May 29 (TM) Amidst the Bar Association of SL (BASL) being mired in controversy over the alleged misappropriation of a portion of a grant provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Lawyers’ Collective, a leading civil society group comprised of lawyers, said that it is yet to take the matter into consideration while the CIABOC is yet to initiate a probe into the matter. Last week, a media report alleged that certain members of the BASL had misappropriated more..

May 29 (FT) Sri Lankan born Ambuja Rajaratnam has been included in the influential list of Top 25 CFOs of Toronto for 2024 by TOP CFOs magazine. Rajaratnam is the Chief Financial Officer of Maropost, a commerce platform that provides software and support to help businesses execute their customer journey better. Its platform includes commerce, marketing, services, and payment management products to meet its customers’ needs. Rajaratnam is a Finance Leader in software more..

May 29 (AD) Police have launched an investigation following the death of four individuals after allegedly consuming illicit liquor in Dambulla. The incident in question has been reported in Vihara Junction, Dambulla. Two individuals had previously died after consuming illicit liquor two day ago while two more persons have reportedly died today after consuming the same illicit alcohol. Incidentally, it is reported that the suspects involved more..

May 29 (PMD) Prez’s Senior Advisor Sagala Ratnayaka, has advised relevant officials to find possible solutions to the problems in the Grama Niladhari Service, ensuring no conflict arises with other public services. He emphasized the importance of discussing existing issues thoroughly and reaching a common agreement. This directive was given during a meeting held at the Prez Secretariat today (28), involving officials of Grama Niladhari Trade Union & related line more..

May 29 (DM) Minister Harin Fernando today instructed the relevant authorities to put off the Netball Federation of SL (NFSL) 2024-2026 elections, scheduled at the Duncan White Auditorium of the Ministry of Sports tomorrow. Minister Fernando decided to put off the NFSL elections having considered several complaints regarding the cancellation of voting rights of Jaffna and Colombo and after the NFSL Election Committee rejected the nomination of a member from Jaffna. more..

May 29 (EN) Persons of SL descent, including those who have renounced their citizenship, and foreign spouses would be able to get permanent residence status, under regulations gazetted by the ministry of public security. A person of SL descent or whose citizenship of SL has ceased under sections 19, 20 or 21 of the Citizenship Act as well as a foreign spouse would be eligible to apply after six months of marriage under new regulations. more..

May 29 (AD) Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) is preparing to visit Sri Lanka to further investigate the arrest of four ISIS terrorists at Ahmedabad airport. This development comes as SL police have detained two individuals related to the case, while a third suspect, Osmond Gerrard, remains at large. SL has declared Gerrard wanted and announced a Rs. 2 million reward for his capture. Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) thwarted a potential terror attack with the arrest of four Sri Lankan more..

May 29 (DM) President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the presidential election will definitely be held in the future and financial allocations have already been allocated for it. While joining the What's New workshop held at the President's office on legal reform with young legal professionals, the Prez said that that none of the candidates aspiring to run in the prez election have announced their intention to abolish the executive powers associated with the position. more..

May 29 (AD) The University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) has announced that university non-academic employees will continue their trade union action. UTUJC Co-Chairman Dhammika S. Priyantha emphasized that the issue cannot be resolved by merely appointing committees. “We expected a positive response to the two Cabinet memorandums sent to address long-standing issues in the university system. Instead, another committee has been appointed,” Priyantha stated. more..

May 29 (DM) US Ambassador to SL, Julie Chung, held a meeting with R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, Chairman of the Election Commission to discuss the forthcoming elections in Sri Lanka. During the meeting, Ambassador Chung raised concerns regarding the conduct of the elections and sought clarity on several issues. Following the discussion, Ambassador Chung shared on X that the dialogue focused on the significance of free and fair elections as a cornerstone of democratic governance. more..

May 29 (DM) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has launched investigations into multiple complaints it has received regarding the collection of cash deposits for plantation investment projects. Recently, Central Bank disclosed that it has obtained information about institutions accepting deposits from the public primarily for agricultural investments. CBSL also named Pintanna Plantations, owned by Kumar Dharmasena- a former SL national more..

May 29 (DM) There are renewed fears of terrorist attacks at this year's T20 World Cup after a chilling poster was released hinting at bloodshed in New York. A pro-ISIS outlet released a graphic which showed a hooded man with a rifle over his shoulder. It read You wait for the matches... and then - written in dripping blood-red - And we wait for you.... The poster makes reference to June 9 at 'Nassau Stadium', which is when - and where - bitter rivals India and Pakistan will meet in a group game. more..

May 29 (DM) The railway service in the country is currently in a critical situation, and efficient train usage requires significant investments, Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana said. Addressing the media, he said that rail tracks need to be replaced every five years, with coastal railway lines requiring even more frequent changes. "The necessary funds for purchasing railway lines, compartments, and sleepers have been obtained through foreign loan facilities," he said. more..

May 29 (Island) Opposition has questioned Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recently concluded visit to the Northern Province, where he declared open a new hospital and university facilities, etc., as part of his Prez Poll campaign. Prof. G. L. Peiris pointed out that the Prez, in line with his overall campaign, took advantage of the opening of foreign funded projects. The dissident SLPP MP accused the Prez of taking advantage of more..

May 29 (DM) As a part of the govt’s policy decision to regularising SL’s Samurdhi banking system, the govt has decided to entrust the auditing of the Samurdhi Community Based Banks and Samurdhi Community Based Banking Societies to the National Audit Office (NDO). Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Empowerment sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers this week to amend the Samurdhi Act No.1 of 2013 as amended more..

May 29 (Island) Amnesty International, along with other organisations, have urgently called on the SL govt to halt the current proposals for a new Labour Law and to ensure that reforms to the labour laws are only taken after due consultation with workers and their representatives. “We express our serious concerns over the proposed reforms which, as they stand, would weaken the rights and protection of workers by removing international minimum standards and rights,” a rights group said. more..

May 30 (DM) During the past few weeks, most parts of SL have been experiencing torrential rains and floods partly due to the South-West monsoon which was aggravated by climate change issues such as the cutting down of trees. On Tuesday, UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara caused a stir when he said there were plans to postpone both the Prez and Parliamentary Elections. However, other sources denied any such move and said that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe had assured that more..

May 30 (DM) An increasing trend in higher education enrolment and school level performance in SL is girls outperforming boys. For example, females comprised 64% of all state university enrolments for medicine, dentistry, law, science, IT, education, management and arts. These disciplines attracted 80% of the 2022 cohort. Female participation was also higher in other tertiary institutions with the female to male ratio being 61:39. This divergence is clear at almost all levels of education more..

May 30 (TM) In light of recent discussions about postponing upcoming Elections including the Prez Election and the Parliamentary Election, significant controversy has emerged, drawing opinions from various sectors of society. On Monday (28), former MP and incumbent UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara, proposed delaying the said Elections for two years, suggesting a Parliamentary motion and more..

May 30 (CT) Not very long back, this paper reported that Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake confirmed that the Prez Election would be held between 17 Sept and 18 Oct 2024. He emphasised that the election must occur this year, as the Constitution mandates a presidential tenure of five years, with no extensions. The previous Prez was elected on 18 Nov 2019, and the current Prez was appointed to complete the remaining term, although some seem to have forgotten more..

May 30 (CT) This has been the most rainy and squally Vesak that I can recall in my eight decades on this planet and it has made me grumpy. The depression in the Bay of Bengal has prepared all of for the couch of some psycho-quack conning folks with fictitious talk of depressions. This essay is in two separate parts unconnected with each other; a) Feeding the 225 and b) people taking the initiative into their hands and not relying on the state. Jesus fed 5000 with two fishes and five loaves more..

May 30 (TM) Concerns have been raised regarding the valuation process for the houses owned by MPs who lost their properties during the violent incidents of 9 May 2022, which erupted following an attack on peaceful GotaGoGama protesters at Galle Face. Allegations have surfaced that compensation for some of the damaged houses had been paid without conducting a proper valuation. more..

May 30 (ST) It was a gloomy morning on Thursday when Arty, the intrepid entrepreneur, woke me up with a call on the landline. “I say….I hope I didn’t wake you up,” he said. “You did….but it’s okay, I needed to get up to prepare for my column. What’s happening?” I asked. “Well I read this editorial in the Sunday Times newspaper last week dealing with Artificial Intelligence or better known as AI and I got a scary feeling. Will we be replaced by machines, ending the command and authority of more..

May 30 (TM) The recent arrest of four suspected Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorists in Ahmedabad, India by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad, has returned the spotlight to SL’s extremism issue. It was reported yesterday that a team of officers from India’s Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) are preparing to visit SL to investigate the arrest of four ISIS terror suspects. The move comes in the wake of SL authorities detaining two individuals related to the case, more..

May 30 (FT) The National Savings Bank (NSB) yesterday announced a robust recovery as reflected in the 2023 annual report, which was presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Despite operating in a challenging economic environment, the NSB has demonstrated significant resilience and growth, NSB said in a statement. This impressive performance underscores the Bank’s commitment to financial stability and growth, even in the face of adverse economic conditions. more..

May 30 (TM) SL’s top generative AI company WSO2 is in the process of defining its 5-year roadmap with EQT, Europe's largest venture capital firm, as the company looks to go public soon, WSO2 CEO, Sanjiva Weerawarana said. He said that the company is in the process of defining its next 5-year road map along with EQT, after acquiring WSO2 for $ 600 million earlier this month. “EQT brings a very structured way to create value for the company and the exit in a finite period of time,” he said. more..

May 30 (ST) Sri Lanka Customs officials have distributed billions of rupees as reward money among themselves since 1988, based on an internal circular prepared by the department, disregarding a scheme approved by the Minister of Finance, an audit report revealed. Based on the information available for the audit from 2012 to Aug 31 last year, a staggering Rs 24.22 billion was paid to Customs officials. more..

May 30 (Island) Opposition politicians and some of their govt counterparts have taken up the cudgels for the people’s franchise following UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara’s call for postponing the next presidential and parliamentary polls by two years. They say they are ready to do all it takes to prevent the postponement of elections. Bandara’s proposal could be considered a trial balloon floated at the behest of the UNP leadership. However, it is doubtful whether more..

May 30 (TM) It has been revealed that the election of office bearers for the Netball Federation of SL (NFSL) which was scheduled to be held at the Sports Ministry Auditorium today has been postponed indefinitely, The Daily Morning Sports, understands. The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs had decided to delay the 2024 AGM for the game’s governing body, after the NFSL Election Committee had reportedly rejected the right to vote at the election by the Jaffna and Colombo more..

May 30 (FT) LankaPay – the national payment network of Sri Lanka recently announced its partnership with UnionPay International (UPI), the leading international payment network in the world, enabling cross border ATM connectivity. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in LankaPay’s global journey towards fostering cross border payments with a view to provide greater convenience to tourists who visit SL. With the rebound of tourism & int'l trade in SL, more..

May 30 (Island) The program, initiated under the National Pathway of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), distributed equipment to schools playing U13, U15, U17, and U19 cricket. Accordingly, 45 schools were offered senior and junior cricket bags, while 22 schools were given junior cricket bags. Schools playing girls cricket received junior cricket bags. The distribution program, an island-wide initiative under the National Pathway program of SLC, was held at the Prez Secretariat in Colombo more..

May 30 (FT) The SJB lambasted the Govt for rushing multiple bills in Parliament without proper consultation with stakeholders. The economist trio of the SJB, MP Eran Wickramaratne urged the Govt to engage in a broader discourse with all stakeholders with respect to key bills that are being presented in the House. He noted the Economic Transformation Bill was particularly important, as it involves the new agency to attract foreign direct investment more..

May 30 (TM) The SJB, is to endorse the proposed Women’s Empowerment Bill, which is still in its committee stage, while the NPP, also of the Opposition, is to endorse if their proposals are included in the Bill. When contacted, SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna Kavirathna, who is also a member of the Women MPs’ Caucus, said that the Women’s Empowerment Bill is still in its committee stage, and that it will soon be tabled in the House. She said that a number of proposals more..

May 30 (DM) Cabinet nod has been granted to develop 52 wildlife bungalows strategically located in key wildlife parks, on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, to gain traction in particular from foreign tourists, to boost the revenue to support the wildlife conservation efforts. Wildlife Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers this week to invite declarations of intent from the concerned parties and to enter into MOU between the selected parties and more..

May 30 (TM) Following several leading jewellers being taken into custody by the Customs for the illegal smuggling of gold, National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) stated that they do not have any authority to apprehend and prosecute the individuals involved in smuggling operations. Last week, the Customs reportedly raided 13 leading jewellery making institutions and seized a stock of gold smuggled into SL, more..

May 30 (FT) SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) confirmed yesterday that it is awaiting the final verdict from the Court of Appeal regarding the implementation of the Minimum Room Rate (MRR), which has been temporarily suspended. “We have sought legal advice from the Attorney General regarding the issuance of an official statement on the temporary suspension of the MRR,” SLTDA Chairman Priantha Fernando said. On 21 May, the Court of Appeal issued interim orders more..