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Banking Clan: TUs support CBSL’s colossal salary hike

Mar 8 (TM) Ceylon Bank Employees Union (CBEU) said that it will endorse the recent salary increase of the employees at the Central Bank of SL (CBSL), claiming that banking sector employees are entitled to salary increments following the pressure exerted by the Govt’s new tax policy. CBEU President Channa Dissanayake noted that no one can blame the CBSL for its decision as they have reasonable grounds to make such decisions, more..

Tea auction sees improved offering, demand and prices

Mar 8 (DM) Overall offering at the Colombo Tea Auction were marginally higher this week and totalled 5.2 M/Kgs. According to Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers, there was improved demand and a general appreciation in prices, perhaps triggered primarily by lower volumes. Interestingly, most other auction centres too have recorded an appreciation in prices this week. Ex-Estate offerings were fairly similar to last and totalled 0.74 M/Kgs. There was improved quality from the Western slopes. more..

No underworld threats requiring special protection for cops

Mar 8 (TM) The Ministry of Public Security stated that there have been no reports of incidents of threats to Police officers from drug dealers and organised criminals requiring special measures to be taken. Inspector of Police Duminda Jayathilaka, who was the Officer-In-Charge of the Organised Crime Division at the Colombo Crimes Division, had recently left the country due to alleged death threats from organised crime gangs targeting him and his family. more..

Six countries offer to build nuclear power plants here

Mar 8 (Island) Sri Lanka had received six proposals for the construction of nuclear plants here. Prof. S.R.D. Rosa, Chairman – SL Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) said during a recent seminar organised by the Institution of Engineers SL (IESL) on ‘Potential of nuclear energy and its challenges in Sri Lanka. Russia’s Rosatom, China’s China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), France’s Électricité de France (EDF), more..

Rohitha Abeygunawardena tried to assault me: MP Shanakiyan

Mar 8 (FT) TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasama-nickam accused SLPP MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena of attempting to assault him in the Parliamentary complex yesterday. Raising a privilege issue in Parliament, MP Shanakiyan said that the incident occurred at the PM’s Office at the Parliamentary complex when he went to meet the PM concerning an issue in Batticaloa. “MP Rohitha Abeygunardena tried to assault me in the Parliament a short while ago. This happened in the PM’s office within more..

Anticipated passage of amended Electricity Act in April

Mar 8 (PMD) Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, announced that the revised Electricity Act has been sent to the Legal Draftsman’s Department for review. He anticipates presenting it to Parliament for approval in April following Cabinet endorsement. Additionally, minister expressed readiness to engage stakeholders to discuss reducing fuel prices further through a transparent pricing formula. These remarks were made during his participation in a press conference held today (07). more..

හිරු ටීවී පත්තරේ විස්තරේ

Five bidders keen on SLIC life and general insurance businesses

Mar 8 (FT) The Request for Qualification (RfQ) for the sale of the segregated life and general insurance business of SL Insurance Corporation (SLIC) has attracted five bidders, four of which are local firms. For SL Insurance Corporation Life Ltd, those who responded to RfQ are LIC (Lanka) Ltd, Union Assurance PLC and Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC. For SL Insurance Corporation General Ltd, the respondents are Fairfirst Insurance Ltd, and Euro Exim Bank Ltd, a global financial institution more..

World Kidney Day: Broader public awareness is vital

Mar 8 (TM) World Kidney Day (WKD), is observed annually on the second Thursday in March, is a global health awareness campaign that emphasises the importance of kidneys and aims to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease worldwide. During this month of March, health professionals at the National Institute for Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation hope to educate the public by different ways and means on kidney diseases. At least 1 in 10 people worldwide is living with more..

IMF commends govt for unwavering commitment to EFF program’s...: PMD

Mar 8 (AD) During the meeting between Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and the IMF team at the Finance Ministry today (07), the Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Peter Breuer emphasized that the IMF program is exhibiting promising signs of efficacy, translating into tangible outcomes. He commended the authorities for their unwavering commitment to the program’s implementation, noting that such dedication more..

BASL slams lack of consultation on new laws

Mar 8 (TM) Accusing the Govt of not properly consulting the relevant stakeholders when new pieces of legislations are introduced, the Bar Association of SL (BASL) stated that they would continue to work towards a post-legislation enactment judicial review process so that any legislation could be challenged or amended even after they are passed in the Parliament. BASL President Kaushalya Nawaratne said that the Govt should follow proper procedures and more..

Cartoonists’ depictions of the Prez’s role

Mar 8 (PMD) Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo hosted the launching ceremony of the Press Vs. Prez book today (7), with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe presiding over the event. Prez, in his address, hailed such publications as integral to the democratic fabric of the nation, affirming that they underscore the freedom entrenched within the country. He juxtaposed this with the absence of such creations in totalitarian regimes, emphasizing the significance of the established freedom of more..

මීළඟ ජනපති කවුද? සුදා මත විමසුමක

IRD sets up High Wealth Individuals Unit to ensure their tax compliance

Mar 8 (FT) The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) yesterday said it is paying close attention to High Wealth Individuals in a bid to increase taxes due. IRD said the move is to ensure tax compliance of highly wealthy individuals in the country as part of efforts to restore fairness and confidence in Sri Lanka’s tax administration. For this purpose, a High Wealth Individuals Unit (HWIU) has been established at the IRD, which is located in the Large Taxpayer Office. more..

Lankan seafarers to train in Peter Dooley Naval Institute, Germany

Mar 8 (DN) Peter Dooley Naval Institute in Germany has expressed their willingness to provide technical training to SL seafarers. The training manager of the German institution, Rainer Sterk, who met the Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva at the minister’s office said that they are keen to assist the skill development of local aspiring seafarers.Stark said at present, the Peter Doehle Naval Institute provides its technical training to seafarers in many countries including the Philippines. more..

6 Sri Lankans dead including 4 children in Ottawa mass killing

Mar 8 (CBC) Six people including a mother, her four young children and a family acquaintance were killed inside a townhouse in the south Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven late Wednesday night. During a media briefing Thursday afternoon, Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs said there were initially two calls to 911 around 10:52 p.m. Wednesday. He said first responders arrived within minutes to the home on Berrigan Drive near Palmadeo Drive, more..

Sri Lanka must fully implement IMF package: US Ambassador

Mar 8 (DN) The recent IMF package offered to Sri Lanka is the 17th in Sri Lanka’s history and must be the last and if Sri Lanka can stay true to the principles of transparency and competitiveness in the years to come, it will enhance global standings and also create an environment conducive to flourishing innovation, investment, and economic growth. This was opined by US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Julie Chung at the National Chamber of Exporters hosted event. more..

International Women’s Day 2024: Inspiring inclusion

Mar 8 (DM) In the never ending search for prosperous economies and a thriving planet, achieving gender equality and women’s wellbeing in every sphere of life are paramount. Yet, a major challenge looms: a projected US $ 360 billion annual deficit in gender equality efforts by 2030. Shedding light on this issue is the International Women’s Day (IWD), with the 2024 campaign theme being Inspire Inclusion. The overarching theme is Invest in women: Accelerate progress. more..

Field Marshal won’t quit SJB

Mar 8 (Island) Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka insists he’ll remain with the SJB regardless of the continuing dispute with an influential section of the party. The bone of contention is SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s decision to grant membership to General Daya Ratnayake who served as Commander of the Army (2013-2015) during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s turbulent second tenure as the President. more..

A mission to save little brains & spines

Mar 8 (ST) There is a common healing thread, giving new life and hope, bonding Chathura Hewawasm (8) from Uswetakeiyawa, Dilitha Hettiarachchi (13) from Baddegama & Arkam Mohamed (10) from Weligama. These are just three of more than 1,000 children from humble families across the country who have undergone complex brain and spinal surgery in 2022-2023, testament that the state health sector works seamlessly for the poorest of the poor even amidst numerous challenges. more..

145th Battle of the Blues: Sadev (83) puts Thomians in strong position

Mar 8 (DN) S. Thomas’ opener Sadev Soyza made a superb knock of 83 in 134 balls while Royal skipper Sineth Jayawardena and deputy skipper Ramiru Perera took 4 wickets each, which were the highlights on day one of the 145th Battle of the Blues played at SSC grounds yesterday. Royal won the toss and chose to field first. Thomians made 297 all out in their first innings and two umpires Chamara Zoysa and Chandrika Amarasinghe called off play with 1.4 overs to spare. more..

හොර රහත් මීවනපලානේ හෝටල්...

'Kamindu’s run out cost us the game'

Mar 8 (DN) “Kamindu’s unfortunate run out caused damage for SL innings while we were short of 20-30 runs at the second T-20 match against Bangladesh”, said stand in skipper Charith Asalanka. “Actually 165 runs was not enough and Bangladesh dominated all 3 departments to win and they deserve the win. We wanted to win the deciding third and final T-20 game on Saturday. We knew our skipper Wanindu Hasaranga is also back to the side and we have new plans and rectified our mistakes,” more..

Construction sector poised for recovery

Mar 8 (CT) Interest rates plummet to significant lows providing comfort to market players, First Capital Research (FCR) in a recent report, said. The report titled Construction Sector Flash note – Mar 2024, further said that interest rates moved on an accelerated downward trajectory during the first two months of this year (2024) amidst lower borrowing requirements of the Govt. Accordingly, as of 22 Feb-24 AWPLR registered at 11.5%, a significant plunge of 1,271bps, compared to 24.2% in Feb-23. more..

Sajith charges banks disregarding Govt’s parate suspension move

Mar 8 (FT) Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday renewed his call for the Govt to direct the Central Bank to issue a circular to enforce the suspension of the parate law and prevent property auction. Speaking in Parliament he claimed that despite the Govt’s decision to abolish the parate law, the banking system seems reluctant to comply with directives, leaving micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) in dire straits more..

Maha Shivarathiri: Devotion, enlightenment & universal harmony: Night of spiritual renewal

Mar 8 (DN) The name Maha Shivarathiri means the great night that belongs to Shiva. Lord Shiva is referred to as the Supreme God in the Hindu pantheon. The word Shiva means auspicious in Sanskrit. Shiva in the Hindu concept is the creator, preserver, and destroyer. In an unending cyclical process of creation and re-creation, he symbolises creation and destruction. Among the Trimurti or Trinity (Three main Gods), Lord Shiva is considered Supreme God who acts in accordance more..

‘Strong branding can increase company revenue by 23%’

Mar 8 (TM) Impactful design and strong branding can leave a lasting impression on a consumer’s mind, even though consumers are often ignorant about the engineering behind such strategies and tactics. Companies cannot claim similar ignorance, and must at least recognise the value and power of branding. Citing data from Forbes, Studio Nice One Creative Director Amy Quickfall shared that a company with strong branding can increase their revenue by 23% as customers are four times more..

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Editorial: Watchdogs and lapdogs

Mar 8 (Island) Parliament of SL is never united when it has to tackle vital national issues. The govt and the Opposition go for each other’s jugular at the drop of a hat, but they unitedly take moral high ground and censure others. Parliament is in the news for the wrong reasons, again. No sooner had the Opposition handed over a motion of no confidence against Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena than SLPP MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena was appointed Chairman of the COPE. more..

Getting along with the neighbours

Mar 8 (ST) Sri Lanka entered a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Thailand on Feb 3 which is scheduled to be effective from January 1, 2025. This is the second most comprehensive FTA that SL signed after its FTA with Singapore (2018). However, the Sri Lanka – Singapore FTA was on hold for five years without implementation. As far as the potential trade benefits that Sri Lanka would have reaped from the FTAs are concerned, the period of five years was a loss to the country. more..

Putting the period on taxing the period

Mar 8 (TM) The imposition of taxes on menstrual hygiene products, needed by women and girls due to a biological process naturally occurring in their body, has been subjected to fair criticism from many parties. While there have been great demands for the Govt to remove the taxes imposed on menstrual products and the raw materials needed to manufacture such, such items are currently subjected to a tax rate of 51.1% more..

Governance: Losing the moral high ground

Mar 8 (TM) Inching closer to economic reforms through austerity measures, and enacting long felt reforms in transparency and accountability, is part of SL’s journey back to a functional nation which can move forward under its own steam. While multinational agencies like the IMF and diplomats of key partnering nations may recognise SL’s perceived progress, going by balance sheets and exchange rates, one area of progress which most parties forget to inquire about is rebuilding eroded moral more..

Self-seeking voters that treat MPs as private property

Mar 8 (CT) National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) recently organised a conference on electoral reforms. Alongside the popular political party leaders, numerous religious leaders also participated. One of the religious leaders spoke during the discussion, stating: “All these issues in SL have stemmed from the electoral system. If we truly aim to develop the nation, this system has to be changed immediately. Recently, we faced a significant environmental crisis. more..

High taxes leave Asian Market vendors in dire straits

Mar 8 (CT) The economic crisis in the country rages on, despite the Govt’s claims that the country is on the road to recovery. The increase in VAT has hit small and medium-sized enterprises hard. The vendors at Asian Market, opposite the Fort Railway Station, too are facing untold hardships in their daily business operations. Ceylon Today spoke to a section of randomly selected shopkeepers engaging in various medium and more..

UNHRC updated on regime’s abuses

Mar 8 (GV) “Sustainable peace and reconciliation will not be achieved in SL with regressive laws and authoritarian approaches, which will only serve to perpetuate the human rights concerns of the past,” said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on March 1, 2024. He was updating the UNHRC on the regime’s failure, yet again, to bring an end to abuses and address past violations. “It is only through addressing the root causes of the country’s conflict and economic crisis, more..

International Women’s Day & Women in SL

Mar 8 (DM) The world celebrates Int'l Women’s Day, today. March 8 is a day set apart to recognise the cultural, political, social and economic achievements made by women. It also serves as an opportunity to inspire efforts to end gender biases and discrimination, and achieve gender equality. Int'l Women’s Day is linked to the women’s movements during the Russian Revolution. On March 8, 1917, thousands of women in Russia heralded the start of the Russian revolution by going on strike more..

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