a university education. Hence, for some of them, trust must be built on instinct. This instinct is the tool people relied on when electing Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president. He was the last Executive of this country who was elected through the vote of the people. more..

May 10 (CT) The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), that governs the people living on a stretch of 37.1 square kilometres, is making a great effort to transform the city of Colombo into a vibrant, progressive and economically important and ethnically cohesive city, in particular, in Asia, Colombo Municipal Commissioner Bhadranie Jayawardhana said in an interview. Q: Can you elaborate on measures taken by more..

May 10 (CT) The May Day rallies of 2024 in SL emerged as a pivotal moment in the nation’s political landscape, spotlighting the main contest between the SJB and NPP while underscoring the dilemmas faced by the UNP-SLPP alliance. Against a backdrop of shifting alliances and evolving ideologies, these rallies provided a glimpse into the complex dynamics shaping the country’s future. Rising prominently in the current political landscape is the SJB, highlighted by a significant rally in Colombo led by more..

May 10 (TM) The slow pace of Sri Lankan governance has finally gathered enough political will to publicly address the issue of Sri Lankans travelling overseas to fight in wars of other countries. Last week, following months of back door discussions, and investigations by the Govt, the SL foreign ministry and defence establishment finally made public appeal, asking veterans not to be duped into becoming cannon fodder between the Ukrainian forces, and the Russian forces. more..

May 10 (CT) Taking dining and catering one step further – especially in the city of Colombo and its suburbs, are the cloud kitchens which mushroomed during the pandemic in 2020, and have been known to produce many mouth-watering treats that may even outshine well-known confectioners and restaurants in town. The cupcakes, cakes, Chinese rolls and patties, chutneys, yellow rice, lamprais and more..

May 10 (ST) In 2015, I gave an interview to the Sinhala newspaper Deshaya which was published in its Sept 6 issue. The literal meaning of the title of this article was [there will be] nobody to save us, when we fall. I was referring to the debt crisis of Greece and the fact that Sri Lanka which was also on the verge of collapse like Greece is unlikely to receive the support that Greece received. The international bailout programme of Greece designed for its recovery from the crisis more..

May 10 (Island) Derrick Borte’s edge-of-seat psychological thriller, Unhinged, has an appropriate tagline: He can happen to anyone! We were reminded of this suspense flick full of gratuitous violence, and its catchphrase while reading newspaper reports that former Minister Mervyn Silva had recently been granted bail in a case pertaining to an incident which took place at the state-owned Rupavahini Corporation headquarters 17 years ago. The police must be asked to explain why more..

May 10 (CT) This week, SL saw major economic announcements aimed at stabilising its fragile economy, looming elections and spirited campaigning by various contenders. Central Bank and six leading export sector chambers urgently stressed the importance of maintaining policy consistency, regardless of which party comes to power after the upcoming elections. The essence of these discussions, particularly highlighted by CB Governor in his sustaining Stability more..

May 10 (FT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe will today ceremoniously launch the world’s first of its kind Global Gestures for Empowerment aimed at discouraging sexual harassment. The ground-breaking initiative is by DP Education of Dhammika and Priscilla Perera Foundation. The campaign includes three gestures created by Andy Jacobs, from US Hawaii who is a TV and Internet producer. The three gestures are to convey the following message You are harassing me and more..

May 10 (FT) President Ranil Wickre-mesinghe and Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday clashed in Parliament after the former blamed the latter for the current crisis. Wickremesinghe accused Premadasa of being a responsible party to the crisis and suggested that the country’s outcome might have been different if Premadasa had agreed to assume the PM position in April 2022. more..

May 10 (FT) SL-Maldives Business Council (SLMLBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with SL Export Development Board (EDB) and the SL High Commission in the Maldives, is organising a business delegation to the renowned Hotel Asia Exhibition in the Maldives from 13-15 May. Hotel Asia Exhibition is renowned as the Maldives’ premier food and hospitality event, attracting stakeholders from resorts, hotels, guest houses, safari boat operators, restaurants, more..

May 10 (ST) Customs is striving to reach the highest revenue target in its 117 year history amidst inconsistent tax policy and under invoicing of unscrupulous importers and traders, the department’s official sources revealed. It is also noted that for the purpose of avoidance of under-invoicing and under-evaluation of importation of goods, a specific unit rate of duty (example: per kg amount) as well as mixed rates of duty have been applied within 3-band tariff system literally. more..

May 10 (DN) Sri Lanka Golf (SLG) has nominated two junior golfers to participate in the R & A Junior Open golf tournament to be held in Scotland from July 13 to 19. The criteria for selection to represent Sri Lanka is that they must have won in two junior national tournament conducted by SLG in 2023 namely, SL Junior Open and SL Junior Match Play events. As such, SLG has selected one boy and one girl player in the under-16 years, who became eligible for the events, more..

May 10 (TM) An investigation by The Daily Morning, revealed that two promising school cricketers, had been sent to the ongoing lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), as net bowlers, without requisite approval from the schools concerned. The two upcoming star players from leading schools of the country have thus been packed off to the IPL – the world’s most popular domestic T-20 tournament. It is said that the individual, who has undertaken the contract, to send these 2 cricketers to IPL, more..

May 10 (TM) A prominent netball player in the country and a former skipper of the national team, has reportedly tested positive to a banned substance, for the first time ever in the sport’s history here, The Daily Morning Sports, reliably understands. The incident had occurred when a random test done of the urine sample of the player had returned positive, during the ongoing training programme of the national team, more..

May 10 (DM) Uber, the global ride hailing and food and grocery delivery platform, hosted Uber Springboard, an initiative to encourage SL start-ups to strengthen the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. With support from the Technology Ministry, govt of SL, Uber has selected three start-ups from a tech start-up competition that are set to travel to Uber’s centre of excellence in India for a mentorship programme. As part of DIGIECON 2030, Uber’s tech leaders interacted with 26 more..

May 10 (EN) SL govt will table amendments for Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Act for the first time in 28 years and the key changes will include third party being allowed to build towers, State Technology Minister Kanaka Herath said. Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of SL (TRCSL) was established in 1996 with an aim to promote sustained development in the telecommunication industry by shaping the regulatory process, protecting public interest more..

May 10 (FT) SL's automobile assembly is experiencing significant growth and development with the involvement of world-renowned brands including Hyundai, Proton, BAIC, DFSK, Wuling, Mahindra, TATA, Bajaj, TVS, JMC and Lanka Ashok Leyland emphasizing the favourable environment for investment. The approval to assemble a wide range of vehicles including SUVs, Cars, Two-Wheelers, Double-cabs, Trucks more..

May 10 (DM) While denouncing the false rumours regarding imminent vehicle importation, the Vehicle Importers Association of SL (VIASL) clarified that no vehicles, including lightweight vehicles, will be imported within the current year or before the election. VIASL President Prasad Priyanga said that this decision was taken following a discussion held with the Finance State Minister yesterday. "According to the discussion, vehicle importation will take at least another year. more..

May 10 (DN) The much awaited and long overdue bill to amend the Telecommunications Regulatory Act after 28 years will be presented to the Parliament State Minister Kanaka Herath said yesterday. Additionally, he highlighted plans for the drafting of the National Cyber Security Act in May. He also disclosed that In furtherance of boosting the tourism sector, Rs.750 million has been allocated for the development of the Pinnawala and Kithulgala tourism corridor. more..

May 10 (TM) SJB stated that it is their position that the debate between the two economic committees of the SJB and JVP-led NPP also of the Parliamentary Opposition should be held before the debate between the two Party Leaders. NPP recently invited the SJB to suggest three or four dates leading up to 20 May for the debate between their Leader, Opposition MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and SJB and Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa. Since the SJB is yet to suggest the days more..