Sep 13 (CT) Ethics and healthcare are two aspects that go hand in hand. Principle of Ethics in health care could be defined as; non-malfeasance (the duty to ‘refrain from doing bad), autonomy (respect for the patient’s right to self-determination) and beneficence (the duty to do good and Justice – to treat all people equally and equitably). Question is to what limits these principles should be adhered to in free healthcare more..

Sep 13 (ST) In July, Parliament was informed that draft laws were being drafted providing legal provision for working from home (WFH), a concept that has become popular after the COVID-19 crisis. The then Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara told Parliament that this provision was one of the changes being introduced in a new labour law that is to be introduced and is in the drafting stage. If there is something of some benefit other than a serious awareness of communicable diseases like more..

Sep 13 (CT) Children of all ages have the fundamental right to live, learn and grow without fear of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination, the Unicef asserts. It also claims that robust child protection system ensures this right is available to all children. But is every child in SL safe? Are they able to live peacefully without fearing violence and abuse against them? It is in this context that media reports suggested that child protection authorities in A'pura District express concern more..

Sep 13 (Island) The police have launched a probe into a complaint that a former military officer supporting the JVP/NPP threatened the activists of other political parties with reprisal recently. Several persons are said to have reported the alleged incident to the police. A video of the suspect issuing threats is doing the rounds on social media. The JVP/NPP has said the clip has been doctored. Anything is possible in this digital age. The police must get to the bottom of it expeditiously. more..

Sep 13 (ST) Post offices will provide 24-hour service, allowing busy people to access postal services at their convenience, even at night, but it depends on the success of an ongoing project, officials said. The project to offer postal services at night began in January this year under the leadership of the Borella Postmaster General, Chinthaka Bandara. Borella Post Office was one of the first post offices to provide round-the-clock services. more..

Sep 13 (FT) SL Tourism has surpassed 1.4 million tourist arrivals milestone so far for this year, despite the visa crisis. With 44,977 visitors registered in the first 11 days of Sept, total arrivals for the year so far reached over 1.4 million. The first week of the month saw 29,239 arrivals, followed by an additional 15,738 tourists from 8-11 Sept. Despite this milestone, the tourism is facing challenges, with experts warning of a significant drop in more..

Sep 13 (Island) Today, in terms of bilateral trade, Sri Lanka enjoys modest relations with the region. Between 2011 and 2020, exports to Central Asia exceeded USD 10 million in just one year and with just one country: 2014, with Uzbekistan. On the other hand, in 2015, SL imported USD 21 million worth of goods from there. This underlies a basic feature of the island’s economy: even after 75 years of independence, SL imports large-scale manufactures but has only been able to more..

Sep 13 (TM) There have been mixed views aired by society about the use of children in political campaigns and election-related activity. While the inclusion of children in the democratic exercise of election is seen as a positive thing in some countries, the use of them in the domestic situation is frowned upon by some. Last week, a video surfaced of several children being used in a door-to-door election campaign by one of the leading Presidential candidate’s supporters. more..

Sep 13 (Island) Cricket is a game that provides you a lot of entertainment and even if your team loses, there are moments which brings you joy like for example Asitha Fernando’s five wicket haul at Lord’s, Kamindu Mendis’ century at Old Trafford and Dinesh Chandimal coming out to bat with a heavily strapped thumb and posting an entertaining 79 in the first Test. The captain on a cricket field has to take spur of the moment decisions while selectors and team management more..

Sep 13 (DN) SL’s netball team is ready to defend their Asia Cup title at the 13th Asia Cup Netball Championship, taking place from Oct 18 to 27 in Bangalore, India. This is the second time India is hosting the tournament, the first being in 1989, when SL also claimed the title. The 12-member national team has been selected, with Dulangi Wannithilleka named as captain. Senior players Gayanjali Amarawansa, Gayani Dissanayake, Thisala Algama, Hasitha Mendis, and Malmi Hettiarachchi more..

Sep 13 (FT) In a landmark victory for environmental protection, the vital safeguards for Other State Forests have been reinstated, ensuring their conservation and sustainable management. The issuance of a new cabinet decision effectively resolved the legal challenge brought by Environmental Foundation Ltd., securing long-term protection for these crucial forest areas. EFL together with Rukshan Jayawardene who more..

Sep 13 (FT) LOLC Group is to make a Rs. 3 billion takeover bid of Sierra Cables following the crossing of 30% stake in the latter. The move follows Browns Investments PLC, the strategic arm of LOLC Group through former’s wholly owned subsidiary Iconic trust Ltd., purchasing 6.65 million shares of Sierra Cables at Rs. 8 each in a deal worth Rs. 53.3 million. Following the purchase Iconic Trust increased its stake in Sierra Cables to 30.42% triggering SEC’s Takeovers & Mergers Code. more..

Sep 13 (Island) Most of the International Sovereign Bonds (ISB) were issued by a govt led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose economic decisions had played a significant role in the current financial crisis, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Wednesday, addressing a rally in Kandy. Dissanayake highlighted what he called the irony of Wickremesinghe claiming credit for stabilising SL’s economy, given the latter’s involvement in the policies that had precipitated the crisis. more..

Sep 13 (TM) National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has initiated investigations into reports of children being used for Election campaign propaganda work during Prez Election, according to NCPA Director General Anoma Siriwardena. NCPA's legal division is looking into complaints regarding instances where children were involved in distributing propaganda material and canvassing on behalf of political parties. more..

Sep 13 (Island) Lyceum Int'l Wattala athlete Sandun Kosala won the gold medal of the boys 110 metres hurdles on Thursday to continue the good start given by his teammates at the South Asian Junior Athletics Championship in Chennai. Kosala clocked 14.06 seconds to win gold while Vishwa Tharuka settled for bronze. Meanwhile, Thevindu Sandil (long jump), Mayuni Gunathilaka (100m hurdles) and Savindya Jayamaha (discus throw) won bronze medals in their respective events on day two of the event more..

Sep 13 (TM) National Consumer Front (NCF) organisation urged the Govt and the relevant authorities to halt the import of electric motorbikes equipped with lead acid batteries, citing concerns over their environmental impact and durability. NCF Leader Asela Sampath claimed that most imported electric motorbikes with lead acid batteries lack sufficient durability, leading to multiple issues for consumers. He urged the Govt to impose strict regulations over import of these motorbikes. more..

Sep 13 (Island) An SJB govt will offer a permanent solution to the housing issues faced by residents within the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) limits, Addressing a campaign rally, SJB prez candidate Sajith Premadasa has said. Premadasa pledged to launch large-scale urban housing projects under a future administration. He criticised Wickremesinghe for failing to address the housing problem. ” Wickremesinghe has been PM more than five times and has been President for two years. more..

Sep 13 (Island) SLPP prez candidate Namal Rajapaksa, MP, recently accused incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe of squandering public funds on politically motivated investigations targeting the Rajapaksas during his tenure as the yahapalana Premier. Referring to high profile investigations that had been carried out during 2015-2019 period, the Hambanthota District MP declared that the govt couldn’t find an iota of evidence to support their accusations. more..

Sep 13 (TM) SL’s proposed public sector salary adjustment in 2024 and 2025 will ensure that the public sector salary expenditure will remain well below 4% of GDP, the level at which it was at the height of the crisis in 2022. Finance Ministry said that salary adjustments in 2024 and proposed adjustment in 2025 would be structured such that the expenditure on public sector salaries will be contained at 3.6% of GDP in 2024 and more..

Sep 13 (DN) The Bangladesh women’s ‘A’ team recorded a 7-wicket win against the SL women’s ‘A’ team in their first T20 match at the P. Sara Oval Stadium yesterday. SL women posted 112 for 7 in their 20 overs. Opener Kaushini Nuthyangana top-scored with 43 off 35 balls, hitting 4 fours and a six. She shared a 72-run opening stand with Netmi Poorna, who contributed 27 off 40 balls with a boundary. However, after Poorna’s dismissal in the 13th over, SL’s momentum slowed, and more..

Sep 13 (DN) Sri Lanka should introduce a State-owned facility with reasonable rates for the incineration of industrial waste to promote environmentally friendly practices and efficient waste management and concessionary rates for industrial waste disposal should also be introduced, said Chairman of Ceylon National Chamber of Industries, Kevin Edwards at their recently held 62nd AGM. He also suggested that a State Development Bank be set up to support the Industrial Sector, more..

Sep 13 (EN) SL’s Planters’ Association which represents the managers of the island’s commercial farms growing tea, rubber, coconut and palm oil, is marking 170 years this year. Established in 1854, the PA being one of the oldest institutions in the country, has continuously represented and safeguarded the interests of the plantations. As one of Sri Lanka’s largest foreign exchange earners, the plantation industry, primarily known for Pure Ceylon Tea, also includes other key crops more..

Sep 13 (DN) Renovation of the Anuradhapura–Mahawa railway line, which was implemented at a cost of US$ 92 million with the aim of establishing a regular and efficient transport service in the country, has been completed and was officially handed over to the SL Railway Dept recently. The renovation work of the Northern Railway Line which was operated under the loan scheme of the Government of India was carried out in three stages – A'pura–Omanthai, A'pura–Mihintale, and A'pura–Mahawa, more..

Sep 13 (TM) There are no plans in place or preparations being made to impose a curfew in the context of next week’s Prez Poll. “We will not have a curfew unless the President (who is also the Defence Minister) requires it,” the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security, Viyani Gunathilaka said in response to a query on whether a curfew would be called in the said context. “Prez has the power to call a curfew; however, as of now, more..

Sep 13 (DM) Rebuffing Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe's proposal to invite the IMF for the debate, NPP Prez candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake today made a fresh challenge to the Prez for a face-to-face debate on the economic policies. He said the debate could be arranged on a popular television channel and any matter regarding the economic policies of the two parties could be debated. "Prez Wickremesinghe keeps on posing questions to me on the stage. more..

Sep 13 (Island) The new President to be elected next week can dissolve parliament about 10 and 12 days after being sworn in, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake has said.The next parliamentary election could be held 35 days after the dissolution of Parliament, Ratnayake said, adding that it had to be held within 66 days, he added. “The next President could also choose to continue with the current parliament until its term ends next year,” he said. more..

Sep 13 (BN) SL’s private creditors and the country’s govt officials are holding a third round of talks this week to agree on the restructuring of $12.6 billion in defaulted bonds, according to people familiar with the matter. This new round of negotiations — the first since creditors and the govt reached a preliminary agreement on a debt rework in early-July — also marks the third time bondholders have gone restricted, or prevented from trading more..

Sep 13 (FT) As the nation faces the task of electing a new Prez at a very crucial time among four leading candidates, all of whom have controversial pasts—whether due to own criminal acts, indirect involvement in criminality in the past, or by association with criminals within their own—decision is fraught with difficulty for the people. Hence, voters must weigh these candidates’ pasts against the hope for a better future. Unlike previous elections, if the wrong choice is made this time, more..

Sep 13 (FT) The bottomline is money. How will the Govt pay its bills: manage the debt mountain that has been accumulated; pay the salaries and pensions of the bloated bureaucracy and armed forces; and not least, the cost of the many new programs that are being promised as part of the bidding war that we call the Prez election? For example, both the SJB and the NPP are promising major housing initiatives, such as low-interest and long-repayment loans & official residences more..

Sep 13 (NW) NPP Executive Committee Member Wasantha Samarasinghe said that an interim govt could be formed, reflecting a broad SL political identity, once the NPP secures victory in the upcoming presidential elections. Speaking to the media in Anuradhapura, Samarasinghe outlined that the NPP plans to form this interim govt with support from politicians representing the Muslim and Tamil communities of the North and East, as well as the estate sector. more..

Sep 13 (AD) An Italian father and his son have been fined Rs. 60 million (approx 200,000 USD) for attempting to smuggle hundreds of endemic insects, including 92 species of butterflies, from Yala National Park. This fine is reportedly the highest ever imposed for a wildlife crime in Sri Lanka. The decision was recently delivered by Tissamaharama Magistrate Tharindu de Silva. The two Italians, 68-year-old Luigi Ferrari and his 28-year-old son, were arrested on May 8 this year by more..

Sep 13 (EN) Sri Lanka will lift all vehicle import bans and restrictions by Feb 2025, its Minister Ali Sabry has said. “With the significant improvement in forex reserves and the strength of the rupee, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to lift all vehicle import ban/restrictions by Feb 2025. This decision is part of our ongoing efforts to restore normalcy in the economy and meet the needs of our people,” Sabry said on X. more..

Sep 13 (DM) A Prez pardon was granted to Diyunuge Edward Henry Pedris, who was unjustly executed on July 7, 1915 following a wrongful trial by a Court Martial set up by the Governor of Ceylon on 25th June 1915. An extraordinary gazette notification was issued announcing the decision by Prez Ranil Wickremesinge. Cabinet approval was granted in December 2023 following an investigation into the killing of Edward Henry Pedris, who was executed 108 years ago by a colonial Court Martial. more..

Sep 13 (EN) Cabinet of ministers has approved proposals for a separate energy sector regulator, revisal of cadre and a new salary structure, Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said. Wijesekara tweeted that the cabinet has approved proposals to establish a separate regulator for the energy sector, to revise carder in the state-run CEB and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and implement a new salary, allowances and incentives structure for the CEB, CPC and Ceylon Petroleum Storage more..

Sep 13 (DM) The IMF said it is ready to move forward with programme discussions after the Prez election is held and a new govt is formed based on the choice of the people. IMF Communications Department Director Julie Kozack said the programme has made significant achievements, but it is important to safeguard these achievements to enable SL to fully emerge from one of its worst crises. She made these remarks while more..