Sep 5 (AD) Colombo Magistrate’s Court has postponed the hearing of a plaint filed against the prez candidate of SLPP Namal Rajapaksa and several others over an alleged financial fraud. Accordingly, when the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage today (05), it was ordered to be recalled for hearing on Feb 13, 2025. This plaint was filed during the Good Governance govt over an alleged incident of Namal Rajapaksa investing an amount of Rs 15 m more..

Sep 5 (FT) In the 2024 parliamentary election of UK, the Labour Party promised a fully costed, fully funded, credible plan to turn the country around. Conservative Party promised lower immigration, lower taxes, and protected pensions. The British chose the Labour Party. The British voters may not have read the details in the respective manifestos, but the taglines were clear enough. No tax cuts but fully costed plans v. tax cuts and nationalism. Compared to their UK counterparts, more..

Sep 5 (DM) A group of SLPP MPs together with several other parties today formed the Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna (PENP) led by PM Dinesh Gunawardena. Minister Ramesh Pathirana will be the General Secretary of the new alliance. The symbol of the party is the cup. Allies of the new alliance include a section of the SLPP, the MEP, TMVP, EPDP, National Congress, Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union, United Peoples Party, SLMP and the Deshapremi Janatha Balawegaya. more..

Sep 5 (FT) In Oct 2014, CPA published its third survey mapping the thinking of the Lankan people. Survey did not ask any questions about voting intentions. Given the repressive nature of Rajapaksa rule, the answers would have been misleading. But there was a question which helped understand the direction of electoral winds: the state of one’s household economics. 54.5% of respondents (including 54% of Sinhalese) more..

Sep 5 (NW) National Election Commission has clarified that presidential candidates are prohibited from canvassing votes for other candidates, stressing that it is illegal. Commissioner General of Elections Saman Ratnayake, addressing the media, stated that such actions are not only unlawful but also unethical. “Not only is it illegal but it is also unethical. Public are aware of what these candidates are doing, therefore the public must decide for themselves,” he said, more..

Sep 5 (AD) The CID has arrested the former ASP of Anuradhapura Sanjeewa Mahanama, who allegedly assisted in the orchestrated shooting targeting the vehicle of former MP Uddika Premaratne. On June 14, Police said that it was uncovered that the incident where several gunshots had been fired at the vehicle belonging to then-Anuradhapura District MP Uddika Premaratne, had been staged by the actor-turned-politician himself with the help of the Anuradhapura ASP. more..

Sep 5 (AD) Governor of the Uva Province, A.J.M. Muzammil, says he has tendered his resignation as the Uva Province Governor in order to support SJB Prez Candidate and Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming prez election. In a letter addressed to the Prez, Muzammil announces his resignation from the position of Governor of the Uva Province, with immediate effect. more..

Sep 5 (DM) Claiming that some Prez candidates have sought her support, former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga said today that she has decided to remain neutral at the 2024 Prez election. Kumaratunga said several media had reported that she was supporting various candidates at the ongoing Presidential election campaign but that she will not extend her support to any of the candidates at the 2024 Prez election. She said all voters must reflect seriously when deciding to cast their more..

Sep 5 (SM) ICC has announced the men’s and women’s shortlists for the ICC Player of the Month awards, with players from Ireland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies confirmed to be in the running. Young SL players Dunith Wellalage and Harshitha Samarawickrama have been shortlisted. Wellalage made it to the men’s shortlist for his performances in ODIs. The left-handed all-rounder was Player of the Series in his side’s 2-0 series win over India with scores of 67 not out, more..

Sep 5 (AD) The Colombo District Court has issued an enjoining order today preventing the alleged defamatory statement recently made by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara regarding SJB MP Velu Kumar, from being shared on social media platforms. Former minister Jayasekara had made the controversial comments during a meeting held in Akuressa regarding the SJB MP Velu Kumar, who had recently pledged his support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at upcoming Prez Election. more..

Sep 5 (NW) Sri Lankan singer Windy Goonatillake has received recognition in India for her viral song Ayyo Sami. Windy Goonatillake won the award for the Best Sensational Song of the Year – 2023 at the 16th Edison Awards held in Chennai, South India recently. The song by Windy Goonatillake and Sanuka Wickramasinghe is a fusion of Sinhala and Tamil lyrics and is written by Sri Lankan lyricist Pottuvil Asmin, who is well known in the Indian Tamil music industry. more..

Sep 5 (Reuters) Tourists were busy spooning up ice-cream on the verandah of Tariq Nassim’s home at the picturesque Galle Fort in SL, the centre of a boom in tourism during the island nation’s nascent recovery from its worst economic crisis in decades. Nassim’s Dairy King, which sells 22 flavours of homemade ice-cream, was just one of thousands of businesses crushed by the crisis that erupted after foreign exchange fell to more..

Sep 5 (Island) In the absence of public funding Vijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital in Seeduwa has sought the assistance of the private sector to secure a Green Laser Machine (GLM) required to provide preventive laser treatment for patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy, a condition that could lead to permanent blindness unless treated promptly. On a request made by Neil Umagiliya, acting Chairman of Board of Directors at the Seeduwa Hospital, more..

Sep 5 (SM) AL Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) has condemned a recent incident where regional journalists had been allegedly threatened by officials of the President’s Media Division. In a statement, the SLWJA states that during a recent election rally of Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in Kekirawa, a scuffle was recorded by several regional journalists. However, PMD officials had forcefully taken their camera equipment and deleted footage of the scuffle, the statement notes. more..

Sep 5 (ST) With a close contest among candidates running for the presidential election, the focus is turning to electorates with high voter percentages across the provinces, districts, and electorates. According to the electoral register due to be used, Western Province, consisting of the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts, accounts for 2,789,595 votes of the total of 17.1 million votes in the country. more..

Sep 5 (FT) Classic Travel Ltd., has achieved a significant milestone by being named the Best Travel Agency for Sri Lanka at the prestigious World Travel Awards ceremony held in Manila. This distinguished recognition underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence, reinforcing its status as a pioneer and trendsetter in the Sri Lankan outbound travel industry. For over three decades, Classic Travel has been at the forefront of the travel more..

Sep 5 (AD) The prez candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance Dilith Jayaweera expressed concerns over what he alleged was an intentional effort to weaken Sri Lanka’s armed forces. Jayaweera suggested that a certain force is working to allow the country’s military to deteriorate without a proper audit on national security. Addressing the media, Jayaweera pointed out that the issue of diminishing military strength is mentioned in every major policy statement more..

Sep 5 (FT) In keeping with its vision of fostering the growth of SL’s dairy sector, Browns Pharmaceuticals recently collaborated with DFCC Bank PLC and Market-Oriented Dairy (MOD) through its innovative Kiri Wyawasabhiman Loyalty Program. This trifold partnership aims to support dairy entrepreneurs across the nation during challenging times by offering seamless access to essential products and services, along with various concessions and customised financial products. more..

Sep 5 (DM) Out of the pool of SL U-19 fast bowlers back in 2015, the two names that were discussed the most were Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando. While they both made their int'l debuts in 2017, Kumara was the one who had a consistent run in the national team, and one of the reasons for this was his extra pace. With most of the senior campaigners at the time in the twilight of their career, Kumar's raw pace kept him in the side for longer period of time, but he had a few injury setbacks at the time more..

Sep 5 (Island) Interim Secretariat for Truth and Reconciliation (ISTRM) Director General Dr. Asanga Gunawansa, PC, declared there was absolutely no basis for concerns that the proposed Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation (CTUR) targeted the war-winning military. Dr. Gunawansa said so responding to The Island query regarding Sarvajana Balaya raising this grave concern, both in and out of Parliament. more..

Sep 5 (EN) Gagan Malik, an Indian film actor famous for playing the role of Prince Siddhartha in the film ‘Sri Siddhartha Gautama,’ has visited Sri Lanka with 65 Buddhist pilgrims from Maharatshtra, Madhya Pradesh and Telengana. Malik, who is also a Buddhist activist, said he is committed to propagate Buddhism and work for promoting SL in India and the world. “There is vast potential for Buddhist pilgrim tours as there are millions of Buddhists in India,” he was quoted in a statement. more..

Sep 5 (TM) A wider war in the Middle Eastern region could impact tea exports and the import of petroleum to Sri Lanka while it could also impact the inflow of foreign remittances, the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) said. Accordingly, CBSL said that a wider war in the Middle East would impact the merchandise trade of Sri Lanka as the country has major exposure in tea exports to the region. Tea exports to the Middle East are about 46% of total tea exports of SL showing significant exposure to the region more..

Sep 5 (EN) SL will give its Coconut Development Authority powers to regulate the quality of imported edible oils such as coconut and palm oil, a govt statement said. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said his proposal to empower the CDA received Cabinet approval. This was “To protect the coconut oil industry in Sri Lanka, to ascertain the quality of coconut oil produced in the country, and to regulate the quality of imported oil”. more..

Sep 5 (AD) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has officially removed four State Ministers from their ministerial portfolios with immediate effect. Accordingly, State Minister of Ports and Aviation Services Premalal Jayasekara, State Minister of Power and Energy Indika Anuruddha, State Minister of Agriculture Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva and State Minister of Highways Siripala Gamlath have been removed from their respective positions with immediate effect. This decision was made under the authority more..

Sep 5 (CT) The election manifesto of the Tamil Common Candidate P. Ariyanethiran expresses that through their strategic approach, international avenues to resolve the ethnic issue of the Tamil community will open. The manifesto states it needs the support of international political powers to mete out justice for the Tamils. It further notes that the Tamil people have not fully accepted the Sri Lankan Constitution and they advocate a multi-ethnic Constitution. more..

Sep 6 (GV) Gun violence is a prevalent issue that has challenged many countries around the world including Sri Lanka. Guns, a weapon mainly used by armed forces to maintain the peace and security of a country, have now become a weapon which threatens the people’s lives and national security. According to Numbeo 2024, Sri Lanka is placed towards the lower end of the scale of crime index, indicating it has a lower crime index compared to most other South Asian nations. more..

Sep 6 (ST) I attended the inagural commissioning of the Sobadhanavi LNG-based Power Plant at Kerawalapitiya. The plant with 350 MW capacity is the newest addition to the group of subsidiaries and subsubsidiaies of the LTL Holdings Company. It is only a matter of few days more for the opening of IPO of the LTL Holdings to transform it to a public limited company. With over Rs.125 billion asset base, LTL Holdings is set to be one of the largest SL companies ever listed on the CSE. more..

Sep 6 (WPR) On Sept. 21, Sri Lanka will hold its first presidential election since the July 2022 popular uprising known as the Aragalaya, which drove then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from power. In the two years since then, Rajapaksa’s successor, current Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, has managed to enact some policy reforms that unlocked much-needed relief from the IMF, allowing the country to regain some political and economic stability. more..

Sep 6 (CT) SJB’s manifesto focuses on 20 areas: a strong economy, debt crisis management, national security, law and order, anti-corruption laws, public digital infrastructure, personal income tax relief, reduction of corporate tax, VAT reduction to 15%, zero VAT for some items, 50kg bag of fertilizer at Rs. 5000, welfare allowance increases from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 50,000, and for elderly people an increased allowance of Rs. 5000. Generality, manifesto seems to be welfare oriented than more..

Sep 6 (Island) A group of dissident SLPP MPs who are supporting Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in the current prez election, launched a new political alliance—Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna. Having thrown in their lot with the Rajapaksas’ bete noire, Wickremesinghe, and burnt their boats, they cannot return to the SLPP’s fold after the forthcoming prez poll, much less secure nominations from it for the next parliamentary election, which is expected in quick succession. more..

Sep 6 (PC) “It is in this soil that the identity of your race is deeply rooted,” Velupillai Prabhakaran, head of the LTTE, said in 1998, addressing the Tamil diaspora. He was referring to land in SL’s North and East, from Kalpitiya on the island’s western shore to Trincomalee on the eastern one, that was the territory of the Jaffna Kingdom between the 14th and 17th centuries. It was for this soil, and the ability to govern it, that countless more..

Sep 6 (DM) SL is a country that needs some fresh air in the field of politics. Many feel so when they see some very old faces running for presidency at the upcoming polls. Just a few days ago we heard the death of an elections candidate named Muhammad Ilyas. He was 78 years old at the time of death. In this negative environment, one little positive that’s visible is that people still wish to vote. What must be changed in the Sri Lankan thinking is the belief that there is no end to darkness. more..

Sep 6 (TM) SL is at the worst of times and the best of opportunities. The worst of times is because it is at the lowest ebb, socioeconomically down to the near collapse due to political misadventures since 1971, caused by politicisation and corruption seeping into the bureaucracy. The best of opportunities is because race, religion, populism and promises which were the unique selling propositions during the past elections are today replaced by promises of policy changes to improve more..

Sep 6 (CT) Election time is a wonderful period for all Sri Lankans. It’s when the people’s representatives finally show respect for those who sent them to Parliament with their votes. In the lead-up to an election, they suddenly develop empathy for their constituents; their eyes open wide, and they begin to notice and acknowledge the struggles and suffering of the very people who elected them. They propose brilliant solutions for every issue the citizens face, and the list goes on and on. more..

Sep 6 (DN) Sri Lanka Cricket shifted the Brain Centre to the High Performance Centre (HPC) at R.Premadasa Int'l Cricket Stadium (RPICS) Colombo, in order to further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the facility. The facility was earlier housed at the SLC headquarters. The newly established Brain Centre serves as a centralised hub for advanced cricket analysis, talent development, and coaching, and the new facility will accommodate large groups of players more..