Decision to allow import of selected spices for re-export reversed
Mar 12 (AD) The gazette notification allowing the import of selected spices for re-export has been revoked. The communiqué was revoked following a request made by Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera from Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Cabinet meeting convened on Monday. On Sunday, the Finance Ministry announced that the import of selected spices including pepper, cardamom, ginger,
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Tourism Minister announces fashion show in Sigiriya
Mar 12 (FT) Minister Harin Fernando has unveiled plans to showcase SL’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty through a special runway show to be held at Sigiriya. Speaking at a press briefing during the ITB (Internationale Tourismus-Börse) in Berlin, Germany last week, he announced that the iconic Sigiriya Rock will serve as the backdrop for one of the country’s premier fashion events, the Colombo Fashion Week. “Along with our efforts to promote SL, we are creating a lot of events.
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New Ambassador and HC present Credentials to the President
Mar 12 (PMD) A newly appointed Ambassador and a High Commissioner to SL presented their credentials to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Prez’s House this morning. Accordingly, His Excellency Mr. Paitoon Mahapannaporn, Ambassador of Thailand to SL and His Excellency Major General (R) Faheem Ul Aziz, HI (M) the High Commissioner of Pakistan to SL presented their credentials to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. Minister of Foreign Affairs President’s Counsel Ali Sabry and
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ලාබ ලබන CEB එකට...
Economic concerns surrounding salary increases at Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Mar 12 (FT) Reports of substantial salary hikes at the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) raise concerns regarding the economic implications of these decisions. Led by Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, the CBSL has defended these raises as lawful under the Central Bank Act, citing the need for competitive salaries to retain skilled personnel. However, several economic arguments suggest that these salary increases may not be in the best interest of economic stability in the nation.
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No reprieve from Supreme Court: Online Safety Bill and Anti-Terrorism Bill
Mar 12 (FT) The Online Safety law and the Anti-Terrorism Bill are two important building blocks in the architecture of repressive laws the Govt is constructing. Both were challenged in the Supreme Court, with the SC finding certain provisions of both unconstitutional. Stakeholders, such as opposition politicians, civic activists, tech companies and the United Nations called upon the Govt to, at a minimum, incorporate the Court’s recommendations in Online Safety Bill before it was enacted.
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Prez, SLPP urged not to use ex-CJ’s committee to put off next prez election
Mar 12 (Island) Top Opposition spokesman Prof. G.L. Peiris alleged that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa govt was still contemplating how to put off the presidential election, scheduled to be conducted between 17 Sept, and 17 Oct, this year. Declaring that in terms of the Constitution, the presidential election couldn’t be postponed under any circumstances, the former External Affairs Minister said that examination of all existing
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Four coastal beaches in Sri Lanka to get Blue Flag accreditation
Mar 12 (DN) Sri Lanka for the first time will certify four coastal areas as Blue Flag beaches before year end to further boost tourism, authorities said. Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world. It is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists and beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities, a safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area. A spokesperson for Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA)
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Suspect arrested over murder of Buddhist monk killed in police fire
Mar 12 (AD) The suspect arrested in connection with the killing of a Buddhist monk at a temple in Malwathuhiripitiya has been gunned down by police while attempting to escape custody. The suspect had been escorted by officers to recover weapons allegedly hidden in the Yatawaka area in Attanagalla when he had attempted to escape prompting the policemen to open fire, according to police. Police yesterday arrested the suspect who is believed to be the shooter in the murder of a Buddhist monk,
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Lone MP attends key opposition leaders meeting with Prez
Mar 12 (FT) TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran stood as the only Opposition member in attendance at the IMF proposals review meeting for opposition party leaders held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday. Despite Prez extending invitations to the opposition including the main Opposition party, SJB, the majority declined to attend. Sumanthiran said he took the opportunity to address various concerns regarding
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All are bound to go ahead with the creditors programme
Mar 12 (DN) International debt restructuring is underway at present. The election is only a few months away. The next govt is bound to take this programme forward together with the creditors. Therefore, it is suggested that it would be good to discuss with all the parties represented in the Parliament and come to an agreement on this, said Chairman of Public Finance Committee (COPF), MP Dr. Harsha De Silva in Parliament. When Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe came to Parliament
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Excise seize liquor bottles with forged security stickers in multiple North–East raids
Mar 12 (DM) In a series of multiple snap raids carried out over the weekend, the Dept of Excise has seized a large stock of local liquor bottles with forged security stickers from Northern, North Central and Eastern Provinces. The series of snap raids had been conducted by special Excise teams that were deployed from other areas of the country and led by four Assistant Excise Commissioners. A number of wine stores and bars selling these stocks of local liquor with forged revenue stickers
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හිරු ටීවී පත්තරේ විස්තරේ
Bangladesh for expanding trade and commerce with Sri Lanka
Mar 12 (BSS) Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today expressed his keen interest to expand trade and commerce with Sri Lanka. He made the remarks while Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Dhaka Dharmapala Weerakkody paid a courtesy call on him at foreign ministry here, a press release said. During the meeting, they discussed the matters of mutual interests. Mahmud expressed his satisfaction on the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
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Show progress or perish, Minister tells SriLankan
Mar 12 (DN) Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva gave a six month ultimatum for SriLanka Airlines to ‘show progress or perish’ at a discussion with the SriLankan Administration and trade unions on the current progress of the airline at his office yesterday morning. SriLankan Airlines was blamed and subject to extensive criticism due to its constant delays in operations from time to time. The delays annoyed passengers and inconvenienced them in the recent past.
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Corporate earnings grow by 90% y-o-y in Q4 of 2023
Mar 12 (TM) Corporate earnings of SL’s listed companies have grown by 90% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023 after the public companies saw a rebound in the second half of the year with declining interest rates reducing finance costs. Accordingly, the fourth quarter of 2023 saw a robust corporate earnings performance, with a remarkable 90% y-o-y growth which was driven by strong performance in financial services
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Harin unveils vision for 4 m tourists by 2030 at ITB
Mar 12 (FT) Tourism Minister Harin Fernando revealed Sri Lanka Tourism’s ambitious goal of attracting 4 million tourists by 2030, accompanied by a comprehensive National Tourism Policy aimed at holistic promotion, and sustainability. “Sri Lanka is no longer just a destination on a bucket list; it is an experience, a connection that visitors forge with our country. It is about the positive energy and transformative experiences that compel them to return.
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Parate suspension increases risk premium, endangers deposits, banks say
Mar 12 (EN) A decision by the cabinet to suspend parate execution, making recovery of bad loans more time consuming will increase the risk premium charged from borrowers and also undermine the safety of deposits, Sri Lanka’s banks have said. “Banks deploy depositors’ funds when lending to the public, and the inability to recover money due from defaulters or extended delays in recovery, will potentially place public deposits at risk,” SL Bank’s Association said in a statement.
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Nalinda Jayatissa
Port City Colombo breaks ground on Business Centre today
Mar 12 (FT) Port City Colombo will today mark a significant milestone today with the ground-breaking ceremony for its premier business park, the Business Centre. CHEC Port City Colombo Ltd, said the event transcends a simple building construction – it signifies the dawn of a new era for SL’s economic landscape. The ceremony will be graced by distinguished guests, PM Dinesh Gunawardena as Chief Guest, along with the Ambassador of China to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, and State Minister
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Civil rights activists protest outside CBSL over salary hike
Mar 12 (FT) A group of civil rights activists yesterday staged a protest in front of the Central Bank against latter’s sharp salary increments which has come under much criticism. “We have gathered here at another State within the country — the Central Bank. It operates autonomously, seemingly unchecked,” Magen Ratata Chairman Sanjaya Mahawatte, asserted. Accusing CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe of undue influence, Mahawatte claimed that there are alarming discrepancies
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Student in Ratnapura charged Rs 20 per puff of e-cigarette from schoolmates
Mar 12 (Island) Commissioner General of Excise M.J. Gunasiri said that his Department had received a complaint that a student in a popular school in Ratnapura had charged other students Rs. 20 for one puff of an electronic cigarette. The student concerned had taken an e-cigarette to school and shared it with others, within the school premises, Gunasiri said, adding that they had launched an investigation into the complaint.
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Ghosts of aragalaya haunt apparel industry in 2024
Mar 12 (ST) The apparel industry in SL has been taken by surprise this January when it recorded a US$381.2 million, down from $424.4 million in the same month last year. The industry is currently feeling the impact of 2022’s aragalaya protests when orders were shifted elsewhere to other countries, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Deputy Chairman Felix Fernando said. Due to the crisis in the country at that time that spiraled to lack of fuel, buyers opted to place orders outside of SL.
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High level Malaysian delegation visits Oceanpick Sustainable Seafood Farm
Mar 12 (FT) Oceanpick sustainable seafood farms were recently visited by Malaysia’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security YB Datuk Seri Mohamad bin Sabu, HC for Malaysia Badli Hisham Adam and other officials along with representatives of Amana Bank CEO Mohamed Azmeer, Senior Director, Board Credit Committee Chairman Dilshan Hettiaratchi and other members of Amana bank. Oceanpick is a pioneer in sustainable Aquaculture in SL which is also the largest commercial
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Veggie prices come down, Nuwara Eliya farmers, traders upbeat
Mar 12 (ST) Vegetable prices appear to be dropping in the past few weeks, contrary to predictions that normalcy in prices would only return by mid April. “The climate has improved since the beginning of 2024, so farmers in Nuwara Eliya are planting again. Traders are taking 25% more stock of vegetables from our economic centre than in January, and the prices are expected to further decrease for the April festival,
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JAT Holdings posts resilient Q3 with 96% revenue growth from Bangladesh
Mar 12 (FT) SL’s market leader in wood coatings and paint brushes, and emerging regional conglomerate, JAT Holdings PLC recently released its financials for Q3 of FY 2023/24, reflecting a resilient performance amidst adverse market conditions. With its operations in Bangladesh seeing continued expansion, including the opening of its manufacturing facility in 2023, and its alkyd resin plant in 2024, supported by cutting-edge R&D and value engineering in SL, JAT has established
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I never build up pressure but play my normal game, says Pavan
Mar 12 (DN) I never build up any pressure while batting int the middle and I used to play my normal game said National Super League (NSL) limited overs cricket tournament man of the match Pavan Ratnayaka. I think I had good batting performances at the last year s NSL Limited over final scoring 62 while this time once again made an unbeaten 118 which helped to get 19 runs win for my team Dambulla said Pavan the former Mahanama Skipper. Especially after solid start of 96 runs
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ගැම්ම නම් ගැම්ම
Editorial: Needed: All hands on deck
Mar 12 (Island) Dirty, divisive politics does not spare anything in this country. Even religious institutions are divided along party lines, and some of them are at daggers drawn. Politics has torn many families asunder. Politicians are driven by expediency, and never do the govt and the Opposition close ranks for the sake of the country. They join forces only to further their mutual interests. So, the news that the Opposition political parties, save one, had decided to boycott yesterday’s IMF meeting, in Colombo,
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Uncapped Nishan Peiris called up for Tests
Mar 12 (ST) Uncapped off-spinner Nishan Peiris has been called up to the SL squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting March 22 in Sylhet, Bangladesh. 26-year-old replaces fast bowler Milan Ratnayake in the squad as the selectors aim to strengthen the spin department by adding an extra spinner. SL had only two spinners in the team during their recent match against Afghanistan, opting for five seamers in the 16-man squad. Peiris’ selection follows an outstanding
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Survivor father of slain family had walked in on Canada murder-accused
Mar 12 (ST) Dhanushka Maduranaga Wickramasinghe, 38, who recently started a cleaning company, returned to his residence in the Ottawa suburban area of Barrhaven, where he was confronted by a 19-year-old youth, for whom the family had provided accommodation. The youth was armed with a club and a knife. “Did you harm my family?” was the first question he had asked Febrio De-Zoysa before he ran upstairs to find
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IMF, Sri Lanka’s resource curse & privatization of the Central Bank
Mar 12 (CT) With the world distracted by kinetic wars in Ukraine and Gaza, a hybrid economic proxy war against the Global South and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), for global connectivity is unfolding at this time of new Cold War: Across Asia, Africa and South America. 56 Low and Middle Income Countries have been ensnared in Covid-19 Lockdown-induced Eurobond debt traps sprung by private creditors and Int'l Sovereign Bonds (ISB), that charge predatory interest rates.
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Women’s political enthusiasm must be encouraged
Mar 12 (DM) SL women seem to have gained an unprecedented and considerable importance in SL politics lately, thanks to the record gatherings of women by JVP/NPP as a part of their show off of power, as the major elections are around the corner. These gatherings have some sort of copycat effect on some other political parties as well, which is also a good sign, as far as women’s politics is concerned. It is within that context that the International Women’s Day fell on March 8.
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Nalin Bandara
Conspiracy, what conspiracy?
Mar 12 (GV) Former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has released a book entitled The Conspiracy to oust me from Presidency. Also on the cover are the words how internationally sponsored regime change made a mockery of democracy in SL. It is priced at least 10 times its print cost and is sold out. The book is in Sinhala and English although Tamil is also an official language. It is addressed to the Sinhalese only. According to the book the three main reasons for former Prez Rajapaksa to come to power
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Meddlesome Mr 10 percent returns
Mar 12 (ST) My dear Basil, I am writing to you after seeing you return to Paradise to a hero’s welcome after spending some time in America. I wondered why so many came to welcome you, an ordinary citizen with no official position. Maybe it is to see how a kaputa gets off the plane rather than a kaputa hitting the plane. Still, it is better than what it was like at the same airport nearly two years ago during the aragalaya. When the going got tough, you packed your bags & tried to leave as you usually do.
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