SLBC to use Rs. 1.5 b from land sales for restructuring, VRS
Oct 17 (FT) Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) will use Rs. 1.5 billion raised from land sales to other State agencies as part of a broader restructuring plan, including the launch of a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees. The proceeds come from the sale of SLBC land in Ekala, with a portion already transferred to the UDA for Rs. 1,286 billion. Cabinet of Ministers this week had earmarked these funds to revamp the loss-making broadcaster into a profitable entity.
more..
Lankan envoy in Thailand emphasises climate resilience and trade integration...
Oct 17 (FT) SL Ambassador to Thailand Wijayanthi Edirisinghe recently attended a high-level event on regional trade and agricultural transformation in Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries, as a guest speaker. The event was organised by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with BIMSTEC and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS). It was a valuable platform for
more..
2020 Mahara Prison incident: Rights group slams alleged conclusion of case
Oct 17 (TM) Committee for Protecting the Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) condemned the alleged direction given by Attorney General to the Director of CID to conclude the case, claiming that such would thwart the process of meting out justice and in turn create a conducive environment for criminals to evade justice for offences committed by them and also afford criminals’ impunity. CPRP issued an official statement in this regard
more..
Regulatory policies seen as key to Sri Lanka’s global competitiveness
Oct 17 (Island) SL tackles its economic recovery and development, regulatory policies across key sectors—trade, energy and agriculture—are set to play a pivotal role in determining the nation’s global competitiveness, Institute of Policy Studies, Research Fellow, Dr. Manoj Thibbotuwawa said. Speaking on the topic How Regulatory Policies Could Shape Global Competitiveness at a discussion held at the IPS recently in Colombo, he said, whether carefully crafted or
more..
New EDB chief pushes for high-tech export growth
Oct 17 (DM) The newly appointed EDB Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe urged the country to broaden its export base by targeting high-tech sectors, as part of a broader strategy to boost export revenue. Wijesinghe, in his first speech since assuming duties, highlighted the need for SL to follow the path of countries such as Singapore and South Korea, in developing advanced industries. “We should diversify and focus more on high-tech industries like electronics and pharmaceuticals,”
more..
ස්තූතියි විජිත සහෝදරයා!
World Powerlifting C'ships in Australia: Ruwan Paul bags two Golds and a Silver
Oct 17 (DN) World Powerlifting Champion Ruwan Paul managed to win 2 gold medals and a silver medal for SL at the World Powerlifting Championship. With this victory, Ruwan Paul made history as the first Sri Lankan to participate in the World Powerlifting Championship and the first Sri Lankan to win a gold medal in that championship. In this championship which was recently concluded at the Darling Harbor Exhibition Center in Sydney, Australia, he managed to win gold medals
more..
Unilever Sri Lanka partners USAID and Vega Innovations to scale-up refillable systems
Oct 17 (FT) Unilever Sri Lanka, in partnership with Vega Innovations, and USAID, is scaling up the use of refillable stations. These stations, part of Vega Innovations’ UFill initiative, offer consumers cost-effective ways to refill Unilever products such as laundry liquids and shampoos, while reducing reliance on single-use plastic packaging. By 2027, the UFill initiative is expected to prevent over 128 metric tons of plastic waste from entering Sri Lanka landfills.
more..
Prez urges to streamline procurement process in road development projects
Oct 17 (EN) Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has urged authorities to streamline the procurement process in road development projects to ensure the rural economic development goals without the contracts being given only a few. Prez made these remarks during a progress review meeting for Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports & Civil Aviation. Prez Dissanayake’s Marxists JVP for years accused past past successive govts
more..
SL ‘A’ takes on Afghanistan ‘A’ tomorrow
Oct 17 (DN) Sri Lanka ‘A’ team will meet Afghanistan ‘A’ in their first ACC men’s T -20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup cricket fixture which will be played on Oct 18 at Oman Cricket Academy ground, Muscat from 7 pm onwards. Eight teams will battle for the T – 20 Emerging teams Asia Cup title. SL ‘A’ , India ‘A’, Pakistan ‘A’, Bangladesh ‘A’, Afghanistan ‘A’, Hong Kong, UAE and host Oman will take part this tournament while SL, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan ‘A' teams will compete
more..
Has Kusal Mendis turned a corner?
Oct 17 (Island) When Anura Ranasinghe claimed the inaugural Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award in 1975, few knew it would start a legacy. Three decades later, Kusal Mendis stepped into those shoes, dazzling for Prince of Wales, Moratuwa. Expectations soared as he graduated to the Sri Lankan side, and while he struck a few stunning knocks, his career path seemed like a see-saw—brilliant at times, but inconsistent. Now, nearing 30, Mendis seems to have turned a corner.
more..
Northern parties splinter; breakaway groups emerge
Oct 17 (ST) In both Jaffna and Vanni electoral districts where six MPs each will be returned to the House, more than 400 nominations were filed on Friday afternoon by political parties and independent groups. The significant number of nominations filed for each electorate in North reflects the state of Tamil nationalistic political parties which saw splinter and breakaway groups contest polls separately in the hope of securing a seat in
more..
Sri Lanka likely to field unchanged team in today’s decider
Oct 17 (DN) Sri Lanka, led by Charith Asalanka, is expected to win the West Indies T20 series when they play their third and final T20 game today at the Rangiri Dambulla Int'l Cricket Stadium from 7 pm onwards. West Indies won the first T20 by 5 wickets, while Sri Lanka fought back to level the series with a superb 73-run victory. The spinners took honours by bowling out West Indies for 89 while chasing a target of 163, with the exceptional Dunith Wellalage on his debut, taking 3 for 9.
more..
Shashintha expected to extend his record-breaking spree
Oct 17 (Island) The 400 metres is one of the most looked forward to disciplines in the schools circuit. The likes of St. Sebastian’s College, Kandana sprinter Shashintha Silva and Jithma Wijetunga of Lyceum International Wattala are the top-notch athletes vying to bag top honours in the discipline when the All-Island Schools Games Athletics Championship commences at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday. South Asian Junior C'ship medallist Shashintha is in terrific form
more..
මේ ඔක්කොම, අවදානේ ගන්නනේ
Editorial: Much-maligned Manape
Oct 17 (Island) The preferential vote or manape, as it is popularly known, has become a hot topic again. Some Opposition politicians have accused the JVP/NPP of asking its supporters not to mark preferences for its candidates in the upcoming parliamentary election. NPP has denied their allegation as a propaganda lie aimed at misleading the public; it has however admitted that, as a matter of principle, it does not encourage its supporters to mark preferences and its candidates never
more..
Sri Lanka’s Political Moment in 2024: Part 3
Oct 17 (GV) At the cusp of a significant political transformation, SL stands at a crucial juncture in its history with an opportunity to reclaim and redefine its place among the community of nations. In the first part of my analysis in this series, I explored the roots of the political transformation both in terms of the historical forces that paved way to it and the deliberate political strategies and decisions that helped realise it. In the second part, I explored some of the essential ingredients
more..
Sri Lanka’s female labour force participation at decade-low of 29.6%: World Bank
Oct 17 (FT) The World Bank in its latest bi-annual report, SL Development Update: Opening up to the Future highlighted that female labour force participation stands at a decade-low of 29.6%, stressing on substantial policy measures required to address inequality and ensure inclusive growth. Report highlighted that unlocking untapped potential by increasing women’s participation in the labour force could contribute to
more..
SLT-Mobitel shines on global stage with prestigious wins at 2024 ARC Awards
Oct 17 (FT) SLT-Mobitel earned global recognition, securing Gold and a Certificate of Honour at the prestigious 38th Annual International ARC Awards held recently. The competition is acclaimed as the world’s largest annual report competition, felicitating companies having achieved an international mark of excellence in annual reports. The Sri Lanka Telecom Annual Report 2023 was adjudged the Gold winner in the Illustrations: Telecommunications category for the annual report titled
more..
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is today
Oct 17 (DM) Poverty in SL has increased significantly with the onset of COVID-19 and the macroeconomic crisis. LIRNEasia’s national survey in 2023 highlighted that 4 million people fell into poverty between 2019 and 2023, causing 7 million individuals – or 31% of the population – to live in poverty at the time. Recent floods in the country have (re)exposed the vulnerabilities of various populations to adverse weather conditions. Robust, effective & adaptive social protection systems
more..
ඡන්දෙට එන්නේ නැති මරිසිපාලලා...
Today is Vap Full Moon Poya day
Oct 17 (Island) Economic and social policies based on Buddhist principles were the foundation of peace and prosperity in ancient Sri Lanka. A close examination of this Buddhist foundation would be of assistance to attain, once again, the cherished goal of peace and economic prosperity. Economic and political theories before Western influence were based on two famous ancient treatises, namely, Kautilya’s Arthaśāstra and Brihaspati’s Arthaśāstra. They had one common feature,
more..
Balancing their interests
Oct 17 (ST) How do you balance the interests of farmers and consumers? If farmers get a good price for mainly rice, consumers complain and then it’s vice versa. If you give farmers subsidies on fertiliser and other inputs at state costs to reduce consumer prices, that puts pressure on public spending and inevitably this cost is met by increasing taxes on goods which then affects both farmers and consumers. So how do you strike a balance or is that even possible?
more..
Lotus Tower tragedy renews mental health concerns
Oct 17 (SO) Investigations into the death of a 16-year old student who leapt from the Lotus Tower’s observation deck on Monday (7) revealed that the tragedy was linked to the double suicide which happened in Altair apartments in July. The victim’s father said his daughter had been under duress following the Altair incident. Information that these victims are from the same school has drummed up controversy, together with
more..
Leading social transformation: If AKD can’t, who can?
Oct 17 (CT) Since taking office, Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) has implemented several impactful measures that have caught the attention of both local and foreign observers. His leadership approach is grounded in simplicity and transparency, signaling a sharp break from the excesses of the past. With AKD’s refusal to embrace the trappings of power—no entourages of piloting vehicles, lean security protocols, and the avoidance of lavish lifestyles, int'l communities are already
more..
A time to rethink
Oct 17 (TM) Crisis-hit Sri Lanka needs to revisit its foreign policy, and revamp it to help navigate the evolving geopolitical landscape while ensuring the country moves towards recovery and growth, and to a period where we can build resilience. To do so, there is a need for a robust discourse about Sri Lanka national and foreign policies. One of the challenges SL faces in formulating a robust foreign policy is the lack of discourse about it. Awareness of foreign policy and diplomacy amongst
more..
Making of a new constitution
Oct 17 (TM) Despite the new Govt’s stated plans for a new constitution, it remains to be seen whether and how such a constitution will come to pass. Prez, responding to inquiries from the Maha Sangha recently, said that he hoped to introduce a new constitution, emphasising that it would only be done following discussions and a referendum. He further pointed out that previous govts had implemented constitutional amendments without public
more..
Tackling Torrents of Trouble
Oct 17 (CT) It begins as it always does — dark clouds gathering ominously overhead, casting long shadows across the land. A steady drizzle transforms into a torrential downpour within minutes, and in its wake, roads disappear under torrents of water. Rivers swell to monstrous proportions, devouring the banks, surging violently through villages, and flooding the streets of towns and cities alike. This is a story far too familiar to the people of SL, where the rain seems to carry with it
more..
Poverty, the parent of revolution
Oct 17 (DM) Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and it is significant that SL has, for the first time, elected a president and govt which – to paraphrase the legendary former United States President Abraham Lincoln – is a govt of the poor, for the poor and by the poor. According to a statement issued by the United Nations to mark this day, the theme for this year will highlight one of the hidden dimensions of poverty, which is the social and institutional maltreatment
more..
නිලන්ති කොට්ටහච්චි
Indo-Lanka road and rail link: Ministry Secretary makes contradictory statement
Oct 16 (Island) In the wake of Foreign Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson Vijitha Herath’s declaration that decision on controversial Indian projects would be taken up after the parliamentary election on Nov 14, Environment Secretary Prabath Chandrakeerthi, in an interview with Mint has said the discussions are in the final stages for a $5 billion road-and-rail link between India and Sri Lanka with India set to bear the cost of the strategic project. This is the first big bilateral infrastructure
more..
State worker salary hike decision for 2025 will be revisited: Minister
Oct 16 (EN) A decision to raise salaries of state workers in 2025 taken by the last cabinet has been taken without Treasury observations and it will have to be revisited, Minister Vijitha Herath said. The last administration said salaries would be raised from Jan 2025 based on recommendations by committee headed by Udaya Seneviratne, which also included trimming SL’s bloated public service over time. “A decision was taken by the cabinet close to the elections that salaries would be hike in Jan”
more..
Cabinet green-lights purchasing locally produced medicines
Oct 16 (CT) In a bid to encourage local medicine producers by giving priority to the production of medicines for the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), Cabinet of Ministers approved the purchase of locally produced medicines under the Buy Back Agreement. Cabinet of Ministers had approved a proposal submitted by Health Minister Harini Amarasuriya during their Cabinet meeting held on Monday to enter
more..
IUSF wants Law College fees reduced
Oct 16 (TM) Inter-Uni Students' Federation (IUSF) called on the Govt to address the escalating fees at the SL Law College (SLLC), the country’s sole institution for legal professional education. IUSF highlighted that the significant increase in fees has resulted in a sharp decline in applicants and has made legal education unaffordable for many. At a press conference held yesterday, IUSF Convenor Madushan Chandrajith expressed concern over the reduction in SLLC entrance exam applicants,
more..
SL abandons plans to sell national carrier
Oct 16 (DM) SL’s new govt has abandoned plans to sell the debt-ridden national airline SriLankan Airlines, but will restructure it for a more profitable future. “Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed that the airline should be an institution that all Sri Lankans are proud of, and should be owned by Sri Lankans,” airline’s new chairman Sarath Ganegoda said. The previous govt had invited bids to part-sell and manage the airline that as been suffering accumulated losses over the years.
more..