Oct 2 (SCMP) India has SL’s ear on security matters, observers say – citing Colombo’s appreciation for its neighbour’s help during its recent economic crisis – even as the South Asian island nation’s new prez strives to balance ties with New Delhi and Beijing. SL elected Marxist lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake as president on last month, marking a decisive shift away from the old political elite that many blamed for more..

Oct 2 (AD) The Colombo High Court has ordered the case against former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka over the hit-and-run incident which took place in 2016, in which the vehicle the former Minister was travelling in had collided with a motorcycle in Rajagiriya, to be postponed until February 28, 2025. When the case was taken up for consideration today (02), the defendant, former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, appeared before the Colombo High Court. more..

Oct 2 (FT) Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC) held its AGM, marking a pivotal moment in the organisation’s 39-year journey. Established in 1985 as the world’s first chamber dedicated to empowering women, the WCIC remains committed to fostering female entrepreneurship, leadership, and professional development across SL. This year’s AGM, led by Chairperson Anoji De Silva and the 15-member Board, celebrated the Chamber’s achievements during 2023/24 more..

Oct 2 (CI) Tim Southee has stepped down as New Zealand's Test captain following the series defeat in SL, and will be replaced by Tom Latham, saying he believes it is in the best interests of the side. Southee led the team in 14 Tests with a record of six wins, six losses and two draws since taking over from Kane Williamson in 2022. New Zealand lost a hard-fought first Test in Galle but were soundly beaten by an innings in the second making it four defeats in a row either side of more..

Oct 2 (CT) The newly appointed Northern Province Governor under the NPP Govt, Nagalingam Vedanayagam, stated that he would resign from his post if he faced any form of political interference, even from Tamil political parties. Governor shared that he had previously been politically victimised while serving before in other provinces as a Government Agent in SL. He acknowledged in an interview with the Tamil media that before joining NPP, members of ITAK had approached him, more..

Oct 2 (DM) India’s external Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be visiting SL this week and call on newly elected Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake. His visit to Colombo would be the first by any foreign minister after the prez elections last month. Jaishankar’s visit to the neighbouring island nation, which is expected to begin on Oct 4, will be closely watched as it will include high-level engagement between India and SL after Dissanayake more..

Oct 2 (DM) A future Samagi Jana Sandanaya (SJS) govt will cooperate with incumbent Prez Anura Kmara Dissanayake in the event it secures a majority in Parliament at the General elections, its leaders said today. SJS leaders Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Kabir Hashim, Mano Ganesan, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Dullas Alahapperuma told the media that if a govt led by them comes to power it will cooperate with the incumbent Prez. “We will not jeopardise the work carried out by AKD,” more..

Oct 2 (CT) The ZeroPlastic Clean-Up Walk 2024 is a revolutionary initiative in SL, aiming to combat plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability across the island. Following last year’s success, the walk is an anchor event in the ZeroPlastic Movement. Launched in commemoration of World Tourism Day and World Clean-up Day, this national drive will cover environmental conservation and pave the way for a cleaner and greener SL, especially with the upcoming December more..

Oct 2 (CI) With 10 series (26 Tests) to go in the current World Test Championship cycle, the race for the top two spots is getting more intense. Here is a look at how the teams are placed, and what their chances of qualifying are. Sri Lanka: Percentage points: 55.56, series remaining: SA (two away Tests), Aus (two at home). With a full 24 points gained from their last two Tests, SL have made a strong push towards a top-two finish more..

Oct 2 (NW) Former Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has expressed his readiness to retire from politics, stating that he has no reservations about stepping down. He mentioned that despite his willingness to retire, he feels a responsibility toward those who have been with him throughout his 35-year political career. He said that abandoning his political colleagues and supporters would be a difficult decision. “I have no problem stepping down. But after 35yrs of doing politics with these people more..

Oct 2 (EN) Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his party members should now investigate long alleged stolen money in Uganda by former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa’s family, Rajapaksa-led former ruling party members said. Dissanayake and his party have long accused the Rajapaksa family of taking wealth out of Sri Lanka they were supposed to have earned from commissions and other deals through illegal and inappropriate means when in public office. more..

Oct 3 (GV) I have a few comments to make about the rather inevitable and predictable recent attempts on social media to try and attack and diminish Dr. Harini Amarasuriya’s authority via comments about her marital status, as a highly educated woman who has chosen to remain single and child free. Some people commenting on social media seem to have issues with her holding a doctorate as well as other academic degrees. And they seem to feel that her level of education, particularly more..

Oct 3 (DM) Ranil Wickremesinghe, SL’s Prez, recently lost his re-election bid after voters overwhelmingly rejected the debt-restructuring deals he negotiated with the IMF and other creditors. Instead, Sri Lankans elected Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the left-wing NPP alliance and a vocal critic of IMF-imposed austerity measures, who has vowed to renegotiate the country’s agreement with the Fund. In an effort to persuade voters that his leadership was more..

Oct 3 (TM) Dept of Excise has announced that licences for alcohol producers who fail to pay taxes for the years 2023 and 2024 will not be extended for 2025. Excise Commissioner General M.J. Gunasiri said: “If there are some 2023 or 2024 default taxes, we have already sent a letter to all defaulters to not issue a liquor licence for 2025.” When asked whether this regulation would affect alcohol production levels & revenue in SL, more..

Oct 3 (DM) The UN yesterday observed the International Day of Non-Violence. Oct 2 was especially designated as the Day of Non-Violence as it is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who was the leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. Gandhi’s movement toppled the world’s then most powerful British empire– although the British PM and war hero, Winston Churchill, degraded Gandhi as a half-naked fakir. more..

Oct 3 (DM) In 1931, the Donoughmore Constitution granted more authority to the natives over internal governance for the first time. As a result, Sri Lanka became the first country in Asia to be granted universal franchise in the same year. Representatives of the Constitutional Council were elected through voting. Under the State Council system, education was managed by an executive committee, with the chairman of this committee serving as the Minister of Education. more..

Oct 3 (CT) The rise of a leftist govt for the first time in SL and South Asia has placed new Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his 3-member administration in the spotlight. While Indian and Western media have labelled him a Communist, Leninist, and Marxist due to his political stance, AKD’s meetings with diplomats over the past two years, along with his visits to the West, India, and China, defines the fact that he and his more..

Oct 3 (TM) SL, an island nation which sits at the mid-way point of the Indian Ocean, has been a player in the region's maritime affairs for millennia. It is tragic that post-independence, SL failed to properly educate its citizenry or create in adequate numbers maritime-minded leaders, which would enable SL to play a broader role at sea, and in particular in our region; the Indian Ocean. This, despite SL having a long standing track record of punching above its weight in diplomacy. more..

Oct 3 (CT) As if scripted for irony, several schools across the island have announced they will no longer provide mid-day meals to Primary Grade students starting from 1 Oct, World Children’s Day, no less. Yes, the very day set aside to celebrate and advocate for the welfare of children will now mark the day many of them will sit in classrooms with growling stomachs, their only daily meal snatched away due to financial constraints. According to the Ministry of Education, more..

Oct 3 (Island) These are new times indeed. The country is in a celebratory mood. We have a brand new Prez, and a brand new PM, who would both enjoy an anticipated majority in Parliament – a govt that has infused the people with much hope. Though we have not seen a decisive victory for the new Prez, the country has woken up to the remarkable change the Prez election has ushered. The times are also critical. This is the first election after protests of 2022 – Aragalaya-Struggle movement. more..

Oct 3 (Island) More than half a decade has elapsed since the Easter Sunday terror attacks (2019), which claimed about 270 lives and left hundreds of others with permanent injuries, but the survivors of terror, the family members of the deceased, the Catholic Church, civil society organisations and others are still crying out for justice. SL has had four Presidents since the carnage that shook the world—Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Anura Dissanayake more..

Oct 3 (CT) Eastern Province is one of the provinces nestled in the Eastern part of SL, naturally endowed with ample resources that could trigger the country’s economic growth. However, personal disputes and conflicts of interest among local politicians have complicated the implementation of development projects. The locals in the region are hopeful that everyone in the country will have equal access, whether in politics, more..

Oct 3 (ST) Football Sri Lanka (FSL) has elevated Abdullah Al Mutairi’s position from Interim Coach to Head Coach as Sri Lanka is set to complete its international window during October and November with at least five matches. Al Mutairi, who replaced former Manchester City’s centre defender turned coach Andy Morrison after the Scot was forced to stay away from action due to medical reasons, has had a successful two-week tenure coming in as a temporary replacement. more..

Oct 3 (ST) Questions are being raised by stakeholders on the bureaucratic red tape and general lethargy by the employees of the Dept of Registrar of Companies (DRC) who in turn, blame issues on the new IT systems at the department. A myriad of issues are plaguing this institution, where the delays in incorporating companies stand foremost and the organisation is currently headless. Six years ago, the DRC deployed KPMG to digitalise its functions with a Rs. 35 million project. more..

Oct 3 (FT) The SL Export Development Board (EDB), in collaboration with the SL Consulate General in Melbourne (SLCG) and SL-Australia Chamber of Commerce (SLACC), successfully organised a trade delegation to Melbourne, Australia, from 2 to 6 Sept. The delegation comprised 17 distinguished SL companies, each selected through an interview process for their excellence in the food industry. These companies represented a diverse array of specialties, more..

Oct 3 (DM) The recent Presidential election revealed that people are no longer willing to vote based on religion, race or clan, Buddhist Affairs Co-ordinator Chairman Ven. Dr. Sasthrapathi Galagama Dammaransi Nayaka Thera said. He said the people made a choice in voting against racism, religious divisions, continuous bribery and corruption in the country. "Currently, the country’s economic and social issues are worsening. Therefore, the association has decided to work towards more..

Oct 3 (CI) Sri Lanka have been on an unprecedented high. The team hasn't looked in a better shape than they are currently, having come off a historic first-ever series win in England followed by the Asia Cup triumph. There's boisterous energy around the group that stems from having walked the talk in the words of Rumesh Ratnayake, their head coach, ahead of their women's T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan in Sharjah. more..

Oct 3 (DN) The ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup kicks off today in the UAE, with 10 teams vying for the prestigious title. SL, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand are in Group A, while Bangladesh, England, Scotland, and South Africa are in Group B. The tournament opens with Bangladesh facing Scotland at 3:30 pm at Sharjah, followed by SL taking on Pakistan at 7:30 pm (SLT) at the same venue. Initially set to be held in Bangladesh, the tournament was moved to more..

Oct 3 (DN) Colombo and Jaffna qualified for the final of the National Super League (NSL) Limited Overs Cricket Tournament after their league matches yesterday. Colombo, led by Charith Asalanka, played their last league game at the R. Premadasa Stadium, defeating Galle by 64 runs to top the points table with 14 points. Colombo played 8 matches, winning 7. Jaffna and Galle were both competing to qualify for the final, but Galle was eliminated after losing to Colombo yesterday. more..

Oct 3 (DN) Omel Shashintha Silva of St. Sebastian’s College, Kadana, made history yesterday by equaling the 22-year-old SL Under-18 boys’ 400m record on the third day at the Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championship held at Sugathadasa Stadium. South Asian Junior 400m silver medalist finished the race in an impressive 47.10 seconds, matching the record set by former champion Manoj Pushpakumara in 2002. more..

Oct 3 (FT) YUKTHI Collective, supporting working people’s movements and struggles for democracy and justice in SL, has called on Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake to reject the pre-poll deal entered into by the then Govt with International Sovereign Bond (ISB) holders. It said on 19 Sept 2024, two days before SL’s much awaited Prez election and after the election black-out period was announced, the Finance Ministry proclaimed that the Govt had reached an Agreement in Principle for more..

Oct 3 (TM) 82nd Layton Cup Boxing Championship, organised by the Boxing Association of SL (BASL), kicked off in grand style on Tuesday (1), at the Royal MAS Arena, featuring 12 exciting bouts. With nearly 150 top-tier male and female boxers from the Tri-Services, Police, and various affiliated clubs participating, the competition marks the first major event of the new season. This year’s Layton Cup has sparked exceptional interest, particularly due to the semifinals and finals being staged on more..

Oct 3 (DM) Civic rights of former MP Ranjan Ramanayake is expected to be restored soon as he was summoned by the President’s office yesterday with the relevant documents. Ramanayake who spoke to journalists after his visit to the President’s office said he was asked to bring some documents yesterday. “I approached the NPP leaders and they heeded to my request for the restoring of my civic rights. I also spoke to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake over the phone,” he said. more..

Oct 3 (FT) Tourist arrivals in September dipped to a four-month low confirming the serious impact the outsourcing of visa processing has had on the leisure industry. SL welcomed over 122,000 tourists in Sept, as anticipated by industry experts though the figure fell short of the monthly target of 150,983. The month saw a total of 122,140 arrivals, bringing the total for the first nine months of 2024 to 1.48 million. Despite a 9.11% YoY growth, rate of increase has slowed compared to earlier in the year. more..

Oct 3 (FT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage has issued a directive to the CIABOC ordering the immediate arrest of persons responsible for the illegal importation of luxury vehicles after 2015, which resulted in a customs duty loss of over Rs. 50 billion to the SL Govt. The court order, issued yesterday, emphasised that the CIABOC should not only seize the vehicles involved but also apprehend those who facilitated the illicit imports. more..